Abelyan: Harrison is there for taking
STEPHEN HALLIDAY

The Scotsman, UK
June 16 2004

WILLIAM Abelyan will be a long way from home on Saturday night but
if the Armenian-born, California-based mandatory challenger to Scott
Harrison’s WBO featherweight title is to be believed, the Braehead
Arena will be the scene of a comfortable coronation.

The 25-year-old, fighting outside the United States for the first time
in his six-year career, provided a withering and dismissive analysis
of Harrison yesterday as he met the Scottish media for the first time.

Dethroning Scotland’s world champion, according to Abelyan, will be
little more than a formality. He bases his claim on the evidence of
Harrison’s contests with Mexican veteran Manuel Medina last year. The
Scot, of course, slumped to a shock points loss to Medina in July
before regaining his belt with an 11th-round knockout in the rematch
four months later.

“I can’t believe Medina went the distance and then another 11 rounds
with Harrison,” said Abelyan. “I was Medina’s sparring partner and
I put him on the canvas twice. Medina is an old man.

“For me, Scott Harrison is a typical, come-forward fighter. He is a
strong kid, no doubt about it, but he just comes straight on to you.
There is no movement. I will be ready for him. I’m not going to say
I’ll knock him out, but I will do my stuff in the ring on Saturday
and the knockout will come.

“I’m a boxer, not a fighter, and I will show what’s going to happen
on Saturday. It’s nothing personal as far as I’m concerned, I’m just
here to become the world champion and take the belt home.

“I haven’t fought for a year, because everyone wants to avoid me.
When I become champion, they will all have to fight me.”

Don House, Abelyan’s trainer, echoed his boxer’s confidence. “Scott’s
a decent fighter but he doesn’t possess anything I’m worried about,”
said House. “William has fought tougher guys in the past and I’d just
like to thank Scott for allowing us to come here and win the belt.”

The taunts are unlikely to disconcert highly-motivated Harrison,
whose preparations for the second defence of his second reign as
champion were disrupted by his court appearance last week which saw
him found not guilty of assault.

Frank Maloney, Harrison’s manager, issued a vote of confidence in
his man, but not without some reservations.

“I am concerned about Abelyan,” said Maloney. “I would have preferred
to avoid this fight, but it’s typical of Scott that he didn’t want
to go down another route. Most guys who have had the problems Scott
went through over the past week would have cried off, but Scott isn’t
most guys. He is either incredibly single-minded or just has a screw
missing, I’ve never worked with anyone like him.

“Scott won’t be able to take a backward step in this fight, he’s
going to have to corner Abelyan and slow him down. I think that’s what
will happen but Scott is fighting for his career. Unlike with Medina,
if Scott loses this one, there is no rematch clause. Win it, though,
and there are some massive paydays ahead.”