The man David Haye on Thursday dismissed as "a little rat coach" has revealed the insight his time working in the Hayemaker camp has brought to Tony Bellew's fight preparations.
Bellew's respected trainer Dave Coldwell, who has overseen his fighter's rise to become the WBC cruiserweight champion, will again be in his corner during Saturday's fight at London's 02 Arena and for the first time working against Haye.
Coldwell was once the head of Hayemaker Boxing, when a younger Haye established himself as one of the finest cruiserweights in history before fulfilling his lifelong dream by winning the WBA heavyweight title.
He oversaw the running of the business and promotions and helped organise sparring partners while contributing to matchmaking, training George Groves and assisting Haye's former trainer in analysing his fights.
However, while the 36-year-old heavyweight has labelled him 'Penfold' in the build-up to Saturday's fight, Coldwell believes he has detected weaknesses he would have overlooked had it not been for his previous experience. He also insists there was no fallout between the two, and that Haye's attitude towards him is the result of a modern-day "bitterness".
"It's the old David Haye I knew, not the new David Haye, this bitter, negative man," Coldwell, 41, told Press Association Sport. "I knew him when he seemed happy and at peace with himself.
"He's not as confident as you think. He has doubts, but (back then) had people with him who'd spend time with him and be honest; not 'yes men'.
"Now he's got people around him who haven't got the bottle to tell him what's what, because they don't want to lose their jobs. He's worth a lot of money; they're thinking about the (potential Anthony) Joshua fight, not this one.
"David Haye is a reflex fighter: the speed, head movement, everything. You're watching him doing little things on the pads with Shane (McGuigan): he ain't as fast as he thinks (any more).
"Fighters like Haye need somebody who can pull them in, control their emotions and ego. Naz (Naseem Hamed) had it with Brendan Ingle; Haye and (former trainer) Adam Booth were the same."
Of those who worked with the heavyweight when he was at his peak, only his conditioner Ruben Tabares remains on good terms with him and a part of his team.
For all of his success with Adam Booth, Haye's comeback has been overseen by Shane McGuigan. Coldwell believes that particular development has contributed much to the decline he believes he has seen.
"Technically, he was much better with Adam," he said. "He's not doing certain things now that he used to do.
"He's moved to a trainer who's modelled himself on Adam Booth. He'll be doing things similarly, but not as well. He had a trainer who knew him inside out because (Booth) created that (fighting) style; now he's got one who's come in from the outside. He's just a pad man with him.
"Nobody's around him; maybe Ruben. That's another reason why he's bitter: we've all moved on and done well. I was 'a little t-shirt boy', who's had great success with fighters.
"I was never his mate, but we'd always got on. Maybe he thinks I'm that insecure that him calling me 'Penfold', I'm going to start crumbling and feel pressure. All that is is like school.
"When I started at Hayemaker, I was struggling. It was great experience for me. It taught me a lot; Adam I learnt a hell of a lot."
