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European Union Heavyweight Champion Michael Sprott revealed today that he had been gagged by Audley Harrison to stop him spilling details of their sparring sessions.
Reading puncher Sprott defends his title against Harrison on February 17th at the Wembley Arena and would not 'confirm or deny' that he fractured the 2000 Olympic Champion's rib during a heated sparring session five years ago because he signed a confidentiality agreement.
But Sprott is confident he can cause a major upset by beating the on-form Harrison who got his career back on track with a destructive performance against Danny Williams last December.
"I can't really say anything about the sparring I did with Harrison or whether I broke his rib because I signed a confidentiality agreement before we sparred together," said Sprott.
"What I will say is that this is fantastic opportunity for me and I fancy it big time. I've fought against men as big as Harrison but that doesn't bother me because I have the punching power to cause damage. In the past I have had opportunities but have let myself down but I really fancy I can with this and I'm hungry for success."
Sprott's trainer Jim Evans was equally as cagey, he said, "I know what happened when they sparred together and lets just say that I believe that Michael would beat Harrison seven days out of seven if we kept him focused. Michael has been with since he was 15 and there have been times when he has not always realised how much ability he has. Now he has the time to prepare properly. We have the game plan and strategy to win and I honestly believe he has Harrison's number."
Promoter Frank Warren plans to match the winner against Commonwealth champion Matt Skelton with the winner of that fight going on to big world title fight in the Autumn.
Warren said, "Originally we tried to make the fight between Harrison and the British champion Scott Gammer but we couldn't temp Gammer to take it. But I think we now have a much better fight between Sprott and Harrison. Sprott fancies the job big time and this is a great opportunity for him, he has the experience of fighting the best in Britain and Europe and is well respected and I believe it is a more intriguing fight now. Harrison will have to prove that he is the best in Britain first before he says he wants to fight the best in the world. The winner will face Matt Skelton and then we will deliver a big world title fight to the winner of that to take place in Britain in the Autumn."
Reading puncher Sprott defends his title against Harrison on February 17th at the Wembley Arena and would not 'confirm or deny' that he fractured the 2000 Olympic Champion's rib during a heated sparring session five years ago because he signed a confidentiality agreement.
But Sprott is confident he can cause a major upset by beating the on-form Harrison who got his career back on track with a destructive performance against Danny Williams last December.
"I can't really say anything about the sparring I did with Harrison or whether I broke his rib because I signed a confidentiality agreement before we sparred together," said Sprott.
"What I will say is that this is fantastic opportunity for me and I fancy it big time. I've fought against men as big as Harrison but that doesn't bother me because I have the punching power to cause damage. In the past I have had opportunities but have let myself down but I really fancy I can with this and I'm hungry for success."
Sprott's trainer Jim Evans was equally as cagey, he said, "I know what happened when they sparred together and lets just say that I believe that Michael would beat Harrison seven days out of seven if we kept him focused. Michael has been with since he was 15 and there have been times when he has not always realised how much ability he has. Now he has the time to prepare properly. We have the game plan and strategy to win and I honestly believe he has Harrison's number."
Promoter Frank Warren plans to match the winner against Commonwealth champion Matt Skelton with the winner of that fight going on to big world title fight in the Autumn.
Warren said, "Originally we tried to make the fight between Harrison and the British champion Scott Gammer but we couldn't temp Gammer to take it. But I think we now have a much better fight between Sprott and Harrison. Sprott fancies the job big time and this is a great opportunity for him, he has the experience of fighting the best in Britain and Europe and is well respected and I believe it is a more intriguing fight now. Harrison will have to prove that he is the best in Britain first before he says he wants to fight the best in the world. The winner will face Matt Skelton and then we will deliver a big world title fight to the winner of that to take place in Britain in the Autumn."