- 1 day ago
Heavyweights Lou Savarese and Lance "Mount" Whitaker face off on HBO Boxing
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00the following is a special presentation of hbo sports the network of champions
00:17when you examine the last three years of frenchman laurent boudouani and american david reed's
00:28careers you'll see both have aged well like fine wines the 1996 summer olympics in atlanta
00:37were expected to present an enthusiastic tasting for america's young amateur boxers
00:42the usa's lone golden moment was david reed's dramatic come from behind victory
00:47over the heavily favored cuban alfredo duverhel
00:50all over david reed has stopped alfredo duverhel
00:55two weeks later laurent boudouani seven years into his professional career
01:02he popped the cork of his european championship shadow against julio vasquez
01:07to become the 154 pound champion of the world
01:101997 was another vintage year for both fighters as they unwittingly began their march toward one
01:26another in his professional debut the philadelphia-born reed started pouring into the victory column
01:36by beating previously unbeaten sam calderon the french corn boudouani would win two fights in 1997
01:44defending his title against carl daniels and later defeating kevin pompey
01:491998 would demonstrate both fighters had the legs to withstand increased competition
01:56two of budouani's title defenses would go the distance a draw and a win against guillermo jones
02:04the third his first defense in front of his countrymen was a thrilling ninth round upset stoppage of
02:10terry norris david reed would remain undefeated fighting and winning five times against veteran opponents with a combined winning percentage of 86 percent
02:20but he tasted the canvas for the first time against awkward james cocker
02:24logic tells you the last two years of the millennium will be signature vintages
02:35tonight we'll see if loran budouani is still reveling in the bright bouquet of a championship belt
02:40or if david reed has the character to become the third member of his olympic class to win a world crown
02:47charles of 2022
02:50much weaknesses
02:51good
02:54o
02:58CH des
03:09y
06:17Today there are 12 divisions, three belts in each division, 36 championships.
06:23So it's easier to win a title, which is not to say it's going to be easy at all for David
06:30Reed tonight.
06:30Who hasn't had it easy at any time in his professional career, having fought to this point, maybe
06:35the toughest catalog of opponents ever for an Olympic star coming into this segment of
06:41the sport.
06:41Well, it's with great excitement that we turn now to our HBO world championship boxing
06:45expert, two-time heavyweight champion, George Foreman, because George, most of the lessons
06:50Lou Savarese has learned about fighting against bigger heavyweights may have come in his spirited
06:56decision loss against you a couple of years ago.
06:58Well, what must he do tonight to beat a six-foot, eight-inch fighter like Lance Mount Whitaker?
07:02Well, just like any big, brave man walking in the dark, keep your hand, keep your feet on
07:08something.
07:09At this point, it's about a mountain.
07:10Keep touching at all times.
07:11Don't allow any distance so you can fall into mischief.
07:14If he touches them all the time, he'll have an easy night, but if he allows them to get
07:18further away with the big jabs, could be trouble.
07:21Well, tale of the tape between Whitaker and Savarese, and you'll see the physical dimension
07:26we're talking about when we look at Mount Whitaker.
07:29There's an age difference here of seven years in favor of Whitaker.
07:33He also has the three-inch height advantage, the two-inch reach advantage, nine pounds in
07:37weight over Savarese, who himself is no small heavyweight.
07:41Punch that numbers, Larry.
07:42A profile of their activity, very active heavyweights.
07:48This is 30 to 40 percent more punches than most heavyweights throw in a round.
07:55Jabs, although Whitaker is so much taller, it is Savarese who has the more meaningful
08:01jab.
08:02Rules of the bout with our unofficial ringside scorer, Harold Letterman.
08:05The Lou Savarese, Mount Whitaker fight is scheduled for 10 rounds using the rules of the New Jersey
08:10Athletic Control Board, non-titled.
08:12Jim, whenever we have big heavyweights, you've got to be ready for somebody to possibly go
08:16through the ropes.
08:16Jim, it used to happen a lot when they had three ropes.
08:19Now they use four.
08:20But the rule I want you to watch for tonight is if a guy goes through the ropes and he's
08:24on the apron, he's got 10 seconds to get back.
08:26If he's off the apron, on the floor, 20 seconds to get back.
08:29Back to you, Jim.
08:30All right.
08:31Quickly, a look at the two fighters already in the ring with their records.
08:34Lance Whitaker didn't start boxing until he was 21.
08:37Didn't turn pro until he's 24.
08:39But 18-0 with 16 knockouts.
08:42He is unusually comfortable fighting inside for such a big man.
08:46And Lou Savarese, you've seen before in his spirited effort losing a decision to Foreman.
08:51In his knockout loss to David Izon, you may have seen his big win over Buster Douglas last
08:56year.
08:56All in all, 38-2 with 32 KOs.
09:02Now let's go up to ring announcer Michael Buffer for the official introduction.
09:06Ladies and gentlemen from Atlantic City, New Jersey, courtesy of Bally's Park Place here
09:12on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, America presents, along with your undisputed, undefeated
09:19King of Beers, Budweiser.
09:22Professional boxing for your entertainment.
09:24This first bout is presented in association with Cedric Kushner Promotions.
09:29These contests tonight are sanctioned by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.
09:33Boxing commissioner, Larry Hazard Sr.
09:36Timekeeper for the first bout is Roosevelt Gilbert.
09:38Your America presents matchmaker is Tom Brown.
09:42The scoring for the first contest will be done on a 10-point must system.
09:47And the three judges in attendance at ringside are Al DeVito, Alan Rubenstein, and Paul Venti.
09:53And when the bell rings, your referee in charge of the action, Steve Smoger.
09:59And now, ladies and gentlemen from Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 10 rounds
10:05of boxing in the heavyweight division.
10:11Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, wearing black, trimmed with white.
10:16He weighs 249 pounds.
10:19He brings a perfect professional record into the ring.
