Yes this will offend the purists but I have no issues with this so long as he does fight one or both of the Klitschkos in the near future - after finally ridding sports media of Fraudley A-Farce Harmlesson of course! Enjoyed the blog Ben and you're spot on. Looking forward to this immensley. Like most I think it will be a relatively easy win for Haye. With a knockout coming in the middle rounds. But one this I don't understand is the antipathy and hostility to Haye. He's always been honest with the public, and quite obviously does what he has to, to promote any given fight.
He runs his mouth to achieve this. This is boxing after all The man has a huge reach and good jab - admittedly it would probabaly be harder to spar with Vitali than actually fight Harrison but I'd give Haye and Booth the benefit of the doubt if they called this prep for a fight with Klitschko Should be a cake walk for Haye, but as you say, risk is still present and inherent in the heavyweight division. If the Sprott rematch shows anything, it is that Harrison has the artillery.
Don't understand anyone who dislikes Haye, he is playing the publicity game, and has got people in this country interested in this division again. How many times has this been asked, will a loss finally be the end of Harrison? Thats not a 'glass chin', thats just arrogance and inexperience causing a guy to tire himsefl out and leaving himself open to being stopped late on.
You may be right about the cash, but why should that be a justification to warrant boxing fans tuning in? It's quite simply, a shocking fight, and the hype machine has been on red alert for weeks now trying to milk as much money from this as they can. He's making the best of the situation put in front of him maybe, but genuine fight fans see this for what it is.
The sad thing is, they'll still be tuning in, and simply justifying this type of fight being billed in the first place. Great blog Ben, I hate to be a nit pick but I think the image of the two boxer's statistics is wrong, Haye's record is 24 22 -1, he didn't knock out Abdoul or Valuev. But other than me being pedantic I love reading this blog, its a shame boxing doesn't have more coverage in the UK Chris p.
What are your predictions on the night? Haye vs Harrison is that rarest of things - a boxing match that's receiving mainstream coverage and generating a lot of interest. Despite jibes about Haye's credibility suffering by taking this fight, I couldn't see a bout against either Klitschko generate this much publicity. Plus, Haye has been candid about the inequalities of contract offers coming from the Klitschko camp - better for him to build up his PPV-drawing power and force them to come to the table on his terms.
However, I won't be buying this. It goes up against UFC on free TV - ironically that is a card for purists with no "big name" fighters but several bouts that should be thrilling. In that respect, the card is the exact opposite of Haye vs Harrison. Harrison has to use his huge reach advantage if hes going to have any chance.
I think Haye will use a slightly more aggresive style of counter punching unlike the passive way he fought Valuev. Michael Sprott did the same thing in the first fight. Waited for his chance and then BAM, left hook in round 3, game over. Haye should watch that fight. This fight will be great for all the boxing fans in the UK as it promotes 2 British fighters with a great pedigree.
Haye on one hand is quick and posesses knockout power however, I believe he is too small and lacks the chin and stamina to take on the worlds best. If Heavyweight world fights were still 15 rounds he would have no chance. His heavyweight fights so far have been against 2 has-beens in Ruiz and Barret and a giant who posessed little boxing skill.
Audley on the other hand was a fantastic amateur and won a gold medal which is no mean feat and although his professional career has not continued in that manner he will be the toughest heavyweight Haye has fought. Audley's problem in the pros has been the fact he has not been agressive enough and not worked hard enough to get in shape and want to put on a performance.
The fight against Michael Sprott was a turning point imo as he showed heart, determination and tht explosive power we know he possesses. As such, this is not an easy fight to script if Audley is at his best in terms of mind, body and spirit I believe he has a great chance in walking away with the Gold once again.
Haye will get a test no matter what and if he comes through the Klitschkos need to be next on his hit list however, I believe they are too big and strong for Haye and thts why Haye delays the fight happening. Haye has everything to lose but hopefully if he does lose he will come back a better fighter for it. This is not a walkover and Haye is treating it like one ao come on Audley live upto your promise and potential.
Audley in 8. Some may feign anger after the event, but after reflecting upon how eagerly they swallowed the shiny image being reflected to them, I doubt it will last for long when embarrassment kicks in.
