Scott Harrison Vs Manuel Medina: Medina Will Face A Strong Heat In Scotland

By Chris Curry

10.06 - To be honest, I never thought I would see the day when Scottish Featherweight, Scott Harrison would embrace a world championship. During the earlier stages of the Glaswegian's career I saw Harrison as a strong, determined fighter who boxed well, but I thought very predictable and quite robust. The predictability is what I thought was going to be the key to unlock Harrison at world class. I did not see that something extra, that spark in a fighter that breaks them into world championship glory and having a fighter as colourful and brash in Britain as Prince Naseem Hamed at Featherweight. I just did not see Scott taking over the mantel as arguably the best Featherweight in the United Kingdom. With Hamed's uncertainty of a ring return, Harrison has good call to press this claim.

With the WBO world championship firmly around his waist, Scott Harrison has a solid place in the top five one hundred and twenty six pound fighters in the world today. Times have changed and the Featherweight division is starting to turn the clock round to the next hand of fighters. Marco Antonio Barrera may be belt-less but reigns as the true Featherweight World Champion, while Morales who could also argue his case for the number one spot looks set to vacate his WBC Championship and release his body from the strains of nine stone. A third fight with Barrera at one hundred and twenty eight pounds is on the horizon later in the year.

The predictability and robust movements that I saw in Scott Harrison have now turned in my eyes to that of a solid all round professional. While I neglected his strengths I can't help but now focus on them. His record may not indicate a knockout puncher with nine knockouts, but his physical stature and immense strengths cannot be under estimated and I sense an even deeper burning desire now he's a world champion. The old saying goes, when a fighter becomes a world champion they improve twenty five per cent, history has not always proved this theory to be legitimate. I now see it in Scott Harrison, that something special that makes a champion, that little bit extra has come through. Not necessary in the way that I may have been looking for at first, but from different angles now. He has the desire and belief of a Champion coming through more and more and the proud Scotsman, the next British holder of the WBO title after the Prince, is now putting that Featherweight Championship at stake with an old school style and dedicated approach.

March 22nd was Harrison's first defence of his championship against Wayne McCullough. This was a fight that many a new Champion would have avoided. Wayne's record speaks for itself and Hamed and Morales both had their hands full with the Pocket Rocket. With Harrison and McCullough's styles this all British clash was recognised as "The Fight". Many observers were split, and the feeling of the outcome was talked about over and over in the months leading up to the bell. Even though Scott beat Chacon for the Championship, many felt McCullough was the acid test. Harrison's physical size and strength over came Wayne's brave performance that night. Before this fight those parts of Scott's make up never really stood out to me and being ringside in Glasgow in support of Wayne McCullough I saw Harrison at his best. He fought a fight I just never saw in my mind and when they first came eye to eye the size of Harrison really stood out. Wayne McCullough who is highly respected throughout the business speaks the truth of every fighter he faces and his knowledge of the sport is highly commended. Wayne said Harrison's strength was unbelievable and he felt like he was fighting a welterweight.

In overwhelming opponents and winning fights, this strength works to Scott's advantage. He can move opponents around together with footwork to set up his shots. Many of his punches are not wasted and these area's of his ability have certainly cause to worry any fighter facing him.

Manuel Medina of Mexico, the four time world champion is next to face Harrison on July 12th in Glasgow Scotland. When awaiting an opponent to be named for Harrison's next defence, I wondered who it could be. When it was announced Medina, I thought to myself, I should have known better. It was an anti climax to be truthful. When I last saw Medina fight it was for the vacant IBF Featherweight title against Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez produced a great performance stopping Medina in the seventh round at the start of the year. It was a brutal fight from Medina's point and with a long hard career of seventy-three fights at that stage and his thirteenth loss, I thought it was time for Medina to hang up his gloves.

Having been a four time world champion, he can have great satisfaction with his accomplishments in the sport. But in recent times I cannot think of a fighter who has had more chance's at a version of the world featherweight championship than Mexico's Manuel Medina. Medina returned to the ring on March 28th in Tijuana, Mexico and stopped fellow countryman Juan Ruiz in round five. Ruiz's record was four fights with one victory, his three loss's were by stoppage and this type of return win to me does not warrant a shot at another version of the world title. As I said, I should have known better. The positive aspect to be taken from this is, Harrison is keeping active against a busy fighter who does not have the power to cause concern. Also how effective will he be in defeating Medina. This may be good to compare Harrison's performance against Juan Manuel Marquez fight with Medina only months apart.

Looking at the rankings of the WBO at Featherweight, apart from Barrera at number one there is not much excitement to ruffle the feathers and a fight with Barrera is not a wise move at this stage. Although there has been big talk from Medina, this really is a lamb being lead to the slaughter. Harrison will mean business and Medina should get stopped around the middle rounds and I expect to see the scar tissue of the long battles opening up. Medina will not be a pretty sight.

Scott Harrison is vast improving and there are many attractive fights out there with the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Derrick Gainer and if expected, Morales vacates the WBC title and Michael Brodie fights Injin Chi for the vacant championship, the winner would also make an attractive unification bout. With Brodie as holder an all British clash with the two world titles at stake would produce a classic. There are many scenarios, much hearsay. One thing is for sure, Scott Harrison is hot on the tails of the other Champions and if these fights can be made, it is in these where he can be accounted for. Promoter Frank Warren is said to be in talks with Marco Antonio Barrera. I believe a fight of this stature would only be a reality if Harrison was to defeat another one of the Champions. Until then, Mexico's Manuel Medina will surely feel the heat in Scotland when he meets Scott Harrison for the WBO featherweight world championship on July 12th.

Questions and Comments to chris_esboxing@hotmail.com