Ricky Hatton has backed David Haye to defeat Nikolay Valuev when the Londoner takes on the WBA heavyweight champion in Nuremberg tomorrow night.

The Mancunian has advised his fellow countryman to enter the bout with a gameplan based on speed and agility. The former world light-welterweight champion thinks that Haye is exactly what the heavyweight division needs: a bit of excitement.

“The heavyweight division has always been the biggest in boxing. In recent years, it’s been a little bit quiet as far as excitement goes but David Haye is a massive introduction.

“If there’s one thing you think of when it comes to David Haye, it is excitement. This is the first step on the ladder in the heavyweight division for him. I think he’s going to look sensational.”

Valuev, the Russian, is 7ft 2in to Haye’s 6ft 3in, but Hatton doesn’t see this as an issue. In fact, he expects this difference in height to be a positive for the British fighter.

“[Haye] doesn’t want to take too many punches and the key will be speed. As big as Valuev is, the difference in speed is massive.

“If David boxes a very clever fight, a smart fight, keeps his chin down and boxes sensibly, I don’t think Valuev will be quick enough to hit him.”

Hatton is so confident that Haye will be victorious tomorrow night that he expects the fight to be a launchpad that will lead to more high-profile bouts. Haye would be expected to challenge the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, who between them hold the IBF, WBO, IBO and WBC belts. Haye had a fight against Wladimir cancelled in June after the Briton sustained a back injury.

“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,” Hatton 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.”