Scott Harrison

Infobox Boxer
name=Scott Harrison
realname=Scott Harrison
nickname=The Real McCoy
weight=Featherweight
nationality=Flagicon|UK British
birth_date=Birth date and age|1977|8|19|mf=y
birth_place=Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland
death_date|=
death_place|=
style=Orthodox
total=29
wins=25
losses=2
draws=2
no contests=0
KO=14|

Scott Harrison (born August 19 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.

Life

Scott Harrison was born in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, but lived most of his life in Cambuslang. He is 5’ 7’’ tall and is classified as a featherweight. In 1996 he won the bronze medal at the European Amateur Boxing Championships in Vejle, Denmark. He started his professional career by knocking out Eddie Sica in 1996 and became WBO featherweight champion in 2002. In July of 2003 , he lost the title to the Mexican Manuel Medina but regained it by a knock out in November of that year. He has subsequently defended the title successfully. He was trained by his father Peter Harrison and now lives in Glasgow.

In May 2006 Harrison pulled out of a title defence in Belfast due to be screened on ITV1's Big Fight Live. He was replaced by Danny Williams. Promoter Frank Warren was less than pleased with this decision and made his views known to the media. After his withdrawal, it became apparent that things weren't good and the Daily Record reported that an incident had occurred in a nightclub. Over the coming days Harrison checked into the Priory clinic in London, citing problems with depression and alcohol. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/4989756.stm Boxer Harrison checks into Priory] , BBC, Wednesday, 17 May 2006] He checked himself out after a few days. His agent Frank Maloney, told Radio Clyde's SuperScoreboard Xtra programme that the only way Harrison would get help is if he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Scott Harrison's problems with drink, drugs and the law continued to spiral out of control, and he was stripped of both his WBO title and his licence to box, as well as being declared bankrupt.

On 6 October 2006, Scott Harrison was arrested in Malaga, Spain on charges of theft of an automobile and assault. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6057534.stm Boxer Harrison in jail in Spain] , BBC, Tuesday, 17 October 2006] He spent 5 weeks in jail before making bail on November 13th.

The boxer, who has received treatment for depression and alcoholism, had been training in southern Spain ahead of a title defence in December. He had been due to fight boxer Nicky Cook.

In December 2006, Harrison was stripped of his WBO title after failing to make the required weight (9st 7lb) 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. [ [http://www.scottishboxing.co.uk/?p=714 Scott Harrison Vacates Title After Failing To Make Weight For Cook Defence] , [http://www.scottishboxing.co.uk/ scottishboxing.co.uk] , Thursday December 07th 2006] As well as losing his title, Harrison also lost his licence to box.

On 30 January 2007, Scott Harrison was arrested in Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, for possession of valium.

On 5 February, he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he denied charges of police assault, resisting arrest, breach of the peace and refusing to leave a pub. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6331765.stm Harrison appears at sheriff court] ,BBC, February 5, 2007]

Subsequently, he was again arrested in Spain in May following a fight in a brothel. On this occasion, the Spanish authorities retained his passport. Harrison has since been unable to leave the country. As a result, he was unable to be present at his court case in Glasgow, which was subsequently postponed. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6741169.stm Boxer Harrison misses court date] , BBC, Monday, 11 June 2007]

In July 2007, after losing his fight with HM Revenue & Customs over disputed unpaid taxes, Scott Harrison was declared bankrupt [ [http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1209&id=1091602007 Troubled fighter declared bankrupt after losing tax fight] , The Scotsman, Friday 13 July 2007] His three homes were sold to pay the outstanding debt. [ [http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/02/17/boxer-scott-harrison-s-homes-sold-to-pay-inland-revenue-78057-20321545 Boxer Scott Harrison's homes sold to pay Inland Revenue] , Sunday Mail, Sunday 17 Feb 2008]

In February 2008, Harrison appeared in Glasgow Sheriff Court where he plead guilty to charges of breaching the peace and resisting arrest. He was found not guilty of assaulting a police officer. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7239105.stm Harrison admits behaviour "shame"] , BBC, Monday 11 Feb 2008]

At the trial, Harrison expressed shame over his previous behaviour, and stated his determination to put it behind him. His lawyer claimed he had stopped drinking completely. [ [http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=boxing/08/02/11/BOXING_Harrison.html Harrison "ashamed" of behaviour] , SportingLife, Monday 11 Feb 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. [ [http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Harrison-says-he39s-fighting-fit.3746933.jp Harrison says he's fighting fit and ready for Arthur bout] , The Scotsman, Wednesday 06 Feb 2008]

On 2 September 2008, Harrison was jailed for a total of eight months for drink-driving and assaulting his girlfriend. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7593679.stm Harrison jailed for eight months] , BBC Sport, 2 September 2008]

ee also

* List of British featherweight boxing champions

References

External links

* [http://www.scottishboxing.co.uk/?cat=4 Latest on Scott Harrison from Scottish Boxing]
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