- 5 months ago
WBA Lightweight Champion Edwin Rosario takes on WBC Super Featherweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez on HBO Boxing
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00:00:00We're live in Las Vegas, Nevada for HBO Sports World Championship Boxing.
00:00:05Tonight, WBA Lightweight Champion Edwin Rosario defends his title against undefeated WBC Super Featherweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:00:15It's all coming your way at 10 o'clock Eastern, 7 Pacific, right here on HBO.
00:00:24Bobby Soxer, tonight on HBO.
00:00:26At 7 World Championship Boxing, Edwin Rosario versus Julio Cesar Chavez, live at 8.30.
00:00:33Kathleen Turner trips through the past.
00:00:44We're live in Las Vegas, Nevada, where WBA Lightweight Champion Edwin Rosario defends his title against undefeated challenger Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:00:54It's coming your way next, right here on HBO.
00:00:58Edwin Rosario takes on Julio Cesar Chavez on World Championship Boxing, next.
00:01:05HBO.
00:01:08The Thriller in Manila.
00:01:10I'll never forget that fight with Muhammad Ali.
00:01:14It was our last fight, but it was HBO's first live fight.
00:01:18And they had a lot of great fight sets.
00:01:21I feel good.
00:01:27I knew that I would not.
00:01:30I feel good.
00:01:33I knew that I would not.
00:01:38So good.
00:01:39So good.
00:01:40I got a huge.
00:01:43I feel nice.
00:01:47Sugar is fine.
00:01:50I feel nice.
00:01:54Sugar is fine.
00:01:57So nice.
00:01:59So nice.
00:02:00I got a huge.
00:02:03Wow.
00:02:04I feel good.
00:02:04I knew that I would not.
00:02:09I feel good.
00:02:13I knew that I would.
00:02:17So good.
00:02:19So good.
00:02:20I got a huge.
00:02:21Wow.
00:02:23Wow.
00:02:24Thanks, HBO, for 15 knockout years.
00:02:36Every once in a great while, two boxers, small in stature, but tall in standing, meet
00:02:56as champions.
00:02:58Don't measure these men by their height, but rather by their heart and will.
00:03:03It was back in August of 1981 that Salvador Sanchez fought Wilfredo Gomez in defense of
00:03:11his WBC featherweight title.
00:03:14In the end, the challenger was knocked out in the eighth.
00:03:16Sanchez ruled the division until his untimely death.
00:03:20Five years ago, WBA junior welterweight champion Aaron Pryor fought three-time champion Alexis
00:03:25Arguello.
00:03:26They don't get any better than this.
00:03:28They stood toe-to-toe and traded punches for 14 brutal rounds.
00:03:32It had all the drama of a three-act play, with a little controversy as well.
00:03:38Give me that a bottle.
00:03:39Without the one I mix.
00:03:41Arguello going for the kill.
00:03:43Trying to put him away.
00:03:44Arguello trying to come off.
00:03:45A smashing right hand.
00:03:47Arguello's helpless against the ropes.
00:03:49Arguello's hand to the side.
00:03:50It's over.
00:03:51And Arguello has the time to struggle.
00:03:53Just three weeks later, a revived Wilfredo Gomez defended his WBC super bantamweight title
00:04:00against Lupe Pintor.
00:04:02Pintor is definitely hurting in trouble.
00:04:04Tries to fight off the rope.
00:04:05Can't do it.
00:04:06Gomez is right on him.
00:04:07This is just real, this is really real to win now.
00:04:12And another left hand.
00:04:13And down he goes.
00:04:14And now, in 1987, Edward Rosario and Julio Cesar Chavez renew one of boxing's most precious traditions.
00:04:25And now, we'll see you next time.
00:04:55We'll see you next time.
00:05:25It's about 12 rounds.
00:05:32It is a cold and breezy evening here in the desert.
00:05:40The temperature is somewhere about 48 or 49.
00:05:43But the windshield factor probably down closer to freezing.
00:05:46weather could be a factor as two magnificent champions, one a brawler, the other a master
00:05:52technician, face each other in a dream matchup of two of the best pound-for-pound fighters
00:05:58in the world.
00:06:01Hello, everybody.
00:06:02I'm Barry Tompkins, along with Sugar Ray Leonard and Larry Merchant.
00:06:05It should be an interesting night, if for no other reason, for the simple fact that
00:06:08it's one of those nights where nobody, not us, not the audience, not the so-called boxing
00:06:13experts really have a fix on who's going to win this fight.
00:06:17Sugar Ray Leonard, I guess it's the fact styles make fights, and if they do, and if these
00:06:21two fighters' styles are consistent with what they have been, it should be an outstanding
00:06:25fight, a good, maybe even a great one.
00:06:27Well, it takes two special guys to bring this type of anticipation to Las Vegas, and what
00:06:33we have here tonight, Rosario and Chavez, two great champions, two different styles, and
00:06:37two different tactics in mind.
00:06:39This should prove to be a very interesting and probably destructive fight tonight.
00:06:42Larry Merchant, interestingly enough, Chapo Rosario is the lightweight champion.
00:06:46It is Julio Cesar Chavez who is coming up to be the challenger, and yet it's Chavez who
00:06:51is the favorite over Rosario.
00:06:53It's a little mystifying, actually.
00:06:55I thought I was coming here to see the best lightweight in the world, and when I got here,
00:06:58I found that the junior lightweight champion was favored over him by about seven to five.
00:07:03The only thing I can think of is that, one, Las Vegas is closer to the Mexican and Mexican-American
00:07:08fans who are backing him, and two, Chavez has won 54 out of 54 fights, so if you bet him
00:07:1454 times, you won 54 times.
00:07:16Might as well bet him a 55th time.
00:07:18But the most surprising thing to me is that in a poll in USA today, eight of the 14 writers
00:07:25polled did pick Chavez.
00:07:26It just confirms that we've got two terrific fighters.
00:07:30I can't wait to see what happens.
00:07:32Two little guys, as a matter of fact, each of whom packs a pretty big punch.
00:07:36Interestingly enough, when you see them in the ring, they seem bigger than 135 pounds,
00:07:40and in fact, it's true.
00:07:42When you think of the world's largest athletes, it's no surprise Japan's revered sumo wrestlers
00:07:53come to mind.
00:07:55Their sport is an art form filled with customs and rituals passed down for centuries.
00:08:01Life outside the ring is a ceremony itself.
00:08:04In training camp, they work on the skills of eating, and eating, for one sumo creed, is weight gain.
00:08:12In boxing, training camp's objective is often weight loss, even if you're the champ, like
00:08:19natural lightweight, Edwin Chapo Rosario.
00:08:25It isn't difficult for me to make 135 pounds.
00:08:28I have been making this weight for five years, and I am a natural 135 pounds.
00:08:36I follow a diet of two meals a day that another boxer or trainer would say is not a diet.
00:08:42But I eat a lot, and it's okay for me, because I train every day.
00:08:49Every day.
00:08:50His walking around weight is 145 pounds, but in training, three weeks prior to the fight,
00:08:57he weighs in at 141 pounds.
00:09:00Very few fighters train with such intensity and know their body chemistry so well.
00:09:05After all, Chapo has been fighting since he was six years old in his native Puerto Rico.
00:09:11After today's workout, he'll drop a few more pounds.
00:09:14He's a trainer's dream.
00:09:16And tomorrow, Chapo, when he finish running, he's going to be in 137, 138.
00:09:23That shows you Chapo will not have a problem with his weight.
00:09:28It's his natural lightweight.
00:09:30With three weeks left until the fight, and only six pounds to shed,
00:09:37week two's weight of 148 delivered a shock to Rosario's camp,
00:09:41admittedly caused by overeating and inactivity.
00:09:45But Chapo's gain is most often just water weight,
00:09:48and that's weight that's easily lost.
00:09:51Unlike the great Roberto Duran, who wrote the book on feasts in lieu of fasts,
00:09:56always having problems making weight.
00:09:58In winning a record fourth title with a range of 28 pounds,
00:10:02Thomas Hearn still had to drop five pounds the day before he knocked out Juan Roldan.
00:10:07Only once has Rosario had to lose weight at the bell,
00:10:11six years ago, and now long forgotten.
00:10:14His progress is closely monitored by his trainer,
00:10:17with no question about his preparedness for Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:10:25When I'm in condition as much physically as mentally,
00:10:29I'm the best fighter that exists in the ring.
00:10:32I know I will beat him because I have come to the conclusion
00:10:35that I am the best that exists in the lightweights.
00:10:40None have the defense I have.
00:10:43None hit like I hit,
00:10:44plus all the experience that I have learned in boxing,
00:10:47no one can touch me.
00:10:49I am superbly trained.
00:10:51With one week left, he's now 138 pounds.
00:10:55His furious training will enable him to hit the weigh-in limit of 135,
00:11:00peaking with no loss of strength.
00:11:03After the weigh-in, Chapo must rest,
00:11:05and he concentrates best alone in his room,
00:11:08dreaming about life in Puerto Rico
00:11:10and the customs of his people.
00:11:12A special broth made from baby pigeon
00:11:17is prepared for the champ for his pre-fight meal.
00:11:20Folklore states it will give him added strength.
00:11:23He's joined by members of his training camp
00:11:25for a psychological boost,
00:11:27along with making sure Chapo eats plenty.
00:11:30For even though the lightweight limit is 135 pounds,
00:11:33he will weigh 142 pounds when he enters the ring,
00:11:37all within the rules.
00:11:38His opponent will barely go over the limit
00:11:40and should not have the added firepower
00:11:43and strength to combat, arguably,
00:11:46the best fighter in the world.
00:11:52For this fight, without even being aware of it,
00:11:56I have trained better than any other fight.
00:11:59I have something to prove,
00:12:01and what I am going to do with Cesar Chavez,
00:12:03I am going to knock him out in less than 10 rounds.
00:12:07And he has proven that he has the tools to do that.
00:12:09Of course, both fighters did make the 135-pound limit
00:12:13for tonight's lightweight championship,
00:12:15but that doesn't mean that their morning weigh-in
00:12:17wasn't both eventful and revealing.
00:12:20Chuck Hall made the official announcement.
00:12:23Edwin Rosario weighs in at an even 135 pounds.
00:12:27And the next step, right from the scales to a drink,
00:12:32glucose or Gatorade or what have you.
