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David Haye is selling a “humbled” persona ahead of his May 5 rematch with Tony Bellew, saying he was humbled by Bellew in their last fight, that he’s not going to let Bellew get into his head again, and that he’s coming in more focused.
From Sky Sports:
““I’m not taking the bait, Tony. I took it last time. I allowed you to get into my psyche. ... [T]his time I’ve got the chance to redeem it. Everything happens for a reason and one thing I know is Tony is going to be better second time around, and so will I. I have to be.
”I’ve had more time working with coach Ismael Salas to work on fight combinations, working on a new style. Either I’m going to be the version I was last time out and I may win, or I may not win and that is the end of me. I would have bet my life that I would win the last fight.”
Bellew isn’t buying it.
“I have watched David Haye’s whole career. I have studied him since we were young. I know what he does when he’s under pressure. The only thing I don’t know is what he does when he’s injured!
”I’m a realist, not a fantasist. This fight can be ended in 20 seconds. If I hit his whiskers with my left hook, he’s going down too. With him coming in lighter, he’s going to be more susceptible.
”I don’t tire in 12 rounds fights, and he does. When the bell goes and it’s me and him, David will revert to type. The same crazy fight will unload again.”
The reality is, Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KO) is probably right — it’s unlikely that Haye, at 37, is about to change his stripes. The Haye (28-3, 26 KO) that Bellew expects is probably the Haye that we’re going to get when the heat turns up.
Still, Haye is always dangerous, and Bellew knows that. If Bellew feels — and Haye says it’s true — that his own approach ahead of the first fight made a difference, why wouldn’t he do the exact same ahead of this one, and try to get into Haye’s head?
Right now, it’s all mind games and talk. On May 5, the bell rings, and Bellew and Haye clash again. The same result or a different outcome?
REPEAT OR REVENGE?!?!???!?!?!?!?