Harrison to take on champion Haye

Harrison, 38, and Haye, 29, were once close friends

David Haye will make the second defence of his WBA world heavyweight title against fellow Briton and 2000 Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison.

"I don't believe Audley deserves a chance but enough people want to see him finally destroyed, that is why this fight is happening" said Haye.

Harrison said: "I am ecstatic at getting a shot at the title. When I land my left hand on him he is done."

The pair will meet at the MEN Arena in Manchester on 13 November.

It will be the biggest all-British fight for a world heavyweight title since Lennox Lewis defended his WBC crown by stopping Frank Bruno in 1993.

Haye, 29, won the WBA belt by beating giant Russian Nikolay Valuev on points in Germany on 7 November 2009.

The former cruiserweight king, who has lost only once in 25 professional bouts, then defended his title by stopping American John Ruiz at the MEN Arena in April.

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For 38-year-old Harrison, November's contest against Haye gives him the chance to fulfil his dream of winning a genuine world title.

Harrison won super heavyweight gold at the Sydney Games and was tipped to become a world champion in the professional ranks.

But his career failed to take off in any meaningful way and looked to be over when he suffered a shock points loss to Belfast taxi driver Martin Rogan in December 2008.

The 1998 Commonwealth Games champion reignited his career by winning Prizefighter last year and then scored a 12th-round knockout against Michael Sprott to win the EBU heavyweight title in April.

Haye had hoped to meet either of the Klitschko brothers, who hold the other recognised world heavyweight titles, after beating Ruiz.

Haye's manager, Adam Booth, held talks earlier this year with Vitali (WBC) and Wladimir (WBO and IBF) about a possible unification fight but those negotiations foundered.

A contest between Haye and fellow Londoner Harrison, who were once close friends before a public war of words last year, will have box-office appeal in Britain, with the MEN Arena virtually guaranteed to sell out.

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