- 7/4/2025
Undefeated Heavyweight contender Derrick Jefferson takes on journeyman Levi Billups on ESPN Friday Night Fights
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00:00...has dreams of another world title.
00:02Jackson is looking for his 50th career knockout in his 61st professional fight.
00:08Jackson feels he has something left to prove.
00:11Anthony Jones is coming off a loss to Tony Marshall.
00:15Jones is 38-8 with 26 knockouts.
00:18Tonight's match against Jackson, a pivotal step in his career.
00:30And we welcome you to the Palace at Auburn Hills for tonight's ESPN Q Boxing.
00:52Julian Jackson and Anthony Jones in tonight's main event.
00:55And on this Memorial Day weekend, a big crowd on hand here at the Palace at Auburn Hills.
01:00Detroit Pistons bad boy Rick Mahorn, big boxing fan, taking in the action.
01:05Also here tonight, one of the greats, Thomas Hitman Hearns, former world champion.
01:11And Bronco McCart, you saw him Friday night on ESPN defend his IBA Junior Middleweight Championship.
01:16He and wife Brandi enjoying some popcorn and tonight's action.
01:19Hello again, everyone. Glad you can join us.
01:21I'm Bob Popham, along with Al Bernstein.
01:23Two hours of live boxing action for you tonight on The Deuce.
01:26Julian Jackson and Anthony Jones, these two boxers don't baby it when they get in the ring.
01:32And Al Bernstein, this may be Memorial Day weekend, but we expect Fourth of July like fireworks in tonight's main event.
01:38This matchup has that written all over it.
01:40Whenever you have Julian the Hawk Jackson involved in a fight, a knockout is quite possible.
01:45Most of his fights do end by knockout.
01:4849 times he's been standing, but five times he has been knocked out.
01:52We saw him against Verno Phillips last time out in a war that he would lose by knockout.
01:57The man he's fighting, Anthony Jones, has also been in his share of wars, but he would prefer not to be.
02:02Anthony Jones says tonight, unlike the fight with Tony Marshall, his last outing when he ended up losing by 11th round TKO,
02:09he will box more.
02:10Bob, he says, if I box against Julian Jackson, I'll do better.
02:13And that's probably the case.
02:14All right. More on our main event a little bit later in the show.
02:16But we get things started with heavyweights.
02:19Derek Jefferson will square off against veteran Levi Billups in a 10-round heavyweight bout.
02:25Now, Derek Jefferson, it comes in 15-0 with 14 knockouts.
02:29He's 30 years of age.
02:30This is a big test for him.
02:32It really is.
02:33He has tremendous power, but he is taking a step up tonight.
02:36They have already talked about matching him against Le'Mond Brewster, who we saw here on ESPN2 a couple of weeks ago.
02:42To do that, though, he's got to get by a very tough veteran tonight.
02:45Levi Billups is a man who's been in against everybody, like Lennox Lewis, Michael Moore, all the heavyweights.
02:51In fact, his pro debut is against a guy named Orlin Norris, who we saw on Friday night.
02:55How about him taking this fight on such short notice?
02:57You know, he only had a week and a half's notice, but Levi told us that he was training for a fight later on in the month,
03:03and he believes that he's in the best shape he's been in in a long time, and he says that'll be a problem for Jefferson.
03:08Well, we had a chance to ask Levi Billups about that, and we asked Derek Jefferson about tonight's bout against the veteran Billups and what it means to him.
03:18Yeah, well, it's definitely a stepping stone for me.
03:21He's been there with world-ranked guys, Chris Bird, Tim Witherspoon, so, you know, he's definitely still a dangerous fighter.
03:28But, you know, I got my work in in the gym, best shape I've been there, my first 10-rounder in front of the whole home crowd.
03:35I'm ready.
03:35I haven't lost a fight when I was in shape, so it's really a dangerous time for anybody to fight me.
03:44And I'm really not complacent.
03:47I don't walk around like I'm the man, you know, like I can beat anybody.
03:51But at any given time, I can kick your butt.
03:55So I hope this guy, you know, comes to fight, because if he thinks he's strong, he's a wasteful eye-toucher.
04:03Well, the talking is complete.
04:06We are set for tonight's first bout.
04:08Our ring announcer for the evening, once again, here's Mark Biro.
04:11Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan,
04:19for an evening of all-star professional boxing on the Deuce ESPN2.
04:25Under the promotion of Fight Night Incorporated in association with Budweiser, this Bud's for you.
04:32Your matchmaker is Tommy Vaca.
04:35Tonight's bouts are under the auspices of the Michigan Athletic Board of Control.
04:40This is your first bout of the evening.
04:43It is scheduled for 10 rounds, heavyweight.
04:46Your referee for this event from Essexville, Michigan, Monty Oswald.
04:52Introducing now the principal's first in the red corner to my right, wearing the black trunks, gold trim.
05:01He weighs in at 245 and a half pounds.
05:05His professional record reads 21 victories, 17 defeats, one draw, and 12 wins coming by way of knockout.
05:14But he hails from Los Angeles, California.
05:18Here is bad news, Levi Villas.
05:23Villas.
05:25His opponent in the blue corner, wearing the gold trunks, black trim.
05:33He weighs in at 255 pounds.
05:36He is undefeated in 15 professional bouts, 14 wins coming by way of knockout.
05:45He hails from Detroit, Michigan.
05:48Here is dangerous Derek Jefferson.
05:54Jefferson, 10 rounds, heavyweight.
05:57And let's take a look at the rules as governed by the state of Michigan.
06:14Three knockdown rule is in effect.
06:16Standing eight count is in effect.