10:2218 consecutive victories without a loss.
10:2616 by knockout.
10:27Ladies and gentlemen, from Granada Hills, California, here is the undefeated Mount Whittaker.
10:39And his opponent across the ring, fighting out of the red corner, wearing gray with black
10:45and weighing 240 pounds.
10:47An outstanding professional record.
10:4938 victories, including 32 by knockout, with only two losses.
10:54Ladies and gentlemen, here from Greenwood Lake in New York, here is Lou Tuffer-eeves.
11:10All right, guys, we're giving you instructions with the way in.
11:12I want you to obey my commands at all times.
11:14Protect yourself at all times.
11:15And above all respect, about touch gloves.
11:17Touch them up.
11:18Let's go.
11:19Two big guys.
11:21The bigger they are, the bigger they hit, the harder they fall.
11:24Well, no less an authority than Gil Clancy believes that Whittaker, at this stage of his career,
11:33may be a better fighter than the much-heralded heavyweight Michael Grant,
11:38regarded by many experts in the sport, as the number three heavyweight right now behind Lewis and Holyfield.
11:43He wonders, does Clancy, why Savarese took this foul?
11:48But, of course, as you point out, George, Savarese has by far more experience against top opponents than Whittaker.
11:55And he has the luxury this time, probably first time in his career, to be able to bob and weave.
12:00He normally has to look down, but now he can just bob and weave, do what boxers do best, stay out of harm's way,
12:07throw a punch, duck and dodge, and jam in retaliation.
12:13I've often wondered why a big guy boxers wasn't invented for big guys to protect themselves.
12:20Boxing was invented for the smaller guys.
12:21So, he should be attacking Lou Savarese.
12:28Whittaker backing up and allowing Savarese to follow him around the ring.
12:32Round one developed, but you see Savarese firing combinations.
12:36He's become a better combination puncher in the past few years.
12:42Whittaker's job is to step forward, punch with the left jab because you have the reach,
12:47and wait for big right hand.
12:48Savarese should bob and weave before he just wade in.
12:50And after you land your shots, move to the side out of the power of Mount Whittaker.
12:56Savarese landing and chopping right inside there.
12:59With Whittaker who moved to his side to create more room for his long jab.
13:04Whittaker trying a right hand lead.
13:12Look at the size and the niftiness of these two athletes.
13:16The heavyweight division is getting bigger and bigger, George.
13:20The better fighters will always be the ones around six foot, six foot two.
13:27And that's where it's perfect.
13:29It's like in the basketball, the guards, the one who's professional ball and dribble will always be the smaller guys.
13:34Yeah, but there's also been six foot six and six foot nine inch guards.
13:41That's phenomenal.
13:42And we're seeing these better athletes.
13:44It's phenomenons, you know, like Magic Johnson.
13:46But these guys should, uh, Savarese for the first time is in a boxer position.
13:52He can bar, counterpunch, and he should be doing so.
13:56Savarese appears to want to work to the body and chop Mount Whittaker down.
14:01You can see Lou concentrating to the body with his combinations throughout this first round.
14:06If I can tell you, you start beating on a guy with a lot of power like that, then you start getting drained, too.
14:13You want to keep your hand on him, touching him, but don't use all your power up.
14:16And Whittaker's showing you that he can be nifty inside, lands a nice uppercut to snap Savarese's head back.
14:27Off of a nice combination as well.
14:30Now Savarese chopping down with the right hand.
14:34Both fighters had their moments in an entertaining round one.
14:40You get a little away, too, Betty.
14:42Take your time.
14:44Okay.
14:44Keep the pressure on him with the dab.
14:49Start hitting him with the face with the dab.
14:51If you can't reach his face, hit him right there.
14:53Okay.
14:53Right here.
14:54Right there.
14:54Right there.
14:55Right there.
14:55You get a good shot in with that right hand.
14:57You're rushing to stay relaxed, just like you are.
15:01Very good.
15:02That left uppercut's going to find a home.
15:03Keep your left hand working.
15:05Hooks and jabs.
15:07Okay?
15:08Now that right hand's going to find a home pretty soon.
15:10All right?
15:11You caught him over there in the corner a little bit.
15:13He felt your power.
15:14Now just keep that good movement up.
15:15You're really boxing nice.
15:17Doesn't mean you have to move all over the ring,
15:18but just keep your little sidesteps going.
15:19Where's some grease?
15:20Right there.
15:21Here's a little combination inside by Whitaker to show you that he is unusual for a big man
15:26to be able to do this inside.
15:28You heard Joe Goose and his trainer say, throw the uppercut, it will find a home.
15:35And we told you these are exceptionally busy heavyweights.
15:38They threw 140 punches between them in round one.
15:4180 attempted blowers by Whitaker, 60 by Savarese.
15:45That's a very high work rate for heavyweights.
15:51What kind of punching power does Lou Savarese have, George?
16:00Well, he's not going to be noted for his power, but he can get some effective punches in enough
16:05to make the other guy kind of afraid of him.
16:08You don't want to let a big guy like Whitaker sit back and say, oh, I've tasted all you have.
16:12Well, there was that uppercut, and it almost found a home.
16:16But just sort of clipped Savarese on the way in.
16:27Whitaker using his jab to move Savarese back and create room for him to go back to the center of the ring.
16:37You want to take away a guy like Whitaker's confidence, do things that he just doesn't like.
16:44What things?
16:44You've got to touch him on his shoulder, touch him in his chest, touch him on top,
16:48and bring your hands right back into position.
16:50Don't look for power.
16:52Forget about power.
16:52That will come later on.
17:03Whitaker trying to work to the body, and then covering up to Savarese goes to his body.
17:07Again, Whitaker lands the right-hand uppercut.
17:10And Savarese continues to fire to the rib cage
17:13as he tracks Whitaker in the corner.
17:18Whitaker is doing exactly what Savarese should be doing.
