BoxRec

ILikeBeer wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 04:33

Glass Joe wrote: ↑11 Jun 2022, 08:52 Price was hot property after that fight. Loads saying next world champion.

That was the one I got wrong personally.

Price's power at domestic level, his big knockouts. I thought he'd do well.

I couldn't believe it when he was knocked out against Thompson.

MattCoke wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 04:44

ILikeBeer wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 04:33

Glass Joe wrote: ↑11 Jun 2022, 08:52 Price was hot property after that fight. Loads saying next world champion.

That was the one I got wrong personally.

Price's power at domestic level, his big knockouts. I thought he'd do well.

I couldn't believe it when he was knocked out against Thompson.

Don’t forget that Thompson went on to fail a drugs test.

Kit wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 04:54 Audley peaked at the Sydney Olymlpics, a great achievement that very few can ever accomplish ,but I can’t think of too many other games where he would have taken gold, right place right time.
I just feel in the pros, beyond the bluster he just didn’t fancy it n his heart of hearts, but seemed to enjoy being a celebrity and his own sound bites. Personally hand picking his own weak opponents proved he was totally risk adverse, just like his fighting style.
I heard from a coach, one of many who he auditioned to train after the olympics and it was clear Audley was only willing to hear what he wanted to hear.

Kit wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 05:32 True to some degree, but to go from fighting the worlds best amateurs to the worst pro’s in your early 30’s isn’t learning the game.
For me it was the cautious manner in which he disposed of them, there is defensive movement and then there is wide eyed fear, even against guys like Derek Mcafferty his body language gave the impression when it came down to it, he didn’t really want to be there.
Danny Williams 2 and the Dutch Sonny Liston fights were his best two performances and where he showed with the right mindset and lesser caution he could of achieved something more.

funso banjo baby wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 06:12 This is the problem, his first 10 fights as a novice were live headliners broadcast via the BBC.

He went for top superstar billing from day one, and the performances against clearly limited opps just weren't good enough.

The selection of opponents was too careful and way too many were bore fests in the Bugner mold

The most live opp he faced in that early run was Mark Krence but even that fight was ruined by Audley's reluctance to engage coupled with the the 6 round limit (again a very poor decision for live BBC main events)

Definitely the destruction of Danny Williams was a highlight, he followed this up by flooring Michael sprott early and seemed to be on a roll ....but then got caught.

His performance against the other mood fighter Dominic Guinn was as disappointing as Bugner v Marvis Frazier.

ILikeBeer wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 04:32

Dioufy wrote: ↑11 Jun 2022, 10:16 Will never forgive Audley convincing me he had a small chance vs Haye.

Destiny innit.

How the hell did he do that?

Not having a go. But I remember even at the time, I was amazed that anybody thought Audley had a chance. Even the casuals had been ripping the piss out of Audley for a decade before that. Suddenly because it was pay-per-view, everybody went; "Oh, actually. Maybe he will win."

Always slightly baffled me that one.

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:06 If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condensing towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

WestEndRiot wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:33

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:06 If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condensing towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

Your Dave Allen Vs Audrey comparison has parallels with Frazer Clarke Vs Fabio Wardley.

Highly decorated amateur and olympic medalist Vs a white collar guy. It shouldn't even be a contest. But this is why we love heavyweight boxing

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:39

WestEndRiot wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:33
Your Dave Allen Vs Audrey comparison has parallels with Frazer Clarke Vs Fabio Wardley.

Highly decorated amateur and olympic medalist Vs a white collar guy. It shouldn't even be a contest. But this is why we love heavyweight boxing

Is that you Adam Smith?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:45

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:39

WestEndRiot wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:33
Your Dave Allen Vs Audrey comparison has parallels with Frazer Clarke Vs Fabio Wardley.

Highly decorated amateur and olympic medalist Vs a white collar guy. It shouldn't even be a contest. But this is why we love heavyweight boxing

Is that you Adam Smith?

Haha!

You can even read that in his voice.

