Audley Harrison claims David Haye has been knocked down during sparring

Audley Harrison today claimed world heavyweight champion David Haye had been floored by a veteran while sparring for their title bout in Manchester in 12 days time.

There has been plenty of trash talking in the build-up to British boxing's biggest clash for more than a decade and Harrison has now added to the ill-feeling by claiming the WBA holder was embarrassed by Tony Thompson in training.

'Tiger' Thompson was brought in by the Haye camp because, like Harrison, he is a southpaw. The 39-year-old is an unspectacular puncher but had apparently got the better of Haye during training for the bout at the MEN Arena.

Harrison, who is also 39, said: "I heard that Tony Thompson knocked David Haye down a few weeks ago. Tony isn't a puncher but if Tony has been able to knock him down then what I am going to do to him? The thing is David can do all the work in the gym on his muscles but that isn't going to put muscles on his chin and that's where I am going to hit him."

American Thompson has won all but two of his 36 professional fights and is ranked 12th by the WBC since losing in the 11th round against Wladimir Klitschko in 2008.