17:21He's touching him at all times.
17:23May not be a hard shot, but he's keeping some punch on him.
17:26And look at how fluidly the big man fires his combinations.
17:30George, left, right, from all angles.
17:32He really has some boxing skill.
17:34Yeah, and he's not using power, and I like that in a big man.
17:36I don't like the idea that he's moving away like that.
17:39It just wastes time.
17:42Chopping right-hand lands to Savarese.
17:45Whitaker again lands that nifty, nifty, I should say, right uppercut inside.
17:52He should be taking advantage of his size.
17:55It's a shame where small guys like Tyson, Holyfield, are the ones who attack you.
18:02The big guy should be attacking.
18:04Savarese landing his right cross in there,
18:07and Whitaker's shaking his head as if to say,
18:09I shouldn't let him land that.
18:14Wait, wait!
18:15If Savarese is going to follow him around, you've got to touch him.
18:18You just can't just follow him around.
18:19Keep your hand out there and just put your hand on top of his glove or something.
18:23Just keep touching.
18:31Certainly, Savarese is well-schooled enough to know how to cut off the ring,
18:35but he's not cutting off the ring against Whitaker.
18:37He's just following him around.
18:49He was trying to get you closer to him with the right hand.
18:51He's best right out.
18:52He'll hit you with uppercuts when you lay in there.
18:53He'll hit you with uppercuts.
18:54He'll hit you with about four uppercuts.
18:56Laying in.
18:57Get out of here.
18:58Get out of here.
18:58I am back after that.
18:59Get out.
19:00Fine.
19:00Let's go.
19:01You're waiting on the sky.
19:02You're waiting on him.
19:02Get the job out.
19:03Get it.
19:03Boom.
19:04Right hand.
19:04Let's go.
19:05Let's go.
19:05He's heard him over in the corner.
19:06Got him with some nice uppercuts.
19:07Now, look.
19:08He's looking on the inside to shoot a little short one over the top.
19:11Keep that left hand up when you're working your uppercuts, okay?
19:13Very nice.
19:14You don't have to move all that much.
19:15Step.
19:16Step.
19:22Unusually comfortable for a relatively inexperienced fighter standing on the ropes, confident that
19:28he can come up with those little uppercuts.
19:32You know, when he walked into the room yesterday, when you see him, he doesn't create the kind
19:37of picture you expect from a massive man.
19:40There's a kind of soft-spokenness about him, and he doesn't exude a lot of testosterone,
19:48George.
19:48He's a big, tough guy.
19:51Some guys just don't believe they look at themselves as small guys.
19:55Savarese should understand that.
19:57He keeps some power punches on him.
20:00Whitaker threw 86 punches in the second round to go with 80 in the first round, and because
20:06he's not trying to put power on every punch, he can keep punching fluidly with a minimum
20:11of effort.
20:12He's doing an excellent job of just touching here and there.
20:16Good left hook by Savarese, and he follows up with a combination to the body.
20:21Whitaker again uses that right uppercut to help create space and get him out of the
20:25corner.
20:26And Savarese should throw one punch after another and forget about power, because when you throw
20:31power punches, you must stop.
20:33Well, you don't want to be able to stop because this guy's going to hit you.
20:36Savarese has a mouse under his left eye, and the beginnings of a blood spot there.
20:44Right cross last for Savarese, left hook to the body.
20:48Whitaker covers up and then again uses his carefully thrown punch assortment to get him out of the
20:55corner.
20:55And then he steps back into the corner, and that's a sign of his inexperience as he steps
21:00back into the corner himself without making Savarese force him in there.
21:04Whitaker's done a good job of tip, tap, tap, tap, tap.
21:08This is what Savarese should have been doing when he had all of his strength.
21:11Forget about the power punches.
21:13This guy does not believe you can knock him out, so don't try.
21:16Just tap him and tap him and tap him.
21:21Good right hand by Savarese that time.
21:23Yeah, Lou Savarese gets more mustard on the right hand now than was the case a couple of
21:28years ago when he fought against you, George.
21:30Yeah, look how big his back is this time.
21:32This guy's been doing some exercise, Savarese.
21:36Well, he says that he's lost to David Ison, convinced him that he needed to change his training
21:42methods.
21:42He went to more strength training, more carefully concentrated workouts.
21:47He used to feel as though he wasn't getting the job done unless he was totally exhausted
21:52at the end of the workout.
21:53Now he realizes that isn't necessarily the best way to go.
21:57It would be a good idea for Savarese now to hit to the body and step back and make the
22:00bigger man use some of his reserves.
22:03You don't want the big man having power and energy left around.
22:07Will.
22:10Whitaker pawing a little bit with the jab now.
22:13His punches seem to have slowed down a bit in round three.
22:17Now he fires a combination with authority.
22:19But Savarese comes right back and rakes Whitaker both to the body and to the chin.
22:25Whitaker missing with the right uppercut that time.
