- 2 months ago
Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson face Ratanachai Sor Vorapin for the vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight Title on Showtime Boxing
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00:00Number one rated Mark Tusharp Johnson, a native son of Washington, D.C., who relinquished his IBF flyweight belt to pursue a second world title at a higher weight.
00:00:10Set to meet number two contender Ratanachai Vorapin out of Thailand for a crown vacated by the colorful Johnny Tappia, now the WBA bantamweight champion.
00:00:22And we take a look at the number two contender here at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.
00:00:28Here he is, Ratanachai Vorapin, a south ball from Thailand, his first world title shot currently on an 18-fight win streak, 14 by knockout, has won 35 of 38.
00:00:40The three losses early in his career, fighting tonight for the third straight time in the U.S. after fighting exclusively in the far east.
00:00:47His last fight, he injured Fernando Ibarra very badly, a sixth-round KO in January.
00:00:53Ibarra recovered recently, but his career is over.
00:00:56This guy is hungry, we know that, we talked to him yesterday, but is he on the same skill level as Johnson?
00:01:03I don't think so, but he has one neutralizing factor.
00:01:06This guy can really punch off the tapes that I saw and you saw.
00:01:09We saw him starch people with one punch, not a combination of punches, one punch.
00:01:15Well, when you got one punch power, that does neutralize an awful lot of superiority on the part of the other guy.
00:01:21Can he deliver it? Can he get it there?
00:01:22Well, that's what we're going to see.
00:01:24We also did notice that defense is a question mark.
00:01:28Another south ball.
00:01:29Mark Tusharpe Johnson from right here in Washington, D.C., moving up in weight in pursuit of his second world title,
00:01:36fighting in relative obscurity because of his weight, but considered one of the best all-around fighters in the world.
00:01:42Number one in the IBF's eyes is a junior bantamweight, the former IBF flyweight champ, successfully defended that belt seven times.
00:01:50Only one loss in 37 fights, that defeat coming way back in his second fight in 90, a decision in Belfast, Ireland on St. Patrick's Day.
00:01:59That's what you call hometown advantage.
00:02:02Hasn't lost, though, in eight years.
00:02:03And Bobby Ches, he's a former champion, lots of experience against world-class competition, but he hasn't fought in about seven months.
00:02:11Factor or no?
00:02:12Well, Steve, not only could the seven months be a factor because of the staleness or the possibility of the rust factor setting in,
00:02:18but he's fighting in a different weight, a new weight.
00:02:19He hasn't fought at this level at this weight before.
00:02:22And strength and fatigue factors as the fight goes on could also show up.
00:02:26Those are surprises he doesn't want to see.
00:02:27We'll find out.
00:02:29All right, let's check the numbers as we go to the tail of the tape.
00:02:34They're exactly the same age.
00:02:36Four of them, just an inch taller, and he's down from campaigning at 118.
00:02:41The biggest disparity, a four-inch reach advantage for Johnson.
00:02:46And the key unified rules for this title fight, no standing eight count, no three-knockdown rule.
00:02:51A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
00:02:54If an accidental headbutt occurs before the end of the fourth round, it's a technical draw.
00:02:58If it happens after the end of round four, they go to the scorecard.
00:03:03So here at the MCI Center, heading set for the IBF Junior Bantamweight Championship as Mark Johnson faces Ratonachav Oropin,
00:03:11let's get the formal introductions from our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.
00:03:14Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we present a world championship attraction here at the boxing debut at the MCI Center
00:03:24here in our nation's capital of Washington, D.C.
00:03:27Of course, it's all brought to you by Don King Productions.
00:03:31This bout is sanctioned by the International Boxing Federation.
00:03:34The president, Robert Lee Sr., supervisor is Daryl Peoples, along with the Washington, D.C. Boxing Commission.
00:03:41The chairman is Dr. Arnold McKnight.
00:03:43Introducing to you our judges scoring this bout from ringside, from Alexandria, Virginia, Valerie Dorsett,
00:03:49from Miami, Florida, Paul Herman, and from Portland, Oregon, Paul Weitzel.
00:03:54And our referee in charge of this bout, he'll be giving instructions after the introductions, Marshal Cunningham.
00:04:02All right, fans, here we go.
00:04:05Twelve rounds of boxing in a battle of the little men for the vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight Championship of the World.
00:04:13Introducing to you first on my left, fighting out of the blue corner.
00:04:17Injuring the ring wearing white trunks with red and blue trim,
00:04:20joining us all the way from Dangkundot, Thailand.
00:04:23He weighed in at a ready 114 pounds, with an outstanding record of 35 wins, three losses.
00:04:31He has 25 wins coming by way of knockout.
00:04:34He is making his first attempt at a world title.
00:04:37Ladies and gentlemen, here is the IBF number two ranked junior Bantamweight contender.
00:04:42Introducing Ratanachai Vorapin.
00:04:46And his opponent across the ring on my right, fighting out of the red corner, this 12-round vacant championship bout,
00:04:58wearing black trunks and white trim, and hailing from Washington, D.C.
00:05:04He weighed in at the junior Bantamweight limit of 115 pounds.
00:05:09His outstanding record stands at 36 wins.
00:05:13Only one loss with 26 wins coming by way of knockout.
00:05:18He has made his mark in the history books as the first African-American world flyweight champion.
00:05:24Thirdly ranked the IBF number one junior Bantamweight contender.
00:05:27Please welcome the former IBF flyweight champion of the world, introducing Mark Dusharpe Johnson.
00:05:42And once again a referee in charge, Marshall Cunningham, now to give instructions, 12 rounds of boxing schedule.
00:05:48Come on, gentlemen, this is a 12-round championship fight.
00:06:10I expect you to bail on my command.
00:06:12I want you to watch the low blows, watch your heads, protect yourself at all times.
00:06:17Any questions over in the red corner?
00:06:20Any on the blue?
00:06:21Watch the hair!
00:06:21Test gloves, good luck to both of you.
00:06:35No stare-down hair.
00:06:37Mark Johnson looking away.
00:06:39Has the overall skills, good quickness, solid chin.
00:06:42Borepin has KO-12 of his last 13, but sometimes punches too wide and, as a result, makes himself vulnerable.
00:06:51Johnson also with a tendency to brawl when he doesn't have to, leaving himself open.
00:06:56Mark Johnson, 13-0 here in D.C. with 10 knockouts.
00:07:00And here we go.
00:07:01Johnson's saying, I'm going to box this guy, but I can't help it.
00:07:05When they hit me, I start fighting back.
