- 4 months ago
Angel Manfredy faces Ivan Robinson in a Lightweight fight on HBO Boxing After Dark
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00:00The following is a special presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.
00:30The following is a special presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.
01:00Tonight, we're at the Fantasy Springs Casino just outside Palm Springs, California, for another edition of HBO's Boxing After Dark.
01:23Two outstanding lightweight bouts. First up, Ivan Robinson coming off of two straight wins over Arturo Gotti, takes on Angel Manfredi, who also defeated Gotti in 1998.
01:34Then-champion Shane Mosley faced his diminutive fireplug, John Brown, who pounded Gabrielis when he got a chance to fight him in October.
01:41The crowd here in Indio, California, most of them having come down the road to see 1998 fighter of the year, Shane Mosley.
01:49California Fred Mosley hasn't fought out west in over two years, but few boxers are in the same hurry to greet Shane.
01:56Several top lightweights were asked to fight the champion. Only John Brown was willing to accept.
02:01So tonight, don't underestimate the audacity of Brown, or of course, the natural beauty of the California desert, the Palm Springs area,
02:11as everyone here trimps and prepares as best they can for the big night of boxing.
02:17Hello again, everybody. I'm Jim Lampley. We welcome you back to this special edition of HBO's Boxing After Dark.
02:25This telecast, in its three and a half years of existence, has made an impact on the sport, promoting more legitimate competition, closer fights,
02:32and certainly the first of the two fights you'll see tonight fits the mold of all the best Boxing After Dark fights,
02:39a pick-em battle in which either guy can win.
02:41Then perhaps the swan song in the lightweight division, or the undisputed champion of the division, Shane Mosley.
02:47I say undisputed in terms of public impact. There are three belt holders. He's one of them.
02:53Mosley says he's going from here up to 140 pounds after this fight.
02:58Roy Jones, in training for his June 5 title defense against Reggie Johnson, is not with us as expert commentator tonight.
03:04So it's just the two of us, myself and HBO Boxing Analyst Larry Merchings, as we get ready for this outstanding doubleheader.
03:11And later on tonight, Larry Mosley, in what he says, is his final fight at 135 pounds.
03:17First, Robinson against Manfredi. Either one of these two guys would love to see himself as the logical successor,
03:24Mosley, as the king of the division.
03:26So does that suggest that we'll get the same kind of melodrama out of this bout
03:30that both of these guys produced in their battles with Arturo Gatti last year?
03:34Jim, those were Gatti's movies, Star Wars.
03:38I think we'd be happy to get a reasonable facsimile, say Star Trek.
03:44In a sense, this is a first viewing or a look at Manfredi and Robinson to see whether they can carry a show by themselves.
03:55They were brilliant in Gatti's movies.
03:58Are they really capable of doing it without a Gatti spurring them on?
04:03Given their temperaments, given their styles, and given a ring that looks to be the size of a kitchen table,
04:09if we don't get a blockbuster, we'll get an independent film that just scares all the critters out here in the desert.
04:16That I think we can guarantee, Jim.
04:18Yeah, I think we can win the audience award at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
04:20All right, both fighters are already in the ring, so let's have a closer look at these two championship-caliber lightweights,
04:26starting with Ivan Robinson.
04:29All right, Ivan Robinson grew up with Meldrick Taylor, another Philadelphia fighter who could box but loved to battle as well.
04:36And he's one of the fighters who rejected a lot of money, more than he ever made before, to fight Shane Mosley.
04:42Across the ring, the man who started the three-bout Gatti losing streak, which ties the two fighters together, Angel Manfredi.
04:52Manfredi looks like a circus act, but he is a fighter.
04:55He's a man who lives on the edge.
04:56He's had 11 car accidents, 150 stitches in his head.
05:01Manfredi recently got a ticket for trying to beat and succeeding in beating a train across a railroad stop.
05:08You can see the tattoo man.
05:10Tale of the tape now for all of that developed real estate on Angel Manfredi's skin against Ivan Robinson.
05:17And you'll see that Robinson is the veteran fighter of the two, four years older than Manfredi.
05:22Three-inch height advantage for Robinson, the one-inch reach advantage for the long-arm Manfredi.
05:25They weighed in close to the limit, and tonight you can see Ivan outweighs Angel by three pounds as they take to the ring.
05:32Punch that numbers, Larry.
05:34In the fights with Gatti, Robinson was the more active fighter.
05:37Manfredi is more likely to try to counterpunch, but he will go after you if you back off.
05:45Rules of the bout with our unofficial ringside scorer, Harold Letterman.
05:49The Ivan Robinson, Angel, El Diablo, Manfredi fight is scheduled for ten rounds using the rules of the California State Athletic Commission.
05:57Jim, they had a very interesting rule in California that we've got to point out.
06:00If the referee sees a cut and he doesn't see a headbutt, and he doesn't know if the cut was produced by a headbutt,
06:07he can poll the three judges.
06:08If one judge says it's a headbutt, it counts as a headbutt rather than a punch.
06:13Let's hope we don't have to go through that.
06:14Now let's go up to ring announcer Michael Buffer for the official introduction.
06:17Ladies and gentlemen, from Fantasy Springs Casino here in Indio, California,
06:23Cedric Kushner Promotions presents world-class boxing for your entertainment,
06:29presented in association with the undisputed, undefeated king of beers, Budweiser.
06:35This Bud's for you.
06:36This first bout is also presented in association with main events,
06:40and it's sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission.
06:43The three judges assigned to this bout will be Marty Denkin, Lou Filippo, and Fritz Warner,
06:51and with a bell rings, your referee in charge of the action, Dr. Lou Moret.