22:28but now he lands the left hook in the retaliation you're making this fight tough see you're making
22:45this fight tough you ain't got no business tough see you're in that lane you throw one or two
22:50punches you stop you smother yourself yeah you're smothering yourself you get on top of the guy
22:56you can't you can't do nothing get back get back to see which way this guy's going let's go now
23:05and you make them hang in there come on that's right you just dab you okay come here
23:21there we go all right now here's what i need from you
23:24i need you to start turning him around putting some pressure on him if you're going to back up
23:28you're backing up too much he's got to walk in the punch he's going to be quick with your hands you
23:31hear me
23:35interesting fight to score so far it would certainly appear that saverese is the more
23:40selected puncher and is landing at a higher rate whitaker is throwing more punches and let's see
23:47how harold letterman has it through three jim 29 28 two rounds to one blue saverese i gave him
23:54rounds one and three jim i have the second round to whitaker because he was busier but jim i'll tell you
23:59something judges are notorious for not seeing the body punches and certainly the saverese attack to this
24:05point is body punches and he's doing more damage to the body than anything else this is going to be an
24:09interesting decision just like you said i have it two to one for whitaker the saverese should be
24:16warranted about it and making sure they take some of the power out of this big giant
24:22well harold said an interesting thing george he said that judges are notorious for not seeing body
24:26punches throughout your career were you conscious of that and did you worry when you attacked to the
24:31body the judges wouldn't give you credit i never worried about the judges i wanted to make certain that i
24:36go to the body to take the power if the fight goes beyond five or six rounds if my opponent has no
24:41more energy that's all i was concerned about and that's what lou should be concerned about
24:50lou is not moving in speed if you're going to go forward move left or right move your feet
24:56whitaker's doing exactly what his corner told him to do you step up you put a little pressure on and he's
25:01doing it let him out lance let him out and you heard al bolden in saverese's corner saying you're making
25:13it tough on yourself you're allowing him to get comfortable in there and certainly whitaker does
25:18look comfortable fighting in close quarters against saverese you want a big guy like that to make sure
25:25he throws a lot of punches and he's sucking in looking for oxygen himself you don't want him just sitting
25:31now relax like that step back hit him and step back make him come to you
25:46good chopping right hand by saverese he doubled up on it landed them both right on the temple good
25:52effective combination that time you got to get right back on him don't let him think hey that didn't hurt
25:58saverese with a reaching left hook whitaker lands the jab but whitaker not using his jab enough to back
26:06saverese off and now lou getting more effective as he steps forward and dictates the action as soon as
26:12he lose throws two or three punches he stops the action you want to take the powwow and throw six punches
26:18on a mile a little step step step step step
26:34winging right hand partially landed by whitaker straight right hand lands as well interesting heavyweight
26:41about while david reed warms up in the dressing room and waits for his chance to join olympic
26:46teammates fernando vargas and floyd mayweather jr among the ranks of world title holders in the sport
26:53reed looking for a title at 154 pounds the same weight class in which marcus has already won a championship
27:00by knocking out yori boy campus you gotta start going first and punching more you gotta you gotta
27:08hurt this guy man you're not gonna do it one punch at a time laying on the ropes do you hear me yeah
27:12all right now look lance you gotta get aggressive pushing back water yes right here you gotta start
27:17getting that uppercut going right uppercut left uppercut going where here's savary's starting to impose
27:24himself more two good solid right hands as whitaker started to try to apply pressure
27:35sadly seemed more comfortable george with whitaker coming at him yeah when you're not touching him at
27:42all times make him come to you when you throw a lot of shots like that and you're that heavy you're
27:48going to be tired so you don't want to rest by looking make him come forward and as the number
27:53proof of what george is saying in that fourth round for the first time in the bout lance whitaker's punch
27:59count dropped measurably by compu box numbers after throwing more than 80 punches in each of the first
28:04three rounds he threw only 65 in the fourth that made it possible for savary's to land half the punches
28:11he attempted
28:17that whitaker's got he has good eyes he throws one shot he looks at what he's doing and slaps it in
28:22there doesn't ball his fists up and put any power he just slaps him in there i love the way he throws
28:28the uppercut
28:31good left jab by sabores that's what you want to do keep touching this guy keep touching him it's you're
28:36safe as long as you got something on him at all times and savaries keeps working to the body
28:43try to sap his man as the fight goes on
28:50if only whitaker could just act like a big man this fight wouldn't have to go round after round
28:54you're big bb you're strong be strong
29:02right back down let's go
29:06but it's amazing how many super tall heavyweights you see
29:10some of them with big strong bodies as well who don't punch with authority back and one day is not
29:16a particularly hard punch there was a guy named mike white almost seven feet tall who was a relatively
29:22light puncher for a heavyweight but all you got to do is want to be big and take charge
29:26for the first time savaries was able to bob underneath uh one of whitaker's uh left jab
29:45you do that with an inexperienced fighter and you get him kind of scared to throw the jab
29:49he's trying to unload the big right cross step step hands up hands up just missed
30:13whitaker finding it harder and harder to throw combinations that's another sign of fatigue early
30:21in the bout he was putting three four five punches together now as often as not it's one
30:26punch at a time you know another thing he's heavy though when he's having three or four punches
30:33that can take a lot out of you
30:37so what you're saying is that both fighters are going to tire down the stretch of the fight
30:40and now there's blood over the left eye of lance whitaker here get this get out
30:50now you begin to fight a little bit now now you're getting taken over you're taking this fight over
30:54chop that might be a dangerous cut joe goosin does his own cut work train it from out whitaker
31:02as joe goosin he also does the cut work it was a lawful shot okay give me some three same things open now
31:10and you might have heard referee steve smoker say it was a lawful shot
31:18did you hurt that eye you got that eye yeah yeah let's go
31:23keep them hands up now okay
31:30so you see the mouse under the left eye of savarese that hasn't been a problem for him
31:35and you heard joe goosin telling his fighter mount whitaker that the the cut over his left eye could
31:40conceivably be a problem obviously goosin wants mount whitaker to go out and be a little more
31:46aggressive than he's been so far now this is when experience comes in right now
31:50and savarese is in the tank in territory that he's aware he's acquainted with but whitaker lands a right
31:57that's done savarese and follows up to the left and savarese wobbles back into the ropes as whitaker
32:04tries to attack you never want to lose your strategy by going after a cut guys cut that's just a cut
32:14and savarese's uppercut landed but didn't faze whitaker and whitaker with a sudden burst of energy in round
32:22six now savarese backs him up with combination punches
32:29whitaker's going totally wild now whitaker appears to be in a territory he's never been before
32:36i doubt that he's ever had this kind of an opponent in front of him while his eye was spilling blood
32:42and it's a desperate time and let's see how here he reacts to it george well this is where savarese's
32:50vast edge and experience ought to come to the floor that's what you want to do you want to stand right
32:54there in the pocket jab and throw right hands don't move away and give him any more courage and whitaker can
33:00fold whitaker's job now is you just start throwing every piece of power you have in your body
33:06when you're powerful anything can happen whitaker trying to pull axe savarese with the looping
33:13right hand lou partially blocking it with the glove as he went that one landed that one landed
33:20that's power and savarese is in trouble for the second time in the round uppercut lands inside
33:28that's what you want to do if you're a big man throw power boxing is for the little guys fight
33:36with the other side of the third time in the game
33:40whitaker has savarese in big trouble now trying to move in for the kid
33:47savarese now throwing back
33:53and down goes savarese takes a knee trying to stop the assault
34:00Well, we asked George, how is he going to respond to this crisis, and we just saw it.
