- 9 months ago
The HBO Replay of Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield defending the title against Michael Moorer from the TVKO broadcast the week before
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00:00:00The following is a special presentation of HBO Sports.
00:00:22It's an absolute miracle that he was able to finish this fight.
00:00:26I mean, he fought 12 rounds for the heavyweight championship of the world,
00:00:30essentially in heart failure.
00:00:32And I mean, I don't know anyone else in the world that had the will
00:00:37that could have possibly done this.
00:00:39This is an absolutely superhuman feat that he did.
00:00:46With Evander Holyfield, there are seldom any surprises.
00:00:51Every time he enters the ring,
00:00:52we've grown to expect performances driven by heart and will.
00:00:57On this night, he would face one of the most difficult tests of his career,
00:01:01Michael Moorer, a rare southpaw heavyweight,
00:01:04five years younger with one of the hardest punches in boxing.
00:01:07In the end, we knew there could be but one victor.
00:01:10What we could never have predicted were the circumstances of that outcome,
00:01:14that night and four days later.
00:01:16This was not the same Holyfield we had seen six months earlier
00:01:22when he regained his title against Riddick Bowe.
00:01:25Has Holyfield suddenly become an old champion, George?
00:01:30This was a man facing off against a talented and clearly stronger opponent.
00:01:35There's a solid right hand by Moorer and Holyfield wobbles back a bit.
00:01:42This was somehow not the same Holyfield regarded as the best conditioned fighter in boxing.
00:01:48Yeah, Holyfield is tired now.
00:01:49He's no longer snapping a jab.
00:01:51He's throwing him in, leaping in.
00:01:54It's like he's lost control of his body.
00:01:56The champion thought it was an injured shoulder.
00:01:58In retrospect, it may have been much worse.
00:02:00In the opposite corner, an entirely different story was unfolding.
00:02:10Listen, this guy is finished.
00:02:13It comes a time in a man's life.
00:02:16But he makes a decision.
00:02:17He makes a decision to just live, survive, or he wants to win.
00:02:23It was Holyfield's heart that had carried him to the top of the boxing world.
00:02:28On this particular night, he could give no more.
00:02:30When he couldn't do anything else, he fought for his title.
00:02:35And the challenger, who had never lost a professional fighter,
00:02:38performed cleverly and efficiently to become new heavyweight champion of the world.
00:02:43Left hand sends Hurst back against the ropes again.
00:02:58Hacker punishing Hurst down.
00:03:00What an uppercut by Douglas.
00:03:02And down goes Tyson.
00:03:03April 22, 1994.
00:03:15On a warm night, marking the 100th championship boxing match ever held at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace,
00:03:20the obligatory crowd of fight fans and celebrities gathered at ringside for Evander Holyfield's first defense of the titles he took back from Riddick Bowe last November,
00:03:29and number one contender Michael Moorer's first shot at a heavyweight crown.
00:03:34A night of mystery and controversy, in a ring where the title has frequently changed hands.
00:03:40Hello again, I'm Jim Lamp.
00:03:42We welcome you back to HBO's World Championship Boxing as we get ready to take a look back at a heavyweight championship fight
00:03:48greatly anticipated by boxing experts who expected an all-out war between two fighters who simply wouldn't be able to get enough of punishing each other.
00:03:56Instead, what took place was a tactical battle, sometimes dull and disappointing, curious, one which may, in retrospect, have raised as many questions as it answered.
00:04:07Working with us, as always, HBO Boxing analyst Larry Merchant.
00:04:10Larry, why?
00:04:11Why did it turn out to be the kind of fight it was?
00:04:14Well, maybe it was because there would have been a class-action suit if a left-hander didn't finally win the heavyweight championship.
00:04:21We have a left-handed president of the United States, after all.
00:04:25But it did enter into the picture more than I thought it would.
00:04:29I think substance is what matters, but I think style, the left-handedness of Michael Moore, did weigh into the final result.
00:04:38And now I understand why, down through the ages, the managers of heavyweight champions haven't wanted to match their fighters against left-handers.
00:04:48There were two questions coming into this fight, I thought.
00:04:50Could Evander Holyfield summon that enormous, incredible will that he showed in beating Riddick Bowe and winning the title back just a little over five months ago?
00:05:02I thought he would never be able to do that again in a major fight.
00:05:05I didn't know whether Michael Moore was capable of making a major fight.
00:05:10Was he ready to win if Evander Holyfield was ready to lose?
00:05:14I think maybe that question is still out in the air.
00:05:19I'm willing to let you decide whether he did win and Holyfield lost.
00:05:23But the answer to the first question is clear.
00:05:25The Evander Holyfield who entered the ring on April 22 to defend the title against Michael Moore
00:05:29wasn't the same Evander Holyfield who had so spiritedly taken it back from Riddick Bowe in November.
00:05:36George Foreman, former heavyweight champion yourself,
00:05:38Well, you watched Evander in the days leading up to the fight.
00:05:41Did you see any signs that he wouldn't be able to produce that kind of effort again?
00:05:45He was a happy-go-lucky, telling jokes, a different Holyfield.
00:05:49I knew something would be different in this fight.
00:05:52Some things were different.
00:05:53Do you think he was physically sound in the fight?
00:05:56I think he was physically sound.
00:05:57He had to fight an awkward fight against an awkward style.
00:06:00He proved he took the punishment and he fought tough.
00:06:02He was a true champion tonight.
00:06:04And wound up losing a close decision, which in the eyes of many, could have gone either way.
00:06:10Let's see what you think.
00:06:12The path which has brought Michael Moore to his first heavyweight title challenge
00:06:17is quite similar to the path that once brought Evander Holyfield to the title.
00:06:22After a spectacular amateur career, he began his professional career as a light heavyweight,
00:06:28fought and won the WBO title in that 175-pound division.
00:06:34Then, in a total of four months, he put on 38 pounds, skipped the cruiserweight division,
00:06:40became a heavyweight, and since then has remained unbeaten and has progressed to this stage.
00:06:46He has been knocked down three times in his fights with heavyweights,
00:06:50and so some people question whether he can take a punch from a big heavyweight.
00:06:55Of course, he doesn't face a big heavyweight tonight.
00:06:58When you get knocked down, it is a minus.
00:07:00But when you get up and win, as he has always done, that's a bigger plus to me.
00:07:06Indeed, George Foreman, some say that the advantage for him of fighting a warrior like Holyfield
00:07:12is that it takes aggression from the other side to make Michael Moore aggressive.
00:07:17That's right, and the greatest advantage is that he found the Holyfield has trouble with guys his mind.
00:07:27Western Pennsylvania enters the ring for the first time as a heavyweight title challenger.
00:07:3234 wins, no losses, 30 KOs.
00:07:35All four route-going performances were here in the heavyweight division.
00:07:41Indeed, four of Moore's last eight fights have gone the distance.
00:07:48There you see when you're back to us with Michael Buffer talking to Teddy Atlas,
00:07:54Michael Moore's trainer.
00:07:56Atlas is a disciple of Customato.
00:07:59Very tough guy, and apparently he has got the attention of Michael Moore,
00:08:03but he can't fight the fight for him.
00:08:08And now Evander Holyfield prepares to enter the ring
00:08:11for the first defense of the title that he took back from Riddick Bowe this past November.
00:08:18Holyfield has already revealed this past week that he has a master plan in mind,
00:08:24that it involves remaining as heavyweight champion until the Olympics Atlanta in 1996,
00:08:28that he expects to have to fight Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Riddick Bowe
00:08:34if he's going to stay champion that long.
00:08:37There's nothing quite this procession into the ring.
00:08:41There's a medieval quality about it.
00:08:44These are our knights, not in shining armor, but in shiny robes.
00:08:50One more time, remember!
00:09:03One more time!
00:09:07Are you real, Dale?
00:09:09Erroll?
00:09:16Yes!
00:09:16He's going!
