Dean Harrison believes a new dedication to the sport will be the springboard to success when he takes on Nigel Wright on Friday.
English title up for grabs for rejuvenated Deano
Dean Harrison believes a new dedication to the sport will be the springboard to success when he takes on Nigel Wright at the Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday night.
The pair will battle for the vacant English light-welterweight title,
live on Sky Sports, with Harrison facing the fight of his life against the vastly experienced Wright.
However, the 26-year-old believes his best days are still ahead of him and victory will surely launch him on the road to a dust-up with British champion Lenny Daws.
First, Wolverhampton-born Harrison (16-3) needs to take care of Wright and he is oozing confidence after switching to trainer Lee Beard at the end of last year.
Best move
"I've been with Lee since November now, and it's the best move I could have made," he told
skysports.com. "He's built my confidence back up and got me boxing better than I thought I could. He's just done really well for me and i'm improving all the time.
"Usually after fights I was going out eating and drinking and putting loads of weight on, and it was taking a lot out of me.
"Since the last one i've stayed in the gym, done loads sparring waiting for a date to come. This came up and i've been over in Ireland with Lee for four weeks and it's been really good.
"With Lee in my corner i'm confident I can beat anyone in the country to be honest."
Harrison knocked out Ben Lawler in March, an early sign that his partnership with Beard could prove to be a fruitful one.
Prior to that, he had suffered three losses including a British title fight against the outstanding Paul McCloskey, who has gone to claim the European belt.
But Harrison believes he has improved a great deal since then, adding: "I took a title shot and i'd only been pro for two years, it just came too soon for me.
"I'm comfortable where I am with this one though - hopefully i'll be back to where I could have been 12 months ago.
"Hopefully if I beat him I want Daws, but i've got a helluva hard fight on here so i've got to get through this one."
And he is not taking Wright - who took McCloskey the distance two years ago - lightly.
Gameplan
"He's only lost to the best in the country, he's been in a lot of tough fights so I know how good he is, but i've had four weeks notice this time.
"Lee's put a gameplan together and as long as I keep to the plan i'm confident of winning.
"I had done that much sparring back home that we've just been working on the gameplan and tactics with Lee.
"He's more confident than I am but if the shots land then we'll cash in because everyone's got a chin at the end of the day.
"To be honest i'd like to go the 10 rounds because I've only had the one this year. The rounds would be good, if it (the knockout) comes it comes but i'm preparing for a hard fight.
"The way i've been looking in the gym it will be upsetting if I don't perform to my best. The way Lee's getting me to perform it's definitely going to be the best you've seen."
