You’d be forgiven for thinking that Scott Harrison and Michael Brodie don’t exist.
In a weight division left to dry by superstars Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao, the pair of world class Brits are definitely The Other Fighters.
Playing out the night before Ricky Hatton’s long awaited challenge to the outstanding IBF junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu, it is emphatically The Other Fight.
Despite being an interesting contrast of styles, a fight many have long called for, there is also a great deal of negativity surrounding it.
As champion, Harrison objects to fighting on his challenger’s turf. Despite promising a knockout over his former sparmate, Scott and manager Frank Maloney are peeved at not only the choice of English referee, but also English judges. If Scott’s keeping quiet and moody, Maloney is more vocal.
“I’ve made a formal complaint about the judges and referee with the secretary of the BBBC, Simon Block. WBO rules state world championship fights shall have neutral officials not of the nationality or origin as the challenger or champion. We’re not questioning the integrity of anyone, but this is in Brodie’s backyard and, if the rounds are close, the judges could be influenced by the crowd and the noise around them.”
Since then, tensions have calmed somewhat, but there’s genuine needle about this one.
Rugged Harrison, in his second term as WBO champion, is no stranger to controversy himself. He appeared lucky to escape with a draw against competent Columbian Victor Polo last January to retain his belt for the fifth time. The same Victor Polo was soundly outpointed by the trade respected WBA and IBF champion, Juan Manuel Marquez.
In truth, Scott hasn’t been a particularly convincing champion – despite holding wins over Wayne McCullough, William Abelyan and Manuel Medina – and he hasn’t captured, yet alone maintained, the imagination of the Braehead Arena, Glasgow fans he frequently fights before.
Hence fighting in Manchester. If he’s no headliner, serve him up as the hors d’oeuvre for the Hatton main course, as part of a huge weekend for British boxing.
Harrison’s previous fight, a 59-second win over Samuel Kebede, was one of the greatest farces of British boxing. Kebede’s sudden flop, after being clipped on the top of his head, played out in front of the progressively shrinking Braehead Arena, Glasgow crowd. If the WBO could rank Kebede, how much can their belt be worth?
With his status as “champion” ever clouded, Harrison is becoming increasingly edgy. Unsurprisingly, he appears ill at ease as to his situation, as reports of alleged violence and binge drinking that have led to his exclusion from the local nightlife recently escalated.
Brodie, too, has had his share of struggles, and isn’t the happiest bunny around either. The shaven-skulled, classy boxer, who picked up domestic and European belts at super bantamweight before suffering a robbery loss to WBC champion Willie Jorrin, is coming off professional and personal setbacks.
A devastating KO defeat to Korea’s In Jin Chi – following their remarkable draw of October 2003 – coincided with the emotional low of the end of his marriage. If he was able to dig deep with a memorable performance for fight one, overcoming an early knockdown, he was a broken, drained man in the rematch, losing in seven discouragingly one-sided rounds.
By far the smaller man, the natural 122-pounder (making his fourth world title attempt) could be significantly outweighed by fight night. Harrison has a hard time making the weight, and frequently bulks up after the weigh-ins.
He was alleged to have been closer to welter than feather when beating McCullough (a former bantamweight champion and current super bantam contender). When Thursday’s weigh in was moved back four hours, it was probably to give the Scot more time to shed the weight.
If Brodie – like Harrison – has been keeping quiet about his possible handicap, his manager Jack Trickett hasn’t. “Scott is unprofessional and he shows a lack of respect to everybody”.
This contest could be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Another flat Harrison performance? Another collapse by a Brodie who has shed more than his share of blood, sweat and tears into the sport? A nasty foul fest?
Or how about a classic slugger-boxer matchup between two men with everything to prove?
