Harry Garside Reflects on Emotional Olympic Interview and Comeback Reasons

Harry Garside’s desire to “have offspring and raise kids” heavily influenced his decision to return to professional boxing following last year’s Olympic heartbreak.

On Wednesday, No Limit Boxing announced the 27-year-old would make his professional return on May 14, facing Queenslander Charlie Bell at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.

Garside, who won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2020 Olympics, briefly stepped away from boxing following last year’s first-round unanimous decision defeat to Hungary’s Richard Kovacs at the Paris Olympics. After the loss, the southpaw declared he had “let Australia down”.

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Asked by Fox Sports whether he had put too much pressure on himself ahead of the Olympics, Garside responded: “All athletes do.

“We have an expectation of what we’re capable of and maybe I just didn’t quite meet that expectation.

“I do think the expectation I put on myself is a good thing. I always want more. I always want to strive for the best things possible.”

Garside considered giving up the sport altogether following his Olympic heartbreak, but he was grateful for the support he received from the Australian public.

“At the back end of last year, I had many moments where I was doubting it, where I was considering other options,” he continued.

“It’s a wild thing to lose, have your biggest fear come true, and then get a hug from Australia. It’s a wild reality.

“I felt extremely grateful to be Australian for months post-Olympics. Even now, people still come up to me sometimes and give me a hug.

“Even still now, I’m sorry that I couldn’t get the job done. I had a high expectation of myself, and I just didn’t quite meet it. And that’s something that I’ve got to live with.

“Fingers crossed I can get my own respect back in the boxing ring over the next three, four years.”

Towards the end of last year, while tossing up his options, Garside was undecided on whether to pursue another career or shift attention towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

But after a period of reflection, the Australian formulated a three-year plan that consisted of returning to professional boxing with the dream of retiring on home soil as a world champion. He hopes it will culminate in his “end goal” of becoming a dad.

“That’s way more important than anything, right? To have offspring and to raise kids,” Garside said.

“I think I’m really excited for that. I’ve got to find a partner first, so I’m still a few years off it, but I definitely think that’s the end goal.

“That’s why I made this plan, because I don’t want to be boxing deep into my thirties. I want to make sure that I leave the sport with as much brain capacity as I possibly can so I can be the best dad possible, so that makes the process of trying to win a world title a bit quicker.

“I don’t want to be in my mid, mid-to-late thirties still boxing and being a washed-up has-been.

“I want to make sure that I go out in my prime and try to achieve what I set out to achieve, and then retire on top. That would be the goal.”

The lure of hunting Olympic gold in 2028 crossed Garside’s mind, but he ultimately decided that setting himself up for family life was a bigger priority.

He explained that pursuing a career in professional boxing was more lucrative than Olympic glory.

“One of my greatest honours still to date is definitely representing Australia at both Olympics. I’m one of the most patriotic people you’ll ever meet,” Garside said.

“I finished the Olympic Games in 2021 with the bronze medal, and I owed people money. In this country, we don’t really look after Olympic athletes.

“There comes a time where I need to think about putting food on the table for my future family.

“Money’s never really driven me, but to win a title and try to put some money in the bank, that would be great.”

Garside confessed he hadn’t seen much of Bell, but after nearly three years away from professional boxing, he was excited about the prospect of getting back in the ring.

“At the back end of last year, I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to fight again,” he recalled.

“I feel like I’ve got a young kid that’s super passionate inside, wanting to fight again. I feel like I did lose it for a period of time.”

He continued: “I’d hate to be on my deathbed and regret things or decisions I didn’t make now and shoot for the stars.

“Obviously, ideally, every boxer’s dream is to win a world title. That’s now my goal.”

Asked what sort of legacy he wanted to leave behind in his boxing career, Garside responded: “Someone who just had to crack, you know? I think that’s the Aussie spirit.

“I’m not the most gifted athlete skill wise. I can’t knock people out, unfortunately. I couldn’t bruise a grape.

“I’m just someone who has a crack. I know there’s a few people who probably don’t like me in this world, and that’s so fine and so fair, but I’m someone who tries hard.

“I wear my heart on my sleeve.”