00:12:34And what that really means, Ray,
00:12:35is he's not going to come in at 135 pounds at all.
00:12:38Well, Barrett, to make weight,
00:12:39fighters dehydrate themselves,
00:12:40or as we call it, a dry-out process.
00:12:42So he's trying to put back all the liquid that he gave away.
00:12:46And, of course, Chavez,
00:12:47who is coming up from junior lightweight
00:12:49into the lightweight division,
00:12:51he's expected to come in about 137,
00:12:53a couple of pounds over the lightweight limit.
00:12:54But Rosario will come in, he says, at 142.
00:12:58That puts him in the welterweight class.
00:13:01That's the difference.
00:13:02Edward Rosario versus Julio Cesar Chavez
00:13:05will go 12 rounds,
00:13:07and this one will be
00:13:08for the lightweight championship of the world.
00:13:11With more on this fight
00:13:12and a most interesting evening it should be,
00:13:15here's Larry Merchant.
00:13:16Larry?
00:13:16There's a staple in all of drama,
00:13:19including the drama on the canvas stage back there,
00:13:22that may be a factor tonight.
00:13:25It's the one about the young man,
00:13:27in this case Rosario,
00:13:28who in a moment of crisis
00:13:30either freezes or flees.
00:13:33And then there's a question.
00:13:34Will somebody exploit that apparent flaw again,
00:13:38like tonight?
00:13:40So maybe the real reason
00:13:42that the champion is the underdog tonight
00:13:45goes back three years
00:13:47to when he was knocked out
00:13:49by another tough Mexican fighter,
00:13:51Jose Luis Ramirez,
00:13:53and then turned his back on him.
00:13:56Was he just turning his back on him out of fear?
00:13:59Or was he, as he insisted,
00:14:02simply knocked out on his feet?
00:14:04Whatever.
00:14:05A fighter's true measure
00:14:07is measured,
00:14:08not by whether he loses a fight,
00:14:10but what he does after that.
00:14:12And since then,
00:14:13Rosario has proven his worth
00:14:15many times.
00:14:17But tonight he faces a man
00:14:19who, if anyone can,
00:14:21may be able
00:14:22to expose some flaw
00:14:24in his resolve
00:14:25or his chin.
00:14:26It's a country that finds itself
00:14:34enduring its worst of times
00:14:36economically.
00:14:38If the eyes are indeed
00:14:40the windows to one's soul,
00:14:42then it's easy to see the hardship,
00:14:44to see the frustration
00:14:46and the hurt within these people.
00:14:48And yet,
00:14:51there is a gentle feeling
00:14:52in the way they live their lives
00:14:54despite adversity.
00:14:56They refuse to let go
00:14:58of their dreams
00:14:58because to them,
00:15:00dreams represent hope,
00:15:02and hope represents
00:15:03a better way.
00:15:05Mexicans are a proud people,
00:15:07and among them,
00:15:08one easily stands out
00:15:09in the crowd,
00:15:11and for good reason.
00:15:11He is indeed
00:15:13the embodiment
00:15:13of the better way.
00:15:14He's the WBC
00:15:16Super Featherweight Champion
00:15:17of the World,
00:15:18Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:15:24This fight is the most important thing
00:15:26I have ever done in my life.
00:15:29Here lies my future
00:15:30and prestige as a man.
00:15:32Everything that I have accomplished
00:15:34during the three years
00:15:35that I have been champion
00:15:36and my nine title defenses
00:15:38would be thrown away
00:15:40if I was to lose to Rosario.
00:15:42This fight with Rosario
00:15:45is my consecration
00:15:47in Mexico
00:15:48and the entire world.
00:15:50Chavez may be harder
00:15:51on himself
00:15:52than he should be.
00:15:53Win or lose,
00:15:53it would never change
00:15:54his country's feeling
00:15:55toward him.
00:15:56In Mexico,
00:15:57he's a national hero.
00:15:59But because of Chavez's humility,
00:16:01you would never know it.
00:16:02It's important to understand
00:16:03that in Latin communities,
00:16:05the people look up to
00:16:07and respect their athletes.
00:16:09In the war-torn country
00:16:11of Nicaragua,
00:16:12there was never
00:16:13a bigger hero
00:16:14than three-time world champion
00:16:15Alexis Arguello.
00:16:21And to the millions
00:16:22of people of Panama,
00:16:23Roberto Duran
00:16:24was the hero of heroes,
00:16:26a tough young man
00:16:27who rose from the barrio
00:16:28to international prominence.
00:16:32Once before,
00:16:33the people of Mexico
00:16:34had a champion
00:16:35they loved and respected,
00:16:37the late Salvador Sanchez.
00:16:39Humility to these athletes
00:16:41athletes is indeed a virtue,
00:16:42and boxing is a business
00:16:43that they take very seriously.
00:16:45That's why their talking
00:16:46is done in the ring
00:16:47with their fists.
00:16:49And with Chavez,
00:16:50there's no exception.
00:16:51It was on September 13, 1984,
00:16:53when Chavez finally received
00:16:55his just due.
00:16:56In his 41st professional fight,
00:16:58he destroyed Mario Martinez
00:16:59to win the WBC's
00:17:01super featherweight title,
00:17:02letting the boxing world know
00:17:04that he was a champion
00:17:05to be reckoned with.
00:17:08Many say that pound for pound,
00:17:10Chavez may well be
00:17:11the best fighter
00:17:11in the world today,
00:17:13a disciplined boxer
00:17:14whose skills have paid off
00:17:15for him in the ring,
00:17:16a patient fighter
00:17:17who wears down his opponent
00:17:19until they have nothing left,
00:17:21and then,
00:17:21like a true champion,
00:17:22puts them away.
00:17:24But he knows
00:17:24that tonight will be different.
00:17:26In Edwin Rosario,
00:17:27he faces possibly
00:17:28the hardest-hitting lightweight
00:17:29in the division,
00:17:30though you can be certain
00:17:31when the bell rings,
00:17:33Chavez will be ready.
00:17:36I have trained
00:17:38like I have never before
00:17:39trained for a fight
00:17:40because I know
00:17:42that a hard fighter
00:17:43awaits me.
00:17:45Rosario is a great fighter.
00:17:47He is a fighter
00:17:48who hits hard,
00:17:49but as I have said,
00:17:51I have trained hard
00:17:53and I will win this fight
00:17:54either by decision
00:17:56or by knockout.
00:17:57For me to win,
00:17:58I must force the fight
00:17:59so that Rosario
00:18:00can clinch
00:18:01and thereby tiring him out.
00:18:04Cordial as they may appear
00:18:05in public,
00:18:05there's no question
00:18:06about the bad feeling
00:18:07they have toward each other.
00:18:09In a lot of fights,
00:18:09it's a hype.
00:18:10In this fight,
00:18:11it's a fact.
00:18:13There is a resentment
00:18:14between the Mexicans
00:18:15and the Puerto Ricans.
00:18:16The reason being
00:18:17that the Puerto Ricans
00:18:18talk too much.
00:18:20They're always talking,
00:18:21I'm going to crush you,
00:18:22I'm going to knock you out,
00:18:23I'm going to split your skull,
00:18:25and so on.
00:18:26And almost never
00:18:27do they accomplish this.
00:18:29They almost always
00:18:30come out looking bad.
00:18:31And in this fight,
00:18:32it will be no different
00:18:33because Rosario
00:18:34is going around
00:18:35talking too much.
00:18:38And as in all fights,
00:18:39when all is said and done,
00:18:40the fight will be decided
00:18:41not by words,
00:18:43but in the ring
00:18:44by two exceptionally
00:18:45trained athletes.
00:18:46Though unfortunately,
00:18:48when the evening's over,
00:18:49only one will be able
00:18:50to call himself
00:18:51Campion del Mundo.
00:18:56And there is a look
00:18:57at the challenger
00:18:59and the current
00:19:00super featherweight champion,
00:19:02Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:19:03He is trying to become
00:19:04the third junior lightweight
00:19:05or super featherweight,
00:19:06depending on which division
00:19:07you're talking about
00:19:08to win the lightweight title.
00:19:09The other two,
00:19:10of course,
00:19:11known names,
00:19:12Alexis Arguello
00:19:13and Hector Macho Camacho,
00:19:15who is in the audience tonight.
00:19:17Arguello beat James Watt,
00:19:18Camacho beat
00:19:19Jose Luis Ramirez.
00:19:20But there were many more
00:19:21who came before him
00:19:22who could not accomplish it.
00:19:24The likes of Kid Chocolat,
00:19:25who lost to Tony Canzaneri.
00:19:27Flashy Lorde lost twice
00:19:28to Carlos Ortiz.
00:19:30And Conia's Bozé Edwards
00:19:31lost twice to Camacho
00:19:32and Ramirez.
00:19:33Although there is quite
00:19:34a bit of excitement here,
00:19:36it really doesn't measure
00:19:37up to the inflammatory
00:19:38passion of the time
00:19:40when Wilfredo Gomez
00:19:41fought Sanchez,
00:19:43when there were dueling
00:19:43salsa and Marachi bands
00:19:46and fights all over the place.
00:19:48But back home in Puerto Rico
00:19:51and Mexico,
00:19:52there is enormous emotional
00:19:55interest and investment
00:19:57in this fight.
00:19:59It's too cold
00:20:00to strum guitars.
00:20:01That's why there's no
00:20:02Mariachi bands.
00:20:03So here comes Chavez.
00:20:08Quietly confident young man.
00:20:1154 wins without a loss.
00:20:1345 knockouts.
00:20:15Never had a knockout past
00:20:16the eighth round, though.
00:20:18He's gone that distance
00:20:19six times.
00:20:20And, of course,
00:20:23as we discussed earlier,
00:20:25the fact that styles
00:20:26make fights.
00:20:28And I think this fight
00:20:28particularly interesting
00:20:29in that aspect.
00:20:31So let's turn to
00:20:32Sugar Ray Leonard, Dan,
00:20:33and find out exactly
00:20:34what each of these two men
00:20:35have to do
00:20:36to win the fight tonight.
00:20:37Ray?
00:20:38Well, Burrow,
00:20:38tonight you will see
00:20:39two fighters executing
00:20:40different tactics.
00:20:42With Rosario,
00:20:42he gives you angles
00:20:43like he did against Camacho.