06:56And now, ladies and gentlemen, ten rounds of boxing in the lightweight division.
07:00Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner,
07:07wearing a light blue and weighing in at 134 pounds.
07:11His professional record, 29 bouts with 27 victories,
07:16including 10 by knockout with only two losses.
07:19Ladies and gentlemen, he's a member of the famous Philadelphia, Pennsylvania boxing fraternity.
07:24From the nice town section of Philadelphia, here is mighty Ivan Robinson.
07:37And his opponent across the ring, fighting out of the red corner.
07:41Wearing black chin with white, his weight, 134 and one-half pounds.
07:46His professional record, 30 bouts, 26 victories with 21 knockouts,
07:52and only three losses and one draw.
07:55From Gary, Indiana, presenting the former junior lightweight champion of the world,
08:03Angel El Diablo Manfredi.
08:07Floyd Mayweather Jr. Jim was much too quick for Manfredi.
08:30Manfredi will see if Ivan Robinson can use his quickness to similar advantage
08:37very early on in this fight.
08:41And Freddie claiming that if Robinson was so quick,
08:45Arturo Gatti wouldn't have gotten to him as often as Gatti did.
08:48Robinson said, yes, Gatti hurt me to the body.
08:51Is there anybody that he doesn't hurt to the body?
08:53Of course, the one fighter who most mastered Gatti
08:55was Manfredi, who knocked him out.
08:58Ivan Robinson starts off sticking the jab.
09:08Manfredi jabbing right back.
09:12Both guys are proud of their ability to use the stick,
09:16both as an offensive and defensive weapon.
09:24Combination punching by Robinson early in the bout.
09:28Manfredi, although he's moved up from 130,
09:33may actually be a stronger puncher than Robinson.
09:37He was not a knockout puncher.
09:39Hold on, Martin.
09:48This is a sharp, high-energy first round.
09:52Both fighters are getting off with early combinations.
09:54You've got the beginnings here
09:56on what could be a terrific high-contact battle.
09:59Manfredi, punched by Manfredi.
10:03Folded Ivan Robinson over momentarily.
10:10And Freddie said,
10:12Gatti waited too late
10:13before pounding Robinson for the body.
10:16I'll do it from the first round on.
10:18You see the left-right combination to the body
10:19that again appears to damage Robinson.
10:31Robinson hasn't had a fight
10:33since his second victory over Gatti
10:35several months ago.
10:38Manfredi, after losing to Mayweather in December,
10:41got back into the ring in February
10:43against a fighter named Ernesto Benitez in Chicago.
10:45This fight could have gone away had he lost.
10:48But Manfredi felt better
10:49getting back into the ring
10:50and winning was on right hand.
10:52Big shot upstairs by Ivan Robinson.
10:55And Manfredi comes back
10:56with a right hand of his own.
11:00Right now, it seems that the third man in the ring
11:03is Arturo Gatti, Jim.
11:06As both fighters are fighting
11:07as though they're in that kind of a war.
11:09Robinson's blocking punches to the body
11:28with his elbow
11:28and coming back upstairs.
11:31Now he digs a left hook to the body.
11:35And the first round you might have expected
11:37in the sense that Ivan Robinson
11:39seemed to have landed more punches
11:40but Angel Manfredi has landed the heart of the ring.
11:50Well, it looks like they can carry
11:51their own move, Jim.
11:53Do you understand?
11:54And I don't want a weak right hand.
11:55When you throw, you got to throw it with something, okay?
11:58Because you're laying it out there.
11:59He's coming right over and countering.
12:00All right?
12:00I don't want that.
12:01Stay relaxed and pop the jack.
12:03Stay low.
12:04You're too high with your chin.
12:05I want you to stay low.
12:06Don't stand in front of him.
12:08Keep moving that hand.
12:10There you see Woody Harrelson
12:11with Yvette Manfredi,
12:14Angel's wife.
12:16Woody is starring in a movie about boxing.
12:20Being shot right now
12:21with director Ron Shelton.
12:24White man can't jump.
12:30Tin Cup, Bull Durham,
12:31and here's another look
12:32at the body shot
12:33by Angel Manfredi.
12:36And there you see
12:37the right hand
12:37over that lowering left
12:40by Manfredi.
12:43So both fighters
12:44had their moments
12:44in round one.
12:45Copy box numbers
12:46pretty even.
12:47Robinson 26 out of 88.
12:49Manfredi giving credit
12:50for landing more punches.
12:51I was wrong about that.
12:5331 out of 80.
12:54Letterman gives the round
12:55to Angel
12:55based on the harder shots.
13:04And his two victories
13:05over Gotti,
13:07Robinson was able
13:08to establish
13:08a fast tempo early
13:10and establish
13:11from the outset
13:13that he would be
13:13the better boxer.
13:14Larry, as you point out,
13:16and Freddy is probably
13:17a more skilled fighter
13:18with quicker boxing instincts
13:21than Arturo Gotti.
13:24Well, he doesn't come in
13:25as wide open, obviously.
13:29Right now,
13:30what I'm trying to see
13:31with Robinson
13:32is whether he can
13:33exploit his advantage
13:35and quickness.
13:36So far,
13:36he has been unable to.
13:39Might end up top
13:41followed by
13:42two body shots
13:42by Manfredi.
13:44And Freddy,
13:45first and last
13:46in this exchange.
13:47And this is
13:48with the winging right hand.
13:50He doesn't have
13:52the super quickness
13:53of Mayweather.
