Haye-Harrison: and the best result for boxing is….?

By Boxing News - 11/10/2010 - Comments

Image: Haye-Harrison: and the best result for boxing is....?“David Haye is defending his WBA Heavyweight title against Audley Harrison…You’re havin’ a laugh right? I thought Klitschko was next?!”

By Brinsley Bailey: This was probably the same thought many of you were having when you heard the fight announced. The news made me angry, disappointed and disillusioned with boxing. I was confused to how Harrison deserved an attempt at the most coveted prize in boxing. Does winning a Prize-Fighter tournament and luckily (albeit courageously) knocking out Michael Sprott to win a European title, provide the credentials for a Heavyweight World title challenger? Not for my money, but apparently it worked for the Haye camp, who cited these feats adding Harrison’s Olympic background and ‘Box-Office draw’ as reasons to sanction the fight; not to mention their public ongoing feud. Yet, like countless others, I was left unimpressed by this prospect and not duped by the intense media bombardment endorsing the legitimacy of this contest. But as a Boxing Writer and Fan, I was more disappointed at the bout that was not happening; Haye vs. Klitschko. A fight with either of the Ukrainian World Champions would have satisfied my needs but once again the ogre that is Boxing Politics decided to rear its vile head and put an end to that potential mega-bout.

But as the weeks passed, I tried to put my resentment toward Haye-Harrison to one side, as I pondered the potential repercussions of the bout.

What would a David Haye win mean? Very little in terms of recognition, both domestically and internationally, as it is a fight he is expected to win with ease. Anything but a spectacular win could be seen as disastrous for Haye as it would damage his Box-Office appeal and boxing credibility. However, I also see the win as promoting the immoral acts of a World Champion; as another top fighter is sanctioned to manoeuvre himself into an irrelevant fight rather than test himself against the best opponents. Nonetheless, I simply see a win for what it is; a catalyst that can set the ball rolling for a unification bout against one of the Klitschko brothers.

What would an Audley Harrison win mean? To the casual fan this would mean a triumph for the underdog in a Rocky-esque story for Harrison. Yet in reality this would put the Heavyweight scene in disarray as not only would an undeserving challenger sit at the pinnacle of Boxing greatness but Haye, the single hope to knock the Klitschkos off their thrones, would become a laughing stock and surely relegated into the depths of ambiguity. You could argue that if Haye lost to Harrison then he certainly wouldn’t deserve a crack at the Klitschkos; however, I have seen top fighters lose to lesser opponents through lucky shots with Herol Graham vs. Julian Jackson being a prime example.
I would argue that the only positive outcome for a Harrison win is that it could provide a deterrent to stop other World Champions, in the future, from hand-picking opponents to suit their own means rather than that of the boxing public.

After exploring the possible implications of Haye vs. Harrison, a paradox ensued as I was left trying to figure out what result would best benefit boxing. David Haye winning would encourage much of what is currently wrong in the sport; avoiding opponents and fighting for money over recognition. However, Audley Harrison winning would stop the chances of a Heavyweight ending the Klitschko reign as well as reduce the validity of boxing’s top accolade. I cannot say for sure what result is right for boxing but I am sure that many of us would like to see top fighters place an emphasis on legacy rather than financial gain. Nonetheless, the direction of boxing’s moral compass is clear in an age where money supersedes ambition, as those outside the ring and not those inside it always ultimately lose out.



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