I am amazed that this has got as big as it has, but for the boxers it makes complete sense, but surprised the punters have swallowed this so well. Boxing will be the loser here and I doubt I will go out of the way to watch highlights even. When you pump a fight up like this and draw in so many, it will have an effect down the line for Haye. You can't blame either fighter, just an indication at the state of boxing at present in the heavyweight division, the crown jewels.
I was going to say that Haye will just play the percentages without taking any risks. But when your purpose is mainly financial, a loss for Haye would maximise the rematch to allow the cynical within me to consider that any such risk may have a silver lining.
Ben - Are you for real? How does Haye vs Harrison make perfect sense? Whats the point - we already know whos going to win. I really hope that this fight gets low viewing figures.
And as for david haye who said he was going to bring entertainment to the heavyweight division - well im still waiting. If you call haye's fight against valuev entertaining then your living on cloud cuckoo land. Haye is clearly taking the easy way out with this fight. Im sure Haye is waiting for vitali to get too old or call it a day so that he only has to beat the younger klitschko who is not as good as Vitali. Vitali would KO haye in my opinion - and haye knows this which is why he is buying time with this joke of a fight.
How can this be taken as a serious fight? What has Audley Harrison ever done in the professional ranks to justify a world title fight? Personally I think Haye should win this comfortably and I would predict a stoppage in the 4th.
If it goes to points Haye will almost certainly win, so Harrison will need to land that one big blow. As for the big two, I think Haye is good enough to beat Wladimir but Vitali might just be a step too far. I think its a relatively clever move by Haye. Like someone above said I wish him no ill will and hope he enjoys his payday and retirement with all faculties intact, but lets be fair Il say round 3.
Back foot defence from Harrison for the whole duration of that time and Haye with a huge right to the bearded cranium of A-Farce mid way through that round. Haye has made no excuses as to why he's fighting Harrison and Hearn was right when he said Audley is probably better known in the general public than Haye. It makes perfect sense for Haye and I agree with comments that they see this as a warm up for the Klitchko's long ranging jab followed by striaght right or left in audley's case, afterwards we will see if he is ready for them!
Thats not a 'glass chin', thats just arrogance and inexperience causing a guy to tire himsefl out and leaving himself open to being stopped late on watch the fights Haye has been knocked down in or wobbled, i think he can take a shot, but each time, e. Good article, I can see the points but I'm still personally choosing to boycott this fight.
Doesn't matter if I'm the only one, and it sounds like they'll make good coin from this, but personally I refuse to support it. And I'm someone that sneakily had a bit of a soft spot for poor deluded Audley at times. If Haye wins even with a big KO it's expected, if he loses his credibility is destroyed without trace. And given the colourless and undeserving nature of too many contenders out there, that would be a massive tragedy to the division in general.
This blog is brilliant, very insightful. Especially like the bit about Harrison being an hour late for a media gig. Sums him up beautifully. And the hilarious quote from Haye, shooting down Harrison's supposed alliance with God: sums him up just as well. The best thing about this fight is the build-up - and we'll probably be saying that after the event as well.
Interesting character observations for Haye and Harrison in this Ben Blog, and would agree with both. The perceived arrogance of Haye has mainly come about as a result of the build up to this fight, after a couple of ill-advised, and widely reported comments directed at Harrison.
In the weeks post the Valuev fight things were a bit different. Audley himself is definitely deluded. And if convincing people he can win a fight was a title in itself, he would be the undisputed heavyweight talker of the world for the last ten years. As I have said before, Haye has unified a division stepped up to HW and won a world title in under 30 fights!
He is also the only person to give away 7 stone and win a fight. He is massively underrated and I think he will knock Audley out in 2.
His only loss was also not a true KO, his corner rightly pulled him out of a fight which could have been stopped in his favour in the first round. Just before the fight was stopped he was calling Thompson in for a toe to toe battle. I hear david haye is a big fan and wants to retire from boxing young so he can take on mixed martial arts Your blog is spot on Ben. This fight is a foregone conclusion yet I'll be tuning in. That's why Haye has already announced plans to retire when his Heavyweight career is still in its infancy, thats also why he'll never go down in history as a great fighter.
