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The man cruelly dubbed Fraudley confesses now that he has been ‘living a lie’ through many of the 12 professional years which have followed his winning of Olympic gold for Britain.
Now comes the moment of truth. Not the first in Audley Harrison’s career but probably the last.
Face to face: David Price and Audley Harrison at Anfield
By another of Harrison’s own admissions, the Liverpool Echo Arena should be temporarily re-named ‘The Last Chance Saloon’ tonight as he climbs into the ring to face an even larger heavyweight than himself.
At 6ft 8in, David Price stands three inches taller than Harrison. At 29, he is also 11 years younger.
As the local favourite, Price will have the added motivation of thousands of passionate Mersey- siders roaring on their world championship prospect.
As the local favourite, Price will have the added motivation of thousands of passionate Mersey- siders roaring on their world championship prospect.
Nor do many outsiders believe that Harrison, at 40 years old, can rise from the humiliating ashes of his one-punch surrender to David Haye, over-turn the odds and pound his way back into championship contention.
Confident: Price at the weigh in
There is no boxing logic to support such optimism. Only the outside chance that he might, by some miracle, land his big punch before Price connects with one of his mighty knockout blows.
Even that long shot is rendered a distant prospect by the seriousness with which Price is dignifying Harrison’s challenge for his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
As he approaches the 14th bout of his unbeaten but late-starting professional career, this courteous younger man says: ‘Audley has had his ups and downs but he will be the most dangerous opponent I have faced.’
That assessment depends upon Harrison summoning up more conviction than he displayed in what he concedes was a less than courageous performance against Haye two years ago.
Price expects him to do so, in the knowledge that Harrison can find a good measure of redemption even in defeat: ‘If he comes out fighting bravely and plays his part in a thriller he can go out with his head held high, even if I knock him out.
‘That has to be a big incentive. And I don’t allow myself to forget that Audley has always had a lot of talent.’ A glimpse of that ability resurfaced this May when Harrison knocked out Ali Adams, who was found to have been fortified by steroids and banned for two years.
Price presents a much more formidable obstacle. He won Olympic bronze eight years after Harrison’s gold and his dynamite right hand has flattened 11 of his 13 professional rivals thus far.
Harrison argues: ‘Yes, I ran from Haye but I will not allow myself to do that again. I have lived a lie by doing only what I thought was the minimum required for me to win.
Relaxed: Harrison shares a joke
‘This time I will give my all and leave everything I have in the ring. I know I have to make the best of this last chance to earn one final bid for a world title.’
Price, however, has not only grown into a more complete boxer but has shaken off doubts about the resilience of his chin. All while displaying phenomenal concussive power.
If Harrrison nerves himself to come out — and likely go down — fighting, he can regain his self-respect. I hope he does so.
The reality this evening is that Price should take another giant step towards a world title fight with Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko next year, with Harrison heading towards the sunset of retirement in his adopted California.
Also at Bluewater in Kent another of Britain’s former Olympic gold medallists, James DeGale, gets his career back on track under new promoter Mick Hennessy by defending his European super-middleweight title against Hadillah Mohoumadi.
Price v Harrison is live on Box Nation. DeGale-Mohoumadi is live on Channel 5.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2216901/David-Price-vows-Audley-Harrison-Anfield.html#ixzz299GZkyqi
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