Ive had enough of everything at this stage. Enough of the training, enough of the talking, enough of the bollox that is David Haye. I left Rotherham early last week. I just had enough of training. I felt I was at breaking point, I wanted to kill the world.
Im in amazing shape after a year of camp, but I almost peaked two week before the fight. I needed a couple of days off just to back off a bit. You always have a couple of niggles in camp. Couple of minor injuries, its rare you go into a fight 100 per cent.
But, I feel in great shape now – mentally and physically. I just want to go to war now. I really want to have a fight. I want to put ten ounce gloves on and punch David in the face with everything Ive got.
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I needed to calm down in fight week. The people around me, the people I trust and care about, they told me to reign it in and calm down. Ive taken that on board. If it was someone from the outside saying that, Id probably slap them. But with people that I love and trust, you take what they say on board. They understand where I should be at.
I cant afford to get emotionally involved in this fight. Ive got to be as cool and collected as I was going into the first fight. For me, nothing has changed. Hes still a massive favourite, Im still the huge underdog. Im still the guy with everything to prove. Hopefully I dont just go in and want to have a fight. Emotionally, I feel like thats what I will do. I need to have the common sense to stand back and not let whats happened to me in these last eight months play a part in what happens in the ring.
I havent spoken to any therapist or sports psychologist since the death of my brother-in-law, Ashley. My missus is who I speak to, we just confide in each other. Hes gone and theres nothing I can do to change it. I cant get him back. Id give everything Id own to have a just a little bit of time with him again. Ive got to get through this fight and assess everything afterwards.
Im at the point now where I need to fight. The fear and worry of my coaches are that Ill get in there and just want to fight. I know I cant be like that. That frame of mind in the ring will kill my chances. Playing Russian roulette with David Haye is madness. Ill get knocked out. If I go in calm and collected, like the first fight, Ill win this fight. David Haye can only beat me if I beat myself first. I beat him every day of the week if I keep my head.
That may be hard to believe considering Davids had such a stellar career. But, whether it was the David Haye of today or the David Haye of ten years ago, I will always beat him because styles make fights. Thats all this fight is about. Im a stylistic nightmare for him. Im in control here.
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We have the trade-offs when I say we have the trade-offs. He hits me when I give him the opportunity to hit me. Im in complete control, he has no say in what happens in this fight. Im not like any of his opponents. Someone whos quick enough to get out of the way of his opponent, who sees the punches coming. Every previous opponent hes had has backed up, hands straight up, waiting to be knocked out. Im a different breed.
I can make him pay for his mistakes. I can make him miss. I can chose to box with him or chose to fight him. He never fights people like that and every time he has fought someone different hes lost. He got outlasted by Carl Thompson and he got beat up by Wladimir Klitschko.
He looks at me as the little fat cruiserweight with a mouth. He now understands that Ive got more attributes than he could have possibly imagined. He understands that this little mouthy Scouser is hard to hit. He actually punches harder than I thought and is faster too.
I didnt become British, European, Commonwealth and world champion by accident. I won all them belts and I did it with my ability and my brain. I dont have many other skills. Im not the quickest, not the strongest – but I have a very, very good boxing brain. I can adapt to any situation.
I cant tell you how exactly this fight is going to go, but I can tell you is I will adapt and make the correct decisions at every single point of the fight. And I will win. Whichever way it comes.
This time round, the win will be a bigger win for the media and the public because it will come with no injury. It wont be bigger for me. Its just another fight. Fighting David Haye is the same thing as fighting Mateusz Masternak for me. Two very dangerous opponents. Two guys who can hurt me. Two guys with very good pedigrees. I see each opponent the same.
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David is a world class fighter and puncher, an elite fighter some might say. He does pose certain threats, but ultimately its just a really hard fight. Im up against it again. He has the speed and power, but I have the engine and ring generalship. Hes tried to take that away from me by keeping me out of the ring for 14 months. Im not saying he meant it, but hes kind of taken that advantage away from me.
Tony 'The Bomber' Bellew
Fights32Wins29KOs19Losses2Draws1
Im ready now. I hope hes ready too because I dont want to be hearing any excuses after this fight. I dont care if his legs fall off, no excuses.
Everyone wants to know my exact prediction, but I cant really give it. Im not sure if his body will break down again because Im not sure hell push himself to the limits where it can break down. I think he knows his limits now. He also knows Im not an easy touch anymore.
He genuinely thought I was an easy touch in that first fight. He knows now I have a bit more in the locker. I think it will be a tentative match-up for a few rounds. I think hell try and play chess with me. Hell try and do the stuff Ismael Salas has been teaching him.
But ultimately, you cant teach an old dog new tricks. After we start sweating, when I start to make him work, hell revert to type. Hes finished then.
