Part of his bid to give back to the sport comes in the form of his own promotion, Hitman Fight League. Its beginnings may only date back two years, but it’s quickly becoming the biggest Muay Thai show in the United Kingdom.
The British combat sports scene has traditionally centred around boxing and, more recently, MMA. But Muay Thai has been evolving across the land, and Harrison wants to use Hitman Fight League to put a spotlight on many of the growing stars in order to help them reach the world stage of ONE Championship.
“I wanted to push UK Muay Thai into the stratosphere. I wanted more eyes on it and wanted to create better fighters, more opportunities, and eventually work with ONE,” Harrison said.
“It’s not just me, though. I have a great team alongside me who all play their roles, and we are a dream team altogether. We are only just getting started, and we have much more to come in the future.”
Harrison returned to action at HFL’s most recent event this past February, where he was crowned the WBC Diamond Champion after stopping Isaac Araya in the third round.
“Hitman” is rumoured to be returning to ONE at some stage this year, but nothing is confirmed just yet.
Whether or not he dons the gloves again in the promotion, the 39-year-old is intent on bringing the next generation of fighters from his homeland to the global stage.
HFL has already showcased several Road to ONE: UK tournaments, and that’s the blueprint Harrison wants to follow in order to elevate Britain’s best and provide them with the opportunities they deserve.
“Muay Thai has never been high-paying until recently, so if I can get them over to Thailand and on the big shows where they’re treated like superstars and I can still be part of that, that’s a great buzz for me – especially if they’re guys from my gym,” he said.
“Once I retire, my main goal will be giving back to the sport through the road I’ve helped pave along the way. This is how I’ll do it.”
