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Last night on a Goosen – Tutor card from the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California, two heavyweight boxers saw their career trajectories cross paths. Ex-hot prospect Dominick Guinn climbed back into serious contender status by sending former promising British Olympic Gold Medallist Audley Harrison further into the tailspin started by fellow Englishman Danny Williams. Guinn overcame sizable height, weight and reach disadvantages to post a unanimous decision over a reluctant Harrison as described by this exclusive round by round coverage, only on SaddoBoxing.com!
Round one: The start to this do or die heavyweight contest begins with Dominick Guinn coming right out of the gate and throwing a jab, straight combination that fails to land but succeeds in moving Audley Harrison backwards. Both fighters move to the outside and scout each other out while Harrison, a southpaw, keeps his right hand out in front of him to keep Guinn on the outside. Guinn throws his second combo of the fight a minute into the round, and it’s another lunging jab, straight combo, that falls short of Audley’s chin. Harrison hasn’t thrown anything other than pawing jabs thus far. However, the shorter, stockier Guinn is staying on the outside and has yet to make a real effort to get inside.
True to the recent reputations of both fighters, the first round is proving to be anything but a crowd pleaser. Guinn makes his first effort to get on the inside with thirty seconds left in the round, landing a straight right hand to the body before a clinch. Harrison throws his first meaningful punch of the round right before the bell tolls, a straight left hand that misses over the top.
Round two: After an expectedly uneventful first round, Guinn starts round two by landing a lunging straight hand that sends Audley backwards and then follows that up with a pair of hooks to the body. Harrison’s jab really isn’t deterring Guinn from coming inside, instead Audley is using it to try and line up his straight left, which he has yet to unleash in the round. Guinn is getting inside whenever he wants, but isn’t working much, instead choosing to throw a couple of hooks to the body and move back outside. Two minutes into the round, Harrison finally starts stiffening his jabs and for the first time in the fight is throwing his straight left with regularity, although isn’t landing. The round closes with Guinn on the outside and neither doing a whole lot of anything.
Round three: The third frame of this meaningful heavyweight fight starts with Guinn jabbing and as has been the case for the first two rounds, Audley keeping his hands in front of his face and watching Guinn without throwing. The American fighter throws lunging 1-2 combinations but fails to connect on anything. The fight goes back to the outside where Harrison once again shoots that slow, lazy jab that isn’t in the least bit effective. This fight is staying true to what experts predicted from the start and that is boring. Guinn seems content staying on the outside, fending off Audley’s jabs while Harrison just isn’t throwing punches. The boos from the crowd settle in as the round comes to a close.
Round four: Neither fighter looks to have even broken a sweat yet. Harrison comes out jabbing but is still allowing Guinn to get inside at will. Harrison has been working at a snail’s pace thus far and Guinn isn’t working much more, allowing himself to be pushed outside every time he gets inside. However, he is doing good bodywork this fight, particularly in this round. With about twenty seconds left in the round, Guinn eats a straight left from Harrison but continues to move forward, where he gets hit with a right uppercut. Most of Harrison’s work in the fight has been done in the closing seconds of each round and round four is no exception.
Round five: After a solid finish to the previous round, Audley tries to build off that success by firing the jab but is almost immediately caught with a straight right hand. Guinn stumbles Harrison and gets on the inside. “The Southern Disaster” goes to work on the head, shooting uppercuts that don’t appear to be landing. Guinn lands a short left hook that sends Audley backwards. Guinn builds on that success and once again leans on Harrison, where he fires more uppercuts; these snap Harrison’s head back and appear to be having an effect on the towering Englishman. The fight goes back to the outside with about a minute left and the actions drops off from there. Harrison still hasn’t worked the jab into his game plan, already halfway through the fight.
Round six: Guinn starts the sixth by shooting a lunging straight right hand that fails to land. The first half of the round takes place entirely on the outside with neither fighter is throwing anything other then Audley’s pawing jab. Guinn finally gets inside, but still isn’t doing much of anything. The veteran is really just a sitting duck right now and Audley takes advantage of that by landing a big left uppercut that backs Guinn off of him. The fighters go back to the outside, where the pace once again slows down. Harrison lands a stiff jab with about ten seconds left. This was the slowest round of the fight by far, but a round that Harrison probably won.
Round seven: Dominick Guinn looks to have slowed down a lot while Audley is showing flashes of his jab, keeping his rival on the outside for the first half of the round. Guinn is most successful when providing pressure and does so about halfway through the round where he lands a big right uppercut. Audley steps back, taunts Guinn before his mouthpiece falls out. Guinn tries to capitalize by lunging forward with the straight right hand and manages to land another big uppercut with Harrison’s teeth exposed. Audley comes off the break popping the jab and keeps Guinn on the outside for the remainder of the round. So far through the seventh round, this fight is very reminiscent of the Audley Harrison – Danny Williams bout.
Round eight: Audley looks to have a very casual attitude about this fight. He’s not fighting like a man who has his back to the wall despite finding himself in just that predicament. Guinn starts round eight by landing a lead left hook and a stiff jab. Audley comes back and puts together a combination of punches from the outside, all of which land on the gloves of Guinn. As the fight has gone on, Guinn has been more and more active on the inside. However, Harrison is getting the better of the two on the inside this round, landing a left hook that forces Guinn outside. Guinn comes back at the forty second mark with an uppercut that rocks Audley. Harrison steps back, drops his hands, taunting Guinn and is promptly caught with a straight right hand that gets the crowd on their feet. However, Harrison recovers and manages to shoot an uppercut of his own at the round’s closing but fires short.
Round nine: Inactivity has been the theme of this fight so far, especially for Harrison who has done next to nothing on the outside. Guinn lands the first significant combo of the fight halfway through the first minute, stepping forward with hooks that land, forcing Harrison to step backwards. Guinn’s work rate has really picked up as the fight has drawn on, landing a big left hook to the body with forty seconds left in the round. Guinn goes outside but comes right back right back with the left to the body as the ninth closes.
Round ten: The tenth and final round opens with a left hook to the body for Guinn as he is looking to finish the contest during the last three minutes. Audley finally lets his hands go a minute into the round, landing a pair of right uppercuts that forces Guinn to the outside. Guinn comes back with a straight right hand that lands just before a Harrison slip. Harrison gets off the canvas and fires away to the body of Guinn, capping it off with an uppercut that sends the shorter man to the ropes. Harrison pounces on Guinn and both go to battle on the inside.
Audley lands solidly to the body with a series of uppercuts but Guinn comes right back with a short left hook that looks to have rocked Harrison. The fight gets back to the center of the ring where both fighters put their hands in the air. Guinn sneaks in a straight right hand while Harrison is exposed. Round ten was an exciting end to an otherwise boring fight but Guinn controlled most of the rounds and the decision reflects that.
Dominick Guinn wins a lopsided unanimous decision via scores 98-92 and 97-93 (twice) to improve to 26-3-1 (16). Audley Harrison suffers his second consecutive loss, dropping to 19-2 (14).
