Audley Harrison statement
“To my family, my team and the fans who got behind me on this journey to overthrow David Haye and become Heavyweight champion, I’m sorry I was unable to walk through the door and fulfil my destiny. I can promise I cut no corners in training and did all I could do in getting myself ready both physically and mentally for Saturday’s fight. Ultimately, I didn’t get going and my game plan to take over the fight in the later rounds was extinguished by the power and speed of David Haye who caught me clean around my guard.
“If I wanted an easy way out, I would have stayed down from the knockdown, but I rose and the referee’s intervention saved me from a potentially bad knockout as David is a good finisher, but I would have gladly left the ring on a stretcher as I wanted to work my way through it.
“I make no excuses and I’m not sure where I go from here in boxing, but I’ll lick my wounds, take some time out with my family and see what I want to do.
“From Prizefighter, to the European Title and overcoming a career ending injury and surgery – I am happy to have made my way back to this point. Yes I am defeated and upset about the outcome on Saturday, but my journey in life has been one of triumph and the ‘yes I can’ slogan goes onwards and upwards.
“To David Haye, I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight for the World Title and I’m glad we buried the bad blood between us. I wish you well in your attempts to unify the titles and you have my support.”