Tim Witherspoon vs Pinklon Thomas - HBO 8-31-84 - video Dailymotion

SteckmetX

Tim Witherspoon makes the first defense of his WBC Heavyweight Title against Pinklon Thomas on HBO.  Plus an interview with IBF Heavyweight Champion and WBA Champion Gerrie Coetzee

Transcript

00:00:00The golden glow of the desert is once again the spotlight for a championship.

00:00:05The showdown is on as night falls on Las Vegas.

00:00:09WBC heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon is trying to rekindle the intensity

00:00:13he first exhibited in his controversial loss to then-WBC champion Larry Holmes.

00:00:19He was one punch away from a certain victory.

00:00:24Then in March of 84, after a sloppy 12 rounds of boxing,

00:00:27the vacant WBC title was all his.

00:00:31The challenger, Pinkman Thomas, has waited six long years for this precious chance.

00:00:36Boxing for him was a means to battle the pitfalls of an errant childhood.

00:00:41And in January of 1983, a respectable draw with reigning WBA champion Jerry Cozzia

00:00:47brought his name into the public spotlight.

00:00:51Two giants fight for the title.

00:00:53One goes home with a belt.

00:00:54And now, Tim Witherspoon battles Pinkman Thomas for the WBC crown.

00:01:07Live from the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada,

00:01:12HBO Sports presents World Championship Boxing.

00:01:16It's time for the main event.

00:01:20WBC heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon defends his crown against Pinkman Thomas.

00:01:25Skeptics like to question Tim Witherspoon's claim to the heavyweight title.

00:01:29And tonight, in front of a Las Vegas desert crowd and millions of television viewers,

00:01:33he can answer his critics with his fists.

00:01:36Pinkman Thomas has his own production number planned as well.

00:01:39And Sugar Ray Leonard, as we stand here just before this fight between Witherspoon and Pinkman Thomas,

00:01:44there's a lot of people all around here, people around the sport of boxing,

00:01:47who are saying flat out Pinkman Thomas is going to win this fight.

00:01:50Well, I think the question is, they don't know what's going to happen.

00:01:52There's been a couple of upsets.

00:01:53In fact, with Pinkman Thomas, who has converted southpaw, so he has a very strong left jab,

00:01:58Angelo Dundee stated that the jab would throw off Witherspoon, so he may see an upset in the makings.

00:02:03Even though Tim Witherspoon is a guy who wears a championship belt,

00:02:07he still seems to carry himself in the role of challenger.

00:02:10Once more tonight, even though he's the champion, Tim Witherspoon has to prove himself.

00:02:15The winner and new, WBC Heavyweight Championship.

00:02:45champion of the world, terrible Tim Witherspoon.

00:02:53On the night of March 9th, 1984, the dreaming stopped.

00:02:57Life itself took over.

00:02:59And to be sure, life for Tim Witherspoon was grand.

00:03:03Exactly after the fight, it was just me just enjoying the belt, trying to enjoy all my entourage,

00:03:12you know, all the things that everybody, after the fight, you know, all the good things about the fighting game.

00:03:18You know, we just, after we won the title, we just wanted to have fun, but not for that long.

00:03:24I know the bigger job was yet to come, even though we had the belt.

00:03:29So the work was just beginning.

00:03:31Whoever holds the belt has a lot of work to do.

00:03:34And with success came the critic.

00:03:36He's a tainted champion.

00:03:38He's dull.

00:03:38He doesn't punch enough.

00:03:39He needs to learn to sell himself.

00:03:41He needs to learn to be a champion.

00:03:43I learned that ever since the fight, that to be in shape, because I would have knocked Greg Page out

00:03:49if I was, if I would have felt a little bit mentally and a little bit physically better.

00:03:53I would have knocked him out before the seventh round.

00:03:56I'm excited, but not, I got to throw a little bit more punches.

00:03:59So I want to give them what they're paying for.

00:04:03I think it's wrong for me not to give them what they're looking for, because it only hurt me.

00:04:07I got to throw punches.

00:04:08They want that, I'm trying to do it.

00:04:10And we're doing it, we're going, we're way ahead of our schedule.

00:04:15So Pinklin, better watch out.

00:04:17Better watch out on 31st.

00:04:19I got the kids, I got the, I got, I got the belt, I got everything else behind me.

00:04:25I got the Raiders.

00:04:26He in trouble.

00:04:28Being a champion is more than winning a fight.

00:04:30It's learning to sell the sizzle.

00:04:32Ali did it, Leonard did it, but for Tim Witherspoon, the performance was roundly panned.

00:04:37Yeah, to make funeral arrangements.

00:04:39Pinklin said it.

00:04:40Remember.

00:04:41Pinklin said he better make funeral arrangements.

00:04:44Yeah.

00:04:44And it's a really good night.

00:04:46They don't like it, though.

00:04:47He better, he better show up back, he better show up back to fight.

00:04:51You know, I attend a press conference.

00:04:53I'm pretty much programmed with the say.

00:04:55You know, there's politics and everything.

00:04:57And I'm going to have to work overtime just to keep the belt.

00:04:59These press conferences, it's supposed to be for the, to build a fight up and start a lot of excitement.

00:05:05Okay.

00:05:06I said I try to be Ali, but I'm nothing like him.

00:05:08I didn't know.

00:05:09They told me to tell Pinklin that I'm going to kick his butt and all this, and that's all I did.

00:05:14But now I'm getting feedback.

00:05:16He tried to be like Ali and it didn't work.

00:05:18All this.

00:05:19So, I just got to get in shape and kick.

00:05:23Tim Witherspoon is a champion with problems.

00:05:25His fights in the ring are criticized.

00:05:27His fights outside the ring are publicized.

00:05:30Trainer Aaron Snow is quick to rally the cause.

00:05:32There's a lot of fighters, you know, getting paid better than what he is.

00:05:37You know, Greg Page got paid more to fight off for the title than what Tim is getting paid right now to defend his title.

00:05:47And you have to wonder.

00:05:50He beat Greg Page, right?

00:05:52And his value should go up.

00:05:55And he's fighting a good quality of fighter, and that's Pinklin Thomas.

00:05:59Pinklin Thomas is a rough opponent.

00:06:02And in the other corner, Carl King, manager of record and target of the in-house bickering.

00:06:08King signs the checks, which say Witherspoon's people aren't enough.

00:06:12I know that there are some members of the entourage who happens to feel that maybe I'm not doing my job to the best of my ability.

00:06:22But they also don't understand the intricate details of my business either.

00:06:28And it's a shame that you have some people who are probably envious or jealous of that type of relationship or that type of situation.

00:06:38That it's an old antigen, the way to win is to divide and conquer.

00:06:42And I think that's what it's about.

00:06:43But I'm not about to give up so easily either.

00:06:46So, you know, in the world in which the economy, the state of the economy is in the situation it's in today,

00:06:54I think for any athlete, period, that's coming out of the ghetto, out of inner city,

00:07:00or out of any neighborhood in which he's got an opportunity to perhaps make more money than he could have made had he not been a professional athlete,

00:07:09I think they ought to come to grips to realize that, you know, we're on the same team here.

00:07:13And it's not that I'm battling against anybody, I'm fighting for my guys, and I would like for them to fight for me also.

00:07:20I might be broke, but at least I'm sticking up to what I'm here for, that's all.

00:07:25And I'm not scared.

00:07:26I'm not scared to say it because the belt is a great thing to have, but what good is it if there ain't no happiness with it?

00:07:33So that's all I've got to say, is no happiness with it, and the entourage for the same effect.

00:07:41So I'm speaking for them, I'm speaking for us, and all we want to be to be right.

00:07:47So Tim Witherspoon fights for his title, for parody, for acclamation.

00:07:51And Tim Witherspoon, hoping to get that acclaim in this ring right here, as coming up, the battle for the WBC championship between the champion, Tim Witherspoon and Pinkland Thomas.

00:08:05This is his first defense of the title.

00:08:07It does seem, you know, that most of the conversation about this fight, and in fact in sports in general, is centered around money.

00:08:13Who gets what and for what reason?

00:08:14Who's the manager of record?

00:08:16And do you really need a manager of record?

00:08:18I guess it's just what makes the world go round.

00:08:19It's also what makes Larry Merchant think and speak about at this point.

00:08:23Larry?

00:08:29Going into his 20th professional fight, Tim Witherspoon is distressed because he isn't yet a millionaire.

00:08:36That's not an uncommon feeling here in Las Vegas, wanting to be rich and famous fast.

00:08:42In fact, only yesterday, a guy leaped off a 325-foot building into an enlarged pillow, in effect, to win a million-dollar bet.

00:08:52This isn't the time to examine the financial plight of Tim Witherspoon, but it is time to examine whether this hunger for money and fame in a hurry will affect the fight tonight.

00:09:03He insists that he is going to do what the people want, he's going to give them more action, more punching, he's going to make hearts race, more excitement.

00:09:14That's all well and good, but it could backfire.

00:09:17He could leave himself open for something.

00:09:19And the undefeated challenger, Pinklon Thomas, has both the patience and the persistence to capitalize on mistakes of overzealousness.

00:09:29It's the story of his life.

00:09:34I was the typical youth, turned bad.

00:09:38At 12, I was running a 100-yard dash in 10-5.

00:09:42By the age of 14, I was a heroin addict.

00:09:46Somehow I survived.

00:09:47But this is my story, the Pinklon Thomas journey from nowhere.

00:09:54Pinklon Thomas Jr. grew up in this modest home at 465 Fildew Avenue in Pontiac, Michigan.

00:10:03His surroundings were laced with the false hopes of abandoned housing projects.

00:10:08But when you don't have abundance, there's nothing to miss.

00:10:11So in the beginning, Whittier Elementary School supplied adequate playgrounds and baseball fields for aspiring young athletes like Pinklon.

00:10:19But suddenly, the bases were empty when busing and integration swept through the nation.

00:10:23I went to an all-black school, majority all-black, 2% Mexican.

00:10:28And then, all of a sudden, I was bused, you know, cross-country to another school.

00:10:35Let's see.

00:10:35When they started the integration of the busing, I went to Washington.

00:10:39I was in the eighth grade.

00:10:40And that's when I met Kathy.

00:10:43She was going to Lincoln.

00:10:47And her class came over to our school, and the orchestra class.

00:10:53And came over to our school, and was, you know, playing.

