David Haye Throws Punch at Tony Bellew in Presser Before Heavyweight Fight

David Haye threw a punch at Tony Bellew on Wednesday as the pair came face-to-face for the first time since their March 4 heavyweight bout was announced.

As reported by Sam Morshead of the MailOnline, as the two squared off after addressing the media, Haye swung a left hook at his opponent, prompting a scuffle and more angry exchanges.

Here is a look at the incident in question, per the Boxing Videos Twitter feed:

WBA featherweight world champion Carl Frampton was glad the punch didn’t land on Bellew or his nearby promoter Eddie Hearn:

The media briefing between the two descended into a slanging match, and it’s clear that Haye, a former two-weight world champion, doesn’t think too highly of his opponent.

“I could go clubbing every single night from now to the fight, get smashed every night and still knock you out,” Haye said, per Morshead. “I could turn up drunk off my head. You're getting knocked out, destroyed. Even if you do hit me nothing is going to happen, you powder-puff-punching chump.”

Per Sean Ingle of the Guardian, Bellew issued his own response to those claims, insisting Haye is an attention seeker:

Many view this bout as Haye’s first major test since his return from retirement, having previously fought Mark de Mori and Arnold Gjergjaj; the 36-year-old won both of those bouts with early stoppages. 

In 2009, he beat Nikolai Valuev to clinch the WBA heavyweight title, although he was outclassed in a unification bout with Wladimir Klitschko in 2011. His last fight prior to his hiatus was a knockout win over Dereck Chisora.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Bellew, the WBC cruiserweight champion, earned a shot at Haye after beating Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park and then stopping BJ Flores in October. His upcoming opponent was ringside for that bout, and afterwards, the Liverpool native accused Haye of “conning the British public since his pathetic comeback started.”

The 34-year-old reacted angrily to Haye’s attempted left hook and explained to Sky Sports (h/t the Liverpool Echo's Joe Rimmer) his version of events. “David walked up he got his nose in my face and I pushed him back and he hit me with a left hook,” said Bellew. “If that’s the best he has got then he is in trouble on March 4.”

During the press conference, Bellew also suggested Haye could have taken a shot at a world heavyweight title instead of fighting him but said Haye "chose the money because he's skint,” per Morshead. 

Given his familiarity at the weight and overall pedigree, Haye is the likely favourite for this bout. However, Bellew has the power to cause problems for a fighter that won't have fought an elite opponent for five years by the time this one rolls around.