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.

Maurice Harris
Maurice "Sugar Moe" Harris
Born
Wilbur Maurice Harris

(1976-02-21) February 21, 1976 (age 48)
Nationality United States
Other namesMo Bettah
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Cruiserweight
Light Heavyweight
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Reach80 in (203 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights52
Wins26
Wins by KO11
Losses22
Draws3
No contests1

Professional career

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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

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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

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52 fights 26 wins 22 losses
By knockout 11 15
By decision 14 7
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 3
No contests 1
Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
Loss 26–22–3 (1)   Ivan Dychko KO 1 (8), 1:39 06/07/2018   Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood FL
Loss 26–21–3 (1)   Kubrat Pulev KO 1 (8), 1:59 05/12/2015   Inselparkhalle, Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg
Loss 26–20–3 (1)   Alexander Ustinov KO 1 (10) 10/10/2015   El Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela
Draw 26–19–3 (1)   Grover Young SD 8 05/09/2015   Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood
Loss 26–19–2 (1)   Andrey Fedosov KO 2 (8) 18/04/2014   Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana
Loss 26–18–2 (1)   Amir Mansour UD 12 23/08/2013   Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Dover, Delaware For vacant USBA heavyweight and World Boxing Federation Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win 26–17–2 (1)   Jason Bergman SD 6 03/05/2013   University of California of PA Convocation Center, California, Pennsylvania
Loss 25–17–2 (1)   Albert Sosnowski SD 3 20/06/2012   London, England
Loss 25–16–2 (1)   Edmund Gerber UD 8 05/05/2012   Erfurt, Germany
Win 25–15–2 (1)   Derric Rossy TKO 12 16/07/2011   Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States USBA Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:35 of the 12th round.
Loss 24–15–2 (1)   Tony Thompson TKO 3 27/05/2011   Reno, Nevada, United States
Win 24–14–2 (1)   Nagy Aguilera UD 12 06/08/2010   Hinckley, Minnesota, United States USBA Heavyweight Title.
Win 23–14–2 (1)   Robert Hawkins UD 8 15/04/2010   New York City, United States
Win 22–14–2 (1)   Julius Long UD 6 26/03/2010   Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 21–14–2 (1)   Billy Zumbrun UD 6 29/01/2010   Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
NC 20–14–2 (1)   Rodney Wallace NC 4 17/11/2007   Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Loss 20-14-2   Tye Fields RTD 4 14/07/2006   Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 20-13-2   Franklin Edmondson UD 8 26/01/2006   Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Loss 19-13-2   Fres Oquendo KO 10 01/03/2003   Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 19-12-2   Sergei Liakhovich KO 9 01/06/2002   Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 18-12-2   Henry Akinwande KO 1 16/06/2001   Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Loss 18-11-2   Chris Byrd UD 12 12/05/2001   New York City, United States USBA Heavyweight Title.
Win 18-10-2   Harold Sconiers UD 8 16/12/2000   Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 17-10-2   Bradley Rone UD 8 05/08/2000   Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Loss 16-10-2   Derrick Jefferson KO 6 06/11/1999   Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 16-9-2   Israel Cole UD 10 11/09/1999   Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 15-9-2   Jeremy Williams UD 10 19/06/1999   New York City, United States
Win 14-9-2   Louis Monaco TKO 1 May 22, 1999   Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 13-9-2   Artis Pendergrass TKO 4 19/12/1998   Miami, Florida, United States
Win 12-9-2   Orion Sistrunk KO 1 01/10/1998   Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win 11-9-2   Danny Wofford DQ 6 27/06/1998   Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Win 10-9-2   Rashid Latif KO 1 18/04/1998   Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Loss 9-9-2   Larry Holmes SD 10 29/07/1997   New York City, United States
Win 9-8-2   Jimmy Thunder KO 7 20/05/1997   Lyndhurst, New Jersey, United States Thunder knocked out at 2:44 of the seventh round.
Win 8-8-2   Sam Hampton TKO 4 26/04/1997   Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 7-8-2   Gerald Nobles KO 3 30/07/1996   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Harris knocked out at 1:20 of the third round.
Win 7-7-2   Terrell Nelson UD 6 16/07/1996   Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 6-7-2   Dayton Wheeler MD 6 19/06/1996   Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win 6-6-2   David Izon UD 8 15/03/1996   Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 5-6-2   Dale Brown KO 3 16/08/1995   Newark, New Jersey, United States
Loss 5-5-2   Vaughn Bean KO 3 29/10/1994   Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 5-4-2   John Andrade TKO 6 27/06/1994   Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Draw 5-3-2   Zuri Lawrence PTS 4 21/06/1994   Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 5-3-1   Richie Brown UD 4 23/04/1994   Schenectady, New York, United States
Win 4-3-1   Ettol Windham UD 4 22/03/1994   Pensacola, Florida, United States
Draw 3-3-1   Richie Brown PTS 4 21/01/1994   New York City, United States
Win 3-3   Tom Murray TKO 1 01/10/1993   New York City, United States
Loss 2-3   Scott Lopeck KO 3 07/05/1993   New York City, United States
Loss 2-2   Richard Frazier TKO 4 20/03/1993   New York City, United States
Win 2-1   Michael Taylor TKO 1 27/02/1993   Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 1-1   Anthony Harris TKO 1 12/02/1993   Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss 0-1   Joe Kenna UD 4 04/12/1992   Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States

References

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  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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