Haye v Harrison: The Seventeen Year Itch
September 17th, 2010
By Gary Brownlie: On the 13th of November, with the overture of God Save the Queen ringing out, two British fighters will stand in the ring to contest the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World. Not since the days of Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis has a fight for the championship belt of boxing’s marquee division been an all British affair. Although there will only be 20 feet separating them, the roads the two fighters have taken to get to this point are worlds apart. One fighter, in David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s), who has achieved everything he has set out to do in his career while the other, Audley Harrison (27-4, 20 KO’s), has struggled to live up to hype surrounding the start of his professional career.
Although he is known to general public in Britain, Harrison hasn’t lived up to his initial billing as the man to replace Lennox Lewis at the top of the heavyweight division and only two years ago Harrison was defeated by a taxi driver from Belfast in the shape of the courageous Martin “The Entertainer” Rogan (12-2, 6 KO’s). This was one of a few set backs in Audley’s career, he has bounced back in recent times though to win the the Prizefighter Tournament and the European Boxing Union heavyweight title with a dramatic, last round knock-out of Michael Sprott (32-15, 17 KO’s). Audley has always claimed that it is his destiny to win a world title, something few people believed would happen but he now has his chance to prove all his critics wrong and make up for years of wasted potential.
Standing in his way is David Haye, a man who unified the Cruiserweight division before going on to beat the biggest heavyweight champion of all time, Nikolai Valuev (50-2, 34 KO’s), to claim the WBA belt back in November 2009. Even before becoming the WBA champion Haye had been chasing after both Klitschko brothers, attempting to provoke either into a fight with him, the fight though has failed to materialize. The latest reason for this being the fighters unable to agree how to split the money generated by the fight. As such Haye has had to lower his sights in going after former friend and sparring partner Audley ‘A Force’ Harrison, something which Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) has branded as a “London championship fight”. It is an understandable point of view if you are not living in the UK, but over here this fight will eclipse the super fight between the Filipino phenomenon Manny Pacquiao (55-3-2, 39 KO’s) and the much maligned Mexican, Antonio Margaritto (38-7, 27 KO’s), which happens to be on the same night.
Whatever the outcome, I think the positives of this fight happening out-weigh the negative. The job done by both fighters in marketing this fight has already got people talking and re-engaged fans who have fallen away from the sport, something that only a clash of heavyweights has the ability to do. While the talking continues, the build-up rumbles on and the fight finally takes place we should all enjoy the ride as it could be another 17 years before we see anything like this on these shores again.
Tags: 29 Responses to “Haye v Harrison: The Seventeen Year Itch”
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@ j jackson
Big talkers? That would be you then. Once again challenging me to a fight over the internet like a biiiiiig tough guy. LMFAO!
name the place…im not going to let you wreck my computer by giving you my email…but ill meet you in a gym…t syndrome, you looked it up on google…that makes you so smart…..you had to hit a button. when, if ever, are you going to discuss boxing…you seem to know nothing about it at all…nothing. as for t syndrome, you wouldnt have even known what is was if you hadnt look it up…im really impressed and im not really joking…you seem sick…and big talkers like you are always wimply little cowards..never fails. you come on these sites to rant and rave and curse…either a drunk or drug addict i suspect who beats his wife and whacks off al day.
Sell it as you like Gary Brownlie, but i see nothing more than a paper champ and a non rated fighter. David haye has achieved alot, but it surely wasn’t in the HW division. When he starts fighting top contenders…he wont last long. But, of course, hes gonna retire first. BRITS are idiots if they pay to watch this fight.
phillip good post… i think der has turrets syndrome…they not only curse alot, but they say things like uh, der, hum, almost constantly…there are medications though.
don…you probably have more people competing in boxing in great brit than we do in america..they dont even report a heavyweight title fight in the newspaper….i dont know anyone where i work who knows who the heavyweight champion is much less david haye. i like that boxing is still big on the island, but in the usa it is only noticed by minority groups…espn boxing in the usa is largely spondered by a mexican beer..without our mexican population boxing may not even exist in the states…any gyms are in the inner cities (most have closed), the white population, even strong sports fans largely regard it as a barbaric sport and those who do like such things watch mma.
the heavyweight belt..? a heavyweight belt…its not a fight for the championship..its a fight for a lightty regarded belt by the third ranked fighter in world against someone who is barely ranked in the top 50. this is fight should not be happening..and it is certainly nothing to be proud of. whereas bruno was a top 10 fighter when he stepped in against the real heavyweight champion of his day.
Hey DER…
Had to comment after reading your hissy fit.
Man are you STUPID…!!!
Really, really, really friggin’ dumb.
PHaye Wray is a screamer, that’s all.
Check wikipedia for this thing called “boxing”, and view all current events happening NOW in the HW division.
