HAVING declared his intention to clean up the British heavyweight scene in 2004, Audley Harrison yesterday found his way blocked to every domestic title available to him. The decision of Danny Williams and Michael Sprott to leave the BBC’s stable of boxers and sign with allegedly, whose shows are broadcast by Sky, leaves Harrison with few options at home.
As well as Williams, the British and Commonwealth champion, and Sprott, the southern area champion, Warren also controls Matt Skelton, the English champion. While Warren issued an open invitation to face any of his boxers, he knows that is unlikely to happen.
“If Audley wants to get involved, all he has to do is pick up the phone,” Warren said. “Audley says politics would stop these matches happening, but he has only one fight left on his deal with the BBC and then he is free to do what he wants.
“I personally would like to see that happen because I would like to see if Audley can really fight. I see a lot of flaws. The BBC must be really disappointed because, after all their investment in the heavyweight division, all they have now is Audley Harrison fighting some stiff in America.”
Harrison, the Olympic super-heavyweight champion, won his fourteenth bout as a professional on Friday, knocking down Brian Nix twice on the way to a third-round stoppage in Laughlin, Nevada. It was his third consecutive bout in the United States after he decided to move his training base to Las Vegas in the wake of the brawl involving Herbie Hide after Harrison’s bout against Mathew Ellis in May.
Williams, who has walked out on his contract with Lion, Lennox Lewis’s promotional company, will defend his titles against Sprott at Wembley Conference Centre on January 24. It will be the third meeting between the pair, a rematch ordered by the British Boxing Board of Control after Sprott was knocked out in September by Williams, who had landed several blatant low blows.
Skelton will meet Julius Francis, the former British and Commonwealth champion, who once faced Mike Tyson, for the English title at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on February 7. Keith Long, another leading London heavyweight, will face Dennis Bakhtov, a big-punching Russian, for the WBC’s international title.
One heavyweight still with the BBC is Hide, the former two-time WBO champion. The ill-feeling between the two that surfaced in the brawl between Hide and Harrison’s security guards at the York Hall would seem to make the contest a natural. However, after Hide asked for and then backed out of a bout with Williams, it is doubtful if the match could be made.
By ex-Boxing News journalist, Ron Lewis
Audley Harrison out on a limb
Well it of a mixed up state of affairs as usual, Williams and Sprott's decisions to jump ship have thrown things up in the air a bit but it is down to Audley to decide his own future i think. If as Warren states he has only one fight left on the BBC then when his contract ends he can sign with someone else who can propel him within the British scene and more importantly get him the rival matchups he claims he desires.
I think Audley will re-sign with the BBC, if he does then it is a clear indication he is not interesting in fighting his rivals. He will probably say he has decided to be loyal and all that, but it will be a clear signal of him using politics to avoid meaningful confrontations. Let's hope he looks for a "SKY friendly" promoter although i am doubtful he will.
I think Audley will re-sign with the BBC, if he does then it is a clear indication he is not interesting in fighting his rivals. He will probably say he has decided to be loyal and all that, but it will be a clear signal of him using politics to avoid meaningful confrontations. Let's hope he looks for a "SKY friendly" promoter although i am doubtful he will.
I think the political manouvering has already been done by FW, and dumping blame on Audley if he re-signs with the beeb would be unfair. Fighting on the BBC has been important for his profile and I would be very surprised if he does sign with a Sky based promoter.steve689 wrote: I think Audley will re-sign with the BBC, if he does then it is a clear indication he is not interesting in fighting his rivals. He will probably say he has decided to be loyal and all that, but it will be a clear signal of him using politics to avoid meaningful confrontations. Let's hope he looks for a "SKY friendly" promoter although i am doubtful he will.
If he does, you can kiss BBC boxing goodbye. Haye and Froch aren't enough to keep the bbc interested, are they?
Hey Steve
Your really starting to piss me off, especially with that last post of yours!
Let me tell you a few things!
Audley stated a few months ago on the BBC that he would fight Danny Williams after the Sprott fight. At this time Williams and Sprott were still on the BBC so it was an easy fight to make.
What the fornicate does Danny than do? He signs for that fool Warren and therefore kills any chance of that fight happening.
Audley has been honourable and the BBC have been good to him.
WHY THE fornicate SHOULD HE LEAVE THE BBC! Unlike that Weazel Williams, Audley understands Loyalty but more than that he understands that at these early stages he needs a High profile and only the BBC can give him that.
The British public may have been slow to get behind Audley but now they are fully behind him and moving to Sky WOULD BE SUICIDE!
WILLIAMS, SKELTON and Sprott are all BUMS! THEY NEED AUDLEY MORE THAN HE NEEDS THEM. This is something that you have never understood!
AUDLEY IS GONNA BE A GREAT BRITISH WORLD CHAMPION and A GREAT ADVERT FOR BOXING!
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The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
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The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
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HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
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Your really starting to piss me off, especially with that last post of yours!
