THE mouthwatering superfight between David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli will be followed a week later by the first world title defence for Gavin Rees at the Cardiff International Arena, the Argus can confirm.

WBA light-welterweight champion Gavin Rees will defend his strap against Ukranian Andreas Kotelnik as the headline act for the first time on March 15, on a bill likely to feature several men from Enzo Calzaghe's now world famous Newbridge stable.

Maccarinelli's promoter Frank Warren also confirmed yesterday that Newbridge commonwealth light-middleweight champion Bradley Pryce and middleweight world champion Gary Lockett from Cwmbran will both get world title shots, "within six months."

However, it is the more immediate March 8 super clash between Big Macc' and the Hayemaker' set for March 8 at the O2 Arena in London which has fight fans buzzing with excitement.

Maccarinelli has predicted his cruiserweight showdown with David Haye will be the "12 most brutal rounds seen in British boxing'' - if it lasts that long.

It is a mouth-watering contest between two of the sport's most explosive punchers and Welshman Maccarinelli, who holds the WBO belt, promises it will exceed expectations.

"We're two boys who fight the same way - we like to take the other guys out,'' he said.

"Everyone says it will be an early finish but if it isn't then it will be the 12 most brutal rounds seen in British boxing, and that's a fact.

"If I was a fan, this would be the fight I would want to see. You've got two fighters with the same style who will want to rip the other's head off.

"I'm going to train as hard as I've ever done and David will do the same. We're going to clash in the centre of that ring."

Haye, from Bermondsey, has found it notoriously difficult to make the 14 stones 4lbs cruiserweight limit and declared after dethroning Jean Marc Mormeck that he was finished in the division.

But he insists his change of heart was not motivated by money - some reports state he will pocket close to six figures from the clash - and he is confident he will make the weight.

"My decision wasn't about money. I won the titles and I'm undisputed number one in the division,'' he said.

"Everybody has been asking me when I would fight Enzo,'' said the Londoner.

"Even after I beat Mormeck people were asking me when are you going to fight Enzo'? So I decided to get it on.

"It's the fight the fans want to see. I could have fought anybody but we went after this one.'' The fight, which is expected to be a 20,000 sell-out, will be screened by Setanta and Showtime (live in the USA) and will start between 1am - 1.30pm to accommodate American viewers.

"We've got the two biggest punchers in boxing and I'm talking about world boxing,'' said promoter Warren.

"We've had more website hits over this fight in one day - 1.4million - than any other fight, including any Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton bouts I've done.''