Audley's next opponent is Mr Angry

13 April 2012

Audley Harrison's opponent tomorrow night has such a temper that he has sought help to keep it in check.

Fighters usually rely on a surfeit of natural aggression to help them get the better of their rivals, but Dominic Negus said: "The red mist comes down. I get aggravated very quickly."

Ask what makes the 31-year-old East Ender think he can upset an Olympic gold medallist, who is using this sixrounder as a stepping stone to greater glories, and he replies: "Because I'm the b******s?

"I'm not coming to fall over. What do you think I am, some mug or something?"

It was best not to pursue that line with a man who, in the past, has earned a living as a boxing hall security guard and as a doorman at nightclubs and bars.

When he was not making grand entrances of his own into the boxing ring, Negus was preventing unsavoury souls making their own grand entrances.

He always got the odd one who, fuelled by alcohol and knowing that Negus was a boxer, wanted to take him on. That is why he has become choosy about the company he keeps.

"You won't find me out and about very often now," said Negus, who will be Harrison's sixth professional opponent.

"If I go out, I go to certain places where everybody knows me and where people leave me alone. But boxing has never been a problem. Get me in the ring, and that's where I'm happiest."

Negus had a decent career as an amateur with the Five Star club in Romford, winning a North-East London Divisional title. As a pro, he twice claimed the Southern Area cruiserweight championship.

Typical of his nature, he

is regarded as a comeforward fighter who has scored seven wins inside the distance.

"That is why we've chosen him as Audley's next opponent," said Harrison's manager Colin McMillan. "Audley's last fight was against Mark Krence, who was a technical fighter. In Dominic we've got someone who will march straight forward and make this a tear-up."

Negus has now moved on from general security work to one-on-one minding for businessmen and celebrities including Claudia Schiffer.

But Negus would become a celebrity himself if he were to spring a surprise in front of a live audience on BBC television at Wembley Conference Centre.

"I'm not coming to this fight thinking it is going to be easy," he said. "But there are a couple of things we've seen in Harrison that we like and we'll look to exploit those tomorrow.

"He's a big fella, but I'm punching harder than ever and I'm certainly not going to embarrass myself on television. I expect to win."

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