Maloney backs champ Harrison

Audley Harrison en route to an Olympic gold medal

Boxing promoter Frank Maloney believes Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist Audley Harrison can be world heavyweight champion within four years.

Maloney, who guided the career path of Lennox Lewis to turn him from Olympic champion into world champion, said Harrison, will be chased by a number of promoters anxious to get his signature.

"Audley Harrison is the future of British boxing," said Maloney who still manages Lewis.

"He is a bigger hero than any of our other Olympic heroes.

Maloney is confident of Harrison's pro future

"Lennox Lewis and Naseem Hamed are not youngsters and there is no sign of any superstars other than young Richard Hatton.

"To win a gold medal will do the sport so much good press-wise and TV-wise and there will be a great knock-on effect."

When Lewis joined the professional ranks after winning gold at Seoul in 1988 he earnt an approximate £350,000.

Harrison has already turned down four offers to turn pro to chase Olympic glory and Maloney admitted: "He is a promoter's dream.

"He's very, very quick for a big guy, very clever, very shrewd - a very good operator.

He says he will be world champion and I don't doubt it

  Frank Maloney

"The thing I like about him is that he's planned his career himself. He said he would be Commonwealth champion and he made it. He said he would be Olympic champion and he made it. He says he will be world champion and I don't doubt it."

Maloney has no doubts that Harrison can adapt to the demands of paid ranks quickly.

"It won't happen overnight but there's not a great deal of heavyweights out there.

"He'd have to settle down. He's got the power and it's just a case of moulding him. He's definitely the best of the current crop."