HOLYFIELD "RAMS" RAHMAN. (HORRIFIC INJURY)

[Music] [Applause] [Music] we're at the newly renovated boardwalk Convention Center in Atlantic City New Jersey for another edition of world championship boxing tonight future hall-of-famer at van der Holyfield takes on fellow former heavyweight champ passim Rahman and a masked up critical to the careers of both men with heavyweights dominating the boxing news these days we bring you a compelling crossroads matchup between two of the divisions biggest names this side of Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson the incomparable Evander Holyfield now 39 years old tries to keep alive his dream of again winning the undisputed heavyweight title and about against a dangerous and equally desperate former jab Hasim Rahman who like Holyfield looks to punch his way back into the title fiction hello again everybody and welcome to Atlantic City for this special night on world championship boxing already you've enjoyed the thirty minute countdown to Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson next week in Memphis this is a pivotal month in the heavyweight division tonight as the stakes have already been articulated here Hasim Rahman against Evander Holyfield here in Atlantic City one man will move forward one man will step further back next week Louis against Tyson there's already been a lot said and much more will be said in the next seven days for sure before we're there in Memphis next Saturday night live pay-per-view and then on the 29th of this month back here in Atlantic City rapidly rising top contender regarded by many as the heir apparent to the title wladimir klitschko of the ukraine will face his toughest test so far in the person of durable tough american heavyweight Ray Mercer a man who gave both Holyfield and Lewis all they could handle in his battles with them so let's get it started with the expertise of two-time former heavyweight champion George Foreman and George eleven years ago on this same piece of turf you fought against Evander Holyfield who was regarded by at that time as too small to be a top-notch legitimate heavyweight he'd already won the title he showed his bravery against you could you have foreseen that 11 years later at 39 he'd still be around making a mark in the heavyweight division you can almost bet on it if you a young champion you're gonna be an old contender sooner or later Joe Lewis fought more ex-heavyweight champion than anyone else in the world Rocky Marciano he came along and fighting Jersey Joe Walcott and all of them if you stick around in the heavyweight division you're gonna see more ex-champion than anywhere in the world geriatrics rewarded yeah here we go towards oldest heavyweight champ of all time well it began for Evander Holyfield with the disappointment Los Angeles in 1984 when because of in the eyes of many and unwarranted disqualification bronze suddenly turned to gold for the amateur star from Atlanta and for a bandar Holyfield it's been an uphill fight ever since then earlier this week he sat down with Larry Merchant to talk about his tumultuous career you've been in so many hard fights you've had so many honors you've made so much money what drives you to keep boxing to be the champ to be the best once I lost two titles 1993 red boat you know that I was I was gonna quit you were gonna quit and I like but I realized that you know I wouldn't be the champ that I say I am if I quit but in the chase of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of all again come here to 2002 do you make any concession to time any concession to you can't do all the same things at 39 as you could at 29 I don't believe that I believe it when there's nothing wrong when that had been an injury you have taken care of your body so you know what you can do you know I'm realistic about things some things I don't want to do tomorrow what can't you do that was a lot easier when I was younger I used to go out dancing all the time and so dance was a part of my work I said on the dance for three to four hours I love dance but it had a lot to do with the way I fought you know dance is all about where the boxing is about rhythm it's about how do you make the adjustment and be in the perfect stance and let your hands go how do you get back in the stands for deke that's now because I don't go dance and stuff thinking I have to quote myself I need to get in a ruler I have to remind myself if you don't win this fight will you retire no I will not retire because I don't know where I could lose just fight for me not to go out and fight and you know if it go to a decision the decision be you can go either way and I will have to get back in line if it mean get in line two or three more time and I will get back in line so in effect you're saying unless I get beaten up I'm gonna keep going well you know I'm never ever gonna get beat up I may get accomplished a shot but I'm not gonna get beat up I never got beaten up ready to bow on the person that came closer doing that in because she's you know that was a fight that made me really like say I don't know if I ever want to go back through that again do you sense that people who have come to respect admire even love you as a prizefighter are concerned about you somehow they don't want to see you get hurt I truly believe that people love me and I know that people are very concerned but they have to understand that I have to make the season that that's right for me because when it all come down you know I'm out to pay the price if I don't make it i'ma pay the price if I do make it and I've this but it's code this is what made me the man that I him 17 years in counting his professional career an ongoing triumph of the will Larry is his Evander Holyfield delusional at this point to think that he can win back the heavyweight championship of the world delusional but determined and once upon a time that was a potent mix for a man remember that epic tent man and the first of the three fights with both when he was battered from pillar to post to pillar and yet by the middle of the round he was doing the battering who riddick bowe and when he was asked after the fight he was almost knocked out what he said was that's when I knew I had him I had him where I wanted him and that's pure Evander Holyfield delusional but determined and now once again he's being battered battered with the question Evander why don't you do the decent thing and go off peacefully into that good night of retirement he has us where he wants us so now let's find out tonight if he's got has seen rahman where he ones in man George what about the choice by Rahman coming off his devastating knockout loss against Lennox Lewis to go up against the cage East old rat in the barn I think this is a wise choice evidently he's a good manager in man I don't know if he's got the best-trained available but he's decided that look I'm gonna beat the most famous renowned boxer around he knocks Evander Holyfield out he's top of the heap again wise decision right time the right thing exactly the reason why Rahman says he chose to take this fight he wanted to be right back into the first sentence of consideration for the heavyweight championship so let's start the countdown to the pageantry now tale of the tape between Holyfield and Rahman