- 2 months ago
Heavyweight contenders Larry Holmes and Earnie Shavers face off in an elimination bout to see who gets a title shot at WBC Champion Ken Norton on ABC Wide World of Sports Boxing
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00You
00:30I'm Larry Holmes, the Eastern Assassin.
00:33Today on ABC, I will knock Ernie Shavers out in between the fifth and the ninth round.
00:39Hi, I'm Ernie Shavers, and Larry predicted he would knock me out between the fifth and the ninth round.
00:45But I can guarantee you when the fight's over, I'll be the one standing and be victorious.
00:54Ernie Shavers, the fourth-rated heavyweight.
00:58Larry Holmes, the fifth-rated heavyweight.
01:01Each determined, each facing a fight that represents a crossroads in his career.
01:09So, live from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, today, it's a scheduled 12-rounder, Shavers against Holmes.
01:20On ABC's Wide World of Sports.
01:24For the rest of today's show, let's join Jim McKay at Stove, Vermont.
01:30This is the Sports Pavilion at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, where we'll be reporting live from ringside the 12-round heavyweight fight,
01:55if it goes that long, between Ernie Shavers and Larry Holmes.
02:00Hello again, everyone.
02:01I'm Howard Cosell.
02:02Quick additional program note about today's show.
02:04Our studio host, the Gifford, Frank Gifford, will be interviewing the newest member of the San Francisco 49ers, the incomparable O.J. Simpson.
02:15Now, getting back to today, it's Larry Holmes, unbeaten in 26 fights against Ernie Shavers, who gave Ali such a good goal of it, last September 29th.
02:27Right now, because you probably aren't familiar with Holmes, the nature of his opponents has been undistinguished.
02:33We want you to get to know this young man and the confidence he has going in.
02:38Let's meet him.
02:39Larry Holmes.
02:39Larry, let's get to the nub of it.
02:42Shavers is a dynamite puncher.
02:45Your task, then, is to stay away from that punch of his and at the same time score.
02:50How will you do it?
02:52Well, that's what they say.
02:53They say Shavers is a puncher, Howard, but is he really a puncher?
02:56Who did he ever really knock out?
02:57Did he knock out Ryan Lowell?
02:59Did he knock out Jerry Corey?
03:00Who did he really knock out?
03:03Well, you're being pretty confident, cocky, even.
03:06I'm not cocky, Howard.
03:07I just like to talk the facts, you know, and I'm very positive.
03:10I am confident in this fight.
03:12Shavers haven't fought nobody like me.
03:14He fought Ali.
03:15Yes, he went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali, but everyone knows Ali's not the same.
03:20I'm going to do something to Ernie Shavers today that nobody suspects me to do to him.
03:26What are you going to do to him?
03:27I'm going to box him.
03:28I'm going to punch him.
03:29I'm going to beat him.
03:30I'm going to stop Ernie Shavers, Howard.
03:32How soon?
03:34I say in between five and nine rounds, it will be no more.
03:37You've got the whole thing cased in your own mind, haven't you?
03:40Yeah, I don't only have a case by myself.
03:42I've got good people behind me.
03:43Richie Ducati, my manager, Charles Spaziani, and all these people.
03:46And I've got a lot of good people behind me now.
03:50Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown are good people, you know.
03:53And these people are boxing.
03:55And with my boxing ability, I'm sure we can pull it out.
03:58Good luck to you.
03:59Thank you, Howard.
04:00I can use that.
04:03All right.
04:04Larry Holmes.
04:06And we'll find out soon enough if he can make his word stick.
04:09You know, every fighter has his own retinue.
04:12Ali had familiar names like Drew Brown Bundini and Gene Gilroy.
04:17Larry Holmes has a uniquely different group following him.
04:21We ran across them here locally because their mothers, the Lennon Sisters, are performing.
04:27So let's meet the Holmes Five.
04:31Harry, the bald head fighter, had a very shiny head.
04:37All of the other fighters used to fill it up with lead.
04:45All of the other fighters used to laugh and call him names.
04:51They never let poor Ernie join in any fighting games.
04:58Then one foggy summer's night, Don King came to say,
05:03Ernie, with your head so bright, won't you fight Larry Holmes tonight?
05:10Then Ernie Shavers fought him.
05:13Larry knocked him out in three.
05:15One, two, three.
05:17Larry Holmes, the champion.
05:20He'll go down in history.
05:33We're back in Las Vegas, Nevada.
05:39I remarked earlier as we opened the telecast that most of you knew who Ernie Shavers was.
05:45And I referred back to his fine showing against Ali through 15 rounds, September 29th past,
05:53when some indeed thought that Shavers may have won the fight.
05:56He was particularly effective in the early going.
05:59And I want to take you back in time to that night.
06:02And in particular, focus on the second round,
06:05which will serve as the frame of reference for my later talk weather.
06:09So let's go back.
06:13The way it was, September 29, 1977.
