Wales' Maccarinelli holds the WBO cruiserweight title

"It's fantastic news for me, it'd be the best fight in Britain but we'll see if Haye delivers," said Maccarinelli.

WBA and WBC cruiserweight champion Haye was expected to give up his belts to campaign at heavyweight after problems boiling down to the 200lbs limit.

But Haye said on Sunday that he is "bending over backwards" to face WBO champion Maccarinelli at cruiserweight.

Interview: David Haye

Interview: Enzo Maccarinelli

606: DEBATE What would you make of Maccarinelli v Haye?

"People keep telling me to fight Maccarinelli and I say I'm not a cruiserweight [any more]," Londoner Haye, 27, told BBC Sport.

"But it's being said so much that I told my manager Adam Booth to do what he can to make it happen.

"I've trained every day since I beat Jean-Marc Mormeck [on 10 November] to make sure that my weight doesn't go up in the slim chance that the Maccarinelli fight could happen.

"It's a fight for the fans. It means little to me as I would bowl him over in a couple of rounds.

I would bowl Maccarinelli over in a couple of rounds David Haye

"If it doesn't happen I'll be fighting someone very dangerous at heavyweight, when I say the name people will think I'm mad."

The potential match-up between two of Britain's most exciting fighters will thrill boxing fans.

Both men carry huge punches and exciting styles, while each has suffered one knockout in their careers, building the expectation of an early, explosive finish.

"It's a fight all of Britain wants to see and I'd take it in Cardiff, in London - anywhere," said Swansea man Maccarinelli, 27.

"It's all about Haye, though. I've already signed to fight him twice and nothing has come of it, so whether he's ready to do what he says is another thing.

"If he wants to claim to be the best cruiserweight in the world he has to come through me, it would be a fantastic spectacle.