By Scott Gilfoid: Audley Harrison (28-5, 21 KO’s) weighed in today at the lowest weight for him in eight years in coming in at 245 pounds for his fight on Saturday night against British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price (13-0, 11 KO’s). Harrison, 40, hasn’t been this low since he destroyed Richel Hersisia in four rounds in March, 2004. As for Price, he came in at 247 lbs, which is pretty much what he always weighs for his fights. No surprise there.

The real story here is Harrison’s weight. At coming in so light it shows you how serious he’s taking this fight. He’s had the best sparring that money can buy with talents like Malik Scott and Deontay Wilder helping him out on a daily basis for four weeks of hard sparring. Both Scott and Wilder are a lot faster than the slow, 6’8″ Price. They’re also much more agile in the ring with their footwork. Scott punches about as hard as Price, whereas Wilder is clearly a bigger puncher than Price is. Harrison really learned a lot from Wilder and he’s going to be able to use what he learned against the slower Price.

The key to victory for Harrison is for him to get his shots off early, to make sure he doesn’t just stand a like frozen statue, and to keep Price from being able to think. Harrison has to turn this into one of his Prizefighter tourney fights where he sees this as the 3rd round and he’s just looking to unload on Price with power shots. That’s how Price was beaten before in the amateur ranks by fighters that would come out looking to take his head clean off. Harrison has the better speed, and with the help of Wilder, he’s now able to block and/or get out of the way of big right hands. Price could be limited to mostly jabbing if Harrison is able to negate his right hand. In that case, you’d have to favor Harrison to win the fight because his left hand will definitely a home on Price’s chin.