Audley Harrison next fight in December

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 13 Nov 2003, 12:56

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/3267943.stm

Audley Harrison's next fight will be his first over 10 rounds and will take place in Detroit on 12 December.
An opponent for the Olympic heavyweight champion, who has won five times this year, will be announced shortly.

"I look at this fight as an early Christmas present to myself as it, and the whole year has been great for my career," said Harrison.

"I have stayed healthy and learned more professionally with each of my fights," he added.

Harrison's Detroit appearance will be on the Tokunbo Olajide versus Larry Marks card.

The 32-year-old says he is still on schedule to complete his five year plan of becoming world heavyweight champion.

"I had a great year and I am looking forward to moving on in 2004 with a big fight against British heavyweight champion Danny Williams," he said.

"After taking care of home, there will be no stopping me anywhere I fight as I am determined to become king of the ring."

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 13 Nov 2003, 13:02

"I look at this fight as an early Christmas present to myself..."
That doesn't augur well for his choice of opponent.

The_Power · Post by **The_Power** » 13 Nov 2003, 13:16

Audley needs to stop kidding himself, get his backside in this country and prove that he is the best here before he goes on some far flung fantasy of being a true world champion.

With Hide, williams and now Skelton, there are some good fights for him out there to prove he is the best, IMO he could do a lot worse that Julius Francis as his next fight.

However, for once i agree with allegedly, i dont think he fancies his chanced with this sort of calibre of Opponent.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 13 Nov 2003, 13:17

Careful Bennie - Costa is sure to be lurking around here somewhere. Only positive comments about the future world heavyweight champ please!

nasty · Post by **nasty** » 13 Nov 2003, 13:53

I'd love him to fight ROSS RURITY

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bennie · Post by **bennie** » 13 Nov 2003, 13:56

Kilburn wrote:Careful Bennie - Costa is sure to be lurking around here somewhere. Only positive comments about the future world heavyweight champ please!

Oops! I meant to say, unbeaten Harrow heavyweight (by way of another hick town in the States) Audley Harrison continues his rapid ascent up the heavyweight ranks in December in his first scheduled 10-rounder. He takes on veteran Mike Tyson, who gave Lennox Lewis eight tough rounds a year ago. "This is the one my fans in England have been waiting for," said Audley when the fight was announced tomorrow. "Let them criticise me now!"
Certainly, this is a decent test for 32-year-old Audley, who intends returning to this country in the New Year to challenge Danny Williams for British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. "Danny looked lousy in his last fight with Sprott," continued the ex-Olympic gold medallist.
Audley also dismissed fellow rising domestic hope, Matt Skelton, who stopped the Yugoslav Ratko Drakovic in three rounds recently - a man who had gone the full eight with Harrison earlier this year. "Skelton's a kickboxer!" he insisted. "You can see he doesn't know whether to stand orthodox or southpaw! That's always their biggest fault. I'll tag him square on and the fat lady can sing for him."
But back to Tyson: "Mike Tyson was a legend and I won't be underestimating him at all," he said. "Yes, he's been poor since he bombed out Frank Bruno for the second time in the mid-90's, but I'm not taking anything for granted: he's a rough guy.
"This is a guy who's been good for boxing," he went on. "When he bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear in their rematch he reduced our sport to street violence and became an instant role model to all those middle class family men who attend football matches, abuse the referee, and long to be hard. That can't be bad, can it!
"People say he's out of control, but boxing is controlled so how can he be! It's violence that's uncontrolled. You don't see Mike acting like a violent man, do you now. It wasn't his fault he didn't hear the referee call 'stop boxing!' in his fight with Savarese. Okay, he stepped around the ref and assaulted a dazed and beaten opponent, but he was fired up.
"No, he's in control.
"I want to ask you journalists a few questions for a change. Have there been other 'bad' men in boxing? Of course there have. Sonny Liston and Jack Dempsey didn't bite off ear parts, spit them out, and then have another go! But they were still bad men. Rocky Marciano and Jack Johnson didn't scream like babies when their cutmen were trying to seal a cut! But they were still bad men. Joe Frazier and George Foreman didn't try to break opponents' arms in a clinch! But they were still bad men.
"What I'm trying to say here is this: Tyson's actions have never been that far away from other bad men in boxing."
The two meet in a cage in December.

Michaeljpoole · Post by **Michaeljpoole** » 13 Nov 2003, 14:06

Apparently this fight isnt part of his 3 espn fight deal.

So I can pretty much guarntee Audley wont be in with a live opponent.

How long does this mean Audley is going to stay in the States for, until every British boxer has retired?

Come on Audley surprise us all and lets have a half decent opponent

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 13 Nov 2003, 14:22

Personally, I don't think going to America is a bad move at all

Most British fighters who get bogged down in the domestic scene, never make any waves outside of it. Gary Mason and Danny Williams, neither of them achieved shite, Williams never will now it's too late.

I don't much care whether or not Audley faces Sprott, Skelton or Williams, as long as he is facing decent fighters.

I still think Audley may well surprise people, I was hypercritical of him at first, but I think he has skills, and is learning his trade, now however he needs to start taking a big step up in class.

If he returns in a couple of years to the domestic scene, he could be the finished article by then.

I'd like to see Audley v Danny, I don't rate Danny much any more, but he's got a big punch and is experienced.

Costa · Post by **Costa** » 13 Nov 2003, 15:25

Yeah good one Kilburn. Just cast an eye at Hides, Skeltons and Williams oponents of late they're not exactly world class. Shoot me for supporting a British boxer.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 13 Nov 2003, 19:54

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Personally, I don't think going to America is a bad move at all

Most British fighters who get bogged down in the domestic scene, never make any waves outside of it. Gary Mason and Danny Williams, neither of them achieved shite, Williams never will now it's too late.

I don't much care whether or not Audley faces Sprott, Skelton or Williams, as long as he is facing decent fighters.

I still think Audley may well surprise people, I was hypercritical of him at first, but I think he has skills, and is learning his trade, now however he needs to start taking a big step up in class.

If he returns in a couple of years to the domestic scene, he could be the finished article by then.

I'd like to see Audley v Danny, I don't rate Danny much any more, but he's got a big punch and is experienced.

Good call James, if he was working America properly - at the moment his opponents have been of last standard than Matthew Ellis. Unless he's getting top quality sparring then he's learning FA.

His BBC Phone conversation with Inverdale, Williams etc was interesting. He seemed more interested in gaining appeal ("World wide" appeal as he called it) than learning his trade.

There are plenty of good fighter over there (more than over here) which will be good learning fights. The likes of Ross Purity for example, hell even Louis Monaco and Kevin McBryde would be exceptable. I honestly think at 33 he should be starting to look at the Frans Botha's of this world - Botha is finished and was never any good in the first place, Victory over him and he would leapfrog above Williams and co in most peoples views.

I don't want to make it and Audley bashing post, so I'll give him a bit of credit - 1) He's keeping busy at last, 2) The bums he's fighting aren't on Espn - apart from Navarro. So he's still hiding these poor opponents from the US public. I wander if ESPN will re-sign him though, they won't be as kind as the BBC.

Remember, if he wishes to follow Lewis' career, it should be Samil Sam in the corner in December. I can't see that happening untill at least Dec 2005 at this rate though.