By William Mackay: Audley Harrison (27-4, 20 KO’s) was pushed up the World Boxing Council rankings today from the number #24 spot to number #15. This new ranking puts the 38-year-old Harrison in position to get a title shot against either WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko or WBA heavyweight title holder David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s). It’s probably not going to be Vitali who opts to take the Harrison fight, at least not right now, because Vitali is rumored to be trying to set up a fight between him and 38-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs next.

But Harrsion, the former 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist for Britain, would be the perfect fight for Haye. Like some of Haye’s other recent opponents Monte Barrett, Nikolay Valuev and John Ruiz, Harrison is also almost 40-years-old like them. This would be a continuation of what Haye has been mostly doing since moving up to the heavyweight division back in 2008. Since moving up in weight from the cruiserweight division, Haye has fought a 38-year-old Barrett, 36-year-old Valuev and 38-year-old Ruiz.

Harrison turns 39 in October, which would mean that Haye would be taking on a 39-year-old by the time he enters the ring with Harrison in November or December of this year. I think it’s still a good fight for Haye, because he doesn’t have to worry as much about having his vulnerable chin checked by some of the younger contenders and he’ll be able to make good money in the UK on pay-per-view for this fight. The rest of the world probably will tune out on a Haye vs. Harrison bout, but then again, few were interested in Haye’s last fight against Ruiz, so he shouldn’t be worried about what people think.

The fight that boxing fans want to see if Haye vs. Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko, but Haye failed to agree to a fight with Wladimir during their recent contract negotiations. There’s still hope that Haye will fight one of the Klitschko brothers in 2011. Haye is said to be retiring by his 31st birthday, so he’s going to have to make a move soon if he wants to try and fight both of the Klitschko brothers before then.

If Haye doesn’t fight Harrison next, he could be looking at a fight against former light heavyweight/cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek next. Adamek is popular in certain parts of the United States and is a decent heavyweight but not very big at only 6’1″, and doesn’t have a lot of power now that he’s moved up to heavyweight. He would be perfect for Haye.