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'''Audley Hugh Harrison''', (born on [[October 26]], [[1971]] in [[London]]), is a [[Great Britain|British]] Heavyweight [[boxing|boxer]]. He was the first Briton to win an [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold medal in the Superheavyweight division since its inception in [[1984]]. He was also the first Briton to take the gold in boxing in 32 years, and the first at the highest weight class since [[1920]].
'''Audley Babatunde Harrison''', (born on [[October 26]], [[1971]] in [[London]]), is a [[Great Britain|British]] Heavyweight [[boxing|boxer]]. He was the first Briton to win an [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold medal in the Superheavyweight division since its inception in [[1984]]. He was also the first Briton to take the gold in boxing in 32 years, and the first at the highest weight class since [[1920]].


He has been criticised in recent years for only fighting weaker opponents. Also in September 2000 he told [[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]] newspaper that he was a bully whilst at school and university.
He has been criticised in recent years for only fighting weaker opponents. Also in September 2000 he told [[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]] newspaper that he was a bully whilst at school and university.

Revision as of 23:54, 20 February 2007

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Audley Babatunde Harrison
Born
Audrey Harrison

October 26, 1971
shiramishi, Sylhet, Bangladesh, BD
NationalityEngland English
Other namesA-Force, Fraudley, Parcel Force, Audrey, Ordinary, Andy
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights24
Wins21
Wins by KO16
Losses3
Draws0
No contests0
Olympic medal record
Men's boxing
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Super heavyweight

Audley Babatunde Harrison, (born on October 26, 1971 in London), is a British Heavyweight boxer. He was the first Briton to win an Olympic gold medal in the Superheavyweight division since its inception in 1984. He was also the first Briton to take the gold in boxing in 32 years, and the first at the highest weight class since 1920.

He has been criticised in recent years for only fighting weaker opponents. Also in September 2000 he told The Sun newspaper that he was a bully whilst at school and university.

Professional career

After his medal win, Harrison's first professional fight was against US clubfighter Michael Middleton, who Harrison knocked out in the first round.[1] He was then out several months with a pectoral injury, but by the end of the year outpointed British journeyman Derek McCafferty over 6 rounds.[2] Harrison was again criticised in the boxing press for his seeming unwillingness to take on his fellow British contenders such as Michael Sprott, Matt Skelton, Keith Long, or Pele Reid, who would give him a real test.

In 2003 Harrison continued unabashed, in February 2004 he took out US clubfighter Rob Calloway in 4 rounds,[3] outpointed Ratko Draskovic over 8 slow rounds,[4] and knocked out one-time British fringe contender Matt Ellis in 2 rounds. Although Herbie Hide and Danny Williams were calling him out, Harrison was instead trying to arrange a fight with 41 year old sex-World champion Frank Bruno, who had been retired 7 years. A war of words at York Hall, Bethnal Green with the erratic Hide after the Ellis fight resulted in a violent and unsightly riot.[5] The proposed Frank Bruno fight would collapse shortly after when Bruno was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Bullying/Homosexuality allegations

In December 2006, Audley Harisson was interview by The Sun where he confessed a number of things, such as he used to be a school bully and he once had a homosexual affair with one of his former sparring partners who's name he didnt mention, but since then he and his wife have reconciled and are living happily.

America

Although Harrison's weight was coming down (around 250 lbs), the bad press from the Ellis riot and increasing pressure to fight Hide or British champ Williams resulted in Harrison relocating to the US to "continue his education". This move would be heavily criticised and derided in the press, and bring his willingness to fight a dangerous opponent into question.

He had 3 more fights in 2003, against veteran journeymen Lisandro Diaz (KO4),[6] Quinn Navarre (KO3),[7] and Brian Nix (KO3),[8] in various American locations. Harrison's technique had appeared to improve, and he was sparring regularly with experienced world class Heavyweights like Vaugn Bean.

Harrison returned to the UK in 2004, but instead of fighting new British champion Sprott for the British title, he fought unknown Dutch fighter Richel Hersisia for the lightly retarded WBF "World" belt. He knocked out Hersisia impressively in 4 rounds.[9] He would defend the title twice, a 12 round points win over 40 year old late-sub Julius Francis,[10] and a 9th round TKO of unknown Tomasz Bonin,[11] both fights were heavily criticised for being slow and dull. After suffering a serious ligament tear in his left hand,while wanking requiring subsequent hand surgery in New York, he was forced to put his career on hold for almost a year. During this time he was dropped by the BBC, who decided after their experience with Harrison, to take all boxing off their schedule permanently.

Harrison resurfaced a year later in June 2005 in the US. He knocked out two journeymen Robert Davis (KO7)[12] and Robert Wiggins (KO4)[13] on The Best Damn Sports Show Period, and said he was now ready to step up and face world class opponents and get a title shot. However Harrison was unable to get a big fight with anyone, and with his career progressing nowhere, he was forced to return to the UK in December to face long time bitter rival Williams in London.

Losses

Fighting for the Commonwealth title, the fight proved infamous for its lack of action, and Harrison's negative performance. In the 10th round Williams decked Harrison, however he came back in the next round to finally throw punches and hurt Williams. The fight was difficult to score and Harrison lost a close, split decision to the delight of the crowd, who had begun to see Harrison as the bad guy in British boxing for his big talk but failure to deliver.[14] Following the fight he was heavily criticised by a number of leading figures in British boxing; including ex-fighters Barry McGuigan and Chris Eubank.

