Roy Harris (boxer)

Roy Harris (June 29, 1933 – August 8, 2023) was an American lawyer and heavyweight boxer, whose nickname derived from his place of birth, Cut and Shoot, Texas.[1] Roy was a co-trainer of title contender Alfonso López III.[2]

Roy Harris
Statistics
Real nameRoy Harris
Nickname(s)Cut N' Shoot
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Reach73 in (185 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1933-06-29)June 29, 1933
Cut and Shoot, Texas, U.S.
DiedAugust 8, 2023(2023-08-08) (aged 90)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights36
Wins30
Wins by KO9
Losses5
Draws0
No contests1

Early life

Roy Harris was born in Cut and Shoot, Texas on June 29, 1933. His father, a lifelong hog farmer, taught him how to box and wrestle. Following his four Golden Gloves championship victories, he enrolled in Sam Houston State University, excelling as an honor student, before joining the United States Army. He rose to the rank of Captain and served in the reserves for another 12 years.[3]

Amateur career

Harris and his brother Henry took up the boxing together after receiving their first set of gloves in a trade for wild ducks. He was a four-time Texas Golden Gloves amateur champion, won his state Olympic Trials in 1952, and was the winner of the Joe Louis Sportsmanship Award at the 1954 National Golden Gloves.

Professional career

Harris was a heavyweight contender during the 1950s. He won his first 23 fights, including consecutive wins against Willi Besmanoff, Bob Baker and Willie Pastrano, and was named Ring Magazine's progress of the year for 1957.

World Heavyweight Championship

Before the bout, Harris was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.[4] In August 1958, he was given a title shot by world champion Floyd Patterson. Patterson had trouble obtaining title defenses, as boxing at the time was controlled by organisations that Patterson and his manager, Cus D'Amato, refused to cooperate with.

Harris training for the title fight in Cut and Shoot, TX

The promotion was colorful, due to the backstory of Harris' kinsmen, one of the celebrated East Texas clans still existing as their forebears had for generations. Much was made of the "backwoods" quality of Harris' life, and every venue was utilized in using this as ballyhoo; this extended as far as having Harris record a 45 RPM record entitled "Cut 'n Shoot (Texas, U.S.A.)" (b/w "Desert in the Sky", Decca Records 9-30717). Harris was predictably photographed in cowboy hat and boots, and in one wire photo, he holds a revolver at the ready (AP Wirephoto rw41500sh). The aforementioned Sports Illustrated cover portrayed him barechested and barefoot, standing upon a cabin porch with 19th Century rifle at rest beside him; he further sports a canine companion.[5] To watch the fight in Texas, Harris' extended family gathered at the drive-in theater in nearby Conroe, which was equipped for the occasion with its own closed circuit movie hook-up.[5]

The fight took place at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, CA. Harris knocked down the champion in the second round, but was himself knocked down four times; his corner stopped the fight before the 13th round. Mushy Callahan was the referee.[6]

When questioned, Harris - a former winner of the Joe Louis Sportsman Award - simply said: "I did my best."[7]

Harris subsequently won six consecutive fights, before being stopped 2:35 into his bout with Sonny Liston. He then dropped a decision to Henry Cooper and was stopped twice by Bob Cleroux.

Retirement

Harris retired with a final record of 30 wins and five losses. He is believed to be the only boxer to become a lawyer after fighting for the world heavyweight title. Harris was a county clerk in Montgomery County for 28 years. He began practicing law in 1972 and drew up the papers for Cut And Shoot to become incorporated. Harris' office was based in his home and he had been married 47 years and has six children.

Death

Roy Harris died at his home on August 8, 2023, surrounded by his children and family. He was 90.[8]

Bibliography
  • Harris, Roy; Montgomery, Robin Navarro (2012). Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot: Texas Backwoods Battler. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, Inc. ISBN 9781475960679. OCLC 819070994.

References
  1. "Roy Harris - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  2. "Lopez and Pavlik – One Nice Guy Will Finish First - Boxing News". Doghouseboxing.com. 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  3. Cut and Shoot's Roy Harris a hometown hero in and out of the boxing ring.
  4. "Roy Harris, Boxing, - 08.18.58 - SI Vault". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  5. Montgomery, Robin (1984). Cut 'n Shoot Texas. Austin, TX: Eakin Press. p. 180. ISBN 0-89015-429-5.
  6. "A Brief Look at Floyd Patterson, Roy Harris". East Side Boxing. Archived from the original on 2003-10-07. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
  7. Montgomery, Robin (1984). Cut 'n Shoot, Texas. Austin, TX: Eakin Press. ISBN 0-89015-429-5.
  8. "Roy Harris Obituary - Conroe, TX". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  9. "Roy Harris - Boxer". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
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