WBA champion David Haye to fight Audley Harrison

[Rappy Veteran]

David Haye will make the second defence of his WBA world heavyweight title against fellow Briton and 2000 Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison.

"I don't believe Audley deserves a chance but enough people want to see him finally destroyed, that is why this fight is happening," stated Haye.

Harrison said: "I am ecstatic at getting a shot at the title. When I land my left hand on him he is done."

The pair will meet at the MEN Arena in Manchester on 13 November.

It will be the biggest all-British fight for a world heavyweight title since Lennox Lewis defended his WBC crown by stopping Frank Bruno in round seven of their 1993 contest in Cardiff.

Haye, 29, won the WBA belt by beating giant Russian Nikolay Valuev on points in Germany on 7 November 2009.

The former cruiserweight king, who has lost only once in 25 professional bouts, then defended his title by stopping American John Ruiz at the MEN Arena in April.

"The fight will be a public execution," added Haye. "His resume is not as good as that of the last five people I have fought.

"Everybody feels passionately that they want me to finally close the curtain on the joke that is the Audley Harrison show.

"Audley has known me for years, he knows how devastating I am in the ring. He knows it first hand from sparring sessions. I'm no joke.

"I'm the most devastating fighter on the planet. This is the time your career gets well and truly finished."

Haye and Harrison are former friends and training partners, but the two men traded insults at a news conference to announce the fight on Tuesday morning.

"He is a guy I groomed," added Harrison. "I have tasted his punches and power and he never hurt me in a training session.

"This is my destiny - on 13 November Audley Harrison will be champion of the world and of that there is no doubt.

"If David Haye thinks I've taken this fight strictly for a payday, he is in for a rude awakening."

For 38-year-old Harrison, November's contest against Haye gives him the chance to fulfil his dream of winning a genuine world title.

Harrison won super heavyweight gold at the Sydney Games and was tipped to become a world champion in the professional ranks.

But his career failed to take off in any meaningful way and looked to be over when he suffered a shock points loss to Belfast taxi driver Martin Rogan in December 2008.

The 1998 Commonwealth Games champion reignited his career by winning Prizefighter last year and then scored a 12th-round knockout against Michael Sprott to win the EBU heavyweight title in April.

Haye had hoped to meet either of the Klitschko brothers, who hold the other recognised world heavyweight titles, after beating Ruiz.

Haye's manager, Adam Booth, held talks earlier this year with Vitali (WBC) and Wladimir (WBO and IBF) about a possible unification fight but these negotiations came to nothing.

A contest between Haye and fellow Londoner Harrison, who were once close friends before a public war of words last year, will have box-office appeal in Britain, with the MEN Arena virtually guaranteed to sell out.

Source

[Dark_ph0enix]

While personally I think David Haye is starting to look past his best, to say the least - man do I wanna see him knock ten shades of **** out of Audley Harrison.

[Rappy Veteran]

While personally I think David Haye is starting to look past his best, to say the least - man do I wanna see him knock ten shades of **** out of Audley Harrison.

Yeah I laughed when he was first knocked out but I really don't think he deserves a world title shot

[Zoom7000]

Why on Earth has Audley Harrison been given a title shot? Why don't they just give the world the fight everyone wants to see, Haye vs Either Klitchko brother! Audley Harrison? Come on! Didn't he have a terrible brawl with Danny Williams?

[Rappy Veteran]

Why on Earth has Audley Harrison been given a title shot? Why don't they just give the world the fight everyone wants to see, Haye vs Either Klitchko brother! Audley Harrison? Come on! Didn't he have a terrible brawl with Danny Williams?

yeah but it seems Haye is dodging, don't blame him tbh look at the Klitchkos they are so dominant, one of them won again last night by Ko'ing Samuel Peters there's nothing left for them to do in that division.

[Rappy Veteran]

Tonight! :D

[footballmad909]

Anyone know of a reliable stream online where I can watch? I can't get Sky channels where I am.

[TheElite]

yeah but it seems Haye is dodging, don't blame him tbh look at the Klitchkos they are so dominant, one of them won again last night by Ko'ing Samuel Peters there's nothing left for them to do in that division.

Yep, Haye is dodging. He knows that he'll have a hell of a time against either brother.

[acnpt]

Don't forget!

[acnpt]

Ok, forget the first round :laugh:

[Rappy Veteran]

Haye just smashed Harrison the **** up! :D

[TheElite]

Not happy with Harrison. He should have let his hands go. Even if the inevitable was going to happen, he should have gone down fighting.

[Rappy Veteran]

Not happy with Harrison. He should have let his hands go. Even if the inevitable was going to happen, he should have gone down fighting.

I read on the BBC site he landed just 1 punch :|

[null.]

Saw this last night in the pub (by chance). Rarely watch boxing, but that seemed a boring fight. Judging from the comments on here, seems it was pretty much always going to be one-sided. :p

[TheElite]

I read on the BBC site he landed just 1 punch :|

Yeah, I saw the fight. It was only one punch. I wouldn't even have noticed it if they hadn't shown its replay.