00:07:07Man, that's bad news, but this guy can bang.
00:07:09Yeah, he said it's a human reaction.
00:07:11You just have to do it sometimes.
00:07:12In his last fight, Borepin, then 34-3 fought Fernando Ibarra, who was just 5-4-3.
00:07:20With one straight left in the sixth, Borepin knocked out Ibarra, sending him sprawling back
00:07:25to the canvas like a rag doll.
00:07:27While Ibarra lived to tell about it, it ended his career after 12 fights.
00:07:32Another example of how boxing needs better regulating, allowing a fighter with Ibarra's
00:07:38record in there with a guy like Borepin.
00:07:40One of the things you can notice right off the bat, look at the legs on Borepin.
00:07:45Boy, they look like some kind of linebacker.
00:07:47Look at those legs.
00:07:48He must be solid on that.
00:07:49He's got those Popeye calves.
00:07:51He has some very thick legs.
00:07:52And he trained two months in Thailand with tough Mongolian fighters.
00:07:57He's from a fighting family.
00:08:00His younger brother, Ratanopo, a former IBF 108-pound champion, defended it 20 times.
00:08:06Right now, speed is making all the difference.
00:08:08Johnson's getting to him the jab and the counterpunches.
00:08:11Right now, Borepin just not set up, engaging the speed proper.
00:08:15Johnson told us he felt Borepin would start off slowly.
00:08:18He said, I'll try to steal the early rounds.
00:08:20I'll be faster, more accurate, says Too Sharp.
00:08:24And he's right now, he's living up to his name.
00:08:27He is too sharp for this guy.
00:08:29He's using a super jab, coming over the top at the left, underneath the right hook.
00:08:32Very crisp, very sharp.
00:08:35Johnson, good quickness, cat-like moves.
00:08:39And a good chin.
00:08:41Very aggressive, very game.
00:08:45Those quick combinations, then gets out nicely.
00:08:49Borepin, very confident, relaxed.
00:08:51And he's getting some shots off now.
00:08:56Borepin doesn't look at all worried at all.
00:08:58He's eating everything he's getting thrown at.
00:09:00I mean, the jab is landing.
00:09:02Every once in a while, Johnson crossing with a great right hand.
00:09:05Doesn't seem to bother this guy.
00:09:06He's standing there.
00:09:09Borepin likes to go to the body, but defense is questionable.
00:09:13Right now, I think Borepin is still just having a lot of trouble gauging the speed of Johnson.
00:09:20He's really trying to adjust to it.
00:09:22He can't stop the jab.
00:09:23And he can't counter if he can't stop that jab.
00:09:27Borepin's been to the United States about a week, which is better than usual.
00:09:31Usually, it's just two days.
00:09:37We approach the final 20 seconds of the opening round, scheduled for 12 for the IBF Junior Bantamweight Championship.
00:09:43Johnson was concerned he might be rusty coming off the inactivity in the early rounds here tonight.
00:09:57Looks pretty sharp.
00:10:03He's been slowly.
00:10:05Maybe.
00:10:06Thank you, Jay.
00:10:07He's still standing there.
00:10:09He's standing there taking a picture.
00:10:11Side to side a little bit more.
00:10:12You can outbox this guy all day long.
00:10:15All day long, you can box it.
00:10:17Two and three jab.
00:10:18You don't have to rush.
00:10:19Take him around the corner.
00:10:20The man is trying to count.
00:10:22Beat him with your jab.
00:10:24Chest up out a little bit.
00:10:26I got it, Henry.
00:10:28Open up.
00:10:30All right.
00:10:31Take a deep breath.
00:10:31Come on.
00:10:32Come on.
00:10:34Come on, Henry.
00:10:35Give me another wrist.
00:10:36Give me another wrist.
00:10:37Come on.
00:10:38Two and three jab.
00:10:39The brick hand is working.
00:10:41Brick, then the hook.
00:10:43Okay?
00:10:44You reach with the hook.
00:10:44You hit him with the hook.
00:10:45The odds are a little swell.
00:10:47You got to throw two and three jab.
00:10:48Take him down.
00:10:49Take him down.
00:10:49All right, let's go.
00:10:51Bye.
00:10:52This is nothing new in the corner of Mark Johnson as they exhort him to box more, use the jab more.
00:11:04Don't get into a slugfest if you don't have to.
00:11:08Johnson did control round one with effective bright jabs.
00:11:10He's got very good speed, Steve.
00:11:15The speed is such an offsetting factor.
00:11:17When you can't gauge a guy in time, you start walking in the shots, the counter's missed,
00:11:21and then you get countered.
00:11:22Very difficult.
00:11:24Well, his speed, and in this guy's case, his skill.
00:11:27Does he look good?
00:11:28He looks like a very good champion.
00:11:31There's Johnson.
00:11:31Johnson going for his second world title, the former flyweight champion, who defended
00:11:38that belt seven times, stepping up to 112 here.
00:11:46Well, Warpin better start throwing something.
00:11:48I mean, he's just so far been eating all the punches.
00:11:50He better start throwing something, because he's going to get nowhere but a big beating.
00:11:55Well, his big punch is a straight left.
00:11:57Well, we haven't seen enough to judge what is his punch at all.
00:12:03He's just not gloomish.
00:12:05He told us his jab will be a key ingredient against Johnson's speed.
00:12:11Well, he's got a strong jab, and he pushes it out there, but it's not as quick as Johnson's.
00:12:15Nowhere near as often being thrown.
00:12:19Johnson, by the way, just for the record, not in favor of open scoring.
00:12:23He says it takes out the element of suspense and drama.
00:12:26He wants to hear at the end if it should go the distance, and new champion of the world.
00:12:33Now, you can't take that away from boxing.
00:12:35It's a dramatic moment.
00:12:38Warpin landed a decent left and a good solid right hook, but Johnson shook it off like it was nothing.
00:12:44Johnson does have a solid chin.
00:12:50Pouncing punches off the body of Warpin.
00:12:53Warpin's a gamer from a poor farming family in northern Thailand.
00:13:15His family grew up literally fighting for their lives.
00:13:21Beautiful counter-right uppercut to this solar plexus by Johnson.
00:13:24It was a very slick move.
00:13:27Johnson said he prefers fighting other southpaws.
00:13:31Even though he realizes a southpaw sometimes has the advantage over a conventional fighter.
00:13:35A lot of head movement by Warpin.
00:13:41It's not getting him anywhere.
00:13:46Once again, Johnson scores.
00:13:48Well, that right jab is like a piston.
00:13:50It just keeps coming in there and landing right on his forehead or his nose.
