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Boxing

Harrison handed comeback chance

03/10/2006

Audley Harrison will fight Commonwealth champion Matt Skelton in what will surely be his last chance to revive a stalling heavyweight career.

The bout is scheduled to take place at London's Excel Arena on December 9th with the winner promised a world title shot by promoter Frank Warren.

Harrison has failed to match the expectations raised by winning Olympic gold at the Sydney games of 2000 where his flamboyant style in and out of the ring won over the British public.

Since turning professional the 34 year-old has far from imposed himself on the sport's most prestigious division.

He suffered successive defeats to Danny Williams and Dominick Guinn, before knocking down journeyman American Andrew Greenley in June this year.

"But I'm back, I'm hungry, I'm awake now. I think what was going on out of the ring was affecting me," he insists.

"People are still phoning me to go on this or that TV programme. But now I've got a different mentality."

Skelton, having won his belt from Williams in July, certainly is not taking his opponent lightly.

"Ultimately, Audley's an Olympic champion and he's still got something there," he said.

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