34:10A gutty rally by Mount Whitaker, fighting with desperation because they cut over his
34:16eye, and landing nonstop against Savary's. Savary's mistake is to try to fight him back.
34:25Move, hold, move, hold. Well, he got a hold of the right arm there. That should
34:30help. Well, Whitaker, that's his job. You're big, don't box, fight. Savary's landed another
34:36punch and fires back just enough to keep Smoker from stopping the fight.
34:44Sit down. Sit down. Tie him off. Tie him off. Tie him off. Tie him off. Hey, you should know what
34:51that is doing. Drop it in your hand. You all right? Tie him off. Don't fucking punch with
34:59the back of his neck. Very nice, baby. You'll knock him out this way. Now you did what I told
35:15you to do. The big man acting like a big man, hurt, bleeding, in jeopardy, opening up, and
35:24then you'll see Savary's, just from the accumulation of blows, decide to take a knee, as Jim described
35:30it. Smart move on his part. It helped him survive the round. Let's see if he has enough left to survive
35:40like this. And let's see if Whitaker has anything left after having thrown 122 punches, 112 of them
35:48power shots in the preceding round. I never heard of a heavyweight throwing that many punches. Certainly
35:55not a six-foot-eight-inch heavyweight who weighs 250 pounds. Lou Savary's has no business trying to
36:03exchange punches with this big guy. Well, then they heard Kevin Gallagher saying, hold him. Hold that on your jab. Forget about that. Make him respect you, but keep jabbing and moving. A big guy like that starts coming forward. He hasn't got the endurance. Savary's wanted to tell his corner he wasn't okay. Then he spotted the doctor out of the corner of his eye and said,
36:25He's fine. That shows you he had something still on the ball. You see this big guy, Whitaker, everything he lands, even if he has no evil intentions, they hurt you. Yep. So don't allow him to touch you with anything. Jab him and keep moving to his left and to his right. Every time he gets ready to do something, move left or right. Savary's may not have any legs under him, George.
36:52Oh, he can do good, but you don't want to mix it up. This big boy is just like waiting for a drink of water, a little energy, and he's going to hit you.
37:05And after that last round, both of them seem to need a blow here.
37:10Meanwhile, Joe Goosen, in two between-round periods, has stopped the bleeding above Whitaker's left eye.
37:21Good job by the corner. Good job.
37:26Savary's experience should tell him, jab, go down to the body, make this guy start trying to protect his body.
37:32Jab, jab to the body, then come on top with a straight right hand.
37:34But it seems almost that Whitaker was the one who took all the punishment in the last round because he suddenly has come to a stop from throwing all those punches.
37:45Yeah, but he's so heavy and heavy-handed that even a stop at this big guy hurts.
37:51Right now, Whitaker leans all over Savary's on the ropes.
37:56And though Savary's doesn't have to punch, he has to deal with the big man leading up.
38:00And the uppercut lands for Savary's.
38:03Savary's still falls into his exchanges, though.
38:06You want to jab, jab, and step around and make it look for you.
38:09But he's showing the same kind of courage he showed when he fought you, George.
38:14Coming back from that last round where he barely made it out, barely made it back to his corner,
38:19he's winning this round up to this point.
38:22Well, you want courage, but you want a little intelligence, too.
38:25Sometimes intelligence, it is curvy.
38:36Fascinating fight on the scorecards.
38:39Whitaker almost certainly got a two-point round in the last round.
38:43Savary's clearly won that one.
38:45Come on, come on, come on, come on.
38:47Come on.
38:49Get there, Tony.
38:50He said Tony knew him.
38:52Come on, that's on.
38:53Come on, baby.
38:54Come on, you're the best.
38:55What round is this?
38:56Seventh round.
38:57Come on, Louis.
38:58Seventh round.
38:59Seventh round.
39:00Eight round, Louis.
39:01Eight comes.
39:01Live behind.
39:02If you keep your hands out as long as we did for you to dog me one round, I need it from you every round.
39:07Do you hear me?
39:08Eight's coming.
39:09Yeah.
39:09This is eight.
39:10Eight, nine, and ten.
39:11Okay?
39:12Take a deep breath.
39:13Come on.
39:13Through your nose.
39:14Let's go, Lance.
39:15You had him out that round.
39:17You've got to put him out again.
39:18Do you hear me?
39:19You've got to use both hands.
39:20You've got to go forward on him, not backwards.
39:23Don't let him have that momentum coming.
39:24One going forward.
39:25Do you hear me?
39:26Go backwards, baby.
39:27I mean, go forward.
39:28Speed rounds, big guy.
39:30Joey, Tommy.
39:31Let's go.
39:33Come on.
39:34Both corners working hard tonight.
39:36You heard Joe Goosen say, don't go backward.
39:42Go forward, Mount Whitaker.
39:47Harold, how do you have it through seven?
39:48Jim, very interesting.
39:50Five rounds to two.
39:5267, 65.
39:54Lou Savarese.
39:55I'll tell you, that 10-8 put Whitaker back in a fight.
39:57But then, I think he blew to seventh round.