00:13:54He seems to be saying, keep it up, keep it up.
00:14:15He's trying to tell him to breathe and relax.
00:14:27And if you have the chance, go ahead and put in the jab.
00:14:34Throw in that left punch.
00:14:36You see, Johnson's very sneaky.
00:14:47He's got a nice long, he leaves his left hand down here.
00:14:50He pumps it up.
00:14:51Then he steps around.
00:14:52He comes up underneath as he lets it roll.
00:14:55He throws a nice uppercut to the body.
00:14:57There's a little feeler jab and he slips up underneath here.
00:14:59And you'll see it come right up under.
00:15:00Bang.
00:15:01The solar plexus.
00:15:02Sneaky, quick.
00:15:03He's got all the moves.
00:15:06In the first two rounds, Johnson was able to punch and get out several times.
00:15:11And the last time I checked 30, that's pretty much the name of the game.
00:15:14Yeah, I gave both rounds to Johnson big.
00:15:17I mean, they're 10, 9 rounds, but big.
00:15:19He was like, he dominated.
00:15:23Mark Johnson trying to end it there with one punch, a white hook.
00:15:28Oh, is that nice?
00:15:30I mean, he punches so beautifully.
00:15:32He's one of these fighters that we see every once in a while at these lower rates.
00:15:36Weights that are just beautiful boxers, like our friend Lopez.
00:15:40Yeah, he's loved to watch him box.
00:15:43Many of the so-called experts rate him as one of the best.
00:15:47I know you're not very high on this expression, but one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
00:15:53Yeah, that makes no difference to me, but I do think he's one of the best in the world.
00:15:56I don't know what to do about it.
00:15:57Call him what you want to.
00:16:00And when he's not boxing, an entrepreneur owns a barbershop and a salon here in D.C.
00:16:04plants to open an ice cream store.
00:16:08With the flavors all named for boxers, they deliver.
00:16:10Right, yeah.
00:16:11That's very inventive.
00:16:12Very inventive.
00:16:12I told him I wanted to talk to Chip Cookie, don't name that for me.
00:16:15Rocky Rhodes would be appropriate for Bobby Chips.
00:16:21Round three scheduled for 12.
00:16:23At stake, the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title.
00:16:28Mark Johnson with the black fronts.
00:16:31The Kana Chai Borupin of Thailand and the white with the red and blue trim.
00:16:35You know, Johnson's such a sharp boxer and crisp counterpuncher.
00:16:39He wastes almost no motion, doesn't lose any energy, does everything just purposely.
00:16:49That was a pretty good shot by Borupin.
00:16:51The first really solid blow to land.
00:16:53There's another one.
00:16:54You ever see where he can only get off one or two, Johnson comes back with another two, three on top?
00:16:58The problem is that he's got that one punch knockout power, and that one punch may be all he needs.
00:17:04And that's the trouble.
00:17:05Well, he's won 35 of 38 with 25 knockouts.
00:17:10He's off a vicious KO of Fernando Ibarra with one punch in the sixth round.
00:17:21Oh, he's having a feel there.
00:17:23Sledgehammer left by Johnson.
00:17:27He tried practicing in his head.
00:17:29Borupin just walked into a punch and then let loose with a countering straight left.
00:17:34And Johnson's showing he could take it.
00:17:36I think Borupin got his attention with that left hand.
00:17:39Yeah, yeah, I think he felt that one.
00:17:42I mean, see, Borupin's got to start fighting like that.
00:17:44He's got a chance to land, but if he's not, if he's just holding his gloves up and getting punched silly,
00:17:49he's never got to get anywhere.
00:17:51He's getting a little closer each time with that countering left hand, but still missing.
00:17:54And those punches right there to the side were very hard.
00:17:57You can see this guy can punch.
00:17:58You can see you're in the presence of a punch here.
00:18:00He's just got to turn them loose.
00:18:02What Bobby just said was to keep...
00:18:04He's got to shorten the distance between them and then Borupin's ability.
00:18:08Johnson had to feel that stinging left.
00:18:11You still can't take a picture.
00:18:12You move your head all the time.
00:18:14You're the only thing you...
00:18:15You're the only thing you move your head.
00:18:17You're boxing, you.
00:18:18Turn that thing under.
00:18:19Turn it under.
00:18:20Keep it under.
00:18:21Keep it under.
00:18:22Keep it under.
00:18:23Wait, my eye.
00:18:23I got you.
00:18:24I got you.
00:18:25Keep it under.
00:18:27You watch Johnson out.
00:18:29Borupin's back is to us.
00:18:30Johnson's got his jab here.
00:18:31He throws it out.
00:18:32Borupin gets caught one, but then you watch his left hand.
00:18:34It comes over and watch him catch Johnson very cleanly as you roll the tape.
00:18:38It's a good straight left hand.
00:18:40He eats the jab, but then look at the left hand.
00:18:42Right over, and he catches Johnson very clean.
00:18:44He got his attention with that shot for sure.
00:18:46Johnson's won the first three rounds.
00:19:16It's easy.
00:19:20The judges are Valerie Dorsett from Alexandria, Virginia, Paul Herman from Miami, and Paul
00:19:25Weissel from Portland, Oregon.
00:19:28Third man in the ring, Marshall Cunningham from D-Coo.
00:19:34Wide right hook there by Borupin, which could be dangerous, opening himself up.
00:19:41Borupin obviously has a pretty good team.
00:19:43He's eating a lot of big shots from Johnson.
00:19:44He's going to, as the time goes on, he's going to get him put in the bank for Johnson.
00:19:48He's going to have to take a shot for the hangout.
00:19:50Oh.
00:19:51Oh, almost dropped him.
00:19:54Just went by the gate with that right in.
00:19:58Johnson with so much more world-class experience.
00:20:01Let's fly with a 50 right hook there.
00:20:03Very crisp off the face of Borupin.
00:20:06Johnson 8-0 in world title bounce.
00:20:08It's the first title fight for Borupin.
00:20:14You know, I've got to think something, Bobby.
00:20:16To think of a left-hander in any weight that's as effective as this guy, I mean, a jab, a right jabber.
00:20:22Oh, he really hurt for it for what a beautiful kind of left hand.
00:20:28Nice left hook by Johnson and Borupin.
00:20:30Stunned.
00:20:32But dangerous.
00:20:33But dangerous.
00:20:34Here he is where he wants to be.
00:20:35He can punch back.
00:20:38Johnson digging down to the body.
00:20:40And he goes back upstairs.
00:20:42Borupin's trying to hang on.