and there is one fascinating number here it's not the age we know that Holyfield 10 years older at 39 they're just about equal in height a reach advantage of four and a half inches for Rahman but look at the weight at the bottom Holyfield a trim and slim to 16 he's always been in great condition Rahman fought Luis in South Africa at 238 pounds he fought Luis in las vegas at 236 pounds he fires trainer Adrian Davis hires Bowie Fischer who used to train Bernard Hopkins and enters here at 224 he himself seemed shocked by how low that number is punch stat numbers Larry [Music] these days so you can see Jim that holyfield throws fewer punches these days as a counter-puncher Rahman is more active generally jabs Rahman figures to throw more jabs under the tutelage of bui fisher and that's his key to victory rules at about where their unofficial ringside scorer Harold Lederman he event Holyfield Hudson Bronfman fight is scheduled for 12 rounds non-title using the Unified Rules of the association of boxing commissions there is no three knockdown rule only the referee can stop the fight in case the cut is caused by an accidental head but we go to the scorecards after four rounds have been completed and it cannot be Saved by the Bell in any round including the 12th and final round Jim all right as you watch tonight viewers we ask you to log onto hbo.com slash boxing cast your vote on what you think will be the outcome of next Saturday night's heavyweight championship battle between Luis and Tyson we'll give you the results at the conclusion of tonight's telecast also our live trainer audio allows you to choose which trainer in quarterman you want to listen to during tonight's Evander Holyfield has seen rock man fight and here comes the rock he had a short and very happy reign of the heavyweight champion being celebrated by his hometown of Baltimore and doing a lot of celebrating himself but we have learned that he really was in great turmoil leading up to the rematch with a trainer he didn't speak to for a month so he revealed to us that he actually fasted on the day paladin big mistakes his idea was that since he could eat after sundown on Ramadan that he would have time to eat and prepare for the fight which he did nevertheless in the wake of the easy Lewis knockout there were numerous questions about Rahman state of mind coming into the bike particularly when he revealed that he had been totally at odds with his trainer Adrian Davis prior to the fight Rahman claims that he and Davis did not speak to each other in the five weeks leading to the fight he says in fact that if he hadn't paid Davis in advance he would have fired him and hired another trainer then now he's with Bowie Fischer who trained Bernard Hopkins to his big victory over Felix Trinidad last year before splitting from Hopkins is an advocate of the manly art of self-defense he wants Rock Mon we set up his big punches not to just wing them but is it a good idea to bring in a new trainer with new ideas yes before an important fight typical of many reasons American heavyweight stars rock man came into the sport late from other experiences as a basketball and football player and Holyfield says that's his weakness he's still an amateur he never learned all the things I learned in my lengthy amateur career well as Rahman put it they were asking Holyfield whether he was going to retire before he had even put on gloves for the first time the continuing light from the ring of Evander Holyfield look at that 22 fights in his career again [Music] [Applause] not just to his fights in the heavyweight division but also is the light heavyweight [Applause] [Music] [Music] fight in and fight out the most consistently entertaining fighter in boxing school over the course of the past 15 years in my view Jimmy's been the best fighter in boxing over that time I guess the question many of us ask this why does a man with nine 55,000 square foot house with 12 bedrooms and 20 bathrooms still want to do this because it's there because he defines himself by this as a prizefighter on stage challenging the best when you spend your life moving you can do what others said you couldn't it's hard to give it up [Music] he was a bullion yesterday we've ever seen about his life and his career and looking toward this with great confidence and assurance that he can once again be the real deal and now let's go to ringing out to Jimmy Lennon jr. for the official introductions to the new boardwalk hall here in Atlantic City New Jersey as we have a big night of action coming away and it's all brought to you by Dawn Hakeem productions in association with HBO Sports valleys Atlantic City Caesars Atlantic City and the undisputed king of beers of Budweiser this Malcolm agley a sanctioned by the New Jersey State athletic Control Board Larry Hazzard commissioner the Chairman is Jerry Gormley board member steven the cat's introducing to you our three judges scoring this main event from ringside from new york Melvina lakelyn from New Jersey Jon Stewart also from New Jersey Steve Weisfeld and the third man of the ring our referee in charge he'll be giving instructions after the introductions Tony Orlando my fans here we go 12 rounds of boxing in a heavyweight elimination special attraction and now ladies and gentlemen in attendance and boxing fans joining us around the world live from Atlantic City New Jersey it's time for the main event [Music] first on my left he is fighting out of the blue corner he dreamed the ring or wearing blue trunks with silver trim hailing from Baltimore Maryland he weighed in at 224 [Music] wins three losses twenty-nine big wins coming by will he is currently ranked the WBC number three contender ladies and gentlemen please welcome the former heavyweight champion of the world introducing the Hasim [Music] [Applause] [Music] and is up hold it up rostering on my right ready to find out of the red corner deterring the rain wearing red trunks with purple trim representing his hometown into Georgia deep way in and a ready 260 pounds this record 37 wins five losses two draws with 25 wins coming by way of knockout ladies and gentlemen please welcome boxing's true warrior [Music] [Applause] our referee in charge now to get instructions Tony Orlando 12 rounds of boxing [Applause] you receive my instructions in dressing room therefore I expect a clean professional fight once you watch your heads watch of all blows listen to my commands you touch the back you corner wait for the Bell early in his career Evander Holyfield used to take opponents to the woodshed later in his career he's been trying to take them to school yesterday he indicated that maybe he has didn't think all of this school stuff so let's see if he tries to recapture some of his youth against a conventional opponent George does rock snooze sleek 224 pound body mean that he's definitely going to be boxing moving and staying outside it wouldn't hurt him to boxing move I tell you that Holyfield is not a good aggressive he does best when you bring the fight to him you want to move around a step jab step in jab and ring did he make a mistake he's not able to get away from right hands like he used to how old food has got to make certain that he if he get hit with anything it's a left hook because this guy's got nothing