And David Haye’s Next Opponent is…Audley Harrison
Sky Sports have confirmed the bout will take place November 13th at the MEN arena in Manchester. It’s an announcement certain to raise the ire of many in the boxing community. Harrison, who won Olympic gold in 2000, has underwhelmed as a pro, and on merit is undeserving of the shot. However, it’s a match up that should draw interest from both the media and casual fans in Britain, and from a purely business perspective makes a lot of sense.
UPDATED
The way I look at is if Haye wasn’t going to be fighting someone with the last name Klitschko, this was the most logical match up for him. While Harrison may not be the man best qualified for the job, it’s an easy sell in the UK for several reasons. Firstly, It’s an all British title fight, and they don’t come around that often. Secondly, these are two guys who understand the business. Both of these men do a terrific job of selling fights, and it has the natural hero/villain dynamic to it. And thirdly, the mainstream media will cover this one. When I pick up a paper in the morning, I know I’m going to see a Boxing story in it. That wouldn’t be the case had Haye announced a fight with any of the top 20 heavyweights.
Harrison’s career looked to be dead and buried after losing a decision to Prizefighter winner Martin Rogan on the same night Pacquiao destroyed De La Hoya. Ironically it was the Prizefighter series which threw him a lifeline; offering him a place on Prizefighter the heavyweights 3, which he subsequently won resuscitating his career.
The next step was a shot at the vacated European title against Michael Sprott. Way behind on the scorecards and looking once again headed for career ruin, Harrison conjured up a stunning one punch knockout in the last minute of the fight. And that has been Audley Harrison’s road to the world title. A one night tournament win over novice competition, and a late knockout of a domestic level fighter long past his best. It may not be the most stellar resume, but it does make for a good story.
You have this guy with all the natural ability, but who has just never put it all together. He’s talked a good fight for years, but only ever showed glimpses of his true talent. The only thing his story is missing is the world title challenge. At 38 years old, it’s time for him to either put up or shut up.
Harrison does have a shot in this fight. The guy is an Olympic gold medalist. He can fight a bit, contrary to what some would have you believe. He’s also got a sledgehammer of a left hand, and there’s always been questions over Haye’s chin. A victory for the Hayemaker is far from a foregone conclusion. Harrison will go in to November 13th as a massive underdog, but form has never meant a lot in the career of Audley Harrison.
I think you called this one earlier this year. I was on a podcast recently and we talked about this one.
Do you think Haye ever fights a Klitschko?
I’m going to be honest, I’m actually really looking forward to it. I have warmed to Audley over the years. He’s had the single most frustrating career to follow in all of Boxing, but it’s been in equal measure fascinating. I would love it…love it if he proved everybody wrong.
Even if he does pull it off, he will still blow it in the long run. I can’t understand why people get so worked up by him. He’s kind of like a heel in a cartoon. You can’t get mad at him because you just know that when left to his own devices, he will ultimately screw it up himself. I wouldn’t be surprised if he beat Haye. Then lost his next fight to somebody set up to be a safe defense. That’s just the way his career works.
I don’t think Haye particularly wants to know about a Klitschko fight right now. I do believe at some point it will happen.
The word is it’s nearly sold out already
Wow.
Floyd has just made an official statement regarding the situation. “I want to apologize for the woman beating incident. I punched her in the nose and slapped the crap outta’ her. I didn’t realize that she would consider that battery. I was just having fun and there’s not a single bone in my body that could hurt a woman. History of domestic violence is not in my family.
Look at my dad and uncle and you’ll know we don’t hit women. I don’t hate women…in fact I love a lot of them. The stripper along the main street in Vegas, I pay for her apartment. The hooker I found while in Florida, she gets a $20K a month allowance from my payroll. Again, I apologize. Let’s keep rolling on this Coaster!!! baby!!! Floyd Mayweather
Floyd’s take on this (I got no prob ‘lem paying $3,000 for bail. I ain’t got no need to steal Josie’s Iphone when I got my 24k Blackberry with all my 50 cent tunes and my soft Barry White stuff. You know it’s getting late up in here…. Someone tell my lawyer to pay the bail already…. I’ll pay him back when I get the money from under my mattress.)
This really is some Roller Coaster ride!!!LMAO But it really is all petty, I don’t condone men hitting women but Josie isn’t even filing charges we’ll just have to wait for Floyd’s side of the story. So lets keep riding this soap opera =)
http://boricuaboxing.com/forum/index.php/topic,140.0.html
smile =) guys it ain’t over yet.