BoxRec

jameswilson wrote:

BubiScholz wrote:Harrison is the biggest Farce actually at Heavy and has raped the words "talent" and "prospect" it is the first time in my life that i heard of a 30 year old talent or prospect. and he was the most overhyped boxer on this forum, definetely.

First time you have heard of a 30 year old prospect and yet you will probably bum Valuev into death row.

Valuev is the most overhyped on these boards. Seriously can you read Bub, look at this thread Im the only fan of Audley right now so how is he being hyped at all. Valuev on the other hand is loved by the East Europeans, Germans and the Americans who are looking for a great white hope (whihc is a lot unfortunately.) And for Valuevs next fight he is fighting a guy who is ranked (I think) about 2 places above Bonin in the EBU raings, a guy who basically said he was retiring after being stopped by Jeremy Williams, and people pat him on the back so hard for this that he now has a hunchback.

James, maybe now you and J are the only fans here on boxrec. But I can remember some threads where a lot of you brit guys hyped him to hell about half a year ago and everybody fucked me when I was saying that Sam, Krasniqi and Valuev will di a better job. and they did. watch the fornicating rankings. where is Harison and where are these 3 guys. i just wanted some realism nothing more. i wouldn´t say that Valuev is hyped on boxrec, maybe in some russian mass media. in germany are e.g. Krasniqi or Sam more popular. and on boxrec? everybody wanted to kill me when i just named Krasniqi or Sam. But i was right and you and almost all british dudes here are wrong. they laughed about them guys. but, again, watch the rankings!!!!!!!

I couldn't have anticipated that....

1 All of his domestic opponents would be signed up by sports network, and that Audley would be unable to get the terms he wanted to fight them.

2 Audley would get injured again after wasting most of the year wrangling in negotiations.

I based my assessment on his level of talent, nobody said I was a fornicating mind reader.

I’ve been giving Audley a break for 4 years. Why last year some of my fellow posters even took the rinse out of me in the pub (Kilburn…) for my unflenching support of ‘Our Audleys’ quest. However now he really is going down the pan and fast.

Of course it’s still not too late for Harrison to generate some interest in a shot at the likes of Klitschko. Here’s my 5 fight plan for 2005 to earn Harrison a shot at Vitali in early 2006. Forget beating up Dutch bouncers for bogus ‘world’ titles, genuine Heavyweight prospects usually go down one route, America.

Fight 1 – Ross Purrity
Fight 2 - Ray Austin
Fight 3 – Michael Grant
Fight 4 – Attila Levin
Fight 5 – The safest top 20(ish) Heavy you can find, maybe even Holyfield. If not Donald/Jeremy Williams/Maskaev/Barrett.

If he gets through that little fairly no risk lot, he fights Klitschko in 2006. All names but all well beatable. He probably wouldn’t even have to take on fights of that danger level to get a shot such is the paucity of exciting challengers.

PS – Very funny Bubi calling Audley ‘over-hyped’ on this forum, I’d say he gets stick from 8/10 posters. Also very funny Bubi accusing anyone else of over-hyping someone!

Age isn’t a problem, its just the fact the guy is an Uncle Tom

Where the fornicate did that come from? What's your problem mate.

Loftgroov wrote:Age isn’t a problem, its just the fact the guy is an Uncle Tom

Who.. Joe Frazier??

I'm not trying to patronize anyone, but I just feel that because Audley won that gold medal in Sydney there was the feeling right from the start among many that he just had to be a success as a pro no matter how shit he looked. I mean the bloke had winner written all over him what with all the hype.

But it's painlfully obvious to me now that he'll never have the engine or punching power to compete with the proven 12-round fighters out there. It's just not going to happen. Beating Skelton would be a huge (and probably career best) achievement in my eyes.

The way I see it Audleys main problem was that the BBC gave him a £1million pay check BEFORE even getting into the ring as a pro!! Any hunger or desire to apply himself to the rigours of the pro game disappeared as soon as that cheque hit his bank account and he started enjoying the “celebrity” circuit of FHM parties etc..