06:18Only the referee can stop the bout.
06:20Fighter can be saved by the bell only in the last round.
06:22Accidental foul.
06:23If half of the rounds are not complete, a technical draw will be awarded.
06:27After that, they'll go to the judges' cards.
06:30And there is 30-year-old Derek Jefferson.
06:33His last four fights have gone a grand total of four rounds.
06:37He has four consecutive first-round knockouts.
06:40He has 11 career first-round knockouts.
06:43Although the likes of Clement Hassan, Tui Toya, Isaac Brown, and Lorenzo Boyd are not exactly household names.
06:51And Billups has lost three in a row and five of his last six.
06:56Coming off a March 20th loss in Frankfurt, Germany.
07:00Knocked out by Vitaly Klitschko.
07:02Also lost to Larry Donald and Tim Witherspoon in that three-bout losing streak.
07:07He is going after Levi Billups early.
07:10And, of course, he doesn't know any other way to fight.
07:11You mentioned all those first-round knockouts.
07:15He goes after people.
07:16Billups, a veteran.
07:21You mentioned that he's been in with so many heavyweights.
07:23His most recent loss was to Larry Donald just before.
07:26And you mentioned that to a top contender.
07:29He went to distance with him.
07:30Mostly when Billups is even semi-prepared.
07:34He's a tough man to get out of there.
07:35Though he certainly has been knocked out on a couple of occasions.
07:38Tim Witherspoon did it.
07:39Yeah, but when he's ready, he's tough to get out of there.
07:43But he's hurt.
07:43He's been whacked already.
07:47Jefferson pressuring him early here in round one.
07:49Remember, too, now, Billups taking this fight on short notice.
07:53Jefferson was supposed to have fought Carlos Monroe.
07:57In fact, Carlos Monroe is the only person that Billups has beaten in his last six bouts.
08:09Billups said he was getting ready for a fight with David Tua.
08:13So he felt like he was prepared here.
08:15We'll see.
08:16And we'll also see, when things go a couple of rounds in, if they do, how well Jefferson reacts.
08:25Got a late start in boxing, did Jefferson.
08:28Won the Golden Gloves title, but only had about 18 amateur fights.
08:32So he's learned as a professional.
08:39And you see Jefferson, with our CompuBox numbers, already off to a quick start.
08:44And that is, by the way, we made a little TV history of that.
08:47It's the first time that's ever been done that we've been able to put in the CompuBox numbers during a round.
08:53It's the first time it's ever happened on television.
08:54It gives you a good idea of what's happening.
08:57Lunging left hand by Jefferson.
09:01If the name Billups sounds familiar, he is the cousin of NBA basketball player Chauncey Billups,
09:09who was the Celtics' first-round pick, and then was traded off to Toronto in the Kenny Anderson deal.
09:16Levi told us all the Billups in the United States are in some way all related, which is interesting.
09:23Well, aren't we all related, as far as Brotherhood's concerned?
09:26Oh, boy.
09:27End of round one.
09:28What is that?
09:33How does Derek Jefferson stack up with Mike Tyson through his first 15 pro bouts?
09:38Very comfortably.
09:4011 first-round knockouts, 14 to 15.
09:43But remember, Tyson was only, what, 19?
09:46Yeah, and Jefferson, of course, is 30.
09:48That's a big but.
09:49There is a big but there, yeah.
09:51But it underscores the urgency for Jefferson to make things happen.
09:55Well, now, here we are in round two, a place that, as you saw by that graphic,
10:00Derek Jefferson hasn't been that many times.
10:03And let's see now how the veteran handles him.
10:05And now that Billups has been whacked with some of his best shots, which he did take in round one,
10:09let's see how this all progresses.
10:11Jefferson has two second-round knockouts.
10:13The longest he's ever gone is six rounds.
10:16That was a decision against Brian Yates in August of last year.
10:26Billups a little wild himself.
10:29Well, Billups' big punch is that overhand right.
10:32And he threw that one from pretty far out and missed badly.
10:38One minute into the second round.
10:41One minute into the second round.
10:46Jefferson throwing that left hook from way out and still landing it.
10:53So, Levi Billups, a veteran, should not have been hit with that punch, really.
11:02Look to the body from Jefferson.
11:04The promoters that have worked with Jefferson said one of the things we really don't know yet
11:08is how he will react if a powerful heavyweight nails him.
11:13Hasn't really been tested in that regard yet.
11:15Whether Billups will remains to be seen.
11:18Nice jab by Levi Billups.
11:22The most notable win on Billups' resume goes back to 1991.
11:28He scored a ten-round decision against Bonecrusher Smith.
11:30Then went the distance with Lennox Lewis from losing in his very next bout.
11:39Then went the distance with Buster Mathis Jr. and Chris Bird.
11:44Knocked out by Jeremy Williams, Corey Sanders.
11:49Right now, he is not letting Jefferson land any flush shots.
11:53Phillips doing a pretty good job of blocking some of this.
12:04Now, you see that Jefferson throws every punch like it's a home run ball.
12:10Doesn't put his punches together that much.
12:14Of course, that's something you're looking for.
12:16Also, how will Jefferson react here as he continues to go in these rounds?
12:20In terms of stamina, he said to us, he said,
12:26I won't know until I go to those rounds.
12:29Final seconds of round two.
12:30Derek Jefferson and Levi Billups on the deuce.
12:38Veteran Levi Billups getting ready to start round number three
12:42against 30-year-old Derek Jefferson.
12:46In a scheduled ten-round heavyweight bout,
12:48Jefferson 15-0 with 14 knockouts.
