Haye: Harrison can bring axe

WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye is so confident of beating Audley Harrison in his title defence in November he has invited the challenger to bring an axe with him.

Haye was responding to a YouTube video posted by Harrison ahead of the 13 November bout in Manchester in which the challenger was filmed wielding an axe at his training camp in California.

Haye hit back by saying: “We’re going to contact the British Boxing Board of Control and request that Audley be allowed to use the axe in the ring on 13 November. I’m deadly serious about this. At least if Audley has an axe in his left hand, I might have something to look out for. Even with an axe in his hand, Audley doesn’t stand a chance.

“What good is an axe if you’re too scared to throw it? It’s a shame he couldn’t have used the axe to cut through the rubbish that has been coming out of his mouth recently.”