00:09:20He's going!
00:09:23A gun.
00:09:24He's going, too!
00:09:27He's going!
00:09:30He's going!
00:09:32He's
00:09:34Alright.
00:09:35Mhm!
00:09:36Yeah.
00:09:37He got it.
00:09:38Yeah.
00:09:39Yeah.
00:09:40Yeah.
00:09:41Yeah.
00:09:42Yeah.
00:09:43Yeah.
00:09:44Yeah.
00:09:45Yeah.
00:09:46Yeah.
00:09:47Yeah.
00:09:48Yeah.
00:09:49Think it.
00:09:50Yeah.
00:09:51Yeah.
00:09:52Yeah.
00:09:53And then, we're going at this time, ladies and gentlemen, for the second, Commander Holy
00:09:57One fact which has emerged with clarity this week here in Las Vegas and was apparent during
00:10:11that walk-in. This is a much more popular champion than he was prior to taking back
00:10:17the title from Riddick Bowe. He proved his heart in such a way as to finally win over
00:10:22a large percentage of the boxing public. There's the record, 30 wins, the one unanimous decision
00:10:28lost to Bowe in November of 1992, and then the victory over Bowe to take the title back.
00:10:35And there is his new trainer. George, this is the new trainer for the champion. Should
00:10:42he have danced with who brought him to this point, or is it a good idea for a veteran champion
00:10:47to get a new perspective from a trainer? It's always good to stay with the boat that brought
00:10:51you over. Evander Holyfield may have skipped around a bit too much this time, as I like
00:10:56to skip once, but hop, skip, and jump is dangerous.
00:11:00Tale of the tape, and for the very first time as a heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield
00:11:05gets to defend the title against a man no bigger than himself. They both weighed in at 214 pounds.
00:11:12Lo and behold, Evander even has a one-and-a-half-inch reach advantage over Moore. Moore's weight indicates
00:11:19that Teddy Atlas has indeed won the Battle of Wills and the Battle of the Bulge in training,
00:11:26but there is no, no way of weighing Evander Holyfield's heart. No scale big enough.
00:11:34Punch stat numbers, Larry.
00:11:36Here are our punch stat numbers, an indication of how busy these fighters are, and the numbers
00:11:42are almost identical. Even in the jabs. But they don't fight by the numbers.
00:11:55Rules of the bout with our unofficial ringside scorer, Harold Letterman. Harold...
00:11:59Evander Holyfield and Michael Mora will box tonight using the rules of the World Boxing Association,
00:12:05because this time it's their turn. 12 rounds. There is no standing A-count. The three-knockdown rule
00:12:11is in effect. You can be saved by the belt in the last round only. Only the referee can stop the fight,
00:12:17and in case the cut is caused by an accidental headbutt, and that cut causes the fight to be stopped,
00:12:22we go to the scorecards. If the three rounds have been completed, before that, it's a technical draw. Larry?
00:12:27As an indication of the respect for Moore's punching power, Holyfield's handlers tried to
00:12:34get the commission to waive that three-knockdown rule, which would have favored him, but they didn't.
00:12:41All right. Right now, let's go to ring announcer Michael Buffer for the pre-fight introductions.
00:12:47Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. I would like everyone at this moment to please rise.
00:12:52Before we begin, I have some sad news to pass on to everybody. We have just been informed that the
00:13:00former President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, has passed away. At this time, we would
00:13:07please like a moment of silence in his honor. For the former President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon.
00:13:22May his soul rest in peace. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
00:13:34And now, ladies and gentlemen, at this time, in the ring, we have the honor guard with the colors from
00:13:39Manelis Air Force Base. And please remain standing for our national anthem to be performed by one of
00:13:46America's finest singers, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jeffrey Osborne.
00:13:51Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we can see, by the dawn's early light,
00:14:12What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
00:14:34All the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
00:14:56Gave proof through the night, That our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled
00:15:13gleaming, O'er the land of the brave? Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave?
00:15:18O'er the land of the brave? And the home of the brave?
00:15:28And the home of the brave?
00:15:39Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave?
00:15:42and now ladies and gentlemen main events monitor in association with your undisputed undefeated
00:15:58king of beers bud weiser proud to be your bud present the featured bout of the evening this
00:16:05ballot is sanctioned by the nevada state athletic commission chairman dr elias gana commissioners
00:16:12nat carasali luther mack dr james name and kristen revira chief inspector at ringside is mark ratner
00:16:21this ballot is also sanctioned by the world boxing association president hilberto mendoza
00:16:27and the international boxing federation president robert w lee senior ringside representation for
00:16:34the ibf is by alvin goodman and by robert w lee jr the supervisor for this contest from the wba
00:16:43is york van nixon jr our physicians at ringside dr flip pomansky dr james wish game and dr al capanna
00:16:53timekeeper james cabin counting for the knockdown seconds mike lasella the three judges scoring this
00:17:00bout on a ten point must system are chuck jampa jerry roth and dolby shirley and when the bell rings the
00:17:10man in charge of the action working for the 73rd time in a world championship bout is mills lane
00:17:17and now ladies and gentlemen from the site where legends are made caesar's palace of las vegas nevada
00:17:29let's get ready to rumble
00:17:4012 rounds of boxing for the heavyweight championship of the world
00:17:47introducing first fighting out of the blue corner wearing the green trunks and weighing in at 214 pounds
00:17:55fighting out of the motor city detroit michigan he brings a perfect record of 34 and 0 in 30 bouts
00:18:0330 victories by knockout and he has held two wbo world titles ladies and gentlemen introducing the
00:18:12number one right heavyweight challenger in the world michael moore
00:18:27and his opponent across the ring fighting out of the red corner beautiful wearing the red trunks with
00:18:32black and gold trips he also weighed in at 214 pounds even this 1984 olympic bronze medalist is now a three
00:18:41time world title holder as a professional he has a professional record of 30 victories with 22 ko's
00:18:49against only one defeat and that only loss was turned around in this very same ring here at caesar's
00:18:55palace six months ago making him once again the heavyweight champion of the world from atlanta georgia
00:19:08he goes right here it's gonna be all right fair enough he goes right here it's gonna be all right now
00:19:31we've only been through the instructions one time this is with the championship of the world i expect a tough
00:19:38clean fight protect yourself at all times any questions from the challenger any questions from the champion
00:19:45let's get it on will michael moore get it on will he seize the initiative he's a natural
00:19:56counter puncher by temperament and style his trainer teddy atlas says he has to make it happen
00:20:03mills lane instructs the timekeeper to pound the bell and here we go round one begins holyfield jab
00:20:19danced and occasionally slugged his way to victory over riddick bow in this ring six months ago many
00:20:25believe if he tries to continue using slugging as a part of that mix here it could turn out to be a mistake
00:20:34boor's first punch is a left to the body holyfield starts with the jab
00:20:43holyfield is starting to play the old softball game touch and then jab just gotta lay that left jab out
00:20:49and forget about missing it just bring it back quick first combination for holyfield a simple left and right
00:20:59both fighters cautious so far holyfield no doubt curious about moore's much vaunted punching power
00:21:07that's right but you don't want to be too curious to go out and see about it
00:21:10what he's got to do and he's going to do well is hit and then hold it's against the rule but it's a good strategy for holyfield
00:21:22well there's the holding
00:21:28you hold him because once you miss him you don't know where he is exactly
00:21:31it's been eight years since evander's been in the ring with the southpaw
00:21:51neither fighter terribly active so far george holyfield is real dry doesn't seem like he did a lot of
00:21:57warming up and he's kind of heavy he held after landing a short left inside
00:22:05moore landed a straight right best exchange so far not much happening in the first two minutes of round one
00:22:14the champion holyfield seemingly only beginning to warm up now the combinations begin to flow
00:22:21punch out two hands are free and there you got two hands free
00:22:24i think the ruffer is going to have to be quite understanding when you fight a softball
00:22:30you just can't hit and move out of the way you got to sometimes just touch them to know where they are
00:22:43all right get them up we're working to the body as holyfield tries to come inside
00:22:48holyfield landing another short left hook
00:22:50those two short lefts have been the biggest punches of round one so far
00:23:02another four punch combination by vander moore misses in return now moore lands the right hand
00:23:08and holyfield grabs and holds
00:23:09the right hand in return now moore is trying to initiate the action but he doesn't seem comfortable
00:23:14doing it
00:23:19relax relax relax relax relax slow
00:23:24you're not vaseline
00:23:25you're moving you're jumping too much okay half steps half steps man
00:23:37you see everything don't you yeah
00:23:43you're not doing nothing at the right distance down or off to the side snap that jab
00:23:47do not start looking for one punch now i don't want you throwing the left hand to the body from too far
00:23:53away you're reaching in he's going to start countering you as an experienced guy switch up
00:23:56make it to the body fall to the head switch on a guy like this here look for it keep snapping at you
00:24:01okay okay let's go to work let's go to work let's go to work george what does holyfield's trainer mean
00:24:07by telling him just take half steps well he shouldn't move too quick just a little movement
00:24:14to your left just a little movement a half step then there's a step and a half
00:24:21does this have to do with fighting a southpaw george yeah you don't want to lose the guy at any time
00:24:25you got to see him and keep your eye on him so a half step keeps you keep him in right in your sight
00:24:32a full step you lose him and he catches you for it
00:24:40we're beginning to stick the right jab
00:24:46holyfield for the moment unable to block for his jab
00:24:51like holyfield is making a mistake by not jabbing he's holding it back
00:24:55to get a good jab just let it go out there you'll be surprised he's just as easy to hit
00:25:00as a right-hander but that tentativeness as you point out george directly related to the
00:25:05different look that a southpaw gives him yeah
00:25:10and when they trade punches in close moorer will square his left foot up
00:25:14and in effect at that point he's not right hand or a second or left-hander
00:25:18the old saying is jeff do it right hand over the top seemed to wobbly vander for a moment
00:25:28may be playing possum trying to invite moorer in
00:25:31this man what's gonna have that three for him pasando the other day
00:25:34holyfield love to taste your power
00:25:41oh when step backbox blocks block
00:25:51Butting body punch from Moore.
