Weighty issues force Harrison out

WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison has been forced to vacate his title “on medical advice”.

The 29-year-old had been unable to make the weight in time for his defence against Nicky Cook at the ExCel Arena in London on Saturday.

The withdrawal brings to a close a tumultuous 2006 for the Cambuslang fighter, which included being held by police in September over “a number of incidents”.

Harrison faces three court appearances next year – two in Glasgow and one in Spain. He returned to Scotland on November 13 after his arrest and subsequent detention in Malaga.

The Scot insisted he would be able to fight in London this weekend after preparing while in prison.

Harrison passed a British Boxing Board of Control medical following his release to confirm his availability after promoter Frank Warren had also cancelled the bout.

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.

He said: “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.

“The fight was really important to Scott but there was no way he was going to get down to 9st or 9st 6lbs.”

Harrison pulled out of a fight with Gary St Clair in May before checking in to the Priory clinic suffering from alcohol problems and depression.

But his father insists Harrison had little choice but to vacate his current title by withdrawing from the bout at the weekend.

Peter Harrison said: “Scott Harrison will be unable to defend his world featherweight title against Nicky Cook on Saturday.

“Scott has vacated his WBO featherweight title which he has held for four years. Scott was unable to get under nine stones, seven pounds, and, on medical advice, was advised not to take the fight.”

Promoter Warren will search for a replacement opponent for Cook and expects to be able to announce a new top-of-the-bill contest at a scheduled press conference later today.

But Harrison’s withdrawal is the latest blow to hit the show following Matt Skelton’s pull-out from his scheduled Commonwealth heavyweight title defence against Audley Harrison last week.

Danny Williams accepted a rematch with the former Olympic champion at seven days’ notice.

Amir Khan will also appear on the card in his first eight-rounder against Frenchman Rachid Drilzane.