00:20:44Johnson's trying to measure for one or two big ones, but I'll tell you, this is a tough kid.
00:20:47He can't punch.
00:20:48Yeah, and he's at a place where he can punch.
00:20:50And watch the clock.
00:20:51There's a lot of time.
00:20:52Borupin needs to survive a minute ten.
00:20:55Borupin didn't look in such bad shape.
00:20:57I mean, he's letting fly some thunder.
00:21:00He had him where he wanted him, up against the ropes.
00:21:03Boy, he's a tough guy.
00:21:04There was a nice counter overhand left that started the problems for Borupin, and I wasn't sure why Johnson had his back to the rope.
00:21:10Didn't throw a couple more of them.
00:21:11Tough route for the fighter from Thailand, able to survive that thunder.
00:21:18Oh, what a beautiful combination of the body to the head.
00:21:22Double right by Mark Johnson and Borupin now with the answers to a left hook, and it's all Mark Johnson with a barrage.
00:21:34Oh, bouncing a right hook off the head is Johnson.
00:21:40Johnson like a buzzsaw.
00:21:43Smothering Borupin.
00:21:44A little trickle of blood from the right nostril of Johnson, but Borupin feeling the effects of this round here in round four.
00:22:04Big round for Johnson.
00:22:06Once again, Amy Rasna-Logan, our translator of the tie corner.
00:22:12Okay.
00:22:15His coach seems to be very supportive, and he seems to have a lot of confidence in him.
00:22:20They're not saying very much.
00:22:27Okay, he's telling him to breathe and take a deep breath.
00:22:29All right, let's take a look at where Borupin gets hurt here.
00:22:41Now, as they're setting up, look at this perfect shot.
00:22:45Now, look at the reaction on Borupin.
00:22:47His legs just go, and instead of going right to him, he gave him a breather.
00:22:51Bobby, take a look over here.
00:22:52We know it's a beautiful shot.
00:22:53It's a jab by Borupin.
00:22:54And he, over the top, comes Johnson with the left hand.
00:22:57Opposite, there's two orthodox fighters fighting with the right hand.
00:23:00Left is the big power hand.
00:23:02Borupin's been trying to hit him with that left hand all night, but he hasn't been quick enough to do it.
00:23:06I'm not sure how much that positive reinforcement is going to help Borupin as they enter into round five.
00:23:12But now they announce the scores to the house here at the MCI Center.
00:23:21And we'll let you know as soon as we do what the official judges' cards are.
00:23:28You heard the roar.
00:23:29Obviously, it's Mark Johnson all the way.
00:23:33The single most effective punch of the fight was a counter overhand left by Johnson that connected at the 119 mark of round four.
00:23:43Well, this is really not hard to score.
00:23:45I mean, a complete amateur could score this one.
00:23:52Even having said that, birdie, the scores are not all the same.
00:23:55Well, because one guy gave a 10-8 round in the last round.
00:23:58And you know what I did, too?
00:23:59He was dominating enough.
00:24:00He wobbled him enough.
00:24:00And he really, truly got it.
00:24:02He dominated.
00:24:02He dominated him for Cleveland.
00:24:10All right, let's see how Borupin rebounds.
00:24:12Oh, there's another right hand by Johnson that sends Borupin back.
00:24:16Borupin continues to struggle.
00:24:22But he's game, bouncing around, looking for his opening.
00:24:25Trying to unload that straight left.
00:24:30But to this stage, Johnson won't have any of it.
00:24:32But you got to comment after that kind of shellac and Borupin doesn't look any of the worst for wear.
00:24:39I mean, he's still standing there.
00:24:41He's still taking the shots.
00:24:42And he's punching hard himself, so he's a tough cookie, this guy.
00:24:46You know, and he was stopped in his career at one time, so you have to imagine who kind of punch where he took that down.
00:24:50Believe it or not.
00:24:51He's never been down in his career.
00:25:01After four, the official judges score cards.
00:25:04Johnson leading 40-36 on two cards, 40-35 on the other.
00:25:09Those are the judges score cards, but just a PS.
00:25:25They are not official until the fight is over.
00:25:27There's a left hook by Borupin out of nowhere that got the attention of Johnson.
00:25:32But Borupin's starting to take a couple more chances, and Johnson's feeling a little comfortable, if not cocky.
00:25:38Maybe let his guard down for a little bit.
00:25:40Again, getting hit with a good clean shot.
00:25:42Beautiful left hook there by Borupin.
00:25:45Two impressive punches.
00:25:47He hadn't landed anything like that up to now.
00:25:49As we said at the outset, Johnson has a tendency to leave himself open.
00:25:53He's got his hands way down.
00:25:54A little too cocky right now.
00:25:56He quit jamming also.
00:25:57I mean, he's got to keep jamming to keep this guy off.
00:26:00Combination by Borupin.
00:26:03Beautiful left-right combo.
00:26:05And Borupin able to bounce back here in the fifth round nicely towards the end.
00:26:09Here are the judges scoring as they are tabulated after four rounds.
00:26:21Although we have finished five, this is what it would look like.
00:26:24As you see, they don't name the judges.
00:26:27It's Judge A, B, and C as far as we are concerned.
00:26:30And as far as the fans here at the MCI Center, they don't see names attached, which is wrong, in my opinion.
00:26:38I concur.
00:26:40Well, yes, certainly, if you're going to make a judge accountable, don't give him a symbol or a letter.
00:26:43Give him a name, his name or her name.
00:26:45And you see the biggest disparity there, Judge C.
00:26:48Dave Johnson, a 10-8 round.
00:26:50I would go along with that, round four.
00:26:53Even though there was no knockdown.
00:26:56At the end of the fight, though, we will know the names of the judges.
00:27:00But not during.
00:27:06They touch gloves.
00:27:08They touch gloves to begin round six, not round 12.
00:27:12Good sportsmanship.
00:27:19Unless one of them thinks it is the last round.
00:27:22Yes.
00:27:23Isn't that the old Sugar Ray Robinson story?
00:27:24Yes.
00:27:25That's close.
00:27:25This is not the last round.
00:27:26It is for you.
00:27:27And it was what, the third?
00:27:31Yeah, the second, the third.
00:27:32So he knocked the guy out.
00:27:33See, with the styles laying out as they do, Warpin cannot win this fight going backwards.
00:27:52He has to be coming forward.
00:27:53He has to get his weight and his momentum forward.
00:27:55Johnson on the other hand to beat you to death going backwards.
00:27:58Warpin coming straight at you.
00:27:59But Warpin cannot win this fight.
