TONY BELLEW believes one of the fundamental differences between himself and David Haye is his win-at-all-costs mentality as he plots to upset the odds once again on May 5.
Bellew was an overwhelming underdog going into last yearโs first grudge encounter but was ahead on all three of the judgesโ scorecards when he stopped his heavyweight rival in the 11th round at Londonโs O2 Arena.
The victory was slightly soured as Haye visibly struggled after rupturing an Achilles tendon midway through the fight, and the former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion is the favourite to gain revenge when they meet again at the same venue next Saturday.
Asked what his motivation is ahead of the rematch, Bellew told Press Association Sport: โTo prove everyone wrong โ again. It seems to be a common theme: Bellew is the massive underdog and he just wants to prove everyone wrong.
โThe plan is just to do it again and win at all costs. Thatโs the difference between me and him: you will see when we get to a certain level itโs just win at all costs, I have to win. I just have to win. Iโm not someone who can come home and just accept losing.
โIโm a winner through and through and thatโs one of my strongest attributes, I have to win and Iโll do whatever takes to win on May 5.
โIโm in good shape, Iโm in good spirits and Iโm ready for another war.โ
The build-up to their first bout was marred by controversy, with Haye fined ยฃ25,000 by the British Boxing Board of Control after admitting his pre-fight comments brought boxing into disrepute.
Haye has adopted a respectful tone in recent months but Bellew, a former world champion at cruiserweight, has scoffed at suggestions he is a changed man.
Bellew said: โHeโs about as humble as Madonna. David wasnโt humbled, heโs just got humble pie on his face because what he said, he didnโt do. Everything I said in the build-up came true.
โDavid is trying to market himself in a better way: look at his training videos, he says nothing controversial.
โThis is the fella who said he was going to render me unconscious, this is the same fella who said โIโm the worst world champion in history everโ.
โI donโt forget that. Those thoughts donโt change overnight, you donโt go from being the worst world champion ever to thinking โright, this guy can really fightโ.
โItโs just that it didnโt work for him and because it didnโt work heโs now changed his approach. But his mindset is still the same when it comes to me.โ
Haye has linked up with respected Cuban trainer Ismael Salas for the return fight but Bellew believes the impact will be minimal.
He added: โHeโs going to have a few new trick and techniques. But once four or five rounds passes, the old dog will revert to type.โ