BoxRec

KOJOE90 wrote:The war of words is hotting up

BBC Web-site.

William Abelyan has vowed to shut Scott Harrison's mouth when he fights the WBO featherweight champion on 19 June at Glasgow's Braehead Arena.
The Armenian is upset by Harrison's prediction that he is going to deliver a "hammering".

"Harrison's got a big mouth and I'm going to shut it for him," said the WBO mandatory challenger.

"He's scared, that's why he's talking big - but we'll see if he talks just as big when he's face to face with me."

The 25-year-old southpaw claims his training has not been disrupted despite the second postponement of the fight following Harrison's bicep injury.

"I'm ready to fight Harrison right now. I have never been up for a fight more than this one," said Abelyan.

Originally from Yerevan in Armenia, Abelyan (23-4-1,12 KOs) moved to America when he was nine and now lives in California.

"It's the world title and the fame I want - not the money. After I win the title I will return to Armenia a hero.

"I have never been back since I moved to America because I wanted to achieve something spectacular before I returned. I will be the first World champion boxer to ever come out of the country.

"The boxing ring is my house and Harrison is not welcome."

The funniest part of that is when Abelyan says HARRISON has got a big mouth

Frank Maloney has urged Scottish boxing fans to get behind Scott Harrison – and says he needs their support more than ever.

Harrison tackles William Abelyan on June 19 in the second defence of his WBO featherweight title, and Maloney says it will be his hardest test to date.

But Little Frank reckons that Harrison’s home advantage could prove decisive.

“The crowd at the Braehead Arena are always incredible, but I’d like them to raise the atmosphere another couple of notches,” said Maloney.

“I’ve spent all weekend watching tapes of Abelyan in action, and Scott will have to be at his best.

“People won’t know too much about him, but I’ll guarantee he is genuinely world class. He can box, he can punch and he can spoil.

“Many said Scott was at his best when he defeated Wayne McCullough, but he’ll have to raise his game another 100% to defeat Abelyan.

“Anything less and Scott could be in danger of being beaten. That’s why the crowd are so important. Obviously they can’t be in there with Scott, but the noise they create spurs him to new heights. It’s like having a couple of rounds in the bag already.”

Harrison was due to tackle Abelyan this weekend, but it was postponed, just like their first contest scheduled for March.

But Maloney laughed off suggestions the bout was jinxed.

“Scott could probably have fought in May, but I didn’t want him to risk it, especially as illness cost him the title against Manuel Medina,” he explained.

“I was the one who stopped him from fighting, but now he is 100% ready to go.”

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/boxi ... _page.html

http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news ... rison.html

Hey Harrison PR man, will be going to this fight?

The REAL McCoy wrote:http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/boxi ... _page.html

http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news ... rison.html

SCOTT HARRISON has been working under water in a bid to triumph on dry land.

The WBO world featherweight champion has been punching in a pool as he prepares for his title defence against William Abelyan on June 19.

He turned to the unusual rehabilitation technique after damaging the bicep in his right arm.

A certain Rocky Marciano used to shadow box underwater as part of his training routine, didn't do him any harm.

This is the thread that just refuses to die!!

neil r wrote:This is the thread that just refuses to die!!

We should kill it stone dead by turning it into a John Ruiz discussion, that'd kill off any thread.

Sounds to me like Frank Maloney’s worried.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/tm_o ... _page.html

Harrison hardened by court

William Abelyan is likely to prove a tough opponent
Scott Harrison feared that his WBO featherweight defence against William Abelyan would have been wrecked by his recent high-profile court case.
The Scot was cleared of an assault charge last week after an incident that occurred in a pub a year ago.

"If I'd been found guilty, I could have had the belt taken off me," he said.

"It didn't derail my preparation. It just changed my training times and basically hardened me up a bit because people were trying to bring me down."

The Cambuslang fighter, who takes on American-based Armenian Abelyan at Braehead Arena on Saturday in the sixth defence of his title, had to endure a two-day trial.

"I would be lying if I said it wasn't difficult or wasn't annoying, but I wanted the court case resolved," he said.

"The first time it was put back and then they wanted it to be put back again, but I said I wanted it out the way one way or another.

