By Olly Campbell: Over the last couple of hours news has been trickling out of yet another (yes, ANOTHER!) possible comeback from dreary, over the hill, 42 year old British heavyweight pantomime villain, Audley “A-Force” Harrison. (31-7, 23KOs).
I usually prefer to write articles of a balanced and objective nature, so you will have to forgive the somewhat sarcastic tone and derisive feel of this piece.
Audley first burst onto the British consciousness back in 2000, having become the first Brit to ever win an Olympic super heavyweight gold medal. Expectation was high, promises of world title glory were made, and exclusive TV deal with BBC broadcasting was inked. And that’s when the giant balloon of promise slowly began to deflate….steadily.
Audley had 17 dull and uninspiring fights on the BBC before the deal was terminated, sounding the death knell of boxing on Britain’s biggest terrestrial channel. A situation that remains to this day, and one, many people single-handedly blame Audley Harrison for.
I do not wish to provide a blow by blow of Harrison’s hapless pro career, as we all know the world title failed to materialize. A late TKO of Michael Sprott in 2010 for the then vacant European title was really the best that it ever got. Oh and a 2011 appearance on the UK version of Dancing with the Stars, if that counts as a career highlight.
We saw perhaps the worst world title challenge ever in a British ring against David Haye, in which Audley threw a single punch before being knocked out in three rounds. He retired, he came back. Glass jawed David Price destroyed the deluded Audley even faster than Haye a year and a half on. He retired, he came back, still expecting only the most gullible to believe that a world title was just around the corner. Then, a second career win in the last chance saloon of Matchroom sports Prizefighter tournament gave Audley that world title belief yet again. And if, at this point, anybody was still listening, Deontay Wilder came over to hopefully shut Harrison up for good. After one brutal round, he did, and Harrison faded away to lick his wounds and stay retired…….until now.
Now, as if the Audley journey isn’t enough of a farce already, he has made his intention clear to challenge for the vacant British heavyweight title. A serious belt, not a comedy award, though looking at his opposition you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Tyson Fury, Derek Chisora and even David Price are all looking at bigger things. Which leaves a host of average at best, dreadful at worst guys to choose from. Richard Towers (14-1, 11KOs), John McDermott (28-8, 18KOs), Gary Cornish (17-0, 9KOs) anyone? Or how about Michael Sprott again with his journeyman, German cannon fodder record of (40-21, 17KOs)? These names vs. Audley appear to make a mockery of the British title, with the exception maybe of Cornish. I’d sooner put Hughie Fury or 3 fight novice Anthony Joshua in there with Audley. Both stand as good a chance as any of beating this washed up waste of space.
I’m sure many are past caring, though the British board have the power to end the comic cycle of Harrison’s career by refusing his license. On the grounds of irrelevance. And Audley, if you do happen to return? I for one WILL NOT be watching.
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