More: Boxing
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Ive had enough of everything at this stage. Enough of the training, enough of the talking, enough of the bollox that is David Haye. I left Rotherham early last week. I just had enough of training. I felt I was at breaking point, I wanted to kill the world.
Im in amazing shape after a year of camp, but I almost peaked two week before the fight. I needed a couple of days off just to back off a bit. You always have a couple of niggles in camp. Couple of minor injuries, its rare you go into a fight 100 per cent.
But, I feel in great shape now – mentally and physically. I just want to go to war now. I really want to have a fight. I want to put ten ounce gloves on and punch David in the face with everything Ive got.
More: Boxing
AdvertisementAdvertisement
I needed to calm down in fight week. The people around me, the people I trust and care about, they told me to reign it in and calm down. Ive taken that on board. If it was someone from the outside saying that, Id probably slap them. But with people that I love and trust, you take what they say on board. They understand where I should be at.
I cant afford to get emotionally involved in this fight. Ive got to be as cool and collected as I was going into the first fight. For me, nothing has changed. Hes still a massive favourite, Im still the huge underdog. Im still the guy with everything to prove. Hopefully I dont just go in and want to have a fight. Emotionally, I feel like thats what I will do. I need to have the common sense to stand back and not let whats happened to me in these last eight months play a part in what happens in the ring.
I havent spoken to any therapist or sports psychologist since the death of my brother-in-law, Ashley. My missus is who I speak to, we just confide in each other. Hes gone and theres nothing I can do to change it. I cant get him back. Id give everything Id own to have a just a little bit of time with him again. Ive got to get through this fight and assess everything afterwards.
Im at the point now where I need to fight. The fear and worry of my coaches are that Ill get in there and just want to fight. I know I cant be like that. That frame of mind in the ring will kill my chances. Playing Russian roulette with David Haye is madness. Ill get knocked out. If I go in calm and collected, like the first fight, Ill win this fight. David Haye can only beat me if I beat myself first. I beat him every day of the week if I keep my head.
That may be hard to believe considering Davids had such a stellar career. But, whether it was the David Haye of today or the David Haye of ten years ago, I will always beat him because styles make fights. Thats all this fight is about. Im a stylistic nightmare for him. Im in control here.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
We have the trade-offs when I say we have the trade-offs. He hits me when I give him the opportunity to hit me. Im in complete control, he has no say in what happens in this fight. Im not like any of his opponents. Someone whos quick enough to get out of the way of his opponent, who sees the punches coming. Every previous opponent hes had has backed up, hands straight up, waiting to be knocked out. Im a different breed.
I can make him pay for his mistakes. I can make him miss. I can chose to box with him or chose to fight him. He never fights people like that and every time he has fought someone different hes lost. He got outlasted by Carl Thompson and he got beat up by Wladimir Klitschko.
He looks at me as the little fat cruiserweight with a mouth. He now understands that Ive got more attributes than he could have possibly imagined. He understands that this little mouthy Scouser is hard to hit. He actually punches harder than I thought and is faster too.
I didnt become British, European, Commonwealth and world champion by accident. I won all them belts and I did it with my ability and my brain. I dont have many other skills. Im not the quickest, not the strongest – but I have a very, very good boxing brain. I can adapt to any situation.
I cant tell you how exactly this fight is going to go, but I can tell you is I will adapt and make the correct decisions at every single point of the fight. And I will win. Whichever way it comes.
This time round, the win will be a bigger win for the media and the public because it will come with no injury. It wont be bigger for me. Its just another fight. Fighting David Haye is the same thing as fighting Mateusz Masternak for me. Two very dangerous opponents. Two guys who can hurt me. Two guys with very good pedigrees. I see each opponent the same.
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David is a world class fighter and puncher, an elite fighter some might say. He does pose certain threats, but ultimately its just a really hard fight. Im up against it again. He has the speed and power, but I have the engine and ring generalship. Hes tried to take that away from me by keeping me out of the ring for 14 months. Im not saying he meant it, but hes kind of taken that advantage away from me.
Tony 'The Bomber' Bellew
Fights32Wins29KOs19Losses2Draws1
Im ready now. I hope hes ready too because I dont want to be hearing any excuses after this fight. I dont care if his legs fall off, no excuses.
Everyone wants to know my exact prediction, but I cant really give it. Im not sure if his body will break down again because Im not sure hell push himself to the limits where it can break down. I think he knows his limits now. He also knows Im not an easy touch anymore.
He genuinely thought I was an easy touch in that first fight. He knows now I have a bit more in the locker. I think it will be a tentative match-up for a few rounds. I think hell try and play chess with me. Hell try and do the stuff Ismael Salas has been teaching him.
But ultimately, you cant teach an old dog new tricks. After we start sweating, when I start to make him work, hell revert to type. Hes finished then.
More: Boxing
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