Audley Harrison

[expe]

I would like to see Audley come back. These days we all know what he is, there's no mystery about him any more. He will never been good enough to become a World Heavyweight Champion, no matter what he says about "the dream living on" and all that.

But if we disregard those sort've insane claims for a moment, and look at it realistically - Audley could still have a tidy little earner for himself if he keeps himself in good shape. Audley still has decent boxing skill and he does carry a good bit of power (when he commits to his shots) so he could still be in the World rankings around 70-100ish.

As long as he doesn't see himself as the big deal anymore and he's willing to be more realistic with his expectations, there's no reason why he couldn't be a British Champion again (after Price, Fury & Joshua) move their sights up to World level.

Maybe he could get the English Heavyweight title and hold on to that for a while. Or maybe score some obscure belt like the European Union Heavyweight Title, and beat up a load of journeymen fighters.

If I were his Manager, I would tell him to look at:
Anthony Joshua recently winning the WBC International Title (by beating Denis Bakhtov)
Also, Andy Ruiz Jr who has been defending his WBO Intercotinental Title.

These titles may be virtually meaningless and have no lineage whatsoever, but for slightly-better-than-run-of-the-mill guys like Audley they can be valuable trinkets that they can make their own and would add a bit of prestige for his fights and he can say stuff like: "I'm defending my title" etc...

This would also help Audley with becoming regular mid-card filler around the British boxing scene, he wouldn't even have to leave the country. It could be a handy wee earner for him.

Basically what I'm saying is - as long as Audley stays away from the mainstream boxing titles, he could forge out a moderately successful career for himself.

It's a great idea, but the problem is that Audley is too ambitious/deluded for his own good, no matter how many times he gets beat, he will convince himself that he can make a comeback and win a world title, then at some point along the way he starts to doubt himself and when he gets in the ring against anyone half decent he's a rabbit in the headlights.

[WelshJack]

I doubt he'll be on the Clev v Bellew undercard now. I just want to see him build some confidence before stepping it up slowly from British to European level and then whatever else.

[stujones]

British champion again??? He never won the title?

Move on from British to European Level? Lets see if he can win the English title first?

Have people forgotton Haye vs Harrison??

The guy hasn't proofing himself domestic class yet. He's one and one against a man who cannot win the Lonsdale belt outright.

Plus he is 42 years of age.

See if he can beat Skelton first.

[Crease]

Good post. I think the stumbling block to Audley taking this kind of common sense approach is his sheer greed. He over values himself. We're now in November and if he was realistic enough, he could have done a George foreman kind of slow-burning comeback in 2014, with maybe ten dead easy wins by now, and be considered at British and European level again. I see his stuff on Facebook and he really is deluded. It's clear he always has been, it just looks worse now than ever because he's grown old and been blasted out by price and wilder. He dreams of a 2015 title fight with wlad. He should be realistic and aim lower, and - more to the point - get into the fxxking ring again. What's stopping him is his refusal to accept the purses being offered.

1005 agreed. And it's a bloody shame because there's nothing to stop Audley knocking out a few bums and staying fit and active.

[Horse]

British champion again??? He never won the title?

Move on from British to European Level? Lets see if he can win the English title first?

Have people forgotton Haye vs Harrison??

The guy hasn't proofing himself domestic class yet. He's one and one against a man who cannot win the Lonsdale belt outright.

Plus he is 42 years of age.

See if he can beat Skelton first.

[GooalaShooola]

Feels like he's missed the boat if he was going to make a comeback seeing as the post Big Brother buzz of interest from casuals has dwindled away now.

[magwitch]

British champion again??? He never won the title?

Move on from British to European Level? Lets see if he can win the English title first?

Have people forgotton Haye vs Harrison??

The guy hasn't proofing himself domestic class yet. He's one and one against a man who cannot win the Lonsdale belt outright.

Plus he is 42 years of age.

See if he can beat Skelton first.

thank you for pointing that out I couldn't be bothered to reply from my fone yesterday.
I can't believe Audley Harrison was just awarded a British title on a boxing forum without even fighting for it!

[stujones]

Magwtich, he did fight for it - got smashed by Price.

[magwitch]

Magwtich, he did fight for it - got smashed by Price.

my apols mate - that was careless on my part! I've known a few lads trying to get British titles and it used to seem a bit suspect when Audley was banging on about becoming an undisputed world champion despite the fact he'd never actually looked capable of becoming champion in his own country.
I think Audley always knew that talking big = pay days. I think there probably came a point where he himself knew full well that he was talking nonsense. To be fair to him though, his ploy worked, he got very well paid.

[ILikeBeer]

YES HE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sklar]

Four years to the day since his epic performance against Haye, isn't it? If they announce him on the card on the anniversary of that it'll be funny.

[northern]

I would like to see Audley come back. These days we all know what he is, there's no mystery about him any more. He will never been good enough to become a World Heavyweight Champion, no matter what he says about "the dream living on" and all that.

But if we disregard those sort've insane claims for a moment, and look at it realistically - Audley could still have a tidy little earner for himself if he keeps himself in good shape. Audley still has decent boxing skill and he does carry a good bit of power (when he commits to his shots) so he could still be in the World rankings around 70-100ish.

As long as he doesn't see himself as the big deal anymore and he's willing to be more realistic with his expectations, there's no reason why he couldn't be a British Champion again (after Price, Fury & Joshua) move their sights up to World level.

Maybe he could get the English Heavyweight title and hold on to that for a while. Or maybe score some obscure belt like the European Union Heavyweight Title, and beat up a load of journeymen fighters.

