David Haye openly admitted what let him down in the first fight with Tony Bellew – speaking at today’s press conference ahead of their rematch on May 5th.

Mind games are always play a big part in big fights. They always have.

Speaking today at a press conference in London, Haye conceded that Bellew managed to get under his skin in the first fight.

He said:

“I believe I boxed horrendously (the first time) but Tony Bellew was a major factor in that. It’s all well saying I didn’t box good. But he forced me to box bad which is a skill in it own right.”

He added:

“Did he get under my skin? Maybe. Yeah, yeah. Agreed (nodding at Bellew). I needed that fuel at the time because on paper you had a heavyweight fighting a cruiserweight, so I didn’t see anything to give me any problems.”

He concluded:

“Tony Bellew was better me and that’s it.”

Haye came across as very realistic today. Very laid back.

Not willing to bite on anything that Bellew said.

He knows he can’t make the same mistake as last time – in terms of losing the mind games before the fight.