on the left hook it's the right hand you gotta beware in his big win over Luis in South Africa Rahman through many jabs by copy box numbers 28 to round and his loss to Luis in Las Vegas he was much less active with the dead and that created new opportunities for Lennon's good that Rahman is fast to go the little weight off him he can bounce around every now and then [Applause] motor fighters popping into the body in the first minute Rockman working the jab upstairs Holyfield sends an airmail right too long see Holyfield's getting he has his big punches that left hook to the body it's too bad he's never been able to get that same pot warm top with the left hook mainly because he's have to reach it big guys and that's why but he is being more aggressive that we've seen him in some recent fights that's what Rahman can just take his time and let that right hand go on the field decides to step in counseling Mona's gotta make certain that this fight goes beyond he's landing good body shot this guy can hit Rock Holyfield's sometimes looked slow and lethargic in his three battles with John Murray he has so far looked lively and energetic and rounds alone here tonight look buddy work by Rockland Holyfield tries to get in that is make Holyfield step follower if these Bellflower trying to jam I throw shots rock you can nail them all night just don't go after you vendor Holyfield step around to the side stiff left hand by rock on doubling up on the cab there with a good acted showing in the first round Holyfield mashing him with that left hook inside [Applause] one two lands for Holyfield Rockman came back with a left hand of his own Holyfield's working to the body and rockman feeling it he'll of around it was too [Applause] [Music] new combination it was happy here and we can circle to make them fail okay dad's gonna lead you all the way worth in the hole we take this okay [Music] Tom shoebox estimate I should say copy box estimates in round one Holyfield 14 out of 41 rock mine 20 49 both guys had their moments both guys threw the jab in the neighborhood of 20 times and landed it about 25 percent of the time pretty even looking round by the numbers rock his corners got him backing up just a little bit which is good and we're dealing he's got the counter puncher as a trainer the trainer making a counter punch out [Applause] good thing about this fight for Rahman is that Holyfield is fighting like a heavyweight big gift used to be fought like a light anyway in a heavyweight title by Soviet his activity level was difficult for some heavyweights to deal with that's right but not any longer as a matter of fact Rahman is able to sneak in jabs throw one shot and you can they're still in the same position [Music] [Applause] Holyfield waits the counter with that right hand the contrast you describe Holyfield better as a defender than an attacker was illustrated in the four fights against Luis and Tyson Holyfield beating Tyson twice a man who would come to him and attack [Applause] Rockman has better turn on some power now because he's not laying in any body shots to take away Holyfield's explosiveness Dipsy up to the body Rockland he's been school whoa and the right hand on top [Applause] that's what you want to do if you're rahman go to the day upset about it jab to the bout and make him protect his body and go on top with your right hand not likely to get a chance to get a running start on the right hand here the way he did and knocking Lewis out in South Africa domination by Holyfield rock mine again go into the body inside jab together Rockland's who got the better of it to Brockman's success in South Africa he out jabbed the jabber in the first few rounds against Luis that helped to create the tentativeness in Luis that gave him the chance for the big knockout Holyfield will never be tentative he keeps coming Rockman didn't like the left hook that hurt him to that round two comes to a close next Saturday night we remind heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson finally face off one of the most talked-about fights in the past five years louis looking to a win over tyson to prove once and for all that he's the best of his era Tyson looking to recapture the magic that made him one of the most exciting crowd-pleasing heavyweights of all time Louis Tyson is on next Saturday night on pay-per-view and tonight stick with us after the conclusion of this fight when we'll have a conversation with Lennox Lewis from Memphis where he has arrived in preparation for the big fight Tyson incidentally has also arrived and settled in in Memphis Tennessee [Music] the boardwalk Center totally refurbished beautiful facility it's not entirely new it's built within the shell of the old Atlantic City Convention Center but a far more glamorous environment than used to be the case and big crowd here tonight that was a light hand that was the right in that hurt Rahman and he picked he been a holy girl up by the legs to conceal it then make sure you get his his head up out of there Holyfield connected with the left hook inside - and now Rahman starts to back away and Holyfield nails him with the right cross [Applause] Holyfield trying to peel the years away fighting as aggressively as he is can he sustain it one thing about throwing that many punches and you're not the bigger guy as Holyfield Leo's you need a wrist you got to take a breather per second and that's when rockman should jump right back on him you got to make him pay as soon as he throws five punches get back on it ever since the middle of career of his career Evander Holyfield despite his extraordinary conditioning has often fought in spurts 20 30 seconds at a time then that seemingly beating to regain his energy well he's basically a middleweight built up with fine conditioning and weight lifting and good nutrition some of these guys are naturally big all they are just big feet up here and here to be glucose three shots at him he retired so you're saying the Holyfield size is self everybody should be manufactured like it by themself and what about the notion that he wasn't really a big heavyweight punching George well he did he made up for it in his heart heavy weight - no matter how big they are they can't take these big hearts MANET of the round was big for Evander Holyfield now in the second minute of the round his pace has slowed and rock - back into ya Holyfield was able to land some punches but it took more out of him than it did Rock finish beating Rahman up rockland came pushed him into the corner and start hitting him back good left inside by Holyfield dig into the ribcage again [Applause] Hasim Rahman has a strong body evander holyfield seems determined to test it has no other fighter hands next football player to those football players their custom to bumping shoulders with people and they don't get hurt yeah but they're not accustomed to being whacked in the belly and delivers nobody is [Music] the belly too for way that this Carly you need to listen okay and later all will start loading up three or four times on the wrong local eat him up you hope they eat him up but watch that right hand because he's against the limited John Ruiz Holyfield was smothered and you never were rarely saw into this kind of attitude in the ring against the more conventional