13:54And that's why
13:55he's standing in
13:55his shoulder-to-shoulder
13:57trying to trade.
14:05Already in round two,
14:07Ivan Robinson
14:07seems to have lost
14:08a little steam
14:09from his punches.
14:10And Freddy digging
14:11hard to the body
14:12with the left hook.
14:15Robinson landed
14:16got an uppercut inside,
14:17but it didn't do
14:18much damage.
14:19Now, Ivan
14:19back-smacked Freddy off.
14:21Here comes Angel
14:21again with the
14:22double left hook.
14:30You wonder
14:31if they can keep
14:32up this pace,
14:34but we've seen
14:34Robinson
14:35shoot 80,
14:3685 punches
14:37around
14:38through three
14:38different fights.
14:39temperature in the
14:41desert reached 98
14:42today,
14:43but it has cooled
14:44off considerably
14:45now as these guys
14:46make it into the
14:47ring.
14:48Even though it's
14:49outdoors,
14:51the air is cool
14:51enough that they
14:52should be able to
14:53fight at a reasonable
14:54pace.
14:58About scheduled
14:59for ten rounds.
14:59another good right
15:07to the body
15:07by Manfredo.
15:08Committing to
15:09every body shot.
15:10Manfredo clearly
15:30believes that he is
15:31at least as strong
15:32as Robinson
15:33because normally
15:35he's a counterpuncher,
15:36but he just wants a
15:37stand and go
15:38with Robinson.
15:40And as a result,
15:41both fighters
15:42are landing
15:43on the punches.
15:46Two high-energy
15:47rounds in the books.
15:58Okay,
15:58look,
15:58we've got to
15:59suck it up.
15:59We've got to
16:00pull it together here.
16:01Let this kid do
16:02too much.
16:03He's getting
16:04confidence,
16:04man.
16:07Come on.
16:08I told you,
16:09I don't want this guy
16:09getting confidence
16:10like that.
16:11Come on,
16:12let's get a little
16:12more snap in there.
16:13Let's start dropping
16:14that right hand
16:14to the body.
16:15Let's do a little
16:15body work.
16:16You know what I mean?
16:17Okay.
16:18You can't let this boy
16:19think he can get
16:19momentum here.
16:20You understand?
16:22Right.
16:22Come on.
16:23Let's start getting
16:24them short combinations
16:25off of the inside
16:26and stepping around
16:27this guy.
16:28When you hear
16:29him in the corner
16:30talking about
16:31Manfredo getting
16:32momentum,
16:32those are just
16:33card words for
16:34you lost that round,
16:36son.
16:36Seconds out.
16:38Stay back.
16:39Stay back.
16:41So even though
16:42Ivan Robinson
16:43threw 107 punches
16:45by CompuBox numbers
16:46in the second round,
16:48he may well be down
16:49two rounds to none
16:50against Angel Manfredo
16:52in the early going
16:52of this 10-round,
16:53not 12-round fight.
16:56Robinson quickly
16:57following instructions
16:58of his corner
16:59to try some body
17:00punching.
17:00Right there.
17:01Hold it, hold it,
17:02hold it.
17:02Don't lean on him.
17:03Hold it.
17:04All right, come on.
17:13Let him go.
17:14Let him go.
17:14Let him go.
17:15Let him go.
17:15Let him go.
17:25Robinson lands the right
17:27hand across the top.
17:28Manfredo keeps coming
17:32back inside.
17:37Pattern seems to be
17:39establishing itself.
17:40Robinson throws more
17:41punches.
17:42Manfredo lands the
17:43harder shots.
17:44Manfredo with a
17:45statistical edge and
17:45power shots in the
17:47last round.
17:47Manfredo.
17:52Expect to see Ivan
17:53Robinson try to fight
17:55a boxing match.
17:56Right now, he's
17:57standing and going to
17:58war with Angel Manfredo.
18:02Well, as he put it,
18:03Jim, sometimes his
18:07heart overtakes his
18:08mind.
18:09Hard left hook to the
18:22body by Angel Manfredo.
18:24And as Robinson slows
18:25momentarily, Manfredo
18:27catches him with
18:27accommodation upstairs.
18:29Now Ivan goes back to
18:30throwing punches.
18:31Referee Lou Moret, not
18:44a factor in the action
18:45so far.
18:46The three rounds, no
18:47holding, no clinching,
18:50just solid sustained
18:51punching from both
18:52fighters.
18:55Good combination by
18:57Manfredi.
18:58Covering that hook
18:58upstairs.
19:00Robinson momentary
19:01back to the body again.
19:05Robinson not throwing
19:07and Freddie trying to
19:08see how much damage he
19:09can do.
19:12And now Ivan comes
19:13back and drives Angel
19:15under the ropes.
19:15low blow by Robinson.
19:35Now Lou Moret.
19:37And Manfredi's prompting
19:38with Lawrence Robinson to
19:39keep him up.
19:39Robinson believes that Manfredo
19:45is getting hurt by Gaddy's
19:46body punches as their fight
19:49wore on.
19:50We'll see if that strategy
19:51works as we get into the
19:53late rounds of this fight.
19:54When he's inside, don't move,
19:56step back.
19:57We don't make him go back.
19:58You understand?
19:58Yeah.
19:58You see, you had him hurt.
20:04Double your punches up.
20:05That's what did it.
20:06The double punches.
20:08Okay?
20:08Stay relaxed and keep
20:09popping those punches.
20:10Keep popping them.
20:11Up and down.
20:12You're hitting them with a
20:13beautiful right uppercut.
20:14Come back on the left side.
