Harry Garside called out for big-money, winner-take-all domestic showdown

One domestic rival has wasted no time calling for a shot at Harry Garside after his Olympics heartbreak.

Harry Garside was inconsolable after his shock Olympics defeat on Monday, but the Aussie could walk into a potential professional boxing goldmine once he returns to Australia.

And a long-time local rival already has him in his sights.

A bronze medallist in Tokyo, Garside desperately wanted to win gold in Paris, but suffered a heartbreaking first round defeat to hard-hitting Hungarian Richard Kovacs.

The fan favourite later collapsed in tears on the floor of the boxing arena as the enormity of the result fully sunk in.

At around the same time, back in Australia, rising star Ahmad Reda posted a video to his Instagram story of the moment Garside’s Olympics dream came undone.

Instagram post by Reda straight after the fight. Picture: Supplied

The Sydney boxer tagged Garside and promoter No Limit, with a caption reading: “let’s make it happen.”

He can also be heard rubbing salt into the wounds, saying, “Bye, champ.”

Reda has been chasing the fight ever since Garside beat him in the final of the Olympic qualifiers last year.

Garside claimed a unanimous decision to book his ticket to Paris, but Reda and his vocal supporters were incensed at the result.

“It’s really hard to get a decision against him, he’s the favourite,” Reda said. “Whether we like it or not, he’s the favourite and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Kovacs (R) was too strong for Garside (L) in Paris. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Nearly a year on from that fight, this masthead understands the popular Reda has financial backers willing to put up $100,000 for a winner-take-all professional rematch between them.

It’s a bout No Limit boss George Rose would be happy to promote.

“They had a great battle, and when Ahmad fought with No Limit, he got on the mic and called out Harry, who was on commentary,” Rose told this masthead at the official announcement that Nikita Tszyu’s Australian super-welterweight title defence against Koen Mazoudier will be held at the ICC Sydney in Darling Harbour.

“It’s one of those fights that’s building. It’s a fight people want to see.

“They’re both very talented, Harry’s fast and Ahmad’s got power. It was a great amateur bout, and it would be a good fight in the pros.

“I’d love to do it.”

Reda, in action against Taunga Kairenga in December. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

Garside had three professional bouts on No Limit cards and won the Australian lightweight title before returning to the amateurs to focus on Paris.

“We love Harry and we’re shattered for him,” Rose said. “I know how hard he’s worked for it, and we wanted to see him go all the way and achieve his dreams.

“If he comes back to his professional boxing career, we’d love to work with him again.

“He’s a person you want to see do well. It’s very rare that you get a boxer that can be loved universally like that.”

Garside is no certainty to return to the professional ranks though, and gave a moving post-fight interview in the wake of his shock defeat in Paris.

“ “Life is full of ups and downs,” he said. “The universe doesn’t stop for anyone.

“The next few months for myself will be a pretty hard time. I will have some dark moments and I’m f**king terrified to be honest.”

Originally published as Harry Garside called out for big-money, winner-take-all domestic showdown