AUDLEY HARRISON'S GAMBLE

AUDLEY HARRISON insists he is not broke after doing all his fighting this year at the poker table.

The Olympic gold medal winner will bid to rescue his shattered career when he competes in Prizefighter Heavyweights III at the ExCel in London's Docklands on Friday night.

Harrison, 37, has been scraping a living playing poker in smoke-filled Las Vegas casinos.

He was participating in a hand at the Rio Hotel when he got a shock offer to resurrect his career in the fight game.

Promoter Barry Hearn's son Eddie was on the same table, playing in the World Poker Series this summer, when he approached the boo-boy of British boxing.

Londoner Harrison, who now lives in a Los Angeles suburb with wife Raychel and daughter Ariella insists: "It's got nothing to do with money.

"I bumped into Eddie Hearn and he told me they were doing Prizefighter with Danny Williams and Michael Sprott. I said, 'If they're in it, I'm definitely in'.

"Sadly Michael Sprott has had to pull out but it's all about the opportunity for me. The winning prize is only £32,000. I've spent my whole career fighting the system.

"But this is a fair opportunity that allows me to perform and show that Audley Harrison is going to the top."

Harrison landed a £1million deal with the BBC when he turned professional after winning heavyweight gold at Sydney in 2000.

But promoting his own fights and having staff on the books proved to be a costly experience. Shocking performances meant cash-spinning fights dried up and the only known money to come into the Harrison coffers this year is £3,600 from playing in two poker tournaments.

He has not fought since suffering his fourth defeat in 27 fights against Martin Rogan last December.

Southpaw Harrison said: "I've probably lost the chance to have a lasting legacy like Lennox Lewis has, but I've probably got enough time to win the world title and then 'see you later'.

"I can go for another two years, definitely. I turned pro at 29 and you have a pro career of 10 years for most boxers.

"I believe 1000 per cent I can still do it. In boxing you have a sell-by date. Lennox Lewis retired around 36, but he had been in the boxing game since he was a kid.

"Ricky Hatton started boxing professionally when he was 18 and has boxed just over 10 years. I didn't box until I was 20, have only been a pro eight years and I have not taken punishment."

Harrison and Williams are on course for a third meeting in the Prizefighter final. Williams won their first fight on points in December 2005 before Harrison got revenge 12 months later with an impressive third-round stoppage.

British champion Williams, 36, said: "I don't know whether Audley has blown all his money and that's why he's in this.

"But I do know his career is on the line. If he loses, he's out of the game."

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