STONEBRIDGE boxer Audley Harrison this week made a dramatic U-turn on his decision to retire from the sport.

The 41-year-old Olympic gold medalist announced he would hang up his gloves earlier this month after being knocked out by Deontay Wilder.

It was an embarrassing loss for the heavyweight as he hit the canvas just 70 seconds into the bout at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield.

Harrison, who challenged David Haye for the world title in 2010, does not want to go out on the back of the Wilder loss and is determined to end his career on a high.

‘When I made the tough decision to walk away from boxing, I knew it was not going to be easy. As the days passed, I knew I would not be able to live with the decision. I wrestled with it for a few weeks.

“We all saw how the fight ended, which was not right. I can’t walk away with that performance. If I do, it would haunt me until I’m old and grey. I got up, they should have let him come to finish me, and let me show what I got.

“There is no way I am going to tell my son I gave up because I didn’t want to climb the mountain again, I didn’t want to dust myself off again, when I’m now in the best shape of my career, doing things I haven’t done for years, and back in love with the sport.”

Harrison became the first British fighter to win an Olympic gold medal in Sydney nearly 13 years ago.

He became a father last week and says the birth of his son, Hudson Hugh Harrison, was another major factor in his decision.

Harrison added: "I spoke to everyone from the Boxing Board, to Lennox Lewis, David Haye, my dad, wife and many others. Ultimately seeing my son born crystallized my decision."