Ex-world champion is still up for a fight
Former world featherweight champion, Scott Harrison, claims he has been forced into the arms of the independent British and Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA) after being continually snubbed by the sport’s governing body.
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) stripped Harrison of his license in 2015 after he was jailed for a third time in eight years.
After serving three years of his fouryear sentence for assault on three men in Malaga, Harrison was released in 2018.
But the BBBC remains adamant that they will continue to resist all attempts by the Cambuslang-born fighter to pick up the pieces of his shattered career at the age of 42.
General Secretary, Robert Smith, explained that Harrison’s plea for clemency was rejected on the grounds that the BBBC did not consider that it would be beneficial for the boxer, or the sport, to sanction his return to the ring.
But Harrison has countered with the claim that he is a victim of hypocrisy, and that other transgressors have been shown far greater leniency.
He has also accused the BBBC of failing to deliver on a promise to reinstate his license once he completed his prison sentence.
But Smith said: “We might get slaughtered by some people, who think we are being harsh. But I don’t think we are.
“Scott had plenty of opportunities and, unfortunately, he wasn’t able to take them, which is a great shame.
“We have a duty of care to all our boxers, and we didn’t think it was beneficial for him to carry on boxing at this stage of his life, and after what had gone on in the past.”
Although he has not boxed competitively since April, 2013 – when he lost to Liam Walsh in a WBO European lightweight title bout at Wembley Arena – Harrison is pressing ahead with plans to make a comeback next month.
He is earmarked to appear on a pay-per-view bill in Aberdeen being promoted by BIBA.
Board bosses refuse to recognize BIBA, but Harrison countered:
“I want to thank them for giving me a chance to have a last part to my career.
“The Board took away my chance to work. Boxing has always been my job, and my only means to make money.”
Harrison lost only one of his 10 world title bouts, but his life and career began spiralling out of control in 2006 due to a combination of factors, including alcohol abuse.
And his failure to make the weight for a title defence against Nicky Cook resulted in him being stripped of his license for six years.