Australian boxer Harry Garside has revealed what motivated him to return to the sport following last year’s Olympic heartbreak in Paris.
The 27-year-old, who won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2020 Olympics, briefly stepped away from boxing after last year’s first-round unanimous decision defeat to Hungary’s Richard Kovacs.
But on Wednesday morning, No Limit Boxing announced that Garside would make his professional return on May 14, facing Queenslander Charlie Bell at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.
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Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Garside declared he was “extremely grateful to be back” in the ring after three years away from professional boxing.
“I just feel last-year performance-wise for myself wasn’t amazing with the Olympics, and I just felt like I needed to step away from the sport and make sure my heart was still in it,” said Garside, who won the Australian lightweight title in 2022.
“I’m just really grateful I’ve got that passion back.
“I very much thought at the back-end of last year that if I didn’t get back into the boxing ring, it would be a regret I would have on my death bed.
“I’m just excited to get back out there.”
Asked about his ambitions moving forward, Garside explained: “Over the next three years, I ideally want to win a title and retire on home soil.
“The goal is simple but it’s going to be a long journey to get there.
“I’m excited to see what the next three years look like.”
Garside confessed he “hadn’t seen too much” of Bell, but said with a smile: “I just know Queenslanders are quite tough.”
In the headline event of the May 14 card, Australian boxer Sam Goodman will face Mexico’s Cesar Vaca (19-1-1) in a world title eliminator with the hope of then booking a long-awaited bout with Japanese champion Naoya Inoue.
Goodman and Inoue were scheduled to face off in December and January, but both fights were cancelled due to a head cut the 26-year-old sustained while sparring.
“It’s been a real tough time, especially going through those setbacks,” Goodman said.
“I know I’m the best in the division, I truly believe that.
“I’m going to go out there and show him why and really impose myself on him.
“This is about getting back in the ring and beating another world-level guy and showing the level I’m at.”
Asked about the cuts that ruined his world title shot, Goodman responded: “I’m wearing a head guard that makes me look like a stormtrooper at the moment, so I’m getting use to that.
“I’m just doing everything I can to protect that eye in training.
“It’s just about getting to fight night for me now.
“I’m still nervous every time I get in to a spar.”
The May 14 card also features Garside’s Tokyo Olympics teammate Paulo Aokuso, phenom Mounir Fathi, rugged veteran Wade Ryan and Australian heavyweight champion Stevan Ivic.
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