Scot grateful to have experience in his corner after change of opponent

Sports Writer

Friday 29 June 2012

SCOTT HARRISON remains confident he will be able to enjoy a successful comeback to the ring tonight despite a late change to his opponent, with the Scot now fighting Hungarian Gyorgy Mizsei Jr.

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Bert Mitchell

The former World Boxing Federation featherweight champion was originally scheduled to contest his first bout in 6½ years against Brahim Bariz.

However, the Frenchman informed Harrison's camp on Tuesday night he was not going to travel for the fight at Kelvin Hall. That forced promoter Frank Warren and Alex Morrison, Harrison's manager, to find a new opponent at short notice, with Mizsei Jr stepping in.

Yet despite the disruption of having to study up on a new fighter just days before his return, Morrison believes his experience has allowed him to cope."It has not been ideal but, then, these things happen in boxing and you have to get on with them," said Harrison. "I had prepared for eight weeks for Bariz and he is a boxer who works in a certain style with certain physical attributes he uses."Then three days before the fight we learned he wouldn't travel and thankfully we have Mizsei filling in. Luckily I have been able to view a dvd of him in action but I am not going to lose any sleep over it."I was European Amateur champion at 17, British and Commonwealth champion at 21 and won the world title [holder] twice so I have fought different types. That experience is something I will use to get the win I need."The contrast in Harrison's demeanour from his two separate reigns as featheweight champion between 2002 and 2005 and now could not be more marked. The Scot even joked about having an Indian buffet with his family the night before his meeting with Mizsei.He refrained from indulging in trash talk or making brash predictions ahead of the fight. Instead Harrison's focus pertained to his supporters. "I have been out for a long time and Mizsei is an unbeaten fighter who clearly sees my name as a scalp," he said."All that matters is that I get the win and produce a good quality of performance. This is my opportunity to pay my fans back."Meanwhile there was drama at the weigh-in for the Celtic super-featherweight title between Greenock's John Simpson and South Queensferry's Paul Appleby. The latter required two attempts to make the 9st 4lbs limit.

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Scot grateful to have experience in his corner after change of opponent

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