Interesting article on...

Razor · Post by **Razor** » 05 Jan 2006, 10:55

http://www.audleyharrison.com

Then go to Audley Speaks... 3rd of Januray.

Pretty interesting stuff in that bit, lets us in on how down he is and how the loss has affected him ect. Please go have a read. :)

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 05 Jan 2006, 11:40

I hate to kick a man when he is down, but it really is an awful interview, full of self-pity and pseudo-justifications.

He needs to go to a tough gym, put on a pair of 12 oz gloves and spar every hardman who wants to knock out an Olympic Champion. That will tell him whether he has conquered his fear.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 05 Jan 2006, 11:43

Terence wrote:For my sins I still feel he can reach the top and become heavyweight Champion. He was knocked back in the amateurs also, the media reaction has been somewhat over egging the pudding, with the way the UK media treated Lewis for most of his career it makes you suspect that our media have something against natural talent. Audley is gifted and it is a sin to waste that gift so I hope he brushes himself down and comes good, many of the media critics (mainstream press) seem to be sour: "I could have done that." types eager to turn on athletes in order to cover the fact that those who do not do, wirte about others doing. C'mon Audley! I don't need Oliver Holt and people who only attend one show a year that Audley is a bum or coward, if the cannot see the skill then that is probably because they only ever attend Hatton (I am not saying that Hatton does not have skill, he is underrated in this area, just that these sports writers seem to know sweet FA about boxing) fights (and only the Tszyu one at that.)

It's not all about Skill though is it? You need some bollocks and the desire to fight to go with it. If a poorly trained Danny Williams carrying 30 excess pounds with a sprained ankle can make you fight like you're taking on Liston, Foreman and Frazier at the same time, then what hope is there?

I'm not calling him a bum or a coward as he has more balls than me, but he fought frightened and negative the whole bout against a man who is not even top European level.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 05 Jan 2006, 12:09

I still think that Harrison has something to offer, but he has to adress his weaknesses, maybe going to a hard gym will help. I recently watched a program on Larry Holmes , now here is someone that was the sparring partner of not just Ali but Frazier as well.
Holmes said that Frazier used to try and destroy him in sparring , this toughened him up. Also when Holmes was preparing for a fight he used to offer his sparring partners $10,000 to the one that could knock him down. That way he knew that he would get quality and intense competition from his sparring partners.

I'm not saying that Harrsion has to do exactly the same, but he does need to get the right mindset, one that doesn't mind getting in the way of a few hard knocks to get to his goals

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 05 Jan 2006, 21:54

Shouldn't of promoted himself from day one spoling himself and hiring yesman was the first problem.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 05 Jan 2006, 22:33

SKILL??? Hes not even throwing his shots properly

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 06 Jan 2006, 09:23

Max Molyneux wrote:Shouldn't of promoted himself from day one spoling himself and hiring yesman was the first problem.

Your right mate, he needs to get into a gym and get fit, spar with some hard nuts and get a trainer to shake him up and read him the riot act. He is surrounded by yes men (and women) content to slap him on the back and tell him what he wants to hear. Enough pussy footing around it's now or never.

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 06 Jan 2006, 09:39

topper123 wrote:I still think that Harrison has something to offer, but he has to adress his weaknesses, maybe going to a hard gym will help. I recently watched a program on Larry Holmes , now here is someone that was the sparring partner of not just Ali but Frazier as well.
Holmes said that Frazier used to try and destroy him in sparring , this toughened him up. Also when Holmes was preparing for a fight he used to offer his sparring partners $10,000 to the one that could knock him down. That way he knew that he would get quality and intense competition from his sparring partners.

I'm not saying that Harrsion has to do exactly the same, but he does need to get the right mindset, one that doesn't mind getting in the way of a few hard knocks to get to his goals

Harrison is not in Holmes stratosphere.

Holmes is nearly 60 and would give Audley a fight now.

Audley is a clown.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 06 Jan 2006, 09:44

Audley can't even through the punches properly, maybe he can milk a few more quid on the domestic scene though. You can't discount him from winning a British Belt if he did improve his workrate.

Dirk Kelly · Post by **Dirk Kelly** » 06 Jan 2006, 10:39

Terence wrote:He was, and does throw his shots correctly. His balance is very good for his size as evidenced by the way he sent Williams spinning on more than one occasion (notably the final round) with just a few foot feints. His shots were correct but lacked power or saw him out of range, when he was in range he had no problems hitting Danny. Carlos Maussa/Ricardo Mayorga punch incorrectly, Audley does not IMO and there is no evidence that he does.

