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Booth dismisses Audley's disruption claims

David Haye holds the title Audley Harrison is desperate to get his hands on © Getty Images

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Adam Booth has dismissed claims from Audley Harrison that the David Haye camp have deliberately interfered with his training regime by summoning him back to London three weeks ahead of the fight.

Harrison arrived back in London on Tuesday evening in a somewhat spiky mood, as he had been training at altitude in California and all the good work will be undone by returning to sea level. The challenger inferred it was a deliberate ploy by the champion's team to disrupt his training schedule, but this has been rubbished by Haye's trainer Booth.

"We don't need any advantage in this fight, we already have the advantage and that is David Haye," Booth told Sky Sports News. "Audley signed the contract before he decided where he chose to train. Training at altitude was up to him."

Booth is happy Harrison has been training hard as it proves he is ready for battle. "If you are looking at ways of overloading your body it is good," Booth said. "It is going to make you have to work in reduced circumstances and it will make him fitter and more determined. I am glad that he is looking to test himself in training."

Harrison will enter the ring with a sizeable height and reach advantage, but Haye overcame a similar scenario against Nikolai Valuev and Booth feels his charge has the tools to cope with the challenge.

"David has boxed a lot of fellas who are 6ft 6in in the amateurs, some good guys and a lot of them southpaws, so it is nothing new," Booth said.

"This has not been left to chance, as I brought in Tony Thompson early. Tony Thompson is a genuine world-class southpaw. He is strong, teak tough, and took Wladimir [Klitschko] 11 rounds and spars with the Klitschkos all the time.

"I knew he could test David in the gym and that is why from the get-go that David has been on it."

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