By James Slater: Two men from different weight classes enjoyed mixed fortunes last night, whilst boxing in different countries. Down at welterweight, former 140-pound champ “Vicious” Vivian Harris suffered a comprehensive 1st-round TKO defeat at the hands of hot prospect Jessie Vargas.
The two met in Primm, Nevada, and the 21-year-old Vargas, considered to be taking a step up in class, proved to be way too much for the man eleven years his senior. Having a very strong round, Vargas, who weighed an official 145-pounds, hammered the 143-pound Harris seemingly at will. Harris made it to the bell and walked back to his corner, but he soon told referee Joe Cortez he was unable to continue fighting. The official time was three minutes of the opening round.
Now 15-0(8), Vargas, who is trained by the knowledgeable Roger Mayweather, is definitely a talent worth keeping an eye on. As for the man who reigned as WBA light-welterweight champ from 2002 to 2005, he has now lost his last three, all by quick stoppage. Now 29-6-1(19), the once-exciting Harris must take a good long look at retirement. It does seem to be his only option.
The same thing was thought about former British heavyweight champion Danny Williams a year or so ago. The 37-year-old was hammered to defeat inside a couple of rounds by current British and Commonwealth ruler Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora in May of last year, and “The Brixton Bomber” admitted himself afterwards that he was a “shot” fighter.
However, in obtaining a Latvian licence, the likeable one-time Mike Tyson conqueror returned to winning ways in March of this year, when he iced a 2-21-2 fighter inside two-rounds in Germany. And last night, reportedly looking in good physical condition, Williams scored a 1st-round win over the 9-2 Lazlo Toth, also in germany. Big Danny stopped the 39-year-old in the off-TV fight with some ease, and he is reported to be looking at fighting again soon.
The two quick wins Williams has scored do not in any way prove he has anything left to offer at top level, but the now 43-9(33) former world title challenger told Boxing News magazine recently how he always did want to leave the sport as a winner. Now that he has a taste for winning again, Danny seem to wish to grab a few more victories, though. Williams, for what it’s worth, certainly has more left than does Vivian Harris.