Audley Harrison

[MattCoke]

Price was hot property after that fight. Loads saying next world champion.

That was the one I got wrong personally.

Price's power at domestic level, his big knockouts. I thought he'd do well.

I couldn't believe it when he was knocked out against Thompson.

Don’t forget that Thompson went on to fail a drugs test.

[Kit]

Audley peaked at the Sydney Olymlpics, a great achievement that very few can ever accomplish ,but I can’t think of too many other games where he would have taken gold, right place right time.
I just feel in the pros, beyond the bluster he just didn’t fancy it n his heart of hearts, but seemed to enjoy being a celebrity and his own sound bites. Personally hand picking his own weak opponents proved he was totally risk adverse, just like his fighting style.
I heard from a coach, one of many who he auditioned to train after the olympics and it was clear Audley was only willing to hear what he wanted to hear.

[ILikeBeer]

Price was hot property after that fight. Loads saying next world champion.

That was the one I got wrong personally.

Price's power at domestic level, his big knockouts. I thought he'd do well.

I couldn't believe it when he was knocked out against Thompson.

Don’t forget that Thompson went on to fail a drugs test.

True.

But let's no delude ourselves that David Price is some World Class heavyweight. Which is what, at the time, I thought he might turn out to be.

[ILikeBeer]

Audley peaked at the Sydney Olymlpics, a great achievement that very few can ever accomplish ,but I can’t think of too many other games where he would have taken gold, right place right time.
I just feel in the pros, beyond the bluster he just didn’t fancy it n his heart of hearts, but seemed to enjoy being a celebrity and his own sound bites. Personally hand picking his own weak opponents proved he was totally risk adverse, just like his fighting style.
I heard from a coach, one of many who he auditioned to train after the olympics and it was clear Audley was only willing to hear what he wanted to hear.

I do think, in his defence, some of the criticisms of his opponents were harsh.

I mean, people were saying that about him from his debut. Nobody is fighting world class fighters in their first 10 fights or so. Of course he took journeymen on to learn the game. It was unrealistic to expect anything else.

Granted, it didn't help that all his six-round, learning curve fights were main events and were on the BBC. Drawing attention to himself in that way maybe gave people watching some unrealistic hopes of what level people were expecting for him to be at. And you could also argue that sometimes fighting people like Mark Krence, who was a decent fighter, but essentially a Cruiserweight, didn't help when you're the size Audley is.

But he did end up fighting some domestic level fighters, like Williams twice, Sprott, David Price (when he was considered a decent British prospect), and also fought Haye as World Champion and Wilder when he was on the way up. Yes, he wasn't usually very convincing against those opponents, except for maybe the second fight against an under prepared Williams.

Audley did deserve criticism for several things. But when it comes to that, it just seemed like people were criticising his fight selections based on his early fights. Which is when all fighters face journeymen, if we're honest.

[Kit]

True to some degree, but to go from fighting the worlds best amateurs to the worst pro’s in your early 30’s isn’t learning the game.
For me it was the cautious manner in which he disposed of them, there is defensive movement and then there is wide eyed fear, even against guys like Derek Mcafferty his body language gave the impression when it came down to it, he didn’t really want to be there.
Danny Williams 2 and the Dutch Sonny Liston fights were his best two performances and where he showed with the right mindset and lesser caution he could of achieved something more.

[funso banjo baby]

This is the problem, his first 10 fights as a novice were live headliners broadcast via the BBC.

He went for top superstar billing from day one, and the performances against clearly limited opps just weren't good enough.

The selection of opponents was too careful and way too many were bore fests in the Bugner mold

The most live opp he faced in that early run was Mark Krence but even that fight was ruined by Audley's reluctance to engage coupled with the the 6 round limit (again a very poor decision for live BBC main events)

Definitely the destruction of Danny Williams was a highlight, he followed this up by flooring Michael sprott early and seemed to be on a roll ....but then got caught.

His performance against the other mood fighter Dominic Guinn was as disappointing as Bugner v Marvis Frazier.

[ILikeBeer]

True to some degree, but to go from fighting the worlds best amateurs to the worst pro’s in your early 30’s isn’t learning the game.
For me it was the cautious manner in which he disposed of them, there is defensive movement and then there is wide eyed fear, even against guys like Derek Mcafferty his body language gave the impression when it came down to it, he didn’t really want to be there.
Danny Williams 2 and the Dutch Sonny Liston fights were his best two performances and where he showed with the right mindset and lesser caution he could of achieved something more.

