- 6 weeks ago
WBO Bantamweight Champion Cruz Carbajal defends his title against Gerado Espinoza in the first fight of a Showtime Championship Boxing PPV. Plus an interview backstage with James Toney.
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00:00Thank you for listening.
00:30Thank you for listening.
01:00Van Der Holifield has become the most celebrated, most respected ring warrior of his generation.
01:06His vast estate and regal mansion serve as tangible reminders of his immense boxing success.
01:15Despite his many achievements, the 40-year-old continues to endure the rigors of the gym and dangers of the ring in a quest for his fifth heavyweight title.
01:29I want to end on a bang. I don't want to end on a low. So, you know, as my career getting ready to end, I would like for people to say, I believe he could have went to a more year.
01:42October 4th, Showtime pay-per-view. That's the night I retire in Van Der Holifield. I'm going to knock him on his butt.
01:50The flamboyant James Lights Out Tony has never lacked confidence.
01:56While he's earned the respect of boxing insiders, the fame he believes he deserves continues to elude him.
02:04Twelve years ago, he was poised on the brink of the boxing elite, demolishing highly regarded middleweight champion Michael Nunn.
02:15Even with 66 wins and world titles in three weight classes, he's never achieved the fame he desperately desires.
02:24But a win against a preeminent heavyweight could thrust James Toney into the galaxy of superstardom.
02:32We'll knock him out. Van Der Holifield's going to be under the back.
02:36Look at him at the stars. He didn't pay his electric bill, so his lights must go out.
02:40Tonight, in the fight capital of the world, they come together.
02:48For the aging warrior, a loss could obliterate his dream of a fifth heavyweight title.
02:54And for the former middleweight, a win could finally bring him the glory he seeks.
03:00It's Holifield versus Tony, next.
03:06As evening moves in on the city that lives by night,
03:10Anticipation is in the air.
03:13Las Vegas is more than a vacation and entertainment oasis.
03:16It is the boxing capital of the world.
03:19As tourists and gamblers make their final preparations for the night's activities,
03:25two veteran ring warriors are readying themselves for battle.
03:30Fireworks are expected when former four-time champion Evander Holifield collides with cruiserweight king James Toney
03:38in a heavyweight showdown scheduled for 12 rounds.
03:42In the co-main event, two ex-champions clash with a title shot the prize
03:45when Joel Casamayor meets Diego Corrales in a 130-pound shootout also scheduled for 12.
03:52And the card opens with WBO Bantamweight champion Cruz Carvajal defending his title in a 12-round battle against Gerardo Espinosa.
04:02We're on the Vegas Strip inside the Mandalay Bay Event Center where the spotlight is on the ring
04:09and the crowd is headed for their seats to watch it all unfold.
04:14There's a sense of anticipation, of course, as well as curiosity
04:17to see how it all plays out this Saturday night in Las Vegas.
04:22Hello, everybody. I'm Nick Charles, and welcome to a star-studded night of boxing.
04:31This is a night when many questions hang in the air concerning our main event fighters.
04:36Evander Holifield has done what nobody in the history of boxing has ever done,
04:41win the heavyweight championship four different times.
04:44However, Holifield will turn 41 years old this month,
04:48and the looming question, of course, is can he get there again,
04:52or has time finally caught up with a fearless warrior?
04:56Meanwhile, there is much to speculate about Holifield's opponent, James Toney.
05:01At age 35, he's rejuvenated his career,
05:04but Toney comes here wanting more, much more.
05:08This can be the night he turns promise into reality
05:11and slams his way into the heavyweight picture and the riches that would follow.
05:16I'm joined tonight by a wealth of colleagues, as anxious as I am, to watch these fights.
05:21So let's get started now and go ringside,
05:23where Steve Albert and Al Bernstein are standing by.
05:27All right, Nick, thank you very much.
05:30Here we are. We made it.
05:32This one really has the elements of a crowd-pleaser.
05:35In addition, there are consequences.
05:37Tell us about the risk factors for both Holifield and Toney.
05:40You know, one of the charms of this event is that as a stand-alone fight,
05:44it's going to provide a lot of excitement for people tonight.
05:46But as you point out, there are ramifications for Evander Holyfield.
05:49A loss to a cruiserweight champion would certainly end his marketability
05:53as a possible heavyweight drawing card.
05:56But if he wins, he may be looking at a chance to fight for the IBF title,
05:59maybe against Roy Jones Jr. or the winner of the Hasim Rahman-David Tua fight.
06:03For Toney, a little less risk in that if he loses,
06:06he can go back down and potentially dominate the cruiserweight division.
06:09But if he wins, he would like a rematch with Roy Jones Jr.
06:12And dare I say it, a fight he has always dreamed about.
06:15Could he lure Mike Tyson back in the ring?
06:18That's also something he would fantasize about.
06:20All right, I can see some eyes rolling already,
06:22but it would be a very marketable fight indeed.
06:25An intriguing matchup here, Holyfield versus Toney.
06:28Before we get it back upstairs,
06:30let's take a look at the action from the weigh-in.
06:33Earlier this week, James Toney making his heavyweight debut.
06:36217 pounds for James, lights out Toney.
06:46217 pounds.
06:49And then came the always chiseled Evander Holyfield.
06:53219 pounds for Evander Holyfield.
06:56219, 219 pounds.
07:01There it is.
07:02Now, Toney's weight raising concerns over his conditioning should the fight go to the later rounds.
07:07And could it affect his speed and quickness?
07:09We'll see later in the main event.
07:12Right now, let's get it back upstairs to Nick Charles.
07:15Thank you, Steve.
07:16And joining me now is my Showbox partner and pal, Steve Farhood.
07:19Steve, what a pleasure it is to see a fight card with fight fans in mind first.
07:24No politics, not even a title at stake, just dynamite matchups.
07:30Titles aren't what they used to be, Nick, so no problem there.
07:33What makes Holyfield Toney so interesting, these are not only household names, but future Hall of Famers.
07:40And they're willing to fight each other without a title at stake.
07:43Boxing doesn't have a lot of household names.
07:45These guys willing to take the step they need to get a title fight.
07:48This is a trend, I hope, continues.
07:50Well, and there's more. Since the day they made tonight's co-feature, we've been saying Joel Casamayor against Diego Corrales is a stone-cold main event on its own.
07:59I love this matchup for two classic reasons.
08:02We'll see a destructive puncher in Corrales and in Casamayor, slick, clever, lightning-fast boxer.
08:09Well, this is one of those matchups fight fans want to see.
08:13Don't be surprised if Corrales, the puncher, if he doesn't get Casamayor out of there early.
08:18And Casamayor is a slow starter, so that could happen.
08:21Don't be surprised if there's a little bit of a role reversal in this fight.
08:24And if Corrales, who's so much taller, becomes the boxer, and Casamayor starts coming in.
08:28So a fight card, potentially on paper, good flat-out, good for the game.
08:32Each guy has lost just once in Casamayor and Corrales.
08:36It cost them their titles, and they know the winner tonight is in line for another shot at a championship.
08:40We'll bring you Casamayor-Corrales later in the night.