20:15Yes.
20:15Okay?
20:17I want you to throw three
20:18punch toleration.
20:19You're passionate in him.
20:20Yes.
20:20You never do that.
20:20You need some muscle here.
20:21Okay.
20:22You got a muscle?
20:23Let's get it, man.
20:23Come on.
20:24We got to have some muscle here.
20:26You got to get the hands
20:27moving.
20:28Okay.
20:28This bum, you can't let
20:30this bum have this right.
20:31No way.
20:32Come on.
20:33Deep breath.
20:35Take a look at the punches
20:36from Manfredi.
20:37Let's go.
20:38Let's go.
20:38As he attacks Robinson.
20:40Stay back.
20:41Ivan, Ivan, Ivan, get back.
20:43Get back.
20:44A little bit of urgency
20:46coming from Robinson's
20:48corner already.
20:49They feel it slipping away.
20:52Well, let's see how
20:53Harold sees it.
20:53How do you have it
20:54through three, Harold
20:55Lenneman?
20:55Jim, three to nothing.
20:5730 to 27.
20:58Angel O'B.
20:59Apple Manfredi.
21:00Jim, I got to tell you,
21:01not only is he landing
21:02those sharp hooks,
21:03watch out for defense
21:04by Manfredi.
21:05Those elbows are in tight.
21:07Their hands are up high.
21:08And Robinson's not getting
21:09through.
21:10It's just picking up
21:11so many punches.
21:13Robinson lands a right
21:15hand there.
21:16And has landed
21:17with more accuracy
21:18in the first 30 seconds
21:19of this round
21:20than was the case
21:20all the way through round three.
21:22Robinson with the big
21:23right hand over the top.
21:24He'll need a multiplicity
21:26of punches to hurt Manfredi,
21:27but he's landing
21:28a lot more now.
21:31Yeah.
21:32Come on, come on.
21:34Well, maybe that transfusion
21:36of urgency from the corner
21:37got his attention.
21:41Meanwhile, he momentarily
21:44stops punching
21:45and Manfredi pounds him
21:46to the body
21:47as he drives him
21:48into the ropes.
21:51I think if there's one thing
21:52that's been the defining
21:53factor early in the fight,
21:54Larry, it would be
21:55Angel's body punching.
21:56Well, just the general
21:58attack mode.
22:01As we pointed out earlier,
22:03we've seen him in many
22:04fights in which he was
22:06very happy to counterpunch
22:08until he had his opponent
22:10beaten and then he would
22:11go on the attack.
22:12He's been on the attack
22:13here right from the first
22:15belt.
22:17Come on, Angel.
22:20Treating combinations
22:28at close range.
22:31Ivan Robinson in the blue
22:33trunks, Angel Manfredi
22:34in the black trunks.
22:36Sheen Mosley fighting
22:37later on tonight.
22:38Mosley claiming that he's
22:39leaving the 135-pound
22:40weight class behind
22:41after this fight.
22:43And both of these fighters
22:44with an urge to stamp
22:45himself as, or themselves
22:49as the man in the division.
23:01Two more vicious 90 shots
23:03from Manfredi.
23:08Little mouse forming
23:09under the left eye
23:10of Angel Manfredi.
23:12And Robinson scores solidly
23:14with the right uppercut.
23:19The way did you go?
23:31The way did you go?
23:3310 seconds.
23:3410 seconds.
23:39Might have been Ivan Robinson's
23:43best round.
23:44If Harold Waterman sees it right, he'll need a comeback.
23:53Can't let this guy rest. Don't let him think.
23:55You give him too much time to think.
23:57Okay? You give him too much time to think.
23:59I don't want him thinking.
24:00That's a move, guys. That's a move.
24:03You stand feeling straight up and then he's coming.
24:07Step to the guy after you get your punch.
24:09All right, Jim, go ahead.
24:10Listen, I want you to touch him with that jab.
24:13Don't go straight back.
24:15You're the one that's got to be leaving, not him.
24:17Okay? Go to the body, go to the body, and go to the head.
24:20Don't just the body. You're throwing a beautiful right up.
24:22You're not coming back on the left side.
24:24Time over. Let's throw the punch in. Let's do it.
24:27All right? Let's do it.
24:28Let's stick through this other eye.
24:29Pull this out.
24:31Behind, you've got to bring it up.
24:33Okay?
24:34Stand this time. Give me your angle, son.
24:37Watch that left foot.
24:39Watch that left foot.
24:41Okay, stand back.
24:43Okay, keep it up.
24:47In round four, Ivan Robinson threw 111 punches.
24:51So he's had an extraordinarily high punch output through the first four rounds.
24:56And finally takes a round for Manfredi on Letterman's Guard.
25:00Angel Manfredi throwing about 80 punches a round, and Robinson outworking him in there.
25:08But Angel, by CompuBox numbers, is landing more than half his punches in the bout so far.
25:13Hard right hand shot to the low rib cage by Manfredi.
25:23Robinson lands the right cross flush inside.
25:26You watch HBO in 1988, 1989, you might get the impression that Ivan Robinson only appears in classic battles.
25:43Neither fighter has the one punch power to seriously damage the opponent, which is why, one of the reasons why, at least, they're willing to stand toe-to-toe.
26:04But the accumulation of punches will show itself as the fight goes on.
26:11And the first minute and a half of round five, Angel Manfredi has stepped up his attack to Ivan Robinson's rib cage again.
26:18Landing several vicious body shots.
26:41Good left hook by Robinson in first.
26:43Didn't move Manfredi though.
26:45Nope.
