Moment of truth for Scott Harrison

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 26 Nov 2003, 21:10

FORMER WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison hopes to regain the title in a quick rematch with Mexico's Manuel Medina at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow this Saturday (November 29). Harrison vowed to win back the belt he lost to Medina at the same venue in July, but assumed he would have to wait after the WBO mandated Marco Antonio Barrera first crack at Medina, a man, ironically, the Glasweigan had been targetting. Barrera subsequently pursued a more lucrative - if losing - showdown with Filipino star Manny Pacquiao, thus allowing Harrison his speedy return.
"I’m still gutted about the loss, but I'll come back stronger than ever," said Scott of his only genuine setback in 22 contests (his only other loss came on cuts). "All great fighters lose, and it's all about how you come back from defeat in this sport."
But there's no doubt the defeat, on home turf, was a hard one to swallow.
He was at the centre of a police probe a few weeks afterwards when a man was hospitalised with a fractured jaw and broken nose following an incident at a pub in East Kilbride in Glasgow. Scott was questioned about the incident and faces possible court action, though nothing is in concrete as I write. It can hardly have eased his post-fight blues. "I feel devastated," he later admitted. "Being world champion is all I dreamed about, so to lose it is devastating. Medina (who had called him a "boy" before the fight) not only took my pride, he also took my status as champion and the money I would have earned. Now I want to get it all back.
"Revenge is motivating me to win this fight. I just need to get back into training again and rip the title back off him."
The decision in favour of the Tijuana man was a split one - but the veteran challenger deserved to win. His movement, workrate and experience befuddled a surprisingly lacklustre champion for much of the fight, and it's no secret Scott walks around between fights at way over the nine stone limit. The stocky Harrison is huge for the division in fact, and while his strength worked to great effect in a comprehensive points win over Julio Pablo Chacon to win the title last October and in pounding out a one-sided decision over Wayne McCullough in his first defence in March, Medina nullified it with superb lateral movement and quick attacks to head and body. For a supposed non-puncher, he doubled over the Scot with long rights to the body on several occasions, bloodied his nose and marked him up around the eyes.
Was Harrison simply dead at the weight?
The rematch says otherwise, given the fighter's camp - which includes manager Frank Maloney and trainer Peter Harrison, Scott's father, would surely have moved him up if he was no longer capable of making nine stone safely. And the fighter himself is very much his own man. According to training camp sources, Harrison, who normally makes the featherweight limit three or four days before a fight, was touching that level several weeks ago.
No, he remains at nine stone, and by targetting a 'world' title at the weight again, remains there for the forseeable future it seems. End of weightmaking debate.
So why did he labour against Medina?
The fighter blames his sluggishness on a virus he claims he contracted in his usual training base of Tenerife - and has abandoned the island for the more local - and more isolated - setting of Fort William in north-west Scotland this time around. "I don't think I was right from the start of the fight," he said. "I though it would pick up after a few rounds but after those few rounds I thought it would pick up in another few rounds but it just didn't happen.
"I couldn't pick it up and it just wasn't there," he continued. "I was catching him with my jab but I couldn't follow it up, there was nothing in my body."
There is another possibility. Harrison, the former British and Commonwealth champion, was taking part in his 10th consecutive title fight against Medina. Was he simply suffering from staleness as opposed to the effects of a virus or of constant weightmaking (10 featherweight title fights in a row has mean't an awful lot of boiling down mind you)? Even 26-year-olds grow stale.
One thing is true. As Frank Maloney put it: "On the night there was something missing."
But let's not forget the part Manuel Medina played in his poor showing. If Scott didn't look his usual self, the Mexican's tactics played a major part in that and have to be acknowledged. Unlike Chacon and McCullough, Medina refused to walk into the compact, powerful hometowner, who, for all his strength, does like fight in punishing bursts and pick his punches. Medina, by moving and countering and varying his attacks, wouldn't let him.
"I thought I could have got the result and that it was close," said a more spontaneous Scott immediately after the fight, "but it all depends on how the judges score the fight. He got the title so he won it fair and square."
Fair and square indeed. The astonishing Medina, a pro at 14, had taken part in 18 'world' title fights leading up to the Harrison showdown against the likes of Johnny Tapia, Luisito Espinosa, Alejandro Gonzalez, Paul Ingle, Juan Molina and a peak Naseem Hamed (whom he took to the well). But after a one-sided pounding at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez just prior to facing Harrison, Manuel looked like a man who had been to the well too many times himself. He hadn't. It was a rare error of judgement by Frank Maloney, who claimed the rangy Mexican would get "the fright of his life" once he felt the strength of his man. (Interestingly, Harrison's big domestic rival Michael Brodie had turned down Medina as an opponent in June, choosing Argentina's Juan Cabrera instead and beating him comprehensively on points).
Still, Maloney believes Harrison will come back a better fighter. "He lost the battle, but he will come back to win the war," said Maloney. "Top fighters like Lennox Lewis have come back from big setbacks when some have thought it was impossible. Scott is a top fighter and will definitely come back. It's just one of those things.
"The good thing is it wasn't a beating. Nobody is making excuses because on the night we got beat by the better man. We will live with that as long as we learn from it.
"It's better to lose earlier in your career than later because it's always harder to come back from a later loss," he added.
"He has learned his lesson and this time he will be 100 per cent ready for Medina."
There's always the chance of course the long-armed, pot-shotting Medina has the style to beat Scott every night of the week. Harrison probably knows this, and is so serious about the return he has been at his spartan training camp since September, aided by conditioner Owen Lennon. He has reputedly been running up part of Ben Nevis three times a week. "It is totally isolated and away from everything. I do not want to let anything get in the way of my preparations and have separated myself from my family to fully focus on the fight ahead. I am not expecting an easy night but I know what I am up against and will do the job this time. Revenge will be sweet."
"I am ready to go for it," he continued. "He stole our first fight with his tactics and his elbows," said Harrison. "He did put up a good fight, but now I know how he fights.
"I feel as if I let myself and my country down by losing that fight," he said. "I am not going to let my country down again."
I'm inclined to agree with him. I feel the first fight was a temporary blip, and this time the Scot will look back to his punishing best as he grinds out a one-sided points win over the Mexican veteran.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 26 Nov 2003, 21:16

