Ricky Hatton says David Haye can knockout Nikolai Valuev and go on to become British boxing's biggest draw.
Haye will be big box office after this, says Hatton
Ricky Hatton is backing David Haye to win a world title and take over as British boxing's biggest draw.
The Hitman expects the Hayemaker to become the first man to knock out Nikolai Valuev when the pair meet in Nuremberg on Saturday night, live on
Sky Box Office.
And with the WBA heavyweight belt round his waist, Hatton believes the Londoner can take the sport by storm.
"I think the fans are getting behind him. He had the Monte Barrett fight in London (a year ago) but he had to go abroad to win the cruiserweight titles," he said.
"I was very fortunate that I had fight after fight in this country and in my home town, whereas David has been dotted about here and there and it's been more difficult for him to build up a fanbase.
"But I expect his fanbase to go through the roof after this fight, because I think David will prove that Britain's got a heavyweight that can really go all the way."
Hatton, who has not fought for six months since his defeat to Manny Pacquiao, thinks the freak show aspect of Saturday's fight will provide a huge boost for Haye's profile.
The downside is Valuev carrying huge height and weight advantages into the ring but the Mancunian is adamant these are obstacles that can be overcome.
"He's got a fantastic fight, his second fight up at heavyweight and he's fighting a giant of a man in Valuev, who is over 7ft tall and 20-plus stone. It's an incredible feat," he said.
"He doesn't want to take too many punches and I think the key in this fight will be the speed factor. As big as Valuev is, as tall as he is, the difference in speed is massive and I think if David boxes a very clever fight, a smart fight and keeps his chin down and boxes sensibly, I don't think Valuev will be quick enough to hit him."
Hatton then expects Haye to embark on a mission to do what Lennox Lewis did and unify the heavyweight division.
That means healing wounds with either of the Klitschko brothers, Vitali or Wladimir, but the man who was the dominant force in the light-welterweight, says the WBA belt will go along way to securing a unification bout.
"David packs a lot of power and I think he can do to Valuev what no-one else has done and knock him out in sensational fashion," he said.
"When he does that, he can sit down at the negotiating tables with the Klitschko brothers again and he's got a lot more pulling power then."
