David Haye and Tony Bellew had to be separated at the first press conference for their heavyweight clash, which takes place on March 4 at The O2 in London.

Haye, who is rated No. 9 by THE RING at heavyweight, and Bellew goaded each other throughout and as they lined up to pose for photos, tensions boiled over when Bellew pushed Haye who responded with a left hook which, thankfully, missed the target.

The pair had to be restrained by security personnel.

“This is the fight that the public want to see – they want me to shut Tony Bellew up,” said Haye. “I will end (the fight) whenever I want. It’s completely up to me. I will dominate Tony Bellew.

“He thinks he can KO me? Look at all the heavyweights I’ve boxed that have hit me with 10 ounce gloves and not put me down. But the past is all irrelevant, I’m going to destroy him.”

“The difference between me and him is, I want to fight,” said Bellew, who is currently rated No. 3 by THE RING at cruiserweight and WBC titleholder. “The last time he was in a fight was five years ago. I’ve done what I’ve done in the ring, while he’s been partying in nightclubs. I’ve been in the ring and in the gym.

“I want to fight. I enjoy fighting, he hates it. We get in the ring on March 4, you can say what you want about me, I don’t stop, I keep coming and I don’t fear him. He thinks I’m scared of him, he talks nonsense.

“All these demands he’s put in the contract, the size of the ring and the canvas has to be this thick. I am not going to run from him. I had one demand, to pick my own gloves, that’s it. It’s not about anyone else but me and him. Write me off at your peril, I’ve proved everyone wrong so far. If this comes down to heart and courage, he’s in big trouble.”

Tom Gray is a UK Correspondent/ Editor for RingTV.com and a member of THE RING ratings panel. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing

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