06:18Second round, Shavers to the left of your screen.
06:20Arlie now with the back to you.
06:22Arlie pawing with the left.
06:24And then a scorching right by Shavers.
06:28Stung Arlie.
06:29Despite the fact that he waves Shavers to come on,
06:32Arlie was stung.
06:34Continues to wave at Shavers.
06:37Shavers looking for the same opportunity
06:40and getting through the rope-a-dope.
06:42Not so effective as it once was against George Foreman in Zahir.
06:47Shavers again looking for opportunity
06:49and again scoring with the right repeatedly.
06:51Shavers off to a big start.
06:55He missed the second round.
06:57And I talked about it with Ernie Shavers earlier today.
07:01Ernie, do you think back often to last September 29th
07:06and the fight against Arlie?
07:07Because you apparently had him in the early going.
07:10Yeah, I was on the second round,
07:12so I had him hurt there.
07:13But, you know, Maham was a very cagey guy.
07:16See, I don't know if a guy was really fake and really hurt, you know.
07:18We didn't know until we'd seen the film later.
07:20He was hurt.
07:21Mm-hmm.
07:22Have you trained as hard for Holmes as you did for Muhammad?
07:26I think I've trained a little harder, Howard,
07:28because every fight now at this stage is very important.
07:31I want three or four more fights, and I can't afford a setback.
07:33You think you can get the title within three or four more fights?
07:36I think you'll get the opportunity?
07:38I think so.
07:38After I destroy Holmes, I should fight in order for the version of the title.
07:41After you destroy Holmes, Larry's been making a lot of boasts around here.
07:45He says he's got you cased, and you'll go between the 5th and the 9th.
07:49Well, Howard, I think Larry's been around Muhammad too long.
07:52He's trying to build courage within himself.
07:55I guarantee you, after the fights over, I will be the one to stand there and be victorious.
07:59Will you predict a knockout?
08:00I'm not saying it'll be a knockout.
08:02I'll train for 12 rounds.
08:03If you make a mistake, he'll go.
08:04The guy hasn't met any distinguished opponents, in point of fact,
08:09but he is quick-handed.
08:10He's got a good left.
08:12How will you fight him?
08:13Well, I'll put the pressure on him, slip him, bob him, we make a fight.
08:17Don't let him stay out there and pick his shots.
08:19I'll put a lot of pressure on him, see what he made out of.
08:22As you said, it is a crossroads fight for you.
08:24Good luck to you.
08:25Thank you, Howard.
08:26You're a nice man.
08:27I'll get you.
08:27Well, as a matter of fact, it's a crossroads fight for both of them.
08:34If Holmes is ever to come on to have a shot at the championship,
08:39he's going to have to prove it now today
08:41against a much tougher opponent than Henny's faced up till now.
08:45We'll develop that later in the telecast.
08:48Places filled with people, by the way,
08:50and notably among them, Kenny Norton and Jimmy Young.
08:54People waiting to stand on line to get at Leon Spinks,
08:59but Norton, of course, in the muddled heavyweight situation,
09:03well, he's already the champion, according to the World Boxing Council.
09:08Right now, we're going to go to another portion of the program,
09:13and we'll be joining my diminutive colleague,
09:15who's become so familiar to all of you through the Olympics, Jim McKay.
09:24Thank you very much, Gifford.
09:35As Garson Kanin, the distinguished gentleman of stage and cinema,
09:39has said, it takes a long time to become young.
09:43We're live at ringside, Las Vegas, Nevada,
09:47scheduled 12-round bout.
09:48Ernie Shavers, age 33.
09:51Larry Holmes, age 27.
09:54Ernie from Warren, Ohio.
09:56Larry from Eastern Pennsylvania,
09:58the home of Lafayette College.
10:00Ernie is 6 feet tall.
10:02Larry is 6 feet 4 inches,
10:04but there is no material difference in reach.
10:07We're only seconds away from fight time,
10:10scoring on a 10-point must system.
10:12The three-knockdown rule has been waived.
10:15Mandatory eight-count, three judges will score the fight.
10:19It's a 20-foot ring, 8-ounce gloves in use,
10:22no saving by the belt.
10:24The third man in the referee, in the ring,
10:27the referee without a voice in the scoring,
10:29is Davey Pearl.
10:30And right there is Kenny Norton,
10:33in the muddled, confused,
10:34and controversial, torn heavyweight situation.
10:38The World Boxing Council declared Kenny
10:41the heavyweight champion of the world,
10:43stripping Leon Sphinx of his title.
10:46That's Larry Holmes right there.
10:48As I said, from Eastern Pennsylvania,
10:51the three judges, Harold Buck, Dave Moretti,
10:54Joe Swessel,
10:55these are all experienced fight people
10:58in the state of Nevada,
10:59which, of course, is the jurisdictional state in this case.