00:20:45Because given angles,
00:20:46you have a tendency
00:20:47to confuse your opponent.
00:20:48And also, it gives you
00:20:50more leverage
00:20:51behind your punch.
00:20:52And here against Bramble,
00:20:53you can see that the
00:20:54angles were quite effective.
00:20:56But you know, Burrow,
00:20:57sometimes Rosario
00:20:59makes a mistake
00:20:59of being stationary.
00:21:01Here he is being
00:21:02a sitting target
00:21:03for Ramirez.
00:21:04And remaining stationary
00:21:05target against a fighter
00:21:06like Chavez
00:21:07could prove to be
00:21:08a fatal mistake.
00:21:10Here we take a look
00:21:10at Chavez.
00:21:12Has a tendency
00:21:12to cut the ring off.
00:21:14He's not really doing it here,
00:21:15but he must do it
00:21:16to be effective
00:21:17against Rosario.
00:21:18To cut the ring off
00:21:19and make Rosario
00:21:20fight his fight,
00:21:21which is toe-to-toe.
00:21:23He needs to get
00:21:23his man inside,
00:21:24turn this into a brawl,
00:21:25a street fight,
00:21:26and you'll probably see
00:21:27the tables turn.
00:21:29Chavez is a big puncher,
00:21:31especially to the body.
00:21:32Executes a beautiful
00:21:33left hook
00:21:33and a good right hand.
00:21:35So you should look
00:21:36forward to that.
00:21:38All right,
00:21:39start moving back.
00:21:39Well, Chavez
00:21:40is in the ring, of course,
00:21:41and we mentioned
00:21:41how cold it is.
00:21:42Now, it says 58 degrees
00:21:44on the thermometer
00:21:44that we have
00:21:45right in front of us,
00:21:45but that is under the lights.
00:21:46So that's as warm
00:21:47as it's going to get,
00:21:49and there's no question
00:21:50but that Chavez
00:21:50is going to have
00:21:51to stay active.
00:21:52He's going to have
00:21:52to keep moving around
00:21:53because Rosario's
00:21:54making him wait.
00:21:55Well, and he doesn't
00:21:56have the luxury
00:21:56as I do
00:21:57of wearing my silk
00:21:58skiing long johns,
00:21:59so he's going to have
00:22:01to say stay active.
00:22:03You know,
00:22:03here I am outdoors
00:22:04at a fight
00:22:05at the end of November.
00:22:06Tomorrow I'm going
00:22:06to be indoors
00:22:07at a football game
00:22:08in Seattle.
00:22:09There's something
00:22:09cockeyed about this.
00:22:11That's absolutely right.
00:22:12And it really is cold.
00:22:14The thermometer,
00:22:15as we mentioned earlier,
00:22:1648 or 49 degrees,
00:22:17but there is
00:22:18a definite breeze here.
00:22:19Matter of fact,
00:22:20if they had a toss
00:22:21of the coin here,
00:22:21I'd take the wind.
00:22:22I wonder if they'd
00:22:25fight two Eskimos
00:22:25at the equator.
00:22:27Here we have
00:22:27these two Latin fighters
00:22:28coming up to fight
00:22:29in this winterized rain.
00:22:33And here is
00:22:34Chapo Rosario.
00:22:38And he's going to stay
00:22:39toasty warm
00:22:40under that robe
00:22:40until things get started here.
00:22:43That makes a difference,
00:22:44Barry,
00:22:45because a lot of times
00:22:46we have a tendency
00:22:46to put a blanket
00:22:47in a corner
00:22:48to keep the fighter warm.
00:22:51Maybe they'll have
00:22:51four-line supporters.
00:22:56The Puerto Rican flag
00:22:57and the Puerto Rican supporters
00:22:58of Chapo Rosario
00:23:00have been very vocal,
00:23:01as have the Mexican supporters
00:23:03of Julio Cesar Chavez,
00:23:05as a matter of fact.
00:23:07Each singing
00:23:08his or her country's
00:23:09national anthem.
00:23:11And here comes Rosario.
00:23:12Chapa Rosario,
00:23:2926 wins,
00:23:29two losses,
00:23:30three victories
00:23:31in an impressive fashion
00:23:32since his last loss.
00:23:34He's knocked out
00:23:3422 of his opponents.
00:23:35And he says,
00:23:37point blank,
00:23:38I'm going to knock
00:23:39this man out, too.
00:23:42And let's take a look
00:23:43at some of the other numbers
00:23:45before we get
00:23:46to the specific activities
00:23:47at hand.
00:23:48And these numbers
00:23:49really show very little
00:23:50difference between these two.
00:23:52The only numbers I saw
00:23:53that indicates
00:23:54that Rosario
00:23:55is really the bigger man
00:23:56is that his fists
00:23:57are a full two inches
00:23:58bigger than Chavez's.
00:24:00So Chavez has to hope
00:24:01that his chin
00:24:02is two inches smaller
00:24:03or stronger.
00:24:07And here we have
00:24:08our punch stat numbers
00:24:09that give us
00:24:10a statistical profile
00:24:11of how the fighters fight.
00:24:13Rosario throws
00:24:14straight punches.
00:24:16Chavez is a hooking puncher
00:24:17who is more active.
00:24:20That's what these numbers
00:24:21confirm.
00:24:24And here are their jabs.
00:24:26Rosario has a straight jab,
00:24:28an awfully good one,
00:24:29but Chavez
00:24:30is a more sophisticated fighter
00:24:32than we've seen
00:24:33many of the action-packed
00:24:35Mexican fighters before.
00:24:37And, Larry,
00:24:38we'll take a look
00:24:38at the rules in this fight,
00:24:39the 10-point must system.
00:24:40The three judges score
00:24:41the fight.
00:24:42There won't be
00:24:42a standing eight count.
00:24:43The fighter can be saved
00:24:44by the bell only
00:24:45in the final round.
00:24:46And the three-knockdown rule
00:24:48will be in effect.
00:24:49And one other WBA rule,
00:24:51an important one at that.
00:24:53This will be a 12,
00:24:54not a 15-round fight.
00:24:55Now let's go up
00:24:56to the ring announcer,
00:24:56Chuck Hull,
00:24:57for the pre-fight introductions.
00:24:58Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
00:25:02Welcome to the Las Vegas
00:25:04Hilton Sports Arena,
00:25:06where tonight,
00:25:06the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel,
00:25:08in association with
00:25:09Don King Productions
00:25:11and the Miller Brewering Company,
00:25:13makers of Miller Light Beer,
00:25:15presents World Championship Boxing.
00:25:19These bouts are sanctioned
00:25:20by the Nevada State Athletic Commission,
00:25:22Herb Santos, Chairman,
00:25:24Chuck Minker, Executive Director.
00:25:26The commissioners at ringside
00:25:28this evening are
00:25:29Dr. Elias Ghanem,
00:25:31Freddie Little,
00:25:32Sik Rogich,
00:25:33and Dwayne Ford.
00:25:35The WBA representative
00:25:36at ringside,
00:25:37Dr. Elias Cordoba.
00:25:40Supervising the bout
00:25:42for the WBA
00:25:42is Mr. Murray Sleek
00:25:44of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
00:25:47The officials assigned
00:25:48by the Nevada State Athletic Commission
00:25:50for the next event
00:25:51of the evening,
00:25:52the judges are
00:25:53Bob Watson of Michigan,
00:25:55Al Tremere of Illinois,
00:25:57and Jerry Roth
00:25:58of the state of Nevada.
00:26:00The timekeeper is Charlie.
00:26:02Counting at the knockdowns,
00:26:03Mike Burroughs.
00:26:05The attending physician
00:26:06at ringside,
00:26:07Drs. Flip Pomansky,
00:26:08James Game,
00:26:10and Al Capana.
00:26:12Your referee
00:26:13for the next event
00:26:14of the evening
00:26:15is Richard Steele.
00:26:17This is the main
00:26:20event of the night.
00:26:2212 rounds of boxing
00:26:23for the WBA
00:26:25Lightweight Championship
00:26:27of the World.
00:26:29Introducing
00:26:29In the Blue Corner,
00:26:32Fighting out of
00:26:33Cagliacan, Mexico,
00:26:36weighing in at
00:26:36134 and three-quarter pounds
00:26:39with a professional record
00:26:41of 54 wins,
00:26:43no defeats,
00:26:45and 45 KOs.
00:26:48He is the current
00:26:49WBC Super Featherweight Champion
00:26:53of the World
00:26:53and is the challenger,
00:26:56Julio Cesar Chauvin.
00:26:59And in the red corner,
00:27:10Fighting out of
00:27:10San Terci, Puerto Rico,
00:27:13weighing an even
00:27:13135 pounds.
00:27:16His professional record
00:27:17consists of 26 wins,
00:27:19two defeats,
00:27:20with 22 KOs.
00:27:23He is the WBA
00:27:24Lightweight Champion
00:27:26of the World,
00:27:27Edwin El Chapo.
00:27:29Rosario.
00:27:36And one of the men
00:27:38in the ring
00:27:38with Rosario
00:27:40is Mike Tyson,
00:27:42his stablemate.
00:27:43There he is,
00:27:44that big broad back
00:27:45as big as Ohio.
00:27:47That's Mike Tyson.
00:27:48No lightweight heat.
00:27:50It's also the first time
00:27:51I've ever seen him smile
00:27:52in a boxing ring
00:27:53and carry a bucket, too.
00:27:54That's right.
00:27:59You know,
00:27:59there's no doubt at all,
00:28:01none at all,
00:28:03that Rosario
00:28:03is the hardest puncher
00:28:05in the lightweight division.
00:28:06But the real question
00:28:08in any fight is,
00:28:10how does each man
00:28:10take the other guy's punch?
00:28:12In other words,
00:28:12if Chavez can handle
00:28:14that punch,
00:28:14and if Rosario
00:28:16can't handle
00:28:16Chavez's punch,
00:28:18then it's only,
00:28:19it's academic
00:28:19on who punches harder.
00:28:20It's who not only
00:28:21punches harder,
00:28:22but who takes a punch better.
00:28:24One thing that I thought
00:28:25was interesting, too,
00:28:26and I'll mention it
00:28:27after the instructions here.
00:28:28I want to caution
00:28:29and you both
00:28:30make sure they understand,
00:28:32obey my commands
00:28:34at all times.
