It can be destabilizing at best when a fighter, for myriad reasons, isn’t getting fights. Dusty Harrison experienced the range of emotions when he wasn’t able to engage in what he was born to do for over two years.
Harrison, who holds a 32-0-1 record, gloved up in September 2016 against Thomas La Manna.
And then, nuthin’.
No bouts in 2017 or 2018 — and yes, it affected him mentally. The hitter, who is 25 years old, is slated to get in the ring Friday, July 19, against Juan De Angel. That bout is to unfold at MGM National Harbor in Maryland, and the Top Rank event will screen on ESPN+.
”I’m trying to get back,” Harrison, who grew up in Southeast Washington, DC, told me on Wednesday. “Assuming that I look good and get the W in this fight, hopefully I can fight for a regional title in my next bout sometime in the fall and get a top 15 ranking back.”
He was under the Roc Nation banner, and he said his momentum with them stalled out. He finally negotiated a release, and now is promoted by Canadian Lee Baxter.
”I actually feel in a better place now. More motivated. Less happy with what I have and what I have done and more of me wanting to push for more. I lost everything. I’m hungry now. It’s rare that a 32-0 fighter is in my position. It’s like I’m fighting from rock bottom.”
Yeah, his identity was vague, with no fights. No money was coming in, either.
”I had just bought a house,” he recalls. ”Put a down payment down. It was nice, five bedrooms, three bathrooms. Eventually I had to start renting rooms out and that just didn’t work out for long. I couldn’t afford it and I had to sell the house. Luckily back in 2013 I purchased a one bedroom co-op in the neighborhood I grew up in. So I’m back here and I actually had to turn the den into a bedroom so my best friend (more like a brother) could live here with me, and he helps out financially.”
Yep, boxers are people too, not everyone gets those fat checks and lives large and makes it rain at clubs.
So, back to the ring space. What does Harrison know about De Angel (21-11-1), a 32-year-old Colombian journeyman on the down side?
”Doesn’t like to be forced to his right. Doesn’t like body shots. Good jab — only when he wants, though. And according to Austin Trout he is strong and has some good punching power,” offered Harrison. Turns out Trout is a buddy, and Harrison gave Austin sparring before Trout fought each Charlo bro.
His path has been twisty, so Harrison is wise to the fact that planning too far ahead is a fool’s errand; but he plays along nicely when I ask what his near term plans are.
“No specific people, but I would love to get five fights in this year and finish year up with regional title at 154, that puts me in top 15!”