Whenever I get asked why I’m stepping into the ring to fight Tony Bellew, I think about why I fell in love with boxing at my home in London so many years ago.
I’ll never forget the joy and happiness that big fights brought to my household – it was like a carnival. Everyone bought into the pre-fight hype; uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, people in the neighbourhood – they’d all come and gather round the TV to stay up late and watch the fight, it was always a big occasion. I remember how Frank Bruno fights would unite the community. We always wanted the guy to win and when he did, it gave our whole community a sense of achievement.
When you’re a kid, you want to be the one everybody is cheering for and from a very young age I realised that the biggest prize in sport was the heavyweight championship of the world. Whenever it came time for my family to talk about who the greatest of all time was, Muhammad Ali’s name was always the last one standing. Ali, along with my father, were the biggest, most powerful men in my life and I wanted that same status. At three-years-old, I said I wanted to be the heavyweight champion of the world for the first time.
"Muhammad ali and my father were the most powerful men in my life."
My parents never pushed me into boxing but I grew up in a very physical family so I was never afraid to throw punches or get hit. My dad was a martial artist and he used to coach karate in a local dojo so I’d spend most my early life in there with him. I loved it but I knew something was missing.
It wasn’t full contact so you couldn’t get properly stuck in against your opponents; it was about scoring points and exhibiting patience and control. Although that’s something I’ve developed as I’ve grown up, that just wasn’t me back then – I was an energetic, determined, strong kid who wanted to go in hard whatever they were doing. Martial arts is the act of self-defence and I was more about speed, power and being on the offensive. Boxing was the natural fit.
Growing up, altercations were impossible to avoid. I went to an inner-city school and there were a few tearaways and lots of young people with anger issues who’d be fighting, day in and day out. Where I was from, kids sorted their differences out in the playground – we fought, shook hands and went on our way at the end of the day.
Saturday’s fight against Tony Bellew brings out those same schoolyard emotions in me. I really genuinely despise this guy and can’t wait to settle our differences by getting in the ring and knocking him out.
"I believe that no one on this planet can live with me and that includes tony Bellew."
My fight with Nikolai Valuev – perhaps my most famous victory, in November 2009 – was totally different. That was my first opportunity to be heavyweight champion of the world, to fulfil my childhood ambition. When I said it throughout my life, nobody would listen. Teachers would ask me where my homework was and I’d say “I’m gonna be the heavyweight champion and I don’t need to know about geography” – I knew where I wanted to go and it was to the top of the mountain in heavyweight boxing.
I always had that level of confidence and it’s manifested itself into some kind of superpower. I believe that no one on this planet can live with me and that includes a world champion like Bellew.
"I am still the most explosive heavyweight on this planet."
I’m genuinely fitter, stronger and faster than I’ve ever been.
When a doctor told me that I’d never fight again because of a destructive shoulder injury I never paid it any attention, it was just another hurdle. There have been many boxers who have been told the injuries they’ve received are too serious for a full recovery. It even happened to a friend of mine – Vinny Pazienza – a former world champion who broke his neck in a horrendous car accident. He was told he could never walk again but through determination and hard work, he managed to get back in the ring and win a title again. Doctors can’t place limits on the human condition – they never knew the lengths I was willing to go to in order to make history. I’m not a normal human being.
I've found a way to be better than I was before my injury and on Saturday, I’m going to do a real number on this guy. I want a highlight reel knockout.
I am still the most explosive heavyweight on this planet. After this weekend, people will be even more certain of that.
David Haye fights Tony Bellew at the O2 Arena on March 4th. To order the fight, visit Sky Box Office.
