Will Audley ever be world champion?

Harrison looked fit as he beat Dominic Negus on points to win his sixth professional fight.

But many were still sceptical of the London fighter's opponent who on occasion resorted to tactics more reminiscent of a bar-room brawl.

Critics of the Olympic champion say he has been unconvincing against no-hopers so far and already 30, time is running out for Audley.

Is Audley making a farce of British boxing?

Not at the rate he is going. His poor challenger selection only suggests journeyman status.
Fgmukasa, UK

I don't think anyone here would take away a boxer's right to move up through the "chump" division and understand this is important in grooming a fighter for the big boys. The issue is, we would like to see an explosive trait in Audley whilst stepping up which he has not shown so far.

Yeah, he can hold an interview well, yeah he's quite a decent fellow but this is not comic relief. What's real sad is that we have a real prospect in Danny williams knocking some heads out in the top division and he is sidelined and forgotten about? Not being the BBC's protege I can understand that though.

I'll end by saying I would love to see Audley step up and deal with things but he must pay serious attention to these gaping floors visible to all. Come on Danny! Bring some belts back, man!
Raheem, West London

What worries me the most is that everyone is asking Audley's opponents "do you think he'll become champ?" This makes me cringe! I mean it's far too soon. Audley has a lot of weaknesses but we aren't all super-talented. His career in comparison with past medallists is pathetic. Ali, Lewis, Frazier, Foreman, Klitscko all had something going for them. All Audley's got is his south-paw style.

OK, in his defence of his slow progress and inactivity he has had injuries but that tells me he's clumsy how many other gold medallists are there with injuries as bad as him in the past?? None!! Also the fact that he won a gold medal at super-heavyweight means nothing really in the pros.

Remember Henry Tillman who beat Mike Tyson twice in the amateurs and look where he is now, he had a lacklustre career (like Harrison) and in his biggest fight he was knocked out by Mike Tyson in a round in the pros. I think Audley could well be defeated by an amateur victim. He's got no speed, stamina, or power the three corner stones of boxing all he's got is an awkward style.

I can not believe what a poor job Thell Torrence has sometimes done with Harrison. Harrison constantly refers to Torrence because of his past success with the ultra talented Riddick Bowe. But Bowe had speed, skill, desire AND power each of which Harrison greatly lacks. Bowe was a natural fighter (Torrence and Futch did a great job with him in the early-ish years) Harrison is not.

But you never know, who expected Douglas to beat Tyson, who expected Rahman or McCall to beat Lewis and I think Harrison could well be exposed by a journeyman underdog. As for a world title, too difficult to say; it remains a possibility.
Shahzad Ayub, UK

Audley is not a world class boxer but if the heavyweight division remains as poor as it is now for the next few years, he may get a world title.
Paul, Ireland

Not a chance based on that performance. He has no power.
Moomin Nip, UK

If he was 22 or 23 and had made the pro start he's made he'd be guaranteed a genuine world title. However, he's simply not got enough time to get there now (he'll still get a world title but it will be due the corrupt nature of boxing's management, instead of being down to his talent).
Dave, England

If Audley does become world champion, then it will only go to show how poor the heavyweight division has become.
Dameon, Wales

Harrison seems to be using his TV contract with the BBC to line his pockets before he steps up a class and is found seriously wanting. His power is almost non-existent, his stamina questionable and we still need to see how his chin holds up against a puncher of real world class!
Brendan, UK

I've watched a couple of Audley's fights, and the jury is still out as far as I'm concerned. The people who have submitted comments suggesting that Harrison has no talent are kidding themselves - you don't win Olympic gold unless you have something special.

However, Audley needs to show something to suggest that he can trouble some of the better heavyweights.

All of the best heavyweights have had that something that sets them apart. Lewis has his shotgun jab and big right hand, Holyfield has his chin, heart, and staggering left hook and Tyson has (or had) his punching power in both hands and non-stop work rate.

Harrison doesn't seem to have any weapon that makes you think he could trouble tougher opponents. Another factor to consider is that he should also be fighting far more frequently (like Tyson in the 80s) in order to progress.
Adam Nice, USA

Harrison is a very average fighter with little stamina and no punching power. He was expected to do great things after winning the gold medal, but people are beginning to realise that he is nothing but hype. If he put in the ring with a decent fighter he'd be lucky to last two rounds.

The best thing he can do is fight a few more chumps, make as much money as he can and then retire, before he makes the mistake of fighting somebody half decent and getting really hurt.
Jim, England

Harrison should not be fighting as the main attraction on these cards. He is a six round novice, but by letting himself be top of the bill, he invites more attention, and people scrutinize his performances. It's hard to feel sorry for him.

After Lennox Lewis and then Jameel McCline knocked out Micheal Grant, Grant took some fights away from the limelight. Audley should swallow his pride and follow Grant's lead.
J Conway, N Ireland

Audley should be crushing these opponents. The very fact that these fighters are taking him to a points decisions raises worrying questions. It's all very well gaining the experience of distance fighting, but by the fifth round it should be a demolition of cataclysmic proportions.
Neil Dawoodarry, England

Audley talks about emulating Lennox Lewis, but I'm afraid I just cannot see it. Although it's early days yet, points victories over journeymen boxers do not point towards a world-class career. Even modest British heavyweights like Gary Mason were blowing away similar opposition in their first few fights.

