BoxRec

Statement from A Force Promotions)
Following victory over Robert Wiggins on 18th August 2005 in San Jose, CA, unbeaten heavyweight contender Audley Harrison (19-0, 14KOs) has risen to position 14 in the latest WBC world heavyweight rankings. This is the highest position that Harrison has occupied with the WBC and is a clear indication of his progress. Harrison is also the highest ranked British fighter in the WBC rankings.

After his latest victory, Harrison stated that he was desperate to fight any heavyweight contender in his next fight. Today, Harrison has reiterated that desire as well as commenting on the current heavyweight scene. Harrison had the following to say:

"Following my victory over Robert Wiggins in August, I stated that I wanted to fight a named opponent in my next fight. I am now ranked in position 14 by the WBC and I am willing to fight anyone ranked above me. I am a heavyweight prospect who is willing to fight any of the leading contenders. I am frustrated at the misconception that I am not willing to step up."

"First thing's first. Look at the state of the heavyweight division and tell me that my style will not overcome ALL challengers. And that includes one in particular-Samuel Peter, who is getting all the props for somehow being legitimate. After beating a washed up fighter like Jeremy Williams, a no-hoper like Yanqui Diaz and Taurus Sykes-who talked a good fight but boxed like a pussycat-he is ranked in the top 10 and talked about like he is the future of the division. This shows how dire the heavyweight situation is right now."

"My amateur victory over Samuel was an easy points victory. He TRIED to pressure me until he ate my left cross in the second round and just held his position for the remaining time (And no Ivalo, you were not there and I guess Samuel probably left that bit out when he told you the story.) I boxed smart (which you are allowed to do in boxing) and my style made Samuel look like the novice he was. To be truthful, I don't see any change from his style back then so I can't see the result changing. Hopefully, Wladimir doesn't expose his many weaknesses because I want to be the one to do that."

"Now back to business. My last fight should have been against Calvin Brock or Shannon Briggs but both turned the fight down. I know Brock has moved into contender class with his win over McCline. But holding his position, not fighting another decent fight and just waiting for Vitali Klitschko to "maybe" give him a voluntary defence is fool hardy. Already he has boxed for $25,000 in a non-televised clash against Kenny Craven and now I hear he is boxing off TV once more in his home town against another no name opponent for chicken feed. Come on Brock, accept the challenge! He keeps saying he is the real future of the division, so he should accept the challenge and have no problem taking care of me."

"And Shannon Briggs. He should just be happy I am even mentioning his name. After beating up old man Mercer, I hear he's trying to get it on with Vinny Madalone. WHAT A JOKE?! No broadcaster should accept this fight as how many more warm-up fights does Shannon need before he wants to fights a real fight? My representatives are still looking to make this match if he wants a real pay day and good exposure on US television. There is no reason not to take a fight with me unless they think I'm going to beat him down - which I will surely do."

"We have also reached out to Jameel McCline and Monte Barrett. As of today, they have both not accepted the offer. I must be such a threat if all of these so-called contenders obviously don't want to share a ring with me. Recently, Jameel McCline turned down $200,000 to be my next opponent. Jameel is a fighter who thinks if he waits on the sidelines and beats the Steve Pannells of this world, that he will get another title shot. Silly man! He should take this fight and challenge himself. It gives him an opportunity to rectify his dismal performance against Calvin Brock. I am relishing the challenge of fighting a big heavyweight with a small heart - I will never forget his "bright" eyes against Wladimir Klitschko and I intend to be his worst nightmare if he accepts my challenge."

"Monte Barrett is the only one with a legitimate reason for not accepting the challenge. Obviously his cut from his last fight makes him unavailable. But once he heals, I would expect him to say YES. I know he is a warrior but he needs to step up after his abysmal performance against The Rock. Let's put our skills and our hearts on the line and make a fight that I know will be full of heated exchanges."