Yes, I certainly agree about being overcautious in his fights. Especially with people he thought had half a chance of winning. Remember the snoozefest that was his first fight with Danny?

I'm not saying he deserves no criticism. But I think the whole; "His early opponents weren't very good" analysis isn't the most deserved of it. Being a successful amateur doesn't mean you're going to be ready to fight World Class fighters straight at pro level.

[ILikeBeer]

This is the problem, his first 10 fights as a novice were live headliners broadcast via the BBC.

He went for top superstar billing from day one, and the performances against clearly limited opps just weren't good enough.

The selection of opponents was too careful and way too many were bore fests in the Bugner mold

The most live opp he faced in that early run was Mark Krence but even that fight was ruined by Audley's reluctance to engage coupled with the the 6 round limit (again a very poor decision for live BBC main events)

Definitely the destruction of Danny Williams was a highlight, he followed this up by flooring Michael sprott early and seemed to be on a roll ....but then got caught.

His performance against the other mood fighter Dominic Guinn was as disappointing as Bugner v Marvis Frazier.

I think the problem was that those fights shouldn't have been main event. Not so much the opponents themselves.

Partly that was down to Audley's naivety in trying to promote himself, and partly down to the BBC wanting to get into boxing without really knowing how it worked. He was a name after winning gold, and they just went; "Oh, let's get him main eventing fights, get some viewers in."

Maybe if they'd had got some proper main eventers in, put Audley on the undercard, and not milked him as the best thing since sliced bread people would remember him more fondly.


Maybe not, as said he was too cautious a fighter, and was just mediocre in what already wasn't a great heavyweight division.

[Dioufy]

Will never forgive Audley convincing me he had a small chance vs Haye.

Destiny innit.

How the hell did he do that?

Not having a go. But I remember even at the time, I was amazed that anybody thought Audley had a chance. Even the casuals had been ripping the piss out of Audley for a decade before that. Suddenly because it was pay-per-view, everybody went; "Oh, actually. Maybe he will win."

Always slightly baffled me that one.

Don’t get me wrong, I did expect Haye to win pretty convincingly but he spoke with such passion, belief and kept telling us he’s never trained as hard and it was his destiny to win. It was enough for me to think he could box smart behind the jab and he sue his chance on Haye’s chin.

In the end was all shite.

[funso banjo baby]

He'd won Prizefighter with some perfect single shot ko's
Gained revenge over Sprott with that weird punch, and was giving a really good argument for his left hand against Haye.

What a shame the audley that turned up was the old one. Not a single punch thrown in the whole fight. Terrible stuff

[orbtastic]

I think the punch stats were thrown 1, landed 1. The irony is that the single punch actually cut haye.

The only thing worse than his performance that night was on the drive home having to listen to bunce justify it. For about an hour.

[Glass Joe]

Good interview with Matt cristie and Audley on his podcast today the opening bell check it out

[PRINCEKOOL]

If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condescending towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

[WestEndRiot]

If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condensing towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

Your Dave Allen Vs Audrey comparison has parallels with Frazer Clarke Vs Fabio Wardley.

Highly decorated amateur and olympic medalist Vs a white collar guy. It shouldn't even be a contest. But this is why we love heavyweight boxing

[JamesPhilips]

If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condensing towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

Your Dave Allen Vs Audrey comparison has parallels with Frazer Clarke Vs Fabio Wardley.

Highly decorated amateur and olympic medalist Vs a white collar guy. It shouldn't even be a contest. But this is why we love heavyweight boxing

Is that you Adam Smith?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Your Dave Allen Vs Audrey comparison has parallels with Frazer Clarke Vs Fabio Wardley.

Highly decorated amateur and olympic medalist Vs a white collar guy. It shouldn't even be a contest. But this is why we love heavyweight boxing

Is that you Adam Smith?

Haha!

You can even read that in his voice.

[JamesPhilips]

Your Dave Allen Vs Audrey comparison has parallels with Frazer Clarke Vs Fabio Wardley.

Highly decorated amateur and olympic medalist Vs a white collar guy. It shouldn't even be a contest. But this is why we love heavyweight boxing

Is that you Adam Smith?

