Audley Wins Prizefighter
Audley Harrison finally achieved something as a pro by winning the Prizefighter Heavyweights III tournament at London's Excel Arena.
Harrison fought tactically well throughout and will be delighted with what he achieved here. This result will only strengthen his conviction that he can still win a world title.
He stopped Scott Belshaw in 2 rounds, then won a unanimous points decision over Danny Hughes in the semi-final, flooring him on the way. He then met Irishman Coleman Barrett in the final who put in a great effort. In fact, Audley was losing the fight and only about 4 or 5 minutes away from a big upset defeat when he landed a superb left hand which completely finished off Barrett. Although he was up at 9 the ref rightly waved the fight off.
Credit to Audley who did what he had to do and showed excellent accuracy in his punches.
However, it has to be said that the same issues keep re-surfacing nearly every time Audley fights. He's a big, athletic guy, tall and strong and with good boxing skills, decent speed and good accuracy. Yet he often looks uncomfortable and awkward even when in the ring with opponents that are a couple of leagues below him.
Let's be realistic - the 3 fighters that he beat he was always a huge favourite to overcome and losing to any of them would have spelt an end to his career. However, he did indeed avoid defeat unlike Danny Williams who went out in the first round of the tournament to Carl Baker.
Audley never looks comfortable when punches are coming his way. He seems to get a real look of fear in his eyes and usually resorts to holding on and avoiding exchanging punches. It's hard to say why this is, he's been in a ring for long enough and knows the game well, but this is the truth. Perhaps he is not confident in his ability to take a punch after the Spott fight but Audley fought like this before that fight as well.
I think that one of the reasons why boxing is such a great sport is because there are so many factors that make up a fighter. As well as the skill, power, speed, strength, stamina, chin and tactics you have the determination and dedication, the will to win, the courage, the attitude and heart. Unfortunately for Audley he is missing one or two of the latter and that is why he is highly unlikely to ever win or probably now, even challenge for, a world title.
While Audley showed some class in donating his trophy to a charity to help the bereaved Sprott family after his victory, it doesn't look likely that the British fight fans are ever going to warm to him.
He entered the tournament mainly to boos but the cheers did increase a bit as Audley produced the knockdowns and knockouts. At the end there were some cheers and applause and still a few boos. He succeeded in earning a degree of respect but not much more.
Along with the way he fights, his lack of popularity stems from the way he started off his career fighting nobodies in main events on the BBC, but is largely due to his personality. While I think he now seems to have a bit more humility than he once did he does still seem to think that everything he does and says is right and everyone else is wrong. He was talking about there being a conspiracy against him from the start of his career. This is perhaps more delusional than thinking he's still going to win a heavyweight world title.
I feel a bit sorry for Audley the way his career has gone and I'm pleased he's won this tournament. However, this may well be the last title he wins. If he steps up in class I'm afraid he'll be shown to be lacking again - not perhaps in ability but in fighting heart and instinct.