26:46Robinson pounding to the body with the right hand.
26:59Then the right and the left upstairs.
27:01And Freddy just blocking as many shots as he can and looking for opportunity to strike back.
27:08With clean shots up the middle.
27:10And Freddy again going back to the body with the left and the right.
27:13Good right cross by Manfredi.
27:16Robinson wants to answer back immediately with three punches of his own.
27:26And Freddy apparently not throwing quite as many punches before.
27:31Whether he's looking for a big shot or not, we'll find out.
27:34But Robinson is definitely the more active fighter and once again broken back hands inside by Robinson.
27:47You got to get down.
27:48You got to get down, Alvin.
27:49Come on, dawg.
27:50You got to get down, baby.
27:51You got to get down.
27:52Give me a little foot, but you ain't giving me enough, man.
27:53What's wrong with you?
27:54This guy out working you.
27:55That's all he's doing.
27:56He's out working you.
27:57You're sitting there.
27:58You're letting the guy get little combinations off.
27:59Okay.
28:00Come on, man.
28:01man what's wrong with you this guy out working you this is all he's doing he's out working you
28:05you're sitting there you're letting the guy get little combinations off come on man what's up
28:11nothing let's do it come on what is this come on work just as hard for this one as any other
28:20touch him touch him right there with the jab boom the right hand then come back on the left side
28:31right in the chin right there aim for it open he's getting time time to step it up inside we
28:38see one of the left hands Robinson landed right on the chin if if Robinson had knockout power
28:46paralyzing power that's the sort of punch that would show it as we enter round six
28:55Ivan Robinson by CompuBox numbers he's throwing 105 punches per round that's an extraordinarily
29:03high work rate Angel Manfredi averaging about 80 punches per round and of course you heard Odell
29:09Cafe the trainer in Robinson's corner saying you're letting this guy outwork you hard left
29:16cooked by Robinson and again if Robinson had knockout power and Freddie be wobbled right now
29:21don't roll don't roll break clean break clean break him up break him up
29:27no no no no no no no no no no no no no get back come on
29:33when he getting off 105 110 punches around as Robinson is doing you don't expect to be losing the fight it's a
29:50statement on how precise manfredi has been able to be with his body shots and his power punches inside
29:56Yeah, but Manfredo is punching at a much lower rate than he had earlier.
30:01Throwing a flurry here and there, but not nearly as aggressive and effective as he had been in the first two rounds.
30:20All right, stay very quick, very quick.
30:26Manfredo is looking for one big shot.
30:37He makes sense that Robinson is weakening.
30:40He hurt him with the body punch there.
30:42He hurt him with the body punch on the far side.
30:45And now Robinson begins to come back.
30:47And Robinson realizes he needs to throw punches because Manfredo is looking to set him up for the kill.
30:52Now Robinson beginning to get some energy back after the body punch on the far side.
31:04Frozen momentarily.
31:09And Freddy sticking his chin out as if to say, go ahead, try to knock it off.
31:13You can't.
31:13Robinson's body shot is being blocked by Manfredo's arms.
31:23And that gives him the chance to land the uppercut.
31:26Here's a solid right cross by Robinson.
31:29Manfredo comes back with a left hand to the body.
31:31Round six is another barn burner in what has been a brilliant fight so far.
31:48And Manfredo and Robinson tap gloves and smile at each other as if to say, well, we're offering another classic here.
31:56Keep that momentum going.
31:59You're in shape.
31:59You know what started that?
32:00You hit him in the arms.
32:02Hit him anywhere.
32:03You understand?
32:03And let the punches flow.
32:05Not every punch has to be hard.
32:06You understand?
32:07Just let your punches flow.
32:08Watch those elbows.
32:09Yes, sir.
32:10Yes, sir.
32:11Yes, sir.
32:12Don't worry.
32:12Better than that.
32:13You deep.
32:14Four deep, man.
32:16Come on.
32:16Okay.
32:17We got the hustle.
32:18We can take the decision.
32:19You understand?
32:20Yes.
32:21Come on.
32:21Let's get out there and hustle.
32:22Let's suck it up, Black man.
32:23Come on, man.
32:23We got to reach down here now.
32:25You know what I'm saying?
32:26Yeah.
32:27All you're doing is letting this guy out.
32:30Watch those heads inside, okay?
32:32Watch the head inside.
32:33There's the right hand that seemed to buckle Robinson early in the round.
32:39Right to the ribs.
32:41Didn't make Robinson feel any better.
32:43Watch your head.
32:44Watch your head.
32:50Harold Lederman, how do you have it through?
32:51Six out of ten.
32:52Fifty-nine, fifty-five, five rounds to one.
32:56Angelo Viagla Manfredi.
32:58Jim, what you're judging is, bottom line, basically, who's doing the more damage.
33:04Ivan Robinson can throw eight million punches.
33:06If he hits this guy in the gloves and the elbows, he's not doing any damage.
33:10Manfredi hit him so hard in round six that Robinson faded into the rope so how do you look
33:14like he was going to drop?
33:15Angel Manfredi laid him much harder, much quicker shots.
33:18I have it four rounds for two.
33:25And as Robinson comes in and attacks, Angel tries to pick him off with body shots with
33:31the left hook.
33:32Counter right hands over the jab.
33:35Most effective so far with the left hook to the body.
33:40Robinson just being driven back into the ropes by the strength of Angel Manfredi's shots.
33:45motorcycle shots.
33:48Come on, buddy.
33:48Come on, boys.
33:49Come on, buddy.
33:50Come on, buddy.
33:50Come on, buddy.
