Boxing Weights And Quotes: Michael Sprott vs. Audley Harrison 2

Michael Sprott has vowed to send Audley Harrison into retirement. Sprott fights Harrison tonight for the vacant European Heavyweight Championship at the Alexandra Palace in north London.

Harrison has admitted this is his last chance for glory and said he will quit boxing if he fails to win. “Harrison’s 38 so he isn’t going to improve any more and I’m going to make sure he will lose,” said Sprott.

“It’s an opportunity not just for him but for me – and has come at the right time as he’s 38 but I’m only 35. I have more years left but he’s 38 and when you get to a certain age there’s nothing you can do to improve.

“Is he a man of his word? I don’t know. At the moment he’s just talking and he says he will retire and maybe he will do. I’ve been doing this sport for a long time, since I was 13, but he started in his 20s so it’s all about experience.”

Sprott believes Harrison has not achieved enough after he won an Olympic gold medal in 2000.

“In the first couple of fights he did ok but he has not produced the goods as people who have done well in the Olympics have done before like Lennox Lewis. Now he’s fighting for the European title but it has taken him a long time and for me he should’ve done it a long time ago.”

Harrison, who weighed in today at 17st 12lb 4oz, more than one stone heavier than Sprott at 16st 9lb 12oz, insisted he would use his Olympic experience to win the European belt.

“At the Olympics you had to keep winning to move on to the next level and I did that by winning the gold medal,” said Harrison. “If I can’t beat Michael then there will be no more levels I can move to if I want to achieve my goal – to become a world champion.

“Michael Sprott thinks he can do what he do what he did last time and he’s also fighting in memory of his beloved sister who passed away so I know he’s coming in with a lot of emotion, strength and confidence.

“But the guy he will be meeting is ready for whatever he brings and I know my skill, talent, hunger and dedication.

“The result is going to be Audley Harrison – victory. It could be a knockout but that depends on how brave Michael Sprott is. But he will be taking a lot of punishment and whatever he brings I’ll have an answer and be ready for it. I’m going to go through Michael Sprott like a steam train.”

12 x 3 mins – Vacant European Heavyweight Championship

Audley Harrison (17st 12lb 4oz) v Michael Sprott (16st 9lb 12oz)

12 x 3 mins – Vacant European Middleweight Championship

Darren Barker (11st 5lb 7oz) v Affif Belghecham (11st 6lbs)

Tickets for the Harrison v Sprott clash on April 9 cost £30 and £60 and are available from www.seetickets.com or 0871 230 7148