08:43But now let's go back to Steve and Al ringside for our opening bout.
08:48All right, Nick and Steve, thanks.
08:50Let's get to it.
08:51Fight number one.
08:52Cruz Carbajo defends his WBO Bantamweight crown against Gerardo Espinosa
08:56in a matchup of two battle-tested combatants
08:58who follow in the long tradition of tough, hard-nosed Mexican fighters.
09:03The challenger in the ring, Gerardo Espinosa out of Tijuana at just 22,
09:09looking to become the youngest world champion in boxing today.
09:1216 when he turned pro in 97, so already a six-and-a-half-year veteran.
09:17But that is not unusual for fighters from Mexico.
09:21And Al, despite the youth of Espinosa, he's got a lot of experience.
09:28Well, you mentioned already a six-year veteran of 22, which is astonishing.
09:31He's fought some very good people.
09:32He's had a taste of the kind of competition he'll have with Cruz Carball.
09:36Rafael Marquez, who, of course, is one of the Bantamweight champions right now,
09:40he fought lost to him, but fought well.
09:42He had a very good win over Omar Adorna, who was a Puerto Rican Olympian,
09:46and lost the fight to Jorge La Cierva, a top contender,
09:50but he fought very well in that one as well.
09:52So this young man at 22 knows what it's like to be in against top competition.
09:56Tonight, though, may be his toughest test as he goes up against a tenacious little brawler
10:01who's been in there with the best.
10:02The champion, Cruz Carballo, season pro of 11-and-a-half years at Avera Cruz,
10:07won the title March 02 with a ninth-round TKO over Mauricio Martinez,
10:11won defense as former champion Danny Romero had to stop in the fourth with a swollen eye.
10:16He's won five in a row, four by knockout, but 11 losses on his record.
10:21Al, he may be one of the best 11-loss fighters you'll ever see.
10:25He really is. It's actually a great story for boxing in a sport
10:27where one or two losses sometimes dooms you to obscurity.
10:31We don't see champions with 11 losses, but we should, and he's a perfect example.
10:34These five straight wins you talked about, it not only brought him a title,
10:37it brought him a spectacular win over Danny Romero,
10:40and it showed that he is certainly one of the two or three best Bantamweights in the world.
10:44That's what this fight is all about, Steve.
10:46They want to show the world that he's great.
10:48A true illustration of the term records do not tell the whole story.
10:52Lately, he has never been better.
10:55As we check the numbers, biggest disparity in age, Espinosa seven years younger than Carvajal.
10:59Four-inch height advantage, Espinosa, but an oddity of sorts
11:02as Carvajal has the edge in reach at the way in both checked in right on the money.
11:07And the key rules for this title fight, no standing eight count, no three knockdown rule.
11:11A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
11:15If an accidental headbutt occurs before the end of the fourth round, the fighters rule the no decision.
11:19If it happens after the end of round four, they go to the scorecards.
11:22So here at the Mandalay Bay Event Center, getting ready for the WBO Bantamweight Championship,
11:29which features Cruz Carvajal and Gerardo Espinosa,
11:31we are set for the formal introductions from our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.
11:36Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening to you,
11:41and we welcome you to the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here in Las Vegas, Nevada,
11:48as we have a big night of action in store for you.
11:51It's the war on October 4, and it's all brought to you by Goosen Tudor Promotions
11:56in association with the Mandalay Bay, the undisputed King of Beers, Budweiser, and Showtime.
12:03This bout coming away is sanctioned by the WBO, the president, Francisco Balcarcel,
12:10the supervisor, Luis Batista Salas.
12:13This is along with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
12:17Introducing to you our three judges scoring this bout from ringside,
12:22from Las Vegas, Nevada, C.J. Ross,
12:25from Providence, Rhode Island, Clark San Martino,
12:28and from Las Vegas, Nevada, Dolby Shirley.
12:32And the third man to the ring, the referee in charge of this action,
12:35he'll be working in his 60th world title bout, Robert Byrd.
12:42All right, fans, here we go.
12:44Twelve rounds of boxing scheduled for the WBO Bantamweight Championship of the World.
12:52Introducing to you first the challenger.
12:55On my left, he is hiding out of the blue corner,
12:57wearing light blue trunks with white trim.
13:00Joining us from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
13:05His weight right at the Bantamweight limit of 118 pounds.
13:09His record stands at 27 wins, four losses,
13:13with 25 big wins coming by way of knockout.
13:16Ladies and gentlemen, he has ranked the WBO number 10 junior featherweight in the world.
13:21Introducing the challenger,
13:23And his opponent, across the ring on my right,
13:36fighting out of the red corner, is the defending world champion,
13:40wearing green trunks with black and silver trim,
13:44hailing from Veracruz, Mexico.
13:46He weighed in the same weight as his opponent, 118 pounds.
13:51His record stands at 23 wins, 11 losses,
13:55one draw with 19 wins coming by way of knockout.
13:59Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, he is making the second defensiveest title.
14:03Here is the defending WBO Bantamweight champion of the world.
14:07Introducing Cruz,
14:08Once again, Robert Byrd is our referee in charge.
14:20When I say stop, that means stop whatever you're doing and give me a clean break.
14:30Protect yourselves at all times, obey my commands at all times.
14:33Let's do it.
14:35Hang on right here.
14:36Stay right here.
14:37Stay right here.
14:39A pair of fighters from a country that dominated the Bantamweight division in the 70s
14:44with knockout artists like Carlos Cerate and Alfonso Zamora.
14:48Carbajal with an extraordinary reach for his height,
14:51yet he usually elects to fight inside and go toe-to-toe.
14:54Espinosa, who feels he's stronger at 118 after campaigning a notch higher,
14:59had better try to make this an outside fight.
15:01But otherwise, it could be a tough night in this, his first world title shot.
15:06Here we go, round one, scheduled for 12.
15:09One noticeable thing for Espinosa in the blue trunks,
15:14a pronounced cheekbone.
15:15However, he hasn't had a history of cuts.
15:19In a nutshell, Carbajal, a very busy, aggressive brawler.
15:22Carbajal in the green with the black trim.
15:24He's got the long arms, a very sturdy chin.
15:27Espinosa, no, he's more of a tactician, more of a technical boxer who looks to wear you down.
15:33Both, though, polished fighters with tremendous heart.
15:36And there should be no question of Carbajal's focus.
15:40His last fight had no title implications, yet he destroyed the fearless god in Steve Dotsy
15:45in two rounds about six months ago.
15:50Both these boxers have been known to ignore defense and throw caution to the wind.
15:56Certainly, Carbajal has done that, Espinosa, to an extent also.
15:59And so, obviously, what that sets up potentially is a very exciting fight.
16:04Yeah, Carbajal, extremely offensive-minded.
16:08As you pointed out, Al, defense not a priority, but he can bust you up.
16:13Nothing fancy.
16:14Doesn't play games, but he is very spirited and feisty.
16:18Keeps a good pace.
16:20Terrific determination.
16:23But he'll stand right in front of you.
16:24He loves to brawl, always willing to exchange.
