Harrison dances to heavy medal

It was only four two-minute rounds, but on at least four occasions Audley Harrison broke into something resembling a foxtrot. "Not bad for a bloke who can't fight," he said after easily outscoring the Ukrainian Oleksii Mazikin, who was large enough to look worrisome but was made to appear very ordinary by Harrison.

The 28-year-old Londoner started posturing as early as the second minute of the first round when he realised that the Ukrainian's slow hands were never going to catch his quick head. Suddenly the arms were down and the dancing began. It was almost as if he himself had just realised that he could not only fight a bit but show off too.

Sober British fans in the crowd (though there may not have been many, for this was as close to a barmy army as we have seen this Olympics) would have wished to see a foxtrot or two fewer, because each time Harrison danced and the hands fell, Mazikin had a clear view of the target.

As the contest was close until the final round, this was a risky policy. It was not without purpose, though, for the teasing clearly bemused the Ukrainian. However, one suspects it was not Mazikin whom Harrison most wanted to impress.

There were a few notables in attendance; the minister of sport Kate Hoey, for example, who may have been influenced enough by the bronze medal that is now Harrison's - irrespective of what happens in tomorrow's semi-final, for they award two in boxing - to recommend an increase in lottery funding for the Brent fighter.

Well, that wouldn't appeal much to Harrison, who if he can muster only a couple more victories will soon be in a position to offer the lottery some financial assistance of his own.

Since Frankie Genaro, the 1920 flyweight champion, became the first Olympic champion to go on to win a world professional championship, more than 40 boxers have followed suit. If Harrison wins this title, heaven knows what his first pro fight alone will be worth, especially if he puts on a show as well. So, it wasn't for Mazikin, it wasn't for Hoey, it wasn't even for the battalion of British fans; it was the promoters that the foxtrots were for.

"He'll be the richest, oldest heavyweight to turn pro," said Joe Bugner. This was a bit ripe from Bugner, who retired from the fight game only last year when he looked in the mirror and realised he was 49 years old. If Harrison follows that example he will have a full 20 years in the pro game. On the other hand, he may not see Aussie Joe as a mentor, especially after receiving the rest of Bugner's advice.

"It's all very well being 6ft 6in with an enormous reach if you don't use it. He's a lazy bugger, he doesn't want to work too hard. Nothing's easy in boxing, but if he increases his work rate, just throws more jabs and more left crosses, I think he'll go through to the gold," said the former British heavyweight champion. "It's up to him, nobody can give him the confidence; throw the jab and the left will come through naturally. If he doesn't do that he's going to go home with the bronze, and I think he can go home with the gold."

Harrison defended himself when told of Bugner's comments. "It's not about work rate with me, it's about quality punches. I racked up 19 points in four rounds, I'm happy with my performance. I'm not taking shots, which is important. It might look like it's lazy, but I know what I'm doing. Most of the punches I throw are scoring punches," he said, though he needn't have bothered; when your victory score is 19-8 you do not have to explain yourself.

"It feels great to be a medallist," Harrison added. "It's a dream for most people to come to the Olympics and represent their country. I'm going to be standing on the podium, an Olympic medallist. That's been my motivation"

The Italian Paolo Vidoz awaits in the semi-final. He tidily disposed of the Nigerian Samuel Peter, his punches travelling quickly and straight while Peter's haymakers hit more gloves than anything else.

Harrison has beaten Vidoz before, but he may have to disappoint the promoters. The Italian has quick hands and if Harrison decides to drop his guard and swagger he may come unstuck.

One boxer whom the Brunel University graduate will not encounter is the Cuban Alexis Rubalcaba, who was beaten by Kazakhstan's Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov on a miserable day for the socialist state. The light-middleweight Juan Hernandez Sierra, who was twice an Olympic silver medallist before moving up a weight, also suffered a shock defeat and the flyweight Manuel Mantilla and featherweight Yosvany Aguilera also lost.

It was, according to some reports, the worst-ever night for Cuban boxing at the Olympics, but they still have six boxers in at the semi-final stage, only one fewer than Russia. Disasters are relative.