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Middleweight contender Robert Allen takes on Abdula Ramadan on Showtime Boxing. Plus an interview with Evander Holyfield in the locker room getting ready for his fight in the main event. Also an update on Mike Tyson, after Jim Grey interviews his manager, Shelly Finkel
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00:00Atlanta. I was raised here. Amateur career started here and as a kid to start off I was a boys club
00:25champion and you know my goal was to be the heavyweight champion of the world and I was able to reach that.
00:32There's a new heavyweight champion in the world and his name is Evander Holyfield.
00:38Thousands of Atlantans lined Peachtree Street for an up-close look at a hometown.
00:43Today the mayor honored the heavyweight champ by declaring the Evander Holyfield Monk.
00:49I appreciate the support of the whole Atlanta. It's great.
00:53And Atlanta loves you guys.
00:54And I love them too.
00:55You can feel it, don't you?
00:56Sure do.
00:57And once again, heavyweight champion of the world from Atlanta, Georgia, Evander Holyfield.
01:07Today at the opening ceremonies, hometown hero Evander Holyfield carried the Olympic tour.
01:13Heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield took off his gloves and opened his party.
01:18Evander Holyfield continues to give and give in the city of Atlanta.
01:21Today hosting a boxing tournament to benefit the city of youth.
01:24I can't believe what I'm saying. It's the most unbelievable thing I've ever been privileged to witness.
01:29Evander Holyfield joins Muhammad Ali as the only fighters to win the heavyweight title for a third time.
01:39For the third time in his storybook career, Evander Holyfield returns to Atlanta with the heavyweight title.
01:45I'm honored to be here.
01:48Tonight, Evander Holyfield returns to his beloved hometown of Atlanta with the ultimate thank you, a heavyweight championship fight.
01:58My favorite sort of painting career is just now.
02:01And the other thing, I will do.
02:03I've worked here.
02:04I've worked here for a second before, but now I read the thing.
02:06What did you think?
02:07I did not know.
02:08I'm done.
02:09I'm done.
02:11I'm done.
02:12I'm done.
02:13I've done.
02:15I'm done.
02:16I've done.
02:17I've done.
02:21I've done.
02:23I've done.
02:24Tonight, Showtime Championship Boxing comes to Atlanta, Georgia
02:48to celebrate the homecoming of World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield.
02:53The real deal is 3-0 in his own backyard, but this is his first fight here in Atlanta
02:58in nearly eight years, and tonight his many adoring fans pay tribute to the champion
03:02who proudly calls Atlanta his home.
03:05In our main event, Evander Holyfield defends his IBF and WBA heavyweight titles
03:11against the number one contender, Vaughn Bean.
03:15But first up, you'll see a 12-round middleweight bout as number one contender Robert Allen,
03:19and another Georgia resident squares off with number 10-rated Abdullah Ramadan.
03:26As we bring you inside the spacious Georgia Dome built in 1992,
03:30home to the Atlanta Falcons, the Atlanta Hawks, Georgia Tech,
03:34and this evening, World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield.
03:38A sellout crowd of 40,763 on hand for Holyfield's gala return,
03:44the largest crowd to watch a heavyweight title fight in 20 years.
03:48The fans, well, they're out in full force to support their hometown hero
03:52who currently controls two-thirds of the heavyweight crown.
03:56Hello again, everybody. I'm Steve Albert, and welcome to Atlanta,
04:02where this entire week has been a celebration dedicated to favorite son Evander Holyfield.
04:07The real deal looks at this fight as a gift to the city of Atlanta.
04:10He makes the argument that he could have held this fight in more lucrative markets
04:14like Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but instead he chose to hold it here in his hometown,
04:18a way of giving something back to Atlanta.
04:21He worked with promoter Don King to purposely keep ticket prices down,
04:24and in addition, rather than fight on pay-per-view,
04:27he went with Showtime's free preview for the first heavyweight championship at the Georgia Dome.
04:32Right now, let's check the arrival earlier this evening of the champion Evander Holyfield.
04:36He has referred to this fight as his last hurrah in Atlanta,
04:40the final time that friends and family can see him fight here in his home area.
04:44The question has been raised, will the fact that he's fighting here in his own backyard
04:48serve as a distraction, or will it be a source of inspiration and motivation?
04:53There are those, including myself, who feel the issue is irrelevant
04:57considering the competitive caliber of his opposition tonight.
05:01And speaking of opposition, let's take a look at the arrival earlier of the challenger Vaughan Bean,
05:06a devout Muslim wearing the garb.
05:08The Chicago native who trains out of Philly comes here to fight in the Champs' neighborhood.
05:12What could be going through his mind right now?
05:14Is he thinking about the time James Toney went to Michael Nunn's hometown of Davenport, Iowa,
05:18and won?
05:19Or perhaps the night Azuma Nelson marched into Melbourne, Australia,
05:23to knock out hometown favorite Jeff Fennick.
05:25And how about Burt Cooper, who rocked Holyfield right here in Atlanta
05:29and almost took the title away?
05:31Can Bean win in Holyfield's house?
05:33Well, the odds are 9-1 against him, perhaps a little generous to Vaughan Bean.
05:39With that, let me bring on my ringside partners.
05:41First, the fight doctor, Ferdy Pacheco.
05:43And, Ferdy, what does this event mean to a fighter in his hometown?
05:47It means a great deal.
05:48It means he's accepted in his hometown.
05:50He has always been a quiet, dignified man,
05:53slow to go out and sign autographs, slow to get someplace.
05:55Well, he took a page out of Ali's book.
05:57He went to the ghetto.
05:58He went to the shopping centers.
06:00He was all over this place selling tickets.
06:02The result is we have a sellout here,
06:05and it's so exciting to see a heavyweight championship fight
06:08in front of a hometown 100% dedicated to Holyfield.
06:12All right, let's move to our other partner, Bobby Chaz.
06:15And, Bobby, what about the pressures on both fighters
06:17under these circumstances tonight?
06:18Well, Steve, I think the first pressure that's on Evander Holyfield as champion,
06:21as is on all champions, is to keep his world championship.
06:24Tonight, he has two heavyweight world titles at stake.
06:27He has to keep those titles.
06:28That's always the pressure for a champion.
06:29Secondly, I think there's a personal pressure.
06:31Here in Atlanta, he has sold out the house.
06:34Friends, family, and fans alike have come to see their favorite son.
06:37That's a pressure I think he's going to put on himself,
06:39not a pressure that comes with every fight.
06:41For Vaughn Bean, Steve, it's very, very different.
06:43Vaughn Bean has never fought a top-ten heavyweight in his entire life
06:46and got a shot at Michael Moore.
06:47A fight where he didn't look good, Moore didn't look good.
06:50His stock did not go up.
06:51He did not move in people's minds in boxing as far as his stock.
06:55Tonight, if he can go the distance with Evander Holyfield,
06:57which many people think he cannot, myself included,
07:00that would show that this is a real true top-ten caliber, championship caliber heavyweight,
07:05and that's the pressure on him, a big one.
07:07That's a mouthful.
07:08Let's get more on tonight's main event.
07:10Let's check in for the first time with another Atlantan, our roving reporter,
07:13and that's Jim Gray.
07:14Jim?
07:14All right, thank you, Steve.
07:16It is good to be here at home.
07:17Wish we could have a few more of these home dates,
07:19and one of the people who made it possible, our mayor, Bill Campbell.
