Former two division world champion David Haye has also been quoted in the national press airing his views on Saturday's fight, saying he can see 34-year-old Eic Molina (25-3, 19 KOs) potentially being knocked out in the first round by IBF heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs).

Haye, who is pushing to fight Joshua in 2017, will be ringside to watch the contest in Manchester on Saturday night.

Molina has had a dig in return himself, describing Haye as a fighter nobody in the United States has heard of who he pays little attention to.

The American also says people writing him off in general has helped "strengthen" him in preparation for this contest.

"The world wants to write me off and not even give me a shot," Molina told Press Association Sport. "That is fine. I've trained extremely hard for this fight and I'll put everything I have into it.

"I really don't pay too much attention to David Haye. In America he is nothing - walk down the road and ask somebody who David Haye is, and nobody knows.

"They can underestimate me all they want. Everybody has got their opinion. I'm alright with them giving their opinion - I can say that it has strengthened me, to train hard harder."

Haye will return to the ring on March 4th against Joshua's stablemate, WBC cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew, who moves up in weight for the pay-per-view contest which takes place at the O2 Arena in London.

Haye is also in line to face the winner of this Saturday's fight between Andy Ruiz and Joseph Parker, who battle for the vacant WBO heavyweight title. The World Boxing Organization has already ordered the winner to face Haye within 120 days. But, it's not yet clear how that position will be affected by his decision to face Bellew in the coming months.