Not interested in dominating the division for a decade like Lennox. Doubt Haye will care when he's counting his money. Haye wins by KO in 3 rounds. Note that it is perfectly reasonable for these two sentences to co-exist. Work it out Ben, whilst i'm not a Harrison fan, you have to admit that Haye won the WBA belt from a freak show in Valuev Holyfield was robbed of a desision in Zurich 2years ago against Valuev , Haye beat Ruiz who should've retired 5 years ago, and almost got dropped against journeyman Barret, so lets be honest, Haye has lots to prove before he's considered a proper Heavyweight.
Finally, Harrison had a well documented shoulder injury for almost 6 rounds when he fought Sprott, so the "behind on points" argument is void in my book. Typical of the BBC not giving a correct perspective on boxing, the million pound contract given to Harrison must still rankle with the BBC.
Good blog, Ben. Agree that Haye made a sensible decision in taking a low risk fight for bigger money than he'd have been looking at elsewhere bar the Klitschkos , and I also wonder if you think this has further reaching implications along those lines. First off, I'm assuming that Haye isn't fighting the Klitschkos now for 2 reasons - 1.
The Klitschkos hold all the cards in negotiating the terms of the fight. Haye would have to agree to something like 2 mandatory rematches against one or other of the brothers should he win much like Shannon Briggs as well as of course having to fight in their adopted backyard of Germany. Haye realises he needs more experience in the heavyweight division before challenging them.
Do you think Haye is hoping to build up a bigger fanbase or at least generate more interest in his career in order to wrest some control back from the Klitschkos when it comes to negotiating that deal? I doubt he could get one of them over to the UK for the first fight, but perhaps he could negotiate for just one mandatory rematch and for that rematch to be in the UK. I doubt Harrison will be able to give him the heavyweight experience he probably needs, but then who knows?
Harrison had something once, maybe he's worked his butt off and rediscovered a little of that early promise.
Enjoyable blog Ben, keep them coming. Not sure the fight makes perfect sense for Haye though, finances aside. On the other side, if the fight goes deep into the latter rounds, will people not ask why Haye didn't bomb Audley out early doors? And then you have Audley, who's in a taxi on the way home from the last chance saloon, fighting perhaps without fear and possessing a punchers chance - providing he actually throws some. An early to mid-term victory for Haye seems the popular choice and is perhaps the only way of Haye coming out with his reputation enhanced, especially if it's a dynamic yet controlled display with a spectacular ending.
Haye in 3 for me, perhaps having been wobbled. I will be the first to admit I don't know much about boxing. Ben comments on the money factor of it. A fight vs Klitschko is make or break for Haye. With Harrison he is putting in a banker, almost like an insurance policy, against losing to Klitschko, as he relaises he could possibly fail to attract much attention thereafter. I understand some boxing fans see it as a fraud and pointless, but they can afford to be pre-occupied with his legacy and reputation.
David Haye has not that luxuary - these are his earning days, and he has to make Hay ahem while the sun shines. I also think its possible that the promoters are still trying to fan the flames of Haye v Kitschko as much as possible, which is what the 'will they won't they' nonsense is in aid of. Whether this fight was a miscalculation in that strategy is another matter. But does anyone else think this is what they were trying to achieve?
Haye is a joke, Harrison is a bigger joke. Haye is king, heavyweight boxing would be that boring without him, i think the Klitcho's are better but they will never be legends, they just dominated the division when it's at it's worst. Lewis, Tyson, Hollyfield, Bowe etc would have all destroyed them in their prime.
I can't see how anyone dislike's Haye, he's a British world champion and he's got charisma, we should be proud if you ask me. It is obviously well within Haye's right to take easy money laden options - he's the WBA champ and he should get paid as such. However faint heart never won fair maiden. Haye needs to build financial clout to simplify the negotiations with Sauerland. He clearly doesn't want to get contracted to a twin Klitschko double rematch series largely in Germany, and Kalle Sauerland himself has intimated that Haye brings contractual baggage to the table too in terms of pre-existing financial commitments.
