LONDON, (Reuters) – WBA heavyweight world champion David Haye promised to finish Audley Harrison’s career after it was confirmed yesterday that the two British fighters would clash in Manchester on Nov. 13.
“I don’t believe Audley deserves a world title fight but fortunately for me there are enough people in Britain who want to see him get annihilated,” Haye, who defended his title against John Ruiz this year having beaten giant Russian Nikolai Valuev, told reporters.
“The public want to finally close the curtain on the joke that is the Audley Harrison show…I want to see him stretched out for a final time.”
Southpaw Harrison, 38, has never lived up to the hype after his Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games and he had become something of a joke figure in boxing circles until a stunning last-gasp knockout of Michael Sprott in April to win the European heavyweight title.
“I’m ecstatic to get a shot at the heavyweight title,” Harrison said. “I’ve tasted his power and punching in training and he never hurt me. Ten years on from my Olympic title I will shock the world.”
The clash between the two Londoners is likely to become one of the biggest grossing fights staged in Britain and Haye and Harrison upped the ante in their news conference.
Sky Sports News had to stop their live television coverage at one point as both boxers traded expletives.
Clearly rattled by Haye’s remarks, Harrison attempted to get in the last word. “My left hand will at some point land on your chin,” he said.
Former cruiserweight world champion Haye, 29, has lost just one of his 25 professional fights.
“Watching him get carried out on a stretcher for the final time is exactly what I want to see. I’m going to break him down and embarrass him,” Haye said.
