Tyson Harrison quickly made himself known in ONE Championship by producing banger after banger in 2023. In victory and defeat, his fighting style made him an instant fan-favourite.
But his momentum came to an abrupt end against Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai last September at ONE Friday Fights 34, when the Aussie suffered a broken hand in the first round and was forced to quit on the stool.
The defeat sent him into a downward spiral. But Harrison has since had an epiphany. He’s realised he needs Muay Thai in his life, so he’ll be hoping to return to form against Sibmuen Coach Nay in a bantamweight Muay Thai battle this Friday, 28 June at ONE Friday Fights 68: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
“I never really had a very good way of dealing with defeat. That definitely showed that last fight. I really went into self-destruct mode for a bit,” Harrison said.
“Now that I can fight again, it’s like I’ve got a purpose. I feel like, without Muay Thai, I probably wouldn’t even be alive, or I’d be a pretty bad person doing bad stuff that I used to do back in the day.
“It’s important to have something that you need to be around for. I need to be here to be the best in Muay Thai.”
Contrary to what’s been displayed from Harrison so far, against the likes of Muangthai PK Saenchai and Seksan Or Kwanmuang, the Muay Thai brawler plans on showing his more refined side this Friday.
That means a more poised, intelligent approach, instead of simply biting down on his gumshield and firing fists for the hell of it.
However, old habits die hard, and “John Wayne Noi” feels he can’t rule out a slugfest with Sibmuen.
“I’ll be a lot more focused in this fight. I still have that go in me. But I can’t really just let go. It’s pretty important that I do what I’m supposed to in this fight, play it smarter,” Harrison said.
“I didn’t really have much to lose back in the last few fights, but now there’s a little bit more at stake. I’m ready to do what I’ve got to do – fight hard, but smarter.
“But then again, I’ll say all that and then I get in there and just get in a bloody war. But we’ll see what happens.”