00:28:35Shake hands,
00:28:36good luck.
00:28:38One thing that Chavez
00:28:39mentioned to us
00:28:40when we talked to him
00:28:41is that he liked
00:28:42the fact that
00:28:43Chapo is going to be
00:28:44right in his face,
00:28:45he's going to be
00:28:46right in front of him,
00:28:46and Rosario said,
00:28:47yep, that's exactly
00:28:48the way I'm going to fight him.
00:28:51Well, we may find out
00:28:52very quickly
00:28:53how well Chavez
00:28:54takes a punch.
00:28:59With the weather
00:29:00being as cold as it is,
00:29:01a lot of times
00:29:02you look forward
00:29:02to a flood,
00:29:03knockdown,
00:29:03flash flood,
00:29:04knockdown,
00:29:04because the guys
00:29:05are not really warmed up.
00:29:06Chavez's style
00:29:09has been essentially
00:29:10to wear his opponent
00:29:12down,
00:29:13knock him out
00:29:14in round six
00:29:15through eight.
00:29:17And here we go.
00:29:20As expected,
00:29:22Rosario's on the move.
00:29:26Using his jab,
00:29:28Chavez expected
00:29:29to pretty much
00:29:30take the fight
00:29:31to Rosario.
00:29:34Chavez known
00:29:35especially before
00:29:36his devastating
00:29:37body attack.
00:29:40And the crowd,
00:29:41after sitting on its hands
00:29:42through the entrance
00:29:43of the fighters
00:29:44and the introductions,
00:29:45has now gotten right
00:29:46into it in the first round.
00:29:47You notice what happened
00:29:48there inside,
00:29:49right to the body.
00:29:50What he's trying to do,
00:29:51Chavez,
00:29:52he's trying to slow down
00:29:53the movement
00:29:53of Rosario.
00:29:55And Chavez went up
00:29:56and down,
00:29:57and Rosario
00:29:58hammered him
00:29:59with the left hand.
00:30:12Working the body
00:30:14to slow his man down.
00:30:15No holding.
00:30:16Rosario,
00:30:17he needs to stay
00:30:18out of the corners.
00:30:20He should try
00:30:21to maintain Chavez
00:30:22in the center of the ring.
00:30:31Aprocote by Chavez.
00:30:33This is such a contrast
00:30:42of styles,
00:30:42because what you have
00:30:43in Chavez,
00:30:44he's a guy
00:30:45very patient,
00:30:46plotting,
00:30:47sets his man up,
00:30:48works the body,
00:30:49a practitioner.
00:30:51He really is.
00:30:52The way he throws
00:30:53his punches,
00:30:54he's always in position
00:30:55to do bodily harm.
00:30:57Neither of them
00:30:57takes a backward step.
00:30:59Rosario,
00:31:01he's like
00:31:02a little magician there.
00:31:03I just don't like him
00:31:04there in the corner,
00:31:05or against the ropes,
00:31:06rather.
00:31:09A couple of left hands
00:31:10by Rosario.
00:31:12Both guys
00:31:12have very,
00:31:13very good defense.
00:31:19Chavez is just
00:31:20keeping his man
00:31:20there in the corner.
00:31:22He's making the fight
00:31:22his fight.
00:31:25No holding.
00:31:26No holding.
00:31:27Great, step back.
00:31:28Step back.
00:31:29Watch for the uppercuts
00:31:32inside by Chavez.
00:31:34Those are the kind of
00:31:34punches that do
00:31:34the most damage.
00:31:36Chavez came over the top
00:31:37that time
00:31:38on the right hand.
00:31:39It was a good shot.
00:31:43And still,
00:31:44Rosario
00:31:44has his back
00:31:45to the ropes
00:31:46that he has
00:31:47most of the first round.
00:31:52See,
00:31:53Chavez is going to
00:31:53maintain this type
00:31:54of pressure.
00:31:55Stay right in the chest
00:31:56of Rosario.
00:31:57because outside,
00:32:00Rosario can get
00:32:00that jab off
00:32:01and not let
00:32:03Chavez sit.
00:32:04But inside here,
00:32:05what's the uppercut
00:32:06to give there?
00:32:07You notice
00:32:07little short shots
00:32:08as advertised.
00:32:12Body shots.
00:32:13Well, there will be no
00:32:19intermediate arms agreement
00:32:21in this fight.
00:32:25Tranquilo.
00:32:27No te me dehecha el mucho del.
00:32:29No te dehecha el mucho del.
00:32:30ÂżEstĂĄ ahĂ?
00:32:30No te dehecha el mucho del.
00:32:33Y trate no meterte en la soga.
00:32:34ÂżVale?
00:32:35Ok.
00:32:35Don't let him frighten you.
00:32:37Go easy.
00:32:39No me dehecha el mucho del.
00:32:41Don't tell him
00:32:41too much about
00:32:42the ropes.
00:32:43ÂżVale?
00:32:44ÂżVale?
00:32:45Ok.
00:32:46Let's try to combine
00:32:48more blows.
00:32:51Let's keep on trying.
00:32:53You're always ahead
00:32:55of him
00:32:55throwing punches.
00:32:57Watch the left hook.
00:33:02Here they are
00:33:05at close quarters.
00:33:07A right hand
00:33:07that sort of grazed
00:33:09Rosario's chin.
00:33:11Didn't quite get there.
00:33:12I'm a little surprised,
00:33:13Ray,
00:33:14that Rosario
00:33:14did back up
00:33:15on the ropes
00:33:16and in the corner
00:33:17more than I expected him to
00:33:18in that first round.
00:33:19I'm very surprised,
00:33:20Larry,
00:33:20that he selects
00:33:21to stay against the ropes
00:33:23and be vulnerable
00:33:25for those kind of shots.
00:33:26Those kind of punches
00:33:27inside by Chavez.
00:33:29But yet,
00:33:30with Tito Alba's
00:33:31translation in the corner,
00:33:32his corner man
00:33:33said nothing about
00:33:33staying in the middle
00:33:34of the ring.
00:33:37Well,
00:33:38from a guy
00:33:38of personal experience,
00:33:40I know that
00:33:40it'll be more effective
00:33:42and healthier
00:33:43for Rosario's
00:33:44to stay
00:33:45in the center of the ring
00:33:46because you have
00:33:47to nullify
00:33:48and keep a guy
00:33:49who has this type
00:33:49of punching power,
00:33:50Chavez,
00:33:51not allow him
00:33:52to just get off,
00:33:54get his punches off.
00:33:54And still,
00:33:58Rosario
00:33:58with his back
00:33:59to the ropes.
00:34:04Out for cut
00:34:05by Chavez.
00:34:08He wants the body shot.
00:34:10If you want
00:34:10the body shot,
00:34:12this is what happened
00:34:14when Rosario
00:34:16fought Ramirez.
00:34:17He was there
00:34:17in the corner.
00:34:18And you notice
00:34:19his left hand,
00:34:20Rosario's left hand
00:34:21dropped that.
00:34:22That's exactly
00:34:23what you said
00:34:23in your tip
00:34:24of the night,
00:34:24too,
00:34:24something that
00:34:25Rosario could not do.
00:34:26And yet he's doing it.
00:34:28Well,
00:34:28he's also dropping
00:34:29his left hand
00:34:29as he brings it back.
00:34:30Watch for the right hand
00:34:31of Chavez
00:34:32if Chavez can time it.
00:34:33A couple of right hand.
00:34:39Again,
00:34:40the uppercut gets through.
00:34:41It's not causing
00:34:42much damage,
00:34:42but it is consistent.
00:34:44Well,
00:34:44what's happened
00:34:44as Chavez
00:34:45throws his uppercut,
00:34:46he needs to follow
00:34:47up with the right hand
00:34:48because the uppercut
00:34:49raised a chance
00:34:50and the right hand
00:34:51will do the damage.
00:34:53There's the uppercut.
00:34:54And left hook
00:34:55will do fine,
00:34:55too, Barry.
00:34:57I agree.
00:34:57Chavez just seems
00:35:00so much physically
00:35:01stronger than
00:35:02Rosario at this point.
00:35:03Well,
00:35:03also,
00:35:04he seems to be
00:35:04fighting a smarter
00:35:05fight right now.
00:35:06Well,
00:35:06he's making
00:35:06Rosario fight his fight.
00:35:08And Rosario
00:35:08selects the fight
00:35:10that way.
00:35:16You see what happens
00:35:17with the jab?
00:35:18With boxing,
00:35:20Rosario can make
00:35:20this fight
00:35:21a little easier for him.
00:35:23Good body shot.
00:35:24Good body shot
00:35:25by Chavez.
00:35:26Now,
00:35:27those are the type
00:35:27of shots
00:35:27that take your legs
00:35:28away from you.
00:35:29You won't see
00:35:29as much movement
00:35:30from Rosario
00:35:31if you should
00:35:33take those kind
00:35:33of punches.
00:35:34That was a combination
00:35:34by Rosario.
00:35:36Chavez comes right
00:35:36back at him.
00:35:42This type of pace,
00:35:43the outcome
00:35:45would depend
00:35:45upon who's
00:35:46in better shape.
00:35:52And again,
00:35:53the uppercut.
00:35:53That was right
00:35:54on the button.
00:35:55you see,
00:35:58you see,
00:35:58now he's
00:35:58the best,
00:35:59he's both hands now.
00:36:05Now,
00:36:06Chapo has
00:36:06a beautiful combination,
00:36:07but he's yet
00:36:08to get them all clean.
00:36:11Rosario,
00:36:11that is.
00:36:17So far,
00:36:18Chavez has effectively
00:36:19taken away the punching room
00:36:22that Rosario likes to have
00:36:24by smothering him.
00:36:26you keep on trying.
00:36:35You're doing fine.
00:36:37Use your left hand more.
00:36:40Always use the left hand
00:36:41and get away from him.
00:36:43You are first.
00:36:46You are number one
00:36:47and use more
00:36:48on your job.
00:36:49Left job.
00:36:50Let's work very well.
00:36:52You have in control
00:36:53of this fight.
00:36:54You are more intelligent
00:36:55than him.
00:36:56So let's demonstrate
00:36:57that you're better
00:36:57than him.
00:37:02Let's see how
00:37:03we come out
00:37:03of this round.
00:37:04That is Tito Alba,
00:37:06our translator.
00:37:07Thank you, Tito.
