- 7 months ago
Henry Akinwande faces Jeremy Williams for the vacant WBO Heavyweight Title on Showtime Boxing
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00:00Battle in right now for our main event of the evening Henry Akinwande versus Jeremy Williams for the vacant WBO heavyweight championship.
00:09The World Boxing Organization is among the youngest of the so-called Alphabet Soup organizations in its eight-year existence on average.
00:17It has crowned almost one new heavyweight champion annually beginning with Italy's Francesco Damiani in 1989.
00:22Names like Ray Mercer, current IBF champion Michael Moore, and most recently Riddick Bowe stand out as former WBO heavyweight champions.
00:30Bowe relinquished the title rather than face the number one contender Alex Zulkin.
00:34So with the injury to Zulkin, two other top WBO contenders get a chance to fight for the title.
00:40It's Akinwande versus Williams coming up next.
00:44I'm a good boxer.
00:46You know, very fast times, and I mean, I can punch.
00:53You know, I can box and I can punch.
00:55It just depends on your opponent.
00:57People categorize me as a boxer-puncher slash brawler.
01:01You know, I like to get in and mix it up.
01:03A lot of guys underestimate my power and my strength.
01:06Every person I fight, they always come up and say, I didn't know you punched that hard.
01:10I always try to think ahead of my opponent, you know, because sometimes, you know, you
01:17kind of, I mean, you kind of try to think ahead of what he's going to do.
01:21You just know how to react to it, and that's what I always try to do most of the time.
01:25I try to take the guy's heart from the outset of the fight.
01:28Right when I get in the ring, I watch him.
01:30I see his demeanor.
01:31I see what he's thinking.
01:33I try and have my heart be beat with his and see what his mind is going to do.
01:37I try and take the fight and open himself.
01:39Being 67 and being over two, I mean, that's an advantage, but he's not different from
01:46all the guys I've fought, you know, and I mean, when the fight, I mean, as soon as
01:51the belt goes, you know, so I'm just going to take care of him.
01:54Tall people should be basketball players.
01:56The head's way up there.
01:57Touch him in the bottom.
01:58See what he can take down low.
02:00He'll slow down.
02:01Make sure.
02:01Well, after they put that belt, they put that belt in my waist, you know.
02:06It's going to be, like, the old mission is accomplished.
02:11At least, you know, when I have my children, my grandchildren, I can be able to tell them,
02:16you know, this is what they've done, you know, and they'll be able to tell their children,
02:20you know, so, okay.
02:22I've known since I was a child that I was going to be heavyweight champion in the world.
02:25Even when I weighed 60 pounds when I was fighting in Compton, California, you know,
02:29I knew I was going to be heavyweight champion in the world.
02:31I said to myself, like, I won this championship, man.
02:34You know, that's like, my whole world is going to change.
02:39So what does the future hold for a fighter like Henry Akinwani?
02:43Should he win tonight?
02:44Freddie, let's get your read on that.
02:46Well, Akinwani, of course, he's got a ticket to ride on the Championship Express,
02:50but he's got a very difficult task today.
02:52You know, I really like this kid, Jeremy.
02:54After talking to him, he's got the fire, he's got the desire, he's got the spirit, the ability.
02:58And every time I see him fight, he comes out like a lion.
03:01He's got that kind of heist and aggressiveness.
03:03I like those kind of fighters to come after you, get this thing on the road.
03:06Akawandi, on the other hand, is very tall.
03:08He's got a great jab.
03:09He fights calm.
03:11He fights sort of in the British way, you know, everything orderly, everything nice.
03:14Well, the other guy's not orderly at all.
03:16He comes at you from all angles.
03:17He comes inside to pound the body.
03:19A guy that's got desire, a guy that's got fire in him,
03:23that's got a certain edge in my mind over the guy that's calm, cool, and collected,
03:26but can't quite come up to it.
03:28So I'm going to predict sort of a...
03:30I'm really leaning toward this kid, Jeremy, because he's really sold me.
03:33I mean, very seldom do I listen to fighters in interviews.
03:36Pardon me, Bobby.
03:37Very seldom do I listen to the hype.
03:40This guy's not hype.
03:40This guy wants to get in there and fight.
03:42And his spirit hit me so hard.
03:46And also, Bobby, I saw Bobby saying,
03:47gee, this guy really wants to fight.
03:49But I just got to go with him.
03:51So I got to go with this guy.
03:53I think he could win.
03:54And, of course, he would be a colorful addition.
03:56He's not quite big enough, but he could be a colorful addition to the sweepstakes that's now going on,
04:00the Oklahoma land rush for heavyweight champions.
04:04And up there, it's the millions are falling.
04:06He has one-punch power.
04:07Williams, we'll see if it happens tonight.
04:09And how does a fighter handle a last-minute replacement?
04:13That's another situation that confronts us here.
04:15Bobby, you've been there, right?
04:17Yeah, especially early in my career.
04:18Sometimes you, you know, have a last-minute dropout.
04:20One of the things that's really bad, if you've had no footage of the fighters to study
04:23and you've prepared for a different opponent,
04:25your mind and your body have been conditioned to do certain things
04:27that they almost automatically do.
04:29So you have to change that.
04:30So the first couple of rounds can sometimes be slower.
04:32Also, if they have an awkward or unique thing in their repertoire offensively or defensively,
04:37I know I got caught with a few punches from a few fighters
04:39that I never, never should have got hit so cleanly by
04:41and had trouble getting other fighters out, I got in a hurry.