33:51Come on, buddy.
33:51Come on.
33:52Come on, bud.
33:52Come on, buddy.
33:54Watch your hands.
33:54Hold it, hold it.
33:57Oh
34:20Brady's more punch than do Robinson's
34:23Beautiful three-punch combination one missed one didn't land that hard and one landed right on the button
34:45Fighters working to the body
34:47Robinson's gonna have to start throwing 200 punches around Jim because he's falling far behind in this fight
34:53All three judges for the battle from here in California, and of course neither fighter is from California
35:14He's moving to Las Vegas because the people in Las Vegas treat him so well
35:34Ivan Robinson is a Philly fighter who will live in Philly all his life
35:44Angel one of those athletes
35:46He needs to be noticed needs to be applauded
35:48To keep on keeping on
35:50Keep on keeping on
35:52In for the next boxing after dark show on June 19 Michael Grant
35:56Being touted by some as maybe the next great heavyweight takes on Lou Savarese
36:02You already know about Savarese's courage his technicianship his willingness to fight so this will make for a great matchup and a test of Grant's
36:10Grants
36:12Growing abilities
36:14Fall behind
36:16Fall behind
36:18Fall behind
36:20Four deep man, you're at least four rounds behind
36:22Close your mouth for your deep
36:24You got to get in there and really want this man
36:26You got to go out there and want this shit
36:28Hey, don't try to time it, don't forget you got a right hand
36:30One of the things Manfredi does is he lands the more vivid graphic combinations
36:46Robinson is landing a lot of punches too, but they just don't resonate as loudly
36:52Robinson might have to win the remaining rounds of this ten round fight
37:00Robinson having thrown 713 punches through seven rounds
37:05And despite the extraordinarily high work rate
37:08173 more punches than Manfredi has been given credit for
37:12Through those same seven frames
37:14You heard Odell Cafe Robinson's trainer saying you're at least four rounds down
37:18You're way behind in the fight
37:20You need to come back immediately
37:34Robinson came into this fight Jim thinking he would beat Manfredi
37:38His price would go up for a shot at Mosley
37:40Which is why he rejected a $350,000 challenges price against Mosley
37:46He's in danger of blowing it all here
37:48Right now
37:50Turning down $350,000 to fight Shane Mosley
37:54Looks like a bad mistake
37:58Sure does
38:00$100,000 less
38:04For this battle against Manfredi
38:06And Manfredi has physically controlled the bout with his strength and power punching
38:12Push up
38:22Push up
38:24Push up
38:26Push up
38:30Robinson
38:34Robinson
38:36Seeming to be in a lull during the first minute and a half of the round
38:38See if he can mount some kind of comeback in the latter part of the frame
38:42But it's getting a little bit easier for Manfredi
38:44As he continues to dig that left hook to the bottom
38:46As he continues to dig that left hook to the bottom
38:50No no no no no no
38:52Hold it hold it
38:54Hold it hold it
38:56Hold it hold it
38:58Don't grab
39:00Don't grab
39:02two well-schooled fighters who are totally willing combatants they know how to fight they like it
39:10they've already given the fans their money's worth hard combination by manfredi
39:17and robinson ducking into the ropes and trying to sucker manfredi in so that he can
39:24land something on the rebound
39:26a very well balanced and disciplined angel manfredi staying in perfect position to throw his combinations
39:38we're told that angel manfredi early in the round got a thumb into ivan robinson's eye and that may
39:52have affected robinson for the first half of the round let's take a look at it and you can see
39:56there yep robinson bothered by the contact with the right eye when angel manfredi's left glove came
40:03by
40:03come on suck it up take deep breath man come on get your mind in this fight man come on you got to
40:09stay in this fight get your mind in this fight man how many little things man is making you lose this
40:15fight
40:15until to come tonight the world champion at 135 pounds shane mosley 29 knockouts and 31 bouts
40:23fight of the year for 1998 on behalf of the united states boxing writers association he'll be taking
40:29on john brown who is one of those totally willing straightforward opponents that nobody really
40:35wants to see coming
40:36manfredi outlanding robinson through the eighth round although robinson has thrown many more
40:47manfredi remarkably accurate particularly with his power shots all night long they start the ninth round in a phone booth
40:54and manfredi again digs to the body and robinson tries to wake him across the top
41:00a fighter less confident and full of himself than manfredi would have not had recovered
41:08from that mayweather knockout as well as he has right here
41:15this is the wrong time for robinson to be boxing
41:22this is the wrong time for robinson to be boxing
41:34the kids from gary is beating the kids from philadelphia and you get the impression
41:50i've been robinson you know with that philadelphia background won't back off against too many guys
41:56but he's backing off a little bit here in the face of manfredi's sustained inside power
42:03one reason for manfredi's success here is he simply has a better defense he seems more compact
42:12he seems to be fighting out of a more um traditional fighting stance keeps his arms in
42:20keeps his arms in not as easy to get clean punches in against as robinson is right
42:27got as loose limbed as robinson throws shorter shots robinson's trying them out to come back
42:35come on angel let's go to work
42:41i'm also starting to recall at the moment jim john brown's comment that he didn't think that robinson
42:57who knows well from the philadelphia atlantic city area was in the supreme condition that he had seen him in against gary
43:18the feeling was that robinson was more chiseled in the first gary fight
43:25and a couple of combinations for robinson and manfredi kind of mugs for him as if to say oh you're still there
43:31well here he is throwing his hundred punches away
43:35both fighters had their moments in the night round just like one more frame yet to go
43:54another round just like that keep working up and down up and down when you got him going i want the shot off the middle
44:02keep it going seeing you go
44:04open your gut
44:05open your gut
44:06hey whats setting everything else
44:09there's a short punch
44:10if you know what's going i want
44:11understand
44:13the show is when you're close
44:15what do i want
44:16short jab
44:17a jab
44:18a jab
44:19a jab
44:20a jab
44:21That's the last round.
