by Johnny Walker
Rising British heavyweight sensation David Price knocked out a hapless and totally washed up Audley “A-Force” Harrison today to retain his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles in front of an estimated 9000 fans at the Echo Arena in Price’s hometown of Liverpool.
After a brief feeling out period, Price hurt Harrison with the first right hand he landed, and it was obvious that the fight would never make it out of round one. Not wasting any time, Price launched a flurry that ended with a concussive right hand to the face and Harrison was knocked out at 1:22 of the first round.
While the 6’8″ tall Price is an exciting, relatively young heavyweight with spectacular power, it’s hard to give him too much credit for this performance. At age 41, Harrison really had no business being in the ring with Price, or in any boxing ring anywhere: he appears to have no punch resistance left.
Still, Price did what he had to do, and did it quickly.
Surely this is the last the boxing world will see of Audley Harrison, though that may be wishful thinking. The fighter had indicated that this bout was his “last chance saloon”; what it really appeared to be was one last payday.
After the fight, Price’s promoter Frank Maloney challenged Price’s UK rival and fellow giant Tyson Fury to “quit talking on Twitter” and fight his charge for half a million English pounds.
An irate Fury later responded between rounds of another fight, saying of Price, “I’ll fight you any day of the week … it’s personal between you and me, you’re a big stiff … and I’ll fight your gay lover [British light heavyweight] Tony Bellew between rounds.”