07.05.04 – An arm injury caused in training has forced WBO World Featherweight Champion SCOTT HARRISON to postpone his title defence, scheduled for May 29, until Saturday 19 June at the Braehead Arena. Harrison, from Cambuslang in Glasgow, was scheduled to make the second defence of his title in his second reign as World champion against the American based Armenian William Abelyan.
This is the second time that the Harrison-Abelyan fight has had to be postponed. Abelyan, who is the WBO #1 ranked and mandatory challenger, was due to face Harrison in March this year but he withdrew with an injury and the Colombian Walter Estrada stepped in to replace him.
Despite the disappointment Harrison is remaining positive, “This is a blow but these things happen in boxing. I learnt from my first fight with Manuel Medina (when Harrison lost his title due to illness) that you should not enter the ring if you are not 100 percent fit. I’m currently seeing a sports injury specialist and they are confident that the injury will heal and I can resume training shortly. Until the injury happened my training was going great, probably the best it has ever been. Now I will have to stay focused and be patient until I can get Abelyan.”
Promoter Frank Warren said, “The Abelyan fight is the toughest of Scott’s career and he has to be 100 percent ready for him. It’s a great shame that he got injured with the fight date closing in but I do not want to see him go into the ring under-prepared or with any injuries. He has had one set back when he lost the title and we do not want that to happen again.”
Please note that the tickets for the original date of May 29 will remain valid for the rescheduled date of June 19.
Tickets, priced at £30, £50, £75 & £125, are available from the Keith Prowse Ticketing on 0870 906 3839, Braehead Arena Box Office on 0870 444 6062 and online at www.frankwarren.tv/tickets