In recent weeks, the highly anticipated showdown between WBA jr. welterweight champ'Vicious' Vivian Harris (24-1-1; 16 KOs) and Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton (36-0; 26 KOs) has teetered upon uncertainty. Originally scheduled for October 2 in Hatton's hometown of Manchester, England negotiations are currently geared for the fight to take place in Detroit, Michigan during the Fall.
The man negotiating on behalf of Harris?... none other than famed trainer Emanuel Steward. Fightnews spoke to Harris about this and other issues.
FN: Reports from Britain state that Hatton and his promoter Frank Warren are at odds. What is your take on their situation?
VH: Ricky wants the fight. I want the fight. And, my promoter wants the fight. The only one who seems to have a problem with it is Frank Warren. That's because Frank knows I'll beat Ricky. He knows that Ricky will be damaged goods after I'm finished with him and he won't have a big money fighter anymore. That's how Frank makes his money... in England with Ricky Hatton. That's why he never takes Ricky out of England, he's protecting his investment. Frank Warren is scared. But, he shouldn't be scared. So what if Ricky gets his first loss! The British fans will still support him. Fans are fans. They still support you even if you lose.
FN: What do you think about Warren wanting to cut the agreed upon financial number by 25%. Are you concerned that this could put the fight in jeopardy?
VH: No. The fight is happening. It's definitely happening. I've got my people working on it and I'm confident that things will come together.
FN: I heard you are no longer with your manager, Shelly Finkel. What happened?
VH: It's over between us. We reached a settlement and now I have a new manager... Emanuel Steward. Manny will also be my trainer and I'll be going to Detroit next week to begin training for Hatton at Kronk Gym. Right now, Manny is negotiating the Hatton fight for me.
It was supposed to be for October 2 in Manchester, but Manny is trying to bring the fight to Detroit for some time in the Fall. I'm really happy to be working with him because I know he'll be looking out for my best interest. Talking to him is like talking to my father.
You know... I'm a champ and all I want is to be promoted, managed and treated like one. I want fights with Mayweather and Cotto, just to prove that I am the best jr. welterweight out there. And, I want to be promoted like Gatti, Bojado and those other guys. But, I'm not and I don't know why that is. If I screwed up and got 2 or 3 losses, then I can understand why they can't get me fights. But, I haven't screwed up! I'm training hard and I'm winning!
Why do I have to go to Europe to defend my title? I'm the champ and guys should come here to fight me! I'm a fighter and I'm suppose to fight inside the ring... not outside the ring too.
I have 2 kids to support and I don't want them coming up like I did. I want them to have nice things and to get a good education. I'm fighting so my kids won't have to. I'm only 26 years old, that's why I need to start earning money now... while I'm young.
My managers and promoters are suppose to make sure I get fights. I shouldn't have to beg or go to the media. On November 7, my contract is up with Main Events and I think I'm gonna have to make some serious decisions. You know, if I had let all this BS get to me in my fight with Urkal, I could have lost my title in Germany! I would have been the next black man walking the street... broke!
FN: Aside from Mayweather and Cotto, do you consider Hatton to be tough opposition? Can he bring out the best in you?
VH: Oh, definitely! If Ricky prepares well and brings his 'A' game, he can bring out the best in me. If he doesn't, it will be just another ordinary fight for me. But, I believe he'll come prepared. To lessen the beating he's gonna get... he better come prepared.
FN: Ricky has fast hands and is a lethal body puncher. So, what would your game plan be against him?
VH: I want to prove to the world that he is no warrior. I'm the warrior! I'm gonna be right there with him and go to his body... just like he likes to go to people's body. No fighter has ever gone to his body and I'm going to prove that he can't take my body shots. It will be a war of body shots, so he should get his body ready!
FN: A few weeks ago, you told Fightnews that Ricky won't last 6 rounds with you. Why 6 rounds?
VH: It's because of the style he has. He's a brawler. He just throws punches and hopes they land. He doesn't try to out think his opponent. But me?... I can brawl and think or box and think. Against a 'thinking' fighter like myself, guys like him never last.
FN: Ranked contenders are always looking to challenge their division's champions. But, no one ever calls you out. You seem to be the only one making the challenges. Why is that?
VH: Because they're scared of me... that's why! I've got a big right hand, a hard left hook and a brutal uppercut. I have the whole package! I'm always in shape and I come to fight. I can box and punch. and, I've got a great chin.
When guys see me, they think 'wow, Vivian is a very difficult fighter to beat.' I train hard and make sure that I have no weaknesses in my game. It's not just fighters who are scared of me... it's promoters too. Look at Frank Warren, I've got him scared of me too! Another one who is scared is Mayweather! Instead of calling me out, he's calling out Arturo Gatti because he knows it will be an easy fight for him. Mayweather is gonna run around the ring all night and box Gatti. Also, Gatti cuts very easily, so anything can happen in that fight. If Mayweather wants to prove that he's the best jr. welterweight, he has to go through me... not Gatti or Chop Chop Corley. Corley can't punch but he almost knocked out Mayweather! Also, Mayweather just got to the jr. welter division. That fool was even calling out Oscar De la Hoya at one time! Can you believe that?
FN: Kostya Tszyu. What are your thoughts on him? Do you think he still has a 'hunger' to fight?
VH: No. He lost that a long time ago. Right now, he's just looking for the money. Whoever they can get a big pay day with is who they want to fight. He's thinking 'even if I lose, I still made 5 million.' And, I respect that.
But, you have to give other fighters an opportunity. When I unify the titles, I'm still going to fight my mandatories. I'm gonna fight whoever calls me out. I'm not gonna run from anybody! For what? I want to prove to the world that I'm the best and the only way to do that is to fight. Guys like Tszyu are fake fighters and the media promotes that.
The media writes that guys like Tszyu are great fighters... but they don't fight! You have to fight to be called great. How can you call someone 'great' if they only fight once a year?! I fought to get my championship and I'm going to fight to keep it. No one ever gave me anything. I had to fight for what I got and I will continue fighting.
FN: Any final words that you would like to add?
VH: Yeah. Tell Ricky Hatton that he better do a ton of sit ups because I'm going right for his body. I'll be after that body all night.
Forget about his head... I'm gonna be the body snatcher. I'm gonna be checkin' that basement all night! and, he better get a tape of my fight with Golden Johnson, then he'll see what he's in for.
I ripped Johnson's stomach out and that's what I'm gonna do to Ricky Hatton. I'm gonna punch right through Ricky's body and make my fist come out the other end.