Former British heavyweight Audley Harrison has announced that he will be returning to the sport.
The hard-hitting Londoner has been retired from the sport since 2013.
Harrison in 2000 became the first man from Britain to win an Olympic gold in the super-heavyweight division.
Despite a successful amateur career, he struggled to have the same success in the professional ranks.
He ended his career with a record of 31-7.
Most interestingly, Harrison is known for more modern boxing fans as the first client for current Matchroom Boxing president Eddie Hearn.
Audley Harrison’s most famous defeat against David Haye came in 2010, in a fight billed as ‘Best of Enemies’.
He never looked settled in the fight and once Haye went through the gears in the third round, the fight was stopped.
Harrison’s final fight took place in 2013 against the destructive ‘Bronze-Bomber’ Deontay Wilder.
He was knocked out in a single round and this signalled the end of his career.
However, after eleven years out the sport, Harrison has announced on his Twitter/ X account that he will be returning as a manager.
”I’m back in the boxing game,” he wrote.
”I’ve received my boxing license from the California State Athletic Commission.
“I’m going to get involved on the training side too, but more in an advisory role, so the game-plan & tactics for fight night are spot on.
“Fighters, although I didn’t get all my goals accomplished in the ring, I was the first boxer in this generation who pioneered boxers managing their own careers; so I know the boxing business from the television boardroom, to the promoters contracts, matchmaking, sponsorships, pr, venue contracts & everything in-between.
“I walked away from boxing for many years … partly because I didn’t want to tell my story, as I didn’t want to face my demons of my past, but life doesn’t work like that, so I’m ready to lift the lid, but not now.
“All that knowledge & experience I have hasn’t gone, its been sitting dormant, waiting for me to return to guide that fighter who’s fallen and needs my support to help him rise.”
Audley Harrison is back in boxing as a manager but he will also look to get involved in a fighters training on a more advisory role.
Boxers accumulate so much wisdom throughout their careers, so the opportunity of a former British heavyweight being your manager could be priceless to today’s young fighters.
Good news peeps …I'm back in the #boxing game 😊 I've received my boxing manager's license from the #californiastateathleticcommission so I'm on the move.
This is a long post, so please read to end …
I'm going to get involved on the training side too, but more in an… pic.twitter.com/ky34pt1W4n
— Audley Harrison MBE (@audleyharrison) October 31, 2024
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