After claiming Australia’s first Olympic boxing medal in close to 40 years at the Tokyo Games, Harry Garside now has his eyes set on glory as he prepares for his professional debut.
Despite his herculean performance at the Olympics, the 24-year-old is not afraid to admit he is feeling the pressure ahead of his bout with Fijian super featherweight Sachin Mudaliar.
“Anyone who says they don’t get nervous is kidding themselves,” he said to SEN Breakfast.
Garside has been boxing since he was just nine years old and is determined to carry the flag for Australian boxing along with newly crowned lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr.
“Now going into the pro ranks I’ll be trying my hardest to do what George Kambosos just did recently,” he said.
“I want to try my best to be the best Australian boxer that’s ever been produced.”
The bronze medallist understands that there is a stark difference between amateur and professional boxing and is well aware of what he is stepping into.
“Amateur boxing you’re representing the country, and it’s more of a sport… it’s not as ‘showy’,” he said.
“But then in the professionals you’re in there representing yourself… and you’re in there trying to hurt someone.”
Legendary Australian cornerman Johnny Lewis was so impressed with Garside’s performance in Tokyo he that stepped out of retirement to mentor the up and comer.
The 77-year-old has been working alongside Jayson Laing and Garside’s amateur coach to prepare him for the next level.
“It’s been absolutely unreal to have the help of Johnny,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve made a lot of improvements in the last few months training alongside Johnny and Jayson Laing.”
Although his opponent boasts a 9-1 pro record, he is a relative unknown, making pre-fight preparation somewhat difficult.
“I’ve seen very minimal footage of him,” he said.
“I’m just going to have get in there and in the first round really just try and adapt as quick as possible, and then round two to four really try my best to put on the gas.”
While boxing is his first love, Garside holds many unique interests outside of the ring, some of which do not exactly go hand in hand with what one would expect of a fighter.
“My partner calls me a walking contradiction,” he said.
“I’ve recently just been looking up doing some improv, I do ballet, I do so many weird and wonderful things.”
Apart from his appreciation of the arts, Garside also has a deep interest in the study of history, believing that it teaches lessons on how to improve oneself.
“That’s the best way to grow, to look back on how humans have interacted with each other,” he added.
Garside will make the walk on Wednesday 22 December at the Star in Sydney.