"There's more too. Malik Scott, Kirk Johnson-nothing but jokers! Johnson should accept the challenge, as after his performances against Ruiz and Klitschko he must be itching to prove he's no yellow belly fraud. Get a decent pay day to take a beating from the future Heavyweight Champion of the World."

"The world of boxing needs to know that I am ready and willing to step into contender status and fight one of the above named guys in my next fight. An Olympic gold medal is a precursor to greatness and I WILL follow in the footsteps of Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Lewis. But imagine what it will do to the reputation of someone who stops that from happening! However, that person has to get in the ring with me first. I want to prove that I'm the future of the heavyweight division."

Taken from Secondsout.com, sounds like Audley has issued a challenge to every man and his dog. He is bad mouthing most of the names out there on the second tier before the title holders. He makes it sound like most are ducking him but i doubt any of the challenges he issued are personal ones, more likely he is wondering why know one has responded to him when he went out looking for opponents.

Well he's hardly set the world on fire recently has he. He has one fight against a mediocre opponent and expects the world to fall at his feet.
Harrison needs to stay busy against the best opposition he can get and if he does this then eventually he will get a shot.

He' just making noise hoping someone takes the bait, what else can he do?

Jameel McCline would be a bloody hard fight, might get himself KTFO..

One thing I never understand - why is he only looking to box guys above him?

Firstly, everyone knows that rankings are rubbish. Secondly, if people were only prepared to box those ranked higher than they were, we'd be in a pretty pickle...

Audley wants there to be absolutely minimal chance of any slip ups on his way to world domination.

I tell you he's got a screw loose if he thinks he can be world heavyweight champion with such a low workrate. He probably thinks he can carry on where Lennox Lewis left off, but he just doesn't have the physical strength. Imagine him trying to keep Vitali Klitscko off him, he'd get murdered.

That's a good point. Lewis and Audley are about the same size and of similar build, but in terms of power and physical strength Lewis was a totally different order of power. Lewis was so much more elastic and flexible in his punching.

I think Mcline while lazy has got a powerful punch could really test Audley.
I saw his last fight against Pannell he was breathing hard by the end of the first.
Audley could do him on points!

If Audley actually throws more than 6 shots a round, how long before he will be breathing hard?

They could be both puffing really bad by the 6th round.

At least hes calling out all comers. Sounds promising, obviously he wants to move up the rankings and get a title shot. He'll need to improve his workrate but hes right, the division is poor, he did beter Sam Peter in the AMs. I think Vitali would eat him for breakfats but Ruiz and Byrd are different stories.

If he can move up from #20-odd to #14 off the back of wins against Davis and Wiggins, I think Audley should just keep his head down, have his two fights against guys like Norris, Nobles etc before xmas. Then come 2006, he'll be in a decent position to start shoutimg guys out.

In all honesty, I prefer seeing that statement than not though

It looks as though the rest of the HW division has been watching Audleys latest performances and they are SHITTING themsleves at the prospect of facing the Great man!! These 2-bit tosspots should be queueing up to try their look against the Olympic Champion, but it looks as though they've all resigned themselves to the fact that they'd get Knocked The fornicate Out

Calvin Brock seems content to sit around fornicating about fighting people 5 levels below him, whilst waiting for a title shot that for some reason he thinks he deserves off the back of a win over Jameel McCline, what a tosspot!! He needs to do more to truly deserve his shot IMO, who else has he fought????

Has anybody seen the record of Shannon Briggs's next opponent (http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=015816), what a joke, hes moving backwards, he's got absolutley no excuse not to fight Audley after this farcical bout, he needs the fight as much as Audley does, if he holds any tite aspirations, the same goes for Kirk Johnson.

Jameel McCline has turned down $200,000 to fight Audley, that says it all, hes got the perfect opportunity to propel himself back up the rankings after his recent poor performance against Brock and its a nice little earner and he still won't fight him.

