The tortuous road from the nadir to the zenith!!!

Oct 21, 2012 Sports

Vivian Harris tells Michael Benjamin of the roller coaster ride and the challenges associated with celebrity life

(Quote) “Many promoters give the boxer a subsidiary contract to sign while he (the promoter) signs the big contract and extricates a big chunk. The boxers may also have to part with another portion from that subsidiary contract, paying one person twice and that is not right,”

He has had an eventful, roller coaster career, filled with exciting and action packed encounters that climaxed with a 2nd round technical knockout over Cuban/American, Diosbelys Hurtado and the acquisition of the prestigious World Boxing Association (WBA), World Lightweight title. With this feat he had joined an elite bunch of his contemporaries, the likes of Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil, Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite, Gary ‘Superman’ St Clair and Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred, all former or current world champions that had clinched similar accolades. During his illustrious career he has battled life’s many vicissitudes, notching up 29 wins with 9 losses. He disposed of nineteen of his opponents long before the final round while he suffered similar fates in 7 of his losses.

Vivian Harris

Now, some fifteen years after entering the professional boxing arena, and after experiencing debilitating fortunes, ‘Vicious’ Vivian Harris admits that he no longer experiences the excitement of combat and has decided to call it a day.
Dubbed with the sobriquet ‘Vicious,’ because of his mean deportment in the ring, Harris, who enjoyed a productive career up to his 16th bout—he had sported an unblemished record decorated with 13 knockouts— has somehow managed to distort that nickname after suffering 6 knockouts in his last 7 fights and has wisely decided to pack it up.
Frank and outspoken, Harris admits that while those losses have factored in on his decision to call it quits, he remains resolute that the most defining reason for his decision stems from his experiences and the sordid reality that the sport is riddled with ‘back room’ deals that relegates most pugilists to pawns, plying their trade with the odds highly stacked against them amidst the many ‘behind the scene deals’.
Kaieteur Sport caught up with the former world champion at his Brooklyn New York home where he laid it bare during an exclusive interview of his long and arduous journey in the ‘square jungle.’
The picture is vividly emblazoned on my mind; I was at the peak of my professional career and my manager, the late Aubrey Bruce, was just back from the USA with a suitcase of boxing gears. One Sunday morning, just after training sessions he organized a spelling bee for boxers in the U-16 category. Each boxer that correctly spelt a particular word received a piece of gear. I cannot recall the word, but Vivian had been one of the successes in the spelling test and won a track suit. He treasured that gift up to the time he migrated to the USA in 1993. He was merely 9 years old and had amassed some 8 amateur bouts.
He resumed his career in the ‘Big Apple,’ competing in the Golden Gloves and the New York Metros championships where he was spotted by one of the sport’s bigwigs, promoter/manager, Shelly Finkle. “At that time Finkle was an integral force in Showtime Promotions, a reputable promotional firm, and managed former world champion, Thomas ‘Hit man’ Hearns among other world beaters,” explained Harris. “Finkle was impressed and assured me that I would be a world champion under his tutelage,” Harris revealed. Their marriage was natural and soon Vivian commenced training at the Bedstyvestant Boxing gym, Brooklyn New York. Realizing that there was a paucity of sparring partners at that gym, Vivian switched to the world renowned Gleasons Gym, Front Street Brooklyn, under the watchful eyes of former world rater Lennox Blackmore.
His professional career got off to a terrific start, 16-0 with 13 knockouts. Harris then surrendered a 10 rounds unanimous verdict to Ray Oliveira and a drawn decision against Ivan Robinson which, though marring his impeccable record, failed to daunt his indefatigable sprit. ‘Vicious’ as he was aptly rechristened, quickly asserted himself and registered 9 victories on the trot, his most significant being the Hurtado knockout. It was a momentous achievement following those of Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis (WBA welterweight), Gwendolyn O’Neil (WIBA heavyweight) and Wayne Braithwaite (WBC cruiserweight). Naturally, all Guyanese were proud and regarded the feat as the turning point of his career; one that promised lucrative returns and a bright future. It was the first of many other mirages that contradicted the rags to riches theory.
