THE BRIT IS COMIN', THE BRIT IS COMIN' By George Elsasser

The e-mail arrived this morn ... from my knowledgeable lady Editor Elisa Harrison ... sounded warm all over ... and shoutin' one if by land ... two if by sea ... or something like that.

And the cry was to put me (and others) on notice ... another big, bad Brit heavy had landed and readying to do biz with ESPN Boxing ... yes, none other than British Olympic Super Heavy Gold Medalist Audley Harrison.

The 6'6" Londoner is undefeated in 11 bouts with seven coming via the knockout route ... kickoff night is ESPN2 co-feature penciled for Tuesday night Sept. 9 show.

Never have seen this new one ... but my immediate reaction was via long ago faded flashbacks of past British names making the big England-America touchdown ... and how it used to be.

Scratch Cornwallis - the British general that commanded his troops during that American Revolution was probably no more than a blown-up middleweight ... but as I recall, Tommy Farr was no mutt ... decisions Max Baer in 1937 before losing return by decision in 1938 ... also went full route in losing to Louis and Braddock in 1938.

Others coming to mind and coming up short in the reach for that brass ring was very decent ones in Don Cockell who had the bad timing of running into Marciano in 1955 ... and Ali bested the Bugner, Cooper, Brian London trios back in 1960s and 70.

I know, I know and today there is Lennox Lewis ... at moment not touching that subject ... new page, clean slate ... Audley Harrison the new hope ... but only 11 proms to date?

Personally, them British l'heavies weren't too shabby lemme tell ya ... Freddie Mills wins world title over Gus Lesnevich in 1948 ... tall order to be sure ... also KO'd another Brit hopeful in Bruce Woodcock in 14th candle ... Bruce baby held British & Empire heavy titles at the time ... then Mills lost crown to Joey Maxim in 1950.

Joe Conteh, you ask? Yes, did win WBC bauble over a no-name Jorge Ahumada back in 1974 and lists Yaqui Lopez among his defenses but in 1979 ran into Matthew Saud Muhammad (Matt Franklin) ... end of story.

And middle champ Randy Turpin was a dandy ... won title from the sweetest of all Sugars ... then Robinson took it back couple months later circa 1951.

But for now ... my Elisa can have the big guy ...my British favorite is the kid from Manchester ... the young "Hitman" Ricky Hatton - something like 32-0 with 24 stoppages - and a non-stop body snatcher, banzai in style.

Now we talkin' about something to get warm about.

Geo El

Semper Fi

8-20-2003

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