Boxing News Boxing News
Tonight at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England, WBA heavyweight champion David Haye made short work of former mentor and ex-European champion Audley Harrison.
The skills displayed by Haye and Harrison, not to mention respective achievements, during their careers to this point firmly positioned Haye as the favorite by very wide margins but much was made of the pair’s former good relationship now gone sour and how that had motivated Harrison into what was sure to be a sterling performance in his long sought after crack at a world title.
That possibility never became a reality in the ring this evening in Manchester as Harrison never go his offense going in a very somber initial two rounds, and Haye did little better as they bot largely kept a distance.
By the third, however, Haye broke the ice with his trademark speed and power. Haye efforts from both hands caught Harrison flush and the 39 year old former Olympic Gold Medal winner was soon on the canvas.
Audley beat the count but Haye smelled blood and resumed the punishment before the shellacking of Harrison was stopped at 1:23 of the third frame.
Haye defends the WBA belt for the second time and his resume now stands at 25-0 (23), while Harrison drops to 27-5 (20).
British bantamweight champion Stuart Hall, 10-0-1 (6), overcame tough resistance from former champ Gary Davies, 10-4-1 (8), to produce a seventh round stoppage while Commonwealth super middle titlist George Groves, 11-0 (9), had to lift himself off the canvas before finishing off the challenge of Kenny Anderson, 12-1 (8), in the sixth.
In an IBF cruiserweight title eliminator, Enad Licina, 19-2 (10), outpointed Felix Cora Jr, 22-4-2 (12), by scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 116-113 after 12 rounds.
