Recovering Harrison pleased with Marquez victory by Grant Jeans Aug 6th 2006

Juan Manuel Marquez stopped Terdsak Jandaeng in the seventh round at the MountBleu Outdoor Sports Pavilion, Nevada on Saturday night to secure the World Boxing Organisation Interim featherweight title. An 'interim' title is one granted by the board when their 'real' champion is indisposed. In this case the 'real' champion is the 'Real McCoy', Scott Harrison, who has been granted time off from defending the belt whilst he battles depression. Mexican Marquez battered Jandaeng to the canvas in the second and sixth rounds but did not have everything his own way against the Thai opponent and sustained heavy swelling to his right eye which was almost closed by the end of the bout. Marquez could now fight Scott Harrison for the full title though there are a number of potential stumbling blocks which will have to be negotiated before the champion can square off against what would be his most formidable opponent to date. In May the WBO ruled that the Interim championship would be contested on the requirement that the winner would fight Harrison on or before the 9th November provided he has recovered from the depression which caused him to pull out of his scheduled 20th May clash with the now IBF super-featherweight title holder Gairy St Clair. Harrison has made good progress and is now back in full training but 9th November could be too soon for Marquez and if that proves to be the case the WBO might grant an extension to the 180 day disability allowance they afforded the Scot so both boxers can fulfil their mandatory obligation to face each other. Gary Shaw, who promoted Saturday's card which also saw Marquez's younger brother Rafael make the last defence of his IBF bantamweight title with adversary Silence Mabuza's corner team retiring their man after nine rounds, hopes Juan Manuel will follow his sibling and sign with him but a number of other promoters are chasing that signature. The decision on whether or not to face Harrison could depend on Marquez's choice of future promoter but Shaw has previously said he would be keen for the bout to go ahead should he retain the Mexican's services. But make no mistake Marquez will eventually be awarded full champion status, provided he retains the Interim belt and if Harrison fails to defend the title. Judging by the enthusiasm Harrison showed this morning when he heard of Marquez's victory he has every intention of making sure he is ready to defend his title. The two-time world champion said he was in good shape and ready to fight after hard training sessions in John Breen's Belfast gym. Harrison added that he had been disappointed when Joan Guzman, his original opponent for 20th May, pulled out of their eagerly anticipated match up but was now raring to go and hopes promoter Frank Warren can strike a deal for him to face Marquez in October or November. (Whether Warren will be in the mood to promote a super-fight for Harrison given the latter's short notice withdrawal against St Clair is another matter.  Warren fumed at the time: "He's let the fans, TV companies and the boxing game down."  The Sports Network chief might take some convincing that Harrison is ready for Marquez - Ed.) Meanwhile Edwin Valero won the WBA super-featherweight title with a tenth round technical knockout of Vicente Mosquera in Panama City. After two knockdowns it looked as though the Venezuelan could have halted the champion in the first round but Mosquera rallied in front of his hometown fans and floored Valero in the third before succumbing to a tenth round assault. Valero has answered a lot of questions by proving he can fight beyond two rounds - his first 18 opponents were vanquished inside a single round but he was extended into the second for his last contest before dethroning Mosquera. Nevertheless, 20 consecutive wins with 20 stoppages is a remarkable feat but the fact that Valero can't fight in America due to a failed brain scan, which also cost him his deal with Golden Boy Promotions, could scupper showdowns with the 130 lbs division's elite. Yet the unfortunate situation increases the chances of a world title shot for Harrison's countryman Alex Arthur, currently ranked sixth with the WBA, and also for Harrison when he eventually steps up to the super-featherweight ranks.

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