Harrison's purse may be cut

Boxing: The British Board of Boxing of Control will "have to consider" withholding some or all of Audley Harrison's purse after…

Boxing: The British Board of Boxing of Control will "have to consider" withholding some or all of Audley Harrison's purse after his dismal showing against David Haye on Saturday night.

Harrison abjectly failed to live up to his pre-fight talk as he was stopped by the WBA world heavyweight champion in three rounds, having barely thrown a punch.

Now the BBBC have said they will assess whether or not they should make him pay financially.

"It is a very difficult course to take to stop someone getting paid when they have just frozen," BBBC secretary Robert Smith said. "But rescinding some of Audley Harrison's purse is something which we will have to consider.

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"You have to bear in mind it was such a letdown for the 22,000 at the MEN Arena and the thousands watching at home. The board have rescinded purses when we feel a fighter has not tried. He did nothing all night."

Promoter Frank Warren backed the move, telling The Sun: "The board have withheld purses for a whole lot less than this. They should give the money to the ex-boxers benevolent fund, they have done more to deserve it than Harrison ever could.

"Fans paid to watch the worst fight I've ever seen."

Harrison landed one tame jab on Haye in three rounds before hitting the canvas. He got back to his feet but the referee stopped the bout amid a relentless barrage of accurate blows from Haye.

Barry McGuigan described Harrison as “delusional” after the fight.

"I felt really sorry for the guy but he's delusional - and he always has been," he told Sky Box Office. "It's a terrible thing to say but he's spent the last two weeks being a salesman. Let's be honest, he's sold the fight and didn't do much in nine minutes of it. That's the story of his life; he's spent his lifetime not trying.

"He was an Olympic gold medalist, but he never tries. He didn't believe he could win."

The Clones Cyclone is sure now, after Harrison’s fifth defeat in 31 pro fights, that he should hang up his gloves.

"Audley had a bad night and that's the end of his career as far as I am - and everyone else is - concerned," he said. "No more.

"If you think about this it's every hurdle. Martin Rogan, Dominick Guinn - his big chance to break through in America - Danny Williams, the first time... how many chances do you want?

"Every chance he gets, he fails at the top level because he's innately frightened. He's frightened of punches, which is incredible to say for an Olympic heavyweight champion.

"Some can do it in the amateur game and they can't do it in the pro game; in punching range, in the trenches, he panics and he frightens and he gets nailed - and he gets knocked out."