fighter like Rahman a boxer puncher who wants to give and take he can operate an Evander Holyfield is operated copied box numbers in round three a big round for Holyfield in the power punching category Holyfield 18 out of 28 in power punches in round three including many body shots early in the round which seemed to take something out of rock mine Harold Lederman how do you have it through three okay Jim we saw you hurt to save in the whole of field couldn't pull the trigger man I tell you in a second and a third round event now Holyfield pulled the trigger two rounds to one 29:28 up then the Holyfield sensational left hooks good right hands by been to hold clean punches that the judges couldn't miss winner rounds two or three back button the busy guy in the first round yeah every time he's going out into the fight Holyfield his corner is said to him just watch the right hand he believes apparently that the only way you can lose to Robin is with that [Music] and right now if he can avoid it it looks like he can have a heck of a night in earlier this evening I spoke off-camera to a guy who fought both of them Lennox Lewis said who do you like tonight he said I got a hunch on the old man - he said logic says Rockman something in my heart tells me evander will be big tonight so far Lennox is right they talk about the event the Holyfield watching that right hand but he's not doing much of moving away from it at all there's a matter of fact most of the time is Justin Rahman is not getting off with that right here Evander's so karate in his ability to roll without tears from anything but he got nailed with the right hand right there there it is again uppercut lands for Holyfield rock - land at the right hand four times in the rouse Rockman has gathered no don't hold of film stars leaning in like that he may be hurt don't think he's looking for leverage Vander starts trying to go back to the body the slow rock mines attack upstairs here's another vicious left hook to the rib cage by Holyfield what's your head this is when Rahman should be fighting his guys can not throw five shots and then do anything else hold the fifth row three good shots he's gotta take it to rest well there goes the dancing bobbing counter punching and weaving Rahman he's gone now as rock man leans in and slugs with Evander on the inside I don't know why but he 200 should have been a little better for him to move around and catch Holyfield when he backs up my baby's body shots have taken the foot movement away [Applause] holy fillers going around houses I'll let benefit rockland because it takes so much out of you we field busting rahman on the top of the head to the right hand Rock looking to set up another right cross before the round ends [Applause] stay focused don't get off your jab you started getting off your jab that round and that's why as Abel taking the ropes until the right hand don't get off your jab keep your left hand that was a straight right hand you can see that the way holy geo tries to defend the right hand sometimes and use it with his right across the top and then says he did in South Africa but with less effect Rahman threaded through his defense meanwhile you saw the referee Tony Orlando and the ring doctor in rock man's corner to examine what appears to be a dick over Rockman's left eye you heard the discussions and apparently Orlando agreeing that the knick must have come from a head but rather than applied not sure how he knows that that seemed to be the determination Rock mana complain as soon as he was hit but it ran heads together he complained the referee knew about it Rahman has got to get back on his Jay up don't worry about the right hand let the right hand come to you [Applause] let's hook by Holyfield after a right hand by ROC box [Applause] energy levels just about equal in there and your needs gap not going up so far oh man has no right to be fighting this way [Applause] [Music] we got to get some levator Holyfield's of DNA and implanted in a few other everywhere now you go rock with a successful with his jams [Applause] Hill misses with a roundhouse left [Applause] right breakfast this is a real courageous and brave face by Rahman being that he was just stopped by another champion not too long ago he's coming back like he's never been off yesterday Hasim Rahman said I don't just want to win I want to look good in the fight I want it to be a great fight I want people to be interested in what I'm doing in there I don't need to knock him out I just need to make a big impression in this flat he can do that if he whatever Evander Holyfield's lands 3-shot keeps his hand up he can get him with for afterwards because he benders not in a position to defend himself rafty throws four punches busted Holyfield on the 10 Evander again shows his enormous ability as he's shown throughout his career to take a punch always been able to take [Music] just gonna take too many up [Applause] [Music] the first time in the fight there are subtle signs that holyfield is slowing down just a bit more and more frequently he throws one punch at a time instead of back punch with a combination there's a relative big right hands another big right hand by the rock with his own right don't count me out yet he says [Applause] next Saturday night on pay-per-view its Lennox Lewis versus Mike Tyson and along the way to match up for the heavyweight championship shooting 22 HBO pay-per-view the rematch of 2000 spite of the year when Erik Morales takes on Marco Antonio Barrera in 126 pounds showdown and on June 29 on HBO heavyweight Vladimir Klitschko continues his quest for a possible title shot Klitschko will do battle with the old ways to frame ursery HBO the heart and soul of boxing your right hand hi okay give me that thing give me that face walk it to the left keep bumping don't stand in front of him we don't need to one more time the big record of Rockland a straight right hand [Applause] copy box numbers in round five both fighters through fewer than 40 punches the base begins to slow just a little bit Holyfield landing 15 rock man landing 16 berry even round Harold Lederman scoring the fightin barely even so far round six of a scheduled 12 all the fillers got to make sure if he gonna call right here and he'd better come back with a left hook because [Applause] another big left hook upstairs punching back now the rock starts to grow now Rockland has got his thought throwing punches after Holyfield for five shots he's no good that's why you see them holding right now Rahman has gotta start throwing Chuck [Applause] well said George Holyfield taking one of those breathers now after the big offensive rally this is Hans chance to come right back at him the rock is letting that little attention don't get many moments in these big fights like this you got punches you got to take advantage of them while they're there and if you watch the vendor will appeal the whole past eight years you know there's usually a low after the storm that's your opportunity [Applause] right now he doesn't even know he's not even aware he's hurting he got a big smile on his face just after he landed that I got you old guy now go back to your job if your rahman just keep the jab going he always gets the best of the jail [Applause] gentlemen what's your help trade