WORLD-RANKED Guyanese junior welterweight boxer `Vicious’ Vivian Harris departs his training camp in Phoenix, Arizona this afternoon for Colorado where he will fine-tune preparations for next week Friday’s fight with Raul Carrillo.
After weeks of drills in the Grand Canyon State, Harris declared himself to be in “excellent shape” which should allow for victory when he steps into the ring at the Memorial Hall in Pueblo.
“I am just happy at the chance to get back into the ring. I have sparred just over 30 rounds and I am in excellent shape. I am leaving for Colorado a very confident man,” Harris told Chronicle Sport yesterday.
The 36-year-old Guyanese puncher is scheduled to battle Carrillo for the USNBC title. The winner of the bout is guaranteed a World Boxing Council top-ten ranking. Harris’ aim is to win convincingly against the Mexican to better align himself for another attempt at a world title.
“God has given me a second chance in my career as a boxer. I now take nothing for granted. I am going to do what it takes and at the end of this Vivian Harris will be a world champion again.”
A veteran of 41 fights, Harris was crowned World Boxing Association junior welterweight champion on October 19, 2002 following a second-round Technical Knock Out of champion Diosbelys Hurtado in Houston, Texas.
He had three successful defences but was then dethroned by little-known Colombian Carlos Maussa via seventh round knockout.The talented Guyanese then secured three victories before unsuccessfully challenging Englishman Junior Witter for the WBC junior welterweight title.
Thereafter Harris’ career plunged into a tail spin with him losing six of the next nine fights over a four-year period. He resurfaced on victory valley in 2013 and has had a three-fight winning streak since.
“I know what I have to do and I am gonna do it. I know this guy Carrillo is a tough kid. I expect a tough fight and have trained for a tough fight. My goal is to be a world champion again and that means that I’ll have to move some folks who are standing in the way,” Harris said.
Carrillo, known as `El Chino’, has only been defeated once in 15 fights and is on a five-fight winning streak.
