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In a fight widely ignored here in good old blighty, Olympic Gold Medallist Audley Harrison is back in action this coming Friday against Dominick Guinn on a Goosen – Tutor card from the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California. For Harrison, this is crunch time. After suffering his first professional defeat last December against Danny Williams, he simply must produce. After promising so much after Sydney 2000, his progress has been pedestrian to say the least.
With only one defeat in twenty, on paper Harrison’s record looks respectable enough but a closer inspection lists opponents either past their sell by date or bulked up cruiserweights. His one true test came four months ago against Danny Williams and in front of a nationwide TV audience, he simply didn’t produce and dropped a split decision.
In Guinn, Harrison meets a man who can also be accused of being lazy. At thirty years of age, he is four years younger than Audley. Guinn too is coming off a defeat, being out boxed by James Toney in October of last year. His overall record is 25-3, and Guinn is used to fighting people taller than him; look what he did to Michael Grant. So Harrison’s size shouldn’t intimidate Guinn.
Harrison, the former Olympic Champion, has undoubted quality. For his size he’s a quick man and has fast hands. The downside though is his unwillingness to get involved, which is what cost him against Williams. As an Olympic Champion much has been expected of him and I can’t help but think “what a waste”. In comparing his progress with Lennox Lewis, it doesn’t bode well for Audley. Lewis was British and European Champion within two years of turning pro and was World Champion after three years, in arguably a stronger division. Harrison has been a pro since 2001. His one title? The WBF heavyweight crown.
Come fight night what can we expect? For Harrison, this is a great opportunity to get back into the mix. I think Guinn is the perfect opponent for him to show his boxing skills and I think that Guinn will let him do just that.
I think Harrison wins this one on a decision. For his sake though, I hope its not a laboured one.
