Jay Harris: British and European boxing champion retires

Harris, who made his debut at the Newport Centre in 2013 for a purse of £120, retires with a record of 21-3 and having challenged for a world title, sits with a group of top class Welsh boxers such as Liam Williams, who were high class fighters who did not quite manage to win the ultimate prize.

However, with the support of his family and friends, Harris says he’s ready for the next stage of his life, having grown up in a boxing family where the sport has been a part of his life since childhood.

Harris says his world title shot was his biggest night in the sport, but gleans most satisfaction from following in his father’s footsteps by becoming a British champion.

“The world title fight in Texas was up there, the whole aura around it, the build-up, the fighters I met, it was just another level, massive,” he added.

“But, if I was going to say one of my most memorable things, winning the British title was probably up there for me, only because of the fact that everybody thought I was finished. And it was a just mind over matter sort of thing, I knew where I was and what I could achieve and that winning the British title is like the one that got away.

“When the British title come up and I was like ‘I need to do that’ and it was good because I won it and my old man has won it as well so it’s good to keep it in the family legacy.”

Harris’ father Peter was in his corner throughout his career and supports his decision to retire.

So how ultimately, will Harris look back on his decade as a professional and lifetime of boxing?

“Exciting, I fought everyone ever put in front of me, did everything the hard way, won most of my titles away from home and I can look back at my career and think that I’ve done everything,” he said.

“I’ve reached the top and done most things that fighters would dream about, to be honest, and I’ve done it with my dad, which is amazing.

“I always said that I was going to retire from boxing and boxing was never going to retire me and I would go out on my own terms as a champion.

“Now, I’m happy to be to be retired. It’s nice to say sometimes as well. It’s like a little weight lifted off your shoulders, it needed to happen and I’m happy with my decision and I think that’s all that matters.

“I am happy with what I got out of boxing. I got my house, I can provide for my family and that’s all that matters.”