Audley will be wary of Skelton

Audley Harrison will be running scared of a showdown with Matt Skelton after his great rival triumphed in one of the most extraordinary heavyweight brawls seen in a British boxing ring.

That was the claim made today by Skelton's handlers after the British and Commonwealth champion stretched his unbeaten record to 14 fights by forcing veteran Bob Mirovic to quit at the end of the fourth round.

Skelton, faced the 19st Australian, who had gone the distance with world-rated Nicolay Valuev only last August, and took a couple of huge hooks.

Then, after flooring Mirovic with an uppercut, he sustained a cut and swollen eye which would have given the referee cause for concern had the fight progressed to half distance.

So Skelton dug deep and launched an ugly barrage that caused Mirovic, bloodied and bruised, to refuse to come out for the fifth round.