SCOTT HARRISON is to make a return to the ring later this month after being given a final chance to rescue his career at the age of 35.
Harrison will challenge Englishman Liam Walsh, who hails from Norfolk, for his World Boxing Organisation European lightweight crown at Wembley Arena on April 20 on a bill being promoted by Frank Warren.
Well-documented problems kept Harrison out of the ring for 6½ years after the last of his 10 world title bouts, against the Australian Nedal Hussein in November 2005. He made a remarkable comeback 10 months ago, beating the Hungarian teenager Gyorgy Mizsei and Englishman Joe Elfidh, in turn.
Walsh, who had been scheduled to challenge Ricky Burns for the Scot's WBO lightweight crown before being injured in a car crash, is undefeated in 13 fights and the 26-year-old believes Harrison is past his prime. He said: "I remember watching Scott's fights against Manuel Medina and cheering him on, so it seems a little surreal that I am going to be fighting him. On the other hand, that was years ago and I don't believe he is the same fighter he once was."
Harrison, who has a 27-2-2 record, added: "Walsh is a good young fighter, fast and ambitious, but this is the fight that will show all the doubters that I'm back and I mean business. It is a high-profile fight against a young, hungry fighter which will test me and show me how far I'm off challenging for a world title.
"A win will give me an important ranking with the WBO and I believe that I've got the strength and the power to win.
"It's going to be hard with everything I've gone through, but I'm on my way back to a world title; it will be an incredible story when I've achieved it."
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