Time for talking is over for focused Audley

14 April 2012

The usually talkative Audley Harrison confessed to being "irritable" when he came face to face with Michael Sprott, the British heavyweight rival who aims to wreck his world title ambitions this weekend.

The Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist seems to have decided the time for talking is over.

Promoter Frank Warren has promised the winner a fight with Commonwealth champion Matt Skelton to find the best British heavyweight to go forward to a world title shot later this year.

But Harrison insisted: "I'm not looking past Saturday night. I'm totally focused. I'm not feeling the pressure but I'm not in a mood for talking. I'm just feeling irritable at the moment."

At 35, Harrison refuted suggestions the clock is winding down on his world title dream.

"I don't feel time is running out. I have my mind on a target," he said. "The main thing for me is that every fight has to make sense and, as long as that happens, I'm going to be busy.

"Michael Sprott is in my way. Nothing personal but, on Saturday night, I'm going to go through him, simple as that.

"It's about world titles. If he goes to the end, all praise to him, but it's going to be intense in there."

Sprott, who will be defending his EU belt - not to be confused with the main European heavyweight title - has sold £40,000 worth of tickets to his Reading supporters.

But that will not bother Harrison, who is used to being a target for the boo-boys at ringside after some less than convincing displays.

He even had to endure some jeers following the impressive three-round stoppage of Danny Williams, which revived his flagging career in his last fight.

'No sparring partner has ever put me down'

He said: "If people don't like me, I can't do anything about it. People do appreciate my craft and what I stand for and I think the fans will eventually get on side.

"I do have my own fans so hopefully there will be a great atmosphere at Wembley on Saturday night."

The former amateur star also denied rumours Sprott had put him on the canvas when they sparred together shortly after the Olympic champion turned professional.

"I can categorically say that, in all my time in boxing, the only person who has put me down was Danny Williams in our first fight," Harrison said.

"When we sparred, Michael was a lot more experienced than me. The sparring partners at that time were brought in to make it intense and it was but no sparring partner has ever put me down."

Sprott, the former British and Commonwealth champion insisted he is in the best condition of his life.

He said: "I've had good sparring and I'm ready for this. Audley's a good fighter but I know he can't hit me as hard as Corrie Sanders did when I fought him in South Africa."

Sanders was one of 10 men to beat Sprott in his 39-fight career but the Reading heavyweight said: "A lot of those fights were abroad and I've had some bad decisions."

Amir Khan knows he must dispose of Frenchman Mohammed Medjadi on the Wembley undercard if he is to achieve his ambition of fighting in America this year.

The Bolton youngster has been promised his following fight on the Joe Calzaghe-Peter Manfredo Jnr bill at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on April 7 will be screened by US broadcaster HBO and he then wants to fight in the United States.

Khan said: "It will be great to get that exposure. Six months ago, I went to see Muhammad Ali and worked out in Freddie Roache's gym and Gleeson's gym.

"A lot of people seemed to know about me and it will be great to fight over there."

But promoter Frank Warren warned: "Before that, he has a tough fight on Saturday and it's important he takes it one fight at a time."

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