Board waits for Harrison release

The British Boxing Board of Control insists no decisions will be made on Scott Harrison's December world title defence until after his prison release.
The WBO featherweight champion hopes to be bailed from a Spanish jail on Monday having been behind bars since 6 October following an alleged assault.

But BBBC general secretary Simon Block said: "There are certain questions which must be resolved when he is out.

"Is he in a fit state to continue his career. If not now, when - if ever?"

Harrison's detention has thrown his 9 December defence against Nicky Cook into doubt.

The 29-year-old Cambuslang fighter was due to have undergone a BBBC medical on Monday to determine his fitness for the Cook fight at London's Excel Arena.


606 DEBATE: Can Harrison get his career going again?
His manager Barry Hughes told BBC Sport that Harrison will definitely be released from his Malaga jail on Monday and said talks were under way to get the fight back on track.

But Block maintains there are further hurdles to negotiate before the sport's governing body can sanction the fight.

"What is essential in the case of Scott Harrison is: 'Is he in or is he out (of prison)?'" Block said.

"A boxer can prove his fitness at any time but what is relevant is the 9 December situation.

"It was proposed he defend his championship on that date. There are a number of factors now relating to that.

"Firstly, does promoter Frank Warren still want to put the fight on?

"Number two is the question whether he is still champion, because if he is not he will not have a title to defend.

"Then, thirdly, if he still wants to box, can he be found fit to fight?

"I certainly do not know the answer to any of those questions at this time."

The World Boxing Organisation had already said the Scot would be stripped of his title.

And Warren himself said: "It is not necessarily the case that the fight is back on.

"Scott has been released from prison and has a contract to fight and we have to honour that contract.

"But it is subject to the fighter passing a medical, so he has to get through those first and he will see a doctor from the BBBC on Monday."

Harrison's manager, however, remains positive that the fight can be put back on track.

"We spoke to Frank Warren to ensure the fight was still on," said Hughes.

"He was more than willing to put the fight back on 9 December."

"We spoke to both the WBO and our legal team and they gave us the answer we wanted.

"I spoke to Scott through the lawyers in Spain and he knows he is getting out now and he has been training hard.

"At least now he has a date when he knows he will be walking out the front door of that place."