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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, the Hayemaker reveals his real fear is not being laid out by the champion but being laid low by swine flu . . .
Fight week really kicked into gear yesterday as I went head-to-chest with Nikolai Valuev at the final prefight press conference.
As expected, Valuev said little and didn't appear flustered by my verbals. He maintains he'll do his talking in the ring on Saturday night and that he plans to teach my "dirty mouth" a lesson.
Despite saying he was unmoved by anything I said, at one point during the press conference he clearly punched one fist into his other palm out of frustration. It may have meant nothing, but at least it told me The Beast has some kind of emotion.
With the final press meeting out of the way, I've since been relaxing, doing a bit of sight seeing around Nuremberg, and some light training. There's nothing heavy training wise from here on in but it's always good to maintain a certain sharpness ahead of a fight.
There was plenty to see and do once I got into the centre of Nuremberg and I found myself being stopped by shoppers who wanted to meet me. I always have time to have a picture taken with fans but you also have to be wary of certain things when you're approaching a big fight, especially in the current climate.
My biggest opponent this week, aside from The Beast, is the dreaded 'S' - swine flu! No, don't panic, I haven't contracted it yet. I am, however, doing everything in my power to make sure I don't pick it up.
My team and I are cleansing our hands all the time. We've got a fullscale operation in place to make sure everything we touch, smell and eat is completely pure and natural. You cannot take any chances with such a big fight around the corner.
So, if you happen to approach me between now and Saturday and I appear reluctant to shake your hand, don't take it personally.
I don't mean anything by it. I just don't know where exactly your hands have been!
Despite the threat of illness, I try and stay as active and sociable as possible ahead of a fight. I'm not one of those boxers who wants to be left alone in a darkened room for a week.
The prospect of a fight excites me, not scares me. Not even a 23-stone Beast can scare me.
