Rayen grad developing eye of the tiger

By John Kovach

Promising cruiserweight Joshua “The Juice” Harris recently jumped to the pros.

YOUNGSTOWN — Another Youngstown boxer has launched a professional career after achieving an outstanding amateur record.

Joshua (The Juice) Harris, 25, a graduate of The Rayen School, is a promising cruiserweight trained by veteran Frank West at the Buckeye Elks gym.

Harris, who was rated No. 4 by USA Boxing in 2006 as an amateur at heavyweight (201 pounds), has a win and draw in his first two pro fights.

On April 26, he fought a four-round draw with Otgonbayer Daivii of Mongolia, who lives in Arlington Va., at the Avalon Motel in Erie, Pa.

In his first fight, Dec. 8, 2007, at the Pal Center in Hockessin, Del., Harris won a second-round TKO over Luis Santiago. The bout was scheduled for four rounds.

“[He is] one of the hardest punchers out of this gym since cruiserweight champ Jeff Lampkin,” said West, a long-time trainer at the gym. “He can knock you out with one punch where the other fighters need two or three.”

Robert Price, Harris’ cousin and cornerman, also is impressed by Harris.

“He has a lot of potential. His amateur record was very good,” said Price, noting that Harris has won a host of titles and was an Olympic contender.

Price pointed out that Harris “is a six-time Golden Gloves champion at different places and a three-time AAU champ. He participated at the Olympic Tryouts in Colorado Springs in 2006 and he won one fight and lost in the quarterfinal.”

Price also said that Harris won Great Lakes and the first Annual Brown & Orange Turnpike Boxing Classic championships, and achieved an amateur record of 31-11-0 with 14 KOs.

Joining Harris, West and Price on the Harris team is John Landis of Youngstown, who serves as the cut man.

Price said that Harris’ next opponent has not yet been determined.

kovach@vindy.com