His shots may have been correct but to only land 57 shots in the entire 12 rounds speaks off someone who was scarred to stand and fight. He could have won the fight easily but choose not to IMO.

tonyevs · Post by **tonyevs** » 06 Jan 2006, 10:58

The heavyweight scene is so bad at the moment just about any heavyweight with half a pulse could pick up a `world title`.

So there is a little chance Audley might just get a version, but the bigger problem he will have is getting the chance...because who would want to promote him now?

I don`t think Johnny Nelson has really been forgiven and what he did..or didn`t do...was a lifetime ago, and Harrison hasn`t got that long left, he`s 34 now.

I think he will have to carry on boxing because he will need the money, I have asked the question before about his finances, because even though he got thrown alot of money in the beginning that must now be running out, he has an expensive team around him, seems to live the celebrity lifestyle and I think I`m correct in saying he does not have any serious sponsor to fund it.

I think it may be the end of Audleys 15mins...but with his overgrown ego what will he do after? :(

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 06 Jan 2006, 13:32

I didn't realise the extent to which he had problems family-relationship-wise - estranged from his mother for 8 years, and his brothers etc. It sounds as though he has taken a big step to healing up those rifts, which in the long run is more important than an overrated boxing career.

Of course, in the short term, he and his followers are still left with the fact that he just lost to some strange mutated hippo crossed by Swedish scientists with a bag of suet.

My conclusions, therefore:

a) He doesn't have the heart, desire or commitment to become a world champ. If he was five years younger, of course he'd still have time to regroup, and whatever his failings, could probably muster a world title shot. He obviously needs a couple of months now to look at his boxing. I'd probably suggest the most graceful/dignified strategy would be a couple of fights in America, then take (if he can get it) a best of British fight. Whether that's a Williams rematch, Skelton (he'd probably get that of Matt gets & fails in a world title bid) or Sprott, who'd more than likely take the fight. If he gets one of them, the result doesn't particularly matter, but giving a hugely improved performance and show does. If he wins of course, no doubt a promoter will see the worth in giving him a title shot.

b) The self-promotion. Despite the horrible BBC fights etc, etc, I still can't get angry with Harrison over going his own route. Yes, you could argue he was stupid, or at the very least naive - the Warrens and Kings of the world may not be Bambi and thumper, but will get a boxer like Harrison a world title shot whether he is good or bad. I guess Harrison didn't want to be modelled into something along the lines of Khan etc. which I give him credit for, although obviously his own career hasn't been great (not his entire fault though, he has "advisers" all over the place I'd have thought. I reckon lots of big names will take a self-promotion route within the next decade.

So, in conclusion, he needs a last hurrah, then we can leave him in peace and vice versa.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 06 Jan 2006, 13:34

dopey wrote:
Terence wrote:He was, and does throw his shots correctly. His balance is very good for his size as evidenced by the way he sent Williams spinning on more than one occasion (notably the final round) with just a few foot feints. His shots were correct but lacked power or saw him out of range, when he was in range he had no problems hitting Danny. Carlos Maussa/Ricardo Mayorga punch incorrectly, Audley does not IMO and there is no evidence that he does.

His shots may have been correct but to only land 57 shots in the entire 12 rounds speaks off someone who was scarred to stand and fight. He could have won the fight easily but choose not to IMO.

He doesn't throw his shots correctly unless your trying to show how to get the least power out of a 250lb body. He can occasionally throw the uppercut correctly and did in the 11th. His straight left is telegraphed, indirect, little power,

Physically Audleys frame is perfect - but so are many bodybuilders. Like you said 57shots were thrown in 12 rounds - he should throw 57shots in 2rounds. Few of the 57 were thrown correctly.

I blinded myself to Audleys lack of ability telling myself when he steps up maybe his counter punching style will work and he'd come good. Hes just not that good at the end of the day though.

And no way could Audley ever get a World Title Belt, any top10 fighter beats him with ease, Brewster would KO him without a doubt, Byrd would pick him apart, Valuev would outland and outpower him, Toney would win 120-108, Rahman would Ko him, Ruiz would should him how the jab grab should be done.

I mean people say hes skilled and he can't even properly pull off the jab grab. Audley may get worse rather than better at his age.