31.05 - People throughout Britain and the world will be waking up to hearing news of the ugly side of boxing on Sunday Morning. Unfortunately events at the Harrison-Ellis fight will be remembered for all of the wrong reasons.

Audley Harrison, former Olympic Gold Medallist, improved to 11-0 Saturday night, stopping Mathew Ellis in the second round. Harrison knocked Ellis down three times before referee Terry O'Connor stopped the fight at 1:35 of the round. Immediately after the Referee had lifted Audleys arm to signal the announcement of the victory, Harrison then unusually took the announcers microphone to ask the audience who they would prefer him to fight out of the two high profile guests he had in attendance at the fight. They were Frank Bruno, the former WBC World Heavyweight Champion and the former two time WBO Heavyweight Champion Herbie Hide.

The crowd started to chant Bruno's name, after which Bruno was invited into the ring to pose for photos. In the meantime some heated banter commenced between some of Harrison's & Hide's entourages, this eventually involved Audley Harrison. The discussions/arguments which ensued developed into a lot of jostling and pushing which also involved the crowd.

Whilst this was happening Herbie Hide was seen by the TV cameras patiently sitting on the ringside apron waiting to be interviewed by the BBC, however, the arguments and jostling were steadily becoming more heated, it was at this point the Hide Entourage wisely tried to leave the arena. But by now the crowd had been whipped into an aggressive mood and thus more scuffles broke out.

The British Boxing Board of Control immediately announced a formal investigation into the unsavoury events. In interviews afterwards blame was being directed in only one direction, which this reporter believes is incorrect as there are a number of discrepencies which should be investigated before blame and any form of disciplinary action is proportioned to any particular individual.

This was a sad night for British Boxing, but, it is definitely an isolated incident. British Boxing is renowned for showing high class promotions that are largely trouble free and it should be these events that are discussed and not the events of Saturday 31st May 2003.