Not only was Vivian a world champion but he was ranked among other greats the likes of International Boxing Federation (IBF) light/welterweight British pugilist, Ricky Hatton and top rated, Kostya Tszyu. His nemesis, Oliveira, was also the lesser regarded World Boxing Union welterweight champion (a title he later relinquished to Hatton). Vivian was then at an important juncture of his career that, if handled carefully, would have distinguished him among his peers and defined his financial and social status.
True to prediction, speculation of the Hatton/Harris bout loomed and before long it was touted as the next fight of the century. Local boxing buffs waited anxiously and it was the only topic making its rounds in the boxing arena. Then just as suddenly as speculation became rife, the issue was quelled after Vivian unbelievably turned down an offer of 750,000 pounds sterling— the Hatton offer— for a measly $80,000 USD to fight a relatively unknown Columbian named Carlos Maussa. Had he taken leave of his senses?
Matters were compounded when the Columbian disposed of Harris in the 7th round taking, not only his title but his future. Vivian did register 3 successive victories after that loss, against Marteze Logan, Stevie Johnston and Juan Lazcano respectively, but several losses on the trot, most by them by the knockout route, failed to enhance his career and after surrendering a 3rd round knockout in a non title bout against British fighter, Brian Rose, Vivian eventually decided that he had had enough.
He said that his finances are intact and he is currently mulling on investments. But wouldn’t he have missed out on a ransom after refusing the lucrative purse of the Hatton fight? “No!” he adamantly declared. “The purse appeared lucrative but after expenses I would have been left with a mere pittance.”
Vivian explained that even though he had extricated himself from Main Events Promotional Group, they were still entitled by law to a chunk of his earnings (33 1/3%). Further, his trainer’s cut amounted to 20% while his manager, Shelly Finkle, would have been entitled to 20%. The British Government had also demanded 25% of his purse in taxes. “Do the Maths, what would I have had left?” he rhetorically asked. He further declared that his decision to fight Maussa for, what many felt was a pittance, made much more sense that the Hatton fight.
“America is a land of many opportunities but one has to be smart and protect his/her interests otherwise cat eat your dinner,” declared the former world champion. He spoke of the wheeling and dealing behind the scenes, “Many promoters give the boxer a subsidiary contract to sign while he (the promoter) signs the big contract and extricates a big chunk. The boxers may also have to part with another portion from that subsidiary contract, paying one person twice and that is not right,” declared Harris. He could not suggest a way of circumventing such devious actions.
Notwithstanding, Vivian says that given a chance, he would still chose to box, albeit with different approaches. “Problems are inevitable and one must find a way to deal with them as they arise,” he said. “The answer is to acquaint oneself with knowledge; it is the source of power,” he advocates.
Vivian has also developed much love and respect for his contemporaries; “Andrew (Lewis) opened the floodgates and other pugilists took advantage but I still think that much more could have been achieved had we attempted to acquaint ourselves with certain intricacies of the sport,” he said. Vivian further said that his decision to call it a day was arrived at after he held discussions with his wife and children as well as consultations with close friends and other stakeholders that have contributed to his career over the years.
But what is his next move? “I know the temptation to reenter the ring would be great,” he surmised, “but I will not be like preceding boxers who have overstayed their welcome.” Instead Vivian has started to compile the requisite details and the materials for a pictorial biography he hopes to publish soon. He is also toying with the idea of hosting a talk show on one of the television channels in New York.
His parting advice to young boxers hoping to one day hit the limelight in the USA is simple, “Acquaint yourself with the intricacies of the sport; take nothing for granted and put aside some funds for the rainy days ahead.” It is similar advice to that he has received early in his career that has stood him in good stead and prepared him for those eventualities that he had taken for granted but has now come.