Aussie boxer Harry Garside in ugly legal battle over comments on reality TV show

Harry Garside is set for an ugly legal battle over explosive comments he made about his boxing career while on reality TV.

Harry Garside could face a legal battle over comments he made about his boxing manager on I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

The 25-year-old finished second on the reality TV show behind former netballer Liz Ellis, but comments he made on an early episode of the show raised eyebrows.

Garside split from legendary trainer Johnny Lewis earlier this year over his decision to go on I’m a Celebrity instead of taking on a boxing fight.

He made his name by winning gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Tokyo Olympics as an amateur, before turning professional and winning his first three fights.

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Speaking on I’m a Celebrity, Garside said he felt like he was made to turn professional because the team around him saw him as a “cash cow”.

“I hated turning professional, just people around me who wanted me because I was a potential cash cow,” Garside said.

Harry Garside is facing a legal battle over his recent comments. Photo: Channel 10.

Garside won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

The Daily Telegraph reports boxing manager Peter Mitrevski Jnr was offended by the comments and is now prepared to sue Garside over alleged defamation and breach of contract.

Mitrevski has taken steps to launch defamation action against Channel 10 and Garside over the comments made in an early episode of the show.

He also alleges Garside has broken his management contract and a separate deal with promoters No Limit Boxing.

Garside was set to headline a fight card in Melbourne but abandoned the bout to go on the reality TV show.

Mitrevski became Garside’s agent after the Tokyo Olympics and paired him up with Lewis while Garside’s public profile skyrocketed.

Garside has returned to amateur boxing and recently contested several fights in Europe in his return to the ring, and is considering fighting as an amateur at next year’s Paris Olympics.

Harry Garside’s boxing career is at a crossroads. (Photo by May Bailey/Getty Images)

The lightweight fighter told news.com.au in April he was considering three different options for his future, including walking away from boxing altogether.

“One, stay professional [in boxing] and turn away from my heart, but potentially set my family up for life with money,” he began.

“Option two, try go to the Olympics next year, try and win a gold medal and honour myself, honour my country, honour my heart, and honour my pride – but have no money.

“Or option three, walk away from boxing altogether and focus my energy on something else.

“I‘m sitting on a bit of a lottery ticket right now, where I realistically could cash in on my boxing career. There’s a big potential that I could make a lot of money. So there, of course, is that pressure

“I want to set my family up and I want to buy my mum and dad a house. And I want my kids to eat well. Of course I want that.”

“But is it to the detriment of [my] happiness? That’s the dilemma.”

Originally published as Aussie boxer Harry Garside in ugly legal battle over comments on reality TV show