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Haye: I'll be next Lennox Lewis
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David Haye has pledged to become Britain's "next Lennox Lewis" ahead of his heavyweight showdown against Nikolai Valuev on Saturday night.
Haye insists he is unfazed about coming face to face with the "Beast from the East" despite weighing in seven stone lighter and measuring almost a foot shorter than his opponent at Germany's Nuremburg Arena.
The 29-year-old Londoner is the marginal favourite to win the bout and called on his fans "to put the champagne on ice" in his bid to "become a household name in the UK".
He said: "Lennox Lewis is the greatest heavyweight Britain has ever seen and I want to be the next Lennox Lewis. Now that's a big ask as Lennox was at the top of the sport despite fighting at the same time as some greats like Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, and stayed at the top for a long time.
"But Saturday night is step one for me and, once I knock that behemoth down, that'll be my first heavyweight title and take me on my path to my ultimate goal of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."
Up for grabs in the ring is Valuev's World Boxing Association belt and Haye admitted it would be a big ask against the 7ft fighter, who initially took Haye by surprise when they first met.
"When I first saw him, I did think 'wow, that's one big dude' but I've got my head around that now," he said. "His height and weight are strengths obviously, and his range and power will be phenomenal but then there's the fact that there's no way that 23 stone of any body can move around quicker than me.
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"I'm planning to blow him away with my speed. I'm gonna be like a mini whirlwind and, if he has any weaknesses, I'll find them."
Valuev will undeniably pose the greatest threat to Haye's professional career. Valuev's team claim the Russian can throw on average 70 punches a round, making him far from sluggish.
And the man billed "the bogeyman" and likened to a character out of the Lord of the Rings by Haye in previous pre-fight talk is reportedly chomping at the bit to silence his opponent.
Haye, though, is undeterred. "I like that I've rattled him and I won't apologise for what I've said," he added. "That was no psychological battle, no mind games. I was just saying what I thought at the time.
"But I also respect Valuev and a lot of people haven't reported that. This guy's a great fighter and, sure, he's had his slip-ups in his career like me but he's a talent. There's a lot more to him than his crazy height. Despite what I said before, he's quick for such a big man, although I'm pretty sure that I'd spank his butt in a sprint."
The biggest threat to Haye's hopes of bringing a heavyweight title back to the UK for the first time since Lewis' retirement is likely to be a knock-out punch.
The 36-year-old Valuev has won 34 of his 50 professional bouts by KO, becoming renowned for the ferocity of his hitting in the process.
"I don't anticipate getting on the end of one of his punches," said Haye, "and, if I do, my chin can take it. People think I don't have a clue how I'm going to fight a guy like this but I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve. I'll show people some new things I've not done in the ring before.
"I've had my trainer in high boots and I've been sparring with some big old brutes. They've hit me and knocked me down so I now know what it takes to beat the big guys. I know sparring's not the same as being in the thick of the action but Valuev has nothing that scares me."
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Haye is a relative novice in comparision to his rival - stepping into the ring in his professional career just 23 times since climbing up from the amateur ranks in 2002.
He has just one defeat to date against then unfancied 40-year-old Carl Thompson in his first year in the pro ranks but "The Hayemaker" said he was confident that when he retires that would be the solitary blemish on his copybook.
"I don't plan to stay around in boxing that much longer and I can't afford anymore defeats to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, nor do I anticipate any," he said.
"I will be a heavyweight champion after the Valuev fight whether that's in the first round or the 12th. I've worked for 19 years to get to this point and I'm not throwing nearly two decades of work and commitment away.
"I fully expect to have that belt around me and be lapping up the applause. No matter what he does or what he throws at me, he doesn't have the bettering of me. I'll be one step ahead of him all the way."
Saturday will see Haye return to the ring for the first time since beating Monte Barrett at London's 02 Arena last November, leading to suggestions that he will lack the fight sharpness required.
But the former cruiserweight champion said he relished hearing from his critics.
"People say I'm not ready, people say I'm too small, people say I've not fought enough at heavyweight level and that I'm taking a chance against this guy," he said. "But you take a chance every time you step into the ring in this game. This might be a different level to what I've done before but I'm the most prepared I've ever been and I'm going to make things ugly for Valuev."
Haye's 'David vs Goliath' battle against Valuev is exclusively live on Sky Box Office from 2000 GMT on Saturday.
Who do you think will win? Send in your pre-fight thoughts by clicking here and don't worry if you're unable to watch the fight - you can follow live commentary on Orange from about 9pm.
