Harrison survives stiff test

Harrison survives Bonin test, after ref intervenes.

05:23 20 June 2004

Audley Harrison ended his contractual relationship with the BBC in less-than pleasing fashion at London's Alexandra Palace on Saturday.

The bout for the minor version WBF heavyweight title with the previously unbeaten Pole, Tomasz Bonin, was adjudged over in ninth-round by referee John Keane.

But the decision was met with boos from a restless crowd that saw and wanted more.

Bonin gave Olympic gold medallist Harrison a run for his money, putting up a defence that matched and bettered any of Harrison's previous 16 professional opponents.

Bonin was incensed by the decision to prematurely end the contest. He paraded round the ring leaping on the corner posts, waving to the crowd, clearly demonstrating he had something extra to give.

Although Harrison controlled much of the fight, he received a bloody nose in the eighth.

Harrison said after the fight: "Bonin put in a great and a gutsy performance.

"He is a guy who came in at 26 and 0 and he did not want to lose his record.

"The referee sees the action. He is the third man in the ring and sees what he sees.

"But he was very definitely hurt and turned away from the referee so, yes, he was definitely right to make the decision."

Harrison was ahead on the scorecards of all three judges, leading 78-75 and 77-76 twice.