Aussie Olympian Harry Garside faces ugly legal battle over comments made during I’m a Celebrity… with the star boxer no certainty about returning to the sport
- Garside faces an ugly legal battle
- Administrator started defamation action
- Boxer made disparaging remarks
Harry Garside faces an ugly fight outside the ring, with the boxer’s manager launching a defamation suit against Garside and Channel 10 for comments made during an episode of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Tipped by many to be a future world champion, the 25-year-old ballet-dancing former plumber has admitted on the show that his fighting career is currently up in the air and he has some big decisions to make.
Garside’s manager Peter Mitrevski was angered by the boxer’s comments, which he considers both offensive and inaccurate.
“I hated going pro, just people around me wanting me because I was a potential cash cow,” Garside told AFL player Adam Cooney.
“They didn’t want my best interests.
Harry Garside faces an ugly fight outside the ring, with the boxer’s manager launching a defamation case against Garside and Channel 10 for comments made during an episode of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here
Tipped by many to be a future world champion, the 25-year-old ballet-dancing former plumber has admitted on the show that his fighting career is currently in the air and he has some big decisions to make.
“It’s so gross and I really didn’t like it.
“I hate to know that there are people around me who don’t really care about my well-being, they cared about the 10 percent. It was really frustrating.’
Mitrevski, who took over as Garside’s manager after the Tokyo Olympics, also claims the talented boxer broke his contract and another deal with No Limit Boxing – both of which paid him substantial entry fees.
Mitrevski declined to comment News Corp about the matter other than saying, “It’s in the hands of my lawyers.”
Just a year ago, Garside told the media that he was determined to become the best boxer Australia has produced, but now he seems to be heading in a different direction.
The Olympic bronze medalist and Commonwealth gold medalist hasn’t fought since May last year when he suffered a hand injury that required surgery and doesn’t seem all that interested in fighting Prof.
He now says he sees three different options for himself.
“There’s professional boxing, setting myself up for life, winning a world title and making a lot of money,” he said.
Mitrevski, who became Garside’s manager after the Tokyo Olympics, also claims the talented boxer broke his contract and another deal with No Limit Boxing – both of which paid him substantial entry fees.
Just a year ago, Garside told the media that he was determined to become the best boxer Australia has produced, but now he seems to be heading in a different direction.
“Then there is amateur boxing, the honor and pride, Australia has never won an Olympic gold medal and I would love to be the first. And then also, possibly walking away from boxing altogether and raising a family or turning my mind to a business or something else.
“It’s the three options, personally my heart and my love is still in boxing so I think option three probably isn’t really an option, but it still has to be on the card I think.”
His decision to appear on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here caused legendary boxing trainer Johnny Lewis to abruptly dump Garside.
“The ingredients to become world champion are hard work and dedication,” said Lewis.
“You can’t keep knocking back battles. There are no shortcuts in the fighting game. I’m actually very disappointed, but I really wish him well, although I’m not sure he’s on the right track.’
The last episode of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here will be broadcast on Sunday evening.