Does Audley harrison get enough credit for the British boxing boom

Even though his professional career didn't live up to expectations, he still had a good career.

Fought for a world title (ok it was a terrible performance, one of the worse I've seen it has to be said)

European champion? Had that late KO also to win the European I think it was.

Unfortunately as soon as he lost his confidence, he lost his skills / abilities and became one of the most gun shy fighters I've ever seen.

 

Hi Audley

 

It could be argued that Audley Harrison is the g.o.a.t uk Heavyweight boxer.

Who can forget his war with David Haye, the braveness he showed when facing Wilder.

 

Harrison, to his credit, kept trying and trying but he just didn't have the heart when it mattered. I think once he tasted that money a bit of that competitive spirit died.

 

Right up there with Prince Patel - two of the greats.

Was there at the Danny Williams v Odd fight at the Excel Arena and I was the one that starting the booing midway through round 1 and it never stopped until the fighters left the ring.

That fight was right up there with cutting my toenails

 

I think if he was more likeable people would be more willing to give him his due credit.The way he went on when he first turned pro turned a lot of people off I think.

He didn't have a bad career at all really, just not as good as a lot might have expected him to have due to his success in the amateurs.

 

All joshing aside, winning Olympic gold was a major achievement and very significant in the progression of amateur boxing in the U.K.

No British fighter had won gold since Chris Finnegan in 1968. In Atlanta our two qualifiers didn’t win a single fight between them.

Harrison (and Khan four years later) helped boost lottery funding that paved the way for the DeGales, Campbells and Joshuas. Obviously the last is massive; it’s not much of a stretch to say that without Audley you don’t have AJ, at least not the Golden Boy Olympic Hero version.

In retrospect Audley wasn’t that great an amateur. It was a pretty weak field in Sydney and he hit form at the right time. He never really had the tools to be an elite pro fighter. He did a great service to British boxing though, just not in the way that many expected.

 

Today’s Price would KO him 100% so that shows how bad AH was in my opinion.

 

On paper and his bank statement he had a great career.

olympic gold, European champion, world title challenger.

That doesn’t tell the whole story though. However, if I was Audley I’d be proud of my achievements and most professionals would be too.

Was he the first to promote himself?

 

He's the butt of many jokes but even winning the European belt is a massive achievement. He had a far better boxing career than most but although the Olympic Gold gained him lucrative purses, it probably hindered him as the expectations became very high.

 

World Champion?

 

What's with all the Fraudley threads? Are you Audley Harrison, is that it?

 

On account of him having the bals to get in that square ring, i would give him massive credit and respect, regardless of how his career panned out...

 

Re: the above.

Worst footwork known to man but drop me a million and you can knock me out all day long.