♪♪ Custer: In boxing,
much like the rest of the world, 2021 started with questions... but ended with answers... Ohh! ...the emphatic kind... Ranallo: Plant goes down!
High drama in round 11! Custer:
...and the dramatic kind. Ranallo:
A monstrous shot! Tune everybody out, man,
and get into your zone. Custer: From historic nights
to unforgettable fights... Ranallo:
Barrios is down again! Custer: ...past legends
on the comeback trail... Ranallo: It's over!
History has been made! Custer: ...and new champions
building their legacies... [ Crowd cheering ] ...the spectacle returned,
as did the fans, who crowded
back into packed arenas and screaming and celebrating
a year in boxing that was laced
with more energy... [ Shouting in Spanish ] ...and produced more thrills than any year
in a long, long time. Ranallo: Benavidez lighting up
Davis here in the sixth! ♪♪ Custer:
And when the scene returned, the fight game regained what
2020 had inevitably stolen -- its full aura
and even more resilience. Ranallo: Ooh, and there's
that left hook by Mayweather. You in great shape!
You in great shape! Ranallo: Now Charlo sitting down
and punching forward. Come on, baby. Come on.
He ain't bitin'. We know we can touch him now.
He knows what time it is. Ranallo: You wanted a statement?
He just made one. ♪♪ Custer: I'm Brian Custer. This is the
"Best of Showtime Boxing: 2021." ♪♪ A new year began much like
the previous one had ended -- inside a never-before-built
space at the Mohegan Sun Arena
in Connecticut that had been constructed
to counter COVID-19. Known as the Fight Sphere, the innovative, makeshift,
and international stage played host
to four additional cards, wrapping up one of sport's
most distinct time periods -- the "boxing inside a bubble"
era. Ranallo: Two undefeated
fighters, both in their prime. Custer: In Showtime's
first championship boxing event of the new year,
body-battering specialist Angelo Leo attempted
to kick 2021 off with a bang. Ranallo: Wow. Nice left hook
to the body by Leo. There Fulton got bothered
with that right hand. Custer: But it was Philly phenom
Stephen Fulton Jr. who imposed his will... Ranallo:
Oh, right hand by Fulton. Ranallo:
...using Leo's signature style to seize the WBO junior
featherweight crown on January 23rd. Ranallo:
Oh, what a right uppercut! And Leo's still standing! So he had to grind like that
to shine like this. Lennon Jr.: And the new
WBO junior featherweight champion of the world... "Cool Boy Steph," Stephen Fulton Jr.! Custer: The theme of
"expect the unexpected" continued on February 20th,
when former world champion Adrien Broner
returned to the ring for the first time
in over two years. Ranallo: Santiago definitely
not being swallowed up, bringing the fight
to "The Problem." Custer: Jovanie Santiago
provided a more difficult test than anticipated... but Broner
still picked up the W, proving that a boxer
known as "The Problem" can solve issues
that arise, too. Throughout his rapid,
unbeaten ascendance, super middleweight contender
David Benavidez has proven that no matter
how many obstacles he must confront
outside the ring... inside it is where
he does his best work. Ranallo:
When Benavidez gets cooking,
it's like fighting an octopus. Custer:
More proof came in March with his systematic,
thorough destruction of veteran tough guy
Ronald Ellis. Ranallo: Oh, what a left hook
to the body. Bernstein: Ellis is still
fighting back. Right uppercut. Another
uppercut, another uppercut! And now David Benavidez
pouring it on. And that's it. It's over. It's over. Lennon Jr:
The winner, David Benavidez! ♪♪ Custer: Jaron Ennis,
known as "Boots," entered the year ranked among boxing's most exciting
prospects. Ranallo: He is knocking on
the door of some major fights but has to get past
this major test. Custer: After his dismantling
of Sergey Lipinets slapped an exclamation point on the end of Showtime's
bubble boxing, Boots graduated from his status
as future contender to an actual one ready to summon
boxing's top welterweights. Ranallo: Ohh, and Ennis with
the left hand drops Lipinets! No doubt about this one. Jaron "Boots" Ennis passes his biggest test
in flying colors. Custer: Eventually, it was time
to take off the bubble wrap and welcome back crowds so that fights could feel
like they're supposed to... Man:
Y'all know what it is! ...rabid, theatric,
major events. That way, Showtime could present
a semblance of normalcy -- "normal," in this case, relative to a sport
that is anything but. The Showtime summer tour of 2021 can be describe
in only one word -- big. Big stages, big fights,
big stakes, and ultimately the attention
to match. Fight fans old and new
scanned their tickets and settled into so many seats. In total,
9 cards, 6 cities, 7 world-championship bouts, and a staggering
13 belts up for grabs. Showtime, baby. Of course,
the wild ride started with the most familiar face
in boxing -- the champion who calls himself
"The Best Ever," or TBE. Representing past generations,
here came Floyd Mayweather to clash with the next one, the one that sought
to energize boxing. It's an exhibition for me. Man: Floyd, do you really want to take them both
on at the same night? Absolutely. Easy. Yeah,
I want to -- Absolutely. You want to run a -- Absolutely. Let me call Al Haymon.
