Exclusive Interview: Scott Harrison.

Scott Harrison must wonder what he has to do to capture the hearts of the public. Being Scotland’s first world champion since, well, since I was a fetus should be enough, in theory. However, the boxing world is rarely so clear-cut. If Harrison finishes his opponent too fast, the fight is farce. If, God forbid, a fighter pushes Harrison to the

limit, he’s overrated. The criticism leveled at Harrison applies to any top British fighter you’d care to mention. It seems, though, that Harrison receives rather more than the rest of the pack. Is it because he is a man of few words? As boxing and mixed martial arts edge ever closer to the pageantry of Professional Wrestling, it’s unsurprising that a fighter who, as you would expect, simply fights is a target for criticism. Harrison is a throwback fighter, to borrow a cliche. He isn’t fancy, nor is he a true exponent of “the sweet science’; he is a tough, rugged, very durable brawler and an excellent one at that. It is a style that allows for exciting fights. With that in the mind, Scott Harrison was kind enough to grant SaddoBoxing an exclusive interview amidst all the talk of a unification fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

SB: What have you been up to since the Polo fight?

SH: I’ve been over in Spain, my villa in Spain. Just been getting things tied up because I’ve bought a villa. So I’ve really just been taking it easy. But I’m back home in Glasgow now.

SB: There was a bit of controversy surrounding the decision in your last fight, against Victor Polo. A lot of people thought Polo won. What was your take on the fight?

SH: Well, a lot of people thought Polo got beat, as well. I mean, look at the last fight. It was fifty-nine seconds and that was too quick for people. So really, you can’t win. It’s a no-win situation sometimes. So as long as I’m getting the job done, I’m quite happy.

SB: Personally, I think a lot of people were jumping on the bandwagon. One person criticized you and the rest followed suit. A lot of your critics have been rather harsh in the past, I feel.

SH: It has to be said, that’s my seventh defense of the WBO title. That’s not good enough for some people, y’know? I had one of those nights where I couldn’t lift it at times, so as long as I got the decision. I thought I won the first half of the fight and I won the twelfth and maybe got a draw in another round. So I thought I won the fight by maybe a couple of rounds. Being honest with you, Polo put up a hell of a fight, put up a good show. Right now I’m just having a rest.

SB: What would you say to people who doubt your ability?

SH: Nobody’s ever spoken about doubting my ability. I’m a two-time world champion. I’ve defended my title seven times. So anybody that says I’ve not got any ability, I think there’s something wrong with them.

SB: Your stamina is normally one of your strong points. But against Polo you seemed to run out of steam in the sixth round. Was over-training a factor?

SH: I maybe took off too much fat. But I just couldn’t lift it at times, as well. And maybe I over-trained, but that’s something I’ll correct for the next fight.

SB: Directly after the fight, there was talk of a rematch with Victor Polo. Is that something you see happening in the future?

SH: There’s talk now of a Marquez fight, a unification fight. They’ve offered me money to fight Marquez in Vegas.

SB: Are you any closer to deciding on whether you’re going to take up that offer?

SH: They’ll have to increase the money because the money is less than what I’m getting just now, y’know?

SB: Do you think Juan Manuel Marquez is underestimating you a wee bit, given that he’s challenging you after one of your poorer displays in the last couple of years?

SH: [long pause] I don’t know, to be honest with you. Styles make fights and it’ll be a good fight. But the money’s got to be right, y’know?

SB: Out of the top featherweights, do you feel his style is the trickiest for you?

SH: He’s a kind of counter-puncher, ain’t he? He’s a counter-puncher and I’d have to make him fight. It’s just talk just now anyway; it’s just talk just now. But it’s a possible fight, y’know?

SB: A lot of people feel In Jin Chi would be the perfect opponent for you, style-wise. There was talk of that fight in the past. What happened with that?

SH: I don’t really know. You’d have to ask my manager. There was talk of the fight, but there’s been talk of a lot of fights. I’ve just got to keep defending my title.

[Harrison was interrupted briefly at this point]

SH: What was the question again?

SB: I was just asking you about In Jin Chi and your thoughts on him.

SH: Aye, hopefully I can get a fight against one of the other champions. I’d like to put my title on the line against one of the other champions. That’s what I need. I need a unification fight to kind of lift me again to another level.

SB: Ok, I’d like for you to give me your thoughts on the fighters I mention.

SH: Right.

SB: Marco Antonio Barrera.

SH: He’s a good fighter. He’s a legend in his own right, ain’t he? He’s fighting at super featherweight just now. He’s saying there could be a possible fight in the future.

SB: Yeah, before the Polo fight there was talk of you being a possible opponent for his upcoming…

SH: I think he’s fighting somebody from South Africa just now.

SB: What are your thoughts on Manny Pacquiao?

SH: He’s another possible fight, as well. Every fight’s a possible fight, y’know?

SB: But how do you rate these fighters compared to yourself?

SH: Well, there all good champions in their own right, ain’t they? I mean, every one of them’s got a different strength. One’s a boxer, counter-puncher, one’s a fighter. So every one of them’s got a different strength, y’know? They’re good champions. I need to go just now. I’m going into a meeting just now

SB: Ok, thanks very much, Scott.

[Scott had told me beforehand that he had to go into a meeting, so the interview was cut short]

James MacDonald can be reached at ac009b5460@blueyonder.co.uk