Abelyan turns up the heat ahead of fight with Harrison
ic Lanarkshire.co.uk, UK
May 27 2004
WILLIAM Abelyan has turned up the heat ahead of his WBO World
Featherweight title fight with Cambuslang’s Scott Harrison.
They are set to meet on June 19 at the Braehead Arena, and the
tough Armenian is riled by comments he read on the internet from the
champion, stating that he would give Abelyan a “hammering”.
The WBO mandatory challenger, speaking from his training camp in Las
Vegas, said: “Harrison’s got a big mouth and I’m going to shut it
for him.
“I’ve read what he’s been saying on the internet and he’s talking a
lot of garbage.
“He’s scared – that’s why he’s talking big but I’ll be over there
for the fight soon and we’ll see if he talks just as big when he’s
face to face with me.”
The 25-year-old claims his training has not been disrupted despite
the second postponement of the fight following Harrison’s injury.
“I’m ready to fight Harrison right now,” he said.
“If my team said to me ‘William we’re going to Scotland tomorrow to
fight Harrison’ I would be straight on the plane. I have never been
up for a fight more than this one.”
Originally from Yerevan in Armenia, Abelyan moved to America when he
was nine years old and now lives in California.
He says it’s the glory of being world champion, not the money, that
is motivating him to dethrone Harrison.
“It’s the world title and the fame I want, not the money,” he said.
“After I win the title, I will return to Armenia a hero.
“I have never been back since I moved to America because I wanted to
achieve something spectacular before I returned. I will be the first
world champion boxer to ever come out of the country.”
Abelyan added: “The boxing ring is my house and Harrison is not
welcome.”
Tickets purchased for the original date of May 29 will remain valid
for the rescheduled date of June 19.
Tickets, priced at £30, £50, £75 and £125, are available from Keith
Prowse Ticketing on 0870 906 3839, Braehead Arena Box Office on 0870
444 6062 and online at