jabs there and Holyfield out jabs Rockman - what well that roughly is gonna have a lot of work on his hand tonight was doing the counterpunching now what's up over and over and over rock man with the one-two one-two jab right cross this Lord's pointed out at the top of the show at the beginning of the fight I should say Rock mom doesn't do much with the left hook if you don't if you're Holyfield you guys just stay away on it outside an upside if he stays the Rockies never be used and we all night [Applause] don't give the round in the last 20 seconds don't go don't don't stop me to the floor don't get passive the last 20 seconds don't do that you want to hustle at last 20 seconds you understand hit with three more punches right and drive don't let him want to love something even in Azad Rock don't letting on your lips are get society's one here bunch of the early in the round Holyfield did some serious business then it carries him through the round ten nine now even could this fight be Tom P box numbers in the sixth they both landed nineteen punches they both threw right about forty bill thirty nine Rahman forty route using DAWs again Harold how do you have it through six okay Jim I agree hang it at all even 5757 three rounds of peace passing rock vine came back and Gill he realize evade the Holyfield across the ring he used to do that very early in his courageous real good at it just like George Foreman said he leaves that shoulder and watch it with the free hand Evander Holyfield kid you know can try crack round the crystal ring cuz rattling stronger but in round six event I think stole it with that early rally so three rounds apiece I have the same score what I can't understand is rocking this also tougher with his left jab and he hardly knows now the jabs he can't miss [Applause] maybe he doesn't want to get hit by that right nothing's gonna happen to it and you heard Rockman's corner echoing George Foreman saying don't let him get around on your left side worth pointing out as he has that if the foreman is on rock man's left side he's safe doesn't use the left Holyfield should be good to Spade to the left whatever deal he has problem moving terms to his right Holyfield I don't like to do it if you move to his left he doesn't have fun we can't see you [Applause] tackle than anything else although rock did land an overhand right [Applause] there's that successful left camp [Applause] took upstairs Holyfield trying to attack and see come back Rockland has got a portal this is his time to pour it on look like a big swelling on rocking his head there is a huge mountain rock man's head above his left eye that's what the doctors were getting ready to look at a couple rounds ago up that's what came from the bump can you imagine Holyfield hands him up against the ropes throwing a lot of shots now Holyfield holding on that's what you want make him throw those shots so you think the lump on Rockman's head came from another but Kevin bumpin here tonight how distracting is a dirac man to have something like this yeah this is it moment of truth he can't even say distract them now he's got a vote for he's feeling it he's feeling it you see him Robin it was a glob man Holyfield hits it with the right hand that's about as nasty a buck as I've ever seen above the fighters are I almost on the forehead there it is you can work with that door a good corner man you can work with that me Gilda yes that's about as good a corner man as you'll find right there working you can work with that because there's no chance to blow your that thing is moving up there [Music] [Music] it let's see where they buttered oh they're two fighters fighting at close quarters coming in at each other Oh dad ears there he is right on the spot yep Holyfield is a rough fighter not a dirty fighter when you fight him at close quarters get ready almost anything goes well various opponents throughout commanders career have complained that he butted but most ringside experts agree Evander doesn't seem to try to foul on purpose it's just the way he fights he's there he's coming if you go inside with him it's going to be rough let's keep our eye on that and see if that's true [Applause] on the vanity in Holyfield the schedule 12 39 year old fighter is trying to take the 29 holding on for dear life yeah the and sees a wounded creature in front of him and that seems to have energized me remember this happens in the London Africa Lewis thought he had him hurt with him when he went into that magic right here Evander's not just waiting for one big punch the way Lewis did in South Africa he's born he's been teased into our shop and he's not given Rahman any room to do the things that Rock does best tad throw the right hand that knot is amazing but it doesn't seem to be bothering you can feel it on your hair those things like that it irritates that is one of the most grotesque things I've ever seen on a prizefight [Applause] what is the danger of that that thing is all the way down doing that it's a collection of we're not going to call dangerous dude but if you feel you can't [Applause] I'm going to stop the fight I believe the doctor said the rock mine it's not dangerous but if you can't see okay [Music] [Applause] New Jersey State Athletic Commission Chairman Larry hazard hitting the instructions to referee Orlando makes the signal there the fight is going to be stopped right here they'll go to the scorecards and determine the winner the doctors the doctor said to Rockline the bump isn't dangerous but if you can't see the fight should stop and Rahman said something to the effect that it was affecting his eyesight and that's why they stopped the fight your take on this Jim I gotta tell you what made the term in this fight now this is a guess but I think it's an educated guess when you stop a fight in the middle and around you have to score around in which the fight is stopped now obviously Evander Holyfield wins round 8 10 to 9 this might be a big factor in this thing maybe and I've got it right now five rounds to three favorite Holyfield I mean because of the fact that he won that eighth rat rat man did nothing but but protect the the luck in the 8th round now as far as the corner goes because this was using an ends well when you're gonna look like that you're gonna have a nice big ready yeah just like he has on it right now but you gotta have a big eyes big but between round seven and eight he used the ends well one way to treat that George Rob you're satisfied they're doing exactly the right thing with this became exactly the right thing I think this is more than fair go to the scorecards this guy cannot continue it was an accidental hit but this is gonna be a fat decision here's the but once again that's the clash of heads which produced the swelling that's the second one you can see the swelling begin immediately after that clash of heads I mean the swelling has already begun within seconds there after the clash of heads you saw in that replay and yes sir right towards that was the second one yeah that was not the one wedge cognition first visit over to rock man's corner a little bit earlier it has got to be something seriously wrong with that I had to have that kind of sweaty I saw that in a fight between Randall Bailey and Denair Julio in Miami two years