AUDLEY HARRISON

'Audley Harrison', (born on October 26, 1971 in London), is a British Heavyweight boxer. In 2000 in Sydney he became the first Briton to win an Olympic gold medal in the Superheavyweight division since the competition's inception in 1984. He was also the first Briton to take Olympic gold in boxing in 32 years, and the first at the highest weight class since 1920. After his Olympic success he turned professional, fighting in Great Britain and America, though without the success of other former Olympic champions.

Contents

Professional career

America

Losses

Comeback

Amateur career

Professional record

References

External links

Professional career

After his medal win, Harrison was awarded an MBE and landed a £1 million deal with the BBC to show his first ten professional fights.^[3] The first was against US club fighter Michael Middleton, whom Harrison knocked out in the first round.^[4] He was then out of action for several months with a pectoral injury, but by the end of the year outpointed Briton Derek McCafferty over six rounds.^[5] Harrison was criticized in the boxing press for his seeming unwillingness to take on his fellow British contenders such as Michael Sprott, Matt Skelton, Keith Long, or Pele Reid, who would have given him a real test.
During this period Harrison often mentioned his Olympic success, with quotes such as "they don't give gold medals away", to counter criticism about his professional career. However the fighters in the 2000 Olympic competition were not good enough to make it in the professional fight game. The one notable fighter whom Harrison fought in his amateur days was Sinan Samil Sam, who beat Harrison on points. This can be compared to other Olympic champions such as Lennox Lewis, who beat future World Professional heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe on his way to winning the gold medal.
Harrison continued to fight in 2003, and in February 2004 he took out US club fighter Rob Calloway in 4 rounds,^[6] outpointed Ratko Draskovic over 8 slow rounds,^[7] and knocked out one-time British fringe contender Matt Ellis in 2 rounds. Although Herbie Hide and Danny Williams were calling him out, Harrison was instead trying to arrange a fight with 41 year old ex-World champion Frank Bruno, who had been retired for 7 years. A war of words at York Hall, Bethnal Green with the erratic Hide after the Ellis fight resulted in a violent and unsightly riot.^[8] The proposed Frank Bruno fight collapsed shortly afterwards, when Bruno was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

America

Although Harrison's weight was coming down (around 250 lbs, 115 kg), the bad press from the Ellis riot and increasing pressure to fight Hide or British champ Danny Williams resulted in Harrison relocating to the US to "continue his education". This move would be heavily criticised in the press, and bring his willingness to fight a dangerous opponent into question.
He had three more fights in 2003, against veteran journeymen Lisandro Diaz (KO4),^[9] Quinn Navarre (KO3),^[10] and Brian Nix (KO3),^[11] in America. Harrison's technique had appeared to improve, and he was sparring regularly with experienced world class Heavyweights like Vaugn Bean.
Harrison returned to the UK in 2004, but instead of fighting new British champion Michael Sprott for the British title, he fought unknown Dutch fighter Richel Hersisia for the lightly regarded WBF "World" belt. He knocked out Hersisia impressively in 4 rounds.^[12] He would defend the title twice: a 12 round points win over 40 year old late-sub Julius Francis,^[13], and a 9th round TKO of unknown Tomasz Bonin,^[14] both fights being heavily criticised for being slow and dull. After suffering a serious ligament tear in his left hand requiring hand surgery in New York, Harrison was forced to put his career on hold for almost a year. During this time he was dropped by the BBC, who decided after their experience with Harrison to take all boxing off their schedule permanently. By now Harrison had acquired the nickname "Fraudley" and was again criticized for not taking on credible opponents or performing to the standard expected of an Olympic champion. He refused professional management, managing himself through his company "A-Force Promotions", named after the nickname he prefers, 'Audley "A Force" Harrison'. Harrison defended his slow introduction to the professional game by pointing to the need to gain experience gradually.
Harrison resurfaced a year later in June 2005 in the US. He knocked out two journeymen, Robert Davis (KO7)^[15] and Robert Wiggins (KO4)^[16] on The Best Damn Sports Show Period, and said he was now ready to step up and face world class opponents and get a title shot. However Harrison was unable to get a big fight with anyone, and with his career progressing nowhere he was forced to return to the UK in December to face long-time bitter rival Danny Williams in London.

Losses

Fighting for the Commonwealth title, the fight proved infamous for its lack of action, and Harrison's negative performance. In the 10th round Williams decked Harrison, but Harrison came back in the next round to throw punches at last and hurt Williams. The fight was difficult to score and Harrison lost a close, split decision to the delight of the crowd, who had begun to see Harrison as the bad guy in British boxing for his big talk but failure to deliver.^[17] Following the fight he was heavily criticised by a number of leading figures in British boxing; including ex-fighters Barry McGuigan and Chris Eubank.
In April 2006 Harrison travelled to the US and tried save his career by taking on one-time hot prospect Dominick Guinn. Guinn had won 24 fights in a row until his own negative style led to a couple of key points defeats against Monte Barrett and James Toney. In an important crossroads fight for both men, Harrison was again reluctant to throw punches, and was actually outworked by the notoriously negative Guinn who won on points.^[18]

