By Scott Gilfoid: British heavyweight Audley Harrison (31-6, 23 KO’s) agreed to fight Deontay Wilder (27-0, 27 KO’s) on April 27th next month in Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena. However, in agreeing to take the fight, Harrison stressed the fact that he only has five weeks to prepare for the bout. In other words, it looks like we have the makings of an excuse for Audley for when and if he gets knocked out by the 6’7” Wilder.
I was hoping that Audley would wait until after the fight to start cooking up a good excuse for why he got spanked, but it looks like he’s jumped the gun and is already putting the excuse out there.
Audley said on his social media site: “I have AGREED to take the fight [with Wilder] with 5 weeks’ notice.”
You did notice the last three words, didn’t you? Audley is making it a point to let his British fans know that he’s taking the fight on only five weeks’ notice in a move that is likely been done to keep him from being raked over the coals by fans should he get blown out in one or two rounds.
I’m sorry, but that excuse just doesn’t wash. I mean, Audley fought just last month on February 23rd, and looked the best he’s ever looked in his career at 237 lbs. That’s the lightest that Audley has ever come in for one of his pro fights in his 12-year pro career. You can’t tell me that Audley has suddenly gotten way out of shape in only one month of being out of the ring. That’s not possible.
Audley might have put a on a few pounds, but it’s not as if he won’t lose the weight in five weeks. If it takes more than five weeks to takeoff weight that he put on in 30 days out of the ring then I think he’s got a problem.
Likewise, it’s not going to take 5 weeks to come up with a game plan for the fight or to train with guys that will get him ready. How many weeks of sparring does Audley need? If he spars for any more than three to four weeks, he’s going to be too worn down anyway.
At any rate, I sure hope Audley isn’t going to be bellyaching about how he wasn’t ready for the fight after Deontay drills him into the canvas on April 27th. If there’s one thing I can’t stand is a fighter that can’t take responsibility for their defeats.
I was hoping Audley wasn’t going to be one of these types of fighters that blames his loss on some other factor, but given the fact that he’s already talking about having only 5 weeks to prepare for the fight, my spider senses are tingling and I see Audley getting ready to come up with some prize-winning excuses after he loses to Wilder.
Comments are closed.