Does Scott Harrison See The Light?

Despite spending six week in a Spanish prison from where he was released last week on conditional bail, Scott Harrison insists that his preparation for the defense of his World Boxing Organisation featherweight title against Nicky Cook in London on December 9 could not have been better.

Following his release, Harrison returned to Glasgow to prepare for his latest fight convinced that that the training equipment that was cobbled together with the aid of fellow prisoners and a diet of rice and boiled fish has helped to get him into peak condition. “It has given me far more discipline and made me stronger,” said Cook in London after reluctantly flying from his Glasgow home to attend a news conference.

Last week Harrison was given just 48 hours to spend with his family before undergoing a series of medical and psychological tests by the British Boxing Board of Control. He is the first to admit that his wild ways have brought “shame” on his family. “I was doing too much playing around, too much partying around. It was only while I was sitting for weeks in that Spanish jail that it came to me that needed to do something about it.”

Harrison, 29, faces a crucial three months in his turbulent life, starting at London’s ExCel Arena on Saturday when he makes a 12^th defense of his WBO crown against unbeaten Englishman Nicky Cook.

Having been given permission to take the fight, Harrison will have to return to the Costa del Sol to face assault charges and he is due in court in Glasgow in February to face two other cases, involving a number of charges including assault.

While Harrison could end up doing a long stretch he is anxious to create his own legacy after claiming to have seen the light. “I feel in excellent shape, mentally and physically,” he said. “I feel cleaner and sharper. There will be no more partying. Prison has given me more discipline. If I get in any more trouble, I’ll go straight to jail for a few years. I’m not going to let that happen.”

Harrison has had spells in hospital to deal with depression and alcohol but in the Alhaurin de le Torre prison near Malaga he had what he describes as a life-changing experience. “Some nights I’d be sitting there thinking: If I don’t get bailed how am I going to make any money for the rest of my life? What am I going to do?"