Evander Holyfield vs James Toney - Showtime PPV 10-4-2003 - video Dailymotion

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Former 4 time Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield faces IBF Cruiserweight Champion James Toney in a Heavyweight Bout in the main event of Showtime Boxing PPV

Transcript

00:00:00Accomplishments. Nearly 41 years old, he's planning once again to confound his critics

00:00:06and win the heavyweight championship for a record fifth time.

00:00:14I guess the older you get, you become smarter and you realize, hey, I can't get hurt.

00:00:20Then you say, well, I shouldn't get hurt. Then what do I have to do to not get hurt?

00:00:25I don't have to prove I'm tough. I know I'm tough.

00:00:27I don't need to take no more punches than I have to.

00:00:31I trust in God. I trust in the word of God.

00:00:35And that's the reason I was able to come from the ghetto and kind of at this lifestyle here.

00:00:41Not because I trust in myself, because I trust in God.

00:00:44I don't believe I could ever be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world if I don't train.

00:00:49If I don't spot, I don't do the thing that the coaches ask me to do,

00:00:53then how can you expect to get what you want?

00:00:55Evander Holyfield, James Toney, we've got a tremendous fight fans fight.

00:01:02What makes this fight compelling is that he say he won't move.

00:01:06And I never fought a person that wouldn't just move, who didn't get knocked out.

00:01:11So it's exciting for me to think, well, you know, I'm going to knock this guy out because he's not going to move.

00:01:17So I just want to end on the top and not end on the downslope with that people.

00:01:23I'm so glad he got out.

00:01:24Steve, notable things I think get Evander Holyfield's favor.

00:01:32He's had his shoulder repaired.

00:01:33He's got the confidence to throw that left hand.

00:01:35Two, he's not going to have to run and find James Toney and expend a lot of energy.

00:01:39And three, he's the bigger man this time.

00:01:42He can out muscle and maybe rough up Tony.

00:01:44Hey, James Toney has a great chin.

00:01:45We know that.

00:01:46He's never taken the punch of a heavyweight.

00:01:48And for those people who think Evander's a small heavyweight without power, keep in mind he's knocked down Mike Tyson, Ray Mercer, Riddick Bowe.

00:01:56That could be Evander's biggest advantage in this fight to power.

00:01:58Flip side, James Toney, 217 for this.

00:02:02Just extra pounds.

00:02:04How will it help?

00:02:04How will it hurt?

00:02:05Too much.

00:02:06Too much weight.

00:02:07He was 190 when he fought Jiroff in the fight that revitalized his career.

00:02:11You add 27 pounds, he has to carry that.

00:02:13That could hurt his legs.

00:02:14His arms are absolutely huge.

00:02:15That could affect his hand speed, which is probably the biggest advantage he had in this matchup.

00:02:21Intimidation will not be an issue.

00:02:22Let's go back to Jim Gray now.

00:02:24All right.

00:02:25We're here with Evander Holyfield.

00:02:26Evander, as you warm up for this fight, are you fighting for your future or are you fighting to preserve and protect your past?

00:02:33Well, future.

00:02:34My goal is to be honest with every champ of the world.

00:02:37You know, my past is my past.

00:02:40Your shoulder.

00:02:40You had some surgery.

00:02:42You've been incapable in the last few fights of throwing your left hand.

00:02:46Is your shoulder back to what it was before the surgery?

00:02:49We'll see in a little while.

00:02:51I expect it to be just fine.

00:02:54Was it inspiring?

00:02:55Was it feeling like you could fire it off?

00:02:57Well, I had no problems in practice and stuff like that.

00:03:00And I look forward to it.

00:03:02How about fighting a guy who's a cruiserweight?

00:03:05Kind of like fighting yourself all over again insofar as it's a guy who's more your size and it's a guy who's trying to do what, in fact, you did.

00:03:13Does that give you some comfort knowing that it's a guy and a man who is of your size?

00:03:18Well, not really.

00:03:19You know, the guy weighed 217.

00:03:21And, you know, weight don't make a difference.

00:03:23You know, we both came to fight and trying to keep it on that level.

00:03:26We both come in and fight and see who's the best guy.

00:03:30Your health is what going into this fight?

00:03:31The pass is great.

00:03:33No concerns?

00:03:35Not whatsoever.

00:03:36Good luck tonight.

00:03:37Thanks for letting us in.

00:03:38All right.

00:03:38Let's go back out to you, Nick.

00:03:40Thank you, Jim.

00:03:41It's called putting yourself in the best position to succeed, and I truly believe Holofield's done that.

00:03:45No doubt.

00:03:46Evander with the arm.

00:03:48Left hand is critical to him, as Al Bernstein's been pointing out all week.

00:03:51The left hook, something to look for.

00:03:52If he has trouble throwing the left hook or the right hand, it won't be because of the injury.

00:03:57It'll be because he's older.

00:03:58And when you get old, the mind sends the message to the muscle.

00:04:02By the time the muscle gets the message, the opening is gone.

00:04:04Well, that's the layout, but only in paper, only in words.

00:04:07Let's see when they start swapping shots as we close in and go down ringside.

00:04:11Once again, Al Bernstein and Steve Albert.

00:04:13Thank you very much, Nick and Steve.

00:04:16As we close in on the main event, Evander Holyfield and James Toney, a matchup that has stirred the imagination of the boxing community and fight fans alike, given the potential for fireworks, but also a fight which could have serious implications for the future of the heavyweight division.

00:04:33Well, just a few months ago, not even the most imaginative of matchmakers would have paired Evander Holyfield with James Toney.

00:04:42Holyfield was negotiating to fight Roy Jones, and Toney was talking about a showdown with Bernard Hopkins.

00:04:47When those fights failed to materialize, Holyfield and Toney turned to each other.

00:04:51There are precious few household names in boxing, and by embracing this matchup, these two warriors are risking their futures.

00:04:59Both seek a shot at the world heavyweight title, and tonight's result will go a long way in determining which one will achieve his goal.

00:05:06Holyfield and Toney are equally confident, but both acknowledge this fight as a high-stakes gamble.

00:05:13Let me bring Al Bernstein back into the picture here.

00:05:15Now, is it realistic for Holyfield to be pursuing another world title, and should Toney be fighting as a heavyweight?

00:05:22Well, it's probably unrealistic for Evander Holyfield to think he can unify the heavyweight titles unless he wants to be the first champion ever to fight with an AARP card.

00:05:29Not going to happen in the near future for him.

00:05:32However, he might get a shot to win one more title, specifically the IBF title, if he can win and win convincingly here tonight against Toney.

00:05:39For James Toney, fighting as a heavyweight was really kind of a no-brainer, because this is a heavyweight division that is very fluid and not very deep.

00:05:46There's not that many great heavyweights floating around, and he saw what Roy Jones did, and he said, why don't I try it?

00:05:52Well, he is going to try it, and we're going to see how it goes.

00:05:55Now, if ever a fight was compelling because of the styles of two fighters, the Holyfield-Toney fight is certainly that matchup.

00:06:02The question is, how will these boxers use those styles to get a win?

00:06:05For that, we take a look at the keys to victory.

00:06:09Everything Evander Holyfield does in this fight starts with the left.

00:06:14He's got to jab his way in.

00:06:16Cannot step to the right.

00:06:18You have to go to the left to beat James Toney.

00:06:20And one of the most important weapons will be his vaunted double left hook.

00:06:26Perhaps the best example of this came against Michael Moore in their second fight,

00:06:30when Holyfield used these weapons to dominate Moore.

00:06:33First the left to the body, then the head.

00:06:35That's the prototype for what he needs to do against Toney.

00:06:39James Toney is a very good counter-puncher off the ropes, and he can be there sometimes,

00:06:43but he can't stay there all through this fight.

00:06:46Combinations are vital.

00:06:47His hand speed is what's supposed to make the difference for him.

00:06:51And the counter-right will be an important weapon against Evander Holyfield.

00:06:56Holyfield comes in sometimes with his left hand low, as Vasily Jirov is here,

00:07:01and then the straight right hand could be a big weapon for James Toney.

00:07:05This is a punch that should be available to him.

00:07:10So the crowd settling in for Evander Holyfield versus James Toney.

00:07:16You've got to also mention the intangibles after the keys to victory,

00:07:20like Evander Holyfield's uncanny will and unyielding faith.

00:07:23But has time finally run out on this certain future Hall of Famer?

00:07:28James Toney offers an emphatic yes.

00:07:32Now all he has to do is back it up.

00:07:35James Toney, last we heard, a slight favorite.

00:07:46As he gets ready to come out of the dressing room and toward the ring,

00:07:53rash outspoken, really brings the attitude, the game face.

00:07:57In listening to Toney, you realize that James Toney's favorite fighter is James Toney.

00:08:02He is on a mission to prove his critics wrong,

00:08:06that he will win this fight, which will then lead to a heavyweight title.

00:08:11He's been talking a lot of trash, saying he's got a bloody Holyfield,

00:08:32put him to sleep, retire him, predicting a knockout within seven rounds.

00:08:36If he fights half as well as he talks, this could be a great fight.

00:08:42He's had a rollercoaster career, once considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

00:08:48Then he ballooned in weight, looked listless against Roy Jones,

00:08:52blamed his problems on his then exorbitant lifestyle.

00:08:55But he is back in the spotlight, motivated after resurrecting his career against Vasily Giroud.

00:09:00And like Holyfield, he's taken on many of his era's top fighters,

00:09:07including Roy Jones, Iran Barkley, Montel Griffin, Michael Nunn, Reggie Johnson, Mike McCallum.

00:09:14He's won 12 straight, including seven knockouts.

00:09:18The win over Giroud, his first world title in nearly nine years after holding belts at 160 and 168.

00:09:27And now positioning himself for boxing's ultimate prize, the heavyweight championship.

00:09:32A more attainable goal these days in light of the division's state of flux.

00:09:37Hearing it, I would say, rather mildly from the crowd as he comes into view.

00:09:50They're saving, I think, they're saving it for Holyfield.

00:09:57If Holyfield is boxing's righteous warrior, Al, Tony is the sport's prodigal son,

00:10:03and perhaps Lazarus as well, with all of his bravado in the fight buildup.

00:10:10How much of the burden of proof is on James Tony?

00:10:12I'll tell you what, the last time James Tony was in the spotlight like this,

00:10:16it was over a decade ago against Roy Jones Jr.

00:10:19He was filled with as much bravado then, he was equally as loquacious.

00:10:23He also had issues of conditioning then, as we wonder if he has now,

00:10:28coming in at 217 pounds.

00:10:30So, yes, the burden of proof is on him very much, coming up in weight.

00:10:34And, can James Tony handle this big moment on the stage?

00:10:38And is he in the right shape for this fight?

00:10:40He'll answer those questions in a few minutes.