00:37:07Tito.
00:37:08Tito.
00:37:08Tito.
00:37:08Tito.
00:37:13So far,
00:37:15the textbook
00:37:16boxer-puncher
00:37:18that Rosario is
00:37:20has simply
00:37:21not been able
00:37:22to emerge.
00:37:25And so we start
00:37:26the third round
00:37:26and we'll see
00:37:27what Chapo Rosario's
00:37:28tactics are this time.
00:37:29He starts out
00:37:30in the center of the ring.
00:37:33Took a right hand
00:37:34and it backed him up.
00:37:39You see where he
00:37:40just dips those shots
00:37:41in the body.
00:37:42Chavez
00:37:42is a very good
00:37:43body puncher.
00:37:47And what I like
00:37:47mostly about Chavez
00:37:48is the fact
00:37:49that when he goes
00:37:49to the body,
00:37:50he has a tendency
00:37:50to come back
00:37:51to the head.
00:37:52It's something
00:37:53that you're taught
00:37:53as an amateur,
00:37:55as a youngster.
00:37:57It's a very good
00:37:58habit.
00:38:00Chavez has the
00:38:01experience.
00:38:0254 fights.
00:38:03He averages
00:38:04almost seven fights
00:38:05a year.
00:38:07That was a right
00:38:08hand by Rosario.
00:38:09And I like that
00:38:10in Rosario.
00:38:10He goes to the body
00:38:11but he doubles
00:38:12up with the same
00:38:13hand.
00:38:14But I just don't like
00:38:15when he stands
00:38:16directly from his man.
00:38:18Another good right
00:38:19hand by Rosario.
00:38:24Chavez, for some
00:38:25reason, is waiting.
00:38:26there was a big
00:38:37left hand by Chavez.
00:38:44Punch it, get out,
00:38:45punch it, get out.
00:38:49Punch it, get out.
00:38:49Chavez is really making
00:38:58Rosario work.
00:39:01Chavez is really making
00:39:02a lot of energy.
00:39:02Good right hand.
00:39:08Crowd around the ring.
00:39:10Very supportive of
00:39:11Chavo Rosario.
00:39:14Chavez's supporters
00:39:15up in the bleachers
00:39:16up in the bleachers
00:39:16seats here.
00:39:21I think what
00:39:22what Rosario
00:39:23would need to do
00:39:24is throw some
00:39:25roundhouse right
00:39:27hands.
00:39:29And then follow
00:39:30with the left hook.
00:39:31Come on, come on,
00:39:32come on.
00:39:32The reason I say
00:39:33that is because
00:39:34the way of the style
00:39:35of Chavez.
00:39:37Straight up.
00:39:39And he has
00:39:40those broad shoulders.
00:39:42Right hand,
00:39:43a little overhead
00:39:43right.
00:39:45And an uppercut
00:39:45by Rosario.
00:39:46Punch it, get out,
00:39:47punch it, get out.
00:39:48Don't hold it.
00:39:50Actually, it was
00:39:51Chavez that threw
00:39:52the combination
00:39:52I had mentioned
00:39:53earlier.
00:40:05Well, it has
00:40:06the makings
00:40:07of a fight
00:40:07that could come
00:40:08down to condition.
00:40:09That could have
00:40:22been nasty.
00:40:29Well, so far,
00:40:30Chavez has been
00:40:31justifying
00:40:32the surprising odds
00:40:34in his favor.
00:40:35Letterman,
00:40:40how do you see it?
00:40:41Well, Larry,
00:40:42I agree with you.
00:40:42I have it
00:40:4330 to 27,
00:40:453 to nothing
00:40:46in favor of
00:40:46Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:40:48He's fighting
00:40:48his fight.
00:40:49He's taking
00:40:49Edwin Rosario
00:40:50into the ropes
00:40:51and turning
00:40:52his left hook
00:40:53under constantly
00:40:54and catching
00:40:54Rosario to the body.
00:40:56The guys is ahead,
00:40:59but I gave
00:41:00Rosario the last round.
00:41:01We start the fourth round.
00:41:18Chavez with
00:41:18the choir boy looks
00:41:20anything but
00:41:22like a fighter.
00:41:23I just saw
00:41:24Camacho at rings
00:41:25a yelling
00:41:26to Rosario
00:41:27to box
00:41:28to use
00:41:29the ring
00:41:29and that's
00:41:31good advice.
00:41:32It's also good
00:41:32advice to
00:41:33Yelta Camacho
00:41:34to box.
00:41:34He hasn't had a fight
00:41:35in about a year.
00:41:36Well, he's dressed.
00:41:37He's really dressed up
00:41:38in his sequence,
00:41:39Jack.
00:41:39Guys,
00:41:39we're in the drapes.
00:41:42There was a left hand
00:41:43by Rosario.
00:41:44With both fighters,
00:41:45it's not going to be
00:41:46just one puncher
00:41:47to put him away.
00:41:49It's going to be
00:41:49a combination.
00:41:54Now we're seeing
00:41:54left Javes
00:41:56from Chavez.
00:41:58And again,
00:41:59a lot of danger
00:42:00of another butt
00:42:02as both of them
00:42:03lead with their heads
00:42:04on occasion.
00:42:17Good head movement
00:42:18by Chavez.
00:42:19Very good head movement.
00:42:21You know where he walks?
00:42:23Keeps his eyes
00:42:23on his opponent.
00:42:24He's blocking
00:42:25a lot of shots
00:42:26with his arms.
00:42:26He's good,
00:42:29very good concentration.
00:42:36He knows how he backs away.
00:42:38He steps punches.
00:42:40Watch he come back
00:42:41with something of his own.
00:42:44Keep it there.
00:42:45That's it.
00:42:46Right off the ropes
00:42:47with a good shot.
00:42:48Watch.
00:42:48Now he can start
00:42:49to double up to the body.
00:42:50Watch.
00:42:51You see here,
00:42:52this is when he gets
00:42:53his man in trouble.
00:42:55This is when
00:42:56Rosario gets
00:42:56to get out of there.
00:42:59And Chavez
00:42:59pressing Rosario.
00:43:01You see what happens?
00:43:02Barry turns the table around
00:43:03because he lets
00:43:04his man throw his punches
00:43:05and then he comes on.
00:43:06He retaliates.
00:43:08He doesn't land up
00:43:08at this point.
00:43:10That's why I admire
00:43:11it mostly about Chavez.
00:43:12Now for Rosario,
00:43:16he has to forget
00:43:17about the machoism
00:43:18and then box again.
00:43:19Get his man
00:43:20to clear his head.
00:43:23Good shot.
00:43:24Double shot.
00:43:25Double left hook.
00:43:27He finished up to
00:43:28with a shot to the body.
00:43:33Good shot.
00:43:34Devastating shot
00:43:34to the body.
00:43:35This tells you
00:43:37that Rosario is
00:43:38in tremendous shape
00:43:39to take those
00:43:39kind of punches.
00:43:42Another thing I like
00:43:43about Chavez
00:43:44really doesn't waste
00:43:46any punches.
00:43:47He waits.
00:43:47He times his punches.
00:43:48He really is, Barry.
00:43:52Let's come back
00:43:53up to the hand.
00:43:57The left hook there
00:43:58is a beautiful short.
00:44:01There was a right hand
00:44:02by Rosario,
00:44:03but Chavez remains
00:44:04right on top of him.
00:44:05Rosario's hand
00:44:06still is clear.
00:44:07He's watching this man.
00:44:11For Chavez
00:44:12coming out on top here.
00:44:15Good round.
00:44:16Good round for Chavez.
00:44:22Neither man backing off.
00:44:24Two champions
00:44:24going at each other.
00:44:27Tito.
00:44:29Very well.
00:44:30Very well.
00:44:32He is opening
00:44:33his mouth to Julio.
00:44:35Use the left.
00:44:38Keep on using the left.
00:44:39Left hook.
00:44:43Keep it at a distance.
00:44:44Keep it at a distance.
00:44:45Remember that now
00:44:46sometimes you have
00:44:47to throw your right.
00:44:48you have to see you working.
00:44:58You have the power
00:44:59to work like a man.
00:45:01So I want you see,
00:45:02I want to see you working
00:45:03as a man.
00:45:04You must be ahead
00:45:05always.
00:45:06It's your life.
00:45:07I want to see you working on it.
00:45:07What his corner is really telling Rosario is
00:45:13you must start to dominate this fight
00:45:15because the appearance is
00:45:17that he is dominating you.
00:45:20And the appearance is important
00:45:22as far as officials are concerned,
00:45:24even though Rosario has been getting in
00:45:27a lot of good shots at close quarters.
00:45:29Chavez is fighting, Ray,
00:45:34like a guy who's had 54 fights.
00:45:36I don't care if you're fighting
00:45:37Carmen Miranda.
00:45:38You still have been in there 54 times.
00:45:41Well, the fact is,
00:45:42the fact of the matter is,
00:45:43Barrett,
00:45:43in fact,
00:45:44he's been getting the activity.
00:45:45He's been getting a lot of activity
00:45:47and the fact he has a good trainer.
00:45:51Plus, I think,
00:45:52a fighter like Chavez
00:45:55is a natural.
00:45:56He's a thinker.
00:45:58And yet,
00:45:59Rosario hasn't taken a step back.
00:46:01And neither man has really been hurt.
00:46:03You must watch the way
00:46:04there's something
00:46:05of greater points inside
00:46:07that Chavez.
00:46:09He slips, punches,
00:46:10and then he comes back.
00:46:15Big right hand
00:46:16by Chavez.
00:46:21Now, what Chavez is doing
00:46:22is actually the same principle
00:46:24of chopping the tree down,
00:46:26working the body,
00:46:28and bringing the hands down.
00:46:40Three-punch combination.
00:46:42One of them is low,
00:46:43but...
00:46:43Rosario needs to bring
00:46:47the hands up.
00:46:56Another right hand
00:46:57by Chavez.
00:46:59You see,
00:46:59what's happening,
00:47:00actually,
00:47:01is that Chavez
00:47:02is staying close
00:47:03to Rosario,
00:47:04not letting him get his punches
00:47:05or his leverage off.
00:47:07And he's loading up.
00:47:09Chavez starting to load up
00:47:10with his punches,
00:47:11waiting for that one big shot.
00:47:16Combination again.
