David Haye vs. Tomasz Bonin Conference Call

David Haye 18-1 (17 KOs) meets Tomasz Bonin 37-1 (20 KOs) at Wembley Arena in London on April 27 in a bout that neither fighter, with a combined record of 37 knockouts from 57 fights – and just one loss apiece – can afford to lose.

In yesterday’s conference call, promoter Frank Maloney thanked journalists from The Times, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Southwark News and LCC News for joining him ahead of the pair’s heavyweight clash.

“This is a major gamble for David Haye,” Maloney said. “David is the mandatory challenger to Jean Marc Mormeck, the WBC Cruiserweight champion, and he is putting it all on the line by testing himself for the first time at this level.”

“I see it as exactly that,” Haye, 26, agreed. “Losing to Bonin is not an option. He is a natural boxer who has a good ranking. He really fancies it. The word from Poland is he is here to knock me out.”

“I want a risk,” Haye continued. “I could go to Barbados and just wait for a suitable cruiserweight opponent, but that’s not me. I said to Frank Maloney ‘Get me Enzo Maccarinelli or someone where I can make a statement. I want a challenge.’ My world title fight now is on the line. If I lose, my WBC title bout is up in the air. It will be a tough fight as I don’t punch hard enough to knock him out. He has been boxing the best since he was an amateur.”

“Training has been going really well,” said Haye, who has been training in Tenerife. “It can be traumatic taking two stone off for each fight to make cruiserweight. [Ultimately] I want to be the number one heavyweight.”

“I am making strides and I am doing things the right way,” the 6′ 3″ Bermondsey resident continued.

“Bonin is freakishly strong and he has had two and a half months to prepare for this. This is as dangerous as any fight I have had. I am looking forward to fighting at heavyweight and I can’t stress how strong Bonin is. He has got a great chin [but] I am going into this fight with great confidence.”

And Haye’s initial step up to heavyweight seemingly holds no fears for the South London resident:

“I am 6 foot 3 and 16 and a half stone [231 lb] is my natural weight. I feel that I can be the heavyweight champion of the world. As soon as I am world champion, maybe I will make one cruiserweight defence – as long as it is safe to make the weight.

“For the next fight, all I can say is ‘bring it on.’ At cruiserweight, Jean Mormeck is the best so I must make sure I get rid of him competently.”

Haye remains clear on his future ambitions and has clear thoughts on future heavyweights:

“The modern day trend is for heavyweights of my size as it is increasingly coming down to skill, speed and pedigree. I like the way the heavyweight scene is looking and I feel I can clean up.”

“If the choice was between Mormeck and a heavyweight bout, I would go for Mormeck,” he continued. “I have put in so much effort in the cruiserweight division it would be a shame not to go for it as I am only one fight away from the cruiserweight title.”

Unsurprisingly, Bonin too feels things are going in the right direction following his sole defeat against Audley Harrison in June 2004. Since then, the 33 year old Pole has racked up 11 consecutive victories and now holds a WBC ranking of No.11 – in stark contrast to Harrison’s decline – and arrives in London full of confidence.

“My first defeat was not warranted,” Bonin said, “The referee over-reacted.

“I think [Haye] is a talented fighter who is ambitious. He likes to attack. It will be a good fight. I am coming to the UK to win. I lost my first fight here under suspicious circumstances and I am coming to Wembley to win. I want to fight for a championship next.”

Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Heavyweight Hayemaker” at Wembley Arena, London, England on Friday, April 27, 2007. Tickets are priced at £100; £70 & £40 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508. Sky TV will televise live. For any further Press information please call 02086914165.