04:44Took me hours to solve them, it seemed like.
04:47It was taking me three or four extra rounds.
04:49It's just annoying.
04:50I don't like doing it, but at least Jeremy Williams here,
04:53they know each other.
04:55So they don't, you know, they haven't prepared for each other specifically,
04:58although Tucker, much closer to Akinwandi than Zolkin is to Williams.
05:01Purdy building a big case for Williams.
05:03What do you think?
05:04You know, I look at the fight now,
05:06and I think that the reach,
05:07I think the jab of Akinwandi might be the tool here.
05:10The extra, I think, 15 pounds might play a factor.
05:12But right now I'm going with the jab.
05:13This fight is so close.
05:15Their careers almost parallel with one another.
05:18The records are almost exactly the same, identical.
05:21I just got a feeling the jab wins the fight.
05:23That's all.
05:24All right, so we'll see what happens.
05:25Let's get a look at the 23-year-old Jeremy Williams,
05:28born in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
05:31He grew up on the tough streets of Long Beach, California,
05:34where he still resides, an impressive 26-1 with 23 KOs,
05:39and he's rated number four by the WBO,
05:41number six by the WBC.
05:43Nobody promised your goddamn fighters.
05:44Go.
05:44All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:46Let's go.
05:46Go.
05:47All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:48Let's go.
05:48All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:49All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:50All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:52All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:53All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:55All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:56All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:57All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:58All right, so we'll see what happens here.
05:59All right, so we'll see what happens here.
06:00All right, so we'll see what happens here.
06:01All right, so we'll see what happens here.
06:02All right, so we'll see what happens here.
06:03Let's go!
06:33Yes Jeremy Williams has won his
06:49last 11 in a row by knockouts
06:51it's his lone defeat a
06:52majority decision to Larry
06:53Donald in 94 that winning streak
06:56includes a world record 10 second
06:58KO of Arthur Weathers in March
07:01his last three have ended in two
07:02rounds or less a highly acclaimed
07:04amateur advanced all the way to
07:06the finals of the 92 Olympic
07:07trials before losing to Montel
07:08Griffin held the WBC Continental
07:11America's heavyweight title for a
07:12year and a half with one defense
07:14before losing it to Donald this
07:16his first shot at a world
07:17championship and now here's
07:21Henry Akinwande 29 and a one draw
07:2417 KOs the 30 year old Akinwande
07:27born in Dulwich England grew up in
07:29Lagos Nigeria and now lives in
07:31Tallahassee Florida number three
07:33by the WBO his rating number one
07:36by the WBA number four by the IBS
07:39brothers and sisters I don't know
07:47what this world is coming to
07:49let's go
07:50let's go
07:51let's go
07:52let's go
07:53let's go
07:54let's go
07:55let's go
07:56let's go
07:57let's go
07:58let's go
07:59let's go
08:00let's go
08:01let's go
08:02let's go
08:03let's go
08:04let's go
08:05let's go
08:06let's go
08:07let's go
08:08let's go
08:09let's go
08:10let's go
08:11let's go
08:12let's go
08:13let's go
08:14let's go
08:15let's go
08:16let's go
08:47What's up, big guy?
08:51Good job, brother.
08:55The towering 6'7", Henry Akinwani, who won the European title in 93 by avenging the only blemish on his record with a decision over Germany's Axel Schultz.
09:04He battled Schultz to a controversial draw for the European crown in 92.
09:08Many observers thought Akinwani was robbed.
09:11He'd won his first 19 fights prior to the draw.
09:14He is also 11-0 since, including a unanimous decision over former world heavyweight champ Tony Tucker on the Tyson Mathis Jr. card last December.
09:23Like his opponent, this is his first world title bout.
09:27Let's see how they stack up on paper now as we take a look at the tail of the tape at 30.
09:30Akinwani, seven years older than Williams.
09:32It's 6'7".
09:34Big five-inch height advantage for Akinwani.
09:36And Akinwani nearly 16 pounds heavier than Williams.
09:40Five-and-a-half-inch reach advantage, Akinwani.
09:43WBA rules, PO rules for this championship fight.
09:46Scoring under the 10-point must.
09:48Three judges will score.
09:49No standing eight count.
09:50Three knockdown rule is in effect.
09:52The ref or doctor can't stop the fight under California law.
09:56A fighter cannot be saved by the bell except in the final round.
09:58If an accidental foul occurs before the end of the third round, it's a no decision.
10:04After the completion of the third round, they go to the scorecards.
10:07Only completed rounds are scored.
10:09So here in the hot Mojave Desert, we're closing in on our featured attraction, the WBO Heavyweight Championship.
10:16Henry Akinwani versus Jeremy Williams set for the official introductions.
10:20Here's our ring announcer, the classy Jimmy Lennon Jr.
10:23Ladies and gentlemen, before we present our featured attraction at this time,
10:29I'd like to ask you to rise for the singing of the national anthems.
10:33First, ladies and gentlemen, we present the Indian anthem flag song,
10:37which celebrates the spirit of the warrior.
10:40It will be performed by Willie Calloway Jr., Tom Luna, and Adele Leslie.
10:46Well, let's see.
11:16Oh, let's see.
11:46Oh, let's see.
12:16Oh, let's see.
12:18Oh, let's see.
12:19Oh, let's see.
