Warren offers bet on Harrison defeat

Audley Harrison's boast that he already has the talent to be British heavyweight champion has angered promoter Frank Warren.

Warren, who manages British and Commonwealth champion Danny Williams, yesterday offered £700,000 for Harrison to 'put up or shut up'.

He is prepared to give the 29-year-old Olympic super-heavyweight champion £500,000 to meet Williams and has offered to make a side bet of £200,000 that Harrison would lose. Warren said:'Harrison claims he has the talent to win the British title tomorrow. But does he have the guts to back up his talk? If he is as good as he says he is, then there is £700,000 on the table for him - if he wins.

'Olympic champion Leon Spinks won a world title against the Muhammad Ali in only his eighth professional fight. If Harrison is as good as he says he is, then Williams should not be a problem for the Olympic gold medallist.'

Warren's money is safe, however, because even if Harrison wanted the fight, his boxing manager Colin McMillan and American trainer Thel Torrence would not allow such a contest for his professional debut, which will be staged at Wembley Arena on May 19.

Williams, who underwent micro-surgery after dislocating his right shoulder when winning the vacant British title last October, must also face former champion Mike Holden of Manchester in his first defence at London's York Hall next month.

When Harrison launched his professional career this week, he said: 'I'm looking to be the dominant force in British heavyweight boxing, then in Europe and ultimately the world.

'Nothing in life can ever be set in stone but you have to have a framework. In four years I'm either going to be a contender for the heavyweight championship of the world or someone who's not going to make the grade. My mind is obviously set on the former.

'I believed I would become Olympic champion and I now believe I will become world heavyweight champion. The power of positive thinking is immense.'