Let's make it happen. I'm my own boss.
I'm my own boss. Two in one night.
Got your hat. Got your hat. Get that...guy. [ Indistinct shouting ] Custer: No night defined
a changing landscape more than June 6th,
when Money May pushed pause on retirement
to face Logan Paul. Celebrities flocked to Miami
for an event the term "exhibition"
failed to fully capture to watch a bombacious boxer
take on a YouTube sensation for no more than bragging rights
and a few million dollars. Ranallo:
Logan Paul playing with fire. Oh, and there's that left hook
by Mayweather. Wow! And a counter right uppercut
lands, and I gotta say -- Logan Paul
is eating these shots. 30 seconds remaining between one of
the all-time greats, Floyd "Money" Mayweather, and a guy who's famous
for being famous. [ Bell dings ] Lennon Jr: Well, fans,
this bout goes the distance. Floyd "Money" Mayweather.
Logan "The Maverick" Paul. Mayweather:
I'm not 21 anymore, but it's good to move around
with these young guys, test my skills
just to have some fun. Great young fighter.
Strong, tough. He's better
than I thought he was. [ Cheers and applause ] [ Engines roar ] ♪♪ Custer: Not to be outdone
by his mentor, Gervonta Davis
elected to take on a much larger opponent
in his 2021 debut. Lennon Jr.:
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for the bout
you've all been waiting for -- the WBA super lightweight
championship of the world! It's time for
Davis versus Barrios! Yeah!
Come on, son! Custer: On an electric night
in Atlanta, "Tank" plowed through
a game "Aztec Warrior" in Mario Barrios, becoming a champion
in a third division the same way he did
in the other two -- via a spectacular knockout. Ranallo: Round number 8. -Wow!
-A right hook! A monstrous shot by Davis! ♪♪ Six, seven, eight.
Come here. You alright? Protect yourself, brother.
Alright? Let's go. Ranallo:
Gervonta "Tank" Davis brought his power to 140, and Mario Barrios has been
decked twice in round 8! Six, seven, eight. You okay?
You want to continue? Come here.
Protect yourself. Let's go. Ranallo: A volcanic eruption
here in Atlanta, as Davis continues to detonate
on Mario Barrios! Man: You got up like a champ.
This fight is not over. -It is not over.
-It's not over. -I got it.
-Pull yourself together, okay? Knock his head off! Ranallo: What a fight!
Barrios and Davis! And Barrios is down again! Referee: Three, four... Third time's the harm! ...five, six,
seven, eight! You okay? Come here.
Protect yourself, alright? The Aztec Warrior summoning
that inner resolve! Davis unloads a left. Barrios doubled over.
It's over! It's over! You can't fight the power
of Gervonta "Tank" Davis! You're one tough...dawg.