00:25:56His power driving Holyfield back now as round two progresses.
00:26:03George, you say Vander loves to taste your power.
00:26:05What kind of a fighter does that? Crazy one?
00:26:08You can believe it to prove, hey, I can take it.
00:26:11Now I'm going to get you back.
00:26:12He figures if you hit him with five shots, you're going to be tired.
00:26:15He's coming after you.
00:26:16Just can't work all the time.
00:26:18Moore doesn't hesitate to throw his jab.
00:26:24You say that when you fought him,
00:26:26Vander was simply too elusive for you to ever get that third shot in on him.
00:26:30There's a solid right hand by Moore.
00:26:33And Holyfield wobbles back a bit.
00:26:36No answer from Holyfield as Moore steps in and pounds away.
00:26:44Short punches inside, doing damage for Moore.
00:26:47Already his punching power, a factor in the back.
00:26:50Holyfield knocks him down.
00:26:53Three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
00:27:01That is so Holyfield.
00:27:03George, you called that right on the money.
00:27:05Tasted the power and brought it back to Moore.
00:27:08And he did something real smart.
00:27:11He did the old crowd move on.
00:27:13You got yourself right back together.
00:27:32The only thing he did was you posed after you punched.
00:27:35The beginning was you.
00:27:36It was all you in that round, and then you stepped back straight.
00:27:39And you took the eye contact off.
00:27:41Keep your concentration up.
00:27:43You hear me?
00:27:44You step straight back after you punt.
00:27:47Here you watch as that round unfolds.
00:27:49Some guys you can shoot bullets at.
00:27:51You can hit them with two-by-fours.
00:27:53You can throw them off a cliff.
00:27:54You can drop them in acid.
00:27:55And they keep coming back just like that.
00:28:03That is what Amanda Holyfield does.
00:28:05He feels that if you hit him with a good shot and you're still there,
00:28:10the guy is saying to himself,
00:28:12what do I got to do to hurt this man?
00:28:15All right.
00:28:15He knocked Moore down with what you call the old crossover, George.
00:28:19Yeah.
00:28:19When you square up against the South Power
00:28:21and you put both hands up in the crossover position,
00:28:24he is off balance too because you're not giving him
00:28:26that disadvantage of being left foot first.
00:28:30Then you can get him.
00:28:31So that opened up the short right hand for Evander Holyfield,
00:28:34which was the dominant punch in an active round two.
00:28:39Holyfield should give that look to him all night.
00:28:41Southpaws cannot function in the crossover defense.
00:28:44Lest you give up on Michael Moore
00:28:51because of that second-round knockdown.
00:28:54Remember that he was down against Burt Cooper,
00:28:56hurt badly against Alex Stewart,
00:28:58came back to win both of those fights by knockouts.
00:29:01This man loves a war.
00:29:05I'm in the house!
00:29:06Moorer's jab continues to bother Holyfield.
00:29:32Holyfield seems to me he's found the pocket now.
00:29:35He's not worried too much about Moe's power.
00:29:37He knows where the punches are coming.
00:29:39He's going to lay in there and have some fun now.
00:29:46Good idea because he knows what he's doing
00:29:48or a bad idea because it will expose him to punishment.
00:29:51It's a great idea.
00:29:52He's experienced enough.
00:29:53He's tasted more powerful punches from bigger guys.
00:29:56Lay in the pocket and be the most experienced fighter.
00:30:05All right, let's sit back both of them.
00:30:09Come and go, come on.
00:30:15Left hook lead for Holyfield.
00:30:18They hand out that neck, Abandon.
00:30:19Come on.
00:30:20Get out that neck in there.
00:30:21Punch out.
00:30:22Hasn't yet gone to the straight right-hand lead
00:30:25that so many fighters choose to employ against Southpaws.
00:30:29Holyfield has seen that every time you want to rest,
00:30:31you give him the old cross elbow.
00:30:33Get in front of him.
00:30:34He can't do anything about it.
00:30:35He's hurt.
00:30:36Hit him.
00:30:37He's hurt.
00:30:39Come on, come on.
00:30:41Get out there.
00:30:42Come on.
00:30:47That elbow down.
00:30:49There's the straight right hand,
00:30:51and it's set up a left hook and another right for Holyfield.
00:30:54And another straight right.
00:30:55And another.
00:30:57I want to step back.
00:30:58Hit him.
00:30:58Come on.
00:30:59I want to step back.
00:30:59Come on.
00:31:00I want to step back.
00:31:00Let's go.
00:31:01And just like that,
00:31:07Evander learns that the oldest weapon in the book
00:31:09against the Southpaw will work for him here.
00:31:21Breathe deep, baby.
00:31:22Breathe deep.
00:31:23Vaseline.
00:31:25Oh, I got it.
00:31:27Both sides.
00:31:28Nice to meet you.
00:31:29Listen.
00:31:30Breathe deep.
00:31:31You're doing a real good job.
00:31:34You're doing a real good job.
00:31:36When you get in front of him in the danger zone,
00:31:38you got to take off.
00:31:40Don't let it beat you to the punch.
00:31:41And don't back straight up.
00:31:43One beat easy for him.
00:31:45Let it get real easy.
00:31:46There you go.
00:31:47Look at your mind.
00:31:48Move water.
00:31:49And let him swallow.
00:31:49I want you to use that jab and I want you to work off it.
00:31:52I don't want you to be satisfied with it.
00:31:54You hear me?
00:31:55You go in there and you start backing this guy up and you start doing what we trained to do.
00:31:59Otherwise, don't come back to this fucking corner.
00:32:02Do you hear me?
00:32:02Let's go.
00:32:03Let's go.