16:27You won't see a lot of quick movement side-to-side out of Carbajal.
16:33It's a combination punching from Espinosa and ripping the left hooks.
16:38And he has a good one, but, boy, so does Cruz Carbajal.
16:41And there's a weapon that Carbajal usually uses, and that is the uppercut.
16:45So, Espinosa giving Carbajal a taste of what he normally dishes out.
16:50It's a nice start for the challenger.
16:53Espinosa wearing the powder blue with the white trim.
16:55Another right uppercut.
16:58By Espinosa, now going to the body.
17:00He is cool, and he is savvy at just 22.
17:03Well-schooled, Espinosa.
17:05A straight-up classic stance.
17:08Not your typical Mexican brawler.
17:10He puts more emphasis on defense than Carbajal,
17:13but he does, at times, make himself available to be hit.
17:16And if young Gerardo Espinosa had drawn out,
17:20mapped out a first round that would work for him, Steve,
17:22I think it would look very much like what we've seen.
17:25He's been able to give a lot of good movement to Carbajal,
17:27counterpunch very effectively,
17:29and not get hit on the end of the punches of Carbajal.
17:32And now this is a slower start than usual for the champion, Carbajal.
17:35A faster start than usual for the challenger, Espinosa.
17:39There's the long right hand of Carbajal that is a pretty good punch for him when he can get it there.
17:46So it's been the challenger, Espinosa, the aggressor, here in round one as we approach the final ten seconds.
17:54Locomotora, the locomotive, and he had a very impressive first round.
18:03Alto, alto!
18:06Time!
18:07Cruz Carbajal presents a difficult style matchup for almost anybody,
18:16and that is certainly the case for Gerardo Espinosa.
18:19On the outside, Cruz Carbajal likes to use his jab to set up another big weapon.
18:27That would be a powerful right hand.
18:29But he can also fight on the inside, and there his uppercut is a lethal weapon.
18:33His offensive firepower may be the most versatile in the division.
18:37Gerardo Espinosa can't afford to be lazy with his left.
18:46When he's on the outside, he'll get hit with a Carbajal right.
18:48He can throw some hooks, but they must be short.
18:51And his best chance against Carbajal is on the outside, boxing.
18:55As we close in on round two, scheduled for 12 for the WBO Bantamweight, or 118-pound championship.
19:10Cruz Carbajal in the green trunks, the champion.
19:14Gerardo Espinosa in the blue trunks, the challenger.
19:16Never so early in a fight have we looked at the keys to victory and already seen some blueprint,
19:22because in round one, Espinosa was doing all the things that we suggested he needed to do.
19:28He was moving very well, boxing, keeping the left hand up.
19:31He wasn't getting hit with the right hand.
19:33And you see, he is throwing those hooks, not real wide, short, so that he doesn't get countered by Cruz Carbajal.
19:40Thus far, Al, Espinosa looking the sharper of the two.
19:44At 22, would become the youngest world champ in the game with a victory here tonight.
19:49The youngest reigning champs are all 24 years old.
19:53Alex Terra-Garcia at Welterweight, Manny Pacayo Jr. Feather, and Alexander Munoz, a junior batman.
19:59George Arce, Jorge Arce, a junior fly.
20:02Meanwhile, Carbajal, who is off to a bit of a rugged start here against Espinosa,
20:08one of five reigning world champs with double-digit defeats.
20:12He's got 11 losses.
20:13One of Carbajal's most impressive wins was against former champ Danny Romero,
20:19and he was brilliant in that fight.
20:21And we can see how different styles make it either easier or tougher for you.
20:26Danny Romero, a short fighter who wades in and was there for Carbajal to exchange with.
20:31Espinosa, obviously very much a boxer, moving, counter-punching,
20:35and that style difference is giving Cruz Carbajal some issues.
20:38Now Carbajal coming forward and laying some leather on Espinosa.
20:46All of a sudden, it looks like Carbajal got his wake-up call.
20:49A left hook to the ear by Carbajal.
20:56Carbajal tonight, with his left hook especially, very imprecise.
21:00That punch is very wide.
21:02It's an arm punch, and it doesn't look like the same Cruz Carbajal that we have seen in some recent fights.
21:08We'll see if that changes.
21:10Although now he's getting Espinosa a little bit better.
21:13Carbajal, 8-A left hook to his before, but you can see an increasing work rate suddenly here by Carbajal near the end of round two.
21:22You know what's interesting?
21:23Even though he has 25 knockouts in his 27 wins, we see, really, Espinosa is not a dramatic one-punch knockout artist.
21:31He punches with decent power and wears people down.
21:35That's his bag.
21:36Carbajal likes to wear you down, too.
21:38As you mentioned, the Danny Romero fight, boy, he just swelled up that face.
21:43And in the second round, they just stopped the fight.
21:46But Carbajal was on the receiving end as well.
21:48How about the shots?
21:49Romero, who's a very big puncher in this weight division,
21:52and hit Carbajal with some astonishing left hooks, and he just stood there.
21:56So knocking him out is tough.
21:58But I see a shift in momentum here in favor of Carbajal at the end of round two.
22:06Down!
22:12Our translator is Joe Guzma.
22:22Chris Carbajal can land a very good right hand over the lazy left, and there he did it.
22:48Espinosa kept his left hand low, and Carbajal, with that looping right hand, was able to get it in.
22:53Cruz Carbajal, who has had a dramatic transformation.
23:10Despite the 11 losses, his last several fights, victories, knockouts, the champion.
23:18Oh, look at him work.
23:20Carbajal all over Espinosa.
23:21This is the kind of pop we anticipated, you know, as well as Carbajal is doing.
23:28Look at the counter-punching by Espinosa.
23:31These are two really good fighters.
23:34Oh, the body work of Carbajal too, exquisite.
23:37Turning into a street brawl right now.
23:39Some terrific counter-punching by the challenger, Espinosa.
23:42Right hand over the top just grazed the shoulder of Carbajal.
23:47Carbajal turning things around, not only in this fight, but in his life.
23:54With the thanks of his new manager, Valentin Martinez, he had a lot of money problems.
24:00In fact, to make ends meet, he was a butcher.
24:03So he worked like 10 to 12 hours a day, and now he's 100% dedicated to boxing,
24:07which is a big reason he's turned it around.
24:09But you can see they can both punch, and they can both get it done early.
24:13And both have landed very dramatic shots already.
24:16We know Carbajal has a great chin, and Espinosa is showing it to us again.
24:19There's the combination punching of Espinosa.
24:21You alluded to Carbajal having those 11 losses primarily because of what you suggested about the money issues.
24:28He had to take a lot of fights on short notice just to make money, and they ended up in losses.
24:33But now he takes fights when it's appropriate.
24:36He's 5-0 and has a world championship to show for that streak.
24:39A late bloomer, to say the least.
24:43Good bodywork by Espinosa.
24:45This is a perfect example of two fighters both executing their game plans very well,
24:50and that's why it's such a scintillating fight.
24:52We come up to the final minute of round three.
25:01Non-stop activity.
25:03Carbajal now forcing the action, pushing Espinosa back.
