Showdown of Guyanese pugilists tonight ---Vivian Harris fights Gary St. Clair in Philadelphia By Steve Ninvalle in Philadelphia Stabroek News December 10, 1999 Both fighters never thought it would happen but what was supposed to be a very remote possibility turned into reality. Tonight at the Blue Horizon Boxing Arena in Philadelphia two young and promising Guyanese boxers Gary St. Clair and Vivian Harris will pitt their skills against each other in a 10-round main bout of a card to be televised live by the ESPN2 channel. The fight, to be contested in the junior welterweight category has the potential to disrupt a friendship, which began years ago in Guyana. The undefeated Harris insists that St. Clair asked to fight him and feels (St. Clair) wants to prove a point. On the other hand St. Clair assures that it's all business and hopes that they remain friends after the bout, regardless of the outcome. "This is not about any bad blood between me and Vivian this is just business as usual. We are friends and will remain friends but once we get into the ring its all business," St Clair told Stabroek Sport from the hotel where both fighters are staying. The diminutive St. Clair was hauled in four days ago as a replacement for Teddy Reid, Harris' original opponent, who made an impromptu withdrawal. However, Harris, a regular fighter on ESPN, bitterly claimed that although he is prepared to fight anyone he would never ask to fight a compatriot. "It bothers me that Gary would want to fight me. Not that I think that he could beat me in a month of Sundays. But we were good friends and then this had to come up. He asked to fight me its not that someone approached him. He approached them after he learned that Reid had pulled out. So in a sense that bothers me to see that money can make people do anything." Harris noted that his friendship with St. Clair (now strained) would not affect the outcome of the fight. I always said that I never wanted to fight anyone from my country since it would hold one of us back and especially some one that I grew up with. Gary is not in my category. So why does he want to come up two divisions to fight me other than to prove a point or show that he has a lot of guts. He asked for the fight and he has got it. I hope he can handle what I dish out because it will be quite a mouth full," the lanky Harris warned. Armed with the impressive credentials of knocking out 13 of the 15 opponents he has fought since joining the professional ranks, Harris on Wednesday flew into Philadelphia from Las Vegas where he was encamped along with former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. His preparation included sparring sessions with world rated Zad Judah and welterweight Vernon Forest. "I am focused and 100 per cent prepared. Even if Gary was training everyday he couldn't have beaten me. So I can't see why he took this fight," the 5' 11'' Harris said. "This thing has upset me so much that I have already forgot that we were friends or from the same country. It's just like if I'm fighting Teddy Reid now. I'm focused and will knock him out," predicted Harris. A full fledged junior lightweight, the 24-year-old St. Clair will be moving up two divisions in weight for the bout but does not see himself at a disadvantage. "I'm more experienced than him and I know that I can handle Vivian. In this match there will be a little bit of boxing and fighting. I'm not bothered by the difference in weight." According to St. Clair ESPN has promised that since he took the fight on such short notice he will get another chance to have another of his fights televised within six months. "I have not made this type of money in boxing so I had to take this bout," St. Clair disclosed. The junior welterweight category is foreign ground to him since he has campaigned mainly as a junior lightweight and has not fought since returning to the USA in April. "I have been training hard and I'm ready to take care of Harris. There is no issue here other than money. I'm a professional and will conduct myself that way. We are in this business to make money. So I'm getting along with the business of making money. They offered me a good deal and I couldn't turn that down. It's as plain as that." According to Harris after victory he may come down to Guyana to celebrate. I love my father and family and would want to celebrate with them but I don't know if they would want me back in Guyana after I'm finished with Gary," Harris, whose style has been likened to that of Thomas `Hitman' Hearns said. In 1996 St. Clair battled and won against Guyanese Forbes David in a 4-round fight televised on USA Tuesday Night fights. St Clair (19-1-1 with 8 knockouts) collected his lone loss at the hands of Diego Corrales who went on to win the International Boxing Federation junior lightweight title. Trainer Lennox Blackmoore, and Darius Ford has accompanied him to Philadelphia. A © page from: Guyana: Land of Six Peoples