Wednesday 15 February 2017 17:46, UK
Tony Bellew believes that David Haye’s former trainer Adam Booth would have prevented their upcoming Sky Sports Box Office headliner.
Haye is coached by Shane McGuigan but he captured a heavyweight world title under the stewardship of Booth in 2009.
"This fight wouldn't be happening if he was still with Booth," Bellew exclusively told Sky Sports before filming an intriguing episode of The Gloves Are Off ahead of the March 4 occasion.
I don't think I match up stylistically with the kind of fighters that Adam matched Haye with for his whole career.
"I don't think I match up stylistically with the kind of fighters that Adam matched Haye with for his whole career.
"He always fought straight-back fighters who don't move on the inside. Fighters who can't fight on the inside, and who leave their head up in the air. I just don't fight like that.
"It comes across like I fight like that, if you look at my last fight! But over a period of time, I've proved I can fight in many different styles and do many different things.
"I've always said that David Haye is made for Adam Booth, not for Shane McGuigan. Carl Frampton is made for Shane - the two of them are a great match. Haye and Booth are a great match."
Bellew also criticised Haye's choice to train alone in Miami while McGuigan oversaw Frampton's recent defeat to Leo Santa Cruz in Las Vegas.
"It shows how much he values his boxing coach, to not be with him for basically a month," Bellew said. "That shows how much he values Shane."
It shows how much he values his boxing coach, to not be with him for basically a month.
Bellew's newest dig comes after his trainer, Dave Coldwell, was criticised by Haye for his role in David Price's recent defeat.
WBC cruiserweight champion Bellew said last month: "Someone like Shane might be a little bit in awe with someone like Haye.
"Ultimately Haye is doing it his way. There's nothing wrong with that but if he was facing Anthony Joshua on March 4, he wouldn't be in Miami.
"Because it's Tony Bellew and he thinks it's a walk in the park and it's OK to stay in Miami and party. While he's posing in the sun I am working my bits off in the cold and the dark."
McGuigan responded by suggesting Bellew would "run and move away" from Haye.
Tony Bellew meets David Haye on March 4, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