Comeback

In June 2006 Harrison scored a three round knockout of journeyman Andrew Greeley in an off-TV fight in America,^[19] and was poised for a fight with Matt Skelton to try to resurrect his career. Skelton had beaten Danny Williams in July, winning the title Williams had earlier taken from Harrison. When Skelton dropped out only one week before the fight due to injury, Danny Williams replaced him.^[20]
Williams by his own admission had trained 8 weeks for a fight with British champ Scott Gammer, however this time around Harrison fought far more aggressively, decking Williams twice and winning on a third round knockout. Williams suffered a broken nose and severe lacerations.^[21]
Following the victory over Williams, Harrison signed a promotional deal with boxing promoter Frank Warren with the aim of getting Harrison a world title fight in 2007. Warren and Harrison had been looking to arrange a fight with British Heavyweight Champion Scott Gammer.
On 17 February 2007, he was knocked out by Michael Sprott for the European Union title. Harrison came out strongly and knocked Sprott down in the first round. In the third Harrison threw a right which Sprott slipped, leaving Harrison off balance. At the same time Sprott threw his own big left hook catching Harrison flush on the chin with his mouth open. Opinion is divided as to how much luck was involved in Sprott landing the counterpunch, since he appeared to be looking down when he first threw it, but it is overwhelmingly considered that Harrison left himself too open to the possibility of being hit. The referee called the fight immediately, it being clear that Harrison would not make the count.
This third professional loss leaves Harrison's future uncertain. While giving an interview after his win over Danny Williams in their second fight he proclaimed that 2007 would be his year and he would win a version of the world title - and then would be "undisputed" in 2008. Despite Harrison's post-fight claim that he could make a comeback, comments by Frank Warren appear to suggest that any return to the ring would be for a significantly reduced purse, since the public will have no great interest.^[22]
Audley has recently announced on his website that he is back in training, stating "I was invited by Lennox Lewis to work with him and his Olympic trainer at the Atlas Boxing Gym where Lennox came to the gym every day and gave me some valuable training tips and sessions which was great. Also Adrian, his Olympic Coach, helped me out and together I believe they have shown me some valuable lessons which will aid me in future bouts". However, it has been stated by some in the boxing media that receiving training "tips" at the age of 35 does not engender confidence in Audley's ability to become a top-class boxer before he retires.

Amateur career

★ 1998 at the European Super Heavyweight Championships in Minsk, Belarus, lost to Serguei Lyakhovich (Belarus)

★ 1998 Commonwealth Games Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist. Results were:

★
★ Defeated Fai Falamoe (New Zealand) points

★
★ Defeated Jim Whitehead (Australia) KO 3

★
★ Defeated Michael Macquae (Mauritius) KO 1

★ 1999 competed at the World Championships in Houston, United States. Results were:

★
★ Defeated Lazizbek Zokirov (Uzbekistan) points

★
★ Lost to Sinan Samil Sam (Turkey) points

★ Won the Super Heavyweight Gold Medal representing Great Britain at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Results were:

★
★ Defeated Alexei Lezin (Russia) TKO 4

★
★ Defeated Alexey Mazikin (Ukraine) points

★
★ Defeated Paolo Vidoz (Italy) points

★
★ Defeated Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov (Kazakhstan) points

Professional record

Fight number	Date	Opponent	Won/Lost	Decision	Round	Location
24	17 Feb 2007	Michael Sprott	L	KO	3	London (Wembley Arena)
23	09 Dec 2006	Danny Williams	W	TKO	3	London
22	09 Jun 2006	Andrew Greeley	W	KO	3	Atlantic City, USA
21	14 Apr 2006	Dominic Guinn	L	UD	10	Rancho Mirage, USA
20	10 Dec 2005	Danny Williams	L	SD	12	London
19	18 Aug 2005	Robert Wiggins	W	TKO	4	San Jose, USA
18	09 June 2005	Robert Davis	W	TKO	7	Temecula, USA
17	19 June 2004	Tomasz Bonin	W	TKO	9	London (WBF)
16	08 May 2004	Julius Francis	W	PTS	12	Bristol (WBF)
15	20 Mar 2004	Richel Hersisia	W	KO	4	London (Wembley Arena)
14	12 Dec 2003	Brian Nix	W	TKO	3	Laughlin, USA
13	03 Oct 2003	Lisandro Diaz	W	TKO	4	Las Vegas, USA
12	09 Sep 2003	Quinn Navarre	W	KO	3	Miami
11	31 May 2003	Matthew Ellis	W	TKO	2	London
10	29 Mar 2003	Ratko Draskovic	W	PTS	8	London
9	08 Feb 2003	Rob Calloway	W	TKO	4	London
8	23 Nov 2002	Shawn Robinson	W	TKO	1	Atlantic City, USA
7	05 Oct 2002	Wade Lewis	W	TKO	2	Liverpool
6	10 Jul 2002	Dominic Negus	W	PTS	6	London
5	21 May 2002	Mark Krence	W	PTS	6	London
4	20 Apr 2002	Julius Long	W	TKO	2	London
3	20 Oct 2001	Piotr Jurczyk	W	TKO	2	Glasgow
2	22 Sep 2001	Derek McCafferty	W	PTS	6	Newcastle
1	19 May 2001	Mike Middleton	W	TKO	1	London

References

1. Suddenly, Fraudley v Has-Been is a battle of serious contenders Sue Mott
2. YES, HE REALLY IS FRAUDLEY Frank Warren
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Amateur fight: 1999 fan Karl Marshall

External links

★ Official site

★ Audley Harrison at boxrec.com