Audley's retired

[warriorbox]

Seems to be the best thing for Audley, his dream was to be a world champion, that won't happen, so why stick around just to be an opponent. I'm sure he would have liked a final UK fight so he could finish on a win, but don't see any promoter forking out for that. I hope he sticks around to some capacity in boxing, as a pundit, a promoters representative, etc., the big guy has always been better entertainment on the mic than in the ring, so it would make sense.

[dammage7]

MIXED FEELINGS MAN.
he wasn't world class, far from it, but gonna miss his hype.
still believe he should have fought more fringe contenders than top 15 fighters to build himself
either way i agree
i think he will be an excellent pundit

BELIEVE!!!!!!

[doctorboxing]

I'm sure he would have liked a final UK fight so he could finish on a win, but don't see any promoter forking out for that.

The thing is, he was could never finish on a win and was always destined to finish on a loss. Everytime he won, he seemed to genuinely harbour delusions that he could use that win, no matter who it was against, as a platform to go on and fight for a world title.

By the time of the Wilder fight, I was starting to wonder if Audley had hypnotic powers. No matter how many times he talked the talk before a big fight, he nearly always failed miserably, yet normally rational people would start to be taken in by the hype and back Audley.

[Andypittcov]

Audley for the UFC heavyweigh title

[desperados]

The first sentence of his retirement statement doesn't even make sense

[ILikeBeer]

I really wanted him to do it at the start of his career, so on one hand I'm quite sad.

But towards the end he'd become a joke. And despite being a fan of his initially, even I'd began to laugh.

He was going to get hurt if he carried on. The best thing for him and his family.

[Andypittcov]

The first sentence of his retirement statement doesn't even make sense

Audley was just lacing on the gloves aged 19 when Cassius clay and amir khan were winning there olympic medals

[SamWise72]

I've always thought it was a shame that Ali and Khan avoided one another in that Olympics ;)

[Andypittcov]

I've always thought it was a shame that Ali and Khan avoided one another in that Olympics ;)

The Olympics 11 years before audley was born or the Olympics 3 years after he turned professional?

[The Insider]

It doesn't matter if Aud doesn't make sense, just BELIEVE.

out with redemption and in with the pension.

[Chambers2]

Well done Audley, it's been emotional

Get a BIG fat spliff in ya, you deserve it

[Deno1986]

Olympic Champion, European Champion, 2 x Prizefighter Champion, World Title contender and a hell of a lot of crap talk in between. Not a bad career.

[freddydoesdallas]

Glad to see he's seen sense, he's had a good career that most would kill for. Unfortunately, he's been his own worst enemy since he turned pro.

REDEMPTION is still possible. Audley the Trainer?

[dondada]

Olympic Champion, European Champion, 2 x Prizefighter Champion, World Title contender and a hell of a lot of crap talk in between. Not a bad career.

[SamWise72]

I've always thought it was a shame that Ali and Khan avoided one another in that Olympics ;)

The Olympics 11 years before audley was born or the Olympics 3 years after he turned professional?

Yeah, that one.

[loaded_gloves]

I enjoyed Audley's career, liked the man, and, in comparison to most people who turn pro, he achieved a great deal.

My feelings are he would have developed into a much better, more competent and confident fighter had he challenged himself on the way up, fighting frequently and taking on tougher, harder journeymen and contenders. He was never fully developed because he kept himself completely outside of the mix, building a record and not a boxer.

I remember thinking before he fought Danny Williams the first time that he was the most emotional, terrified looking man I have ever seen in a boxing ring. The fear face returned for Haye, Price and Wilder.

Remember in 2004 when a sullen Audley said he was "taking a year out" because the BBC had ended their deal with him? This was a time when Lewis was gone, the division was wide open, and he decided he wanted to lay about for a year of his prime. And the end result was a guy rapidly running out of time trying to fix everything.

He didn't ever believe in himself come fight time because he simply wasn't an experienced, toughened fighter.

Overall though, a fun career and a brave brave man to face up to some dangerous men in the ring whilst the whole crowd and media seemed to have a deep personal investment in his losing. He is a gutsy guy deserving our respect.

[Clint Magnum]

Audley for the UFC heavyweigh title

D

[damianhucker1]

I've always thought it was a shame that Ali and Khan avoided one another in that Olympics ;)

The Olympics 11 years before audley was born or the Olympics 3 years after he turned professional?

Yeah, that one.

I think he meant Clay and Khan had won olympic medals at an age that he only took up boxing

[dookus]

His career was not bad at all in the end considering his poor chin and lack of head movement

[ILikeBeer]

I think he meant Clay and Khan had won olympic medals at an age that he only took up boxing

That's obviously want he meant, but it was badly phrased.

[SamWise72]

I think he meant Clay and Khan had won olympic medals at an age that he only took up boxing

I understood what he meant. I was trying and failing to be funny.

[deadpan]

I bet he returns.

Someone in Australia or Germany will offer him just enough to be in the opponent's corner. Or he'll be Kimbo Slice's first test.

But good luck to him. He should indeed be proud of how he has turned his life around. I hope the rest of his life is a joy.

I'd rather hear him talk than the vast majority of UK boxing pundits. And he can make some easy moolah on 'I'm a Celebrity...' if he fancies it.

[Bard of Boxrec]

I'll have fond memories of Audley simply because he was the first and really only fighter that I followed closely all the way from his debut to his last fight. His career spanned from the year I first started following boxing and went on Boxrec to now, and that's meaningful for me.

I remember his second or third fight against Pole Piotr Jyrcyz (sp), I was at a birthday party which started in a dingy pub in Heywood and the fight was being shown on a tiny TV slung high in a corner; I made no bones about watching the fight and ignoring my friends. There was always such a sense of expectation about those early fights. Not really knowing how boxing worked I always thought there was a chance he could have lost to the Wade Lewises and the Dominic Neguses they fed him, so I got that 'big fight' feeling every time, even with the fake live John Inverdale coverage where 'Rugby John' would smugly give away the result while standing in an emptying arena.

I started to 'believe' a bit when he went on his US spree and knocked over a couple of US journeymen. At that point he looked the business, but then soon after of course it all went wrong and everything unravelled.

I think I watched all of his fights barring one or two and it's testament to the value of the journey that I actively feel like seeking out those bouts I missed. I'll always remember being right there on the path with him.

[whiskey]

Sorry guys, but in pure sporting terms.... good riddance

Never has a fighter taken so much money and publicity from our cherished sport - and given so little back in return.

The damage he did to the BBC and the knock on effect on terrestrial boxing and other fledgling fighters cannot be measured. Then we have the armchair fans who paid £15 for his box office fight (who will never tune in again I add) and the legacy of sh*t fights is completely unrivalled by anyone ever in the history of boxing.

[Coco]

Obv he did not live up to his huge hype but I enjoyed the ride