If this fight is to use up options to clear the way for the Klitschko bros then great. Knocking out Harrison inside 3 rounds won't help Haye's credibility in the eyes of Ring Magazine, but it will give him more chips to play with at the Sauerland table if he can pull decent PPV numbers for a domestic mis-match.
No matter how we all grained that Haye was taking this fight I can't help but thinking I am googling more info on this fight than I would if Haye were fighting a Klitschko. Haye has SO much to lose here it's frightening. That said, even if Audley did manage to unfreeze and throw a KO punch at Haye, I am sure Haye would bounce back and climb to the top.
First round KO victory for Haye. Audley simply hasn't got what it takes at this level unless he has found some magic anti-freeze and pumped into his cooling system.
Haven't watched that much boxing lately. I know who these two guys are though. I am wondering if Haye is taking it too lately and if Harrison even by fluke manages to knock him down, what will it mean for Audley and boxing? I think your blog is pointing out why a lot of people have left boxing over the years The 2 or 3 fights a year of Tyson and Eubanks were clearly against lesser oppostion and were not good in the long term for the sport.
Eubanks probably fought 3 or 4 fights too many, especially those against Collins Buster Douglas was in good shape when he beat him but for the return looked like the Michelen Man.
It didn't take the public long to catch on. There was a time when the arena for these two could have been 50 or 80 , but not anymore. I reckon most of the pay per views are local bars rather than people in their own homes watching the fights.. Leon, Since the criteria for being undisputed champion was to hold 3 of the 4 major titles. Therefore he was undisputed. So Ben is correct. I wont be watching the fight but I can't wait for Haye to shut Fraudley up once and for all.
He is a joke to boxing and has achieved nothing. He has spent too much time running his mouth claiming that he will be World Champion, and hopefully come Saturday Night we wont have to listen to it anymore. This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Am I the only one who thinks this fight will stink out the MEN?!
Audley talks of throwing caution to the wind but he just doesn't have a fighting heart, whatever he says. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't have his eyes on a points win. He has been talking of being the 'master' in the build-up so expect cagey-Audley again jabbing and holding.
Haye will want to put on a show but he too will surely be slightly cautious given the carrot of the Klitschko's after this fight. Harrison is the bigger man so can boss the clinches, which could be crucial. It will be interesting to see how Haye handles that. I don't have a favourite to support here - I slightly lean towards Haye, just because none of us want a re-match which must surely be in the smallprint somewhere should Haye lose.
Haye is a legitimate world champ and this is a grudge match. The facts are that people ARE interested in this fight. In addition year in year out we hear people with no interest in boxing lamenting "yesteryear". There have been many great fights in the past years. And like it or not, the Klitschkos have resurrected it in Germany if not elsewhere. This old "its dying" chestnut is normally only spouted by people who have no interest in boxing and only remember some super fight, like the Thriller in Manila, from the halcyon days of their youth.
Look around : there are oodles of column inches devoted to this fight. And that is only good for boxing. I dont get all the hate on this fight. Povetkin, Boytsov or Adamek might be tougher fights but only Chagaev has done anything to prove he deserves a shot significantly more than Harrison.
In the end Harrison is a tool for Haye to use in order to get his fight with the Klitschkos, a loss and it's all over that's the case whoever he fights but a decent win will give him an even bigger profile. It's not about proving himself in the ring, he has already done that, no fight is going to increase his standing there other than one of the Ks.
This is about proving his rawing ability, proving his showmanship and providing an argument that the Klitchkos can no longer avoid. Alex Dudgon wrote: I can't see how anyone dislike's Haye, he's a British world champion and he's got charisma, we should be proud if you ask me I don't dislike Haye, but do believe this fight will load yet more apathy onto boxing from a very low base.
My main disappointment is with Harrison, given all the physical attributes to become a boxing legend, but sadly God decided not to give him a pair of cajonas to make anything from those talents. Harrison is a proven paper tiger, which only devalues Haye from accepting this fight for money alone.