11:03And also here is perhaps the cleverest boxer
11:07among the heavyweights, Jimmy Young,
11:10who is one of those standing in line
11:12for a chance to get at either Sphinx or Norton.
11:15He really doesn't care which.
11:18But they are here today for what figures to be
11:21a fascinating struggle.
11:24There's Robert Blake, Beretta,
11:26to most of you around the country,
11:28a fight fan with his son,
11:30who is already a fight fan,
11:32frequently goes to the bouts in Los Angeles.
11:36Okay, we're about ready for the fight to begin.
11:40Right above me,
11:42Rich Giacchetti,
11:43the trainer and manager of record of Larry Holmes.
11:47Holmes, unbeaten in 26 fights,
11:51but he has fought nobody notable.
11:53So this will be the test.
11:55As for Ernie Shavers,
11:57he's 54-6-1 with 52 knockouts.
12:01He is a puncher.
12:03If nothing else,
12:05Ernie Shavers can punch.
12:09Fighters have had their instructions.
12:11Remember, Davey Pearl is the referee.
12:15So in theory,
12:16we've got the slugger against the box.
12:18Shavers noted for an absence of stamina
12:24through almost all of his career.
12:26But that changed a bit
12:28after he went 15 with Ali.
12:29The fight underway.
12:31Watch for the Holmes left.
12:32It is quick.
12:33He's a quick-handed heavy.
12:35Used to spar with Ali and Frazier.
12:37Holmes in red trunks
12:40and Shavers in the blue.
12:43Ernie will keep pressuring Holmes
12:45as much as possible throughout the fight.
12:48But you heard Holmes say
12:50it's finishing between the fifth and the ninth.
12:59Holmes will want to keep moving
13:01so that Shavers can't get set.
13:04But that power right of his
13:06and Ernie's left is good, too.
13:08First round action,
13:09just the beginning of things.
13:12And Shavers left the right
13:13and the left of the stomach.
13:15Shavers got the right in,
13:16as much as he did
13:17in the second round
13:18of his bout against Ali.
13:20And Holmes felt it.
13:25Where it just passed a minute
13:27into the first round.
13:31Oh!
13:32Good dunk!
13:33Three straight left jabs.
13:34The last one followed
13:35in combination by the right.
13:37Shavers for the left.
13:38But Holmes scored well
13:40with those throws.
13:42Embers going in a ten-point muster.
13:45Good-sized ring.
13:46Twenty feet.
13:47Plenty of room for Holmes
13:48to maneuver.
13:49The size of the ring
13:50favors Holmes.
13:53A minute and a half
13:54into round one.
13:56Four.
14:09Right there by Holmes
14:11after the Shavers left.
14:15Shavers is smiling.
14:16Shavers with the right cock
14:26looking
14:27Holmes to let down his guy
14:30Holmes using the left to keep
14:32Shavers away
14:33using his foot movement to stay away
14:36clicking in that left
14:38step out, step out
14:40we've got 40 seconds
14:44left in the first round
14:46Davis messed and left himself open
14:51but Holmes failed to capitalize
14:53Holmes using that left as you can see
14:58and scoring with it
15:00counting down
15:02to the end of round one
15:04you see the countdown in the low right hand
15:06corner of the screen
15:07quick handed, Larry, by Larry Holmes
15:10who has been very impressive
15:12in the first round
15:13Shavers
15:14laughing at him
15:16but a little bit hurt
15:17it seems to me
15:19in the corner
15:20no movement from Bernie
15:21the bell for round two
15:40a quick moving action packed first round
15:43with Larry Holmes looking like
15:45nothing of the Larry Holmes we've seen before
15:49against the likes of Tom Prater
15:51and Roy Williams
15:53and Ebar Arrington
15:54and Horace Robinson
15:56I said undistinguished opponents
15:58but suddenly in the first round
16:00Larry Holmes had the look of a fighter about
16:03that left keeps getting in there
16:15second round action
16:19Larry Holmes to the left of your screen
16:22Shavers now with his back to you
16:24I see that left
16:30Shavers trying to respond
16:34they're a minute into round two
16:39like to alert our stations along the line
16:42they'll be giving them time for a station break
16:46at the end of this round
16:47and he's trying to go to the belly
16:53and quickly covering
16:54after delivering the right
16:55as that left getting in there
16:59scoring points for Holmes
17:01Holmes' gloves pick off Ernie's
17:05sense to dance
17:07Ernie did connect
17:11with a good hard right
17:13in the first minute of the first round
17:15he had been growing in confidence
17:42you could see it
17:43he was in charge with the left
17:45and suddenly Shavers got him at the right
17:4745 seconds left in the second round
17:55good heavyweight action
17:57these fellas
18:07fighting
18:09crowd yelled
18:17and a Holmes right
18:18but it did not connect
18:20we'll return with more of ABC's wide world of sports
18:31after this
18:32from our local stations
18:35coming back
18:49with the left
18:50God Alexander
18:50каких forced
18:50every ball
18:52there's you
18:54we're
18:54trying to
18:55we're
18:56doing
18:57everything
18:57we're
18:58around
18:59programming
19:00Don't get too wild with that guy, you can shorten it up, huh?
