Boxing News Boxing News
There was big attendance at the newly reconstructed Wembley Arena in London on Saturday night for the European Union Heavyweight title fight between reigning champion Michael Sprott and former Olympic Gold Medallist Audley “A Force” Harrison. Also on offer for the winner was the vacant English Heavyweight title.
The unpopular Harrison walked in to the ring as the challenger amidst a torrent of boos and jeers, despite being the local fighter in this matchup. Michael Sprott of Reading entered the ring alongside his manager Dean Powell.
Harrison towered above Sprott as they came together in the middle of the ring but the champion was unphased and, almost snarling, gave big Audley what was best described as a world class stare while referee Ian John-Lewis gave his instructions.
Sprott reluctantly extended a gloved hand after the referee insisted that “You don’t fight until you touch gloves”, but Harrison didn’t respond.
Round one started and Sprott’s plan was clearly to rough Harrison up and not allow him to work inside. It was a fairly busy first round with Harrison looking for the trademark uppercut that gained his victory over Danny Williams.
Sprott covers up well until with 40 seconds of the round to go, southpaw Harrison throws a right to the body followed by a left hook to the temple area of Sprott and the champion goes down to the canvas. Sprott is quick to recover and comes back with a barrage of punches to end the first round.
In the second round, Harrison is looking for the big left hand to finish the bout but Sprott is covering up tight and it’s a better round for him than the nearly disaterous first frame.
There’s a bit of showboating from Sprott in the first half minute of the third round as he teases Harrison. Sprott covers up, waiting patiently to pick his shot as he looks for the gap. Midway through the round, Sprott pushes Harrison off and goes to the body of his taller opponent, landing a low blow.
Harrison winces but referee Ian John-Lewis hasn’t seen the shot. In the closing 10 seconds of the round, Harrison’s chin is high in the air and Sprott capitalizes on that mistake by landing a left hook, which sends Audley falling heavily to the canvas.
The referee doesn’t bother to count as Harrison looks to be out cold and John-Lewis rushes to the fallen boxer’s aid aid. Harrison is on the canvas as Sprott and his team celebrate but later, as he sits back in his corner, he looks stunned by what has happened.
Michael Sprott is crowned the new Heavyweight Champion of England and retains his European Union title for the second time, improving to 30-10 (15).
Over the course of a ten years as a professional fighter, the 32 year old has faced the likes of Ruslan Chagaev, Corrie Sanders, Matt Skelton, Danny Williams, Paolo Vidoz and Timo Hoffman in contests for titles such as European, British, Commonwealth and regional WBA/WBO/WBF belts, but this win over Harrison must be considered the crowning glory of his up and down career.
Afterward, an excited Sprott admitted he’d “never thrown a better punch” and said that he wanted to rematch Matt Skelton next and go on to a world title opportunity. When asked if he’d give Harrison a rematch, Sprott said “No”, he wouldn’t be giving Audley another shot.
For 35 year old Audley Harrison, 21-3 (16), this disappointment may just be too much to come back from. “A Force” has bounced back from the brink before, after losing consecutive bouts to Danny Williams and Dominic Guinn in 2006, for example, but it remains to be seen whether or not he can pull his career out of the fire once again.