Haha!

You can even read that in his voice.

Unfortunately I did…. And now I’m in a bad mood

[Carlos Slim]

If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condescending towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

Correct! I don't think anyone on here seriously believes Dave Allen would have beaten Audley Harrison. He would have lost every round.

[dookus]

Harrison had plenty going for him, but ultimately he didn't have a pro heavyweight's chin or stamina and he clearly found that hard to overcome

[JC]

Harrison had plenty going for him, but ultimately he didn't have a pro heavyweight's chin or stamina and he clearly found that hard to overcome

I think there was probably a major mental element to it as well. Apparently he often looked amazing in camp but couldn’t translate it to the big occasion. He sometimes looked a bit rabbit in the headlights.

[overhand_right]

Audley peaked at the Sydney Olymlpics, a great achievement that very few can ever accomplish ,but I can’t think of too many other games where he would have taken gold, right place right time.
I just feel in the pros, beyond the bluster he just didn’t fancy it n his heart of hearts, but seemed to enjoy being a celebrity and his own sound bites. Personally hand picking his own weak opponents proved he was totally risk adverse, just like his fighting style.
I heard from a coach, one of many who he auditioned to train after the olympics and it was clear Audley was only willing to hear what he wanted to hear.

I do think, in his defence, some of the criticisms of his opponents were harsh.

I mean, people were saying that about him from his debut. Nobody is fighting world class fighters in their first 10 fights or so. Of course he took journeymen on to learn the game. It was unrealistic to expect anything else.

Granted, it didn't help that all his six-round, learning curve fights were main events and were on the BBC. Drawing attention to himself in that way maybe gave people watching some unrealistic hopes of what level people were expecting for him to be at. And you could also argue that sometimes fighting people like Mark Krence, who was a decent fighter, but essentially a Cruiserweight, didn't help when you're the size Audley is.

But he did end up fighting some domestic level fighters, like Williams twice, Sprott, David Price (when he was considered a decent British prospect), and also fought Haye as World Champion and Wilder when he was on the way up. Yes, he wasn't usually very convincing against those opponents, except for maybe the second fight against an under prepared Williams.

Audley did deserve criticism for several things. But when it comes to that, it just seemed like people were criticising his fight selections based on his early fights. Which is when all fighters face journeymen, if we're honest.

I think this misses the point.

Even Boxing Monthly, at first Audley supporters, expressed amazement at Mike Middleton as the opponent of choice. "Even we've never heard of him".

Audley wasn't just picking weak opponents, he was picking the weakest possible opponents, looking poor against them and then talking like he was Muhammad Ali in his post fight interviews. He was a fraud and in deep denial about it.

In all my decades watching boxing the most scared man I have ever seen is Audley Harrison in the first fight versus Danny Williams (literally crying in the ring prior to the fight) and against David Haye. It was an astounding level of fear for a professional fighter, outright terror. He looked like he'd been thrown into a South American jungle and told he had to fight Predator.

[SeanBrennan]

I liked Audley I thought he’d beat Haye what a wally I was/am. Will listen to the podcast

He was in Boxing News two months ago saying he should be a top trainer and manager

[SeanBrennan]

Not sure I’d follow Audley advice as he ended up bankrupt

[overhand_right]

If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condescending towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

None of that matters. Prime against prime, Moses and Joshua would KO Audley in one round. They would utterly terrify him.

Dave Allen did a lot better against David Price than Audley did. It's not hard to imagine Allen beating a man who lost to Martin Rogan.

Audley is the only man ever to get one punch KOd by Michael Sprott. Certainly the only name. He also managed to lose 11 rounds in a row to Sprott in the rematch. Who loses every round to Michael Sprott??

I don't care for Moses and Joshua, but they fought like men in their world title fights. How did Audley fight against David Haye?

[dookus]

Harrison had plenty going for him, but ultimately he didn't have a pro heavyweight's chin or stamina and he clearly found that hard to overcome

I think there was probably a major mental element to it as well. Apparently he often looked amazing in camp but couldn’t translate it to the big occasion. He sometimes looked a bit rabbit in the headlights.

Yeah, and that's partly what I meant too - it's hard to fight with confidence against the top boys when you know there's a very good chance you're going to gas or get chinned at some point