Bantamweight Muay Thai contender Harrison, a training partner of Superlek’s at the Yokkao gym when he is in Thailand, flew from the UK to sit and watch ringside at the event but could not hide his disappointment.
“I feel a bit let down, like we’ve been robbed of something that could have been for the history books,” Harrison said soon before the fight took place, backstage at Lumpinee Stadium.
“Superlek’s made weight plenty of times. I don’t think there’s any excuse for it. People are saying he needs to move up – what needs to happen is get a nutritionist on board and have someone help you out and get the right advice, and he will make that weight easily.
“I lived in the gym with him and I’ve seen what he eats. I watched him, he eats mounds of rice on fight week then puts the sweatsuit on and goes running around. My strength and conditioning coach was with me at the time when we were at Yokkao. [Superlek] said, ‘No, it’s OK’.
“All they need is some good advice. The sport changes and adapts. This old school way the Thais like to make weight just running all day long in a sweatsuit, you don’t need to. Just get your diet and nutrition on point and you will make weight comfortably.”
Superlek won the fight by unanimous decision after what still proved to be an electric main event which drew historic television ratings in Thailand. But the 27-year-old admitted he was considering a move up to bantamweight, which would see him vacate his title.“If he wants to move up, I guess he’s gonna move up,” Harrison added. “But I feel a bit let down and robbed that we’re not having a five-round fight. We’re not gonna find out who’s legit the best 135-pound fighter on the planet now.
“There’s gonna be an excuse – if Superlek loses, he was too drained, if he wins he was too heavy. I don’t think we’re gonna get a definitive answer here which is what we all wanted.”
“He’s my training partner, that’s why I feel a little bit let down. When I see him I want to give him a slap round the head, ‘What are you f****** doing?’ I’ve flown all the way out here to support him. I’ve got s*** to do in England. And now this has happened,” the 37-year-old added with a laugh.
“I put on a nice shirt, combed my hair, brushed my teeth and he’s f****** done this to me. So I’ve got some choice words for him. One, you better win, and two, wait until I see you after.”
Harrison himself is inching closer to a comeback, with ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong expressing interest in his post-event media scrum at booking the Briton in a special rules striking match with former bantamweight MMA champion John Lineker.
“They were looking to get me in November but I need to be signed off by my doctor, who won’t sign me off until 9 months after my surgery, so that will be November, and then January I’ll be back,” Harrison said.
“Watching these fights sat at ringside I’m getting goosebumps. I’ve been buzzing to get back and watching this now live has been making me want it even more.
“I’m back training now doing almost everything that I was doing before. I’m back to probably about 75 per cent. By January I’d be 100 per cent, I’ll be ready to fight.
“I’ve never fought in this Lumpini Stadium before. I fought in the old Lumpinee and I’ve fought in Rajadamnern. I think if I get a win in this one I’ll be the first UK fighter to have a win in all three which would be pretty cool.”
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