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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: AUDLEY HARRISON
By James Alden
JA: Tell us what happened in the fight against Dominick Guinn? "There isn’t really much to talk about, the bottom line is that I didn’t do what I know I am capable of doing. I made some changes since my last fight, I moved to Miami to work with Buddy McGirt. In the fight with Dominick Guinn I had a good camp, but I never turned the corner and never eliminated the demons from the Danny Williams fight. I put in a sub par performance because the victory was there for me to take."
JA: Do you feel as though you didn’t let your hands go as much as you wanted to in the fight?
AH: Technically I wasn’t comfortable in the fight. Dominick and Joe Goosen had a great game plan and they did a nice job of disrupting my rhythm in the fight, I like to use my jab in the fight and the way he was moving. The way he was coming in I couldn’t pick up where he was going to be at, he did a nice job disrupting my rhythm. I came in real heavy in the fight, I came in at 265, I wasn’t quick enough in the fight. My rhythm was off and I didn’t feel comfortable at all during the fight.
JA: What is some of the changes you think that you need to make to be more successful in the heavyweight division?
AH: I am going to have a new head trainer in Buddy McGirt, right now I am down in Vero Beach working with him. Working with Buddy has already brought me to another level and I appreciate the way he trains me. Right now me and Buddy are working on the basics of fighting, I am no longer going to have a strength and conditioning coach. Everyday I am going to the gym and working on the basics, I have already dropped 10 pounds and I am going to come in the lightest I have been in my career.
JA: A lot of people may be writing you off Audley with your two back to back losses. Does that give you extra motivation to prove everyone wrong?
AH: Definitely. It’s not over till its over. Both of my losses hasn’t been because the guy is better than me, it’s just that I haven’t been able to apply myself yet. When I look at myself in the mirror I still have the hunger and desire, before I used to fight for the pride and the glory. Now I am fighting for justice and I am concentrating on just fighting. There is a hunger that is still burning inside of me and it is yearning for justice. It is not about me getting all the fame because when you win the fame will come to you. Right now I am paying the price; I am living in Vero beach living in a motel where I cook my own food. It has all been a breath of fresh air and I am enjoying getting back to basics.
JA: You’re fighting next week?
AH: [Cutting In] Yeah I am fighting next week Friday night in Atlantic City against Andrew Greeley. Andrew is a tough guy who is going to stay in there and give me some rounds.
JA: Can we expect to see a more offensive Audley Harrison this Friday night?
AH: You are going to see a much more composed Audley Harrison. In the Danny Williams fight I lost my composure in the fight and now you are going to see the composure back better than ever, and you are going to see my confidence back 100%. You are going to see a lot of things from Audley Harrison; you are going to especially see my big left hand. Everyone knows that I have a big left hand and with working with Buddy McGirt I am becoming more of a complete fighter.
JA: Is there anything that you would like to say in closing Audley?
AH: I am going to keep my eyes on the big prize. I want to give big ups to my management team in Al Haymon for getting me this opportunity. After I get this win this Friday night I am going to be back in the ring in August and get another victory over that guy.
By James Alden
JA: Tell us what happened in the fight against Dominick Guinn? "There isn’t really much to talk about, the bottom line is that I didn’t do what I know I am capable of doing. I made some changes since my last fight, I moved to Miami to work with Buddy McGirt. In the fight with Dominick Guinn I had a good camp, but I never turned the corner and never eliminated the demons from the Danny Williams fight. I put in a sub par performance because the victory was there for me to take."
JA: Do you feel as though you didn’t let your hands go as much as you wanted to in the fight?
AH: Technically I wasn’t comfortable in the fight. Dominick and Joe Goosen had a great game plan and they did a nice job of disrupting my rhythm in the fight, I like to use my jab in the fight and the way he was moving. The way he was coming in I couldn’t pick up where he was going to be at, he did a nice job disrupting my rhythm. I came in real heavy in the fight, I came in at 265, I wasn’t quick enough in the fight. My rhythm was off and I didn’t feel comfortable at all during the fight.
JA: What is some of the changes you think that you need to make to be more successful in the heavyweight division?
AH: I am going to have a new head trainer in Buddy McGirt, right now I am down in Vero Beach working with him. Working with Buddy has already brought me to another level and I appreciate the way he trains me. Right now me and Buddy are working on the basics of fighting, I am no longer going to have a strength and conditioning coach. Everyday I am going to the gym and working on the basics, I have already dropped 10 pounds and I am going to come in the lightest I have been in my career.
JA: A lot of people may be writing you off Audley with your two back to back losses. Does that give you extra motivation to prove everyone wrong?
AH: Definitely. It’s not over till its over. Both of my losses hasn’t been because the guy is better than me, it’s just that I haven’t been able to apply myself yet. When I look at myself in the mirror I still have the hunger and desire, before I used to fight for the pride and the glory. Now I am fighting for justice and I am concentrating on just fighting. There is a hunger that is still burning inside of me and it is yearning for justice. It is not about me getting all the fame because when you win the fame will come to you. Right now I am paying the price; I am living in Vero beach living in a motel where I cook my own food. It has all been a breath of fresh air and I am enjoying getting back to basics.
JA: You’re fighting next week?
AH: [Cutting In] Yeah I am fighting next week Friday night in Atlantic City against Andrew Greeley. Andrew is a tough guy who is going to stay in there and give me some rounds.
JA: Can we expect to see a more offensive Audley Harrison this Friday night?
AH: You are going to see a much more composed Audley Harrison. In the Danny Williams fight I lost my composure in the fight and now you are going to see the composure back better than ever, and you are going to see my confidence back 100%. You are going to see a lot of things from Audley Harrison; you are going to especially see my big left hand. Everyone knows that I have a big left hand and with working with Buddy McGirt I am becoming more of a complete fighter.
JA: Is there anything that you would like to say in closing Audley?
AH: I am going to keep my eyes on the big prize. I want to give big ups to my management team in Al Haymon for getting me this opportunity. After I get this win this Friday night I am going to be back in the ring in August and get another victory over that guy.
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