00:10:58I was sitting out in the audience, you know.

00:11:00I had a couple of girlfriends, and, you know.

00:11:02Well, he was a little crazy at the time, you know.

00:11:05He had a lot of problems, but for some reason, I just kind of took to him.

00:11:11And, you know, he took to me, and that was the beginning of it.

00:11:15And from that point on, we were steady companions from that point on.

00:11:23Unfortunately, Kathy was unaware of Pinklon's participation in gang wars at Rose Lawn and his experimentation with drugs.

00:11:31It was an area at that time that was real fast, a lot of drugs, a lot of people selling dope.

00:11:38I was doing a lot of things.

00:11:39Kathy never knew what I was doing.

00:11:41I, you know, really didn't expose that to her.

00:11:45I can recall using heroin mixed with quinine called Mixed Jive, snorting it on the album cover, looking at the football games.

00:11:56It was a long haul with Pinky because I wasn't into drugs at the time.

00:12:04I knew that he was messing around, but I wasn't into drugs.

00:12:09It led from one penny cap to two, to five, to $10, to $15, to $20, you know.

00:12:18And then it led from mixed Jive, from a mixture of quinine and heroin to just raw heroin.

00:12:27I was caught up pretty bad.

00:12:29I had a friend of mine.

00:12:30And he had been to the clinic, was on methadone.

00:12:35I was on for about three months, I guess.

00:12:40And really come to find out the methadone was worse than the drugs, you know.

00:12:44I lost about 15 pounds.

00:12:47And, uh, the high was just as good as heroin.

00:12:53I needed to get away, and the best way to do that was to join the Army.

00:12:58After basic training, Kathy was stationed in Seattle, Washington.

00:13:02By that time, she had called for a now-desperate Pinklyn Thomas to join her.

00:13:09Kathy, when she went to the service, like I said, that was the weakest point for me.

00:13:14And so I started using more and more.

00:13:19And then I had a buddy get killed, a close friend got killed.

00:13:22There were a lot of depressing times, a lot of times when things were really down and really bad.

00:13:30But it just never occurred to me to walk away.

00:13:33I mean, what else was I going to do?

00:13:35I was with him for so long, you know, where else was I going to go?

00:13:39So I just wanted to hang in there with him until things got better.

00:13:43Boxing provided a new direction in a journey that's an inspiration to all of us.

00:13:49And this is the ultimate for me.

00:13:50So I've reached where I'm trying to get to.

00:13:53And all I've got to do is get that belt.

00:13:56But I'll never go back to where I was before because there's nowhere.

00:14:00I want what I did in the past to reflect positive towards youth, adults.

00:14:07You can be at the downest moments in your life.

00:14:10You know, you could be an alcoholic.

00:14:13You could be a dope thing.

00:14:14But if you really, really have something to motivate you, to give you the desire to want to change, and it's positive, you can do it.

00:14:28Because the truth is the light is within yourself.

00:14:31And if you bring it out, it's there.

00:14:33And this man right here will try to bring it out.

00:14:41Pinklin Thomas has come into the ring wearing, of course, what else?

00:14:44Pink on the back of his robe.

00:14:47It says, undisputed truth.

00:14:49May not be champion, but it is truth.

00:14:51And he would like to replace truth tonight with champion.

00:14:54So Pinklin Thomas in the ring.

00:14:56And there's a look at his record.

00:14:5724 wins.

00:14:58He has not yet lost.

00:15:00And the draw, of course, coming with Jerry Cozzia, who is on hand to watch tonight.

00:15:0320 knockouts for Pinklin Thomas.

00:15:05He says that he can take a man out with one punch, right?

00:15:07Well, Pinklin Thomas has converted southpaw, Barry.

00:15:10And he's very strong.

00:15:12And I think what you're going to see, a lot of left jabs thrown.

00:15:15And he has a very effective left jab.

00:15:17He does throw it in combination.

00:15:18And a jab, really, it was described to me as not a left jab, but a left punch.

00:15:23It's a hard jab.

00:15:25It will jolt the guy back.

00:15:26He just can't, an opponent can't stick a glove out there and expect to just be able to parry it.

00:15:33And here's the man who will provide the opposition tonight.

00:15:35And a very formidable one, to be sure.

00:15:38Tim Witherspoon.

00:15:38Terrible Tim, they call him.

00:15:40And he makes his way to the ring now.

00:15:42Tim Witherspoon, in his own evaluation of himself, says,

00:15:45I have to be rated in the top ten in history defensively.

00:15:49And boxing, of course, is perhaps as much defense as it is offense.

00:15:52Well, I guess Tim feels he needs to throw more punches and get the job done.

00:15:56A little better to be appreciated by the people.

00:16:00And I think tonight's going to be a big and a great and interesting fight.

00:16:04We talked about the fact that Larry touched on it in his commentary, too,

00:16:07that there's been so much going on outside the ring as regards to this fight,

00:16:11as regarding how much money Tim Witherspoon is going to get,

00:16:14how much he deserves, how much he should get.

00:16:16Do the outside the ring distractions ever affect the fighter inside the ring, Ray?

00:16:19It creates a lot of friction.

00:16:21In fact, it breaks the concentration of a fighter,

00:16:23especially when he has a deal in the business aspect of the fight game.

00:16:27I really think, Ray, that it depends on the fighter.

00:16:30Roberto Duran used to use money as a way of inspiring himself,

00:16:35of bringing up his anger, of giving himself a sense of injustice.

00:16:39And I think that Tim Witherspoon is using it in that fashion.

00:16:44I don't think it's going to distract him.

00:16:46Talking to Tim Witherspoon before the fight, he said,

00:16:48I'm going to be in his face all night long.

00:16:51And the truth of the matter is, I'm not too sure,

00:16:53but that's not exactly what Pinkman Thomas would like.

00:16:55I think both players would be in front of each other.

00:16:58And here's the record of Tim Witherspoon.

00:16:59He has just the one loss, and that was certainly not an embarrassing one to Larry Holmes,

00:17:02a fight that a lot of people feel.

00:17:04He won 18-1, 12 knockouts.

00:17:07Neither one of these men, which you'd call completely experienced,

00:17:11as Pinkman Thomas with just over 20 fights,

00:17:15and as you saw, Tim Witherspoon with just 18 fights.

00:17:18So neither one of these guys really is going to write the book on experience.

00:17:21Let's take a look at the tail of the tape.

00:17:23They're both 26, they're both 6'3",

00:17:25within a pound of one another, and within a half inch in reach.

00:17:28So if you're going to look for any difference in the tail of the tape,

00:17:30you certainly will not be finding it there.

00:17:33Common opponents, as you can see, common results as well.

00:17:36These two really seem to be very, very evenly matched.

00:17:39So it's Tim Witherspoon and Pinkman Thomas,

00:17:42this for the WBC Championship.

00:17:43And right now, let's go up to the ring announcer, Chuck Hall,

00:17:45for the pre-fight festivities.

00:17:49Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to have you meet

00:17:51some of the boxing dignitaries in the audience this evening,

00:17:54and ask these gentlemen to step into the ring as they are introduced.

00:17:57Introducing, first of all, the WBA welterweight champion

00:18:01from Fort Worth, Texas, Donald Curry.

00:18:06A former WBC junior lightweight champion,

00:18:09now a lightweight contender, Hector Macho Camacho.

00:18:14The WBA heavyweight champion of the world from Huntington Beach, California,

00:18:22Jerry Cozzia.

00:18:26And the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world

00:18:29from Easton, Pennsylvania,

00:18:32the Easton assassin, Larry Holmes.

00:18:35And the premier, sports promoter, boxing promoter of the world,

00:18:44Mr. Don King.

00:18:48Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me a great deal of pleasure

00:18:51to introduce the Naval Reserve color guard from Las Vegas.

00:18:56And here now, I hope you will all join this talented young man

00:18:59from the Jackson family in the rendering of God bless America.

00:19:03Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Jermaine Jackson.

00:19:07Jermaine Jackson, yeah, yeah, we got this.

00:19:13Showtime, showtime.

00:19:14Yeah.

00:19:33So we await the singing of God bless America,

00:19:50and here we are with Jermaine Jackson of the Jackson Five.

00:19:54God bless America,

00:20:07land that I love.

00:20:14Stand beside her and guide her through the night

00:20:24with a light from above from the mountains

00:20:31to the mountains, to the prairie, to the oceans white with bones.

00:20:43God bless America, my home sweet home.

00:20:55God bless America, my home sweet home.

00:21:09God bless America, land that I love.

00:21:22God bless America, my home sweet home.

00:21:52God bless America, my home sweet home.

00:22:22Home, home, sleep, home.

00:22:41Mr. Jermaine Jackson, ladies and gentlemen,

00:22:44and the United States Naval Reserve Color Guard.

00:22:47Color Guard, you are dismissed, and thank you very much.

00:22:52Come on, Chuck. Come on, Chuck. Chuck, go. Chuck.

00:23:00Ladies and gentlemen, this bout of the evening is sanctioned by the WBC,

00:23:03Jose Suleiman, president, and by the Nevada State Athletic Commission,

00:23:08Bob Framoyle, chairman, Roy Tennyson, executive secretary,

00:23:11with Commissioner Art Glory in attendance.

00:23:14The officials assigned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission at this time,

00:23:18the judges are Dwayne Ford, Dolby Shirley, and Hal Miller.

00:23:22The timekeeper is Al Bicek, counting at the knockdowns, Charlie Roth.

00:23:26The attending physicians at ringside, doctors Donald Romeo and Flip Pomansky,

00:23:30and the referee is Richard Steele.

00:23:34This is the main event of the evening,

00:23:3612 rounds of boxing for the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World.

00:23:41Introducing, in the blue corner, the challenger, rated number three by the WBC in the world,

00:23:49fighting out of Pontiac, Michigan, weighing 216 pounds.

00:23:54He is undefeated in his professional career, with 24 wins, no defeats, one draw, and 20 KOs.

00:24:01Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the challenger, Pinkland Pinky Thomas.

00:24:05And in the red corner, introducing the WBC champion of the world in the heavyweight division.

00:24:16He fights out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

00:24:19He weighed in at 217 pounds.

00:24:22His professional record consists of 18 wins, one defeat with 12 KOs.

00:24:27Ladies and gentlemen, the champion, terrible, Tim Witherspoon.

