Thoughts on the Harrison fights

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 20 Jun 2004, 05:39

I'll start with Scott Harrison. He couldn't have wished for a better display than that. I thought it was pretty clear from a very early stage in the first that Harrison's power was troubling Abelyan. Even in the second, which was clearly Abelyan's round, Harrison hurt his man on more than one occasion. I was very impressed with the finish, he dropped his opponent early in the round and didn't look like he'd let him off the hook. He still needs to work on his defence (especially the way he gets caught with straight shots as he walks in), and his movement. In the second we all saw the problems anyone with a little bit of mobility would cause him. Overall, great performance against a decent challenger, but he is a long way off being able to beat the big names. Chi, IMO, is the only top 5 fighter i give him a chance against.

Big Audley was disappointing again. He is quickly proving himself to be a decent European level operator, and not the world force he's always claimed he is going to become. His defence was leaky and he went for long spells during most rounds where he didn't throw a punch. I ended up scoring rounds to Bonin just because he was outworking Harrison. At the time of the stoppage i had Bonin two rounds up. On the plus side when Harrison is prepared to throw sustained combinations he looks genuinely world class, however, he doesn't do it enough, and doesn't seem to want to gamble on stopping his opponent with one of these combinations. Either he doesn't trust his own power, stamina or both. Can't really comment on the fight without commenting on the stoppage, Keane stopped it a little too early IMO. But far better to err on the side of caution than leave it too late.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 20 Jun 2004, 06:21

Scott Harrison - I've had a go at him when it has been warranted but he deserves praise for last night. After the second round I thought he was in for a very hard night but he stepped up and, I thought, was very impressive in his demolition of Abelyan.

Audley Harrison - I'm a fan of Aud but he was poor last night. Most alarming was the unremitting propaganda coming from the Beeb. Shocking. At times he did absolutely nothing and people who are impressed by him - Steve Bunce included apparently - need to give their heads a shake to clear them. I still think he can go a long way but last night was poor.

32pirate · Post by **32pirate** » 20 Jun 2004, 08:32

I think that in analysing Aud last night one thing is missing. Bonin was durable and had an impressive recovery rate. Aud is strong regardless of what people say. He managed to conect with some pretty clean shots and Bonin recovered in two or three seconds. Some of those shots would have taken other heavyweights out of there. If Aud looked 'disappointing' and 'poor' it is because Bonin was better than people expected. In close fights no-one ever looks good....thats why they're close.

Aud put in a good performance against a durable opponent. It remains to be seen if he has the jaw to sustain the kind of punches Skelton is capable of delivering.
Personally, i'm not sure he does.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 20 Jun 2004, 08:41

32pirate wrote:I think that in analysing Aud last night one thing is missing. Bonin was durable and had an impressive recovery rate. Aud is strong regardless of what people say. He managed to conect with some pretty clean shots and Bonin recovered in two or three seconds. Some of those shots would have taken other heavyweights out of there. If Aud looked 'disappointing' and 'poor' it is because Bonin was better than people expected. In close fights no-one ever looks good....thats why they're close.

Good post. I was angry at the stoppage last night because Bonin deserved to go the distance and was well capable of going the distance. Moreover, Audley 'chose' to go the 12 rounds with Julius Francis - but Bonin was making him go the 12 rounds and I wanted to see how his stamina would fare in the last three rounds under such circumstances.
It was just a bad stoppage.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 20 Jun 2004, 08:47

How old is the ref he looks about 80

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 20 Jun 2004, 08:49

REAL_DEAL wrote:How old is the ref he looks about 80

Keane ain't that old, unfortunately. He should have been banned after awarding the British title to David Barnes against Jimmy Vincent.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 20 Jun 2004, 09:09

[quote="32pirate"]I think that in analysing Aud last night one thing is missing. Bonin was durable and had an impressive recovery rate. Aud is strong regardless of what people say. He managed to conect with some pretty clean shots and Bonin recovered in two or three seconds. Some of those shots would have taken other heavyweights out of there. If Aud looked 'disappointing' and 'poor' it is because Bonin was better than people expected. In close fights no-one ever looks good....thats why they're close.
quote]

You're right, Bonin was a lot better than people (probably including Aud) thought.

But Aud didn't look disappointing or poor (at times) simply for this reason. It doesn't excuse the times he simply chose to do nothing and an almost total absence of lateral movement.

And for no one ever looking good in close fights, that's a patently ridiculous statement, if you forgive me for saying. Often both fighters look great.

32pirate · Post by **32pirate** » 20 Jun 2004, 10:17

Point taken. Both fighters may look great. I was simply trying to explain why Aud may have not looked as good as people hoped, because Bonin was better than people thought.

I agree with the general opinion that it was an early stoppage. It was a shame that Bonin was not given the chance to test Aud for the full 12. Maybe Aud did land 11 un-answered punches, but Bonin was not badly hurt. I beleive that he has great recovery abilities, and although he may not have won, he could have been there for all 12.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 20 Jun 2004, 10:21

I thought the stoppage was terrible. Bonin was no more hurt than he was earlier in the fight when Audley landed a big left hand. Everytime Audley hurt Bonin all he had to do was get away for a few seconds and then Audley ran out of gas and stopped punching. I don't think he would have had the energy to get him out of their. He has some of the worst stamina ive ever seen. Matt Skelton for instance has spent his fighting life in K-1 where they go all out for 4 rounds and he not only is about 38 he also maintains probably three times the workrate of Audley for the 12 rounds.

Audley was clueless. Large portions of the fight he just stood in front of Bonin and did nothing. Taking the odd shot through his guard as well. He towered over this guy. He really should have got rid of him. On the odd occasion Audley landed a punch it seemed to hurt the much smaller man, even his jab. He just didn't have the energy to put a few more punches together. He didn't even seem to have the energy to jab the guy.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 20 Jun 2004, 10:22

i remember not too long ago thinking john keane was the best referee out there

i'm not thinking that anymore.

audley just doesn't look world class does he

all that nonsense from steve bunce at the end "audley will go all the way cos theres no one out there"

i guarantee the entire top 10 takes bonin out in 3 rds even chris byrd.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 20 Jun 2004, 10:23

Why was Bunce saying Audley would bash up Skelton? Bunce and Woodhall both acted a bit pissed to me.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 20 Jun 2004, 10:28

bennie wrote:Why was Bunce saying Audley would bash up Skelton? Bunce and Woodhall both acted a bit pissed to me.

i don't know what they were watching

audley looked poor

all the spin in the world couldn't disguise that.

in the amateurs, particularly the commonwealth games audley looked a major league puncher.

but despite 12 stoppage in 17 he lacks the power to go all the way.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 20 Jun 2004, 12:13

I said it before, but Audley can on occasion be too carerful. He'll have somebody on the run, then step back in case they get in a lucky punch. Then he'll go back to waiting for a chance. I think he'd finish some of his fights off earlier if he stopped being so careless.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 20 Jun 2004, 12:14

Sorry last word should've been careful.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 20 Jun 2004, 12:22

You can edit your posts 8)

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 20 Jun 2004, 13:38

I see Maloney is calling out Chi, i cant see Chi coming back to Britain in a hurry, unless of course there is a lot of green but the excuse will be they will need American TV.