Vivian Harris


Ivan Vivian Harris is a Guyanese professional boxer who held the WBA super lightweight title from 2002 to 2005.

Amateur career

After Harris arrived in the U.S., he began his amateur boxing career, racking up 45 wins, 5 losses, and 32 KO's. In 1995, Harris won the Metros championship, and the New York Golden Gloves two years later. Following these successes, Harris turned professional in 1997.

Professional career

Harris made his professional debut on November 4, 1997, when he fought Levi Long and KO'd him in the first minute of the first round. In December of the same year, Harris defeated Adam Salas, forcing the referee to stop the bout prematurely.
This pattern of aggressive fighting continued for years. Harris won against several competitors, until he faced Ray Oliveira in early 2000. Harris was not able to match Oliveira's overall punch output, and consequently lost a 10-round decision. Later that year, Harris was matched against Ivan Robinson, a fight that many thought he convincingly won. However, due to New Jersey's consensus scoring system, Harris was forced to accept a draw.

WBA light welterweight champion

On October 19, 2002, Harris defeated Diobelys Hurtado and captured the WBA junior welterweight title. Harris defended his title twice in the next two years against Souleyman Mbaye and Oktay Urkal, respectively.
In June 2005 Harris was set to fight Colombian boxer Carlos Maussa as a part of the Thunder and Lighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. v. Arturo Gatti pay-per-view. Harris started the fight aggressively, and hurt Maussa in the first round. He continued to apply pressure, gunning for a knockout. However Maussa survived, and started to get stronger as the fight went on.
At this point, Harris grew visibly tired as he desperately tried to score a knockout. However, in the seventh round, Maussa caught Harris with a left hook that sent Harris to the canvas. As the referee began counting, Maussa delivered another punch to Harris as he was down, although Harris was already hurt by the first blow, and the subsequent late punch did not land cleanly. Harris failed to answer the 10-count and the bout was scored as a knockout for Maussa.
Vivian Harris and Junior Witter met on September 6, 2007, in Doncaster, England, fighting for the WBC light welterweight belt. Witter came out more aggressive than usual, winning the first six rounds until knocking Harris out in the seventh with a punishing left hook that caught Harris off-guard. Harris once again fell short of winning a championship, not able to answer the count of 10 in his second straight title fight.
Vivian Harris and Mexican Noe Bolanos met on August 14, 2009, in Tucson, Arizona, in the main event of ESPN's Friday Night Fights. In Round 2, Harris and Bolanos collided heads. Harris stumbled towards his corner and collapsed while the ringside doctor was talking with him. Harris appeared to be conscious but not entirely alert. He left the ring on a stretcher, was allowed to briefly walk around the fighter area, and was taken to a local hospital as a precaution. The referee stopped the fight officially at 40 seconds of Round 2, declaring the match a No Contest. Six months later he fought against Lucas Martin Matthysse, losing by a controversial fourth-round TKO. In his next fight on the undercard of Mora vs. Mosley against futurewelterweight champion Victor Ortiz, Harris was dropped three times in round two, and was dropped a fourth time in the third round for a KO loss to Ortiz.
Returning in 2011 against welterweight Jesse Vargas, Harris was severely battered in the first round, appearing unprepared for the bout, defenseless, and without skills or stamina, and gave up at the end of the round, virtually ending his career with his third consecutive KO loss. It turns out Vivian had only two weeks notice for this fight and had to drop several pounds in a short time, including two pounds on the day of the fight itself. This drained him and caused his performance to suffer.
Vivian fought again in July 2011 against Lanardo Tyner, losing a controversial unanimous decision to him. Harris and several ringside reporters felt he won the fight.
Boxing Trainer: Lennox Blackmoore, Strength and Conditioning Coach: Farrel Brenner

