Bermondsey's David Haye will make the third defence of his European crown against unbeaten Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni on Friday, November 13 at the world-renowned York Hall in Bethnal Green, London.

In an announcement made earlier this week, promoter Frank Maloney confirmed that the cruiserweight clash has been sanctioned as a final eliminator for the WBC title. Either Haye or Fragomeni will meet the winner of the upcoming rematch between current champion O'Neil Bell and Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck.

The 25-year-old Londoner speaks very highly of Fragomeni, and knows first hand what the squat Italian brings to the table. They have crossed paths once before, in 1999 at an Olympic qualifying tournament. Fragomeni beat Haye handily on that occasion, and in doing so shattered the precocious Englishman's dream of representing his country at the 2000 Sydney Games.

With that as a subtext, Haye claims that he is delighted to be facing Fragomeni at such an important juncture in his career. The chance to avenge the defeat which ruined his Olympic medal hopes and on the same night secure his first major world title shot couldn't be more appealing, he told the media on Monday.

"As soon as I heard his name I was so happy," enthused the now 17-1 (16 KO's) Haye. "I boxed Fragomeni in 1999 — at an Olympic qualifying tournament — and he beat me 11-1. That was pretty hard to stomach because I'd trained my whole life gearing up for the 2000 Olympics.

"I was 19 years old and he was the guy who stopped me getting there. It's always been on my mind. Getting the chance to get revenge over him in a WBC final eliminator means so much to me."

Courtesy www.frankmaloney.com

Click to read more boxing articles by Don Caputo

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Boxing Weigh-in: David Haye - Lasse Johansen

  Click for larger image © Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing >
  
  

• Frank Maloney Praises New World Champion David Haye

  British boxing has moved to the forefront of the world stage this past Saturday, when David Haye sensationally knocked out WBC/WBA Cruiserweight Jean-Marc Mormeck in the Frenchman's back yard of >
  
  

• Golden Boy Boxing: Haye Seeking Postponement Of Klitschko Fight

  Despite yesterday's announcement that the June 20th World Heavyweight Championship bout between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye has been called off due to a back injury Haye suffered during training >
  
  

• Boxing Info: David Haye - Lasse Johansen

  Unbeaten Cruiserweight Lasse Johansen made it clear today that he is not coming to England for a holiday or a quick pay day against David Haye.   The thirty-year old Dane has >
  
  

• Boxing Info: Team Haye Clarify Maccarinelli Situation

  With regards to the British super fight between David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli, Team Haye would like to confirm that at no time did they made any extra demands or >
  
  

• Haye Returns This Month.

  It is incredible to think that a twelve-fight novice should have to negotiate his way through a comeback period at this stage of his career, but this is the scenario >
  
  

• Team Klitschko Vow To Make Haye Pay In Boxing Ring

  Months of negotiations have come to an end and the highly expected heavyweight fight is determined: IBF, WBO and IBO Champion Wladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine, 52-3 (46), will defend >
  
  

• Ex-Heavyweight Boxing Champ Valuev Says King Didn’t Want Haye Fight

  Former two-time WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev felt compelled today to post comments on his company’s website regarding his decision to agree to make an optional defense of his crown >
  
  

• Boxing Preview Analysis: Nicolai Valuev vs. David Haye

  

  © SE / Photo Wende After what seems like an eternity, David finally meets Goliath when David Haye challenges Nikolai Valuev for his WBA Heavyweight Championship in Nuremberg, Germany tonight. For Haye, >
  
  

• Haye Destroys Delaney.

  British cruiserweight prospect David Haye dismantled veteran UK fight scene campaigner Garry Delaney last night in a match that was made in the heavyweight division. Haye's performance was steady and >
  
  

---