Boxing: Jim Black finds Scott Harrison has learned his lesson and is focused for his title defence despite a change of opponent
OTHER than the bald facts of his ring record, little is known about Scott Harrison’s next opponent. Presumably, Walter Estrada, the 29-year-old Colombian from Barranquilla, will remain a man of mystery long after the dust has settled following next weekend’s world championship bill at Braehead Arena.
It is fanciful to imagine that Estrada is likely to cause what would be a major upset were he to dethrone Harrison as WBO featherweight champion on what is understood to be his first visit to Europe.
But, given that Estrada has won 26 of his 28 contests, it seems reasonable to assume the South American is blessed with sufficient talent to resist Harrison’s best efforts for a few rounds at least. Beyond that, Estrada will do well to preserve his record of never having been stopped.
Estrada's Confidence
Estrada has made all the usual noises, of course. Harrison is big for a featherweight, he says, and can hit hard. But, according to the challenger, the champion is slow and flat-footed.
“I am not coming here simply to make the numbers up,” declared Estrada, who was apparently preparing for another assignment when he received the call from promoter Frank Warren. “I am fit and ready to make a real fight of it. Harrison might be about to lose his title – again.”
Fighting talk but not the sort to cause Harrison any sleepless nights. Estrada is clearly an opportunist, judging by his willingness to accept a fight of such magnitude at just eight days’ notice. But there is no evidence that he has been reared on a diet of quality opponents.
Indeed, Estrada appears to be little more than a journeyman fighter. The IBO rankings have him at No 49 and the WBO has not even got round to giving him a rating of note.
Harrison's Determination
But Harrison will not treat Estrada lightly, in the knowledge that all it takes to change the course of boxing history is one lucky punch or one careless moment.
Harrison has already had his share of grief. Somewhat ill-advisedly, the 26-year-old Glaswegian chose to ignore the maxim that any boxer who enters the ring below par is courting disaster and proceeded with his second championship defence against Manuel Medina in July last year despite feeling unwell.
The outcome was a points defeat. Harrison continues to insist he was worthy of the judges’ vote but only one of the three sided with him, and few other observers shared the view that Medina was second best.
Harrison set the record straight four months later with a systematic destruction of the veteran Mexican to remove any doubts about his ability to put his career firmly back on track.
William Abelyan, the American-based Armenian, who was forced to withdraw from his match with Harrison having sustained an undisclosed injury during his final sparring session, would undoubtedly have provided the champion with a stiffer examination of his credentials.
Such is Harrison’s single-mindedness and desire to prove himself the best in his weight division, he would rather have faced Abelyan than Estrada. Indeed, his mood has blackened since learning last Wednesday that Abelyan had cried off.
“I’m angry because I have wanted to fight Abelyan for some time and I have trained hard for the past two months,” said Harrison. “But the change of opponent won’t affect me. I can’t afford to dwell on what has happened because that would start to create problems.
“The fact is I am in the best shape of my career. It’s only been three months since my last fight and I am fitter after locking myself away in the mountains for three weeks and concentrating on my diet.
“I haven’t put so much energy into coming this far only to see it all disappear. I am totally focused on retaining my title. I never doubt myself, not even for a moment. I have suffered two defeats in my career and there isn’t going to be a third one.”
The Team Behind Harrison
Having learned a painful lesson against Medina, Harrison enlisted the services of a specialist in muscle physiology and diet. A newcomer to the boxing scene, Dr Niall MacFarlane, of Glasgow University, has since become an important member of the Harrison team.
But Harrison’s father and trainer, Peter, knows the champion better than anyone. Peter can read his son’s moods instantly and knows precisely when to leave him to brood menacingly.
The partnership is first and foremost that of boxer and trainer. But beneath the veneer lurks an understandable fatherly pride. “I have never seen Scott in better shape,” says Harrison senior. “He is so focused it’s almost frightening.
“It never even entered Scott’s head to call the whole thing off when Abelyan withdrew. He faced a similar scenario two years ago when Julio Pablo Chacon pulled out with an injury and Scott agreed to fight Victor Santiago for the WBO Interim title instead.”
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