"It's a weight off my mind. I'll go into the ring with nothing on my mind and I'm going to do a good job on Abelyan."

Harrison also took a swipe at namesake Audley, the English heavyweight meeting Tomasz Bonin at Alexandra Palace on the same night.

"Make no mistake, there's only one Harrison in British boxing and that's me," he said.

"The fans aren't stupid, they know a real fighter. The difference is I don't handpick my opponents."

Peter Harrison, Scott's father and coach, said of the court case: "A lesser mortal would have been thrown off course, but Scott takes strength from adversity."

The 25-year-old Abelyan is confident of winning Saturday's fight after watching the Scotsman's two fights against an ageing Manuel Medina.

Harrison lost his belt to Medina on points last July but regained it with an 11th-round stoppage in November.

"Medina is an old man and I couldn't understand why Harrison took 11 rounds to beat him," said Abelyan.

"When Medina was going to fight for the IBF title, I was his sparring partner and I dropped him a couple of times.

"Harrison fights like a Mexican fighter - he just comes to you, so I'll be waiting for him. Scott and his fans won't affect me and I'm ready for anyone.

"Getting the WBO title on Saturday will be the best fight of my life. My home country is the United States now, but after this fight I'm going to celebrate in Armenia."

Abelyan has a professional record of 23 wins with 12 knockouts, four losses and one defeat.

MightyWarrior wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think that Pacman may struggle against Morales, height, reach and power might be a bridge too far.

Well yes, there's not a fighter on the planet who wouldn't struggle with El Terrible. I really do like Manny - how can't you?! But he's got his hands full this weekend, let alone Morales. A real 50/50 affair.
Got your ticket sorted James??

I don't think Vitali Klitschko would struggle with Morales.

The war of words continue-

From Sky Sports.

Scott Harrison has hit back at William Abelyan as the rivalry between the two boxers heats up ahead of their showdown on Saturday, live on sky sports.
The Scottish fighter puts his WBO featherweight title on the line against the Armenian after regaining the belt from Manuel Medina at the end of last year.

The Armenian has been quick to taunt Harrison for his problems in overcoming the veteran Mexican at the second attempt and is confident he can take the title.

However the current champion has dismissed his opponents comments and believes he has the experience to come out victorious at the weekend.

“I put Medina down about seven times and he could have been stopped in the first round,” said Harrison.

“He's going to say that anyway but that's good. He's going to be ready for the fight and so it's going to be good for the fans.”

His sentiments were echoed by his father, and trainer, Peter who questioned Abelyan's abilities and suggested he was a 'spoiler'.

“The guys not a Medina and he'll never be a Medina,” he stated. “They can talk him up and do what they want but he's just an awkward guy, that's all he is.

“I don't see him as a fighter, I see him as a runner who's more interested in defence. The guy's a spoiler.”

He added: “People just talk about Scott's size and strength but he's got everything and can be ready for any tactic during the fight.”

Abelyan will embarrass and humiliate this overrated bum.

Harrison is nothing more than an overrated robot with no movement and very little skill. What a load of trash!

I'm not saying this out of bias, but Abelyan is going to win by a TKO in the middle to late rounds.

Abelyan TKO9,

come on Abelyan!!

I'm still going for a late stoppage or points win for Harrison.

Go SCOTT!!!!

AlexY2K4 wrote:
I'm not saying this out of bias,

Not much!!

While i'm not the biggest Harrison admirer, to call him a bum, or any other boxer for that matter, is a bit harsh. While there's no denying Harrison is one of the top 5 featherweights in the world, the likes of Marquez, Barrera and Pacquioa would all be favoured over him (no shame in that). But in saying that, Harrison is more than a match for many of the fighters in the lower half of the top ten, Abelyan, Brodie etc. I see him grinding out a late stoppage in a sloppy gruelling fight, much like Medina 2.

And another thing how do you make out Harrison as overated?

My top 5 feathers


1. Marquez
2. Pac
3. Barrera
4. Injin Chi
5. Juarez





6. Smoke Gainer




Harrison is in the lower half of my top 10, maybe 8ths/9th.

