By Sean McDaniel: As many people expected he would, World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s) announced his fight earlier today against 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Audley Harrison (27-4, 20 KO’s) for a bout that will be taking place on November 13th, the same day at the Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito clash. In an article at Morningstaronline.co.uk, Haye said “You’re [Harrison] going to get violated in that ring. I am going to close the curtain on the joke that is the Audley Harrison show.”

Haye had the option to fight IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko if he had wanted to. However, Haye instead opted to go after the much safer fight against 38-year-old Harrison, who has done little to deserve the shot at the title other than beating British journeyman Michael Sprott.

Despite turning pro with a lot of expectations in 2001, Harrison has done remarkably little with his once promising career until recently when he was able to win the Prizefighter tournament in the UK facing 2nd tier opposition. Harrison has been beaten by Martin Rogan, Sprott, Dominick Guinn and Danny Williams during his career.

Of his best wins, you would have to point to his stoppage of Williams in their rematch and the Sprott victory. That’s pretty much it. Harrison has fought exclusively 2nd tier opposition during his nine-year pro career and mostly against fighters from the UK.

Haye says “I don’t think he deserves to fight me,” said Haye. “I don’t think he’s done enough in his career, but I’m happy to do my duty for the British people. The public want to see one final high-profile destruction of Audley Harrison, and I can assure them this will be the last time they ever see him in a boxing ring. Once I’ve cleaned up the mess, Audley’s going to slither back to Los Angeles.”

Haye’s right about Harrison not deserving to fight him, but Haye’s the one that chose him. The public didn’t ask for this fight. They want to see Haye fight the Klitschko brothers but he seems reluctant to do that for some reason. Recently, Haye has been talking about retiring by October of next year on his birthday.

Harrison had this to say about Haye: “If David Haye thinks I’ve taken this fight strictly for a payday, he is in for a rude awakening.”

Harrison has the power to stop Haye if he fights aggressively, but Harrison has always been somewhat of a timid fighter unless he was facing really soft opposition. Harrison has to come out fast throwing bombs if he wants to beat Haye, because if he doesn’t get Haye’s respect early on then he’s going to get taken out by one of Haye’s looping pot shots that he likes to throw.