Harrison vows to give ‘confused’ Haye a boxing lesson
Audley Harrison believes he will hand David Haye “a boxing lesson” before eventually knocking him out to capture Haye’s WBA heavyweight crown at Manchester’s M.E.N Arena on 13 November. The 38-year-old Harrison, who insists he will fulfil his destiny to finally become world heavyweight champion, took time out from his preparations in Big Bear, California to give a lengthy interview to On the Ropes radio.
“I told everyone in 2000 that I’d win an Olympic gold medal in Sydney and they said ‘no way’ but I proved them all wrong to become Britain’s first Olympic gold medallist in 32 years and history is going to repeat itself when I KO David Haye,” began Harrison.
“I was a bigger name when I returned from the Olympics than David Haye is right now. Nobody could curb my ego back then and even when they told me to calm it down, I wouldn’t listen and I had to learn some harsh lessons. Now I just shake my head when I listen to some of Haye’s comments. His ego is so high that he thinks he’s invincible. He’s already been knocked out and been floored by cruiserweights and light-heavyweights and it’s my time to provide him with another dose of reality.”
““I had to grow and learn my lessons and David Haye is going to face the same challenge when he wakes up on 14th November without his belt. David’s confused right now, he’s too busy making magazines with him dressed up in women’s clothing. Well, I’m going to knock some sense into him and perhaps then he’ll start phoning me up again to ask for advice like he used to,” continued Harrison.
The bad blood between fighters, usually exaggerated to generate pre-fight publicity and encourage ticket sales and pay-per-view buys, appears genuine between Haye and Harrison as the relationship between the former friends has soured in recent times.
“Haye fought on five of my shows at the outset of his career and I became a mentor for him in the same way that Lennox Lewis was for me. Haye based his concept of Hayemaker Promotions on what he’d learned from my approach with A-Force. After my loss to Martin Rogan, I approached David to see if I could feature on some of his shows when he had a (television) deal in place with Setanta Sports. It wasn’t about the money, I just needed to get my career back on track, but Haye kept messing me about and wasn’t prepared to return the favour. So, since 2008 I’ve been calling him out. I knew destiny would put me in the same ring as Haye eventually and Karma is going to slap him in the face on November 13,” said Harrison.
Harrison is begrudgingly prepared to concede that Haye’s career accomplishments to date are in stark contrast to his own shortcomings, which has seen the Olympic champion suffer four defeats and often flatter to deceive.
“You’ve got to give Haye credit and take your hat off to him for what he has achieved. He’s achieved his goal and brought back some excitement to the heavyweight division. But anyone who knows anything about Boxing will know that for all David’s speed and power he’s still the same 18 year-old who was knocked out by Jim Twite in the amateurs,” claimed Harrison.
“I know David Haye better than he knows himself. He makes a lot of fundamental mistakes and he’s still with Adam Booth so he hasn’t been learning any new skills off different trainers. Haye’s not going to be able to punch me and not take anything back, he’s just a frontrunner, but I believe my left hand is better than his right hand and at some point it will land on his chin and I’ll knock him out.”
Haye’s perceived suspect punch resistance often divides opinion but Harrison too has been labelled “gun shy” both prior and following his shock third round knockout loss to Michael Sprott in 2007.
“I don’t care what the critics say about my chin – most of them haven’t got a clue. Getting knocked out by Michael Sprott (spectacularly avenged by Harrison in the final round in April), who’s a good European standard journeyman, was just down to him catching me with a beautiful shot which would have knocked out most people. It’s the only time I’ve been knocked out, amateur or pro. I know I’m going to have to take punches in this fight but I don’t think Haye is prepared to in return, but he better be.”
“I’m expecting a fast pace so I’m going to be in his face for every second of every round. Haye likes to work in spurts, he doesn’t like taking punches and prefers to move around. He definitely won’t like taking punches from a fully-fledged heavyweight like me. I’m going to give him a lesson in the sweet science, it’s going to be beautiful to watch when Haye comes tumbling down at my feet,” commented Harrison.
Harrison’s stubborn refusal to walk away from a sport that many contest he lacks the killer instinct for to fulfil his improbable dream is inspirational for some and a source of irritation for others. Undoubtedly though, the majority remain sufficiently intrigued by how Harrison’s journey will ultimately end.
“I’ve learned my own lessons, licked my own wounds and climbed my own mountains. Perception is not reality, and on 13 November I’ve got nothing to fear and everything to gain. I’m going to go in there and give David Haye the fight of his life. It’s do or die, shit or bust, I know it’s my only shot. This is my time!”
To listen to Harrison’s On the Ropes radio interview in full (which commences in the 55th minute of the programme) visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/on-the-ropes/2010/10/04/on-the-ropes-episode-94-guest-audley-harrison