00:32:04Have a nice inside.
00:32:05Come on.
00:32:08This is the first heavyweight championship fight for trader Teddy Atlas, too, but he knows
00:32:15that it can get away from him and he's trying to get his fighter's attention not to let him
00:32:22get low into losing more rounds.
00:32:24Moro's manager, John Davimos, says of his fighter, he doesn't have to like Teddy Atlas.
00:32:31He just has to listen to him.
00:32:33And so far, he does.
00:32:34He's going to stay over there, he better stop using the orthodox left hand stands to block
00:32:59punches.
00:33:00He can catch it.
00:33:04Moorer landing the jab seemingly at will, able to just simply throw it past Holyfield's
00:33:11left hand.
00:33:17Evander's still doing pretty well when he gets in close and trades punches.
00:33:22That's what a lot of the experts think is too dangerous for him.
00:33:26Well, Evander had this guy going and he decided to take a break and have some fun.
00:33:30Now it's going to be hard to pick up that same energy again unless he gets hurt.
00:33:36She hurt a guy, you got to go for it.
00:33:37The right cross drew booze and dives from the crowd, but glanced off the gloves of Michael Moorer.
00:33:45Get him up, Michael, come on, get out of there, come on.
00:33:58Mills Lane cautioning Moore to keep his punches up.
00:34:04Good straight left to the body by Michael Moore.
00:34:06Holyfield, not nearly as active as he was against Bo last November.
00:34:15Not nearly so much the boxer tonight as he was in that bout.
00:34:21Well, he's found himself in a weird position of being the aggressive and the more powerful guy tonight.
00:34:27And he just doesn't know how to get him to operate and punch him in that position.
00:34:32Straight right lands again.
00:34:36Each man now with a seemingly unstoppable weapon.
00:34:39Moorer's jab with the right hand.
00:34:41Holyfield, straight right.
00:34:43Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
00:34:44Into and across the southpaw stands.
00:34:45Hold on a second. What's the net? Come on, let's go.
00:34:48Real deal!
00:34:49You've got to have that right hand lead when you're playing with southpaw.
00:34:56Keep that right hand in their face, making them back away and think twice.
00:35:00Holyfield has got to do that.
00:35:04Moorer lands a left inside, follows up with a right and then a left to the body.
00:35:08Holyfield has enough and backs away.
00:35:10I thought that was a very tough round for Evander Holyfield.
00:35:21How did you see it, Harold?
00:35:23Larry, I've got it.
00:35:25Three rounds to one.
00:35:2639-36, Evander Holyfield.
00:35:28I agree with you on that fourth round.
00:35:30I thought Michael Moore definitely won the fourth round, landed some good punches.
00:35:33Now he's starting to come alive.
00:35:35But the first three rounds, I just don't think he did enough.
00:35:38Now, I scored round two, 10 to eight.
00:35:39Some people would argue because certainly Moorer was winning it early.
00:35:42But Evander Holyfield did score that clean knockdown.
00:35:45I gave him a 10-8 round in a second.
00:35:47I've got Evander up by three.
00:35:48We're in sync.
00:35:49Up to the head.
00:35:51You want you to be heavyweight champ.
00:35:54Start doing it.
00:35:56Keep jabbing, hitting him with the jab.
00:35:57Don't let him back you up.
00:35:58Stay off those ropes.
00:35:59And when he's pressing his tight, slide back and hit him with combination.
00:36:02All right?
00:36:03Give him the mouthpiece.
00:36:04Give him the mouthpiece, Mo.
00:36:07Get strong.
00:36:08Get strong.
00:36:09Get those ropes off there.
00:36:10Get those ropes there.
00:36:20Devastating left hand by Moorer.
00:36:24What does he follow up with?
00:36:25He goes to the body.
00:36:26Holyfield trying to cover.
00:36:30Now Evander's all right.
00:36:33Holyfield is in with a guy who's fought light heavyweight like him.
00:36:36Their hands are a lot quicker than natural heavy weights. You just can't stand in front of them holding your hands up
00:36:41They'll get right between that defense
00:36:46And after trying to answer Moore's jab with his own now he goes back to the straight right
00:37:06Now he's no longer napping a jab throwing them in sleeping in like he's lost control of his body
00:37:13I agree with you, George. I sense that there's some fatigue there
00:37:20Maybe it's an illusion. We'll see
00:37:22It's two more right hands from Michael Moore right there. This has been a big round for Moore so far
00:37:28Holyfield is having to fight these four or five rounds in the wrong position
00:37:31And sometimes it doesn't matter what shape you're in when you're doing something in the wrong way
00:37:37turns you out
00:37:39That's straight left by Michael Moore to the stomach really hurt even the whole of you
00:37:45Evander has spent weeks telling the world
00:37:48And he didn't think more is southpaw stance or the simple fact that he was left-handed would bother him
00:37:54Yesterday when we began to discuss with him his good friend Brunel Whitaker
00:37:57And all the qualities that make Whitaker the best fighter in the world the first thing Evander said was well
00:38:02He's left-handed now
00:38:04Holyfield in trouble again as the result of Moore's power punching
00:38:10A left hook by Moore started that sequence drove Holyfield against the ropes
00:38:18The holy Holyfield wasn't tired
00:38:20This round is becoming target breakfast for Moore, but there's the left hook, the answer from the Holyfield
00:38:30There's a bad cut on Holyfield's left eye
00:38:35He came out of a clinch. I don't know if it was a fight, but there is a cut and this calls into question the fact
00:38:42But it doesn't have a real cut man in his corner
00:38:49He fired cut man ace Murata let him go because his new trainer Don Turner said
00:38:57Cut men are unnecessary. I can do that. Well, we're gonna find out if Don Turner is able to do it
00:39:04Evander showing his warrior's heart fighting back now
00:39:08He recognizes that the eye is cut you saw him pull at it with his look
00:39:22I got it don't worry about it. I got it. I got it
00:39:30Get the best
00:39:32Get the best
00:39:36The cut looks like it's just above the corner of the eye below the brow
00:39:42Lord with you man the lords with you
00:39:46the lords with you
00:39:48Was it a headbutt there you see it?
00:39:56According to and according to mills lane
00:39:58It was a punch not a headbutt
00:40:05Come on daddy come on come on has holyfield suddenly become an old champion george
00:40:12And suddenly in that round michael moore doubled holyfield's punch output he threw 74 punches in round number five
00:40:20recognizing and seizing opportunity
00:40:24So now with ace murata watching somewhere near the ring
00:40:27But no longer working for holyfield as his cut man evander goes back to work having bled above the left eye
00:40:34If evander chooses to he can stay close like that for a few rounds get his wing together
00:40:44Nobody's gonna blame him they know he's getting bummed by some heavy punches stay close and don't catch it
00:40:51But when you get far away like that you can get caught with those straight left hands
00:40:55george evander's trainer don turner said
00:40:58We don't need a cut man anybody who can't stop a cut from bleeding shouldn't be a trainer
00:41:01What do you think of that not no some trainers have got to dedicate themselves to operate in that fight let another man concentrate on those cuts
00:41:10you know as i said
00:41:12several years ago in tokyo
00:41:15When mike tyson had amateurs in his corner who couldn't deal with a bad eye
00:41:22You don't look for a person off the streets to put on the back of secretariat you get the best people in the world in your corner
00:41:30Just in case something like this happens when you're fighting for that kind of money who cares what you pay them
00:41:36Get them in there
00:41:42Meanwhile
00:41:43Moore hasn't been able to be as active in round six as he was in round five because holyfield
00:41:49Has given us more footwork has begun to hold whenever possible
00:41:53And he's working to slow the action down and give his eye a chance to stop bleeding
00:41:59That eye has given him a lot of trouble moore's jabbing in it tricking him like he's gonna hit him back in it then going to the body
00:42:04Sit back here we go taking advice from his corner
00:42:08Straight right hand from holyfield
00:42:12The last three rounds it's been one of his best weapons
00:42:16Moore going to the body and then reaching over the top but missing
00:42:24Jab lands well for more he should stick with it george
00:42:27I think so but at the same time if he get into a jabbing battle with evander holyfield this fight could go for another five rounds
00:42:33Evander can do some awful dirty things to more
00:42:39Well, that's why you heard trainer teddy atlas saying
00:42:42Be happy with your jab, but don't be satisfied with it work off of it. Give me some other stuff too
00:42:47Evander's got this small waist and it's tailor-made for body punching
00:42:51The guy starts landing those shots it'll make it hurt
00:42:54For the moment evander is simply running trying to stay out of trouble. I have never seen holyfield in this posture
00:43:02Only in the first boat fight when he was really damaged. We haven't seen any really big punches
00:43:09He just seems to be empty here
00:43:12At least for the moment. I wonder what he thinks of the $25,000. He didn't want to pay ace marada right now
00:43:19I feel me listen you're going back
00:43:29With some give me some water give me some water
00:43:35Give me a rag
00:43:37You got to start checkmarking a combination of punches
00:43:47How much time Tim?
