By James Slater – Former undisputed heavyweight king Lennox Lewis has weighed-in and given his opinion on this coming Saturday’s WBA heavyweight title clash between bitter rivals David Haye and Audley Harrison. And, to the surprise of many, Lewis says he sees a very competitive, close fight – even a great fight on November 13th.
Talking with BBC radio, the all-time great who retired after that bloody win over current WBC heavyweight ruler Vitali Klitschko, was reluctant to pick an overall winner, but he certainly gives “A-Force” a good chance of winning..
“I think when it comes down to it, Audley realises it’s now or never,” Lewis said. “And he’s really giving some good talk about what he says he’s going to do in the ring. Now, what we really want to see from you [Harrison], is what you’ve spoken about; can he go in the ring and do all these things? I think it’s going to be a good fight myself.
“I think David Haye’s a quick guy – he’s there and then he’s not. Audley definitely has the power to be able to stun the world and upset everybody’s thinking. It’s another great fight for Britain.”
Lewis feels Haye is the overall better boxer, because he has quicker combinations, but he refers to Harrison as a “consummate pro,” who is “always thinking, sometimes too much.”
“I think [Harrison] has that burning desire,” Lennox said.
And Lewis doesn’t think, as some people do, that the only way the 2000 Olympian can win is by a lucky punch.
“No, in my view, we have to remember Audley’s an Olympic champion,” he continued. “He basically went about his pro career his way, and there’ve been a couple of stumbling blocks he’s gone through, and he’s still here. So that shows me he has the desire to be accomplished and successful. I think it’s going to be a very close fight.”
When pressed with a final prediction – and asked who he’d back to win if he had to put everything he owned on the outcome – Lewis said he never makes such a mistake in as unpredictable a sport as boxing!
“If I’d put everything I owned on the fight [I had] with Oliver McCall (the first fight, in 2004), I would’ve lost,” Lennox said. “With Hasim Rahman (from April of 2001), I would definitely have lost! So I never do that. Boxing is an uncertainty and we never know what will happen. Speed is a big, big factor. Can Audley neutralise Haye’s speed?
“I think it comes down to who is better at what they do, who is able to do what they need to do on the night.”
Lewis also spoke about the “terrific” left hand punches Harrison has, and he also wondered aloud if the southpaw underdog can use his size advantage against the younger, faster man.
It’s quite amazing really, how fans and experts alike have begun to give Harrison more and more of a chance the closer the fight gets. When first announced, most people yelled how the fight was a “farce” and “a one-sided beating in favour of Haye!”
Despite recent opinions by Frank Bruno, Derek Chisora, James DeGale and now Lewis, that give Harrison a good to great chance, I myself will stick with the initial opinion I had when the bout was announced.
I go for Haye to smoke Harrison inside three-rounds.