Comments Thread For: Mcguigan: Harrison Has a Shot To Beat David Haye

[paulf]

I dont think Audley needs the payday, he's been a millionaire since the moment he went pro. Still this a good fight for English fans, and I'd like to see it IF HAYE WASNT BEING SUCH A ***** AND AVOIDING WLAD AFTER HE CALLED WLAD OUT. ****.

[BattlingNelson]

I don't think that's the case at all.

I think that Audley might be more well known by the average sportsfan in Britain than Wladimir Klitschko. I could be wrong though. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[Ray*]

I think that Audley might be more well known by the average sportsfan in Britain than Wladimir Klitschko. I could be wrong though. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Actually you're not wrong! Its sad really but Audley Harrison is more known over here than Wladimir.

[Ravens Fan]

Fraudley's record can't be compared with Radamacher, he's lost to too many journeymen. If Fraudley had got a title shot on his pro debut, there would have been far less criticism than if he gets one now, not long after losing to a taxi driver; with four losses, all to journeymen, in all; and without a single performance since he turned pro in which he looked even close to world class.

In any case, Dan Rafael's comment is completely valid. Patterson was not taking the Radamacher fight in preference to a unification against the generally recognised lineal champion whom he had been calling out for two years, and who had offered him a 50/50 split with no options. So the comparison simply doesn't wash.

Wow, you missed my point and you are way off in left field and when did I compare anything? Just to make it clear I was talking about Olympic Heavyweight fighters getting title fights in general and in no way was a comparing Haye's choice. I was only pointing out the absurdity of Radamacher getting a shot at the title in his pro debut simply because he was the Olympic champ. And if your opinion is that Harrison is in someway less deserving than old Pete than that is fine. All I can say is at least Harrison has been fighting in the pros for a few years and did manage to win the European title and he still should not be fighting for a title just neither should have old Pete. But with me the bottom line is I believe Harrison has about as much of a right to be fighting for a belt as Albert Sosnowski did. And I have to ask did you find as much fault with that fight?

[Ravens Fan]

The quote from McGuigan seems completely unambiguous to me - he's blaming the Klitchkos. I, too, liked McGuigan as a fighter and in general I like him as a commentator, but he does tend to be very biased in favour of British fighters, and that quote is pure nuthuggery as far as I'm concerned. Just because I like someone doesn't mean I shouldn't criticise them when they say dumb things. It seems to me that when you like someone, you give are willing to give them a pass when you normally wouldn't, because that quote was just indefensible as far as I'm concerned.

I still say you are reading to much into it or at least what is in written in this article. Because in all honesty I have no idea how big of a British nut huger Barry is but I just don't see it in this article. The Klit brothers tried to negotiate with Haye and it did not work out because Haye showed his true colors. And by anyone's definition I believe that would be considered a failure. They tried and Haye ran so they failed.

[Dave Rado]

But with me the bottom line is I believe Harrison has about as much of a right to be fighting for a belt as Albert Sosnowski did. And I have to ask did you find as much fault with that fight?

Who was Vitali ducking in order to fight Sosnowski?

I did criticise him, but far less strongly than I criticise Haye, because as far as I'm concerned he wasn't ducking anyone in order to take that fight. He didn't fight Sosnowski in preference to Valuev. He made Valuev a very good offer and Valuev turned it down. Plus there was far less notice in which to get a credible replacement for Valuev when the negotiations broke down, because he wanted to fight within 2 months - whereas Haye doesn't plan to fight until November.

[Dave Rado]

Wow, you missed my point and you are way off in left field and when did I compare anything? Just to make it clear I was talking about Olympic Heavyweight fighters getting title fights in general and in no way was a comparing Haye's choice. I was only pointing out the absurdity of Radamacher getting a shot at the title in his pro debut simply because he was the Olympic champ.

I agree that was absurd, but I've heard of Olympic champs getting shots on their débuts, or before they've fought anyone meaningful but while still unbeaten; but I've never heard of former Olympic champs who have already lost several fights to journeymen, and who are already past their prime, getting a shot. My point is that when Harrison had just turned pro, most people were willing to believe that he could possibly be a future world champion, whereas he's now clearly a journeyman. Therefore if he'd been given a world title shot on his début, while that would have been absurd, it wouldn't have been as absurd as giving him a title shot now.

Plus back in Patterson's day, there wasn't the same disparity between the amateur and professional game that there is now. A far higher proportion of Olympic champions did well in the pros in those days than is the case today, because amateur boxing is almost a different sport from the professional game now, whereas they used to be pretty much the same sport back then.

[Dave Rado]

Actually you're not wrong! Its sad really but Audley Harrison is more known over here than Wladimir.

Among the general population, I agree - but among real sports fans? Really? Certainly not among boxing fans, I'd have thought. Or rather, I should say that they're equally well known as each other among boxing fans over here, but I doubt there are many boxing fans in the UK who don't realise that Fraudley isn't anywhere near world class, and I'd have thought that most UK boxing fans would rather see Haye fight one of the Klitchkos. And it's mostly boxing fans who will buy the PPV, or attend the fight live, rather than the general population, surely?

[Gypsy John Fury]

Harrison would get stopped early. No question.

[LeadUppercut]

I can't believe people like Barry McGuigan are now saying Fraudley deserves a shot at a world title because he was a olympic gold medalist. This fight is obviously going to happen, it's a joke!

I have to agree with you..... it is looking more likely that this fight will happen.

I was discussing this with a friend last night, who offered some justification.....
* You telling me that Fraudley has less chance than Marquez did against Floyd?
* You telling me that Fraudley has less chance than Clottey did against Manny?

" The Marquez fight wasn't even for a title, it was a joke that Marquez went up two weight divisions to fight Floyd. It was nothing more than an exhibition match, so how is this any different? "

While I conceded that I could see his point, it's just not the same to me.

I admit that the JMM/May fight was more of an exhibition match than this fight, what with there being no title at stake, and with Marquez being a career featherweight who was jumping up from lightweight. But at least Marquez was a current champion who was still relevant to boxing at that stage.

Whereas Harrison does not leap into contention ahead of world class heavyweights by beating a couple of local guys at 38 years of age. Upsets to boot. This is a bit of a joke if you think about it.

It's just a payday for Haye and Harrision, which is fine, everybody is entitled to a tune-up or a stay-busy fight.

Haye has indicated that he will only fight for another year-or-so..... as long as he ends up in a unification bout before he retires, then fine by me.