Audley's sad spectacle

If a week is a long time in politics, then a year is an eternity in the life of a heavyweight boxer seeking to make the grade as a professional.

Ask Lennox Lewis, who won 12 straight bouts in his first 12 months as a paid performer. Ask Mike Tyson, who victoriously traded leather 18 times during the same period at the start of his professional career.

Both men went on to become undisputed champions of the world, a feat that Audley Harrison would like to emulate.

Yet, almost a year after he signed off as an amateur by claiming a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, the Londoner has fought just 165 one-sided seconds.

That was the time it took Harrison to beat the outclassed American Michael Middleton at Wembley in May. A second fight was planned for July but was postponed when the Londoner complained of a rib injury.

Harrison?s recovery has been agonisingly slow but he finally gets back in the ring tomorrow when he fights Derek McCafferty at the Telewest Arena in Newcastle.

Despite his lack of action, Harrison said: ?It is important that I take my time. It is not about quantity, it?s all about the quality.?

One can only assume that the quality Harrison is referring to is the standard of training he is receiving under experienced and respected American Thel Torrance. Because when it comes to opposition of sufficient value to headline a live broadcast on BBC television, McCafferty should never have been a consideration.

The 32-year-old Kettering-based Scot is an undercard boxer and that is where this fight ought to be ? on an undercard. As it is, British boxing stands to be a loser whatever the result. A quick win ? nothing else will do if Harrison?s credibility is to remain intact ? will leave TV viewers wondering just why the BBC have bothered to pay Harrison a reported £1 million for their long-term deal with the fighter.

But a protracted contest that goes anywhere near the full distance of six rounds will provoke questions about Harrison?s ability to keep Britain in the boxing spotlight as Lewis and Naseem Hamed begin to trade on fading glories.

At the age of 29, Harrison acknowledges that time is not on his side.

He said: ?In an ideal world I would have liked to have had more boxing but I?m climbing to the top of the mountain and there are many pathways. I?ve got a good team around me ? the best trainers, good structure. I?m talented and I?m dedicated. I?ll catch up with fights. I?ll get them down the road. I see myself treading a steeper learning curve.?

That is as close as Harrison will come to admitting that he needs to shift into a higher gear if he is to realise his ambition to become world champion by his mid-thirties.

Already, Harrison?s third professional fight has been pencilled in for 20 October in Glasgow and he is talking optimistically about fighting in the United States early in the New Year.

For now, Harrison insisted: ?McCafferty is a serious step up from Michael Middleton.?

But to paraphrase John McEnroe, he cannot be serious. The only way in which McCafferty measures up to Harrison is in height. At 6ft 4ins the two men will be able to stare each other in the eyes in the face-off before the first round which means we?ll be spared the farce at Wembley where Harrison towered over the unfortunate Middleton, who stands at 5ft 11ins.

But tomorrow?s opponent has won just two of his five professional fights, and hasn?t fought since December 1999.

?Harrison?s people obviously looked at my record and thought I was a soft touch,? said McCafferty.

Got it in one, which is about as long as this fight should last.