00:24:45Okay, I gave both fighters instructions in the dressing room.

00:24:49I want to caution you, obey my commands at all times.

00:24:52When I say break, stop punching, take a step back.

00:24:55Protecting yourself at all times.

00:24:57Shake hands, good luck to both of you.

00:24:59Bring it back.

00:25:00They say the heavyweight division isn't what it used to be, and they may be right.

00:25:04Certainly as far as the color of the challenger's trunks, Pinky.

00:25:10It didn't used to be that way.

00:25:12But I'll tell you, if your name is Pinky, you've got to be tough.

00:25:15You've got to fight.

00:25:17Grandfather named Franklin, grandmother named Pinky.

00:25:21They combined him, and it became Pinkland.

00:25:23And he's actually the second of the Pinklands, and his son is also a Pinkland.

00:25:27And here is a guy who has not changed the expression on his face in the four days that we've been here in Las Vegas.

00:25:31He has looked exactly the same at all times.

00:25:35And incidentally, one other note as we get started here in the first round.

00:25:39Tim Witherspoon actually got a mixture of cheers and boos when he was introduced.

00:25:43So as we mentioned, he's a champion, but he has to treat himself as a challenger.

00:25:47He's got a lot to prove.

00:25:47But what I've noticed, both fighters are standing straight up, and they're winging the best shots.

00:25:53So we could have a flashback knockdown.

00:25:56Well, there's no perspiration.

00:25:57I guess that's because of the National Anthem.

00:26:00Pinky and Thomas has that good left jab, good strong left jab.

00:26:03Tim Witherspoon works the body very well.

00:26:06Very strong inside.

00:26:08He has said he's got to punch more.

00:26:10He's got to be more active.

00:26:11And he said he was going to do that.

00:26:12Now we'll see if the man can change his style.

00:26:15We saw one man try to change his style in a fight just a moment ago, and we saw him lose.

00:26:19Greg Page is a different Greg Page, but the result was a loss to David Bay.

00:26:23Both fighters are very tight at this point, Barry.

00:26:25And they're just trying to establish themselves with their left jab.

00:26:31Thomas, former track man.

00:26:33He's very good legs, good solid-looking fighter.

00:26:36Takes a good chopping right hand by Tim Witherspoon.

00:26:39That's going to happen throughout the fight, as long as both fighters are standing straight up.

00:26:45And Thomas content to keep that left hand down around his waistband, and just inviting that right-hand lead.

00:26:51He knows that Tim Witherspoon always finished off by throwing a body shot.

00:26:59He's a very good body puncher.

00:27:04He knows exactly how to wear his man down, and then take advantage of him.

00:27:10Neither one of these fighters has been around for a long time, interesting to note.

00:27:15Well, I think natural talent, Barry, both fighter has, and just that natural raw physical strength.

00:27:20That compensates for the inexperience.

00:27:23Witherspoon, 19 years old when he started fighting.

00:27:26Pinkman Thomas, 21 years old when he started fighting.

00:27:30Only had three amateur fights.

00:27:36Actually, a little bit of swelling early on the left eye of Pinkman Thomas.

00:27:40Well, they're both just wailing away at each other, and they're standing in front.

00:27:43No movement, no lateral movement, no angles.

00:27:47Everything's right in front of each other.

00:27:50That was a two-punch combination by Thomas.

00:27:56Pretty early to have any swelling, and Thomas does have just ever so slight of the mob on the cheek.

00:28:01He took a good punch that time from Tim Witherspoon.

00:28:03Oh, look at the right hand of Pinkman Thomas.

00:28:09He drops it every time he extends that left jab.

00:28:11A left hook by Tim Witherspoon would be beautiful.

00:28:16Something to watch for, and he does, in fact, do that.

00:28:20Tim Witherspoon, true to his word, has been much more active in round one here.

00:28:23Let's go into the corner of Tim Witherspoon, the champion.

00:28:31You're pushing your jab, all right?

00:28:34Jab left hook.

00:28:35Left hook up off the jab, all right?

00:28:40Give me a little answer.

00:28:41Aaron Snowell is 24 years old, the trainer.

00:28:44Probably the youngest trainer ever of a heavyweight champion.

00:28:49All right?

00:28:50You jab left hook, Tim.

00:28:51You keep pushing your jab, all right?

00:28:53And there, you see, with your...

00:28:55It's back to you, the veteran trainer, Angelo Dundee,

00:28:59who was brought in just two weeks ago to be with Pinkman Thomas.

00:29:03Stay loose.

00:29:04See what you do licks this fella, right?

00:29:07Let's do it.

00:29:09Stay loose.

00:29:10Look it tight.

00:29:16Angelo Dundee is looking for his 10th world champion in this fight.

00:29:21He is 63 years old.

00:29:23Just yesterday, in fact, Ray.

00:29:25Happy birthday, Angelo.

00:29:27We'll see if it is or not.

00:29:30Angelo Dundee does have a way of getting the attention of his spider in the corner.

00:29:33I'll say that, Ray.

00:29:34Well, so respect in your thigh.

00:29:35It brings you back to life.

00:29:38And that's what Angelo's trying to do with Pinkman Thomas.

00:29:41He doesn't want his man to remain stiff and tight.

00:29:45He wants him to loosen up a bit.

00:29:47And Pinkman Thomas is straight up and down here.

00:29:49And right now, the better jabs are coming from Tim Witherspoon.

00:29:52And now, Pinkman Thomas filling that left jab.

00:29:55Once again, the right hand of Pinkman Thomas is down.

00:29:57He drops it.

00:29:58And I don't see why Tim Witherspoon is not taking advantage of it.

00:30:02There's the right hand.

00:30:06It was a good punch, even though Tim Witherspoon was falling away when he threw it.

00:30:12Another quick right hand lead.

00:30:14And Thomas keeps that left hand down by his side, too, until he flicks the jab.

00:30:17And then he drops his right hand.

00:30:19I'm more so concerned with that right hand, Thomas, because the left hand, his shoulders are protecting him.

00:30:25But that right hand always bothers him.

00:30:28He's just too straight up, though.

00:30:29I mean, jabs, right hands can easily hit.

00:30:33Connect better.

00:30:35Witherspoon scoring with some proficiency here.

00:30:39What's going to be the case?

00:30:40Good combination by Thomas that time.

00:30:42It might have stunned or at least gotten the attention of Tim Witherspoon.

00:30:45And what's doing the damage is the left jab of Pinkman Thomas, because it's like a right hand, because he's converted southpaw.

00:30:57Witherspoon picking up the pace early on here, something he has not done in the past.

00:31:01He promised everybody he would.

00:31:02He's been true to his words so far.

00:31:05He's got a tough customer in front of him tonight.

00:31:07Obviously, both fighters much more relaxed in other fights than that's here tonight.

00:31:14Combination by Witherspoon.

00:31:15Both score.

00:31:18Thomas seems to telegraph his punches a little bit, too.

00:31:21For Pinkman, especially when he throws that right hand to the body, it's open glove, so it's not really that effective.

00:31:27Right hand lead that time by Thomas.

00:31:38Just then, Tim Witherspoon was switched to southpaw.

00:31:41He didn't land.

00:31:43They pretty seem so tight to me there.

00:31:47Right hand by Thomas.

00:31:48Outleted by Witherspoon again.

00:31:49As Ray Leonard mentioned earlier, Pinkman Thomas, a converted southpaw.

00:31:53In fact, he is really left-handed.

00:31:55He writes left-handed.

00:31:56Does most things left-handed.

00:32:03Good right hand combination by Pinkman Thomas.

00:32:15Jab is effective when it does get in.

00:32:19Heavy-handed, Pinkman Thomas.

00:32:26We want to remind you that we have plenty of boxing coming your way here on HBO.

00:32:30Another outstanding fight card.

00:32:32World Championship boxing coming up on Friday, October 19th.

00:32:36We will be in New York at Madison Square Garden, where Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the undisputed middleweight champion,

00:32:41tries it again against Mustafa Hamshel.

00:32:42Hamshel much improved from the last time these two saw each other.

00:32:45And a lot of people are saying that perhaps Marvelous Marvin Hagler can be had.

00:32:49Hagler, of course, doesn't think so.

00:32:51You've got to hurt with you, lads.

00:32:52Deep breath.

00:32:53You got it.

00:32:54Don't worry about it.

00:32:55You got it.

00:32:56Plenty of time.

00:32:57Plenty of time.

00:32:59Boy, it's our spit-out.

00:33:00Took a shot under the heart.

00:33:02He's bringing it back over the top.

00:33:04Quick movements up top.

00:33:05Let's see you go.

00:33:06One jab at a time, now.

00:33:16You time it.

00:33:17Right hand, look forward.

00:33:18Tim Witherspoon asked if Thomas' eye was cut.

00:33:20Perhaps he saw some reddening there.

00:33:22He's at two big, strong men just standing in front of each other and punching away.

00:33:27That's exactly what's happened.

00:33:29This whole fight has been fought in the center of the ring.

00:33:31It's a 20-foot square.

00:33:32It's been fought in about four-foot square.

00:33:34But there's just a little redness under the eyes of Pickett Thomas.

00:33:37And I'm sure Tim Witherspoon wants to go after him to make it worse.

00:33:47And Witherspoon continues to work very hard offensively.

00:33:51Once again, Witherspoon is turning southpaw.

00:33:53What's happening, both fighters are just trying to load up with one big punch.

00:34:03Those are good shots to the body of Witherspoon.

00:34:05Very good body shot.

00:34:06Witherspoon looking very sharp.

00:34:08Takes that jab again.

00:34:10When Thomas gets that jab inside, it is a very effective punch.

00:34:13And it actually snaps the head of his opponent back.

00:34:15Another thing to keep in mind is that Thomas is a fighter who historically has fought better

00:34:27in the later rounds.

00:34:28Well, now Thomas has tried to land a good right hand.

00:34:32And what you're saying now, both fighters getting relaxed.

00:34:34Good body shot with the left hook to the body thrown by Tim Witherspoon.

00:34:38But as I was saying, Barrett, they're both fighters getting loose now.

00:34:42And you'll see more punches going.

00:34:45Witherspoon's staying very busy so far.

00:34:47Getting pretty sharp with his punches.

00:34:48Both men actually fairly sharp with their punches.

00:34:58He has to be very careful with the sport of the way he walks away.

