Audley's next opponents

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 25 Jun 2005, 07:10

This is a quote from Audley's insightful interview with Des Lynam over their strawberries and cream the other day:

I am planning to go again in August again in the States and then October and December and as long as I keep winning I am going to get the opportunity and hopefully summer time next year will be a title shot.

So taking that at face value, who does he need to fight in August, October and December that would genuinely prepare him for a fight next year with a Klitschko, Byrd or Toney? Assuming US-based fighters only I'm thinking he needs someone like Ray Austin or Friday Ahunanya next, then a guy like Oleg Maskaev or Davarryl Williamson in October, followed by a Jameel McCline, Fres Oquendo, Shannon Briggs or similar in December. Those are realistically the best available fighters that he can make fights with this year. I know Harrison has been talk of meeting Sam Peter or Calvin Brock in the autumn, but I think that's more to publically associate his name with those guys, because while they are working their own way to title shots why would they be interested in Harrison? It will be very interesting to see who the August opponent is, it better not be Billy Zumbrun!

Martin_wbc · Post by **Martin_wbc** » 25 Jun 2005, 15:13

Audrey will probably be fighting either a part-time dentist, or Frank Bruno in his next fight...

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 25 Jun 2005, 16:45

I have a horrible feeling it's going to be the shell of Ray Mercer whom is on a winning run of sorts at the moment.

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 25 Jun 2005, 16:48

KOJOE90 wrote:I have a horrible feeling it's going to be the shell of Ray Mercer whom is on a winning run of sorts at the moment.

Well that could be seen as a step-up of sorts, Mercer is still a pretty tough old character and he must still have respectable power even in his frail dotage. Saying that Harrison could probably just spear him with the jab all night if Ray can't generate the pressure like he used to.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 25 Jun 2005, 16:58

Mercer is nothing more than a human pinata these days, he took a frightful shellacking of Wlad Klitchsko, and then said afterward 'what do you expect, i'm 42 years old.

if he fights mercer, then that is a pathetic shambles of a fight.

Martin_wbc · Post by **Martin_wbc** » 25 Jun 2005, 17:30

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Mercer is nothing more than a human pinata these days, he took a frightful shellacking of Wlad Klitchsko, and then said afterward 'what do you expect, i'm 42 years old.

if he fights mercer, then that is a pathetic shambles of a fight.

To be honest with you fella, Audley Harrison's whole career is becoming a "pathetic shambles of a career"... :(

BubiScholz · Post by **BubiScholz** » 27 Jun 2005, 05:40

just an A-Farce. He escaped from Europe because there are no more weak opponents left.......

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 27 Jun 2005, 06:01

Say what you like but what current British Heavy ( apart from the Tyson win ) has any of them fought and beat.

Big fan of Danny Williams - but would Danny Williams or Matt Skelton fight Robert Davis?.

No.

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 27 Jun 2005, 06:07

DG. wrote:Big fan of Danny Williams - but would Danny Williams or Matt Skelton fight Robert Davis?.

No.

True, but last time I checked Williams and Skelton weren't Olympic Gold medallists, and that puts Audley in the same potential bracket as predecessors like W Klitschko, Lennox, Foreman and Frazier. I don't see why we should expect anything less in terms of ambition.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 27 Jun 2005, 06:36

Hesketh wrote:
DG. wrote:Big fan of Danny Williams - but would Danny Williams or Matt Skelton fight Robert Davis?.

No.
True, but last time I checked Williams and Skelton weren't Olympic Gold medallists, and that puts Audley in the same potential bracket as predecessors like W Klitschko, Lennox, Foreman and Frazier. I don't see why we should expect anything less in terms of ambition.

True - but AH can do well in the next 18 months.

I actually believe he would beat Wlad in a 2-3 more fights.

AH will be Heavyweight Champion of the World imo.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 27 Jun 2005, 07:08

DG. wrote:
Hesketh wrote:
DG. wrote:Big fan of Danny Williams - but would Danny Williams or Matt Skelton fight Robert Davis?.

No.
True, but last time I checked Williams and Skelton weren't Olympic Gold medallists, and that puts Audley in the same potential bracket as predecessors like W Klitschko, Lennox, Foreman and Frazier. I don't see why we should expect anything less in terms of ambition.

True - but AH can do well in the next 18 months.

I actually believe he would beat Wlad in a 2-3 more fights.

AH will be Heavyweight Champion of the World imo.

Good Post

I don't think that Audley has less amibition than the other figters you listed, he just hasn't had as much time to achieve jhis ambitions as the others have.

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 27 Jun 2005, 07:14

I sometimes wonder if Audley doesn't view his world title aspirations in a similar way to his Olympic efforts, ie a one-off achievement to be completed, and moved on from. That would explain why he doesn't seem too concerned by the passage of time, he might not be planning much of a title reign, just to get to the very top of the pile the one time albeit briefly. Just a thought.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 27 Jun 2005, 07:18

Hesketh wrote:I sometimes wonder if Audley doesn't view his world title aspirations in a similar way to his Olympic efforts, ie a one-off achievement to be completed, and moved on from. That would explain why he doesn't seem too concerned by the passage of time, he might not be planning much of a title reign, just to get to the very top of the pile the one time albeit briefly. Just a thought.

If Audley makes it to the top he is going to want to stop there as thats where all the money is. Audleys is still a relatively fresh 33, he still has a good 4-5 years in him IMO

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 27 Jun 2005, 07:25

Chambers2 wrote:If Audley makes it to the top he is going to want to stop there as thats where all the money is. Audleys is still a relatively fresh 33, he still has a good 4-5 years in him IMO

That's an good point actually. Has Harrison ever made any comments about the kind of age he is thinking of fighting until? If he has I haven't heard them, but he was a relative late-comer to the sport so the "mileage" on his clock is still low.

