He began in October 2017, winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Paul Valenzuela Jr. Harrison would have to work his way back to another world title shot.

Tony Harrison becomes a World Champion Rising from the Ashes A single right in the ninth round closed the show for Hurd and made him the new champion. His steady pressure and well-placed punches eventually wore Harrison down. The bout took place at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.Īgain, Harrison started fast, outboxing Hurd from the outside and landing a number of hard shots. The victories put him in line to meet the undefeated Jarrett Hurd for the vacant IBF 154-pound world title. Undeterred, Harrison would win his next three bouts in decisive fashion. waved the fight off with seconds remaining in the frame.Īfterward, Harrison said he pressed too hard for the knockout.

The Detroit native gamely rose to his feet, but referee Frank Santore Jr. Harrison dominated from the opening bell up until the ninth round, when a hard right hand followed by a left hook dropped Harrison. On July 11, 2015, Harrison took on skilled veteran Willie Nelson at USF Sundome in Tampa, Florida. Tony Harrison fights for a 154-pound world title.

He then gained his 10th consecutive stoppage in April, scoring a third-round TKO of Mexican southpaw Pablo Manguia at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut in another headlining bout on ESPN. The 6-foot-1 Harrison opened 2015 by stopping Antwone Smith in the second round in Las Vegas in February in the main event on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. He wrapped up the year with first-round stoppages of both former world champion Bronco McKart and Tyrone Brunson. Under the guidance of his father, Harrison stopped all five of his opponents in 2013, setting up a clash with veteran Grady Brewer, who won the second season of boxing reality show The Contender.įighting at the Masonic Temple in Detroit in February 2014, Harrison gained a second-round TKO of Brewer.

It was Steward who gave Harrison the nickname “Superbad,” adopting it from former 160-pound Detroit-based fighter Bernard Mays, who died in 1994 at the age of 33. Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward helped guide Tony Harrison's career until his death in October 2012.

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