World heavyweight boxing champion David Haye has refused to apologise for his comments that his fight against Audley Harrison will be "as one-sided as a gang-rape", during a television interview when he appeared with his opponent.

Haye accepted that his comment had "upset a few people" but insisted he was not shamed by the criticism.

"I am not embarrassed about it," he told Kay, adding: "I want people to tune in to see the most devastating knockout they will ever see in their life. I could have used a different phrase. I could have said I am going to beat him, (that) it is going to be as one-sided as a gang beating... it is going to be one-sided," Sky News quoted him, as saying.

"I wasn't saying I am going to gang-rape him. I wasn't condoning it, I said it is going to be one-sided," he added.

Haye's comments have outraged rape charities, who called him a "disgrace" and asked him to retract it.

However, during a face-to-face interview with Haye, Harrison had challenged him saying victory was "his destiny" and he was looking forward to shocking the world again by "knocking him down and taking his belt".

The unapologetic boxer replied that Harrison did not deserve a heavyweight title and that he would be knocked down instead.

"He is lucky I am giving him a shot at the heavyweight title, I don't think he deserves it. You will be knocked out. You will need to be stretchered out of the ring, trust me," he had challenged. (ANI)