David Haye not taking Audley Harrison too lightly
David Haye has said ahead of his WBA heavyweight title clash with Audley Harrison that he is not ruling the former Olympian out completely.
With the November 13th bout quickly approaching Haye has put his trash talking and barbs to one side and talked about how he has to take Harrison seriously or risk a career-destroying defeat.
Haye told Sky Sports: "Audley's going to go out there in the shape of his life - this is his chance, what it's all been about, what he's been talking about for 10 years since the Olympics - and I'm expecting him to come out and give it a really good go.”
Haye has been very disparaging in the way he has talked about his former friend, but even he has to admit that Harrison has at least a punchers’ chance. “The Hayemaker” gives away two-and-a-half inches in height, four inches in reach and about two stone in weight. Yet the champion is widely considered the better technical fighter compared to Harrison’s slugging style and is heavy favourite to take this one at a canter.
When asked about the troubles of fighting someone bigger than him, Haye recalled his fight against Nicolay Valuev and said; "Size isn't an issue to me. He's a couple of inches taller than me, maybe two or three stones heavier than me, but that doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
"Remember, I've fought a guy who had a foot advantage and seven stones on me in weight - if I can get through that fight I don't think Audley Harrison is going to give me any problems in the size department."
Harrison has a very different opinion on the matter and right now sees himself as someone who can give Haye serious problems. He is getting used to being back in the spotlight having peaked in most people’s eyes at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. “A-force” said: "I'm so focussed and so calm, there's no pressure on me at all.
"I'm back in the place I was in the Olympics in 2000, people were saying it was the biggest thing in 32 years but I felt no pressure - this is back to the true essence of the sport, man against man. I know my skills and ability are better than David and that's what it comes down to."
It is very hard to judge the importance size makes in heavyweight boxing and really it differs from one fighter to another. Haye showed against Valuev that he can take on giants and his power has certainly carried up from the cruiserweights.
However he will be aware that Harrison is much more of a natural heavyweight than he is and combined with his awkward southpaw style, he is not an opposition to be taken to lightly at all by the champ.
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