Harris (22-1-1) is an 8-1 favourite over M’Baye (27-0) in their scheduled 12-rounder on the undercard of the Ricardo Mayorga-Vernon Forrest main event for the WBC and WBA welterweight championships.

But M’Baye, who has never fought in the United States, is not especially impressed with Harris, a native of Guyana who lives in New York.

Harris is recognized as the WBA 140-pound champion because the sanctioning body classifies Kostya Tszyu as a “super champion” because he also holds the WBC and IBF super lightweight belts.

M’Baye, 28, said tapes of Harris confirm he is a good fighter, but not the best M’Baye has faced. M’Baye makes that statement despite having met only one fighter with much name recognition in the United States, former WBA junior welterweight champion Khalid Rahilou of Morocco.

M’Baye took a 12-round decision over Rahilou on May 23, 2002, in Levallois, France. But M’Baye has not fought anyone currently ranked in the top 30 in the WBC ratings.

“(Harris) is a fighter who likes power,” M’Baye said through an interpreter. “He is a power puncher. That is all. He looks for the knockout. My speed will bother him a lot.”

M’Baye said his speed will counter Harris’ punching power, and his New York-based trainer, William Gonzalez, thinks if M’Baye can do well in the early rounds, he will be in a good position to win.

“Most of Harris’ knockouts were in the early rounds,” Gonzalez said. “He doesn’t knock people out in the later rounds. You have to respect Harris, (but) as far as being impressed with him, I’m not impressed.”

Gonzalez said M’Baye is well prepared for the bout, having trained for six weeks at promoter Don King’s camp in Fort Pierce, Fla., after earlier training in France.

M’Baye, 28, was born in Paris to Senegalese parents. He speaks Senegalese, French, Spanish and Italian, and is learning English.

“(M’Baye) is a very intelligent fighter,” Gonzalez said. “He is a sensation. He can counterpunch, he can box, he can bring it to you, he has power. Speed brings the power. Speed is the key.”

M’Baye’s unbeaten record in five years as a professional comes on the heels of a 30-5 amateur mark. He also had more than 70 kick-boxing bouts before taking up traditional boxing.

“I’m prepared for 12 rounds,” M’Baye said. “If the fight ends early, I’m happy. If it doesn’t, I’m prepared for 12 rounds.” (Fightnews)