Maurice Harris

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Maurice Harris
Maurice "Sugar Moe" Harris.jpg
Maurice "Sugar Moe" Harris
Born
Wilbur Maurice Harris

(1976-02-21) February 21, 1976 (age 48)
East Orange, New Jersey
NationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Other namesMo Bettah
Statistics
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Cruiserweight
Light Heavyweight
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Reach80 in (203 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights52
Wins26
Wins by KO11
Losses22
Draws3
No contests1

Wilbur Maurice Harris (born February 21, 1976), nicknamed "Sugar Moe", is the former United States Boxing Association heavyweight champion. A professional competitor since 1992, he holds notable victories over Siarhei Liakhovich, David Izon, James Thunder, and Jeremy Williams. As a professional, Harris also faced world champions and contenders Larry Holmes, Vaughn Bean, Derrick Jefferson, Chris Byrd, Henry Akinwande, Fres Oquendo, Tony Thompson, Kubrat Pulev, Amir Mansour, Alexander Ustinov, and Albert Sosnowski.

Contents

Professional career

Maurice Harris turned pro at 16 as a light heavyweight in 1992, and faced many up-and-coming prospects and comebacking champions. In his early professional years, he lost to future number one contender Vaughn Bean, and defeated 18-0-0 David Izon.

In 1992, Harris lost a 12-round decision in his first attempt to win the vacant United States Boxing Association (USBA) heavyweight title against future world heavyweight champion Chris Byrd.

In 1997 he lost a disputed split decision to former champion Larry Holmes. He followed the Holmes bout with a seven fight winning streak in 1998-99. This included defeating former number one heavyweight contender Jeremy Williams, and culminated in a fight on HBO with Derrick Jefferson. In what was labeled as the 1999 Ring Magazine knockout of the year, Harris was brutally knocked out by a vicious left hook.

In 1998 Harris was the chief sparring partner for heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis and maintained this position for several years.

In 2002, Harris knocked out future heavyweight champion 19-0 Siarhei Liakhovich in the 9th round. Later that year, Harris won the Thunderbox Heavyweight Tournament "Fistful of Dollars" in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The round-robin exhibition event consisted of eight heavyweights doing battle in three, three-minute rounds. Harris outpointed Gerald Nobles, future number one contender Tony Thompson and Israel Garcia in the same evening to win the $100,000 purse. [1]

Comeback

After a three-year layoff, Harris made a comeback in 2010 in the heavyweight division. Under the guidance of promoter Mario Yagobi of Boxing360, Harris returned to the ring. Harris won the vacant United States Boxing Association heavyweight title in his second opportunity with a 12-round unanimous decision over Nagy Aguilera at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota. However, on May 27, 2011, Harris lost an eliminator bout for the IBF # 2 position at Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada. On July 16, 2011, Harris defended his USBA heavyweight title in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 16, 2011, with a 12th-round knockout over challenger Derric Rossy.

