Interview: Vivian Harris
Photo: Tom Casino
By Ike Enwereuzor
10.07 - WBA jr welterweight champion Vivian "Vicious" Harris (21-1-1) 16 KO's is expected to defend his WBA belt against challenger Frenchman Soulymane Mbaye at The Orleans Casino, Las Vegas.
Harris, born in Guyana now resides in Brooklyn, NY began boxing at 12. He won numberous titles in Guyana as an amateur. He moved to United States when he was 16 and won the Metros championship 1995 and New York Golden Gloves in 1997 with an impressive record of (45-5) 32 KO's before making his successful professional debut on November 4, 1997 by knocking out Leviticus Long in round 1 at Robinsonville, MS.
On October 19, 2002, Harris exterminated Diobelys Hurtado in round 2 to capture the WBA 140 pounds crown at Peliant Park, Houston, TX. Here's what the Champion had to say about his past, present and first title defence...
Please, tell our readers. How is your preparation for your upcoming title defence July 12 with Mbaye?
Everything is going real good. I have been training for this fight for about 2 months now so I am in great Shape and I hope he's too.
What's it like to be a world champion?
It's a great feeling when kid look up to my kids that their father is making a difference. These kids look up to me. God has bless me and I love all my fans around the world.
What's your impression of Mbaye?
He's a good fighter so everyone is coming in to win but I got something for him. He comes to take my title and I come to keep my title. It's going to be a great show. I have watched a few of his tapes to study him but I don't care what he brings to the ring. He can fight and box too but I know I'll be too strong for him to handle so my style is too good for him.
What should fans expect July 12?
I love all my fans and this is going to be a great show for those who can make it to Las Vegas come out and see an exciting match. It will be a great fight like I said though it will not be on United States TV. I want to thanks all my Guyanese fans too for all their supports and I promise I will not let them dowm.
Why is your fight not on TV?
I don't know what is going on but after this fight
I'll make meet with HBO or Showtime for a TV deal. My
focus now is to retain my title first. I can't let Boxing
Politics get to me. I'll do whatever it takes to keep
my belt, they are trying to frustrate me because I am
a young champion struggling to make it like other fighters.
Please, describe your last fight where you captured the WBA jr welterweight belt?
I prepared well for that fight, I take all my fights very serious. I don't take any fight for granted. No fight is easy, all my fights are championship fights so I train very hard to win my fights. My goal was to win a world title and I did it and more bigger things to come.
What would you say you learned from that fight with Diobelys Hurtado on Oct 19, 2002?
It was a learning experience for me. Everything I prepared
in gym I brought to the ring. I just kept my head up
and focused. I wasn't worried about all the drama at
the weigh-in before that fight, I stayed focused and
went in to win the WBA world title. If I keep this then
I'll be very successful.
What can of reactions did you receive from Guyanese people when you visited Home to get awards?
The trip was great and they treated me like a King.
If I didn't win the belt they would have still treated
me with respect as they always do. I love my people
and I must thank them for all the gifts to me. I always
had a huge lines of fans in my country and they love
me. They had a motor cage for me at the ceremony and
a lot of people came out. It was a great feeling. This
is what is keeeping me motivated and focus and I can't
disappoint my fans. The President of Guyana, Mr. Bharrat
Jagdeo congratulated me and told me to keep the Nations
flag flying. They gave me a lot of things.
Have you thought about a possible matchup with Kostya Tsuyzu?
I have thought about it before but I'm focusing on Mbaye now. After this fight then we see what is next. Kostya is blank in my mind now until I finish with Mbaye.
What do you want accomplish in Boxing before retirement?
My goal is to unify the 140 pounds division thn move up to 147 pounds and unify it too. I want to do what Felix Trinida did winning titles in various class but I'm going to be even more successful than him.
What else do you wish to tell fans about your upcoming battle with Soulymane Mbaye?
Come out and watch an exciting fight. I hope Mbaye comes to fight, that will bring the best out of me but if he don't come to fight then I can't get a chance to show the fans what I got. I am serious this fight will not be on USA television but I promise the next will be on TV.
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