00:10:43He was working out to shed some extra baggage as recently as this afternoon

00:10:49in the hotel workout room.

00:10:52His best fights in the last five or ten years

00:10:55have come in his last couple when he weighed 190 pounds.

00:10:59He weighs 217 tonight.

00:11:01But he says, don't be a naysayer.

00:11:03I know better.

00:11:04I can fight it this way.

00:11:06And if he can, God bless him.

00:11:08You really have to wonder if this fight goes into the later rounds,

00:11:10if that will affect his conditioning,

00:11:13if it is indeed out of shape to some degree.

00:11:17And also, will it affect his speed and quickness?

00:11:20The fact that he came in several pounds over what his team wanted.

00:11:25They wanted him to be closer to 200.

00:11:27He came closer to 220.

00:11:29And much has been made of the fact that a lot of that weight was due to weight lifting.

00:11:34Will it slow his hand speed?

00:11:36Which is, of course, an important part of his attempt at winning this fight.

00:11:40And Evander Holyfield, this is nothing new in the sport of boxing,

00:11:44is going to make him wait and make him sweat it out,

00:11:48make him think about it as long as possible.

00:11:52How many times has Holyfield been written off by the naysayers

00:11:56only to come back again and again?

00:12:00He's on a crusade to demonstrate that you never give up.

00:12:04He's not even out yet, and the fans who see him on the big screen are cheering.

00:12:09He believes, despite the age process perhaps slowing him down,

00:12:12that another heavyweight title and even the undisputed championship is truly his destiny.

00:12:18You wait a minute!

00:12:20Come on, Chief!

00:12:22Step away!

00:12:26Let's go, Chief!

00:12:28Bring it down, Chief!

00:12:29Always reserved, gracious, spiritual, very much at peace with himself.

00:12:37The only heavyweight in history to win a world title, four separate occasions.

00:12:42Known worldwide for his extraordinary warrior spirit, incredible heart and fearlessness.

00:12:50Al, he says the only way he'll retire is if someone beats him up.

00:12:55Until then, he'll continue his quest for a fifth belt, despite a ten-month layoff.

00:12:59His advanced stage surgery on his left shoulder, which could affect his best and perhaps most important weapon against a guy like Tony.

00:13:07The fact he's won only two of his last seven and comes off a one-sided loss, he's still the sentimental favorite.

00:13:15You know, being reborn is not an abstract idea at all for Vanderhoofield because he feels he's been reborn.

00:13:22Well, physically, the question is, will that surgery on his left arm and shoulder make him a fighter who is reborn?

00:13:31He cannot function in this fight without the jab and the left hook.

00:13:37Before, when he was talking to Jim Gray, he didn't make a compelling case that he feels confident that it's going to be okay,

00:13:44though he has in other days leading up to this fight.

00:13:47So, it'll be interesting to see.

00:13:48And by the way, Vanderhoofield, of course, is singing.

00:13:51He sings when he comes in the ring.

00:13:53But he looks a little more subdued than I've seen him in recent fights.

00:13:56You have to wonder.

00:14:26How much does this old war horse have left, knowing he not only needs to win, but win impressively?

00:14:56And we know who the crowd favorite is in this fight.

00:15:08A pensive Evander Holyfield, though, coming in.

00:15:10That was fascinating to me.

00:15:11I don't know that I've ever seen that look on his face coming into a fight.

00:15:15Almost as if he's surveying this situation, saying, hmm, I've been here before.

00:15:19I want to drink this in now, because who knows how many more times I'll have it.

00:15:23I don't know if we should perceive it as worried, pensive, or focused.

00:15:29Tough to tell what's going on inside his head.

00:15:32The irony, he was always called the blown-up cruiserweight.

00:15:35Tonight, he's fighting a blown-up cruiserweight.

00:15:37For once, Holyfield isn't the smaller fighter.

00:15:42Tale of the tape.

00:15:43Of course, Holyfield's age jumps out 41 October the 19th.

00:15:47Holyfield with the height and reach advantages.

00:15:50Big issue, Tony's weight.

00:15:51He insists it's natural.

00:15:53Will it impact the outcome?

00:15:54And the key rules for this heavyweight fight.

00:15:58No standing eight count.

00:15:59No three knockdown rule.

00:16:00A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.

00:16:03If an accidental headbutt occurs before the end of the fourth round,

00:16:06the fighters rule the no decision.

00:16:08If it happens after the end of round four, they go to the scorecards.

00:16:11Could be significant, knowing Holyfield's reputation of headbutting.

00:16:16So here at the Mandalay Bay, we're getting ready for Evander Holyfield

00:16:20versus James Tony, scheduled for 12 rounds.

00:16:22Let's get the official introductions from a ring announcer,

00:16:25the classy Jimmy Lennon Jr.

00:16:34Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening to you

00:16:38and welcome to the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

00:16:42here in Las Vegas, Nevada.

00:16:45It's time for our featured bout of the evening

00:16:48brought to you by Goose and Tudor Promotions

00:16:52in association with the Mandalay Bay,

00:16:55the undisputed king of beers, Budweiser, and Showtime.

00:17:01This bout coming away is sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

00:17:05The chairman is Dr. Luther Mack,

00:17:08commissioners Dr. Tony Alamo,

00:17:09Skip Avancino,

00:17:11John Bailey,

00:17:12and Dr. Flip Homansky with the executive director,

00:17:15Mark Ratner.

00:17:17Our physicians at ringside,

00:17:18Dr. Margaret Goodman,

00:17:20Dr. Jeff Davidson,

00:17:22Dr. William Belinner,

00:17:23and Dr. David Watson.

00:17:26Time keepers at the bell,

00:17:27also keeping count of the knockdowns,

00:17:29we have Jane Broadfoot

00:17:30and James Cavan.

00:17:33Introducing our three judges,

00:17:34scoring this bout from ringside,

00:17:36all three are from Las Vegas, Nevada.

00:17:40We have Dave Moretti,

00:17:42Jerry Roth,

00:17:43and Paul Smith,

00:17:44and our third man in the ring,

00:17:47the referee in charge of the action.

00:17:48He'll be giving instructions after the introductions,

00:17:52Jay Nadee.

00:17:53All right, fans,

00:17:56here we go with our main event of the evening,

00:18:0012 rounds of boxing scheduled

00:18:03in a heavyweight special attraction.

00:18:06And now,

00:18:07ladies and gentlemen in attendance,

00:18:09and boxing fans joining us around the world,

00:18:13live from the Mandalay Bay,

00:18:16it's showtime!

00:18:18Introducing to you first,

00:18:27ladies and gentlemen,

00:18:28on my left,

00:18:29fighting out of the blue corner,

00:18:32entering the ring,

00:18:33wearing dark green trunks with white trim,

00:18:36and hailing from Detroit, Michigan.

00:18:39He weighed in at 217 pounds,

00:18:44a veteran of 14 world title appearances,

00:18:47his record stands at 66 wins,

00:18:50four losses,

00:18:51two draws,

00:18:52with 42 wins,

00:18:54coming by way of knockout.

00:18:56Tonight,

00:18:57challenging the odds,

00:18:58as he steps up to the heavyweight division,

00:19:01here is the former IBF middleweight world champion,

00:19:05the former IBF super middleweight world champion,

00:19:09and the current IBF cruiserweight champion of the world,

00:19:13ladies and gentlemen,

00:19:15introducing James Lighthouse Tony!

00:19:23He believes,

00:19:24despite the age process perhaps slowing him down,

00:19:27that another heavyweight title,

00:19:29and even the undisputed championship,

00:19:32is truly his destiny.

00:19:33Always reserved,

00:19:47gracious,

00:19:48spiritual,

00:19:49very much at peace with himself,

00:19:51the only heavyweight in history to win a world title,

00:19:55four separate occasions,

00:19:56known worldwide for his extraordinary warrior spirit,

00:20:00incredible heart,

00:20:01and fearlessness.

00:20:05Al,

00:20:06he says the only way he'll retire is if someone beats him up.

00:20:09Until then,

00:20:10he'll continue his quest for a fifth belt,

00:20:12despite a 10-month layoff,

00:20:14his advanced stage,

00:20:15surgery on his left shoulder,

00:20:17which could affect his best,

00:20:19and perhaps most important weapon,

00:20:21against a guy like Tony,

00:20:22the fact he's won only two of his last seven,

00:20:25and comes off a one-sided loss,

00:20:28he's still the sentimental favorite.

00:20:30You know,

00:20:31being reborn is not an abstract idea at all,

00:20:34for Vanderhoof,

00:20:35because he feels he's been reborn.

00:20:37Well,

00:20:38physically,

00:20:38the question is,

00:20:39will that surgery on his left arm and shoulder,

00:20:43make him a fighter who is reborn?

00:20:45He cannot function in this fight,

00:20:48without the jab and the left hook.

00:20:51Before,

00:20:52when he was talking to Jim Gray,

00:20:54he didn't make a compelling case,

00:20:56that he feels confident that it's going to be okay,

00:20:58though he has in other days,

00:21:00leading up to this fight.

00:21:01So,

00:21:02it'll be interesting to see,

00:21:03and by the way,

00:21:04Evander Holyfield,

00:21:05of course,

00:21:05is singing,

00:21:06he sings when he comes in the ring,

00:21:07but,

00:21:08he looks a little more subdued,

00:21:09than I've seen him in recent fights.

00:21:11You have to wonder,

00:21:20You have to wonder how much does this old war horse have left, knowing he not only needs

00:21:46to win, but win impressively.

00:21:50Come on, pull your arms, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's

00:22:09go, let's go, let's go, let's go, entering for the 47th time in his pro career.

00:22:16And we know who the crowd favorite is in this fight, a pensive Evander Holyfield though

00:22:25coming in, that was fascinating to me.

00:22:26I don't know that I've ever seen that look on his face coming into a fight, almost as

00:22:30if he's surveying this situation saying, hmm, I've been here before, I want to drink this

00:22:35in now, because who knows how many more times I'll have it.

00:22:38I don't know if we should perceive it as worried, pensive, or focused.

00:22:44Tough to tell what's going on inside his head.

00:22:47The irony, he was always called the blown up cruiserweight.

00:22:50Tonight he's fighting a blown up cruiserweight.

00:22:52For once Holyfield isn't the smaller fighter.

00:22:57Tale of the tape, of course Holyfield's age jumps out 41.

00:23:00October the 19th, Holyfield with the height and reach advantages, big issue, Tony's weight.

00:23:06He insists it's natural.

00:23:08Will it impact the outcome?

00:23:10And the key rules for this heavyweight fight, no standing eight count, no three knockdown rule.

00:23:15A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.

00:23:18If an accidental headbutt occurs before the end of the fourth round, the fighters rule the

00:23:21no decision.

00:23:23If it happens after the end of round four, they go to the scorecards.

