By Alex Trickett at Wembley Arena

Harrison takes WBF title

Whatever they think of Audley Harrison, British fight fans should be pleased that they were left without a world heavyweight champion for just 43 days.

By beating dubious Dutch opponent Richel Hersisia on Saturday, Harrison won the lightly-regarded WBF title, taking a healthy stride in his bid to follow in the footsteps of Lennox Lewis, who retired on 6 February.

His win, by emphatic fourth-round knockout in front of excited home support at Wembley, sets up the possibility of "real" world title fights at WBC, WBA, IBF or WBO level.

But, as ever with Audley, all was not quite as it seemed.

On an England rugby day, Swing Low Sweet Chariot was the English anthem chosen to follow the Dutch national anthem before the start of the fight.

And its words rang strangely true.

Hersisia, this vaunted unbeaten belt holder, measured a full five inches shorter than Harrison's 6ft 5in, literally forcing the Englishman to "swing low".

I see Audley as a better inside fighter than I am Lennox Lewis Co-promoter

The "Dutch Sonny Liston" soon looked out of his depth dealing with his taller foe's southpaw jab, while Harrison himself took time to settle, getting caught with a couple of shots in round two.

But "A-Force" stepped up his work rate in the third, starting to switch hit and opening up a cut over Hersisia's right eye.

Harrison's fourth-round finish came after one of the most impressive flurries in his pro career.

The Dutchman came out swinging and landed a neat right-hand, only to be answered by a sustained barrage from Harrison that sent him crashing face-first to the canvas.

Lewis, who was at ringside as a co-promoter of the fight, praised Harrison's controlled aggression.

"I thought he did great. He went out there and worked it out for the first couple of rounds.

Next up a Klitschko brother?

"Once he worked it out and realised he could take Hersisia out, he did it and that's what we want to see.

"I see Audley as a better inside fighter than I am and the combinations he threw to take this guy out were unbelievable."

High praise indeed from a heavyweight legend and well deserved in terms of the knockout.

The manner of the finish, catalysed by a mighty uppercut, certainly gives encouragement for Harrison's future in a heavyweight division that is there for the taking.

But there are still much tougher guys around.

And, at the age of 32, it is in Harrison's interest to get to the real players - the Klitschkos, Chris Byrd and others - as soon as he can.

Being an alphabet champion is fine and good, but an internet search on WBF turns up the World Bridge Federation as its top match, not the World Boxing Foundation.

This hints at the true significance of Harrison's new title.