ago on the undercard of Felix Trinidad against Mamadou Tom and later I had a chance to ask Bailey how much had bothered him and he said you know I wasn't really all that conscious haben during the fight he said when I got to the locker room afterward I couldn't believe it because I looked you know misshapen that's though my face it completely changed yeah you don't have a mirror when you're out there in the ring so you just have to guess get rocky Rock has no way of knowing exactly how that feels but he's been touching into this gloves but of course he can't feel anything loves meanwhile they're totaling up the scorecards here to see if evander holyfield it's gotten a huge and rejuvenating win in his career albeit the impact that the wind may be diminished by the circumstances under which he gets it right George that's right and that's good that they got a similar promoter demeanor a rematch it was a good fight that deserves a remand it was a good fight it was a great matchup that was bringing out terrific stuff from both fighters do-or-die each fighters he had to produce tonight he's out of the picture maybe the scorecards will be even that wouldn't hurt anything either a grinning Don Turner above us [Music] Turner's probably smiling because of the performance of his fighter evander holyfield looked like a lively young Colt in there much of the time oh yeah he was fighting like a big super heavyweight not fighting like the little light heavyweight without any weight so they're totally settled into this thing yeah I guess he said I'm not gonna lose weight I'm not going down I may have you [Music] 216 pounds and looking like a sleek customized roadster and tonight with some new gas in the tank one question Rahman will have to answer for himself and for others after the fight why did he agree to fight Evander Holyfield in closed waters rather than to stay outside boxing and uses jab did he have a choice George I think that he was doing the right kind of fight this bump just kind of messed things up to hit but this guy was able to withstand Holyfield's combinations and then come back but later on out neither hit but if you mix that into the get that into the mix and then things don't go well well Tyson in particular was one fighter who complained that Holyfield but have you ever seen it intentionally well you seem to go to the same spot all attack Jimmy Lennon jr. to see what the official scorecard said ladies and gentlemen this bout has been stopped at 1 minute 40 seconds and round a number 8 due to an accidental head butt our position at ringside ruling that rock bond suffering from a severe hematoma is unable to continue therefore we go to the scorecards judge at ringside Steve Weisfeld scores about 69 to 64 in favor of Evander Holyfield judging Malvina Lathan scores about 67 to 66 in favor of Hasim Rahman - rings i john stewart scores about 69 to 64 in favor of the technical decision winner Evander [Music] Harold Lederman you said they had to score the eighth round you have this go on a partial round they were entirely wrong now listen to me if you score if you've got knock a guy down 15 times or something like that in the eighth round you've got to get credit for those knock downs you must score the partial round period and I know those rules inside that I would question commissioner Larry has it about the a threat however it's a moot point isn't it it is holy fool Holyfield would have a v8 by all logic but then the decision would have remained the same correct absolutely correct [Laughter] Harold of them had Holyfield winning and there the judges scorecards Melvina Lathan with rack man on top Stewart and Weiss felled both with Holyfield on top even if all three judges were to have scored the eighth round for Rahman it would still be a Holyfield victory by majority decision or by split decision I should say split technical decision to be totally accurate about it let's go to Larry Merchant standing by with the man who has now taken the bitter into this one I seem Rock mine alright thank you very much Jim Rock the doctor said to you at the end you could continue if it doesn't interfere with your eyesight how was it interfering with your sight every time he was jab me I thought I saw the jack coming one way and it hit me somewhere else I know he had that much moving on his debt so when I went the blockage that I was way way off I couldn't really see it coming and I mean he had bought me food from around 1:00 well what did you say I'm sorry I didn't hear you head-butting me from round one alright but what what do you recall about the headbutt that put that knot above your left eye I think I pointed it right out to the referee when he did it he just came in London with his head every time I was doing right hand here I'm dropping his level and rush me with his forehead I mean you know that's just part of it that's just another weapon he has you know I'm fighting against two hands ahead and outlets let's take a look at the head but I'm sorry we don't have a monitor here we'll try to get a monitor so that you can see it and describe it tell us about the fight up until that time was he more active than you anticipated no I thought he was gonna be active for the first you know for the first half of the fight and then I thought he was sorted out I think he was gonna come out bare as though he thought I got I mean though he know I got started in my last fight I thought he would come out and try to end the early but the fight is 12 rounds I know you know I was going to pick the pace up and lay it around and go for the knockout you were hitting him with your right hand weren't you yeah I felt like I was going to start hitting more and more with the right hand because some rounds I withdraw some rounds I wouldn't fly and just want them catching beat on and then I was just stop picking up and picking up picking up at the last minute you said before the fight if you lost this you didn't see how you could remain in contention but you fought a good fight you still feel that you can go out of your career on a fight like this definitely I don't feel Evander Holyfield beat me I'll feel like you know it was it was a fair fight and I don't think it was an official fight you know I think the fight no so you'll be back I mean if I could be back with event I'd like to set the record straight I'm not sure he's gonna want to fight again but if he does you know I just got prepared for the head Buzzard well you know how it looks on tape I didn't think he could do as much damage with his head that he's really do he must have a metal plate in there or something because I'll remember some of nobody doing this much damage with a punch thank you very much right Jim back to you all right thank you very much Larry Rock makes a good point it's conceivable to me at least that Holyfield might look around for a chance to get it one of those belts quicker than two to go in and have to fight Rock mount again but Rock man deserves a rematch it ought to happen yeah I don't think this fight didn't happen and didn't end the way Evander Holyfield not Rockman should want history to record it it should be a rematch should be in another place they should have a chance to settle it fair and square it wasn't settled right this diamond diamond entertainment