Why is Deontay Wilder fighting 41 year old Fraudley Harrison?

[Tom Cruise]

Price took a lot of stick for fighting Harrison not so long ago. He's won a Prizefighter recently.. but as fun as Prizefighter is..its not at a very high standard.

The crazy thing , is that Harrison will be the best name on Wilders resume. I wouldn't say its much of a fight, but if Wilder wins it will make him more well know to the casual Boxing fans over here. Since the fight is in the UK.

I reckon this has to be the main reason. GB heavyweight scene has some good and marketable fighters atm (Haye, Fury, Chisora, and if Price can string some wins together a fight with him and Wilder would definitely turn heads) and getting Wilder known over here could help market those fights in the future.

[White_Knight]

The fact is Audley is one of the best journeymen in the world. Once you beat Audley your journeymen days are behind you, and you start fighting contenders.

[Barry Halls]

Because it's a step up i guess? Audley is better than those guys Deontay have beaten.

Also people seem to think Audley is good all of a sudden for winning a 3 round tournament which is basically the new amateur boxing.

[BostonGuy]

This is what people think everytime Audley wins damn prizefighter. He's pretty decent, but when he steps up its a totally different guy. He's done this so many times now.

Fighters are judged by how good or bad they looked in their last fight. IMO Audley looked rejuvenated and comfortable as he boxed in the Prizefighter tourney. You have to take that into account. Wilder is still in the building up phase in his career and, judging Audley by his last performance, this is a decent fight.

I'm the first to criticize Wilder for his poor opposition but I can't get overly critical here. Wilder's management is looking to secure a high profile opponent this year as evidenced by their offers to Tony Thompson for a summer bout; they couldn't get him so this is a good stay busy fight.

There's nothing wrong with this fight.

[BattleAxePurist]

This is the easiest step-up fight available and it opens him up to UK market

[Cuban Linx]

Why not? It's a legitimate step up from the Kelvin Price's of the world.

Audley is a decent gate keeper. He'll be Wilder's best opponent.

[mathed]

Wilder is a bum fraud, who fights tomato cans. He would lose to anyone in the top 25 at hw.

[bojangles1987]

Audley is a big step up. It will be interesting to see how that goes.

[Rockin']

Tyson Fury is a horribly inept fighter, once he fights somebody with a pulse his joy ride is over! Isn't he the guy that punched himself in the face while throwing an uppercut?................ Rockin'

[Sparked_26]

Audley is a 6'5 Southpaw with good skills who can ****.

The man shits himself though. There is no more succinct way of summing up his failures in the ring.

I wouldn't be surprised if Wilder destroys him in under a minute. I also wouldn't be surprised if Audley actually won.