12:34Oh.
12:37SONG PLAYS
13:07Please remain standing ladies and gentlemen
13:14As we present the U.S. National Anthem
13:18To lead us here tonight
13:19Please welcome the very talented singer
13:22The former lead singer of the Platters
13:24Introducing J.C. Parrish
13:29Only you
13:35Oh sorry, wrong show
13:37Don Keith let me do that
13:41Oh say can you see
13:49By the dawn's early light
13:55What so proud mid we hailed
14:00At the twilight's last gleaming
14:05Oh beautiful for spacious skies
14:12For amber waves of grain
14:16For purple mountain majesty
14:23Above the fruited plain
14:29God bless America
14:33Land that I love
14:39Stand beside her and guide her
14:44Through the night with the light from above
14:48From the mountain to the prairie
14:54To the sea to the ocean white with foam
15:00God bless America
15:04God bless America
15:05My home sweet home
15:09Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
15:15Thunder yet wave
15:22Over the land and of the free
15:27Berlin on people
15:34And the historia
15:36And O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
15:50Well, ladies and gentlemen, as always on Showtime Championship Boxing, a donation of $5,000 will be made by Don King Productions and Showtime to the United Negro College Fund, the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and tonight courtesy of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians to the University of California at
16:19Riverside. In the ring, presenting the checks, Tribal Chairman John James and CEO Mark Nichols. This donation will be made in the name of the Fighter of the Night, who will be selected by an expert panel of judges at the conclusion of tonight's action.
16:38Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you to the beautiful Fantasy Springs Casino, here on the reservation of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indios near Indio, California, as it's time for the featured attraction of the evening, brought to you by Don King Productions and La Cerveza, Mas Fina Corona Beer.
17:04This bout is sanctioned by the World Boxing Organization, the president and supervisor for this bout, Francisco Balcarcel, along with the California State Athletic Commission.
17:15The chairman is William Eastman, vice chairman in attendance, Willie Buchanan, executive director, Richard DeCure.
17:23Physicians at ringside, Dr. Robert Carnes, Dr. Adam Carnes, Dr. Howard Baer.
17:28Time keepers at the bell, also keeping count of the knockdowns, Debbie Garcia and Mike Millsap.
17:35Introducing to you the judges scoring this bout for ringside, Jose Cobian, Dolby Shirley and Jean Williams.
17:46All right fans, here we go with our main event of the evening.
17:51And now, ladies and gentlemen in attendance, and boxing fans joining us around the world, it's showtime!
18:01With the vacant WBO heavyweight championship of the world, scheduled for 12 rounds of boxing,
18:08our referee in charge of this bout, Raul Kais.
18:13Introducing to you first, ladies and gentlemen on my left, fighting out of the blue corner,
18:20he is wearing white trunks with multi-color trim, fighting out of Long Beach, California.
18:28He weighed in at a ready 216 and one half thousand, his record of blues, 26 wins, only one defeat,
18:3723 wins coming by way of knockout, here is the former WBC Continental America's heavyweight champion,
18:47currently ranked, the WBO number four heavyweight contender in the world,
18:52introducing Jeremy Williams!
18:57And his opponent across the ring for this vacant title mount, he's fighting on my right out of the red corner,
19:11wearing solid black trunks, and fighting out of Dulwich, England.
19:17He weighed in at 232 pounds, he is unbeaten in his campaign in the ring with 29 wins,
19:24no losses, no losses, one draw, with 17 wins coming by way of knockout.
19:31Here is the former European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion,
19:35and currently ranked the WBO number three contender,
19:38introducing the undefeated, Henry Akinwande!
19:49Once again, our referee in charge, now to give instructions, Raul Kais.
19:53Gentlemen, I gave you a stretch of downstairs, I expect to be in the commands at all times.
19:58Remember this, the WBO heavyweight championship in the world.
20:01Bone here, on down is a low blow.
20:03Keep your punches up, shake hands, good luck to both of you.
20:09Well, here at Fantasy Springs in Indio,
20:12as you look at Henry Akinwande,
20:14chiseled well, defined body, nothing fancy,
20:17almost looking disinterested as he gets ready for this fight against Jeremy Williams,
20:21frisky, confident, improving with his power.
20:24The temperature is actually down to about 97 degrees.
20:27It started at over 120 when we began the broadcast a little over an hour ago.
20:34And Williams comes charging around at Akinwande.
20:48The winner has to fight Alexander Zulkin in 120 days.
20:53You have to be impressed with Jeremy Williams' passion for this fight.
20:56He is so upbeat, and he wants it bad.
21:00Akinwande still looks like he's not even mad about anything yet.
21:03Williams, a natural righty who can switch the southpaw,
21:06looking to barrel right in.
21:09He does have a suspect chin,
21:11and there's a left hook by Jeremy Williams that was blocked.
21:14So far, it's all the aggression of Jeremy Williams,
21:18which is exactly what he told us,
21:19and that's what's reflected here.
21:21Now, so far, Akinwande is just trying to get himself organized for counterpunch.
21:25Jeremy Williams using the brawling tactics.
21:29I got you. Let's go.
21:31Now, Jeremy's leaping him with that hook a little bit too long.
21:34He's got to work in and in, then jump in and hook with it.
21:37Akinwande doesn't like this, of course.
21:39He likes to fight from the outside.
21:40He is inexperienced in brawling.
21:43That's exactly what Jeremy said.
