London – David Haye and Dereck Chisora traded fresh insults as the British rivals weighed in Thursday for this weekend's much anticipated heavyweight clash.
Saturday's clash at London's Upton Park, the home of West Ham United Football Club, has generated huge public interest but appalled many boxing purists.
The bout came to pass after the two Londoners brawled in Munich five months ago during a news conference following Chisora's world heavyweight title defeat by Vitali Klitschko.
Barbs rather than blows were exchanged Thursday as Haye weighed in 37lbs or two-and-a-half stones lighter than Chisora, with a steel fence separating the pair, as had been the case in an earlier news conference to promote the fight.
When they faced off through the mesh, Chisora and trainer Don Charles taunted Haye.
“We drive the same cars and we're going to have the same records,” Chisora said.
“I've had three losses and after the fight he'll have had three losses. We'll be even. I'm coming for you.
“I'm feeling good, I'm excited and I can't wait. It's going to be a great fight, the fans will love it.”
Haye, responded by highlighting Chisora's lengthy criminal record and conduct within boxing as the reason for his hatred of the 28-year-old, branding his rivals's fans “idiots”.
“Chisora's not a nice guy, the fact he bites people in the ring, spits water in peoples' faces, slaps people at weigh-ins, kisses people at weigh-ins,” said Haye.
“What's to like?”
“I don't know how anyone in their right man could support Dereck Chisora, a convicted woman beater.
“Who would support someone like that? Someone who says and does the things he does? What is there to support?
“What type of sane human being supports someone like that? Maybe another idiot would, someone like himself.
“There were a handful of idiots here who supported him, they were probably his mates.”
The 31-year-old Haye, a former world heavyweight champion, added Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon would cope with any roughouse tactics from Chisora.
“We've got a good referee who won't stand for any foolishness and I'm confident he will handle anything,” he said.
Charles, explaining the anger he felt towards Haye, said: “I try my best in all the fights Dereck has had in the past to not get emotionally involved.
“But I can't stand David Haye. The arrogance he shows is beyond belief. He's delusional and lives in a dream world.
“He's a guy who plays a lot of Playstation games and he gets caught up in that mindset, he thinks it's all a game, but this is real.”– Sapa-AFP