David Haye insists Tony Bellew cracked during heated face-off ahead of rematch
David Haye believes Tony Bellew shoved him because his rival knew he was failing to get under his skin.
The heavyweights go to war again on Saturday in their much-anticipated rematch, and there were some fireworks at the final press conference on Thursday.
Bellew shoved Haye during a heated face-off, but there was no swinging fist in reply as had happened the last time these two kicked off during a staredown.
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Over a year ago Haye aimed a punch at Bellew when a face-off turned sour, but the heavyweight insisted his old rival cannot rile him like he used to.
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Tony Bellew lost his cool, he realised he wasnt getting under my skin verbally so he tried to physically wind me up by giving me a little nudge, Haye said.
He gave me a push in our first press conference to kick off this whole thing and hes done it again. It worked then, it really got me fired up.
This time round it highlights that I cant allow him to implement his trickery. He done it in the past and I will not allow him to do it again.
I cant let a little shove at the last press conference knock me off track.
Haye is seeking revenge over Bellew after he was beaten in their fight over a year ago in one of the biggest upsets ever in British boxing.
Bellew has promised to repeat the trick, while Haye has revealed he plans to drag the fight out in a bid to punish his bitter rival.
Ive learnt from my mistakes inside and outside of the ring, Haye said.
This time around it will be more clinical. Something Ive never done in any of my previous fights, bar the Jean-Marc Mormeck fight; the plan was to push on from round seven onwards, and its the same thing.
Its to do as much damage in the first six rounds as possible, and then step it up from round seven to round 12.
If hes as tough and durable and has the heart his team believe he has, then weve got ourselves a cracking fight. Ill give the performance a lot of people expected the first time around.
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(My new trainer) Ismael Salas says The first six rounds are about chopping him down and breaking him up; from round seven lets see whats left. Thats when Im ready to really put my foot on the gas and start pushing through the second half of the fight.
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