PA
Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World? LMAO haye isnt fighting Klitschko.the WBA title has become the laughing stock of the heavyweight division.I have more respect for evander holyfields WBF title.the whole organization is becoming a joke with all of its multiple champions in every division
If it wasnt for a lucky punch would we be talking Haye vs Sprott? Since Sprott was easily beating Harrison. Or how bout cabbie Rogan who has already proved he’s better than Harrison. This is not a big fight, its a mismatch, Harrison is an awful fighter who acts afraid of opponents in the ring. Sexton, Chisora or even Fury would all beat this long string of misery.
@ j jackson
Actually we have 3 belt holders right now to your 6. By the way, what’s is the current population of America when compared to Britain?
haye fan are a bunch of pu_ssy just like him. brit will cheer on anything that moves. those are a bunch of dumb fu_cks. RUBISH BOLLOCK STINKY BRITS
haye is made for vlad…his lack of a jab…his inability to hit and move…he moves, not like ali, but moves, but has to plant his feet to punch..his lack of punch resistence (he was knocked around by the light punching mormeck) and his lack of stamina (hayes defense is to run, when he slows down he is easy to hit). you need a jab and a hook to beat vladimir…not just a right hand. vladimir is as fast as haye, hits far harder and is better technically…and has better defense. vlad punches are straighter than hayes looping punches and will get there first time and again. vladimir wants this fight, david doesnt. they both know boxing. lewis said haye couldnt win…in ring magzine…maybe he knows what hes talking about.
uk … we dont have the nationalism you do. we judge fighters according to their style and character. it still suprises me you brits are so prejudiced in regards to nationality. you have 2 belt holders right now..i think america has 6…and some are actual champions unlike your guys. and mexico has more than both of us put together…what do you guys keep crowing about?
I hope both are knocked out, throwing simultaneous punches.Then the title is vacant and competed for by Adamek and Povetkin.
i often wonder what haye fans see when they watch his fights–esp those who think he can ko vladimir. vladimirs punches are going to have far more affect on david than he does on vladimir. when they say the k brothers have been fighting weak opponants for years his fans are either blind or silly stupid with lust for him. chageav beat both ruiz and valuev when they were in their prime and vlad steam rolled him, whereas david barely beat valuev. at last count something like 14 out of vladimirs last 17 fights were against top 10 fighters. yes. go check the numbers and argue im 1 off–avoiding the point he has fought the best while david is taking on a man who is barely ranked in the top 50 in the world. neither brother has fought a fighter ranked out of the top 20 in years. so i guess haye is accomplishing something they havent…
What a great thing it will be if Harrison knocks Haye out.
I can see how this fight would have an amusement factor for British fans, but there is no way this is a true HW championship. Haye’s “championship” is a Don King controlled joke and is quite insignificant. In fact, Haye will remain totally insignificant himself until he steps up and faces a Klitschko. Unfortunately there is a very good chance this will never happen since Haye appears to be terrified with the thought of fighting a K bros.
It would be funny to see Audley Harrison get the honor of flushing Haye the terd down the toilot.
Name one serious Heavyweight contender to actually be from the US of measily A with any credentials in the past 5 years! The obese environment you yanks live in means you supply the Boxing world with bloated, unfit haevyweights. David Hayes Lean to Fat ratio coupled with him VO2 max means he is a serious contender. Mark my words Haye will knock Wlad out, Vitali will be a tougher task but Haye is made for Wlad. Thomas Ad is the fight the makes my mouth water more. The K2 brothers are boring and have made boxing look and feel like a theatre. I would compare it to that silly wrestling you (YANKS) watch, you know where you slap and kiss each other!? If Floyd Mayweather was British he would be loved, you treat him like a chump and are eager for Pacman to slayer him?? WFT OK U S A well to go…
Audley Harrison KO David Haye
HAYE was “chasing” the Klitschkos ? Yeah right, by running backwards out of the Schalke Arena where Wlad actually DID show up, while Haye was resting his bad case of shadow pain in Cyprus with no doctor confirming even a iota. Haye didn’t even ANSWER Klitschkos challenge for months, until both Klitschkos had fights signed. What about writing a positive Haye article WITHOUT pulling bull* out of the arse on how mighty David was chasing giants allover the ice world of Valhalla ?
ur right bern…wud like a force to win tho at leastg hel go after the k bros…..lol
Not gonna watch it no matter how many articles tell me it is a massive UK fight. Bollox, its not, its a joke!
Haye is class cant blame him for picking some easy fights before going for the klitchkos. The K brothers have picked bums for years!! Get some wins and money under his belt first.
Cant see Audley winning he’s found it hard against much poorer opposition but would be ace if he did win even just for entertainment and hes always banged on about it been his destiny he has got a decent powerful punch. Go on A Force!!!!!!
The upcoming fight is more show than anything resembling a serious encounter between contenders. Two pals happy to take the fans money for essentially a night at the circus.
it done now london championship ha ha ha
@ anon, you should try using a spoon when you eat your dads a##, you got s#it all over your face and its coming out of your mouth too.
must admit i cant see any positives in this fight… it is abit of a joke but its done so just get on with it..
This Brit is a joke. He should paint his face white. Kbrothers are laughing at this fool for fighting a bum, Harrison.