00:23:25Could be significant, knowing Holyfield's reputation of headbutting.

00:23:31So here at the Mandalay Bay, we're getting ready for Evander Holyfield versus James Toney,

00:23:36scheduled for 12 rounds.

00:23:38Let's get the official introductions from a ring announcer, the classy Jimmy Lennon Jr.

00:23:49Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening to you.

00:23:53And welcome to the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here in Las Vegas, Nevada.

00:24:00It's time for our featured bout of the evening, brought to you by Goose and Tudor Promotions

00:24:06in association with the Mandalay Bay, the undisputed king of beers, Budweiser, and Showtime.

00:24:16This bout coming away is sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

00:24:19The chairman is Dr. Luther Mack, commissioners Dr. Tony Alibo, Skip Avancino, John Bailey,

00:24:27and Dr. Flip Homansky with the executive director, Mark Ratner.

00:24:32Our physicians at ringside, Dr. Margaret Goodman, Dr. Jeff Davidson, Dr. William Belinner,

00:24:38and Dr. David Watson.

00:24:41Time keepers at the bell, also keeping count of the knockdowns, we have Jane Broadfoot and

00:24:46James Cavan.

00:24:47Introducing our three judges scoring this bout from ringside.

00:24:51All three are from Las Vegas, Nevada.

00:24:54We have Dave Moretti, Jerry Roth, and Paul Smith.

00:24:59And our third man in the ring, the referee in charge of the action.

00:25:03He'll be giving instructions after the introductions.

00:25:06Jay Nadee.

00:25:08All right, fans, here we go with our main event of the evening, 12 rounds of boxing scheduled

00:25:17in a heavyweight special attraction.

00:25:20And now, ladies and gentlemen in attendance and boxing fans joining us around the world,

00:25:28live from the Mandalay Bay, it's showtime!

00:25:33Introducing to you first, ladies and gentlemen, on my left, fighting out of the blue corner,

00:25:47entering the ring wearing dark green trunks with white trim, and hailing from Detroit, Michigan.

00:25:54He weighed in at 217 pounds, a veteran of 14 world title appearances.

00:26:02His record stands at 66 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws, with 42 wins, coming by way of knockout.

00:26:11Tonight, challenging the odds as he steps up to the heavyweight division.

00:26:15Here is the former IBF middleweight world champion, the former IBF super middleweight world champion,

00:26:23and the current IBF cruiserweight champion of the world.

00:26:28Ladies and gentlemen, introducing James Lightshire Tony!

00:26:36And his opponent across the ring on my right, really needing no introduction, the world over,

00:26:50fighting out of the red corner, wearing purple trunks and black trim,

00:26:55representing his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

00:26:59He weighed in at 219 pounds, with a record of 38 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws.

00:27:08He has 25 wins, coming by way of knockout.

00:27:12Ladies and gentlemen, here is the former undisputed cruiserweight world champion,

00:27:18the former undisputed heavyweight world champion,

00:27:22and the one and only four-time heavyweight champion of the world.

00:27:27Please welcome, boxing's true warrior, introducing Evander, the reality of the Holyfield!

00:27:44Once again, the referee in charge is Jay Nady.

00:27:48Now to give instructions, 12 rounds of action scheduled.

00:27:52Dale, when I give you instructions in the dressing room, do we have any questions?

00:28:00Okay, the belly button's in the demarcation line.

00:28:02Let's touch the lift, we'll go to work.

00:28:03Good luck.

00:28:07Would we even be here tonight, if not for the current state of the heavyweight division?

00:28:12That said, when you look at both guys together,

00:28:15the physical difference is immediately apparent.

00:28:18Holyfield really does look bigger.

00:28:20Nearing 20 years as a pro, still looking phenomenal.

00:28:24Tony's desired weight, as mentioned, was closer to 200, came in closer to 220.

00:28:30Was that because, for the first time in his career, he didn't have to make weight?

00:28:36Did he train any differently to bulk up?

00:28:39Did he spend too much time promoting the fight?

00:28:41The extra weight may help him on the inside.

00:28:45Against a strong guy like Holyfield, but will it affect his speed and quickness,

00:28:51which he's been saying all along will be the difference in this fight.

00:28:54He wants to keep a fast pace, does Tony.

00:28:57Bottom line, what kind of shape is Tony in?

00:29:00We'll soon find out.

00:29:01Well, the first punch of the fight for Vander Holyfield was what?

00:29:04A left hook.

00:29:05So, there's a surprise.

00:29:06Yeah, he knows he's got to throw that punch.

00:29:08And he must use the jab.

00:29:10Part of the problem with that, oh, there it is again.

00:29:12And that is his best punch.

00:29:14It is.

00:29:15And the jab has been missing from the Holyfield arsenal in recent fights

00:29:19because he said he can't keep the hand up because the shoulder bothers him so much.

00:29:23He has to let it lay down.

00:29:25He can't throw the jab.

00:29:26We'll see in this fight whether it's back.

00:29:28There's a wild left hook attempt there by Holyfield.

00:29:34That missed.

00:29:37Holyfield would flat out beat up opponents early in his career.

00:29:40These days, priding himself on ring smarts.

00:29:42Stop.

00:29:43Adjustments on the fly.

00:29:46Which really came to light in the first meeting with Mike Tyson.

00:29:50As he discovered already, the answer to Tony's style.

00:29:57Holyfield with an overhand right.

00:30:01James Tony is a very good defensive fighter.

00:30:04But the way you beat him is you throw that hook.

00:30:07And there he is.

00:30:08Holyfield knows what to do.

00:30:10And he's doing it here in this round.

00:30:11On the inside, a very effective left hook by Holyfield.

00:30:17And let's make another important point here early.

00:30:20And perhaps James Tony will make a liar out of this point.

00:30:23He's never been hit by a guy that hits like Evander Holyfield.

00:30:26And Tony has never been seriously hurt in his career.

00:30:31He's never been stopped.

00:30:33He's only been down a couple of times.

00:30:35The last time was 1994 with Roy Jones.

00:30:39And of course, as we point out, the guy, the people he's been fighting were middleweight, super middleweight, and then of course up to cruiserweight.

00:30:47This is Lee Giroff, while he was very busy and very aggressive in their last fight through many arm punches.

00:30:52And of course, he's been through a lot of awards in the cronk gym, probably against bigger guys.

00:30:59You wonder if he's ever felt the power of an Evander Holyfield.

00:31:03Although Holyfield, throughout his career, not really known as a knockout puncher.

00:31:08But he made up for that with heart and courage and guts.

00:31:11But he's a bruiser.

00:31:14He's very rough on the inside.

00:31:16Accused by many of using the fouls tackle.

00:31:22That's a heavy right hand.

00:31:24Let's go, let's go.

00:31:24A short, crisp right hand to the head by Holyfield.

00:31:27And if you're looking for signs one way or the other, not only is it good for Holyfield that he's thrown the hook so much,

00:31:33he's even getting the right hand in.

00:31:34You don't normally land that against Tony.

00:31:36And Holyfield is paying off shots defensively by Tony.

00:31:39A very good first round.

00:31:41For the legendary Holyfield, who just made Tony buckle with a body shot just before the bell.

00:31:46That was a picture-perfect first round for Evander Holyfield.

00:32:03Look at the size difference between the two men.

00:32:07It is really graphic.

00:32:08And here, we will see Holyfield gripping the hooks.

00:32:13He comes here with an excellent hook right to the face of James Tony.

00:32:16It's a short one and gets in.

00:32:19And it was a weapon that he used.

00:32:20So, so far, that repaired shoulder is working.

00:32:23We take yet another look at it.

00:32:25And what makes this special is it was a very short, compact punch.

00:32:29And this is the end of the round where they were rumbling a little bit after the bell.

00:32:34Again, the hook is in by Holyfield.

00:32:37And they have buckled Tony.

00:32:38And James Tony taking umbrage at the fact that something may have come after the bell.

00:32:42Certainly not the same Evander Holyfield we saw in his last fight against Chris Bird when he looked very sluggish and mistakenly tried to match wits with the Slickster Bird.

00:32:54He is very aggressive and attacking James Tony.

00:32:59And he comes off a terrific opening round.

00:33:02Holyfield threw nearly 30 left hooks.

00:33:05Well over 26 left hooks in the first round.

00:33:08So, here's a guy who now finally has that weapon back again and is using it with great dispatch.

00:33:15Tony trying to get into a rhythm here.

00:33:17Starting to throw that left.

00:33:19Misses with the right.

00:33:21Tony jabbing more now and using his crafty defensive skills.

00:33:26He is a great counter puncher.

00:33:28What I'm seeing out of Holyfield is here he's fighting in sustained fashion.

00:33:32He is not fighting in spurts.

00:33:33He's not just trying to steal things.

00:33:35One of the weapons that Holyfield is not using yet is the jab.

00:33:39Tony's jabbed a little bit better.

00:33:41And there you see Tony trying to use the jab upstairs and the downstairs and then go upstairs.

00:33:49There's a beautiful jab stuffed in there by Holyfield.

00:33:53That was okay.

00:33:55That was not a low blow says Jay Hady by Evander Holyfield.

00:33:59James Tony wants this fight in the center of the ring.

00:34:02You can see he is trying desperately to stay off the ropes.

00:34:05He knows that's a real danger area for him.

00:34:07And he realizes it more now Steve after the first round in which he was in that position

00:34:11and couldn't counter punch like he normally does.

00:34:14And was hit with big hooks to the body and the head.

00:34:16Stop!

00:34:17Rick!

00:34:18I like the way Holyfield is setting his distance.

00:34:23And he's trying to throw as Tony gets ready to throw.

00:34:26Which was a device used very successfully against a fellow named Mike Tyson in that great first fight.

00:34:34Tony being more aggressive though here in the second round.

00:34:37Starting to get some of his punches off.

00:34:39A slight subtle change.

00:34:41He's able to land a little bit.

00:34:43And he's getting a little more cutesy now.

00:34:44That's his style.

00:34:45That tricky side stepping, slipping, the shifting.

00:34:49Now Holyfield is doing a good job committing to the body.

00:34:53Stop!

00:34:54Let him out, let him out.

00:34:56And one low there.

00:34:56Keep it up.

00:34:58But at least in round two, Tony has found a hole for the jab, an occasional hook, an occasional right hand.

00:35:04And certainly made it a much closer round.

00:35:11And Holyfield has been more inactive.

00:35:14Now Holyfield, yes, sport measuring.

00:35:17He worked great.

00:35:18Has really gone down since that big first round.

00:35:22Nice quick left hook to the jaw by Tony.

00:35:25A crisp one.

00:35:30That caught Holyfield with his defenses down.

00:35:32Tony making Holyfield miss a lot more in this round.

00:35:37And maybe doing enough to steal this round.

