Olympic Gold Medalist Debate - Is Audley Harrison a failure in the pro-ranks?

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by craney91, Apr 14, 2013.


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  1. craney91

    craney91 Boxing Addict banned

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    Or did he just not live up to expectations placed on his head? Was it just the division he fought in? Or was he just never good enough? Did he deserve to win a gold medal? Simply put, did he just not have the ability required to back that amateur success up in the pro-ranks? Is it a whole new ball game where only the most skilled and mentally strong can make the transition?

    I ask this, because fighters like Andre Ward and Guillermo Rigondeaux, accomplished amateurs and Olympic Gold Medalists (twice in Rigondeaux's case) are proving that the transition can be made, and that solid amateur foundations do account for something. So with the prominence of Rigondeaux last night, finally announcing himself to the masses and proving an Olympic Gold Medalist can go far in the pro-ranks, also relatively early in his pro-career, it got me thinking, does this make Audley Harrison look even more of a failure? Especially when you look at the Heavyweight division now, and back when he turned pro.

    OK it doesn't automatically mean you are going to be a success, silver/bronze and no medalists have gone far, and you obviously need to have the talent to back it up in the pro ranks, but was Audley a complete failure? Or was he just an example that he was a good amateur, but not cut out to be a pro?
     
    craney91, Apr 14, 2013
    craney91, Apr 14, 2013
    #1
  2. ChipChair

    ChipChair Boxing Addict Full Member

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    alot was expected of him but hes a failure imo if whats been says about his talent in the gym sparring etc is true.
     
    ChipChair, Apr 14, 2013
    ChipChair, Apr 14, 2013
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  3. Lazarus

    Lazarus Realist Full Member

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    There's been about a hundred threads on the same **** for years now...
     
    Lazarus, Apr 14, 2013
    Lazarus, Apr 14, 2013
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  4. Primadonna Kool

    Primadonna Kool Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    In my opinion he just did't live up to his expectations that he put on himself, and what the boxing media put on him. I think he could of done abit better "IF" he was not so much obsessed with being his own boss in training and during the business side of boxing. When you are a amateur boxer you are always learning, you are always pushing yourself it is a strict regime. The boxers who have the most successfully careers and fulfil their potential always keep this model and protocol consistent in their lives and training. Audley Harrison has never been a lazy athlete but..? the fact of the matter is, he lost that regime and approach in-which he had in the amateurs, because of his other ambitions. Did he reach his full potential..? No

    If he reach his full potential would he have been world champion..? Who knows, nobody can actually say. Harrison may still have lost to David Haye, but i honestly believe if he had been training for years under the regime of his amateur days, he would not of suffered from a Castrophe break down! This is what happened, and these things happen when you are not prepared.
     
    Primadonna Kool, Apr 14, 2013
    Primadonna Kool, Apr 14, 2013
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  5. OG Wenger

    OG Wenger Guest

    I think one of the problems was he was quite old when he turned pro. Wasn't he 31 or something? A bit old to be a novice in the pro ranks.
     
    OG Wenger, Apr 14, 2013
    OG Wenger, Apr 14, 2013
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  6. billy nelson

    billy nelson the fighting scots gym Full Member

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    Ask the people who paid his wages!
     
    billy nelson, Apr 14, 2013
    billy nelson, Apr 14, 2013
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  7. craney91

    craney91 Boxing Addict banned

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    Some amateurs never turn pro though, is it because deep down they know they ain't good enough? Or is it just that they dont wish to take the risk/plunge into the unknown?

    Rigondeaux's amateur foundation is something sensational even for a Cuban (who are considerably ace amateurs) BUT, he has been able after just 12 pro-fights, to beat a top P4P fighter in mercurial fashion. Many will say the victory was brilliant, but when you look at it, its much much much more than that.

    So with the prominence of some gold medalists dominating the pro-ranks, it begs the question about Audley Harrison, was he just a complete flop? Was he even ever a world class amateur? Was it ever true what they said?

    Was it by luck he won a gold medal?

    Or was he mentally weak as soon as he turned pro? Was he even ready for the pro-ranks? Or did it not matter when Audley turned pro.....he was never going to be good or tough enough in that discipline? Was he the sole cause of his own downfall?

    How can gold medalists go from there, to top of the game in the pro-ranks? If Audley was as good as they said, and he was as good as he said, surely in a **** poor Heavyweight division, then and now, he would of been able to back it up? Where did it all go wrong for someone like Audley? Did the pressure and anticipation get to him early? Or did the criticism destroy him and prevent him from going any further as a pro?

    Or was Audley just never ever good enough or ever going to be and inadvertently destroyed himself?
     
    craney91, Apr 14, 2013
    craney91, Apr 14, 2013
    #7
  8. TED 822

    TED 822 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    No,Craney,not lucky to win the medal.It was a great achievement.I agree with Wenger,he was old when he went pro.Saw this Rigo this morning,and IMO he's just got more talent than Audley,but how long can he last?Audleys been decent,but he's his own man as has been said,and I believe in this sport you need somebody behind you.Whatever,he's been a good personality and good luck to him.
     
    TED 822, Apr 14, 2013
    TED 822, Apr 14, 2013
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  9. cheekyvid

    cheekyvid Detroit, I shall return. Full Member

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    record wise yes but a record aint gonna keep him in comfy slippers.

    has his faculties intact, made a shitload of money, is a big name, seems to have a great life and challenged for a world title, half the time with people desperate to see him lose, mocking him mercilessly. as a human being hes a ****ing success story in life
     
    cheekyvid, Apr 14, 2013
    cheekyvid, Apr 14, 2013
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  10. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    What is an oxymoron?
     
    TBooze, Apr 14, 2013
    TBooze, Apr 14, 2013
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  11. punchbug

    punchbug Active Member Full Member

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    Audley was a decent amateur, and he is a decent pro. His amateur record was 46-8, nothing special. He had a great olympic tournament, but not a great amateur career.
     
    punchbug, Apr 14, 2013
    punchbug, Apr 14, 2013
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  12. tezel8764

    tezel8764 Boxing Junkie banned

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    Once Friends

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    Audley Harrison
    "I'm gonna shock the world"
    "I'm the master he is the apprentice"

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    Haye stares down Harrison's ATG Southpaw Jab.

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    Audley Harrison ("I'm ****ed") facial expression.

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    Brutal finish on ATG Southpaw Audley Harrison.

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    tezel8764, Apr 14, 2013
    tezel8764, Apr 14, 2013
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  13. jc

    jc Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    You can only judge him on his amateur credentials and what his ambition was when he turned pro.

    In the Ams he was the best in the world, and he said he would be the best in the world as a pro. He failed.
     
    jc, Apr 14, 2013
    jc, Apr 14, 2013
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  14. The Spider

    The Spider Guest

    At least a hundred.
     
    The Spider, Apr 14, 2013
    The Spider, Apr 14, 2013
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  15. ginger warrior

    ginger warrior Guest

    Fact is I don't audley was even the best in the world in the amateurs,rigo and ward are Exceptional in any weight division.Anthony Joshua seems to have much more fighting spirit,but nothing is guarenteed
     
    ginger warrior, Apr 14, 2013
    ginger warrior, Apr 14, 2013
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