Australian boxer Harry Garside has been charged with common assault following his arrest at Sydney Airport on Tuesday. Garside, who recently finished as runner-up on the reality TV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in South Africa, was travelling home from Johannesburg with his father when he was met by NSW Police detectives and escorted into a waiting car.
The 25-year-old has been accused of domestic violence involving a 32-year-old woman, reportedly his ex-girlfriend, at her Bondi apartment in March. Garside was granted conditional bail and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on May 24.
In an interview with Channel Seven, Garside confirmed he would be fighting the charges, stating, “Of course”. Garside is facing legal action over comments he made on the reality show about his boxing manager, Peter Mitrevski Jnr, who is suing Garside for alleged defamation and breach of contract. Mitrevski became Garside’s agent after the Tokyo Olympics and paired him up with legendary trainer Johnny Lewis. However, Garside split with Lewis and decided to return to the amateurs after winning three professional fights.
Garside won gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. He is also considering fighting as an amateur at next year’s Paris Olympics. In April, Garside told news.com.au he was considering three different options for his future: “Option one, stay professional [in boxing] and turn away from my heart, but potentially set my family up for life with money. Option two, try to go to the Olympics next year, try and win a gold medal and honour myself, honour my country, honour my heart, and honour my pride – but have no money. Or option three, walk away from boxing altogether and focus my energy on something else.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his boxing career, Garside is determined to set his family up financially. He told news.com.au in April, “I want to set my family up and I want to buy my mum and dad a house. And I want my kids to eat well. Of course I want that. But is it to the detriment of [my] happiness? That’s the dilemma.”
Regarding his recent arrest, Garside declined to comment but offered an apology to his supporters on social media, stating, “I just want to say sorry to anyone I have let down. I hope I can put this behind me soon and get back to what I love.” Stay updated on boxing news and stories with Nextbet.