00:43:50Huh?
00:43:55Give him some water Tim
00:43:57Let me put this on
00:44:01I got this control
00:44:04You understand the Lord's with you the Lord's with you
00:44:09Evander Holyfield said something about his left shoulder. I don't know what he meant
00:44:15I don't know if he's hurt his left shoulder
00:44:21Sometimes when you lift those weights bench pressing you always hurting something, but he doesn't seem to be firing with anything left or right
00:44:34There's the left hook straight right hand before it another right hand afterward more goes back to the body
00:44:40Evander Holyfield threw only 22 punches in round number six the round during which he spent most of the time running away
00:44:47Now here he comes again
00:44:53Suddenly the champion returns with initiative and vengeance
00:45:03Moore comes right back with big boundary punches those punches are hurting evander Holyfield
00:45:08And over the top five more
00:45:16Crowd supporting Holyfield as never before
00:45:20They chanted holy holy holy about 40 seconds ago, and he delivered with that flurry of punches
00:45:26Now the jab lands Holyfield's hands down at his side
00:45:29Inviting moorer in and michael is too smart to fall for
00:45:34Come on
00:45:40So far the bloody eye has not bothered him in this round
00:45:44Maybe he was just taking a round off
00:45:47The corner's done a good job of stopping the bleeding
00:45:57Little blood coming from the mouth of moorer
00:45:59Evander has not been able to get that perfect left hook he throws to the body yet
00:46:05That could be a telling point if this fight goes beyond 10 rounds
00:46:11Crushing jab from moorer he continues to be able to land that right jab almost at will
00:46:17So much has happened hard to believe that we're already past the midpoint in round seven of this 12 round heavyweight championship fight
00:46:23Holyfield coming up and under with the uppercut you see any reason to believe george that that left shoulder is bothering him
00:46:32Yeah, it is he's not snapping that left jab
00:46:34Which is just fading off a good left jab
00:46:40He's wanting more than any time in his life to get a knockout and this is not evander Holyfield
00:46:46A knockout creates itself
00:46:48One of poor's bad habits is to stand against the ropes and take punishment
00:46:58Bert cooper knocked him down while he was in one of those periods alex stewart hurt it
00:47:04But in both instances he came back and won by ko
00:47:07Holyfield is trying to be a power puncher now he's loading up with every left hook
00:47:12But give a band of credit he came back in that round
00:47:25Errol litteman seven rounds how do you have it now larry?
00:47:29I think the last four rounds michael moore is mugging him. I got it four rounds to three
00:47:3566 66 on points, but in grounds I got michael moore winning a fight
00:47:42Evander holofield to me looks batted bloody and I think michael moore has taken it to him
00:47:46Landed it clean the hardest shots. I think he's winning the fight
00:47:49I thought that holy field stole that last round and I have him ahead four rounds to three
00:47:55I tend to agree
00:47:58I tend to agree
00:48:04Work off to jab and fight a full round
00:48:16Through seven rounds michael moore dominant in the jab category landing 57 of the jabs that he throws
00:48:25If holyfield's left shoulder is indeed in pain we may see less and less of the jab from him
00:48:32Holyfield's big weapons would appear to be the straight right and the left hook inside
00:48:35Let's go
00:48:49At this point holyfield should just set his defense stop moving his hands around keep him in one position moore is not mixing the punches up all around his head
00:48:58He said he's in one place
00:49:00I don't know
00:49:02No.
00:49:03No.
00:49:04No.
00:49:05No.
00:49:06No.
00:49:07No.
00:49:08No.
00:49:09No.
00:49:10No.
00:49:11No.
00:49:12No.
00:49:13No.
00:49:14No.
00:49:15No.
00:49:16No.
00:49:17No.
00:49:18No.
00:49:19No.
00:49:20No.
00:49:21No.
00:49:22No.
00:49:23No.
00:49:24Fascinating that Moorer isn't going all out to try to make his much vaunted punching
00:49:28power the difference in the bout.
00:49:30He seems content for the moment to try to box his way to the heavyweight crown.
00:49:34Holyfield landed at one straight right.
00:49:36Now misses a lunging effort.
00:49:39Moorer not nearly as busy in this round as was the case in the four preceding rounds.
00:49:52Now that left hook that Holyfield is known for is starting to get in.
00:49:55If he's landing two or three left hooks around, he can pull this fight out easily.
00:49:59I think that's his bread and butter, George.
00:50:00To that body, it hurts.
00:50:01How do I know?
00:50:02Oh, you should know.
00:50:03You're the man he hit 19 consecutive shots at one point.
00:50:04All right.
00:50:05Break.
00:50:06Break.
00:50:07Enough of that, right?
00:50:08Tactical round.
00:50:09Holyfield getting inside and landing some.
00:50:10Poorer occasionally sniping over the top with the Jag.
00:50:15Now Holyfield is jabbing to the body a bit.
00:50:16Pulls back the left.
