AFTER the traumatic few years that Wayne McCullough has endured, few could begrudge him his return to the big time — although Scott Harrison may be starting to. The two meet at the Braehead Arena, Glasgow, tonight, in one of the most exciting domestic match-ups in years, with Harrison’s WBO featherweight title on the line. It has also been one of the most bitter build-ups to a British bout, with respect seemingly replaced by contempt.

It is hard not to feel that the unpleasantness has been a deliberate tactic by McCullough’s camp to upset the younger champion. The war of words began on the night in October when Harrison won the title by outpointing Julio Pablo Chacón. In the dressing-room afterwards, Harrison was informed that Kenny Croom, McCullough’s trainer, had been saying Harrison was merely a “B-grade fighter”.

Fuelled by Scottish and Irish newspapers, the row has roared on, with McCullough’s wife and manager, Cheryl, and Frank Maloney, Harrison’s manager, mostly trading the insults. “They can say whatever they like, it doesn’t bother me at all,” McCullough, 32, said. “When you have been in with Naseem Hamed and had to listen to all the rubbish he comes up with before a fight, you can put up with anything.”

Banned from boxing three years ago when a cyst was found during a brain scan, McCullough — from Belfast but resident in Las Vegas for a decade — got his licence back last year and has had three low-profile wins since. “This is what I dreamt of during those days,” McCullough said. “I kept going, I prayed and believed I would be back.”

Harrison has an almost unnerving belief in his ability. That self-belief took him to a world title at 25. As well as youth, he has a height and reach advantage. “I don’t think he really wants the fight,” Harrison said. “I think they talked themselves into a position where they had to take it. McCullough is a great bantamweight, but he’s not a great featherweight.”

Also, regardless of how many rounds he has sparred, McCullough has seen fewer than ten rounds of real action in 3½ years. While he is too clever to get stopped and throws so many punches that he can cause Harrison problems, he lacks the power to keep the champion away.