By Frank Warren

BOXING hit a low and high in one night two weeks ago.

The low was billed as the domestic fight of the year.

But David Haye's WBA heavyweight title fight against Audley Harrison proved to be a joke.

Some pundits have blamed the 'money men' and 'suits' for the Manchester letdown.

Yet the truth is the promoter of the event was a boxer, Haye. I have always believed active boxers should not be promoters, as they can have a serious conflict of interest in quality control.

After the Haye 'mock Ali' photo poses and all the pre-fight playground insults, I can honestly say I have seen more action in the playground.

I cannot recall a referee having to tell boxers to fight after two rounds of pacifism.

Haye's three-round victory was hollow enough before he categorically stated on TV that he made money from betting on the fight's outcome.

He declared: "I can punch and land punches whenever I choose to. That's why this fight went to the third round.

"I put a lot of money on the third round. A lot of my friends and family did so. I didn't want to let them down by doing him too early."

Faced with a Board of Control inquiry - their rules specify boxers cannot bet on their fights - Haye swiftly retracted the claim.

Two absolutely contradictory statements, of which one must be a lie, have left a stink over the whole affair.

There is no way Haye or any boxer also promoting a fight - and therefore arranging a voluntary defence and handpicking his opponent - should be allowed to bet on it in any way.

It is no different from a bowler backing himself deliberately to deliver a no-ball. There are ways and means of putting on wagers.

Fighters have been known to bet portions of their purse against each other and in the past the Board of Control has held side stakes.

Even Haye said himself he regularly bets on his fights in a recent Soccer AM appearance.

As a promoter, I have sometimes backed my fighters to win. I've won and lost money but I am not in the ring throwing punches as well.

If it is allowed, what is to stop a boxer betting on himself to lose?

Conspiracy theorists have had a field day. During the third round, Haye can be seen on TV nodding and saying to Harrison 'Now'.

Some people have speculated it was something more sinister. Whatever the truth, it is something boxing could have done without.

What of the future for both fighters? Haye must fight one of the Klitschko brothers next, though I fancy my man Dereck Chisora could upset Wladimir next month.

As for Harrison, unbelievably Frank Maloney offered him a fight against one of his heavyweights as a way back. Is he for real?

Time after time, Harrison has told us a big performance is just around the corner. But he always falls flat.

Some people have said they feel sorry for him but he has a big enough bank balance to cushion the blow of another embarrassing loss.

Compare Haye v Harrison to the big fight in Texas, where 42,000 witnessed a real boxing high - Manny Pacquiao's all-action points win over Antonio Margarito. Pacman has now won world titles at eight different weights.

Margarito was the bravest of the brave but the fight should have been stopped in the 10th.

People are talking about Pacquiao as the best boxer of all time.

I don't agree but he is certainly one of the greatest of the last 20 years.

Meanwhile, I am honoured to be receiving the first 'Boxing Icon' award from Nordoff Robbins on Monday at their Boxing Dinner in London. The evening will feature amateur boxing, England v Ireland.

Nordoff Robbins is the largest UK charity specialising in the transformative and communicative power of music and for more than 50 years has been widely respected as the benchmark for using music to improve health and wellbeing. Please visit www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk