Audley Harrison hints at retirement after defeat by Deontay Wilder

Audley Harrison's career finally appears to be over after he was knocked out by American prospect Deontay Wilder in Sheffield.

Former Olympic champion Harrison was staggered by the first right hand Wilder threw and went over from the subsequent barrage.

Harrison, 41, rose to his feet before the count of 10 but the referee deemed him unfit to continue.

Wilder, 27, now has 28 knockouts in as many fights.

Wilder beats Audley Harrison

"I've got to be realistic, it's looking like it could be the end," said Harrison, who has now lost seven fights out of 38 as a professional since winning an Olympic gold medal as an amateur in 2000.

"It took me a lot of fortitude and persistence to get back to this position and it's going to be hard to come back from here."

Harrison's career looked to be over when he was knocked out in one round by fellow Brit David Price last October.

But the Londoner won a Prizefighter tournament in February to keep his dream of one day winning a heavyweight world title alive.

However, Alabama knockout artist Wilder, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, shattered that dream in little over a minute at the Motorpoint Arena.

"I felt sharp and comfortable in there but he caught me with a big shot," said Harrison.

"I took a knee and he was still throwing punches. I wanted to continue, I had my senses about me. This one is going to be a hard one for me to take."

After his victory, his 28th inside four rounds, Wilder called out Manchester's Tyson Fury, who knocked out Steve Cunningham in New York last week.

The United States has not had a heavyweight world champion since 2007 and Wilder looks the most likely to buck that trend.