By Frank Warren
Audley Harrison won the vacant European heavyweight title last weekend – straight after the fight he was calling out the Klitschko brothers.
Harrison’s career looked over going into the last round against Michael Sprott, a fighter who had lost seven of his last 12 fights.
But he pulled out a wonder punch to render the scorecards irrelevant.
He needed it to because I hear that no judge had given him more than three rounds.
Afterwards, Harrison said that he suffered a “lockdown” to the left-hand side of his body early in the fight.
I’m sure the injury was genuine, Audley always has an excuse for a poor performance, so who knows how serious the injury was! And until Sprott got careless and the knock out was landed it certainly was poor.
Talk has turned this week to Harrison facing either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko.
And someone claimed that Audley’s promoter, Barry Hearn, who’s Polish fighter Albert Sosnowski takes on Vitali in the summer might have two heavyweight world champions by the end of the year – yes and I suppose Leyton Orient will be in the Premiership next season too.
The facts are if Harrison gets in the ring with either of the Klitschkos, there won’t be any need for judges.
And the only lockdown he’ll be suffering is to his jaw. Audley against either of the Klitschko’s is a mismatch.
But before then the EBU have ordered Harrison to defend against Alexander Dimitrenko – so don’t be surprised if he vacates the title.
A far more likely scenario is for David Haye to step up to the plate and take on one of the Klitschkos.
Both camps have traded insults this week, and the Klitschkos seem desperate for the fight.
Now it's time for Haye and his promoters to decide if he is serious or not about facing the brothers.
He has pulled out of fights against each of them before - now it is put up or shut up.
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Andre Berto impressed in beating Carlos Quintana at the weekend in the States to retain his WBC welterweight title.
He could be a future opponent for Kell Brook - what a fight that would be. Talking of Kell, it’s looking increasingly likely that he will fight for the vacant WBO title later this year.
In more good news for our young prospects, Nathan Cleverly will get a shot at the interim WBO light-heavyweight crown.
That’s because full champion – and German bad boy - Jurgen Braemer has been sent to sentenced to a prison term – but he is appealing the verdict.
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Sad news for Sir Henry Cooper this week his twin brother, George, passed away. I’d like to send my condolences to Henry and his family.
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Stateside it appears that all that glitters not gold? Bernard Hopkins has announced that he’s out of contract with Golden Boy Promotions and is open to offers.
He also says that Shane Mosley is in a similar position.
“Put it out there, I am looking for any and all legitimate offers. I have not been under contract to Golden Boy since before the Pavlik fight. Shane Mosley (fighting Floyd Mayweather on May 1 under the GBP banner) is not under contract to Golden Boy, either," said Hopkins.
Hopkins says GBP are holding him back and not getting him fights,
That’s pretty embarrassing for GBP, as Hopkins - as well as Mosley - are ‘Vice Presidents’ of the organisation.
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Shane Mosley says that random drug tests are “great” after undergoing them ahead of his fight with Floyd Mayweather.
It’s a good job they didn’t have them a few years ago because Mosley – who was taking banned substances from Victor Conte’s BALCO - would never have fought!
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Bob Arum has just announced another big stadium show in the States - Yuri Foreman against Miguel Cotto at the Yankee Stadium in New York.
People keep saying boxing is dying in the States, yet the big fights, big gates and big pay-per-view keep on coming.
Talking of which, Timothy Bradley and Marcos Maidana - Amir Khan's mandatory challenger - will get it on in the States as well. That could prove a thriller as well.
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Legendary referee Arthur Mercante also passed away this week. Among the fights he took charge of was the awesome Ali-Frazier at Madison Square Garden.