25:08One of the things that has changed is the left of Espinosa continues to sneak lower and lower,
25:16and because of that, Carbajal is landing a lot of lead right hands.
25:19Carbajal inspired by the legendary Salvador Sanchez.
25:25Beautiful combination upstairs by the champion.
25:28Let's go.
25:31Carbajal really finding the mark after a slow start.
25:35Back comes Espinosa with a right-left combination to the head,
25:38but not as damaging as Carbajal's blows.
25:42Another good right hand by Carbajal on the inside,
25:45where he loves to fight despite his long arms.
25:48And you know, Espinosa, using the uppercut,
25:52very effectively, that's really Carbajal's best puncher.
25:54One of them.
25:55But Espinosa saw the opportunity to use it.
25:58Oh, look.
25:58Wow, great exchange in the corner.
26:00They are really trading, Al.
26:04The only difference between Carbajal's power,
26:09his punch is perhaps a bit more potent.
26:17Give him some water.
26:18I want you to stick that jab.
26:27Keep sticking that jab right across.
26:32Keep going to the body.
26:34You got to fight.
26:36Keep reading.
26:40Keep putting out the back.
26:43No, I know.
26:44Yeah, I know.
26:45Keep putting out the head.
26:48Early in that last round,
26:53Carbajal setting up,
26:54trying to set up the right hand.
26:56And there, you see over the lazy left,
26:58he gets the right hand in
26:59to the head of Espinosa.
27:01One of many that got in.
27:02But of course, Espinosa did some great
27:03counter-punching as well in that round.
27:10Scheduled for 12 for the WBO Bantamweight title.
27:12It is round number four.
27:14The champion, Carbajal, comes out winging.
27:16He's wearing the green.
27:17The challenger in blue is Gerardo Espinosa.
27:22Carbajal, 23-11-1 with 19 knockouts.
27:26Espinosa, 27-4 with 25 peel.
27:29You know, it's worth noting of those 31
27:31pro fights that Espinosa has.
27:36Only three have gone to a decision.
27:39He's either won or lost the rest by knockout.
27:41And he started out 18-0 with 17 knockouts
27:45before losing his first fight back in 2000.
27:48Bounced back with a couple of straight TKO wins,
27:51but then lost to current champion,
27:53Rafael Marquez, by fourth round TKO.
27:55The pressure of Carbajal has been relentless the last couple of rounds.
28:03And while Espinosa has counter-punched well,
28:06you have to ask yourself,
28:07will that pressure of Carbajal ultimately take its toll?
28:10And one of the other things about it is
28:12part of that pressure has been some very good body shots.
28:16So, of course, we know that slows you down.
28:17And there's Carbajal committing to the body again.
28:22The old boxing axiom, take the body, then the head.
28:26And a little later on when we see
28:29Diego Corrales and Joel Casemayor,
28:31who left hand by Carbajal,
28:33we'll see him go to the body.
28:34Carbajal marching Espinosa around the ring
28:37with rights and left.
28:41You know, ironically, Steve, you made the point,
28:43yeah, he's not cutting the ring off.
28:45He's marching him around him, but he's still landing.
28:47And usually you don't land when you follow a guy around the ring,
28:49but Carbajal is doing that now.
28:53This might be his best round of the fight.
28:56Well, he's looking very confident right now.
28:59I think he feels that he has Espinosa where he wants him now,
29:01after the rugged start.
29:03Not so much a rugged start,
29:04perhaps just more of a feeling out process.
29:10Under a minute left, round four.
29:12But every once in a while, as you have pointed out,
29:14some good counter-punching by Espinosa.
29:17Yeah, it has become, though, less frequent in this round.
29:23In the last couple of rounds,
29:24he was doing a good job of counter-punching.
29:26Now he's mostly taking from Carbajal.
29:28I think he's more tentative now,
29:30perhaps second-guessing,
29:31and the accumulative effect is starting to get to him,
29:34and the power of Carbajal is probably quite hurtful,
29:38as you can see.
29:39There's the right hand again,
29:41the lead right by Carbajal.
29:42He has a long reach,
29:43and that's a punch that Espinosa has been susceptible to in the past,
29:48and that was the big danger coming into this fight,
29:50and unfortunately for him,
29:52it's still a problem.
29:53No knockdowns here towards the end of round four.
29:57Espinosa's been down four times in his career.
29:59Carbajal just crossed.
30:01Stop, stop.
30:02Stop.
30:02Step out.
30:03Step out.
30:04Let's go.
30:07Bow, bow!
30:08Bow!
30:08Again, Joe Guzman, our interpreter.
30:17Okay, give some water.
30:20Let's breathe.
30:23You're doing everything right,
30:24but just don't stay in there.
30:26Keep working.
30:27Work your hands.
30:29Stick your jabs.
30:30Stick your jabs strong.
30:33Left, right.
30:34You're staying there.
30:35Left, right.
30:36But well done.
30:37It's well done.
30:40Carbajal's reach,
30:41even though he's much shorter than Espinosa,
30:43playing a role.
30:44He lands the jab,
30:45and that sets up the right hand.
30:46But look at the combinations.
30:48Carbajal doesn't stop punching.
30:50And then at the end of the round,
30:52his best of the fight,
30:53Carbajal put an exclamation point on it
30:55with these combinations.
30:57When you follow a fighter around the ring like that,
30:59you're not supposed to be able to land those kind of combinations,
31:01but because of his reach,
31:03Carbajal can do that.
31:09Interesting point.
31:10He's got a 69-inch reach,
31:13and he's just 5'3".
31:15That's amazing.
31:23Espinosa's left eye really beginning to swell.
31:26Well, this is reminiscent of a fight
31:31we were just talking about with Carbajal,
31:33but not quite as bad as of yet.
31:36Yeah, the Danny Romero fight,
31:38in which he swelled up Romero's eye
31:40because of the number of punches he landed.
31:42You know, for young Gerardo Espinosa,
31:45only 22.
31:46You can see he's a very skilled fighter.
31:48He's a good fighter,
31:49and he had some excellent moments early in this fight,
31:52and the scoring there,
31:53and the press row scoring,
31:54reflects what we think is happening in this fight
31:56with Carbajal taking control of the action.
32:01We've got the Orange County Register,
32:03the Chicago Tribune,
32:04and the LA Times represented here tonight.
32:07Mitted into round five.
32:11Cruz Carbajal, the champion of the green,
32:14Espinosa, fighting back as best he can,
32:17the challenger of the blue.
32:19Third man of the ring, Robert Byrd,
32:20out of Las Vegas.
32:22Because this fight replaced another one
32:24on our pay-per-view card,
32:25they both had about a month to prepare for this,
32:28but Cruz Carbajal especially said,
32:30I'm always in the gym,
32:30I'm always in shape,
32:31and he's showing it here.
32:33Yeah, originally the first fight tonight
32:34was to spotlight promising featherweight prospect
32:37Robert Guerrero,
32:38but he sustained an elbow injury
32:40and a good save by replacing that fight
32:43with this one,
32:43a championship fight.
32:46Stop!