I really want/wanted Audley to succeed but am struggling now to convince myself that he will make any significant impact on the pro stage… Shame really because skill wise he brings a lot more to the table than any of our other current heavyweights, but then he wouldn’t be the first Olympic gold medal winning boxer who was unable to cut a significant figure in the pro game.

I think the fact that Harrison decided to go his own way and not bow down to Warren (who despite his constant, childish criticism would have loved to have signed Audley after Sydney) pretty much negates anybody accusing him of being an "Uncle Tom". Especially when you consider that taking his own route has turned out to be to his detriment, yet he has still refused to entertain the prospect of admitting defeat and turning to Warren with his tail between his legs.

Foolish for believing that he could be a success on his own, almost certainly. An "Uncle Tom", no.

As for the man’s career, I agree with Goz for the most part. A title shot isn't totally out of the question yet, but he needs a massive year in order to give him any chance at all. I wouldn't necessarily choose those names for him, but I'd definitely choose people along those lines. At the very least, a sequence of fights such as the ones mentioned would be enough to place him within touching distance of the top ten. It would also go a little way to dispelling the prevailing theory amongst the public that the guy is all hype. Whatever happens, he needs to be as active as possible, fighting at least every two months, and even trying to squeeze some extra fights in should some of his wins turn out to be very comfortable.

steve689 wrote:Well i think it turned out that all the hype was just that, he talked himself up so much and offered absolutely nothing in terms of action to back up it up. He has damaged the sport irreparably in the way he took the BBC for a ride, now they are obviously dubious of the sport after he burned there fingers and is one of the major reasons behind them pulling away from Boxing. He will NEVER make anything of himself in America, they care about him about as much as we do over here! Another self delusion.

Steve, for a supposedly balanced poster and moderator this is the BIGGEST load of one-sided clap trap I have ever had the displeasure to read.

This is why Wolves fans are known as Dingles.

Everybody is speaking as though Audleys career is already over, yet he is 18-0 and the business end of his career hasn't even started. Anyway I'll leave you to your witch-hunt

007 wrote:He's still recovering from injury isnt he? He was last I heard about a month ago. Give the guy a break.

And it was the BBC's own fault, they paid the million and allowed him to top the bills. He had an initial 10 fight deal with the BBC - you cant expect people to be fighting for a world title in 10 fights.

I'm sorry, but this is total hogwash. Hmm, give the millionaire whose pitiful performances encouraged the BBC to jettison boxing a break?

Yes, it was the BBC's own fault. For believing the shite Harrison was coming out with. No one expected him to be fighting for a world title in 10 fights. What they did expect was for him to back up some of the hype he'd given. Some entertainment would have been nice.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is talented, has a lot of potential, and with the big division in a parlous state, he could actually be a force.

But my opinion is, he ripped the TV licence payers off and has damaged the sport as a result.

Another take on the BBC's contract with Harrison is that for years thousands of Boxers have been exploited by 'the system'. This time the Boxer 'Harrison' has managed to expliot 'the system'. If this was all there was to it then good luck to the guy. However it does seem to have resulted in the BBC dropping Pro Boxing which is bad for the sport in general.

I also worry about Harrisons 'physical toughness' in the sense that he had constant injuries whilst fighting as an amateur, this has continued into his Pro career as well.

The BBC should have know what to expect when it comes to heavyweights. They broadcast Bruno's first 20 or so fights, virtualy all of them mismatches.
I guess difference was they didn't pay so much, and the general public loved the way Frank flattened all those stumblebums ( apart from a few blatant clangers ) and at least they ended up with a real live title fight at the end of it all.

