Audley Harrison is a no-win opponent for David Haye but the pressure on the WBA world heavyweight champion to risk everything in a Battle of Britain has been cranked up to breaking point by his brother Londoner.
Harrison has called on his former friend to ‘be a man’ and put pen to the dotted line for their proposed November 13 fight at Manchester’s MEN Arena.
The timing of that challenge is acute for Haye, coming as his hopes of meeting one of the Klitschko brothers in a world championship unification match run deeper and deeper into a dead end.
With no realistic alternative on his horizon, Haye appears to be cornered by Harrison as he offers this taunt: ‘We’ve been talking for weeks and I’m accepting the terms you offer me so let’s see what you are made of. Man up and sign up.’
Putting his belt on the line against a 38-year-old underachiever – but one equipped with a knock-out punch – is far from ideal for Haye, but he cannot drift along without a second fight this year.
The self-styled Hayemaker, having failed to come to terms with Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko on several occasions, will bristle as Harrison says: ‘Why are we in this game? I’m as bored as every fight fan hearing why you won’t accept fights so I’m going to be the Hayebreaker.’
The problem for Haye – at almost 10 years the younger but hoping to become the undisputed heavyweight king by the end of 2011 and then retire – is that beating Harrison can do little or nothing for his ambition or legacy.
And although his speed and natural talent should prevail, the doubts which persist about his ability to absorb heavy punches put him in some danger of a catastrophic KO.
Out of action: Haye has struggled to land an opponent he wants
Harrison, although coming to the end of the chequered professional career which has followed his winning of Olympic gold, demonstrated that the power is still with him when he pulled out a spectacular late flattening of Michael Sprott.