i always thought before the fight that harrison would struggle with a boxer/mover and i was even more spot on than i feared i would be :x harrison made medina look like pernell whitaker, i think it'll be closer this time but i still c a medina pts win maybe on a split decision again 8)

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 27 Nov 2003, 12:56

Frank Maloney on Scott Harrison's forthcoming rematch with Manuel Medina: "I said before the fight that Scott can be as good as Lennox Lewis, if not better, and he still can be."
No, Frank. What you said was that Harrison could actually BEAT Lewis. Get it right.

get in the ring · Post by **get in the ring** » 27 Nov 2003, 18:47

Just a word of warning ahead of Saturday's fight. Let's not go overboard should Harrison avenge his loss. I'm not wanting to put a downer on what would be a very good win for Harrison, but for as awkward and tricky as Medina is, he is also a faded version, and of course was recently beaten with ease by one of the divisions top men Juan Manuel Marquez.

I think there's a good chance Harrison could win, but even if he does I'm still reserving judgement on him. Too many people jumped on his bandwagon after his two ready made victories over Chacon and McCullough ... and although he'd show some versitility and change if he were to beat Medina, he's still got a lot of work to do to get to the top, WBO champ or not.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 27 Nov 2003, 19:00

get in the ring wrote:Just a word of warning ahead of Saturday's fight. Let's not go overboard should Harrison avenge his loss. I'm not wanting to put a downer on what would be a very good win for Harrison, but for as awkward and tricky as Medina is, he is also a faded version, and of course was recently beaten with ease by one of the divisions top men Juan Manuel Marquez.

I think there's a good chance Harrison could win, but even if he does I'm still reserving judgement on him. Too many people jumped on his bandwagon after his two ready made victories over Chacon and McCullough ... and although he'd show some versitility and change if he were to beat Medina, he's still got a lot of work to do to get to the top, WBO champ or not.

I agree with your last statement concerning going overboard following his victory over McCullough and Chacon, but not your first. If Harrison wins its a very good victory. Medina was vastly underestimated last time and everyone EXPECTED Harrison to win confortably (some people even to the point of critising the match up).

