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David Haye is fighting for his career on Saturday, claims Tony Bellew

Bellew was composed as he delivered his warning to the 37-year-old former world heavyweight champion

Monday 30 April 2018 20:05 BST
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Tony Bellew and David Haye meet in a rematch this Saturday
Tony Bellew and David Haye meet in a rematch this Saturday (Reuters)

Tony Bellew claims David Haye is fighting for his career on Saturday when the two British heavyweights clash in a rematch at London's O2 Arena.

In a low-key pre-fight press conference in Liverpool, Haye admitted he was not as "angry" as in previous media engagements.

Haye had thrown a punch at the 35-year-old in a November 2016 press conference as they promoted their original March 2017 showdown, which Bellew won.

Bellew was also composed as he delivered a warning to the 37-year-old former world heavyweight champion.

Bellew said: "On Saturday, it comes to an end, it really does. For the first time in your career you are fighting for your career.

"If this goes wrong, nothing can save you. I've done this five or six times. I know the kind of pressure it brings. You're in a lot of trouble on Saturday."

It has been almost 14 months since the original duel, also at the O2 Arena, ended with an 11th-round stoppage of Haye.

Bellew added: "David was amazed that I took the rematch. I'm doing it, and I'll do exactly what I did in the first fight.

"David is not back to win world titles, he's back to try to rob the bank. He wants to fight little fatties like me.

"Expect a cagey start, he'll show me the respect he should have shown me in the first fight, I'm sure. Saturday is time to go to war, and (Haye's) career ends in a beat."

Bellew is confident of a second victory over his heavyweight rival (Reuters)

Haye, who has 28 wins from his 31 fights as a professional, has vowed to right the wrongs of his last outing against Bellew.

Haye said: "Last time round I was a bit angry, this time round, not so much. I've trained very hard. He raised his game (in the first fight) and I expect the same on Saturday night.

"The last fight was a cracker, everyone enjoyed it, apart from me. I'm going to do what I tried to do last time, but failed miserably - you're going to see the end of Tony Bellew."

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