Let me tell you a few things!
Audley stated a few months ago on the BBC that he would fight Danny Williams after the Sprott fight. At this time Williams and Sprott were still on the BBC so it was an easy fight to make.
What the fornicate does Danny than do? He signs for that fool Warren and therefore kills any chance of that fight happening.
Audley has been honourable and the BBC have been good to him.
WHY THE fornicate SHOULD HE LEAVE THE BBC! Unlike that Weazel Williams, Audley understands Loyalty but more than that he understands that at these early stages he needs a High profile and only the BBC can give him that.
The British public may have been slow to get behind Audley but now they are fully behind him and moving to Sky WOULD BE SUICIDE!
WILLIAMS, SKELTON and Sprott are all BUMS! THEY NEED AUDLEY MORE THAN HE NEEDS THEM. This is something that you have never understood!
AUDLEY IS GONNA BE A GREAT BRITISH WORLD CHAMPION and A GREAT ADVERT FOR BOXING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
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Hey Power
I like Steve and agree with alot of what he has to say but why does he have this HATE for such a british hero like Audley?
Look, I used to be a critic of Audley but I'm now fully behind him so why can't you lot stop attacking him as well!
WERE Steve or you the first Brit to win an Olympic Heavyweight GOLD MEDAL?
I'll give Steve respect when he gives my man Audley some respect!
I'LL say more people here agree with the views in my post than the views in his AND YOUR post. ITS THAT SIMPLE!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
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I like Steve and agree with alot of what he has to say but why does he have this HATE for such a british hero like Audley?
Look, I used to be a critic of Audley but I'm now fully behind him so why can't you lot stop attacking him as well!
WERE Steve or you the first Brit to win an Olympic Heavyweight GOLD MEDAL?
I'll give Steve respect when he gives my man Audley some respect!
I'LL say more people here agree with the views in my post than the views in his AND YOUR post. ITS THAT SIMPLE!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
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Last edited by nasty on 17 Dec 2003, 12:59, edited 1 time in total.
Don't listen to Goz
He's a BAD MAN
HE'S A NUTZOID
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He's a BAD MAN
HE'S A NUTZOID
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUTZIOD is an americanism for totally nuts individual!
LOOK
Lets just stick to Audley
AUDLEY should resign for the BBC
I find allegedly a SNAKE for telling Audley to leave them and come to Sky! I mean what an ASSHOLE!
Like I said before, nobody in Britain and especially the world gives a FCUK about Williams, Sprott and Skelton because they are al SECOND -RATE.
AUDLEY IS A OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST and Frank knows that untill he gets Audley, nobody will care about his other Heavyweights!
Remember, Danny Williams is the one doing the running away from Audley, not the other way around.
So I SAY THIS TO allegedly. SHUT UP YOU LITTLE TOAD! STOP INSULTING AUDLEY ALL THE TIME!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOOK
Lets just stick to Audley
AUDLEY should resign for the BBC
I find allegedly a SNAKE for telling Audley to leave them and come to Sky! I mean what an ASSHOLE!
Like I said before, nobody in Britain and especially the world gives a FCUK about Williams, Sprott and Skelton because they are al SECOND -RATE.
AUDLEY IS A OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST and Frank knows that untill he gets Audley, nobody will care about his other Heavyweights!
Remember, Danny Williams is the one doing the running away from Audley, not the other way around.
So I SAY THIS TO allegedly. SHUT UP YOU LITTLE TOAD! STOP INSULTING AUDLEY ALL THE TIME!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol, relax Nasty for an America you certainly take your English fighters seriously! Close observers will know that i was once an Audley admirer, but i felt he went stale and the level of opposition was well...pedestrian at least especially when hw moved to America. He seemed to be going there to avoid any meaningful confrontations, i still believe he is doing that now. As Steve Bunce said on Saturday afternoon, Audley is clever he will sit around and watch all the others fight and then jump in and pick up the pieces.
On the whole i believe Audley will become a World Champion but unlike Bunce claimed i think it will be a minor one, say a WBA, WBU, IBC or so forth. The guy aint stupid. But meanwhile even though i remain sceptical i hope he can achieve great things, after all he is British and his success can only be good for our game.
On the whole i believe Audley will become a World Champion but unlike Bunce claimed i think it will be a minor one, say a WBA, WBU, IBC or so forth. The guy aint stupid. But meanwhile even though i remain sceptical i hope he can achieve great things, after all he is British and his success can only be good for our game.
Well said, Steve, particularly the part about the WBA being a minor title. At one point it was perhaps the premier governing body now with it's heavyweight crown held by Roy Jones Jr. and soon-to-be-once-again champion John Ruiz, the WBA is losing face. The WBO is fast becoming more credible.steve689 wrote: On the whole i believe Audley will become a World Champion but unlike Bunce claimed i think it will be a minor one, say a WBA, WBU, IBC or so forth. The guy aint stupid. But meanwhile even though i remain sceptical i hope he can achieve great things, after all he is British and his success can only be good for our game.
