VIVIAN Harris remained unbeaten when Puerto Rican Hector Arroyo retired at the end of round two on April 16, 1999. The fight was held at the Grand Casino in Mississippi and was the second that year for Harris.The result provided the 12th stoppage in 13 fights for the 20-year-old Harris who was handed the appropriate pseudonym `Vicious’. Born in Guyana on June 17, 1978 Ivan Vivian Harris was a tough amateur whose career brought him 45 victories and five defeats.
He turned pro in 1997 and was undefeated in 16 fights when he met Ray Oliveira on February 25, 2000 in Rhode Island. The more experienced Oliveira was adjudged the winner by a unanimous decision.
Undaunted, the orthodox Harris had six more fights before securing his first world title contest.
The hard-hitting Guyanese was crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Association (IBA) junior welterweight champion on October 19th 2002 after a second-round technical knockout of champion Diosbelys Hurtado in Huston, Texas.
Harris was 24 years old then and the victory paved the way for him to be labelled the youngest Guyanese to win a world title. Harris had three successful defences but was then dethroned by little-known Colombian Carlos Maussa via seventh round knockout in June 2005.
The talented Guyanese secured three victories, before unsuccessfully challenging Junior Witter of England for the WBC junior welterweight title in September 2007.