The power, stamina and even more worryingly, the hunger just don't seem to be there. I think he'll win a British title, but as soon as he fights a world-class boxer, he'll be punished.
Chris Broadbent, UK

He is all hype but no bite and as much as I would love a Brit to achieve recognition for the country, I hope that Audrey sheds the superstar image he is carrying around. Frankly there is no killer instinct in the man.
Raj, UK

I have been very disappointed with Harrison's performances. He was billed with so much hope and promise but on the evidence of his professionals fights so far I doubt he will every be heavyweight champion of the world.
Sandra Edney, Rochester, Kent

It is far too early in his professional career to make a judgement. I wonder how many people could have confidently predicted that Lennox Lewis would be a world champion after five or six pro fights. The only thing we know is that he is Olympic Champion and that means he has the potential to be world champion one day, but give him time.
Simon Conrich, Chesterfield

When are people going to start backing Audley? It makes me sick that we have a genuine prospect with pedigree and the UK public and press want to knock him?
Matt Nash, UK

I think the critics should give Audley Harrison a break. Although he isn't exactly setting the world on fire he is steadily improving and has won each of his six fights relatively easily. However I do feel it is time he faced up to some of the bigger boys because time is not on his side.
Trucks, UK

Audley has obviously got skills, enough to take to the top of the amateur game. I just don't think he's got the time to achieve anything like the same as Lennox Lewis. He would no doubt be troubled by anyone in the British top ten although, in time, he has got a chance to go on and win a plastic world title like the WBU.
Rich Budgen, England

Audley's current position flatters him somewhat, he is currently being fed chumps & still struggling against them. I'm afraid for all Audley's boasting etc, he just hasn't got it. For a man of his size his lack of punching power is embarrassing. He doesn't seem able to keep up sustained pressure on a fighter.

I fear once he steps up in class he will be shown for what he is, an average technical fighter who had his 15 minutes of fame as an amateur. His chin is far to exposed & without that big punch to get him out of trouble as Bruno had he will always be remembered as a gold medallist.

Let's all get behind Danny Williams a fighter who has a realistic chance of lifting a heavyweight crown.
Allan, UK

It doesn't look like it at the moment. However - he is doing things the right way. He hasn't been pressured into taking on bigger fights and is doing things his own way. He's being patient - so the public need to be patient too.
Mark, England

I've watched all of Audley's fights and each one has shown progression. However he needs to learn how to punch with power and accuracy. To become a serious contender, he needs to improve in the punching department. I think the media are very harsh to him as he is receiving too much criticism and not enough praise. Keep up the good work Audley
Shueng, Crewe, England

If you compare the career of Audley Harrison to that of Lennox Lewis there is a great difference. At 30 Audley is still finding it hard to light up boxing at national level and still hasn't really had a high profile fight against a big name yet. He then has to try break into international level which takes a lot of time which he is rapidly running out of.

Lennox Lewis won his first European title at the age of 25 and won his first world title at the age of 27. At 30 Audley only has an Olympic medal to show for it and if he doesn't hurry up that is all he will finish with.
Michael Morton, England

Unfortunately the man has no talent, is too old and will never make a championship contender. He is far to slow and struggles to box now for just six rounds with complete no hopers. He is living in fairy land
Jerimia, UK

If Audley Harrison wants to avoid the tag that haunted Bruno for years of fighting bums (and he's a lot older than Bruno was at the time), he's going to have to risk a step up in class from fighting bouncers like Arthur Negus.
Jamie, England

Whilst there is no doubt over Harrison's boxing skills, he lacks the punching power to trouble the better heavyweights. If he cannot knock out bums like Negus, he will surely struggle against recognised heavyweights.
Henderson Gill, UK

Audley is too easy to hit. He is being caught by fighters of limited ability. Negus is a basically a pumped up cruiser weight and Audley couldn't take him out. He becomes lazy during his bouts and needs to box behind his jab (as Lewis does so well).

I may be being unfair but by winning Olympic gold Audley is in good company (Ali, Holmes, Lewis). He needs a drastic improvement if he is to win the world title and emulate these great names.
Paul, UK

He's left it far too late to turn pro. While he's still struggling his way through six-rounds against relative nobodies, pros only three or four years older than him are considering retirement.

If he continues at this rate, then by the time he's worked his way up to fighting real opposition over 12 rounds, he'll be too old to be a serious contender. If he tries to rush things and go to a higher level more quickly, his inexperience will result in him being destroyed by the first decent fighter he meets.
Alan, UK

I really don't like him at all; both his boxing and his attitude really annoy me. He has never fought anyone who is a big threat to him yet. Until he beats a great fight like Tyson or Lewis then I don't think he is really that good at all.
Richard Irvine, Scotland

What a pathetic performance! He wants to be world champion but is showing no potential. His punching power is lacking, his chin looked suspect and he moans a lot. The multiple low blows didn't make Negus complain. Credit to Negus - and what a good head butt - if only he maintained that aggression he would have won!
Mal, Wales

I went to the fight last night and was most unimpressed. Audley fought very unconvincingly. Negus was hungrier for the fight and wasn't put off by Audley's weak jabs and gangly combinations.

He looked fit but unsure of what to do with his height advantage or reach. Neither of them won, it was pretty even in that respect, but had to be given to Audley as he is the prodigy for the future of British boxing. Overall a boring fight with a predictable outcome. I'm sorry to say but I think England will have to look elsewhere for their next champion hopeful.
Julian Morris, England

Audley's bad-tempered and rather insulting post match interview must have lost him even more friends. Negus wouldn't have been forced to start brawling if Harrison hadn't hit him with a succession of low blows.
Harold Shand, UK

Audley has always said that he has a plan and so far he has executed that plan. We must remember that he had a career threatening injury and has had to battle back up to fitness. His opponents have been varied, but all this is experience.

Despite people's opinions, they always expect him to win and I believe his flashes of brilliance and fitness can only improve. Lennox is boxing at his best at 36 so let's get behind Audley and stop trying to do everything to put him down. People love to watch him box, they talk about the fights and this is all good publicity. If it wasn't for Audley, what fights would we be watching and debating?
Paul, UK