Much love to you, bro. Lennon Jr.: He is the winner
by way of technical knockout. Gervonta "Tank" Davis! [ Bell dings ] [ Click, electricity humming ] ♪♪ Custer: After the Charlo
brothers made history by holding
twin pay-per-view cards on the same glorious night
in 2020, they followed that up this year
by reminding the boxing world of their distinct and dominant
individual skills. And now, ladies and gentlemen,
here is the current undefeated WBC middleweight
champion of the world! Jermall Charlo! Custer: Jermall went first,
defending his middleweight crown with a decisive drubbing
of Juan Montiel. Ranallo: Charlo works behind
the jab. There's a right hand. Oh, and there's a one-two. Charlo beginning to put
on the pressure now. And Montiel
on inline skates momentarily. And he's been corraled
in the corner. Charlo unloading
on the challenger, Montel, with the high guard. We don't need to rush.
Take your time. You got him where you
want him now, okay? Ranallo: Oh, a right hand
that landed for Charlo. Now Montiel on the ropes. The crowd on its feet
in anticipation of Charlo maybe
closing the show. And Montiel appears
to be fading and in trouble. [ Bell dings ] Interpreter:
This is that decision. You got to knock him out.
We're not going to win. Don't worry about
knocking this guy out. Everything is good. Ranallo: Shoeshined
and then the left hook upstairs by the champion. Double jab by Charlo.
That right hand down the middle. And Montiel just eats it. It's been a long time
since we had a crowd like this. Let them take you through
to the end of this fight. [ Bell dings ] Time! You go back
and look at this... you're gonna know
you did great, son. Lennon Jr.:
And still the undefeated WBC middleweight
champion of the world... Jermall Charlo! ♪♪ Custer:
Jermell Charlo went next, and he aimed again
at a historic accomplishment, attempting to become
the first-ever undisputed super welterweight champion
in the four-belt era. [ Chanting in Spanish ] And yet such lofty ambitions
are wrapped with greater risks. In this case, an undefeated,
heavy-handed Argentine champion in Brian Castaño, who hit back
with everything he had. Ranallo:
And here comes Castaño. Oh, but Charlo countered him
and clipped him in between the shots. And Charlo now unloading
on Castaño! Charlo went to that jab
to the body. Now Castaño clips Charlo
with the left hook! The crowd in San Antonio<font color="#FFFFFF"><i>
en fuego!</i></font> Oh, that left hook by Castaño. Charlo firing back. Left uppercut.
There's the uppercut. But back comes Castaño.
As we come down the stretch. Championship pedigree,
championship heart on display in San Antonio! [ Bell dings ] Ladies and gentlemen,
after 12 rounds of action, we have a split-decision draw. Both fighters
retain their titles. Ranallo: There will be
no undisputed champion at 154 pounds. Custer: The brotherly
boxing bonanza continued on August 29th, when Jake Paul,
known as "The Problem Child," continued his accelerated entry
into boxing and, in his first meeting
with MMA star Tyron Woodley, proved he could withstand
a head-rattling punch. Ranallo: Oh, and Paul
gets rocked by Woodley! The crowd on its feet. Yeah! Custer: Jake continued to draw
an enviable audience of young eyeballs
toward the beauty of boxing. Ranallo:
There's a right hand by Paul. And what an atmosphere here
tonight. The crowd electric. Oh, good combination by Paul. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, baby! -[ Shouting indistinctly ]
-Here we go. Here we go. Come on! Ranallo: This fight
will go to the judges. [ Bell dings ] Time! Good...baby. Good... Lennon Jr.:
And still undefeated, "The Problem Child," Jake Paul! ♪♪ After the end of the bubble, plus a summer that
all but screamed "watch me," Showtime did not rest
on eight months of success. Instead, the march continued,
the stakes heightened as the final sprint toward
a year to remember commenced. To realize
a histrionic conclusion, the network turned
to Canelo Alvarez, boxing's reigning
pound-for-pound king. Not only would Canelo make
a triumphant return to Showtime against an opponent
who didn't mind trading blows the very first time
the two champions faced off. ♪♪ Plant:
You're gonna see something. -Well, you will see something.
-You're gonna see something. You're gonna see.