39:59When he had Savarese really hurt, he should have just gone out, won that seventh round,
40:04then got back in it.
40:05But Lou Savarese coming on again.
40:08Landon McQueen, a hard of shots.
40:09And Whitaker looks exhausted.
40:11Whitaker looks exhausted.
40:12Dan, I think he's still exhausted now.
40:14After he threw 122 punches in the sixth round, he threw only 28 in the seventh round.
40:20And Savarese seizing the initiative again.
40:22How do you have it, Larry?
40:23I have it.
40:23Four rounds to three for Savarese, even on points because of him out there.
40:30Whitaker just sucks it up a couple more times and fights.
40:33He can end this fight just as well.
40:36You just got to suck it up and fight.
40:39Some guys think that, hey, there's a lot of money in boxing, but there's a lot of fighting in boxing.
40:44And every time you...
40:45You just got to fight.
40:46You just got to fight.
40:48Every time you see Savarese's head bob up,
40:51when one of these exchanges recognize that Whitaker is still throwing that uppercut and landing it.
40:58And the weight of that big man leaning on you, that takes a lot out of you.
41:03And when you push him off you, it's just like you've gone three rounds already far.
41:08But Whitaker remains held at bay by the sharper, quicker punching of Savarese.
41:15Just as in round seven.
41:16And you can do as much damage.
41:17And you can do as much damage.
41:22Whitaker again shows his capacity for infighting, landing a sharp left and right.
41:26And you can do as much damage.
41:26And you can do as much damage.
41:31Whitaker again shows his capacity for infighting, landing a sharp left and right.
41:41Savarese gets in a left hook.
41:42Looks like they're going to fight the last three rounds shoulder-to-shoulder if it goes the distance.
41:49It benefits Whitaker because sooner or later he's going to get a second win.
41:54He doesn't know he has it inside him.
41:56But if you've done road work, you're going to get a second win.
42:00When Whitaker stands at a distance and punches,
42:02you can see the exhaustion in his lazy winging blows.
42:06When he steps inside, he seems to have more energy.
42:09This bout is scheduled for 10, not 12.
42:1310 rounds.
42:13Good right hand by Savarese.
42:16Good right hand.
42:20Great.
42:20Step out.
42:21Step out.
42:21Hands up.
42:21Hands up.
42:23Another good combination here.
42:25And Savarese will have appeared to win yet another round.
42:30Thing is, he just can't afford to be hit by this big giant.
42:35Whitaker's got a go-to-toe-toe and earn his living now.
42:37Good left hook landed by Lance Mount Whitaker to close the round.
42:43We showed you David Reed warming up earlier.
42:45There's the opponent, Laurent Buduani,
42:48defending his 154-pound world championship tonight against Reed.
42:53Once again, we remind you,
42:54Reed, the Olympic gold medalist.
42:56We got to have another two-round spin.
42:58All the time he's fighting you when you're letting it lay on you.
43:01Okay?
43:01Look at me.
43:02I'm going to cut the front of my arm.
43:03Let's get me covered.
43:05Do that thing.
43:06Reed, Reed, Reed.
43:07Come on, Reed.
43:09Come on, Reed.
43:11All right, you're back.
43:12Come on.
43:13Let's get this round.
43:14Stay on the stool till the end.
43:15Stand.
43:16Even if it means standing up to him, baby.
43:18Keep that chin tucked and wing.
43:19You've got to wing.
43:20You've got to wing.
43:21You've got to let your big arms fly.
43:22Do you hear me?
43:23Yeah.
43:23All right.
43:24Put all your body in.
43:24If you relax while you're doing it, but you've got to work.
43:27You've got to knock him out.
43:28What do you got to do to win the fight?
43:29Come on.
43:30You've got to knock him out.
43:30Come on.
43:31You've got to knock him out.
43:33Well, that's interesting.
43:35Keep the jab out there.
43:36Keep the jab out there.
43:37Keep the right hand.
43:38Joe Goosin insisting to his fighter that he must have a knockout to win the fight.
43:42And that's what you want to tell him.
43:44Don't get out there and think you're going to win this thing this far away from home on points.
43:48Go for it.
43:49You've got the power.
43:50You've got the road work.
43:51Believe in yourself.
43:53That was a right hand that truly hurt.
43:57Savary should just move his feet a bit more.
44:02Savary suddenly looking by far the pressure of the two fighters as they begin the next to last round.
44:08Good uppercut for Savary.
44:13Straight right hand lands again.
44:18The longer this fight goes on, the more it seems as if Whitaker just completely spent himself in that 112 punch round.
44:28It's kind of a scary thing to be in territory like this with an experienced fighter.
44:32He may have a fear after the fifth round to try to save himself.
44:36That causes the problem.
44:40He has a little bit left in that tank.
44:50There's talk of matching the winner of this fight with the brilliant prospect Michael Grant.
44:56I shouldn't call him a prospect.
44:58He's a contender now.
45:01Savary wins the fight over the 6'8", 249 pound Whitaker.
45:06And they say to him, well, next up, 6'7", 250 pound Michael Grant.
45:12He may say, can I fight a welterweight, please?
45:15All right, guys, I have a little bit to go.
45:17Keep it clean.
45:19Whitaker's winding up and sucking in for a little more.
45:22One more tap.
45:23And another good sharp right hand by Savary.
45:29Don't punch, don't punch.
45:30Steps to the hands up, hands up.
45:32Both of these guys will sleep very well tonight.
45:37One of those 10-round fights, it's going to feel like 20.
