By David Field, PA Sport Boxing Correspondent, Sydney

Audley Harrison boxed his way to an Olympic medal on Wednesday and was told by Joe Bugner: "You have the gold in the palm of your hand".

But almost in the same breath Aussie Joe called big Audley "lazy" after Harrison guaranteed himself a bronze by turning on some style to outscore the Ukrainian Olekseii Mazikin in the super-heavyweight quarter final at Darling Harbour.

Harrison won 19-9, even allowing himself spot of showboating in the third of the four rounds, and now meets tough Italian Paolo Vidoz in Friday's semi-final - an opponent he beat last year.

He becomes the first home medallist since Robin Reid won bronze in Barcelona eight years ago, and his campaign to emulate Chris Finnegan - the last Britain to win a boxing gold in Mexico in 1968 - looks to be in good working order.

Bugner, commentating for Australia's Channel 7, said: "I thought Audley did fantastic when he came out of his shell, and wasn't scared to start throwing the big jab. I keep telling the coach (Ian Irwin) that he's got to get this kid with this huge reach and natural ability to start using it.

"I think he's a lazy guy, he doesn't want to work too hard. If he wants to win a gold, he'll have to work hard because that Italian guy is going to give him a run for his money. He knows Audley's faults because he's fought him before.

"He's beaten Vidoz already but this is the Olympics, a different situation. He was up against a tough kid in the Ukrainian, but once that jab was working he was devastating.

"Nothing's easy in boxing, but if he increases his work rate, just throws more jabs and more left crosses, I think he'll go through to the gold.

"But it's up to him, nobody can give him the confidence, throw the jab and the left will come through naturally. If he doesn't do that, he's going to go home with the bronze and I think he can go home with the gold. If he's determined to win the gold, it's right there, it's in the palm of his hand".

Harrison responded: "Lazy? You know what my style is, I like to figure out my opponents before I take them out, so to speak. It's not about work rate with me, it's about quality punches. I racked up 19 points in four rounds, I'm happy with my performance. I'm not taking shots, which is important.

"It might look like it's lazy, but I know what I'm doing. Most of the punches I throw are scoring punches which I think is the right tactic for the computer. While it's giving me success I'll keep it up."

Harrison, 29 next month, trailed early on but pulled to 4-2 ahead by the end of the first as he became more expansive with his punches, while his confidence grew. And two ripping straight lefts put him 7-5 up after two and Audley was in business. A couple of fast combinations gave him a trio of rapid scores in the third and was 12-6 going into the final round, and Britain's 44th Olympic boxing medal was virtually in the bank.

Harrison left nothing to chance with a series of thumping lefts, and opened out for another quick triple score to take victory with a flourish.

Harrison added: "It feels great to be a medallist; it's a dream for most people to come to the Olympics and represent their country. I'm going to be standing on the podium, an Olympic medallist. That's been my motivation, I'm not interested in the money. I want to set records, I want to put my name in the history books, and that's now been achieved. "It's a great achievement for me and the team. I've been blessed that their have been people who have been prepared to help me, who see that I am a genuine talent.

"I know I talk a good fight, and as has been seen, I can also produce the goods. I am a man who believes in myself.

"I've had such a boost from Steve Redgrave, the cyclists, Jonathan Edwards, Denise Lewis. Watching them achieve their goals has given me more motivation. I feel happy to be a part of it."

And the semi-final? Harrison added: "The Italian is the other best fighter in the group. It just happens he's in the same half - I've had quite a tough draw. It will be technical and tactical against him."

WBA heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has been at ringside most nights and did a BBC interview with Harrison earlier in the week. And Holyfield's advice has been simple. Audley revealed what 'The Real Deal' told him: "He said believe in yourself, make it happen, winners make it happen and losers watch it all go by. He said I've got the potential to do it, then do it.

"Holyfield's done it at the highest level, so I'll heed that advice. He's a good role model for me."

World champion Vidoz beat Nigeria's Samuel Peter 13-4 in his quarter-final, a workmanlike performance in which the African did score a point until the final round. While there was no doubting the Italian's superiority, Peter deserved a better reward for his efforts.