21:45He didn't like it inside.
21:46That's where I'm going to carry it.
21:47I'm going to carry this fight right to his guts.
21:49And he's there. That's where he's at.
21:53But he's too wild coming in, Bobby.
21:55Too much attention to Jeremy. He's too wild.
21:57He's unloaded that hook from too far away.
21:59He's going to jump into a punch at that range.
22:02He's got to work in behind a jab.
22:04Pick that jab counter over the top.
22:06Pick it. Come underneath.
22:07Akinwande Williams with the left hook.
22:09He comes pouncing right on top of Akinwande,
22:13who punches his way out.
22:14Williams just smiles at him.
22:16Well, Akinwande's finally getting mad.
22:18Akinwande belting him to the body with a straight left.
22:21He finally got mad because up to that point, he was ice cold.
22:24He just couldn't make up his mind when to get started.
22:26I think he's decided, I better get started.
22:29This guy means to kill him.
22:31Akinwande going to the jab.
22:33Williams, we'll see if he settles down
22:38and just tries to get inside underneath the long jab of Akinwande.
22:42Jeremy started with the big hook,
22:43and now he's trying to take a right hand over the top too.
22:46See him trying to turn it over.
22:47He'll almost come up over the top and rip it down.
22:50He's not giving Akinwande the chance to throw that jab.
22:53That's what his game plan was.
22:54Come in, smother the jab before it starts.
22:56See, he's jabbing going back, which is almost nothing.
23:00I mean, a jab going back is like leaving your card at the door
23:03but not going through.
23:05Williams, a late replacement for the injured Alexander Zulkin.
23:09Has not seen tapes or ever seen Akinwande fight live.
23:13But he works out with a guy bigger than him,
23:16so size is no problem as far as Jeremy.
23:18He says, I work out with a bigger guy than him.
23:21He works out with a 6'8 guy, Akinwande's 6'7.
23:26And he gets thrown to the canvas.
23:29I'll tell you what, this fight is going to take a toll on both fighters
23:32with all the wrestling, all the bang, the elbows, the heads, the shoulders.
23:36This is a rough type of fight, the weather without getting tired or else.
23:41And there's the battle and a wild opening round.
23:46Tough round to score.
23:47He promised action, he gave action.
23:49That's the important thing, right?
23:50I'm going to look to him for aggression.
23:51That's the only way I can see it.
23:52Put your legs out.
23:53Put your legs out of your leg.
23:54Jeremy, just see that.
23:55Well, you won't now, but you know what to do.
23:57Hey, Jeremy, you won that round.
24:01You're going to settle down a little bit more.
24:02I don't want you waiting back at all.
24:04You see, you set the pace here.
24:06Let's keep that pace.
24:07Got a little bit more control pace.
24:09Take some deep breaths.
24:10Here we go.
24:10Bucket in front of him so he can spit it.
24:11Right there.
24:13Nice and nice.
24:13Nice and nice.
24:13What's going on?
24:15Good.
24:15All right.
24:16You got the jitters out now?
24:17Now, slick and body.
24:19Slick and body.
24:19He's going to look for uppercuts off your body shot.
24:22So keep your hands in tight.
24:23Take a look at some of that action.
24:24It was so wild.
24:25He was throwing a right uppercut.
24:27That was a hook that missed by a mile.
24:30And then he just gets spun around.
24:31That's a football.
24:32Bobby.
24:33Another look at you.
24:34You'll see that he's trying to counter his acting one day.
24:36He misses, but the arms get tied up.
24:38He spins, pivots, and just flips him onto the ground.
24:41You know, they hear Joe Goosin say they want him to settle down on the Jeremy Williams quarter.
24:46And again, the WWF tech.
24:50Hakanwani has never been down.
24:52Williams, who started out as a cruiserweight, has been down several times early in his career.
24:59He's put on weight, and he has developed power.
25:02Hakanwani is pushing him around like if he was a little doll.
25:05He picks him up like if he was a doll.
25:06Nice straight right hand here by Williams to the body.
25:09What he's doing here, me and Tommy, kind of going to the gym, is slow walking the guy down.
25:13Put your hands up, block, walk to him, keep walking to him, and just bang.
25:16Combination by Hakanwani.
25:18The straight right hand.
25:19Uppercut follows it up with a straight right hand.
25:22And he swarms all over Williams.
25:24Williams fights his way out, and he's troubled by an eye now.
25:28Jerry Williams blinking the right eye feverishly.
25:32Back goes Hakanwani.
25:33He's taking most of those shots on his gloves, but that's an awful lot of pressure on him.
25:38That one he took on the side of the head.
25:39One of those right hands was very clean.
25:41I think Jeremy was in a little bit of trouble, but Weather the Storm tried to get Hakanwani to make a mistake and come off the rope with some leverage.
25:48He's got a nick on the left side of his face as Jeremy Williams.
25:51And Hakanwani senses he can finish this now.
25:54Hakanwani now dictating the pace, unlike the first round, continues to apply the pressure.
26:00And this has totally turned around.
26:03All right, hold it.
26:04Break, break.
26:04Let's go.
26:05Back up, back up, Jeremy.
26:06Back up.
26:06I'm making me wrestle.
26:07I don't like to wrestle.
26:08Let's go.
26:09Raul Cahill doesn't want any wrestling.
26:13Williams trying to go away with the right, holding and hitting with the left.