45:40Savarese continues to go to the body good experience warrior or combination
45:50punching from Savarese sharper punches from Savarese ever since that huge sixth
45:57round in which Whitaker knocked him down and almost knocked him out
46:01Savarese is smart enough now when all of this punching goes on he gets closer and
46:06closer that's what you want to do to a mountain in the dark get close to
46:09stay close to it this big guy needs room they close
46:23Whitaker's brave you were thinking an inexperienced fighter like that would
46:27fold but he hasn't pulled
46:32but again it's around defined by sharper more accurate punching from Savarese and
46:39they got three minutes to go
46:41three minutes son three minutes brother three minutes we need three more
46:51minutes you gotta give me three minutes
46:53come on open up three minutes you're touching me you're timing when you're coming in with that right hand
46:58Lance Lance I'm telling you it's a loser or a winner if you don't knock him out
47:02do you understand me yeah
47:04do you understand me can you do it yeah
47:06you sure okay if you're telling me that I believe you baby that means you better get your ass in here
47:11let work your ball but don't get jealous don't get jealous
47:15man don't lean in
47:17come on
47:19right one more of those rounds one more one more can you do it for me yeah I know you can
47:26salaries has come back from that devastating round to be able to control
47:33mount whitaker
47:36what has been an interesting and rousing heavyweight battle
47:43mount whitaker in the black trunks lou savarese in the grave
47:49both men trying to move up the heavyweight full chain
47:53and get into position to fight one of the big three holy field lewis grant
47:58can you get into position to fight under battle
48:08Maurice has his mand medicare
48:09has his hand close together when he's closed
48:12that winter gets launched and one more tank
48:15and for the second consecutive intermittent you heard
48:18Joe Goosen telling his fighter in no uncertain terms
48:22Lance you gotta knock him out
48:24You can watch Lance's right eye.
48:31He's got one more little sneak attack in there.
48:36Good right hand by Savarese.
48:39Savarese has found a wellspring of energy in the last couple of rounds
48:42and is able to counter Whitaker's best shots now.
48:47Al Bolden has been a very good corner man tonight.
48:50Very good.
48:54Savarese shares a gym and a physical trainer with Evander Holyfield in Houston
49:01and if he pulls through this, he may have a good reason for doing that.
49:09But his manager said earlier,
49:10you're going to win boxing matches, it's about fighting.
49:13Tonight he had to fight.
49:15All the weightlifting in the world can't save you.
49:17You got to fight.
49:18And another big punch landed for Whitaker.
49:21Savarese momentarily stunned.
49:23You got to hold on, Savarese.
49:26Here comes to the mountain.
49:28And the mountain means business.
49:31Why is he holding on to the ropes?
49:33You want to keep that target in front of him.
49:36He has a few little tricks up his sleeve.
49:38I just think he's tired.
49:40Amen to that too.
49:41Now Savarese lands a moment on the right hand.
49:45And that momentarily stances the flow.
49:48Good right hand by Whitaker.
49:55Savarese pounding to the body.
49:58Trying to take the steam out of what's left of Whitaker.
50:01You know what that is to be hitting a guy with everything you have
50:03and he's so big and he's still there.
50:05That's got to be frustrating.
50:08A ton of respect for both of these guys, George.
50:11Yeah, we got two stars tonight.
50:12Absolutely.
50:13This fight.
50:13Mount Whitaker.
50:14This fight was rough trade.
50:19First time Savarese has spinned his guy tonight.
50:23And what of the lands Whitaker learned in his first 18 professional fights?
50:28You have the suspicion that he has doubled that storehouse of knowledge tonight.
50:32He will be back.
50:34And let me tell you, now that he knows he can do this distance thing,
50:37he's going to be dangerous.
50:39No, no, no.
50:41They go ten.
50:43It'll go to the scorecards.
50:49Lou kind of half-heartedly throws up the gloves in a victory salute to himself
50:53and you get the impression that's as much energy as he's got.
51:03Boy, I know how they feel.
51:06Yeah, you've been through a couple of wars, haven't you?
51:08Yeah, you want to go home and rest.
51:11It's both hands up.
51:16Whitaker landed one good shot in there, the best he had.
51:19Stopped him cold there in his tracks, but Savarese keeps coming.
51:27Harold, how'd you score Savarese Whitaker?
51:30Very close, Jim.
51:3195, 94, six rounds to four, Lou Savarese.
51:36I think that Matt Whitaker pulled out the eighth and a tenth, but Savarese pulled out the ninth.
51:40I thought he clearly won six rounds.
51:42I think he deserves this fight.
51:44Bit of a controversy.
51:45Commissioner Larry Hazard sent someone over to our table to ask us if we got, you know,
51:49a look at the count in round six when, you know, it looked like Lou Savarese was down for a long time.
51:55I didn't hear the count, Jim, I'll be very honest with you, but he was in Savarese's face,
52:00and I thought that Savarese saw Smoger counting and definitely got up at nine.
52:04I mean, there was no question that Lou Savarese heard the count.
52:07So, I saw Dan Goosen at the end of the sixth round got up and he was screaming at referee Smoger
52:12between round six and seven, which really isn't right, but that's what they were yelling about.
52:18Well, I'm in sync with you.
52:19I think Savarese had his eye on Smoger all the way, and Rose at night.
52:23I believe the referee did a fine job.
52:25Okay.
52:28Let's take another look at the knockdown in round six.
52:31And remember, this came from an accumulation of blows.
52:35Savarese had been batted around the ring for a full 30 to 45 seconds at this point
52:40and finally just went down to give himself a chance to recover
52:43from all of the power punches that Whitaker was raining on him.
52:50It may be a moot point, but it is something that will be dwelled on after this fight
52:56if Whitaker loses, whether, indeed, Savarese needed up.
53:00Here's Michael Bumper.
53:02We go to the Budweiser scorecards.
53:05Al DeVito scores the belt 95-94.
53:10He has it for Whitaker.
53:12Alan Rubenstein scores the belt 97-93.
53:16He scores it for Savarese.
53:19And Paul Bendy scores the belt 95-93 to the winner on a split decision.
53:28Lou Savarese!
