Boxing: Haye signs £1m deal to fight on BBC

David Haye, the only British boxer to reach a final at the world amateur championships in 30 years, has turned professional with Eugene Maloney as his manager and the BBC as his paymaster.

The often brilliant Haye, 22, is thought to be receiving just a small signing-on bonus from the Corporation but the total package over a two-year period is worth in excess of £1m, which is similar to the deal that the BBC did with the Olympic gold medallist, Audley Harrison. However, Harrison is now 31 and he no longer fights live on a Saturday night.

In Belfast last June, Haye was stopped on his feet in the heavyweight final at the world championships by Cuba's Odlanier Fonte Solis. Haye had won three times to reach the final and this year at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester he was expected to win the gold but he withdrew after one win with a torn bicep.

It is still not clear who will actually promote Haye but it is thought that the BBC will approach the three rival promoters that they use on a regular basis and ask each of them to put Haye on their shows.

Haye, his trainer, Adam Booth, and his commercial agent, Jonathan Pryce, are confident that the fighter will make his debut before Christmas on one of the four BBC shows that are currently scheduled and if not, he will fight in January on one of the three shows that are planned for the start of 2003.

If the BBC fails to convince their promoters Adrian Ogun, Audley Harrison or Mick Hennessy to comply with their wishes then Maloney, who is the brother of Frank, could promote as he holds a licence.

However, if Maloney is used that would mean that the BBC would have to find an extra date in an already tight schedule.