David Haye opted to start his fight against Tony Bellew months early yesterday when he threw a punch as the two went head-to-head at a heated press conference to promote their March 4 heavyweight fight.

The former WBA champion displayed an uncharacteristic lack of composure throughout, angrily insulting promoter Eddie Hearn and Bellew’s trainer David Coldwell, as well as his opponent.

Haye had previously been involved in violence at a press conference when he brawled with Dereck Chisora in 2012 but on that occasion he felt provoked. He often cuts a well-prepared figure when appearing publicly; here his reaction to a routine shove from Bellew appeared the culmination of the intense pressure he seemed under.

Nothing was off limits to Haye, who threatened to leave Bellew’s body “limp” in the ring.

“You’re not going to be able to chew your food,” Haye warned his opponent Bellew.

“I’ll end the fight when I want to. If I want to punish you for three rounds, I will, if I want to take you out in 30 seconds, I will. You have no say, you’re a chump.

“The fact is you’re getting KO’d. I’m going to stand there with my hands down, even if you hit me, nothing will happen.

“You’re getting knocked out. Destroyed. You don’t have the pedigree, you don’t have anything.

“I’ll be standing over your limp body in the ring. I’ll come to hospital and let you play with my hair.”

Haye then turned his attention to Anthony Joshua, a client of Hearn, by saying: “Trust me, I’m working with you [Hearn] today to put the look on your face, on all of your teams’ faces, when I destroy your boy.

“When I’ve done that, I’m going to come back and destroy your boy Joshua and shut down the business.”

Bellew answered back, calling Haye a “diva” while claiming that “there are that many demands and stipulations, I’m surprised he didn’t ask me to carry him into this press conference.”

Bellew said: “He’s the biggest diva boxing has ever seen. I’m the fat little cruiserweight who keeps proving people wrong.

“If this fight comes down to courage and heart at any time, if the steam goes out of him after four rounds, he’s in a world of shit.”

Things then got physical between the pair, who had to be separated by the numerous security guards present and ushered into different rooms.

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