07:22Mayor, they said you couldn't get 40,000 people here in Atlanta
07:25to come out to a championship prize fight.
07:27How did you manage to do this?
07:28Well, Evander Holyfield is a great name in Atlanta,
07:31and I think, of course, a combination of getting a championship heavyweight title fight right here,
07:36Evander Holyfield, perhaps one of his last fights in Atlanta,
07:39the fact that people love this guy in and out of the ring,
07:42so it was actually pretty easy.
07:44Evander's entire life has been overcoming odds.
07:46They said he wouldn't be a great heavyweight.
07:48They said he couldn't beat Tyson.
07:49They said he couldn't draw in Atlanta.
07:51He's proven all of them wrong,
07:52and we're just delighted to have 40,000 people plus in the Dome tonight.
07:56Mayor, are you confident that this could become a stop on the tour
07:58and that a fight could return here to Atlanta?
08:01Absolutely.
08:02He's fought here two times before.
08:03Great crowds.
08:05Atlanta's a great sports city.
08:06You know, it's an Olympic city,
08:07so we think the fight's ought to get outside of the casino towns
08:11and let America see what a great sport boxing is,
08:14and so we're delighted to have this opportunity wanting to come back.
08:17Mayor, thank you.
08:18You've been a great host.
08:19We appreciate it.
08:19Thanks, Jim.
08:20Let's bring in Evander here now.
08:22Evander, good luck this evening to you.
08:24How important was it for you to have what you have called your last hurrah here in Atlanta?
08:29Well, it's very important.
08:31It's for the people.
08:33It's a point.
08:34I got my opportunity here in Atlanta.
08:36Atlanta gave me my opportunity at the Boys Club,
08:39and now that I'm successful, I've been blessed to be able to bless them,
08:43them to inspire young people to, you know, reach out for their goal.
08:46You kept the prices down.
08:47I know that was important to you.
08:49You're giving something back here tonight.
08:50It's rare we see that in an athlete.
08:52How important was that to you to be able to enable so many people to come in here for $25, $30 a piece?
08:57Well, it's very important because I realize that, you know, people are circumstances.
09:01A lot of people can't afford to go to Vegas and a lot of other cities.
09:04And, you know, even with my foundation, it's all about helping somebody else.
09:08So that's just one step in my foundation to allow me to help people here at home first.
09:14Now you have to fight, and it's Vaughn Bean.
09:16A lot of people have said he's not worthy of this opportunity.
09:19However, any time you step into the ring, it could be a problem.
09:21I mean, you have had a tendency at times to fight up and down to your competition.
09:26Are you concerned that in this instance you could be fighting down to Vaughn Bean's competition?
09:30Well, not at all.
09:31You know, I have, you know, when I get in the ring, it kind of inspires other people to fight harder.
09:36It's not so much I fight down.
09:37People fight up.
09:39And I tend to expect Vaughn Bean to come out and give his very best.
09:44But me being the best, I just have to still outclass him.
09:47All right.
09:47We appreciate it.
09:48Will you come back to Atlanta to fight, or is this, in fact, the last hurrah?
09:51Well, hopefully, hopefully you never can tell.
09:54You know, we've got 40,000 strong.
09:56You never know.
09:57We may have to see 80,000 next time.
10:01All right, Evander, good luck to you.
10:02Now, there was some other very big boxing news that took place here today.
10:06Actually, in this country, in Las Vegas, Mike Tyson had his hearing for reinstatement to get his license.
10:11He has been out of boxing for some 15 months since he bit Evander's ear and lost his license.
10:16He reapplied today.
10:17The decision was made to continue the hearing until October the 3rd, at which time, if Mike Tyson complies with what the commission has asked,
10:25and that is that he get a psychological examination from an independent observer, not his own,
10:30if he passes that test, in essence, the commission said that they will, in fact, in all likelihood, relicense him so that he can once again enter the ring.
10:37Now, we'll go through all of Mike Tyson's day in, quote-unquote, court, and we will be hearing from him what he had to say to the commission as well,
10:44as an interview that I had with Shelly Finkel.
10:47That's a bit later on.
10:48Shelly Finkel, of course, the advisor now, the new advisor for boxing to Mike Tyson.
10:52All that a bit later on in the show.
10:53Let's go back out ringside now to Steve Albert.
10:56All right, Jim.
10:56Thanks very much here at a packed Georgia Dome.
10:59After a long and arduous hearing, Mike Tyson may soon be back in business if conditions are met.
11:05The news out of Las Vegas today, so stay tuned as Jim Gray will have a more extensive report on today's decision from Las Vegas later in the telecast.
11:15As we move on here in Atlanta, here's something special for you Showtime viewers with Internet access.
11:20Showtime Championship boxing is making history tonight.
11:23As this event is being simulcast on the web, this technological breakthrough enables boxing fans to see and score tonight's action.
11:30We once again invite you to judge every round of every fight online.
11:34Log on to ShowtimeOnline.com and link to the boxing area.
11:38There you can vote for the fighter who you think is winning the round.
11:41Your entry will be added to those of other participants and instantly update the scoring web page.
11:45The results will also be announced and shown here live on Showtime during the event.
11:49Due to time zone considerations, tonight's voting will only be available to Showtime viewers watching the telecast live.
11:55Of course, your voting is for entertainment purposes only and will not influence the outcome of the fight.
12:00Once again, that web address is ShowtimeOnline.com.
12:05As we settle in for the first bout of the evening here at the Georgia Dome, being called the Interim IVF Middleweight Championship,
12:11number one contender, Robert Allen, a southpaw from nearby Decatur, Georgia, will take on Abdullah Ramadan from Uganda.
12:19Allen's last fight, only 22 days ago, was right up there in terms of offbeat.
12:24Yes, boxing and bazaar have become almost synonymous, particularly here on Showtime, where we can't seem to avoid the unusual.
12:32Allen got in a wicked left uppercut there.
12:35That's a drop of about three feet.
12:47You know, it was a rough and tough fight, but no, it fights that way.
12:49Punching the clinches, hold, pushing, and all, he's a rough and tough fighter.
12:52We both fought a rough and tough fight.
12:54I was grabbing, grabbing Allen, I hit him with like a, I think a right-handed left hook,
12:57and he grabbed me, held on to me, and I heard Mills say, break, break, break, and then he pushed me,
13:03and I tried to grab on the ropes, and as I went on the ropes, I tumbleed over.
13:06The ring, the rope was a little bit loose, not too bad, but they came toward the apron, and Bernard fell out.
13:12I could hear the crack when he went down on the deck.
13:15My knee, I guess, twisted. I just felt like burning sensation in my ankle.
13:18And then when I tried to, like, get up on my side, it just started thriving.
13:21The fight's over. We've got to take care of you.
13:24This is my car. This is my car, and I got witnesses.
13:27This is going to knock this guy out, man. I'm fighting.
13:30The fight's out. It's my car, man. It's my car.
13:32When you're a four-for-nard, I understand both of you will rest when you're running away.
13:36If not, then you're going to score a card, then you're going to score a round.
13:39It's the only technical charge.
13:40I was winning the fight, my lord. Bernard didn't want to be.
13:43I mean, I was a little stronger. He was a lot older.
13:45He's going to lose the fight, no doubt.
13:46Once we fill up for you, I'm a warrior, man.
13:47We fight with one-on-one, I don't make no difference. I'm not a quitter.
13:50Ladies and gentlemen, this is now a no-contest. Bernard Hopkins retains his title.