32:46Hey!
32:47Stop!
32:47Between Carbajal and Espinosa.
32:49It's good action.
32:50Stop!
32:51Break!
32:51Break!
32:52And a big mission tonight
32:54for Cruz Carbajal
32:56was to show
32:57that he's
32:58not just a champion,
33:00but that he is a guy to be reckoned with
33:02in the bantamweight division.
33:03They think he could be the very best
33:05bantamweight or super bantamweight around,
33:07and he wanted to show that tonight,
33:09and so far he's doing a very good job
33:10against a good young fighter.
33:11Yeah, he talked about
33:12perhaps moving up
33:14where more money can be made
33:17to fight people like
33:18with Paulie Ayala
33:19or Johnny Tappi,
33:20because Tappi would have to then move back down
33:21from 126,
33:24instead of a showdown
33:26with IBF champ Rafael Marquez
33:28or perhaps a rematch
33:29with Danny Romero.
33:31I'll tell you what,
33:33I'd pay big money
33:34to see Cruz Carbajal
33:35against an Ayala
33:36or a Tapia
33:37or somebody of that ilk
33:38because those guys would rumble,
33:39especially Ayala,
33:40would rumble with him.
33:41Why don't you just watch it on TV
33:42and give me the money?
33:43Yeah, you got it.
33:44That's a good point.
33:45I'll tell you, I might do that.
33:46Always come up with these good ideas.
33:4820 seconds left in round five.
33:53A beautiful shotgun jab by Carbajal.
33:56He just stuffed it to the head
33:59of Espinosa.
34:06Yeah.
34:07Let's go.
34:16Let's go.
34:20Brief.
34:26Check his eye.
34:31How's it going, son?
34:32How's it going?
34:33Hey, man.
34:34We see this left hand
34:38will come down
34:39and that will leave an opening
34:40for the right to get over,
34:41which has been happening
34:41throughout this fight
34:42and Carbajal will take advantage of it
34:44by nailing him
34:46with the right hand
34:47and that's been pretty much
34:49the story throughout this fight.
34:50looking extremely focused,
35:12has had Espinosa backpedaling
35:14since the end of the first round
35:16around this large 20-foot ring.
35:17a lot of room to roam
35:20for these 218 pounders.
35:23Again, a beautiful jab
35:24by Carbajal.
35:25Sticky and then following it up.
35:27And Espinosa
35:36on the retreat
35:37and it's so difficult
35:39for a fighter
35:40to be effective
35:41going backwards.
35:43He was in the first couple of rounds
35:45primarily because he would stop,
35:47throw punches,
35:47then move,
35:48but he's not doing that now.
35:50Now mostly he's retreating
35:51in a survival mode
35:52in the right hand of Carbajal.
35:54It's just,
35:54it's redundant,
35:55but the fact is
35:55it continues to get there.
35:57And now both eyes
35:58really beginning to swell up
36:00for Espinosa.
36:03Fuera, fuera.
36:04Vingo.
36:06And it's not as if Carbajal
36:07changed his defense in any way.
36:09He's still just running in.
36:10It's just that Espinosa
36:12so concerned about Carbajal's attack,
36:14not able to counter him
36:15as he's coming in.
36:16Chris Carbajal,
36:21to say he's a streaky fighter
36:22is the understatement of the century.
36:24He was 12-0 and 1,
36:26then he was 2-8,
36:27then 4-0,
36:28then 1-3,
36:29and now on a five-strike
36:30win streak.
36:31So he's like some hitter in baseball
36:33who goes on again and off again.
36:35A 23-11-1-19 knockouts
36:38making the second defense
36:40of his Bantamweight belt.
36:43They call him Cucho,
36:44which means nice.
36:46His mom gave him that nickname.
36:48She probably wasn't thinking
36:49he'd become a fighter
36:50because nice is not,
36:51you know.
36:52There was a show called
36:53Captain Nice once
36:54and he was a hero.
36:55And that's not something
36:55Espinosa is going through
36:57Espinosa's mind right now as well.
36:58This is not a nice man.
37:00No, not inside the ring.
37:06Carbajal drawing his entire repertoire.
37:08Uppercuts, right hands,
37:10left hooks.
37:12Jab.
37:13There's a right cross.
37:14But he continues to just
37:17smother
37:18Locomotoro
37:21who has been relegated
37:22from express to local
37:23thanks to
37:24the hands of Carbajal.
37:27You know,
37:27an underrated part
37:29of what Cruz Carbajal
37:30at one point
37:31being taken
37:31for holding.
37:33One point.
37:34Hold it.
37:36Well, as if things
37:37aren't tough enough
37:37for the challenger.
37:38Hold it, son.
37:39Let's go.
37:40A point deducted.
37:41You know,
37:41it didn't feel like
37:42it was that dramatic
37:43but I guess
37:44it looked that way
37:45to the ref.
37:46Robert Byrd
37:46seeing things
37:47a little differently.
37:48Robert's a good referee.
37:49So he may,
37:50I'm sure he gave a warning
37:51to Espinosa.
37:51In fact,
37:52I thought I saw him
37:52give one.
37:55Espinosa trying
37:56the uppercut again
37:57on the inside.
37:58It was so effective early
37:59but now just not able
38:00to get things in.
38:01Di segundo.
38:04Stop.
38:06I got you.
38:06Espinosa's showing
38:07a lot of heart.
38:09Time.
38:11Two swollen eyes
38:12and he's just getting
38:13batted around here
38:14by Carbajal.
38:20We take a look
38:21at where ultimately
38:23the penalty was,
38:25the point was deducted
38:26for holding.
38:27Espinosa here
38:27hanging on,
38:28hanging on
38:29and you know,
38:32I guess that comes
38:33after warnings
38:33by Robert Byrd
38:35and the points deducted.
38:36Yeah.
38:36Okay.
38:36He defend himself.
38:37And earlier tonight
38:39here in Las Vegas,
38:40the arrival of
38:40Evander Holyfield,
38:42the four-time heavyweight
38:43champ,
38:43the ultimate warrior,
38:45ready to answer
38:45the call one more time.
38:47He seems very cool
38:48and relaxed.
38:49No other fighter
38:50of his generation
38:51has engaged
38:52in as many crossroads.
38:54Fights refuses
38:55to make concessions
38:56to his age,
38:57relying on his
38:58confidence,
38:59optimism and faith
39:00and after going
39:00toe-to-toe
39:01with behemoths
39:02like Bo and Lewis
39:03facing a smaller
39:04fighter tonight
39:05in James Toney,
39:06a different type
39:07of challenge,
39:08one that Holyfield
39:09is tackling,
39:10not with desperation,
39:11but with focus
39:12and purpose.
39:13On November 15th,
39:15it will be the
39:1519th anniversary
39:17of his first pro fight.
39:18Can you imagine that?
39:19I remember being there
39:20at Madison Square Garden
39:21against Lionel Bayard.
39:23How about your
39:25unofficial tally?
39:28I have Carvajal ahead
39:31in this fight
39:32and I have him ahead
39:33by four points.
