Audley calls it a day.

[Andy]

http://www.audleyharrison.com/my-boxing ... to-an-end/

[Bard of Boxrec]

Sad to hear he'll likely be bankrupt.

[ILikeBeer]

Why was losing the BBC such a big deal?

[ILikeBeer]

Maybe he could go into punditry? He seems quite likeable as a personality, and talks more sensibly about other people's careers than he did about his own.

Or would people not be able to take him seriously?

[hitman_hatton1]

the end of an era.

[hitman_hatton1]

Why was losing the BBC such a big deal?

he certainly mugged off the beeb.

a million quid and fought a load of journeyman.

[Boxerbeetle]

Maybe he could go into punditry? He seems quite likeable as a personality, and talks more sensibly about other people's careers than he did about his own.

Or would people not be able to take him seriously?

Agree, I think he'd make an excellent pundit, hope Sky sign him up.

[whiskey]

I wonder how much he's milked out of our beloved sport since he turned pro ?

I bet his highlight reel would fit on a 6-second Vine clip.

[ILikeBeer]

Why was losing the BBC such a big deal?

he certainly mugged off the beeb.

a million quid and fought a load of journeyman.

Yeah, maybe that's what brought about his 'depression'. The fact that he was getting paid a lot of money to knock out short-arse fat taxi drivers. The Beeb finally wised up, and got rid of him.

He always seemed to take the decision personally. He ended up fighting on ITV, Sky Sports and later on B. Ox Nation, so it wasn't that big a deal. Seemed to like to take control of every aspect of his career though. The BBC telling him to get stuffed partially ended that. Also, maybe made him realise he wasn't as big a star as he thought he was.

Really wanted him to succeed at the start. I really did. Shame really. I think there was the talent there somewhere, just not the mentality.

[Sklar]

First Zayn, now this.

[danamba7]

First Zayn, now this.

[ILikeBeer]

First Zayn, now this.

Some bird at work was on about that. I had no idea who he was.

[danamba7]

First Zayn, now this.

Some bird at work was on about that. I had no idea who he was.

Yeah yeah

[Gaz_73]

Seemed to have the tools, but I thought he turned pro too late to become a world champ.

By the end, he still had the desire, but the body and chin were saying "nah mate"

As for the BBC deal, more fool anyone giving a heavyweight a million quid for their first 10 fights without realizing that most contenders fight journeymen and novices in their first fights. Audley did what everyone else does. That's pretty much the way boxing works.

[reggaereggae]

I think it's quite an honest, reasonable statement.

But crying about tax problems when you earned so much and through people funded BBC is not exactly endearing.

Seems like although he may file for bankruptcy,mhe passed a lot of money's to his wife who invested and so it's not like he won't have a roof over his head.

And he makes a good point about the funding his success in the Olympics provided for others.

[magwitch]

Why was losing the BBC such a big deal?

he certainly mugged off the beeb.

a million quid and fought a load of journeyman.

I agree, like it or not that's a big part of his legacy. However....and i don't recall much of the Sydney Olympics or what the level of competition was like, it's a deal that he put himself in a position to command. I am yet to clinch a seven figure deal, personally DD

[magwitch]

Maybe he could go into punditry? He seems quite likeable as a personality, and talks more sensibly about other people's careers than he did about his own.

Or would people not be able to take him seriously?

Agree, I think he'd make an excellent pundit, hope Sky sign him up.

I think he's a good and articulate fella. I'm not sure what level of fights or company of pundits he could sit on, I mean, 3 rounds and one cautious jab in a world title fight tells its own tale - but he's charismatic and it's another take on things I guess. I'd like him as a pundit.

[ILikeBeer]

I agree, like it or not that's a big part of his legacy. However....and i don't recall much of the Sydney Olympics or what the level of competition was like, it's a deal that he put himself in a position to command. I am yet to clinch a seven figure deal, personally DD

I put the BBC at fault, more than Audley.

I mean, the BBC seemed under the impression that he'd be fighting top notch opponents in his first ten fights, and he was never going to. It was their decision to spunk good money at his learning fights. Audley just did what anybody would have, and took the dosh.

Granted his, "I'm gonna win the British title in five fights" cobblers didn't help, but anybody who knew the remotest thing about boxing would've known that was shite

Besides, they probably got decent viewers for the first few fights. Before fans started getting fed up of it all.

[ILikeBeer]

He got a 5.4 million peak for his debut, down to 1.5 by the time he fought Wade Lewis. His fight Vs Williams did 8 million on ITV, their second biggest audience for a sporting event that year.

Okay.

[danamba7]

Highlight of his pro career? Stopping Williams? Winning the EBU?

Low point has to be the Haye fight. No disgrace in losing to Haye but probably the worst performance I've ever seen in a world title fight.

[ILikeBeer]

I think they'd have expected more. Audley didn't do himself any favours, but it was a funny time for TV ratings as the channels were starting to fragment and new ones were coming through. I'll always remember those early fights with fondness as I was a student at time so life was less complicated. God knows what he's done with his dough, though.

I was the same. Audley's fight with Mike Middleton was my first year of Uni. So several of his early fights I watched, on a small portable telly, with a few beers, moaning about what a knobhead John Inverdale was.

I mean, I do that sort of thing now too, just with a big TV screen. But somehow reminds me of a younger time.

[ILikeBeer]

Highlight of his pro career? Stopping Williams? Winning the EBU?

Low point has to be the Haye fight. No disgrace in losing to Haye but probably the worst performance I've ever seen in a world title fight.

The high point was selling the fight to punters.

I have never understood why anybody paid for that. It was such a mismatch, I legitimately thought Harrison might suffer serious injury in the ring.

The fact that it was boring, Harrison stalled, but managed to get away with his health was probably the best possible outcome. Yet a lot of people acted like it was some massive, must watch fight. I didn't understand why then, and I don't know. The press had been slating Audley as below domestic level for years, and suddenly people believe he's world class.

[danamba7]

Highlight of his pro career? Stopping Williams? Winning the EBU?

Low point has to be the Haye fight. No disgrace in losing to Haye but probably the worst performance I've ever seen in a world title fight.

The high point was selling the fight to punters.

I have never understood why anybody paid for that. It was such a mismatch, I legitimately thought Harrison might suffer serious injury in the ring.

The fact that it was boring, Harrison stalled, but managed to get away with his health was probably the best possible outcome. Yet a lot of people acted like it was some massive, must watch fight. I didn't understand why then, and I don't know. The press had been slating Audley as below domestic level for years, and suddenly people believe he's world class.

Yeah you're right. I distinctly remember thinking it was a joke of a fight at the time. It makes Clev Bellew II look like a mega fight.

[stevieb_8006]

I can't help but like Audley, he's a lovely guy. just not built for the pros. Not nasty enough.

Why they don't use him as a pundit over the Olympics I'll never know. He'd have done a much better job than khan.

Wish him all the best, especially with his health issues.

[TheGman]

Very true the bit about funding,i remember as a kid of 9 sharing old musty sparring gloves that wer soaking wet with damp in the gym and old sweat,thanks to audley the kids involved in boxing didnt have to put up with this from sydney 2000 to present time. Even tho he didnt win a world title and took alot of stick from us boxing fans he has left his own little stamp on present boxing,good luck with life after boxing A Force