Audley Harrison's biggest mistake?

BO Selecta · Post by **BO Selecta** » 19 Feb 2007, 14:53

As we all know, the farce that is Harrison's career has had many failings.

What do you think is the one thing that has turned you against him?

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 19 Feb 2007, 15:21

Now there's come choices!!!!!

I was suspicious of him from his 1st pro fight when he put 100% effort into KOing a cruiserweight security guard or something; a man he should have swatted like a fly, but he really made my blood boil after slating Danny Williams, then being terrified of him when they fought the 1st time, thus leading to him losing a fight he should have won at a canter.

It was at that point that I thought, enough is enough!

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 19 Feb 2007, 15:22

His biggest error? Thinking he was anything above domestic class.

E · Post by E » 19 Feb 2007, 15:23

Audley's biggest mistake was deciding to take up boxing instead of golf......

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 19 Feb 2007, 15:26

ALL OF THE ABOVE

ABA Boxing · Post by **ABA Boxing** » 19 Feb 2007, 16:44

The number 1 reason, Thinking he could be a manager.

A-Force would not have been in the position he is today if he went with FW to start with. Still Same crappy opponents, but atleast maybe a 20-0 record.
More money and maybe even liked by the public. We would have seen past the record but at least there would be a chance, not the complete cock up he has made on his own!

Not everyone likes FW but if you want to make money Franks the man to go with in the UK

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 19 Feb 2007, 17:08

Kevo wrote:His biggest error? Thinking he was anything above domestic class.

Yes, I have to agree with that, and not even the best in Britain.

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 19 Feb 2007, 18:13

ABA Boxing wrote:The number 1 reason, Thinking he could be a manager.

A-Force would not have been in the position he is today if he went with FW to start with. Still Same crappy opponents, but atleast maybe a 20-0 record.
More money and maybe even liked by the public. We would have seen past the record but at least there would be a chance, not the complete cock up he has made on his own!

Not everyone likes FW but if you want to make money Franks the man to go with in the UK

Nail well and truly on the head.

If he had signed with Warren, instead of arrogantly believing that he was better suited to the job than a man who's as experienced as anyone, then he would (without doubt, I believe) not be in the dire situation he now finds himself in. All the other problems are secondary to this. Attempting to manage himself was the first and most critical mistake.

Having said that, no promoter in the world could carve out a respected career for a heavyweight so full of trepidation.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 19 Feb 2007, 21:27

ABA Boxing wrote:The number 1 reason, Thinking he could be a manager.

A-Force would not have been in the position he is today if he went with FW to start with. Still Same crappy opponents, but atleast maybe a 20-0 record.
More money and maybe even liked by the public. We would have seen past the record but at least there would be a chance, not the complete cock up he has made on his own!

Not everyone likes FW but if you want to make money Franks the man to go with in the UK

Frank says this as well that If he signed with him In the first place all the cock ups wouldn't of happened. As egotistical as Warren sounded I agree with It.

Audley should never of promoted himself from day one, strangley Lennox thought Audley was right to but even Lewis was with Maloney at first, De La Hoya was with Arum.

Before Audley finally did sign with Warren, what started the hate?

Taki... · Post by **Taki...** » 19 Feb 2007, 21:35

I just think that Olympic gold was an albatross when Harrison turned pro. Anything short of a World Championship belt was always going to be disappointing.
Poor old Audley was thinking 'I'm the new Lennox Lewis', but alas he didn't have the tools.

dookus · Post by **dookus** » 19 Feb 2007, 21:38

Not sorting out his stamina problem - he could probably have gotten away with his plodding movement and pawing jab if he had been able to maintain any kind of a workrate, and his fights wouldn't have been so close to refined ass to watch.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 Feb 2007, 21:51

I could sum it up in two options.

1) His whole attitude both in ring, in training (especially early on), and out of the ring.

2) Turning pro.

