Audleys gonna get ya, Audleys gonna get ya

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 08 Jan 2004, 06:45

Wednesday 7th January 2004. NOW I CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD – AND WIN!

Audley Harrison jetted back to these shores convinced he can finally stem the tidal wave of criticism which once threatened to sink his career without trace.

British boxing’s brightest, most talked about and most savaged heavyweight hope has spent the last seven months in America.

In that time he’s extended his unbeaten pro record by stopping three hard-nut opponents. He’s also learned a great deal about the fight game – and himself.

Now he’s back for a flying visit and when I caught up with him on Christmas Eve he looked refreshed and brimming with confidence.

Some of his rivals may still go out of their way to have a dig but Harrison insists that most of them are beginning to have serious second thoughts.

He wrapped up his Stateside stint with a highly impressive third round demolition of Brian Nix in Las Vegas, which took his pro record to 14 straight wins – ten inside the distance.

And looking back on 2003, the 32 year old said: "It's been a great year but 2004 will be even better. Of course I’ve got my critics but I’ve got defenders as well – and the defenders are starting to overtake.

"At the beginning it was, "Can’t punch, can’t fight, got no stamina, got no chin, blah, blah, blah. You’d get six mates in a pub and a few would say 'Oh Audley’s crap, he ain’t going to do anything'.

"Now you’re getting a debate with some of them actually saying, 'I don't agree with you'. And that’s come about from what I’ve been doing in the ring.

"People said I ran away to America but it was always my intention to go there after turning pro. It was important for me to get a profile there and it’s been so successful."

Ambitious Audley reckons 2003 has been a turning point. "I've achieved my plan of creating the brand," he said.

Six victories, top quality sparring with fighters like two-time world title challenger, Vaughan Bean, no injuries and excellent uninterrupted training camps means his plan has worked to perfection.

Earlier in his career he was also slammed for his lifestyle. But he isn’t apologising and never will.

"People were getting the wrong idea about me going to film premieres and parties,” he said. “Sure I was out partying and socialising and people were dogging me out. There was a lot of hatred and jealousy. But I deserved to celebrate after sacrificing ten years of my life for winning Olympic gold".

With rival promoter allegedly creating a domestic heavyweight elimination series featuring the English and British titles, Harrison knows he could miss out here, but isn’t too bothered.

He and his A-Force promotional team were sure he would meet big domestic rival Danny Williams – the British and Commonwealth heavyweight holder – in a grudge summer showdown screened by the BBC.

But Williams has returned to Warren’s fold, whose fights are screened by Sky, so there’s little or no chance of meeting unless the dealmakers can come to a compromise.

Harrison said, "My aims involve going through Danny Williams or Herbie Hide, and then I’m moving on. But, if a British, Commonwealth or European title doesn’t happen, then I’ll take another route to the top.

"The jigsaw’s in place and by the end of 2004 I should be making a nice move into worldwide contender status.

"I'm getting better and stronger with each fight, I'm knocking people out and I’ve got a great tight-knit team around me. Since I’ve been away my self-belief is stronger than ever.

"It's easy for people to criticise me, call me a fraud. But I haven’t got any grey hairs, I ain't stressed and it doesn't cause me sleepless nights.

"I'm in control, on the same train I was on two years ago and still right on track. And in May 2005 I'll be challenging for a genuine version of the world title."

Whatever his decision, the Londoner is proud of his roots. "I'm a Brit," he says. "And when I fight for the world title I'd love it to be at a rebuilt Wembley Stadium".

Interview by Frank Wiechula for The People 28th December 2003.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 08 Jan 2004, 07:11

Thread titles like this always make me initially quiver. I'm left wondering if Harrison has selected me to be his next opponent.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 08 Jan 2004, 07:15

Audley is heading back to the UK? Hasn't anyone told him that Frankie baby has just signed up King Kong?

shakermaker · Post by **shakermaker** » 08 Jan 2004, 07:19

c'mon Audley!!!

I wanna see you in some big fights this year............otherwise I'm not sticking up for you anymore!