standpoint it was shaping up as a much better fight than some of us might have expected it to be no I don't think we're gonna see him in a heavyweight fights like this Holyfield was throwing punches like he was 21 he'd get tired but he throw 21 more Larry stands by now with 39 year-old winner Evander Holyfield thank you Jim congratulations Evander I guess you're not going into retirement well you know either way to decision when I wasn't going every you know like I said my goal to get honest food every chap in the world and you know patient is key to being something he said you were budding him from the beginning of the fight but was there a particularly hard collision of heads that raised that night on his head well no no I don't think so I were heating with you know every right hand I threw our hidden across the temple with it because he wasn't able to get his hands up and you know he he actually lead in with his head what I do I put my head on the chest way I could put my side either that time and so his whole thing when he get rid of punch heart he leave with his head and you know it's not that our force my hair because about force I will move my head if you you look I put my head on the Left I put on right to keep him from hitting my head alright we're gonna take a look at that particular but because it raised about the ugly it's not on a head that I ever saw alright let's go to the monitor describe what you see alright wait you're not going right hand I hit him with the shortened l4 and another right and see that is when we did hit here there and but but I'm hitting with shots anyway and I hit him read on it you know so you're saying that yes that shot was a hit but you know you can see it's close Daniel yeah but but you aggravated it a little bit with your punching what we probably hitting with them shots each and every time you know a long time people don't realize that when two fighters come to fight and they standing there you know you you made a very interesting observation before this fight to us Evander in which you said the old days you just go out and fight you weren't worried about anything but lately you were sort of taking guys to school and trying to be so perfect that maybe that wasn't such a good idea to be that perfect anymore and so it seemed that you fought with a little bit of the old abandoned tonight is that accurate well today you know he he put himself in a position where I can hit him with shops close he sworn such a hard shots he's all found in each and every time to swing so he easy to come a combination go to the body the heads like that you know what you know I you know I felt very comfortable and I was able to get my hands off and I was able to bring the joy back into the game a box instead of just trying when I got the knock to got out with one big shot I realized the combination decides to eventually get it so because basically for a lot of the fight you two guys are just standing within arm's length if you were able to practice what you do best well when you can see what that's what a handful with guys that don't have disappearance they cannot bark you then once they find yourself getting inside then they find it they came out slugged you so they in trouble either for either either thing that they do did any of his punches days you hurt you well no no he eats those wrong shots but the ultimate thing is to get away from the big shots and so I know that he hit hard but you know it's not for me to stand there you know freedom what does this fight mean to you to be able to fight in this fashion to to tell all of the naysayers once again Here I am I had you where I wanted you and I proved you wrong again well you know what you're just you know you're like like the record that I came out don't say what God won't do you know I trust in the Lord getting my help to strengthen and I'm willing to work harder you know a lot of people look at it just just natural I work harder than bend into young guys and all the guys and stuff and I approach my prayer all right what do you think will be next do you want to challenge the winner of the Johnson Ruiz fight or would you rather if it be opportunity presents itself to fight bird for another title do you care how it falls well you know courses you know I brother fight alright I brother fight the winner Lennox entice and with that if that don't happen then you know we put the WBA title to fight that fight you know uh you know the bird the bird style just ain't the style but you know I would like it to beat against Matt because you know I don't feel that I can just I just feel that it would be a very taxing fight proposed you know his fights out thank you very much Amanda congratulations one more time Jim all right Thank You Larry stick with us so the common conversation with Lennox Lewis says he looks ahead to next week final Compubox numbers from this one Evander Holyfield landing 11 more punches Rahman throwing 16 more they both land at a fairly high connect percentage those stats pretty even given that copy box as you know is necessarily an estimate rather than an exact count our punches Holyfield landing 31 more and throwing 30 more than rock man as the fight was mostly fought at Holyfield's preferred range rather than the one at which we thought at least that Rahman might have had a better chance to outbox Evander earlier this evening we invited all of you to contact our HBO boxing website and to give us your feelings on what would be the outcome of next Saturday night's Louis Tyson fight 26% of you Lewis ko 26% Louis by disqualification even interesting 21% Louis by decision all and all 73% pick Louis 16% Tyson ko 11% pick a draw which is kind of fascinating because Mike Tyson hasn't gone 12 rounds in a fight since the summer of 1991 but a lot of you're paying attention to that because nobody nobody voted for Mike Tyson to win a decision over Lennox Lewis so that much I guess almost everybody can agree upon but that's part of the excitement of the fight right the suspense every moment as to whether Louis's chin is gonna give way to one of Tyson's shots well earlier this evening I had a chance to talk to Lennox Lewis 7 days removed from the biggest date in his boxing career and just a couple days after his arrival in Memphis here's how he looked as he talked about his upcoming big night Lenox among the news in the past week stories which indicate that ticket sales are not what they were expected to be at first and that the economic destiny of what was supposed to be the biggest money event in boxing history may not be as clear as we thought it was now that you're there on the ground in Memphis are you gonna promote this fight you're gonna try to sell it a little more are you just gonna sit back and wait for the fight I think this fight doesn't really need too much so everybody wants to see this fight this is a fight that the public wanted to see for such a long time and now it's here and you know everybody's really excited about especially when I arrived in Memphis they showed me so much love and they're really up for the farm they're really excited for the fight and I know my friends around the world are very excited about the fight so I don't think this fight will have any problem selling aren't you concerned that because