I’ve binned trash talk and won’t let Bellew drag me into the gutter
Haye keeping it clean after his taunts backfired last time
DAVID HAYE insists he will not let Tony Bellew drag him into the gutter again by engaging in a trash-talking war.
The Hayemaker claims he lost to Bellew in their first heavyweight clash because he let the Scouser needle him in the build-up.
The 37-year-old says he foolishly played into Bellew’s hands and has vowed not to repeat that mistake before Saturday’s rematch at London’s O2 Arena.
Haye was chilled at their public press conference at Liverpool’s Echo Arena despite abuse from Bellew fans. And he has vowed not to descend to the his rival’s level.
Haye said: “The last time I came in angry. I came in screaming and shouting, whooping and hollering and said some horrendous things to the good people of Liverpool.
“I paid the ultimate price because I talked big and then underperformed terribly.
“All the big talk I dished out, he made me eat my words.
“It’s just common sense. I don’t need a sports psychologist to tell me the way I was effing and blinding the last time I was in Liverpool was the wrong mindset to have.
“I’m not going to lower myself to that again. Last time I lowered myself to it and that’s where he is. He’s in the gutter, that’s where he performs.
“He played a masterful game. That’s not going to happen this time round. He’s going to be playing my game.”
Haye sat through his 11-round stoppage by Bellew with new trainer, Cuba’s Ismael Salas, who recently split from three-weight world champ Jorge Linares, and admits it was painful viewing.
The two-weight world champ, who has only boxed three times in the last six years, could not believe how bad he was and confessed he fought like a novice who had no place in a boxing ring.
He knows that after so many injuries his career is on the line and claims he is in perfect shape because former conditioner Ruben Tavares is back on board.
Haye said: “It was painful. I’m watching it and thinking, ‘What are you doing?’
“The punches I was throwing, I’ve never missed so many. If I had watched someone else do that I would have said, ‘Boxing isn’t for you, mate. You haven’t got what it takes to even make it past southern area level.’ That’s how bad it looked.
“Fortunately I have changed quite a few things, Salas being one of them, and having Tavares back on the team.
“He knows how to get the best out of me.”