Olympic Gold Medallist Audley “A-Force” Harrison Opens US-Based Operations to Continue Campaign for Heavyweight Title; Announces Three Fight Deal With ESPN Boxing

NEW YORK (August 19, 2003) . . . “A Force” Has Arrived In America! Knowing the U.S. leads the way for boxers to become stars of the sweet science, Olympic super heavyweight champion Audley Harrison has left his native homeland of Great Britain and landed on American soil to continue his pursuit of becoming heavyweight champion of the world.

The self-promoted, 6’6” Londoner (11-0, 7KOs)’s promotional company A-Force Promotions, Inc. has signed a three-fight deal with ESPN2 Boxing—that will include his first main event appearance on American television—and opened New York-based offices for his company. Both moves are critical to his becoming a household name in the States. “It is the right time for me to come to America and show its boxing fans what my British fans already know,” said Harrison. “I am ‘A-Force’ to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division and it is my mission to be champion of the world.”

Harrison—who doesn’t mind the comparisons to fellow countrymen and reigning champion Lennox Lewis—will officially kick off his US-based campaign as the co-main event on ESPN2 Tuesday Night Fights on September 9, from Level Nightclub in Miami South Beach, Florida. His opponent is yet to be named but surely he won’t leave his new American friends disappointed. “My performance on ESPN2 that night will be the most important fight of my career thus far,” said Harrison. “I plan to execute an impressive boxing show that displays my complete ring arsenal.”

Two more dates will follow as part of the overall efforts. “ESPN is excited to bring the Olympic super heavyweight gold medallist to our loyal and knowledgeable boxing audience,” said Bob Yalen, ESPN Director of Programming and Acquisitions. “It will give them a chance to recognize the outstanding potential we believe Audley possesses.”

The co-feature will be another heavyweight and Florida favorite in Andre Purlett (36-2, 33KOs,) who is coming off an impressive first-round knockout win over veteran Ron Guerrero. The show is being co-promoted by A-Force Promotions, Inc. and ARK Promotions Inc., whose owners—Rick and Noah Lazes—own the club, the hot spot for high level boxing shows in the Miami area.

It’s no surprise to those who know him that Harrison is making the smart move to America early in his career. Always a self-starter and highly attuned to the business of boxing, Harrison is mirroring moves he made throughout his life—both in and out of boxing—that have allowed him to earn the levels of success he has achieved to date.

Growing up on the Stonebridge Estate in Harlesdon, a tough inner-city neighborhood in north-west London, Harrison, although always good natured and a free spirit, spent part of his teens years hanging out with troublemakers, who spent the day committing petty crimes and misdemeanors. Looking back, Harrison says he engaged in this lifestyle, “mainly because I was bored.” It wasn’t until he landed in the Feltham Young Offenders Institute for a felony offense that Harrison decided to make what would become the first of many brilliant decisions for his life’s future. “Even when my life appeared to others to be going nowhere,” says Harrison. “I always believed that I would and could make a success o

Ten years later he is an Olympic and Commonwealth gold medallist, a college graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Hons), a Member of the Order of the British Empire (received from the Queen of England,) a champion for the rights of amateur boxers, financial stable and a donator to charity. Audley Harrison turned his life around quite impressively and he owes a great deal of it to boxing.

Although Harrison started his amateur career later than most—he was 19 in 1991 when his older brother Rodney, a club boxer, introduced him to the ring—he was a quick learner with natural raw talent from the start. He found the best boxing facilities and amateur coaches England had to offer, he joined the Northolt boxing gym and started his amateur career. After two years of club shows and his reputation as a tough competitor growing—making it harder for him to find fights among club-level amateurs—Harrison had no choice but to join the Amateur Boxing Association Circuit (ABA), a unusual move for a fighter with only six amateur bouts. He was thrust in to competition with some of England’s top amateur fi

It was during these years that Harrison also pursued an academic degree and after gaining college credit at the College of North East London, he was accepted in to Brunel University in Isleworth, Middlesex in 1994. He earned a degree in Sports Studies and Leisure Management, writing a ten thousand-word thesis on ‘A Sociological Perspectives on the Justification of Amateur Boxing.’

Upon returning with the gold medal that instantly put him in an elite group of other great heavyweight Olympic champions like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Lennox Lewis, Harrison returned to London and became a household name. After receiving MBE honors from the Queen, Harrison turned professional and started his career on May 19. 2001 with a first round demolition of Florida brawler Mike Middleton. Harrison made history by being the first British boxer to headline a televised British bout in his professional debut as he had also signed a lucrative and exclusive two year, ten fight deal with the BBC after his Olympic return.

Harrison suffered injuries in his first year that limited his boxing to three bouts, a decision win over the durable Derek McCafferty and a one-punch body blow KO of Polish puncher Piotr Jurczyk followed his professional debut win. His second year as a pro has seen much different results as he continues to impress audiences with his wins, including seven knockouts. Starting with Detroit’s Julius Long and ending May 31, 2003 with England’s Matthew Ellis, Harrison is showing the heavyweight division that he is dangerous and serious about becoming world champion. Now he puts his final preparations in place as the A-Force has landed!

Facts About the September 9 Tuesday Night Fights

Doors open at 7:00 pm, boxing starts at 8:00 pm. The two-hour televised ESPN2 show will begin at 10:00 pm EST. There will be seven bouts including Purlett, who lives in south Florida and female heavyweight Kathy Rivers of Hollywood, Florida. Tickets are available at Level Box Office 1235 Washington Avenue Miami Beach Florida (Corner of 12th and Washington) or www.levelnightclub.com. Ticket prices start at $100 ringside, $75 VIP Stage, $50 VIP Balcony, $25 General Admission Floor (limited availability) and $20 for general admission balcony. For ticket information call 305-604-0009.