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| Vivian Harris lost his WBA belt and any credibility of being a world-class operator he carried into the ring in Atlantic City last night on the under-card of the Mayweather-Gatti card. Long gone is any sense of mystique that Harris, who had begun to claim references in the press as being |  |
the most underrated and avoided of the light welterweight champions, had accumulated during his reign. Carlos Maussa came into the fight regarded as something of a speed bump for Harris, who was widely expected to stop the lanky, balding Colombian but left as the new WBA champion. Maussa did not so much as win the bout as Harris lost it. Perhaps not used to fighting anyone as tall, Harris also simply could not deal with Maussa’s “no-style” style of hands down, chin up, just swing away style. Amateurish but effective was Maussa, constantly swinging with roundhouse punches and keeping Harris moving. Confronted with this tall, thin and clownish boxer in front of him, Harris tried mightily to knock his adversary out but even when he did land, except during a sequence early in the fight, his blows had little effect on Maussa, who has also disposed of the myth that Harris carries true knockout power in either hand.
Curtis McCormick reports from ringside in Atlantic City, exclusively for SaddoBoxing.com
Surprisingly, by the fourth round, Harris was blowing hard and looking to conserve energy. The broad shouldered transplanted Brooklynite was constantly trapped on the ropes and offering very little in return while Maussa continued to blast away. Eventually by the seventh round, the now exhausted Harris caught a Maussa roundhouse left that sent him crashing to the canvas. The punch did not look to have much on it and it was the lack of fatigue more than anything else that crippled Harris. For good measure, Maussa launched a punch at Harris’ head while the WBA titlist was completely flat on the floor. Luckily, the blow encountered the bottom rung of the ropes and just stopped short of hitting Harris. The audience in attendance lustily booed Maussa during repeated replays of the knockdown that also included the Colombian’s shameful attempt to hit a prone Harris.
Harris tried but could not beat the referee’s count and the bout was over. Maussa jumped around and was having the time of his life while the crowd spared him none of their contempt and disgust. Where does Vivian Harris, 27-2-1 (17), go from here? No one would fight him before, largely due to an inability to put anyone in the seats not to mention an unhelpful attitude, but now that Harris no longer holds a title belt, the number of meaningful bouts open to him may nosedive even further. The twenty-seven-year-old could possibly work his way back into contention but don’t look for Harris to gain a title opportunity anytime soon.
Maussa, 18-2 (16), should have no problems at securing a unification bout with one of the other champions at the weight but his chances of beating Hatton, Mayweather or Cotto seem very slim.
Curtis McCormick can be reached at thomaspointrd@aol.com
