By Terence Dooley

Former two-time WBO featherweight titlist Scott Harrison will box on August 15th under the auspices of the Maltese Boxing Commission and the Glasgow-based former champion believes he will prove that he still has a future in the sport.

Harrison (27-3-2, 15 KOs) will appear Paisley’s Lagoon Leisure Centre, his first fight since a loss to Liam Walsh in 2013 (L 10 for the WBO European lightweight title).  The 37-year-old is facing extradition charges, he was found guilty of assault following an incident in Spain in 2007 but will have a run out in the meantime under the M.B.C.—the BBBoC suspended his licence following the extradition order.

“I have never stopped being a winner in my head and that mentality is the reason I have been successful,” he said when speaking to the Daily Record.

“That determination, belief and will to win is either in you or it's not and at 37 I still have a lot to offer boxing.  I don't know who I'll be fighting but I've been to a couple of fights at the venue and there was a tremendous atmosphere.  Hopefully this will be the first of three or four fights by the end of the year.  But I am determined to take them one at a time with next year earmarked for a title bout.”

Crawley’s Robin Deakin has also taken out a licence with the M.B.F.; he was stabbed in the neck at a nightclub in May, but has been passed fit to box and will meet Santino Caruana at York Hall on August 28.  “Rockin’” Robin has been training with Michael Jennings—a former British and WBU welterweight titlist—and has set his sights on a fight with Harrison should he arrest the 51-fight losing streak that prompted the press to dub him “The worst boxer in Britain”.

“Putting the fight back a month allowed me time to recover and extra time to prepare myself,” stated Deakin when speaking to Crawley News.

“Santino has had seven fights and won six of those but in his last fight he was knocked out cold and he hasn't fought for five and a half years since then.  Considering he has had a few fights and a few wins, there isn't much on the internet about him.  I was hoping it was going to be easier to learn a bit about his style and what to expect but it doesn't bother me that I won't know everything.

He added: “I'm underrated as a boxer, and I know I can hit a bit, so I'm looking forward to it.  I've put down some of the best boxers in the business, and after a knockout in his last fight, he will have that in the back of his mind.  I know I have to win this and he should be worried because if I'm the so-called 'worst boxer in Britain', he won't want to lose to me.

“I'm back in training now and then on July 20 I'm going to Manchester for four or five weeks to train with Michael Jennings.  I want to be as prepared as I can be because this is a big fight for me.  I'm hoping if I win I will face Scott Harrison next, and to beat him would be massive.”

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