Guyanese junior welterweight boxer `Vicious' Vivian Harris has labelled his bruising bout against Mexican Jose Juarez as the toughest of his life.

The two matched gloves on the main supporting bout when Fernando Vargas clashed with Jose Flores for the vacant WBA junior middleweight title in Las Vegas, United States on Saturday night. "He hit me so hard that I thought my chin broke," Harris told Stabroek Sport via telephone yesterday. Harris outslugged Juarez to win the lightweight encounter by a split decision.

The power-punching Guyanese was dropped in the fifth round (the second time in his career) after being caught by a big right from Juarez and was hurt other times during the brutal encounter.

However, he also dished out hearty servings of punishment to the Mexican whom he wobbled several times.

"I was hurt about three times in that fight. By far it was the toughest of my career. We both hit each other very hard. Man! that was some fight," the Brooklyn-based Harris disclosed.

The gangly orthodox fighter explained that he was not at full strength since he had to move down one division. "I don't want to make excuses but I was weak for this fight since it was in the lightweight division. I was eating almost only fruits one week before the fight just to make the weight," Harris said.

The Guyanese usually fights in the 140-pound junior welterweight division but claimed that he was forced to fight one division down following a scarcity of opponents at 140.

"I just want all of Guyana to know that I'll be the next world champion from our country. I'm dedicated and I train hard. I will make you proud," Harris promised.

The bout was regarded as one of the most action packed encounters of the year and is the Guyanese's third so far in 2001.

Harris' next bout is scheduled for November when he challenges Ben Tackie for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) junior welterweight title.

Tackie won the crown in July when he defeated Ray Oliveria, the only person to beat Harris, in a crowd-pleasing contest. His record improved to 19 wins, one draw and a defeat. Sixteen victories have come by way of knockout.