12:51Billups 21-17-1 with 12 knockouts.
12:55They're in the numbers in a close round two.
12:58Billups coming back,
12:59and the percentage dropping very much for Jefferson.
13:02And if
13:03you see those numbers,
13:06you might think that that is a trend that might continue
13:09as this fight goes on
13:10in terms of Jefferson's accuracy
13:12if, in fact, he has trouble in the later round.
13:14Now, Jefferson fires off a right,
13:16and Billups sort of just laughed at him
13:18and said,
13:19Is that all you have?
13:20Now, against the Ralph Wests
13:22and Wendell Blounts
13:24and Clement Hassens,
13:26that might be a knockout punch,
13:27but not against Levi Billups.
13:29You are correct, sir.
13:30There is my scoring.
13:32I gave the second round to Billups.
13:33It was a very close round.
13:34Could have gone to Jefferson.
13:37Jefferson told us that
13:38fighting at home,
13:40he didn't think would present a big problem.
13:41This is the first fight he's had in Detroit,
13:43though he's from here
13:44in a long time,
13:45and he felt that
13:46he could control his emotions,
13:49but he was wanting to get a win here.
14:03Bill sort of tying up Jefferson.
14:05You look at professional rounds.
14:10Obviously, Jefferson young in his career,
14:12but Billups with
14:14206 more professional rounds,
14:18and he'll look to extend
14:19the inexperienced Jefferson.
14:22Jefferson.
14:34Approaching one minute to go
14:35in round three.
14:37Not a whole lot of offense
14:38from Levi Billups.
14:45Jefferson at the weigh-in
14:46had fatigues on
14:48and a T-shirt that says
14:49got across the desert.
14:50He said he and his brother
14:51came up with that
14:52because they said
14:53to get to the promised land
14:55of a championship,
14:56you've got to cross the desert,
14:57you've got to do the hard work,
14:58and he said he thinks of that
14:58every time he's doing road work
15:00or sparring,
15:00and it's hard.
15:02Right now,
15:03he's landing some hard shots
15:04on Levi Billups.
15:07Billups just missed
15:09with an overhand right.
15:11He threw that one
15:12with bad intentions,
15:13as my old friend Gil Clancy
15:14would say.
15:14Billups doing a decent job
15:23of deflecting
15:24at least part of
15:25a lot of these punches.
15:26Not that one, though.
15:33Derrick Jefferson
15:34trying to slug it out
15:36with Billups
15:36at the end of round three.
15:38Welcome back to the Palace
15:43at Auburn Hills.
15:43Bob Poppa
15:44along with Al Bernstein.
15:45Glad you can join us
15:46tonight's main event,
15:47Julian Jackson
15:48against Anthony Jones.
15:50We begin round number four
15:51of our 10-round heavyweight bout.
15:52Derrick Jefferson
15:53undefeated at 15-0
15:55with 14 knockouts
15:56against veteran
15:57Levi Billups.
16:00The 38-year-old Billups
16:01taking this fight
16:02on last-minute notice.
16:05Billups in the black,
16:05Jefferson in the golden black,
16:08and Jefferson
16:09connecting with a combination
16:11to start round four.
16:14And Jefferson
16:15with a lunging right hand,
16:16Billups with a left of his own.
16:18That was an interesting sequence
16:19because Billups got hit
16:20with probably the best right hand
16:22that Jefferson can throw,
16:23came back with his own left hook.
16:26I don't know if that's a comment
16:27on whether Jefferson
16:28can beat the big boys
16:29with his power.
16:31Yeah, Billups is just trying
16:33to time an overhand shot.
16:35And you saw him try it again
16:37off the ropes.
16:38One thing we have to give
16:39Jefferson credit for
16:41is we're into
16:41round three,
16:44and still
16:45he,
16:46or round four,
16:47excuse me,
16:47and still he's throwing
16:48the kind of punches
16:49that he was in round one.
16:51So,
16:51even though he's a one-one
16:53round knockout artist,
16:54he's still
16:55got his power going.
16:56He's only been past
16:57three rounds once,
16:59and that was that
16:59six-round decision
17:00that he had
17:01against Brian Yates.
17:02and now he attacks
17:04Billups here
17:04in round four,
17:05yeah.
17:05Big left uppercut
17:06thrown from an awkward stance.
17:09Chopping left.
17:11Billups shot an overhand right.
17:13His right hand
17:14got caught in the ropes.
17:16Blood around the right eye
17:17of Billups.
17:19About a holding
17:20on the head
17:20by Billups.
17:21Monte Oswald
17:22may give him a warning.
17:23By the way,
17:24Monte Oswald,
17:25for fans of ESPN Boxing,
17:26appeared as a boxer
17:27on our ESPN show
17:29in one of our first tournaments
17:30in the early 80s.
17:32Oh, boy.
17:32Look at Billups
17:33take those hooks.
17:35Well, Billups landed a left,
17:37then he missed
17:37with a right.
17:38Now Jefferson
17:39pressuring Billups.
17:41Billups in trouble.
17:45Oh, big hook by Billups.
17:46Yeah.
17:47Big hook.
17:48But I don't know
17:48if he has much steam
17:49left in it.
17:50But Jefferson
17:51walked through that punch.
17:52I'll tell you what,
17:53he walked right into it,
17:54and he,
17:55let's see if he's hurt from it.
17:57He's staggering sideways.
17:59I don't know.
17:59Billups might have gotten
18:00something done
18:01with that punch.
18:01Let's see.
18:03Well, it is a slugfest.
18:06Left hooks for all.
