Haye Unfazed By Harrison Threat
David Haye will be at a sizeable weight disadvantage after weighing in three stone lighter than Audley Harrison for Saturday's WBA heavyweight title fight.
Challenger Harrison was the first to step on the scales ahead of the all-British bout in Manchester and weighed in at 18 stone 1.5lbs.
However Haye, at 15st 0.5lbs, will be at his lightest as a heavyweight.
Haye said he was "really happy", but Harrison predicted the title holder could be in a "whole heap of trouble".
The eagerly anticipated bout at the MEN Arena will be only the third time two Britons have fought for a world heavyweight crown.
Defending champion Haye, who weighed 15 stone 12lbs in his last fight against John Ruiz in April, seemed unconcerned by his 39-year-old rival's weight advantage.
"I'm stronger than I was from the last fight, I'm pushing more weights. I've not been cutting corners in the gym, I've done everything right," said Haye, who is making the second defence of the title he won from giant Russian Nikolay Valuev last November.
"Before we started training I was told if I hit all my targets in the gym, if I have a perfect training camp, then I'd come in around 15 stone.
"I've had more energy in the gym that I've ever had before. I've beaten the biggest champion, I'm used to being the smallest guy in a fight.
"For this fight you're going to see a more traditional fight and I'm going to get close to Audley. I'm hoping for the best Audley Harrison."
It was Haye's fans who seemed to win the battle of the supporters as the 30-year-old entered the arena to a boisterous welcome.
The 6ft 3in Londoner wore a baggy white t-shirt embossed with 'No You Can't' in big, bold writing on the front - a riposte to Harrison's adoption of Barrack Obama's Presidential 'yes you can' campaign slogan.
Haye looked relaxed, smiling and shaking hands with former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis before waving to the crowd.
In comparison, Harrison looked the more serious but did take an opportunity to orchestrate his supporters to a rendition of 'Yes You Can'.
And the southpaw was equally bullish about his chances in Saturday night's bout, believing his extra weight would prove significant in the latter rounds.
"If you look at my past career, that's a good weight for me," said the former European and Olympic champion.
"I feel strong, I feel fast, I feel that's an advantage for me.
"It's a good thing for me that he's come in light. In a long, hard fight that's going to be to my advantage and his disadvantage.
"This is going to be about who's the better fighter and I believe 100% that's me."
The two previous all-British heavyweight world title fights were Lennox Lewis v Frank Bruno in 1993 and Lewis v Henry Akinwande in 1997 (both for Lewis's WBC crown).