As for Audley, well, I think he should remain with the BBC. For one thing, the public at large know exactly who he is. Whether they like him or loathe him he's well known. Danny Williams, Michael Sprott and Matt Skelton are largely unheard of outside the British boxing fraternity.
I was slightly critical of Audley's pace of progress to begin with but he's stepped that up and I'm now a bit happier with him. He's showing signs of improvement and I'm sure if he has decent punch resistance that he'll do just fine. A fringe title awaits. In fact, he could win the WBA title next year. Or am I being optimistic?
No WBA title next year, I would guess 2005 for a tilt at a 'world' title providing there are no hiccups/defeats/injuries along the way.
Audley will probably be looking at a Plan B for 2004 though with this Williams/Sprott going to Sky malarki. If he prefers to stay as visible as possible on the BBC they are going to need to bring in some decent overseas opposition for him.
Personally from Audley's point of view I say screw Williams and Sprott. Sure it would be great to get the British title but if you don't want to deal with Warren then good for you, much in the same way Lewis established himself but didn't work with King until 1999, I admired him for that.
You're the Olympic Gold Medallist and now have some US TV exposure, going along just fine, let Williams chase a rubber with Julius Francis while you manouvre your way into a top level title contention.
Audley will probably be looking at a Plan B for 2004 though with this Williams/Sprott going to Sky malarki. If he prefers to stay as visible as possible on the BBC they are going to need to bring in some decent overseas opposition for him.
Personally from Audley's point of view I say screw Williams and Sprott. Sure it would be great to get the British title but if you don't want to deal with Warren then good for you, much in the same way Lewis established himself but didn't work with King until 1999, I admired him for that.
You're the Olympic Gold Medallist and now have some US TV exposure, going along just fine, let Williams chase a rubber with Julius Francis while you manouvre your way into a top level title contention.
The British Heavyweight scene is such a farce. Warren states he would be willing to set up the Skelton-Harrison bout and then goes and sets up Skelton with Francis. Once upon a time, Francis could have been seen as a step up but now he is a glorified version of Derek McCafferty. Francis is only in it for the money and hes hardly going to strain himself.
Audley states he wants the Skelton fight before announcing hes coming back to Britain. No one can fault Audley with all these domestic boxers who continually call Harrison out, now being tied up. Anyone who watched the Nix fight must be able to see a great deal of improvement in Audley. Though I still realise there are questions over his chin and stamina but only time will tell.
Audley states he wants the Skelton fight before announcing hes coming back to Britain. No one can fault Audley with all these domestic boxers who continually call Harrison out, now being tied up. Anyone who watched the Nix fight must be able to see a great deal of improvement in Audley. Though I still realise there are questions over his chin and stamina but only time will tell.
Exactly
The reason I like Audley is because the guy is a great personality and projects an intelligent image to the non-boxing world. No offense to williams and sprott but they can hardly string a sentence together and they don't have much of a personality.
The question is HAS AUDLEY IMPROVED SINCE HIS PRO DEBUT and i'd say overwhelmingly YES.
In his last 2 fights, he's starting to show thing that I thought I'd never see and like he said, he was carrying NIX for 2 rounds!
WARREN know's that Audley is the GOLDEN GOOSE. Lets face it, what ever he payed to get Williams and Sprott, he's been OVERCHARGED because both are no more than good Domestic fighters, whenever they tried to move up, they've been exposed as average.
AUDLEY SHOULD STAY WITH THE BBC and keep away from all the BULLSHIT that Warren has been throwing his way, Warren is totally out of order!
For the sake of BRITISH BOXING, AUDLEY must stay on the BBC or they may just stop covering boxing and leave it as a minority sport again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reason I like Audley is because the guy is a great personality and projects an intelligent image to the non-boxing world. No offense to williams and sprott but they can hardly string a sentence together and they don't have much of a personality.
The question is HAS AUDLEY IMPROVED SINCE HIS PRO DEBUT and i'd say overwhelmingly YES.
In his last 2 fights, he's starting to show thing that I thought I'd never see and like he said, he was carrying NIX for 2 rounds!
WARREN know's that Audley is the GOLDEN GOOSE. Lets face it, what ever he payed to get Williams and Sprott, he's been OVERCHARGED because both are no more than good Domestic fighters, whenever they tried to move up, they've been exposed as average.
AUDLEY SHOULD STAY WITH THE BBC and keep away from all the BULLSHIT that Warren has been throwing his way, Warren is totally out of order!
For the sake of BRITISH BOXING, AUDLEY must stay on the BBC or they may just stop covering boxing and leave it as a minority sport again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Britsh World Heavyweight Champion
http://www.audleyharrison.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Next Great Heavyweight Champion of the world
http://www.babyjoemesi.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP SAVE AMERICA FROM G.W.BUSH AND THE ZIONIST'S
VOTE GOV. HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004
http://www.deanforamerica.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------