Maurice Harris


Wilbur Maurice Harris, 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.

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 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.

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

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
Loss26–22–3 Ivan DychkoKO1, 1:3906/07/2018Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood.png" />
Loss26–21–3 Kubrat PulevKO1, 1:5905/12/2015Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg.png" />
Loss26–20–3 Alexander UstinovKO1 10/10/2015 El Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela
Draw26–19–3 Grover YoungSD805/09/2015 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood
Loss26–19–2 Andrey FedosovKO2 18/04/2014 Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana
Loss26–18–2 Amir MansourUD1223/08/2013 Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Dover, DelawareFor vacant USBA heavyweight and World Boxing Federation Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win26–17–2 Jason BergmanSD603/05/2013 University of California of PA Convocation Center, California, Pennsylvania
Loss25–17–2 Albert SosnowskiSD320/06/2012 London, England, United Kingdom
Loss25–16–2 Edmund GerberUD805/05/2012 Erfurt, Thüringen, Germany
Win25–15–2 Derric "The Shaolin Fist" RossyTKO1216/07/2011 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesUSBA Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:35 of the 12th round.
Loss24–15–2 Tony "The Tiger" ThompsonTKO327/05/2011 Reno, Nevada, United StatesIBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator.
Win24–14–2 Nagy "Dominican Dynamite" AguileraUD1206/08/2010 Hinckley, Minnesota, United StatesUSBA Heavyweight Title.
Win23–14–2 Robert HawkinsUD815/04/2010 New York City, United States
Win22–14–2 Julius LongUD626/03/2010 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win21–14–2 Billy ZumbrunUD629/01/2010 Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
NC20–14–2 Rodney WallaceNC417/11/2007 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Loss20-14-2 Tye FieldsRTD414/07/2006 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win20-13-2 Franklin EdmondsonUD826/01/2006 Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Loss19-13-2 Fres "The Big O" OquendoKO1001/03/2003 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win19-12-2 Siarhei LiakhovichKO901/06/2002 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss18-12-2 Henry AkinwandeKO116/06/2001 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Loss18-11-2 Chris "Rapid Fire" ByrdUD1212/05/2001 New York City, United StatesUSBA Heavyweight Title.
Win18-10-2 Harold SconiersUD816/12/2000 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Win17-10-2 Bradley RoneUD805/08/2000 Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Loss16-10-2 Derrick JeffersonKO606/11/1999 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win16-9-2 Israel ColeUD1011/09/1999 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win15-9-2 Jeremy "Half Man-Half Amazing" WilliamsUD1019/06/1999 New York City, United States
Win14-9-2 Louis "The Facelifter" MonacoTKO122/05/1999 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win13-9-2 Artis "The Mad Boxer" PendergrassTKO419/12/1998 Miami, Florida, United States
Win12-9-2 Orion SistrunkKO101/10/1998 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win11-9-2 Danny WoffordDQ627/06/1998 Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Win10-9-2 Rashid LatifKO118/04/1998 Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Loss9-9-2 Larry "The Easton Assassin" HolmesSD1029/07/1997 New York City, United States95-96, 94-96, 96-94.
Win9-8-2 Jimmy ThunderKO720/05/1997 Lyndhurst, New Jersey, United StatesThunder knocked out at 2:44 of the seventh round.
Win8-8-2 Sam HamptonTKO426/04/1997 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss7-8-2 Gerald "The Jedi" NoblesKO330/07/1996 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesHarris knocked out at 1:20 of the third round.
Win7-7-2 Terrell "Baby Bull" NelsonUD616/07/1996 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States58-52, 57-50, 58-54.
Loss6-7-2 Dayton WheelerMD619/06/1996 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win6-6-2 David IzonUD815/03/1996 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States76-75, 76-75, 78-75.
Loss5-6-2 "Cowboy" Dale BrownKO316/08/1995 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Loss5-5-2 Vaughn "Shake & Bake" BeanKO329/10/1994 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss5-4-2 "The American Dream" John AndradeTKO627/06/1994 Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Draw5-3-2 Zuri LawrencePTS421/06/1994 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win5-3-1 Richie BrownUD423/04/1994 Schenectady, New York, United States
Win4-3-1 Ettol WindhamUD422/03/1994 Pensacola, Florida, United States
Draw3-3-1 Richie BrownPTS421/01/1994 New York City, United States
Win3-3 Tom MurrayTKO101/10/1993 New York City, United States
Loss2-3 Scott LopeckKO307/05/1993 New York City, United States
Loss2-2 Richard FrazierTKO420/03/1993 New York City, United States
Win2-1 Michael TaylorTKO127/02/1993 Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Win1-1 Anthony HarrisTKO112/02/1993 Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss0-1 Joe KennaUD404/12/1992 Bushkill, Pennsylvania, United States