Boxing: Harrison hangs on to unbeaten record

Audley Harrison's ring education finally turned serious last night when he survived two difficult rounds to keep his unbeaten record intact and win on points against Mark Krence here in London's Docklands.

Harrison easily dominated the opening three rounds because of his superior reach and weight. However, in round four he suddenly started to breath heavily and his movement deserted him, allowing Krence to take control.

The 25-year-old part-time butcher from Chesterfield was a good choice for Harrison's fifth professional fight. Up to last night, Krence was unbeaten in 11 fights but at less than 16st was conceding nearly 30 pounds in weight. Also the truth behind his 11 victories was that only two had been by stoppage.

Krence did remarkably well to fiddle his way through the opening three minutes when he was caught with a lot of heavy punches and he looked set to capitalise when Harrison's stamina faded.

In the past the Olympic gold medallist has been criticised for his performances, but last night he showed a good boxing brain to move easily and cautiously in rounds four and five in a desperate attempt to get his breath back and get his winning run back on course.

On paper this encounter had looked like terrific match-making and, at the same time, no threat to Harrison's unbeaten sequence. Yet strange things happen under the ring lights, especially with a motivated underdog who had travelled down with more than 200 fans. Krence was truly heroic and Harrison was the first to congratulate him on surviving the full distance.

At the start of round six it was possible, indeed highly likely, that if Krence could keep up the pressure he would share the decision, but when he stood for the final round the Derbyshire fighter's face was a mess and he suddenly looked tired.

Harrison, 30, had gathered his senses after two difficult rounds and in the last three minutes he was able to put together enough quality punches from a variety of angles to safeguard the verdict. It is obvious that if he ever acquires stamina, Harrison could be a threat in the future, at least at domestic level.

Krence was exhausted and hurt by the time the final bell sounded and the referee, John Keane, immediately and correctly lifted Harrison's hand to declare him the champion. Krence's fans accepted the defeat and cheered both men.

Now Harrison has promised to return in July and it is clear that fights in quick succession will only help his passage from aspiring contender to established fighter. Harrison last fought in April and last night it showed as, despite what his many critics say, there were moments when he finally looked like he had a serious future in the business of boxing.