POOLE ABC's Chris Billam-Smith earned compliments from David Haye – after helping the former world champion warm up for his hotly-anticipated clash with Tony Bellew.

Billam-Smith, who is eighth in the British amateur rankings, sparred with 'The Hayemaker' at his gym in Vauxhall, going toe-to-toe with the 36-year-old over three four-minute rounds.

And Haye, who is preparing to take on bitter rival Bellew at London's O2 Arena in March, took time out to give the Bournemouth boxer plenty of encouragement.

Reflecting on the bruising session, Billam-Smith told the Daily Echo: "It was a great experience and he was very complimentary towards me. He said how good my jab was and gave me some really good advice.

"It's not like I was fishing for compliments – he just came out and said it, so that was really nice.

"You can't get better training than that, sparring with and learning off the former unified cruiserweight champion and heavyweight champion.

"It's great to learn off people like that who have not only been there and done it but are still doing it."

The 26-year-old Billam-Smith had previously sparred with Haye ahead of his bouts against Arnold Gjergjaj and Mark de Mori, Haye's first contests since coming out of retirement.

George Groves has also used the Dorset fighter as a regular sparring partner in the past year.

Cherries fan Billam-Smith won the English heavyweight title at York Hall, Bethnal Green in September and hopes to turn professional in the near future.

He added: "I missed out on the Great Britain squad at the end of last year. I had three assessments and had really good feedback from them all.

"To be honest, I thought I was going to get in but it wasn't to be.

"My aim is to go to the English Boxing Elite Championships, which I got to the final of last year and in 2013, win that and then look at turning professional."

Billam-Smith is due to fight Natty Ngwenya on Poole ABC's home show at the Hamworthy Club a week today.