Harrison frustrated at lack of exposure
Audley Harrison is becoming frustrated by his inability to tie down a new deal with the BBC.
Harrison continues to insist he is not getting the credit he deserves for reeling off 10 straight professional wins since his Olympic triumph in Sydney.
And he has failed to persuade the broadcaster to cover tonight’s heavyweight scrap with Mathew Ellis live.
Harrison has had problems negotiating an extension to his original 10-fight agreement with the corporation because the BBC are believed to want a greater say in his opponents after much criticism of his early fights.
He said: “Many of my fans say my fights are on too late for them to stay up to watch, and nobody can say that this one is not worthy of main event status.”
But tonight’s meeting with Blackpool’s former prospect Ellis has once again only been deemed worthy of highlights at 11.25pm.
Harrison says he “does not give a hoot about the haters” but is clearly desperate to prove them wrong – and he believes an emphatic win over Ellis will give them much less room to manoeuvre.
Harrison said: “This is a definite step up in class and I know Ellis will come to fight.
“I’ve been training harder than ever because I can’t afford to make any mistakes.
“Ellis is as good as most of the other heavyweights in Britain so a win will put me right in the frame and a dominant performance will have to be respected.”
Former ABA champion Ellis used to enter the ring wearing a James Bond-style dinner suit but the 29-year-old’s days as a top prospect have long gone.
Ellis has fought just once in the last 12 months and came out of semi-retirement to accept the Harrison offer.
Harrison will come in at 17st 9lbs – his lightest yet – but will still considerably outweigh his 15st 5lbs opponent. Harrison is also eight inches taller.
Ellis has beaten only nine of his 21 opponents early, been stopped himself by the likes of Yuri Yelistratov and Dennis Bakhtov and dropped by former Southern Area champion Harry Senior.
Ellis seemed to be clutching at straws somewhat when he insisted: “You only have to look at what Roy Jones did to John Ruiz.
“I don’t see me being a small heavyweight as a disadvantage. If he thinks I’m only here for the pay-day then he’s in for a big shock.
“He doesn’t like pressure and I intend to jump on him.”
