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Harrison fight cancelled

16/05/2006

Scott Harrison has been forced to cancel his planned fight against Gairy St Claire at the King's Hall in Belfast this Saturday night.

The news comes less than 24 hours after Harrison's manager Frank Maloney insisted his charge would be able defend his WBO featherweight title, despite him having been arrested over the weekend.

Harrison was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning following an incident at a nightclub in Balloch, Dunbartonshire.

But now, despite Maloney's comments yesterday, Harrison's camp have informed fight promoters Sports Network that he will be unable to take part and top the bill, which also includes Amir Khan.

"I can confirm the fight is off and, under the circumstances, I support the decision," Maloney told PA Sport.

"Scott is very upset and I would go as far as to say I don't think he realises what is going on at the moment.

"Physically, he is 100 per cent fit, but there are some problems and we will issue a statement later tonight."

The withdrawal casts serious shadows over the boxing future of Harrison, who already faces trial in September after he was arrested last month for disturbing the peace, refusing to leave a premises, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

Maloney added that he intends to help Harrison through this difficult time but that admitted his career in the ring could well be over.

"I am on my way up to Scotland and will meet Scott and his father, Peter," he added.

"We will get together and try to get to the route of the trouble because there are more important things than a boxing career. I'm upset and I feel sorry for him, but the whole thing goes deeper than boxing."

Glasgow-based Harrison, dubbed The Real McCoy, boasts a professional boxing career record of 25 wins, 14 kos, two losses and two draws.

He was due to make the seventh defence of his world title since winning it for a second time by avenging his previous defeat by Manuel Medina in November 2003.

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