David Haye retained his WBA
heavyweight title with a third-round stoppage against Audley Harrison in
Manchester.
Harrison crumbled under a barrage
of blows in the first all-British showdown in 17 years after a tentative
opening two rounds where few punches were thrown.
Haye, 30, waited for his chance and
was clinical when it arrived, flooring his 39-year-old fellow Londoner.
Former Olympic champion Harrison
had said it was his destiny to triumph, but landed just one significant punch.
“I’m very happy with it. I said to people close to me I would stop him in three
rounds and that’s exactly what I did,” said Haye.
Harrison boasted a 43lbs weight
advantage and a two-and-a-half-inch height difference, but Haye’s slimmed-down
frame enhanced his superior speed.
Referee Luis Pabon called the
fighters together to urge them to fight during the second round before the
fight exploded in the third.
Related Videos
