Audley Harrison British professional boxer Date of Birth: 26.10.1971 Country: Great Britain

1. Audley Harrison: Olympic Champion and Professional Boxer
2. Early Life and Amateur Career
3. Olympic Success and Recognition
4. Professional Career
5. American Dominance and Return to England
6. Title Defenses and Losses
7. Later Career and Current Status

Audley Harrison: Olympic Champion and Professional Boxer

Audley Harrison is a British professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division. He is best known for his Olympic gold medal in the super heavyweight division (over 91 kg) at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Harrison was born in 1971 in a suburb of London. He began boxing at an early age at the Repton Amateur Boxing Club in Bethnal Green. In 1997, he won the British heavyweight title by defeating Nick Kendall. He successfully defended his title the following year against Dean Redmond. That same year, Harrison also won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, knocking out Michael Macquae in the first round.

Olympic Success and Recognition

At the 2000 Olympics, Harrison continued his winning streak, earning another gold medal after defeating Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov of Kazakhstan. He was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his Olympic achievement.

Professional Career

In 2001, Harrison signed a £1 million contract with the BBC, becoming the first British boxer to sign such a deal in the sport's history. His professional debut was a victory over Michael Middleton, who failed to survive the first round. Over six million viewers tuned in to watch the fight.

Harrison continued to rack up victories throughout the early 2000s, including wins over Derek McCafferty, Shawn Robinson, Rob Calloway, and others. He also attempted to arrange a bout with former world champion Frank Bruno, but the fight never materialized.

American Dominance and Return to England

Harrison relocated to the United States and notched up eleven consecutive victories, with eight coming by knockout. In November 2003, Ring Magazine named him the world's dominant heavyweight. After three more wins in the US, Harrison returned to England in 2003 and defeated previously undefeated Richel Hersisia by knockout in round 4.

Title Defenses and Losses

Harrison successfully defended his title twice, first against Julius Francis and then against Tomasz Bonin via a technical knockout. In 2005, he returned to the US and secured two more wins. However, his career took a turn when he lost to Danny Williams and later to Dominick Guinn.

Later Career and Current Status

Following his loss to Michael Sprott in 2007, Harrison's career declined. He exacted revenge on Sprott in 2010, winning by knockout in the final round. Currently, Harrison is in negotiations for a WBA title fight with David Haye.