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Harrison in for 'rude awakening' - Haye

Audley Harrison beat Danny Williams in 2006 © Getty Images

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David Haye has warned Audley Harrison that he is "in for a rude awakening" when the two meet for the WBA heavyweight title on November 13 - because the best performances in Harrison's career so far have done nothing to provoke any fear.

Harrison, who has been training for the fight at altitude in California, has boasted "I'm definitely going to come in fit, like I did against Danny Williams [in 2006]" - but Haye has sought to play down the significance of that fight.

"[Harrison's] not at all [dangerous]," Haye told Sky Sports News. "He's going to need a hell of a lot more than he needed against Danny Williams. I spoke to the referee and he went into Danny's changing room and Danny was sleeping right before the fight.

"That doesn't sound like a fighter who was ripe and ready. Audley is looking at those sort of performances as a fuel to beat me. He's in for a rude awakening, let me tell you."

However Haye did concede some ground to Harrison by admitting that his London training camp did leave him open to distractions. "There are distractions but I like the hustle and bustle of London - and I've got to be here to promote the fight, put quality sparring in, see my physio, so logistically I have to be near London," he said.

The WBA title holder, who won the strap in November 2009, moved to play down suggestions that he is underestimating his opponent. "All angles have been covered, all bases have been covered. I've looked at all Audley Harrison's best assets - in little spurts, when Audley puts his punches together, he looks really good - and I'm anticipating Audley Harrison bringing 12 rounds of his best possible work. I'm not anticipating any less. In my mind he is going to come out razor sharp."

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