00:28:00He's going backwards.
00:28:01Very rare a fighter can.
00:28:06Muhammad Ali was pretty good at it.
00:28:07Yeah, he was very good at it.
00:28:08Sugar Ray Robinson was very good at it.
00:28:10He wants Manuel Rodriguez to beat you to death going backwards.
00:28:13He didn't know.
00:28:14Straight left by Johnson.
00:28:15Snapped Warpin's head back.
00:28:16Again, Warpin walking into one.
00:28:23Boy, he's got to be careful.
00:28:24This is getting closer between the two as Johnson has quit jabbing as much as he did through the
00:28:29first four rounds.
00:28:30He's not just kind of looking and pecking.
00:28:33Big left hand by Johnson.
00:28:34And that's what he's looking for.
00:28:36He's getting close looking for payday.
00:28:38Right upside the head.
00:28:41Another one.
00:28:42Partially blocked.
00:28:43Boy, he's just teeing off with that left.
00:28:46Another smacking left.
00:28:50Yeah, that one's more of a slap though.
00:28:52More of an overhand slap to here.
00:28:54Not as effective as the past we've seen.
00:28:56He's thrown some really solid overhand lefts in the countering position.
00:28:59But that was more of a slap.
00:29:00It was a flatter punch.
00:29:04Countering right-left combination by Johnson to the head.
00:29:08Now working the jab, as you pointed out, Bert.
00:29:11Pretty, too.
00:29:12When he does that, he stops the other guy.
00:29:14He just stops.
00:29:15Keeps him at bay.
00:29:18And then it sets up the left.
00:29:25That time he led with the left, Johnson.
00:29:28But it didn't do anything.
00:29:29That one did.
00:29:31Hey, Voripin countered off it after eating a good left hand.
00:29:33Counted it pretty well.
00:29:34But, you know, one and two is not going to get it done against Johnson.
00:29:37He's got a fine four and five punch combination.
00:29:39Voripin's keeping that right a little too low.
00:29:45And he may pay for it.
00:29:51As per usual, Johnson, the aggressor, pressing the attack, moving forward.
00:29:57Dancing around.
00:29:58Final seconds of the sixth.
00:29:59I don't look like you're in the square.
00:30:14Listen up.
00:30:15Body shots.
00:30:16Three and four combinations.
00:30:18If you're all boxing, you've got to shut off.
00:30:20Just be patient.
00:30:22Don't get hit.
00:30:23Fake and move.
00:30:23When a man gets set, get up and get on out of there.
00:30:27Got that?
00:30:28Don't shut up there all night.
00:30:29You ain't no superstar.
00:30:30Move your hit.
00:30:31Side of something.
00:30:32So your combination moves.
00:30:33Don't set.
00:30:34Let him get back.
00:30:35Let's take a good look at the flurry by Johnson.
00:30:37How quickly he uses his hands.
00:30:40See the left hook now.
00:30:41Watch this.
00:30:41He comes back.
00:30:42He recharges and comes back in a flurry.
00:30:45His hand speed is something.
00:30:47Well, we can't.
00:30:47It didn't go far enough.
00:30:48Barbie, take it from there.
00:30:50You know, it's such a quick hand speed and good time here.
00:30:52He's times a straight jab, overhand left on a button, in and out.
00:30:57And as you said, as you spoke about, he comes back in and throws another three or four punches.
00:31:00But he's landing so cleanly and so sharply, it's very, very accurate.
00:31:05Mark's father, Ham Johnson, Abraham Johnson, really gives his son a reality check, saying in his face,
00:31:11you're no superstar.
00:31:13Yet.
00:31:15Well, he keeps him grounded.
00:31:17Yeah.
00:31:17But he's totally totally.
00:31:18You're pitching the shutout.
00:31:19He is.
00:31:20He's definitely pitching one.
00:31:21So, I know he's playing like a superstar for me, guys.
00:31:24Oh, yeah.
00:31:25He's up there.
00:31:26I don't know.
00:31:26You can get much better than this.
00:31:27He's just delightful to watch.
00:31:30We're halfway through this bout for the vacant title.
00:31:34I know when they coined the phrase poetry in motion, they might have had this on the brain.
00:31:38Still a lot of bounce in Voropin's legs, but he's been staggered a number of times thus far.
00:31:43Johnson bounces, punches off the head of Voropin's.
00:31:49Johnson again going to the right jab.
00:31:58Again, he knows the score right now, so he's playing a little keep away.
00:32:05Another thing you have to comment on is the excellent conditioning of Johnson.
00:32:10It looks like he can do this for turning around.
00:32:12He doesn't look like he's any bit weary.
00:32:15I mean, he just keeps right on going.
00:32:17Excellent conditioning.
00:32:17And that's a good point, because he's been inactive 209 days.
00:32:21He thought he might be rusty, but he's not.
00:32:24I should be that rusty any day.
00:32:26Boy.
00:32:26Well, he's not named too sharp for nothing.
00:32:33Halfway through round seven.
00:32:37All Mark Johnson, rated number one, former flyweight champion.
00:32:42Moving up the fight at 115.
00:32:44He'd love to move up even more after three or four title defenses.
00:32:49Should he win tonight and get the big names like Tim Austin and Johnny Tapia?
00:32:52Oh, him and Tim Austin.
00:32:54I've dreaded it.
00:32:54I've never thought of that.
00:32:55What a night that would be.
00:32:57I'll tell you, he was happier too.
00:32:58There's a different fight.
00:33:00Oh, I don't know.
00:33:01Oh, man.
00:33:02I don't think that Tapia could stay in this.
00:33:04Impressive matchup.
00:33:06Impressive beyond.
00:33:08I mean, that's the kind of stuff you dream about.
00:33:12Elusive defense by Johnson.
00:33:14Johnson able to get away from those left hands.
00:33:21He's toying with Voripin a bit.
00:33:24See, Voripin's got to the point now where he's almost intimidated to fire because every time
00:33:28he fires, he misses and he gets hammered back for two or three shots.
00:33:33Voripin's never seen quickness in cat-like moves like this.
00:33:36Johnson at times working out of a deep cloud.
00:33:39Too sharp.
00:33:41The chance of the cloud.
00:33:52Every once in a while, Johnson walks into one.
00:33:54Gets careless.
00:33:56But he's been controlling 99% of the fight.
00:34:00You know, see, at this type of pace, he won't get tired because Voripin never presses when
00:34:04he's done.
00:34:04Never.
00:34:05Let's go over to Andrea Joyce.
00:34:11Andrea?
00:34:12All right.
