SYDNEY, 31 July 2003 — Britain’s Olympic super heavyweight boxing champion Audley Harrison said he was on track to fulfill his five-year plan of becoming world heavyweight champion as he returned to the city where he won gold three years ago.
Harrison, 31, has returned to fight Australian Colin Wilson in the main support bout to the Anthony Mundine-Antwun Echols World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight title bout here on Aug. 6.
While some critics have questioned his rate of progress since turning professional, Harrison made it clear he was on track and in no hurry.
“The race is definitely not for the swift. I’ve got a five-year plan from when I turn professional and I’m right on track,” Harrison said here yesterday.
“My first year I had a cracked rib and that kind of messed me up. I’m 11-0 undefeated and if you look at all the other prospects from the (Sydney) Olympics, a lot of them have been defeated and all the other ones who are there or thereabout are all 12 or 13-0, so I’m definitely on track.
“We’re taking our time putting the fundamentals together, there ain’t no rush.
“By the time I’m 34 years of age I’ll be heavyweight champion of the world, no doubt.”
While he was used to headlining fight bills back home, Harrison was happy at being a support act on next week’s Sydney card.
“In America I was chief support to Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward II on my American debut last year. “Once again I’m here (in Sydney) and the whole world is talking about it, you’ve got the number one (Echols) and number two (Mundine) contenders fighting, so it’s a privilege to be part of it.