19:04Don't let him off the hook when you got it.
19:08He better be that old man.
19:12He better be that old man.
19:16He better be that old man.
19:20Seconds up. Seconds up.
19:24Up there.
19:28You're looking at Ernie Chavez as the bell sounds for round three.
19:36Ernie looking at some of the crowd and smiling at them and with them.
19:40But Ernie, who came to life in the second half of round two, scoring with his right and hurting Holmes.
19:48Ernie had done the best of it in the first round, and Holmes was boxing well again by the end of the second round.
19:56Third round action, Holmes right back to work with his left.
20:04Ernie with a left that did not score the way the crowd yelled.
20:12Ernie with a right that did score.
20:14But Holmes keeps using that left.
20:22It's the dominant blow of the contest.
20:24The winner of this fight will very possibly, maybe even probably, get a fight with Kenny Norton.
20:34As I said earlier, and as we identified for you, Kenny is here.
20:48And during the course of the telecast, we will bring him to the microphone for a talk.
20:56In the meantime, based upon the New York State Athletic Commission, support continues to grow for Leon Spinks.
21:06Third round action.
21:14It's been a good fight thus far.
21:18Holmes, the quick hand that's fighting.
21:22You're the first one, if you didn't.
21:23You're the first one.
21:24You are the first one.
21:25I mean, maybe, maybe, maybe.
21:26Come on back, come on back.
21:27A.B. Pearl breaking the fight.
21:28Go home!
21:31Two, three, three, thirty, sixty, sixty, sixty.
21:4145 seconds left to go in the third round.
21:47Holmes did score with a good right,
21:49then a left and another right.
21:52This is by far the best that I have ever seen Holmes fight.
21:58He had shown me nothing in four previous fights that I had covered.
22:01In fact, when I did the Young Norton fight last November 5th in this very arena,
22:07that was when Holmes fought Ebar Arrington and showed us nothing.
22:13Not today.
22:14Shavers is pursuing, but not too successfully.
22:17It's Holmes' left that is dominating the early going,
22:21except for Shavers hurting Holmes twice with scorching rights.
22:27End of the round coming up.
22:37The bell for round four.
22:46Larry Holmes to the right of your screen.
22:48Ernie Shavers to the left of your screen.
22:51Kenny Norton with me now.
22:53Between rounds, Ray Arcel.
22:55One of the great veterans of boxing trainers.
22:58Man who handled the likes of Ezra Charles and Tony Gennaro.
23:02Said, you're doing great, Larry.
23:05You're moving to your left.
23:06You're moving to your right.
23:08You're using the ring.
23:09And indeed, it's a Shavers failure
23:11that he doesn't know how to cut a ring in half on a fighter
23:15with the kind of movement that Holmes is evidencing today.
23:18Thirty-five seconds into round four.
23:20Kenny, what's your view thus far?
23:22So far, I feel that Holmes is doing what he has to do to win.
23:25He's keeping Shavers off balance.
23:27As he said before, he's moving to his left.
23:28He's moving to his right.
23:29He's keeping the jab in the man's face.
23:31And so far, he's controlling the fight.
23:32The only thing he has to watch is the Shavers' powers on the end of his punch.
23:37He throws those long, looping punches.
23:39So he has to be very alert and watch for the long, looping punches
23:41and just keep moving and keep boxing well.
23:44Especially the Shavers' right, Kenny,
23:46which did land twice and stung Holmes.
23:50That's it.
23:50He has a very long, looping right.
23:52But then again, one Shavers just hurts.
23:54His main thing that he uses is the left hook.
23:56He always diverts back to his left hook.
23:57Okay, Kenny Norton with us.
24:01A minute, 20 seconds into the fourth round.
24:05Bristling action fight thus far.
24:08We'll find out as the fight goes along.
24:10And if Shavers can't hurt, Holmes will put him away.
24:13Whether Ernie has the stamina.
24:15You see him covering up.
24:16That left is always in his face and bothering him.
24:19Again, the left.
24:21And Ernie doesn't quite know how to cope with it.
24:25When he had Holmes hurt twice,
24:27Holmes used the ring to get away
24:29and Ernie didn't know how to cut it down on him.
24:33Holmes is finding a very smart fight now, Howard.
24:35He's picking the shots well.
24:36He's picking the jab.
24:37He shoots the right hand.
24:38I think he's got a very good combination.
24:40And he's mixing everything up very well.
24:42Right.
24:43And the quickness of those hands.
24:44Very quick and heavy.
24:46I never saw him look like this before, Ken.
24:50He's primed up now.
24:51He's really ready and physically he's ready.
24:56There's Kenny Norton in the low right hand.
24:59Carter, up your picture.
25:01Shavers with a right there.
