“The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” Audley Harrison, after losing to David Haye
Well, the nightmare that unfolded at a riotous M.E.N. Arena on Nov. 13, 2010, in front of more than 20,000 rabid fight fans has finally come to an end for Audley Harrison.
After reviewing David Haye’s third-round destruction of Harrison and interviewing Great Britain’s 2000 Olympic gold medalist, the British Boxing Board of Control announced on Jan. 11 that it would release the reported £1.5million purse Harrison earned for challenging Haye, the World Boxing Association heavyweight champion.
The BBBC had held up Harrison’s purse for the past two months until all of its members could gather to replay the match and speak to the fighter about his apparent lack of effort against Haye during their championship fight.
The Board’s official statement read simply: “The stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control have accepted Harrison’s explanation and will not be taking the matter any further.”
The decision did meet with some grumbling.
A number of fans and pundits, including Sky Sports announcer and former featherweight king Barry McGuigan, had called for the BBBC to withhold Harrison’s entire purse.
"He (Harrison) landed one punch in nine minutes!" McGuigan told a national television audience at the conclusion of the Haye-Harrison telecast. "He never tried. And that's the story of his life."
In fact, reigning British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Derek Chisora, who challenges Wladimir Klitshko on April 30 for his World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation titles, insisted Harrison should leave the country.
“Harrison didn’t even go in there and try,” Chisora told Boxingscene.com back in November. “I can’t think of anything worse, especially when you are fighting for what is supposed to be the most treasured prize in sport – the heavyweight championship of the world. I’d never show my face again if I fought like that. It was pathetic.
“He disgraced himself and he disgraced British heavyweights,” Chisora added. “He shouldn’t get paid the reported million pounds he is earning after that shambles. He’s made British heavyweights a laughing stock around the world. The best thing Harrison can do for Britain and himself is to emigrate.”
Audley Harrison: ‘I would have gladly left the ring on a stretcher’
Meanwhile, Harrison, whose record fell to a still-respectable 27-5 following the loss, posted a note to boxing fans on his website on Nov. 15 insisting he cut no corners during training and did all he could to get himself both mentally and physically prepared for the bout.
“Ultimately, I didn’t get going and my game plan to take over the fight in the later rounds was extinguished by the power and speed of David Haye, who caught me clean around my guard,” Harrison explained. “If I wanted an easy way out, I would have stayed down from the knockdown. But I rose and the referee’s intervention saved me from a potentially bad knockout as David is a good finisher.
"I would have gladly left the ring on a stretcher as I wanted to work my way through it.”
But if McGuigan, Chisora and fans angry with the Brit’s performance thought they’d seen the last of the man they cruelly refer to as “Fraudley,” they were sadly mistaken. On Dec. 1, Harrison announced his decision to continue fighting in 2011.
“The outcry from the fight is expected," Harrison admitted. "The critics have once again tried to bury me under the rubble and hope I disappear. All I can say is I had a game plan and went into the ring to win. The way the fight ended was frustrating to me as I didn’t get going. I was just settling into my rhythm.”
But now that the book is finally closed on an event that gripped all of England, Harrison made it a point to thank Haye for giving him the opportunity to fight for the championship.
“I’m also glad we buried the bad blood between us,” Audley said in a statement to Haye on his website. “I wish you well in your attempts to unify the titles and you have my support."
As far as naming a future opponent, Harrison didn’t mention anyone specifically. Although a bout with Chisora would be a natural, assuming the Del Boy loses in his challenge to Wladimir Klitschko in April.
“Let the haters and negative comments continue,” Harrison insisted. “I don’t really care. I know me and I can sleep at night. I’m happy with who I am today. Yes, it hurts not to achieve your goals. But we roll up our sleeves and we try again.
“Such is the beauty of life.”
See Also (Part 1) Best of Enemies: David Haye Vows 'To Execute' Audley Harrison
See Also (Part 2) Best of Enemies: 'Karma is About to Smack David Haye in the Face'
See Also (Part 3) Best of Enemies: 'Knocking Out David Haye is my Destiny'
See Also (Part 4) Best of Enemies: David Haye Carries Harrison, KOs Audley in 3
