By John Angus MacDonald
BoxingScene understands that Audley Harrison is in line to be added to Matchroom’s November 22 Pay-Per-View card, which is headlined by the grudge match between bitter rivals Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew at the Echo Arena, Liverpool.
Eddie Hearn, the show's promoter, has stated that one more fight will be added to the bill in the coming week. Harrison, 31-7 (23 KOs), has a good relationship with the promotional outfit having worked with them to win two Prizefighter titles, the vacant European Heavyweight crown and a shot at the WBA strap then-held by David Haye.
Harrison, 43, has been inactive since suffering a first round stoppage loss against Deontay Wilder in April of 2013, a defeat which saw him retire shortly afterwards. The decision to call time on his career was promptly reversed as he felt he still had something to offer as a professional.
The 2000 Olympic Gold medallist is one of the most recognisable faces in British boxing having had his first 17 fights broadcast on terrestrial television. His popularity with the general public remains strong, as he proved earlier this year with a second place finish in reality TV series Celebrity Big Brother.
If Harrison makes it onto the card, he will join fellow Olympic champions James DeGale, 19-1 (13 KOs), and Anthony Joshua, 9-0 (9 KOs). 2008 Gold medallist, DeGale, will risk his status as mandatory challenger for Carl Froch’s IBF super middleweight crown when he faces, former world title challenger Marco Antonio Periban, 20-2-1 (13 KOs). Joshua, who claimed his Olympic title at London 2012, will fight former Harrison foe Michael Sprott, 42-22 (17 KOs), as he looks for his 10th consecutive stoppage victory.
George Groves, 20-2 (15 KOs), finds himself in the same position as his old enemy DeGale when he faces Denis Douglin 17-3 (10 KOs), knowing a loss will cost him his position as mandatory challenger to WBC Super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell.
Callum Smith, 14-0 (11 KOs) will be looking to prove he belongs in the same class as his more experienced peers at 168 lbs when faces Nikola Sjekloca in an eliminator for the WBC title. Former world title challenger, Sjekloca, brings with him 28-2 (8 KOs) slate, with his two blemishes coming against Arthur Abraham and Sakio Bika.
German power puncher, Vincent Feigenbutz, 16-1 (15 KOs), completes the showcase of talent in the 12 Stone weight class when he faces Italian veteran, Lorenzo Di Giacomo, 41-11-1 (19 KOs).
Jamie McDonnell, 24-2-1 (11 KOs) and Scott Quigg, 29-0-2 (22 KOs), will be defending their WBA “Regular” titles against Walberto Ramos, 21-6-2 (16 KOs), and Hidenori Otake, 22-1-3 (9 KOs), respectively ahead of bigger contests next year. A win for bantamweight champion, McDonnell will secure a unification bout with WBO titlist Tomoki Kameda in early 2015. Quigg will be looking to impress in the hope of facing 122 lbs domestic rival, Carl Frampton in the new year.
Matchroom Sports’ latest signing, Bradley Saunders, 10-0 (8 KOs), will be in an eight-rounder before headlining a show in Newcastle next April.
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