What’s the Buzz: Saint, Sinner, Shoosh – boxing star Harry Garside dumped after reality TV choice
Harry Garside’s professional boxing career is in doubt after choosing a reality TV show over a huge fight. More in SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH.
Phil Rothfield
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Harry Garside’s professional boxing career is in doubt after choosing a reality TV show over a huge fight in his hometown of Melbourne.
As a result, legendary trainer Johnny Lewis has cut ties with the Olympic bronze medallist, who many rated a potential world champion.
Garside has knocked back the top billing on Foxtel’s Main Event in his hometown of Melbourne for Channel 10’s reality TV show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
The show will be recorded in March.
Lewis is disappointed.
“The ingredients for being a world champion are hard work and commitment,” he said.
“You can’t keep knocking back fights. There are no shortcuts in the fight game.
“All my great fighters from over the years were 100 per cent disciplined and dedicated to boxing.
“We’d been talking to Harry about world titles and greatness.
“I’m actually really disappointed but I genuinely wish him well although I’m not sure that he’s choosing the right path.”
There is now talk of Garside abandoning his professional career to return to the amateurs to chase an Olympic gold medal in Paris next year.
Unbeaten in three professional fights, the 25-year-old hasn’t fought since May last year when he suffered a hand injury that required surgery.
The Olympic medal in Tokyo and TV appearances on Fox Sports and Channel 7 have lifted his profile to an extent where he is being offered reality TV show appearances and regular endorsements.
There is a theory that the celebrity lifestyle on the red carpets and social media activity – he has a huge Instagram following – have taken away his hunger to achieve boxing greatness.
Time will tell.
CHOC’S $300K PAPER BAG CONFESSION
Lucky there was no integrity unit or salary cap auditor around during Super League.
Anthony Mundine has claimed in a summer podcast he was paid $300,000 under the table by the Brisbane Broncos.
We chatted to Choc about it on Friday.
“Yes, it’s true,” he said,
“I got a $100,000 sign-on fee with Super League and $350,000-a-season with the Broncos over three years.
“Then on top of that they agreed to pay me an extra $100,000-a-year on the quiet. In fact, they gave me three lots of the $100,000 in the first year. It was crazy.
“So that first season I got $750,000 all-up, which was huge money back in 1996.
“Once I paid tax, I had enough to buy my house in Sydney from one season of footy.”
LEAKED WAGES A LOW BLOW
The NRL’s player dispute is getting really ugly.
We’ve now got the salaries of NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and RLPA boss Clint Newton being leaked to various media organisations as the war continues over the CBA.
They are saying Abdo is earning $1.1 million – but can double his salary in bonuses if he meets certain revenue targets.
We’re told Newton is on $600,000 – a figure he dismissed as being well wide of the mark.
This sort of nastiness has got to stop.
Both sides have been as bad as each other in the public relations war.
OLYMPIC MEDALLIST DUMPED OVER REALITY TV GIG
Harry Garside’s professional boxing career is in doubt after choosing a reality TV show over a huge fight in his hometown of Melbourne.
As a result, legendary trainer Johnny Lewis has cut ties with the Olympic bronze medallist, who many rated a potential world champion.
Garside has knocked back the top billing on Foxtel’s Main Event in his hometown of Melbourne for Channel 10’s reality TV show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
The show will be recorded in March.
Lewis is disappointed.
“The ingredients for being a world champion are hard work and commitment,” he said.
“You can’t keep knocking back fights. There are no shortcuts in the fight game.
“All my great fighters from over the years were 100 per cent disciplined and dedicated to boxing.
“We’d been talking to Harry about world titles and greatness.
“I’m actually really disappointed but I genuinely wish him well although I’m not sure that he’s choosing the right path.”
There is now talk of Garside abandoning his professional career to return to the amateurs to chase an Olympic gold medal in Paris next year.
Unbeaten in three professional fights, the 25-year-old hasn’t fought since May last year when he suffered a hand injury that required surgery.
The Olympic medal in Tokyo and TV appearances on Fox Sports and Channel 7 have lifted his profile to an extent where he is being offered reality TV show appearances and regular endorsements.
There is a theory that the celebrity lifestyle on the red carpets and social media activity – he has a huge Instagram following – have taken away his hunger to achieve boxing greatness.
Time will tell.
SAINT
Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses was recently in a corporate suite at a Big Bash game at the SCG. He noticed a young fan, Cooper Turner, in an Eels jersey with his dad in the public seats. Moses called them over.
He borrowed a pen from security to sign the jersey. He took photos with Tigers mate Luke Brooks and then invited Cooper and his dad into his suite for the rest of the game. He is a wonderful role model.
SINNER I
Parking at the new Allianz Stadium at Moore Park is a disgrace. By the end of next year all grass parking areas will be closed to allow locals to walk their dogs.
The new carpark at the stadium is for members only and holds only 1500 cars. The government needs to fix this for both SCG and Allianz fans.
SINNER II
NRL boss Andrew Abdo says it’s the independent commission’s role to determine rule changes. This is ridiculous. Wayne Pearce is the only man on the commission with playing and coaching experience, not that he was particularly successful with the clipboard. The rest are commercial, media, financial, marketing and leadership experts. They should not be implementing snap high-tackle crackdowns or the scores of rule changes introduced in recent years – much to the ire of fans.
SHOOSH
There is some backlash in soccer over Graham Arnold’s new $6 million deal for one World Cup campaign, especially when juniors are being charged $250 for registration fees.
SPOTTED
Anthony Mundine running the Wanda sandhills — in steelcap boots — as he prepares for his exhibition fight with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in PNG in June.
SPOTTED
Sonny Bill Williams, back after an eight-week overseas family holiday, inspecting the Sydney Roosters’ magnificent new Nick Politis Centre of Excellence at Allianz Stadium.
SPOTTED
A greyhound called Our Boy Buzz winning at Gosford dishlickers on Tuesday, its fourth straight win. Your non-punting columnist didn’t have a penny on him.
SPOTTED
Erin Molan and her 2DayFM breakfast sidekick Dave Hughes having a quiet drink at the Coogee Bay Hotel on Monday afternoon.
SPOTTED
Basketball legend Shane Heal cleaning tables at his Cronulla Mall cafe after standing down as Sydney Flames coach while an investigation takes place.
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