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 08 Jan 2004, 07:22

lightsoot wrote:Thread titles like this always make me initially quiver. I'm left wondering if Harrison has selected me to be his next opponent.

Don't be like that Mr. Lightsoot

Do you think it is an accurate assessment of the situation?

Are you dissappointed that Williams, Sprott and Long have gone to SN? (like mice from the farmers wife) which looks like robbing us of some great matchups (especially as Danny has been criticising/calling out Audley for so long)

What is up with Eastside?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 08 Jan 2004, 07:40

I won't be surprised if Audley signs with Warren, he is a promotional free agent now isn't he?

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 08 Jan 2004, 07:42

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I won't be surprised if Audley signs with Warren, he is a promotional free agent now isn't he?

Audley has got his own promoters license

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 08 Jan 2004, 07:43

Chambers wrote:
lightsoot wrote:Thread titles like this always make me initially quiver. I'm left wondering if Harrison has selected me to be his next opponent.
Don't be like that Mr. Lightsoot

Do you think it is an accurate assessment of the situation?

Are you dissappointed that Williams, Sprott and Long have gone to SN? (like mice from the farmers wife) which looks like robbing us of some great matchups (especially as Danny has been criticising/calling out Audley for so long)

What is up with Eastside?

Hi Chambers

If I'm honest I get a bit tired of Audley's rambles but, like you, I think he is capable of beating all our leading domestic heavyweights (based on Harrison improving and gut feeling right now).

I think Sprott and certainly Danny Williams got tired of waiting for Harrison. Audley was the one who elected to piss off to the States when the fight was well and truly there to be made. I don't think Williams has got scared, I think he questions Harrison's word.

People like Michael Brodie (waiting for Naz) and Junior Witter (waiting for Hatton) can waste time waiting for a defining fight that never materialises. I hope Audley steps it up this year because I'm undecided about him still.

I've given up hope of him fighting anyone in Britain. He doesn't have to beat any of them to advance his career and with them moving to Sports Network it's increasingly unlikely. Another frustrating example of when fights are there to be made they should be thrashed out while the iron is hot.

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 08 Jan 2004, 07:54

lightsoot wrote:
Chambers wrote:
lightsoot wrote:Thread titles like this always make me initially quiver. I'm left wondering if Harrison has selected me to be his next opponent.
Don't be like that Mr. Lightsoot

Do you think it is an accurate assessment of the situation?

Are you dissappointed that Williams, Sprott and Long have gone to SN? (like mice from the farmers wife) which looks like robbing us of some great matchups (especially as Danny has been criticising/calling out Audley for so long)

What is up with Eastside?
Hi Chambers

If I'm honest I get a bit tired of Audley's rambles but, like you, I think he is capable of beating all our leading domestic heavyweights (based on Harrison improving and gut feeling right now).

I think Sprott and certainly Danny Williams got tired of waiting for Harrison. Audley was the one who elected to piss off to the States when the fight was well and truly there to be made. I don't think Williams has got scared, I think he questions Harrison's word.

People like Michael Brodie (waiting for Naz) and Junior Witter (waiting for Hatton) can waste time waiting for a defining fight that never materialises. I hope Audley steps it up this year because I'm undecided about him still.

I've given up hope of him fighting anyone in Britain. He doesn't have to beat any of them to advance his career and with them moving to Sports Network it's increasingly unlikely. Another frustrating example of when fights are there to be made they should be thrashed out while the iron is hot.

I agree with most of what you said, but it was unfair to ask Audley to fight the likes of Danny and Sprott when thay had alot more experience than him as a pro, IMO they wouldn't have been fighting on an even keel if Audley had taken the fight before he went to America. Now that they are on an evenish playing surface and Audley has stated he would have been fighting them by this summer, they are doing there scarlet pimpernel impression. I still live in the hope that maybe the 2 teams can thrash something out, but I find it extremely unlikely as I don't think Danny wants the fight anymore, but I would say that wouldn't I

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 08 Jan 2004, 08:02

To be fair to Audley, he would have been mad to have faced Willliams
last year, no way did he have the kind of experience which is desirable
to take on someone as seasoned as Danny.

