World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Still from iFilm London Ex-world champion bailed on January 1 It has emerged that troubled fighter Scott Harrison was bailed by Glasgow Sheriff Linda Ruxton on New Year’s Day after forcing his way into a property on New Year’s Eve and hurling abuse at his ex-girlfriend. The 35 year-old, who had re-ignited his boxing career last year following a spell in a Spanish prison, is due to stand trial for his actions last week in the coming months after it was alleged Harrison damaged a TV and scared the occupants of the house. Harrison is already wanted by the Spanish authorities after being sentenced to another four years in jail last year and was only bailed by Judge Buxton as it would have spelled the end of his boxing career. “It is with some hesitation, on balance, I have decided to release you on bail pending your trial,” Ruxton was quoted by The Daily Record. ‘The Real McCoy’ has not fought since September when out-pointing Joe Elfidh at the ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Legal issues stall ex-champs revival Former two-time world title holder Scot Harrison has no scheduled bouts ahead of him as promoter Alex Morrison has taken the decision to cancel the boxer’s latest fight as further prison time hangs in the balance. Harrison, 35, is two fights into his boxing comeback after serving more than two-years in a Spanish prison and now faces another five-year stint after being found guilty of assaulting two men at a brothel in 2007. ‘The Real McCoy’ had been in preparations for a December 1 outing as the Scot attempts to put himself in line to face WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns next year, but that dream in now on hold indefinitely as Harrison fights the charges. "Scott has too many issues to deal with at the moment and it wouldn't be fair to expect him to undertake an important fight with everything that's going on in his life,” Morrison told heraldscotland.com. “But I am not giving up on...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real McCoy’ faces more time in Spanish jail Lightweight contender Scott Harrison is set to appeal after the former world champion was sentenced to another four years in a Spanish prison for an assault at a brothel five years ago. The 35 year-old was only released from similar term in September last year and could now be forced to head back to Spain to face another stretch that will almost certainly end his career for good. The incident, involving an assault on two men, was said to have taken place in 2007 and has led to ‘The Real McCoy’ being sentenced to two years for each of the men, along with third minor assault charge and various fines. Harrison is just two fights into his comeback from a six-year ring absence and has had his fair share of headlines since returning to the UK. This latest conviction, if not overruled, would be the final nail in the coffin of any further world title hopes for the two-time WBO featherweight king. ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor British champion up for Scottish clash Derry Mathews is known for loving a good war and has the makings of one on his hands this weekend against Gavin Rees. The Scouser is then open to a highland battle with another former world champion in Scott Harrison after witnessing his return last week in Glasgow. The current Lonsdale belt holder is attempting to take Welshman Rees’ European title at the weekend and is then willing to put it on the line against ‘The Real McCoy’ north of the border on his home soil. “I thought he was in terrific shape for someone who had been out the game seven years,” Mathews told World Boxing News. “I thought he looked well, although opponent was poor standards.” Mathews added: “I'd be more than willing to fight Harrison up in Scotland. I love hard fights and the people of Scotland have been brilliant to me so I would love to pay them back with a great fight up there. “It's like my second home and I...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Scott Harrison entered the ring all in black as if mourning the seven lost years of his boxing career and wasted no time going to work on novice pro Gyorgi Mizsei Jr. at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow. The 34 year-old, who was fighting for the first time since spending years locked away in a Spanish prison, came out firing in the first round and exploded in the second with some fierce body shots to put the Hungarian down three times. The left hook to the body was open all night for the ‘The Real McCoy’ as he bullied the out-of-depth 18 year-old into submission with some flashy looking combinations to roll back the years of his days as WBO featherweight king. Now campaigning at lightweight, Harrison ended the fight in the fourth round with that peach of a body shot that had already claimed three knockdowns and now moves his record to 26-2-2 at long last. It was hard to tell from the opponent he faced whether the two-time world champion can c...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real McCoy’ wants world shot, not British No sooner had manager Alex Morrison talked of a possible shot at Derry Mathews’ British lightweight belt, had Scott Harrison then dismissed a match-up with the European title challenger. At a media day to re-open Morrison’s Gym, Harrison spoke to waiting journalists, including Stephen Halliday of the Scotsman , to explain his future plans - which did not include a crack at the Lonsdale belt. “To be honest, I don’t even know who Derry Mathews is,” said Harrison. “I didn’t even know what he looked like. When they said his name today, I turned around and said ‘Who’s Derry Mathews?’ You’d still need to point him out to me. “They said he’s graciously going to put his title on the line against me. That’s good, isn’t it? I’ve always looked at who is the world champion, not British champion. The British title isn’t really attractive to me. I want to fight for the world title.” Mathews, 28, was a...