Why is Audley all of a sudden so popular?

[MacTavish]

A-Force will be the 'people's champion'... D

[forcefraser]

I admit that I have never been an Audley fan. I have always found him far too timid and gun shy in his fights.

Listening to him go on and on before the Sprott fight about his destiny and that THIS time he would do whatever it takes to win, I thought "here we go, same old sh*t"

Then, when he fights so badly in that same timid manner (ok, his arm did actually look injured) I just thought why do I bother watching this joker.

Then however, he threw that punch and things were turned upside down. He had done whatever it took. He was in there til the end and he found the punch he needed. All respect to him for that, as if he didn`t find it, he was finished.

I still feel Haye will muller him into next week, but I can`t help but admire the guy for what he has been through and still retains this unquenchable thirst to acheive something that it seems only he ever believed was possible.

[terrez]

He got beat on by Sprott for 12 rounds then managed to land a lucky punch. Oh.. That was also for a vacant euro title that neither of them deserved to be challenging for. He talks shit and is unrealistic with his own hype.. That's why everyone likes him. Go figure.

[JamesH]

He got beat on by Sprott for 12 rounds then managed to land a lucky punch. Oh.. That was also for a vacant euro title that neither of them deserved to be challenging for. He talks poop and is unrealistic with his own hype.. That's why everyone likes him. Go figure.

I'm not a massive Audley fan but I think thats a little unfair. I agree the circumstances of winning the belt were fortunate, but beating an on form Sprott when you had one hand out of action since the 2nd round is impressive.

[stevek3lly]

Audley reminds me of the pantomime villian, everyone hates him, but still wants to watch him.

[oliverfennell]

Brits don't like underdogs that don't deserve there shot.

Yes, the ill-feeling towards Jason Booth this weekend is just pouring off everybody.

the difference between a guy like Bruno and Audley is that Bruno worked his ass off to get where he was, he was never given a million pounds by the bbc.

True that Bruno overall had a more qualified world-level career, but did he really "work his ass off" to get a shot at McCall? By beating Rodolfo Marin and Mike Evans? Please.

[m1kee50]

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that Haye has talked at length about taking on the two dominant HW's... and then signed on to fight Valuev, Ruiz and Harrison, which put together don't add up to even one Klitschko. It would serve him right to take possibly the easiest fight out there and get sparked. Not that I think it will happen, and I don't particularly want it to, but it would still serve him right.

[oliverfennell]

He got beat on by Sprott for 12 rounds then managed to land a lucky punch. Oh.. That was also for a vacant euro title that neither of them deserved to be challenging for. He talks poop and is unrealistic with his own hype.. That's why everyone likes him. Go figure.

One arm.
One arm.
One arm.
One arm.
One arm.
One arm.
One arm.
One arm.

Danny Williams.
Danny Williams.
Danny Williams.
Danny Williams.
Danny Williams.
Danny Williams.


And "lucky punch". Yes, that's right. In a sport where the objective is to land punches on a target area, isn't it amazing that he somehow, by some otherworldy chain of freak occurrences, managed to land a punch on a target area. I mean, what are the chances of that??

[tonyevs]

i think people are just really starting to hate haye! besides everyone loves an underdog..

Close to the truth I think.

Don't really agree that people will back Audley because he is an under-dog. I think its more to do with the rubbish Haye continues to spout.
Thing is - now Audley is in the spotlight again ....

Both guys talk a better fight than they ever deliver. I think it will be a bore-fest, with both looking for the one punch allnight.

Either way. Both of them will only be remembered in boxing history as two typical Brit heavyweights...

[oliverfennell]

Both guys talk a better fight than they ever deliver.

Valuev aside (and the reasons for that were obvious), when has Haye ever failed to deliver?

[Dioufy]

Rob Palmer is probably right. I loved Haye when he was a crusier; great wins against Frago, Macca and Mormeck were awesome to watch, but his heavyweight career hasn't been great. In four fights, he's fought three average fighters and in the other, I had him losing. And in his fifth fight...

Anyone remember the "cleaning up the boring heavyweight division" speech from Haye?

I want a fecking Klit!

[mickey1975]

Both guys talk a better fight than they ever deliver.

Valuev aside (and the reasons for that were obvious), when has Haye ever failed to deliver?

When he "sparred" 12 rounds with a guy live on Sky in Manchester just to prove he could do the rounds.Booth was actually counting the punches because they were worried sick he would gas.

