Fights Audley missed

oliverfennell · Post by **oliverfennell** » 30 May 2007, 08:02

Fights that Audley was either officially scheduled to take which fell through, or which were actually being negotiated but were never made.

Looking back, what do you think would have happened in them at the time they were talked about?

Greg Wedlake
Luke Simpkin
Tommy Connelly
Colin Wilson
Orlin Norris
Steffen Nielsen
Terry Smith
Frank Bruno
Billy Zumbrun
Samuel Peter
Calvin Brock
Kertson Manswell
Matt Skelton

Haven't included Herbie Hide or anybody else who we talked about but was never in reality likely to fight Audley.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 30 May 2007, 08:21

I'm just as interested to see who gives a toss.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 30 May 2007, 09:03

Greg Wedlake- who?
Luke Simpkin- aud easy
Tommy Connelly- aud easy
Colin Wilson- aud easy
Orlin Norris- - aud but the old boy would make it interesting once he realised the big lad in front of him wasnt all that much
Steffen Nielsen- aud easy
Terry Smith- aud easy
Frank Bruno- impossible to predict without knowing how shot Bruno was
Billy Zumbrun- aud easy
Samuel Peter- peter by kayo
Calvin Brock- brock on pts over ultra negative aud
Kertson Manswell- who?
Matt Skelton- skelton batters him

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 30 May 2007, 10:50

He had the ability to beat all of them, just lacked the heart...

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 30 May 2007, 10:54

Disagree.

He showed no semblance of ability over 10 long rds v Dominic Guinn.

Ditto 12 long rds v Jules, 9 v the inept lump Bonin.

Guy never had ability. Glad Orlin Norris never came off. in his forgotten days of scrapping with Page, Tucker, Snipes, Ferguson, McCall he would have marmalised a big clown like Audley the way he did Lionel Washington.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 30 May 2007, 11:08

I'm not sure he'd have beaten Steffan Nielsen.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 30 May 2007, 11:55

Of course he had ability he won an Olympic gold! He's a very talented boxer, just doesn't have the desire, the heart, the stamina etc..

When he occasionally did show his ability he was very good, it just didn't happen very often, and that's my point....

He's a better boxer than Dominick Guinnn, no question, he lost that fight because he was lacking in other depts...

He always looked like he felt he was too good to be in the ring, he never worked at it......

oliverfennell · Post by **oliverfennell** » 30 May 2007, 12:27

overhand_right wrote:Greg Wedlake- who?

He'd been out of the ring for a while, came back with a shaky win over Mal Rice and was then matched with Audley. He had a 6-1 record and was big enough physically but the Board wouldn't sanction him to fight more than 4x3 or 6x2, so Julius Long was brought in. Wedlake by all accounts only launched his "comeback" to get into the novice Audley sweepstakes (much like Danny Watts), because when his fight was pulled, he was never seen again.

Luke Simpkin- aud easy

Maybe not, if they fought around Audley's third or fourth fight, which is when it was being considered. Audley would have won, but probably would have been a fairly rough distance six-rounder.

Orlin Norris- - aud but the old boy would make it interesting once he realised the big lad in front of him wasnt all that much

I think Audley would have impressed in this one. He's always looked good against shorter opponents and Audley was looking confident at the time Norris was considered (WBF defence, I think).

Steffen Nielsen- aud easy

Agreed, and can't imagine how anybody would think otherwise. Unless they're the kind of person who predicted Ray Austin would beat Vlad Klitschko.

Terry Smith - aud easy

Would have said so before Smith beat Davis, but now I could see a Davis vintage Smith outpointing a Guinn vintage Audley. But at the time they were looking to fight (prior to Williams 1), I'd say Audley on points.

Frank Bruno- impossible to predict without knowing how shot Bruno was

Everybody assumed at the time Audley would win easily but maybe some revisionist thinking now? If Bruno still had his punch, you'd have to imagine him doing what Sprott did. But yes, impossible to say.

Samuel Peter- peter by kayo
Calvin Brock- brock on pts over ultra negative aud

Agreed

Kertson Manswell- who?

Undefeated guy from Trinidad who was in the running to fight Audley after Gammer refused and before Sprott accepted. Has a win over T-Rex Sanders, but I've never watched him so can't judge him.

Matt Skelton- skelton batters him

Surprisingly, I'd go for Audley in this one, even now. He is a league above Skelton technically and showed in Williams 2 that he can be very effective when he has a point to prove. I think he underestimated Sprott, but he would be very focused for Skelton and can see him boxing Shrek's ears off.

ebeneezer · Post by **ebeneezer** » 30 May 2007, 12:35

Captain Hook wrote:Of course he had ability he won an Olympic gold!

He won over an incredibly poor superheavyweight field by out poking them in a point scoring system.

