World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Amir “Hardcore” Mansour is in for s stiff test when he makes his second defense of his title against perennial contender Maurice Harris on Friday August 23 at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Delaware.
Known for his thunderous punching-power, the undefeated WBF Champion (18-0, 14 KOs) recently expressed frustration that top-ten contenders have been unwilling to get in the ring with him, saying:
“We’ve offered to fight anyone, and they simply don’t seem to want to fight someone that is obviously as dangerous as I am. But I hope when the fans around the country see me fight they will really want to see what I can do against the best in the world.”
The fight, and the entire undercard, will be streamed live and on demand by www.gfl.tv
In Harris, Mansour will be facing his careers most experienced and skilled opponent, and someone who has faced several former and future world champions. A deceiving 26-17-2 (11) professional ledger doesn’t do the East Orange, New Jersey man justice, as he has fought most of his career without protection of a major promoter.
Harris made his grand arrival on the scene in 1996 by upsetting then undefeated contender David Izon (18-0). In 1997 he knocked out another big name in Jimmy Thunder (32-7), before losing a highly controversial split decision to the legendary Larry Holmes, a bout most ringsiders felt Harris deserved to win.
In 1999 Harris beat former world title-challenger Jeremy Williams (34-2), and in 2002 he underlined his capabilities by knocking out then undefeated future world Heavyweight Champion Siarhei Liakhovich (16-0).
Still competing at top level, Harris won the USBA title in 2010 against Nagy Aguilera (16-3), and defended that belt in 2011 with a stoppage of Derric Rossy (25-4).
Following a split decision loss to former world title-challenger Albert Sosnowski (46-4-2) last year, Harris returned to winning ways this past May when he travelled to Pennsylvania and decisioned Jason Bergman (20-9-2), a man coming off eleven straight victories.
While he is known to at times blow hot and cold, on his best day Maurice Harris can compete with the best in the world. Amir Mansour has been screaming for a proper challenge, and could very well get just that on August 23 in Harris.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