00:50:17tactical round Holyfield getting inside and landing some more occasionally sniping over
00:50:31the top with the jab now Holyfield is jabbing to the body a bit pulls back the left just
00:50:46falling with the jab but lands the straight right again which is what you've got to do straight lead
00:50:51right in and hold after attacking again more is not willing to throw a lot of punches he's pacing
00:51:04himself trying to finish with a flurry in a round eight which in a close fight may have been a pretty
00:51:12tough round to score that was a tough round to score the question in my mind now is can Mora win a
00:51:19championship this way does he have to show some passion and make something happen or can he just
00:51:25go along trying to win you want me to change places with you do you listen this guy is finished you're
00:51:33it comes a time in a man's life but he makes a decision he makes a decision to just live survive
00:51:41or he wants to win you're doing just enough to keep him off and hope he leaves you alone you're lying
00:51:47to yourself because you're gonna cry tomorrow you're lying to yourself and I'd lie to you if I let you get
00:51:52away with that you're gonna cry tomorrow because of that do you want to cry tomorrow huh then don't
00:51:58lie to yourself anymore there's something wrong with this guy back him up and fight a full round
00:52:02you heard it and that's as good as anybody can say it I don't know how long that marriage can last
00:52:17but it's an interesting one only if Michael Mora wins the championship
00:52:23all right you want to fight is uncertain he's trying to pace himself it's hard to get them
00:52:28jumping started to get out there and mix it up but if he's fighting for the heavyweight begins that
00:52:45championship of the world if this doesn't get him jump started what can that's a great question
00:52:53but when we asked him yesterday did it burn in his heart did he need this more than anything
00:52:58else in life he would not answer in the affirmative crowd chanting holy holy holy trying to lift evander
00:53:06up a little hit but an apology straight right still landing for holyfield now the left hook
00:53:16to the body and moora flaps the right arm down evander comes back with straight rights excellent
00:53:22assault by the champion that left hook to the bread basket it changes a lot of things
00:53:27evander keeps hooking the left to michael moore's rib cage you won't see moora throwing the jab a lot
00:53:37that's true and if only holyfield can just lead right hand and love hook finish things can change
00:53:44drastically for him but it has to happen with that straight right hand lead right hand purge
00:53:51all right let him go let him go off the net
00:53:57a resolute evander holyfield coming back with straight rights and left hooks
00:54:18he's abandoned the boxing style that beat foe for the moment trying to retain his championship with
00:54:28sheer force of will and that's some force
00:54:42he's going to get another scorching from teddy atlas i think
00:54:53teddy atlas is not tasting those punches here and there
00:54:59that's right it's always easy for those of us outside the ring to question holyfield's credentials
00:55:04as a heavyweight champion i guess you got to fight him to know you've got to fight to know that once you
00:55:09hit this guy with your best punch he's standing there you better wait a minute get it together
00:55:17michael why the hell do you wait to the end of the round
00:55:21because he hit it you know it's only 10 seconds left michael you got three rounds left
00:55:27you got 12 minutes left you're blowing it you're blowing it i'm telling you you're blowing it and you
00:55:34know what you're going to cry afterwards you're going to cry afterwards because it's all there for
00:55:39you he's going to lose his next fight instead of this fight
00:55:44you all right
00:55:46yeah he's right there he's checking it all the time
00:55:51you know the lord's with you you know the lord's with you use that defense
00:55:56the rest of your life the rest of your life go out there for nine minutes and take it over and win the
00:56:04fight give them the mouthpiece mo mo mouthpiece
00:56:15levanda holyfield looks to be about 75 or 80 percent of himself
00:56:20give michael moore credit for some of that i don't know if you can give him credit for all of it
00:56:27the evangelist holyfield corner is telling him things that he want to hear not cuffing him here
00:56:32this is a very moralistic man he's telling him the lord is with you these things that holy field
00:56:37depends on so i think he may have had the best trainer that he could get in this fight
00:56:43it's not what you say how you say what you say in other words they're speaking the language that
00:56:48rings in evander's heart that's right and if you can pull that out of a man that's greater than
00:56:52telling them to land the left jay up in the left hook and let's give credit where credit is due
00:56:57to this point the cut has not decided to fight hasn't even come close to it
00:57:02don turner has been true to his word that he could fix that bleeding
00:57:11moore's heavy hands beginning to show up holyfield hanging on again
00:57:18teddy atlas screaming at moore you're blowing it you're blowing it the very words that angelo dundee
00:57:34used with sugar ray leonard in the closing stages of his dramatic comeback win over thomas hearns
00:57:40they jump started ray leonard on that night 13 years ago they're not yet doing the same for moore
00:57:52holyfield is starting to get a second and a strange win here a guy that was out of it is suddenly alive
00:58:00get off that head get off that neck come on push out come on
00:58:10straight right landed again for evander
00:58:23left hook to the body left hook to the head textbook holyfield moore against the ropes where he so often
00:58:31gets in trouble jab disappearing for moore
00:58:43holyfield is trying to lure moore into throwing three of those right jabs and he's going to count
00:58:48in with that straight right but you can get hurt doing that with a southpaw
00:58:54moore trying to box his way to the heavyweight championship and it's just not the right script for
00:59:00him where's the fire where's the passion where's the desperate need to win the title
00:59:07hard to see it here
00:59:11holyfield was like a good on the table waiting up to now i think you can fairly say holyfield
00:59:19okay he was ready to lose the title easy breath for it isn't ready to win it with two more rounds to go
00:59:28easy breathing easy breathing
00:59:31get out of the water
00:59:39give me that right there give me that
00:59:41give me that one more water how much how letterman 10 rounds your verdict so far larry controversy
00:59:47written all over the fight but i got it 96 93 six rounds to four of vanderola field i think it's going to
00:59:54be close controversial at the end no question i think either guy can win it but i think that knockdown
00:59:59is going to be a very very big part of the fight
01:00:08if the first round is bouncing
01:00:25only field is coming out in this round like he's the one behind
01:00:32and he's going to take away any possibility of aggression by moore by being the aggressor himself
01:00:36SPENT THE FIRST 20 SECONDS OF THE ROUND BACKING MICHAEL MOORE UP.
01:00:41ALL RIGHT, WE'LL SET BACK, COME ON, COME ON, HERE WE GO, MICHAEL.
01:01:09TRADING PUNCHES, HOLYFIELD HAVING ESTABLISHED NOW THAT HE CAN TAKE ANY ONE SHOT AT A TIME FROM MOORE.
01:01:36PETTY ATLAS TRYING TO GET HIS FIGHTER TO THROW THREE AND FOUR AND FIVE AT A TIME.
01:01:41MOORE A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE NOW, BUT HOLYFIELD MATCHING HIM PUNCH FOR PUNCH.
01:01:45MOORE IS REAL PROTECTIVE OF THAT RIGHT JAB. NOW HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET HIT WITH THAT HOOK UNDERNEATH MOORE.
01:01:59HE JABS AND BRING HIM BACK HOME QUICK.
01:02:07UPPERCUT THROUGH THE GUARD BY HOLYFIELD. LEFT HOOK TO THE BODY. LEFT HOOK, STRAIGHT RIGHT. HE EATS A JAB FROM MOORE, BUT MOORE DOESN'T STEP IN THE FOLLOWING.
01:02:17YOU LAND THE JAB THAT FLUSH, GEORGE, YOU AT LEAST THROW THE LEFT HAND.
01:02:24YEAH, HE IS REALLY TRYING TO BE EXTRA PROTECTIVE OF HIMSELF. SEEMS THAT HE WANTS TO GO 12 ROUND.
01:02:29BECAME EXPECTING A WAR AND A BOXING MATCH BROKE OUT.
01:02:39SOLID STRAIGHT RIGHT HANDS BY HOLYFIELD. TWO IN A ROW.
01:02:55MICHAEL MOORE FIGHTING IN THE 11TH ROUND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE HAS PRODUCED AN EFFORT
01:03:03A LITTLE BIT MORE SPIRITED THAN IN THE THREE ROUNDS THAT PRECEDED IT, BUT HOLYFIELD HAS STEPPED HIS LEVEL UP AS WELL.
01:03:10MICHAEL DOESN'T STEPPED.
01:03:15MICHAEL DOESN'T STEPPED.
01:03:18COME DOWN MOORE.
01:03:19I WANT TO SAY ONE THING.
01:03:32MICHAEL, AND YOU AND MICHAEL DOING THE FAST.
01:03:34IF I HAVE A LIKED TO YOU? MICHAEL, YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR BEST.
01:03:36doing your best. You're going to cry afterwards. You're never going to have an opportunity again
01:03:41like this. You're going to get satisfied. You're satisfied just to do enough to keep
01:03:47him off you. You can't do that now. In this world, we can't do that all the time.
01:03:51Fight it, Mike.
01:03:52Not you, Holy. We're going to get you through it. You've got to get out, then you've got
01:03:55to get after it. It's time to go to work. You can do it, Holyfield. You can do it. Jesus
01:04:00loves you.
01:04:01Because he's leaving forward. Don't let him fight. Let's fight the whole mile.
01:04:04What does Moore have to do to win?
01:04:16All right, here we go, Bob. I got it 6 to 5. 105, 103. Avanda hold the field. Avanda by
01:04:22two points.
01:04:24That's Mike's scorecard as well.
01:04:26All right. So we're in sync. Both scorers here. 105, 103 going to the 12th.
01:04:32Michael Moore lands a solid jet. And follows up to the body. Holyfield rocking back just
01:04:39a little bit. Right hand snaps Holyfield's head back. The chance is here for Moore. You
01:04:46have to suspect he needs at least a knockdown. Maybe not a knockout. There's only been one
01:04:52knockdown in the fight. It was Moore who went down. Briefly, early.
