BoxRec

This is actually for me a very difficult question.

Audley doesn't have a lot of experience, but is going to be too good for the sub top 30 fighters as he showed last night, matching him right is difficult, because his talent level well outstrips his experience.

Here's my suggestions

Monte Barrett (not too much more experienced. has skills, and showed he could come back against Mesi, should provide a test.)

Jirov (may seem an odd matchup, but although Audley well outmatches him physically, would give him some rounds I think, if he doesn't then we know Audley's power is for real)

Joe Mesi (A bit of a bull by the horns move, a risk, but one which could really pay off and catapult Audley right to the top, possibly not one for right now, but in 8 months or so)

Duncan Dokiwari (Showed he could take a shot against Guinn, relatively limited, but aggressive, strong, good chin, throws a lot of shots, definetly a danger man)

Sinan Sanil Sam (has experience at European level, will bolster audley's European ranking more, and seems to carry a shot well, relatively low risk fight in my book)

Mitchael Grant (damaged goods, but a physical match for Audley, and then some. Perhaps not a lot to gain from beating grant until he repairs his reputation with some decent wins, but he does have some name value.

Lance Whittaker (got a name, size, and power, and big fight experience, good fight for Audley I think, if he wants a real test that is)

Attila Levin (would be an excellent scalp, the guy is hungry and highly touted)

Jeremy Williams (Chinny, but sure can punch, still only 31 amazingly, considering how long he's been around, depends how he does against Levin)

Andrew Golota (presuming he doesn't disgrace himself against Byrd, and loses, would this be a good step in promoting his rep further?)

Henry Akinwande (Old and inactive, but still an excellent boxer, could be too much of a big test at this stage, and a faded name)

Well those are mine, fill in the poll, see what happens....

Audley Harrison will make the first defence of his WBF heavyweight crown at the Whitchurch Sports Centre in Bristol on Saturday May 8.
No opponent announced.
Bristol is the home city of former pro Chris Sanigar, who is heavily-involved in guiding Audley.

I said Lance Whitaker before and that's who I think it should be. If Audley is going anywhere AT ALL he has to be beating a guy like this right now.

Whitaker is big, can go 12 rounds, has experience but is not that dangerous at world level. Perfect.

Samil Sam for me, good solid dependable fighter who will give Harrison some rounds and will has a decent dig and a good boxing brain.

Of course beat Aud in the Amateurs and beat Williams in the pro's so it is a natural.

Sorry James but Samil Sam a low risk fight for Audley? That means Harrison would have to comfortably handle 12 rounds of come forward pressure...

Based on what I've seen so far Sam would be very much a big risk.

Sam for me. A good test, but one that I think Audley would come through on pts or late stoppage.

I disagree, I think Sanil Sam is very limited, leaden footed, overweight, and his punchpower is nothing special. I think Audley is more than capable of doing what Gomez did, and hits a hell of a lot harder than JC.

bennie wrote:Audley Harrison will make the first defence of his WBF heavyweight crown at the Whitchurch Sports Centre in Bristol on Saturday May 8.
No opponent announced.
Bristol is the home city of former pro Chris Sanigar, who is heavily-involved in guiding Audley.

Where did u hear this bennie. Samil Samm aint low risk and would certainly take Audley some rounds. Thats why I think he would be a good fight.

jameswilson wrote:

bennie wrote:Audley Harrison will make the first defence of his WBF heavyweight crown at the Whitchurch Sports Centre in Bristol on Saturday May 8.
No opponent announced.
Bristol is the home city of former pro Chris Sanigar, who is heavily-involved in guiding Audley.

Where did u hear this bennie. Samil Samm aint low risk and would certainly take Audley some rounds. Thats why I think he would be a good fight.

You know not to ask a man to reveal his source, James.
Sam licked Audley in the 1999 world amateur championships at Houston. If Audley fought him in a first WBF defence I would be astonished.

Whatever guys, let's see what level Audleys next opponent is at. Let's see the opponent Audley chooses. I confidently predict it won't be a fighter anything like as dangerous as Sam, or Whitaker for that matter.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I disagree, I think Sanil Sam is very limited, leaden footed, overweight, and his punchpower is nothing special. I think Audley is more than capable of doing what Gomez did, and hits a hell of a lot harder than JC.

Well on world terms I think your correct, but Harrison is not on world terms yet - far from it. Remember Francis is a good bench mark to see how far fighters will go. Sam did a much better job with him than Skelton.

Lets not forget Jaun Carlos Gomez was not only a cruiserweight champion, but he was one of the better ones in recent memory. Every time Sam caught him, Gomez didn't like it .

Add to the fact that a victory over Sam would leave him beyond doubt the number 1 heavyweight in this country, I think it's the best match up - possibly a little over ambitious.

The fighter I would like to see Harrison in with next would be Keith Long.

