Ringnews24.com: Do you feel let down by the Scottish Sheriff Court after they announced you would be extradited to Spain to serve a four-year prison sentence for assault charges dating from May 2007?
There are a lot of ins and outs of the case. I can’t talk too much about the actual case because I have still to go up in front of the High Court – whenever it may be – come my appeal. There are a lot of points of law that the Sheriff should have… the case should have been thrown out. For some reason he never gave an explanation why, so I will be appearing at the High Court this year.
Ringnews24.com: You’re currently on bail pending appeal to the High Court to have the extradition order rescinded. Do you have a date for the court case and what are your chances of getting this decision overturned?
There is a big chance of getting this over turned because… I hope it will be overturned. We have a very good case. I will leave it up to my advocate and my lawyer – so it is up to them. But, I have a very good chance, I have a very good case and I have a petition and a lot of people are involved – it will be sent to the Scottish Parliament so I am optimistic – I don’t have a date yet.
Ringnews24.com: When the British Boxing Board of Control refused to reinstate your boxing licence, what were the consequences of that decision for you?
It has been an absolutely nightmare from the British Boxing Board of Control. Two years ago they suspended my licence because I appeared on a newspaper about the standing charges in Spain. But that was just on the newspaper story, that was nearly two years ago. I personally jumped through hoops for the BBBofC – whenever they asked for something I got them it – they need this paper from Spain, they need this, that – basically they were playing for time and to be honest it’s wasted two years of my life away and another two years of my career
Ringnews24.com: Do you feel let down by their lack of support?
Definitely 100%.
Ringnews24.com: You were given the chance to box for the Malta Boxing Commission by Gianluca Di Caro – how did that opportunity come about?
Well I basically applied to the MBC to get a Maltese licence and I eventually got it and I look forward to fighting on MBC-sanctioned shows in the future. I still got a lot to offer boxing, I train hard and I want to thank the Maltese Commission as well for a giving me a chance to get back to boxing again and to get back to work. Because to be honest the BBBofC made me unemployed for two years. This is my job – I have been a professional since I was 18. I look forward to the future.
Ringnews24.com: If you win your appeal at the High Court and the Boxing Board of Control offer your licence back, would you continue to box for the MBC or go back to the BBBofC?
Well, the MBC gave me the opportunity to get my life back on track and get back to work, get my job back and start earning money again, so I would have to say the MBC. To be honest, what the BBBofC are doing is kind of illegal. I am a self-employed boxer, The BBBofC are the BBBofC – it’s like a joiner not being able to work because the commission of joiners have decided they won’t let that joiner work. So that’s what basically been happening to me and to be honest it’s against human rights, what the BBBofC have the power to do – it’s out of order. At the end of the day a professional boxer is a profession – it’s a sport but also a profession, and[the way the sport is governed in Britain] it’s putting people out of work, which is against human rights. So I’m just glad I got a licence with the MBC and able to get back to work and performing in front of the fans again and putting on big shows.
Ringnews24.com: There is a petition on Change.org to get the extradition proceedings halted – how grateful are you to the fans who have signed the petition to show their support?
I haven’t checked it for a few days but it seems to be taken off – I don’t know how many is there – maybe 1500? It’s good that the boxing world and a lot of people from British boxing have signed the petition. It makes you feel proud that you haven’t been forgotten.
Readers who want to sign the petition to support Scott Harrison can do so at https://www.change.org/p/scottish-parliament-rescind-scott-harrison-s-extradition-order-to-spain
Ringnews24.com: What is the single biggest regret of your career?
Moving to Spain, definitely moving to Spain 100%. Buying a villa in Spain, that is my worst move ever.
Ringnews24.com: What are your future plans – do you think it’s realistic you will get another world title shot?
Well, I am just going to take one fight at a time – I’m not going to say where I am going to be in a year’s time. I’m going to take one fight at a time and keep winning and work my way back up the ladder.
Ringnews24.com: Do you have a message for the fans?
I am happy to be back. I want to thank all the fans who stood by me and gave me a lot of support for the last few years through my career and I look forward to get back fighting again in front of the fans, putting on a good show.
Ringnews24.com: Thank you for talking to Ringnews24.com, good luck with your court case and the rest of your boxing career.
Thanks a lot.