00:34:13Thanks, Steve.
00:34:14I'm with heavyweight contender Shannon Briggs.
00:34:16Shannon, there's a whole lot of talk these days about Mike Tyson and who he might fight
00:34:19once he gets out of prison.
00:34:21Your name keeps popping up as a possibility.
00:34:23What do you think about that?
00:34:24I think it's great.
00:34:25I'm looking forward to it.
00:34:26I mean, it's a dream come true for me.
00:34:28I've been wanting to fight Mike since the day I put on the gloves.
00:34:30So it'll be a great thing.
00:34:31Over the last year, your critics say you've developed a bit of a reputation, avoiding
00:34:35fights or pulling out of fights.
00:34:36What do you need to do now in your career to shake that?
00:34:39Well, I fought two of the heaviest hitters in boxing, George Foreman and Lennox Lewis
00:34:43back-to-back.
00:34:44So I've never ducked anyone.
00:34:46I just think that timing and, you know, some false rumors.
00:34:49But I feel great about it.
00:34:50I'm looking forward to the Tyson fight.
00:34:51Hopefully, he'll come out and we will fight.
00:34:53What would a fight against Tyson do for you in terms of your career, helping you to get
00:34:56back on track?
00:34:57It would definitely take me to the next level.
00:34:59I don't need to fight guys lower level.
00:35:01I need a guy like Mike Tyson definitely to be motivated.
00:35:04And it's something I'm looking forward to.
00:35:05And this would be huge for Brooklyn, right?
00:35:07You guys grew up just a couple blocks away from each other?
00:35:09Hey, well, we'd go for some guy.
00:35:10I got from Browns and he's from Browns.
00:35:11It would be great.
00:35:12All right.
00:35:13Thanks so much.
00:35:13Best of luck.
00:35:14Back to you, Steve.
00:35:15Shannon Briggs doing a little campaigning as we enter into round eight for the
00:35:19Lincoln IVF Junior Bantamweight belt.
00:35:25Mark Johnson of the Black Trunks with a ton of chive or a pin in the white with the
00:35:31red and blue trim.
00:35:41Combinations to the head by Johnson.
00:35:44Johnson's the type of fighter, too.
00:35:45His hands are so fast, he can't try and slip two or three of his shots.
00:35:49He's just not going to do it.
00:35:50The hand's quicker than the eye, certainly quicker than the whole body and head.
00:35:53He's got to stuff his shots, block his shots, fire back hard, and hopefully catch Johnson.
00:35:57Otherwise, he's in for an even longer night than I expected.
00:35:59And that Fleurier left cross got through.
00:36:05That was the best punch.
00:36:14Johnson's right eye swelling a little bit.
00:36:17One of those overhand lefts might have got through.
00:36:19Johnson, 36 and 1.
00:36:24His only defeat was his second fight back in 1990 on St. Patrick's Day in Belfast, Ireland.
00:36:32Do you think he had a shot?
00:36:33Maybe he had a shot before the fight.
00:36:35Unbelievable.
00:36:37In Ireland, you drink day and night.
00:36:40Oh, that was a nice and easy punch.
00:36:43Johnson's just peppering him.
00:36:44It's almost as if there's only one fighter in the ring, the other guy's a spectator.
00:36:48He's just watching the punches come in.
00:36:53Johnson just rocking with confidence.
00:36:56He's taking the danger out of the fight.
00:36:59And also some terrific defense by Johnson, guarding those left hooks with his arm.
00:37:05He's got excellent footwork.
00:37:06He's got great head moves.
00:37:07He steps around where he has two goals.
00:37:09He punches, fires back, always on balance.
00:37:11He's pretty to watch.
00:37:12Mark Johnson simply overmatching the fighter from Thailand with Tana Chai Boropan in his
00:37:20first world title shot.
00:37:22Came in with 18 straight wins, 14 by knockout.
00:37:28I learned a long time ago, Steve, there's no such thing as too much love or too much money,
00:37:32but there is evidently a too sharp Johnson.
00:37:35Indeed.
00:37:35Oh, very good.
00:37:36Well put.
00:37:37Very good, buddy.
00:37:39Too much for good.
00:37:40I had that today.
00:37:42Beautiful jab by Johnson.
00:37:54Three, four in a row getting through.
00:38:00Artistic like, surgical like.
00:38:02Boropan just doesn't have a clue.
00:38:10You're boxing beautiful.
00:38:12You're nice and patient.
00:38:13Throw the little brick.
00:38:15A little net every now and then.
00:38:16Really deep.
00:38:17And when you walk away, let's get that body every now and then.
00:38:20The boy's going to get desperate now.
00:38:23He's going to start throwing bricks and everything at you.
00:38:25In order for you to get away, you're here, you've got to be doing.
00:38:27You're beautiful, making him set up again.
00:38:29But you've got to keep him off you with threes and fours.
00:38:31Keep boxing.
00:38:32Keep boxing, great.
00:38:34Right, okay.
00:38:35Keep boxing.
00:38:36Amy Rasmussen, our translator, again.
00:38:38Overhand.
00:38:40Use the overhand counter.
00:38:43Overhand counter.
00:38:44Overhand.
00:38:45Job, overhand.
00:38:46Okay.
00:38:47I'm back.
00:38:49I'm back.
00:38:50I'm back.
00:38:50I'm back.
00:38:51Coach, he's telling him something.
00:38:53I'm fine.
00:38:54I'm fine.
00:38:56I heard somebody say use the overhand counter in English.
00:39:00Oh, wow.
00:39:02I suppose he's been able to go along the road.
00:39:08Round nine.
00:39:14Perhaps he just wasn't getting the point in his native tie.
00:39:18I think he was getting the point from Johnson and sign it in hand language.
00:39:22He'll try anything in that corner right now.
00:39:24Yeah, any language.
00:39:24Switching languages is a new form of desperation.
00:39:27Unbelievable.
00:39:27What I'm not familiar with.
00:39:29You can tell him.
00:39:29All right.
00:39:33As you heard in the background after round eight here in the IBF, once again, Jimmy Lennon,
00:39:37Jr., announcing the scores like we need to hear them at this point.
00:39:42That's the irony of this fight, huh?
00:39:45We know he's way out.
00:39:45The needlessness of it.
00:39:47Absolute irrelevance of it.
00:39:49And it takes a little time to tabulate the scorecards, and we'll get them to you.
00:39:57We'll show it to you around by round.
00:39:59Through eight.
00:40:00For those of you who are studying in county.
00:40:05Well, you don't have to be a mathematician to figure this one out.