00:35:40Holyfield missing.

00:35:42But he got him on the inside with a left hook uppercut.

00:35:45A better round for James Tony, round two.

00:35:49But the crowd getting behind Holyfield at the end.

00:35:52Come on!

00:35:53Come on!

00:35:56Give me some.

00:35:57Give me some.

00:35:59Okay.

00:36:01Hebris.

00:36:02All right.

00:36:05Now, JT, he's trying to steal the rounds in 30 seconds.

00:36:08All right?

00:36:08He's doing nothing.

00:36:09He's trying to steal the rounds on you, right?

00:36:11Don't let that happen, okay?

00:36:12When you hit that 10 seconds, you're going to pick it up from me, okay?

00:36:15Okay.

00:36:16You controlling him?

00:36:18Holyfield anxious to work the body.

00:36:21And that one, right on the border.

00:36:24And then he tries to double with it over the head of Tony.

00:36:28James Tony had his moments, a lot of moments in that last round, actually.

00:36:32And you're not supposed to be able to hook with a left hook guard as well.

00:36:35He did it right there and got away with it.

00:36:37Shades of some of the hand speed that Tony hopes will be his calling card during this match.

00:36:43And we enter round three, scheduled for 12, a heavyweight non-title bout.

00:36:53Holyfield sticking the jab, and it's effective.

00:36:56Let's see if he follows it up with the right.

00:36:58Of course, his e-combination, as Al has pointed out, the double left hook to the body and to the head.

00:37:05And so far, that left hand seems okay after the shoulder surgery.

00:37:19You know, Holyfield landed that big right.

00:37:22Very something to do against Tony.

00:37:23Yes, he's throwing left hooks, but there's one small element missing from what Evander Holyfield is doing.

00:37:30He's not taking that step to the left.

00:37:32When you don't do that against Tony, you miss with the hook.

00:37:35And he's doing that more in the last two rounds.

00:37:38And Tony is as good a counter-puncher there is in the sport today.

00:37:43Nice body work downstairs by Tony.

00:37:46Let's not forget Holyfield's age.

00:37:48He's 41 years of age.

00:37:50You can't always sustain what you want over the course of a round when you're 41.

00:37:54And here comes Tony back again.

00:37:55Tony with a nice long jab.

00:37:58But one and done.

00:38:04Excellent work by James Tony.

00:38:06A counter-punch.

00:38:07And this fight is now settling into what we thought it would be for however long it lasted.

00:38:11And that was two men hot-shotting each other.

00:38:14And right in front of each other, throwing and landing.

00:38:16Let's go.

00:38:17Let's go.

00:38:18Let's go.

00:38:19Let's go.

00:38:20Holyfield told us at our meeting with him that he would try this several times during the fight.

00:38:34Try and get Tony to lure him in so he could counter him.

00:38:37And that's what he's trying to do now.

00:38:39Tony's not getting hit with any counter-punches.

00:38:41He's actually landing a few of his own and putting that beautiful left hook on the inside.

00:38:44Tony acknowledging something to his corner.

00:38:46And then he got hit with a combination because of it.

00:38:50Don't hold.

00:38:52Watch your head, Evander.

00:38:53Watch your head.

00:38:55Well, you know the history of Evander Holyfield as far as the head is concerned.

00:39:02Mike Tyson, John Ruiz, Asim Rahman, could tell you about it.

00:39:09Left-right combination upstairs.

00:39:11Didn't have full impact by Holyfield.

00:39:14It is very hard to hit Tony with a perfect right hand.

00:39:16Stop, stop, stop, stop.

00:39:17Man, you got to keep your head away from his head.

00:39:19Jane 80 warning Holyfield about the heads.

00:39:22They're jumping right on that issue.

00:39:24Of course, a lot of fighters complaining that Holyfield is dirty.

00:39:28Others say it just gets rough on the inside.

00:39:31And that's the kind of fighter he is.

00:39:34Tony said he's very prepared for that.

00:39:36And he just wipes off the sweat, off the shoulders, as if to say to Holyfield, we're not hurting you.

00:39:42A confidence, James Tony, to this point, that's for sure.

00:39:47He is gaining a confidence.

00:39:48He's going to push the arm.

00:39:52Breathe.

00:39:57Inside, bend your legs.

00:39:59Get some talk in there, motherfucker.

00:40:01Short, eat, eat, short.

00:40:03You're a little effective on the outside.

00:40:04You don't got to go inside, do you?

00:40:05He's standing up straight when you're pulling your hook.

00:40:07That's why he's getting under.

00:40:09Bend your legs.

00:40:11And you hit these corners.

00:40:13Watch where he's overhand right.

00:40:14You hit, you throw it one time.

00:40:18Early in the round, James Holyfield was able to do something you seldom can do against Tony.

00:40:23Land a good right hand.

00:40:23But you see how well Tony slips these punches.

00:40:26This is where you got to step to your left and crank left hooks.

00:40:29Holyfield couldn't do it.

00:40:30And later on in the round, dare I say, the hand speed of James Tony, which is apparently

00:40:36at this juncture a little better than Evander Holyfield.

00:40:39No matter what pounds he's fighting at, the right hand gets in.

00:40:43Tony's hand speed is making a difference right now.

00:40:46I'm not saying it's dazzling at this point, but it's certainly better than Holyfield's.

00:40:49Tony's motion toward his corner was actually directed toward the judge over there, we are

00:40:56told, in trying to indicate to the judge that he hit Evander Holyfield.

00:41:01He's working the judges.

00:41:05Tony unleashing a...

00:41:08Let go, let go, let go, let go, let hold, let hold.

00:41:11He may have heard Holyfield.

00:41:13Combination, the left hook, effective on Holyfield's hand.

00:41:18Low left, low, Holyfield's hand is, Steve.

00:41:22Tony continues to have success here at the beginning of round four.

00:41:27He's landing.

00:41:28Now the in-driving as Tony backs off, gets himself some leverage, and fires the straight

00:41:37right.

00:41:38That's your hand, Evander.

00:41:40Tony looking a lot better since the first round.

00:41:45Holyfield is doing what he did against Byrd, coming inside and smothering his punches.

00:41:49Could that mean the left shoulder's bothering him again?

00:41:52He can't keep the left up.

00:41:53That's when he does it, and he can't keep that left up and jab his wing.

00:41:56He has to come inside, and he's kept the left low, and Tony's hit with right hands.

00:42:01It might be affecting him negatively, you're right.

00:42:04And when you're almost 41 years old, those problems can crump up in a second.

00:42:08Back to Tony fans.

00:42:11Well, now it's what he thought it was going to be, isn't it?

00:42:14It's a slugfest.

00:42:18The defense of Tony right now is excellent, though.

00:42:21And Holyfield's doing the right thing by working the body of Tony.

00:42:30If you can't hit him in the head, go to the body, because this is a 12-round fight.

00:42:35He weighs 217 pounds.

00:42:36You want to slow him down.

00:42:38All right, stop.

00:42:42Tony, hoping that Holyfield punches himself off.

00:42:46Under a minute left.

00:42:47Look at your head!

00:42:48In an action-packed fourth round.

00:42:49Let go, let go, let go.

00:42:50That right hand by Holyfield got in there very well against Tony.

00:42:55Now, does Tony think he's punched himself off?

00:42:57Will he try and come back now?

00:43:00Tony with a very fast pace.

00:43:02And he's a lot busier now.

00:43:06Crisp left hooks.

00:43:08Three in a row unanswered.

00:43:10A right uppercut on the jaw about Tony on the inside.

00:43:13Work out of there.

00:43:13Don't hold.

00:43:15Four good shots by James Tony during that sequence.

00:43:18You can't push him around with your head.

00:43:20Jane Ady again cautioning Holyfield to be careful with the head.

00:43:27That left hook blocked by Holyfield.

00:43:29A very interesting round to score.

00:43:43Time!

00:43:48I thought it was another good round for Tony.

00:43:55Here's my bucket.

00:43:57Jesus Christ.

00:43:58Deep breath.

00:43:59Very good, James.

00:44:07I hear.

00:44:07Tony got against the ropes.

00:44:11And, of course, he wants to smother the punches of Holyfield and land his counter punches.

00:44:15There's Holyfield working the body.

00:44:17Tony himself coming back.

00:44:19That's what he does.

00:44:20He counters off those ropes effectively.

00:44:22Holyfield getting some of those shots in well.

00:44:24Some being blocked.

00:44:25This is vintage James Tony.

00:44:28And look at him land the uppercut.

00:44:30It is so hard to hit him when he's in this posture.

00:44:33And you see, actually, a lot of Holyfield's punches not getting in there.

00:44:36Even though he did land some.

00:44:38That is quintessential James Tony.

00:44:41Holyfield has a fight on his hands here with James Tony.

00:44:46As we head into round five scheduled for 12.

00:44:51Tony now brimming with confidence.

00:44:53James, tripling up on the left, firing a straight right.

00:45:00And Tony is getting off first.

00:45:02There's a big overhand right to the chin.

00:45:04A left puck to the other side of Holyfield's face.

00:45:07Flicking the jab, doing it all, twisting and turning.

00:45:13James Tony, all of a sudden, seems to have Holyfield in his pocket.

00:45:20Oh, what a heavy right-hand show up to the chin of Holyfield.

00:45:25Big shot by Tony.

00:45:26Another one over the top.

00:45:28That left of Holyfield's has gone so low,

00:45:31the lead right by Tony is a slam dunk for him.

00:45:34Nice throw, scoring.

00:45:40It's all not enough.

00:45:42I have it three rounds to one,

00:45:44but the fourth round, a very close round.

00:45:47And I could see it being even after four rounds.

00:45:50That is not out of the question.

00:45:52That fourth round was a close round.

00:45:54Watch your head, Evander.

00:45:58Tony off to a tremendous start in this round.

00:46:00I'm of the belief Tony is slightly ahead at this point.

00:46:04Now Holyfield, when he's on the inside here,

00:46:12should be taking that step to the left and making it work.

00:46:15Instead, it's Tony with the double left hook.

00:46:16James Tony is hooking with the left hook artist.

00:46:20And if anything shows that he's in control of this fight,

00:46:24and that is it right now.

00:46:25Defying,

00:46:26don't hook with the hooker.

00:46:29That extra weight

00:46:30is not affecting Tony's quickness or speed with his hands whatsoever.

00:46:42Again, doubling up with the left

00:46:44is just a beautiful combination upstairs

00:46:47by James Tony of countering right.

00:46:50But Holyfield couldn't connect.

00:46:54Interesting.

00:46:55With that role reversal here,

00:46:57Tony getting off first.

00:46:59And Holyfield doing a lot of counter.

00:47:04Tony's known as a superb counter puncher.

00:47:07Oh, what a singing straight right hand

00:47:11to the head of Holyfield.

