Former WBC Junior Middleweight champion Tony Harrison (28-3, 21 KOs) is targeting a fight against fellow former 154-pound titleholder Julian “J-Rock” Williams.
“Realistically, I’ve always wanted to fight Julian Williams,” Harrison said on a recent edition of the Last Stand Podcast. “When it comes down to the movement, when it comes down to the boxing, the beautiful science part of it, I think he’s a very good fighter. Philly and Detriot are just like two of the same, and I’ve always thought a fight between me and him would be the ultimate chess match…it would just be beautiful for a guy who loves the sport of boxing.”
Of course, Harrison has some business to handle before that potential fight could take place. Although he hasn’t competed since losing a rematch against Jermell Charlo in December 2019, the 30-year-old will soon return to action, as he’s set to meet southpaw Bryant “Goodfella” Perrella in the main event of a FOX PBC Fight Night on Saturday, April 17 in Los Angeles.
The hard-hitting Perrella was an experienced amateur before compiling a 17-3 record as a professional. However, it’s safe to say that he’ll be facing the toughest test of his career in Harrison. “Super Bad”, meanwhile, is expecting an exciting fight when the two meet and is eager to return from a lengthy layoff.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how fast the sports is moving again and being able to absorb punches with 10-ounce gloves on again,” said Harrison. “Coming across a tough, rugged guy like Perella, who’s a pretty good puncher himself, it’ll be fireworks, but it shouldn’t go the whole way, that’s for sure.”
Should he get by Perrella, which he’ll likely be favored to do, Harrison will certainly have options, including Williams, in the loaded 154-pound division. One other name that stands out is former Welterweight champion Danny Garcia, who recently announced that he’d be moving up to the Junior Middleweight division.
And if that opportunity arises, Harrison would certainly be open to welcoming Garcia to his new weight class.
“I think Danny Garcia coming to Junior middleweight is a f*cking big thing, but for him to think he’s going to be the biggest name and do what he’s done,” said Harrison. “I love Danny, but he’s Lil Danny now. I would love a fight with Danny Garcia, I think he’s an amazing fighter chasing greatness.”
Aside from potential future opponents for himself, Harrison also proposed an intriguing idea that would lead to the world’s best Junior Middleweights doing battle with each other to determine true supremacy.
“If you would put all of us in a tournament where nobody could f*cking duck nobody, I’m with that because I’ll be the first guy to sign up in line and say I’m in,” said Harrison. “Everybody get drawn out of a hat, we do March Madness, where this guy got to fight this guy, and this guy has to face this guy, and I’ll be all for it. I’ll be the first one on the petition saying let’s make this division great, let’s do it how it’s suppose to be done.”
However, regardless of what’s next, Harrison will be fighting with an added sense of motivation moving forward. His fight against Perrella will be his first since the passing of his father and trainer Ali Salaam due to COVID-19, and Harrison has said that he’d like to dedicate the rest of his career to his father.
“My father did a great job dedicating his time to his children, he did a great job being a role model for the community, living his life the best way he wanted to live it,” he said. “He was a great man, and God called an angel a little bit sooner than I expected him to call him.”
TONY HARRISON INTERVIEW