You're gonna see. You're gonna see. You're gonna see... You're gonna see... Who...You... Don't tell -- [ Indistinct shouting ] [ Bell dings ] Lennon Jr.:
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for the bout
you've all been waiting for. It's champion versus champion. Ranallo:
What a scene here in Sin City! The stage is set for history! ♪♪ Custer:
The final sprint of 2021 accelerated
Showtime's momentum, starting with Canelo's latest
leap toward boxing immortality. Ranallo: There's that
chopping right hand by Canelo. Canelo going to the body
here in round 1 and having some success, as we are just getting started. Custer:
"The Pride of Mexico"
attempted to buttress his hall-of-fame résumé
on November 6th, seeking to claim the first-ever
undisputed title at 168 pounds. [ Indistinct chanting ] Ranallo: Canelo says this is the
most important fight of his life at the end of his career. He wants to be considered
one of the all-time greats, period, full stop, while Plant said
if it wasn't for boxing, he would be dead or in jail. Caleb Plant looking to remain
unbeaten and become undisputed, but he is going to have to try to get past the pressure
and the attack of Canelo. Oh, and Plant goes down for
the first time in his career! High drama in round 11! Come here.
Get your hands up. -You want to fight?
-Yeah. Okay. ♪♪ ♪♪ Ranallo:
The coronation is complete! All hail King Canelo! Custer:
Canelo secured four belts with a sensational knockout
of Caleb Plant. And even in defeat,
the former champion showed he possessed the courage to match the magnitude
of the stage. [ Indistinct conversations ] Hey. Can I tell you
something? Lennon Jr.:
Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time --
1 minute, 5 seconds in round number 11. The winner by way
of technical knockout, he is now boxing's first-ever undisputed super middleweight
champion of the world. SaÚl Canelo Alvarez! ♪♪ Custer: Of all the contenders
eyeing a winning ticket in the Canelo lottery
sweepstakes, David Benavidez became
the first to state his case. Ranallo: Benavidez lighting up
Davis here in the sixth! Davis saying, "Bring me more." Custer: In a return
to his hometown of Phoenix, "El Bandera Roja" battered
and bludgeoned Kyrone Davis. Ranallo: A work of heart
on display here by Kyrone Davis! Mares: How is Davis
still standing? Custer: With an unyielding style
and an unblemished record, Benavidez made
a persuasive argument with his preferred means
of expression -- his fists. Ranallo:
The towel has been thrown in. David Benavidez did
what David Benavidez does. Custer: Stephen Fulton Jr.
continued his march up the 122-pound division
in late November with a unification match
against Brandon Figueroa. Cool Boy Steph won a
Fight of the Year candidate by majority decision and claimed a pair
of 122-pound belts. Mares: You got to give it
to Fulton, man He's fighting Figueroa...
sitting there toe-to-toe. Ranallo: What a show
they have put on here. Crashed past
the 1,000 punches total thrown. Lennon Jr.: He is now
the unified WBC and WBO 122-pound champion
of the world... "Cool Boy Steph" Stephen Fulton! Custer: For Gervonta Davis,
replacing Rolly Romero with a dangerous brawler
in Isaac Cruz led to a difficult fight
on December 5th. Ranallo: Oh, and Cruz
landed that right uppercut. Cruz has never been down
as a pro. I need you to just
pick and go, pick and go. I know that. We know that.
We already know that. Custer:
Davis fought half of the bout with essentially one hand while registering only
his second career victory in a fight
that went the distance. Ranallo:
He's become a one-handed
fighter, that right hand, but it is delivering dividends, and Cruz unable
to take advantage. The crowd at Staples Center
enjoying what they've seen. Lennon Jr.: And still the. Gervonta "Tank" Davis! Custer: In a career
that has spanned two decades, Nonito Donaire proved the same
notion time and again -- he <font color="#FFFFFF"><i>always </i>comes to fight.</font> Lennon Jr.:
Here is "The Filipino Flash," Nonito Donaire! Custer:
Now 39, The Filipino Flash took on Reymart Gaballo
in December... Ranallo: Donaire sneaks
a right hand to the body and then the left hook
and a jab upstairs. Gaballo goes down for
the first time in his career courtesy of a body shot! Custer: ...and earned
his 42nd career victory. Ranallo: Nonito Donaire! The renaissance continues! Custer:
When Tommy Fury pulled out
of their scheduled matchup, Jake Paul again
turned to Tyron Woodley for a rematch
with the former MMA champion. Ranallo: They're throwing
twice as many punches as they did in the first fight. Ohh! Mamma mia! What a punch. What a knockout. Custer: The spectacle
marked a fitting end to a dynamic
and unpredictable year. Ranallo: Talk about putting
an exclamation point on 2021. Custer:
In a year as sensational as the one that just unfolded, amid bubbles, returns,
beefs, and belts, a year steeped in history
and marked by momentum in a sport that's changing
more rapidly than before, there were so many
incredible fights that some notable bouts
fell under the radar. This is the best of the rest. ♪♪ Ranallo: Under a minute left
in the seventh! Nery goes down for the
fourth time in his career! Brandon Figueroa
has just stopped Luis Nery! ♪ What they talkin' about,
what they talkin' about ♪ Ranallo: It's over!
