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Thursday, 6 March 2008, 16:32 GMT

Warren angry after Haye 'no-show'

graphic Enzo Maccarinelli v David Haye, Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport website, Sunday 9 March, approx 0130 GMT

Promoter Frank Warren criticised David Haye for not appearing at the final news conference ahead of Sunday's world title showdown with Enzo Maccarinelli.

Haye claimed the resheduled 1230 GMT meeting would interfere with his sleep ahead of an early Sunday morning fight.

Maccarinelli travelled from Swansea and Warren said: "It is disrespectful of David and his manager Adam Booth, they have let down the fight and promotion."

Haye turned up at 1430 GMT and spoke to the press in The O2 Arena foyer.

The Londoner, who is on American time after training in the United States, said he had arrived at the time stipulated in his contract.

"His people have heard from the gyms that big world-ranked heavyweights have been getting smashed to pieces"
David Haye

But Warren added: "David is not that good that he can pick and choose when he turns up. He usually fights in front of 2,000 at York Hall and there will be 20,000 at this fight.

"He's in breach of contract, and I've made a complaint already to the Boxing Board of Control. They've got to determine whether there is a breach of contract and what his obligations are.

"It's all very mystifying to me. I'm paying him an absolute fortune, and he should show some respect not only to the promotion but to Enzo. He's come down from Wales - and this fellow lives in London."

WBC and WBA cruiserweight champion Haye has trained in Miami for Sunday's bout at London's 02 Arena, and has adopted a carefully planned sleep routine.

The fight is set to start in the early hours of Sunday morning in Britain, in order to fit in with television schedules in the US.

Haye has also questioned Friday's weigh-in time of 1900 GMT, insisting he would stick to the original time of 1600 GMT.

"We agreed certain things in the contract, and now they are changing," said Haye.

606: DEBATE
"I'm used to dragging myself out at silly o'clock to watch the Las Vegas blockbusters, but it feels wrong in this instance"
BBC Sport's Alex Trickett on the timing of Haye v Macca

"It's no secret I'm big at the weight, and in an ideal world I'd have the weigh-in as early as possible. But obviously they want to push it back.

"His [Maccarilelli's] people are getting desperate. They're worried because they realise I'm in the best shape of my life.

"They've been hearing from the gyms that big world-ranked heavyweights have been getting smashed to pieces."

The much-hyped bout is the first all-British world title fight since Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank went head-to-head in 1993, and has attracted major media interest.

Haye added: "I held my own press meeting on Tuesday.

"I met the press at 1530 GMT and it all went as planned. The journalists all understood why it had to be at that time, and some even ran close to deadline because of it."



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Related to this story:

Maccarinelli primed for Haye bout (05 Mar 08 |  Boxing )
Maccarinelli will 'finish' Haye (06 Mar 08 |  Boxing )
Collins expects Maccarinelli win (05 Mar 08 |  Boxing )
Haye is delusional - Maccarinelli (29 Feb 08 |  Boxing )
Maccarinelli's guide to Team Calzaghe (03 Mar 08 |  Boxing )
British boxing's sure-fire classic (08 Jan 08 |  Boxing )
Haye-Macca 'biggest for 15 years' (07 Jan 08 |  Boxing )
Haye stuns Mormeck to win titles (10 Nov 07 |  Boxing )

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