Harris tastes defeat - but Murray outpoints American By Steve Ninvalle in New Jersey Stabroek News February 27, 2000 Promising junior welterweight Vivian Harris received his first demerit on a previously unblemished card when he lost a hard-fought ten-round decision to Ray Oliveria in Cranston, Rhode Island on Friday night. However, it was not a wholly unsuccessful night for Guyana as welterweight Andrew Murray gained an easy victory over Larry Marks, and Glenn Ford gained a draw against Gary Balletto in a bloodbath. Fighting in the main bout of the card that was televised live by ESPN 2, Harris went ten rounds for only the second time in his career against a tough and experienced Oliveria. From the beginning of the bout Harris showcased his intention of making a quick exit from the ring as he stalked his shorter opponent and landed some heavy punches. The 31-year-old Oliveria picked up the pace in the third round and with superior hand speed was able to frequently connect to Harris. Rated 12 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Oliveria tagged his 21-year-old opponent in the sixth round. The following round saw the Guyanese less mobile and without his trademark whip-like jab. Harris, who prepared in Texas for Friday's showdown, turned on the pressure in the early segment of the final round but his punches to the body and head were answered with an equal attack. In the end the three ringside judges saw it 97-93, 97-93 and 98-93 in favour of Oliveria (38-7-1 with 16 Kos). Harris's record now reads 16-1-13. After the bout, Oliveria acknowledged that the lanky Harris hurt him a few times. "He hurt me but I'm not going down to nobody. I would not be no stepping stone," the winner said and added that in his last fight Harris went ten rounds with a "little guy". "I came down from 168 pounds for this fight," Oliveria said. Efforts to get a comment from Harris proved futile. In the main supporting bout, Murray, ranked sixth by the IBF sent Marks to the canvas twice to record his first victory this year. A left hand to the head dropped Marks in the third round and in the following round an attack to the body did the trick. Marks returned to control the fifth stanza connecting with several uppercuts as the Guyanese southpaw took a rest. Following boos from the large crowd Murray increased the tempo in the penultimate round and went on to win by an unanimous decision with the judges scoring it 98-90, 98-90 and 99-89 in his favour. Speaking with Stabroek Sport after the victory Murray confessed that it was not his best performance. "Sometimes an opponent can make you look bad although you win. But a win is a win. I don't rate this as my best performance." He disclosed that cramps in both of his legs from as early as the fifth round prevented him from producing an all-out onslaught on Marks. "I'm not one to complain but I felt cramps in my legs from the fifth round. I don't think that it was due to over training but maybe a lack of fluid. As I said a win is a win. I'm just glad that people out there know that I can punch. I have been able to establish that," the former Commonwealth champion said. Murray's record has improved to 27-4-1 with 18 Kos. Former FECARBOX featherweight champion Glenn Ford gave a scintillating performance against a bloody Gary Balletto in a crowd pleasing slugfest that earned him a dubious draw. Making his North American debut, Ford dropped a game Balletto in the second round of the six-round contest, compliments of a stiff left hand to the chin. Continued bombardment from Ford opened a gash over Balletto's right eye in the third round. "I should have gone to the body more," Ford, who came in at 131 pounds four less than his opponent, told Stabroek Sport. "If I had done that the results would have been different." He promised to now campaign as a junior lightweight (130 pounds). Ford, congratulated by many at ringside for his performance, dedicated the fight to his former trainer George `Canchi' Oprecht and his mother Enid Ford.