http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8968472.stm 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" said 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 1993. 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. 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 those negotiations foundered. 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.
This is a tough one for me. One the one hand I absolutely hate this fight because Fraudley is an absolute chump and deserves to be nowhere near a 'world' title shot. On the other hand, I hate Harrison so much that I'm rather looking forward to seeing him unconscious...:dunno: Thus whilst I intend to watch this fight it is undeniable that the entire business is shameful on Haye's part. He needs to fight one of the Klit's or he should just fuck off. MTF
The pleasure of watching Haye knock Audley cold unconscious makes the farcical element of the match up a price worth paying. I'd actually have no reservations at all if I thought Haye was treating this as a tune up and we could expect to see him defend again 3 months later.....easy match ups like this only become offensive because you just know it's gonna be all a guy gets done for another 8 months.
If it was Adamek fighting Harrison, you wouldn't mind so much as you know he'll be bak in action 3 months later. This treading-water approach from Haye and Povetkin is a bit pathetic - I'm all for being ready to win not just compete, but there is simply no one out there who might prepare either for the Klitschko brothers
The manifestation of this fight certainly leaves a bad taste in my mouth, after the countless times i have defended Haye. From a business point of view, it's pretty clever....the fight will be huge in the UK, even if nowhere else. There's only a small number of fights that could do bigger numbers for Haye than this one, and they all carry a lot more risk. I remember Haye once saying that business was secondary...his main goal was to be the best - fight the best (and he backed that up prior to winning this belt). I still believe he wants to do that, but there's no doubt that business is no longer secondary. He's just like the rest of them afterall.
agREED. Although the only good coming out of the cowardice exuded by Haye and Teddy Atlas (since I can't fully blame Povetkin) is that we might get Adamek v. a Klitschko sometime early next year.
So much for Haye denying he was going to take this fight. Way to go Haye, lining up those tough fights. He's the saviour of the HW division alright.
Does this match-up have any hope of being broadcast in the States? And I don't mean pay per view, but maybe an ESPN3/ESPN replay scenario like the Klitscho fights will be?
This is exactly what I expected from Haye once he moved to the HW division, take his time, beat up a few HW's and move onto the the Klits. However straight of the bat he went after the two elite guys in the division (well at least in the press) and now he runs the other way to fight Harrison.
