Audley's wait to be signed off by doctors

Audley Harrison was today hoping that doctors will give him the green light to resume a professional career that has been blighted by injury.

The heavyweight has fought just three times since winning gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

The latest of three fight-postponing injuries was damage to a chest muscle that required an operation before Christmas, but the 30-year-old Londoner insists he is now ready to resume training.

He said: "I'm back, fully charged and raring to go. I feel really good now. As soon as I get the all-clear it is all systems go.

"This year is going to be a very big year for me. If all goes well I hope to have three or four fights before August, and one of those could be in America."

Harrison's return to the ring could take place in London in March, and formerkick-boxing champion Pele Reid is on a shortlist of possible opponents.

Reid, fighting out of the same Brendan Ingle gym that produced Herol Graham and Naseem Hamed, was hyped as a future world title contender.

However, his failings were exposed in a shock thirdround defeat by Julius Francis in January 1999 and only now is his career coming back on track.

Harrison watched from ringside last month as Reid stopped Derek McCafferty in the third round.

He said: "Reid was dominant with McCafferty. He showed good punching power and is a very good attacking fighter."