00:35:03Because what could happen, Pickett Thomas and Rush in and land some shots.

00:35:06Witherspoon talking to Thomas, saying, come on, come on.

00:35:13That's a good left hook.

00:35:17Some pretty heavy punches being landed through the first two and a half rounds here.

00:35:26Witherspoon a little bit short with a right hand.

00:35:28We had his man open.

00:35:36Witherspoon did an interesting thing there.

00:35:39Before he took two punches from Thomas, he just took a big, deep breath.

00:35:44But he stood directly in front of Pickett Thomas.

00:35:47That's why Pickett was able to land.

00:35:48That jab just...

00:35:49And he's still breathing through his mouth.

00:35:52And I don't know if there's some trouble.

00:35:54Might have been hit in the stomach or something and not causing him to catch his breath.

00:35:57Witherspoon was blinking down.

00:35:58That jab, as I was stating, the jab of Pickett Thomas is so strong and so devastating.

00:36:08Thomas being very efficient here.

00:36:11And Witherspoon's pace has slowed considerably here in this round.

00:36:17Now Pickett is doing the right thing.

00:36:18He's trying to pick his shots.

00:36:23Wild right hand by Witherspoon at the bell.

00:36:25Interesting round, I think, Larry.

00:36:28I think that Thomas put some real hurt on Witherspoon in that round.

00:36:32A left jab made him blink.

00:36:36And for some reason, Witherspoon looked like he was sucking a little air there.

00:36:40I don't know what that was all about.

00:36:44There you see.

00:36:47Witherspoon pouring through the defense.

00:36:50Thomas pouring through Witherspoon's defense.

00:36:52Here's another look at it.

00:36:53As you notice, Witherspoon tries to use his right hand as a parrying defensive weapon.

00:37:02And what Thomas is trying to do is find ways to come around it, both with the right and the left hooks.

00:37:08Back him up right here around the body.

00:37:10You know, it's not too hard.

00:37:12It's not too hard.

00:37:14All right, let's go.

00:37:15Jab right here around the body.

00:37:16That's what's up top.

00:37:17All right?

00:37:18This is the fourth round.

00:37:29And Pinklin Thomas started to exert himself in that last round.

00:37:36Witherspoon was instructed to look up by right hand to the body and back up to the head.

00:37:40But he has to get inside first.

00:37:43And what's going to get him inside by right is an FJ.

00:37:47Backhanded him.

00:37:48And Richard Steele steps in and says, you can't do that.

00:37:52That was a version of Gooseley.

00:37:54We have seen that a number of times tonight.

00:37:56You know, you can almost see a fighter when he decides that he's got respect for his man.

00:38:06And that's the way Tim Witherspoon looks to me right now.

00:38:08It looks like he's thinking, this guy can hurt me.

00:38:11I'm sure he's aware of that.

00:38:13And I noticed that Witherspoon is constantly blinking his eye.

00:38:17It appears to me it's starting to bother him.

00:38:19Witherspoon doesn't appear to me, Barry, to be in the fight.

00:38:27I mean, he just doesn't seem as confident as I've seen him in his previous fights.

00:38:33And he's blinking like a fighter who might have been thumbed.

00:38:36I didn't see that happen, but it's not inconceivable that it could have.

00:38:40I mean, just Witherspoon is just not as aggressive.

00:38:42He's just there.

00:38:45And he noticed that Thomas is just taking advantage of it.

00:38:48And he's picking his shots.

00:38:51He's using the left hand very well.

00:38:58And what's protecting Thomas is his shoulders.

00:39:01Because Tim Witherspoon's punches a roundhouse and is riding over Thomas' shoulders.

00:39:07Witherspoon covering up and Thomas still scoring.

00:39:09A little bit of swelling, not appreciably,

00:39:12but a little bit of swelling along the left eye of Tim Witherspoon.

00:39:14He's taking a lot of shots.

00:39:16I've noticed that Witherspoon puts both feet together.

00:39:18Very bad.

00:39:21It's so easy to be knocked down or knocked off balance.

00:39:24You know, the other side of the coin,

00:39:25we talked about the fact that Thomas is a straight up and down fighter,

00:39:27but he does always seem to be on balance when he punches.

00:39:30He's flat-footed.

00:39:31He really seems to get the most out of his punches.

00:39:33That was a good right hand by Witherspoon.

00:39:35What's the jab?

00:39:40Look at the jab of Pickler-Thomas.

00:39:42I mean, he's starting to double up now.

00:39:44And what Witherspoon's doing, he's starting to telegraph that right hand.

00:39:47Pickler-Thomas waiting for it.

00:39:49And that's why he just covers up.

00:39:50Thomas pacing himself as he has in most every fight.

00:39:55For a moment, Witherspoon goes softball again.

00:39:57Now switches back.

00:39:59Look at that left jab just getting through.

00:40:02And it's consistent, all right?

00:40:03And it's starting to bother Witherspoon.

00:40:05Witherspoon breathing through his mouth a little bit.

00:40:07He's absorbed a lot of punishment, actually.

00:40:09There hasn't been the one big punch.

00:40:11But Thomas has got that jab in his face,

00:40:13and it's a very effective jab.

00:40:14You can just hear it snap every time.

00:40:16Exactly.

00:40:16He's snapping it.

00:40:18It appears to me he's trying to...

00:40:19He's waiting for it to get down his right hand in

00:40:21because the jab is definitely finding its way through

00:40:23through the defensive Witherspoon.

00:40:25Go!

00:40:26Go!

00:40:27Go!

00:40:28Go!

00:40:29Go!

00:40:30Go!

00:40:31Go!

00:40:32Go!

00:40:33Go!

00:40:34Go!

00:40:34Keep him time.

00:40:34Yeah.

00:40:35All right, start putting a little bit more pressure on him.

00:40:37Start...

00:40:38Start squatting down and super jab.

00:40:40Start shooting jab.

00:40:41Squat down on him.

00:40:42Legs is a little bit too straight up in here, all right?

00:40:44Start squatting down, start pumping.

00:40:47You want to step to him now, all right?

00:40:48Make him use his legs, all right?

00:40:50Make him lose his legs now, all right?

00:40:52Jab, there.

00:40:54Jab, left hook to the body.

00:40:55It's a good fight.

00:40:56Right hand up top.

00:40:56Yeah, it's a good fight, Tim.

00:40:58All right?

00:40:59Just pull a little bit more pressure on him.

00:41:00Jab up a little bit.

00:41:02Pick it up. Get looser with that jab. Get looser with that jab.

00:41:08Well, come on. Well, stop backing up.

00:41:10And when he turns southpaw, when he turns southpaw, jab him.

00:41:14You can't jab him when he turns southpaw. Get up. Come on.

00:41:18Get up next time. Come on.

00:41:20You heard Witherspoon ask whether it was a good fight.

00:41:22Once again, his concern that he is performing

00:41:25so that the public will appreciate his performance.

00:41:30But, of course, he's got to win.

00:41:32You know, Angelo has struck the Pinklin Thomas.

00:41:37Once Tim Witherspoon turns to southpaw to release that left jab

00:41:41because he can catch him while he's in motion.

00:41:44Well, a jab has been very effective for Pinklin Thomas,

00:41:46and he seems, for the last round and a half or so,

00:41:49to have taken charge in this fight.

00:41:51The right half, Barry, is really bothering Tim Witherspoon.

00:41:54Seems to be. Seems to be.

00:41:59One of the three punches landed by Witherspoon,

00:42:01and now he retreats to the ropes.

00:42:06Witherspoon was so concerned on whether or not he's looking good

00:42:08or whether or not it's a good fight.

00:42:10But I think it's just breaking his concentration.

00:42:12Subscribing to the theory that it's not whether you win or lose,

00:42:24it's how you look playing the game.

00:42:26Well, and that's the way to make more money, too.

00:42:28You've got to be impressive.

00:42:29And I think that's what's on his mind.

00:42:31You know, the other thing that strikes me, too,

00:42:33about the way Witherspoon fights,

00:42:34Witherspoon seems to be looking at the belt buckle of Pinklin Thomas

00:42:38and not into his eyes.

00:42:40Well, I don't know exactly what his strategy is.

00:42:42I mean, he's been going through the body

00:42:43with whatever opportunity he has,

00:42:45but he has not been consistent enough.

00:42:49Whereas at Pinklin Thomas, I mean, he's moving away.

00:42:51He's using his footwork.

00:42:52He steps out of reach of Witherspoon.

00:42:55Look, he's very loose right there.

00:42:56Backhanded him again.

00:42:58And once more, Richard Steele gives him a warning about it.

00:43:02And that could prove to be costly if they deduct the round.

00:43:08You know, just as we said earlier

00:43:10that Witherspoon seems at this point

00:43:11to respect the fact that Thomas can hurt him,

00:43:14the opposite, I feel, is true about Thomas.

00:43:16I believe he doesn't think that Witherspoon can hurt him.

00:43:20Well, Witherspoon has yet to land some good punches.

00:43:23Good right hand there by Thomas.

00:43:24And there is a lunging shot by Witherspoon.

00:43:27And once more, it could possibly, like I said,

00:43:30it could cut, well, he's deducted in one round.

00:43:36And now you may see frustration

00:43:38in the eyes of Tim Witherspoon,

00:43:40which he can lose his composure

00:43:42and leave himself wide open.

00:43:43So one point deducted from Tim Witherspoon

00:43:46by Richard Steele.

00:43:47Two warnings in this round for backhanding.

00:43:49You know something?

00:44:00I mean, Pinker Thomas is so relaxed, man.

00:44:03I mean, he's in control.

00:44:06He feels he's totally dominating this fight.

00:44:09And he's showing no respect whatsoever

00:44:11to Tim Witherspoon.

00:44:12That's why I say he's fighting like a man

00:44:18who doesn't feel that he can be hurt.

00:44:21Last time I said that, you got knocked down.

00:44:24We'll talk about that, okay?

00:44:25Okay.

00:44:25If, indeed, Thomas won that round

00:44:36on the judges' cards,

00:44:37it would be a two-point round,

00:44:39as good as a big knockdown round.

00:44:41Now there you see where he came back

00:44:43with his backhand.

00:44:45This is the wrong sport for a backhand.

00:44:47There, you'll see it again there.

00:44:49It's an instinctive reaction.

00:44:51He's not doing it deliberately.

