BBBoC launch investigation into David Haye’s threats against Tony Bellew

It’s fight week for David Haye and Tony Bellew, and as tensions rise in anticipation of their showdown, Haye has said some things which have gotten the strict attention of the British Boxing Board of Control.

As Haye spoke about this weekend’s fight against Bellew on Soccer AM, he got so wound-up that he actually punched his own hand to indicate the kind of power he packs:

“I punch that hard. The only thing that is going to happen is serious damage to his head. He has put himself in a very dangerous position.

"I hope if he does care for his family like he says he does, he does not invite them to the fight.

“I'm looking at putting a combination together where he is unconscious but his brain hasn't told his legs to fall down and I'm still hitting him while he's upright.”

Haye continued by saying that he’s never wanted to cave in someone’s head so bad in his life. But, unfortunately, at least some people found those comments to have crossed the line.

With recent tragedies in boxing like Nick Blackwell, Prichard Colon, and Magomed Abdulsalamov still fresh in the memories of many, British Boxing Board of Control secretary Robert Smith said there will be an investigation into Haye’s perceived threats against Bellew.

"As a father, man and human being, I am very disappointed to see Haye's comments about wanting to hospitalise Bellew.

"I'm disappointed on several levels and coming from someone who is deemed to be a role model it is clearly not right, and we will be speaking with him this week."

Albeit in poor taste, perhaps, this is the fight game and the objective of the sport is to physically incapacitate your opponent at the earliest opportunity. And no, nobody, really wants to see anyone take life-altering damage in the ring, but this whole investigation seems to be a mountain out of a molehill. Haye and Bellew have an acrimonious relationship and Haye is busy talking-up the fight for promotion.

Or am I perhaps reading this whole thing wrong and it really should a big deal? You tell me...