Tony Bellew has accused upcoming opponent David Haye of harming boxing’s reputation with his insults leading up their clash on March 4, saying the “vicious” threats are a step too far.

Haye and Bellew have clashed on numerous occasions leading up to their bout, and Bellew told Sky Sports he believed Haye had brought down the level of class surrounding the event:

“He’s a disgrace. It’s not the way we want our sport to be perceived. We’re not in the dark ages. I’m trying to give it a good image. I’m not the best one to do it, because I’ve done some stupid things. I only speak the truth. He’s just an idiot, he doesn’t think before he speaks.”

“I’ve got no malice or real nastiness in me to say these vicious, horrible things. He carries the sport in a bad way. I’m not saying I’m a saint by any stretch of the imagination, because I’m not, but I’m nowhere near this clown’s level. He is just a disgrace to boxing.”