Haye lost to Bellew in 2017 and 2018
Former world heavyweight boxing champion David Haye has denied grabbing a man’s throat at a comedy show.
Haye, 41, is accused of an unprovoked attack, but he says he put his hand on Nickesh Jhala’s shoulder after he made derogatory remarks about his girlfriend.
Mr Jhala had gone to the show with his partner plus cousin, Vishal Vadher, who had tried to speak with Haye.
Giving evidence, Mr Vadher told Westminster Magistrates Court: “I went up and said ‘hello’ and he said ‘Can’t you see I’m talking?’
“I went back to sit on my seat. There was a couple sat next to me. They had seen it and asked me ‘Why was he so rude to you?’
“I said ‘Maybe because Tony Bellew stepped on his foot’.
“He was very aggressive and angry. He jumped over, Nickesh was sat on my left, he reached and grabbed his throat.
“I heard the last part – his voice got louder – which was ‘I will kill you.’”
James Scobie KC, defending Haye, suggested that Mr Vadher was “slighted” by Haye because he was talking to his girlfriend and didn’t want to give time to Mr Vadher.
He said to Mr Vadher: “You were unhappy because he had been rude to you and I suggest that upset your perception of him.
“And I suggest that one of the first things you said when you sat down was ‘that’s David Haye.’
“And within moments of that you used expressions like ‘Amir Khan would have given me a picture’.
“And it’s during this period that you mention Tony Bellew and you mention him loud enough so that Haye could hear.”
Mr Scobie also said, pointing to CCTV footage played in court, that Mr Vadher referenced the woman with Haye saying “she must be with him”, to which Mr Jhala replied: “She must like the brothers.”
It was at this point, said Mr Scobie, that Haye climbed over the seat and put his left hand on Mr Jhala’s shoulder and said: “Don’t talk about me and her anymore: that is enough. Otherwise I’ll have you thrown out.”
Haye denies assault by beating.
The trial continues.
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