00:47:18Everything Chavez is throwing
00:47:19is in combination.
00:47:20And what Chavez,
00:47:30once again,
00:47:31get inside.
00:47:33He works his way inside
00:47:33with the jab,
00:47:34gets close,
00:47:36dips,
00:47:36and then hooks
00:47:37to the body.
00:47:38And there's a little swelling
00:47:39under the left eye
00:47:40by Chapo Rosario.
00:47:43Hunting it out.
00:47:44Hunting it out.
00:47:45No hole.
00:47:46Come on.
00:47:47Wait.
00:47:52That's his son.
00:47:54This is another dominant round
00:47:56for Chavez so far.
00:47:58There is no...
00:47:59I don't see the snap.
00:47:59Spice tea with Rosario.
00:48:08Once again,
00:48:09as Larry Merchant
00:48:10pointed out
00:48:10a little bit earlier,
00:48:11he's just not giving
00:48:12Rosario room to punch.
00:48:19Chavez keeps coming,
00:48:21and he keeps coming
00:48:22right straight through
00:48:23Rosario's best punches.
00:48:26Respira.
00:48:27Respira.
00:48:29Slightly puffed
00:48:32left eye
00:48:32for Rosario.
00:48:35What do you say?
00:48:35What do you say?
00:48:37What do you say?
00:48:37What do you say?
00:48:38What do you say?
00:48:38What do you say?
00:48:39What do you say?
00:48:39What do you say?
00:48:40What do you say?
00:48:40What do you say?
00:48:41What do you say?
00:48:42What do you say?
00:48:42Here's some of the action
00:48:44early in the fight.
00:48:45A good, straight right hand
00:48:46by Chavez.
00:48:48Chavez has shown
00:48:49that he really has
00:48:50some sophisticated
00:48:51boxing talents.
00:48:52He's not just a brawler.
00:48:55He has great presence
00:48:57in the ring.
00:48:58He takes a great punch.
00:48:59And he has patience.
00:49:06The interesting thing,
00:49:09Ray and Barry,
00:49:10in those early fights
00:49:11we showed,
00:49:12the Gomez Pintor,
00:49:14Gomez Sanchez,
00:49:16Aguello,
00:49:17and Prior,
00:49:18the naturally bigger man
00:49:20ended up dominating
00:49:22all of those fights.
00:49:23But here,
00:49:25Rosario,
00:49:26who appears to be
00:49:26the naturally bigger man,
00:49:28is not dominating the fight.
00:49:29Not yet,
00:49:30in any event.
00:49:31Actually,
00:49:32to me,
00:49:32Larry,
00:49:33seems to go,
00:49:34Chavez looks bigger
00:49:35and stronger.
00:49:37And he looks fresh
00:49:38of the two.
00:49:40And the last round,
00:49:41Rosario just seemed
00:49:42to lose a little bit
00:49:43of the starch
00:49:45in some of his punches.
00:49:46Not to say
00:49:46he was getting tired,
00:49:47necessarily.
00:49:50During the rest period,
00:49:51Chavez looked over here
00:49:52and smiled,
00:49:53meaning confidence
00:49:54and things were going
00:49:55his way.
00:49:56A translation
00:50:06from the corner
00:50:07of Edwin Chapo Rosario
00:50:09was that Rosario
00:50:10was saying
00:50:11to his handlers
00:50:12that something
00:50:13was wrong
00:50:13with his arms,
00:50:14he didn't know
00:50:14what it was,
00:50:15he just couldn't seem
00:50:16to get started.
00:50:17Well,
00:50:17in fact,
00:50:18I observed that earlier,
00:50:20Barry,
00:50:20there's not a snap
00:50:20to Rosario's punches
00:50:22like I've seen
00:50:23in the past.
00:50:24Also,
00:50:27I tell you what's
00:50:27not making this
00:50:28any better for Rosario
00:50:29is the fact that
00:50:30Chavez has been
00:50:31perpetual motion.
00:50:33I mean,
00:50:33he's maintained
00:50:34and kept up the pressure.
00:50:36No holding,
00:50:37no holding.
00:50:38All right,
00:50:38great.
00:50:39We will certainly
00:50:40keep an ear
00:50:40on the corner
00:50:41of Edwin Rosario
00:50:42after this round.
00:50:46Not sure
00:50:47if it's something
00:50:47physical
00:50:48or something
00:50:48psychological.
00:50:49Does that happen
00:50:50sometimes, Ray,
00:50:50where you just
00:50:51don't have it
00:50:52on a particular night?
00:50:53It's the most
00:50:53frightening experience
00:50:55you can have.
00:50:56And here,
00:50:57that was a good
00:50:58combination by Chavez,
00:50:58but you had those days.
00:51:01You're in the ring.
00:51:01It is just not there.
00:51:03Step back.
00:51:16This is dangerous
00:51:17for both fighters here
00:51:19because they're both
00:51:21wheeling away.
00:51:24Chavez, again,
00:51:24everything in combination
00:51:25and, again,
00:51:26a little bit of a headbutt.
00:51:28Great.
00:51:28Step back.
00:51:29Step back.
00:51:34He has,
00:51:34Chavez has really
00:51:35turned this into a street fight.
00:51:36Step back.
00:51:37Step back.
00:51:40What a beautiful
00:51:41street fight that is.
00:51:43Look at the way
00:51:43he doubles up the hook,
00:51:44triples up his hook.
00:51:45Always finishes
00:51:47to the body.
00:51:50And, of course,
00:51:51one of the judging criteria
00:51:53is ring generalship,
00:51:55and Chavez just seems
00:51:56to have all of that.
00:51:58Look at the combinations.
00:51:59And that hurt Rosario.
00:52:01Look at the combinations.
00:52:03And he becomes
00:52:04even more aggressive.
00:52:05So fast.
00:52:06He says that his man
00:52:07is a little dazed.
00:52:09And now he cuts,
00:52:12he cuts the ring off.
00:52:15Oh!
00:52:23Harold Letterman,
00:52:24our unofficial,
00:52:26official, official.
00:52:28How do you see
00:52:29this fight so far?
00:52:30Larry,
00:52:30I've got it five to one
00:52:31in favor of Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:52:33I think he's definitely
00:52:35the effective aggressor
00:52:36and the cleaner puncher.
00:52:37I think he's making
00:52:38Edwin Rosario fight
00:52:39his fight.
00:52:40And the main thing is
00:52:41it's the body punching,
00:52:43the tremendous body
00:52:44punching by Chavez.
00:52:47I have the fight
00:52:48four, one and one
00:52:49to this point.
00:52:51I do think that Rosario
00:52:52is starting to get in
00:52:54some harder punches.
00:52:58Punch that the crowd
00:53:00saw and rose
00:53:00and cheered.
00:53:02I don't know
00:53:02how much damage it did.
00:53:03but right now Rosario
00:53:07is in the position
00:53:09of having to win back
00:53:11his championship,
00:53:13so to speak,
00:53:14because he is behind.
00:53:18So we start
00:53:19the seventh round.
00:53:23As it was in the first round
00:53:25or the second round,
00:53:27Chavez is always
00:53:28off his stool first,
00:53:29ready to start
00:53:30the fight again.
00:53:31Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo!
00:53:36Get off, get off, get off, get off, get off, get off!
00:54:00I'm seeing more boxing from Chavez.
00:54:03Use of his jab.
00:54:05Good upper body movement.
00:54:07Using the ring.
00:54:10Slipping punches.
00:54:15Counter with right hand.
00:54:18Rosario now is trying to pressure Chavez.
00:54:22And see if he can turn the tables.
00:54:25What do you think is going on here, Ray,
00:54:28that suddenly Chavez has started to box and move away,
00:54:32and Rosario is chasing him, and it's reversing.
00:54:35Do you think that Chavez is taking a blow?
00:54:37I think so.
00:54:38He exerted himself a great deal in that sixth round.
00:54:41Through a lot of punches.
00:54:43And now he's back on the attack,
00:54:45throwing a lot of punches again,
00:54:47putting his combinations together.
00:54:49Still a little bit of swelling under the left eye.
00:54:54It hasn't gotten appreciably worse for Rosario
00:54:57in the past couple of rounds.
00:54:59And it's not really in a position where the eye's in any danger
00:55:02right at the moment of closing.
00:55:04That's a smart fighter, though.
00:55:07After he throws a great deal of punches,
00:55:09he becomes a little arm-weary.
00:55:11And what normally a smart fighter would do,
00:55:14he would move around and use the ring,
00:55:17and they come back.
00:55:19Again, this is not a good place for Rosario to be.
00:55:23Especially when he's standing straight up.
00:55:25You see what happens there?
00:55:27Especially standing straight up.
00:55:29Really, the impressive thing about Chavez
00:55:32is he invariably will at least double up
00:55:35and usually throw three- or four-punch combinations.
00:55:37Almost never one punch.
00:55:39I don't like the right hand.
00:55:40The right hand of Rosario, nor does...
00:55:43He has a tendency to drop it.
00:55:45And that took up Chavez.
00:55:47It's so devastating.
00:55:53Look how he worked his body.
00:55:56Both hands, both sides, both sides.
00:55:58That's what my trainer Dave Jacobs taught us years ago.
00:56:02Work both sides.
00:56:03And the other thing that was interesting right there
00:56:05is Chavez scored with about six punches,
00:56:08and Rosario retaliated,
00:56:09and every punch that Rosario retaliated with
00:56:11was caught in the gloves of Chavez.
00:56:13This is tough, old-fashioned, real prize-fighting.
00:56:19You don't see quality fighters going at each other like this.
00:56:23This is tough, old-fashioned, real prize-fighting.
00:56:26The fighters going at each other like this inside
00:56:28and pounding at each other.
00:56:30Tito.
00:56:31We have to go take care of this swelling here in your face.
00:56:34Okay.
00:56:35Rub his arm.
00:56:41Breathe deeply.
00:56:42Deeply.
00:56:43Deep more.
00:56:44Deep more.
00:56:45Don't move your face.
00:56:46Deep more.
00:56:47Don't move your face.
00:56:56Use your left hand.
00:56:57Use your left, left, left.
00:57:00More left.
00:57:01You're doing fine.
00:57:02You're doing fantastically well.
00:57:03Don't let him do anything for you.
00:57:06We haven't seen any quit, certainly in Rosario now,
00:57:16as some people thought off of his earlier fight against Ramirez.