I hope Peter manages to catch Wlad with one, because I want Audley to be the one to expose Peter, if the fighthappens the result is a foregone conclusion


Come on Heavies grow some balls and step up to the plate

Audley is going to rule the HW division

Kilburn wrote:Audley wants there to be absolutely minimal chance of any slip ups on his way to world domination.

I tell you he's got a screw loose if he thinks he can be world heavyweight champion with such a low workrate. He probably thinks he can carry on where Lennox Lewis left off, but he just doesn't have the physical strength. Imagine him trying to keep Vitali Klitscko off him, he'd get murdered.

Audleys predominantly a counter-puncher , so when his opponent throws more Audley will throw more hes a thinking mans boxer who punishes his opponents mistakes.

Why do you say Audley hasn't got the physical strength to keep people off him?
Hes 6'5" and 18 stone of solid muscle with a very good dig on him

I've said previously that Audleys biggest problem is going to be getting opponents to fight him, becasue the HW division knows how good is he IMO

Chesney_Chambers wrote:It looks as though the rest of the HW division has been watching Audleys latest performances and they are SHITTING themsleves at the prospect of facing the Great man!! These 2-bit tosspots should be queueing up to try their look against the Olympic Champion, but it looks as though they've all resigned themselves to the fact that they'd get Knocked The fornicate Out

Calvin Brock seems content to sit around fornicating about fighting people 5 levels below him, whilst waiting for a title shot that for some reason he thinks he deserves off the back of a win over Jameel McCline, what a tosspot!! He needs to do more to truly deserve his shot IMO, who else has he fought????

Has anybody seen the record of Shannon Briggs's next opponent (http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=015816), what a joke, hes moving backwards, he's got absolutley no excuse not to fight Audley after this farcical bout, he needs the fight as much as Audley does, if he holds any tite aspirations, the same goes for Kirk Johnson.

Jameel McCline has turned down $200,000 to fight Audley, that says it all, hes got the perfect opportunity to propel himself back up the rankings after his recent poor performance against Brock and its a nice little earner and he still won't fight him.

I hope Peter manages to catch Wlad with one, because I want Audley to be the one to expose Peter, if the fighthappens the result is a foregone conclusion


Come on Heavies grow some balls and step up to the plate

Audley is going to rule the HW division

I know your a huge Harrison fan, but surely I sense a little tongue in cheek with the post.

Especially the "Come on Heavies, grow some balls and step up to the plate".

Ummmm its not the amateurs now, they are the champions/main contendors. Isn't it Audley who must step up to the plate, and not just with his mouth.

Audley wants to take the back route, he wants to win a world title by taking the least most taxing route to the top with the minimum of effort required. Picking off deceptively highly ranked contenders to jump to the top.

Lets be fair, comparisons with Lewis are not going to look good for 99% of heavyweights. Lewis was an alltime great, Harrison at the moment is a never was. I keep thinking perhaps he could have a decent workrate if forced, but then on second thoughts perhaps he is like Eastman and has only one gear - super slow.

harrison took ages to convince me of anything, but finally i've come to the conclusion that he just isn't capable of what he thinks.

I know Audley wants to break in America but what better way is there than calling out Skelton and becoming the British champion. Skelton would break Audleys heart which is why he's scratching around in the USA.

stepper wrote:I know Audley wants to break in America but what better way is there than calling out Skelton and becoming the British champion. Skelton would break Audleys heart which is why he's scratching around in the USA.

Audley would box Skelton ears off, but the fight is never going to get made because allegedly is involved and there is no way he is going to let his prize HW in with Audley. He's been down this route before.

Audleys goal is to win a world title thats why hes based himself in the US where all the top contenders and champions are.

Audleys trying to make fights with the likes of Brock, McCline, Briggs, Johnson, Peter, Scott , but they keep turning him down that is the point of this latest release.

Surely one of these opponents will step up to the plate now after this mocking from Audley

Chambers2 wrote:Skelton, Brock, McCline, Briggs, Johnson, Peter, Scott

With the exception of maybe Scott I don't believe any of those guys wouldn't expect to beat Audley conclusively.

