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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Harrison pulls out of title fight | Harrison pulls out of title fight |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison has withdrawn from his title defence on Saturday and vacated his title, his father Peter says. | WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison has withdrawn from his title defence on Saturday and vacated his title, his father Peter says. |
| The Scottish fighter, 29, was due to fight Dagenham's Nicky Cook at the Excel Arena in London. | The Scottish fighter, 29, was due to fight Dagenham's Nicky Cook at the Excel Arena in London. |
| Peter Harrison said his son was unable to make the weight and would now vacate his title "on medical advice". | Peter Harrison said his son was unable to make the weight and would now vacate his title "on medical advice". |
| "Scott was unable to get under 9st 7lb and - on medical advice - was advised not to take the fight," he added. | "Scott was unable to get under 9st 7lb and - on medical advice - was advised not to take the fight," he added. |
| href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Interview: Harrison's father and trainer Peter | |
| Harrison spent five weeks in a Spanish jail on assault charges and was released on 13 November amid doubts over whether the fight would go ahead. | Harrison spent five weeks in a Spanish jail on assault charges and was released on 13 November amid doubts over whether the fight would go ahead. |
| But the British Boxing Board of Control ruled the fight could go ahead after Harrison underwent medical tests. | But the British Boxing Board of Control ruled the fight could go ahead after Harrison underwent medical tests. |
| Frank Warren has been slow to tell the people that the fight is off Peter Harrison | Frank Warren has been slow to tell the people that the fight is off Peter Harrison |
| Peter Harrison said his son had trained three times a day over the weekend in a bid to get to the featherweight limit of nine stone. | Peter Harrison said his son had trained three times a day over the weekend in a bid to get to the featherweight limit of nine stone. |
| But, after consulting with Dr Niall MacFarlane of Glasgow University, his father decided Harrison would not make the weight in time for the bout against Cook. | But, after consulting with Dr Niall MacFarlane of Glasgow University, his father decided Harrison would not make the weight in time for the bout against Cook. |
| Peter Harrison added: "Promoter Frank Warren was notified on Sunday of Scott's difficulty in making the weight. | Peter Harrison added: "Promoter Frank Warren was notified on Sunday of Scott's difficulty in making the weight. |
| "Frank Warren came back to Scott's manager Barry Hughes on Tuesday with the offer to fight Cook at 9st 6lbs. | "Frank Warren came back to Scott's manager Barry Hughes on Tuesday with the offer to fight Cook at 9st 6lbs. |
| 606 DEBATE: Your reaction to Harrison's withdrawal | 606 DEBATE: Your reaction to Harrison's withdrawal |
| "The fight was really important to Scott but there was no way he was going to get down to 9st or 9st 6lbs." | "The fight was really important to Scott but there was no way he was going to get down to 9st or 9st 6lbs." |
| Harrison's father added: "Frank Warren has been slow to tell the people that the fight is off. | Harrison's father added: "Frank Warren has been slow to tell the people that the fight is off. |
| "We've known it's been off since the beginning of the week. Scott needed this fight. It's been well-documented in the media that Scott has to pay his income tax and he was going to pay it off this fight. | "We've known it's been off since the beginning of the week. Scott needed this fight. It's been well-documented in the media that Scott has to pay his income tax and he was going to pay it off this fight. |
| "But when you're talking about somebody's life you have to make the right decision and I feel Team Harrison has made the right decision." | "But when you're talking about somebody's life you have to make the right decision and I feel Team Harrison has made the right decision." |