18:07Well, if Lehmann Brewster's
18:08watching and he sees
18:09Billups land a left hook,
18:10that's all Lehmann Brewster
18:12throws practically
18:13is left hook.
18:14He's got to be
18:14salivating at the possibility
18:16of a fight with Jefferson.
18:20It isn't that artistic,
18:21but it's exciting.
18:22Boy, that left hook's
18:23there for Billups
18:24any time he chooses
18:25to throw it.
18:27But does he have
18:28any zip left
18:29in his punch?
18:30That is the $64,000 question.
18:35Both men
18:36staggering
18:37to the end
18:38of the round.
18:40A slugfest
18:41in Auburn Hills.
18:43Jefferson
18:43and Billups
18:44on the deuce.
18:46It was a great round
18:47for Jefferson,
18:48but he walked
18:49into this left hook
18:50by Levi Billups.
18:52Yeah.
18:53Now, Billups didn't
18:54quite close his glove
18:55as much as he might,
18:57but still,
18:58Jefferson felt
18:59the impact
19:01of that punch.
19:03And we get set
19:04for the start
19:05of round
19:06number five.
19:09And they're going
19:09to take a look
19:10at the cut
19:11around the right eye
19:12of Levi Billups.
19:13What's under the eye,
19:14I would be pretty surprised
19:16if they stop this fight.
19:17Billups says he's okay.
19:19But then you never know,
19:20do you?
19:21Hey, good crowd
19:22here at Auburn Hills.
19:23Yeah, I mean.
19:24And very into this.
19:26There's traffic
19:27getting in
19:28two hours ago.
19:30Yeah, they have
19:31a real nice crowd here.
19:32I mean, there's people
19:33seated in the upper deck, Al.
19:34There are indeed.
19:38Take a look
19:39at some numbers
19:40through four rounds.
19:42Jefferson
19:42with a big edge.
19:43Interesting,
19:44Billups landing
19:4545%, though.
19:46You really don't want
19:46your opponent
19:47to land that many.
19:48Billups has been
19:48very economical
19:50with his punches.
20:01Derrick Jefferson
20:02and Levi Billups
20:03scheduled for 10.
20:04There is
20:04Jala.
20:06Derrick's mom
20:07works the corner.
20:08Yeah, she works
20:09with him
20:10and a delightful lady.
20:12We chatted with her
20:12at the weigh-in yesterday.
20:14And he had his old family there
20:16very supportive
20:17of this young man
20:18hoping that he can make
20:19his way
20:19in the heavyweight division.
20:22Work the jab,
20:23she says,
20:23and rightfully so,
20:24especially when you have
20:25a height advantage
20:26of six inches.
20:26another Detroit heavyweight,
20:33Michigan heavyweight,
20:34Chris Bird.
20:34His mom works
20:36along with Dad Joe.
20:40Fighting birds.
20:42And his sister boxes
20:44as well.
20:45There is,
20:46no, that would not be right.
20:47No, you have it the opposite.
20:48I was just the opposite
20:49with Jefferson leading
20:5139-37.
20:57I've given one round
20:58to Levi Billups.
21:00Round two.
21:01Right?
21:01Correct.
21:06Now the left hook
21:07for Billups is there.
21:08He's not by nature
21:09a left hook artist.
21:10He likes to throw
21:10the overhand right,
21:11but he has a left hook.
21:12And that is the one punch
21:14that Jefferson, I think,
21:15is most vulnerable to.
21:17And that is why,
21:18I think,
21:19as you look at this,
21:21a match with Lehmann Brewster
21:23could present a problem
21:24for him because Brewster
21:25throws so many
21:26great left hooks,
21:27but they're talking about it
21:28and it certainly
21:29would be exciting.
21:33In this round,
21:34close round as far
21:35as landed shots.
21:37So it's a two-thirds
21:38mark of this round.
21:40The pace not strong
21:42and both men landing
21:44at about the same pace.
21:48Jefferson playing
21:52a little possum there.
21:55There's the hook
21:56by Billups.
21:57I mean, it is there.
21:58If I was him,
21:58I would do nothing
21:59but step to my left
22:00and start cranking up hooks
22:02to the body and the head
22:02until it didn't work anymore,
22:05which I doubt
22:05they would not work.
22:10Final seconds of round five.
22:12The end of the round
22:12will signify the midway point
22:14of the bout.
22:14Jefferson and Levi Billups.
22:17The Palace at Auburn Hills
22:18on ESPN2.
22:21Working on the cut
22:23below the right eye
22:24of Levi Billups.
22:26Welcome back
22:26to the Palace
22:27at Auburn Hills.
22:27Bob Poppa
22:28along with Hal Bernstein.
22:29Round number six
22:30underway between undefeated
22:32Derrick Jefferson.
22:3315-0 with 14 knockouts.
22:35The Detroit native,
22:3630 years of age.
22:38Levi Billups
22:38fires off a left hook
22:40to the head of Billups.
22:42Jefferson landing
22:45more jabs
22:46but at 24%,
22:48he probably won't be
22:49that proud of that statistic
22:50and Billups,
22:51who is not known
22:51for his jab anyway,
22:52only landed
22:53eight less than him
22:54so this is hardly
22:56a battle of jabbers though.
23:02To begin this round,
23:03Billups landed
23:04some very good,
23:05decent left hooks anyway.
23:06That punch is there for him.
23:12Jefferson trying to press him
23:16a little bit.
23:17Here's Al's scorecard.
23:18I think we've fixed up the math.
23:21Yes, indeed.
23:22Now I have Jefferson
23:23leading now 49-46.
23:26Gave him the last round.
23:28And this fight has slowed
23:30in terms of its pace.