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor British champion open to fight with former WBO title holder According to Scott Harrison’s manager Alex Morrison, the Scot has been offered the chance to fight British champion Derry Mathews later in the year. The possbile fight hinges on whether Mathews can come through a rematch with Gavin Rees next month at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield. Morrison is looking to fast-track his fighter to a world title shot in 2013 and sees the Lonsdale belt as an ideal stepping stone for Harrison as he makes his comeback from a seven-year absence. The 34 year-old fights Brahim Bariz in his first fight since 2005 at the end of the month at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow and wants to move as quickly as possible on to a potential shot at a world champion. Harrison held the WBO featherweight title on two occasions in the past and now campaigns at lightweight.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real McCoy’ faces Brahim Bariz Former WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison is keeping his mind focused on his return to the ring despite rumours that another case could be brought against him by the Spanish authorities. According to reports in Scotland, Harrison, 34, may face more prison time if found guilty of a separate offence in the Costa del Sol after previously serving a long stretch until his release late last year. Harrison is pencilled in to make his return to the boxing ring on June 29 th at the Kelvin Hall under Alex Morrison’s promotional banner and is scheduled to fight 17-loss Frenchman Brahim Bariz on the bill. 31 year-old Bariz has failed in three attempts to claim national title in his native France at the lightweight limit and is seen as a decent warm-up for the Scot, who harbours hopes of claiming another world title.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Boxer told to return to explain 2007 brawl Scott Harrison’s troubled boxing career may never get back on track after Spanish authorities requested that the former WBO champion return to face charges of attacking three men in 2007 and could be sentenced to two years in prison for each assault. The 34 year-old, who was due to make his boxing comeback following a length spell behind bars in the Costa del Sol, is now staring at the possibility that he may never fight again and his scheduled June 26th contest in Glasgow is now in doubt. To make things worse for Harrison, one of his alleged victims in the 2007 assault committed suicide, which friends blame on the attack and prosecutors will decide the Scotsman’s fate at a one-day trial to begin on September 26th. ‘The Real McCoy’ has been constantly highlighted in the press for flashpoints and alleged drunkenness since his release from a Spanish prison in September 2011, which saw promote...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real McCoy’ opens door for huge domestic bouts Former world featherweight champion Scott Harrison is to return to the ring in May for a ten-round lightweight bout as the Scot aims to waste no time with four, six or eight rounders on his return. The 34 year-old, who has signed with Ricky Burns’ promoter Alex Morrison, has stated that his ultimate goal is another world title and will delve straight into the British and European scene according to Morrison. “Scott will come back as a lightweight and he will do so on my next show, possibly at the Kelvin Hall,” Morrison told The Glasgow Evening Times. “We had been looking to have the next promotion at The Gorbals, but we will need somewhere bigger. “I would hope we will have something in place by May and there is a possibility it could be shown live on BoxNation. “The fight will be a ten-rounder against a good level British or European opposition and if Scott comes through, we wo...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real McCoy’ to press on with return plans Former world featherweight champion Scot Harrison has linked up with renowned Scottish promoter Alex Morrison following the break-up of his relationship with Frank Maloney. The 34 year-old, who was supposed to make his eagerly-awaited comeback on Saturday night following a seven-year absence, was arrested by police for a series of alleged drunken incidents and immediately dropped by Maloney. The Glasgow fighter is now hopeful that the British Board of Boxing Control give him a reprieve from sanctions after the arrest and allow him to concentrate of climbing through the ropes and fulfilling his dream of becoming world champion once again. Morrison, who had no qualms in stepping in to offer Harrison a three-year deal, is hoping to have the one-time WBO belt holder back in the ring as early as May at a show in his native Scotland. "I have signed a management contract with Scott and I plan...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Former champion’s comeback off Scott Harrison’s long seven-year road to a professional fight return looks to be at an end following his arrest for a series of incidents at a supermarket earlier this week. The 34 year-old, who was due to fight in Blackpool at the end of this month, was snapped up by Frank Maloney following his release from a six-year sentence in a Spanish prison, only to be questioned by police over an alleged theft with just days until his scheduled bout. The one-time WBO featherweight king’s career is now in tatters once again as Maloney has distanced himself from the rugged ex-champion as Harrison attempts to deal with his ongoing issues. Harrison’s father Peter, who also trains and manages his son, told BBC Scotland : "The legal wrangle over who was to promote Scott's up-coming comeback fight has caused a great deal of stress and anxiety to Scott which has been shown in the last 48 hours. "Scott is now ta...