of the World Cup which now conflicts with this new date for the fight that your English supporters won't be there in the numbers that you might originally have expected yeah I mean it definitely will affect the fight a little bit because you know the the British supporters European support is a very very big on football but you know you have that those avid boxing fans are still gonna make it have you gotten over your concern about whether the fight will actually take place and are you now in a position where you can focus totally on the expectation that he's really gonna be in there in the ring with you next Saturday night yes I'm definitely expecting him to be in the ring with me next Saturday night looking forward to the fight very focused and ready when he says things like I want my fist to make contact with Lennox's brains I want to knock his brains out of his head when his assistant trainer says we want to find a way to crack his skull break his ribs kill him if possible in the ring what does that make you think it makes me think that maybe he doesn't think he's gonna be in the ring with the the champion himself I'm not gonna be sitting back just twiddling my thumbs he's got to watch how it definitely for me if he's if he's concerned about himself he's definitely not concerned about me so he should be concerned about me because I'm very serious I'm coming in there to win it's an observation of many boxing experts that there are two Lennox Lewis's there's the cautious Lennox Lewis who went in and fought a self-protective fight even against lesser fighters like avril [ __ ] and then there's the attacking Lennox Lewis winning in blue people like galata and Grant and rock man in the second fight away do you have to be the second Lennox Lewis do you have to be the attacker to have your best chance against mine you know I'm a pugilist specialist so I go in there going in there to win you know if an opportunity presents itself I'm definitely gonna take Mike Tyson out you know he's talking about taking me out and you better be careful I'm gonna take him out how different does this event feel in scope you know as a total like total experience then any other fight you've ever been in well for me it's just like another fight to me you know who's Mike Tyson Mike Tyson needs to prove himself he's been boxing against lesser opponents really you know his last opponent they wouldn't even HBO wouldn't even allow me to fight him so I'm saying okay now he's in against the best he's never seen a box like Lennox Lewis so he's in for a big surprise all right thanks very much for your self-expression we appreciate your confidence of course Lennox Lewis you heard it saying it's just another fight but certainly to boxing fans that isn't the case next Saturday Night Live on pay-per-view from the pyramid in Memphis Tennessee Lennox Lewis defends the heavyweight champion against Mike Tyson trying to win it for a third time well they always sound good in those interviews what do you make of Lennox's body language as you get ready for next week pretty confident themselves so if company is gonna win it they won't have a drop do you think either man is really fearful of or intimidated by the other you got to be intimidated by Mike Tyson just a little bit when you see him across the ring because you may go to your corner and the stool may be flying at your head so you don't worry about the guy beating you but what else could he may he may kick you he got no rules he has no rules in his mind at all he can break them all no way to completely eliminate that distraction perhaps that's one of the biggest challenges that faces Louis as he gets ready for that Larry your final thoughts about next week what you heard from Lennox there and what happened in the ring between Evander and rocky well next week bye now I'm just hoping for the biggest surprise of all which is just a good fight it's going to happen let's hope that it's something that we'll all be happy with the outcome with the fact that two fighters gave their best in the ring just with their fists and their minds in their hearts fists minds hearts that's Evander Holyfield he's the greatest fighter of his time a remarkable old geezer who showed you tonight why he has fooled so many people for so long for a decade they've been saying abandon air you're not a really heavy weight when are you gonna retire he had us where he wanted us once again even though it wasn't against the greatest fighter out there he gave the kind of spirited effort that he has no right to make had they stopped at this stage of his career absolutely right and the month of the heavyweights is underway in boxing with some exciting action here and unusual ending maybe not overwhelmingly satisfying but certainly the performance of the two fighters up to that moment was will have a final word on the rock man Holyfield activity let's look ahead to some upcoming programs on HBO join HBO or one of our biggest nights of the year at 8:00 the third season finale of the hit series The Sopranos and I am the season finale of Six Feet Under the show - the guy calls a Sunday night sensation I say this I have a series and at 10:00 it all leads up to the premiere episode of HBO's newest dramatic series The Wire how'd you get this on tape it's not tape that's live brother why three big shows one big night sunday starting at 8:00 only on HBO [Music] [Music] [Applause] all signs are go for an all-new season of artists premiering Sunday June 16th on HBO Thursday night check out on the record with Bob Costas each week you find Bob with special guests from the sports world and big names from the entertainment industry among the guests next week Oscar De La Hoya and Chris Rock on the record premieres each Thursday at 10:30 p.m. June 18 sports of the 20th century brings you three seconds from gold an inside look at one of the most controversial events in Olympic history the United States lost to the Soviet Union in the 1972 Olympic basketball gold medal game earlier tonight from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Evander Holyfield and Hasim Rahman fought a pitched battle with each other into the eighth round but because of a headbutt which caused the giant swelling above Rockman's eye they went to the scorecards technical decision Holyfield wins next on HBO stay tuned for Six Feet Under on the East Coast and the premiere of Shrek it's great don't miss it on the west coast so now for our entire h-field crew I'm Jim Lampley saying good night from Atlantic City the executive producer of HBO Sports is Rick Bernstein tonight's edition of world championship boxing was produced by John crystal and directed by Mark Payton associate producer birthday boy Israel de Herrera happy birthday as he feature produces Greg backer Pete Radovic Lily Rosenberg max Seigle and Dave Schwartz assistant to the producer Greg Stern and Abdi motya production manager Mike baby's technical supervisor Bob hunter and the technical director was Doug gets [Music] [Music] this has been a presentation of HBO Sports the network of Champions

Channel: Boxing Classics By Gary Wilson

Views: 318,384

Rating: 4.2596335 out of 5

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Id: 4pz9SsLPCwc

Length: 75min 12sec (4512 seconds)

Published: Tue Nov 19 2019