DAVID Haye has urged the boxing public not to be fooled by Audley Harrison’s conviction that he can cause a stunning upset on November 13.
The British rivals meet at the MEN Arena with Harrison adamant he can claim Haye’s WBA heavyweight title, even though his credibility as an opponent has been questioned.
But Haye has seen it all before and insists the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medal winner – who was once a close friend – will pay for the ill-feeling between them.
‘‘Audley Harrison has always talked a good game,’’ said the 30-year-old at his open work-out in London this afternoon.
‘‘Even before some of his biggest losses he talked a tremendous game.
‘‘That’s all Audley Harrison does –talk. I talk a lot as well, but I also produce the goods.
That’s the big difference.
‘‘A lot of people say we’re both the same, but I talk and deliver. He talks and fails. I hope people realise that.
‘‘The bad blood is genuine and it stems from his jealousy of my achievements.
‘‘He’s angry I didn’t put him on my undercards and I beat him up in sparring one time, embarrassing him. Now I’m going to destroy him.’’ The fact Harrison is challenging for a world title is remarkable given the setbacks he has endured in a career notable for his failure to realise his potential.
Haye insists the 39-yearold’s persistence is the only thing he admires in him.
‘‘You have to respect the fact he’s come from nowhere and has clawed his way back into this contention,’’ he said.
‘‘Who’d have thought a couple of years ago that Audley would be challenging for the heavyweight championship of the world?
‘‘I’d have put money on the fact he wouldn’t because I could never see him stringing together enough wins to be ranked in the top 15.’’ Despite doubts over whether Harrison deserves his chance, the fight has still managed to capture the imagination.
The enmity between them is genuine and Harrison truly believes he can claim a victory that would represent boxing redemption after descending into a laughing stock at times during his decade-long professional career.
But the fight the heavyweight division really needs is Haye against either of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir or Vitali.
Wladimir branded Haye a ‘‘clown’’ and ‘‘coward’’ last week when he was in London to promote his fight against inexperienced British challenger Derek Chisora.
Negotiations over the division of pay-per-view is the sticking point and Haye insists no agreement will be made until the Klitschkos change their position.
‘‘Wladimir can’t talk about his fight against Derek Chisora because no one’s interested in it, so he has to talk about me,’’ he said.
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