Vivian Harris: “I am the biggest name at 140!”


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Vivian Harris: “I am the biggest name at 140!”

Interview By Benny Henderson Jr., DoghouseBoxing (Oct 23, 2008) DoghouseBoxing.com

It has been a year since Vivian Harris 28-3-1 (18) has thrown down in any ring action, but all that changes come October 29th, as the “Vicious” one headlines “Knockout Nights” in Lyndhurst, NJ, taking on Octavio Narvaez 13-4-1 (8) in his return, a return that the former WBA 140-pound champ says he is excited about.

Harris, a Guyana born boxer who resides in Brooklyn, has been a tough customer in his eleven year career. Vivian has pounded out wins over the likes of Diosbelys Hurtado (TKO 2), which earned him the

WBA/IBA light welterweight title, two wins over Oktay Urkal as well as a seventh round TKO over Stevie Johnston.

In his last go around Harris dropped a seventh round loss to Junior Witter, after some time off and a change is trainers, the twenty-eight year old fighters says that he is back and ready to prove that he is the biggest name in the 140-pound division.

In this exclusive interview conducted by Doghouse Boxing, Vivian Harris speaks out on his return, and touches on possible future match-ups, enjoy.

Benny Henderson Jr.: You have been away from the ring for a year now, how excited are you to be returning to the fight game?

Vivian Harris: I am always excited to get into the ring, I am always ready to get into the ring. I am always in good shape and always training. The year I was off I was in training, I am happy that this fight is coming through.

BH: What have you been doing in your time away from the ring?

VH: Just training, after the fight in England I changed trainers, I am now working with Tommy Brooks as well as others to sharpen up my tools. I was lacking a lot of stuff, all my conditioning and the heart of a fighter was getting me where I was going, I need to patch some things up and these guys are definitely doing that.

BH: What do you know about your upcoming opponent Octavio Narvaez?

VH: To be honest with you I do not know too much about him, but my trainers do, and they prepare for me for this fight.

BH: How many fights do you feel you need until you get back in the mix as a major player in your division?

VH: I think I just need this one fight to put me back in there, I don’t think that I need a bunch of fights. I am ready, I am ready to take on the champions right now. I have been there before, I have been off for one year but it was not because of me. I have been training for fights that did not come through, whatever they offer me I am ready for it.

BH: There are some big names in the 140-pound division, what three names come to mind when you think about big fights in your division?

VH: I know that I am the biggest name at 140 right now. I might not be a champion but I am the bigger name. Other than Ricky Hatton or Paulie Malignaggi, other than that I am the bigger name out there. The fight that I want, I wanted the Ricky Hatton fight, I definitely want the Timothy Bradley fight. If possible I would get a rematch with Junior Witter, I would love a rematch with him.

BH: I remember back in the day you and I speaking a lot on you wanting to face Ricky Hatton when you and he were going back and forth but the fight never materialized.

VH: That was not my fault. I think it is going to happen, at that point and time in my career, yes I was confident and ready but now I am more ready than before, I am more ready to take on Hatton and everybody.

BH: What differences are we going to see from Vivian Harris this time around?

VH: A lot of more jabs, a lot more of setting up shots, making things happen and not just looking for the knockout. Picking my shots and making things happen off my jab.

BH: Any message you would like to send out to the fight world or your opponent?

VH: I never say anything bad to my opponents, bring his A-game and I will bring my A-game, and it is going to be a good fight for the people. Vivian Harris always comes to fight and everybody knows that. To the fight world, Vivian Harris has not went anywhere. I am still here, I am sharpening up my skills and I am ready. This fight is going to be a good win and I am going to keep moving on from there.

BH: Anything you would like to add or say in closing?

VH: I am happy that I am staying at 140-pounds. I have a strength and conditioning coach and I am now making weight comfortably. I am going to be stronger.
Tickets are priced at $50.00 (Ringside), $40.00 (Reserved), and $30.00 (General Admission). Corporate VIP tables are also available and include a “Meet & Greet” with many former boxing greats, including: Chuck Wepner, Alex Ramos, Renaldo Snipes, Lou Savarese, Micky Ward, and others!

To purchase tickets, call (201) 741-4994, go to www.dignityboxing.com, or call the Medieval Times Box Office at (201) 933-2220. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., first bout begins at 7:30 p.m.

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