Ruslan Chagaev: 50-50 chance Audley Harrison will beat David Haye
Former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev has speculated on Saturday’s bout between current champ David Haye and challenger Audley Harrison, surprisingly saying he thought it just as likely the huge
underdog Harrison will win as get beaten.
Chagaev (26-1, 16 KOs) is the mandatory challenger for the winner, so will likely find himself in the ring with one of them in coming months.
Chagaev said to Fightnews.com: “The chances are 50:50. Both have a good punch. Harrison is an Olympic winner. He is a tall, somewhat strong and more experienced than Haye, who I also see as strong. Haye
is maybe a little hungrier, technically adept and quicker. But in a heavyweight fight, it can all be over in one swoop - as Harrison vs. Michael Sprott has shown. He was well behind on points and then surprisingly knocked Sprott out to avoid defeat."
When asked who he would rather face in the ring, Chagaev expressed apathy towards the question, and said that he feels he can defeat them both regardless of particulars.
If Chagaev truly believes the odds are 50-50, he might do well to throw some cash down on a Harrison win, as oddsmakers (who like virtually everyone think Harrison is getting thrown to the wolves) have
Haye as around an 1/8 favourite in this tilt.
Chagaev will compete in a November 19 bout with Travis Walker 34-5, 28 KOs). Regarding the upcoming match he said: “He's experienced. He has managed to get more knockouts than I have, but that does not
impress me. This is a compulsory task, which I must accomplish on the way to the next world championship fight for the WBA crown, and I must be as impressive as possible."
Chagaev’s only professional defeat came at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko, whom he faced in 2009. While Chagaev fought nobly, he could not handle Klitschko’s height and size advantage, finally submitting
to “Dr. Steelhammer” in the ninth round.
Interestingly, for the Klitschko fight, Chagaev’s then-WBA title was not on the line. Had it have been, Klitschko would have become the WBA champ, and the fate of now-champion David Haye would have been
markedly different.
Haye beat Nikolai Valuev for the WBA title in November 2009. The title was awarded to Valuev after Chagaev was temporarily sidelined due to injury.
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