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real McCoy’ returns from six-year absence Former WBO super-featherweight champion Scott Harrison is pencilled in to fight for the first time since late 2005 on the undercard of Brian Rose’s British light-middleweight title defence against Max Maxwell on March 31. The probable six-round bout will take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool and will be the Glasgow-based fighter’s first professional contest under new promoter Frank Maloney. The 34 year-old, who will return to campaign at his former weight of 130lbs, is aiming to regain the world title later in 2012 after holding the WBO belt in two spells between 2002 and 2005. "A couple of fights to get rid of the ring rust and I'll be ready. It is a lot to ask,” Harrison told The BBC in a recent interview. "But I feel 100% it is going to happen that I will be world champion. I will be a lot more dangerous, because a hungry fighter is a dangerous fighter." Ha...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former champ eyes world title number three Two-time WBO featherweight belt holder Scott Harrison has admitted to his mistakes in the past and now wants to focus on the task in hand after regaining his license to as a prolonged wait ended yesterday. The 34 year-old, who is now free to resume his boxing career after a six-year absence and time spent in a Spanish prison, has a plan in place to pick up third world title after the Scot never lost the belt in the ring. "I'd like to thank the British Boxing Board of Control and the Scotland Area Council for giving me my licence back,” Harrison told The Daily Record. "It has taken some time. The investigation into my physical and mental condition has been exhaustive and I don't think I could have done it without their support. "I have made some serious mistakes in my life and spent a considerable amount of time in a Spanish prison. "That would change anyone and I...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former champion to resume career Scotland’s former world featherweight champion Scott Harrison will now get the chance to fight in his 30 th professional outing after the British Board of Boxing Control granted his request for a boxing license. The 34 year-old, who held the WBO 126lb belt on and off for almost three and a half years in the mid-2000’s, is now free to resume his ring career after spending time in a Spanish prison. The Glasgow-based fighter has now pulled his life back together after being released earlier this year and is expected to make his debut in early 2012, although it is not yet known what weight he will campaign at upon his return. 'The Real McCoy' last fought in 2005 against Nedal Hussein and has just one bona-fide loss against Manuel Medina on his record which the Scot avenged  four months after their first meeting in 2003. .

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Cardiff meeting to discuss Scot’s ring return Former world champion Scott Harrison should find out by next week whether he will be allowed to box again after paperwork problems stalled his bid to regain his boxing license. The 34 year-old, who has been out of the ring for six years since defending his WBO featherweight title for the seventh time, is set to learn his fate in the coming days, according to Scottish newspaper The Glaswegian, after a BBBC meeting was set up in Cardiff to discuss his case and father/trainer Peter believes his son deserves a chance. “Scott is in limbo until we get confirmation he is getting his licence back,” Harrison told the paper. “He wants to get back into the ring so it’s not right that anyone should stand in his way. “People at the Scottish Area Council have been great and there has been plenty of backing from other figures in the sport so we are hopeful Scott will soon be fighting again. “It h...

Frank Warren Promotions http://www.frankwarren.tv WBO World Super-Featherweight champion Ricky Burns wants to beat Scott Harrison's Scottish record of seven successful world title defences. Coatbridge hero Burns makes the third and hardest defence of his title on Saturday 16th July at Liverpool's Echo Arena against the former Champion Nicky Cook, live on Sky Sports 1HD. Although Burns is very much taking his career one fight at a time, he can't help but have an eye on the bigger picture. That includes becoming even more successful than Harrison, who enjoyed two reigns as WBO World Featherweight king and to step up a division and do the same there. "I grew up watching Scott when I was a young professional, and he was an inspirational figure," said Burns. "There were some great nights for Scottish boxing when he defended his world title at the Braehead Arena and I featured on the undercard which was a great learning experience. "He had so mu...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “The Real McCoy” eyeing comeback after prison sentence Scotland’s former world featherweight champion Scott Harrison has announced that he is already in training for his next fight after spending over two-years in a Spanish prison for assault and plans to re-apply for his boxing licence on his return to Britain. The 33 year-old, who held the WBO 126lb title for three years in two spells, making seven successful defences, has been out of the ring since a 2005 victory over Nedal Hussein. The Glasgow-based former British and Commonwealth champion told his father/trainer Peter that he will be ready to resume his career on his release in a couple of months. "Scott's not finished with boxing, far from it. He is hungry to come back and I sense a real desire in him,” Peter Harrison told The Daily Record . "His career is not over and I am glad to say that. If he gets the chance he will take it I am certain of it. He loves boxing and the ring is ...