In the pros he displayed a pawing left jab and a half decent left uppercut. That does not a talented boxer make.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 30 May 2007, 13:34

Captain Hook wrote:He had the ability to beat all of them, just lacked the heart...

Well, if my Aunt was a man she'd be my uncle!... same sort of argument really... you cant make a silk purse out of a pigs ear and Audely has always been a pigs ear really... but he's had quite a good run on it all the same...

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 30 May 2007, 13:37

oliverfennell wrote:
overhand_right wrote:Greg Wedlake- who?
He'd been out of the ring for a while, came back with a shaky win over Mal Rice and was then matched with Audley. He had a 6-1 record and was big enough physically but the Board wouldn't sanction him to fight more than 4x3 or 6x2, so Julius Long was brought in. Wedlake by all accounts only launched his "comeback" to get into the novice Audley sweepstakes (much like Danny Watts), because when his fight was pulled, he was never seen again.

Luke Simpkin- aud easy
Maybe not, if they fought around Audley's third or fourth fight, which is when it was being considered. Audley would have won, but probably would have been a fairly rough distance six-rounder.

Orlin Norris- - aud but the old boy would make it interesting once he realised the big lad in front of him wasnt all that much
I think Audley would have impressed in this one. He's always looked good against shorter opponents and Audley was looking confident at the time Norris was considered (WBF defence, I think).

Steffen Nielsen- aud easy
Agreed, and can't imagine how anybody would think otherwise. Unless they're the kind of person who predicted Ray Austin would beat Vlad Klitschko.

Terry Smith - aud easy
Would have said so before Smith beat Davis, but now I could see a Davis vintage Smith outpointing a Guinn vintage Audley. But at the time they were looking to fight (prior to Williams 1), I'd say Audley on points.

Frank Bruno- impossible to predict without knowing how shot Bruno was
Everybody assumed at the time Audley would win easily but maybe some revisionist thinking now? If Bruno still had his punch, you'd have to imagine him doing what Sprott did. But yes, impossible to say.

Samuel Peter- peter by kayo
Calvin Brock- brock on pts over ultra negative aud
Agreed

Kertson Manswell- who?
Undefeated guy from Trinidad who was in the running to fight Audley after Gammer refused and before Sprott accepted. Has a win over T-Rex Sanders, but I've never watched him so can't judge him.

Matt Skelton- skelton batters him
Surprisingly, I'd go for Audley in this one, even now. He is a league above Skelton technically and showed in Williams 2 that he can be very effective when he has a point to prove. I think he underestimated Sprott, but he would be very focused for Skelton and can see him boxing Shrek's ears off.

Come on mate, if Sprott koed Audely in 2 do you really think Fraudly could beat Skelton???.... maybe if he hit him on the head with his stool perhaps!..... its no good having some technical moves if you havent got a chin or a heart and technically Audely was always overrated as well, poor defence and often just a tap for a jab... Skelton may be raw but he's a real fighter who is underrated technically imo...

1southpaw · Post by **1southpaw** » 30 May 2007, 14:18

harrison has no balls. i remember when he boxed matthew ellis at york hall and mike holden told me that he was sparring with harrison for the fight. and two days before the fight holden got a thum in the eye and had blurred vision from some sparring. that night he was asked if he would turn up at york hall and get ready to fight JUST incase ellis diddn,t turn up holden said no but offered to fight him next but was told the fight couldn,t be made. i also remember the same thing happened on his debut when he fu*k^d up on the contract for mike middleton they had a spare waiting to go in. also i remember garry delaney telling me that he went down to some place in cornwall to spar with audley and they sent him home after 4 days because he was bashing audley up if he diddn.t have all those yes men around him and had somone who dosent worry about being replaced to tell him the truth he might off done some good for brittish boxing it,s just a waste

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 30 May 2007, 15:03

Goz wrote:I'm just as interested to see who gives a toss.

Obviously more people than I thought!

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 30 May 2007, 18:23

Unfortunately with the state of the heavies today, esp Briggs and Maskaev, many heavies at domestic level and above would have a chance.

oliverfennell · Post by **oliverfennell** » 30 May 2007, 18:56

Come on mate, if Sprott koed Audely in 2 do you really think Fraudly could beat Skelton???.... maybe if he hit him on the head with his stool perhaps!..... its no good having some technical moves if you havent got a chin or a heart and technically Audely was always overrated as well, poor defence and often just a tap for a jab... Skelton may be raw but he's a real fighter who is underrated technically imo...

I know the logic is sound when you say Sprott KO'd Audley, so therefore Skelton would bash him. But I think Audley would raise his game significantly for Skelton. I'm SURE he would have beaten Sprott with considerable ease if he'd had the fear factor in him. He WAS beating him with considerable ease until the fateful shot.

