Harrison 'must leave town'

Scott Harrison will have to spread his wings after first using his fists to retain the WBO featherweight crown tonight.

That is the opinion of Wayne McCullough, the "Pocket Rocket", who was brought down to earth with such a bump that he spent time in hospital after losing to Harrison two years ago.

McCullough is now on the comeback trail and will next month challenge Oscar Larios for the WBC super-bantamweight title, a fight he secured in part by basing himself Las Vegas. If, as expected, hard-hitting Harrison wins inside the distance against Colombian veteran Victor Polo at the Braehead Arena on the outskirts of Glasgow, McCullough believes the 27-year-old Scot should also head to America in search of richer pickings.

"Fighters have to leave their home town and fight in the States to get worldwide recognition," said McCullough. Harrison has already fought once in the US, appearing on the undercard to Lennox Lewis's demolition of Michael Grant in New York in April 2000. But his last 10 contests have taken place in front of his tartan army of fans.

As a result, Harrison's true standing in the featherweight division is a matter of debate and McCullough believes he will only get deserved recognition by going into an American ring against WBC super-featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, WBA and IBF featherweight belt-holder Juan Manuel Marquez or leading contender Manny Pacquiao.

He said: "Those fights will put Harrison in a bigger spotlight."

Meanwhile, Dubai could host the summer comeback of former world featherweight champion Naseem Hamed, who has been out of the ring for three years.