ABA Boxing · Post by **ABA Boxing** » 27 Jun 2005, 07:41

In order!

A UK fight to decide best in the UK

Michael Sprott a test for Audley against a Boxer the Public know.

Then Winner of Danny Williams V Matt Skelton (Williams)

A US fighter like

Michael Grant, Shannon Briggs, Lamon Brewster or other boxers on a wining run!

Then time to step up or shut up!

Samuel Peter, James Toney, John Ruiz, Chris Byrd, Vitali Klitschko.

By which time Alexander Povetkin would have caught Harrison up to be in the Number 1 Spot!

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 27 Jun 2005, 08:00

ABA Boxing wrote:In order!

A UK fight to decide best in the UK

Michael Sprott a test for Audley against a Boxer the Public know.

Then Winner of Danny Williams V Matt Skelton (Williams)

A US fighter like

Michael Grant, Shannon Briggs, Lamon Brewster or other boxers on a wining run!

Then time to step up or shut up!

Samuel Peter, James Toney, John Ruiz, Chris Byrd, Vitali Klitschko.

By which time Alexander Povetkin would have caught Harrison up to be in the Number 1 Spot!

Audley and allegedly don't get on at all, so the Williams/Skelton (Sprott?? is he still with SN) fights ain't gonna happen, besides Audley is going the American route.

I'm reckon Audley will have fought a Grant or Briggs type fighter by the end of the year

bradinho · Post by **bradinho** » 27 Jun 2005, 08:18

I feel that Audley will fight for the World Title one day, he is just biding his time, building experience, recovering from injuries fully and working his way up - don't forget this guy has a brain and promotes himself, he is is control of his own destiny, he has a plan, he is not being led astray by some dodgy dealer and taking risks that he shouldn't.

IMO he has better skills the Sam Peter and looks more fluid than Cal Brock less aswkward and he will get a very good fight by the end of the year.

jeej · Post by **jeej** » 27 Jun 2005, 08:22

bradinho wrote:I feel that Audley will fight for the World Title one day, he is just biding his time, building experience, recovering from injuries fully and working his way up - don't forget this guy has a brain and promotes himself, he is is control of his own destiny, he has a plan, he is not being led astray by some dodgy dealer and taking risks that he shouldn't.

IMO he has better skills the Sam Peter and looks more fluid than Cal Brock less aswkward and he will get a very good fight by the end of the year.

Given Audley's age I dont believe he can afford to bide his time. The time is now.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 27 Jun 2005, 08:28

Yep Big Aud is no doubt scanning the obituary pages as we speak, searching out his next stiff test.

Like he says, all he has to do is keep winning. By a process of elimination he'll eventualy make it to the top 10, and he can just keep knocking over cab drivers on ESPN till he gets there.

bradinho · Post by **bradinho** » 27 Jun 2005, 08:30

C'mon within today's HW division age seems to be no factor, you can box til your 40.

"Don't judge a fighter by his chronological age, but better by the number of fights/heavy blows he has had..."

How many wars has Audley been in? None. He has no scar tissue around the eyes etc. and has not been KO'ed he has a lot of good years in him

Given Audley's age I dont believe he can afford to bide his time. The time is now.[/quote]

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 27 Jun 2005, 09:01

MightyWarrior wrote:Yep Big Aud is no doubt scanning the obituary pages as we speak, searching out his next stiff test.

Like he says, all he has to do is keep winning. By a process of elimination he'll eventualy make it to the top 10, and he can just keep knocking over cab drivers on ESPN till he gets there.

Audley has only had 18 fights, its not as if he is 35-0.

Compare Brocks and Peters first 18 opponents to Audleys

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 27 Jun 2005, 09:03

I think the problem with discussing Harrison is that fresh evidence has been so slow in coming that we can only argue the same points over and again. These are really the same discussions people were having 12 and 24 months ago now. I guess until he does start fighting stiffer tests we will just have to keep talking ourselves round in circles.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 27 Jun 2005, 09:11

Hesketh wrote:I think the problem with discussing Harrison is that fresh evidence has been so slow in coming that we can only argue the same points over and again. These are really the same discussions people were having 12 and 24 months ago now. I guess until he does start fighting stiffer tests we will just have to keep talking ourselves round in circles.

I agree, however the reason the evidence has been slow in coming is because Audley has had 2 out of 5 years out with 3 injuries. We'll steadily get some more answers over the next 12 months.

We will see the best of Audley when he fights the top boys, especially the come forward fighters like Peter

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 27 Jun 2005, 09:56

Chambers2 wrote:
ABA Boxing wrote:In order!

A UK fight to decide best in the UK

Michael Sprott a test for Audley against a Boxer the Public know.

Then Winner of Danny Williams V Matt Skelton (Williams)

A US fighter like

Michael Grant, Shannon Briggs, Lamon Brewster or other boxers on a wining run!

Then time to step up or shut up!

Samuel Peter, James Toney, John Ruiz, Chris Byrd, Vitali Klitschko.

By which time Alexander Povetkin would have caught Harrison up to be in the Number 1 Spot!
Audley and allegedly allegedly don't get on at all, so the Williams/Skelton (Sprott?? is he still with SN) fights ain't gonna happen, besides Audley is going the American route.

I'm reckon Audley will have fought a Grant or Briggs type fighter by the end of the year

Allegedly - Fwank loves AH - but AH does not want to be promoted by anyone other than himself!.

So - Fwank slags him off left right and centre. Allegedly allegedly!

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 27 Jun 2005, 15:03

I seem to recall Frank never had a good word to say about Lennox Lewis either, which also smacked of sour grapes. But then when the best heavies you are given are Herbie Hide and Danny Williams then maybe you are entitled to get a little tetchy. He missed out on this Povetkin character too.