Boxing

National Conference Call Transcript Scott Harrison, Wayne McCullough

Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime

20.03 - Harrison and McCullough discuss their upcoming fight on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, March 22, at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Harrison will make the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title when he meets former World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion and current WBO No. 7 featherweight contender, McCullough. In the co-feature, undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF)/WBO International and British Commonwealth 130-pound champion Alex Arthur will attempt to add a fourth belt to his resume when he battles South African Patrick Malinga for the vacant British super featherweight crown. Frank Warren’s Sports Network will promote the bouts from Braehead Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

Question: Wayne, how is training going?

McCullough: Things are going well. I did most of my training in Las Vegas. I finished off two weeks in Belfast, my hometown, and I came to Glasgow yesterday. I know there is going to be a lot of support for me as well because it is only a 30-minute journey from Belfast. I am just looking forward to the opportunity.

Question: Is there any animosity between you and Harrison?

McCullough: I think everything has just been blown out of proportion. I said I was going to win the fight, and Harrison said I was being disrespectful by saying that. I said he was not the same caliber of fighter as Erik Morales and Naseem Hamed. He says he is. He said he is going to put me into retirement. That is the same stuff I heard from Hamed back in 1998, so he must be watching too much of those tapes.

Question: Did you ever think you would be talking about a world title fight?

McCullough: Two years ago, I thought my career was over. It was taken away from me for no reason. I got my comeback last January in Las Vegas on SHOWTIME, which is fantastic, because nobody would touch me. SHOWTIME was the first to put me on television. After that, it was all systems go, and now I am fighting for the championship of the world. The funny thing is I am fighting for the championship under British rules, and they are the ones that would not give me my license.

Question: Do you think people had forgotten how good you were and the great fights you had with Morales and Hamed?

McCullough: I had great support when I was out of the ring. I got letters and e-mails from people asking me when I was going to fight again because they knew I was cleared to fight in Las Vegas. I always had the support. I proved I was a better fighter last year and I just want to show that in the ring again on Saturday.

Question: Scott, how is training going?

Harrison: I just finished up eight weeks of training, and things are going well. I have not really done anything differently. I am looking forward to the fight.

Question: Why do you think McCullough was disrespectful by saying he was going to win the fight?

Harrison: Different things have been quoted in the paper here. It is tough to get a real quote. There have been a lot of things mentioned in the paper, but I do not know how true they were. At the end of the day, I could care less.

Question: What do you need to do against McCullough to win this fight?

Harrison: I need to keep him out by using my jab and combinations. I just have to work on my strategy, and basically just go to work.

Question: Have you done anything special in preparation for this fight?

Harrison: The only thing I have done is extra sparring. I have not done anything differently with my bag work. I have just been working on my speed.

Question: Wayne, do you feel any pressure as a former champion to put in a good showing against Harrison?

McCullough: I have stepped up to the plate before and did not get the results I wanted. This is an opportunity for me, and I have to take advantage of it.

Question: How will your experience benefit you against Harrison?

McCullough: Experience does count. I had experience in the amateurs, and that helped me when I turned professional. When you have fought the main guys in the division, it is huge, so you learn to cope with anything. I am relaxed for this fight. I am always relaxed. I am just looking forward to enjoying the fight.

Question: Do you expect this fight to be as difficult as your bouts against Morales and Hamed?

McCullough: When I fought Morales and Hamed, those guys were in the top-10 pound-for-pound rankings. They were in an elite class. Harrison is a tough fighter and a champion. I have to respect him for that.

Question: What was it like when you defeated Chacon to win the title?

Harrison: Defeating Chacon was unbelievable. It was electric. I can hardly describe it. That night was fantastic, and now I am just focused on doing a good job on Saturday.

Question: Is there added pressure when you are compared to the greatest Scottish fighters of all-time?

Harrison: For people to compare me to the great Scottish fighters is great recognition. I know the history.

Question: Scott and Wayne, can both of you give us predictions on the fight?

Harrison: I am going to go out there and use my combinations. I am just going to get in the ring and do my job.

McCullough: It is going to be a tough fight. I will do whatever it takes to win. I am prepared for anything. I am looking for the win, and I know I can get it. The crowd is going to be unbelievable.

Question: Scott, how do you plan on fighting such a busy opponent as McCullough?

Harrison: I like to throw a lot of punches myself, so I am not working on a different style. I like to fight. He likes to fight. It will be a toe-to-toe war.

Question: Whom would you like to fight in the future?

Harrison: I really want to fight (Marco Antonio) Barrera. That is my main goal. He is the best fighter in the division, and has a great reputation. But first things first, I need to take care of McCullough.

Question: Wayne, because Harrison has been known to throw a lot of punches, how do you plan to fight him?

McCullough: We (Harrison and McCullough) have both been featherweights our whole careers, so we both throw a lot of punches. When someone is standing in front of me, I can throw a lot more punches as well. I throw a lot more punches than the average fighter. If he stands toe-to-toe with me, he is going to face a lot of punches as well.

Also Read: Wayne McCullough Interview
Harrison-McCullough Preview

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