David Haye has hit out at “insane” plans to allow professional boxers to compete at the Olympics, warning it would put fighters’ health and safety at serious risk.

Last month, AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu told PA Sport that the sport’s world governing body intends to open up its Rio 2016 qualifying process to full-time professionals.

David Haye

The controversial plans have been met by vocal criticism from a number of senior figures, which former world heavyweight champion Haye added to yesterday.

The 35-year-old called the proposals “crazy” and warned it would not only stunt the development of fighters but could potentially lead to serious injury.

“You get these young kids who are training their whole life to go to the Olympics,” Haye said.

“To go there and not fight someone else like them but someone who has might won an Olympics before, been a world champion and is just coming back to fight some kids, I think is insane.

“I think you’re going to get some young kids hurt and you’re definitely going to halt the growth of these young boxers.

“Some kids may be able to handle it, but a lot of them won’t.

“How would you feel if your 17-year-old son was playing on a rugby team and all of a sudden he was playing Harlequins? The kid would get absolutely mullered, completely smashed to bits.

“Then they would think ‘rugby’s not for me’. They’ll never become a professional because they’ve been so badly injured by these big, strong guys – it’s just not fair.

“One is men, one is kids. It just makes zero sense.”