Hahaha Love them or loath them this fight will generate huge interest in the UK, an all British heavyweight fight always will no matter who is competing. I would love to believe the hype and buy into Harrison having a chance but I just cant see it. I remember being very young and naive when Audley won his gold and took his rhetoric at face value Lets just all hope that Audley finally comes out swinging with good controlled aggression and makes a proper fight of it.
After all he has most of the attributes to be a top heavyweight, however I suspect like many others that this will simply result in an inauspicious exit from boxing from our much lamented Olympic hero! I will however enjoy watching a bit of boxing in the boozer, Groves v Anderson could be, in the words of Danny Dyer- 'a bit tasty! Also for those that are against the fight at least you can console yourself with the fact no matter who wins we will still have a British champ.
Although the thought of Harrison winning and then taking on one of the brothers grim does bring me out in a cold sweat! Audley Harrison- World Heavyweight Champion Unbelievable, the guy has been rubbish for 10 years, seriously people, stop writing he has a chance because he can throw a punch, I can throw a punch but Im not going to become the heavyweight champ either. I dont rate Haye that much but he could beat with one hand tied behind his back.
Good blog, I will be watching though It's easy to say boxing's gone down the pan This fight is a total mismatch. Harrison could get seriously hurt. The 1st time Haye lands cleanly it's over. If this fight lasts more than two rounds I'll be surprised.
I just could not work out what he had done to deserve so much hate. I finally concluded that most people are just sheep and have no idea why they hate him or if they even hate him at all and are just repeating what everybody else is saying. I understand he promised he was going to be world champion.
I know if Haye debacle. But maybe, just maybe, he was injured like he said he was. He did get injured the Sprott fight, and it is possible he was still suffering from this issue. And considering how much cash he got for this fight he would have been stupid to turn it down. Also, it is amazing how people can call him a coward or similar yet have never even been in a ring.
I have never been in a ring either and so no it is ridiculous to call a man who takes punches for a living a coward. Plus, given how much money Audley is paid to fight, who can blame him if he decides to postpone his retirement. He has got to earn a living. I hate you. SteelTownCobra , Nov 6, He's just too good. PityTheFool , Nov 6, He's loved by quite a few on here. His ego took over his mouth, he never listened to any one and thought he could form his own company and take care of himself, when it was obvious to most this is imposable if you want to get the best fights and trainers etc, as wrong as it probably is, you need to get a good promoter and team to guide you onwards, he seemed to want to cut that bit out and do it his own way at critical times I like Audley, best talker in the business.
Wouldn't mind him being my best mate so I'd get off my arse and do something. Don't think he's really hated, but people are fed up with him. I think the main reason is his sheer delusion in a buildup towards a fight, and followed by sheer terror ones he's in the ring with his opponent. Not only that, but instead of facing a true contender or common Klitschko opponent, he has chosen a moneymaking ploy not worthy of respect.
There are two reasons Haye has spurned such anger in boxing circles. Firstly, it is because he is the real article. Haye is an explosive and menacing presence in the ring. He poses the only true logical threat to the Klitschko brothers reign. He has sickening power, good hand speed and a sort of confident swagger in the ring no other heavyweight contender possesses. Boxing fans are angry because they know he is in fact capable of beating one of the Klitschko brothers.
It is not unfair to assume that Wladimir Klitschko Vs David Haye is the second biggest fight which can be made in the sport today. The boxing world is crying out for such a fight. David Haye has promised it time and time again, only to suffer a mini PR disaster when Wladimir actually put him on the spot. The second reason Haye spurns anger is because one cannot draw parallels with his predecessors in boxing.
The most notable being Evander Holyfield. The difference in their respective approaches to winning the heavyweight title could not be more strident. Holyfield, already a big draw in the U.
S, unified the cruiserweight crown in against Carlos De Leon. Between then and when he beat Buster Douglas for the title he fought six times beating such names as: Alex Stewart, Pinklon Thomas and Michael Dokes. There could not be a more pronounced difference between the approach of Holyfield and Haye. Is it because the heavyweight division is that weak? Or is it because boxing in general is being watered down by money and protectionism among elite fighters?
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