A lifeless performance from Harrison condemned him to defeat (AP)
David Haye said to his family and friends he would knock out his former training partner and friend Audley Harrison in the third round. On Saturday, he delivered on his promise with an almost effortless performance against an inert Audley Harrison in their WBA heavyweight title bout.
The fight was frankly a mismatch between a rising star and a flop who believed he had a genuine hope of capturing a world title. National newspapers have already questioned the validity of the fight as to whether Haye placed a bet on himself to knock out Harrison in the third. He instead stated after the fight his friends and relatives placed a wager on Haye for a third round KO.
The first two rounds did not lend itself to be a British heavyweight classic. Haye studied his opponent's evasive approach in the first six minutes, and only landing a couple of his shots to Harrison's temple, but never followed up with more combinations. The lack of action prompted a chorus of boos surrounding the MEN Arena, with many paying between £100-400 for the good seats, as many as 700,000 purchasing the event on pay-per-view and thousands of others going to their local to watch it. Harrison responded by a jab to Haye's forehead that barely rocked him back.
Harrison stepped up into the third looking very timid and defensive, and Haye capitalised on his vulnerability. Piercing right-handed shots stunned the 39-year old Harrison, and was felled by the 'Hayemaker' just over a minute in. The dazed and dejected Harrison managed to recover by the count of eight, but the inevitable was to happen. A further barrage of blows to his head and body, some of them not cleanly struck, led the referee to intervene for a technical knockout victory.
It is difficult to see where Harrison will go on from here, with pundits including Barry McGuigan calling for his retirement. However many will criticise Haye for choosing Harrison knowing he would guarantee a third round KO, and for the fact that it was his easiest £6m cheque he could ever collect. Harrison, who only landed one of his 33 punches, will pocket £3m for his feeble attempt in his promise of knocking out his former sparring partner. For Haye, it is the matter of onwards and upwards, and surely a fight with one of the Klitschkos beckons after what seems to be endless negotiations over pay distribution.
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