Outside of boxing

In 2009, Harris became the subject of an upcoming television reality series produced by John Edmonds Kozma and shot by filmmaker Richard O'Sullivan. The unnamed reality series never aired.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
48Win33–12–2 DeMarcus CorleyUD12Jul 21, 2018FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.Won vacant
47Loss32–12–2 DeMarcus CorleyUD10May 20, 2017Convention Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.For vacant UBF All America welterweight title
46Loss32–11–2 Prichard ColónKO4, 1:03Sep 11, 2015Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
45Loss32–10–2 Ramón ÁlvarezKO7, 0:44Nov 29, 2014Modulo Comude, San Miguel de Allende, MexicoFor vacant IBF North American junior middleweight title
44Win32–9–2 Jorge Páez Jr.SD10Mar 22, 2014Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
43Win31–9–2 Danny O'ConnorSD10Oct 12, 2013Electric Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
42Win30–9–2 Shakha MooreUD8Mar 16, 2013Tsongas Center, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
41Loss29–9–2 Brian RoseKO3, 1:48Oct 5, 2012Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England
40Loss29–8–2 Ed ParedesTKO10, 2:21Jul 21, 2012Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.For vacant WBA–NABA interim welterweight title
39Draw29–7–2 David Barnes5 Mar 11, 2012De Vere Whites Hotel, Bolton, EnglandPoints TD after Barnes was cut from an accidental head clash
38Loss29–7–1 Lanardo TynerUD10Jul 15, 2011Club Chicago, Burbank, Illinois, U.S.For vacant USBO welterweight title
37Loss29–6–1 Jessie VargasRTD1, 3:00Apr 8, 2011Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nevada, U.S.
36Loss29–5–1 Victor OrtizKO3, 0:45Sep 18, 2010Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
35Loss29–4–1 Lucas MatthysseTKO4, 2:44Feb 20, 2010El Plaza Condesa, Mexico City, Mexico
3429–3–1 Noe BolanosNC2, 0:40Aug 14, 2009Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.NC after Harris was unable to continue from an accidental head clash
33Win29–3–1Octavio NarvaezTKO6, 0:48Oct 29, 2008Medieval Times, Lyndhurst, New Jersey, U.S.
32Loss28–3–1Junior WitterKO7, 1:00Sep 7, 2007The Dome Leisure Centre, Doncaster, EnglandFor WBC light welterweight title
31Win28–2–1Juan LazcanoUD12Feb 10, 2007Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
30Win27–2–1Stevie JohnstonTKO7, 2:15Jul 29, 2006Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S.
29Win26–2–1Marteze LoganUD10Jan 20, 2006Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S.
28Loss25–2–1Carlos MaussaKO7, 0:43Jun 25, 2005Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Lost WBA light welterweight title
27Win25–1–1Oktay UrkalTKO11, 0:56Oct 23, 2004Tempodrom, Berlin, GermanyRetained WBA light welterweight title
26Win24–1–1Oktay Urkal12Apr 17, 2004Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyRetained WBA light welterweight title
25Win23–1–1Souleymane M'bayeUD12Jul 12, 2003The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA light welterweight title
24Win22–1–1Diosbelys HurtadoTKO2, 0:43Oct 19, 2002Reliant Park and Astrodomain, Houston, Texas, U.S.Won WBA and IBA light welterweight titles
23Win21–1–1Ubaldo HernandezUD12Jul 16, 2002Memorial Civic Center, Canton, Ohio, U.S.Retained IBA Continental light welterweight title
22Win20–1–1Michael ClarkUD12Feb 22, 2002Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.Won vacant IBA Continental light welterweight title
21Win19–1–1Jose Luis Juarez10Sep 22, 2001Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
20Win18–1–1Golden JohnsonKO3, 2:04Jun 15, 2001The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
19Win17–1–1Hector ArroyoTKO1, 2:06May 19, 2001Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
18Draw16–1–1Ivan Robinson10Aug 11, 2000Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.UD scorecards for Harris, ruled a draw by the NJSACB due to consensus rules scoring
17Loss16–1Ray OliveiraUD10Feb 25, 2000Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
16Win16–0Gairy St. ClairUD10Dec 10, 1999The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
15Win15–0Isander LacenTKO6, 3:00Aug 27, 1999William B. Bell Auditorium, Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
14Win14–0Damian BrazobanUD8Jun 19, 1999Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
13Win13–0Hector Arroyo2, 3:00Apr 16, 1999Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
12Win12–0Jerry SmithKO1, 2:17Feb 20, 1999Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
11Win11–0Shawn BrownTKO6, 1:32Dec 12, 1998Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0Eldon SneedTKO1, 1:38Nov 13, 1998Mahi Shriner Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
9Win9–0Theon HollandTKO3Oct 15, 1998Hilton, Washington, D.C., U.S.
8Win8–0Michael MossTKO1, 2:51Aug 18, 1998Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
7Win7–0Hector CabreraKO1, 0:56Jul 21, 1998Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6Win6–0Michael LopezTKO2, 0:37Apr 14, 1998Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
5Win5–0Carlos Horacio NevarezKO1, 2:59Apr 14, 1998Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
4Win4–0Garland Johnson4Mar 10, 1998National Guard Armory, Pikesville, Maryland, U.S.
3Win3–0Ahmed LambKO1Jan 17, 1998Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0Adam Salas4 Dec 18, 1997Holiday Inn International Airport, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0Leviticus Long1 Nov 4, 1997Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.