Vegas man Harrison is home from home

[Chesney_Chambers]

Vegas man Harrison is home from home

By Gareth A Davies
Last Updated: 2:13am GMT 13/02/2007

Under a brilliant Nevada sun, Audley Harrison is pounding a punchbag he might call 'Michael Sprott' in the gym behind his house in a Las Vegas downtown suburban street.

Harrison faces Sprott for the European Union heavyweight title, at Wembley, on Saturday night, insisting his life has changed dramatically - for the better.

The villa-style house is bare, a few DVDs beside the TV, with three sofas in the living area. The fridge is full of water. Harrison is waiting for his sparring partner, and is living here with one of his brothers. He constantly refers to it as "the office". Harrison's wife, Raychel and Ariella, his seven-month-old baby daughter, live across town - though Harrison and his wife are very much a couple, and very much in love. Harrison prefers to spend almost two months sleeping apart before a fight. It is all part of the ritual.

But he admits that much has changed in his life since he married, became a father, and moved to Las Vegas, now boxing's mecca for superfight nights. It also means he is nearer his American trainer, Thel Torrence, he has benefited from a growing friendship with Lennox Lewis, who has imparted a good dollop of faith and encouragement in him, and it means that Harrison is, finally, away from the glare of a love/hate affair with the British boxing public. Although they may not be sending him Valentine cards tomorrow, at least they now have greater faith in his ability than they did 14 months ago, when he was booed out the ExCel Arena in the London Docklands, losing a very slow, cumbersome fight to Danny Williams.

Harrison explained: "It has all come full circle for me. I am back to just concentrating on my boxing. After winning the gold medal in Sydney in 2000, I painted a vision to the BBC, but what happened was that the system shut me out. I was doing too much, boxer, promoter, organiser, looking at all the little details instead of just focusing on the boxing. But I'm back to that now. I'm not in the fame game any longer. Lennox has been very encouraging, and I have learnt so much from him, perhaps the most important thing of being humble. I am grateful for that."

Harrison certainly showed that intent by beating Williams inside three rounds at the ExCel Arena last December, and brought a smile to promoter allegedly's face. Finally, it was plain for all to see that Harrison, given the right moment, has the capacity to challenge for a world title. Harrison's triumph was comprehensive, with even Williams admitting that if Harrison fought with the same intensity every time he laced his gloves, he could challenge for a world title.

Testament to a new-found dedication, and a quieter life, was Harrison foregoing the rounds at ringside when Ricky Hatton fought Juan Urango at the Paris Casino three weeks ago. "I am glad to be in Las Vegas, living quietly, away from the bachelor limelight parties, and the celebrity circuit." So, did that take his eyes off the prize? "No, but my family has given me stability, and it has also made me realise that I am boxing to make a living for my family now.

"Funnily enough, we went for a cruise around the Caribbean last year and when we were in Florida having a meal, we were spotted by a couple from England. They came over and were very complimentary about the Danny Williams fight. They even woke up their kids and all wanted photos. It was very nice, but it was also a reminder of how much of my time I spent having a public face in Britain. I'm happier living the quiet life out here in Vegas. It suits me."

[Chesney_Chambers]

AUDLEY: I'M A TICKING TIMEBOMB
EUROPEAN TITLE: HARRISON V SPROTT, SATURDAY
David Anderson, mirror.co.uk 13/02/2007

AUDLEY HARRISON hopes to win back British fight fans by getting a ticking off from them.

Harrison took the first step towards restoring his shattered credibility by avenging his defeat by his nemesis Danny Williams with a crushing thirdround stoppage.

And he aims to get another tick against his name by beating ex-British and Commonwealth titleholder Michael Sprott at Wembley Arena to claim the European heavyweight crown on Saturday.
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The Olympic gold medallist is already eyeing up the WBO top 10-ranked Matt Skelton next - and wants the fans who cheered his success in Sydney to believe in him again.

"It's about getting the ticks now," said Harrison.

"I've opened the door by beating Danny Williams and it's about going through it now. I think my character has been proven beyond doubt because I went and faced Danny, who caused all my problems the year before.

"People are saying 'let's see what he does now' before they give me another tick. Then when I do a number on Sprott, they'll give me a tick and then another one after that if I win again.

"They're saying 'let's see if he can do it against Matt Skelton. Let's see if he can do a number on Skelton and Michael Sprott'.

"This is the business we're in and you're only as good as your last fight. You can't rest on your laurels and it's going to be this way for me.

"Joe Calzaghe has had 19 world title defences and he's still got something to prove. I've got the talent and I've still got the doubters five years on. Against Danny, half the crowd was against me, but by the end I heard a lot of chants of 'Audley, Audley'. I have a lot of fans out there and those who are not behind me will be."

After six years going round in circles, Las Vegas-based Harrison, - ranked 12 by the WBO - is in a hurry to land a world title fight.

Harrison, 35, is so desperate he has even swallowed his pride by signing up with his old adversary allegedly on condition that he gets him that shot at a world title.

Their target is WBO champion Shannon Briggs and after losing two of his last four fights, Harrison admits there can be no more slip-ups.

"It's all about fighting and allegedly is helping me," said the southpaw.

"I was in a situation where if I didn't play the game, I would be frozen out.

"The deal will work well for me. Working with Frank opens up doors to all the fighters I couldn't get to - Danny Williams, Michael Sprott and Matt Skelton.

"It makes sense for me to restore my credibility in the UK market and move forward.

"This is like my Olympic qualifier. It took me a couple of goes to make it, but I did and I won the gold. I've qualified and now it's full steam ahead. Once I've got that vision and focus, it's hard to deny me."

Former furniture removals man Sprott, 32, is confident of ending Harrison's revival - because he's shifted bigger loads before.

"I'm not bothered about Audley's size - I've fought bigger men and won," said Reading's Sprott, who has sparred with Harrison.

"Tino Hoffmann is 6ft 9in and I beat him once and again the second time, but never got the decision.

"I'm better than when I sparred with Audley a few years ago. We never got the best of each other. He has improved and so have I.

"I'm full-time with boxing now after giving up the removals job in the summer. I've noticed a big difference."

Sprott-Skelton-Briggs would be nice, but I'm not looking past Sprott yet. If Audley performs on Saturday like he did in December then I'll start get very excited and I might even dust off the 'Forum-Audley-Megaphone'.

Come on Audley!!!!

[The Blade]

Read Donald McCrae's piece in the Guardian. Tells you twice as much as this rubbish. For a start, Harrison is here in the UK, not pounding punch bags in Las Vegas. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport

[Chesney_Chambers]

Read Donald McCrae's piece in the Guardian. Tells you twice as much as this rubbish. For a start, Harrison is here in the UK, not pounding punch bags in Las Vegas. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport

Yeah its a far better article