00:57:21But he's got to do more than not quit here.
00:57:24He's got to start hurting the other guy.
00:57:26And he took a good shot from Chavez.
00:57:28A left hand and a right hand came right behind it.
00:57:31You know what's happened?
00:57:32Rosario can't get his punches off.
00:57:33I don't know whether or not something's wrong with him.
00:57:38But the way he looks, he's in shape, no question about that.
00:57:41That's a given.
00:57:42But Chavez has just been just weighing him down.
00:57:46Body shots, right hand.
00:57:49What about the weather?
00:57:51Is that any kind of a factor?
00:57:52No.
00:57:53The weather has no effect at all at this point here.
00:57:55If anything, if it was hot, then it would be a factor.
00:57:58A big factor.
00:58:01What's the factor here now is punches.
00:58:04A lot of punches.
00:58:08Again, Chavez trying to get a little breathing.
00:58:14This is the eighth round.
00:58:15We're going 12.
00:58:17Last time, Rosario won 12 rounds.
00:58:21It was not a happy evening for him.
00:58:23He lost the split decision to Macho Camacho.
00:58:26I see that Chavez trying to set up Rosario for right hand.
00:58:32The reason I say that is because of the way he positions himself inside.
00:58:37He waits for Rosario to throw a jab and try to counter it.
00:58:40He waits for Rosario.
00:58:41He waits for Rosario.
00:58:43But what's going to get Chavez closer is his jab.
00:58:45The jab's going to leave him inside.
00:58:46Mouthpiece flew out of the mouth of Rosario.
00:58:49Signs of two things.
00:58:50Fatigue and hurt.
00:58:51Again, this is beautiful.
00:58:52Now watch Chavez.
00:58:53Then again, he lets his opponent throw punches.
00:58:54Then he comes back.
00:58:55And he comes back hard.
00:58:56And he also comes back strong.
00:58:57And he also comes back strong.
00:59:04Just so smart.
00:59:28And there's a big combination.
00:59:38That hurt Rosario.
00:59:39It also cut it.
00:59:40And he's in a world of trouble.
00:59:43This is experiential.
00:59:46Still 30 seconds remaining in round number eight.
00:59:49And Rosario will do well just to get through the round.
00:59:52Took another good right hand.
01:00:03Still 15 seconds.
01:00:04Look at the combinations, Barry.
01:00:07And now I see angles by Rosario.
01:00:09But it may be a little too late for that now.
01:00:11Because he was really rough.
01:00:16And Rosario's going to get through this round.
01:00:19Just hearing a big chair was not only for a furious round,
01:00:23but because the over-under was eight rounds.
01:00:28Give us some water.
01:00:34That the fight would go eight rounds.
01:00:38Deep, uh, deep breath.
01:00:43Deep breath.
01:00:44Deep breath.
01:00:45Deep breath.
01:00:46Deep breath.
01:00:47Right, John.
01:00:48Fine, fine.
01:00:49Fine, fine.
01:00:50Okay?
01:00:51He's okay, yes.
01:00:53Yes.
01:01:02Here's the most spectacular punch of the round.
01:01:06Here's the left and a straight right.
01:01:09And Rosario is in deep trouble going into the ninth round.
01:01:15He has just been overwhelmed by his opponent.
01:01:21And almost from the opening bell.
01:01:23You should have seen the expression on Chavez's face before the bell rung.
01:01:28Because it was intense. So intense. He knew exactly what he had to do.
01:01:33When a puncher like Rosario finds that his punch isn't really doing anything to his opponent.
01:01:40He's got to go to plan B. And plan B hasn't worked.
01:01:45He's down about G right now, I think.
01:01:48Both fighters are there.
01:01:50Both fighters blocked each other.
01:01:53Go home.
01:01:57We'll see if that lights a fire under Rosario, who started this round like he was still hurt, Ray.
01:02:01I'm watching the legs of Chavez. Chavez was blocked by that punch, too.
01:02:04Both guys blocked each other.
01:02:06It more so gains some respect from Chavez for a second or two.
01:02:11And the other thing, too, I mentioned that Rosario was cut at the end of the eighth round.
01:02:16And I can't quite tell where the blood is coming from, but it appears to be inside his mouth.
01:02:27Now Rosario is using the ring.
01:02:31That exchange might have given Rosario a little bit of life there.
01:02:48It was almost like a reassurance to say, I can hurt you, too, pal.
01:02:52And it's tough sometimes, bro.
01:02:55You're in that ring, and you hit your guy with the best shot, and you're known for your punching power, and a guy doesn't move.
01:03:02It's quite discouraging.
01:03:03That was a lunging right hand by Chavez.
01:03:20And the blood is coming from inside the mouth.
01:03:23That could sometimes mean a problem with the jaw.
01:03:26Joe, I think it's the lip because the little uppercuts by Chavez.
01:03:33Chavez and Rosario have been throwing a great deal of uppercuts.
01:03:36But a lot of blood, actually, coming from the mouth of Chapo Rosario.
01:03:5720 seconds remaining in the ninth round.
01:03:59Oh, that punch hurt.
01:04:07That punch really hurt for Rosario.
01:04:10He caught...
01:04:10Chavez caught him moving in.
01:04:17It's a wrong fight for Rosario.
01:04:27Rosario is trying to figure out, what do I do now?
01:04:31Somewhere in his heart, he knows that his title is tottering on his head.
01:04:39And here's an interesting graphic, the fact that neither fighter has knocked an opponent out after the ninth round.
01:04:45But it's more cheering, certainly, for Chavez than it is for Rosario.
01:04:49Deep breath, deep breath.
01:05:01Are you okay?
01:05:02Keep on breathing.
01:05:04Deep, deep.
01:05:07Don't let him hit you.
01:05:08Don't let him hit you.
01:05:09Get some of the water up, boy.
01:05:11You talked earlier, Barry, about how well-conditioned these fighters were, and it certainly is born out here, because ordinary fighters just couldn't take this kind of pace and punishment.
01:05:21That cut, incidentally, does appear to be on the lip, just judging from how they worked on it, but there is a lot of blood.
01:05:30See, this is, once again, Rosario should not be there, I mean, against the ropes.
01:05:35His right eye is starting to swell, and he doesn't really have the firepower at this point.
01:05:41To remain against the ropes, or in the corner.
01:05:49Chavez is standing right, just close, just so close to him, smothering his punches.
01:05:55And he's been doing that again, almost from the opening bell.
01:05:57But from a judge's standpoint, Rosario has to fight inside and make something happen, because he's giving away two in the round.
01:06:19Well, Chavez has taken some in the ring.
01:06:24Another right hand.
01:06:25And again, Richard Steele telling him to watch their heads.
01:06:39They've been close to a butt on several occasions, and on a couple of occasions, they actually have butted heads.
01:06:49If the fans at home were here, they could appreciate the body shots of Chavez.
01:06:54He's got his whole body behind him.
01:06:57I just think he's had a master fight plan.
01:07:01He came in here and said, I'll like it if Rosario doesn't step back.
01:07:04That was a good left-hander to stop Chavez on his tracks.
01:07:07Oh, this...
01:07:09He's hurt very bad.
01:07:15Rosario's ready to go.
01:07:16And Chavez, again, not wasting any punches.
01:07:18Now, what Chavez has to do is, first of all, get Rosario off of him, fake a couple of faints, and then come back with something.
01:07:27Left hook there.
01:07:30Rosario just looks like a beaten man.
01:07:32He has absorbed an awful lot, and is in trouble again.
01:07:37Chavez has to keep doubles, punches up, raise doubles, combinations up.
01:07:41Both hands, both hands.
01:07:43And the left hook.
01:07:44Go hold him, go hold him.
01:07:50Inside at 30 seconds remaining.
01:07:53Rosario has a big heart.
01:07:54No question about it.
01:07:55He's a beaten word at this point here.
01:07:58And that left eye is almost closed.
01:08:00Yes, and he's trying to hang in there.
01:08:04I'll be interested to see whether his corner stop the fight.
01:08:07Because he's really hurt.
01:08:09But he's holding his own, huh?
01:08:11By taking a brutal beating here.
01:08:20This corner may stop the fight.
01:08:25But the left eye is really bad.
01:08:32Chavez is turning this into an abattoir of Rosario's blood.
01:08:36Harold, how do you have it now?
01:08:37Larry, very, very big for Julio Chavez.
01:08:40I just think Edwin Rosario is getting mugged.
01:08:43I mean, Chavez is doing everything that we score on.
01:08:46Clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship, and defense.
01:08:49Winning all the way.
01:08:51You okay, Chapo?
01:08:52Yes, he's okay.
01:08:52Look at me, Chapo.
01:08:54Look at me.
01:08:54Open up.
01:08:54And the doctor is now looking at Rosario's eye.
01:08:59There's a big, big swelling under Rosario's left eye.
01:09:03How do you feel?
01:09:04How do you feel?
01:09:07Okay, second.
01:09:08Let's go.
01:09:09The other thing about Chavez is that he has a chin that's made out of some kind of metal
01:09:14that I don't know about.
01:09:16He has taken some cracks from a really hard-hitting light weight.
01:09:21I just noticed, Bert, I'll cut you off.
01:09:24I think that Rosario requested to leave his mouthpiece out.
01:09:29Yeah, and his eye is almost closed.
01:09:31The left eye of Rosario is now virtually closed.
01:09:35Richard Steele almost certainly will not let this go too far.
01:09:38Rosario just fighting on guts.
01:09:44Because, like now, Rosario can't see the right hand coming.
01:09:49What he's doing now, he's actually just winging on punches and hope won't land.
01:09:54He's fighting on sheer determination.
01:09:57Look at the body size.
01:09:58You've got to appreciate it.
01:10:00Chavez not letting him out of the corner.
01:10:02Continuing to just put all the pressure on Edward Chapo Rosario.
01:10:06And again, a warning for Budding to both men.
01:10:15What I see now is a right hand.
01:10:18Bobby, the punch.
01:10:22Rosario giving one for every three he gets.
01:10:24Well, the mouth, I just know what the mouthpiece is in Rosario's mouth.
01:10:30Rosario just does not seem to be able to get himself out of his own corner.
01:10:36Oh, I take it out.
01:10:44Oh, Greg, step back, step back.
01:10:46Halfway through the 11th round.