00:44:53And he's sorry almost immediately

00:44:55as he hits his opponent,

00:44:56but it cost him a point

00:44:58that could be an important point.

00:45:03Lunging right hand by Witherspoon,

00:45:05showing some frustration on his part.

00:45:08Now he's got to start thinking of winning

00:45:09and not looking good.

00:45:11Right now, the champion is behind in this fight.

00:45:26Some of the best punches of the fight

00:45:27are being thrown by Angelo Dundee

00:45:29between rounds, I'll tell you that.

00:45:31Pump it!

00:45:32That's it!

00:45:32Make it back up!

00:45:34So this is the sixth round.

00:45:36And again, Witherspoon comes out

00:45:38blinking his eyes.

00:45:39Pump it!

00:45:40Don't wait on him!

00:45:41There you go, don't wait on him!

00:45:42Thomas has been so good

00:45:43as far as getting away

00:45:44from those punches thrown by Witherspoon.

00:45:48It seems that he knows exactly

00:45:49when to move that hand.

00:45:51You're waiting on him, Tom!

00:45:52He's very, very calm also.

00:45:54Seems to be in control.

00:45:57And he seems to have Witherspoon confused.

00:45:59Well, that is the future to fight.

00:46:01In fact, Thomas is far more relaxed

00:46:03than Witherspoon.

00:46:04Now Thomas took two left hooks by Witherspoon.

00:46:06Might have been his best shots

00:46:07and he didn't back him up at all.

00:46:10Oh, look who was that!

00:46:12Oh, look who was that!

00:46:13Now back to the southpaw

00:46:15and he was caught.

00:46:16Keep punching!

00:46:17Yes!

00:46:18Yes!

00:46:19Yes!

00:46:20Yes!

00:46:20And he, what I see in Witherspoon,

00:46:21he's just floating his jab out.

00:46:23He's southpaw.

00:46:24And I really, I still see that the blinking

00:46:26in Witherspoon, that his eyes,

00:46:28whatever it is,

00:46:30it's really bothering him.

00:46:32Come on, Tom.

00:46:33Go put!

00:46:33Well, Tom is showing an uncanny ability

00:46:35to get through those gloves on the jab.

00:46:38And now I see Witherspoon is rushing in.

00:46:41And Witherspoon looked at Richard Steele

00:46:43about something.

00:46:43I'm not too sure,

00:46:44but Witherspoon's not hurt here.

00:46:46His eyes are really bothering him, though.

00:46:48I see now he's blinking both eyes now.

00:46:50Definitely is.

00:46:51And I think he wanted to tell Richard Steele something,

00:46:53but remember the credo

00:46:54of protect yourself at all times.

00:47:00Thomas goes downstairs.

00:47:01What Thomas should do,

00:47:03he should still now sad

00:47:04and use that jab.

00:47:07Because quite naturally,

00:47:08his eyes are bothering him.

00:47:09His eyes are really bothering him now.

00:47:11And he can just pick him off.

00:47:15We haven't heard any conversation

00:47:17in Witherspoon's corner

00:47:18about any problem with his eyes,

00:47:20but the fact is,

00:47:20he has been blinking for most of the fight.

00:47:23Look at the left jab of Pickling Thomas.

00:47:25It's getting through the defense

00:47:26of Witherspoon so easily now.

00:47:29And a right hand comes right over the top.

00:47:32And again, the jab.

00:47:34Right through the gloves.

00:47:35Radar jab.

00:47:39Thomas' jab is getting through beautiful,

00:47:40but I think he should put

00:47:41some more punches together.

00:47:43Right hand, left hook.

00:47:44But he is picking the tempo up here.

00:47:47Coming with the right hand

00:47:48a lot more than he was early.

00:47:49That left jab is devastating.

00:47:51Just snapping the head

00:47:52of Tim Witherspoon.

00:47:53And Witherspoon, a right hand

00:47:56and a left hand of the chin

00:47:56of Pickling Thomas.

00:47:57But again, Thomas doesn't take

00:47:59a backward step.

00:47:59See Thomas, he's in a soda again.

00:48:02That was a good left hand by Thomas.

00:48:04And now he follows it up.

00:48:05I'm going to hold him.

00:48:06Keep him up.

00:48:07Keep him up.

00:48:16All right, Rick.

00:48:17Get back.

00:48:18Let's fight, let's fight, let's fight, that's all I'll do.

00:48:46all right let's take a look here and see if thom is how he is trying to penetrate

00:49:12Witherspoon's cover-up defense here

00:49:20There was an exchange in the corner there that is very interesting. There's a lot of advice

00:49:26Coming to the champion saying you can't let up you got to go after him and with a spoon responded

00:49:32Let's not panic. I'm the champion

00:49:37So with a spoon obviously in his mind at least knows what he's doing

00:49:42You should also point out this fight is for 12 rounds championship fight wbc 12 not 15

00:49:55And what has been doing the most damage has been the left jab

00:49:59For Pinklin Thomas. I'm really impressed with the left jab of Pinklin Thomas. I really am one of the best

00:50:04I've seen the heavyweight division a long time

00:50:12Oh

00:50:22Pinklin Thomas just a good athlete. He's a track man play basketball play a little football

00:50:29Look at that jab

00:50:31That jab is beautiful. I'll tell you he makes Tim witherspoon look like one of those dogs in the back of a car

00:50:41There's body shots now that's starting to hurt, uh, Pinklin Thomas

00:50:49But with his spoon doesn't stay down long enough

00:50:56That was a good left hand by witherspoon

00:50:58I don't think, uh, Pinklin Thomas should be there

00:51:01Because, uh, he's doing a much better job. He's far more effective from the outside. Just using that left jab

00:51:07Inside he, uh, he's taking a chance of being caught by one of those roundhouse punches going by witherspoon

00:51:15And overhand right by witherspoon thomas right at the moment looks like he might be a little bit tired

00:51:23That was a good right hand by witherspoon

00:51:25Again bird, Pinklin Thomas doesn't want to be inside

00:51:36Fighting Tim witherspoon's fight. He should be outside because he's giving witherspoon an opportunity to land some of those punches

00:51:43The left jab has been working great for Pinklin Thomas

00:51:47And especially he can do much more damage to the eyes because witherspoon has been blinking throughout the fight

00:51:53So left jab would come in handy and witherspoon getting the better of it inside good right hand that hurt thomas thomas opens up

00:51:59However, he was hurt and he came right back and hurt witherspoon

00:52:04Might have been the best exchange of the fight on both sides

00:52:07Now you see what's happening become going for punch for punch

00:52:14There was a right hand he measured witherspoon with the right and hurt it

00:52:17There was a right hand in the right hand in the right hand in the right hand in the right hand

00:52:27Franklin thomas showed us some championship gumption right there

00:52:31He looked tired he caught a fusillade of punches and came back with a bigger fusillade

00:52:37Right now in my judgment the champion is in very serious trouble unless he

00:52:46Puts there's a challenger down somewhere along the way. I think we're going to see a change of title here

00:52:54Series of punches thrown by Pinklin Thomas

00:52:57He's been very impressive using that left jab and i'm really doing a number

00:53:01On tip witherspoon the left jab has been bothering tim throughout the fight

00:53:07Witherspoon was a little shocked to see thomas come back the way he did it's still early there are five rounds to go

00:53:15But witherspoon has got to get going

00:53:24And one thing to mention along those lines witherspoon was a little bit slow or rather thomas was a little bit slow going back to his corner

00:53:31At the end of that last round and he was leaning on tim witherspoon during the round now

00:53:35Maybe it was just taking a little bit of a blow we'll see

00:53:48And now the jab of witherspoon's done to become effective starting to land consistently

00:53:53He's starting to come to life now

00:54:01A lot of solid jabs in this fight

00:54:06Good body shot by witherspoon

00:54:12Very effective jabs on both sides now witherspoon still seems to aim his right hand a little bit

00:54:17He's not uh witherspoon's not blinking as much so it appears that uh his eyes his vision is starting to clear up

00:54:35It's frustrating to have a left jab in your face but to have a strong left jab that is capable of knocking your back

00:54:42You really don't like that it's really scary

00:54:45There is just the slightest bit of reddening over the left eye of pinkland thomas

00:54:49It's not anything that's a factor right at the moment but one of those things to watch

00:54:56Both men scoring here

00:54:59You see the way that pinkland thomas shies away from the right hand

00:55:01It's so strong he just throws arm punches he really doesn't put his body behind his punches

00:55:10And as strong as he is and there again

00:55:13It might have been thumb that time

00:55:16Witherspoon blinking his eyes trying to stay away and you know he's having troubles here

00:55:21We'll have to try to take a look at that and see if there was a thumb involved

00:55:23Larry at the end of this round it just happened so quickly

00:55:26It's so hard to detect when she hits the replay

00:55:32Witherspoon fights off the ropes

00:55:35Lunging punches very good body movement by uh pinkland thomas

00:55:42And witherspoon just stands there and takes a couple of good shots

00:55:46No question but the right eye was bothering him

00:55:49There's not seem to be bothering him right at the moment however if picker thomas will throw some shots

00:56:02And once again inside he just keeps throwing punches

00:56:06If he decides to fight that in that manner

00:56:08He's doing a very good job standing outside with the left J

00:56:16Witherspoon being active here and scoring probably the heavier of the two here in this round

00:56:25Witherspoon came back in that round

00:56:28He turned it around a bit the question now is whether he can sustain it

00:56:32Let's see what happened where where witherspoon came out blinking his eye

00:56:58Right there and i believe i did see a thumb there

00:57:01Was absolutely thumbed in that in that with that punch right there right there you could see the thumb

00:57:13It's plain as a picture it's just unfortunate a thump could change the whole fight around

00:57:18Tim witherspoon has four rounds left

00:57:26To defend his title successfully all right there you did a look at really what is the magic of television

00:57:32It was definitely a thump does not seem to be bothering

00:57:35Tim witherspoon right at the moment that is the right eye

00:57:40What happens bro once uh thomas lands a jail to that eye is the stars uh with this one starts to blink again

00:57:48And what i'm sure he's going through is blurred vision

00:57:59Witherspoon started to load up a little bit over the last two rounds and the swelling over the left eye of pinklin thomas

00:58:05Pinklin thomas a little bit worse than it was now

00:58:16Witherspoon the more active of the

00:58:18For witherspoon this best bet is to get inside and work that body and stay aggressive