If Harrison were able to stand the heat (meaning physical pressure) he'd have been in the fire to a certain degree by now. As it is he hasn't even dipped his toes in and we're fast approaching 2006.

stujones wrote:

Chesney_Chambers wrote:It looks as though the rest of the HW division has been watching Audleys latest performances and they are SHITTING themsleves at the prospect of facing the Great man!! These 2-bit tosspots should be queueing up to try their look against the Olympic Champion, but it looks as though they've all resigned themselves to the fact that they'd get Knocked The fornicate Out

Calvin Brock seems content to sit around fornicating about fighting people 5 levels below him, whilst waiting for a title shot that for some reason he thinks he deserves off the back of a win over Jameel McCline, what a tosspot!! He needs to do more to truly deserve his shot IMO, who else has he fought????

Has anybody seen the record of Shannon Briggs's next opponent (http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=015816), what a joke, hes moving backwards, he's got absolutley no excuse not to fight Audley after this farcical bout, he needs the fight as much as Audley does, if he holds any tite aspirations, the same goes for Kirk Johnson.

Jameel McCline has turned down $200,000 to fight Audley, that says it all, hes got the perfect opportunity to propel himself back up the rankings after his recent poor performance against Brock and its a nice little earner and he still won't fight him.

I hope Peter manages to catch Wlad with one, because I want Audley to be the one to expose Peter, if the fighthappens the result is a foregone conclusion


Come on Heavies grow some balls and step up to the plate

Audley is going to rule the HW division

I know your a huge Harrison fan, but surely I sense a little tongue in cheek with the post.

Especially the "Come on Heavies, grow some balls and step up to the plate".

Ummmm its not the amateurs now, they are the champions/main contendors. Isn't it Audley who must step up to the plate, and not just with his mouth.

I know I go over the top with some of my pro-Audley comments, some is to try and provoke a reaction and spark a debate though You're right alot of it is tongue in cheek, but there is an underlying message that Audley is trying to fight decent opponents and step it up, but they are having none of it.

Audley has stepped upto the plate look at the amount of heavies that he has called out in this press release, it is these opponents who need to step up and take him on, look at Briggs and Brocks next opponents and why is Jameel McCline turning down $200,000 to fight him.

In his previous fight he tried to line up a number of opponents that were a level above Wiggins, but he consistently got turned down.
I've put my original post on all the yank forums as well, because I want it to be common knowledge that Audley is being avoided, which he is (there is no tongue in cheekness in that comment).

Kilburn wrote:

Chambers2 wrote:Skelton, Brock, McCline, Briggs, Johnson, Peter, Scott

With the exception of maybe Scott I don't believe any of those guys wouldn't expect to beat Audley conclusively.

If Harrison were able to stand the heat (meaning physical pressure) he'd have been in the fire to a certain degree by now. As it is he hasn't even dipped his toes in and we're fast approaching 2006.

Why don't they take the opportunity to beat the undefeated Olympic Champion then, it would enhance all of their standings in the HW rankings.
Audleys only had 19 fights and has lost 2 of his 5 years as a pro to injury and as you can read in his release he is willing to do more than just dip his toes in the water, if someone would take up his challenge

I think Audley will have a make or break year in 2006. Hopefully he will make it.He just need to throw more punches when his in the ring.
I think if he signed with Warren he probably been WBU champion on the verge of a bigger fight.Hopefully sky will show his next fight.

Make or break Year.

Yes but will it be a finger or hand he manages to break! To put him out for another 12 months!

ABA Boxing wrote:Make or break Year.

Yes but will it be a finger or hand he manages to break! To put him out for another 12 months!

Injuries are all part and parcel of boxing and hes been unlucky with them so far on his career, but even Mystic Meg can't predict future injuries. Hopefully these problems are now behind him