Bellew recently confirmed his weight was at a bulky sixteen stone, which has dropped by a couple more pounds since, and ‘The Bomber’ intends to lose a lot more weight before the pair hit the scales in seven weeks.
“I’m 223 pounds today, but I’ll be honest and I’m looking to cut that down by about fifteen pounds come fight night,” Bellew exclusively told World Boxing News.
“The advantage David Haye always has is speed, so if I can get anywhere near his speed then he’s got a problem.
“Let’s face it, Haye always looks amazing and he’s an incredible athlete. Probably one of best looking heavyweights aesthetically. It’s a shame his face and haircut don’t match his amazing biceps and chest!
“At the end of the day, weight has nothing to do with this fight as far I’m concerned. It would only play a part if he planned on leaning on me on the inside and making a fight of it. Haye will be surprised at how physically strong I am as everyone who faces me always gets a shock.
“Appearances don’t win fights, if they did I’d be Peter Buckley,” he joked.
The animosity between the pair has been at the fore, even before their fight was announced, and Bellew is still questioning whether Haye is fully focused on the task that will face him at the O2 Arena.
“I’m working hard, but I’m not one of these fighters who says it’s been the best camp ever because that would be a lie. What I will say is I’m pushing myself every day to be the best I can be,” explained Bellew. “I’m getting the balance right between rest and work, so all I can do is prepare myself the best I possibly can to give it everything I possibly can. One thing is certain with me – I will give it everything!
“To be honest, I don’t think he rates me at all. He’s showing that by going to Miami and leaving his boxing coach (Shane McGuigan) behind. When my coach went to Texas for Jamie McDonnell’s fight, I went with him and we were eleven weeks away from my fight.
“This clown is in Miami posing for photos with proper celebrities with eight weeks to go. This alone shows me he’s not taking me serious.”