14:05Just for the record, Hopkins, as you heard, said, it's my call. I want to continue.
14:10Allen was behind 2-1 on the cards when Hopkins went through the ropes.
14:13Allen's fighting here for an interim title by that.
14:16If Hopkins vacates, for example, by moving up in weight or doesn't fight the winner of this fight in 120 days,
14:22the IVF has itself a champion.
14:24Bernie, is Allen taking a gamble here, risking injury or even defeat, which is not likely?
14:29He's already number one.
14:31I don't think defeat even enters into the equation.
14:34I think injury does.
14:35You can't hurt yourself in every fight, but this is a rough, tough sport.
14:38You go in every fight and you've got to expect injury, but that doesn't figure here.
14:42He should take this guy. He should take him out easily.
14:45He's no better than a sparring partner for him, and he shouldn't present a problem.
14:50He is used to... Allen is used to fighting often, and he likes to fight often.
14:55So this is just another on the road to the championship.
14:58Well, let's take a look at this guy that you're talking about, Abdullah Ramadan.
15:02Rated number 10 by the IVF.
15:04Highly questionable, given he's 13-6.
15:07He's fought most of his career at 168, biggest win over former world champ Southpaw John David Jackson.
15:13Hasn't fought since December.
15:14Should point out that he helped Allen train for the Hopkins fight.
15:18Bobby Chez, unspectacular record.
15:20Takes his fight on short notice, 10-11 days, fighting in Allen's home.
15:23He's fought at 160 only once before, knocked out in two by Antoine Echols.
15:28What should we expect, and is weight a factor?
15:30I don't think weight will be a factor, Steve.
15:32He says he's actually a natural middleweight, but he took most of his fights on such short notice
15:36that he didn't have time to get the weight down, so he took the 168.
15:39He's comfortable at 160, says he's strong, that's not a problem.
15:41He's got a little bit of range, a little bit of reach, a little height, and he carries a good right hand.
15:45And he's a fighter, Steve, in a position with absolutely nothing to lose.
15:49Sometimes they're the most dangerous, they'll hang it all out.
15:51And right now, everything's at stake, so if he's in the zone, we could have an upset.
15:55I'm sure it's on his mind.
15:56And the man he is looking to upset is the left-hander, Robert Allen,
15:59former USBA middleweight champ, all-marine boxing team,
16:03armed forces junior middleweight title holder.
16:04Tried out for the 92 Olympic team, but lost to Raul Marquez,
16:08lost his first pro fight in 93, but then won 16 straight.
16:12Let's take a look at the tail of the tape at 29.
16:14Allen is two years younger than Ramadan, three-and-a-half-inch height advantage Ramadan,
16:18both at the 160 weight limit, two-inch edge in reach for Ramadan.
16:23And let's check out the key unified rules for this interim IBF middleweight championship.
16:29There is no standing eight count, no three-knockdown rule.
16:32A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round if an accidental headbutt occurs.
16:36Before the end of the fourth, the fight is ruled a no contest.
16:39If it happens after the end of round four, they go to the cards.
16:43So here at the Georgia Dome, getting ready for a middleweight bout,
16:47Robert Allen versus Abdullah Ramadan.
16:49Let's get the introductions from newly elected World Boxing Hall of Fame ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.
16:55Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening to you,
17:00and we welcome you to the Georgia Dome here in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia.
17:06As we have a big night of action coming away, ladies and gentlemen,
17:10and it's all brought to you by Don King Productions in association with Butch Lewis Productions
17:15and the undefeated, undisputed king of beers, Budweiser.
17:20This Bud's for you.
17:23At this time, ladies and gentlemen, we present the first of our special attractions
17:27in the World Championship Division.
17:29This bout is sanctioned by the International Boxing Federation,
17:33President at Ringside, Robert Lee Sr.,
17:36Supervisor Marion Mohamed,
17:38along with the Georgia State Boxing Commission.
17:41Introducing to you at this time, our judges scoring this bout from ringside,
17:46we have Albert Bennett, Bill Clancy, and Erwin Deutsch.
17:50Presenting to you at this time, a referee in charge of this bout,
17:53he'll be giving instructions after the introductions, Jim Korb.
17:59All right, fans, here we go.
18:01Twelve rounds of boxing for the interim IBF Middleweight Championship of the World.
18:07Introducing to you first on my left, fighting out of the blue corner,
18:12wearing black trunks with gold trim.
18:15He is fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by way of Kampala, Uganda.
18:21He weighed in at the middleweight limit of 160 pounds.
18:25His record stands at 13 wins, six losses, nine wins, coming by way of knockout.
18:31Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the IBF number 10 ranked middleweight contender.
18:36How about a hand for Abdullah Kubra Ramadhan.
18:46And his opponent across the ring in this 12-round interim championship bout,
18:51fighting out of the red corner, wearing red trunks with multicolored trim,
18:56fighting out of Atlanta, Georgia, by way of Houma, Louisiana.
19:00He weighed in the same as his opponent, 160 pounds even,
19:06with a record of 22 wins, two losses, one no contest.
19:10He has 17 wins coming by way of knockout.
19:14He is the WBA North American champion.
19:16Please welcome the IBF number one ranked middleweight contender.
19:21Introducing Robert, armed and dangerous, Allen.
19:33Once again, a referee in charge, Jim Korb.
19:35Now to give instructions, 12 rounds of championship boxing schedule.
19:39Gentlemen, my name is Jim Korb.
19:47I will be the referee for tonight.
19:49Let me remind you, this is a championship fight,
19:52an interim IBF championship fight.
19:55Keep your hands up.
19:57Watch.
19:58Don't fit there.
19:58Still need it.
19:59Protect yourselves at all times.
20:02Have a good fight.
20:04Still need it.
20:04Back in corners.
20:05Still need it.
20:06Still.
20:06Robert Allen certainly wasn't physically harmed by Hopkins.
20:11Perhaps Ramadan's only chance is that Allen suffers a mental letdown,
20:15having fought for a title only three weeks ago.
20:17The scouting report on Ramadan.
20:19He's got a good left jab and a right hand.
20:22This according to his trainer, Aaron Snowell,
20:24so you can take it with a grain of salt.
20:26He has worked the corners of Mike Tyson, Frankie Randall, among others.
20:30A lot of experience for his trainer.
20:33You ready?
20:34Red corner.
20:34And I think that this fight begs the question,
20:36if this is for the interim championship,
20:38then why is the number one contender fighting the number ten contender?
20:42Well, according to Allen's manager, Jim Troy,
20:45Bobby and McCurdy, you guys heard this,
20:46they couldn't get anyone of the top nine to fight Allen.
20:49But do you buy that?
20:50Well, some run available and some just didn't want to fight.
20:52Robert Allen's a slick south boy who can punch.
20:54A lot of people wouldn't want to fight.
20:55But already you see Ramadan landing two right hands,
20:58one not real clean, that one pretty clean.
21:00I like to stare down, but I saw both of these fighters' eyes
21:03and said, we have a fight on our hands, fellas.
21:06Allen told us the sparring session with Ramadan.
21:08We're very competitive, very spirited.
21:11He says Ramadan is in good condition.
21:13There's no telling who will show up.
21:15He said, hey, look what happened with Hopkins versus Allen three weeks ago.
21:18He's got a good chin.
21:20They say Antoine Echols caught Ramadan walking in.
21:23But Allen added, I'm not your average southpaw.
