David Haye doesn’t trust Tony Bellew.
The hate is so palpably real between the pair of British rivals that Haye is eager to have some sort of protective barrier in place to prevent them getting their hands on one another ahead of their heavyweight showdown in London.
Haye and Bellew will share the ring with each other on March 4 in the O2 Arena and the genuine animosity that exists between them has made it an unmissable match-up.
When the pair were allowed to come face-to-face with one another last year at a press conference, Haye swung a punch in his rival’s direction after Bellew shoved him away.
In the lead-up to their weigh-ins next week, there will be more than one occasion when they will be forced to face off with one another but Haye insists that he wants more than security guards in place so that a fight doesn’t break out before the opening bell.
“There needs to be protection, a human being isn’t enough,” Haye said. “Whatever it is, glass or whatever.”
The fight, Bellew’s first at heavyweight, was thrust into the public interest after ‘The Bomber’ defended his WBC cruiserweight title last October and made a beeline for Haye, who was sat ringside.
Hyping fights is one thing but putting one’s hands on a person outside the confines of a sanctioned contest is another altogether and ‘The Hayemaker’ wants measures in place to make sure both men make it to fight night.
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“When tensions are high and when guys are scared they do crazy things,” Haye continued.
“I’m going to make sure he is not in striking distance. I’d love to have confidence that he will keep his hands to himself but I don’t have any confidence in him, in his mental state. Hopefully there will be some sort of precautions put in place.”
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