39:35as we hit the
39:38halfway point
39:39is scheduled for
39:4012 rounds
39:41for the WBO
39:42Bantamweight title.
39:45But you know,
39:46that's exactly
39:46what we would expect
39:47from
39:48Ivana the Real Deal
39:49Holyfield.
39:51Focus
39:51and purpose.
39:55And right now,
39:56Carvajal has both
39:57those things
39:57as he continues
39:58to push ahead
39:59against Espinosa
40:00who now has swelling
40:01around both eyes.
40:04Here's how
40:05Press Rose sees it, Al.
40:07Carlos is from
40:08the Orange County Register,
40:09Michael from
40:09the Chicago Trib,
40:10and Steve,
40:12L.A. Times.
40:17Good cross-section.
40:18Yes.
40:19Geographically,
40:20of the country.
40:20Of American journalism.
40:24We approach
40:25the halfway mark
40:26of round seven.
40:28Cruz Carvajal,
40:30the champion
40:30in the green,
40:31he has just taken
40:32complete command
40:33since the first round.
40:36I think it's probably
40:37the only round
40:38I'd give Espinosa
40:39personally.
40:44I agree with that.
40:48Owner of that dollar
40:50I slipped across the table
40:51had anything to do with it.
40:52You know what?
40:52Every time you tip me,
40:54I agree with you.
40:55So far,
40:56it's working well.
40:57In our embryonic relationship
40:58together here in Showtime,
40:59that's been one
41:00of the nice perks
41:01as a matter of fact.
41:04Occasionally,
41:04I go out and buy
41:05Dairy Queen
41:05with that stuff.
41:06Now I've got to
41:07go get a thesaurus.
41:08You keep using big words like
41:09Under a minute,
41:11round seven,
41:12and it's been all Carvajal.
41:16Casamayor Corrales
41:17coming up next,
41:19and then of course
41:19the main event,
41:20Holyfield versus Tony.
41:23Man,
41:24is that a curious battle.
41:25Really looking forward to it.
41:26It really is interesting
41:27and something
41:28that we would not
41:29have expected to see
41:30some years ago.
41:32Nobody could have theorized
41:33that that would take place.
41:35Steve Farhood
41:35put it best
41:36in our meeting
41:37the other day.
41:38It just came out of nowhere.
41:39Yeah.
41:43Espinosa now
41:43is very much
41:44in a survival mode.
41:46Much more,
41:47of course,
41:47than in those early rounds.
41:48And Robert Byrd
41:49taking a long,
41:49hard look
41:50at the swelling.
41:51Oh,
41:52clash of heads,
41:53apparently,
41:53that was accidental
41:54creating more
41:55of a problem.
41:56Just what Espinosa needs.
41:58Alto,
41:58Alto.
41:59Let's go.
42:01He's down on points.
42:02He's got both eyes swollen.
42:04Now a head clash.
42:05Turning out to be
42:08a difficult night
42:10for Espinosa.
42:12After a terrific start.
42:14Well,
42:14we saw Holyfield
42:15make his way
42:16into the arena earlier.
42:17Here's James Coney
42:18who races
42:18for the biggest challenge
42:20of his long
42:21and illustrious career.
42:22Blowing kisses.
42:24You know,
42:24he's got that
42:25gruff exterior,
42:26but he's
42:26really a nice guy.
42:29Showtime, baby.
42:30Ride, baby.
42:30Former middleweight champ
42:36now fighting
42:38as a heavyweight
42:40looking to compete
42:41as a world-class heavyweight.
42:43Fifteen years ago,
42:44we were saying
42:45the same thing
42:46about Holyfield.
42:48The heads came together.
42:50It was ruled
42:51an accidental clash of heads.
42:53And in fact,
42:53it was that.
42:54It looked like really
42:55Cruz Carbajal
42:56might get the worst of it.
42:57And yet,
42:58it was Espinosa
42:58who already has swelling
42:59around those eyes
43:00that was damaged
43:02more severely
43:03by the clash of heads.
43:07And there you get
43:07a really good example
43:08or good look
43:09at the swelling.
43:15Scheduled for 12
43:16for the WBO
43:17Bantamweight title.
43:18It's round eight.
43:19That Tony really
43:20looked cool
43:21and composed.
43:24This is a huge fight.
43:26Reborn after
43:27his thrilling win
43:28over Girov.
43:30And he risks
43:30a great deal
43:31in taking on Holyfield.
43:36All right.
43:37Carbajal,
43:38nice left hook
43:39followed by
43:39a super right hand
43:41upstairs.
43:42Carbajal
43:42is hand-vishing.
43:44Espinosa
43:45continues to make
43:46him go back.
43:48Of course,
43:48Espinosa
43:48has been stopped
43:49on two occasions.
43:50Oh!
43:51What an uppercut
43:52with a right hand
43:53by Carbajal.
43:54His best punch
43:55of the night.
43:55But what a chin
43:56and what a great heart
43:57by Espinosa.
44:00Robert Baird
44:01looking on
44:01very intently.
44:03Pippi nearing
44:04the end.
44:05Oh!
44:05Another heavy
44:06straight right hand
44:07by Carbajal.
44:10What is holding
44:11Espinosa up?
44:13And wouldn't you know
44:15it's a left hook
44:16to the body
44:16that has probably
44:17ended this fight.
44:19That will be it.
44:21It's over.
44:22Get down.
44:22What a series
44:23of hurtful shots
44:25by Cruz Carbajal
44:26to end matters
44:27in the eighth.
44:28And right away
44:29Dr. Margaret Goodman
44:30is on the scene.
44:33Espinosa
44:34is really,
44:35really out of it.
44:37Well,
44:38that left hook
44:38to the body
44:39by Carbajal
44:40caught him
44:40just perfectly
44:41and I'm sure
44:41the breath
44:42has been knocked
44:43out of him.
44:44That's part
44:45of the reason
44:45why he's down
44:48and why he's
44:49having so much trouble.
44:51The sequence
44:52began with
44:52a stupendous
44:53right uppercut.
44:54Bring it on,
44:55Polly.
44:55Come on,
44:56Polly Ayala.
44:56Come on.
44:57And you can hear
44:58them saying,
44:58bring it on,
44:59Polly Ayala.
45:00We previewed that
45:00earlier.
45:01Already spin doctoring
45:03and the fight's
45:03only been over
45:04about 35 seconds.
45:06Good fight.
45:06Exactly.
45:07Looking to the
45:07near future.
45:08Good fight.
45:08Meanwhile,
45:10Espinosa is still
45:13flat on his back
45:14and, you know,
45:17precautionary.
45:18I mean,
45:19it's quite clear.
45:20I mean,
45:20that was a punch
45:22that took his wind
45:24away.
45:24I mean,
45:25really,
45:25it just hit him
45:26just perfectly.
45:29Shades of
45:29gentlemen,
45:30Jim Corbett
45:31and Bob Fitzsimmons.
45:32We called that,
45:33didn't we?
45:33We did,
45:34yes.
45:34We were there.
45:36But seriously,
45:37let's hope
45:37that everything's okay
45:38for Espinosa.