21:25I do different things to confuse my opponent.
21:30Ramadan came in fight.
21:31You can see that right off the bat.
21:32I mean, he's determined.
21:33Let's put everything out.
21:34He's landed three right hands now with that one.
21:37And Allen must be wondering,
21:39wait a minute, wait a minute.
21:40He's hitting me with a right hand.
21:42That's supposed to be doing that.
21:44Ramadan's trainer, Aaron Snowell,
21:46told us because of Ramadan's record,
21:48they could get fights.
21:50That's how they beat John David Jackson,
21:52then ranked number one.
21:53And incidentally, a southpaw like Allen.
21:55That's a masterpiece of rationalization.
21:57I have to remember.
21:58Well, they said they're looking to sneak up on somebody,
22:01and that somebody is Robert Allen.
22:03We'll soon find out.
22:04Well, he didn't just sneak up.
22:05He's here.
22:05He's here.
22:06So he's got to produce now.
22:09By that, he means score a W over Robert Allen.
22:12Well, he's trying.
22:13He's trying hard.
22:14He came here to try.
22:15He didn't come here to lay down.
22:16And he's punched three good right hands.
22:20Robert Allen is showing some respect for Ramadan's power.
22:23He's showing some respect.
22:25He's showing some patience.
22:26This is not going to be an easy night.
22:29Ramadan said he can go forward,
22:31but he is looking to mix it up with Allen.
22:34He says his defense has improved.
22:36They're working a lot on the defense.
22:38A very wide right hand.
22:39Did you notice that by Ramadan?
22:40I was just going to mention that Ramadan just walked into a great right hook.
22:45He's in trouble.
22:46And a straight right by Alex Staggers.
22:48Ramadan now he is unleashing uppercuts.
22:51Overhand rights.
22:52The entire arsenal.
22:53Ramadan's in trouble here in round one.
22:58Now, they don't know what to do with a standing eight.
23:00Well, you know what?
23:01When he's draped over the ropes, ropes holding up.
23:03Technically, that counted as a knockdown.
23:04The rule is there's no standing eight count,
23:06but obviously referee Jim Corb officially called it a knockdown.
23:10Yeah, because as Bobby just pointed out,
23:12when you're hanging on the ropes, that's officially a knockdown.
23:14No matter what you call it.
23:15So, the question is, can he survive the final 20 seconds?
23:19He doesn't want to.
23:21He turns his back on Allen.
23:22The referee lets it go, and he doesn't want to fight.
23:24It's over here in the first round.
23:27I'll tell you what.
23:27He didn't know where he was.
23:28He just wanted out.
23:29Either that or he just clearly was done.
23:32Bobby didn't know where he was.
23:33Bobby, that's what you can expect
23:35when you put a sparring partner in with a guy
23:36who just hired him three weeks ago.
23:39I don't think you can expect anything but what we just saw.
23:42No, Ramadan came out for a nice, couple nice right hands,
23:44got Robert Allen's attention a little bit.
23:46Robert Allen patient, and he can punch.
23:49He used a crisp left hook, excuse me, right hook
23:51on the inside of the southpaw.
23:52Took it, and then it just continued to be accurate, too.
23:55Kept the pressure on.
23:56Didn't hurry himself.
23:57Did a nice job for him.
23:58I think, Bobby, it's two completely different class of fighters
24:02we just saw there.
24:03It's almost unfair to put a guy as good as Allen
24:06with a guy that's a sparring partner who's got a 13-6 record.
24:09And that's what you can expect, and that's what we got.
24:11A lot of people won't fight a talented southpaw
24:13that can box and punch.
24:15Well, I remember one called Marvin Hagler.
24:17You couldn't buy him a fight,
24:19but he somehow managed to be a Hall of Fame fighter.
24:21You've got to fight the good guys.
24:22So a short night and a victorious night
24:28for Robert Allen, who lives in nearby Decatur, Georgia,
24:33about 20 minutes from Atlanta.
24:34The fan favorite here.
24:36And he makes quick work of Abdullah Ramadan,
24:39originally from Uganda,
24:41now living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
24:43Well, let's take a look at how Allen got Ramadan in trouble.
25:11So that wild right leaves him open to counterpunch.
25:16Right-hand counterpunch, left hook after it,
25:18and then he's just standing there to be hit left and right.
25:21I mean, look at it.
25:21His legs are gone.
25:23He has really no balance,
25:24and he is just open to pummeling,
25:27which Allen administers a severe beating there
25:29in just two or three punches, uppercuts.
25:31Look at him step around.
25:33Step around, boom, back with a left, right, left again.
25:36Well, that's a lot of punishment.
25:38A lot of punishment.
25:39You just have to wonder how a guy like this is rated number 10.
25:43That is a joke.
25:44Well, let's take another look at it.
25:46Well, look at the way his head is bouncing around.
25:51You can tell the power of those shots
25:53and how effectively they landed.
25:56And then they come from all angles,
25:57from all angles, uppercuts, hooks,
26:00everything in Allen's arm and turn.
26:01Steps around and gets a better location for punching,
26:05and then it's all over.
26:06I mean, he's unconscious.
26:07He's out on it.
26:09Allen's working over pretty good.
26:11Ramadan never really recovers,
26:13and this is the end of the fight.
26:14He's turned him around again.
26:16Big left hand on the inside,
26:17kind of a half of an uppercut.
26:19And now he hits him in the back.
26:21He reaches around to the front and the side.
26:23He didn't know what to do, Allen,
26:24and I don't think the referee was sure.
26:26He stopped it.
26:28This is another look at the same situation from overhead.
26:30Allen on the attack.
26:31Ramadan's in trouble.
26:33He's just tearing off on him and teeing off.
26:36That left hand was probably it.
26:37And again, he just turns and walks to the ropes.
26:40This is something that I haven't seen too often.
26:42And here, Allen knows he's not down.
26:45He's not draped over the ropes.
26:46He's allowed to hit him.
26:47He looked at the referee,
26:48and he tries to reach around,
26:50but that shot's in the middle of the back.
26:51That's illegal.
26:52Behind the head, that's illegal.
26:53That's legal reaching to the jaw,
26:55but that's an awkward situation both ways.
26:58Well, this is certainly the kind of matchup
27:00you hate to be associated with.
27:03This was brutal.
27:05We'll get the official time right now
27:09from our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.
27:14Ladies and gentlemen,
27:16we have the time of 2 minutes 46 seconds
27:19in round number one.
27:21A referee in charge, Jim Korb,
27:22stops the contest.
27:24The winner by way of technical knockout
27:26and the new interim IBF middleweight champion
27:28of the world,
27:30Robert, armed and dangerous, Allen.
27:39So, Robert Allen maintains his number one rating,
27:42a rematch with Bernard Hopkins
27:44to follow within 120 days
27:46as soon as Hopkins recovers
27:47from the ankle injury sustained
27:49in his August 28th fight with Allen.
27:51If Hopkins vacates or, you know, moves up,
27:54Allen becomes champion.
27:55Allen improves to 23 and 2
27:57with the 1-0 contest now
27:58with 18 knockouts.
28:00Ramadan falls to 13 and 7.
28:04Yeah, we're going out there.
28:08Coming up next here at the Georgia Dome
28:10in Atlanta,
28:11what this crowd came to see,
28:12the main event,
28:13the IBF and WBA heavyweight championship,
28:16Holyfield versus Bean.
28:18Evander, the real deal.