Despite Danny's flaws, he's a big-boned, hard-hitting mofo, and knows a few tricks, as we saw against Sprott, he's been around the block, and whilst he will probably never get near the top 10 rankings again, he's not to be sneezed at when you're an 11 fight newcomer.

Audley has more talent than Danny in my opinion, he's more athletic, better balance and rhythm, better timing, good handspeed, and he's pretty nible for a guy of his size. Whether he has enough time left in his career to put it all together is debatable, but I think you have to credit Audley for doing it his own way. He's a very smart cookie is our Audley, he's made a shitload of money for what amounts to old rope, and I for one admire that in some respects.

This year is critical for Audley to define his profile as either a pretender or a contender, if he continues knocking over tomato cans, even the people who stick up for him are going to lose patience.

chief · Post by **chief** » 08 Jan 2004, 08:10

Good luck to Audley this year.. I've been on the bandwagon for a while now and hope he continues to step up his progress..

I lost a lot of respect for Danny Williams calling out a green AH.. Not very classy and Williams should've spent more time focussing on his Euro title shot.. Same with Hide and it's interesting to see how Hide now appears to be running from a domestic showdown with Danny..

I doubt we'll see Audley in against any of the H/W's in the SN stable though.. I reckon any agreement reached would involve Audley selling his soul to the devil and he doesn't seem at all keen on doing that..

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 08 Jan 2004, 08:27

jamesmcdonnell wrote:This year is critical for Audley to define his profile as either a pretender or a contender, if he continues knocking over tomato cans, even the people who stick up for him are going to lose patience.

Agreed, but he has been saying from the start of his career that he has a five year plan and nothing has changed. His standard of opponents while a noviec has been no worse than any other HW

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » 09 Jan 2004, 06:49

Audley now would knock Danny and Sprotty out but before he left for the states he wouldn't have done. People slate him for going stateside but look at what it has done for him.

beduff · Post by **beduff** » 09 Jan 2004, 09:11

audley is nothing more than a british title contender,look at the guys he has fought there in a word shit,hope he proves me wrong but i know he wont.audley stop talking bollocks and fight someone other than a handpicked opponent,nothing against audley just being honest,he keeps saying how he is gonna be a world champion,well audley u must have a hidden talent other than boxing becuase unless u improve dramatically u aint gonna win it boxing.maybe he is good at conkers or something??

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 09 Jan 2004, 09:21

beduff wrote:audley is nothing more than a british title contender,look at the guys he has fought there in a word shit,hope he proves me wrong but i know he wont.audley stop talking bollocks and fight someone other than a handpicked opponent,nothing against audley just being honest,he keeps saying how he is gonna be a world champion,well audley u must have a hidden talent other than boxing becuase unless u improve dramatically u aint gonna win it boxing.maybe he is good at conkers or something??

Name me another Heavyweight prospect who at this stage in their career haven't fought shite handpicked opponents.

And don't say Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis...

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 09 Jan 2004, 09:22

beduff wrote:audley is nothing more than a british title contender,look at the guys he has fought there in a word shit,hope he proves me wrong but i know he wont.audley stop talking bollocks and fight someone other than a handpicked opponent,nothing against audley just being honest,he keeps saying how he is gonna be a world champion,well audley u must have a hidden talent other than boxing becuase unless u improve dramatically u aint gonna win it boxing.maybe he is good at conkers or something??

Beduff you say he is fighting poor opponents, but he is learning the game the same way every other prospect has, the fact is ALL prospects start off fighting opponents lower down the rankings (shit is a bit harsh) and hand-picked opponents to gain experience, he is not doing anything different to any other boxer. As he has stated he will stepping up his standard of opposition this year, it is all part of his 5 year plan which he announce dwhen he won the Olympic Gold medal. I think you have been reading too many allegedly articles or something. Can you explain any major flaws in his boxing skills that are going to definately stop him being a world champion, have you seen his last 4 or 5 performances?