45:40Seems to be all right
45:41as he sits up
45:41with the help
45:42of the ringside
45:43physician,
45:44Dr. Goodman.
45:45One of the best.
45:47A wonderful performance
45:48by Cruz Carbohal.
45:49And you know what
45:50made it,
45:50I think,
45:51better was
45:53Espinosa didn't
45:54come here to lose
45:54this fight.
45:55Gerardo Espinosa
45:56fought three very
45:57good rounds
45:57in this fight.
45:58He really did.
45:59But Carbohal
46:00was able to
46:01turn things around
46:03and then use
46:04the pressure
46:04to get to him.
46:06and we'll
46:06share some
46:09memories
46:10of how this
46:11fight ended.
46:11The opening,
46:12the barrage
46:12from Cruz Carbohal
46:14that started
46:15the problem.
46:16The uppercut,
46:16which we haven't
46:17seen too much
46:18of from Carbohal,
46:18though it's a very
46:19good punch for him,
46:21and continued
46:22to go to the body
46:23as we saw,
46:23and that would be
46:24foreshadowing
46:24for what would come
46:25in just a few
46:28moments after that.
46:29Then later in the round,
46:30Carbohal continuing
46:30the pressure
46:31and using the jab.
46:32See, that's a
46:34great arsenal
46:35of punches.
46:35He doesn't forget
46:36to jab his way in
46:37even though he's
46:37pressuring the
46:38other fighter.
46:42And there's the
46:42left hook to the
46:43body.
46:43It landed just
46:44perfectly,
46:45and that was it
46:45for Espinosa.
46:47And this will
46:48show you the
46:48body punch
46:49and the leverage
46:50that Carbohal
46:50got on this punch.
46:52He's able to bend
46:53even while he's
46:54running in.
46:57He gets great
46:58leverage on this
46:59punch.
46:59Oh my,
47:00I don't know
47:00if you can land
47:01a body shot
47:02in a better
47:03position than
47:03that.
47:04And it set
47:05Espinosa down.
47:08And even in
47:09super slow motion,
47:10we realize that
47:12Carbohal is
47:13relentless with
47:13his pressure.
47:14He never gave
47:15Espinosa a
47:16moment to
47:18recover.
47:19And ultimately,
47:21what was one
47:22of many good
47:23body shots that
47:24Carbohal landed
47:25spelled the end.
47:26Not what you'd
47:27call a Kodak
47:28moment for
47:28Gerardo Espinosa,
47:29Espinosa,
47:30but it was for
47:31Cruz Carbohal,
47:31who continues
47:32his dramatic
47:33turnaround,
47:34retaining his
47:35belt,
47:35his second
47:35successful defense.
47:37Goes to 24,
47:3811 and 1.
47:4020 knockouts,
47:41six in a row
47:41after losing
47:42three straight.
47:44Gerardo Espinosa
47:45hearing it from
47:46the crowd as
47:47he gets up,
47:48suffers his
47:49second defeat
47:49in the last
47:50three fights
47:51and drops
47:51to 27 and
47:535.
47:54I think if
47:55Cruz Carbohal
47:55wanted to make
47:56a statement
47:57that he's a
47:58Bantamweight
47:58champion to be
47:59reckoned with,
47:59I think he did
48:00it tonight.
48:02Let's get the
48:02official word
48:03from Jimmy
48:04Lennon Jr.
48:07Ladies and
48:08gentlemen,
48:09we have the
48:10time of
48:101 minute
48:117 seconds
48:12in round
48:13number 8.
48:14A referee
48:14in charge,
48:15Robert Bird,
48:16stops the
48:17contest.
48:18He's the
48:18winner by way
48:19of technical
48:20knockout
48:20and still
48:22the WBO
48:23Bantamweight
48:23champion of
48:24the world,
48:26Cruz,
48:26Cucco Carbohal.
48:33So Cruz Carbohal
48:35retains his title
48:37with an 8th round
48:38technical knockout
48:39over
48:40Gerardo Espinosa.
48:44And we'll see
48:44if indeed
48:45Paulie Ayala
48:46is next.
48:46He's called out
48:47Ayala.
48:47He's called out
48:48Johnny Tapia
48:50as well.
48:51Let's take a look
48:52at some numbers.
48:54It became a
48:54lopsided fight.
48:55It was pretty
48:56obvious here
48:56of the judges
48:57scorecards.
48:59CJ Ross,
49:00Clark
49:00Sammartino
49:01and Dalby
49:02Shirley
49:03had it
49:04convincingly
49:07for the champion
49:08and then the
49:08press row
49:09scorers saw it
49:10this way.
49:10pretty similar.
49:15So Carbohal
49:16all the way.
49:17Our venue
49:18tonight,
49:18the Mandalay Bay
49:19Event Center
49:20in Las Vegas,
49:21Nevada.
49:22The fans
49:23settling in,
49:24getting ready,
49:24gearing up
49:25for more
49:25boxing.
49:27It's still
49:27early.
49:28Expecting a
49:29late walk-up
49:30crowd for
49:31tonight's
49:31marquee
49:32matchup.
49:34Up next
49:35from the
49:36Vegas strip
49:36a fight
49:37that is
49:37worthy
49:37of its
49:38own
49:38headline
49:39stats.
49:39It'll be
49:41slippery
49:41southpaw
49:42Joel Casamayor
49:43set to square
49:44off with
49:44hard-punching
49:45Diego
49:45Corrales
49:46and then
49:47later
49:47an intriguing
49:48affair
49:48as Evander
49:49Holyfield
49:50will meet
49:50James Toney
49:51in a
49:52curious
49:52heavyweight
49:53showdown.
49:54For now,
49:55back to
49:55Nick Charles.
49:58Well,
49:58for most
49:59of his
49:59career,
49:59James Toney
50:00has performed
50:00on the
50:01edge of
50:01the spotlight,
50:02never quite
50:03fulfilling his
50:04dreams of
50:05superstardom.
50:06But in
50:06tonight's
50:07unlikely
50:07matchup,
50:08a win
50:08against
50:09the four-time
50:09heavyweight
50:10champion,
50:11could redefine
50:12his career
50:13and elevate
50:14his place
50:15in boxing
50:15history.
50:18Over the
50:18last seven
50:19years,
50:20eight years,
50:21I've fought
50:21the best
50:22in the
50:22division,
50:23and I've
50:24beaten them
50:25badly,
50:26but once
50:27again,
50:27people say
50:27I'm still
50:28an underachiever,
50:29and it's
50:30like,
50:31this is my
50:31credibility,
50:32what I've
50:32done in the
50:33past.
50:34But what I
50:34only can do
50:35right now
50:35is to make
50:37up for it,
50:37I'm fighting
50:38the big fights
50:38in the heavyweight
50:39division,
50:39in great shape,
50:41and just
50:41close a lot
50:41of people's
50:42mouths.
50:44I'm not
50:45no running
50:45fighter,
50:46I'm not
50:46no boxer,
50:48I'm not
50:48going to turn
50:49around from
50:50nobody,
50:50I don't know
50:51how to do
50:51that.
50:52That's for
50:52cowards,
50:53that's for
50:53guys running
50:53around the ring
50:54with pink skirts
50:55and tutus on,
50:56you know what I'm
50:56saying?
50:56That's not me,
50:57I stay there and
50:58fight,
50:58I want blood.
50:59I think
51:00Vandus is a
51:00great fighter,
51:01one of the
51:01greatest fighters
51:02of all time.
51:03You can't knock
51:03what he's done,
51:04he's the first
51:05man to come
51:06from a cruiserweight
51:07division and win
51:08heavyweight championships,
51:09he's fought the best
51:10fighters out there,
51:11he's never turned
51:11down nothing.
51:12When you put
51:12fight in the dictionary,
51:13his face should pop
51:14up right next to mine
51:15because I'm the best
51:16fighter he's ever
51:17fought,
51:18hands down.
51:19Skill-wise,
51:20everybody has better
51:21skills than me.
51:22I can fight anybody,
51:22anywhere, anytime,
51:24it doesn't matter to me.
51:25Where?
51:25I think this fight
51:26is just the beginning.
51:27This is a motivated
51:28fight for me.
51:29I want to fight
51:30the Linus Lewis,
51:31so-called best
51:32heavyweight out there
51:32because just because
51:34Linus is big
51:35and, you know,
51:36and great and all,
51:37it doesn't mean
51:37nothing.
51:38It doesn't mean
51:39nothing at all.
51:39The bigger out
51:40the harder they fall.
51:41And Linus,
51:41Linus is a great
51:42fighter,
51:42great champion.
51:44He's proved himself.
51:45It's time to move up.
51:46Get on,
51:47get on,
51:47get out the way.
51:48I'm coming through.
51:55Nick Charles
51:55with Steve Farhood.
51:56Steve,
51:57we always hear
51:57James Toney,
51:58he talks junk
51:59he talks reality.
52:00He is unafraid.
52:02But,
52:03big difference
52:03when a guy gets to
52:05his biggest fight
52:06in ten years,
52:07maybe his biggest
52:07payday,
52:08happens in Super Bowls,
52:10some teams show up
52:10and say,
52:11I'm grateful to be here.
52:13I've done enough.
52:13I'll cash the check
52:14and do my best.
52:15Others say,
52:16I have attitude.
52:17What do you sense
52:18in James Toney?
52:19No,
52:19James Toney
52:19has attitude,
52:20Nick.
52:21You judge a fighter,
52:22you judge what he's about
52:23by what happens
52:24in the ring.
52:25James Toney,
52:26almost without exception,
52:27has always been a warrior
52:28in the ring.
52:28Steve Albert before
52:29described him as a nice guy
52:30and he is,
52:31but he always has
52:32that edge about him,
52:33like he's looking for a fight,
52:34whether he has what's scheduled
52:35in the ring or not.
52:36And that edge
52:37is not going to disappear
52:39because he's fighting
52:40a heavyweight tonight
52:41and it's not going to disappear
52:42because he's fighting a legend.
52:43The thing I do know,
52:44he is excited
52:45about this fight,
52:46sometimes almost wired
52:47over the top.
52:48It seems I was in the gym
52:49this morning.
52:49Who was there?
52:50James Toney doing about
52:52a thousand crunches
52:53on the ab machine.
52:54That was then.
52:55This is now.
52:56Tony's in his locker room
52:58now with our Jim Gray.
52:59All right.
53:00Thank you very much,
53:01Nick,
53:01here with James Toney.
53:02Just got his instructions
53:03from Jane Nady,
53:04who will be the third man
53:05in the ring tonight.
53:06He cautioned you
53:07and warned you
53:08about Evander
53:09leading with his head
53:10and a butt.
53:10Is that something
53:11of a concern for you?
53:12Not at all.
53:13I'm a completely professional.
53:14I know what to do.
53:15I'm not going to cry about it
53:16if it happens.
53:17I'm going to continue
53:17to beat on him.
53:18James,
53:19you weighed in
53:19at 217 pounds.
53:21A lot of people
53:21coming into this fight
53:22thought that speed
53:23would be an advantage.
53:24Now,
53:25you're within two pounds
53:26of Evander Holyfield.
53:28Did you negate your speed
53:29by bulking up so much?
53:31Never.
53:31I'm faster now than I was
53:32when I was a little lighter.
53:34So, you know,
53:35only thing I can tell people
53:36out there is just watch the fight
53:36and see how fast
53:38my hands move.
53:39Why did your trainer
53:41Freddie Roach
53:41want you to come in
53:42around 205?
53:44That's just him.
53:45I got to do
53:46what's best for my body
53:47and not for everybody else.
53:48Is there any one
53:50in particular thing
53:51that you're concerned about
53:52with Evander Holyfield?
53:53Nothing at all.
53:54Nothing at all.
53:54I'm a complete fighter.
53:56I'm worried about nothing.
53:57I'm born to fight.
53:58They made the fight.
53:59They trained to fight.
54:01That's the difference
54:01between me and everybody
54:02that's out there.
54:03Now,
54:03you have fought
54:03several heavy weights
54:04but nobody
54:05of this distinction.
54:07Did you ever think
54:08that you would be fighting
54:09somebody like Evander Holyfield?
54:12If they give me
54:13the opportunity
54:14and it happens.
54:15So, you've wanted
54:16to be a heavyweight.
54:16Always all my life.
54:17You know,
54:18there's nothing.
54:19It's easy.
54:20Everything will be hard
54:21for me to do.
54:22There's nothing.
54:22Once you can fight,
54:23you can fight anybody
54:24no matter how big they are,
54:25how tall they are.
54:26It doesn't matter.
54:28All right, James.
54:29Good luck tonight.
54:29I'm ready.
54:30All right.
54:31James Toney,
54:31pretty confident.
54:32Ready to roll.
54:33Back to you, Nick.
54:34Thank you, Jim.
54:35Very confident, Steve,
54:36as we expected.
54:37Question for you.
54:39Will he really go to war
54:41as he says?
54:42I don't have any doubt
54:43that he will go to war.
54:44In my mind,
54:45the question, Nick,
54:46is not will he go to war,
54:47it's can he go to war
54:48effectively against Holyfield.
54:51Holyfield's been a top
54:52heavyweight now for,
54:52what, 16 years?
54:53It seems almost unbelievable.
54:55Of course,
54:55at one point,
54:56there was questioned
54:56about him fighting heavyweight.
54:58So should he go to war?
54:59Well,
54:59I don't think he can fight
55:00any other way.
55:01He's no dancer in the ring.
55:02He's no Chris Byrd.
55:03He has to go to war.
55:04If he doesn't have the guns,
55:04he doesn't have the guns,
55:05but he'll go down.
55:06Try it.
55:06Yes, he will.
55:07It's a battle of
55:08two guys who
55:10aren't fighting
55:11for a title tonight,
55:12but who are lining
55:13themselves up
55:13and they can't afford
55:14to stumble.
55:15Tony and Holyfield.
55:16Meanwhile,
55:16a battle of former champions
55:18coming up next.
55:18We know.
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