History has been made! Nonito Donaire is champion! ♪ Famous like TikTok ♪ ♪ I've been getting dough... ♪ ♪ You know that I... ♪ Ranallo: Lubin looking
to reap the dividends. And Rosario's down again! [ Rap music playing ] ♪♪ Oh, a three-punch combination
punctuated. Nyambayar unloading on Colbert. A final exchange fitting
for The Punch Bowl. Lennon Jr.:
Chris "PrimeTime" Colbert! [ Rap music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Lennon Jr.:
And still champion, John Riel "Quadro Alas"
Casimero! ♪♪ Ranallo: Oh, and Serrano.
Counter left by Mercado. Serrano looking
for the knockout. Mercado wearing
the vestiges of war and just got lit up by
that left hand from Serrano. Lennon Jr.:
And still the unified female featherweight
champion of the world... Amanda Serrano! Ranallo: Butaev and James
letting it all hang out. Less than a minute left
in the ninth. The referee steps in
and stops the fight! Lennon Jr.:
Radzhab "No Mercy" Butaev! [ Rap music playing ] ♪♪ Ranallo: Dirrell detonates
a monster shot! And Anthony "The Dog" Dirrell
putting an exclamation point. You wanted a statement?
He just made one. ♪♪ And, of course,
in a year as monumental as 2021, a boxing institution celebrated
its 20th anniversary, a milestone that proved
its lasting impact and deep staying power. "ShoBox: The New Generation" continued to showcase
a full spectrum of prospects. ♪♪ The show's mission --
to match the best young boxers in the most competitive fights. Announcer:
There's a right hand! Drops him! There's a left hand
drops Baranchyk! Beginning in July of 2001,
two decades later, "ShoBox" remains the sport's
most prominent proving ground, where prospects
become contenders, before contenders
can become champions, as was yet again the case
in a magical year of boxing. Tompkins: There is your winner,
Janelson Figueroa Bocachica. ♪♪ That's a huge right hand!
And that is it! Malignaggi:
This kid can punch, guys. Tompkins: Really. Ring announcer: ...Ohio... Isaiah "Z-Wop" Steen! Tompkins: Again a combination!
And that's it! It's all over! Sanchez wins it! Malignaggi:
That's a huge win for Sanchez. ♪♪ Custer: Add everything up,
and the conclusion is obvious -- for Showtime and for boxing,
what a year. 25 events held in 13 cities... Ranallo:
The stage is set for history! Custer: ...featuring legends,
champions, and prospects, along with new types of fighters all combining
to invigorate the sport. Keep going!
Keep going! From Canelo Alvarez,
now boxing's first-ever undisputed
super middleweight champion... Ranallo:
The coronation is complete! Custer: ...to Tank Davis, now a legitimate
pay-per-view star... Ranallo:
A monstrous shot by Davis! Custer:
...to the Charlo brothers, twin titlists
who clearly defined their individual legacies... to the Paul brothers
and their impact on a sport that's starting to warm up
to their disruption. You did it, bro. Custer:
Add everything up, but please recognize
the significance, the history,
the sport's latest boom, one that began in the throes
of a global pandemic and reminded the world
that resiliency matters and that uncertainty, no matter
how vast, can be a good thing, even the best thing,
depending on how a champion, any champion, overcomes
the obstacles in front of them. I'm Brian Custer.
That does it for the "Best of
Showtime Boxing: 2021." We'll see you for yet another
big year in 2022. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪
