by J. Walker
Fired up by an unshakeable belief in himself that almost no-one else in the boxing world seems to share, British heavyweight veteran Audley “A-Force” Harrison made yet another comeback of sorts today when he prevailed in the latest heavyweight edition of the Prizefighter boxing tournament held at the East End cathredral in London, England.
Harrison won his second Prizefighter, a gimmicky but entertaining round-robin tourney in which the winner must successfully navigate his way through three three-round fights. And the oft-scorned veteran, who has suffered through public humiliations against fighters from David Haye to David Price, pulled off this improbable stunt on a strange day in UK boxing when the latter David–said by many experts to be a successor to the world champion Klitschko brothers–fell via a second round TKO to American veteran Tony Thompson in Liverpool.
Harrison was noticeably slimmed down in comparison to recent fights–a development noted with approval by Haye, who was cheering him on at ringside–and seemed a rejuvenated man at Prizefighter.
First, “A-Force” dispensed with Danish heavyweight Claus Bertino in a mere 33 seconds, taking him out with a short left hand that left Bertino dazed and confused.
Next, Harrison took on Irish veteran Martin Rogan, who had battered former Vitali Klitschko victim Albert Sosnowski into submission in the final round of his initial bout. Rogan looked lost against Harrison, however, confused by his southpaw stance and sneaky left hands. Harrison prevailed easily to see Rogan off.
Finally, Harrison met up with American veteran Derric Rossy, who pulled off a big upset by taking out pre-tournament favorite and fellow American Travis Walker in his first fight of the night, gutting out another win over Britain’s Ian “Lay ‘Em Out” Lewison in the second.
Rossy entered into the championship fight already badly battered up by Lewison, and Harrison, who looked fresh as a daisy, took full advantage, knocking Rossy down in round one with a big left hand shot. Rossy had little left in round two, and when he hit the canvas again, the fight was called off, handing Harrison his second Prizefighter tournament win.
“I’m feeling great; my mojo is back,” the champion said after the fight, before lamenting the shock loss of “great prospect” and fellow Brit David Price in Liverpool.
“I’m ready to face my journey,” said the irrepressible Harrison, who now plans to continue his ever-evolving quest to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
An unlikely journey, perhaps, but one thing is for sure: Audley Harrison believes he can accomplish it.
Hey, he’s on a three-fight winning streak already!