00:47:13James Tony contends to score.

00:47:15Holyfield is waiting for that to counter,

00:47:17but the problem is he's getting hit,

00:47:18and his hand speed isn't up to the task right now.

00:47:21And he's not getting to the left

00:47:23where he can land that hook.

00:47:25And this is becoming a replay

00:47:26of so many previous James Tony fights

00:47:28where fighters stand on his right side

00:47:30and can't land any punches.

00:47:33It's a footwork issue for Holyfield now

00:47:35as much as anything.

00:47:38Look at him.

00:47:39He's in the wrong position.

00:47:40He can't get that hook to it.

00:47:41Now he's for the left.

00:47:44Victory at the end of the round

00:47:47by Holyfield.

00:47:48But once again,

00:47:49a big round for Tony.

00:47:58Here is where the left hand is low.

00:48:01A right hand will come across

00:48:02from James Tony.

00:48:05That left hand is staying very, very low

00:48:11by Evander Holyfield,

00:48:12and he can't block the right hand.

00:48:15And the combinations from James Tony.

00:48:17One of the keys to victory.

00:48:19He had to throw more than one punch at a time.

00:48:21He's doing it.

00:48:22He said Holyfield's...

00:48:23Oh my God,

00:48:24he sticks his tongue out

00:48:25at Evander Holyfield.

00:48:27He said Holyfield would be available

00:48:29for these punches,

00:48:30and so far he has been.

00:48:32Evander Holyfield with an incredible look of concern

00:48:49on his face,

00:48:50perhaps underestimating

00:48:52James Tony.

00:48:56And let's remember,

00:48:57he's just short of his 41st birthday,

00:49:00and at a certain point,

00:49:01athletes can wear down.

00:49:02And athletes,

00:49:04particularly fighters,

00:49:05can get old.

00:49:06They turn old in one night.

00:49:08You know,

00:49:13after a textbook throw,

00:49:14Oh,

00:49:14what a body shot by Tony.

00:49:16And you saw the reaction,

00:49:17the grimace of Holyfield.

00:49:20It was a perfect first round for Evander Holyfield,

00:49:22and since then,

00:49:23it has been

00:49:24all James Tony.

00:49:25Now again,

00:49:28Tony motioning over,

00:49:30I can only assume,

00:49:31to the judge,

00:49:31who is smiling.

00:49:32Stop.

00:49:33Let him out.

00:49:34To tell him once again,

00:49:36I connected with a punch.

00:49:38Just in case you didn't see.

00:49:39You know what?

00:49:40Doesn't he know

00:49:41we're supposed to do the commentary?

00:49:43He is just

00:49:44devastated

00:49:46Evander Holyfield now,

00:49:47and Holyfield with no answers.

00:49:49And let's say this about James Tony.

00:49:51He told us,

00:49:52I'm going to throw combinations.

00:49:54I will have hand speed in this fight.

00:49:56Don't be deceived

00:49:57by the fact that I've got big arms,

00:49:59that I weighed

00:49:59more than everybody thought I should.

00:50:02And so far,

00:50:03and we say so far,

00:50:04he's

00:50:05followed through on his part.

00:50:07Well,

00:50:07at this point,

00:50:08that is true.

00:50:09It is

00:50:10very easy to say

00:50:12that the extra weight

00:50:13is having

00:50:14no negative effect

00:50:15on James Tony.

00:50:17And Holyfield smothering himself,

00:50:19doing exactly what he did

00:50:20against Chris Burley.

00:50:22What the reason for that is,

00:50:23I don't know.

00:50:24Is it because the arm hurts

00:50:25and he can't get it off?

00:50:26And, you know,

00:50:28you throw the jab,

00:50:29it's very low right now.

00:50:32Whatever the reason,

00:50:33he is not fighting

00:50:34a smart fight right now.

00:50:35Not a good strategic fight

00:50:36and not a very active fight.

00:50:38And again,

00:50:39I've seen James,

00:50:40I've been on broadcast

00:50:4115 or 20 James Tony fights.

00:50:43You can't,

00:50:44you've got to get to your left

00:50:45and rip punches.

00:50:47And right now,

00:50:47he's not doing it.

00:50:48Tony just digging in

00:50:50with left hands

00:50:51to Holyfield's body.

00:50:53Has to be wearing

00:50:54Holyfield out.

00:50:55Holyfield with

00:50:56tremendous guts

00:50:58plowing forward.

00:51:00And now,

00:51:01hanging out.

00:51:03Holyfield starting

00:51:04to really show

00:51:05the wear and tear

00:51:06and the exhaustion.

00:51:08Oh,

00:51:08what a right hand

00:51:09by Tony

00:51:09and then eluding

00:51:11the comebacker,

00:51:13the left hook try

00:51:14by Holyfield.

00:51:15You've got to watch

00:51:16banging him

00:51:16because you're hitting him.

00:51:18Now that looked like

00:51:20a use of the hand

00:51:20by Holyfield.

00:51:21Jane Aidy gave him

00:51:22another caution.

00:51:23Might take a point away.

00:51:24I have to tell you,

00:51:25there's another factor

00:51:26to this.

00:51:27James Tony's hit

00:51:28Evander Holyfield

00:51:29with, I guess,

00:51:30almost the best punches

00:51:31you can throw

00:51:32and Holyfield hasn't

00:51:33gone anywhere,

00:51:33which is pretty interesting.

00:51:35Now he's going backwards

00:51:36but he swings wildly

00:51:37Holyfield and misses.

00:51:39Perhaps out of frustration

00:51:41going back to the head

00:51:42buddy.

00:51:44Bell, bell, bell!

00:51:57Oh, green.

00:51:59You are green.

00:52:01You got it.

00:52:02You got it.

00:52:07Come on, John!

00:52:09You got to get busy

00:52:10on the inside, Holyfield.

00:52:12He's punching all this head.

00:52:13Punch him under.

00:52:14Push him.

00:52:16The combination punching

00:52:17by Tony is simply

00:52:18too much right now

00:52:19for Holyfield.

00:52:21Talking to the judge

00:52:22and saying,

00:52:23hey, I landed that shot

00:52:24and then watch,

00:52:25I'm going to land some more.

00:52:26I mean, that's...

00:52:26That's bravado

00:52:28like you wouldn't expect

00:52:29to see in this fight.

00:52:30The right hand's been

00:52:31a very important weapon

00:52:32for Tony

00:52:33and look how he slips

00:52:34those punches.

00:52:35He's a very good

00:52:37defensive fighter

00:52:37and here's where

00:52:38they cautioned,

00:52:39well, that, you know,

00:52:40Holyfield dipped his head

00:52:41and banged.

00:52:43Tony said,

00:52:43did it again.

00:52:44So, Jane 80

00:52:45correctly giving him

00:52:46warning and I think

00:52:47the point production

00:52:48soon wouldn't be bad.

00:52:49And almost

00:52:49whispering tones

00:52:50in the Holyfield corner,

00:52:52Don Turner,

00:52:53who's been with

00:52:53the Real Deal

00:52:54seven years,

00:52:55told Holyfield,

00:52:57you've got to get busy.

00:52:58He's punching over

00:52:59so you punch under.

00:53:02Let's see.

00:53:04Well, it may be too late

00:53:05in terms of stamina

00:53:07and all the rest of it

00:53:08for Holyfield

00:53:08to change his game plan.

00:53:10He may have to feel,

00:53:11and it may be,

00:53:12that he's going to have

00:53:13to land something

00:53:13that hurts James Tony.

00:53:15Remember,

00:53:15the first round

00:53:16they have,

00:53:16he did land some big shots

00:53:18and apparently

00:53:19they didn't hurt Tony.

00:53:20Tony is so

00:53:21bubbling with confidence

00:53:23right now,

00:53:24he's strutted back

00:53:25to his corner.

00:53:26Keep your head back.

00:53:27That last sequence

00:53:28was this fight

00:53:28in microcosm.

00:53:29Holyfield landed

00:53:30a right hand,

00:53:31wasn't perfect,

00:53:32came with the left hook

00:53:33which was blocked,

00:53:34came with another left hook

00:53:35which was,

00:53:35which Tony slipped.

00:53:37That is what he's facing.

00:53:40Don't hold,

00:53:40don't hold.

00:53:41Score is unofficial

00:53:42at the halfway point.

00:53:45Don't hold,

00:53:45let go,

00:53:46let go,

00:53:46hold.

00:53:48Here's your press

00:53:50roll people.

00:53:51They've got Tony now

00:53:52inching ahead.

00:53:54Remember,

00:53:54it was all tied up

00:53:55earlier after four

00:53:57and through six

00:53:59they've got Tony

00:54:00up a couple of points.

00:54:02I have Tony ahead

00:54:03by,

00:54:03I haven't been

00:54:04getting around

00:54:05since the first.

00:54:06The fourth was very close.

00:54:08You have a,

00:54:08a bit of a bigger disparity

00:54:09than the judges

00:54:11along press roll.

00:54:14Midway through

00:54:15the seventh round.

00:54:16momentum swinging

00:54:19early

00:54:19after a good

00:54:20first round

00:54:21by Holyfield.

00:54:22Tony coming out

00:54:23very strong.

00:54:25No knockdowns.

00:54:28No knockdowns.

00:54:37Holyfield looks

00:54:38tired.

00:54:41He is fighting

00:54:42in spurts.

00:54:43He is not

00:54:44fighting full rounds.

00:54:46And that has been

00:54:46symptomatic

00:54:48of what has caused

00:54:49his problems

00:54:50in the last five

00:54:50or six fights

00:54:51and it's continued

00:54:52here tonight.

00:54:52A booming right hand

00:54:54to the head

00:54:54by Tony.

00:55:00And Holyfield

00:55:01just stands there

00:55:02and absorbs it.

00:55:04He's absorbed

00:55:04a lot of punishment

00:55:05tonight

00:55:06at the hands

00:55:07of the smaller

00:55:08James Tony.

00:55:10But he keeps

00:55:12on fighting.

00:55:13Watch your hands.

00:55:14Watch your hands.

00:55:17Not enough punches

00:55:19coming from

00:55:19the ground of Holyfield.

00:55:20And we don't know

00:55:21at this juncture

00:55:22if he can hurt

00:55:23Tony with a big shot.

00:55:24Tony just too fast

00:55:25for him.

00:55:26Too quick.

00:55:28Stop!

00:55:29He loses

00:55:29defensively.

00:55:31Go and go.

00:55:35Vander Holyfield

00:55:37who is on that

00:55:38crusade to become

00:55:39undisputed champion

00:55:40once again.

00:55:41You have to wonder

00:55:41about that

00:55:43after this performance

00:55:44tonight

00:55:44against

00:55:45the crucial

00:55:46opportunity.

00:55:46James.

00:55:51Deep breath.

00:55:54Good job, son.