If I were his Manager, I would tell him to look at:
Anthony Joshua recently winning the WBC International Title (by beating Denis Bakhtov)
Also, Andy Ruiz Jr who has been defending his WBO Intercotinental Title.

These titles may be virtually meaningless and have no lineage whatsoever, but for slightly-better-than-run-of-the-mill guys like Audley they can be valuable trinkets that they can make their own and would add a bit of prestige for his fights and he can say stuff like: "I'm defending my title" etc...

This would also help Audley with becoming regular mid-card filler around the British boxing scene, he wouldn't even have to leave the country. It could be a handy wee earner for him.

Basically what I'm saying is - as long as Audley stays away from the mainstream boxing titles, he could forge out a moderately successful career for himself.

very well thought through and a brilliant post.

he has won a lesser world title early on in his career though (world boxing foundation) so really I agree with you that his skills are perhaps as a contender for the British and commonwealth titles but what could be an avenue would be competing for lesser world titles.

I say this because I look at Evander Holyfield who won the World Boxing Federation title a few years before his retirement. this in mind could you see him competing for one of these titles again ? a smaller promoter in Europe could make a fortune off of Harrison and his way of promoting himself.

[Rexob]

Wonder what Audley got paid for the Haye fight must have been a boat load? which ain't bad business for himself, however shite he was.

[Crease]

[Crease]

he has won a lesser world title early on in his career though (world boxing foundation) so really I agree with you that his skills are perhaps as a contender for the British and commonwealth titles but what could be an avenue would be competing for lesser world titles.

In hindsight it probably would have been better for Audley to have held on to it and continued blowing out lower ranked opponents. But that was never going to happen, because Audley wanted bigger and better things than that and didn't know his limitations.

Today however, is a whole new story. If Audley were to realise that he can't make it at the very top level, then he could conceivably be very successful and go on a winning streak. The only two things he would NEED to do is keep fighting a lot (by that I mean 7-8 fights a year) and carefully handpick his opponents when he's with his team.

Audley doesn't have that much time left maybe 3-4 years I'd guess, that's if he is in peak physical condition & considering the fact that he would be fighting a low standard of opposition.

The lesser titles are worthless in the grand scheme of things at World Title level, but for fringe guys like Audley they can be their version of important belts. And in my opinion, there's no shame in holding them if you intend to keep defending them. Other Heavyweights have held them in recent years:

David Haye won two titles when he beat Derek Chisora a couple of years ago. They were the WBA Intercontinental Title & the WBO International Title.
Chisora himself beat Kevin Johnson earlier this year and at that point, held the WBO & WBA International Titles.
And Tyson Fury won the WBO Intercontinental Title when he beat Vinny Maddalone in Belfast a couple of years ago.

I wouldn't say that it's entirely difficult to get a fight sanctioned for one of these titles. If I were Audley I would try to sign with one of the British promoters with the understanding that he shouldn't be overly hyped and made a big deal of. I wonder if he joined Eddie Hearn, could Eddie get him a guaranteed place somewhere lower down on his cards?
The only reason I bring up Hearn is because he does a lot of cards during the year, and Audley would need to be fighting consistently practically every 5/6/7 weeks.

I think that it could be beneficial for both parties. Audley would enjoy the exposure of being on Sky Sports and I would also daresay that the average boxing fan would like to see old Audley back in the fold and knocking out a few bums, regularly defending a minor title. Could be quite the wee novelty.

[Bleak]

Audley and eddie get on well don't they

[Syntax Error]

Wonder what Audley got paid for the Haye fight must have been a boat load? which ain't bad business for himself, however shite he was.

£1,000,000: The phrase easy money springs to mind.

[Rexob]

Wonder what Audley got paid for the Haye fight must have been a boat load? which ain't bad business for himself, however shite he was.

£1,000,000: The phrase easy money springs to mind.

F me!! the blokes a genius

[Crease]

Audley and eddie get on well don't they

There's still Mick Hennessey or allegedly.

[ILikeBeer]

Wonder what Audley got paid for the Haye fight must have been a boat load? which ain't bad business for himself, however shite he was.

He did a good job of convincing a lot of people that he had a chance of winning the fight. No mean feat considering that the British media had spent the previous decade telling everybody how awful he was at boxing.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Wonder what Audley got paid for the Haye fight must have been a boat load? which ain't bad business for himself, however shite he was.

He did a good job of convincing a lot of people that he had a chance of winning the fight. No mean feat considering that the British media had spent the previous decade telling everybody how awful he was at boxing.

I'd like him to stay retired. He's 42, and he's only going to get worse from here on in, he's likely to wind up getting battered by some clubfighter who lands a lucky punch.

I reckon he's fairly financially secure, he's a smart man, and he's managed to hoodwink himself to some big purses along the way.

He should find a new career - open a gym, become a motivational coach, anything, his boxing career is, or should be, over.

[alanhatrick]

Love him or hate him the guy can still get people talking about him.
A world stars heavyweight prizefighter for him to finish up would go well
A few ideas in there

Audley
Price
Briggs
Kimbo
Skelton
3 euro guys

[ILikeBeer]

Kimbo.

[alanhatrick]

Yeah his someone to at least call himself international hs

[hitman_hatton1]

British champion again??? He never won the title?

Move on from British to European Level? Lets see if he can win the English title first?

he was barely british class was he.

the ebu sanctioning the sprott fight for the title was the biggest gift ever awarded.

he weren't even a mandatory for the title in the first place.