25:0535 seconds left in the fourth round.
25:08And it's been a good round for Holmes.
25:11Oh, backhand slap.
25:14A warning.
25:14Shavers apologizes.
25:17Davey Pearl was right in on it.
25:19But Holmes wasn't bothered by it.
25:21Covering up is Shavers.
25:22But Holmes is getting through with those quick-handed blows.
25:27Holmes is really fighting a fine fight.
25:33Kenny Norton's going to stay with us.
25:35We'll get his views about fighting the winner.
25:38The end of this round coming up.
25:39We're back live at Las Vegas, Nevada.
25:58Ringside.
25:59Round five just underway.
26:01Had an amusing situation between rounds.
26:03Some of you may have noticed that Larry Holmes' trunks were torn in the rear.
26:08And so there was a change of trunks in his corner.
26:11Wow.
26:12The round part girl was walking around.
26:16And so there were hoops and whistles.
26:17All part of a natural scene in Las Vegas, Nevada.
26:22A city that usually lives by night.
26:25You know how Holmes is using the whole ring now.
26:29He steps from side to side.
26:30Right.
26:31He moves around well.
26:31He steps back.
26:32He steps in.
26:33He flurries.
26:33He jab.
26:34He's controlling the fight very well.
26:36Not only that, you saw him come back to his corner with a broad grin.
26:40The confidence which was there before the fight, and which we quickly learned was not pretended,
26:46has grown with his ability to use the left.
26:48Almost at will.
26:49Are you going to fight the winner?
26:51Hopefully so, yes.
26:53We don't know it yet.
26:54We have to see what the WBC says.
26:57And once they make a ruling on it, then we'll go from there.
27:00Support is beginning to swell.
27:01Witness Floyd Patterson's statement from the New York State Athletic Commission for Leon Spinks.
27:07How do you feel about that?
27:09Do you resent it?
27:10I don't resent it.
27:10No, I feel that, hey, we're both in a position where we should fight.
27:13And just, you know, put the barrier up.
27:15Just get it over with right now.
27:17I feel the longer it's like this, it's going to hurt boxing.
27:19Because you're a few of the champions, it's never happened in ages, in every history.
27:24Okay.
27:25A few years ago.
27:27I think now we should fight and just settle it, period.
27:29Okay, Ken, let's get back to this one, because this is good, Ash.
27:42Right now, definitely, Holmes is in control.
27:44I think Ken said it, Holmes is in control.
27:53He's been fighting his kind of fight, and Ernie is in a little bit of trouble.
27:58And Holmes is measuring it.
28:00Has him in the corner right above us.
28:02And Ernie is in trouble, trying to cover.
28:05Remember, he said he would knock him out anywhere from the fifth to the ninth.
28:11But Chavis was lying back, and as you saw, just tried to come back.
28:16However, he was wild.
28:18And Holmes is measuring him directly above us, with 30 seconds left in the fifth round.
28:23This has turned into a beauty of a heavyweight fight.
28:27Holmes suddenly, with a Chavis rather, with a right.
28:30And Holmes has to be wary.
28:33There is a clap below Shaver's left eye.
28:37The first sign of blood we've seen.
28:41Ten seconds left in the fifth round.
28:48As we approach the end of the round, we'll be back with more action.
28:53Back for round six, Las Vegas, Nevada, live.
29:10Ernie Chavis left of your screen.
29:11Larry Holmes back to us.
29:13A fight that's had action from the beginning up to this point.
29:17Larry Holmes surprising us with his hands, with his efficiency, with his control of the bounce, with his use of the ring.
29:28He had Chavis hurt last round.
29:31And then Chavis, as if laying back, playing the role of a box, suddenly came out.
29:37But could not really score against Holmes, who's been dominant.
29:41Kenny Norton is back in his seat, enjoying the fight.
29:47We want to express our thanks to Ken, who is a perfect gentleman, and always has been.
29:52And we wish him well.
29:56As Holmes scoring again.
30:02All right, step back clean now. Come on. Get back.
30:05One minute gone in round six.
30:07Holmes talking to Shavers.
30:30Shavers trying to manhandle Holmes in the corner.
30:34A minute and a half gone in round six.
30:36Shavers, furiously trying to manhandle charge in this round.
30:42Remember, Shavers' stamina always was a question.
30:46He answered the question to some degree against Ali.
30:49But then, Ali threw virtually no punches the first six rounds against Shavers, or the first pass.
30:56Shavers now flailing away at Holmes.
30:59Caught him with a right uppercut.
31:02We've got a minute to go in the sixth round.
31:06Shavers finally missing.
31:10Shavers finally missing.
31:12Holmes in command of himself.
31:14Boys.
31:15This Shavers with a broad grin, as if to say, look, Larry, you haven't hurt me.
31:20Grinny showed in the Ali fight.
31:2235 seconds left in the sixth round.
31:26Grinny showed in the sixth round.
31:28Grinny showed in the Ali fight.