00:56:02James.

00:56:03Beautiful.

00:56:04Beautiful.

00:56:04Get up.

00:56:05It's a way.

00:56:06Keep turning

00:56:07this guy for me.

00:56:08Okay?

00:56:09All right?

00:56:10Are you laying

00:56:11those shots?

00:56:11Don't stand right

00:56:12here.

00:56:13Take it.

00:56:14I can't believe it.

00:56:23James.

00:56:24Yeah, push the side

00:56:25now.

00:56:25Hold your mouth

00:56:26up.

00:56:26I think the eighth

00:56:30coming up.

00:56:31Yeah.

00:56:32He continues.

00:56:34Tony promised us

00:56:35he would beat

00:56:35Holyfield to the

00:56:36punch.

00:56:37He has done that.

00:56:38You notice Holyfield

00:56:38throws the hook

00:56:39but it's blocked

00:56:40by Tony.

00:56:40Look at the

00:56:41defensive moves

00:56:42of James Tony.

00:56:44He says he's

00:56:45a throwback.

00:56:47He is that.

00:56:48An aficionado

00:56:50of legends

00:56:51like Ezra Charles

00:56:52and Sugar Ray

00:56:53Robinson

00:56:54now looking

00:56:55to end

00:56:56the career

00:56:57of a legend

00:56:58in Evander

00:56:59Holyfield.

00:56:59But you get

00:57:00the feeling

00:57:01in listening

00:57:01to Holyfield

00:57:02now

00:57:02that even

00:57:03a loss

00:57:04tonight

00:57:04been right

00:57:04handed by

00:57:05Holyfield

00:57:05out of nowhere

00:57:06he won't step

00:57:14away from the

00:57:14sport.

00:57:15It is going

00:57:15to take

00:57:16a freight train

00:57:18to hit him.

00:57:18Well, we'll see.

00:57:19Based upon this

00:57:20performance, he is

00:57:21certainly not doing

00:57:22well.

00:57:23You know, Tony,

00:57:24his old trainer

00:57:24Bill Miller

00:57:25showed him all

00:57:26those films of

00:57:26Walcott, Ezra

00:57:28Charles, and a

00:57:29fighter who he

00:57:30really refers to

00:57:30Rocky Marciano.

00:57:31And he is

00:57:33not fighting

00:57:34like Rocky Marciano

00:57:35because it's all

00:57:36about hand speed

00:57:36and combinations

00:57:37of defense.

00:57:38But I'll tell you

00:57:38what, he's showing

00:57:39that kind of

00:57:39grit and determination.

00:57:41He reveres Marciano

00:57:41because he was

00:57:42a small heavyweight.

00:57:43Now this is

00:57:44vintage James

00:57:46Tony.

00:57:47He does his

00:57:47thing, steps

00:57:48back, admires,

00:57:50and then comes

00:57:52forth again.

00:57:53He's had, I mean,

00:57:54the Jiroff fight

00:57:55in this fight

00:57:55and one or two

00:57:56before that is

00:57:56the best he's

00:57:57fought in over

00:57:57a decade.

00:57:58Fascinating.

00:57:59It's as if a

00:57:59light switch came

00:58:01on.

00:58:01And even

00:58:02though he hasn't

00:58:02lost since 1997

00:58:04Tony, he hasn't

00:58:05performed well.

00:58:06Now he's getting

00:58:06really cute.

00:58:07He's got to be

00:58:08careful sticking

00:58:08out his left arm.

00:58:10He's getting

00:58:10hit by Holyfield

00:58:11but apparently

00:58:12not being hurt.

00:58:13And that's a

00:58:13news story.

00:58:14Look at him.

00:58:14He's looking at

00:58:15the judge and

00:58:15the judge is

00:58:16laughing.

00:58:18And Holyfield

00:58:19whacked him with

00:58:20three good punches.

00:58:21Watch your head,

00:58:21please.

00:58:23Tony's co-pilot

00:58:24in the corner,

00:58:25Freddie Roach,

00:58:26up to this point,

00:58:27really likes

00:58:28what he sees.

00:58:31Watch your head,

00:58:34please.

00:58:35You know,

00:58:35Vander Holyfield's

00:58:36not a bad

00:58:37heavyweight puncher.

00:58:38He's knocked

00:58:38some people out.

00:58:39And one thing

00:58:39you don't lose

00:58:40even with your age

00:58:41usually is the

00:58:42power you do have.

00:58:43He's hit James

00:58:43Tony with some

00:58:44very nice shots.

00:58:45And none of them

00:58:46have made a huge

00:58:48impact.

00:58:48And we say that

00:58:49because that leads

00:58:50us now to talk

00:58:51about James

00:58:52Tony the heavyweight.

00:58:53Does this mean,

00:58:54based upon this

00:58:54performance so far,

00:58:56that James

00:58:56Tony can take

00:58:57some pretty good

00:58:58heavyweight punches.

00:58:59It may well.

00:59:03There's a little

00:59:04trickle of blood

00:59:05from the lower lip

00:59:07of Evandra Holyfield.

00:59:11As Tony continues

00:59:12to press forward,

00:59:13Holyfield trying

00:59:14to escape the ropes,

00:59:16which he does.

00:59:17And blood now

00:59:18coming down heavier

00:59:19from the mouth

00:59:20of Holyfield.

00:59:25And he can't

00:59:26answer.

00:59:27That was an

00:59:27opportunity to

00:59:28answer right there.

00:59:29Tony with a wild

00:59:30right hand.

00:59:31He left himself

00:59:32wide open

00:59:33and no counterpunches

00:59:34by Holyfield.

00:59:35He just stood there.

00:59:37Again,

00:59:38nothing.

00:59:39Coming back

00:59:40with a couple

00:59:40of soft left hands.

00:59:44And no effect

00:59:45on Tony.

00:59:46Tony stares him

00:59:47down.

00:59:50And again,

00:59:52struck back

00:59:52to his part.

00:59:56Hold it.

00:59:56Listen.

00:59:57Let me tell you

00:59:57something.

01:00:00Listen good to me.

01:00:02If you don't

01:00:02stop getting hit

01:00:03with them right

01:00:04hands,

01:00:05I'm going to

01:00:05stop this fight,

01:00:06man.

01:00:07You hear what

01:00:07I'm telling you,

01:00:08man?

01:00:09You got to

01:00:09take charge,

01:00:11man.

01:00:11I care too much

01:00:12for you to be

01:00:13hitting it

01:00:13with these right

01:00:14hands.

01:00:14That's exactly

01:00:15right.

01:00:18Right on.

01:00:20Getting hit

01:00:21with right

01:00:21hands that

01:00:22you shouldn't

01:00:22be getting

01:00:23hit.

01:00:24Okay.

01:00:26You want

01:00:27another round?

01:00:28You want

01:00:29another round?

01:00:31Okay.

01:00:32Well,

01:00:32fight then.

01:00:34Fight then,

01:00:35man.

01:00:35Come on.

01:00:36Let's go.

01:00:36Right in.

01:00:37Get him out

01:00:38of here.

01:00:38Get him out

01:00:39of here.

01:00:39Come on.

01:00:40Put it out.

01:00:41Get it out.

01:00:41You got to

01:00:41put out,

01:00:42man.

01:00:43Come on.

01:00:44Hey,

01:00:44hey.

01:00:45A dramatic,

01:00:46perhaps sad,

01:00:48moment there

01:00:49in the corner.

01:00:49Don Turner

01:00:50urging Evander

01:00:52Holyfield,

01:00:53showing compassion

01:00:55for Holyfield's

01:00:56health and

01:00:56welfare.

01:00:57That's one of

01:00:57the most poignant

01:00:58moments I remember

01:00:59in a boxing

01:01:00corner in a long

01:01:00time.

01:01:01And let's see

01:01:02what happens.

01:01:03Telling Evander

01:01:04Holyfield,

01:01:05you continue to

01:01:06get hit by these

01:01:07right hands,

01:01:08which you just

01:01:08got hit by again.

01:01:10There it is again.

01:01:11I'm going to

01:01:11stout the fight.

01:01:15Holyfield,

01:01:15never,

01:01:18never acquit.

01:01:19He's just going

01:01:20to stand in there.

01:01:21He didn't really

01:01:21respond.

01:01:22Did you hear him

01:01:23say anything?

01:01:23No.

01:01:24He kind of

01:01:25shook his head

01:01:25out.

01:01:25He said something

01:01:26about I'll do it,

01:01:27but I don't know.

01:01:29It wasn't with

01:01:29conviction.

01:01:30It was with

01:01:30soft tones.

01:01:32That was

01:01:33no quick.

01:01:34Of course.

01:01:35Evander

01:01:36Holyfield,

01:01:36you check out

01:01:36the crossroad

01:01:37scoring.

01:01:38It continues

01:01:38to run

01:01:39out for Tony.

01:01:42Oh,

01:01:42there's a

01:01:43short left

01:01:43one.

01:01:44Another one,

01:01:45but Holyfield,

01:01:45he's just,

01:01:46he's trying.

01:01:47He's hitting

01:01:47him with

01:01:48coach.

01:01:48Now,

01:01:48they're partially

01:01:49blocked and

01:01:50that's not

01:01:50hurting James

01:01:51Tony.

01:01:52He's going

01:01:52for it all

01:01:53here.

01:01:53He's going

01:01:53for it all

01:01:54here.

01:01:55You just

01:01:55can't

01:01:55back him

01:01:56like that.

01:01:57He's looking

01:01:58for a Hollywood

01:02:00turnaround,

01:02:01a dramatic

01:02:01turnaround,

01:02:02Holyfield.

01:02:03He knows.

01:02:04That was

01:02:04what he had

01:02:05and for the

01:02:05first time

01:02:06you saw

01:02:06him hold

01:02:07on.

01:02:08This fight

01:02:08could be

01:02:08moments or

01:02:09at least a

01:02:10minute or two

01:02:10away from

01:02:11Andy.

01:02:11Yes,

01:02:12we may

01:02:13be seeing

01:02:14the end

01:02:14of an

01:02:14era.

01:02:16It's going

01:02:17to be ruled

01:02:18a knockdown.

01:02:19Four,

01:02:20five,

01:02:20you okay?

01:02:21Six,

01:02:21are you alright?

01:02:22Seven,

01:02:23you sure you're

01:02:23okay?

01:02:23Come to me.

01:02:24Eight.

01:02:24seven,

01:02:25seven,

01:02:26eight.

01:02:27Seven,

01:02:28seven,

01:02:28eight.

01:02:29And I think

01:02:30they throw

01:02:30in the towel.

01:02:31Don Turner

01:02:32throw in the

01:02:32towel.

01:02:33No disagreement

01:02:34whatsoever

01:02:35from referee

01:02:36Jane Lady

01:02:36and it's

01:02:37over.

