Haye running on his own time

The gaggle of visiting schoolchildren on their way to the Tutankhamun exhibition probably wouldn't have recognised him, but the scrum of cameramen and reporters were waiting for David Haye, who eventually did show up at the O2 yesterday, albeit too late for his press conference with Enzo Maccarinelli.

Haye refused to attend the press conference at 12.30pm, because he said it messed with his sleep time. He claims Frank Warren, the promoter, switched the time to make it inconvenient for him and is also griping at the 7pm weigh-in time for Friday - he wants it at 4pm, a time he claims is in his contract.

"I was expecting these sort of tactics, nobody’s interrupting my sleep and that's all that matters," Haye said. "On Saturday night you are going to get a fully hydrated guy, who's had plenty of sleep and is ready for war. It shows to me the mindset of their side that they are trying to cut into my sleep time.

"They are getting worried. The rumours are my weight ain’t as bad as it was in the past, so maybe it’s jitters on their side. They need every advantage they can get and are trying every trick in the book.
The Mormeck fight I was 70 per cent, this time I’m going to be 100 per cent. On my side there are no problems. I got here when I said I'd get here. I've got a contract that says the weigh-in is at 4pm, but who do you think would try to push it back? I will let you make your own mind up about that."

There is a chance that not attending the press conference could cost Haye some money. Warren has lodged a complaint with the British Boxing Board saying that Haye is in breach of his contract.

"It's a great shame he's not here, it's just not professional," Warren said at the press conference. When Joe Calzaghe fought Jeff Lacy, it was the same start time and the same press conference time, there were no problems. Enzo [Maccarinelli] came from Wales for this, Haye's from South London. I don't know why he is doing this.

"It's the old image that the promoter is the bad guy, but I'm paying him a fortune - he should show some respect to the promotion. I hope he sleeps well because he's going to have a nightmare on Saturday night."