THE prospect of an intriguing ring showdown between Alex Arthur and Scott Harrison re-emerged yesterday when the latter announced that he is planning to make a comeback next month, the judicial system and the British Boxing Board of Control permitting.
Harrison, who is scheduled to appear in court in Glasgow on Monday to answer breach of the peace and police assault charges, has not fought since November 2005 when he out-pointed Australian Nedal Hussein to retain his WBO featherweight belt.
But
the 30-year-old former world champion from Cambuslang believes he is now ready to resume his career after appearing to have conquered his alcohol problems and is targeting a showdown with Arthur, the WBO Interim super-featherweight champion from Edinburgh, in the summer.
The pair were stable-mates in the dim and distant past before Arthur decided that the daily car journey from his home in Edinburgh to trainer Peter Harrison's Glasgow gym was having a debilitating effect on his back.
But it is the match Scottish boxing would welcome, and one Frank Warren of Sports Network would dearly love to promote, given its obvious appeal and money-spinning potential.
However, Harrison must also convince the British Boxing Board of Control that he is entitled to have his licence reinstated when they meet next Wednesday to discuss his appeal. But Harrison sees no reason why the BBBC should not grant him his wish after claiming: "The Board took my licence because they said I had failed to turn up for a trial weigh-in. But I had already vacated my title, so they had no justifiable reason for doing that."
Arthur, meanwhile, has an appointment with Joan Guzman, the WBO super-featherweight champion, first before any plans can be put in motion for him to fight Harrison, provided, of course, the fallen featherweight can overcome his other hurdles.
But Harrison remains upbeat after declaring: "I am looking to have one or two tune-up fights in March, in Glasgow or London, and in April, on the undercard of the Arthur-Guzman bill, and then fight for the title in July.
"We will see what happens after the Arthur-Guzman fight. Hopefully, Arthur will win because it would be a good all-Scottish battle between us."
Harrison, looking leaner, meaner and more determined than he has been for some time, did not attempt to hide behind excuses at yesterday's press briefing concerning his future plans.
"I am not going to lie to you," he said. "Even before my last fight, I was living a crazy life. I was making money, spending it and not living properly. I would lock myself away in training camps, get fit, fight again, make more money – and then do exactly the same things all over again, so my life was chaos.
"I also lost my love for boxing trying to make featherweight. It was killing me walking about heavy and then having to shed the weight. I genuinely believe that had I moved up to super-featherweight then I would still be champion.
"That's why I am moving up now, so I don't have to put myself through the same punishment. I will no longer have to drain my body and weaken myself to make nine stone.
"Maybe, too, when I was champion I became a bit complacent because I was fighting guys in the top ten in the world and brushing them aside. But when you are in the thick of a rut it is hard to get out of it. But I am still here to tell the tale. I think that shows what a strong and durable character I am. I have also got my pride and self-respect back.
"It has been a long road these past two years and it feels more like 10. But I have regrouped and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.
"This is the best I have lived for years. In fact, I am maybe living even better than when I won the title against Julio Pablo Chacon in October 2002 and when I regained it the following year.
"I am totally clean living, sleeping well, eating well and training properly. I am older and wiser and life could not be better. I am going to start enjoying my boxing again."
The full article contains 729 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