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » 09 Jan 2004, 09:26

By the end of this year he will be up there. Whether he fights Williams, Skelton, Sprott etc or not. Stateside there are plenty of boxers who will improve him. Against Nix he displayed outstandong footwork and handspeed for such a big guy. No wonder Herbie is running scared. I think he will step right up in class in his next two fights if he stays stateside,Lawrence Clay-Bey, Ray Austin, Monte Barret etc are the calibre of opponent he will be at by then. By the end of the year if he comes back to fight in Britain(and gets all the fights he wants) he can be English, British, Commonwealth and possibly even European champ. If he stays stateside he will be a big contender by the end of the year, by contender I mean top 15.

beduff · Post by **beduff** » 09 Jan 2004, 09:30

nothing to do with fw,my own opions,would like to see him step up know as he aint no spring chicken,from what i have seen of him he has not been impressive enough against roadswippers,if you tell everyone you are gonna be world champ you are always gonna get critism.come on he said he is gonna contend for the southern area title,not the route of someone who said he would be world champ in 3 years.all talk and no action.

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » 09 Jan 2004, 10:11

True he did say he was gonna contest for the Southern area but you obviously don't listen to everything else he says. He said after his first fight he has a 5year plan. He is 2.5 years into that now and 2004 will be used to clean up the domestic scene if possible and maybe even Europe. If he can't (due to politics) fight Williams and Sprott then he may go straight to Europe and end up as a top 15 fighter by the end of the year. He may be older than most when he started his career but that doesn't mean he has to fight for World honours within 2years. I hope that he does fight for the Southern Area title early this year as then the BBBC may force the British title holder to fight him once he has it. Whoever the champ may be at that time they will get knocked spark out that I have no doubts about.

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 09 Jan 2004, 10:26

beduff wrote:nothing to do with fw,my own opions,would like to see him step up know as he aint no spring chicken,from what i have seen of him he has not been impressive enough against roadswippers,if you tell everyone you are gonna be world champ you are always gonna get critism.come on he said he is gonna contend for the southern area title,not the route of someone who said he would be world champ in 3 years.all talk and no action.

I thought he has looked impressive of late, but I suppose it is amtter of opinion. He would have been challenging for the southern area and Britsih titles early this year if Danny and Sprott hadn't signed for allegedly, which has made the fights very difficult to make, why isn't that a route to being a world champ?
He has never said he was going to be champ in 3 years, he has said 5 years leaving him until 2005. He isn't no spring chicken, but virtually all the top 50 Heavyweights are over 30, and theres a few years left in the old dog yet.

beduff · Post by **beduff** » 09 Jan 2004, 11:24

talk is cheap actions speak louder than words,and yes he did say 3 years,when he won the olympic gold medal,his words not mine.i dont doubt he can win th british title,but world champion?your having a laugh.

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 09 Jan 2004, 11:27

beduff wrote:talk is cheap actions speak louder than words,and yes he did say 3 years.

Your words not his

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » 09 Jan 2004, 12:52

I'v watched the Middleton fight and he definately says 5years after that fight. I dunno about what he said after the Olympics but I'm sure he was fired up and just said 3years off the heat of the moment. I believe he is on course, I also believe he could KO Joe Mesi.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 09 Jan 2004, 12:57

jameswilson wrote:I'v watched the Middleton fight and he definately says 5years after that fight. I dunno about what he said after the Olympics but I'm sure he was fired up and just said 3years off the heat of the moment. I believe he is on course, I also believe he could KO Joe Mesi.

Possible. But I also beleive that Mesi could KO him. Its a dangerous fight, Mesi can bang.

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » 09 Jan 2004, 13:03

Yeah good point but Monte Barret looked like he nearly had him at one point. I think against Nix (ok no where near Mesi) Harrison displayed the kind of footwork and handspeed that most boxers over 6'4" dream about. I think if Harrison had been in the position Barret was Audley would have knocked him spark out. I also feel Rahman is on a bit of a slope at the moment and think Mesi could beat him as well as Harrison.