01:04:56Holyfield miscalculated. He thought that Moore was just gonna hang on this round. And I
01:05:03guess once he come alive and realize he's gonna fight, he'll pick the pace back up again. But
01:05:07he just miscalculated. Misjudged Moore.
01:05:10Holyfield coming back with the two weapons that have served him so well. Left hook. Straight
01:05:15right hand. Straight right hand. Left hook.
01:05:21Moore energy sacked for the moment. Intend only to push Evander off. Not punching. Now here's
01:05:27the jab. And another. Evander's gonna throw that straight right hand for a minute and 42 seconds.
01:05:34And dare Moore to try to walk through it.
01:05:36You're looking at the dogged determination of a man for whom it has meant everything in life and in boxing.
01:05:43You're looking at the dogged determination of a man for whom it has meant everything in life and in boxing.
01:05:59Venter Holyfield has proven to me that there's no one in boxing with a bigger heart. This guy's everything you want in a fighter. And that's all you want is heart.
01:06:06When you can come into the ring at maybe 70, 80 percent of your best, as appears to be the case for the champion tonight. And still find a way, as appears to be the case for the champion.
01:06:20When he couldn't do anything else, he fought for his title.
01:06:27Well, Moore had a big first minute in this round. But every round is three minutes. And with Evander Holyfield, virtually every title fight is 12 full rounds.
01:06:45One last assault from the challenger. That's that brave chin that just doesn't need any more punches on it, Evander.
01:07:10Would.
01:07:34The question now is, can the officials give the heavyweight championship of the world to Michael Mora on a close fight like this in which he's been knocked down?
01:07:50I'm going to let him in your final result.
01:07:52I still maintain it doesn't get any closer than that.
01:07:56This fight was really close.
01:07:58I had it six rounds to six.
01:08:00I mean, I had it even in rounds, 114, 113, Evander Holifield.
01:08:06I had Holifield winning by one point based on a knockdown.
01:08:10I think that Michael Mora did pull out the last round.
01:08:12I think this fight is as close as he can possibly get, but I think Evander is just going to win it by a point.
01:08:20George, you agree that Mora won that 12th round?
01:08:22Not really at all.
01:08:23Mora came out as the prize, Holifield, but Holifield took over and took charge again.
01:08:27But he's champion of the world, and you've got to do more than win 30 seconds of a round to whip the top down.
01:08:33In my mind, man, I'm not to think I used to.
01:08:35I'll say this.
01:08:37It's a good thing for Mora that the judges don't listen to trainer Teddy Atlas between rounds.
01:08:43They would certainly know how Teddy scored it.
01:08:45Right now, let's go to ring announcer Michael Buffer for the official decision.
01:08:50Ladies and gentlemen, here at Caesars Palace, we go to the scorecards.
01:08:54Dolby Shirley scores the bout, 114 to 114.
01:09:00He has it even.
01:09:03Chuck Jamba scores the bout, 116 to 112.
01:09:08And Jerry Roth scores it, 115 to 114.
01:09:12For the winner by majority decision.
01:09:14And new heavyweight champion of the world, Michael Bora.
01:09:26And he's coming down.
01:09:30Oh, my God.
01:09:31Oh, my God.
01:09:31I get it.
01:09:44Yeah!
01:09:45Woo!
01:09:51Give him up the ring!
01:09:52Give him up the ring!
01:10:01Always! Always! Always! Always!
01:10:06There's Teddy Atlas.
01:10:08He's got a heavyweight champion now.
01:10:11Tutored by Custom Auto.
01:10:13Involved early on in the career of Mike Tyson.
01:10:18After a confrontation with Tyson over behavior in the gym,
01:10:21Teddy Atlas was removed from that situation
01:10:24and lost his chance at that time to work with a heavyweight titleist.
01:10:28Now, finally, he's got one.
01:10:31So, post-fight discussion begins with the judges' scorecards
01:10:34and will probably rage for quite some time.
01:10:36Let's take a quick look back at all three cards.
01:10:38Judge Chuck Jampa of Las Vegas, who had it 116-112 for Moorer,
01:10:42gave the challenger every round from the third through the eighth.
01:10:45Six consecutive rounds.
01:10:47Jerry Roth scored the fight for Moorer by one point.
01:10:50115 to 114.
01:10:52That's particularly noteworthy when you look at how the second round was scored.
01:10:55The round in which Holyfield took a lot of punishment,
01:10:58but ultimately knocked Moorer down.
01:11:00No 10-8 rounds from any of the judges.
01:11:03And Roth, despite the knockdown, saw it as an even round, 10-10.
01:11:07How is that possible?
01:11:09Well, punch that numbers offer one interesting insight.
01:11:12Holyfield landed only six punches in the round,
01:11:14among them the one that produced the knockdown,
01:11:16while Moorer landed a much greater number of punches, 28.
01:11:20Larry Merchant, ultimately the championship changes hands on the basis of that one-point margin on Jerry Roth's scorecard.
01:11:27What do you think about the 10-10 round with a knockdown?
01:11:29Amazing.
01:11:30Jerry Roth is an excellent official, and he made a very bold decision.
01:11:35My judgment, the wrong one, because one of the hardest things to do in boxing, and one of the aims of a boxer,
01:11:42is to knock the other guy down.
01:11:44It is unprecedented in a major fight to not give the man who scored the knockdown that round,
01:11:53and for it then to decide who the heavyweight champion of the world is.
01:12:00Indeed, if Roth had given the round to Holyfield, then the fight winds up a majority draw,
01:12:05and Evander keeps the heavyweight championship.
01:12:07And while Moorer's victory will certainly engender some controversy,
01:12:10it is supported here by our final punch stat numbers,
01:12:13which give the challenger large numerical advantages,
01:12:16both in terms of punches thrown and in terms of punches landed.
01:12:20After the fight, Larry Merchant spoke to both the new champion and the old one in the ring.
01:12:25Michael Moorer, you're the heavyweight champion of the world.
01:12:29Did you believe, at the end, that they would give you the decision,
01:12:33even though you were knocked down and it was a fairly close fight?
01:12:36Excuse me. First of all, I'd like to thank the Heavenly Father,
01:12:39and that fight was dedicated to my son, who was home.
01:12:41Hey, enough.
01:12:43Everyone talked about the fight, going 12 rounds, if I could take it or not.
01:12:48I just had to keep him off from my jab, and I did it.
01:12:52I worked seven and a half hard weeks. I got it.
01:12:56All right, we're going to show you the replay of the knockdown in round two.
01:13:00You describe what happened.
01:13:03I remember he stunned me with one, and he came with a one-two, I think.
01:13:08Because you had the best of it earlier in that exchange before a left got you down.
01:13:11Well, it was a good shot.
01:13:12You weren't hurt, though, were you?
01:13:13No, sir. I was stunned for a minute.
01:13:15Boxing is a sport where you want to get hit.
01:13:18All right.
01:13:19Teddy Atlas was riding you like a jockey through the home stretch in those last three or four rounds,
01:13:24telling you that this is the opportunity of a lifetime.
01:13:27What did that mean to you?
01:13:28That's what he was supposed to do.
01:13:29He pushed me, and we worked on that in the gym.
01:13:32And, you know, I like a person like that just to push me like that.
01:13:36Was there anything in particular that he said that rung a bell when he said this is the one opportunity in a lifetime, you've got 12 minutes to go?
01:13:43He told me this was for my son, and I pushed hard for my son.
01:13:48Did you sense that Evander Holyfield was not all there during much of this fight?
01:13:55I'd have to ask Teddy.
01:13:56Teddy kept instilling in my mind that this is what I have to do.
01:13:59I want to say hi to all the people who supported me back in Manesson and Amon Valley, Detroit.
01:14:03I'm coming home.
01:14:04Thank you very much, Michael Moore.
01:14:07Heavyweight champion of the world.