23:34There's the hook again.
23:35And if he took a step in
23:37and doubled with that hook,
23:38it would be even more effective
23:39for Levi Billups.
23:41In tonight's main event,
23:42we have veteran Julian Jackson
23:44against Detroit native
23:47Anthony Jones
23:48in a 10-round junior
23:49middleweight bout.
23:52Midweight point of round six.
23:54Scheduled for 10 here.
23:55Derek Jefferson
23:56and Levi Billups.
23:57No knockdowns
23:58to this point in the fight.
24:02Jefferson using a jab.
24:03Billups just backing himself
24:04into that corner.
24:05Not the very best move.
24:10And the right hand
24:11gets there by Jefferson.
24:13And you never like
24:13to back yourself
24:14in a corner
24:15in any aspect of life.
24:17No, and the boxing ring
24:18may be the prime example
24:20of that.
24:21Overhand right
24:22gets there by Billups.
24:23Did it do any damage?
24:24Now he walks Jefferson down
24:26but doesn't throw any punches.
24:31Billups really needs
24:32to be more offensive-minded.
24:34Jefferson taking
24:35a breather.
24:36He, this is not...
24:37It is tired.
24:37Yeah, he's only been
24:38six rounds one time
24:39in his life.
24:40This is his first
24:4110-rounder.
24:42We'll see, though,
24:42if Billups has anything
24:43left to test him
24:44in these later rounds.
24:53Right in there
24:54in that posture,
24:55Billups could crank up
24:55those hooks so easily.
24:57probably whipped
24:58a right hand
24:58to the body.
25:05That one sort of
25:06bounced off
25:06Jefferson's shoulder.
25:07kind of a wrestling match.
25:21And of round number six,
25:23all Derek Jefferson.
25:26Levi Billups can land
25:27this punch, I think,
25:28almost whenever he wants.
25:29Look at how far back
25:30he threw it
25:30and it got through
25:31to the chin of Jefferson.
25:33Here's Jefferson
25:33doing some good work.
25:34doubling up with his jab
25:36and throwing the right hand,
25:37then following with the hook.
25:38So, pretty nice combinations
25:40there by Jefferson.
25:41And we start round number seven.
25:43This is the longest
25:44Derek Jefferson
25:45has ever gone
25:46in his
25:49young professional career.
25:52Take a look at some numbers
25:53from round six.
25:55Jefferson getting the job done,
25:57throwing, as we saw,
25:58some pretty good combinations
25:59and landing at a good percentage.
26:01Interestingly, Billups
26:02continues to land
26:03in the 40%
26:04and as Bob pointed out,
26:06that is the longest fight.
26:08This is the longest fight
26:09in Derek Jefferson's career.
26:12Hey, you know what?
26:14Not everyone knows about you,
26:15that you're a fine golfer.
26:16And on June 29th,
26:17you're going to be
26:18among the celebrities
26:18golfing in the Dan Duva
26:20golf outing,
26:21along with who?
26:22Jason Williams
26:22and Vander Holyfield,
26:24where they're going to raise money
26:25for the Dan Duva Foundation.
26:27Yes, it goes to, I believe,
26:29Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
26:31where Dan was treated.
26:32So for all you folks
26:35who get in touch
26:35with main events
26:36in Toto and New Jersey
26:37and sign up for that tournament,
26:39you might get to golf
26:41in a foursome
26:42with Bob Poppin.
26:44Wow.
26:44That would be pretty exciting.
26:45Not with me, though,
26:46because I'm a lousy golfer,
26:47so I may show up
26:48just to lend support,
26:50but not golf.
26:53And you can see me
26:54at the Cadillac Classic
26:55at Monclair,
26:56which airs on ESPN.
26:58There you go.
26:59All right.
26:59You're going to be all over.
27:00Can I give you the schedule?
27:01Yeah, we're going to get
27:02your golfing schedule
27:03for the whole year.
27:06Now, right now,
27:06Derek Jefferson
27:07would like to ace
27:09Levi Billups
27:10and end it,
27:10but the KG veteran Billups
27:12is making things difficult
27:14for Jefferson.
27:16Levi Billups, though,
27:17is at a point
27:18in this fight
27:18where he needs
27:20some offense,
27:21obviously.
27:24And Derek Jefferson
27:25is there for Billups
27:27to do some good things to him,
27:29whether he has
27:29the capabilities
27:30right now to do it.
27:31And he claimed,
27:31Levi claimed he was
27:32in pretty good shape
27:33for this fight.
27:33So if, in fact,
27:34that's the case,
27:36he should be punching
27:36more often.
27:38Jefferson's hands are,
27:39to say they're low
27:40is the understatement
27:41of the decade.
27:43Tommy Hearns
27:43is watching in ringside
27:44who kept his hands low,
27:46but by design,
27:47because he had
27:47all that foot speed
27:48and they used it
27:49as a ploy,
27:50he's got to be looking
27:51at this saying,
27:52he might not be using
27:53it the way I did.
27:56He might be thinking
27:57he could still use it better.
27:59Yeah, exactly.
28:01Tommy still wants
28:01to fight, so.
28:03Billups in this round
28:04has gotten some things
28:05done offensively,
28:06just hasn't thrown
28:07enough punches.
28:08And Jefferson,
28:09look at him,
28:09I mean, he's tired.
28:12Those hands are
28:14below his waist.
28:18He can't keep
28:19your hands
28:19any lower than that.
28:22Final seconds
28:23of round seven,
28:24bout scheduled
28:25for ten rounds,
28:26Derrick Jefferson
28:26and Levi Billups
28:27on ESPN2.