26:17As steam has gone out of Jeremy Williams, he isn't that wild bull anymore.
26:21He's got to settle down now because he came very, very close to taking a knockdown there in that corner.
26:26Williams looking to load up and end this with one punch as he did with Arthur Williams.
26:32I still believe he's jumping in from a little too far away.
26:35He's got to work right there and pick the shots and grab him.
26:38That far away stuff is what got him hurt before.
26:40He walked into one of those right hands.
26:42You know what happens when you walk in.
26:43You double the momentum, you double the power.
26:46The sweet science has gone out the window.
26:48No bouncing from Jeremy Williams.
26:50Well, it's brought Akawandi back to the world of violence because he was very cool at the beginning.
26:56But, boy, he's back in there trying to throw bombs and get this guy out of there.
26:59Akawandi does not want to be here for 12 rounds.
27:02The brawl continues.
27:05We approach 30 seconds remaining in round two, and it has been virtually nonstop.
27:11Stop charging like a wild bull in the box.
27:13Let's go.
27:15Back up in front.
27:16And again, they clash.
27:18Back up in front.
27:19Now Akawandi's urging them to back up and punch instead.
27:23Back up in front.
27:23Back up in front.
27:23Akinwande tying Williams up.
27:25Oh, a sharp right uppercut by Akawandi.
27:28Williams is still punching with that three arm.
27:31On the inside, Akawandi wants a hole.
27:33Nice uppercut by Akawandi.
27:35As we head for the bow.
27:45Jeremy doesn't look too good going back to the corner.
27:47He said he broke his finger, Williams.
27:49A little finger.
27:50You'll be all right.
27:51It's probably more bruised than it is broken.
27:53You can't worry about it now, baby.
27:55It's a knuckle.
27:56Okay?
27:56We're going to live with that.
27:57Jeremy, which hand?
27:58Left hand?
27:59You've got to use it.
28:00You've got to use it.
28:01You don't want me to stop this guy down front.
28:02No.
28:02Okay.
28:03All right.
28:03Sit back.
28:04You can't think about it.
28:05Put your legs out.
28:06All right.
28:07Now you can start going to a little bit of a jab now.
28:09All right?
28:10Now you set the pace here, Jared.
28:12You're backed up in that corner.
28:13You got hit.
28:13Here's where he got into the corner, and all kind of trouble happened to him.
28:17There's the right hand.
28:18Bobby said last time landed solidly.
28:21And now the rest of these begin to come on the glove, and some of them come through.
28:24Bobby, I think he was in trouble there.
28:26I don't think he was in big trouble, but I think he was in trouble.
28:29I think the right hand caught him.
28:30You watch it again for another look.
28:32Caught him pretty much from the neck and chin right there.
28:34Gave him a nice jolt.
28:35You see his head?
28:36See his eyes just for a split second near a roll?
28:38That's why I thought he was in trouble.
28:39He was.
28:40You know, his attention was gotten immediately.
28:42He came out okay, but he's still not steady.
28:45And now he's got a problem with a broken hand.
28:47Jeremy Williams feels like he broke his finger.
28:50We understand it's the left middle finger, the middle finger on the left hand.
28:54Of course, you heard Joe Goosian say, it's probably holding a broom.
28:57It feels like it.
28:59It's broken, but it's only a broom.
29:00As they used to say in the corners, you broke it.
29:01Can't break it anymore, can you?
29:02You can't.
29:03None of those you can do about a spank.
29:05Except the guy says, yes, but it hurts.
29:07A broken finger hurts.
29:09I know the feeling I've broken a couple different knives.
29:12Nice right hand.
29:14Jeremy Williams.
29:17Oh, now goes Williams.
29:19What a shot by Akinwande out of nowhere.
29:22Straight right there in the same punch.
29:23Set up with the jab, same punch.
29:24It's over.
29:25That's it.
29:26No way.
29:27Henry Akinwande is the new WBO heavyweight champion.
29:32Right down the pike, Bobby.
29:33Right down the pike.
29:35Well, there were some questions about just how durable Jeremy Williams could be at 216.
29:39And some people questioned how much of a chin he really had.
29:42Akinwande, not the biggest of punches, but that was a clean right hand.
29:45That was a clean right hand.
29:46And as you pointed out, when you're coming in and doubles the effect of the punch, you know,
29:51you've got to give this guy.
29:52Gruner Williams came in to fight.
29:54And he was reckless.
29:55I was impressed with his passion, but that's just it.
29:57Reckless abandon will not get you anywhere most of the time.
30:00Well, he certainly boxed well, Akinwande.
30:03After waking up from the usual doldrums that he begins in, he began to fight really hard.
30:09The second round, I gave it to him.
30:10I thought the third round he was taking well.
30:12And I thought the fight was on the way to completion.
30:14It did get completed much faster than I thought.
30:17Well, you know, I said earlier before the fight started, I thought the range,
30:20the height and the range was going to be the difference.
30:22Jeremy couldn't solve it.
30:23He's jumping in from the outside.
30:25If he got inside, he stayed there, got his hands free and worked his way in.
30:28Might have been different and more effective.
30:29But the height and the reach took care of business.
30:33Here, we'll take a look at the end of the fight.
30:36Akinwande is using that height and that range.
30:38Jeremy again, jumping, coming up out.
30:40That right hand, he just doesn't block.
30:42He comes right down the middle, right inside his left hand, which was up.
30:46Right inside it, clean, right on the jaw.
