Scott Harrison has taken an absolutely crucial if not yet conclusive step towards securing a mega fight against Mexican phenomenon Marco Antonio Barrera.
Barrera catapulted himself out of adversity and back into the limelight, with a spectacular points win over long-time rival, fellow Mexican and genuine foe Erik Morales at the end of 2004. Barrera has now won two of their three hard fought and bitterly contested slugfests.
And Harrison, who holds the WBO featherweight belt was ringside to see a fight fiesta of controlled Mexican passion and non stop fury, first hand.
Executive vice president of Golden Boy Promotions Raul Jaimes, who was in Mexico City at the ceremony in which its WBC chief Mauricio Sulaiman fastened the famous green belt around Marco’s waist, stressed that Harrison has gained an awful lot of estimation from them and especially Marco for personally coming to stake his claim.
He said: “We knew that Scott Harrison was in the building, the day he arrived in Las Vegas and it was a great honor to have him ringside. So without doubt we know he is a very smart man to come out of his way to see a big fight like this.
“Make no doubt, this is a topic that has been talked about for a while, and Scott Harrison is on our radar screen. I do see that fight happening somewhere in the near future.
“As you know, the big names are what draw the big crowds, and Scott Harrison is quickly becoming one of the biggest names in the United States. If he continues and the momentum keeps flowing, then there’s no telling what could happen.
“We would have to make a mutual agreement between Marco Antonio Barrera and Golden Boy Promotions. But in the words of Oscar de La Hoya, ‘Marco Antonio Barrera is our boss’.”
Barrera is currently relaxing after overcoming Morales. He’s said he’s keen to have a re-match with Manny Pacquiao. But first Pacquiao has February return with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez who holds the WBA and IBF versions of the featherweight belt.
Barrera, who’s actually been a WBO fighter for the majority of his career, has confirmed that he will fight again round about March or April. But an opponent has yet to be decided. Even so, this may be too soon for Harrison who’s got his hands full with Victor Polo in the coming days.
But the Baby Faced Assassin did take time out at his parents’ house to tell skysports.com: “Scott Harrison is an excellent, strong, aggressive and spectacular attacking fighter.
“I was very impressed when I studied his bout against Wayne McCulloch. When Manuel Medina fought Scott the first time, he used a lot of movement, while with me and my style, it’s more an exchange of blows. “Scott is a very good champion and the television people want big fights.”
And then he underlined his respect and regard for Scott, by speaking in English, commenting: “Scott Harrison is a very good person and a marvelous fighter. Take it easy – maybe ahead we want to fight!”
Barrera has made mincemeat out of his three British opponents thus far. In 1998 he KO’d Ritchie Wenton in three brief rounds. In 1999 he dispatched Paul Lloyd in less than a round, and in 2001 he gave Naseem Hamed a simultaneous mauling, and a comprehensive boxing lesson, to dent the Prince’s crown. Hamed has never been the same fighter since.
