loaded_gloves wrote:The Diaz kayo was a highly impressive and brutal combination assault, a lower level Dokes/Gardner type finish.
Navarre I believe was a one punch kayo, Nix as I recall bashed about by a couple of well chosen shots - I think Audley's footwork was very good in these fights. Are they not on YouTube? I remember taping them, I should put them up if I can figure out how. Also the tapes are in another house about 200 miles away, which hinders my ambition.
The Diaz and Nix fights aren't on youtube no. At that time and against that level of opponent Audley was doing ok and was aggressive, from the time he went to America for the first time for that series of 3 fights against Diaz, Nix and before that someone who I don't remember off the top of my head (can't be arsed to look through the records) to when he beat Richel Hersisia he was actually doing fine offensively. But then for some reason against Julius Francis he didn't want to do anything despite Francis probably being less of a threat (at that point in his career Julius hardly ever threw punches) than Hersisia. Then he fought Bonin and at times looked class but then took long breaks, it was weird.
I still remember an interview he did with the BBC, specifically with Ronald Macintosh, this would between beating Nix and facing Hersisia and Audley said specifically they were lining up a fight for the Southern area heavyweight title. Macintosh said 'the southern area champ is Michael Sprott, are you going to be facing him next then?' and the inference seemed to be from his reply that it wouldn't be Sprott but would be someone else. I'm fairly sure the plan was to face Julius Francis for the southern area title and then aim for Williams or Sprott who would face off for the British title again for a third time. Then that plan all fell to shit when Mr Warren signed Williams, Sprott and signed up Julius Francis to face Matt Skelton.
I'v obviously no hard evidence on that but piecing everything together that's a theory I have on that period of Audley's career. As it was Skelton for some reason got patted on the back for a bore fest against Francis and Audley about 3 months later got slated for doing exactly the same thing.