`Vicious' Vivian Harris' dream of a big pay day against former world champion Zab Judah was dashed last week when the American bluntly refused to accept the fight.
The once defeated Harris said that his handlers informed him of Judah's `thumbs down' sign over the weekend.
"They said that Zab Judah was not interested in the fight and that's that. He doesn't want to fight me so what can I do," Harris said when contacted by Stabroek Sport yesterday.
Harris explained that lack of ring activity may have been one of the reasons why Judah shied away from their meeting.
"We are cool and I think that he looked at our friendship and the fact that he has only fought once in a year while I have been very active," Harris said.
Harris was willing to give up his five-month old WBA junior welterweight title, which he won after taking apart Diobelys Hurtardo inside two rounds last October, for a chance to fight Judah, a former sparring partner.
The Guyanese was approached by television network Home Box Office (HBO) with the offer to fight Judah.
The `Vicious' one was aiming to become the first Guyanese to fight for over half a million dollars when he requested a purse of no less than US$800,000 to match gloves with the lightning-quick former International Boxing Federation junior welterweight champion.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Harris is still scheduled to fight WBA number one ranked Souleyman Mbaye but no date has been set.
"My people (Main Events) are trying to get the fight from Don King. If they succeed the fight will be held on June 7 on the Arturo Gatti card, the champion said.
Last month Don King Productions won the purse bid and right to stage the Harris/Mbaye fight. DKP submitted a bid of US$185,012 against US$165,000.
King had 15 days from the date of the purse bid (February 13) to submit official communication to the WBA stating what the definite venue and date of the bout will be.
WBA Regulations stipulate that the title bout has to take place no later than 90 days from the date of the purse bid.