In April 2006 Harrison travelled to the US and tried save his career by taking on one-time hot prospect Dominick Guinn. Guinn had won 24 fights in a row until his own negative style led to a couple of key points defeats against Monte Barrett and James Toney. In an important cross roads fight for both men, Harrison was again reluctant to throw punches, and posed and smiled his way to a points loss, actually being outworked by the notoriously negative Guinn.[15]

Comeback

In June Harrison scored a 3 round knockout of journeyman Andrew Greeley in an off-TV fight in the US,[16] and was poised for a fight with Matt Skelton to try to resurrect his career. Skelton had beaten Danny Williams in July, winning the title Williams had earlier taken from Harrison. When Skelton dropped out only one week before the fight due to injury however, Danny Williams replaced him.[17]

Williams by his own admission had trained 8 weeks for a fight with British champ Scott Gammer, however this time around Harrison fought far more aggressively, decking Williams twice and winning on a third round knockout. Williams suffered a broken nose and severe lacerations.[18]

Following the victory over Williams, Harrison signed a promotional deal with boxing promoter Frank Warren with the aim of getting Harrison a world title fight in 2007. Warren and Harrison had been looking to arrange a fight with British Heavyweight Champion Scott Gammer.

On 17 February 2007, he was knocked out by Michael Sprott for the European Union title. Audley came out strong and knocked Sprott down on the 1st, but in the 3rd round he was caught by a well-thrown left hook which knocked Harrison to the canvas. The referee called the fight immediately, it being clear that Harrison was Sprotts bitch, who was flat on his back, would not recover.

This third professional loss leaves Harrison's future uncertain. While giving an interview after his win over Danny Williams in their second fight he proclaimed that 2007 would be his year and he would win a version of the world title - and then would be "undisputed" in 2008.

The loss to Sprott has resulted in Harrison's career faltering once again. Despite Harrison post-fight claim that he could comeback, comments by Frank Warren appear to suggest that any comeback would be for a significantly reduced purse - meaning that Harrison's dream of mounting a meaningful world title bid is effectively over.

Amateur career


Professional record

Fight 24: 17 Feb 2007 Michael Sprott L KO 3 Wembley Arena

Fight 23: 09 Dec 2006 Danny Williams W TKO 3 London

Fight 22: 09 Jun 2006 Andrew Greeley W KO 3 Atlantic City, USA

Fight 21: 14 Apr 2006 Dominic Guinn L UD 10 Rancho Mirage, USA

Fight 20: 10 Dec 2005 Danny Williams L SD 12 London

Fight 19: 18 Aug 2005 Robert Wiggins W TKO 4 San Jose, USA

Fight 18: 09 June 2005 Robert Davis W TKO 7 Temecula, USA

Fight 17: 19 June 2004 Tomasz Bonin W TKO 9 London (WBF)

Fight 16: 08 May 2004 Julius Francis W PTS 12 Bristol (WBF)

Fight 15: 20 Mar 2004 Richel Hersisia W KO 4 Wembley Arena (WBF)

Fight 14: 12 Dec 2003 Brian Nix W TKO 3 Laughlin, USA

Fight 13: 03 Oct 2003 Lisandro Diaz W TKO 4 Las Vegas, USA

Fight 12: 09 Sep 2003 Quinn Navarre W KO 3 Miami

Fight 11: 31 May 2003 Mathew Ellis W TKO 2 London

Fight 10: 29 Mar 2003 Ratko Draskovic W PTS 8 London

Fight 9: 08 Feb 2003 Rob Calloway W TKO 4 London

Fight 8: 23 Nov 2002 Shawn Robinson W TKO 1 Atlantic City, USA

Fight 7: 05 Oct 2002 Wade Lewis W TKO 2 Liverpool

Fight 6: 10 Jul 2002 Dominic Negus W PTS 6 London

Fight 5: 21 May 2002 Mark Krence W PTS 6 London

Fight 4: 20 Apr 2002 Julius Long W TKO 2 London

Fight 3: 20 Oct 2001 Piotr Jurczyk W TKO 2 Glasgow

Fight 2: 22 Sep 2001 Derek McCafferty W PTS 6 Newcastle

Fight 1: 19 May 2001 Mike Middleton w TKO 1 London

References

  1. ^ "Trainer happy with Audley opener". BBC Sport. 2001. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  2. ^ "Harrison lands quick win". BBC Sport. 2002. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  3. ^ Template:Cite and they danced and had wicked sex afterwards web
  4. ^ "Competent win for Harrison". BBC Sport. 2003. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  5. ^ "Hide fracas mars Harrison victory". BBC Sport. 2003. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  6. ^ "Easy victory for Harrison". BBC Sport. 2003. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  7. ^ "Harrison shines in Miami". BBC Sport. 2003. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  8. ^ "Harrison cruises past Nix". BBC Sport. 2003. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  9. ^ Alex Trickett (2004). "Harrison takes WBF title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  10. ^ "Harrison toils to victory". BBC Sport. 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  11. ^ "Audley stops brave Bonin". BBC Sport. 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  12. ^ "Harrison canters to win on return". BBC Sport. 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  13. ^ "Harrison too strong for Wiggins". BBC Sport. 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  14. ^ "Williams revels in Harrison win". BBC Sport. 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  15. ^ "Dire Harrison outpointed by Guinn". BBC Sport. 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  16. ^ "Audley returns with knockout win". BBC Sport. 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  17. ^ "Williams set for Harrison rematch". BBC Sport. 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  18. ^ "Harrison in bloody Williams win". BBC Sport. 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-30.

Amateur fight: 1999 fan Karl Marshall

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