What can he do to get redemption/respect with the UK boxing fans? Or is he beyond that now? If he wins prize fighter with the ease and is humble (1 is unlikely but 2 may be in the realms of fantasy) and then rather than chasing a world title or talking himself up took on the winner of rogan/sexton then if victorious squared off against Tyson Fury (regardless of result) would he at least go out of the game with a bit of a reputation restored?
If he does all that then yes,he'll deserve some sort of respect. Id love to see him do well.....he cracks me up
I dont think he has the ability to win round fans in general even if he started to appear humble. I think Audley is a talented fighter but he doesnt have what apeears the heart or mind to become a top notch fighter. I mean he loses to Williams in a very passive fight, then destroys Williams in the rematch and looked very good and then goes annd gets ko'd by Sprott. These are fighters that if you are going anywhere in world boxing you have to beat and not scrape by or lose to. What really tipped it for me personally was the way he goaded Herbie Hide, ****s trick.
I'm not sure if he can turn it around, besides, he is too old now to make any real impression, even on the British scene he hasn't really proven himself, so to go after Sexton, Rogan or Fury would be a good test for him, where does he go if he beats them, another fight with Williams.......??? sadly, IMO he will never get the full suport of the British people. As it goes, I never thought of Audley as arrogant, sure, he talked himself up, but don't all boxers do that? but he never got into the silly talk of saying he is going to realy hurt somebody, his mistake was coming out of the Olympics saying he is going to win major belts and the press lapping it up, a victim of his own (summer 2000) success maybe????
I'd go along with that. I've never thought Audley was any mouthier than a lot of other fighters but he did seem to get caught up in his own hype. Having won a gold medal Im amazed he has done so badly as a professional. Does anyone know what happened to the other medal winners at that Olympics? I don't think Audley's cautious style will bode well in the three round fights of prizefighter. I'd expect to see him go out before the final and that will probably be the last of him.
if he wins the prizefighter then he at least deserves a shot at the british or commonwealth straps if he wins one of those by that time haye should be wba champ he may take a volutary defence against audley (as they have a bit of history) thats his only chance. doubt any of this will happen though...
It's too late. For him to not look like a clown anymore he'd literally have to smash his way to the very top, become world champ, and keep his gob shut the entire time whilst doing so. Apart from maybe a sit-down interview with Bunce in which he states: "Buncey, I've been a complete **** haven't I, I'm so ****ing ashamed of myself" Im-****ing-possible.
First step is to reestablish his jab. The jab is all important. The jab is everything. It's the first step to redemption. Jab, jab, jab.
Just in answer to my own question... Sydney 2000 Olympics: Sultan Ibragimov won silver at heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev was beaten in the quarter finals Sam Peter was beaten in the quarters at Super heavy while Calvin Brock went out in the first round. These were Audley's contemporaries. You'd have thought he'd have done better wouldnt you?