From reality TV to the ‘heir to the Klitschko throne’ how GB’s heavyweights fared after Delicious Orie’s Olympic exit
TEAM GB’S medal-laden super-heavyweight success came to a controversial end following Delicious Orie’s Olympic exit.
Orie was bidding to become GB’s sixth super-heavy medalist in seven Games but he lost a disputed decision to Davit Chaloyan of Armenia.
ReutersDelicious Orie was knocked out of the 2024 Paris Olympics[/caption]
It means for the first time in a decade, Team GB go without a super-heavyweight medal – with Orie now touted to turn professional.
But it has yielded differing success from boxing superstardom to reality TV shows and failure to live up to heavy billing.
Audley Harrison, Sydney 2000
Harrison became GB’s first super-heavyweight gold medallist in Australia and came home a hero.
Promoters queued up for his pro signature and soon he signed a £1million deal with the BBC to show his first ten bouts.
And he got off to an excellent start with 19 straight wins in five years – until he faced Danny Williams for the Commonwealth title.
Williams – who had stunned and out-of-shape Mike Tyson the year prior – won the fight by split-decision.
Harrison was then beaten in his very next bout by Dominick Guinn to leave his career in crisis.
News Group Newspapers LtdAudley Harrison won Olympic gold in 2000[/caption]
In the years following, his world title aspirations went up in smoke with inconsistent form.
He then fought David Haye in a 2010 domestic grudge bout but lost in three rounds – landing just TWO punches.
A year after the infamous defeat, Harrison featured on Strictly Come Dancing – getting KOd in round seven.
Harrison’s boxing career came to a sad end in 2013 losing to future heavyweight champ and star Deontay Wilder.
A year later, he starred on Celebrity Big Brother alongside boxing promoter Kellie Maloney – formerly Frank.
Harrison in 2016 featured on Celebrity MasterChef and now spends his time as an occasional boxing pundit and pro poker player.
News Group Newspapers LtdDavid Haye KOd Audley Harrison in 2010[/caption]
GettyHarrison went in Celebrity Big Brother in 2014[/caption]
David Price, 2008 Beijing
Liverpool’s 6ft 8in giant pipped a young Tyson Fury after becoming one of the only to beat the Gypsy King in the boxing ring.
Price won bronze in China and turned pro with huge expectation – not helped much by future champ Tony Bellew’s prediction.
Bellew told iFL TV in 2012: “David Price is the heir to the Klitschko throne.”
Price, Fury and Wilder were all touted as the ones to succeed Wladimir and Vitali Klitshcko but only two of them made it.
PA:Press AssociationDavid Price won 2008 in Beijing[/caption]
Because while Fury defeated Wladimir in 2015 the same year Wilder also won the WBC belt, Price laboured behind.
He was knocked out twice by Tony Thompson in 2013 – despite the American testing positive for a banned substance.
Price in 2017 chased a mega-fight with Joshua and revealed he dropped a young AJ in sparring.
Joshua admitted the story was true but the bout never materialised with Price further being knocked out by Christian Hammer and Alexander Povetkin.
His career came to a crashing end in 2019 following defeat to Derek Chisora – with Price spending his retirement supporting his beloved Reds.
ReutersPrice was KOd by Alexander Povetkin[/caption]
Anthony Joshua, 2012 London
Joshua came second in the World Championships in 2011 but ran into trouble with the law the same year.
He avoided jail for drugs offences and turned his life around to qualify for the London Games – where AJ’s road to stardom began.
Joshua took the gold on home soil and was quickly signed up by Eddie Hearn – at the time and up-and-coming promoter.
Within four years he was heavyweight champion and one of the biggest stars in Britain.
PAAnthony Joshua won gold at the 2012 London Olympics[/caption]
Joshua has reigned twice as unified world champion and returns for his third crack on September 21 against Daniel Dubois.
His career as a prizefighter has seen him earn over £200MILLION.
Away from the ring, Joshua has sponsorship deals with Under Armour, Hugo Boss and Lucozade.
And up until 2022, he was still training at Team GB’s Sheffield training HQ.
Joe Joyce, 2016 Rio
Joyce only began boxing at 22 after growing up as a talented track and field athletics talent.
But he took to the sport well and used his huge 6ft 6in frame to win national titles and a place in the 2016 Olympic squad.
And Joyce looked on the way to emulating AJ before he lost a controversial decision to France’s Tony Yoka in the final.
The loss was among a series of bouts being investigated amid allegations of corrupt scoring.
Getty Images – GettyJoe Joyce won Olympic silver in 2016[/caption]
Still, Joyce turned pro in 2017 aged 31 and raced through the ranks with a succession of big wins including against Dubois and Joseph Parker.
But his career was left hanging in the balance following consecutive stoppage losses to China’s 20st giant Zhilei Zhang.
Joyce did return with a laboured victory over Kash Ali before again losing to British veteran Derek Chisora.
Despite the run of three defeats in four, Joyce hinted he will continue after talking down retirement.
Frazer Clarke, 2021 Tokyo
Clarke might have thought his Olympic dream would never come true.
He first became a GB boxer in 2009 but was overlooked for Joshua in 2012 and then lost out to Joyce four years after that.
Clarke – who worked security for Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing fights – eventually got called up for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
But again disaster struck as the coronavirus pandemic KOd the Games and potentially Clarke’s hopes.
Frazer Clarke took bronze in 2021 in TokyoGetty
Clarke stuck with it and eventually made it to Japan and walked away with silver before turning pro in 2022 aged 30.
He is currently unbeaten in nine bouts and featured in one of the fights of the year in 2024.
Clarke shared 12 gruelling and thrilling rounds with Fabio Wardley in March – fuelling demand for an anticipated rematch.
Fabio Wardley and Clarke drew in a British classicReuters