30:49Well, Jeremy Williams certainly fights with bad intentions, but he was careless.
30:52Here's another look at it.
30:53You see that right hand just went right inside.
30:55He missed it.
30:55Just completely missed the block.
30:57Right on the chin, and he was in trouble.
31:01Not the first time he's been down, and a smiling Henry Akinwande
31:05will go back to Tallahassee, Florida, as the new champion.
31:10The WBO heavyweight title is Bacon's No More.
31:13The belt now belongs to Englishman Henry Akinwande wins it in his first try at a world title.
31:20Remains undefeated, 30-0-1.
31:22Let's get the official time from Jimmy Lennon Jr.
31:24Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time.
31:3343 seconds of round number three.
31:36A referee in charge, Rokai, stops the contest.
31:40He's the winner by way of knockout,
31:43and the new WBO heavyweight champion of the world,
31:49Henry Akinwande.
31:55So there you have it.
31:56Obviously, the late change in opponents not having an adverse effect on Henry Akinwande,
32:01who was originally slated to fight Russian southpaw Alexander Zulkin.
32:06As you see, a very disappointed Jeremy Williams,
32:10who just went out there in reckless fashion,
32:13trying to end this thing with one punch.
32:15Instead, it's Henry Akinwande,
32:16the new WBO heavyweight champion as 23-year-old Jeremy Williams
32:21sees his record drop to 26 and 2.
32:27Big crush on the ring right now
32:30as Ferdy Pacheco makes his way,
32:32looking to talk to the new champion.
32:36So we're all set for post-fight reaction.
32:37Let's go out for the fight, Dr. Ferdy Pacheco.
32:41All right, congratulations.
32:43Congratulations, a startling knockout.
32:45Did you think it was going to be that clean?
32:47A knockout?
32:49I mean, I've been working with my new trainer, Don Turner,
32:53you know, about planting my feet more.
32:56He said I mean to be running, you know,
32:58so he said if I plant my feet more,
32:59I'll get a lot more power on it.
33:01And we've been working on that.
33:03And when they said Sorkin pulled out,
33:08you know, my trainer said no problem.
33:10You know, we just have to fight him the same way.
33:13So, I mean, everything just worked out.
33:14And I'm very grateful for Don King
33:16for giving me this opportunity.
33:18Let me ask you, were you surprised
33:20at that fierce opening first round?
33:22That guy came out to kill you.
33:24No, I mean, like, I know that he's going to do that.
33:27So it's just like, I try to hold my own,
33:30but I just said, like, let me just let me do whatever I want.
33:35You know, so the second round.
33:36All right, Turner, who has been in boxing
33:39as long as I have, I think,
33:40were you afraid or surprised
33:42that first or second round
33:43that your guy was going to be overwhelmed by this guy?
33:45No, because we had worked on it.
33:47We had a lot of spine partners that overwhelmed him,
33:50and that's what we worked on.
33:51We knew that Sorkin was a plotter.
33:53We knew that this guy come in.
33:55And, you know, Jeremy Williams
33:57was one of Kevin Rooney's guys,
33:58and he threw a lot of looping punches
34:00and never a straight punch.
34:01And I knew that a straight punch would be the crookers.
34:04All right, let's take a look at the replays
34:06because I want the champ to see himself in action.
34:08Take a look at this.
34:09You tell us what you do.
34:11I mean, that is, I mean, Don Turner said, you know,
34:15I should just set him up and go which one, too.
34:17And as soon as I see him coming in, you know, I just, you know,
34:21I just, I mean, I know that he's going to rush in.
34:23You know, yeah, I do, too.
34:24You know, because I know that he kind of matched me
34:27from points for points, you know.
34:28Did you think he was going to get up?
34:29I don't, I don't, I don't think he's going to get up
34:32because the second round I had him on.
34:33I had him the second round, hand down.
34:36All right, the politics of this has to be
34:39that in 120 days he's got to fight Zoltan, right?
34:41No, you don't have to fight Zoltan.
34:43Hold it.
34:43You know, we don't know what we're going to do,
34:45but first of all, what we, right now,
34:47we want to save the championship
34:48with Vercasa Francois, Francisco Vercasa,
34:52who's the president of the WBO.
34:53You know, they tried to make a coup on him,
34:55and whenever they try to make a coup, we stand beside him.
34:57So I'm behind Vercasa.
34:59I'm going to be with him all the ways
35:00and all the ways to get the WBO back on his feet,
35:03straight and clean, and everything will be married.
35:06This guy is a great champion for the WBO.
35:08He knocked him out with a clean punch,
35:10and all he keeps telling me is he wants Tyson,
35:12so he's going to get an opportunity on July 13th
35:15to witness Tyson.
35:16Don't scare this guy.
35:17We are.
35:18This guy, man, he is great.
35:19Let him enjoy his night.
35:20That's what his whole thing was.
35:20Let him enjoy his night.
35:21Don't listen to him.
35:22Don't worry about Tyson.
35:23Don't listen to him.
35:24He said, I want to get this title
35:25because he wants to get tired of him.
35:26He wanted it.
35:27Here's a tough guy.
35:28Here's a tough guy.
35:29He did a great job.
35:31He really made this right to the run.
35:34Here's a guy that fought his heart out.
35:36You said you were going to come out blasting,
35:38and you certainly did that first round.
35:39I got to put my finger in the fight.