31:3035 seconds left in the sixth round.
31:32Grinny showed in the Ali fight.
31:3435 seconds left in the sixth round.
31:36Using the left again.
31:44There's the countdown.
31:45Really snaps that left, doesn't he?
31:4615 and counting down.
31:47One point.
31:48One point.
31:49One point.
31:50One point.
31:51One point.
31:52One point.
31:53One point.
31:54One point.
32:41round seven
32:42there was some confusion in the last round you may have detected i was getting signals from our
32:57remote truck the confusion resulted from the fact that apparently apparently the official
33:03timekeeper made a mistake i couldn't left by holmes and that round went three minutes and
33:08ten seconds instead of three minutes holmes off to a good start in the seventh round with the left
33:14holmes moving using that ring that's the mark of an intelligent
33:19ray rsell right next to me the great veteran trainer saying double up on it meaning double up
33:33on that left jab move which is exactly what larry has been doing and what we've been
33:38balling it's now been confirmed that round was three minutes and ten seconds a mistake
33:54seventh round schedule 12 rounded ernie trying to get that right in his big weapon
34:08still holmes using that play and scoring
34:18he's gonna fall he's gonna fall he's gonna fall he's gonna fall he's gonna fall
34:23hurley shaking his head no i wasn't hurt by the right
34:26hurley missing with his wild right herley talking to holmes now
34:31holmes would suddenly a right up gun but it did not land full flush it grazed
34:38Shaver's having trouble reaching Holmes.
34:48And yet, though Holmes is 6'4 and Shaver's is 6 feet,
34:52the actual reach measurement is not discernibly different.
34:56No more. Hold it. No more. Hit it. Step back.
35:0630 seconds left in the seventh round.
35:1820 seconds left.
35:20It's been a good boxing round for Larry.
35:23The crowd screamed that Shaver's right, but again, they were misled.
35:29See, Shaver's right right there. Graves went over the shoulder.
35:32Coming up, the end of the seventh round, and Holmes is cleaning up on Shaver's.
35:37The bell for round eight. The cut looms larger underneath Shaver's left eye.
35:58The story of this fight thus far.
36:03The impressive showing by Larry Holmes.
36:06We've been reading about Spinks and Ali and Norton and Young and Foreman's coming back,
36:13but nobody paid any attention to the kid Holmes.
36:16Nor was there any reason to, based upon the many had fought.
36:20But today, up till now, unless there is a drastic change,
36:25you're going to have to pay some attention to this kid.
36:28You're the boss in here. You're the boss.
36:32You're the boss.
36:33Ray Arcel yells it out from the corner of Larry Holmes,
36:37and so he has been, using that ring.
36:40You see him moving left, mainly left, then right.
36:45And Shaver's not able, as I noted earlier, to cut the ring in half on him.
36:51Instead, chasing him all over the ring.
36:54And Holmes using the left to retain control.
36:58I want to alert our stations along the line.
37:01We'll have another station break at the end of this round.
37:04Look at Holmes.
37:07Left, left, left.
37:09Foot, right, uppercut.
37:11Landed by Holmes.
37:16A minute and a half into the eighth round.
37:22It's a scheduled 12-round.
37:23The crowd draws every time Ernie throws the right.
37:27The problem is, he is not scoring with it.
37:30He did.
37:31Once in the first round.
37:32Twice in the second round.
37:34He had Holmes hurt, briefly.
37:37But Holmes knew how to fight his way out of it.
37:39Ernie did get a right in that time.
37:53Only sign of blood in the fight.
37:58The cut under Shaver's left eye.
38:01There have been no knockdowns.
38:03Shaver's putting up his gloves and saying,
38:08Hey, look, fella.
38:09That wasn't right.
38:11For Shaver's, this is a must-win fight.
38:17He's verging on 34, according to the record book.
38:23So for him, there is little time left.
38:26He himself said in the pre-fight interview,
38:28I've got three or four fights left.
38:31The blood is now coming down Ernie's left jaw.
38:34That right by Ernie scored.
38:36And Holmes held on.
38:39Ten seconds left.
38:42We will return with more of ABC's wide world of sports after this
38:48from our local stations.
38:50The ball, and we're into round nine.
39:11Scheduled 12-rounder.
39:13Heavyweight.
39:14Larry Holmes, the left of your screen.
39:16Ernie Shabas, the right.
39:17For those of you who may have just joined us,
39:20that surprising performance.
39:23An astonishingly effective performance by Larry Holmes.
39:27Quick-handed.
39:29Quick-footed, too, for that matter.
39:30As you see him bouncing on his toes,
39:33he has been using the ring.
39:34A big one.
39:3520 by 20, effectively, the whole afternoon.
39:42And he has had complete control.
39:44Almost complete control over Shabas with that quick,
39:48flicking, left jab.
39:51A boxing lesson for Ernie Shabas up to this point.
39:56No knockdowns.
