Krence will not be another fall guy

Richard Poxon, who trains Krence in the same Sheffield gym where Clinton Woods is preparing to challenge fighting legend Roy Jones Jnr, backs his man.

"If I were Harrison's people I wouldn't have taken this fight at this stage in his career," he said.

So, having over-estimated the quality of the first four men to tackle the Olympic champion, have Harrison's management under-estimated the threat posed by Krence?

If they had done their research properly, they would have known that Krence was an England international who twice fought through to the ABA finals, winning the cruiserweight-title in 1999. The following year he turned professional and, to date, Krence has had 11 fights. He has won every one, most recently just nine days ago when he outpointed Gary Williams in his hometown of Chesterfield.

Dennis Hobson, Krence's manager, didn't spot anyone from Harrison's camp in the audience. So they might not know that Krence easily won every round against an opponent with more than 50 fights to his name.

In fact, Harrison should have at least some inkling about his rival because the two men sparred last year. What did Krence learn from the experience? He smiled as he recalled: "That Harrison's a big bloke!" In girth, maybe, but not in height. Krence will be able to look 6ft 5ins Harrison in the eyes, and he will go into the ring fortified by the knowledge that, at 26, he is a handy four years younger than Harrison.

"Harrison's good, he caught me a couple of times," said Krence, who has never been decked as an amateur or a pro. "But he didn't hurt me."

In return it is unlikely that Krence will hurt Harrison, for what he lacks is power. All but two of his 11 fights have gone the distance, but that record may have lulled Harrison's management into a false sense of security.

Hobson revealed: "I said to them 'Mark isn't going to hurt Audley, is he?' And I pointed out that his unbeaten record would give Audley credibility. I sold the fight to them."

Tomorrow marks the halfway point in Harrison's 10-fight contract with the BBC that is reported to have boosted his bank balance by £1 million, but he may have bought a bundle of trouble. Krence recently outpointed Luke Simpkin, who held former British heavyweight champion Julius Francis to a draw.

Krence said: "Harrison keeps going on about how he is going to become world champion. For now, the British title will do for me. Winning a Lonsdale Belt would mean more to me that any world title.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to shock the boxing world."