For Olympian Harry Garside, everything’s going to plan.
With an Australian title around his waist after just his second professional fight, he’ll be back in the ring to defend it less than six weeks’ later, and less than a year after winning bronze in Tokyo.
“I’m pretty much exactly where I planned to be [after the Olympics],” he told Wide World of Sports.
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“I’m the type of person, I definitely plan – especially the Olympic cycle, you’re planning four years in advance, and now I want to be fighting for world titles in two or three years for sure.
“I definitely want to be world ranked in the next 18 months. So that’s the plan now – stay injury free, keep winning, keep looking good and hopefully fight for world titles soon.”
Garside defends his title against Layton McFerran next week, on a card that also includes Paul Gallen, Nikita Tszyu and Sam Goodman – all of whom fronted media together on Wednesday.
“He’s the hardest worker in the room mate,” Garside said of the former NRL star.
“He’s 41 this year, and I’m 24 and I have to up it to my max to try and keep up with him! I admire everything he’s about.
“He’s a hard-working Aussie man and he’s very similar to people I grew up with, like my dad. He reminds me very much of home and I’m grateful to have someone like that close by.”
One of the advantages of short turnarounds is that there’s not really much of effort to get back to peak fitness – instead, it’s about staying there.
“Providing there’s no injuries and I feel good, there’s no reason why I can’t fight again in June or July,” Garside said.
“In terms of preparation for this fight, I didn’t have to do much – it was about maintaining where I got to before the last one.”
The fights will take place in Newcastle on Wednesday night.
“It’s a great card – obviously I loved watching Nikita back in the amateurs, of course Sam Goodman is great to watch as well, and one of the fights I’m most looking forward to is Hass Hamdan against Trent Girdham,” Garside said.
The 24-year-old comes into the fight as a firm $1.10 favourite with sportsbooks, but isn’t taking McFerran lightly.
“I’ll keep trying to improve as much as I can,” he said.
“Johnny Lewis in my corner, the king of Australian boxing, and of course, my coach Brian Levier has been massive in my improvement.”
Garside has been one of the rising stars of the sport since his Olympic performances – and while he loves the attitude that typically sees Aussies fight above their weight in combat sports, he wants it to stop.
“We thrive on people thinking we’re not good enough. Look at Kambosos – he proved everyone wrong. But at the same time, I want to change that mindset. Look at America, they build everyone up, they celebrate everyone winning,” he said.
“Sometimes here we build people up but then when they’re the champion, we start chopping them down which I think is quite weird.
“When I see someone succeeding, it only motivates and inspires me – so I want to change that narrative.”
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