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Harrison hires new trainer

05/05/2006

Audley Harrison has hired trainer Buddy McGirt to revitalise his ailing career - and again rubbished claims that he has been ready to quit the sport.

The 34-year-old heavyweight split with trainer Thell Torrance following his second consecutive defeat, against Dominick Guinn in California last month.

In December, Harrison put in a dismal performance in a points defeat at the hands of Fellow Briton Danny Williams.

He admitted that he had gone into the ring without "being 100% prepared for victory".

But the 2000 Olympic super-heavyweight champion again denied that he had considered quitting following those back-to-back defeats.

He told his official website: "Retirement will be an option if an opponent takes me out or I no longer find the motivation to train.

"The answer lies within me, and it has taken two unnecessary losses for me to realise how close I have come to throwing so much away.

"Upon hours of reflection I have realised I have turned up to fight without being 100% prepared for victory."

New York-based McGirt, the former two-time world welterweight champion, is one of boxing's most highly-rated trainers.

He has recently been involved with the likes of light-welterweight warrior Arturo Gatti and former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster.

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