And the Wolverhampton prospect admits he would love to box Amir Khan as both bid to bounce back from their first professional defeats.

 

Harrison was in training to face Arek Malek for the British Masters International title when he replaced flu victim Nigel Wright - who vacated the English belt - at six days' notice to face Haywood in Nottingham.

 

The 25-year-old was the away fighter against the Derby man but made much of the play over 10 close rounds, only to be pipped 96-95 on referee Howard Foster's card.

 

Harrison was devastated to lose a bout which he thought he comfortably won, but the box-fighter insists the September 5 reverse has only boosted his belief that he will scale the domestic heights.

 

"I know I beat him and he is a switch hitter who is about four or five inches taller than me," said the former ABA semi-finalist, who lost for the first time in 13 bouts.

 

"Boxing News had me winning by two rounds and I'm not blowing smoke up my own backside, but not one of the respected boxing people I've spoken to  about the fight thought he won.

 

"I nearly knocked Haywood out in the eight round, he only caught me with one good shot that knocked my head back in the 10th.

 

"Every time I think about the fight it's heartbreaking, because my next fight is going to be a six or eight rounder when I really should be defending my title.

 

"But it's made me even more determined. I think I will definitely go on to win the British title.

 

"I'd be confident I could win it if I took it right now. With another few fights I could win it next year, 100%."

 

Harrison is hoping for a rematch as soon as possible but believes Haywood is not so keen after being in touch with each other on social networking website Facebook.

 

"He sent me a message to say 'no hard feelings' and I sent one back saying 'no hard feelings, but I won the fight'," Harrison told Fightnewz.net.

 

"He just replied 'respect' and I want an immediate rematch but it's no go.

 

"I've just got to make myself the mandatory challenger and I think I will be anyway in the next rankings."

 

After a short holiday to regroup, Harrison got straight back into training and has just returned from a week-long stint at Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym in Los Angeles with assistant trainer Bob Plant.

 

"I was there in April as well, you can't beat it," said Harrison, part of Errol Johnson's booming Wednesbury Boxing Academy.

 

"Don't get me wrong, the sparring in our gym is good but it's the same sparring.

 

"The strategy they use and the sparring over there is world class. Just watching them you can't help but learn.

 

"When I'm there I spar people like Victor Ortiz, a lad called Rashad Holloway and a kid they call Speedy Gonzalez."

 

Roach has taken over Khan's coaching following his 54-second blowout defeat to Breidis Prescott under Jorge Rubio and Harrison would love to fight him next.

 

And although that seems unlikely with his stablemate Martin Gethin being pencilled in to face the OIympic silver medalist in December, he is not ruling out a drop down to 9st 9lb.

 

"I've tried to get Khan for his next one but I think they are going to take Gethin," said Harrison, who has devoted his life to boxing after a couple of spells in jail.

 

"I might still try to make lightweight if I don't blow up too much between fights, but Gethin deserves his chance.

 

"He is coming off a cracking stoppage win over John Fewkes for the English title and I think he will do the same to Khan.

 

"He takes a good shot and I think he will walk straight through him."

 

Bricklayer Harrison is also backing stablemate Mark Lloyd to win the first Prizefighter welterweight tournament on October 24.

 

Lloyd is part of an eight-man field including former champions Ted Bami and Neil Sinclair but Harrison reckons the Telford man can be victorious.

 

"I think he will do really well because of his fitness and his workrate," Harrison added.

 

"I've never met a bloke so fit in my life. I went hill running in Telford with him and was aching for a week afterwards - he does it three times a day!

 

"His only problem is that he is a bit of a slow starter, but if someone is coming at him 100mph he is going to answer with the same.

 

"Hopefully he will win it because he deserves it."

 

Harrison is set to return to the ring on November 9 at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.