David Haye says he ‘doesn’t regret’ any of his pre-fight threats to Tony Bellew which included saying he would ‘cave in his skull and send him to the hospital’
Haye's comments are perhaps surprising following the respect he has paid Bellew - but he does expect to get a fine
DAVID HAYE has said he "doesn't regret" the threats he gave rival Tony Bellew in the lead up to their blockbuster domestic fight at the O2 Arena, London.
Haye, who was stopped in the 11th round of the fight, is due to stand in front of the Boxing Board of Control (BBofC) next month where he could face a suspension and fines for his comments aimed at the Liverpool boxer Bellew.
Heavyweight Haye was heard saying how he wanted to "cave in his skull and send him to the hospital".
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He said: “I’ve got to go in and see them, I believe, in mid-April.
“They [BBofC] met on Wednesday and they want to have a chat, so I’ll learn what my punishment is.
“Whatever [the consequences] are, they are. Probably a fine, maybe a suspension or whatever it may be. I said what I said and I can’t unsay it.
“I don’t regret any of it, otherwise what’s the point of saying anything?
“You say what you say at the time and accept the consequences, sometimes it ruffles people’s feathers, sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts."
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The tensions came to a head on the first day of fight week - the Monday before the Saturday.
At a press conference in Bellew's native Liverpool, Haye completely lost his cool, calling his opponent's fans in the room "f***ing r*****s", and then stuck up his middle finger telling the crowd assembled to f*** off".
He added: “Leading into the fight you’re in fight mode, a mindset to go to that place where I was in that ring. It’s not a civilised place, not for everybody, and society wouldn’t want to live in that environment.
“I’ve become more myself. In the past I definitely edited stuff down a little but now I just say it how it is; I’m going to get punished one way or the other. You can’t make everyone happy.
“I didn’t have the respect for [Bellew] prior to the fight that I have now. Certain things I would say to him I’d have no business saying because it would be false and I wouldn’t force it.
"But if he says something that upsets me I won’t edit how I feel."
Haye injured his Achilles in the sixth round of the fight, that ultimately left him competing on one leg.
It was often hard to stomach as Bellew landed at will on a stricken Haye, and after the latter was sent crashing through the ropes, his corner threw in the towel.
After the fight, Haye had a two-and-a-half-hour operation to re-attach his Achilles, and is now expected to be out for between six and nine months.