Golovkin vs Brook: Stuart Hall lets fly at Lee Haskins ahead of world title fight
Thursday 8 September 2016 12:41, UK
Stuart Hall has dubbed world champion Lee Haskins "a frail little girl" ahead of their clash on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin v Kell Brook.
The 36-year-old Hall (20-4-2-KO7) clashed with IBF bantamweight king Haskins (33-3-KO14) at Wednesday's final press conference and after a brief physical confrontation, the verbal warfare resumed.
"This is it for me," said Hall. "Haskins thinks I'm over the hill and some old man but I can't wait to prove him wrong. This fight means absolutely everything to me and no way am I letting that playboy get in the way of my dreams.
"Haskins is a frail little girl. He's not going to put a dent in me. I'm going to steam through him, and quick. I can't wait to see his face when he's on the floor.
"He was giving it the big one saying he is going to knock me out in six rounds. Is he having a laugh? All Lee will do is run and be on the back foot, but I'll go hunting for him and I will knock him clean out.
I meant what I said at the head-to-head with Stuey, he is getting stopped in six rounds.
"Haskins isn't world level and I'll prove it. He's got lucky throughout his career, he is British level at best. Lee was handed that world title. Yes, he trained. Yes, he made weight but that wouldn't sit right with me - I would want to have earned it.
"He was parading it round like he's gone out there and dethroned the champion but he didn't and he would have got spanked by Randy Caballero if the fight took place."
Haskins, who was elevated to champion when champion Caballero failed to make weight in 2015, was quick to return Hall's salvo with interest and, needless to say, predicted a different outcome to the contest.
"Stuey had a dig about me being 'given' the world title," said Haskins. "He made out that I was too scared to fight Caballero which is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. If I didn't fancy it, I would have pulled out of negotiations let alone travel to Las Vegas after a gruelling training camp.
"I was the one that made weight. I trained hard, gave everything in that camp and I earned my spot. Yes, it was given to me, but what am I supposed to do? Stuey would have done exactly the same and he knows it. Anyone would. It wasn't the nicest way to win a world title, but I deserve it for what I've won in the game - no one can begrudge me that.
"I meant what I said at the head-to-head with Stuey, he is getting stopped in six rounds. Yes, I'm expecting a tough fight as he is a tough man and we have both improved since our last fight, but I will have far too much for him.
"He has my undivided attention for this fight, I'm relaxed because I'm confident I have too much in every department for him to handle."
Watch Haskins v Hall on Gennady Golovkin v Kell Brook, live on Sky Sports Box Office from The O2, on September 10. Book the event via your Sky remote or online here.
