08.03.03 Haye to undergo pre-fight makeover

In true Trinny and Susannah style, David Haye will transform from caveman to catwalk model for his Battle of Britain with Enzo Maccarinelli.

Haye has let his hair grow wild during training for the biggest all-British world title fight since Nigel Benn-Chris Eubank II in 1993 because he is so focused on winning.

But the WBC and WBA cruiserweight king will undergo a full makeover before he steps into the ring at London's O2 Arena in the early hours of tomorrow morning, plaiting his hair, shaving off his beard and even rubbing moisturiser into his face.

Haye's trainer and manager Adam Booth explained that the transformation is part of his pre-fight ritual.
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"When David is training he often doesn't shower or shave because all he is doing is thinking about the fight," said Booth. "He looks like a caveman - and I like him looking like that because I know he is in the zone.

"Come fight night, he likes to be well-groomed and he'll shower, put his hair in plaits, shave and rub in plenty of moisturiser."

Wbo king Maccarinelli may snigger at Haye's personal grooming, but he would be making a huge mistake if he thought the Londoner was a southern softie.

Haye, who won the WBC and WBA belts and the status as the world's No.1 cruiserweight by beating Jean Marc Mormeck in his Parisien backyard, is in the best shape of his life for this showdown in front of a 20,000 sell-out crowd.

And he claims he has easily made the 14st 4lbs weight by becoming a true eco-warrior after struggling for the Mormeck fight.

Frank Warren tried to rattle him by putting yesterday's weigh-in back three hours to 7pm, but the green mean machine said: "My weight hasn't been a problem.

"I've been sensible about my diet and I've cut out all the crap. I've eaten nothing that's been processed. It's all been organic, even if it's cost me a fortune. Unless it's come out of the ground or off a tree, I've not eaten it."

While his weight may not be an issue, Haye's stamina - he has gone the distance just once in 21 fights - and his habit of carrying his left hand low are concerns.

But when both fighters have better hands than chins, it is little wonder that no-one is expecting this battle of Britain's biggest bangers to last the 12 rounds.

Haye, 27, who is pocketing a careerbest purse of £600,000, is adamant this will be his last fight at cruiserweight before he steps up to heavyweight.

And the former world amateur silver medallist is giving himself just three years to achieve his goal of emulating Evander Holyfield, who will be at ringside, by conquering both divisions.

"This is definitely my last fight at cruiserweight and the people watching in the United States are going to see the future of the heavyweight division," he said. "I'm going to leave the cruiserweights with a bang, then I'm going to clean up the heavyweight division.

"I don't intend to box into my 31st year, so that gives me two and a half years to fulfil my ambition."

Maccarinelli, 27, is just as confident of victory and the Welshman said: "He's underestimated me and he's going to be in for a big shock."

Haye is rightly seen as the slight favourite because of his better pedigree and expect the Hayemaker to hand Big Macc only his second career defeat inside six explosive rounds.

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