Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has backed David Haye in his quest to knock out WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev.
Taking a break from training both Pacquiao and Amir Khan, Roach told Telegraph Sport Haye is “too fast, too strong and too aggressive” for the Russian Giant.
"Haye will become the first man to knock Valuev out. Sure, the big guy has shown he is resilient, and I'm surprised he can go 12 rounds without getting tired because he is so heavy [23 stone], but with Haye's power and speed he's going to get KO'd."
Haye is confident he will have not just Roach, but the whole of America cheering him on when he takes on Russian Nikolai Valuev for the WBA title.
The 29-year-old is aiming to become the first Briton since Lennox Lewis to hold one of the world heavyweight titles.
Haye plans to bring the belt back to the western world from the Eastern Block dominance of the division with Ukrainian brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko holding the remaining belts.
Therefore Haye believes the American boxing public will be desperate for him to succeed against 7ft 2in Valuev this weekend.
The Londoner said: "The Americans have taken to me, they like my attitude and what I did at cruiserweight, cleaning up the division really quickly and causing a bit of excitement and hype in the heavyweights.
"And obviously I'm fighting this big, hairy Russian fellow so I know who they are going to back!
"They are going to be behind me and you're going to see something special," added Haye, who plans to knockout Valuev for the first time in the Russian’s 16-year professional career.