28:3030-year-old
28:31Derrick Jefferson,
28:33undefeated at 15-0
28:34with 14 knockouts,
28:36begins round number eight
28:37against veteran
28:39Levi Billups
28:40in his scheduled
28:42ten-round heavyweight bout.
28:43Neither man has been down.
28:46Jefferson has controlled
28:47this bout,
28:47and our numbers here
28:48will illustrate that.
28:51Big edge for Jefferson,
28:53landing at 42%.
28:54The interesting thing
28:55is Billups landing
28:56a good percentage,
28:58so when he throws,
29:00he's effective.
29:01In that last round,
29:03Jefferson was giving
29:04him an open invitation
29:06to land,
29:07but Billups
29:08was not that aggressive.
29:10The incomparable
29:11Logan Hobson
29:12and Saul Avilar
29:13at the CompuBox
29:14Information Center
29:15compiling the numbers
29:17for us
29:18as they fix the tape
29:19on the right wrist
29:19of Jefferson.
29:21Tonight,
29:21a couple of times,
29:22we have seen numbers
29:24during the round,
29:25which is a really
29:25nice innovation.
29:30Jefferson's pace.
29:31Lookit,
29:31there's a couple of jabs
29:32by Levi Billups.
29:34Jefferson's pace
29:34has really slowed.
29:36I have Jefferson
29:37up by three points.
29:38I gave the last round
29:39to Billups.
29:39It was a close round,
29:40but I thought
29:41Billups did just
29:42barely enough to win,
29:43and when I say
29:43just barely,
29:44that's exactly
29:45what I mean.
29:45you pointed out that those
30:05are the kind of punches
30:06that would knock out
30:07the guys that he has
30:08knocked out so far.
30:09they're not going to
30:10knock out Levi Billups
30:11of the world.
30:14And, uh,
30:15right now,
30:17he's a guy that I think
30:18Jefferson has got to
30:20put his punches together
30:21to create knockouts
30:22against the better players.
30:23That was a good right hand.
30:24And Billups walk right into it.
30:26Takes another one.
30:28And Jefferson finish him off.
30:30Yeah, Billups tagged Jefferson.
30:35Wow, he's stunned it.
30:42Plenty of time to go
30:43in this eighth round.
30:45But here comes
30:46Jefferson back.
30:47He threw a good left hook there
30:48with a lot of leverage.
30:51Big swelling underneath
30:51the left eye of Jefferson.
30:53Levi Billups really not
30:57following up on anything.
30:58He's leaving his head
30:59out there,
31:00but Jefferson not able
31:01to really knock him down
31:02or hurt him badly.
31:03Okay, come back.
31:05Great.
31:05Let's go on the road.
31:05Some of the punches, too,
31:06Billups is able
31:07to get his hand
31:08in a spot.
31:12Left downstairs
31:13by Jefferson.
31:15Great.
31:16Step back.
31:16Let's go on the road.
31:17Let's go on the road
31:18from step back lane.
31:19Let's go.
31:20Let's go.
31:23Jefferson is tired.
31:25Billups has taken
31:25some huge shots from him
31:27and is still standing
31:29here in the eighth round.
31:31And they're going
31:31to break straight.
31:37Jefferson, his hands are low.
31:39Oh, man.
31:39And he still lands
31:40a big left hook.
31:41And a right hand
31:42to punctuate the end
31:44of round eight.
31:45Now Jefferson slips down.
31:47It is a slip,
31:48not a knockdown.
31:50Referee Monty Oswald
31:52quickly points
31:53out.
31:57And there's the bell
31:58to end round eight.
32:06Well, the last round,
32:08Jefferson was able
32:08to get in not only
32:09big right hands
32:10like that one,
32:11but left hooks
32:13from anywhere
32:14against Levi Billups.
32:16Why a veteran
32:17like Billups
32:17would be hit
32:18with that punch
32:18is beyond me.
32:20We begin round number nine
32:21in a scheduled
32:21ten-round bout.
32:23Levi Billups
32:24and Derek Jefferson
32:26take a look
32:27at the numbers
32:27in round number eight.
32:29And among those,
32:30Billups only threw
32:31eight power shots
32:32in round eight.
32:34So he was
32:34extremely inactive
32:35as Jefferson
32:36raked them
32:37over the coals.
32:38You know, it's interesting
32:38when we came
32:39on the air
32:39and we aired
32:40the sound clips
32:41of both men
32:42in preparation
32:43for this spot,
32:43Billups said
32:44that when he's
32:45in good shape,
32:46which he claims
32:47to be in at 245 pounds,
32:49that he could be dangerous.
32:50But Al,
32:52as they fixed the tape
32:53on the glove
32:54of Billups,
32:54he really hasn't
32:55followed through
32:56with that game plan
32:58that he mentioned.
32:58It's been,
32:59in all truth,
33:00a very lethargic effort
33:01by Levi Billups.
33:03And the reason you say it
33:04is because he's in
33:05against the young man
33:06who is much less experienced,
33:09who has shown
33:09that as he hits
33:10Levi Billups,
33:11he's not able
33:12to knock him down
33:12or hurt him.
33:13It has been primarily
33:14Billups not doing
33:15anything offensively.
33:18And look at Jefferson.
33:19He's never been
33:20to this territory.
33:21We've pointed out
33:21several times
33:22he'd only been
33:23six rounds.
33:24He is literally
33:25sucking it up.
33:26And you know,
33:26he told us it's the way
33:27and he said,
33:27I won't know
33:28how I'm going to react
33:28until I get into
33:29those later rounds.
