Harry Garside is no stranger to standing out in the boxing world. The Olympic bronze medallist, poet, and proud non-conformist made headlines for wearing nail polish, strutting in dresses and appearing on fashion runways.
But as he prepares for his professional boxing comeback on May 14, Garside says fans will see a different version of him.
The 27-year-old from Lilydale in Melbourne’s outer north-east became a household name for his performances in the ring and his fearless stance against gender stereotypes outside it.
But after a turbulent few years, Garside says he’s taken stock of what truly matters to him.
‘Some of the things I was doing outside of boxing – challenging gender stereotypes, painting my nails and challenging things with fashion – it raised a few eyebrows,’ Garside told News Corp.
‘But that was partially the reason I stepped away from the sport as well.’
Harry Garside has been the antithesis of the stereotypical boxer and has been unafraid to model in a dress
Garside is setting aside the disappointment of the Paris Olympics to make a comeback to the sport in the professional ranks
Garside’s return to the ring comes just shy of three years since his last pro bout, when he won the Australian lightweight title in only his second professional fight.
His comeback match will see him face Queensland’s Charlie Bell at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.
‘I’m back and I couldn’t be more excited – I’m ready to chase greatness again,’ he said.
‘The goal is simple: be the best version of myself inside and outside the ring, and become world champion.’
Garside hasn’t fought professionally since turning his focus to the Paris Olympics, where he suffered a shock first-round loss to Hungary’s Richard Kovacs.
The result left him questioning whether he’d ever step back into a ring.
‘I was just embarrassed that I put myself out there after having success at the Tokyo Olympics,’ he said on the Mental as Anything podcast.
‘There’s times it was like, ‘how embarrassing’ and that young kid is valid to feel that.’
While Garside embraces his personality, he said it would be shelved for the time being
Garside wants to put his sole focus on boxing and his comeback in the professional circuit
The defeat was the latest setback in a rollercoaster two years that also saw him arrested in 2023 on domestic violence charges.
Those charges were later dropped when police reviewed video evidence clearing his name.
His former partner, Ash Ruscoe, was instead charged, and later admitted to assault and intimidation. The ordeal left a mark on Garside, who says it forced him to grow and reflect.
‘For me, boxing is a spiritual journey,’ he said.
‘The feelings I get on fight night, or the week before – the nerves, the anxiety, the doubts – and then to face those head on … I really hope I can inspire people to do something that shakes them to their core, like boxing does for me.’
While Garside once proudly wore dresses to make a point about masculinity, he now says that chapter has ended – at least for now.
‘You’ll see a different approach from me over this professional campaign – I’ll be very much focusing on getting my boxing back to a good level,’ he said.
‘I’m just a curious guy and my beliefs change all the time. There’s a lot of people who don’t like a lot of the things I stand for, and I respect them too.’
After winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games, Garside has a hunger to take his skills to a higher level
No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose says re-signing Garside was a no-brainer.
‘Harry Garside is one of the most talented and compelling athletes in the country – and we’re absolutely thrilled to have him back,’ he said. ‘There’s only one Harry.’
Despite his unique image, legendary trainer Johnny Lewis once called him ‘the real deal’.
The son of a roof tiler, Garside says his work ethic comes from watching his father head out the door before sunrise. ‘I saw that and I saw the meaning of hard work,’ he said.
His desire to break stereotypes began after a Reach Foundation workshop in school. ‘These people show up to school and they’re wearing the most unique, strange clothes…that’s probably the first inspiration,’ he said.
Though he once embraced the spotlight with flamboyant fashion, Garside now says his focus is fully back on boxing.
‘You’re gonna have people who love you and people who hate you, and that’s just a part of being human. And I like that.’
