By Sean McDaniel: Former two-division world champion Ricky Hatton thinks Audley Harrison (27-5, 20 KO’s) didn’t fight the right fight tonight in losing a 3rd round TKO to World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England. Hatton, who’s no strange to being knocked out, said this to Sky Sports News:
“From Audley’s point of view he’s got the height advantage, he’s a southpaw, he’s got the size but he just gave him nothing to worry about. Lennox Lewis will tell you if you’re fighting someone smaller than you the first thing you want to do is give them a stiff left jab and a stiff right cross to stop them coming at you and Audley didn’t give David anything to worry about.”
Hatton is correct, of course Audley offered up nothing at all against Haye tonight, as he looked totally petrified to let his hands go. Obviously, Harrison was afraid to get countered and was holding back with his punches for that reason. However, Harrison should have known starting from the 2nd round that he needed to let his left hand go as hard as he could because Haye was starting to get brave and it was only a matter of time before he opened up with one of his big right hands.
Instead of making the most of his once in a lifetime opportunity, Harrison chose to hold back with his punches until it was too late. Haye came out in the 3rd round and knocked Harrison down and then finished him off with a flurry of shots after he got back to his feet.
“I don’t want to kick Audley when he’s down but he said all the right things, he got this chance when he didn’t think it was going to become available, he’s got a smaller man in front of him, but you’ve got to put a jab on him, drill it in. You can still ease into the fight, but you’ve got to give the opponent something to worry about. He had to make David Haye weary very time he was coming in – but he didn’t.”
It’s unclear why Harrison chose not to throw any jabs. It’s understandable why he might be afraid to throw any power shots with his left hand, because it would have meant that he could have been countered by Haye if he missed with the shot. However, Harrison still could have at least jabbed Haye and kept him at the end up his punches to prevent him from coming into punching range in the 3rd round. That was a fatal mistake on Harrison’s part.
Harrison gave new meaning to the words ‘fighting poorly’ and it’s almost as if he wanted to lose. I can’t think of a worse fight plan than to not throw any punches three rounds against a slugger like Haye. If you’ve got the reach like Harrison, you’ve got to use it. This is why I can’t fathom why Harrison didn’t throw anything. Maybe he’s too old? Who knows? Whatever the case, that loss pretty much finishes the pro career for Harrison, because I can’t see him coming back from this to amount to anything.
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