I also think Frans Botha would be a good fight from a marketable point of view (if he is still around). Botha seems to be a punching bag now, but still got a big name and puts in respectable efforts each time.

Kilburn wrote:Whatever guys, let's see what level Audleys next opponent is at. Let's see the opponent Audley chooses. I confidently predict it won't be a fighter anything like as dangerous as Sam, or Whitaker for that matter.

Yes, it'll be a disappointing opponent after the adulation of his performance against Hersisia. This is the WBF we're talking about. I have a sneaky feeling it could be Mendauga Kulikauskas.

bennie wrote:

jameswilson wrote:

bennie wrote:Audley Harrison will make the first defence of his WBF heavyweight crown at the Whitchurch Sports Centre in Bristol on Saturday May 8.
No opponent announced.
Bristol is the home city of former pro Chris Sanigar, who is heavily-involved in guiding Audley.

Where did u hear this bennie. Samil Samm aint low risk and would certainly take Audley some rounds. Thats why I think he would be a good fight.

You know not to ask a man to reveal his source, James.
Sam licked Audley in the 1999 world amateur championships at Houston. If Audley fought him in a first WBF defence I would be astonished.

But are u sure that this is true. I cant see the opponent being too good as this venue aint that big is it. Rob Calloway probably.

jameswilson wrote:

bennie wrote:

jameswilson wrote: Where did u hear this bennie. Samil Samm aint low risk and would certainly take Audley some rounds. Thats why I think he would be a good fight.

You know not to ask a man to reveal his source, James.
Sam licked Audley in the 1999 world amateur championships at Houston. If Audley fought him in a first WBF defence I would be astonished.

But are u sure that this is true. I cant see the opponent being too good as this venue aint that big is it. Rob Calloway probably.

Well, it was big enough for Bruno to fight Marin there.

None of those.

Are we forgetting, that on paper Audley is still a novice pro?

Put him in with Julius Francis, he might give Harrison a hard fight

Harrison is talking about being a top contender by next year....

If he's to do that, he needs to step up the level of competition. Novice pro or not, he's 32 years old, and walked right through Hersisia and there seems nothing to be learnt from fighting against sub top 30 opposition.

Audley is quite obviously leagues apart from most fighters with comparable experience in terms of talent, which is what makes it hard to match him.

I don't neccesarily think he needs to fight anyone special in his next fight, but after a tuneup bout, he should be looking to capitalise and gain more experience.

I'd put him in with Barrett, not a big puncher and liable to set Audley a few problems too.
But there's no way it'll be anyone from that list next up, more likely some bum no-ones heard of with a half decent looking record.

Harrison needs someone who can give him rounds. At this stage though as long as he is fighting regularly (this next date would be 7 weeks away) then he can step up his competition level slowly. 18 months to the top is not unrealistic if he stays busy.

Out that list Sam would be my choice as he has beaten Williams which would be one up for A force should he beat him and also Sam is a very limited fighter.

HH

I think it is a very winnable fight for Audley. Sam is slow, and that plays right into Audley's hands.

I would go so far as to say that Audley would stop him too..

At the end of the day I think the Harrison camp know exactly what they are doing, and despite criticism from all angles are sticking to their long term plan and its working as far as I can see.

Sam, Krasniq, Mesi in that order, he beats all three if he keeps improving.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think it is a very winnable fight for Audley. Sam is slow, and that plays right into Audley's hands.

I would go so far as to say that Audley would stop him too..

James my good man all I can say is I think you are a mile off with Harrison. Sam is much stronger/tougher and would find that chin plenty with the right hand. No way would he be troubled by Audleys punches.

Watch the A-Force the first time he's not controlling the pace against a quality fighter, watch how quickly he tires when he's continually forced to fire back under pressure. How many of those combos do you think he can throw before his lack of stamina catches up with him? If Audleys best punches don't get the guy out of there he's in trouble when he moves up. I guarantee it. And seeing as he is not a world class puncher we are going to see him in trouble.

Kilburn wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think it is a very winnable fight for Audley. Sam is slow, and that plays right into Audley's hands.

I would go so far as to say that Audley would stop him too..

James my good man all I can say is I think you are a mile off with Harrison. Sam is much stronger/tougher and would find that chin plenty with the right hand. No way would he be troubled by Audleys punches.

Watch the A-Force the first time he's not controlling the pace against a quality fighter, watch how quickly he tires when he's continually forced to fire back under pressure. How many of those combos do you think he can throw before his lack of stamina catches up with him? If Audleys best punches don't get the guy out of there he's in trouble when he moves up. I guarantee it. And seeing as he is not a world class puncher we are going to see him in trouble.

Yes. I can't understand this Samil Sam talk. I would bet everything I own Sam is the last man Audley will be defending his WBF belt against in May. The groan of disappointment when the opponent is announced will be palpable. He'll be that bad.