A whirlwind week for Dean Harrison

A whirlwind week for Wolverhampton light welterweight Dean Harrison has seen him go from the verge of quitting boxing to rejoining the hunt for long-elusive glory.

Now the dust has settled, Harrison is gearing up to face Nigel Wright for the vacant English title at the Rainton Meadows Arena in Tyne and Wear on July 23, in what could even be an eliminator for a second chance for both at the British crown.

But, on Monday morning, the Black Country boxer was boarding a plane to head off for a week-long training camp in Ireland, waiting for the official word that a bout with former British champion Michael Jennings was a done deal.

As he took his seat, trainer Errol Johnson was on the phone with some bad news - the fight wasn't just off, the whole show set for July 3 at Preston's Guild Hall had been canned.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Harrison, who had also seen a proposed British title shot against Lenny Daws fall through after he had himself called off a defence of his Midlands title against Gavin Deacon to take the fight.

The disappointment was so great that he very seriously considered retiring - at just 26 years of age.

But, 48 hours later, the Wright fight was put to him and a relieved Harrison jumped at the chance.

He said: "I had been thinking of quitting for four months, because it was just one thing after another. I had that many people promising me things that didn't come off that it just gets on top of you.

"It's a hard enough game as it is, when you are getting up at 4am every morning to train and dieting for months on end, so when you are constantly being let down you just get angry.

"I would have loved to face Michael Jennings, what a name that would be to have on your record, but I am more than happy to become the English champion and then bring that British title back to Wolverhampton later this year."

Harrison also has unfinished business with the English title, after a points defeat for the belt to Scott Haywood in September 2008.

But 'Deano' still insists he never lost that fight.

He said: "As far as I am concerned, I won the belt the last time - I just wasn't given the verdict. Everybody who was there knows I comfortably beat Scott Haywood."

Harrison is also looking for a sponsor to aid his quest for boxing glory, to come on board with his long-time backers Bushbury Glass.

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