By Sean McDaniel: WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s) says he’s known Audley Harrison (27-4, 20 KO’s) for ages, and feels like he knows him well enough to beat him in their fight on November 13th at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England. Haye, 30, is a big favorite to win by knockout over the 39-year-old Harrison. Most boxing fans are only giving Harrison a puncher’s chance at beating Haye. However, you really can’t count Harrison out because Haye looks shaky when on the rare occasions when he’s actually been hit by his overmatched opponents.

At cruiserweight, Haye didn’t stick around long enough to face really quality fighters, so it’s hard to tell how good he is. And at heavyweight, Haye has been matched against one 40ish heavyweight after another without any young heavyweights in between. Harrison can’t be counted out, because Haye still is largely an unknown factor in the heavyweight division.

Speaking with thesun.co.uk, Haye says “I’m glad Audley’s having his time in the spotlight and is getting some column inches. Hopefully he’ll take all these newspaper clippings and make a book of them so that when he slinks back off to Los Angeles he can have a look a them. As long as he doesn’t have photos from November 13th because all they’ll be are images of his limp body in the ring. I’ve known Audley since I was 17. I’ve sparred with him and seen him in the amateurs. I’ve talked to him behind closed doors. I know his demons and how to get into his head. I know how to mess him up in the ring.”

Let’s hope so for Haye’s sake, because he doesn’t seem to know how to “mess him up” outside of the ring. It’s been Harrison who’s been getting the mental edge against Haye during all their press conferences and talk shows. Harrison has remained calm during all of them, whereas Haye has looked flustered, defensive and upset in each one of them. Haye needs to try and stop Harrison fast on November 13th, because he can’t afford to let the towering Harrison stay in the fight and give him chances to land his big left hands.