28:19Holyfield comes home
28:20to put his titles on the line
28:22against number one contender Vaughn Bean.
28:24I truly believe that
28:27anything that I put my mind to,
28:30I would be successful.
28:33Because I'm a winner.
28:35I'm a winner.
28:36The new heavyweight champion of the world.
28:40I fight with my mind.
28:43It don't make a difference
28:44in how tall,
28:46what's your size,
28:47and all that.
28:48When you get in the ring with me,
28:50if you cannot fake me,
28:52chances are you're going to lose.
28:55I don't ever look past people.
28:57I just look through them.
28:58I have a goal.
28:59If you don't have a goal,
29:00you find yourself going around in circles.
29:03And you're like,
29:03my goal now is to be the undisputed champion.
29:05Well, you know,
29:11the excitement you're seeing tonight
29:12on Showtime Championship Boxing
29:14is just a part of what
29:15Showtime offers its subscribers.
29:17So stay tuned right here
29:19as the Showtime free preview continues
29:21and sample this great programming.
29:23And for knockout entertainment
29:25all year long,
29:26call the number on your screen
29:28and subscribe.
29:32So we're here at a capacity crowd
29:34of better than 40,000
29:37at the Georgia Dome
29:38awaiting this man,
29:40a fan of the real deal,
29:42Holyfield.
29:43Wants to put on a good show
29:45here in front of his hometown fans,
29:46even though this is basically
29:47a stay busy scenario.
29:49As he awaits a bigger fight,
29:51the spiritual and deeply religious Holyfield,
29:54always so at peace with himself,
29:56very low-key, unassuming,
29:57personality,
29:59a gentleman outside of the ring.
30:02Holyfield versus Bean
30:03for the heavyweight championship,
30:05our main event upcoming.
30:07Let's go up to Jim Gray
30:08with another Georgian in the ring.
30:10Jim.
30:13All right, thank you very much, Steve.
30:14I'm now joined by Robert Allen,
30:16Don King, and the whole entourage.
30:17Robert, that was pretty quick work.
30:19I guess you didn't want to
30:19work too long for the hometown fans, huh?
30:21Oh, well, we ain't here
30:22to take care of business, you know.
30:24One for enough.
30:25I'm a better guy.
30:25I'm gonna take him out,
30:26you know, do my thing.
30:27It's a good show.
30:29Was it your feeling that he quit,
30:30that the barrage was just too much
30:31and he decided,
30:32I'm not gonna be
30:33in any way able to win this fight
30:35and quit early?
30:35Well, I'm not in his mind.
30:36I don't know what he was thinking,
30:37but I know what I was thinking.
30:38I wanted to get the job done.
30:40You know, I don't know
30:40what that guy was thinking.
30:41How about fighting here at home?
30:43Thrill for you to have 40,000 fans in here?
30:45No doubt.
30:46I mean, it makes a difference, you know.
30:4740,000 fans.
30:49Atlanta, Georgia.
30:50My hometown, home of Louisiana, though.
30:52But I live here in LA, in ATL.
30:54It's pretty nice.
30:5540,000.
30:56But Evander gonna represent
30:57pretty well tonight, so.
30:58Robert, let me ask you.
30:59Bernard Hopkins was next on the list.
31:01You're supposed to fight him.
31:02He now has the ankle problem.
31:04120 days.
31:05What will you do in the interim,
31:06and do you think that Bernard
31:07will be ready and, in fact, fight you?
31:09Oh, yeah.
31:09Bernard, I think he'll be ready.
31:11I mean, he's supposed to be
31:12a true champion, from what I heard.
31:13And he gonna put some ice on his ankle,
31:15and we gonna get it done.
31:16You know what I'm saying?
31:17We'll see the best.
31:18So, I know he's a true champion.
31:19He know what he gotta do.
31:20You know what I'm saying?
31:20A little lice.
31:21Well, you put a little lice
31:22on your opponent tonight.
31:23Let's take a look at the replay here.
31:25This is the first time
31:25you got Ramadan in trouble here.
31:27Tell us about it.
31:28Well, you know, just picking shots.
31:30You know what I'm saying?
31:30I can't do a lot of counterpunching.
31:32Make him make mistakes,
31:33and drop the stuff on him.
31:34That's all I was doing.
31:35Just making him commit,
31:36putting the stuff on him.
31:37You know what I'm saying?
31:38That's about it.
31:38Nice undercut there.
31:39No doubt.
31:40No doubt.
31:41That's my stuff.
31:41That's a lot of stuff.
31:43You know what I'm saying?
31:44Shot picking,
31:45measuring jab,
31:47putting the stuff on him.
31:47That's all.
31:49Not responding at all
31:50with any punches.
31:51You knew you were
31:51in total control here, weren't you?
31:53Yeah, total control.
31:54I don't want to make no mistake.
31:55I mean, I respect you guys.
31:56I respect this now,
31:57the end of the fight here.
31:59Tell us about it.
32:00Oh, well.
32:01Dropping the shot,
32:02putting the stuff on him.
32:04You know, I'm a better man.
32:05I think that one broke his job.
32:06And it shows tonight.
32:08He just gives up right there.
32:09Yeah.
32:11I guess you got to hit a man
32:12in his back when he turns around, huh?
32:13I thought the referee
32:14was going to stop him.
32:15You know what I'm saying?
32:15The man got his back turned.
32:16They should stop that earlier,
32:17but it happens.
32:19On to the next man.
32:20What's next?
32:21What's next?
32:22Who's next?
32:23Who's next?
32:23Who's next, Don?
32:24Don, what are you going to do
32:25in the interim?
32:26We're going to fight.
32:27If we see that Bernard is healing
32:29expediently,
32:30then we're going after Bernard
32:31because we want Bernard.
32:32He's one of the most wanted men
32:33on planet Earth.
32:34And we're after him.
32:36You know what I mean?
32:37So Robert Allen
32:38is going to be the true champion.
32:39He's going to knock out
32:40Bernard Hopkins.
32:42And I'm looking forward to it
32:43with great anticipation.
32:44All right.
32:44Congratulations to you, Robert.
32:47Back over to you, Steve.
32:48All right, Jim.
32:49The way Allen's fighting,
32:50he can fight again tomorrow.
32:52What?
32:53He hasn't...
32:53He's got, you know,
32:54no energy problem.
32:56He hasn't used up that much yet.
32:57Well, he felt there was
32:58no risk involved here.
33:00That it would work to his advantage,
33:01even though he fought
33:02just 22 days ago.
33:03And he was exactly right.
33:05Well, since that fight
33:06was so short,
33:07only 246.
33:09Let's take a look back
33:10at the fight in its entirety.
33:13Here we go again.
33:15Deja vu all over again.
33:16Well, as Ramadan comes out,
33:17you see that he starts
33:18trying to throw the big right hand.
33:20He gets a little respect.
33:21Throwing a couple of...
33:22Nothing lands real clean.
33:24And Allen is taking his time
33:25in boxing.
33:26That right hand
33:26was a lot more clean.
33:28But Ramadan had a purpose early.
33:30That was the second one.
33:31And he established
33:31that he's here to fight.
33:32I mean, he didn't come here
33:33to waste time.
33:35Unfortunately,
33:36he's nowhere near the class of Allen.
33:38And when those punches
33:39start to miss,
33:40Allen starts to connect
33:41as he always does
33:43in counterpunches.
33:43He's a wonderful counterpuncher.
