WBA junior welterweight titlist, “Vicious” Vivian Harris told Boxingtalk.com, “I was there live watching the Miguel Cotto fight. And I’m willing to give him the title shot. They said they’re going to fight in December, well I want to fight in December, so I’m offering the title shot for December, and you can’t ask for more than that. A lot of people have to beg to fight for a title. He doesn’t have to beg. He’s getting it! I’m giving it to him! It’s yours! And we could fight wherever. Where do they want it? In
Puerto Rico? Whatever. We could go to Puerto Rico and fight. I’m serious. I want to show the world and HBO that Cotto can’t beat Vivian Harris. No junior welterweight could beat Vivian Harris. I’m too focused man. The shit that I see at junior welterweight today could never beat me. Never ever beat me. You can’t just win 15 fights, and that kid has never fought a solid junior welterweight. All he does is fight guys who are blown up in weight. Then he fights Ceballos, and Ceballos was a good fighter coming up, but he’s not Ceballos anymore. And the world knows that. I give him credit for beating Ceballos, and he’s a good fighter. They put him #1 for my title, and if he should want to fight for my championship, If he wants the fight. My answer is, ‘okay, put him in there. I’m ready right now!” Read on to see what else one of the world’s best junior welterweights had to say.
GL: What do you think of Cotto as a fighter?
VH: He’s a very good fighter! Ya feel me? I’m not going to tell you he’s not on my level, because when I beat him, I don’t want it to look like I just beat anybody. I’m going to say he is on my level. He is a great fighter and Vivian Harris doesn’t go to fights, and I went out to Vegas just to watch his fight. I watched Cotto, and I was praying the whole time I was in Vegas, ‘I hope he wins. I hope he beats Ceballos’ And he won, so Cotto please take the fight. I’m so happy you called me, because I read on the internet that they were talking about they got nine months. If we fight now, he could be the mandatory for the next belt. Otherwise, I will be the mandatory for the next belt. (referring to the undisputed title)
GL: So the bottom line is, he’s the #1 contender and you’re ready to defend your title against him whenever he is?
VH: Exactly. I’m ready whenever he is! If he fights in December, let’s do it. He could fight for the title in December. I’m giving it to him. HBO wouldn’t want that fight? Well, maybe not, because I think they know Cotto can’t f... with Vivian Harris. I wish HBO and his people think he could f... with me. Bring him. We could fight in December.
GL: Do you think Cotto is a one handed fighter?
VH: I don’t know what kind of fighter he is. To be honest with you, I just went to the fight live because I wanted him to win so bad. I was praying over there the whole time. All they talk about is how he is the next Trinidad. Well, I’m Bernard Hopkins! If Cotto’s the next Trinidad, I’m Bernard Hopkins. I could fight with him and beat him and I could box with him and beat him. He can’t take none of the two from me. You know what a great boxer is? Somebody who could keep someone else who is real solid off of them, for twelve rounds.
GL: Don King told me Zab Judah will be added to his December 13th PPV if he receives medical clearance next week. Before Don told me that, Zab told me when he comes back from his hand injury they’ll be looking for a real stiff, so you’ll be perfect. He said you would be his tune up fight. How about fighting Zab on December 13th?
VH: Thank you. I’m ready to step up to the plate for that too. His cast is off, and he said when his cast comes off I’ll be his first fight, so let’s do it December 13th. They’re having the card in Atlantic City and half of Brooklyn would be there for that fight. My people are ready to do this? Is he? I’m ready to prove who the best junior welterweight in the world is. I don’t have time for that gossip bullshit. Let’s do it. And as soon as I’m done with him Cotto is the next one.
Yo, they offered me the fight on January 24th, on the Arturo Gatti card. And I told them I don’t want to fight nobody but Cotto. He’s the mandatory, let’s make the fight. But Zab’s cast is off, so we could do that too.
GL: Who were they talking about as your opponent for January 24th?
VH: They ain’t talking about nobody. Me and my people are talking about Cotto. We want Cotto. Me, and all of my people at Main Events all want Cotto. But if Zab’s ready I want him.
GL: Cotto or Judah. Which fight would mean more to you?
VH: Zab Judah would mean more to me. Cotto has only 16 fights. I don’t have nothing to prove there. If I beat him, it’s going to be, ‘Oh he was supposed to do that. He’s more experienced! Blah, Blah, Blah.’ And then Max Kellerman is going to say, ‘We’ll it’s good he loses a fight, but it’s going to help him in the longrun. It will help him in the future.’ And I don’t really want to hear that bullshit. Zab Judah would be the better fight. (Boxingtalk)