`Vicious' Vivian Harris will make the first defence of his World Boxing Council junior welterweight title on July 12 in Las Vegas.
The confirmation came from the 'horse's mouth' yesterday with the hard-hitting Guyanese stating that he will make the mandatory defence against Frenchman Souleyman Mbaye on the card that includes the return bout between Ricardo Mayorga and Vernon Forrest.
"We will sign the contract in New York next week. It is definitely on for July 12," Harris told Stabroek Sport.
However, Harris' quest to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis and Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite who won their first title defences may have one hitch.
The 2002 runner up Sports Man of the Year may not get to showcase his talent on international television as he has grown accustomed to doing.
Harris claimed that Mbaye's "questionable popularity" may have made it very difficult to sell the fight.
"It will not be shown on television. No one really knows this kid and the TV people have turned down the decision to carry it live."
The main and main supporting fight of the card will be carried live by Home Box Office (HBO).
"Today (yesterday) I have started back running and light sparring. We expect to do serious sparring by early June," the WBA champion said.
"This is more like an anticlimax for me but I'm still taking this fight seriously. I'm not looking past Mbaye. He is an undefeated fighter with a 26-0 record. When I get rid of him then I'll talk of my next fight. For now all I'm concentrating on is Mbaye."
The defence against Mbaye seemed off a few weeks ago when the Harris camp started negotiations for their man to battle WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.
Harris was willing to give up the belt and move up one division to tackle the Mexican.
Weeks earlier the 24-year-old Harris was willing to give up his crown, won last Octo-ber, for a possible lucrative pay day against former champion Zab Judah, a Gleason's gym mate.
Judah will challenge WBO junior welterweight champion Demarcus Corley in the main supporting bout on the July 12 card.
Mbaye is rated number one by the WBA but has not found favour with the other three major world organisations (WBC, IBF and WBO) all of whom refused to name him in their top 15.
The once defeated Harris won the WBA title after stopping Dioblyes Hurtado in the second round in Houston, Texas in October.