Jay Harris: “When you look back at my career, it’s what boxers dream about”

British flyweight champion Jay Harris is prepared for his subsequent battle. 

Six months on from profitable the Lonsdale belt after an exciting battle in opposition to Tommy Frank, the 33-year-old Welshman spoke to Boxing Information to look again on a profession which can not have many fights left.

(Interview by Shaun Brown)

BN: You’ve fought for a world title; you’ve received the European title and the Commonwealth and in Could you received the British. How does it really feel to have carried out the lot?

JH: Have you learnt what, it’s sensible. This title meant probably the most to me. Clearly, I used to be coming off two defeats as effectively. It was good to get that probability to battle for the British. I’d fought for the world title, received the European, received the Commonwealth, and the British appeared to get away. To get that chance to battle for it was sensible. And let’s be trustworthy each British fighter needs to win it. It’s a fantastic belt. It’s been superb. It’s good to go down in historical past as a result of my previous man received it as effectively.

BN: You’ve had a fantastic profession however how a lot do you assume is left within the Jay Harris story?

JH: I believe we’ve acquired a bit bit left. I believe I perhaps coming to the again finish of my profession now. I’m 34 subsequent yr; I’m 33 now, so I’ve acquired a bit left. Not many fights, however I’ve acquired a bit bit left. Me and [trainer] Gary Lockett will take each battle because it comes. No have to rush. Take every battle and every step because it comes and see what occurs.

BN: Have you ever had an opportunity to take a second and replicate in your profession or do you not enable your self to try this?

JH: In fact. Gary Lockett despatched me a message with every part I’d carried out. You look again and also you’re like, “Oh Jesus, I’ve carried out rather a lot in a brief profession.” I’ve solely been skilled since I used to be 21. I’ve carried out rather a lot in these 12 years. I fought some good fighters, fought for a world title, received every part domestically. Wanting again on it, let’s be trustworthy, if I used to be to retire tomorrow, I’d be a cheerful man as a result of I’ve carried out every part I got down to do. To start with I simply wished to win a title and I’ve surpassed that large time.

BN: Do you assume you have got over-achieved then?

JH: I believe I surpassed what I got down to do. Firstly of it I’d have been completely satisfied to battle for a British title after which I ended up combating for the Commonwealth in my tenth battle, received that, after which we had a second the place not a lot occurred. After which impulsively I fought for the European, fought Paddy Barnes, and it snowballed into one after one other. After which I went to Texas and fought [Julio Cesar] Martinez after which on to world title eliminators. Whenever you look again at my profession, it’s what boxers dream about and dream of doing. I’ve carried out all of it.

BN: Have you considered life after boxing or would you relatively not?

JH: In fact I’ve thought of it [and] tried to place stuff into place. I private practice fairly a bit now. I take an novice boxing membership as effectively. I’ll all the time be round it. I believe I’d even attempt to get my supervisor’s licence as effectively; see if I can handle a couple of fighters. After the boxing’s carried out I’ll all the time be round it. That is what I do know. I’ll all the time be part of it.

BN: If issues hadn’t labored out early on, the place do you assume Jay Harris would have ended up?

JH: That’s a tough query! I don’t actually know. After I left faculty, I didn’t actually know what I wished to do as a result of I used to be simply boxing on a regular basis. However once I was in school, I wished to be a zoologist. I all the time wished to work with animals earlier than I went to Amazon. That’s mad isn’t it. I like animals greater than individuals if I’m trustworthy.