33:45Ramadan is a clean puncher, too.
33:47But, you know,
33:48he's not such a devastating puncher
33:49that just one shot like that
33:51should have rocked Ramadan
33:52so easily.
33:53He's got a questionable chin.
33:54We can say that
33:54now we've seen it.
33:58He'd been knocked down
33:59before.
34:00He's 13 and 60.
34:01He's a sparring partner.
34:02And that's what we're getting here.
34:03And that's what you're looking at
34:04against a championship
34:06quality fighter.
34:08in Allen.
34:09Allen's just watching,
34:11determining where the weakness is
34:12and then unloads
34:14a series of counterpunches,
34:15which we'll see
34:16in a few minutes,
34:17which gets Abdul
34:19in so much trouble
34:20he just can't get out.
34:21I mean,
34:21he's dug a hole
34:22he can't get out.
34:26Obviously,
34:27as you will see momentarily,
34:29Abdulrahma down to the black,
34:30trim with the gold,
34:31no business being
34:33in the same ring
34:33with number one contender,
34:34Robert Allen.
34:35We brought that up
34:36in the beginning.
34:38Why is he rated number 10?
34:40And why would Robert Allen
34:41be fighting a number 10
34:43fighter
34:44for an interim championship?
34:46You heard Jim Troy,
34:47as we said,
34:48according to Jim Troy,
34:49the manager for Robert Allen
34:50and say,
34:51well,
34:51nobody from number two
34:53through nine
34:54wanted to fight Robert Allen.
34:55Now,
34:55Robert Allen is a nice fighter,
34:56but he's not
34:57marvelous Marvin Hagler.
34:59I don't think
34:59guys are that scared
35:00to get in there with him,
35:01even though he's
35:01a southpaw and offender.
35:02Well,
35:03Steve,
35:03well,
35:03do fairness,
35:03some probably didn't want him
35:04on the notice they had.
35:06Some probably weren't ready
35:07or weren't capable
35:08of being championship
35:09quality ready.
35:10And that does matter
35:11when you're going to face
35:12a fighter that's just
35:12talented,
35:13can punch,
35:14can box,
35:14and he's a southpaw.
35:15There you go.
35:16There you go.
35:16That's the first good shot
35:17that gets him in trouble.
35:19And from there on out,
35:19it's goodbye.
35:21Robert Allen never
35:21holds on here too,
35:22Ferdy.
35:22He just tries to fight.
35:23He doesn't know how to finish.
35:24And then he just turns
35:25and doesn't know where he is.
35:26He doesn't know how to finish the fight.
35:28He liked to get down,
35:28but he didn't.
35:29Let me sit up.
35:30And I'm not sure
35:31what the referee
35:31was thinking initially,
35:33as you will see,
35:35when he turned him around.
35:36He turned his back
35:37on Allen twice,
35:38and the second one
35:39led to the end of the fight.
35:41But watch as the referee
35:42takes his time
35:43when he probably should have
35:44stepped right in.
35:45And Allen was in a position
35:47to really do some damage.
35:49This is the left hand
35:50that does it.
35:50Right here,
35:51the referee has to do something.
35:53No, Allen,
35:53that's a blatant foul.
35:54That's several punches
35:55in the back.
35:56Although he's not trying to foul,
35:57he's just trying to go to the body,
35:58not hit him in the back of the head.
36:00But the referee's job there
36:01was to stop that fight.
36:02The referee having just done it
36:03a few seconds before,
36:05and you're so right, Bobby,
36:06when he hits the ropes,
36:07that's a knockdown.
36:08He should have stepped right in.
36:09But nobody got hurt.
36:12And the crowd
36:12had to settling back in
36:15after that first round knockout
36:17by Robert Allen.
36:19A lot of boxing news today,
36:21particularly in the heavyweight division
36:24as we turn our attention
36:25now to Mike Tyson.
36:27Today,
36:28the former world heavyweight champion
36:29went before the Nevada Athletic Commission
36:31to try and get re-licensed
36:33to fight.
36:34And for more on that story,
36:36let's check back in
36:37with our Jim Gray.
36:38Jim?
36:39Well, thank you, Steve.
36:40Mike Tyson did, in fact, today
36:41go before the Nevada State
36:43Athletic Commission.
36:44After 15 months,
36:45he's been out of the ring
36:46since he bit Evander Holyfield's ear
36:47all the way back
36:48on June 28th of 1997.
36:50He has had his license revoked.
36:53He tried to reapply today
36:54along with a battery of lawyers.
36:56It was a six-hour hearing today.
36:58What we saw from Mike Tyson
36:59was a glib man,
37:00a sincere man,
37:01a contrite man,
37:02an angry man.
37:03It was a very eventful day
37:04in Las Vegas.
37:06You have to understand
37:08that my life is on trial here,
37:10so to speak.
37:11And if I can't feed my kids
37:13for what I do for a living,
37:15I'm not going to allow other people
37:16to have nice things
37:18and my kids starve.
37:20I'm not going to understand that.
37:21I don't think you do.
37:22I acknowledge that I believe
37:24that I was bigger than the sport.
37:26And by this punishment,
37:28I realized that I'm just
37:30Mike Tyson, the athlete,
37:32and it brought me down to earth
37:33a great deal.
37:34And it devastated my life
37:36and my family.
37:37Oh, man, you just don't know
37:38where I went to at home, man.
37:39My life was...
37:40It's just embarrassing
37:42to even talk about it.
37:43I'll never be the same person
37:44again in my life.
37:46For some reason,
37:46I feel like I'm Norman Bates
37:48up here with all the doctors
37:49and everything, man.
37:50But...
37:50Trust me,
37:54this won't happen anymore, man.
37:55I've learned I am so sorry.
37:58I am sorry.
37:59Yes, I'm sorry.
38:00I would like to see
38:01this commission
38:02provide a choice
38:04of three leading
38:05psychological institutions
38:07and allow Mr. Tyson
38:08to select one.
38:10And if, at that time,
38:11his doctor told his commission,
38:13Mr. Tyson was mentally
38:15able to fight again,
38:16then I would give
38:17every consideration
38:18to relicensing Mr. Tyson.
38:20That the voice
38:22of Dr. Elias Ghanem,
38:24Ghanem telling Mike Tyson
38:25that if, in fact,
38:26he complies
38:26and is able,
38:27a week from Monday,
38:28to pick one of the three
38:29independent psychological
38:31advisors or testers,
38:33if he passes that examination
38:34through an institution
38:35or one of the three
38:37of his choice,
38:37that, in fact,
38:38the Nevada State Athletic Commission
38:39would then have no obstacles
38:41in relicensing Mike Tyson
38:42and he has to comply
38:43and they have to get back
38:45to the Nevada State Athletic Commission
38:46by October the 3rd.
38:47Now, Shelly Finkel
38:48has taken over
38:49as Mike Tyson's
38:50boxing advisor
38:51and shortly after
38:52the six-hour hearing,
38:53I spoke to Shelly Finkel.
38:57Shelly Finkel
38:58is Mike Tyson's
38:59boxing advisor.
39:00Shelly joins us
39:00from Las Vegas.
39:01He was at the hearing today.
39:02We appreciate your time, Shelly.
39:05You're welcome, Jim.
39:06Shelly,
39:07is it your impression
39:08that what the commission
39:09has said
39:10is that if Mike Tyson
39:11complies by October 3rd
39:13and goes out
39:14and gets this
39:15psychological test
39:16from somebody
39:16that you pick
39:17from their independent three,
39:19that he will then
39:20be relicensed?
