Carl Thompson, a hard-hitting veteran southpaw boasting two wins over Chris
Eubank and who last time out won the IBO cruiserweight title with one of the most spectacular knockouts seen in Britain this year, against South Africa's Sebastian Rothmann.
Haye was just seven years old when Thompson made his professional debut in 1988. Since then he has won British, European and WBO championships while amassing 32 wins, 24 inside the distance, from 38 contests.
Yet the challenger is determined to set a precedent for up-andcoming British hopefuls such as Khan.
Haye said: "When a fight comes along that everyone wants to see it is always too late and the result is not what it might have been had that fight taken place four or five years earlier. I've seen how it's done in the United States and I want that to happen here. Over in America guys are protected for a certain time but once they're let off the leash they fight all-comers."
Haye, who one day plans to move up to heavyweight, added: "If I lose against Carl, so what? A fighter's legacy is built on the balance of his career, not one or two results. I'm looking at the big picture."
And as for Khan's big decision? "It's a gamble for him," said Haye. "I don't see any problem with him remaining amateur until the next Olympics when he will still only be 21. But what happened to me at the Commonwealth Games could happen to him. Making the right decision is a roll of the dice."