Professional boxing record

52 fights26 wins22 losses
By knockout1115
By decision147
By disqualification10
Draws3
No contests1
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
Loss26–22–3 (1) Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Ivan Dychko KO1 (8), 1:3906/07/2018 Flag of the United States.svg Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood FL
Loss26–21–3 (1) Flag of Bulgaria.svg Kubrat Pulev KO1 (8), 1:5905/12/2015 Flag of Germany.svg Inselparkhalle, Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg
Loss26–20–3 (1) Flag of Russia.svg Alexander Ustinov KO1 (10)10/10/2015 Flag of Venezuela.svg El Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela
Draw26–19–3 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Grover YoungSD805/09/2015 Flag of the United States.svg Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood
Loss26–19–2 (1) Flag of Russia.svg Andrey FedosovKO2 (8)18/04/2014 Flag of the United States.svg Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana
Loss26–18–2 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Amir Mansour UD1223/08/2013 Flag of the United States.svg Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Dover, Delaware For vacant USBA heavyweight and World Boxing Federation Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win26–17–2 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Jason BergmanSD603/05/2013 Flag of the United States.svg University of California of PA Convocation Center, California, Pennsylvania
Loss25–17–2 (1) Flag of Poland.svg Albert Sosnowski SD320/06/2012 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Loss25–16–2 (1) Flag of Germany.svg Edmund Gerber UD805/05/2012 Flag of Germany.svg Erfurt, Germany
Win25–15–2 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Derric Rossy TKO1216/07/2011 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States USBA Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:35 of the 12th round.
Loss24–15–2 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Tony Thompson TKO327/05/2011 Flag of the United States.svg Reno, Nevada, United States
Win24–14–2 (1) Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Nagy Aguilera UD1206/08/2010 Flag of the United States.svg Hinckley, Minnesota, United States USBA Heavyweight Title.
Win23–14–2 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Robert HawkinsUD815/04/2010 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States
Win22–14–2 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Julius Long UD626/03/2010 Flag of the United States.svg Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win21–14–2 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Billy ZumbrunUD629/01/2010 Flag of the United States.svg Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
NC20–14–2 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Rodney WallaceNC417/11/2007 Flag of the United States.svg Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Loss20-14-2 Flag of the United States.svg Tye Fields RTD414/07/2006 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win20-13-2 Flag of the United States.svg Franklin EdmondsonUD826/01/2006 Flag of the United States.svg Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Loss19-13-2 Flag of the United States.svg Fres Oquendo KO10 Mar 1, 2003 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win19-12-2 Flag of Belarus.svg Sergei Liakhovich KO9 01/06/2002 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss18-12-2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Henry Akinwande KO116/06/2001 Flag of the United States.svg Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Loss18-11-2 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Byrd UD12 12/05/2001 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States USBA Heavyweight Title.
Win18-10-2 Flag of the United States.svg Harold SconiersUD816/12/2000 Flag of the United States.svg Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Win17-10-2 Flag of the United States.svg Bradley RoneUD805/08/2000 Flag of the United States.svg Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Loss16-10-2 Flag of the United States.svg Derrick Jefferson KO606/11/1999 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win16-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg Israel ColeUD1011/09/1999 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win15-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg Jeremy Williams UD1019/06/1999 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States
Win14-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg Louis Monaco TKO1 May 22, 1999 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win13-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg Artis PendergrassTKO4 Dec 19, 1998 Flag of the United States.svg Miami, Florida, United States
Win12-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg Orion SistrunkKO101/10/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win11-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg Danny WoffordDQ627/06/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Win10-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg Rashid LatifKO118/04/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Loss9-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Holmes SD1029/07/1997 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States
Win9-8-2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jimmy Thunder KO720/05/1997 Flag of the United States.svg Lyndhurst, New Jersey, United States Thunder knocked out at 2:44 of the seventh round.
Win8-8-2 Flag of the United States.svg Sam HamptonTKO4 26/04/1997 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss7-8-2 Flag of the United States.svg Gerald Nobles KO330/07/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Harris knocked out at 1:20 of the third round.
Win7-7-2 Flag of the United States.svg Terrell NelsonUD616/07/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss6-7-2 Flag of the United States.svg Dayton WheelerMD619/06/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win6-6-2 Flag of Nigeria.svg David Izon UD815/03/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss5-6-2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dale Brown KO316/08/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Newark, New Jersey, United States
Loss5-5-2 Flag of the United States.svg Vaughn Bean KO329/10/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss5-4-2 Flag of the United States.svg John AndradeTKO627/06/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Draw5-3-2 Flag of the United States.svg Zuri Lawrence PTS421/06/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win5-3-1 Flag of Barbados.svg Richie BrownUD423/04/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Schenectady, New York, United States
Win4-3-1 Flag of the United States.svg Ettol WindhamUD422/03/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Pensacola, Florida, United States
Draw3-3-1 Flag of the United States.svg Richie BrownPTS421/01/1994 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States
Win3-3 Flag of the United States.svg Tom MurrayTKO101/10/1993 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States
Loss2-3 Flag of the United States.svg Scott LopeckKO307/05/1993 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States
Loss2-2 Flag of the United States.svg Richard FrazierTKO420/03/1993 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States
Win2-1 Flag of the United States.svg Michael TaylorTKO127/02/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Win1-1 Flag of the United States.svg Anthony HarrisTKO112/02/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Joe KennaUD404/12/1992 Flag of the United States.svg Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States

References

  1. ↑ "FOR Fe'ROZ--No Manny, No Floyd: Maurice Harris is Back!". Archived from the original on 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
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