00:58:45Good left hook by witherspoon

00:58:51Witherspoon started to load up a little bit here well he's getting away a lot of rounds and um

00:58:56in fact uh he lost a point in one of the rounds for backhanding pinklin thomas so he needs to get on the ball and become very aggressive

00:59:13Well the jab of pinklin thomas has not been as effective the last two rounds

00:59:21and tim witherspoon has started to come around with some left hooks that have done some damage

00:59:34I like the way that uh

00:59:47Picklin thomas throws that left jab to the bottom what he should do when he pop a left jab to the bottom come upstairs with the right hand

00:59:53There's a little bit i believe a trickle of blood over the left eye of pinklin thomas

01:00:02We'll wait till they square around face us to be sure about that

01:00:06It takes so much out of you when you miss a big punch throw like that was thrown by witherspoon

01:00:20Coming down toward the end of the ninth round now and witherspoon's been very active the last two

01:00:25Well we want to remind you that tonight's presentation of young doctors in love there's an irony all across the hbo network

01:00:34will certainly begin immediately following our coverage of world championship boxing and the film of course will be seen in its entirety young

01:00:40Doctors in love meanwhile we're watching a couple of surgeons here in las vegas all right turn my hand over every time

01:00:46He should the jab to your stomach because he's bending over like this turn it over

01:00:55Okay son nine minutes

01:00:57That's all we got

01:00:59Okay baby

01:01:01All right

01:01:02Yeah i got it

01:01:03All right take a little deep breath

01:01:04Here my wrist man

01:01:05Here my wrist

01:01:06Don't worry about your wrist you got it

01:01:07You designed the champ

01:01:09And go to that hook

01:01:10Turn it over with the right hand

01:01:12Okay

01:01:12When you go to the body with the left turn it over

01:01:16I thought I heard thomas complaining about his ribs

01:01:22There in the corner

01:01:24He's been getting some good body shots witherspoon has come on in the last couple of rounds

01:01:29And it's a question of whether he can keep it up for three more rounds

01:01:33Conditioning and will will determine the end of this fight

01:01:36I thought I heard the same thing

01:01:38I thought i heard him say what about my ribs

01:01:41And we of course will get all the answers afterward

01:01:43When he did get hit downstairs he backed out of there pretty quickly

01:01:46But witherspoon is a great body puncher

01:01:48And i think if witherspoon should stay downstairs

01:01:52Maybe he'll see a signal that thomas is hurt downstairs

01:01:57Meanwhile thomas i'm sure will try to keep the jab

01:02:00In the face of tim witherspoon if he is hurt and just try to keep his man off him

01:02:04And hope that he's built up enough points over the early rounds

01:02:18Another observation too that

01:02:20Picklin thomas is being oh he just threw the right hand there i was about to say he wasn't throwing the right hand very much

01:02:27But he came with a couple of pretty good right hands over the top that time

01:02:32This would be outside of mary and his beautiful wife this would be a great achievement for timothy thomas to win the world title

01:02:43Angelo dundee saying nine minutes nine minutes is all you've got to go

01:02:47And pinklin thomas i'm sure is counting every tick of that clock at this point

01:02:51Well it's been a very fast but very uh fast pace in fact when angelo said just nine minutes

01:02:57It's a long nine minutes it's a tough nine minutes

01:03:00Thomas again getting that jab through to the face of tim witherspoon

01:03:08And witherspoon again backhands into the stomach

01:03:13That left jab has worked all night witherspoon lunges at thomas and

01:03:18And a pretty good left hand in it back thomas against the ropes

01:03:23Thomas seems to want to fight every time he gets hit

01:03:25The right hand is starting to drop again so the left hook

01:03:32is probably laying this witherspoon get close enough inside

01:03:39Good left hook by witherspoon again

01:03:55Fatigue is definitely set inside of pinklin thomas although he looked very impressive

01:04:00That was partially caught on the gloves of pinklin thomas

01:04:04But he doesn't need to take those kind of unnecessary punches barry he'd get outside and uh use that beautiful enough jab in his hands

01:04:13Thomas opens up and witherspoon's back to the ropes

01:04:22Six minutes

01:04:23Witherspoon is still coming on he doesn't seem to have the punch to stop thomas

01:04:34He's going to just have to overwhelm him in the last two rounds if he wants to win

01:04:39You only got six minutes this ain't no 15-round fight

01:04:42Champ of the world baby spit it out

01:04:44Angelo dundee is going after thomas like a jockey on a horse coming down the stretch trying to hold them together

01:04:54We only got six minutes

01:04:57Next round and we'll say three minutes baby it's our title

01:05:04Now look let them all hang out

01:05:05By showing the horse the whip

01:05:07You must snap back up

01:05:08When he tried to spin you you did step right in front of him

01:05:10Take it up

01:05:11Get his legs get his legs

01:05:21Hundreds of thousands of dollars perhaps millions of dollars at stake here in the last two rounds of a heavyweight championship fight

01:05:27A good tough championship fight one of the better heavyweight fights in the last couple of years

01:05:32I think in fact the first one that we saw wasn't a bad one either so

01:05:36We could conceivably have seen 24 pretty good solid rounds of boxing

01:05:43You know what's happening with this ball has given pink and thomas an opportunity to get a breather and that's exactly what he needs

01:05:51So he'll be content to stay on outside and throw his jab and catch a breather every now and then

01:05:56It does appear that pink and thomas may have an injury a rib injury of some sort because he was

01:06:04exhorting his handlers to

01:06:06Keep the pressure off by releasing some of the elasticity on his band on the band of his trunks

01:06:11There's up a body movement thomas he's great i mean he gets away from all those punches

01:06:16There's no worse injury i would think for any athlete let alone a boxer than a rib injury because it affects your breathing

01:06:27Thomas is breathing through his mouth a little bit witherspoon is busy but is that punching well

01:06:32I tell you one thing the fact that the way that witherspoon is fighting now

01:06:37Pinker thomas should be able to land more left jabs especially against the ropes

01:06:43I think witherspoon at this point should be closer to his opponent inside and working the body more

01:06:49But he's running out of time this is a 12 round fight and this is round 11

01:07:03Witherspoon is constantly trying to land that left toe

01:07:05A lot of times he'll wait and take a few shots and then retaliate with his punch

01:07:16Well it's left toe

01:07:18Just land but solid left hook and it's stunned pinkland thomas

01:07:23And there's that jab again it's a thing of beauty though i mean it's it's consistent it's accurate

01:07:35And it has a lot of power band

01:07:36I think we're looking forward to an upset

01:07:44Well it's looking more and more like it

01:07:47Of course i've seen some pretty funny looking decisions in las vegas i have to say that

01:07:51Come on work it get out work it get out let's go

01:07:54Pinter's really tired he was about to throw his right hand and then he changed his mind

01:07:58Pickle and thomas fighting a defensive fight right at the moment

01:08:06Witherspoon is tired also

01:08:09Witherspoon trying to work downstairs

01:08:12And if witherspoon if thomas is bothered by rib injury sure doesn't show it

01:08:16I'm sure he was going to say three minutes baby you're the chair

01:08:28I thought that was a very odd round for tim witherspoon i don't know why he let up

01:08:34He may have given up the championship in the 11th round

01:08:37Last last round get his name there

01:08:39All right get his name

01:08:39Come on

01:08:40Come on

01:08:41Come on

01:08:42Wake up

01:08:43Wake up

01:08:44What'd you have

01:08:44Come on

01:08:46Come on

01:08:46Last round right Tim

01:08:47Come on

01:08:47It's the last round

01:08:50Hey Tim

01:08:51Ain't no more

01:08:52Don't say

01:08:52This is the last of that line

01:08:53I'm not there ain't no more

01:08:55Keep your right hand okay

01:08:56Move on though

01:08:58And get under that left wall

01:08:59Last round

01:09:00No no no

01:09:00Give him a rinse

01:09:01You got it

01:09:02All you want baby

01:09:04Come on

01:09:04Hi

01:09:05I tell him don't get loose

01:09:06Come on

01:09:07This is it

01:09:07I got this

01:09:08I got this

01:09:08They want to send him right out

01:09:10You're going to

01:09:10I tell him don't get

01:09:11They want to send him right out to you

01:09:12Come on

01:09:13Come on

01:09:13Keep your right hand up

01:09:15Get under them

01:09:15Keep your hands up

01:09:17Don't wrap

01:09:17Hands up

01:09:18Keep under them shots

01:09:19Be Pickle and thomas for me

01:09:21Get under them

01:09:22Come on

01:09:23Come on

01:09:23Get to the back

01:09:23Get out

01:09:26The last thing angelo dundee said was beat pinklin thomas for me

01:09:33Means that he's got a tired man

01:09:36And witherspoon knows that he pretty much has to go for it all here

01:09:39Oh he's letting it all hang out now

01:09:41So what thomas has to do

01:09:44In fact angelo's told him

01:09:45To keep those hands up

01:09:47Willie smoole's going to be doing everything

01:09:59This is it

01:10:00This is the final three minutes

01:10:02Thomas in a situation of dance with what brung ya

01:10:10And what has brung him has been a very solid left jab

01:10:14The left jab has been the key for pinklin thomas throughout the fight

01:10:20Crowd has really appreciated this fight too

01:10:23And in fact it's interesting that even if tim witherspoon should lose this fight he probably will have won more friends than he did in beating greg page for the title

01:10:32Oh

01:10:36Good shot to the heart by pinklin thomas

01:10:44I noticed there that thomas brought that right hand up

01:10:47And was able to block that hook thrown by witherspoon

01:10:50Witherspoon is fighting the kind of fight that looks to me like he thinks he's got it won rather than a guy who thinks he's behind

01:11:02Oh that was beautiful body movement by pinklin

01:11:07Now this is where witherspoon doesn't want to be against pinklin thomas

01:11:11Those long arms and strong left jab

01:11:13He'll start to get through shortly

01:11:17Watch for the right hand of pinklin

01:11:22Quick right hand lead as witherspoon leaned in on him

01:11:25Two minutes

01:11:35Crowd going into a chant here

01:11:37Very appreciative crowd with good reason very good fight

01:11:41It's a very good fight

01:11:43And a very impressive pinko thomas

01:11:44You know, it's been a rough night for Timber this morning.

01:11:55He's really triumphed desperately.

01:11:57And the guy's really given his all.

