Audley gets a shark warning

13 April 2012

Audley Harrison was warned today that the Great Whites lurking off the coast of Australia are toothless tiddlers compared with the human sharks who infest the world of professional boxing.

London's Olympic gold medallist could earn millions by shedding his amateur status and exploiting his Sydney triumph. But in the wake of Harrison's comprehensive points victory over rival super- heavyweight finalist Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov of Kazakhstan, two of the sport's most influential personalities warned Harrison of the potential hazards.

Frank Maloney, who managed 1988 Olympic gold medal winner Lennox Lewis to the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world, said: "There are a lot of pitfalls awaiting Audley in the professional game. There is always a danger that certain people will try to exploit him. That is why he needs to ensure he has a good team around him."

That was a view endorsed by former undisputed world champion Evander Holyfield, who was ringside as southpaw Harrison became the first British fighter to win an Olympic championship since Chris Finnegan in Mexico 32 years ago.

"It was a great performance," Holyfield said. "Harrison did what he had to do."

But the American underlined the difference between boxing as an amateur over four two-minute rounds and contesting 12 gruelling three-minute rounds as a seasoned professional.

"The two things are entirely different," he said. "The pros are a different world and he'll be fighting some big guys. It will take a lot of hard work if Harrison wants to become heavyweight champion. For him, it has only just begun."

By ominous coincidence Holyfield is closely connected to Don King, the American manager and promoter notorious for the manner in which he continues to exploit boxing and those associated with the professional game.

Lewis, the Londoner who defends the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles against Samoan slugger David Tua in Las Vegas next month, has been careful to distance himself from King and other controversial power-players.

According to Maloney, 28-year-old Harrison could now do worse than model himself on Lewis, whose carefully banked earnings from boxing are estimated to exceed £45 million.

Maloney said: "Audley wants to retain control of his own destiny. That is fine, it is what Lennox has done and his success is there for all to see. But like Lennox, Audley needs the right team about him. He has to give certain responsibilities to people who know what they are doing."

Maloney admits he and his new partner, top promoter Frank Warren, will be making a bid for Harrison's signature on a long-term contract. He said: "Anyone worth their salt will be pitching for him. But there are no two people more qualified in Britain to do this project than the two Franks. We know what it takes to produce a world champion. Our track record speaks for itself."

Like Lewis, Maloney believes 6ft 5ins Harrison must place his future in the hands of people he can trust. Many of his business and marketing interests are already handled by Octagon, the sports agency which also has tennis player Anna Kournikova on its books.

But Maloney said: "He will also need a good training team, and he will need first class sparring. Most crucially, Audley must ensure that whoever he goes with recognises that the most important member of the team is the fighter.

"Audley has to set himself a five-year timetable to become world heavyweight champion. British boxing needs a new star, and it might have found it in Audley Harrison."

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