David Haye and Tony Bellew throw down on Saturday night live on Sky Sports Box Office for what amounts to a potentially explosive, potentially short crossroads scrap.
Bellew, once the perennial 'nearly man', currently holds the WBC World cruiserweight title which once sat atop Haye's shoulder, and enters the heavyweight contest a rank underdog in his delayed prime. Conversely, Haye is now 36, and looked far slower if equally powerful in his destruction of two unheralded opponents since his comeback, which was aptly broadcast on Dave.
Bellew is perhaps the most misunderstood fighter in Britain; while brash, abrasive and unlikeable to many, most in the industry consider him to be a thorough gentleman and family man. He's talked his way into a huge payday while genuinely believing he can thump the head of an aged Haye. It's far from impossible given his recent renaissance, but the larger Haye is favourite for a reason.
Liverpool's 'Bomber', with a newly developed sense of perspective, has been - for a fighter - unusually honest in the lead-up, admitting on several occasions that if Haye lands flush he could go over. Haye has been entirely dismissive of what he himself views as a high-income, low-risk fight.
Or at least he was until last night's press conference in Liverpool. Bellew declared Haye "a broken man," and usually ice-cool 'Hayemaker' appeared to lose the plot, finally succumbing to Bellew's consistent goading. Indeed, he even turned his attention to the baying Liverpudlian mob, barraging them with frankly unnecessary profanities in the process. It may well be the first time we've seen such a reaction from the former WBA World heavyweight champion in 30 fights.
'The Hayemaker's Haye Bellew press conference meltdown
DAVID HAYE GOES NUTS AT PRESS CONFERENCE ?????®#HayeBellew pic.twitter.com/eu1ID0mfBZ
— FIGHT CLUB® (@FIGHT_NEWZ) February 27, 2017
"I will never forget where I'm from. You're a broken man," Bellew told Haye matter-of-factly, to which Haye responded:
You're going back to nowhere. You are useless. You'll see. You'll see what a broken man can do to you on March 4th. A broken man who's going to break your head - that's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna smash your fucking head in and both of us know it.
You're getting done. This right hand is going through your fucking head. You know it.
(Points to crowd)
All of these fucking re****s know it as well! All of you!
(Turns back to Bellew)
You're a fucking prick!
Drowned out by the vocal Merseysiders in attendance, Haye then returned to his seat.
Thankfully from Sky Sports' perspective, after one of their more spiky recent encounters with Haye (and Bellew's penchant for dishing out pre-watershed naughty words) they opted to broadcast the press conference on delay.
The clip, however, did explode on social media, and though it will likely bear no influence on the contest, many will feel Bellew has done what no fighter has done in years - and perhaps even ever - in getting beneath Haye's skin.
