Afternoon:
9°c
All this week, David Haye will write an exclusive diary for the Evening Standard as he prepares for Saturday's world heavyweight championship showdown with Nikolai Valuev. Here he reveals a degree of respect for an opponent he had previously called "smelly" and "a freak". . .
A lot is made of the mental games that go on between camps and fighters. Yesterday, at a huge shopping centre here in Nuremberg, I took part in a pre-fight press work-out along with my opponent Nikolai Valuev.
These kind of activities are just a big 'nothing'. After all, both fighters have already completed the bulk of their training and neither is likely to go all out or produce anything special in front potential spies from the opposition's camp.
I went through a basic pads routine with my trainer Adam Booth. Then we used our home-made Valuev mask as the right-hand pad. The big Russian didn't notice the mask we made up of him, but his trainer did as he walked on by and he wasn't best pleased - job done.
Throughout the build-up to this fight I have played games with Valuev and attempted to get under his skin. It's nothing personal. I don't dislike the man. But an angry opponent is often an easier opponent because in his fury he might make mistakes.
Given that he is 7ft 2ins tall, I'm sure I'm not the first to make wisecracks at him. I'm certain he's been the butt of many jokes since he was a big kid, and I've no doubt he's now learned to take it all in his huge stride.
To be honest, he actually seems like a decent guy who happens to like hunting wild birds, reading poetry, eating ridiculous amounts of meat and knocking title challengers out.
But it doesn't matter how nice or friendly a guy may be. If he is my opponent, he is my enemy. I look at him as somebody who wants to steal everything I've worked hard to gain.
I can't let this guy destroy my dreams and ambitions, no matter how nice he may be. I've got no reason to dislike Valuev on a personal level, but I've got every reason to dislike him on a business level.
This is the ultimate test. The world heavyweight boxing title is the biggest prize in sport, and I'll do anything to hear those immortal words 'and the new . . .'
