Tony Bellew has questioned why David Haye is staying "silent" in his training camp, but believes his bitter rival's "muzzle" will come off when they meet again.
The British duo are preparing for their rematch at The O2 on May 5, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and Bellew admits he did not share any words with his opponent when they both recently attended the Lawrence Okolie-Isaac Chamberlain fight at the same venue.
But 'Bomber' fully expects hostilities to resume with Haye when they come face to face for pre-fight events.
"I wish he had something to say, but he seems to be silent of late," Bellew exclusively told Sky Sports.
"A part of me thinks that his publicist or his team around him have told him to keep shut, because he's done that much damage to his profile in the past fights.
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Don't worry, when he claps eyes on me that muzzle will come off, because I know he can't even bear to look at me
"I came to his backyard, his hometown. He called it his lion's den and I got cheered, and he got booed. That says an awful lot for what he stood for going into that last fight, than what we stood for at the end of it.
"He was silent with a month to go before the last fight. He's trying to go on as if he's this reformed character.
"It's just that his publicist team have put a muzzle on him. Don't worry, when he claps eyes on me that muzzle will come off, because I know he can't even bear to look at me.
"We were both at the Okolie-Chamberlain fight and he can't even bear to look at me.
"He must have let on to every single person in and around me, and he can't even bear to look at me, because I know I annoy him that much."
Fitness issues have hindered Haye, who suffered a serious Achilles problem during his stoppage loss in March, and then pulled out of a scheduled bout in December with a bicep injury.
But Bellew insists he will answer any questions with a more convincing victory.
"At the end of the day, I'm giving him the rematch, because I know I beat him the last time fair and square, and I didn't beat him because of no injury," said Bellew.
"I beat him once, and on May 5 I'm going to beat him again, and it's not going to be a shock in the slightest to me.
"I'm going into this fight with a game plan to stop him even quicker than the first one."
