Audley Harrison has called out his former sparring partner David Haye as he looks to step back into the heavyweight division.
Former Olympic champion seeking clash with his old friend
Audley Harrison has called out his former sparring partner David Haye as he looks to step out of the shadows and back into the heavyweight division.
The two men were good friends when they boxed together on the England team as amateurs, but where former British Olympic gold medallist Harrison has failed (23-4), Haye (22-1) has succeeded.
Many thought the 37-year-old would retire after losing his last contest on points over 10 rounds to Prize Fighter winner Martin Rogan, who this weekend challenges Matt Skelton for the Commonwealth heavyweight title in Birmingham.
But while 'The Hayemaker' has challenged Wladimir Klitschko to fight for two world heavyweight titles, Harrison has issued an ultimatum.
Bitterness
"If Haye is still considering a warm up bout before his world title tilt, then I'm sure the British public would love to see him send me into retirement," Harrison said.
"They might say I am undeserving of a shot at him but who else is he going to fight? He says he wants a challenge. I don't think he thinks he can walk through me and take me out.
"I am happy to step into the ring with David and pay him back after the last sparring session we had where he took liberties after my first lost to Danny Williams.
"To make it worse, Lennox Lewis had come to see me. David and his sidekick Adam [Booth] turned up unannounced and tried to blast me out. When people were telling me, 'He's using you and that was uncalled for', I pushed it aside.
"When I used to put him on my shows, when no one knew who he was, he was not even required to sell tickets or help promote the show in any way, people said 'he's using you', but I brushed it aside.
"When I let down all my friends and brought David as my ringside guest for [Mike] Tyson versus [Julius] Francis, 'He's using you' they said but I ignored it. When I brought David as my private guest to P Diddys Private Party, 'He's using you!' they said.
"Over and over again I've heard this. I'm awake now and can't really recall when David has really gone out of his way for me.
"All I wanted was an opportunity to appear on the Ryan Rhodes undercard in March.
"I'm told, 'Sorry bud, no room for you'. He didn't even speak to me; he had Adam speak to me, which was even more insulting. This will be personal."
