David Haye is set for a hearing with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBBofC) following his recent comments on upcoming opponent Tony Bellew.
Ahead of their London showdown on Saturday, Haye threatened to “hospitalise” Bellew in what will be a heavyweight debut for ‘The Bomber’.
“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 said in an interview with the Telegraph.
The graphic nature of Haye’s intentions, coupled with his desire to see a fellow professional forced into a hospital bed, has resulted in an investigation into the remarks.
BBBofC will now consider a punishment for Haye, which could see the former world heavyweight and cruiserweight champion fined while promoter Eddie Hearn has said: “It does kind of bring boxing into the gutter a little bit.”
“As a father, man and human being, I am very disappointed to see Haye’s comments about wanting to hospitalise Bellew,” BBBofC secretary Robert Smith told the Telegraph. “Why has he chosen to say something like that?
“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.”
Ahead of the culmination of one of the fiercest British boxing rivalries in decades, Haye requested that protective barriers be put in place for fight week so that no physical violence takes place between the fighters before fight night.
The call came following a press conference last year at which a punch was thrown when the pair squared off and it’s believed that a steel fence will indeed be put between the men, who appear to have a genuine hatred for one another, during promotional events over the next few days.
"There needs to be protection, a human being isn't enough" https://t.co/KZPPwaORVb
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) February 23, 2017
While the prospect of facing a sanction from BBBBofC is very real, Haye refuses to tone down his trash talk and ‘The Hayemaker’ has vowed to end Bellew’s career on Saturday night when there is nothing but a referee between the pair.
“I can guarantee you he’s going to be retiring this year,” Haye added.
“He won’t be boxing after March 4, no way. Just like John Ruiz didn’t box, just like Mark de Mori, just like Nikolai Valuev.
“There are a lot of fighters when I fight them they stay hit forever and never fight again. He will be on that list of people I’ve sent into retirement.”
