• David Price v Audley Harrison

Price ends Audley's career in 82 seconds

ESPN staff
October 13, 2012
David Price was an easy winner © PA Photos
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British heavyweight prospect David Price effectively ended the professional career of Audley Harrison with an 82-second knockout of the former Olympic gold medallist on Saturday.

A strong right with barely a minute gone in the fight opened the floodgates, as Price stunned his opponent before finishing him off with a fearsome ease. In the process, the Liverpool fighter comfortably retained his British and Commonwealth titles.

"That punch would have knocked out any fighter in the world," Price said afterwards. "I could probably do with a few more rounds though."

With Harrison's last significant fight coming in farcical circumstances against David Haye in 2010 - the 40-year-old barely landing a single blow in a third round defeat - the questions before the fight centred on whether Harrison would manage to throw a punch, but in reality critics should have questioned whether he would be able to take one.

As soon as the fighters came out it was clear Harrison feared getting struck by his towering opponent, and his legs seemed to go after a big right from Price found its mark after barely 30 seconds of circling following the opening bell.

Encouraged by the impact of that initial blow Price happily waded in, landing a series of lefts and rights that shook Harrison with every impact - with a final blow sending Harrison to the canvas and seemingly leaving him out cold.

After the fight, Price was keen to pay tribute to Harrison's overall record, overlooking the somewhat shambolic - and short-lived - contest that had just occurred.

"We need to remember this man won the Olympic gold medal for his country and inspired a generation of boxers in this country," Price added, before promoter Frank Maloney once again called out Tyson Fury.

A hugely marketable fight between Britain's two pre-eminent heavyweights - Haye excepted - could yet be on the cards in 2013.

Before that, however, Price has other business to attend to - with a meeting with Matt Skelton for December 8 confirmed in the aftermath of the Harrison victory.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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