By James Slater: There are three more heavyweight title fights scheduled for this year: with Vitali Klitschko-Shannon Briggs taking place this Saturday, and Ring magazine, IBF, WBO and IBO king Wladimir Klitschko facing a TBA (possibly Derek Chisora) on Dec. 11th – and sandwiched in between these two fights is the upcoming Nov.13th clash between WBA boss David Haye and Audley Harrison.
And while Briggs further hyped up his crack at the WBC crown at a press conference in Hamburg, Germany today, “A-Force” spoke from his training camp at Big Bear, insisting to all that he will win his title shot next month.
Harrison is of the belief that Big Bear is something of a lucky camp for him, seeing as he has never lost a fight after having trained there. Audley, as he told SKY Sports News, is the superstitious sort.
“This is a professional training establishment,” Harrison, the 2000 Olympic gold medallist said. “Sugar Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, even Lennox Lewis came here. I have trained here seven time and never lost. Training in London, with the distractions, this is a real camp with a real team and we are putting in our work.
“I have done my laughing and joking, now is the time for the serious business. I am focused and it is time to do it. The fights I have lost, I have not been in Big Bear training; I read a lot into that. I am cutting no corners in this fight and that will be the difference.”
Does this last comment by Audley mean he cut corners ahead of previous fights? As with Briggs – another fighter drinking from the Last Chance Saloon – I have no doubt Harrison will give it his all when he climbs in the ring with the defending belt-holder. And, as is the case with Briggs, Audley will put the work in in the gym. But, all this considered, neither guy in my opinion, has too much hope of winning his next fight.
Harrison may have more of a puncher’s chance than does Briggs, seeing how shaky Haye’s chin has looked on occasion (Vitali’s beard, we all know, is one of the best in the sport). And “A-Force” can bang with his left hand. Harrison has to land his best punch to get the job done, though, and to my mind Haye’s speed will not allow this to happen. If I were a betting man, I’d think seriously about putting a few down on a Haye one-round win.
Both Harrison and Briggs are big betting underdogs, and the bookies seldom get it wrong. I was just thinking though: what would happen IF both challengers managed to shock the world! That sure would shake up the heavyweight division, wouldn’t it?
Predictions:
Haye KO 1 Harrison
V. Klitschko TKO 9 Briggs (very possibly a corner retirement by “The Cannon”)