Tony Harrison, a prominent figure in the boxing scene, has officially inked a deal with Salita Promotions, marking a significant step in his professional career. This strategic partnership precedes his highly anticipated return to the ring, scheduled for July 26 in his hometown of Detroit. The former WBC junior middleweight titleholder is slated to compete at middleweight against Edward Diaz, a bout that will serve as the co-feature to the main event showcasing Claressa Shields versus Lani Daniels at the Little Caesars Arena.

Harrison, boasting a record of 29 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, with 21 victories coming by knockout, is poised to make his first appearance since his encounter with Tim Tszyu in March 2023, which resulted in a stoppage loss in Australia. The 34-year-old Detroit native's decision to align with a new promoter and fight in his home city signifies a renewed drive to ascend to the top tier of the sport. His career highlight includes his upset victory over Jermell Charlo in December 2018, where he captured the WBC junior middleweight championship. However, he subsequently lost the title to Charlo in a rematch held almost exactly a year later.

His opponent, Edward Diaz, also 34 years old, from El Congo, Dominican Republic, enters the upcoming contest with a record of 15 wins and 6 losses, including 12 knockouts. Diaz recently secured a third-round knockout win against Juan Martinez in April, bouncing back from a previous knockout loss to Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz. Notably, Diaz holds a victory over former contender Mark DeLuca and has faced current WBC junior welterweight champion Alberto Puello, experiencing a stoppage defeat in that bout.

Expressing his enthusiasm for this new chapter, Harrison stated his eagerness to resume fighting actively. He drew a parallel to George Foreman's famous comeback, emphasizing his determination to make the most of his remaining time in the sport. Harrison’s goal is clear: to maintain an active fight schedule, secure consistent victories, and ultimately reclaim his position as a world champion. The July 26 event promises an exciting night of boxing, with other notable undercard matchups including heavyweight Pryce Taylor facing Robert Simms, women’s junior welterweight Samantha Worthington vying for a WBA interim title against Victoire Piteau, and Caroline Veyre competing against Licia Boudersa in a WBC women’s featherweight eliminator.