MARK Harris’ quest to win the vacant Commonwealth welterweight title ended on March 3, 1981. Harris lost by technical knockout (TKO) to Welshman Colin Jones. Harris, at 28, was seven years Jones’ senior going into the fight, staged in the Conference Centre at Wembley, London.
Referee John Coyle stopped the scheduled 15-rounder in the ninth round to hand the victory to the undefeated Jones. Born on June 16, 1952, Harris was two months short of turning 25 when he made his pro debut in 1977.
He won the six-rounder against Eddie Campbell at the Westchester County Centre, in White Plains, New York. Harris engaged in two fights with another Guyanese legend Brian Muller. He lost the first held in August 1979 but gained revenge in the return bout on Boxing Day 1980.
Harris had his last fight on October 23, 1982. He died in February 2008 at the age of 55 and left a record of eight victories and six defeats. He fought five times in his native land losing twice. One of the defeats came at the hands of Puerto Rican Luis Resto in October 1978.