The heavyweight division - can Audley Harrison be 'A Force'? by Kev Parker Aug 29th 2005

Audley is currently undefeated, (19-0 14kos) weighs in around 18 stones, stands at 6' 5'', is a former Olympic gold medallist and has just had his most significant win as a pro versus Robert Wiggins stopping him in four rounds. Audley says he'll fight anyone in the top fifteen. Then, if and when he cracks the top ten, can he go on to get the ultimate glory of a legitimate world title belt. First let's look at what he has that's going to take him into contender status. Harrison has good movement for such a big man, he displays good handspeed and punches well in combination from the southpaw stance and has a spiteful left cross and uppercut. He uses his height well to tie fighters up effectively and knows how to set the pace of a fight. His chin is untested as is his fighting spirit but we should see these tested effectively in the next handful of fights as long as he keeps going up to the next level. There are a couple of fighters he could possibly beat right now that are in the lower end of top ten, men like Davarryl Williamson and Luan Krasniqi. However, these have already shown more to the world than Audley has and Krasniqi has a WBO shot coming up against Lamon Brewster. Certain people criticise team ‘A Force' for moving along too slowly and with some justification too. Calvin Brock is ranked higher and is 26-0, he also fought in the Sydney Olympics. He has beaten Cliff Etienne and Jameel McCline (of note). There's also Samuel Peter who is undefeated in 24 and is fighting Wlad Klitschko September 24th. He too has been moved quicker. A lot of fans think that Harrison should be mixing it with the big boys by now and often wonder why he isn't. For a man who boasted that he could win the British title in five fights it is somewhat unsettling to some that he hasn't actually yet fought the top men that this country has to offer. However within the next three fights Harrison can break the top ten and prove that he does deserve the chance to be a legitimate contender. After Hasim Rahman's plodding display against Monte Barrett and John Ruiz seemingly looking for fighters to take the title from him maybe Harrison is moving in for the kill at the exact right time. None of the title-holders are consistent against top-level opposition. On any given night all could conceivably lose to anyone else in the top 7 or 8 apart from maybe Vitali Klitschko who is the most consistent of the title holders but only at a level or three below him. Besides Klitschko, the top men of the heavyweight division won't exactly strike fear through Harrison's bones, let's look at the men he will need to beat to get the respect and recognition he wants: Chris Byrd – The IBF champ is elusive and awkward but getting older, slower and has looked to have been on the lucky end of a couple of decisions in the last few years . Hasim Rahman – Blows hot and cold with performances, can be out-boxed and out-punched, but is strong and powerful. James Toney – Old school skills but is injury prone and is fighting way above his natural weight. John Ruiz – Already lost twice to two former middleweights but has a knack of getting the WBA title back one way or another. He knows how to stop fighters working by using a punch and grab gameplan. Lamon Brewster – Has a good punch and huge heart but is another that has been hurt on several occasions and seemed a lucky winner over a former 32 second Danny Williams victim, however he did get a quick three knockdown win over Andrew Golota last time out. Within the next twelve months Harrison should, and the key word is should, be in a position to be fighting for a title or at least in an eliminator against another highly ranked contender. At the minute I'd pick against him in most of the match ups in the top ten, not because I believe he can't do it but because there has been little proof so far that he will. Hopefully this time next year we'll be talking about the ‘A Force' being a force and not still wondering what happens next?

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

Friend name: Friend email: Your name: Your email:   Privacy Statement

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.