53:30Would have been ironic, of course, if Whitaker had gotten the decision
53:57after his trainer so concertedly told him down the stretch of the fight
54:01that he needed a knockout to win.
54:03Final punch stat numbers from CompuBox showing you that Whitaker threw far more punches.
54:09And remember, he threw 122 of them in one round.
54:11The sixth threw more than 80 in each of the first three rounds.
54:14Savarese more selected, landed at a higher rate.
54:17Generally, the sharper puncher threw out the bout,
54:19although it was Whitaker who came closest to getting a knockout.
54:23Still to come tonight, David Reed fighting for a world championship at 154 pounds
54:30against veteran French titleist Laurent Boudouani.
54:33And as we wait to bring the fighters into the ring for that one,
54:36let's look ahead now to the big heavyweight unification battle next week
54:39in Madison Square Garden between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.
54:46When Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis step into the ring next week
54:49at Madison Square Garden,
54:51the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Riddick Bowe in 1992 should be crowned.
54:56This is my main fight, the fight I've been waiting for.
54:58It's finally here.
55:00And I'm going to shock the world,
55:01show the world who the best heavyweight on the planet is.
55:04I'm a winner.
55:05You know, I was born to win.
55:07And it's not for me now at 36 years old,
55:10thinking of anything else but the winner that I am.
55:17Evander Holyfield will go down in boxing history
55:19as one of the sport's most devoted warriors.
55:22No contemporary heavyweight has fought and defeated more formidable opponents.
55:27His revenge victory in his second fight with Riddick Bowe
55:30showed the world Holyfield's unparalleled resiliency and determination.
55:35Holyfield's gunning for a stoppage here.
55:37It will suck the world.
55:39And the tremendous fouling by former champion Evander Holyfield.
55:43Look at all the people that have fought that you call big
55:47and all of them had huge left hand and huge right hand.
55:50You know, they had the same thing that Lennox had.
55:55Didn't have no problem with them either because, you know what,
55:57it didn't make a difference.
55:59And I will have what it takes,
56:01and what I have will be more than what Lennox had.
56:05Evander's resume of impressive victories
56:07also includes his eighth-round stoppage of Michael Moorer in 1997,
56:11avenging another earlier title loss.
56:13And after having ended the myth of Mike Tyson,
56:17the only remaining question in Holyfield's certain Hall of Fame career is Lennox Lewis.
56:24This was my goal, to become a heavyweight champion of the world.
56:28You know, I realized that, you know, once you're a heavyweight champion of the world,
56:32that means you're the best fighter on the planet.
56:34So, you know, that was definitely an aspiration of mine.
56:37Aside from Lewis's second-round TKO loss to Oliver McCaul in 1994,
56:42he has shown that he performs best in his toughest fights,
56:45as evidenced in his dominating performances versus Razor Ruddock,
56:49Tommy Morrison, and Andrew Galata,
56:51when he sent clear messages to the boxing world.
56:54That's it! That's it!
56:55All over!
56:56All over!
56:57That's a statement by Lennox Lewis!
56:59A big statement!
57:00And like Holyfield, Lewis has proven himself a warrior in tough circumstances.
57:06When seemingly on the verge of defeat,
57:07he has been able to come up with the big punch to turn fights around
57:11and to finish his opponents with his matchless power.
57:15Arms left hand by Briggs!
57:17Lewis is hurt!
57:19And he comes back with his own left hook!
57:22And another right hand!
57:25When I win this fight, I'm going to show the world that I'm the best heavyweight of this era.
57:28Uh, I'm going to show the world that, you know,
57:32Evander Holyfield has been documented for a reason.
57:35Everybody has been documented for a reason.
57:37He think he's better to be.
57:39I know I'm better than him, though.
57:41But still, it's got to be proven on the 13th.
57:44When Lennox shows up, he's already in trouble.
57:46March 13th, Addison Square Garden in New York City.
57:49Evander Holyfield versus Lennox Lewis for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
57:54What each fighter has accomplished in the past won't matter.
57:57This night, we'll identify the current chapter in heavyweight boxing history.
58:03Well, Big George Foreman, you fought a pitched battle against Evander Holyfield
58:07in the big room of this building about eight years ago.
58:09You've covered all of Lennox Lewis' biggest fights.
58:11How do you see this one?
58:12You know what?
58:13Lennox Lewis has the reach, he has the power, and he has the weight.
58:17Evander Holyfield, he's got the heart.
58:19The heart and the heart.
58:20But they're evenly matched, and it's seldom seen when you see a world title match evenly matched.
58:26I like both of them.
58:27Sounds like you're pretty excited, huh?
58:29Very excited.
58:31All right, George.
58:32Well, we'll look ahead to that one once again.
58:34It's one week from tonight, live via pay-per-view on TVKO from Addison Square Garden.
58:38And incidentally, you heard Harold Letterman talk about the possible brewing controversy
58:43from the last fight between Savarese and Whittaker.
58:45The question of whether Lou Savarese got up in time from the sixth-round knockdown.
58:51Let's take a look back at the knockdown now,
58:53and you make your own judgment as to whether Savarese beats the count of ten.
58:57Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.
59:14Make your own judgment.
59:19From my personal perspective, it looks abundantly clear to me
59:22that Savarese beat the count getting up well before the referee could have said ten.
59:26We did hear the referee say, come on.
59:29Yep.
59:29That's not allowed.
59:30Yeah, you know, you often hear referees coaching fighters,
59:34and they shouldn't be doing that, do they?
59:35No, they said, come on.
59:36Uh-huh.
59:37Now, I would be in the ring of I was a manager fighting about that.
59:39Well, and surely we'll hear more about it from Whittaker's people.
59:43All right, let's turn it over.
Recommended
1:21:36
|
Up next
1:19:05
1:48:00
1:12:21
44:52
14:21
1:16:01
13:39
40:18
11:09
5:02
1:28:55
1:20:36
1:18:14
45:13
Be the first to comment