This farce damaged boxing

David Haye did what was expected and demolished Audley Harrison to defend his heavyweight belt in Manchester on Saturday. But it was made easy for him by an opponent who failed to throw a punch in anger before being flattened in the third round. The conclusion of the first two rounds were greeted with boos as the two fighters looked at each other without any sign of attack. Haye finally attacked in the third and it led to a swift end. The fight confirmed Haye’s position as a genuine world-class fighter, but the manner of the victory had The Sun’s Pat Sheehan suggesting the fight did more damage than good for the sport.

"Just how Audley Harrison managed to manoeuvre himself into the position of getting a world-title shot is beyond any joke.

They say in boxing you can only beat what is put in front of you and David Haye had no trouble in doing just that in front of fans who rightly expected a lot more from Harrison.

It is not an overstatement to say fight fans were conned by Harrison who talked big but produced little.

Harrison treated the bout like a non-contact sport that would have warmed the cockles of the anti-fight brigade's hearts instead of what boxing is supposed to be - the ultimate one-to-one combat.

General sport fans would have bought into the hype but they won't like the idea of feeling they've been conned and will back off when it comes to dipping into their pockets again.

Youngsters being taught boxing, which is making a welcome return to some schools, are told the fight game isn't only about your skill with fists but about heart, will and desire.

They will have found it was in short supply in Manchester as Harrison stepped between the ropes.

The MEN Arena was packed to the rafters but if Harrison ever returns to fight again here, who would bet against a phone box not being full?"