Medina gave us his greatest ever performance against Tapia IMO, it was hardly the performance of a shot or even faded fighter. He won the fight in most peoples eyes and showed he belonged in the top 6 in the world. Yes, he got beat up by Marquez, however I think many a fighter would suffer a similar fate and I'm sure Marquez would start favourite against ANY Featherweight now.

Should Harrison win people should get back on the bandwagon. No, I think the initial defeat shows he's not quite up with the Pacquiao's, Barrera, Marquez's and maybe even Gainer's. But he'd be in most top 5 and in this red hot devision its a great achievement.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 27 Nov 2003, 19:07

bennie wrote:Frank Maloney on Scott Harrison's forthcoming rematch with Manuel Medina: "I said before the fight that Scott can be as good as Lennox Lewis, if not better, and he still can be."
No, Frank. What you said was that Harrison could actually BEAT Lewis. Get it right.

harrison isn't fit to carry lennox lewis' jockstrap, some of the nonsense out of baloney's mouth at times is hilarious

lennox lewis is the best i laid em all to rest

no guy test

get in the ring · Post by **get in the ring** » 27 Nov 2003, 19:11

I agree with your last statement concerning going overboard following his victory over McCullough and Chacon, but not your first. If Harrison wins its a very good victory. Medina was vastly underestimated last time and everyone EXPECTED Harrison to win confortably (some people even to the point of critising the match up).

Medina gave us his greatest ever performance against Tapia IMO, it was hardly the performance of a shot or even faded fighter. He won the fight in most peoples eyes and showed he belonged in the top 6 in the world. Yes, he got beat up by Marquez, however I think many a fighter would suffer a similar fate and I'm sure Marquez would start favourite against ANY Featherweight now.

Should Harrison win people should get back on the bandwagon. No, I think the initial defeat shows he's not quite up with the Pacquiao's, Barrera, Marquez's and maybe even Gainer's. But he'd be in most top 5 and in this red hot devision its a great achievement.

Yeah good points. Medina is a tricky fighter any day of the week, but he's only ever been seen as a slippery opponent who keeps upsetting the applecart and grabbing world titles. That's no shame of course on Medina's part, he's probably worth consideration for the Hall Of Fame, but it still doesn't pull the wool over my eyes in regards to Saturday's Medina - Harrison fight.

If Harrison wins, it will be the change of tactics and his versatility that will impress me more, rather than the name he has just beaten. Medina was very good against Tapia, but the guy has been a pro since he was 15 and the wear and tear is evident for all to see. He relies on his legs and lots of movement, in time that goes, and Medina is running out of time. Surely? I just need to see proof that Harrison can fight a slippery guy like Medina and not get his ears boxed off. That's what I'm looking for.

It's a shame when you look at the fact that Naseem Hamed stopped Medina many years ago in 11 rounds, yet by many he is labelled a 'fraud' and a guy who festered on bums throughout his career. All I'm saying is beating Manuel Medina it seems, especially an ageing one, doesn't make you a world beater. Hamed of course was a special talent, and I'd be surprised if Harrison stops Medina. A win is a start for Harrison, but the work is only just beginning if he's ever going to 'beat Lennox Lewis', as I remember someone once saying

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 27 Nov 2003, 19:31

Yes, I would say Hamed greatest win was against Medina. I can see where your coming from because not only did Hamed beat him but so did Ingle and Paul was never hyped up to the degree of Harrison. However, Ingle to was a very good fighter (better than Harrison clearly IMO) and would be in the top 5 now if he hadn't had his career cut short. However, had Medina not got of to a terrible start then he would have beaten Ingle on points (cause Ingle was 4 points clear after 2 rounds), he also very nearly KO'd Ingle.

Medina showed he still got plently left in his legs against both Tapia and Harrison, thats all I'm saying is that although his face looks old and worn he doesn't fight like that. Any win will be good for Harrison.

The reason why Hamed is labelled a fraud (and I'm one of them) is because yes he beat some very good names (and I'd class Medina just in the very good category as opposed to all time great status). The only fighter he faught in the prime of his career, who would have gone down as an all time great prior to the Hamed fight he lost royally to. Now, it was Hamed who was predicting greatness and comparing himself to Ali. Something Barrera showed he wasn't - hence he was a fraud. A world class operator no doubt, but will never be an all time great (and if Medina continues further then he'll overtake Hamed on achievements).