35:41I mean, it's no excuse.
35:41It's a hell of a fighter.
35:42I thank Don King Productions for the fight.
35:44But I'm 23.
35:45I'll be back.
35:46We heard that you had broken.
35:47I mean, you got to help you get back.
35:49We heard.
35:49You got a great man with you with Joe.
35:50As long as you got Joe, you got him at you.
35:52We heard you broke your hand, and of course,
35:54not your hand, your finger.
35:55Yeah.
35:56And that should be determined by x-ray.
35:58That's no difference.
35:59No excuse in this.
36:00There's no excuse, but that is a fact that we have to address.
36:03He's a great guy.
36:04He's a great guy.
36:04He's a great guy.
36:04He's a great guy.
36:04He's a great guy.
36:04He's a great guy.
36:05He's a great guy.
36:05He's a great guy.
36:06He's a great guy.
36:06He's a great guy.
36:07Thank you very much.
36:09But I'm 23 years old.
36:10I will be back.
36:12All right.
36:13So, Dan, from here, we are hopping to the desert
36:18and another splendid night in the desert.
36:20Yes, we are.
36:21But first, let me say happy birthday to my champion, Mike Tyson,
36:24and to my team, Rory Holloway and John Horn,
36:27who's there.
36:28They're receiving the Victor Award tonight
36:29with David Marmel at the Hilton Hotel.
36:32And we just want you to know that it was a great show here.
36:35I'll be there tomorrow for your birthday.
36:37Tomorrow is Tyson's birthday.
36:38We got him a Viper.
36:39We want to thank Kurt McCoyan
36:41and all that helped us to get him a Viper for tomorrow.
36:43And he'll be getting his Viper.
36:45So, Mike Tyson is getting ready for Bruce Seldon,
36:48which is going to be champion versus champion
36:50July 13th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada,
36:55the yellow brick road leading to the city of Oz.
36:59I'm an old car freak.
37:00I don't know what a Viper.
37:01Is that a motorcycle, a car, or a snake?
37:03What are you getting?
37:03No, that's the new car by Chrysler, the Dodge Viper.
37:06It's one of those beautiful, magnificent sports cars.
37:09And Tyson is going to have one for his birthday
37:11along with a Lamborghini.
37:14He's going to have for his birthday also
37:16a yellow and black Lamborghini.
37:18And we're just excited about that.
37:20Tyson is getting ready every day.
37:21Rory is right on the camp.
37:23John working very close with me.
37:24And we say happy birthday, Tyson.
37:26We'll be there to celebrate with you tomorrow.
37:28And now we've got a new champion for you to have to come up and challenge you.
37:32So this really makes it a total unification of the world champions
37:35as Tyson goes down the road, taking on all comers.
37:38And a good car.
37:39Oh, let's talk about it a minute, Ferdy.
37:42You've got Trinidad who's going to be fighting on that car,
37:44which is the best welterweight in the world.
37:46We challenge any welterweight in the world.
37:47That means Fernell Whittaker to come on out of hiding.
37:50Ike Quartate, who has to fight over a car.
37:52When he fights over a car, if he should be lucky enough to get by over,
37:55then he has to take on Trinidad.
37:56Trinidad is the number one welterweight in the world.
37:58Then we've got Terrible Terry Norris, the junior middleweight, super welterweight,
38:04who also will be fighting on the car on July 13th.
38:08And we have that fabulous, beautiful lady, a champion in her own right, Christy Martin,
38:13who all the people of the world love and see.
38:15She can fight.
38:16She is ready.
38:17And she will be in there to demonstrate her talent again on the 13th of July
38:21in Las Vegas, Nevada, the MGM Grand.
38:24So call your local people operator now to make certain you get in.
38:26And if you can't be there to see it livening, living color on the scene,
38:30then check it out on the screen by pay-per-view.
38:32One last question.
38:33There's a lot of flies around there.
38:34Are you drawing that or am I drawing that?
38:36Which one of us is drawing these flies?
38:37Well, we're in the desert, and the flies have to have a little freedom to.
38:40We had a great show tonight, as usual.
38:42We did.
38:42Matt Blank, you know what I mean?
38:43Matt Blank got to be thinking.
38:45Tony Cox, all the guys that are around.
38:47Ferdy, we're going to be on the road.
38:48And I understand we're going to be on the road.
38:49I've been on the road.
38:50I've got to go back to Bobby Chez, who's been on the road,
38:53with Steve Albert at ringside.
38:54All right, Doc, always a verbal adventure alongside Mr. Don King.
39:00Well, a lot of people, of course, downplay and poo-poo the World Boxing Organization,
39:05but Henry Akinwadi may have just bought himself a ticket to the Mike Tyson sweepstakes.
39:09Well, he's been in the Mike Tyson sweepstakes from the start.
39:11I think he's a quality heavyweight.
39:12He's 6'7", gives him an outrageous advantage in height,
39:15and reach over even most of the big heavyweights.
39:17The biggest being Bo and Lennox Lewis at 6'5".
39:20This is a big kid.
39:21If you ever put on a little more muscle, you never can tell.
39:23Is that Tom still talking?
39:26Probably.
39:27All right, what a surprise.
39:28Well, here on Showtime Championship Boxing,
39:30time now to present our Fighter of the Night Award.
39:33A special panel of judges comprised of members of the boxing media
39:36covering tonight's action votes on the Fighter of the Night.
