LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CMC) – Guyana’s ‘Vicious’ Vivian Harris overcame a tough challenge from Mexico’s Jose Lazcano to win their World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title eliminator on Saturday night.
Earning the verdict from all three judges in a competitive battle at the Mandalay Bay Resort, Harris has now secured a shot at the current WBC super lightweight champion Junior Witter of Britain.
Harris won by three points on two of the judges’ cards and by one point on the third to improve his ring record to 27 wins (18 knockouts) against two losses and one draw, while Lazcano slipped to 37 wins (27 knockouts) against three losses and one draw.
The bout shifted in dominance – between the two boxers -- several times.
Now on a three-fight winning streak since his upset loss to Colombian Carlos Maussa in June 2005, Harris looked sharp and in control early in the 12-round contest.
He was accurate and scored repeatedly with hard punches in the first two rounds.
But in round three, Lazcano rallied well and became more competitive.
The 28-year-old Harris hurt Lazcano early in the seventh, but Lazcano came back at the end of the round, pounding Harris with an excellent left hook that shook the Guyanese boxer just before the bell.
Lazcano, 31, continued to apply pressure in rounds eight through 10 and scored well to both the body and head.
Harris, who Lazcano’s handlers suggested before the bout had stamina limitations, boxed intelligently for the remainder of the fight for a well measured victory.
He used his jab well and repelled the aggressive Lazcano with a classy show in the 11th and 12th rounds.
Lazcano was deducted a point for a low blow in round twelve by referee Tony Weeks.
Judges Chuck Giampa and Dave Moretti both scored it 115-112 for Harris and Jerry Roth had Harris winning narrowly, 114-113.
In October 2002, Harris had beaten Cuba-born Diosbelys Hurtado in two rounds to win the WBA belt, becoming Guyana’s third world boxing champion – after Andrew Lewis and Wayne Braithwaite.
He defended the crown three times before his loss to Maussa.
Harris is expected to secure his WBC title shot against Witter by the summer of this year.