00:40:08That's for sure.
00:40:08No.
00:40:08You leave the calculators at home.
00:40:19Mark Johnson going for his second world title.
00:40:22That said, excuse me, that said, let me say, this is not a bad fighter.
00:40:29This guy is not a bad fighter.
00:40:30He's just in over his head with a superior fighter.
00:40:33Him with almost anybody else, I'd give him a good shot.
00:40:35He is not a bad fighter.
00:40:38Now, he's on that second plateau.
00:40:39Yeah, he's right under, but this is superior fighter.
00:40:42This is a superior fighter.
00:40:44Johnson's way superior.
00:40:45He's showing heart.
00:40:46He's showing courage.
00:40:47He's taking a lot of punishment here.
00:40:49We're talking about the Thai fighter and the white trunks, and he's hanging tough, but he has no answer.
00:40:55And obviously, he can bang, but he just can't get close enough to bang this guy.
00:40:59And every time he drives, four or five punches come raining down on him.
00:41:03And we're talking about one of the best fighters in the world.
00:41:05He's going up against here.
00:41:06Mark Johnson, a southpaw who is super fast.
00:41:10Like that.
00:41:11And you know what I like about him?
00:41:12His patience.
00:41:13His patience.
00:41:13He's not that crazy to knock this guy out.
00:41:15He'll work the whole 12.
00:41:16Does this make any difference to him?
00:41:18I mean, I like that.
00:41:20Whoa.
00:41:20He got hit and went up against the ropes at Johnson.
00:41:22As I said, every once in a while, he gets a little reckless.
00:41:27And you heard Ham Johnson, his father in the corner, say, you're boxing beautifully.
00:41:33But every once in a while, let's see a brick.
00:41:37Let's drop a brick off.
00:41:38Yep.
00:41:40Because you know this guy, Borovil, is going to come out with bombs.
00:41:46Because he's way behind, needs a knockout to win.
00:41:49If I was Borovil, I'd go against the ropes.
00:41:51I'd let the guy come in because he, against the ropes, he gets down and punches off the ropes.
00:41:56But, you know, he doesn't.
00:41:58Once he gets on the ropes, then he walks away from it.
00:42:00Let the guy come in.
00:42:01Maybe you can exchange with him.
00:42:02Maybe you can catch him.
00:42:03You can't catch him here in the middle of the round.
00:42:04And they're in no way.
00:42:06And with the open scoring, Borovil knows it.
00:42:10And he's got to knock him out.
00:42:12We're here at the MCI Center in Washington.
00:42:16We'll take a look at the scoring through eight round by round on the judges' cards.
00:42:26You know what?
00:42:27Here you go.
00:42:27Look at it.
00:42:28This guy right here, Judge C, has a ten round for Borovil.
00:42:32And it was the fifth round.
00:42:33The only round I thought was even close enough to even consider that Borovil might have had a draw.
00:42:38That was the round where he talked about.
00:42:39Johnson stopped jabbing.
00:42:40He was getting hit with a few shots.
00:42:41But he actually gave the round to Borovil.
00:42:45And we don't know if that's Valerie Dorsett, Paul Herman, or Paul Whitesell.
00:42:50Come on, give me a little hand in this back.
00:42:51Drag him over here.
00:42:52Come on, baby.
00:42:53We're going.
00:42:53We're two more.
00:42:54Three more rounds.
00:42:55Three more.
00:42:56Two more rounds away from the World Championship.
00:43:08We hit double figures round ten.
00:43:11Johnson, who looks like a choir boy, very personable, doesn't fight like one.
00:43:15Both fighters coming in on a roll.
00:43:30Johnson hasn't lost since 1990.
00:43:33Borovil has won 18 in a row.
00:43:35Let's fight a roll.
00:43:36Yes.
00:43:36A roll with butter.
00:43:38Except for a second pro fight his entire crew.
00:43:42A little dirty.
00:43:44A little dirty on the part.
00:43:45I think that's just desperation.
00:43:47Borovil has been punching while being held.
00:43:50I think that's a little desperation.
00:43:51It's been the exception to the rule, a very clean fight otherwise.
00:43:55Marshall Cunningham, the ref, has not had to do any work to speak of.
00:44:00And while we're on the subject, what a wonderful thing to have a little tiny referee with little
00:44:04tiny fighters.
00:44:04I mean, it does.
00:44:06It makes a fight compatible.
00:44:08Otherwise, you put a great big guy on with two little guys, it ruins the fight.
00:44:12It ruins it.
00:44:13This looks like it could be anything.
00:44:16It could be welterweight, middleweight.
00:44:17It could be anything.
00:44:18Johnson's doing a lot more holding now that he knows what's in the bank and his savings
00:44:24is there.
00:44:25Not working as hard, not putting himself in jeopardy.
00:44:28Nice right hook there by Mark Johnson to the side of Boropin's head.
00:44:35He's getting a little testy right now.
00:44:36And as you pointed out, it is desperation by Boropin.
00:44:39I wonder what Johnson's thinking about this to clinch him.
00:44:42That's the only way he can get hit in close and he can get buttered.
00:44:46I mean, why would he be in close when he can be working outside and not get in touch?
00:44:52And Johnson is getting hit.
00:44:55Let this guy get framed.
00:44:57That's the cleanest that Boropin has landed.
00:45:00And that started with that wrestling inside and getting hit inside real hard.
00:45:04Even without the open scoring, Johnson knows he would be way ahead.
00:45:08He's got to be more careful, but he unloads the left hand there, that staggered Boropin.
00:45:13But it's not a smart strategy here by Johnson, don't you think?
00:45:19No, because Boropin is still throwing bombs.
00:45:22As hurt as he is, he throws hard.
00:45:24That guy can punch.
00:45:25Look at that.
00:45:26If he got hit with that left hand, it would have been the end of this story.
00:45:29Right hand.
00:45:30Playing into a punch's game.
00:45:32Don't put your head in his wheelhouse and give him a shot.
00:45:36He's taking something to work all night long, quitting place.
00:45:39Keep in mind, Boropin's got that big, straight left hand.
00:45:43He's looking to unload it.
00:45:44I don't know if there's much steam left behind it, but we'll see.
00:45:47Well, he landed it twice, and Boropin's still standing.
00:45:50So, boy, what a tough kid.
00:45:55Well, he let Boropin back in the fight for nothing.
00:45:58Well, Johnson gets the crowd behind him, but I'm not sure about the strategy.
00:46:19The thought processes.
00:46:20Let's get that news.
00:46:21Let's get that news.
00:46:22We're almost there, baby.