01:12:01But I think it's just a little too late.

01:12:04And the fact is, too, as I said,

01:12:05he probably will have won more friends

01:12:07and maybe a better future,

01:12:08even if he loses this fight.

01:12:10And it ends in a flurry.

01:12:20That was a good right hand by Witherspoon,

01:12:23but a case, I believe, of too little too late.

01:12:25At the bell, it's over.

01:12:29Each man handheld aloft,

01:12:32thinking he has won the fight.

01:12:36I think Pinklin Thomas has won the fight,

01:12:38but as I said,

01:12:38I've seen some very funny-looking decisions

01:12:40here in Las Vegas, right?

01:12:41Well, I tell you, he was very impressive,

01:12:43very consistent.

01:12:44That left Jair proved to be the key punch

01:12:46in the entire fight.

01:12:48Witherspoon had it tough.

01:12:49He was just too tight

01:12:50and just couldn't get his punches off.

01:12:52So Pinklin Thomas being embraced in his corner.

01:12:55Angelo Dundee,

01:12:56I feel quite sure,

01:12:57thinks that he has another heavyweight champion.

01:12:59He has had two.

01:13:01One of them was named Ali.

01:13:03He wasn't a bad fighter.

01:13:04The other one out of Ali's camp,

01:13:06former sparring partner Jimmy Ellis.

01:13:07Here tonight, perhaps the third

01:13:09in Pinklin Thomas.

01:13:10It would be a great birthday gift for Angelo.

01:13:13You know, the other thing that strikes me, too,

01:13:14is every time the mantle passes

01:13:16in the heavyweight division,

01:13:17everybody makes the comparison to Muhammad Ali.

01:13:19And I think in this case,

01:13:20there was no comparison,

01:13:22Pinklin Thomas to Muhammad Ali.

01:13:23There are different types of fighters,

01:13:24and maybe finally the comparisons will stop.

01:13:26Totally different styles,

01:13:27totally different personalities.

01:13:30There's always a different person

01:13:31in the heavyweight division.

01:13:32And another factor to keep in mind, too,

01:13:35because we have come to the way now

01:13:37that we are going to be decided upon

01:13:38by a decision,

01:13:40remember the point that was taken away

01:13:42from Tim Witherspoon for backhanding.

01:13:44And that could have a profound effect

01:13:46on the outcome of this fight.

01:13:47It's a costly point,

01:13:49especially in the fight as close as this one, Brian.

01:13:51So Tim Witherspoon,

01:13:54who I would have to think,

01:13:55he says, I want it.

01:13:56We just saw him do that.

01:13:59And perhaps he has,

01:14:00but oftentimes you get

01:14:01a very different perspective

01:14:02of just what's going on

01:14:03from where we sit

01:14:04than you do when you're in there.

01:14:05I don't have to tell you that.

01:14:07Well, the fighter can tell

01:14:08when he's, you know,

01:14:08when he's behind on points

01:14:09and at the end of the fight,

01:14:11if there's a feeling that comes over you

01:14:12that you know that you didn't give it your best

01:14:15and, you know, it's all downhill.

01:14:18Well, it's very tough to say.

01:14:20Usually they say the challenger

01:14:21has got to bring the fight to the champion,

01:14:23but I think it's fair to say

01:14:24that Pinklin Thomas did, in fact,

01:14:26bring the fight to Tim Witherspoon tonight.

01:14:28Well, Pinklin made the fight.

01:14:30And in fact, the left jab worked all night.

01:14:32It was a beautiful, beautiful display of a left jab.

01:14:35All right, suspense is over.

01:14:36Let's go up to the ring announcer.

01:14:37Chuck Hall for the official decision.

01:14:42Ladies and gentlemen,

01:14:43we have a majority decision.

01:14:45Judge Hal Miller scores

01:14:50114, Witherspoon

01:14:54114, Thomas

01:14:57Judge Dalby Shirley scores

01:15:01115, 112

01:15:06for the winner by majority decision

01:15:17and new

01:15:18WBKW champion

01:15:21Pinklin Pinky Thomas

01:15:24Well, we have a new champion

01:15:28that simply could not have been any closer.

01:15:30I'm not sure I saw

01:15:32quite as close a fight

01:15:34as the judges did,

01:15:35but as I said,

01:15:36I've seen some strange things go on here.

01:15:39And what a long road it has been

01:15:41for Pinklin Thomas.

01:15:42Drug addiction

01:15:43was a great athlete as a kid,

01:15:46turned to drugs,

01:15:47kicked the drugs,

01:15:48started fighting rather late in life.

01:15:50Credits his wife Kathy

01:15:51with being a big part of the success

01:15:53that has culminated

01:15:54with a victory in a championship

01:15:55in the heavyweight division tonight.

01:15:57He is a happy man.

01:15:58It has been a long road

01:16:00and it is a very happy ending

01:16:01for Pinklin Thomas.

01:16:05So Thomas is the new champion

01:16:06of the WBC.

01:16:08Tim Witherspoon thought

01:16:08he won the fight.

01:16:09He had his hands held aloft.

01:16:11Chuck Hall, a ring announcer,

01:16:12keeping everybody in suspense

01:16:14until the last moment.

01:16:15Now it is no longer in suspense.

01:16:17And Larry Merchant

01:16:17is with the new champion,

01:16:19Pinklin Thomas.

01:16:20Larry!

01:16:22Turn him around, Pinklin!

01:16:25Pinklin!

01:16:26Well, out is some pandemonium

01:16:28here and justified.

01:16:32Pinklin,

01:16:32you've come a long way.

01:16:34It's been a hard road.

01:16:35What are your thoughts?

01:16:36I'll tell you, man,

01:16:37everything going through my mind right now.

01:16:39I don't know what to say.

01:16:40I got a little bit of tears in my eyes,

01:16:42but everybody has seen me cry.

01:16:44I'm just so happy.

01:16:45I can't realize.

01:16:46I can't believe it.

01:16:47I just,

01:16:48I gotta wake up in the morning

01:16:49and see the belt.

01:16:50I promise my little boy the belt.

01:16:52I'm gonna give it to him

01:16:53in the morning for a birthday.

01:16:54This is just a great day for me.

01:16:57Pinklin,

01:16:57you were complaining

01:16:58about your sore ribs

01:16:59later in the fight.

01:17:00What happened?

01:17:01Look at me, baby!

01:17:02I wasn't complaining.

01:17:03No?

01:17:04I didn't have no ribs.

01:17:05No?

01:17:05I just seen my jab

01:17:07kept working for me.

01:17:08It was irritating.

01:17:09He kept acting

01:17:09as I was thumbing him.

01:17:11Well,

01:17:11there was one picture

01:17:12that showed that

01:17:13you accidentally

01:17:14did thumb him.

01:17:16But when did you think

01:17:17that you had him under control

01:17:18and had his style solved?

01:17:21Well,

01:17:21it was just a matter

01:17:22of figuring Tim out.

01:17:24I know he carried

01:17:24that cross-hand style.

01:17:26And I just really wanted

01:17:28to establish my jab

01:17:29and work things off of it.

01:17:31I feel the jab

01:17:31into his body.

01:17:33From his head

01:17:33to his body

01:17:34took it from him

01:17:35because I seen

01:17:36his body wasn't,

01:17:37didn't have no muscle tone

01:17:38to it.

01:17:39And I learned

01:17:40to hit a guy

01:17:41on his shoulders

01:17:41and his chest

01:17:42to the body,

01:17:43you know.

01:17:43And it takes the gas

01:17:45from him.

01:17:45I seen his legs

01:17:46in the fourth round.

01:17:47He was kind of wobbling,

01:17:49you know.

01:17:49Were you tired

01:17:50in the last several rounds?

01:17:51No,

01:17:52I was just pacing myself,

01:17:53really.

01:17:54My corner kept

01:17:54telling me to go.

01:17:56And I seen I had

01:17:56it under control.

01:17:58As long as he wouldn't

01:17:58hit me with nothing

01:17:59to bounce.

01:17:59And all I had to do

01:18:00was step back

01:18:01when he got ready

01:18:01to fire

01:18:02because I seen it coming.

01:18:05Can you regroup

01:18:06your thoughts

01:18:06just for a moment?

01:18:08Talk about your wife,

01:18:09your child.

01:18:10This is one

01:18:11of the more unusual

01:18:13and touching stories

01:18:14of recent boxing history

01:18:16for you to come back

01:18:17from where you came from.

01:18:19Yeah,

01:18:19my wife has been

01:18:20a great inspiration

01:18:22and a tool in my career

01:18:23just like my hands

01:18:24and legs in the ring.

01:18:26And my kid also

01:18:27has been had to go

01:18:28through all the trial

01:18:29and tribulation

01:18:30and areas with us.

01:18:31And we've had to have

01:18:32our,

01:18:33we suffer.

01:18:33Everybody goes through

01:18:34them,

01:18:34though.

01:18:35But from my background

01:18:36to my present right now,

01:18:39I'm just so happy.

01:18:40And I hope that,

01:18:40you know,

01:18:41from what I've accomplished

01:18:42will inspire all the people

01:18:44in the world.

01:18:45And I'm going to try

01:18:45to be a great champion.

01:18:46Quickly,

01:18:46what are your plans now?

01:18:48Who do you,

01:18:48who would you like

01:18:49to fight next?

01:18:50Right now,

01:18:50I'm going to go

01:18:50and just get with my wife.

01:18:52I'm going to show

01:18:53my boy the belt.

01:18:54I'm going to look at it.

01:18:54I said I wasn't going

01:18:55to look at it

01:18:55until I wanted.

01:18:56So I don't even know

01:18:57what it looked like.

01:18:58And then,

01:18:59I want to just give me

01:19:00a little rest

01:19:00and then I,

01:19:02you know,

01:19:02come back with something.

01:19:04Thank you very much,

01:19:04Pinkman Thomas.

01:19:05And now back to

01:19:06Barry and Ray at ringside.

01:19:09All right,

01:19:09thank you very much,

01:19:10Larry Merchant.

01:19:10And there are champions

01:19:11all around the Riviera here,

01:19:13former convention center,

01:19:14surrounded by heavyweight champions.

01:19:15I've got two of them

01:19:16surrounding me right now.

01:19:17The WBA heavyweight champion,

01:19:19Jerry Coetzee,

01:19:19and the IBF heavyweight champion,

01:19:21Larry Holmes.

