David Haye is drawing ever closer to his highly anticipated May 5th rematch date with Tony Bellew. Haye is looking to avenge the defeat he suffered in March last year.
Haye has dissected his mentality and approach going into that fight and has admitted he went into the fight with Bellew, with the idea of defeat totally inconceivable to him.
Come May 5 when we step back in the ring, both of us have a point to prove, I'd like for Bellew and I to be firing on all cylinders – may the best man win https://t.co/9VrlCCmTuP#HayeBellew2pic.twitter.com/vZSuHUSeTu
— David Haye (@davidhaye) March 22, 2018
“You have to go into a fight with the correct mindset,” Haye wrote in a column for the Mirror.
“In my mind, I was just going to go in there and knock Tony [Bellew] out.”
“It sounds simple and primitive but that’s what it was, I had no fear of his power.”
“Normally when I go into a fight, I make sure I don’t get hit but I thought it didn’t matter for this one.”
Haye said his mindset was that he believed the effect of Bellew’s blows would have no impact.
I thought that even if he hit me, it would make no difference; I thought there was no way I could lose.”
A special moment… when @joeboxerparker met @JoeJoyce_1 in the dressing room on Saturday. Parker may even replicate The Juggernaut's trademark celebration if he beats @anthonyfjoshua. pic.twitter.com/jWZUhjdxi3
— Hayemaker Boxing (@HayemakerBoxing) March 20, 2018
“I could go into this fight with the same mentality but I’m not going to.”
Haye recognises where he went wrong the first time around and has assured there will be no repeat the second time around. Haye says he will go into the second fight with a lot more respect for Bellew’s abilities.
“Once you step in the ring with a fighter you naturally realise a level of respect for that person, regardless of whether you like them or not,” Haye wrote.
“On May 5, I’m going to go into it believing he can hurt me; having that awareness wakes you up, makes you sharper and heightens your senses.”
“I’m going back to basics for this fight and going back to what made me successful in the first place. I’m looking forward to showing people what they didn’t think I still have;” Haye concluded.