01:02:38James

01:02:38Tony

01:02:39has

01:02:40stopped

01:02:41Evander

01:02:41Holyfield.

01:02:44That's it all?

01:02:45That's it all?

01:02:47That's it all?

01:02:49That's it,

01:02:49everyone.

01:02:51That's it,

01:02:51everybody.

01:02:52That's it.

01:02:53That's it.

01:02:54That's it.

01:03:05I love you,

01:03:06that's it.

01:03:15I love you,

01:03:18bro.

01:03:18I love you,

01:03:19man.

01:03:19Good job,

01:03:21baby.

01:03:21Good job,

01:03:23To hear the words of James Toney in the ear of Ivana Holyfield, I love you.

01:03:32Sometimes it's hard to be a gracious winner when you've had all that bravado.

01:03:38He's a water man.

01:03:40I did when I thought it was best.

01:03:45Don Turner acting out of compassion and love for Holyfield.

01:04:08And no argument from the real deal.

01:04:15He was getting punished round after round by this man, James Toney.

01:04:23Did he ever hurt you at all?

01:04:27Left hooks.

01:04:28And so elusive defensively.

01:04:32And he was getting off first most of the time.

01:04:35James Toney made a statement in one sense.

01:04:38He has his two of Edgar Holyfield.

01:04:39Detroit baby at Auburn.

01:04:41Detroit baby!

01:04:42What's up, baby?

01:04:44Good job, baby.

01:04:44That's how we do it when we come to the team.

01:04:45A heavyweight coming out party for James Toney.

01:04:48Nobody do it like that.

01:04:49Jimmy Leighton Jr. has the details.

01:04:50I put another Southern brother in the ground, baby.

01:04:53They can't deal with me.

01:04:55Nobody do it like me.

01:04:57Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time.

01:05:01One minute, 42 seconds in round number nine.

01:05:06A referee in charge, Jay Nadee, recognizes the corner and agrees.

01:05:10He stops the contest.

01:05:12The winner by way of technical knockout, James Leighton.

01:05:19Tony becomes only the second man to stop Evander Holyfield.

01:05:32The only time before this was against Riddick Bowe.

01:05:37And how much bigger is Riddick Bowe?

01:05:40Granted, it was years ago when it was Evander Holyfield in his prime.

01:05:43How much bigger is Riddick Bowe as a man normally than James Toney?

01:05:47That's truly astonishing.

01:05:49And James Toney made good on his promise.

01:05:51And that man, a legend in the sport, could be headed to retirement.

01:05:54It was the third fight with Bowe at TKO, round number eight.

01:05:58Let's go to Jim Gray.

01:06:00All right, thank you very much, Steve.

01:06:01James, congratulations on the fight tonight.

01:06:05Were you simply just too quick and too fast for Evander Holyfield?

01:06:08I'm too quick and too fast for anybody who's been in the room with me.

01:06:11It's a heavyweight.

01:06:12That's the bottom line.

01:06:13You know, Jim, I don't know why you come up here.

01:06:14Don't come up here and try to give me no badass questions.

01:06:16Try to degrade me.

01:06:17I want to thank the guy.

01:06:18Thank you, ma'am.

01:06:19The question's legitimate.

01:06:20Were you too quick?

01:06:21Evander Holyfield was a great fighter.

01:06:22Don't diminish at any time.

01:06:23Evander Holyfield was a great warrior.

01:06:25He came to fight.

01:06:26Bottom line.

01:06:26Did he ever hurt you?

01:06:27Who's next?

01:06:27I got milk, baby.

01:06:29Who's next?

01:06:30My mom, Shane, Uncle Larry.

01:06:33Oh, everybody love y'all.

01:06:34Did he ever hurt you at any point tonight?

01:06:36I love Scott.

01:06:37No, he never hurt me, man.

01:06:38I'm undestructible.

01:06:39Don't forget that.

01:06:40When I'm ready, I'm undestructible, baby.

01:06:41I'll find anybody out there anywhere, anytime.

01:06:44Next.

01:06:45Next.

01:06:45Who's next?

01:06:46He's right, baby.

01:06:47He's right.

01:06:47I don't care.

01:06:49We're with Dan Gussolano.

01:06:50That's who I'm not going over next.

01:06:52Bottom line.

01:06:53Goose and Tudor, we're number one.

01:06:54We're taking over the thing.

01:06:56You know that?

01:06:57Hey, hey.

01:06:58My talent speaks for itself.

01:07:00I ain't got to answer nobody else's question.

01:07:02I'm going home.

01:07:02We're going to have a party.

01:07:04Oh, we're going to have a party.

01:07:05Everybody's down to me.

01:07:07If they don't want to respect me, fuck them.

01:07:08You got your respect.

01:07:10Excuse me.

01:07:10You got your respect.

01:07:11You know, I don't want to respect.

01:07:12They don't respect me.

01:07:13Bottom line, Goose and Tudor.

01:07:14Evander Holyfield's a great fighter.

01:07:16Hey, I watched it when I was a kid.

01:07:17I love the guy, but I had to do what I had to do.

01:07:20That's what I could pay to do.

01:07:21Bottom line, Detroit in the house.

01:07:23Emmanuel Stewart.

01:07:23James.

01:07:24I got your message, baby.

01:07:25Let's try and have a decent interview and a conversation here.

01:07:28Hold on a second here.

01:07:29Come on, let's go over to Evander Holyfield.

01:07:41Evander, father time.

01:07:43Just catch up tonight.

01:07:44Well, no.

01:07:46He was able to get off before I did.

01:07:47He was, uh...

01:07:49Well, come on.

01:07:51We were a buddy.

01:07:52Love you, dog.

01:07:52For real.

01:07:53Much respect to you.

01:07:54Much love, baby.

01:07:57Go ahead.

01:07:57But, you know, the big thing is that, um, he was able to get off before me.

01:08:04The time was to live all.

01:08:07And, uh, and he, you know, he got off.

01:08:10I guess James still thinks there's a fight in here.

01:08:12I don't know.

01:08:13He got off before me.

01:08:14He was a lot quicker.

01:08:17And, um, and at times that, um, I got him in position, he hit him at, uh, he, his agility.

01:08:26He just, a little too quick.

01:08:28A little too quick for me.

01:08:30Evander, you knew, you're now two and eight in your last eight fights.

01:08:35You've won two of your last eight fights.

01:08:37You said before the fight that you would continue fighting.

01:08:41Your goal is to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

01:08:44That you'd have to be beaten up.

01:08:45Were you beaten up sufficiently tonight to stop fighting?

01:08:48No.

01:08:49He, he won.

01:08:51And he, this is a fight that, you know, he got off before me and all that.

01:08:55And, um, his punches, he, you know, he, him went, it was just an overwhelming punch.

01:09:01He just got off before me.

01:09:02And, and, um, he, I hustled me, I pointed me, and, uh, he got to the position before me.

01:09:13And so, you know, he's just, it's just a guy just out-maneuvered me tonight, just from, you know, from the start.

01:09:21He just.

01:09:22How mentally difficult is it for you to be in this type of position, having been the warrior that you've been in the ring?

01:09:28Well, you know, warrior is a person that don't quit.

01:09:33And it's not like I, I quit in there, even though he was, uh, I was a step behind in everything that I did.

01:09:42He was able to get off before I was.

01:09:45And it's not so much that when the guy throwing, I guess, uh, three times as much punches, uh, than you.

01:09:54And he beat you to the position and not maneuvering you pretty much the whole fight.

01:10:00This is what happened.

01:10:01What did Don Turner say to you after he stopped the fight?

01:10:05Well, he said he did what he had to do.

01:10:06He felt that it was right.

01:10:09And, um, he didn't want to see me take any more punches.

01:10:13And, um, he did what he felt that was right.

01:10:15Let's take a look at the end of the fight.

01:10:17If we can see this right here, Evander.

01:10:21Tell us what's going through your mind here.

01:10:22And, um, well, you know, the thing is that he don't hit hard enough to, uh, get right there.

01:10:29Right there, it was just, uh, just a number of punches.

01:10:32But, you know, I, you know, I was off balance and it was a good shot.

01:10:36It was a shot that knocked me down.

01:10:37But it wasn't, you know, the shot that, that, that really hurt me.

01:10:42And it's, it's, you know, it, you know, it wasn't, it wasn't.

01:10:48Will you go home to Atlanta now and evaluate just exactly where you are?

01:10:51And, and how long will that evaluation take?

01:10:53Of course, you know, I will go home and evaluate.

01:10:55You know, uh, I guess the most important thing in life is that when you don't do well,

01:11:00the first, the first thought of the mind is just quit.

01:11:04You know, see, that's, that's a part of life.

01:11:07And that's what, um, that's what, you know, everybody do when they have a bad performance.

01:11:13And, of course, it's just a bad performance.

01:11:16And, and, you know, he, he was a better man tonight.

01:11:21You have always been your own best equator, your own equilibrium inside.

01:11:26You've always known what was best.

01:11:28Will you listen now to others who may have your best interest at heart in this decision?

01:11:32Well, I always listen.

01:11:34And the fact of the matter is that, you know, still, you know, I, I give thanks to the Lord.

01:11:38And, you know, and I wish, you know, I would go back and, and observe it right now is to make a decision.

01:11:45Now, it would just be an emotional decision.

01:11:47It's easy to say, I'm finished.

01:11:50I'm out of here because, you know, you know, a guy like myself, this is something that usually don't happen.

01:11:56I don't usually have nights this often, you know, just like I said, let somebody beat me up.

01:12:03Then I have to say, you know, the guy, the guy that beat me up today, I mean, that he got the best and he, he out-hustled me, he out-pointed me in every position.

01:12:12And, and, and I didn't use size.

01:12:16I didn't use anything as a measure to, to do anything.

01:12:21So, you know, you know, I don't have no excuses.

01:12:25This left arm was fine.

01:12:27I didn't use it.

01:12:29My legs were fine.

01:12:30I didn't use, I didn't use none of the things that, that naturally I would have, would have used.

01:12:37And, and, you know, the one thing I would sway, and I, as, as confident as he got, I started seeing that he was getting open.

01:12:45And the big thing is, when you hurt, this is time that you can really catch, catch the person.

01:12:50I know I hit a lot harder than him, and it just, you know, unfortunately, they stopped the fight.

01:12:55But I, you know, at just the point he had me hurt, he, he opened up his door and throw big, big, loose, looping punches.

01:13:03And I felt that my better chance is that since he feel that he's hurt me and all that, I can catch him with a clean shot.

01:13:11He, he couldn't quite do it.

01:13:13Well, he had to run the defense.

01:13:14He's, you know, it's, it's, it's not like the guy don't have good defense.

01:13:19He's, he's, he's a good, good fighter.

01:13:21All right, Evander, we appreciate your time tonight.