33:31And that makes it
33:32even more curious
33:33as to why Billups,
33:34the veteran,
33:35has not looked
33:36to take advantage
33:37of that aspect,
33:38that Jefferson is
33:39fatigued.
33:41You would think
33:41he would.
33:42Long layoff here
33:43as they fix the tape.
33:50Billups has been
33:51so in after
33:52and really attempting
33:54to take advantage
33:55of what appears
33:56to be from time
33:57to time
33:57a very tired
33:58Derek Jefferson.
34:03And that break,
34:04I think,
34:04helped Jefferson,
34:05gave him a little
34:05renewed vigor.
34:07But there's Billups
34:08just jabbing
34:08and working
34:09to the body.
34:09What is all that?
34:10Why does he do
34:11more of that?
34:11I mean,
34:13it's not like
34:13that's beyond
34:14his capabilities.
34:15Jefferson has been
34:22hittable.
34:23He really has.
34:24And we're not
34:24trying to denigrate
34:25Derek Jefferson.
34:26He's obviously
34:27a young fighter
34:27that has some power.
34:28He's shown
34:29some skill here.
34:30But, you know,
34:31he's been vulnerable
34:32defensively.
34:33And when Billups
34:34does throw,
34:34he's landing
34:35at about a 45% clip,
34:37which is a pretty
34:37decent connect rate.
34:38And the interesting
34:45thing is,
34:45Billups doesn't
34:46really care too much
34:47to block these punches.
34:48So, it's not like
34:50he's being wrapped
34:51with those punches.
34:53Now, Jefferson
34:54goes for a stroll
34:55to catch his breath.
34:56And did Billups
34:57even try to follow up
34:58on the good jab
34:59he landed?
35:00No.
35:02One minute to go
35:03in round nine.
35:04Don't forget,
35:04our main event
35:05should be a good one.
35:06Julian Jackson
35:07against Anthony Jones.
35:12That has all the earmarks,
35:13the Jackson Jones fight
35:14of being really exciting.
35:17Of course,
35:17originally Terry Norris
35:18was supposed to be in
35:19this bout
35:21against Anthony Jones.
35:22He pulled out
35:22for reasons
35:23we're not sure of.
35:24And we have Julian Jackson,
35:27but it should be
35:27a very exciting fight.
35:30Look at Billups.
35:31He can land that jab
35:31whenever he wants,
35:32but just doesn't seem
35:33to want to throw
35:34anything behind it
35:35for some reason.
35:37Come to the end
35:52of round nine.
35:56We'll keep it right here
35:57and take you
35:58to the corners.
35:59Derrick Jefferson
36:03in control.
36:05He's a little
36:05walking away like that.
36:07It's a Lonnie Smith
36:07kind of move.
36:08He'll walk away
36:09and then he'll throw
36:09a punch
36:10back at your opponent.
36:12Let me have something here.
36:17Let me have something here.
36:19Let me have something here.
36:20You can do it.
36:21Let me have something.
36:22Let me have something.
36:23Let me have something here.
36:24Let me have something.
36:53Well, they've asked the corner of Billups to try to take Jefferson out of there, but
37:13Levi needs to throw some more punches to do that.
37:18Well, and he needs to throw something other than jabs.
37:20Fifteen of Billups' 26 punches in the last round were jabs.
37:24When you're way behind in a fight, you don't abandon power shots for jabs.
37:28You use the jab to set up power shots, and you throw them.
37:32You and I have Jefferson ahead.
37:33Seven rounds to two.
37:34That would make it 88-83.
37:37No knockdowns in the back.
37:38Phillips throwing a couple of right hands on the inside.
37:53Well, as you look at this performance, and it's the first time Jefferson has been in against
37:58anybody of note, you have to say that there were certain things he did well early in the
38:02fight.
38:03His defensive liabilities are some things they have to work on.
38:07Clearly, he has gotten tired during portions of this fight.
38:10I definitely feel that Lehmann Brewster, at this juncture in his career, is too advanced for
38:18Jefferson, and should he fight Brewster, he would have a huge problem.
38:22Jefferson has fought as many rounds tonight as he had in his previous five fights.
38:30Interesting statistic when you think about it.
38:32He had never been past six, and five fights ago he went in a six-round decision against
38:36Brian Yates, so maybe psychologically that's a factor for him.
38:41He needs some more tune-up fights before he's going to take on somebody like Brewster.
38:52For Levi Phillips, I have to say in all truth, this is not like other losing performances he's
38:58had against top guys, because this was a winnable fight for him.
39:01This was winnable all the way along for him, and he just didn't get it done.
39:05For some reason, extremely lethargic performance by Levi Phillips, not really trying that hard.
39:11One minute to go in the tenth and final round.
39:20Right hand from Phillips.
39:21Yeah, an overhand right that, you know, we've seen so few of.
39:25And when he found out he could land the left hook in the middle rounds, Phillips, he just
39:29didn't even care to try and throw it anymore.
39:31He threw a couple token ones, and he's enough of a veteran to know that punch was there
39:35to land.
39:36Right there, he could have cranked up the hook and didn't.
39:3820 seconds to go in the bout.
39:48And for only the second time in Derrick Jefferson's career, he will have a fight go of the judges' scorecard.
39:50And obviously he would get that decision, even if it was a less than perfect performance, it certainly had its moments.
40:04There's the bell, Levi Phillips back to his corner.
40:15And Derrick Jefferson hopes to have his 16th pro win.
40:20And he goes ten rounds.
40:22We'll have the judges' decision and our main event.
40:25And Al's ringside report after this timeout.
40:27An investment opportunity called...
40:32Our main event still to come.
