Harrison gets Holy warning

Harrison (right) will need to adapt, according to Holyfield

Four-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield could not have been kinder about Audley Harrison's gold medal performance at the Sydney Olympics.

Harrison used all his courage and bravery to overcome a painful left hand and Mukhktarkhan Dildabekov of Kazakhstan to score a 30-16 win in the super-heavyweight final.

And Holyfield, who had offered him advice and support during the fortnight, was one of the first people to embrace him at the completion of the contest and offer his congratulations.

"It was a great performance," said current WBA champion Holyfield. "He did what he had to do. He outboxed him and had him in trouble.

Pain

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"He fought with a bad hand and overcame the pain."

But despite all the character shown during the contest and indeed the last week, Holyfield, a professional for nearly 16 years and a veteran of over 20 world title fights, believes that Harrison will have to make adjustments if he wishes to turn professional.

"The pros are a different world and he'll be fighting some really big guys," said Holyfield. "He needs to work on some basic things - how to slip a punch, how to hold.

"He'll need a good professional trainer, but he's got the tools. He's got the body. Now he needs the mind.

Hard work

"It'll take a lot of hard work if he wants to become heavyweight champion. For him it has only just begun."

From a personal viewpoint, Holyfield gave the clearest indication that his extraordinary career is coming to an end.

The Atlanta based fighter recently said he would fight till 50 if necessary to achieve his goal of being undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

"Boxing will probably be over in a year for me, but I'm sure his future is great."