Aud responds to Warren.
Posted: 20 May 2004, 11:25
London, ENGLAND (May 20th, 2004) – Olympic heavyweight gold medallist Audley Harrison (16-0, 11KOs) denies all statements made this week by British promoter allegedly blaming him for blocking a potential fight with current British heavyweight champion Matt Skelton. “All of these accusations are rubbish and Frank knows it,” said Harrison. “He has wasted my time with insincere discussions and non-existent opportunities as it’s now obvious they were never serious about fighting me on June 19th and it has nothing to do with negotiations or money”
Instead, Harrison will continue his career against an opponent to be named next week. The fight will be held at the Alexandra Palace in North London and shown on the BBC. “I am not going to put my career on hold for anyone including Matt Skelton or allegedly when its clear they need me more than I need them,” said Harrison. “Although it would have been nice to fight for the British title, I have no intention of letting someone else’s timetable dictate my plans and future success.”
Harrison continued. “From the beginning of our discussions, I made it crystal clear to Frank that if we could not agree on the June 19th fight, I would be moving on and not waiting for a proposed October date. It’s unrealistic and totally unacceptable for them to think that I would wait five more months when the fight is right for me now. By autumn, I intend to be making a much more significant step in my career than a Skelton fight.”
Harrison and Warren’s relationship was turning amicable after years of verbal jabs and sparring between the two camps. A visit by Harrison to Warren’s box at an Arsenal game led to an invitation by Warren to Harrison to meet and discuss fighting Skelton. Harrison met Warren prior to his May 8th fight in Bristol—where he won a unanimous decision over Julius Francis—and the duo agreed to meet immediately after Harrison’s fight to have more in-depth discussions about using Harrison’s June 19th BBC date to make an immediate bout with Skelton happen.
“Negotiations have to start somewhere and we, A-Force Promotions made the first offer to show we were serious about the fight,” said Harrison. “However instead of coming back to us with a counter offer, Warren then scheduled a fight for Skelton, rumoured to be against Keith Long, yet another of Warren’s ‘merry men’ for June 5th.”
He continued. “I was waiting for him to come back to me and the next thing I know they had announced the June 5th fight so who really wants to fight who here,” said Harrison. “As is the process with all negotiations, Frank has denied me the opportunity to improve my offer which was far greater than the £75,000 which has been reported in the press. Surely the opportunity to defeat the Olympic Champion in a prime time slot on BBC television was good value and far more beneficial to Matt Skelton’s career.”
As far as the reported £400,000 that Harrison apparently sought for a pay-per-view fight with Skelton, Harrison claims it was Warren who brought up the money first. “It’s just another excuse by Warren to justify the June 5th “tune-up” fight for Skelton,” said Harrison. “In fact, it was Frank who was telling me that I could potentially get £400,000 out of £1,000,000 for a pay-per-view fight based on the fact that I added more value to the show than his own fighter. The next thing I know he announces a June date for Skelton, prior to our meeting. It’s all garbage and a big smoke screen by Warren.”
Harrison continued. “The fact is, he already has a pay-per-view event planned for October and he needs me to help make it happen. The fact that Skelton versus Long is at York Hall and a non pay-per-view event supports my argument. So GET REAL AND wake up Frank! You and your boy Skelton need me to make this event happen and I am not interested in giving Skelton a pension payout.”
As for Skelton, Harrison sees no need in responding to the former K1 fighter. “Once again another British fighter is using my name to capitalise on his career. He’s going through his 15 minutes of fame at the moment and fair play to him. However, I can guarantee this to the British public—Matt Skelton will not become a legitimate heavyweight champion of the world and by next year Frank will have to find another pretender to call me out.”
from audleyharrison.com
Instead, Harrison will continue his career against an opponent to be named next week. The fight will be held at the Alexandra Palace in North London and shown on the BBC. “I am not going to put my career on hold for anyone including Matt Skelton or allegedly when its clear they need me more than I need them,” said Harrison. “Although it would have been nice to fight for the British title, I have no intention of letting someone else’s timetable dictate my plans and future success.”
Harrison continued. “From the beginning of our discussions, I made it crystal clear to Frank that if we could not agree on the June 19th fight, I would be moving on and not waiting for a proposed October date. It’s unrealistic and totally unacceptable for them to think that I would wait five more months when the fight is right for me now. By autumn, I intend to be making a much more significant step in my career than a Skelton fight.”
Harrison and Warren’s relationship was turning amicable after years of verbal jabs and sparring between the two camps. A visit by Harrison to Warren’s box at an Arsenal game led to an invitation by Warren to Harrison to meet and discuss fighting Skelton. Harrison met Warren prior to his May 8th fight in Bristol—where he won a unanimous decision over Julius Francis—and the duo agreed to meet immediately after Harrison’s fight to have more in-depth discussions about using Harrison’s June 19th BBC date to make an immediate bout with Skelton happen.
“Negotiations have to start somewhere and we, A-Force Promotions made the first offer to show we were serious about the fight,” said Harrison. “However instead of coming back to us with a counter offer, Warren then scheduled a fight for Skelton, rumoured to be against Keith Long, yet another of Warren’s ‘merry men’ for June 5th.”
He continued. “I was waiting for him to come back to me and the next thing I know they had announced the June 5th fight so who really wants to fight who here,” said Harrison. “As is the process with all negotiations, Frank has denied me the opportunity to improve my offer which was far greater than the £75,000 which has been reported in the press. Surely the opportunity to defeat the Olympic Champion in a prime time slot on BBC television was good value and far more beneficial to Matt Skelton’s career.”
As far as the reported £400,000 that Harrison apparently sought for a pay-per-view fight with Skelton, Harrison claims it was Warren who brought up the money first. “It’s just another excuse by Warren to justify the June 5th “tune-up” fight for Skelton,” said Harrison. “In fact, it was Frank who was telling me that I could potentially get £400,000 out of £1,000,000 for a pay-per-view fight based on the fact that I added more value to the show than his own fighter. The next thing I know he announces a June date for Skelton, prior to our meeting. It’s all garbage and a big smoke screen by Warren.”
Harrison continued. “The fact is, he already has a pay-per-view event planned for October and he needs me to help make it happen. The fact that Skelton versus Long is at York Hall and a non pay-per-view event supports my argument. So GET REAL AND wake up Frank! You and your boy Skelton need me to make this event happen and I am not interested in giving Skelton a pension payout.”
As for Skelton, Harrison sees no need in responding to the former K1 fighter. “Once again another British fighter is using my name to capitalise on his career. He’s going through his 15 minutes of fame at the moment and fair play to him. However, I can guarantee this to the British public—Matt Skelton will not become a legitimate heavyweight champion of the world and by next year Frank will have to find another pretender to call me out.”
from audleyharrison.com
