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Boxing

Heavyweight rivals brawl at weigh-in

08/12/2006

Bitter rivals Danny Williams and Audley Harrison brawled at the weigh-in ahead of tomorrow's heavyweight re-match.

The scuffle was sparked by Williams appearing to barge into Harrison who responded by shoving the Brixton fighter after the pair had tipped the scales.

Both men tumbled to the ground along with camera equipment with promoter Frank Warren stepping in to separate the two fighters.

Williams, 33, will clash with Harrison, 35, at the ExCel Arena in London in a 12-round contest, nearly a year after beating the Olympic gold medalist on points in a dire fight.

Warren said he was not surprised at the ill feeling between the pair.
"It might be bad for boxing's image but there's lots of pent-up aggression," Warren said.

"There was more action in those few seconds than there was in the entire 12 rounds last time around."

While Harrison left the room with commenting, Williams played down the incident.

"We were both fired up and these sorts of things are bound to happen," Williams said.

Williams weighed 19 stone and one pound, 21 lbs lighter than for his last fight against Matt Skelton in July.

Harrison, who was a late replacement for the injured Skelton, was nearly two-stone lighter at 17st 13 1/2lb.

On the under card, Amir Khan will fight Frenchman Rachid Drilzane over ten rounds for the IBF intercontinental light-welterweight title.

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