Audley Harrison, his manager, Colin McMillan, and his promoter, Jess Harding, were yesterday accused of trying to deprive the American boxer Michael Middleton of as much as £50,000. Middleton has been selected to meet Harrison tomorrow night at Wembley Arena and agreed terms for the fight last month when he signed a British Boxing Board of Control Contract. The contract entitled Middleton, who is a private eye, to $5,000 (£3,500) and included the standard Board clause concerning television monies. When it is not crossed out in a boxer's contract it means that the fighter is entitled to 21.25 per cent of the television revenue.Middleton noticed this on Monday evening and immediately realised that in addition to the $5,000 for the fight he would now be getting a considerable additional sum as his share of the television money.However, at 10.50 on Monday night McMillan and Harding arrived at Middleton's hotel room with a second contract, which stipulated a higher fee of $5,500. But the new contract did not mention television money and, moreover, included a clause concerning insurance cover for the fight.

If Middleton suffered an injury during the bout the insurance pay-out would go to the promoters. The promoter of record on the second contract was A-Force, a company Harrison created earlier this year.Middleton knew that something was seriously wrong "They have attempted to screw me It is that simple," said Middleton. "I knew the moment I looked at the second contract that it was different and that was when I realised that something wacky was going on."Middleton was eventually able to persuade Harding and McMillan to leave his hotel room without the signed contract in their hands and Middleton then realised he needed to get some advice. After speaking to a friend in the United States, he was given the number of Andy Ayling, a British boxing agent, and late on Monday night he called him.Late on Tuesday night Middleton left his hotel in Wembley and joined Ayling and a lawyer to discuss what they could do. Yesterday the trio appeared at a press conference at the office of a rival promoter, Frank Warren."The document that Middleton was asked to sign on Monday night asked for the rights to his life," insisted the boxer's new attorney, Bernard Clarke. "It is a terrible document, the most one-sided contract I have ever seen."However, Middleton confirmed that he would be going ahead with the fight and Clarke then confirmed that he would be seeking assurances from Harding and McMillan that his client will receive his cut of the television money, which is expected to be as much as $250,000 in total.Meanwhile, McMillan confirmed that he and Harding had indeed gone to Middleton's room just before 11 at night, but claimed that this was because "we couldn't locate him during the day." He refused to comment on the insurance clause and laid the blame firmly on Harding for their mistake in the first contract. He said: "Jess has told me that leaving the TV money on the contract was an oversight by him."Harrison was unavailable for comment and his agents, Octagon, appeared oblivious to the threat of the bad publicity that yesterday's revelations will undoubtedly bring.However, the real loser could be McMillan.

Last month Harrison said: "My manager Colin is secretary of the Professional Boxers' Association and we'd be the last people to give a raw deal to boxers."Yesterday Middleton clearly disagreed and called them all hypocrites, saying: "I'm not a great fighter ­ I will never be a contender, but I'm standing up for my rights and the rights of all boxers.". The sleeping giant of Godolphin stirred here on the Knavesmire yesterday, snapped its bonds and once again became a presence to be feared. Marienbard's victory in the Yorkshire Cup was the Emirates team's first success on British soil this spring, and, in bus fashion, Musha Merr followed up 30 minutes later in his Derby trial. The sleeping giant of Godolphin stirred here on the Knavesmire yesterday, snapped its bonds and once again became a presence to be feared.