01:10:58What a war.
01:10:59There goes the mouthpiece.
01:11:02Oh, man.
01:11:03Oh, man.
01:11:04Oh, man.
01:11:05Come back, come back.
01:11:07The eyes completely closed now.
01:11:10Which, of course, means that Rosario cannot see
01:11:13the right hand of Chavez coming at all.
01:11:19One minute remaining in the 11th round.
01:11:24And that's got to feel like an eternity.
01:11:26Come back, let him go, let him go.
01:11:35Well, if Hart wins fights, then Rosario can't draw.
01:11:53That's it, they threw the towel in.
01:11:55It's over.
01:12:05Rosario never quit, but his corner did the right thing.
01:12:20A hard way to make $600,000.
01:12:23I want to tell you.
01:12:24Which is Rosario's purse.
01:12:29And look at Chavez.
01:12:30He looks like he can go out and skip rope for 15 rounds.
01:12:33He looks so fresh, right?
01:12:35This man is going to be so, so difficult to beat.
01:12:39Trains hard, dedicated.
01:12:40Very professional.
01:12:41His whole attitude, extremely professional.
01:12:45Both very, very likable guys.
01:12:47One of those fights when you meet with both the fighters,
01:12:49you just, you come away saying,
01:12:50boy, I hope he doesn't lose.
01:12:51And you come away from the other fighters' camps
01:12:53saying, boy, I hope he doesn't lose.
01:12:55Two real champions.
01:13:00One thing, you have to give credit to Rosario
01:13:02He fought his heart out.
01:13:04He was handicapped.
01:13:05His eye was swollen.
01:13:06His lip was cut.
01:13:07And he still hung in there.
01:13:09And his corner, like Larry said, did the right thing.
01:13:11Let's take a look at the last minute or so of this fight.
01:13:15And you can see, that face tells you the story of this fight.
01:13:20We'll see some of the action from the 11th round.
01:13:22And it was just merciless as Chavez did what he'd been doing
01:13:26the whole fight.
01:13:27And that is just smothered Edwin Rosario.
01:13:29It was just a matter of time, Barry.
01:13:31The way that Chavez executed his tactics were perfect.
01:13:37He worked the body.
01:13:38He doubled up the left hook, the right hand.
01:13:41He had his man hurt.
01:13:42He stayed in his chest.
01:13:43He cut the ring off.
01:13:44He did everything that was necessary to beat a fighter,
01:13:48a great fighter like Edwin Rosario.
01:13:50And you saw the mouthpiece of Rosario go flying out.
01:13:53It was just a few seconds after that that Rosario's corner wisely threw in the towel
01:13:57and ended this fight with Chavez now the new WBA lightweight champion of the world.
01:14:03And you have an idea.
01:14:05You might see these two have at it once again.
01:14:09Here are some of the numbers on our punch stat figures.
01:14:16Rosario threw 731 punches.
01:14:19Do you believe that in 11 rounds?
01:14:21That's almost 70 punches a round.
01:14:23Landed only 264.
01:14:24Chavez was just brilliant in his execution.
01:14:2761%.
01:14:28And incidentally in that last round Chavez landed 73 of 91 punches.
01:14:34Now he said that he wasn't wasting punches.
01:14:36Even when he had his man beat and was just trying to get him out of there.
01:14:39He didn't waste any punches in that situation either.
01:14:41Now let's go up to the ring announcer Chuck Hull and we'll get the official decision.
01:14:45Chuck.
01:14:51Ladies and gentlemen.
01:14:53The time.
01:14:54Two minutes.
01:14:55Thirty six seven.
01:14:58Of the 11th round.
01:15:00The winner by a TKO.
01:15:02And new.
01:15:03WBA.
01:15:04Lately.
01:15:05Champion of the world.
01:15:06Julio.
01:15:07Cesar.
01:15:08Jumping.
01:15:16Well to say that's well deserved is to make a great understatement.
01:15:19I'll tell you.
01:15:20Great great accomplishment.
01:15:21Great fight.
01:15:22And a great fighter.
01:15:23I loved it.
01:15:24You know there's a lot of conversation.
01:15:25This guy had 54 fights.
01:15:27But who did he fight?
01:15:28He didn't fight anybody.
01:15:29Like I said I don't care who he fought.
01:15:31He learned something and tonight he brought it all with him.
01:15:34I thought Rosario would have the edge in boxing generalship.
01:15:37But it turned out the Chavez carried out his game plan and it proved to be quite effective.
01:15:42Larry Merchant has made his way to the new champion.
01:15:46And let's go right now to Larry Merchant and Tito Alba will translate this for us.
01:15:50Larry.
01:15:51Okay.
01:15:52Julio Cesar Chavez is the new lightweight champion.
01:15:57Describe the fight to us and what you wanted to do to him and how the fight went.
01:16:04It was a hard fight, strong fight.
01:16:17Rosario is a good hitter.
01:16:18He hits, he hit me once.
01:16:19He hit me once.
01:16:23But I knew he could not knock me out.
01:16:24When did he hit him and hurt him?
01:16:29In the tenth round, he hit me with a left hook.
01:16:36Was your plan to try to smother him so that he couldn't have punching room?
01:16:40That was my fight. Try to keep him away and tear him out.
01:16:52When did you know that he was weakening?
01:16:54When did you think you had the fight under control?
01:17:01At the second round, I knew I was winning the fight because she hit me and I couldn't hardly feel it.
01:17:10Why do Mexican fighters take a punch so well?
01:17:21We prepared ourselves.
01:17:24We worked very hard.
01:17:26And we are very brave.
01:17:29Many of you, your countrymen, thought that Rosario would not be able to take your punch.
01:17:34Did he take your punch well?
01:17:40Because he can take a punch and he worked hard.
01:17:50Congratulations.
01:17:51What is your feeling now about winning the championship?
01:17:54How do you feel now with respect to having won the championship?
01:17:57I'm very happy and I want to unify the championship.
01:18:03And I'll later on get the Walter Union championship.
01:18:08Thank you very much.
01:18:12Okay.
01:18:13You know, a few minutes before this fight, I ran into a California trainer named Jimmy Montoya and he was telling me that when Edwin Rosario trained in his gym some time ago, that his fighters stopped fighting Rosario and told him to take off his gloves to see what he was carrying inside them because he was punching so hard.
01:18:33And yet tonight we saw that Julio Cesar Chavez just kept coming through those punches.
01:18:39It was like the man was trying to knock down one of those thousand year old Mexican pyramids.
01:18:46And there is something to the fact that Mexican fighters, even among all Latins who are so macho, are super macho.
01:18:55He took some of the damnedest punches I've ever seen a fighter take tonight and just shrugged him off to the point almost where we were ignoring it.
01:19:04Early this evening, it was awfully cold out here and I was thinking about reading recently about this hundred mile iceberg that split off of Greenland and was floating around somewhere in the North Atlantic.
01:19:18And I thought, my God, it must be out here in the parking lot.
01:19:21It was so chilly, but I'll tell you, these two fighters warm this place up tonight and both of them deserve our thanks for showing us what the spirit of great fighters are.
01:19:32Barry and Ray.
01:19:34All right, thank you very much, Larry.
01:19:36Well, we really did see an outstanding performance by a worthy champion.
01:19:39I think Larry Merchant really made a good point there in the fact that because Chavez was so effective and took such a good punch, in addition to dishing out a good punch,
01:19:48it was easy to think that Rosario really wasn't in there doing what he normally does and that is being a good hard puncher, but he was tonight.
01:19:55Well, Barry, I tell you, what we saw tonight was a guy with unbelievable talent just playing the well-thought-out plan and tactics and strategy.
01:20:02And he executed so well.
01:20:04The body punches, the jab.
01:20:06He was so aggressive, so great.
01:20:08Just a tremendous victory for him.
01:20:10Do you have an idea we might see these two again?
01:20:12I doubt that very seriously because Chavez, I can only look for bigger and better things.
01:20:16He can move up to 140 and take everybody.
01:20:19Guy with a choir boy looks.
01:20:21Nice to have two guys with choir boy looks be champions of the world, isn't it?
01:20:25Well, we'll remind you to stay tuned immediately following our world championship boxing coverage for Laguna Heat on the East Coast and Peggy Sue Got Married on the West Coast.
01:20:34Both films will be seen in their entirety.
01:20:37And be sure to join us each and every week for HBO Sports' popular series Inside the NFL with hosts Len Dawson and Nick Bonacani.
01:20:43It premieres every Thursday right here on HBO.
01:20:46Also, don't miss an HBO Sports special presentation, Boxing's Greatest Knockouts.
01:20:51Host Larry Merchant and undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson take us through the 20th century in a unique look at the most memorable knockouts in boxing history.
01:20:59It's coming your way Tuesday, December 15th.
01:21:02So, for Larry Merchant and Sugar Ray Leonard, I'm Barry Tompkins saying so long from Las Vegas, Nevada.
01:21:08The executive producer of HBO Sports is Ross Greenberg, and our best wishes to Ross and Michelle Greenberg, who are back home in Scarsdale tonight.
01:21:21The producer of tonight's telecast is Rick Bernstein.
01:21:25This show was directed by Mark Payton.
01:21:28The feature producers were Michael, Jay, Waylon, and Steve Salvatore.
01:21:32The associate producer was Dave Harmon.
01:21:35The assistant to the producer is Brian McDonald.
01:21:37And the production manager, Russell, don't call me Russ, goodbye.
01:21:41I'm not sure what you want to do with your life
01:21:44Well, you sure don't want me in it
01:21:47Yeah, you're sure the life you're living with me
01:21:52Can't go on one single minute
01:21:55And there's a new one waiting outside his door
01:22:00And now it's time to begin it
01:22:03You found a new world
01:22:08And you want to taste it
01:22:10But the world can turn cold
01:22:12And you better face it
01:22:14Who will you run to
01:22:16End it all for now
01:22:18Who's gonna pitch your world
01:22:21Up off of the ground
01:22:23Who's gonna take away
01:22:25The tears you down
01:22:27Who's gonna lie
01:22:29The dream is good
01:22:30This has been a...
01:22:37A new world
01:22:38From a long time
01:22:39The dream is good
01:22:40You're not good
01:22:41You're not good
01:22:42You're not good
01:22:43You're not good
01:22:43You're not good
01:22:43I'm good
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