Audley
Harrison has revealed he is suffering from traumatic brain injuries and
is facing bankruptcy after announcing his decision to retire from
boxing.
The heavyweight, who won Olympic gold in 2000, has not fought since he was knocked out by Deontay Wilder in 2013.
And he aborted his latest comeback attempt after undergoing a battery of tests which produced some concerning results.
Audley Harrison is suffering from traumatic brain injuries and is facing bankruptcy after retiring from boxing
In
a statement, Harrison said: 'I am no longer a professional boxer, and
that is good with me. After locking myself away for the last five weeks,
I've tried to focus and turn back the clock to get myself into fighting
condition.
'I've
also seen specialists for my brain, eyes and various other experts to
test my body functions in regards to strength, power, speed, reaction
time, cognitive function and agility.
'Additionally,
I looked at the latest research into concussions and traumatic brain
injuries (TBI). After years of denial and sticking to my guns, I'm
finally getting out of my own way.
'I've
suffered a few TBIs and will have to work hard to reverse some of the
effects taking punches to the head has brought about to my overall
health.
'I
have vision problems, vestibular issues that lead to balance
disturbances, and have serious bouts of irritability and moodiness that
comes with TBI recovery.'
The heavyweight, who won Olympic gold in 2000, has not fought since he was knocked out by Deontay Wilder
Wilder inflicted a first-round defeat on Harrison in 2013 which led to his retirement before he went back on it
Harrison initially retired following his first-round defeat by Wilder, who is now the WBC world champion.
But he reversed that decision within days as he struggled to accept his career was over.
Harrison
also admitted he has been reckless with his earnings and could face
bankruptcy in the UK. The 43-year-old currently lives in California and
added: 'I've made many mistakes and learned some tough lessons along the
way. I made tons of money and splurged lots of it away with reckless
money management, immaturity and a desire to build my empire like Tony
Montana.
Harrison boxes against Paolo Vidoz on his way to winning Olympic gold at the games in Sydney in 2000
Harrison plants a kiss on his gold medal in Sydney
'Thankfully,
my wife Raychel started a hair salon business and threw chunks of money
into real estate, but I'll still likely have to file for bankruptcy in
the UK. Thankfully, I invested in a pension while living in the UK, so
that will be good when I'm much older.
'Without
my boxing income, I will not be able to pay the huge tax bill I pay
each year to satisfy the film partnership I invested into in 2004, and
encashed my investment by 2009. The hefty tax bill each year does not
finish until 2022.'
Harrison
started boxing at 19 and became the first British boxer to win Olympic
gold in the super-heavyweight division when he triumphed in Sydney.
His
triumph paved the way for future medalists Amir Khan, James DeGale,
Anthony Joshua, Luke Campbell and Nicola Adams through increased
funding.
He
turned professional the following year, signing a £1million deal with
the BBC for his first 10 fights. Six million people watched his debut - a
first round knockout of Mike Middleton - but his contract was
terminated in 2004 after he had accumulated a record of 17 wins from as
many contests.
Harrison
suffered his first defeat when he challenged Danny Williams for the
vacant Commonwealth title. Although he would later avenge that loss, it
was the first of several high-profile bouts in which Harrison failed to
produce the goods.
Michael
Sprott knocked him out in the third round of their European title clash
- although that defeat was also avenged three years later in a rematch
for the same belt.
Harrison
twice used the short-format Prizefighter to his advantage, first in
2009 when he defeated Coleman Barrett, Danny Hughes and Scott Belshaw.
That propelled him into his second clash with Sprott which saw him
finally win a major honour.
The world title opportunity he so craved arrived in 2010 when he challenged David Haye for his WBA strap in Manchester.
Six million people watched Harrison's professional debut - a first-round win over Mike Middleton on the BBC
But
Harrison landed just one punch as he was dismantled inside three
farcical rounds. The British Boxing Board of Control initially withheld
some of his purse while a full investigation was carried out but he was
later awarded the full amount.
After 18 months in the doldrums, Harrison made a comeback against Ali Adams in 2012, a bout he won with a fourth-round knockout.
And once again he earned himself a high-profile fight, this time against the British and Commonwealth champion David Price.
Harrison gets revenge over Danny Williams for the Commonwealth title in 2006 after earlier losing out to him
But yet again, he was unable to walk the walk as the Liverpool giant knocked Harrison out cold after just 82 seconds.
Those who urged him to retire were left disappointed when he again turned to Prizefighter for redemption in 2013.
And
his three victories over Derric Rossy, Martin Rogan and Claus Bertino
produced his familiar rhetoric of finally being at one with himself and
the sport.
Harrison landed just one punch on David Haye as he was dismantled inside three farcical rounds
But
in Wilder he faced another hurdle that could not be overcome. The
American hope had knocked out all 27 of his previous opponents added
another notch to his record when his right hand sent Harrison to the
canvas for one last time after just 70 seconds.
Harrison
plans to start an agency to ensure boxers are given the financial
advice he appears to have missed out on. He also intends to take out a
trainer's license in California in a bid to develop a future champion.
He
said: 'If I'm to achieve my goal of becoming a world champion it will
now have to be as a trainer and manager to a bright young star, who will
hopefully learn from my mistakes, rather than learning from his or her
own.'
Harrison now plans to start an agency to ensure boxers are given the financial advice that he did not have
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