Ahead of Saturday’s WBF heavyweight title defence against Poland’s Tomasz Bonin, Sydney Olympian Audley ‘A-Force’ Harrison today held an explosive mid afternoon press conference in Soho, London.
The 32 year old explained his reasons for parting company with the BBC, and also candidly discussed the vindictive ‘games’ that ‘Sports Network’ supremo allegedly has been engaging in of late.
Perhaps most tellingly, was Harrison’s admittance to the national press that he has issued a final proposal to Vic Wakeling of ‘Sky Sports’ television in an attempt to strike a deal with regards to his long awaited British title challenge to champion Matt Skelton.
The reigning WBF champion outlined the three proposals that he hopes will ensure the much anticipated fight takes place within the September/October period of this year.
His proposal read as follows:
1. We negotiate a buy out of our promotional rights, with Matt Skelton’s promoter allegedly, with an agreed fee proposed by Sky Sports.
2. We would be prepared to jointly promote the contest (which must be the main event) with Sports Network, on equal terms. All income and expenses would need to be agreed beforehand by Sports Network and us. Furthermore, Sky Sports must pay us directly one half of the license fee payable by Sky Sports for the UK broadcast rights to the contest.
3. Sports Network would not have any rights over future contests involving Audley Harrison.
If Sports Network are committed to making this fight happen, then we firmly believe the above proposals are workable for all parties concerned.
End of proposal -
Our Audleys proposal to SN
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jamesmcdonnell
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 45229
- Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 06:11
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steve richards
- Heavyweight
Harrison is really clutching at straws, I bet warren will let him rott in the wilderness, Harrison has to much of an attitude to be messing with the big boys, I think he is going to struggle to get a decent deal with anyone now, and no one will give him a deal without options, who does he think he is fuckin ALI, the guy could be good but sometimes you have to roll with it to get the decent fights, and why does he need the WBF title its worse than the WBU 
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jamesmcdonnell
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 45229
- Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 06:11
It has to be said that Audley may be painting himself into a corner, how is he going to get the matchups he wants without signing with a promoter, christ Lewis couldn't do that when he lost to McCall, he still had to have a man making the fights happen for him, even though he was self managed toward the end.
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The Gaffer
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 72
- Joined: 09 Jun 2004, 05:07
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Eric the Viking
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1354
- Joined: 03 Apr 2003, 21:40
At this point in his career, Harrison shouldn't *need* Warren to help him make a fight - there's any number of other top-50 guys he could be making fights against - after all, he's in charge of his own career.
More bullshit excuses, sounds like.
If he's legitimately being frozen out by the big-name promoters (which may be partly true, but I still say there's plenty of decently-ranked guys who'd be willing to fight him), pick the least evil one and sign with him. How about Dan Goossen, for instance? Come to the states, start training with top sparring partners at Freddie Roach's Wildcard gym, getting that U.S. exposure thanks to Goossen's cozy relationship with Fox Sports, and actually fighting guys who can test you. If you fail, at least you can say you actually tried. But I honestly think Audley is aware of his own limitations as a fighter and instead of working hard to try to improve his game, he's dithering along, farting around with bogus titles and perhaps hoping that the HW division will get even weaker (perhaps a spate of Achilles injuries will fell everyone in the top 20), and he can wind up fighting some blown-up 40 something ex-middleweight (not named James Toney, mind you) for a name belt, i.e. backing into a world title.
More bullshit excuses, sounds like.
If he's legitimately being frozen out by the big-name promoters (which may be partly true, but I still say there's plenty of decently-ranked guys who'd be willing to fight him), pick the least evil one and sign with him. How about Dan Goossen, for instance? Come to the states, start training with top sparring partners at Freddie Roach's Wildcard gym, getting that U.S. exposure thanks to Goossen's cozy relationship with Fox Sports, and actually fighting guys who can test you. If you fail, at least you can say you actually tried. But I honestly think Audley is aware of his own limitations as a fighter and instead of working hard to try to improve his game, he's dithering along, farting around with bogus titles and perhaps hoping that the HW division will get even weaker (perhaps a spate of Achilles injuries will fell everyone in the top 20), and he can wind up fighting some blown-up 40 something ex-middleweight (not named James Toney, mind you) for a name belt, i.e. backing into a world title.
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knockout artist
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1482
- Joined: 03 Sep 2003, 13:18
The Hot spell must have got to Big Audley?
Why is Harrison writing stupid proposals to Warren and Sky? Sky don't promote Boxing, they broadcast it.
Beside's he holds the WBF title so can't fight for the British title anyway. If he really wanted a Skelton fight he could vacate his plastic crown and I am sure the BBBofC would make him a mandatory challenger and then he could go to purse offers and, if he has the financil clout he claims, win them and dictate all the terms to Warren. Opps.... forgot, one sticking point, Warren has TV Audley doesn't ....so it's dirty knees time for Audley!
Beside's he holds the WBF title so can't fight for the British title anyway. If he really wanted a Skelton fight he could vacate his plastic crown and I am sure the BBBofC would make him a mandatory challenger and then he could go to purse offers and, if he has the financil clout he claims, win them and dictate all the terms to Warren. Opps.... forgot, one sticking point, Warren has TV Audley doesn't ....so it's dirty knees time for Audley!