Newly crowned British, Commonwealth and European flyweight champion Jay Harris (21-3, 11 KOs) has credited a sparring session for inspiring him to resume his career following a difficult period.
In 2020, Harris challenged WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez, fighting valiantly but ultimately coming up short. At the time, Eddie Hearn, who promoted the contest, tabbed Harris as a future world champion.
But in 2021, Harris fell in back-to-back stoppage defeats, to Ricardo Rafael Sandoval and Hector Flores Calixto, seemingly ending the Welshman’s ambitions at the world level.
Harris has since rebuilt his credentials, claiming the British flyweight title with an impressive stoppage of Tommy Frank last May, then defeating Conor Butler (11-1-1, 1KO) in Liverpool on Feb. 24 to add the European and Commonwealth titles.
Harris admitted in an interview with BBC Sport Wales that he did consider walking away from the sport following his back-to-back 2021 defeats. He pointed to a sparring session with a stablemate that persuaded him to reconsider his initial thoughts of hanging up his gloves.
“It was a hard time for me,” Harris said. “After I lost to Flores, I thought that was it. I genuinely did – I thought I was done. Carrying on, it just didn’t seem worth it. I spoke to my dad and my manager, [former world title contender] Gary Lockett, and told them what I was thinking.
“But then one of the boys, Joshua John, needed some sparring for an upcoming fight. I wasn’t training at the time, but I gave it a go and sparred him, which ignited something in me again.”
Harris, who claimed his newly acquired hardware on points in a thrilling contest with Butler, admitted postfight that his return was a last roll of the dice. At 33, Harris concedes that time is not on his side, and says he would be willing to work with any promoter to create a world title opportunity in what he expects to be his last days in the sport.
“Flyweights go on, but they also peak earlier,” Harris said. “Honestly, I probably have until the end of this year to carry on fighting. I am going to be 34 this year.
“But I want to go out on a high. I will work with any of the big promoters, and I will go anywhere. … I just want a shot.”
Despite his age, Harris firmly believes he can still claim a world title and fulfill the ambitions he has held since first entering the ring.
“I’ve been boxing since I was 12 years old,” Harris said, “and all my life, I’ve dreamed of a world title. That’s what we do this for. I believe I can compete at that level and win a world title.”