What an idiot, how many times has this fight been rearranged now?
WARREN FUMING AFTER HARRISON WITHDRAWS
By Chris Roberts and Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport
Furious promoter Frank Warren has urged Scott Harrison to seek counselling for "mental problems" after withdrawing from the defence of his WBO featherweight title on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Glaswegian had been due to face Gairy St Claire at the King's Hall in Belfast this weekend.
But having been assured Harrison was fit to fight before being told of the change of heart soon after, livid Warren is looking to sever his links with the Glaswegian altogether.
He claimed in the Glasgow Evening Times: "At 10am I was told by a member of his team that he had trained well and all was well.
"Then a short while later I was called back by another member of his team to say he had pulled out.
"But I can assure you he has no injury. I believe Scott's problems are mental and I also think he needs counselling now."
Harrison's bout had been placed in doubt after the fighter was arrested following an alleged nightclub incident in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, on Sunday morning.
Last month, Harrison was bailed on a charge of breach of the peace, refusing to leave a licensed premises, resisting arrest and police assault.
The Glaswegian faces a trial in September and, if found guilty of police assault, could be stripped of his title by the World Boxing Organisation.
This latest episode leaves a doubt over Harrison's career and Warren insists desperate measures are needed.
Warren continued: "What he has done is let the fans down, TV companies down and the fight game as a whole.
"He has shown complete disregard for everyone involved in our Belfast promotion.
"If he had made a call to me over the weekend saying he was unable or unwilling to go through with the fight then I would have been able to set the wheels in motion for a replacement.
"We will still manage that but he has shown utter disregard for everyone connected with the bill.
"I don't know what will happen now as my immediate priority is to find a replacement for the Belfast show.
"I must stress it will go ahead, however, I find it so sad that Scott put so much into winning and defending his title yet has now put it all in jeopardy with behaviour like this.
"He obviously has personal problems and needs help."
But Warren is not prepared to give him Harrison any more chances having clearly ran out of patience.
He added: "We have a contract with Scott Harrison but my legal team will now be looking at things.
"As I said what I needed from the Harrison camp was straight talking and I didn't get that.
"What I did get was misinformation."
Harrison's manager, Frank Maloney, backed the decision to pull out of the Belfast bout as he travelled to Glasgow to speak with the Cambuslang fighter.
Maloney said: "I can confirm the fight is off and, under the circumstances, I support the decision.
"Scott is very upset and I would go as far as to say I don't think he realises what is going on at the moment.
"Physically, he is 100 per cent fit, but there are some problems and we will issue a statement later tonight.
"I'm still Scott Harrison's manager, I've had a lot of good times with Scott, so I'm not going to jump off a sinking ship.
"I am on my way up to Scotland and will meet Scott and his father, Peter.
"We will get together and try to get to the root of the trouble because there are more important things than a boxing career."
The British Boxing Board of Control's general secretary, Simon Block, claims his organisation are waiting on official explanation from the Harrison camp for the withdrawal before they take any action.
He said: "We have to establish why he has pulled out and we have to find out if those reasons are acceptable or unacceptable.
"I would expect to be informed of those reasons within 24 hours.
"If they are unacceptable then we will take it further. If they are acceptable then we have to talk to the promoter.
"There are number of things that could have happened but we have to bear in mind that he had to pass a medical last week."
Harrison won his WBO belt in October 2002 beating Julio Pablo Chacon at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow.
WARREN FUMING AFTER HARRISON WITHDRAWS
By Chris Roberts and Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport
Furious promoter Frank Warren has urged Scott Harrison to seek counselling for "mental problems" after withdrawing from the defence of his WBO featherweight title on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Glaswegian had been due to face Gairy St Claire at the King's Hall in Belfast this weekend.
But having been assured Harrison was fit to fight before being told of the change of heart soon after, livid Warren is looking to sever his links with the Glaswegian altogether.
He claimed in the Glasgow Evening Times: "At 10am I was told by a member of his team that he had trained well and all was well.
"Then a short while later I was called back by another member of his team to say he had pulled out.
"But I can assure you he has no injury. I believe Scott's problems are mental and I also think he needs counselling now."
Harrison's bout had been placed in doubt after the fighter was arrested following an alleged nightclub incident in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, on Sunday morning.
Last month, Harrison was bailed on a charge of breach of the peace, refusing to leave a licensed premises, resisting arrest and police assault.
The Glaswegian faces a trial in September and, if found guilty of police assault, could be stripped of his title by the World Boxing Organisation.
This latest episode leaves a doubt over Harrison's career and Warren insists desperate measures are needed.
Warren continued: "What he has done is let the fans down, TV companies down and the fight game as a whole.
"He has shown complete disregard for everyone involved in our Belfast promotion.
"If he had made a call to me over the weekend saying he was unable or unwilling to go through with the fight then I would have been able to set the wheels in motion for a replacement.
"We will still manage that but he has shown utter disregard for everyone connected with the bill.
"I don't know what will happen now as my immediate priority is to find a replacement for the Belfast show.
"I must stress it will go ahead, however, I find it so sad that Scott put so much into winning and defending his title yet has now put it all in jeopardy with behaviour like this.
"He obviously has personal problems and needs help."
But Warren is not prepared to give him Harrison any more chances having clearly ran out of patience.
He added: "We have a contract with Scott Harrison but my legal team will now be looking at things.
"As I said what I needed from the Harrison camp was straight talking and I didn't get that.
"What I did get was misinformation."
Harrison's manager, Frank Maloney, backed the decision to pull out of the Belfast bout as he travelled to Glasgow to speak with the Cambuslang fighter.
Maloney said: "I can confirm the fight is off and, under the circumstances, I support the decision.
"Scott is very upset and I would go as far as to say I don't think he realises what is going on at the moment.
"Physically, he is 100 per cent fit, but there are some problems and we will issue a statement later tonight.
"I'm still Scott Harrison's manager, I've had a lot of good times with Scott, so I'm not going to jump off a sinking ship.
"I am on my way up to Scotland and will meet Scott and his father, Peter.
"We will get together and try to get to the root of the trouble because there are more important things than a boxing career."
The British Boxing Board of Control's general secretary, Simon Block, claims his organisation are waiting on official explanation from the Harrison camp for the withdrawal before they take any action.
He said: "We have to establish why he has pulled out and we have to find out if those reasons are acceptable or unacceptable.
"I would expect to be informed of those reasons within 24 hours.
"If they are unacceptable then we will take it further. If they are acceptable then we have to talk to the promoter.
"There are number of things that could have happened but we have to bear in mind that he had to pass a medical last week."
Harrison won his WBO belt in October 2002 beating Julio Pablo Chacon at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow.
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