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Haye confirms all-British fight with Harrison

David Haye has confirmed that he will defend his WBA heavyweight title in a Battle of Britain clash against Audley Harrison and he has promised to "annihilate" the former Olympic champion.

Haye, 29, has not fought since beating John Ruiz in April and, after negotiations fell through with the Klitschko brothers, he was called out by Harrison to give the British public a huge domestic showdown.

With options limited, Haye has succumbed to Harrison's taunts and the pair will meet in the ring on November 13 at Manchester's MEN Arena in the biggest all-British world heavyweight clash since Lennox Lewis defended his WBC crown against Frank Bruno at the old Cardiff Arms Park in 1993.

"I don't believe Audley deserves a shot at the heavyweight title," Haye said. "But fortunately for him, or unfortunately for him depending on which way you look at it there are enough people in Britain that want to see him get finally destroyed, completely annihilated and that's why this fight is happening.

"I get more emails to fight Audley Harrison than anybody else in the world and everybody feels passionately that they want me to finally close the curtain on the joke that is the Audley Harrison show."

The two fighters proceeded to swap insults as the press conference became extremely heated. And the needle between the two intensified when Harrison vowed to wrestle Haye's title away from him.

"I remember two years ago I said 'trust me I'm gonna fight David Haye for the world title, they said he's delusional. After the prizefighter, I said I'm gonna fight David Haye for the world title - he's delusional.' How am I sitting here now fighting David Haye for the world title? After I've knocked you out and got your belt I'm gonna come right over you, give you some eyes and say 'Am I still delusional?

"I know David Haye very well. I've tasted his punches and tasted his power and he never ever hurt me or knocked me out in those training sessions. You need to understand that it is my destiny and trust me when I tell you this, at some point my left hand is going to land on your chin and trust me, Audley Harrison on November 13 is the new world champion, no doubt."

Haye, who has only lost once - to Carl Thompson in 2004 - was visibly riled by his opponent's comments and responded in typically bullish fashion.

"You're gonna get destroyed. I'm going to embarrass you. I'm going to break you down and embarrass you. "I'm a better athlete, I bet I can run faster, jump higher, punch harder and have got better reflexes," he said.

Harrison has endured a turbulent career since turning professional in 2001. In 31 fights, he has only lost on four occasions, but the calibre of his opponents has always been questioned. In his last fight, despite being behind on all three judges' scorecards, he knocked out Michael Sprott in April to win the European belt - a title he has since vacated.

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