39:58One cut under Shabas left arm.
40:01Now Larry is dancing.
40:05Remember, Holmes was a sparring partner of Muhammad Ali and of Joe Frazier.
40:11If there are similarities to Ali, Holmes will tell you they come by accident.
40:17That he did not seek in any way to copy.
40:21Many of the young fighters today, particularly kids like Sugar Ray Leonard and Howard Davis,
40:26have studiously copied Ali.
40:30We're a minute and a half into round nine,
40:34and Holmes continues to dominate with the left and with the foot movement.
40:41That's it, baby.
40:42Dance.
40:42Move, move.
40:43That's it.
40:44Keep moving.
40:46That's it.
40:47Move, move.
40:48Dance, baby.
40:50We saw Holmes wildly missing for the right around the Shavers,
40:54and Holmes coming right back with his own right to score.
41:01Get back up, baby.
41:02Get back up, baby.
41:02Get back up, baby.
41:02Get back up, baby.
41:02Get back up, baby.
41:03Get back up, baby.
41:03Get back up, baby.
41:04Get back up, baby.
41:04Get back up, baby.
41:05Move.
41:05Get out of there, bro.
41:06Get out of there, bro.
41:07We're in the final minute of round nine.
41:12This is what Shabas wants,
41:14to have Holmes immobile against the ropes,
41:18and Holmes is covering up,
41:20rope-a-dope fashion.
41:21Now, suddenly, Holmes lets go with the flurry,
41:26and some of those blows are getting through.
41:29Shavers coming back with a wild right that missed.
41:37Look at Holmes using just the footwork.
41:41The punch is not merely slipped by Holmes,
41:44but going wildly astray.
41:46Oh, 15 seconds left in the ninth round.
41:56Holmes is scoring again and again.
42:00The end of the round is at hand.
42:16Back live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
42:22Round 10, scheduled 12-rounder.
42:25So Holmes couldn't make his prediction stick
42:27of a knockout between 5 and 9.
42:31Shavers did not predict a knockout.
42:32In Shavers' corner between rounds,
42:34he was told by his manager,
42:37Flackey Gennaro,
42:38and by his trainer, Frank Luka,
42:40you've got to get him.
42:41To win, you've got to get him.
42:43So far, Shavers has not shown the ability to do so.
42:47Left hand, Ernie.
42:49Left hand, Ernie.
42:50Move.
42:54Straight, Holmes.
42:55Box, box, Holmes.
42:56Keep moving.
43:0045 seconds into the 10th round.
43:07Come on, shoot it, Ernie.
43:09Right there.
43:11Pump him up, pump him up.
43:12Don't wait, Big Jack.
43:15Come on, dance.
43:16Keep that jab, boy.
43:17Keep the jab, boy.
43:18That's right.
43:20Shoot it, shoot it.
43:21Get up, Big Jack.
43:22Go, yeah, go, yeah.
43:24So far, Shavers has gone into the 10th round.
43:29Last September 29th,
43:31he went 15 against All-A.
43:33He does look weary in this round.
43:37There's a lot of fight in this man.
43:40Don't wait, don't wait.
43:44Drop it off.
43:46Step out, please.
43:47Step out, please.
43:48Remember the pre-fight interview?
43:51Shavers said he actually trained harder for this fight than he did for Aline.
43:55Oh, Ernie, shoot it.
43:56Oh, Ernie, shoot it.
43:56Hit him up.
43:57On grounds that Holmes was younger.
44:02Holmes using that ring again.
44:05That's it.
44:05Come on, baby.
44:05Give it up.
44:06Shavers showing his fatigue there.
44:08Off balance.
44:09Tired.
44:10Went back against the ropes after missing.
44:14Shavers getting the left one.
44:17Come on, Ernie.
44:18Left hand, Ernie.
44:19Come on, Ernie.
44:20Left hand.
44:21Stop it.
44:21Stop it.
44:22Right hand, Ernie.
44:23Get the rope.
44:25Get the rope.
44:26Get the rope.
44:30Davis is laughing again.
44:32I don't quite know why.
44:33Walk into it.
44:34Let him walk into it.
44:34Keep moving.
44:37Pass it, Ernie.
44:38Pass it.
44:39That right got in.
44:41Ernie connected.
44:4430 seconds left.
44:46In the 10th round.
