Haye, the world cruiserweight champion who plans to rule the heavyweight division, is promoting Rhodes in a defence of the Sheffield man's British light middleweight title.

Rhodes' fight against Scotsman Jamie Coyle headlines a show at Hillsborough Leisure Centre on September 20, one of 10 'Hayemaker Promotions" events being screened by Setanta.

Haye's camp wants this to be Rhodes last defence of a British title he had more than a decade ago and won back earlier this year.

They say they are working with American Giants Golden Boy to give Rhodes a shot at a world title, preferably the WBC.

Haye, who says he had fond memories of fighting at the Magna Centre, (v Glen Kelly 2005) "Ryan Rhodes is a great fighter. He hasn't fulfilled his potential yet but after seeing hm at my Cyprus training camp, he looked phenomenal.

"He has wound the clock back and this is now his time to shine. He is the man, this will be the Ryan Rhodes show."

Hayes attributed Rhodes' return to national and international contention largely to the work of Rotherham-based trainer Dave Coldwell.

Speaking at a press conference at the town's Holiday Inn he said Coldwell's influence had steered Rhodes from middleweight to a more natural light middleweight.

"Dave has been instrumental in rolling back those years."

Haye said that after 43 fights, "very little damage" had been done to Rhodes and that the best was yet to come.

Haye also praised two other fighters on the bill, Brampton super bantamweight Josh Wale, who is also being groomed for great things and former Sheffield United footballer Curtis Woodhouse.

The promoters say the Hillsborough event is likely to be a sell-out, 90 per cent of the tickets were snapped in the first week.

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