TalkingBoxing Articles
The More Active of The Two
MON April 17, ROGER GORDILLO - Fights are often tabbed as a cross roads bout, but in ESPN’s Friday Night Fights Main event featuring Heavyweight contenders Dominick “The Southern Disaster” Guinn and Britain’s Audley “A Force” Harrison the term never rang truer than tonight.
Guinn who at one time was viewed as a glimmer of hope in a withering division had found himself deeply in danger going 1-3-1 in his previous 5 matches before going into tonight’s match up. After Guinn built momentum with exciting wins over Michael Grant and Duncan Dokiwari, Guinn would shortly after drop decisions to fringe contender Monte Barrett, Heavyweight Titlist James Toney and then unheralded but now reigning WBO Titlist Serguei Lyakhovich.
Harrison on the other hand never really gained any momentum or real backing from the Boxing world despite having won Olympic gold in 2000, often finding himself at the end of criticism for padding his record against opponents who posed little or no threat to him. In fact after losing his first step up fight against Tyson Conqueror Danny Williams, Harrison caught so much flak that he bolted For the U.S. claiming to leave U.K. for his career’s interest and not the heat of the kitchen.
So with fans grown weary of both fighters wasting their physical attributes or talents, the fight seemed to peak fan interest as the night’s showdown would eliminate one of the two underachievers from their lives or at least out of their viewing radar.
The fight started with the two back to their old ways, apprehensive, taking their time failing to launch any kind of sustained attack. Through the first couple of rounds Guinn would do just enough to win the rounds while Harrison did even less.
As the match continued Guinn would pick up the pace at times showing flashes of his old self while Harrison continued to keep his pace falling farther behind.
Going into the tenth and final round after repeated unanswered pleas from Harrison’s corner to let his hands go and attack, Harrison’s Trainer Kenny Croom had no choice but to tell his fighter that he would not get a decision and would have to knock his opponent out. To Harrison’s credit he would come forward and apply more pressure than usual but it was still too little as well as too late as Guinn would see Harrison’s pressure and up the ante as he did in the final seconds of the round hurting Harrison with a stunning short left hook to the jaw.
A confident Guinn smiled as he waited for the outcome to be announced the scorecards read 98-92 and 97-93 twice in favor of the Arkansas native.
Guinn moves up to (26-3-1, 18 KO’s) while Harrison drops to (19-2, 14 KO’s)
(WRITERS NOTE)
Although Guinn outworked Harrison to come away with the “W” this is merely what I feel is an entrance back into the division for Guinn who still has a way to go before he will find himself back into contention for a title shot. Like in his previous losses Guinn seemed to sleepwalk through parts of the match which allowed Harrison to steal rounds. Guinn needs to get back to his constant combination punching that made this young prospect the future of the division that he once was. A busy schedule even against soft competition is just what Guinn needs to get him back in his groove.
Forum
