By Adam Baskin: Tony Harrison arrives in Australia on Monday, repeatedly complaining of his long flight from the U.S, saying that he’s never coming back to the country after he faces local Aussie Tim Tszyu for the vacant WBO interim junior middleweight title in March 12th at the Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park in Australia.
(Photo credit: No Limit Boxing)
The 32-year-old Harrison’s cranky behavior on his arrival to Australia was reminiscent of the constantly irritable undisputed 154-lb champion Jermell Charlo, who always seems to be in a state of constant agitation like an older person, with a hair trigger, ready to verbally lash out at anyone and everyone for this or that.
Hopefully, Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KOs) doesn’t continue to complain in the press conferences and the weigh-in ahead of the fight because it will be challenging to listen to his gripe nonstop about his aches & pains.
This is an important fight between the unbeaten #1 WBO Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) and #3 Harrison because the winner will challenge undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell (35-1-1, 19 KOs) once he comes back from the broken hand injury he sustained while training.
Charlo was supposed to be defending against his WBO mandatory Tszyu, but his left-hand injury put him on the shelf, and he’s opening to return to the ring by June or July, which will be perfect for him to face the winner of the Harrison vs. Tszyu fight.
Tony Harrison warns Australian fans of “rude awakening”
“I’m not overlooking Tim. I talk my s**t, but Tim is a tough competitor. So I’m looking forward to a rough & tough fight. I’m looking forward to 12 good rounds or shorter,” said Tony Harrison to the media with his arrival in Australia on Monday ahead of his fight.
“But come March 12, you’re all in for a rude awakening. I know I have a tough competitor in front of me, fighting in front of his fans in front of his crowd.
“I’m looking for the hostility,” he said. “I’m ready for the hostility. If they love Tim, they’re going to love me; they have no choice,” said Harrison.
Based on Harrison’s recent performances in the last two years, he’s going to be in serious trouble on March 12th against Tszyu because his game has dropped off significantly since his upset win over Jermell in 2018.
The combination of inactivity, wear & tear from two punishing Charlo fights, and age rearing its ugly head has done a number on Harrison.
He’s not the same fighter he was five years ago, and that could be bad news for him because the only chance he has of winning is if he can regain the form he had in 2018 from the first fight with Jermell.