39:39Let's take a look at the panel.
39:40Carlos Arias of the Orange County Register,
39:44Tim Kawakami of the L.A. Times,
39:47and Bill Plunkett of the Desert Sun.
39:48And our judges have selected,
39:51by unanimous decision,
39:53the man we just saw,
39:536'7", Henry Akinwadi.
39:55Congratulations to the Englishman chosen as our Fighter of the Night.
39:59A $5,000 donation will be made
40:01in the name of Henry Akinwadi
40:03and the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
40:05to the United Negro College Fund,
40:06the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund,
40:08the University of California, Riverside,
40:10by Showtime Networks and Don King Productions.
40:16Well, once again,
40:17Showtime Networks and Don King Productions.
40:21Well, once again,
40:22a special reminder two weeks from tonight
40:24from the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
40:27It's champion versus champion on pay-per-view.
40:30On Saturday, July 13th,
40:32WBA heavyweight champion,
40:33Bruce Seldon defends his title
40:35against WBC champion Mike Tyson.
40:38Also featured that night,
40:39the IBF and WBC super welterweight champion.
40:42Terry Norris meets Alex Rios,
40:46undefeated IBF welterweight champ.
40:47Felix Trinidad faces Ray Lovato
40:49and women's boxing sensation Christy Martin
40:53will also be featured.
40:55See this boxing extravaganza live
40:56on pay-per-view at 9 p.m. Eastern,
40:596 p.m. Pacific.
41:02Bobby Chez,
41:02your feelings on Seldon versus Tyson.
41:05How will that trademark Seldon jab
41:07do against a guy like Tyson?
41:09Well, you know,
41:09there are two unalterable truths in boxing, Steve.
41:12If you don't have a great chin,
41:13you can't go out and buy one.
41:14You can't go out and learn one.
41:15You can build your muscles in your neck,
41:16but you'll never have a great chin.
41:18Bruce Seldon has had a suspect chin
41:19over the years,
41:20Ridicott taking him out,
41:21Alvar McCall knock him out.
41:22And the other unalterable truth is that
41:24if you can punch,
41:25you can always punch.
41:26It's the last thing a fighter ever loses.
41:28And Mike Tyson's not just a good puncher.
41:29He's a great borderline phenomenal puncher.
41:32In the two meet,
41:33the chin usually can't stand up to the power
41:35for the duration.
41:36But that jab,
41:37it's a superb jab.
41:38He's got one of the best,
41:39if not the best,
41:40jab in the heavyweight division right now.
41:42His lateral movement,
41:42he's a great athlete.
41:44He's a big size,
41:44235-ish.
41:46And Diego Rosario,
41:46my longtime friend,
41:47we used to spar at 110 pounds.
41:49I didn't know if I was ever that small.
41:51has really done a masterful job
41:54of working with his boxing skills.
41:55He's got him moving
41:56and countering wonderfully.
41:57I'm excited about it
41:58because I think Bruce is coming to win.
42:00And tonight,
42:01Jeremy Williams woke up a sleeping dog.
42:03Temperature about 100 degrees.
42:04It started tonight at about 121 degrees
42:07and it actually cooled off
42:08to 97 degrees.
42:10Let's take a look at our results from tonight.
42:12In our first bout,
42:13it was Tony Tucker versus David Dixon
42:15for the vacant NAVF Heavyweight Championship.
42:17And Tucker prevailed early,
42:20224 into the first round.
42:22It was quick work
42:22for the former IBF Heavyweight champ.
42:25And then in our second fight,
42:26Ricardo Lopez took on
42:27Kitty Chai Preacher from Thailand
42:29for the WBC Strawweight title.
42:31Lopez KO 146 into round number three.
42:34Brilliant ring technician
42:35prevailed once again.
42:37And in our main event,
42:38you just saw Henry Akinwande
42:39squared off with Jeremy Williams
42:41for the vacant WBO Heavyweight Championship.
42:44And it was Akinwande
42:44with a knockout 43 seconds
42:46into round number three.
42:48He is crowned the new WBO
42:49heavyweight champion.
42:53So that'll do it for another edition
42:55of Showtime Championship Boxing
42:57for the fight doctor,
42:58Ferdy Pacheco,
42:58Bobby Chez,
42:59our entire crew.
43:00This is Steve Albert saying
43:01so long from the Fantasy Springs Casino
43:03in Indio, California.
43:04Let's get it on!
43:11One, two, one, three.
43:16Round two,
43:16Schitzer's cartoon.
43:18Thomas Tietz.
43:21Mason is champion again.
43:23Ten years
43:36of the best boxing on television.
43:38And that one is over.
43:45We go!
43:46Six-five!
43:48Toppin!
43:50Good left hand by Norris above us.
44:02That is it!
44:03The radio, Chris Nassim, continues.
44:07We'll preview, review,
44:09and analyze the fight card.
44:11We'll profile to the card.
44:21Frankie Randall comes right back.
44:23What a great opera cut.
44:37That was a thing of beauty.
44:44That was a thing of beauty.
44:45That was a thing of beauty.
44:49The winner by unanimous decision
44:57and new champion.
45:02This summer,
45:03there's never been bigger original pictures.
45:12Never been more new series.
45:19Then,
45:20there's never been a weapon.
45:37Potential.
45:38Except for you.
45:41It's not a challenge.
45:41If you're the maker,
45:42you're looking to talk about performance,
45:45your experience.
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