44:25This is the last round, Dawg.
44:26You got to go for broke, man.
44:28You need a knockout to win.
44:30You need a knockout to win, man.
44:32Yes, you do.
44:34You're way behind on this one.
44:36Another round.
44:37Just like it, man.
44:39Let's go.
44:40Ivan Robinson's Philadelphia corner hasn't backed off one moment in this fight,
44:52from telling him the truth as they see it.
44:54Telling him he needs a knockout to win.
44:57Robinson and Manfredi touch gloves and begin firing in the 10th round.
45:03And Manfredi still scoring to the body.
45:05How much scoring, Harold Lederman?
45:07Jim, I got it.
45:0888, 83, 7 rounds to 2.
45:11Angel Manfredi.
45:12Jim, I don't think Ivan Robinson could get this decision in a blue horizon.
45:16This is Angel Manfredi's body punching.
45:18That's what's winning in the fight.
45:20As busy as Ivan is, the body punching is the difference in the fight.
45:24Angel Manfredi is too hard.
45:28An impressive performance by Manfredi.
45:31Coming off of the second round knockout loss to Mayweather Jr.
45:35Manfredi may even consider going back down to 130 pounds.
45:40Takes some more chances at getting back the title in that division.
45:44More left-hand body shots for Manfredi,
45:46and Robinson stops the assault for the time being
45:50as the crowd rises and roars for Angel.
45:53It looks like an incredible player.
45:54I counted 18 unopposed punches.
45:56Come on, Angel!
45:58Come on.
45:59There you go!
46:00Come on, Angel!
46:01Come on, Angel!
46:02Come on!
46:03Come on, Angel!
46:04Come on!
46:05Come on, Angel!
46:06Keep your chin down, Angel!
46:07Here, go!
46:08Come on!
46:13Come on, Angel!
46:14Come on!
46:15Come on!
46:16Come on!
46:17Come on!
46:18Come on!
46:19Come on!
46:21This hasn't had the melodrama of the Gowdy fights
46:34because neither fighter has busted up
46:36or looked like he was about to splatter on the canvas
46:41and mounted a brilliant comeback.
46:43It hasn't had those emotional ups and downs,
46:46but it has had everything else.
46:47It's had every bit as much sustained offense.
46:51Hard punching, dedicated punching from both fighters.
46:55Ivan Robinson averaging 100 punches a round
46:58and spending all of his energy to try to outwork Angel Manfredi,
47:03but Manfredi simply doing the greater damage.
47:09This was not only a pick-em fight, but a can't-pick-em fight.
47:14You could find very few people who had a serious opinion
47:18about which fighter would win.
47:20There doesn't seem to be much doubt at this point.
47:28I had an opinion.
47:30It was the wrong one.
47:35After Robinson's impressive performances against Gowdy,
47:38I thought he'd be able to come out and do the same thing.
47:41But Angel Manfredi has fought a superior battle here tonight.
47:47And he punctuates it with one last solid left hook.
47:52Just for good measure.
48:01Woody Harrelson enjoying what he saw.
48:03He's here as part of Manfredi's group tonight.
48:06Diablo!
48:09Diablo!
48:11Diablo!
48:12Diablo!
48:17Diablo!
48:23Angel Manfredi yelling Diablo.
48:26Diablo!
48:27Diablo!
48:27Never shy about tooting his own horn.
48:30I think maybe it has to do with the fact that he's turned from red trunks and red socks to black.
48:37To a black outfit this week.
48:47I'm almost afraid to go up and interview him, Jim.
48:49He's already given his interview from the middle of the ring.
48:52We can hear it here.
48:53He'll be referring to himself in the third person.
48:55I don't know whether he'll be calling himself Angel or El Diablo, but it'll be one of the two.
49:05Before we go up to Michael Buffer for the official decision,
49:09another look at the 18 consecutive unopposed punches that Larry counted in the middle of the round.
49:15And then Freddy just digging and working to pound away to Robinson's body and head
49:20as he piled up the points in the 10th round.
49:23Closed the show in that round, 41 out of 84 by CompuBox Numbers.
49:27A superior performance by Angel Manfredi.
49:31Now let's go up to Michael Buffer for the official particular.
49:33Before we give the scoring totals,
49:37let's acknowledge these two fighters for everything a boxing fan wants when they see a fight.
49:43Courage, conditioning, skill, and the determination to fight every minute of every round.
49:51A hand, please, for both.
49:52Ivan Robinson and Angel Manfredi.
49:56We go to the Budweiser scorecards.
50:01Marty Dankin scores the bout, 99 to 91.
50:05Fritz Werner scores at 100 to 90.
50:08And Lou Filippo scores at 99, 91.
50:11For the winner by unanimous decision,
50:15Angel El Diablo Manfredi.
50:20So none of the three judges able to find more than a round that they could give to Ivan Robinson.
50:36I wonder if the result is shocking to Robinson,
50:39who seemed to fight the last couple rounds as though he felt he was still in the boxing match.
50:43But a resounding comeback victory for Manfredi that makes him a factor once again at both 130 and 135 pounds,
50:52even despite the quick knockout loss to the ultra-talented Floyd Mayweather Jr.
