Haye can be a boxing legend, says former sparring partner Williams

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Williams - who once beat Mike Tyson andwho lost his own world title bid to Vitali Klitschko in 2004 - was hugely impressed with Haye's second round win and believes his fellow Londoner will become the hardest puncher in the sport.

The next British hope: Haye made quick work of Maccarinelli and can move on to bigger and better things

Williams said: "Once David has put on the extra weight he will be punching even harder than Wladimir Klitschko. I've sparred with him a million times and I have hardly ever been hit so hard.

"I was immensely impressed and I can see this move up to heavyweight as the start of the next big thing for British boxing. I'd put him in with any of the champions tomorrow and I think he'd beat them all."

Haye's decision to relinquish his three cruiserweight belts and move up has already placed him among a group of promising young heavyweights hoping to get a splintered division back on track.

Young pretenders like Chazz Witherspoon hold American hopes in their hands while the next generation of former Soviet stars to emerge include Alexander Povetkin and the big-punching Denis Boytsov.

Haye is now expected to take at least six months off to bulk up into a natural heavyweight, and Williams - who is currently negotiating a Royal Albert Hall clash with James Toney - cannot wait.

"David's level of improvement has been colossal and every time you see him he looks even better," Williams added. "People question his chin but I've hit it often enough in sparring and he hasn't gone anywhere."