Boxing: Harrison faces first real screen test

Steve Bunce
Tuesday 09 September 2003 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Audley Harrison will finally trade punches with a man who has been in the ring with some recognisable boxers when he meets the American Quinn Navarre at the Level nightclub in Miami's South Beach tonight in the first of three fights in America.

There is a wonderful tradition in the heavyweight division of new fighters beating old fighters, and in an odd way acquiring any meaningful scalps on the veteran's record. It is a totally spurious exercise but it is still amusing and Harrison, never slow in identifying an angle, has made a wise decision in picking Navarre for this first of three live fights on ESPN.

A brief perusal of Navarre's fight record throws up several sound fighters including Andrew Golota, Lamon Brewster, Buster Douglas and, most impressively of all, Larry Holmes. It is the first time in 11 fights that Harrison has shared a ring with a true journeyman and it is a step, even if it is a safe step, in the right direction.

Navarre, 35, has lost all of his meaningful contests but has managed to win 30 of his 41 fights, and he is unbeaten in five since losing in six rounds to the British heavyweight champion, Danny Williams in 2000.

It was 35 months ago that Harrison won Britain's first Olympic gold medal for 32 years and since that night in Sydney he has beaten a list of predictable fighters, but against Navarre he will find his performance compared to some of boxing's big names. BBC viewers can judge when the fight is screened late tomorrow.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in