MightyWarrior wrote:The BBC should have know what to expect when it comes to heavyweights. They broadcast Bruno's first 20 or so fights, virtualy all of them mismatches.
I guess difference was they didn't pay so much, and the general public loved the way Frank flattened all those stumblebums ( apart from a few blatant clangers ) and at least they ended up with a real live title fights at the end of it all.

I don't know for sure but I assume up untill about Bruno's Euro shot, his fights were not top of the bill, like Harrisons where.

A subtle but important differance in my opinion.

KOJOE90 wrote: I don't know for sure but I assume up untill about Bruno's Euro shot, his fights were not top of the bill, like Harrisons where.

A subtle but important differance in my opinion.

You might be right, I can't remember for sure. Fighters like Kaylor, Honeyghan and Magri may have topped the bill, but it wasn't long before Frank was the main event - I remember The Sun was hyping him even before he turned pro.

I don't think the hype helped, also the fact that he was on live national television and main eventing IN HIS FIRST FIGHT!!!!!!!

However, his first ten fights were better then a lot of other peoples first fights. However, most other peoples fights hadn't been as drawn out. However, I remained a fan hoping he'd do something with it. He showed some improvement. I hoped he'd turn it up a notch when tested.

Then he looked amazing against Richel Hersisa, and I thought "Thats more like it, go one Audley son." The WBF title meant nothing, but at least he admitted it. But his next two fights were slow, plodding and boring. He looked crap against Julius Francis. Admittedly nobody knocks out Francis, and he had him on the canvas, but I still think he should've done better.

Now he has injured, and lost his BBC deal he needs to stay hungry. I personally think he has lost any motivation, and am beginning to become a doubter. I would love to see him step up in class, and prove my ever more niggling doubts wrong. Lets hope he does it, even if we don't think he will/can.

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:

007 wrote:He's still recovering from injury isnt he? He was last I heard about a month ago. Give the guy a break.

And it was the BBC's own fault, they paid the million and allowed him to top the bills. He had an initial 10 fight deal with the BBC - you cant expect people to be fighting for a world title in 10 fights.

I'm sorry, but this is total hogwash. Hmm, give the millionaire whose pitiful performances encouraged the BBC to jettison boxing a break?

Yes, it was the BBC's own fault. For believing the shite Harrison was coming out with. No one expected him to be fighting for a world title in 10 fights. What they did expect was for him to back up some of the hype he'd given. Some entertainment would have been nice.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is talented, has a lot of potential, and with the big division in a parlous state, he could actually be a force.

But my opinion is, he ripped the TV licence payers off and has damaged the sport as a result.

To suggest Harrison has damaged the sport is hogwash if you ask me.

People are blaming Harrison for boxing being pulled from BBC that is bollox. Who's to say they wouldnt have pulled the plug anyway? And was there any boxing on the beeb before the BBC signed Harrison? I'm pretty sure there wasn't. So even if he had something to do with it being pulled at least he got us some terrestrial coverage before they pulled the plug.

I do think the BBC getting Match of the Day back has something to do with the BBC not showing as much boxing.

Also remember Harrison was pulling millions of viewers to BBC 2 at like 11 o clock. Some of these times were on Friday or Saturday nights. When several youngers may well have been out and not watching. I see no reason why they couldn't have kept him on. If people are watching, thats what they want. They could've had him on Saturday night on BBC 2 against the football, or asked him to fight Fridays. (They had him fight midweek before so why not.)

If u ask me the BBC asked for viewers not for quality fights. So them trimming boxing coverage back makes no sense for me if they are still getting the same viewers as before.

Whats all this Uncle Tom stuff about?....... do you even know what an Uncle Tom is Loftgroove?....

From the horses mouth:

http://www.audleyharrison.com/audleys-c ... ?id=73&p=1

Doesn't sound like there is much happening in the immediate future.

007 wrote:

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:

007 wrote:He's still recovering from injury isnt he? He was last I heard about a month ago. Give the guy a break.

And it was the BBC's own fault, they paid the million and allowed him to top the bills. He had an initial 10 fight deal with the BBC - you cant expect people to be fighting for a world title in 10 fights.

