By Tim Parsons-
David Haye attacked Tony Bellew at their promotional press conference, as the pair traded verbal insults before their blockbuster heavyweight showdown.
David Haye and Tony Bellew are scheduled to meet for Bellew’s first heavyweight contest on March 4th next year.
The Hayemaker has vowed to easily destroy the WBC world cruiserweight champion when they settle their grudge at the O2 Arena on March 4 next year. However, David Haye seemed arrogant and dismissive of his opponent when he claimed he could beat the cruiserweight champion even if he were drunk.
Haye referred to Bellew as a ‘powder puff- punching chump’ before saying: “I could go clubbing every single night from now to the fight, get smashed every night and still knock you out. I could turn up drunk off my head.
“You’re getting knocked out, destroyed. Even if you do hit me nothing is going to happen, you powder-puff-punching chump.
“I’ll end the fight when I want to. If I want to punish you for three or four rounds then I’ll do that. If I want to take you out in 30 seconds, I’ll do that.
“It’s completely up to me. You’re just in there with no say. You’re just a chump in the ring, a little fat podgy pumped-up light heavyweight.”
The WBC cruiserweight champion said: “He could have fought for the heavyweight championship of the world but he chose the money because he’s skint.
“I’m the money fight. You’re struggling and you don’t want a real fight.
“Deep in your heart, I know you’re as fragile as they come.
“I bet my whole purse on this now. My whole purse, I do not go down.”
Bellew was mistaken in his assumption that Haye could have fought for the heavyweight championship of the world because all the title fights have been booked already. This is probably the biggest fight available to Haye now, apart from Shannon Briggs which David Haye seems to have silently turned his back on.
The former WBA heavyweight champion has made no secret in his interest for a blockbuster fight against Britains no 1 heavyweight, Anthony Joshua, but Hearns has not appeared ready to make that fight happen yet. Haye against Bellew is the next best fight for David Haye at this stage, one in which Haye will be the favourite.
When the pair stood in each other’s face for a camera pose, Bellew appeared to shove Haye over, but Haye’s hands quicker than lightening had already swung so fast, it wasn’t clear if he landed or not.
Eddie Hearns later said David Haye was out of control and had been acting like a control freak in his demands throughout the negotiations for the fight,