Audley can expect Julius to put heart and sole into bout

AS WORLD featherweight champion Scott Harrison continues the countdown to his title defence against Armenian-American William Abelyan on Saturday, May 29, at Braehead Arena, the Cambuslang boxer’s recent stellar performances may have had repercussions elsewhere.

For it may well be the fact that because his record suffers dismally by comparison with his Scottish namesake, Audley Harrison is finally confronting a proper opponent.

Former British heavyweight champion Julius Francis will take on Harrison for his WBF ‘world’ title next Saturday, replacing Russia’s Nicolay Popov who pulled out because of illness. The fight at the Whitchurch Sports Centre in Bristol will be screened live on BBC2.

Francis is most noted in Britain for being the man who had the soles of his shoes sponsored for a fight. Inevitably they became his most prominent feature as soon as Mike Tyson connected with a decent punch in the second round of their contest in Manchester back in January, 2000.

On the face of it, Francis’s record of 23 wins, 12 by stoppage, against 16 losses and one draw makes him no threat to the unbeaten former Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist. Francis has also come off second best in his last six fights, and is on the comeback trail after losing a contest for the vacant English heavyweight championship against Matt Skelton in February.

But to lose on points to Skelton was no disgrace, for in his very next fight which took place last week in Reading, Skelton won the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, knocking out Michael Sprott in the last of 12 rounds.

Look further back in Francis’s record and you see some serious names - apart from Tyson, he also lost to WBC champion and world No.1 Vitali Klitschko in 1998, while his first loss came in 1994 at the hands of John Ruiz who is the current WBA champion.

Sinan Samil Sam dispatched Francis in the seventh round of the European heavyweight title bout a year ago, but present champion Luan Krasniqi only prevailed on points over Francis last October.

Make no mistake, Francis, who was British champ from 1997 to 2000, is not in the top rank of heavyweights any more, but if he avoids being knocked over in the early rounds, he usually goes the distance and he is nothing if not experienced - he has had 275 rounds of professional boxing, compared to Harrison’s 62.

Against Francis is his age. At 39, Francis is at the Zimmer stage for a boxer, but he has been given one last chance at glory and any man who is prepared to get into a ring with Mike Tyson has to have some kind of courage.

And uniquely among Harrison’s opponents, Francis can say he has already beaten the WBF champion. In their amateur days, Francis won a decision on points against a young and inexperienced Harrison.

"It was a great learning experience for me but still a loss on my record," said Harrison yesterday.

"Now I look forward to redeeming the loss and continuing to move forward to my ultimate goal of undisputed heavyweight champion."

Harrison should win comfortably, but Francis has surprised people in the past, and at least if he loses he will have added a genuine name to Audley’s record.