Deontay Wilder to knock Audley Harrison into retirement

Many boxing fans, and indeed a number of his peers, have urged Audley Harrison to call time on his somewhat underwhelming professional career.

And, while a second Prizefighter title convinced A-Force that a world heavyweight belt remains his destiny, big-punching American Deontay Wilder looks set to send the Londoner packing once and for all.

Those Prizefighter wins are perhaps the only highlights on Harrison’s showreel over recent years, as the 2000 Olympic gold medallist has continually failed to live up to hype.

This, coupled with his Sydney success, demonstrates Harrison’s ability over three rounds and fortunately for him it looks unlikely that this contest will last much longer than that.

Unfortunately for the Englishman, this is because of Wilder’s astonishing 100 per cent knockout record as a pro.

The 27-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama has won all 27 of his bouts by KO, with 15 of those victories coming in the first round.

In fact, the American is yet to have been taken past the fourth round and while some say this raises questions about his all-round game, a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing shows that Wilder has the skills to perform when required.

It is true this fight represents Wilder’s first trip overseas, with all of his previous bouts being staged in either the US or Mexico, but the Bronze Bomber boasts all the swagger that one would expect from a young American heavyweight and looks unlikely to be fazed by the occasion.

At 41-years-of-age, Harrison looks to have once again overestimated his abilty in picking Wilder as an opponent and this explains his price as the 4/1 outsider.

Wilder’s 1/6 highlights the expectations of the boxing world  – better opportunities could come from the round markets to be offered by Ladbrokes – while those looking for a long-priced bet could be tempted by the 33/1 which says the fight will offer an unlikely first draw for both boxers.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.