Harris Stops Hurtado to Capture WBA 140-Pound Title

Photos © Tom Casino/Showtime

20.10 - Lightly regarded Vivian Harris scored a startling, upset second-round TKO over defending champion Diosbelys Hurtado to win the WBA super lightweight title Saturday on SHOWTIME. In other televised bouts, top featherweight prospect and 2000 Olympic silver medallist, Rocky Juarez, and his stablemate, lightweight Juan Diaz, remained undefeated. Juarez recorded a unanimous 10-round decision over former WBC super bantamweight titleholder Hector Acero-Sanchez and Diaz scored an impressive sixth-round TKO over Roy Delgado. The telecast, which also aired highlights of Francisco "Panchito" Bojado's unanimous eight-round decision victory over Frankie Sanchez, was the third of three consecutive Saturday telecasts during SHOWTIME's "Socktoberfest." They aired at 10 PM ET/PT from The Pavilion at Reliant Park. Main Events Inc., in association with Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing, promoted the fight card.

Harris (22-1-1, 16 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., by way of Georgetown, Guyana, hurt and floored Hurtado with a left hook followed by a right hand. A wobbly Hurtado made it to his feet but was obviously shaken and referee Laurence Cole wisely halted the proceeding 43 seconds into the second round. The victory was the sixth straight for Harris, who's International Boxing Association (IBA) 140-pound belt was not on the line. The only blemishes on Harris' record came in back-to-back 2000 outings when he dropped a close 10-round decision to Ray Oliveira on Feb. 25, and was held to a hotly disputed 10-round draw against Ivan Robinson on Aug. 11. A three-time Guyanan amateur champion and 1997 New York Golden Gloves champion, Harris went 45-5 in the amateurs.

Hurtado (35-3-1, 23 KOs), of Miami, Fla., by way of Santiago, Cuba, was making his first defense of the title he won when he rallied to score a seventh-round knockout over Randall Bailey on May 11, 2002. Prior to blasting out Bailey, Hurtado had gone 0-2 in world title fights, including an 11th-round TKO to Pernell Whitaker and fifth-round TKO to Kostya Tszyu in January 1997 and November 1998 respectively. The defeat to Harris ended an eight-fight unbeaten streak (7-0-1). Before defecting to the United States in 1994 from Cuba, Hurtado compiled a 221-20 amateur record and was the 1994 World Challenge Champion at 132 pounds.

Juarez (13-0, 9 KOs), of the north side of Houston, Texas, won by the scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 96-94. Although his four-fight knockout streak ended, Juarez was in almost total command throughout against the vastly experienced former world champion. The smart, technically proficient youngster got stronger as the bout progressed and methodically wore down Acero-Sanchez. During an outstanding amateur career, Juarez compiled a 145-17 record. A controversial decision in the championship bout cost the U.S. Olympian a gold medal and ended his 68-fight winning streak.

Acero-Sanchez (41-9-3, 22 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y. by way of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, tried to box, but he did not have the strength or the offense to keep Juarez off him. Acero-Sanchez, who won the WBC title with a 12-round split decision over Tracy Harris Patterson in August 1994, made one successful defense. Never one to shy away from tough competition, Acer-Sanchez has fought and gone the distance with former champions Daniel Zaragoza, Erik Morales, Kennedy McKinney and Nana Konadu.

Diaz (18-0, 8 KOs), of Houston, Tex., dominated the game, previously undefeated Delgado before referee Sam Garza stepped in to stop the one-sided affair 46 seconds into the sixth round. In a sharp performance, Diaz won every round with precise, accurate punches. Diaz became the youngest boxer (17 years old) to fight on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING when he made his network debut on Jan. 13, 2001, and won a six-round decision over Brad Jensen. The native Texan turned pro at age 16 on June 23, 2000, and scored a first-round TKO over Rafael Ortiz. Too young to box professionally in the U.S., the crowd-pleasing teenager fought his initial three bouts in Mexico.

Delgado (10-1, 8 KOs), of Arvada, Colo., was game and tried his best in his first ring appearance outside of his home state, but he was no match for the up-and-coming Diaz.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING's Steve Albert and former world champion Bobby Czyz called the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.