50:58And you look at the final punch stat numbers that show Manfredi landing 105 more punches,
51:03although Robinson threw 171 more than he did.
51:07Big difference in connect percentage,
51:09fueled by Manfredi's ability to land more than half of his power shots in the fight.
51:16And Ivan Robinson is going to be peeing red for about four or five days off those body shots
51:23Manfredi delivered through the course of the ten rounds.
51:29And now let's go to Larry Merchant standing by with the winner.
51:33All right.
51:33Thank you very much, Jim.
51:34Angel, you've been interviewing yourself here for a couple of minutes.
51:38Let me try it.
51:40It seemed that right from the get-go you felt you were quicker and stronger than he was.
51:44Most definitely.
51:45You know, I tell people, you know, I'm a natural lightweight, but I still fight Junior Lightweight.
51:48I fight both.
51:49You know, I can fight both.
51:50I give the people what they want.
51:52The people want to see the best fights.
51:53I give HBO what they want.
51:54I want to beat the best.
51:57Were you at any time hurt or in this fight?
52:01No, sir.
52:01No, sir.
52:01I took the shots very beautifully.
52:03I blocked a lot of shots.
52:04My arms are a little bit sore.
52:06But I like to thank my Savior Jesus Christ for the victory.
52:08Did you feel you had him close to being out a couple of times?
52:12Most definitely.
52:13Most definitely.
52:13He seemed to have no zip tonight.
52:15I don't know if it was the two Gaddy fights that took it out of him or...
52:19No, it was just me.
52:20It was just me.
52:22I'm just so accurate.
52:23I'm just so fast.
52:24And I got leverage on every shot.
52:25Would you rather have a rematch with Mayweather or would you rather try Shane Mosley at lightweight?
52:34No, you know, whatever the Lord picks for me.
52:36But first, I like to tell the world.
52:39I let the world judge the Mayweather fight.
52:40I felt the referee premature stoppage.
52:43All right, but that's gone.
52:44Do you want another chance at him or would you rather fight Mosley?
52:47Most definitely.
52:48I mean, whoever the Lord...
52:48Most definitely what?
52:50Mayweather.
52:51I fight the best.
52:51Anybody.
52:52Bring it on.
52:52Let's do it.
52:53After tonight, I deserve Mayweather again.
52:55I mean, Mayweather know that they did me wrong.
52:58The referee did me wrong.
52:58But that's okay.
52:59You know what?
52:59The champions are the ones that come back and bring it even stronger.
53:03And now I'm back and I'm stronger.
53:04I'm more hungry than ever.
53:06Thank you very much, Angel.
53:07God bless you, Larry.
53:07Jim?
53:08God bless you, baby.
53:09You did it.
53:09All right.
53:10A very happy Angel Manfredi looking forward to bigger things.
53:13Maybe Floyd Mayweather Jr. again at 130.
53:15Maybe somebody at 135.
53:18One thing for sure, we won't be seeing him against Ivan Robinson again anytime soon.
53:23But what next for the Philadelphia lightweight?
53:25Larry's with him right now.
53:28Ivan, it didn't seem to be there right from the beginning tonight.
53:32Oh, well, first I'd like to give praise to the man upstairs.
53:34You know, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even give a good contest tonight.
53:37I'd like to say hello to my grandma.
53:39But we worked hard in the gym for six weeks.
53:42You know, tonight, Manfredi was just a better fighter.
53:44Did you underestimate him?
53:46No, we didn't underestimate Manfredi.
53:47We underestimated no one.
53:49We trained hard.
53:50Manfredi was just a better man.
53:52You know, I still consider myself in there with the top lightweight.
53:56Whoever, you know, main events, HBO and my team want me to fight, that's who we'll fight.
54:00Can we say in hindsight now that you made a mistake by not taking the extra money to fight Mosley?
54:05No, because, I mean, Manfredi, I mean, Mosley said that he was moving up to 140, so that leaves the title vacant.
54:11If Manfredi gets his shot and win it, I would like a rematch with Manfredi or fight anybody in the top ten.
54:17Thank you very much, Ivan.
54:18Thank you, Larry.
54:18Again, Jim.
54:21All right.
54:22So, a resounding victory for Angel Manfredi.
54:26Big night for him.
54:27The first of two outstanding lightweight bouts in the book still to come tonight.
54:31Shane Mosley, the acknowledged kingpin of the division in what will be his eighth title defense of the lightweight championship.
54:38Mosley against John Brown of Philadelphia, as tough and uncompromising a fighter as can be found in the division.
54:45Let's look ahead to some other programs on HBO.
54:48May 22, Oscar De La Hoya returns to HBO fighting against Oba Carr.
54:55After beating Ike Porte, Oscar now needs to best the veteran Carr in order to keep this possible showdown with Felix Trinidad alive.
55:02Also, 130-pound phenom Floyd Mayweather Jr. defends his title against Colombian Goya Vargas.
55:08With Oscar and Floyd, it's two of the best, May 22.
55:11One week later, Felix Trinidad himself tries to keep the future De La Hoya matchup going,
55:16and coming off his impressive win over for Nell Whitaker, Trinidad takes on mandatory number one challenger Vincent Pettway
55:22in a fight coming to you live from Trinidad's native province of Puerto Rico.
55:28June 5, tune in for the unification of the light heavyweight division.
55:31Champions Roy Jones Jr. and Reggie Johnson face off in a fight which is as tough to forecast as any for Roy in recent memory.
55:38Will Roy Jones again show he basically has no competition?
55:43Or will Johnson step up and give Jones the fight of his career?
55:47Tune in and find out.
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