01:19:22And they,

01:19:22of course,

01:19:23are going to have

01:19:23a fight upcoming.

01:19:24We're going to talk

01:19:24about that in just a moment.

01:19:25But first of all,

01:19:26let me get your impressions

01:19:27of the fight

01:19:28that we just saw.

01:19:28We have a new champion

01:19:29in boxing.

01:19:30That's what we need,

01:19:31another heavyweight champion,

01:19:32Larry Holmes.

01:19:32But it was a very good fight.

01:19:34Yes,

01:19:34I agree with you.

01:19:35Barry,

01:19:36it was a very good fight.

01:19:37But again,

01:19:37they had a championship fight

01:19:38without a champion.

01:19:39I'm the champion,

01:19:41and I think the world know it.

01:19:42These guys keep fighting

01:19:43each other,

01:19:44and the title keep changing hands.

01:19:45I had the title six years

01:19:47reigning heavyweight,

01:19:48undisputed heavyweight champion

01:19:49of the world.

01:19:50All right,

01:19:50eventually this will all

01:19:51get settled for sure.

01:19:52Jerry Coetzee,

01:19:53the WBA champion,

01:19:53let me ask you,

01:19:54before we talk about

01:19:55you two guys,

01:19:55let's talk about

01:19:56what we saw tonight.

01:19:57Well,

01:19:58I expected Thomas

01:19:59to beat Witherspoon,

01:20:01and I don't think

01:20:01this is good news

01:20:02for Larry,

01:20:03because Larry had

01:20:04a tough call

01:20:05with Tim Witherspoon.

01:20:08And Pinklin Thomas

01:20:09made real easy work

01:20:10of him,

01:20:11and I fought it through

01:20:11with Pinklin Thomas.

01:20:13I fought it through.

01:20:14So if I'm Larry,

01:20:16I'll think twice

01:20:17about my upcoming fight.

01:20:19The kid does have

01:20:19a very effective left jab.

01:20:21We've always talked

01:20:21about your left jab.

01:20:22We saw a pretty good one tonight.

01:20:24Yes,

01:20:24Pinklin have a good left jab,

01:20:25but if I were

01:20:26boxed Pinklin Thomas,

01:20:28I would use

01:20:28Tumbley's gloves.

01:20:29But no or less,

01:20:30you know,

01:20:31Jerry is making

01:20:32a lot of statements.

01:20:33I'm not worried about Jerry.

01:20:34All he has to do

01:20:34is sign the contract.

01:20:35I've done it all.

01:20:36I gave money up.

01:20:37I put money up.

01:20:39I postponed days.

01:20:41I postponed my retirement.

01:20:43I've done it all, Barry.

01:20:44And hey,

01:20:44just to prove to the people,

01:20:46I'm it.

01:20:46I'm the man.

01:20:47I'm the heavyweight champion

01:20:47in the world.

01:20:48Not Jerry Coetzee,

01:20:49not Pinklin Thomas,

01:20:51but me,

01:20:51Larry Holmes,

01:20:52the undisputed,

01:20:53reigning heavyweight champion

01:20:54in the world.

01:20:54The world knows it.

01:20:56Let the world

01:20:56be the judge of this, Barry.

01:20:58I don't got to tell you this

01:20:59because you know it.

01:20:59All right,

01:21:00Jerry Coetzee,

01:21:00now this man says

01:21:02we have to sign a contract.

01:21:03Now we had heard

01:21:04there was a contract signed.

01:21:05Are we going to see

01:21:05Jerry Coetzee fight

01:21:06Larry Holmes?

01:21:07We're definitely going to

01:21:08see this fight coming off.

01:21:09And Larry Holmes

01:21:11is quite right,

01:21:12but he's been calling

01:21:13the shots as well.

01:21:15And, you know,

01:21:17Larry Holmes is living

01:21:18with a dream.

01:21:19And that dream

01:21:20is not going to continue.

01:21:22It used to be.

01:21:23All of my dreams come true,

01:21:25because if it wasn't,

01:21:26I wouldn't have been

01:21:26the heavyweight champion

01:21:27for six years.

01:21:28And as soon as this drop here,

01:21:30put his name on the contract,

01:21:31I'm going to knock him out.

01:21:32And when the judge

01:21:34make his final decision

01:21:35next week,

01:21:36and then I'll be able

01:21:38to go forward with this fight.

01:21:39But all you got to do

01:21:40is come on,

01:21:40stay the hell out of South Africa

01:21:41and come on right here

01:21:43and prove to me

01:21:44that he's the heavyweight champ.

01:21:45Don't worry about the dream.

01:21:47My dreams come true.

01:21:48And when I knock you out,

01:21:49it'll be my other dream come true.

01:21:51And then I might let

01:21:52all of y'all have it

01:21:53because I'm bad.

01:21:54Everybody knows.

01:21:55Am I bad, y'all?

01:21:57Am I bad?

01:21:58Who's the champion?

01:22:00All right.

01:22:00Larry Holmes has rallied the crowd.

01:22:02There is split support here.

01:22:04We got a couple of champions.

01:22:05The word is this fight

01:22:06is going to take place

01:22:07in November.

01:22:08And now everybody's

01:22:09going to have to sit back.

01:22:10We'll watch Pinkley Thomas tonight.

01:22:12We'll watch these two guys

01:22:13in November.

01:22:15If Raleigh knock each other out,

01:22:17we'll knock ourselves out

01:22:18and go back up to the ring

01:22:19with our own Larry Merchant.

01:22:20Another champion.

01:22:21Larry.

01:22:23Well, Larry Holmes,

01:22:24notwithstanding,

01:22:25we still have three heavyweight champions.

01:22:28But I think things are beginning

01:22:30to sort themselves out.

01:22:32Pinkley Thomas won decisively

01:22:33and it was a popular victory tonight.

01:22:37I think back to the first time

01:22:38we saw Pinkley Thomas

01:22:39three or four years ago

01:22:41in Atlantic City.

01:22:42He was a substitute

01:22:43for an injured fighter,

01:22:44Tex Cobb.

01:22:45They found him in the casino

01:22:47at three o'clock in the morning

01:22:48and told him

01:22:49he was fighting that night.

01:22:50He fought.

01:22:51He looked impressive.

01:22:53I was surprised.

01:22:54It's taken him this long

01:22:55to get here.

01:22:56And tonight,

01:22:57here in Las Vegas,

01:22:58in this casino,

01:23:00he hit the jackpot.

01:23:02And all I can think of now is

01:23:03are we really going to now have

01:23:05a nation of pink lungs

01:23:07coming upon us?

01:23:10Barry?

01:23:10All right.

01:23:11Thank you, Larry Merchant.

01:23:12And I'm with the champ,

01:23:13Sugar Ray Leonard.

01:23:13Well, I think it's safe to say,

01:23:15really,

01:23:15we talked about the fact

01:23:16that this picture,

01:23:16the heavyweight picture,

01:23:17really was clouded.

01:23:18I don't think it's quite

01:23:19as clouded as it was.

01:23:20And I think both of these guys,

01:23:21the new champion,

01:23:22Pinkley Thomas

01:23:23and Tim Witherspoon,

01:23:24really made a lot of friends tonight.

01:23:25And I think either one

01:23:26of those guys

01:23:27can give either one

01:23:28of the other guys

01:23:28that we just talked to

01:23:29a pretty good tussle, Ray.

01:23:30I'm sure, Barry.

01:23:31In fact,

01:23:31both fighters just played,

01:23:32you know,

01:23:33the actual determination and drive.

01:23:35Witherspoon had a tough going.

01:23:37In fact,

01:23:37Thomas and FJ

01:23:38have proved to be a factor.

01:23:39Kept him off balance

01:23:40and just was so effective.

01:23:42And both of these fighters

01:23:43are great fighters.

01:23:44Well,

01:23:44the picture is really

01:23:45starting to come

01:23:46more and more into focus.

01:23:48It will do so

01:23:49as time goes on.

01:23:50And we want to remind you

01:23:51to tune in Thursday,

01:23:52September 6th,

01:23:53as HBO Sports

01:23:54takes you inside the NFL

01:23:55with your hosts,

01:23:56Len Dawson and Nick Bonacani.

01:23:58That's at 8 o'clock

01:23:58Eastern and Pacific,

01:23:597 p.m. Central,

01:24:00right here on HBO.

01:24:02Also,

01:24:02don't miss HBO's

01:24:03next telecast

01:24:04of World Championship Boxing,

01:24:05the undisputed

01:24:06middleweight champion

01:24:07of the world.

01:24:07Marvelous Marvin Hagler

01:24:08defends his crown

01:24:09for the 10th time

01:24:10in a rematch

01:24:11with Gutsy Mustafa Hamshow.

01:24:13That's live Friday,

01:24:14October 19th on HBO.

01:24:16So,

01:24:16for Larry Merchant

01:24:17and Sugar Ray Leonard,

01:24:18I'm Barry Tompkins

01:24:19saying so long

01:24:20from Las Vegas, Nevada.

01:24:21Hey,

01:24:22I was called you.

01:24:23I was called you.

01:24:34You know,

01:24:34Sports' Tim Brayne.

01:24:35Tonight's telecast

01:24:38was produced by

01:24:39Ross Greenberg

01:24:39and directed

01:24:41by Jeffrey Payton Goff.

01:24:43The associate producers

01:24:44were Rick Bernstein

01:24:45and Linda Jackson Christian.

01:24:47And the associate director

01:24:49was Peter DePaola.

01:24:51The assistant

01:24:52to the producer

01:24:53is Michael J. Whalen.

01:24:55And the production manager,

01:24:57John McCallie.

01:24:58In the shadow

01:25:06In the shadow

01:25:07Too long

01:25:07ідale

01:25:08Too long

01:25:08Whoa

01:25:10Waiting

01:25:13On the sideline

01:25:15Too long

01:25:16Oh, I've been watching you. Now you're going to watch me too. I'm coming out of hiding. I'm coming out of hiding. It's no mystery how you missed me for so long.

01:25:39But that's history. You've sung wrong for so long. Boy, I've been wanting you. Now you're going to want me too. I'm coming out of hiding. I'm coming out of hiding. I'm coming out of hiding.

01:26:04This has been a presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.

Tim Witherspoon vs Pinklon Thomas - HBO 8-31-84

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