Warren puts onus on Harrison

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Warren puts onus on Harrison

Frank Warren has urged Scott Harrison to prove he is ready to defend his WBO featherweight title against Nicky Cook next month.

The 29-year-old Cambuslang fighter, who is scheduled to defend his crown against the Englishman at the ExCel Arena on December 9, was released from a Spanish jail last night where he had been held since October 6 on an alleged assault charge.

The Sports Network Promoter originally pulled Harrison out of his London bill but agreed to reinstate him last Friday when the champion's manager Barry Hughes obtained bail for his fighter.

After four days of negotiation and red tape, Hughes finally secured the Scotsman's release at 8pm British time on Monday night.

Both men were set to fly home to Glasgow on Tuesday, where it is hoped Harrison will undergo a British Boxing Board of Control medical to prove his fitness to take on Cook next month.

But Warren said Harrison's job is only part-complete.

He said: "Scott has been released; now he has to fulfil the criteria of the British Boxing Board of Control.

"I spoke to him last night for the first time in I don't know how many weeks, and he seemed in a positive frame of mind.

"He said he was very fit, but we will find that out today at the medical.

"He certainly sounds like he is confident, but it's one thing saying it and another thing proving it."

Warren concedes Harrison will hardly have the perfect preparation.

"The whole thing has been unsatisfactory, and it has not been good for Scott or for the sport," he said.

"Legally I am obliged to honour the contract - and providing he is passed fit to fight, then I have to honour that contract.

"We have the right to have him take a medical, and he will undertake one with a doctor registered with the BBBC.

"It's a sorry state of affairs all round, but the prime consideration has to be to Scott's health."

Hughes said Harrison expressed his gratitude to him within seconds of obtaining his freedom.

He said: "The first thing that Scott did when the doors opened was come over and give me a cuddle.

"Then he said, 'Thanks for standing by me. You always remember the guys that stand by you in the bad times more than the guys who stand by you in the good times.

"That made all the hard work and hassle worthwhile."