39:22I think
39:24what you're saying
39:24is correct
39:25and that was the feeling
39:26I got from it.
39:28Would there be
39:29any other obstacle
39:30that you can ascertain
39:31at this time
39:32that would prevent
39:33the commission
39:34at that time
39:35if he complies?
39:36There are none
39:37that I know of.
39:38So Maryland to you
39:39and the issues in Maryland
39:41have gone away
39:41from the commission
39:42and they're satisfied
39:43with your answers?
39:43I believe so.
39:46Shelly,
39:47Mike Tyson
39:47now finds himself
39:48in a position
39:48of having opened up
39:49his records,
39:50probably unlike anybody else
39:52when he gave his answer
39:53and said that
39:54everything that I say
39:55is basically public.
39:57Do you feel
39:57that that's fair
39:58of the commission
39:58to have asked Mike Tyson
39:59to waive that privilege
40:01of a doctor
40:02and client?
40:04I think
40:05that these are the things
40:06we need to do
40:07to get licensed
40:07so I don't want
40:08to judge them.
40:08Well,
40:11but it calls
40:12for a judgment
40:12in some respect
40:13because is it
40:14your feeling
40:15that this is well
40:16out of the ordinary?
40:17Certainly unprecedented
40:18in Nevada State
40:19Athletic Commission history.
40:21Well,
40:21the hearing was itself.
40:23I mean,
40:23they compared it
40:24to Holofield
40:25but that was
40:25a private hearing.
40:26This was a public hearing.
40:28Mike Tyson
40:29is brought before
40:30the public
40:31and many questions
40:33were asked.
40:33It was over six hours.
40:35He showed
40:36that he's capable
40:37of maintaining
40:38his cool
40:38he answered candidly
40:40and he decided
40:41it was okay
40:42all of his records.
40:44Shelley,
40:44you apologized
40:45at this hearing today.
40:46In fact,
40:47you took responsibility
40:47for taking Mike Tyson
40:49to New Jersey.
40:50Do you feel
40:51if you hadn't gone
40:51to New Jersey
40:52that you might have
40:53gotten the license
40:53in Nevada
40:54either today
40:54or earlier
40:55had you not
40:56pulled that move?
40:57No idea.
40:59Well,
41:00you have to have
41:00some idea
41:01because they kind
41:02of chastised you
41:03and said that
41:04New Jersey
41:04was a major problem
41:05for them.
41:06Do you think
41:06it might have helped
41:07your case?
41:07Well,
41:08I believe
41:09that the mistake
41:10of going to New Jersey
41:11I was sorry for.
41:13I apologized
41:14as it was obvious
41:15and hopefully
41:17that put that to rest.
41:19I don't know
41:20if that would have
41:21made it earlier
41:22or not
41:23and hopefully
41:24that's something
41:25that's behind me also.
41:27Did you have any idea
41:28that the commission
41:29was thinking
41:29along the lines
41:30of what they have now
41:31requested of Mr. Tyson
41:32before you came
41:33to the hearing today?
41:34No.
41:36Do you feel
41:37as though
41:37what's been asked
41:38of Mr. Tyson
41:39is fair?
41:41If this is what
41:42gets him his license
41:43yes.
41:45Well,
41:45but that really
41:46doesn't answer
41:46the question either
41:47Shelley.
41:48I mean,
41:48is it fair
41:48to ask somebody
41:49to release
41:49their records
41:50and to go
41:50through this process?
41:51I think
41:55they want
41:56to be sure
41:57that a reoccurrence
41:58of what happened
41:59doesn't happen again
42:00and this is how
42:02they feel comfortable
42:03doing it
42:03and I'm comfortable
42:04with that.
42:05You also had worked
42:07in the past
42:08with Evander Holyfield
42:09and so forth today
42:11and when you were asked
42:11if all of these records
42:12had been made public
42:13you stated an answer
42:15at which time
42:16Dr. Nave
42:17jumped in
42:17and said
42:18that your answer
42:18was inaccurate.
42:20Did you yourself
42:21today feel
42:21as though the hearing
42:22may have become
42:23a little bit more
42:23about you
42:24than it was
42:24Mike Tyson?
42:25At moments
42:26I felt that
42:27but I was able
42:27to live with it.
42:29The financial dealings
42:31of Mike Tyson
42:32were also brought up
42:33today.
42:33How desperate
42:34of a situation
42:35is Mike in
42:35at this point?
42:37He has said
42:38in its public
42:39that he is
42:41in a big financial bind
42:42and the IRS
42:43is breathing
42:44on him
42:45very heavily.
42:46And his only way
42:48out is to fight?
42:50That is the most
42:51logical for him
42:52to make the most
42:53money to alleviate
42:54these problems.
42:56Some might think
42:56that he should sell
42:57some of the numerous
42:58houses and properties
42:59that he has.
43:00Why is that not an option?
43:02Why is the only option
43:02up to the Nevada
43:03State Athletic Commission?
43:05Because if it was
43:06that easy
43:06they would be sold.
43:08They are on the block.
43:10Shelley,
43:11a lot of people
43:12have wondered
43:12about Mike Tyson's
43:13mental character
43:15and frame of mind
43:16and that was questioned
43:17enormously
43:19throughout the
43:19proceeding today.
43:21Boxing fans
43:22will want to know
43:23physically
43:23what kind of shape
43:25is Mike Tyson in?
43:26The last two times
43:27we have seen him
43:27he has lost.
43:28He hasn't fought
43:29in more than a year now.
43:30Is he physically capable
43:32at 32 years of age
43:33of picking up a career
43:34from where he was?
43:36And if you want to say
43:36from where he was
43:37that is two losses
43:38in a row.
43:38So where is he physically?
43:40Well physically
43:41he is in great shape.
43:43He is probably
43:43physically,
43:44not boxing wise,
43:45physically in as good
43:47a shape or better
43:47than his last two fights.
43:49I believe that
43:51if we get licensed
43:52you will see Mike Tyson
43:53as world champion again.
43:55We saw in diagrams
43:57and we heard a lot
43:58and at one point today
43:59even one of the commissioners
44:00said hey you know something
44:02is Mike Tyson
44:03at any point
44:04responsible for his own condition
44:06for biting an ear,
44:07for losing all of his money,
44:09for making bad dealings
44:10if in fact they were
44:11bad dealings with Don King,
44:13Rory Holloway
44:14and John Horn.
44:14Is Mike Tyson
44:15at all standing up
44:16and saying
44:17I'm accountable,
44:18I'm responsible
44:18or is it always
44:19somebody else
44:20who's done it to him?
44:21Well I think
44:22you have to separate
44:22the issues you just asked Jim.
44:25He has said publicly
44:26he was responsible
44:27and he's sorry
44:27for the biting of the ear.
44:31I believe in financial situations
44:34I am more sophisticated
44:35than him
44:36and I have made mistakes
44:37with people.
44:38I have trusted things
44:39that went wrong
44:40and when you have someone
44:41who you believe
44:44is going to guide you
44:45or help you
44:45and you have a team
44:46and they misguide you
44:48in the end
44:48you have to take responsibility
44:50for trusting them
44:51but you also have to say
44:52gee
44:53I trusted the wrong people.
44:56Overall then Shelley
44:56to try and recap this
44:58you're pleased with
44:59what went on
44:59basically today?
