`Vicious' Vivian Harris is re-united with father and trainer Herman Harris and has started intensifying training for the second defence of the world title.
However, the WBA junior welterweight champion's his right hand is still not "100 percent" fit which could pose a problem in Germany.
"I'm preparing to be the best that I can be. To give good shots and hopefully not take any. Even if I have to take shots I prepared for that," Harris said from Florida yesterday.
Harris fights number four ranked Oktay Urkal of Turkey in Berlin, Germany on April 17. It will be Harris' first fight for the year and the first outside of the USA since turning pro in 1997.
"I'm going to Germany to fight. I'm going there to do my best come back the winner. That's already written in the book."
Harris is reportedly making US$300,000 for the defence which will be televised live in Europe. He confessed that the injury to his right hand is not 100 percent healed but guaranteed that all will be well in time for the fight.
"My hand is good and getting stronger. It does not bother me a lot. I'm confident that it will be fully ready for in time for the big night."
The 34-year-old Urkal has only been defeated once in 35 fights. The loss came at the hands of undisputed junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu in June 2001.
The German citizen has 11 victories via the knockout route. Of Harris' 23 victories in 25 fights, 16 came by knockouts.
"I expect that it will be a very tough fight. I expect that it will bring the best out of both of us. I have viewed his tapes and am of the opinion that he is not a power fighter. You know that `Vicious' Vivian Harris does what it takes to win. For sure I'm not going to Germany to lose this title I worked so hard for," Harris .
The elder Harris arrived in Florida 12 days ago to take over the head coach job left vacant after his son fired former Commonwealth lightweight champion Lennox Blackmoore.
"I think that the combination of myself and my father is working very well," Harris, who will turn 26 in June, said. "Things have been going pretty well since he arrived."
According to his father Vivian has sparred a total of 44 rounds in the last two weeks. This week alone (last week) he did 26 rounds. He is coming along nicely and is three pounds off the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds," Herman Harris said.
"His endurance, sthength and focus are all there. Everything is in good shape and we are ready to go." Harris and entourage leave for Germany on April 9.