Heartbreak_Kid79 · Post by **Heartbreak_Kid79** » 20 Feb 2007, 04:49

They are all valid points of course..

But if you talk the talk you have to be able to back it up.
After he beat Danny, Audley arrogantly claimed he'd be world champ this year, and undisputed champ in 2008...... Looks kind of silly now in retrospect! Hes further away from a title shot now, than he was after Williams outpointed him, and at age 35 Father time is perhaps catching up with him anyway.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 20 Feb 2007, 06:54

The Williams he beat would struggle to win an area title. When all is said and done Harrison fell short of the British title never mind world titles.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 20 Feb 2007, 10:55

nickd wrote:ALL OF THE ABOVE

LOL.

That's very true.

Grilling Machine · Post by **Grilling Machine** » 20 Feb 2007, 22:17

Arrogance and inactivity; or at least lack of a regular challenge.

Had he kept his head down and mouth shut after Sydney, the public would've been mostly happy to support him through losses. He needed to expose his failings early on, using the nation's respect as a catalyst for advancement.
He's been to British boxing what Dwain Chambers was to sprinting: a huge waste of talent.

I actually think Lewis was overrated as a fighter, but he strived for the top. While Lennox may well have feared Bowe, we know he would've showed up and given his best, much like against Tyson. Sure, Mike was clearly shot in that eventual match, yet there was still plenty left to be scared of beforehand.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 21 Feb 2007, 02:45

Lewis was overrated? No way. One of the best heavyweights of alltime.

Harrison had the skills but not the heart and determination which I am afraid is all part of being 'talented'. He just didn't have the tools I am afraid. And his olympic win was in a very weak competition.

Grilling Machine · Post by **Grilling Machine** » 21 Feb 2007, 20:56

Back in '94 I felt strongly that Lennox could beat anyone. Holyfield, Bowe and - after release - Tyson. I still remember the confidence I had in him, and won't forget that, but on paper he fought a badly faded Holyfield and a man who merely looked like Mike Tyson.

I believe he would've taken Bowe, but there will always be a question mark as to the manner of such a win. Prime Tyson was too dangerous to count out of the equation, had he and Lewis met after the '88 Olympics.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 21 Feb 2007, 21:57

nickd wrote:Lewis was overrated? No way. One of the best heavyweights of alltime.

Harrison had the skills but not the heart and determination which I am afraid is all part of being 'talented'. He just didn't have the tools I am afraid. And his olympic win was in a very weak competition.

Does anyone here actually follow the Amatuers enough to say It was a weak division though?

Audley could of just been more suited to the amatuers.

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 21 Feb 2007, 22:49

Max Molyneux wrote:
nickd wrote:Lewis was overrated? No way. One of the best heavyweights of alltime.

Harrison had the skills but not the heart and determination which I am afraid is all part of being 'talented'. He just didn't have the tools I am afraid. And his olympic win was in a very weak competition.
Does anyone here actually follow the Amatuers enough to say It was a weak division though?

Audley could of just been more suited to the amatuers.

Audley beat Alexei Lezin in the first stage whom was an accomplished amateur, winning World and Euro Championships in the past, also had wins over the Klitschko bro's

Harrison dominated Paolo Vidoz (former EBU champ)
Samuel Peter(current top 3 pro) & Calvin Brock (top 20 contender) were also in the running..

I'd say that's far from very weak competition, but then my knowledge on the amateur game is poor.

Andy Mac · Post by **Andy Mac** » 22 Feb 2007, 06:04

His biggest mistake was turning Pro.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2007, 07:07

Grilling Machine wrote:Back in '94 I felt strongly that Lennox could beat anyone. Holyfield, Bowe and - after release - Tyson. I still remember the confidence I had in him, and won't forget that, but on paper he fought a badly faded Holyfield and a man who merely looked like Mike Tyson.

