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1. Vivian Harris came into the ring as a highly touted but mostly unseen champion, and his bout against Carlos Maussa, an awkward Colombian fighter that had been knocked out by Miguel Cotto in December 2003, was to be a match that, although short on the financial payout, was to give exposure to Harris's talent and supposed right to lay partial claim to the 140 pound throne.
Under the pressure, though, Harris squandered everything that he had worked for in the past and possibly any glory that could have come to him in the future. Emanuel Steward, Harris's expert trainer and manager, did everything he could to calm Harris down and give him a strategy that would guide him to victory, but Harris's immaturity and emotions got the best of him. Maussa threw a left hook that hit Harris' chin right on the button, and after the referee counted to ten, the WBA had a new, strange titlist.
It would be surprising if Maussa held onto his belt for long, although his style, a combination of Ricardo Mayorga-like wide hooks and former pro wrestler Razor Ramon's demonstrative machismo, could give inexperienced fighters fits. My father was quick to point out that should Arturo Gatti want to regain a belt at junior welterweight, Maussa would be the ideal opponent. As Steward attempted to advise Harris, Maussa is open to short left hooks and body shots, weapons that Gatti has long possessed.
2. I could be wrong, although I rarely admit it, but Harris's complaints that he was hit behind the head while down by Maussa appear to be an excuse by a guy who otherwise has admitted that he blew it. I've looked at the replays multiple times, and it looks like Maussa's punch made impact with the bottom rope, but not Harris. And if Harris is going to moan about being hit behind the head, then this scribe would like to point out that the referee's count began late, and that Harris was actually down for a count of fifteen, not ten.
Under the pressure, though, Harris squandered everything that he had worked for in the past and possibly any glory that could have come to him in the future. Emanuel Steward, Harris's expert trainer and manager, did everything he could to calm Harris down and give him a strategy that would guide him to victory, but Harris's immaturity and emotions got the best of him. Maussa threw a left hook that hit Harris' chin right on the button, and after the referee counted to ten, the WBA had a new, strange titlist.
It would be surprising if Maussa held onto his belt for long, although his style, a combination of Ricardo Mayorga-like wide hooks and former pro wrestler Razor Ramon's demonstrative machismo, could give inexperienced fighters fits. My father was quick to point out that should Arturo Gatti want to regain a belt at junior welterweight, Maussa would be the ideal opponent. As Steward attempted to advise Harris, Maussa is open to short left hooks and body shots, weapons that Gatti has long possessed.
2. I could be wrong, although I rarely admit it, but Harris's complaints that he was hit behind the head while down by Maussa appear to be an excuse by a guy who otherwise has admitted that he blew it. I've looked at the replays multiple times, and it looks like Maussa's punch made impact with the bottom rope, but not Harris. And if Harris is going to moan about being hit behind the head, then this scribe would like to point out that the referee's count began late, and that Harris was actually down for a count of fifteen, not ten.