40:33Former two-time world champion Julian Jackson squares off against Anthony Jones in what should
40:39be an explosive bout here at the Palace at Auburn Hills.
40:42Bob Poppo along with Al Bernstein.
40:44Good crowd on hand.
40:45Our ten-round heavyweight bout is complete between Derrick Jefferson and Levi Billups.
40:49For the judges' decision, here's Mark Biro.
40:53Ladies and gentlemen, we have a unanimous decision.
40:59Judge John Chalk scores it 98-92.
41:04Judge Bernard Teachout scores it 99-91.
41:09And Judge Rosemarie Trendle scores it 188.
41:15All to the winner by unanimous decision.
41:18Dangerous Derrick Jefferson.
41:23Jefferson.
41:25And so Derrick Jefferson gets his ten-round win.
41:28He'll go back to the gym and work on some of the flaws.
41:30But give him credit.
41:31He went ten full rounds and was still punching at the end.
41:34And Mom Chala enjoying it.
41:38As the family gathers in the center of the ring, Derrick Jefferson goes to 16-0 in his young
41:44pro career.
41:45Don't forget, still to come, our main event, Julian Jackson and Anthony Jones.
41:49When we come back, the latest on the world of boxing.
41:52Al Bernstein settles in with this week's version of Ringside Report.
41:56After this time out on the Deuce.
42:00It's time now for Ringside Report.
42:01Here are our headlines.
42:02The WBC orders are about between Roy Jones Jr. and Graciano Roccajani.
42:07A couple of young heavyweight hopefuls, Michael Grant and Obed Sullivan, will get it on on
42:11May 30th.
42:12And New York, look out.
42:13Randall Holyfield is coming.
42:17Well, hi, everybody.
42:18Welcome to Ringside Report.
42:19In our first story, we talk about Roy Jones Jr., who is thought to be one of the best pound-for-pound
42:24fighters in the world today and yet does not have a world title.
42:27You remember he gave up his WBC light heavyweight title.
42:32Well, now the WBC wants him to fight Graziano Roccajani to fill that vacant crowd.
42:36Now, if they can't come to an agreement by June 21st, they will have a purse bid.
42:4165% of that revenue will go to Roy Jones Jr.
42:4435% will go to Roccajani.
42:47And if one of those gentlemen does not want to fight and bows out, the other will become
42:51champion.
42:52Speaking of champions, Michael Grant, the heavyweight, would like to become one.
42:56And he will face Obed Sullivan this coming Saturday to take one step closer to that.
43:01This 25-year-old has a 27-0 record with 19 KOs.
43:05He came late to boxing.
43:07He was a fine basketball and baseball player.
43:09But every fight he has improved.
43:11And this was the culmination of that improvement because he fought a terrific fight against
43:16David Aizan.
43:17And in this win, proved to most people that he is heavyweight championship timber.
43:23The man he's fighting, Obed Sullivan, is a 30-year-old from Gulfport, Mississippi, who
43:28had his best win here against James Gaines.
43:31He's only had two losses as pro.
43:32And many people believe that he will give Michael Grant all he can ask for inside the
43:37ring.
43:37That is, this coming Saturday, it should be an excellent heavyweight matchup.
43:41Well, the man who has the heavyweight title, or at least two-thirds of it, is Evander Holyfield.
43:46And start spreading the news because he is coming to New York.
43:49On June 6th, he will defend his title against Henry Akinwande.
43:54Holyfield in off a terrific performance against Michael Moore.
43:58But this man, Henry Akinwande, has a lot to prove.
44:01It's his second chance at a title.
44:02But the last time out against Lennox Lewis, it was a disaster for him.
44:06He was disqualified in trying to win the WBC title from Lewis for holding and for really
44:12a non-effort completely.
44:14Now, Henry Akinwande has added Emmanuel Stewart as his trainer.
44:17Stewart, you'll recall, formerly trained Holyfield and currently trains Lennox Lewis.
44:22But even Stewart admits, I wish I had a little more time to work with Akinwande.
44:25What about the other fights upcoming in the world of boxing?
44:28Let's take a look at our boxing guide.
44:31Reggie Johnson will defend his newly won IBF light heavyweight championship against Ole Clemonson.
44:36And on Saturday, May 30th, Laurent Budwani versus Guillermo Jones.
44:41That's a rematch of the WBA junior middleweight championship.
44:44And also on May 30th, on the Michael Grant card, Chris Byrd will fight Castillo.
44:49They are unbeaten heavyweights.
44:51And also on May 30th, 48-year-old Carlos Palomino in his comeback attempt against a very tough
44:57Wilfredo Rivera.
44:59And Evander Holyfield taking on Akinwande, as we mentioned, on June 6th.
45:02And also on that card, William Joppe defending his title against Roberto Duran, who amazingly
45:08is still fighting, looking for yet another world title.
45:11Well, a name from boxing's past emerged this past week.
45:15Do you remember Tony Aiella?
45:17In 1982, he was a 19-year-old on the verge of a world championship shot in the junior
45:23middleweight division.
45:24And many people believe stardom in that division and possibly the middleweight division as well.
45:29But he would go to jail for sexual assault, where he has stayed up until this past week
45:34when he was up for parole.
45:36Well, that parole was denied.
45:37Much to the surprise of many people, including a psychologist from the prison who had worked
45:41with him in therapy for four and a half years.
45:43Now, Aiella's prison record really was spotless.
45:46It included continuing education and even counseling other inmates.
45:49But apparently that wasn't enough.
45:51But he will be out next June.
45:53And yes, he does plan on continuing his boxing career.
45:57That'll do it for Ringside Report.
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