By Sonia Oxley
After a cautious first round, where fans at Manchester's MEN Arena booed both boxers for their defensive approach, the fight sprang to life in the third when Haye landed with a barrage of right hooks and uppercuts which sent Harrison to the canvas.
Harrison managed to beat the count but the bout was stopped shortly after with the challenger offering no offence as Haye continued to land heavy blows.
"I told people I'd do it in three and that's what I did," Haye, 30, told a news conference where he flicked through the glossy fight program. "I know a lot of people made a lot of money (on that outcome)."
"It has to happen in 2011, I retire in 2011," he said of a fight with the Ukrainians.
Haye said they needed to sit down and thrash out a deal, with his trainer saying it should be a 50-50 fight. Previous negotiations have stalled over money issues and Haye said he would not delay his retirement plans to accommodate them.
He admitted Saturday's fight would not have done much for his standing on the international boxing stage but it had been good in terms of its high profile in Britain.
A FARCE
Fans, some of whom paid 1,000 pounds ($1,605) for a ticket, felt cheated as they taunted Harrison afterwards with "How can you sleep?," "You're a farce," "It was pitiful" as the 2000 Olympic gold medalist offered nothing in the way of attack.
Although he refused to talk about retirement, boxing pundits wondered how he could continue with any credibility with a professional record of 27 wins and five defeats after talking up his chances in this fight saying it was his "destiny" to win.
Dubbed "Fraudley" and "Ordinary" in the past, those nicknames seem unlikely to disappear as Harrison seemed almost hypnotized by the bobbing-and-moving Haye.
The southpaw's game plan of taking the fight the 12-round distance so he could capitalize on his three-stone weight advantage came to nothing when Haye unleashed a series of blows.
"I didn't get the opportunity to land that left hand," said 39-year-old Harrison.
"I beat the count and felt OK ... but it wasn't to be my night. No excuses, he caught me with a good shot. I went in there to win but didn't get the result so I have to take it like a man."
Asked how much Harrison had hurt him, Haye laughed.
"We straightened it out once and for all in the ring," said Haye, who had embraced his challenger at the end. "I'd like to take him out for a drink after this."
(Editing by Patrick Johnston)
