Audley Harrison’s professional career didn’t quite hit the heights of his amateur run, but that didn’t stop the 2000 Olympic gold medallist from facing some of boxing’s biggest punchers.
Harrison won the hearts of his nation at the Sydney Games and his move to the pro game the following year was intended to see him replace Lennox Lewis as the heavyweight king of boxing.
Despite making a positive start to his paid spell in the sport, Harrison’s time as a top contender was short-lived after he was halted by David Haye in three rounds in 2010 in his only world title attempt.
Harrison would go on to get stopped by 2008 Olympic medallists David Price and Deontay Wilder, but he credits Samuel Peter as the hardest hitter he ever faced.
“I always say the hardest puncher I ever faced in my career was Samuel Peter - the ‘Nigerian Nightmare,’” said Harrison when speaking to Mega Casino.
“I boxed him in a pre-Olympic tournament, with a headguard on, he hit me on the top of the head, and it sent shockwaves all the way through my body.”