03.09.07 – By James Slater: Twenty-nine year old Guyana-born Brooklyn native “Vicious” Vivian Harris takes on British WBC light-welterweight champion Junior “The Hitter” Witter this Friday. Having arrived in the U.K late last week, Harris has pretty much completed all his training. Back in early August, however, when deep into his preparations for the bout, I had the privilege of speaking with the former WBA king. Here is what Vivian had to say.
James Slater: Firstly, Vivian, I appreciate you speaking with me. Who will be your trainer for the Witter fight?
V.H: My usual trainer, Lennox Blackmoore. I’m getting my body strong for this fight. I can’t wait.!
J.S: You won’t be working with Emanuel Steward anymore then?
V.H: No, me and Emanuel split. I’m just with Lennox now.
J.S: Have you been watching tapes of Junior Witter?
V.H: Yes, I have about six tapes of his fights. They are tapes of his most recent fights. I’m learning all about Witter, and his style. That’s the key to winning the fight. He is a good fighter, very fast and everything, but I will beat him.
J.S: You really sound pumped up. You’re obviously really looking forward to the fight and the chance to be a world champion again?
V.H: Yes, I’m ready right now. I can’t wait. I never get worried before any fight, it’s not in my nature. I know that If you prepare properly and you are dedicated with your training you will win. I believe I am the hardest working fighter in my weight division. No-one works as hard as I do.
J.S: You looked great last time out against Juan Lazcano. You must have been very pleased with your performance?
V.H: I was very pleased, yes. I thank God for that performance. I must say, though, there is a lot more where that came from. I actually only had about five or six weeks notice for that fight, so I could have been even better had I had more time to prepare. That win was a big fight for me, as it was a final eliminator for this fight on the 7th.
J.S: Witter is the older man by some four years. Do you feel as though you are at your peak right now, at age twenty-nine?
V.H: Yeah, I do. But age doesn’t really matter anyway. It’s not about that, it’s about preparing for fights the right way. Like I said, I take my training very seriously. Witter better be bringing his A-game. I am, and if he’s not the fight won’t even be close. I tell you, this fight is do or die for me. Witter will have to kill me in that ring to beat me!
J.S: You have boxed and beaten better fighters than Witter, do you feel your experience will tell the story?
V.H: It’s not about that. He is a world champion and will be very confident because of that. I don’t look at who I’ve beaten in the past, I look at every upcoming fight as a new challenge.
J.S: Just talking about that awful night you had with Carlos Mauser back in 2005. What went wrong there?
V.H: I was in tip-top shape for that fight. I make no excuses. But I was having trouble with my promoters at Main Events. They were stealing from me and not paying me like they should have been, so I was arguing about all that. Main Events dumped me after I lost, though, so I was happy. I got with another set of promoters [Gary Shaw Productions] and they care about me and my family. So it was God’s will that I lost to Mauser. He fought a great fight, he had a great camp, whereas I was not right mentally. I had too much on my mind. Also, Emanuel [Steward] only came to camp with me two weeks before the fight, so that wasn’t right. I have no complaints really though, I got beaten fair and square.
J.S: He hit you when you were down too, didn’t he?
V.H: He did hit me when I was down, yeah. But I have nothing against him. I’m happy for him. I wasn’t happy at the time, of course! But I’m looking forward to moving on and the future.
J.S: Getting back to the Witter fight, assuming you win will you then want the big fights with the likes of Ricky Hatton – fights you were close to getting before the loss to Mauser?
V.H: Of course, I want all those big fights. But first things first. I’m not looking past Witter, he is the first step to me becoming the best again. I want all the big names at 140 pounds to 147. I can fight at either weight. Winning the WBC title will be the start of great things for me. I’m so ready for this fight on the 7th, I can’t wait. I also know I have lots of fans in
England and I’m looking forward to putting on the fight of the year for you guys over there.
J.S: What type of fight do you expect then?
V.H: I think it will be a great and exciting fight. I hope Witter comes to fight, like I will be. It will be a great experience for Vivian Harris also. I’m so happy and I’m looking forward to having a great time in London (The fight is actually in Doncaster, of course). There’s no way I think the fight will be a boring fight. I always come to fight and I feel the best is yet to come from Vivian Harris.
J.S: Well, best of luck, Vivian. Thanks for talking to me.
V.H: Okay, man. No problem.