01:14:09In a moment, we'll have, here we have, all right, here we have Evander Holyfield.
01:14:16Evander, did the clock just run out of you tonight?
01:14:20Well, you know, first of all, I'd like to thank God for, you know, for me just even laughing around.
01:14:27You know, I did all that I had, and, you know, left handed, he's been left handed, and, you know, he's just gonna get off like I wanted to.
01:14:35That left handedness gave you a problem in fighting?
01:14:38A big problem, but, you know, I trained for it, and he was able to get off, and I'd take my hat off.
01:14:44You know, he fought a rugged fight.
01:14:47Did you, do you think it's fair that you knocked him down, it's a very, very close fight, to lose the heavyweight championship on that kind of decision?
01:14:56Well, you know, I wasn't watching the fight. I was in the fight.
01:14:59You know, maybe when I see it on tape, I have a different outlook on it.
01:15:03All I know now is that I'm tired, and I'm sore, and, you know, I just want to get some rest.
01:15:09Now, tell me about the eye. It was a punch that opened the eye. How much of a factor was it in the fight?
01:15:16Well, it was a big factor. You know, it kept running in my eyes, and, you know, I did what I could, you know, with the cut.
01:15:22And I realized that, you know, being a champion, you've got to fight in all circumstances.
01:15:26Did you make a mistake by not having Ace Murata, your old cut man, in the corner to take care of it?
01:15:32Well, no, not at all. It wasn't to a point where that had stopped me. I did what I had to do, and that's all you can ever do.
01:15:40It's do what you have to do. You have to fight in all circumstances.
01:15:43Do you think that fighting so many big men through the years, including that highly emotional fight against Riddick Bowe just five months ago, just took it out of you, and it's just not there anymore?
01:15:53You know, I can't make up an excuse. Mike Moore fought a great fight. He was able to get off. And, you know, I did what I could, and I can't put it on that. I was highly motivated when I came in here.
01:16:04And I prayed to God, and I felt that victory would be mine. And upon losing this, it could possibly be a victory. Maybe I need to stay home with the kids a little bit more longer.
01:16:12Is that a retirement announcement?
01:16:15Oh, no. I haven't said that. I need to go home to rest. Just like if I were the one, I need to go home to rest and think about it.
01:16:21Thank you very much, Evander.
01:16:23Thank you very much.
01:16:25So the business of boxing is once again reshuffled. Out the window go Holyfield's plans to reunify the title against Lennox Lewis and then pursue further matches with Mike Tyson and former champion Riddick Bowe.
01:16:38Michael Moorer's trainer, Teddy Atlas, almost certainly becomes a star now. And the new behind-the-scenes face is a young man named John Davimos, a Los Angeles investor who manages Michael Moorer and has never been in a position quite like this at any previous time in his life.
01:16:54George Foreman, we've met Moore, spent a little time around him. What kind of a champion do you expect him to be?
01:16:59Well, evidently, he's got a good straight left hand and an equally good jab. If he continues to develop these things, get a bit more aggressive, he can become a great champion. Listen to his corner.
01:17:09Does he remind you of anyone?
01:17:10Oh, he reaps of an early, sunny listen to me. There's a dark figure, a shadow hanging around this guy. And I think in the future, we're going to see more of it.
01:17:20He's cultivating that menacing character. Let's see if he can produce it in the ring as well.
01:17:24Evander Holyfield was taken to a hospital in Las Vegas after the fight for routine observation and a look at a strained left shoulder muscle.
01:17:31Larry, obviously, there'll be a lot of discussion about the former champion and his future or lack of it. Do you expect to see him again?
01:17:37I really don't, Jim, this time. He depends on having not just a fire in his belly, but a raging inferno down there for him to do what he does as a prize fighter. And tonight, that raging inferno just wasn't there. And for him, that's like a thoroughbred trying to run with a broken leg.
01:17:57Let me pay one bit of tribute to Evander Holyfield as a prize fighter. We're all dealt a hand in life and we're judged by how we play that hand. As an athlete, I don't know anyone who ever played the hand he was dealt any better than Evander Holyfield. He got three of a kind and he played it like a royal flush. Tonight, he just ran out of cards.
01:18:23Michael Moore was dealt some pretty good cards. He's got some real talents, at least three of a kind. It's yet to be shown whether he can turn it into a royal flush. That's down the road, Jim.
01:18:39And the next big move in the heavyweight division now belongs to World Boxing Council titlist Lennox Lewis. Lewis has a fight coming up in Atlantic City, title defense on May 6th against a fighter named Phil Jackson.
01:18:51After that, he is supposed to be required to fight a mandatory defense against a relatively little-known Don King-managed heavyweight named Oliver McCall. How soon might this heavyweight title be reunified? Well, probably not this autumn, because the suspicion is that Michael Moore will be in no hurry to fight with Lennox Lewis.
01:19:11Thanks very much for being with us. We look forward to having you again on future editions of World Championship Boxing on HBO.
01:19:17As we now know, in the three and a half days that followed, routine observation in Las Vegas led to intense evaluation in Atlanta, the stunning diagnosis of Holyfield's previously unknown heart condition, and the Tuesday afternoon news conference with doctors that brought the curtain down on his career.
01:19:35Immediately following his last fight, Friday night, Mr. Holyfield was taken to the emergency department at Valley Hospital in Las Vegas to treat a kidney condition.
01:19:47He was given massive amounts of fluid to treat this condition.
01:19:51His heart was not able to handle the fluid load, and fluid built up in his lungs.
01:19:55That's when we realized he had a cardiac condition.
01:19:58He was treated with oxygen and medicine to remove the fluid.
01:20:02Mr. Holyfield returned to Atlanta via an air ambulance Sunday night, and he was admitted directly to Crawford Long Hospital.
01:20:10Mr. Holyfield's condition is under control now, and I do not foresee the condition causing Mr. Holyfield any symptoms if he resumes a less strenuous lifestyle.
01:20:18Mr. And when I went out there after the first round, I could feel my shoulder getting tight, and even as I knocked Michael Moore down in that last part of the second round, my shoulder was so tight when the referee said box, that's the reason why I took my time to get back on him.
01:20:37When I hit him, it hurt really in my chest as I hit him, and I couldn't understand how I was hitting him and I was hurting myself.
01:20:45But me making that 12 round was a victory for me, just making the 12 round, and I'm so glad that Dr. Steven and Dr. Marr is here to let me know that if I continue to box, this could be bad on my health.
01:21:01And I think the most important thing in life is life.
01:21:04You know, I have a wonderful family, and my brothers and sisters, you have a girlfriend, my kids, you know, and you all.
01:21:14You know, I got a lot of love to give, and I don't think my heart will break on that.
01:21:21If you tuned in late to tonight's coverage of World Championship Boxing, this program will be rebroadcast on Friday night at 12.30 a.m.
01:21:30Half Past Midnight, Eastern and Pacific Time.
01:21:33World Championship Boxing returns Friday, May 6, with another heavyweight title fight, when Lennox Lewis will defend his WBC crown against Bill Jackson.
01:21:41Also featured the exciting and colorful WBC featherweight champion, Kevin Kelly, who will be taking on Jesse Benavides, live on HBO at 9.45 p.m. Eastern, 6.45 p.m. Pacific Time.
01:21:52So now for Larry Merchant, George Foreman, and Harold Letterman, I'm Jim Lampley, saying so long from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
01:22:01The executive producer of HBO Sports is Ross Greenberg.
01:22:05Tonight's coverage of World Championship Boxing was produced by Rick Bernstein and directed by Mark Payton.
01:22:11The associate producers were Dave Harmon, Brian McDonald, and Kendall Reed.
01:22:15Assistance to the producer, Dave Leapson, Adam Berger, Max Siegel, and Artie Curry.
01:22:19The production manager was John McCallick, and the technical supervisor, George Wenzel.
01:22:24The production manager
01:22:51The production manager
01:23:23This has been a presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.
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