"I want to provide knockouts in devastating fashion. I want to show that it's possible to be able to box and knock somebody out. It's possible to hit and not get hit, but not just win the fights; actually knock my opponents out. I want to box you, break you down, and get you out of there," stated jr. middleweight Darious Harris, who talked about his upcoming pro debut. Check it out!
PC: You are set to make your pro debut on Friday. How has training been going?
DH: Training camp was great, man! I put in the work. I had so many different sparring partners. I sparred Lanell Bellows, Lucius Johnson, Joshua Conley was one of my main sparring partners, Louis Rose, and Brandon Adams. I had some good guys.
PC: How did you land with Henry Ramirez as your trainer out there in Cali?
DH: I ended up with Henry through Josh Conley. Josh has been with Henry his whole pro career. He told me to come out to Riverside and check out Henry and I have been out here the last couple of months and I love it.
PC: What are some of the things that you have been working on that you want to showcase in your debut?
DH: I've been working on boxing more; sticking and moving, but not moving too much. Just taking little steps back and counter punching, but not taking big steps back and being out of range to where I can't counter. I've been working on stuff like that. I want to provide knockouts in devastating fashion. I want to show that it's possible to be able to box and knock somebody out. It's possible to hit and not get hit, but not just win the fights; actually knock my opponents out. I want to box you, break you down, and get you out of there.
PC: What weight class will you be debuting at and what is your style of fighting? What can fans expect from you?
DH: For my debut, it will be at 157, but I will be fighting at 154. I'm an orthodox fighter and I am a boxer-puncher. I can do both of them.
PC: Who are some of the people you look up to in the game?
DH: My favorite boxer idol of all time is Floyd Mayweather Jr. and my goal is to eventually sign with TMT. That's who I always wanted to sign with. My work ethic resembles Floyd Mayweather. Watching him just taught me that hard work and dedication is the only way. I just keep working hard and working hard and pretty soon, I'll be signing with him. My second favorite is Deontay Wilder. He's like a big brother to me. I call and talk to him and he gives me pointers. He's fighting this Saturday, so I wish him the very best. But he's a good dude, man. He calls me and gives me tips and he keeps my mind on the right track. He helps me stay focused. And Roy Jones Jr. is one of my favorite of all time; can't forget about Roy.
PC: What has the road leading up to this pro debut been like for you?
DH: Ah man, it's been a long journey from the Golden Gloves to the Blue and Gold tournaments to the Diamond Belt Tournament from fighting up north and all of the amateur experience. I've gone to every gym from California to Vegas sparring everybody I could. It's been a long long road and I'm happy it's finally happening. I actually started boxing at 10 years old. I ended up getting out of boxing and taking a 12-year break. I ended up getting back in the gym at 22 and I've been back in the gym the last 3 years and now, to be making my debut is a blessing just to be debuting instead of in jail or dead. I'm already beating the odds as a black man.
PC: How important is this second chance at the sport you gave up for 12 years?
DH: It means everything to me. It means the world to me. Like Eric Thomas say, you gotta want to succeed as bad as you wanna breathe and I want this as bad as I want to breathe. It just means everything to me. I want to show the world who I am and I want people that look up to me and people that know me to know that anything is possible through hard work and dedication. The people around me have seen my growth in these last 3 years mentally and physically as well as, as a boxer, so I just want to show people it is possible.
PC: How have you meshed with your trainer Henry Ramirez so far?
DH: We've only been working together the last couple of months, but so far so good.
PC: Good luck in your debut. I hope to be interviewing you a lot throughout your career and we will get together after your fight. Is there anything else you want to add before I let you go?
DH: Shout out to Big Berns Boxing for getting me my first fight. And I want to give a shout out to everybody that helped me get ready for the fight. I appreciate it and I'm ready.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]