I also contend it's harsh to say Audley doesn't have a chin. Criticisms about his heart could be valid (jury's still out - but I say if he had no heart he wouldn't have fought on against Williams 1 after the knockdown and go on to have his best moments of the fight) but the Sprott knockout doesn't point to a bad chin. Audley was at fault for ALLOWING Sprott to land the punch, but it was the kind of punch that would have felled even a weeble.

harrison has no balls. i remember when he boxed matthew ellis at york hall and mike holden told me that he was sparring with harrison for the fight. and two days before the fight holden got a thum in the eye and had blurred vision from some sparring. that night he was asked if he would turn up at york hall and get ready to fight JUST incase ellis diddn,t turn up holden said no but offered to fight him next but was told the fight couldn,t be made. i also remember the same thing happened on his debut when he fu*k^d up on the contract for mike middleton they had a spare waiting to go in. also i remember garry delaney telling me that he went down to some place in cornwall to spar with audley and they sent him home after 4 days because he was bashing audley up if he diddn.t have all those yes men around him and had somone who dosent worry about being replaced to tell him the truth he might off done some good for brittish boxing it,s just a waste

To be fair, tales of "I did this and that to him in the gym" are more often than not nothing more than just talk. And if Audley was scared to fight Holden, why did he therefore offer the York Hall fight to him as a potential substitute. OK, you'll say because it would have been late notice, but Holden was actually scheduled to fight on the same bill and had enough notice for that. His fight only fell through because his own opponent pulled out at late notice. And anyway, if anybody thinks even a prepared Holden could have beaten Audley, I'd suggest they are looking at it with through very thick blinkers.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 31 May 2007, 03:36

That was cold Ollie.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 31 May 2007, 04:47

I totally agree with him, there's a couple of people on here who either can't read or have never seen Audley Harrison fight.

We were talking skill. Just one of the factors needed to be a great boxer. Audley had skill and power (ask Danny Williams) but that was it, he didn't have any of the other tools, plain and simple.

And that's why he is where he is.

I'm not bigging the guy up because - as I mentioned - he didn't ever deserve reach the top. He didn't have the desire.

And if you think you can just stroll to an Olympic gold you want your head testing.

1southpaw · Post by **1southpaw** » 31 May 2007, 16:16

boxrec wrote:Audley also wanted to fight Herbie hide. How would he have done against Hide?

hide would have ko,d him

Amsterdam · Post by **Amsterdam** » 01 Jun 2007, 02:54

Seeing as Fraudley can't go 5 with Sprott when fighting aggressively, I'll give this a whirl.

Greg Wedlake - Fraudley KO

Luke Simpkin - Fraudley KO

Tommy Connelly - Fraudley KO

Colin Wilson - Fraudley UD

Orlin Norris - Hmm. Fraudley UD

Steffen Nielsen - Fraudley KO

Terry Smith - Smith KO

Frank Bruno - Fraudley KO, Bruno is done.

Billy Zumbrun - Fraudley KO

Samuel Peter - Peter KO1

Calvin Brock - Brock KO1

Kertson Manswell - Fraudley KO

Matt Skelton - Skelton KO

ebeneezer · Post by **ebeneezer** » 01 Jun 2007, 11:03

Captain Hook wrote: We were talking skill. Just one of the factors needed to be a great boxer. Audley had skill and power (ask Danny Williams) but that was it, he didn't have any of the other tools, plain and simple.

In what fights did he display outstanding skill?

oliverfennell · Post by **oliverfennell** » 01 Jun 2007, 11:25

I know they weren't top opponents, but I say the combinations he finished Hersisia, Diaz and Nix with were outstanding. Particularly Diaz.

funso banjo baby · Post by **funso banjo baby** » 02 Jun 2007, 06:53

Amsterdam wrote:Seeing as Fraudley can't go 5 with Sprott when fighting aggressively, I'll give this a whirl.

Greg Wedlake - Fraudley KO

Luke Simpkin - Fraudley KO

Tommy Connelly - Fraudley KO

Colin Wilson - Fraudley UD

Orlin Norris - Hmm. Fraudley UD

Steffen Nielsen - Fraudley KO

Terry Smith - Smith KO

Frank Bruno - Fraudley KO, Bruno is done.

Billy Zumbrun - Fraudley KO

Samuel Peter - Peter KO1

Calvin Brock - Brock KO1

Kertson Manswell - Fraudley KO

Matt Skelton - Skelton KO

hang on

uv picked the 2 slowest hw's to KO Auds in 1

Peter will be 'held' to a dull points win or loss

Terry smith will move like hes wading thru glu to a points loss

ditto calvin brock

have u seem smith fight ? he makes Kevin mcbride look like tinkerbell