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:06 If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condescending towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

dookus wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 18:42 Harrison had plenty going for him, but ultimately he didn't have a pro heavyweight's chin or stamina and he clearly found that hard to overcome

ILikeBeer wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 05:09

Kit wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 04:54 Audley peaked at the Sydney Olymlpics, a great achievement that very few can ever accomplish ,but I can’t think of too many other games where he would have taken gold, right place right time.
I just feel in the pros, beyond the bluster he just didn’t fancy it n his heart of hearts, but seemed to enjoy being a celebrity and his own sound bites. Personally hand picking his own weak opponents proved he was totally risk adverse, just like his fighting style.
I heard from a coach, one of many who he auditioned to train after the olympics and it was clear Audley was only willing to hear what he wanted to hear.

I do think, in his defence, some of the criticisms of his opponents were harsh.

I mean, people were saying that about him from his debut. Nobody is fighting world class fighters in their first 10 fights or so. Of course he took journeymen on to learn the game. It was unrealistic to expect anything else.

Granted, it didn't help that all his six-round, learning curve fights were main events and were on the BBC. Drawing attention to himself in that way maybe gave people watching some unrealistic hopes of what level people were expecting for him to be at. And you could also argue that sometimes fighting people like Mark Krence, who was a decent fighter, but essentially a Cruiserweight, didn't help when you're the size Audley is.

But he did end up fighting some domestic level fighters, like Williams twice, Sprott, David Price (when he was considered a decent British prospect), and also fought Haye as World Champion and Wilder when he was on the way up. Yes, he wasn't usually very convincing against those opponents, except for maybe the second fight against an under prepared Williams.

Audley did deserve criticism for several things. But when it comes to that, it just seemed like people were criticising his fight selections based on his early fights. Which is when all fighters face journeymen, if we're honest.

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 11:06 If Moses Itauma does not go on to become a World Champion 'then as it stands right now? Audley Harrison has had a better career'.

Moses Itauma has won nothing as an Amateur fighter at elite level 'and he has won zero titles as a professional fighter. Harrison had to beat the reigning European Champion in Michael Sprott to earn his world title fight'.

Note: Audley Harrison won his Olympic Gold Medal more decisively than Anthony Joshua 'so this notion that he was somehow fortunate to become the Olympic Champion is complete nonsense. Harrison was also the 1998 Commonwealth Champion, and he achieved this at a time when boxing was receiving no national funding'.

And I know? British boxing fans like guys like Dave Allen 'but it is like the stand up performance from Eddie Murphy Raw: 1987. In part of his performance, Murphy is talking about how when Italian American's watch the movie Rocky? They believe it is real'.

People who most likely booze every week 'eat junk food 24/7, you believe it. You think a guy like Dave Allen can beat an Olympic Champion. Which is nonsense. There is no way he beats Audley Harrison at his peak'.

Anybody who believes that Dave Allen can beat Audley Harrison 'has a complete and utterly distorted perception of the physics of life'.

There was no denying Audley Harrison's technical skill 'he was not a rudimentary fighter, and he did have big power. If Harrison was confident then he had the beating of most domestic level fighters. Which he proved during his career'.

Dave Allen is not a skilful 'and he is not a great domestic level fighter. Stylistically it is a brilliant fight for Audley Harrison'.

I was made up when David Price 'smashed Dave Allen, he was above himself throughout the entire build up and quite condescending towards Price'.

So overall can people mock Audley Harrison? 'If you are a low level weasel, yes. But the single greatest individual feat, an athlete can achieve is to win an Olympic title. And Audley Harrison was our first boxing Olympic Champion for 32 years, and the first ever Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion' etc.

JC wrote: ↑17 Oct 2026, 03:43

dookus wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 18:42 Harrison had plenty going for him, but ultimately he didn't have a pro heavyweight's chin or stamina and he clearly found that hard to overcome

I think there was probably a major mental element to it as well. Apparently he often looked amazing in camp but couldn’t translate it to the big occasion. He sometimes looked a bit rabbit in the headlights.