Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Chris W 1982
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Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Chris W 1982 »

Very rare I plug my articles on here but thought I'd bring today's Boxing News to people's attention.

The story of Mike Middleton has been briefly touched on in the past but if people haven't heard about the build up to this fight then please check it out.

A very interesting story.

Thank You
levi billups
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by levi billups »

Good article Chris. Nice to see Middleton ended up with a few bob for his troubles. The last few editions of BN have been tremendous as far as I'm concerned.
Chris W 1982
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Chris W 1982 »

Thank You.

Yes, the magazine has featured some great stuff lately.
boxingknockout
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by boxingknockout »

I'd be interested to read. Will it be published online?
Chris W 1982
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Chris W 1982 »

Only in magazine for now, Sir
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by dbflex »

Chris is one of the finest boxing scribes in the country now - jumped up a place when I 'retired'. Seriously though, boxing journalists are as marginalised as the sport they cover but Walks is in a rich vein of form that I predict will continue in perpetuity.
Last edited by dbflex on 27 Oct 2016, 16:41, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by boxingknockout »

Chris W 1982 wrote:Only in magazine for now, Sir
Thanks. I may buy it. I'm just totally broke
Chris W 1982
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Chris W 1982 »

Very kind words. Thank You.
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Tuan_Jim »

There was a lengthy write up on the Middleton farce in Boxing Monthly at the time. Audley was smiling on the front cover, with the lamentable headline: THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER.

The seismic Lewis/Rahman upset was reduced to a little box in the corner!
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Controversial »

Thread bump, I’ve started reading Bunces book around the world in 80 fights and this is one of them. Interesting story and probably made Middleton the highest paid 6 round journeyman in boxing history.
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by JamesPhilips »

Controversial wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:32 Thread bump, I’ve started reading Bunces book around the world in 80 fights and this is one of them. Interesting story and probably made Middleton the highest paid 6 round journeyman in boxing history.
How much did they pay him?
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by deadpan »

40k from memory. Someone forgot to delete TV rights on the contract.
I'll seek out the article. Be good to have a well written refresher!
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Controversial »

JamesPhilips wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:40
Controversial wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:32 Thread bump, I’ve started reading Bunces book around the world in 80 fights and this is one of them. Interesting story and probably made Middleton the highest paid 6 round journeyman in boxing history.
How much did they pay him?
It says $65,000 in Bunces book so around £40,000, well remembered deadpan!
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by JamesPhilips »

deadpan wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:46 40k from memory. Someone forgot to delete TV rights on the contract.
I'll seek out the article. Be good to have a well written refresher!
Sweet payday for back then… especially for a no hoper. I mean surely A Force could’ve negotiated a lower price? Or got some other no chancer in there?
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Controversial »

JamesPhilips wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:28
deadpan wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:46 40k from memory. Someone forgot to delete TV rights on the contract.
I'll seek out the article. Be good to have a well written refresher!
Sweet payday for back then… especially for a no hoper. I mean surely A Force could’ve negotiated a lower price? Or got some other no chancer in there?
He was meant to get $5,000 but they cocked the contract up and forgot to remove the bit that said he got a share of the TV rights as well, he was asked to sign a new contact and refused and was then "kidnapped" according to the story.
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by JamesPhilips »

Controversial wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:48
JamesPhilips wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:28
deadpan wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:46 40k from memory. Someone forgot to delete TV rights on the contract.
I'll seek out the article. Be good to have a well written refresher!
Sweet payday for back then… especially for a no hoper. I mean surely A Force could’ve negotiated a lower price? Or got some other no chancer in there?
He was meant to get $5,000 but they cocked the contract up and forgot to remove the bit that said he got a share of the TV rights as well, he was asked to sign a new contact and refused and was then "kidnapped" according to the story.
Where is this detailed!?? In Bunce’s book? Sounds crazy
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Controversial »

JamesPhilips wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:52
Controversial wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:48
JamesPhilips wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:28

Sweet payday for back then… especially for a no hoper. I mean surely A Force could’ve negotiated a lower price? Or got some other no chancer in there?
He was meant to get $5,000 but they cocked the contract up and forgot to remove the bit that said he got a share of the TV rights as well, he was asked to sign a new contact and refused and was then "kidnapped" according to the story.
Where is this detailed!?? In Bunce’s book? Sounds crazy
Yeah its in his book but this thread is from 2016 where it appeared in a BN article.
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Bercli »

JamesPhilips wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:28
deadpan wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:46 40k from memory. Someone forgot to delete TV rights on the contract.
I'll seek out the article. Be good to have a well written refresher!
Sweet payday for back then… especially for a no hoper. I mean surely A Force could’ve negotiated a lower price? Or got some other no chancer in there?
Audley insisted on running the business and fighting. Never listened to anyone,which is why he made a basic mistake.
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by SeanBrennan »

Bercli wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 14:06
JamesPhilips wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:28
deadpan wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:46 40k from memory. Someone forgot to delete TV rights on the contract.
I'll seek out the article. Be good to have a well written refresher!
Sweet payday for back then… especially for a no hoper. I mean surely A Force could’ve negotiated a lower price? Or got some other no chancer in there?
Audley insisted on running the business and fighting. Never listened to anyone,which is why he made a basic mistake.
And thought he was a better businessman than he was. Ended up bankrupt
Bercli
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Bercli »

I worked closely with Audley from his debut up until the end,so I know quite a bit about went on back then.
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by Controversial »

Bercli wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 15:45 I worked closely with Audley from his debut up until the end,so I know quite a bit about went on back then.
Do you know what the story was with Middleton being supposedly kidnapped?
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by deadpan »

Controversial wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 11:17
JamesPhilips wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:40
Controversial wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 10:32 Thread bump, I’ve started reading Bunces book around the world in 80 fights and this is one of them. Interesting story and probably made Middleton the highest paid 6 round journeyman in boxing history.
How much did they pay him?
It says $65,000 in Bunces book so around £40,000, well remembered deadpan!
Cheers! Not bad for a 55 year old. If only I could also recall my Google password.
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by deadpan »

Bercli wrote: 03 Apr 2026, 15:45 I worked closely with Audley from his debut up until the end,so I know quite a bit about went on back then.
You must have some cracking tales!
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by cannonball »

Mike sadly passed away a few years back.

We chatted sporadically on FB, nice guy and happy to share details of his boxing career. RIP
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Re: Audley Harrison v Mike Middleton Boxing News Today

Post by TheLeprechaun »

Didn't know the story behind this. It sums up Audley :lol:
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