I believe he would've taken Bowe, but there will always be a question mark as to the manner of such a win. Prime Tyson was too dangerous to count out of the equation, had he and Lewis met after the '88 Olympics.

Had Lewis met Tyson early in his career, he would have gotten done. Lewis had many flaws in his style, and often left his chin hanging out to dry, he was very open when throwing his shots, which is precisely what McCall capitalised on. Lewis was just stood there inviting the shot. People say it was a lucky shot, but Lewis' head was right within target range with no thought of a guard.

Tyson was bloody hard to hit back then, and Lewis would have left himself open when he stuck out that jab. Lewis' balance was always a bit suspect, especially pre Manny Steward, and Mike would have gotten round or under that jab and banged Lewis up and down stairs and stopped him.

Bowe I also think would have taken Lewis, Bowe would have been able to nullify the jab, and was better technically at that stage than Lewis was. Bowe would have dropped a big right hand on Lewis, or got him with the uppercut on the inside. Bowe was the best big man I ever saw when it came to fighting on the inside, but his prime was so brief because of his appalling condition between fights.

Lewis deserves his props for becoming a well rounded heavyweight later in his career, and peaking in his 30's, but I believe that prime versions of Bowe, Tyson and Holyfield would have been too much for him, possibly any version of Lewis. Prime Bowe v Prime Lewis would have been a great fight, as would a prime Bowe against Tyson (I would have favoured Bowe).

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 22 Feb 2007, 07:16

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Grilling Machine wrote:Back in '94 I felt strongly that Lennox could beat anyone. Holyfield, Bowe and - after release - Tyson. I still remember the confidence I had in him, and won't forget that, but on paper he fought a badly faded Holyfield and a man who merely looked like Mike Tyson.

I believe he would've taken Bowe, but there will always be a question mark as to the manner of such a win. Prime Tyson was too dangerous to count out of the equation, had he and Lewis met after the '88 Olympics.
Had Lewis met Tyson early in his career, he would have gotten done. Lewis had many flaws in his style, and often left his chin hanging out to dry, he was very open when throwing his shots, which is precisely what McCall capitalised on. Lewis was just stood there inviting the shot. People say it was a lucky shot, but Lewis' head was right within target range with no thought of a guard.

Tyson was bloody hard to hit back then, and Lewis would have left himself open when he stuck out that jab. Lewis' balance was always a bit suspect, especially pre Manny Steward, and Mike would have gotten round or under that jab and banged Lewis up and down stairs and stopped him.

Bowe I also think would have taken Lewis, Bowe would have been able to nullify the jab, and was better technically at that stage than Lewis was. Bowe would have dropped a big right hand on Lewis, or got him with the uppercut on the inside. Bowe was the best big man I ever saw when it came to fighting on the inside, but his prime was so brief because of his appalling condition between fights.

Lewis deserves his props for becoming a well rounded heavyweight later in his career, and peaking in his 30's, but I believe that prime versions of Bowe, Tyson and Holyfield would have been too much for him, possibly any version of Lewis. Prime Bowe v Prime Lewis would have been a great fight, as would a prime Bowe against Tyson (I would have favoured Bowe).

For once I am in agreement with every word you say.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2007, 07:22

Well, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Slapsie Maxie · Post by **Slapsie Maxie** » 22 Feb 2007, 07:27

I disagree to a point

I agree that the raw, lanky and less powerful Lewis would have struggled against Bowe, Holyfield and Tyson in their primes. Although, I still pick him over Tyson. Lewis was a fit active strong heavyweight and, even at his best Tyson struggled with anyone who did not run from him

The Lewis that destroyed Ruddock would have been a match for any of the above.

The Lewis of later years, despite the aberration of the KO was not only powerful, accurate and strong, but much smarter and, like all good champions, capable of finding a way to win even if they had problems along the way ( Briggs, Mercer )

Slapsie

Audley Harrison's biggest mistake?

Harrison's biggest error?

Audley Harrison's biggest mistake?