Cook shrugs off Harrison troubles

Nicky Cook has managed to remain focused on his world title clash with Scott Harrison on 9 December, despite a far from ideal build-up to the fight.

Promoter Frank Warren cancelled the match last week, with Harrison still behind bars in a Spanish prison.

But Harrison was released on Monday and should now defend his WBO featherweight crown as long as he passes a medical.

"It's been a farce from start to finish, but Nicky's been training the whole time," said manager Jess Harding.

"He's more focused than he was a week ago because there seems to be some chance of the fight actually going ahead.

It goes without saying that this cannot be ideal preparation for a world title fight

Jess Harding

"Harrison's having a test and we will know absolutely nothing until he's come through these tests.

"But the fundamental thing here is Harrison's health. We're disappointed that he's got himself into this predicament, but there's an underlying problem there that needs to be sorted out.

"I always fancied Nicky to win the fight when it was made in the first place, but it goes without saying that this cannot be ideal preparation for a world title fight."

Dagenham's Cook, 27, is a former British, European and Commonwealth champion and is unbeaten in 26 professional fights.

But it looked as if his chance of world title glory was gone last week when Warren pulled the fight from the London ExCel Arena bill, while the WBO said Harrison would be stripped of his crown if he was unable to stage a defence.

But Harrison, arrested on 6 October over an alleged assault, was released on bail on Monday after five weeks in a Malaga prison and returned home to Scotland on Tuesday.

And if he passes a British Boxing Board of Control medical, Warren says the fight will go ahead