I'm sorry, but this is total hogwash. Hmm, give the millionaire whose pitiful performances encouraged the BBC to jettison boxing a break?

Yes, it was the BBC's own fault. For believing the shite Harrison was coming out with. No one expected him to be fighting for a world title in 10 fights. What they did expect was for him to back up some of the hype he'd given. Some entertainment would have been nice.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is talented, has a lot of potential, and with the big division in a parlous state, he could actually be a force.

But my opinion is, he ripped the TV licence payers off and has damaged the sport as a result.

To suggest Harrison has damaged the sport is hogwash if you ask me.

People are blaming Harrison for boxing being pulled from BBC that is bollox. Who's to say they wouldnt have pulled the plug anyway? And was there any boxing on the beeb before the BBC signed Harrison? I'm pretty sure there wasn't. So even if he had something to do with it being pulled at least he got us some terrestrial coverage before they pulled the plug.

They may have pulled the plug anyway, true. Bit strange to throw a fornicating million quid at it before doing it though. "Yeah, I think I'm going to scrap my car...wait, let me just put a new transmission in first."

I'm not sure what the boxing coverage was like before Audley got his wedge.

At least he got us some terrestrial coverage before they pulled the plug? Cheers, Audley, you are a diamond! Boxing does not want the kind of coverage he gave the general public (the Hersisia fight excepted and maybe Negus...because of Negus, not Audley) because it made our sport look totally fornicating boring.

I'm not usually this truculent but if you can't see the basic link between paying Harrison a fortune and getting shite in return, you must be in denial.

The main reasons Audley was dropped from the BBC were
1) They had got MOTD back for Saturday evening viewing
2) The BBC boxing dept. could not afford the next fights that Audley wanted

I don't why everybody has got it in their head that Boxing was dropped from the BBC because of Audley , does anybody have any evidence to back this ridiculous claim?

At least he got us some terrestrial coverage before they pulled the plug? Cheers, Audley, you are a diamond! Boxing does not want the kind of coverage he gave the general public (the Hersisia fight excepted and maybe Negus...because of Negus, not Audley) because it made our sport look totally fornicating boring.

What I was saying is the BBC showed delayed coverage of some excellent matches, and some live fights - and they got back into pro boxing because of Harrison. Not saying thank him at all but everyone is lambasting him for runing the sport yet there was fornicate all boxing on BBC before he was signed and then we got some reasonable coverage. Now the BBC have pulled the plug (mainly due to Match of the Day) everyone is blaming him. Without Harrison fighting on BBC we probably wouldnt have had any coverage at all so whats everyones gripe?

Ian
With regards to your last post, the £1m that Audley received from the BBC was for his first 10 fights, so it wasn't a case of putting a new transmission in a car you are about to scrap. The BBC also bought his next 7 fights. Is it Audleys fault or the BBC's fault that Audley was overpaid for his first 10 fights?

Audley's first fights got very good viewing figures, but after that they declined as the standard of opposition failed to excite.

The BBC made a mistake in allowing him to pick and choose his opposition regardless and pay him whatever contest he was involved in.

They took a scattergun approach and didn't really plan a strategy. As a consequence they saw their investment fail to produce the dividends they wanted and pulled out.

To be honest I think their strategy was very ill conceived and there was a lack of understanding of which fights to show.

Blaming Audley for the BBC's strategy is a bit like blaming Hitler's Grandfather for the second world war, because he wouldn't let Adolf join the art academy.

Someone at the BBC should have said, Ok, ten fight deal, but we have to OK your opponents for each fight.

I think that the BBC may yet make another foray, it all depends on Khan. When he turns professional we'll see, however, I doubt that the BBC can afford to commit the money to boxing that Sky do, they don't have a PPV channel or even advertising revenue to extract money from individual shows, so it's hard for them to get value from it even if viewing figures are high.