44:47now after delivering a couple of blows
44:56the shaver's tendency is to fall into the opponent
45:00and to hold because he is getting tired
45:03the younger man Holmes still appears fresh
45:08coming to the end of the 10th round
45:13it is just about here
45:17now it goes out back live at ringside
45:34las vegas nevada round 11
45:37weren't many who thought it would go this far in perspective i thought shavers
45:43who's supposed to be lacking in stamina had his best round of the fight
45:47last round he started to use his left more scored with it
45:54take it out ernie come on
45:59snap it ernie come on ernie
46:03loses that left
46:06it's almost piston light
46:10see ernie now is using his left more
46:13we're in the earlier rounds he would just try to go with that right
46:18as he did there and missed
46:20he's using his left far more effectively
46:23last round and we'll see about this round but not quite a minute into round 11
46:30see that left of shavers getting in there now that can only mean that holmes is getting tired
46:40he was using the ring effectively for the first nine rounds of the fight so the younger man is now falling
46:47prey to holmes's left
46:54a minute and a half into the 11th round
47:02the 11th round
47:05that was ernie with that wild right lead again
47:17minute 45 into the round
47:2011th round
47:23you're looking good
47:24you're looking good
47:25and sticky
47:26cut it off
47:32boebs with the left
47:33taking command again
47:35shavers with the wild right lead
47:37missing again
47:38it's been a major part of this fight story
47:43that's it that's it
47:46That's it.
47:50Now Larry's moving well.
47:55That's it.
47:56That's it.
48:00There is a bruise under Holmes' left eye.
48:08I don't see blood, but I see a bruise.
48:11Larry flicking that left in there.
48:14Step out clean now. Step out clean.
48:1615 seconds left in the 11th round.
48:25Snap is going out of Holmes' punches as he connects.
48:28They're no longer that crisp.
48:30End of the round here.
48:46We're back live for the final round, Holmes against Shavers.
48:54The fight has been almost totally dominated by Holmes.
49:00I've given Holmes 10 of the round.
49:03Shavers one goal, Barney, look at Holmes right there.
49:08Jimmy Young has scored a shutout for Holmes.
49:11Kenny Norton has Holmes decisively ahead.
49:16He's made it his fight.
49:20Over the 12 rounds, he has used his left with great effectiveness.
49:32There have been momentary lapses, but overall, he has fought extremely well.
49:45And in the process surprised many of us.
49:53There's Kenny Norton.
49:57Suddenly, he's a golfer.
49:59Holmes is still using his boxing finesse.
50:13Now we're a minute and a half into the final round.
50:17And he is doing the job.
50:18Well, you saw what happened to Shavers there.
50:35He is a desperate and desperately ineffective fighter at the moment.
50:41If this was a crossroads fight for each of the two,
50:45well, certainly, it is Holmes who goes onward
50:51and, from his point of view, hopefully upward.
50:54Less than a minute left.
50:56A good right by Holmes.
50:58Totally controlling the opponent.
51:01Giving him a boxing lesson.
51:05Giving good evidence in this round of his own stamina
51:09where he had looked a little tired in the first half of the 11th round.
51:1530 seconds to go in the fight.
51:30And desperate Shavers.
51:32Give him a shot!
51:33Give him a shot!
51:34Give him a shot!
51:35Give him a shot!
51:36Give him a shot!
51:37Give him a shot!
51:40Now, Shavers is hurt and ready to go.
51:44We are about at the end of the fight.
51:46And Shavers is ready to go.
51:49He will not go.
51:50The fight is over.
51:52And Larry Holmes has put on a tremendous boxing demonstration.
51:58All right.
51:58Maybe Shavers isn't the best fighter in the world.
52:01But, certainly, the American sporting press gave him all kinds of kudos
52:06for his September 29th last performance against Muhammad Ali.
52:11Certainly, he's a courageous man.
52:13Certainly, he has the big punch.
52:15Larry Holmes was the man who didn't have much credibility going in.
52:20Whom had he fought?
52:21Nobody.
52:21Some guys in the U.S. Boxing Championship Series
52:26and some guys as a figure on an undercard to Young and Norton
52:31and to Foreman and Young.
52:34So, nobody really knew how good the kid was.
52:37And maybe we still don't know.
52:38Because, maybe, against a tougher opponent,
52:41Holmes wouldn't be able to be this effective.
52:44But, for today, against this opponent, give him credit.
52:48He fought a marvelously effective fight.
52:54You see the scene in the ring.
52:57And, it's my hope now.
53:03It's my hope now that we will get Larry Holmes down here.
53:09Nope.
53:09We're not going to be able to get him.
53:12In fact, we are running out of time.
53:14We're just waiting on the official decision.
53:16Ladies and gentlemen,
53:22Judge Harold Bach scores 120 to 108.
53:29Judge Dave Moretti scores 119, 109.
53:35Judge Joe Swessel scores 120, 108.
53:41The winner, by unanimous decision,
53:45the Eastern Assassin, Larry Holmes.
53:49There it is.
53:50And, Jimmy Young wasn't that far wrong.
53:53He had it a shutout.
53:54So did two of the three officials.
53:57A fine, fine boxing demonstration
54:00by that young man from Eastern, Pennsylvania.
54:04Larry Holmes, the winner, unanimous decision.
54:07Travel arrangements made through.
54:09Promotional fee paid by United.
54:11United Airlines.
54:12United built the largest airline
54:14in the free world around you.
54:17Larry Holmes, the winner.
54:19So long.
Be the first to comment