David Haye Rips Apart Hearn: I'll Beat Joshua - End Your Company!

David Haye threw a punch at Tony Bellew as the two went head-to-head at a heated press conference to promote their March 4 heavyweight fight.

The former WBA champion displayed an uncharacteristic lack of composure throughout, angrily insulting promoter Eddie Hearn and Bellew's trainer David Coldwell, as well as his opponent.

Haye had previously been involved in violence at a press conference when he brawled with Dereck Chisora in 2012 but on that occasion he felt provoked. He often cuts a well-prepared figure when appearing publicly; here his reaction to a routine shove from Bellew appeared the culmination of the intense pressure he seemed under.

The two were then separated by the numerous security guards present and ushered into different rooms, but only after having spent the previous 20 minutes trying to shout over each other.

Haye has experienced numerous occasions when his opponents have tried to insult him, but after listening to Bellew he chose to criticise Matchroom's Hearn, only insulting Bellew when his opponent defended his promoter.

"It's all about the Eddie Hearn show," said an unusually-angry Haye, 36. "I tried to watch a Katie Taylor interview. She starts talking and you barge her out of the way, 'Apples and pears'.

"He's already hijacked the press conference. If Naseem Hamed or Chris Eubank were coming through now, it wouldn't happen because Eddie would jump in front of them and make the show about him.

"After I've taken out this guy, I'm going to take out (Anthony) Joshua and end your business."

Hearn, whose career in boxing was launched by maneuvering Audley Harrison into a title fight with Haye in 2010 and has long sought to work with Haye, responded: "How much does it kill you that I'm promoting this show?

"You're a power freak. You're working with Matchroom, because you've got no choice, because you need the dough. You need the dough and you're fighting a cruiserweight."