Scott Harrison (boxer)

Scott Harrison
Statistics
Real name	Scott Harrison
Nickname(s)	The Real McCoy
Rated at	Featherweight, Lightweight
Nationality	Scottish
Born	(1977-08-19) 19 August 1977 Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow, Scotland
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	32[1]
Wins	27
Wins by KO	15
Losses	3
Draws	2
Medal record Men's Boxing Representing  Scotland European Amateur Championships 1996 Vejle Featherweight

Scott Harrison (born 19 August 1977) is a former world boxing featherweight champion and the first Scottish boxer to regain the World Boxing Organisation championship. His career has been dogged by controversy out of the ring and problems with alcohol have caused him to fall foul of the law on numerous occasions.

Boxing career

He became WBO featherweight champion in 2002. In July 2003, he lost the title to the Mexican Manuel Medina but regained it in November of that year.^[1] In May 2006 Harrison pulled out of a title defence in Belfast. Promoter Frank Warren was disappointed with the decision but urged Harrison to seek help for his problems. It was reported that an incident had occurred in a nightclub, for which he was due to go to trial. Over the coming days Harrison checked into the Priory Clinic, citing problems with depression and alcohol.^[2]

In December 2006, Harrison was stripped of his WBO title after failing to make the required weight (9 st 7 lb) ahead of the fight with Cook. Harrison failed to turn up for the weigh-in. His father issued a statement stating that Harrison had been advised on medical grounds not to take on the fight.^[3] In February 2008 Harrison claimed to be fully fit, and announced his intention to apply for his boxing licence to be reinstated, with a view to eventually taking on Alex Arthur for the WBO title. He blamed the pressures of making the weight limit for the featherweight division for contributing to his stress and depression, and claimed he would in future fight at super featherweight.^[4]

Scott was scheduled to return to the ring on 29 June 2012 against Frenchman Brahim Bariz, who withdrew in the 11th hour. Instead he faced Hungarian teenager György Mizsei Jr. on the same date.^[5] Scott won the fight, which took place at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow as an Alex Morrison promotion, after the referee stopped the fight.^[6]

Outside the ring

Harrison was jailed for eight months on 2 September 2008 for drink-driving and assault,^[7] and was released from HM Prison Barlinnie on 1 January 2009 after serving four months of his sentence.^[8] On 25 April 2009 Harrison was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for assault in Málaga,^[9] he served five months on remand in Alhaurín de la Torre and was released on 13 September 2011.^[10] In November 2012 Harrison was sentenced to four years in prison by a Spanish judge in Málaga, after being found guilty of assault.

It was announced that Harrison would be appealing the decision.^[11] On 16 February 2013 it was reported that Harrison could be sent to jail within weeks.^[12] On 3 May 2013 Harrison lost his appeal against suspending the initial four-year sentence and was told that he had 15 days to report to jail otherwise he would be arrested and detained immediately.^[13]

See also

• List of British featherweight boxing champions

References