Kevo wrote:While i'm not the biggest Harrison admirer, to call him a bum, or any other boxer for that matter, is a bit harsh. While there's no denying Harrison is one of the top 5 featherweights in the world, the likes of Marquez, Barrera and Pacquioa would all be favoured over him (no shame in that). But in saying that, Harrison is more than a match for many of the fighters in the lower half of the top ten, Abelyan, Brodie etc. I see him grinding out a late stoppage in a sloppy gruelling fight, much like Medina 2.

And another thing how do you make out Harrison as overated?

Okay, maybe a bum is harsh, but he is in my opinion a bum as far as world level is concerned. He's a good domestic/fringe world class type guy, but he isn't in my top 10 of featherweights and perhaps, just squeezes into the top 15.

He will get exposed at world level as the fraud that he is, like he already has been!

All he has going for him is his size, power, strength and a little bit of heart. Nothing else.

You can't win fights at the top level by smacking your head into your opponent's fists and not even making a half-assed attempt at moving your head.

AlexY2K4 wrote:
All he has going for him is his size, power, strength and a little bit of heart.

Is that it?

How can he not be in anyone's top ten? With victories over Patterson, Chacon, McCullough and Medina, he deserves to be up there. I know In Jin Chi is a good feather, and might have the beating of Harrison, but he doesn't deserve to be ranked above him. Juarez on the other hand, is basically still a prospect, albeit a good one. IMO he's borderline top ten, he's had nearly as many fights as Harrison, and faced nowhere near the same caliber of opposition.

Last minute prediction. Harrison to struggle badly with Abelyan early but manages to turn it around and win by a very late stoppage or close points decision.

Kevo wrote:

AlexY2K4 wrote:
All he has going for him is his size, power, strength and a little bit of heart.

Is that it?

How can he not be in anyone's top ten? With victories over Patterson, Chacon, McCullough and Medina, he deserves to be up there. I know In Jin Chi is a good feather, and might have the beating of Harrison, but he doesn't deserve to be ranked above him. Juarez on the other hand, is basically still a prospect, albeit a good one. IMO he's borderline top ten, he's had nearly as many fights as Harrison, and faced nowhere near the same caliber of opposition.

Forget the wins over Patterson and Chacon! Patterson was a shadow of his old self and Chacon was a mediocre WBO chump.

And as for the Medina and Mcullough wins, Medina was barely world class at this stage in his career and still exposed him! Even in the second fights he was giving Harrison some problems. And Mcullough, we all know how past it he was when he fought Harrison.

AlexY2K4 wrote:

Kevo wrote:

AlexY2K4 wrote:
All he has going for him is his size, power, strength and a little bit of heart.

Is that it?

How can he not be in anyone's top ten? With victories over Patterson, Chacon, McCullough and Medina, he deserves to be up there. I know In Jin Chi is a good feather, and might have the beating of Harrison, but he doesn't deserve to be ranked above him. Juarez on the other hand, is basically still a prospect, albeit a good one. IMO he's borderline top ten, he's had nearly as many fights as Harrison, and faced nowhere near the same caliber of opposition.

Forget the wins over Patterson and Chacon! Patterson was a shadow of his old self and Chacon was a mediocre WBO chump.

And as for the Medina and Mcullough wins, Medina was barely world class at this stage in his career and still exposed him! Even in the second fights he was giving Harrison some problems. And Mcullough, we all know how past it he was when he fought Harrison.

I'll admit Patterson was faded, but was a good test for Harrison early in his career. Chacon may have been a mediocre champ, but Scott showed he is above this level of fighter by outclassing him. Mcullough and Medina, while not the best feathers in the world, were still ranked contenders, so he deserves to be credited with some sucess. It's like I was saying before, I'm not a huge Harrison fan, but I dont feel he is overrated. The featherweight division is much like the Premiership in england, you have the big three, and then everybody else. I suppose you could say Harrison is the Newcastle United of the Featherweight division

Very good right hand to drop Abelyan.
I was mildly impressed by Harrison but in equal measure to how unimpressed I was with Abelyan.
The top feathers would all take Harrison apart imo.