[oliverfennell]

Both guys talk a better fight than they ever deliver.

Valuev aside (and the reasons for that were obvious), when has Haye ever failed to deliver?

When he "sparred" 12 rounds with a guy live on Sky in Manchester just to prove he could do the rounds.Booth was actually counting the punches because they were worried sick he would gas.

OK, so two boring fights out of about 25 = "never delivers".

[mickey1975]

Valuev aside (and the reasons for that were obvious), when has Haye ever failed to deliver?

When he "sparred" 12 rounds with a guy live on Sky in Manchester just to prove he could do the rounds.Booth was actually counting the punches because they were worried sick he would gas.

OK, so two boring fights out of about 25 = "never delivers".

I never said that to be fair.But it does show how cynical Booth and Haye were even at that stage.They treated a FFN as a training exercise and conned the paying public.Add that to the Klitschko bullsh!t and the £350 i lost out on flights for his "back injury" and now fighting Audley,the evidence is mounting.Come on Audley,YES HE CAN!

[oliverfennell]

Yeah fair enough it wasn't your quote. But I can't say I've felt especially short-changed by Haye over the years. He's almost always good to watch.

Obviously I haven't lost my own money, though!

[Magichands]

Among internet nerds like us perhaps Rob.

To casual fans its simply because Haye is a big favourite and poor old Aud is a big under-dog.

Brits love an underdog and they love perserverance.

Think Howard Clarke v Fernando Vargas, Joe Johnson v Steve Davis or Richard Dunn v Ali or Frank Bruno winning the title at the 19th attempt.

Harrison will be adopted by plenty who like to see the favourite turned over.

Most will barely have a concept of Harrison's lack of qualification.

Brits don't like underdogs that don't deserve there shot.


the difference between a guy like Bruno and Audley is that Bruno worked his ass off to get where he was, he was never given a million pounds by the bbc.

the british public hate arrogant wastes of talent more than they love an underdog.

[orbtastic]

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2010 is Audley's year. Tupac tupac.

[tonyevs]

Both guys talk a better fight than they ever deliver.

Valuev aside (and the reasons for that were obvious), when has Haye ever failed to deliver?

More or less since he moved up to heavyweight .... quite a bit there I think

All his talk of moving up to put some credit in the heavyweight division. And only interested in fighting the best .... trash talking the K-Brothers ... then running away to look for the easiest of the easy heavyweights about .... oh yes. the heavyweight Haye has failed to deliver

He will only fight the one of the K-Brothers when they are in serious decline (because thats the only chance he`d have of beating them) or when he can fool the public no more and is looking for his pension fight.


Audley is a fraud for sure ... Haye is not much better since he moved to heavy.

[jameswilson]

Harrison now represents the common's mans struggle to overcome and conquer the new world order's agenda to emasculate and crush the soul of man.

I found it very fitting in the press conference when yesterday dressed in his £10k suit and wiping the tears from his eyes with a 50 quid note he said 'walk with Kings but never lose the common touch.'

Harrison is standing up for the working class.

[charlieb]

Both of them will only be remembered in boxing history as two typical Brit heavyweights...

Audley perhaps, but I'd say winning the WBA belt, on foreign soil, against the reigning champion who just happens to carry a gargantuan physical advantage was fairly atypical for a british heavyweight.

I think this is a crap fight as much as the next man, but you're seriously letting your dislike of Haye cloud your judgement.

[Bomber 1]

Cos he's an Olympic Gold Medalsist,Top Talent,Good Mouth and CAN fight when he wants to!! Add to that he is fighting for the WBA World Heavyweight Title then you have a genuine PPV Box Office fight!! All that without mentioning David "Hayemaker" Haye!! It all makes for a very very entertaining fight!!

[Mimmy]

I cant wait. last live fight i went to see was proberly a chris eubank one. Been so long, love the atmosphere. I think this fight will have a lot of atmosphere.

how many punters can fit into the MEN

[Asterix]

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2010 is Audley's year. Tupac tupac.

2010 *is* Audley's year in the sense that he is finally fighting for a World title. At least he can now say he challenged for a World title. I think he'll be proud of it once the dust settles.

[Bomber 1]

how many punters can fit into the MEN

20'000

[Exoddus]

If Audley can last longer than a rustlers burger. I'll tip my hat to him.