By Sean McDaniel: In a press release sent out today, 39-year-old Audley Harrison (27-5, 20 KO’s) said that he plans on continuing his disappointing career despite being stopped in three rounds in his last fight against WBA heavyweight champion David Haye on November 13th.

It’s got to be one of the worst performances that any heavyweight challenger has put in in recent years, as Harrison only threw one punch in three rounds and that was nothing more than an ineffectual jab. It’s hard to believe that a heavyweight with the Olympic Gold Medal credentials that Harrison has would only throw one punch in three rounds. Harrison was snowed under by shots from Haye in the 3rd and the one-sided fight was stopped at that point.

However, Harrison incredibly thinks the fight was stopped too soon, saying “I got caught by a good set of punches to go down. I give David [Haye] credit as I never expected him to hurt me as he did, but anyone could see it was a premature stoppage and I should have been allowed to carry on and ride out the rough patch, even if that meant I would have got KO’d.”

Harrison had no chance at the time of the stoppage and was just looking to try and clinch. He wasn’t throwing punches and looked to be completely terrified of Haye. It’s good that the fight was stopped when it did, because Harrison would have wound up hurt on his back had it gone much longer.

Harrison doesn’t have much of a chance for success by continuing his sagging career. At best, he could be a decent domestic level heavyweight but not nearly among the top five. Right now, I’d pick Dereck Chisora, Sam Sexton, Tom Dallas, David Price, Haye and Tyson Fury to beat Harrison without any problems. By sticking around, Harrison is only delaying the inevitable. As soon as he faces one of these guys, he’s going to get beaten again and likely badly.

This is what Harrison had to say about continuing his career: “After spending some time away reflecting on the fight and outcome, I have made the decision to continue by journey in boxing and carry on my career as a professional.”

Harrison might do well to reconsider and hang up his gloves. Unless he’s satisfied with facing 2nd tier opposition for the next two or three years before retiring, I can’t see him having much success. He’s too limited, and too passive and his chin is far too weak to beat any quality heavyweight.