By Sean McDaniel: EBU heavyweight champion Audley Harrison (27-4, 20 KO’s) could be fighting mandatory European Boxing Union challenger Alexander Dimitrenko (29-1, 19 KO’s) in September, according to the latest boxing news. Harrison says he wants to defend the EBU title, which he won with an exciting 12th round knockout over Michael Sprott last Friday night. However, Harrison will have to first recover from his torn right pectoral muscle which he suffered in the 2nd round in his fight against Sprott. The injury will require surgery and then rehabilitation after that.

Harrison previously suffered the same injury 8 years ago, so this isn’t a new thing for him. If Harrison can get by the 6’7” Dimitrenko, it will likely give Harrison a high enough ranking so that World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will be able to give him a shot. Harrison could also get a shot against WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, although the chances of fighting Haye are a lot slimmer unless Harrison can work his way into becoming the mandatory challenger for Haye.

However, a fight against Haye would still be unlikely even then, because the chances are remote that Haye will be able to hold onto his WBA title for very much longer. Haye could be fighting Wladimir Klitschko next, and that will be a very tough fight for Haye to win.

Harrison looked to be on the brink of defeat in his fight with Sprott, needing a knockout in the last round to come from behind to get the win. A defeat against Sprott would have likely finished the 38-year-old Harrison’s once promising career. Harrison will face another career risking fight in his next bout no matter who he ends up fighting. At 38, Harrison can no longer afford to lose, and he needs to start getting some more significant wins under his belt.

Harrison’s victories in his nine year pro career have come against almost entirely European second tier fighters. Harrison hasn’t yet cut his teeth against an actual top tier fighter. If Harrison does end up facing Dimitrenko and beating him, it would be Harrison’s only win against a top level fighter in his career. It’s sad that it would be coming so late for Harrison, but one thing or another has seemed to have slowed him down in making progress in the sport.

Dimitrenko will be a tall order for Harrison. Dimitrenko moves a lot better and appears to be more athletic compared to Harrison. However, Audley has that powerful left hand that he can change a fight with at a moment’s notice. If Harrison comes out gunning, he could take Dimitrenko out at some point in the early rounds. Eddie Chambers, not a big puncher, had Dimitrenko on the deck in their fight last year in July. Dimitrenko hasn’t fought since then. Harrison would need to focus on landing power shots or else he could get out-boxed by Dimitrenko. No doubt that Dimitrenko’s German handlers would be training him to stay on the outside to avoid getting hit by any of Harrison’s big lefts, but Audley will still be able to get to Dimitrenko at some point in the fight to test his chin.