By Simon Stone, PA Sport

British boxing favourite Henry Cooper has tipped Audley Harrison to enjoy the fruits of his Olympic success even if his professional career only lasts a couple of years.

Cooper watched with pride as Harrison became the first British fighter since Chris Finnegan in 1968 to capture a gold medal as he defeated Mukhtarkan Dildabekov of Kazhakstan to clinch the super-heavyweight title in Sydney.

With a professional career on the horizon, estimates have placed Harrison's earning potential at a figure close to £60million if the articulate Londoner can match Lennox Lewis' feat and clinch the heavyweight crown.

Cooper warns there is much work to be done before Harrison can be bracketed into that category but insists Harrison's Olympic achievement can prove to be the springboard for fame and fortune.

"When he fights professionally for the first time, it won't be for a couple of hundred quid that's for sure," said the former British and European heavyweight champion.

"Winning an Olympic gold medal is a great springboard to becoming a good pro.

"All the past great heavyweights, such as Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali, have done it.

"Audley's achievement is a marvellous one. He is a good mover and not a bad boxer. Now he needs to look at the areas where he can improve."

Cutting out the fried breakfast he enjoyed before his big fight would be a start, while his stamina levels will also have to increase.

Winning the Olympic title fighting four rounds of two minutes is a different proposition to standing in a ring for 12 three-minute rounds, which the 28-year-old will have to do if he is to become a world champion.

"In effect, what Audley has been doing is sprinting his way through fights," said Cooper.

"Now he will have to learn to run a marathon.

"He is a big enough guy and comes across well in his interviews.

"I suppose he is quite old to be turning professional but if you look at Lennox Lewis earning £10million a fight, you don't have to be around long to earn a lot of money these days."