Olympic boxer and I’m a Celebrity … Get Me out of Here! contestant Harry Garside says his career is at a crossroads

Melbourne-born Boxer Harry Garside says he has started to hate the sport and has hit out at the people “who didn’t particularly care about my wellbeing”.

Harry Garside says ‘I found myself hating boxing’. Picture: Getty

Boxer Harry Garside says he hated turning professional because he became a “cash cow” to people around him.

Admitting he’s at a crossroads in his career, the 25 year-old from Ferntree Gully, says he has started to hate the sport he fell in love with.

He made the revelations in an honest chat with former footy star Adam Cooney on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me out of Here! on Monday night.

“I started boxing to gain a bit of respect from my brothers and my dad and I fell in love with the sport almost instantly,’’ he said.

Garside on I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!

“The sport for me was a place I learned so much about myself, what I’m made of, self determination, grit. I do it because I love it. I hated turning professional, just people around me who wanted me because I was a potential cash cow. They didn’t want my best interests.”

He added: “It’s so dirty and I really didn’t like it.

“I hate knowing there’s people around me who didn’t particularly care about my wellbeing, they cared about the 10 per cent. It was really frustrating.”

Garside, the ballet dancing fingernail painted former plumber, claimed Australia’s first Olympic boxing medal in 33 years after clinching bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

He said he would use the time in the jungle to weigh up his future — as a lightweight, amateur, or quitting the sport.

Garside won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“I turned professional and I didn’t really know much about the professional game before I went into it, but I found myself hating boxing and I never once chased money,’’ he said.

“People telling me I have to act a certain way. I love the sport bro, wish I could knock people out.

“To be completely honest I’m actually hoping this experience gives me the answers to all my questions. Feel like I’m at a bit of a crossroads. The options are: Professional boxing and make money (to) set my family up for life. Amateur boxing, make no money but honour my heart, my country, my pride. Or walk away from boxing all together.

“You know what it’s like if you want to be the greatest, it takes every part of your soul. I know if I was to walk away that energy could go to something else.”

Originally published as Olympic boxer and I’m a Celebrity … Get Me out of Here! contestant Harry Garside says his career is at a crossroads