45:01I'm very pleased with Mike
45:02and I'm very hopeful
45:03with the commission.
45:04And you spoke to Mike
45:05after the hearing
45:06what is his frame of mind?
45:08I wish it had been today
45:09and it's another two weeks
45:10we said two weeks go quick
45:12he said fine.
45:13Shelley let me bring up
45:14one other instance here
45:16and it was
45:17I thought you said
45:17we were finished.
45:18Well
45:18I'm kidding Jim.
45:19Because you just said
45:20something else
45:20that comes to my mind
45:22now having watched
45:23this hearing for six hours
45:24I want to know
45:26if in fact Mike
45:27doesn't get his license
45:28on October 3rd
45:29you said you have not
45:30had any dealings
45:31with anybody
45:31outside the country
45:32which you could categorize
45:34as being something
45:35that is inevitable
45:36or something that
45:37would in fact
45:38take place
45:38or is on your drawing board
45:40right now.
45:41If he doesn't get that license
45:42on October 3rd
45:43and you were careful
45:44and the advisors
45:45and lawyers to Mike
45:45were careful to say today
45:47that this was not a threat
45:49at some point
45:49you've got to think about
45:50going just plain anywhere
45:51where he can get a license
45:52won't you?
45:53Well
45:54right now
45:55my whole focus
45:56is going to be
45:56for October 3rd
45:58hopefully we'll be successful
45:59so I won't have to think
46:00about anything else.
46:02But you won't rule that out
46:03if in fact
46:03October 3rd
46:04is not successful.
46:05I never can rule out
46:07anything
46:07but that's not
46:08on my thought process.
46:09Shelley
46:09it's been a grueling day
46:11for you
46:11we appreciate you
46:12taking the time
46:12to talk to us tonight.
46:14Thank you very much Jim.
46:15Thank you Shelley.
46:17We attempted to talk
46:19to Mike Tyson
46:19after the hearing
46:20Tyson told us
46:21not right now
46:22he was not speaking
46:22at all to the media
46:23and he said that
46:24at the appropriate time
46:25he would in fact
46:26come on Showtime
46:27and address
46:28a number of these issues
46:29that of course
46:29will probably be
46:30after October 3rd.
46:31we did speak to
46:33Dr. Elias Ghanem
46:34the chairman of the
46:34Nevada State Athletic Commission
46:36and he did in fact
46:37confirm to us
46:38that if in fact
46:39Tyson does pass
46:40the psychological examination
46:41and all of the results
46:43come in good
46:43and nothing happens
46:44to Mike Tyson
46:45between now
46:45and October 3rd
46:46he sees absolutely
46:47no obstacles
46:48or no reason why
46:50Mike Tyson
46:50will not be relicensed
46:52to fight.
46:52So it's a very fluid situation
46:53we'll keep you apprised.
46:55Steve?
46:55All right Jim
46:57thank you so much
46:58Ferdy Pacheco
46:58let's get your take
46:59on today's proceedings.
47:00Well I thought
47:01that was a very
47:01torturous road
47:02to establish
47:03a very questionable
47:04shaky precedent.
47:06I mean are we going
47:06to start giving
47:07psychiatric exams
47:08to everybody
47:09that breaks down
47:09in the ring
47:10the Oliver Wrights
47:11everybody
47:11I mean
47:12boy that's a can of worms
47:14that's very big
47:15I believe
47:16they did an overkill
47:18on Tyson
47:19I mean he's paid
47:19his price
47:20he's reprinting
47:21he's done everything
47:22he was asked to do
47:24enough already
47:25give the man his license
47:26and let him keep going
47:27and make a living
47:27I really
47:28really was sick
47:30to see them go
47:31six hours
47:32to come up
47:33with a conclusion
47:34like they did
47:34it was just
47:35almost unconscionable
47:36to me
47:37I think they complicated
47:38it way beyond
47:39what it should be.
47:40Yeah a lot of the
47:40stuff that they
47:41talked about
47:42in Las Vegas
47:43they seemed irrelevant
47:44they seemed to be
47:45off the track
47:45at times
47:46Bobby Chez
47:47let's get your thoughts
47:48and we
47:49you know
47:50point out
47:50beforehand
47:51that you were
47:51a character witness
47:52for Mr. Tyson
47:54back in New Jersey
47:55when he was
47:56going before
47:57the New Jersey
47:57board
47:58but your thoughts
47:59on today's activity
48:00Well today's activity
48:02is you know
48:02it's amazing
48:03what kind of
48:04scrutiny is going on
48:05but Mike Tyson
48:05did do something
48:06that never before
48:07in the history
48:08of boxing
48:08have we ever seen
48:09so maybe
48:10it sets a precedent
48:11for punishment
48:12of things
48:12of that nature
48:13I think Mike Tyson
48:14has been scrutinized
48:16more than the average person
48:17been made to hold
48:18to a higher standard
48:18because of how much
48:19money he makes
48:19how much publicity
48:21and popularity
48:21he's generated
48:22it's very difficult
48:24to judge
48:24what's going through
48:25the minds
48:25of the men
48:26who were appointed
48:26by the governor
48:27to decide his fate
48:28I hope they give him
48:29his license
48:29I think it's fair
48:30I think he paid
48:31for what he's done
48:31Despite what Tyson
48:33says
48:34sometimes I wonder
48:36maybe he just
48:37doesn't want to fight
48:37anymore
48:38maybe either
48:39you know
48:39deep down inside
48:40either consciously
48:41or subconsciously
48:42he's jeopardizing
48:44his career
48:44looking for a way out
48:46I'm not a psychiatrist
48:47just a thought
48:48you're shaking your head
48:49you don't have to agree
48:50with me
48:50well I really don't
48:51think so Steve
48:52I know Mike pretty well
48:52back in 86
48:53when we first met
48:54we were very close
48:55for a few years
48:55and then there's
48:56an unfortunate incident
48:57where he was incarcerated
48:58for several years
48:58and he had a new team
48:59surrounding him
49:00and they kept a lot
49:01of people away
49:02one of them was myself
49:03and now that Mike's
49:04changed his team
49:04different manager
49:05etc
49:05he let me get back
49:07involved with him
49:07and I've talked to him
49:08he's very personal
49:09he's very private
49:09he does love to fight
49:11he wants to fight again
49:11but he's also a target
49:13a guy could walk
49:14past his table
49:14and slip and say
49:15Mike hit him
49:15just because
49:16he's Mike Tyson
49:17he's got a lot of money
49:17okay
49:19although he owes
49:20a lot of money
49:21that's for sure
49:22let's take a look
49:23at the Georgia Dome
49:26here in contrast
49:27a happy event
49:29as they're getting
49:29ready to see
49:30their men
49:31he's got a lot of money
49:32he's got a lot of money
49:33he's got a lot of money
49:34he's got a lot of money
49:35he's got a lot of money
49:36he's got a lot of money
49:37he's got a lot of money
49:38he's got a lot of money
49:39he's got a lot of money
49:40he's got a lot of money
49:41he's got a lot of money
49:42he's got a lot of money
49:43he's got a lot of money
49:44he's got a lot of money
49:45he's got a lot of money
49:46he's got a lot of money
49:47he's got a lot of money
49:48he's got a lot of money
49:49he's got a lot of money
49:50he's got a lot of money
49:51he's got a lot of money
49:52he's got a lot of money
49:53he's got a lot of money
49:54he's got a lot of money
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