01:13:23Most gracious in defeat.

01:13:24You've been a great champion.

01:13:27All right, Steve, back down to you.

01:13:28Thanks, Jim.

01:13:29I think the most significant thing that he said there, at least to me, was it was just a bad performance.

01:13:36I think it was a lot more than just a bad performance.

01:13:41A lot happening here tonight, but you can't lose sight of the headline.

01:13:44Where does one of the all-time greats go from there?

01:13:46As you see the scoring at the time of the stoppage, all for James Toney, four points, only two points for Jerry Roth.

01:13:55The, the judge that he kept looking at, Paul Smith, had Toney winning by four points.

01:14:01But as we switch over to the press row scorers, Carlos Arias had Toney by four.

01:14:07Mike Hursley had Toney by four.

01:14:09And the same for Steve Springer.

01:14:10They were all in agreement as far as the victory for Toney is concerned.

01:14:14But I think the big picture, where does one of the all-time greats go from here?

01:14:19He's almost 41 years old.

01:14:21I think he really has to take a long, hard look in the mirror and closely examine his future as a result of this performance.

01:14:28Well, and as we, as we ponder that, this gives us a graphic example of why it's necessary for him to evaluate and think about where he's at.

01:14:38And I think most people would say the conclusion is inescapable.

01:14:43He made the key point to Jim Gray.

01:14:45His shoulder wasn't bothering him.

01:14:47He was able to use the shoulder.

01:14:49He just didn't.

01:14:50And that's what happens when you get too old to continue in boxing.

01:14:54He even made the point.

01:14:56It was a classic point.

01:14:57He saw shots available but couldn't get them in.

01:14:59And the third thing is, he did hit James Toney with big punches and Toney just didn't go anywhere.

01:15:05So when you add all that up, it equals a 41-year-old fighter who just can't get the job done anymore.

01:15:12Yes, indeed.

01:15:12He may fight again after going back to the Atlanta area and re-evaluating.

01:15:18But for all intents and purposes, could he be done?

01:15:21This could be the last walk for Evander Holyfield.

01:15:26And if it is, you can see the fans still filled with affection for him.

01:15:29Affection, emotion, because they may be witnessing a little bit of sports history right here,

01:15:34if indeed it is the last walk for Evander, the real deal Holyfield.

01:15:41Sad in one respect, but not so sad in another in terms of the health, welfare, and well-being of a human being.

01:15:50Yeah, if he decides to get out of the sport, and truthfully, I've been loathe ever to make a strong statement about a fighter needing to retire.

01:15:59But I think it's clear that Evander Holyfield needs to look in that direction right now because he was dominated in this fight.

01:16:06And that's not to denigrate Toney, but he was dominated.

01:16:09And he brings grace and elegance to a sport that could really use a pick-me-up,

01:16:17a sport that has had its difficulty, particularly recently, in all kinds of areas.

01:16:24But as Evander Holyfield perhaps ponders his future, very quietly walks back to the dressing room,

01:16:30one of the all-time great fighters, and also just great for boxing.

01:16:37Let's go to Nick Charles.

01:16:42Steve Farhood, when I look at Evander Holyfield, the most positive thing I could say is that he walked out of that ring tonight.

01:16:50Beyond that, it has to end badly when you stay too long.

01:16:53And he was just out of answers tonight.

01:16:57I thought that it's this cold reality of what have you done for me lately in the world of boxing,

01:17:02and as Jim Gray mentioned, two wins in his last eight fights.

01:17:06Tonight, out of juice, out of fight, and I thought out of answers.

01:17:12Well, in the fourth round, we saw Evander Holyfield age.

01:17:15Before our very eyes, it's as if it happened in a snap of a finger.

01:17:19He reminded me of Joe Louis when Joe Louis fought Rocky Marciano.

01:17:21Not only was he taking a beating, but he looked old.

01:17:24And we've seen Evander take so much punishment in prior fights.

01:17:27He always rallied. He always came back.

01:17:28There was no rally against a cruiserweight tonight.

01:17:31And my question is, where do you go?

01:17:32Do you fight Kirk Johnson? Do you fight somebody in the top 15, Jameel McClein?

01:17:36It doesn't make sense for him now.

01:17:38Does he fight Tyson a third time?

01:17:40Perhaps people would pay to watch that, but in terms of the stakes, why do it?

01:17:45He has enough money.

01:17:47Exactly, Nick.

01:17:47And Evander has a lot of questions to look at right now and to answer and to ponder.

01:17:52My question is very simple.

01:17:53This is a man who has believed in himself, some of that belief, even spiritual, so much over the years.

01:17:59And it's enabled him to do things we never thought he could do.

01:18:02Now is that belief in a physical sense coming back to hurt him because he took a beating and we don't want to see him take more beatings?

01:18:08Perhaps, but the flip of the coin I looked at, his worst enemy is his guts, his peerless courage that won't allow him to quit.

01:18:17But he did quit tonight. He didn't say no to Don Turner.

01:18:20Turner said that he was threatening to pull the plug if he didn't start fighting again, and he didn't answer.

01:18:26He accepted it, which tells me that in his heart of hearts, he's going to have a long flight back to Atlanta and a lot of time to contemplate.

01:18:33But it's got to end badly if you stay too long.

01:18:36And, of course, we're talking about the loser in this fight.

01:18:39There was a winner, but I don't apologize for making the storyline here of Evander Holofield.

01:18:43This man has helped carry boxing for the last 15, 17, 18 years since the Olympics.

01:18:48And James Toney, tremendous win.

01:18:50He has a future in the heavyweight division.

01:18:52But tonight, the storyline is Evander Holofield.

01:18:54There's no question.

01:18:55As we go back down to ringside, Al Bernstein and Steve Albert.

01:18:59Fellas.

01:19:00All right, Nick and Steve, thank you so much.

01:19:03No question that the story is Evander Holofield, even though James Toney, once a middleweight, now a player in the heavyweight division,

01:19:10perhaps also because the heavyweight division is in a state of utter disarray.

01:19:14That helps his cause.

01:19:15It's a more attainable goal right now.

01:19:16Absolutely.

01:19:17It's a very poignant moment, and there's no question that if this is the exit of Evander Holofield,

01:19:21it is something that will resonate with boxing fans everywhere.

01:19:25But it is also possible that 35, James Toney, who took some heavyweight punches tonight,

01:19:29has made himself a player on the center stage of the heavyweight division.

01:19:33How would you speculate in terms of the future of Toney?

01:19:37He says, next.

01:19:38That's his thing.

01:19:39It's like at a bakery.

01:19:40Next.

01:19:40I don't want to jump on a Toney bandwagon too much based upon this performance against a man that turned into a very old fighter.

01:19:47But he showed great defensive skills.

01:19:49And he also showed he could take a punch, and a good heavyweight punch.

01:19:55Well, it was ungentlemanly behavior during his interview with Jim Gray,

01:20:01and also ungentlemanly situation here.

01:20:04Moments ago, we caught this as he went out with a fan in the stadiums.

01:20:09This is very unfortunate, because James Toney is really not the evil guy that we end up thinking we're seeing.

01:20:18He has moments that are much better than this, but there's a hostility in him that doesn't allow him to turn the other cheeks in many cases,

01:20:26and this is one of them.

01:20:27He obviously, Al, still has plenty of fights left in him after the fight.

01:20:32And some fans that enjoyed what he did.

01:20:34So, he's a complex individual.

01:20:36Not always an ambassador, not always a diplomat, but certainly he's an interesting guy.

01:20:44But you're right.

01:20:45You really have to put it as exhilarating a victory as it is for James Toney.

01:20:50You have to put it in perspective in terms of who it was up against.

01:20:54It was against a guy, one of the all-time great fighters, as I mentioned earlier,

01:20:59but also a guy who probably turned old before our eyes.

01:21:03I believe Evander Holyfield did get old tonight.

01:21:05There's no question it's happened before in boxing, and it happened tonight.

01:21:09In this case, Evander Holyfield, like Larry Holmes with Muhammad Ali,

01:21:12had to fight a man he respected greatly and had watched at a younger age

01:21:16and had to beat him, presumably, into retirement.

01:21:19And it was a fascinating evening on all fronts.

01:21:23But I do want to say, what happened in this ring, despite the fact that Evander Holyfield got old,

01:21:29raises some very interesting questions about the future of Toney as a heavyweight,

01:21:33and I think creates some interesting possibilities.

01:21:36Are you saying if he doesn't fight a Mike Tyson or a Roy Jones,

01:21:41those are very marketable fights, he'll go back down to a cruiserweight?

01:21:45No, I think he's going to stay as a heavyweight.

01:21:46I think he's going to find some heavyweight to fight.

01:21:48And the burden of proof now is on a heavyweight to hurt him or be able to hit him.

01:21:52There's also the winner of Rachman Tua coming up as well.

01:21:55Which would seem like a very bad matchup if it was a David Tua for him.

01:21:59But based upon what I saw tonight, I wouldn't make James Toney a huge underdog,

01:22:03even to David Tua, because I'm not sure Tua would hit him,

01:22:06and I'm not sure that he wouldn't pepper a David Tua with a lot of punches and make him get tired.

01:22:13All right, so that's the story from down here at ringside.

01:22:16A very, very exciting and poignant night in the world of boxing.

01:22:20Let's get it back upstairs to Nick Charles.

01:22:23Thank you, guys.

01:22:23Once again, to accentuate the positive, James Toney flat-out sizzle tonight.

01:22:28No, he did, and he made a statement, and he has a future.

01:22:32The opponents you look at, well, he's obviously like the biggest money fight.

01:22:35James Toney's an older fighter, and he's fighting for the money.

01:22:37I'd rather see him in with a Mike Tyson than a Roy Jones.

01:22:41Style-wise, that's the kind of fight I'd like to see.

01:22:43I'd rather see him in with a Tua than a Chris Bird.

01:22:45The speed is going to give Toney trouble.

01:22:47You know he can't wait to do it again.

01:22:49James Toney prevailing, and let's wrap up in a dramatic, absorbing, compelling,

01:22:55most of all, revealing night here at Mandalay Bay.

01:22:58It started with WBO Bantamweight champion Cruz Carvajal scoring a six-round TKO over Gerardo Espinosa.

01:23:06In a pitch battle, Joel Casaballoa was the one dropping cluster bombs as he outslugged Diego Corrales and stopped it in six.

01:23:16And then in the heavyweight showdown, James Toney turned the lights out on a warrior,

01:23:23vanquishing four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holofield with a ninth-round TKO.

01:23:30For Steve Farhood, Steve Albert, Al Bernstein, Jim Gray, and our entire crew here at Mandalay Bay,

01:23:37I'm Nick Charles saying so long, everybody, from Las Vegas.

Evander Holyfield vs James Toney - Showtime PPV 10-4-2003

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