00:46:26Two more to go.
00:46:26We got our new belt.
00:46:29Give me a good record.
00:46:32All right, let's take a look at when he spun him around and hit him again,
00:46:34which is what started this whole series of dirty little events.
00:46:39And then, look at how he spun him around and hits him back again.
00:46:42By this time, Johnson was really mad.
00:46:44This time, Johnson's looking to fight.
00:46:45He forgot about boxing, and that might have cost him this round.
00:46:48Well, I'll tell you what, you know, it was just frustration here for Boropin, just swinging
00:47:00for the rafters.
00:47:02That one punch, which has been a part of his arsenal all his life, but he's never fought
00:47:18with Mark Johnson before, who's so fast and elusive, he just can't seem to catch him.
00:47:24Johnson, who won his first title in Anaheim, California, the flyweight belt, so ecstatic
00:47:28that he has an opportunity to win a second belt here in his hometown of Washington, D.C.
00:47:33And he's posing in on it.
00:47:36If he stays careful.
00:47:39Well, this is the first time he did what he said in the interview he might do, which
00:47:44was to lose his head and go toe-to-toe once he gets hit.
00:47:46And he did that for no reason, because he's in total control of this fight from outside.
00:47:50He's no need to get inside where you can bang heads.
00:47:55He's come out here with a little more seriousness to the attack.
00:47:58He's boxing smart, but he's dumping in the big right hook, double and triple.
00:48:02That one went south.
00:48:04Yeah, and Borupin is shaken up south of the border.
00:48:09He'll have...
00:48:10Oh, it's going to be ruled a knockdown, and Borupin protesting, saying he was hit below
00:48:16the belt.
00:48:17Now, he continues.
00:48:19I thought he should get five minutes to recover.
00:48:21Low blow.
00:48:22It was a low blow.
00:48:23And that's a one-point, I don't know, in a championship fight, off of the first...
00:48:29No, he just took a point away on a first warning.
00:48:33That's really rare in a championship fight.
00:48:36That's the first time he's been hit?
00:48:38Yeah, well, he can afford one point.
00:48:39That was a very strange sequence.
00:48:47It certainly was.
00:48:47He did because you're not supposed to keep counting.
00:48:49He counted up.
00:48:50He counted as if it were a knockdown.
00:48:52And then he walks over until the second one point each.
00:48:55I mean, I don't...
00:48:56And then on top of that, he doesn't give him the three to five minutes he's supposed to
00:48:58get the rest.
00:48:59Yeah, that was Marshall Cunningham not setting it straight there.
00:49:04I think he got confused himself.
00:49:06Very unclear.
00:49:08I think this fight is going along so smoothly and so easily that he just wasn't sharp enough.
00:49:14He just was not sharp.
00:49:15That was obviously a punch below the belt by Mark Johnson.
00:49:19Therefore, Borupin should have gotten five minutes to recover.
00:49:22Then, if he can't recover, he's through.
00:49:25And it should have been a warning not to take the point away for the first time in the
00:49:28championship fight.
00:49:29Warning.
00:49:30Next time you do it, you lose the point.
00:49:35So that was very cloudy.
00:49:39Well, fortunately...
00:49:40Obviously, it's academic.
00:49:41Yeah, fortunately, it doesn't make it...
00:49:43But still, let's get it right.
00:49:44Let's get the rules right here, folks.
00:49:49I agree.
00:49:50Step back.
00:49:51Go.
00:49:52Oh, Johnston, be careful.
00:49:56He's turning his back on the board.
00:49:58It's fair game.
00:49:59Let's go.
00:50:00It's a little too casual.
00:50:03That's a little too showboating.
00:50:05He's getting caught.
00:50:06That's too showboating for me.
00:50:08Don't need that.
00:50:14Last round.
00:50:17This is it, Jordan.
00:50:19We're going to bring it on in.
00:50:20Don't let the man catch it.
00:50:21He is really desperate.
00:50:24We don't want it.
00:50:25All we need to do now, stay away, don't get kicked.
00:50:29The man is now coming after me.
00:50:33Coming after you with that, baby.
00:50:35All right, come on, take a good rest.
00:50:37You ain't got nothing to do.
00:50:38Take care of yourself.
00:50:39You ain't got to run.
00:50:40Give me my down.
00:50:41Give me my down.
00:50:41All right, let's take a look at this low blow now.
00:50:44It's the right hand, I believe, that lands on the lower corner.
00:50:48There.
00:50:49Now, that didn't look even like much of a low blow.
00:50:51It was right at the belt, a little bit below the belt line, I believe, or not for that much,
00:50:55but this guy's really doing his act.
00:50:57That was like a grazing punch.
00:50:58Yeah, it didn't look like a dig-in punch.
00:51:01Here's the 12th and final round as they touch gloves again.
00:51:10Johnson had one point deducted for the low blow, but other than that incident,
00:51:14it's been a fairly clean championship bout.
00:51:16This is for the vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight Touch.
00:51:19A small glitch in a one-way battle.
00:51:22Yeah, it was marginally.
00:51:25Johnson has just about set the pace for each round by throwing punches right from the belt.
00:51:29He establishes contact early.
00:51:34Well, Bourbon obviously has nothing to lose here.
00:51:37He just has to let it hang out and swing for the rafting.
00:51:39Well, Hope when he catches home.
00:51:41Open scoring or not, he knows the score.
00:51:44He's got to knock Johnson out.
00:51:46Yeah, nobody needs to look at the score to tell him he's so far behind.
00:51:49He has to knock him out.
00:51:51And that's what he's trying to do.
00:51:55He's digging in.
00:51:56My break, step back, step back.
00:51:58Let him out, dude.
00:51:59And here, see, if I were in Johnson's corner, I wouldn't tell him to stop fighting and run around.
00:52:03I'd tell him, do what you're doing.
00:52:04Just keep jabbing and keeping him off.
00:52:06Don't let him start punching.
00:52:07And once you start just running around, the guy gets brave, and then he does start punching, and then where it's from.
00:52:12Johnson told us yesterday he wanted to make this a great fight since it's a homecoming for him.
00:52:16It's for a title.
00:52:18But he should be careless at the same time.
00:52:21He's already made it a very good fight.
00:52:23He's shown what he's made of.
00:52:25He's a terrific fighter in so many facets.
00:52:28Oh, look out!
00:52:29A right hand of the temple by Borofin.
00:52:31He got hit with a good right hook, Steve.
00:52:32He's okay, but he got hit with a clean right hook.
00:52:34And that's what we're talking about when we say he can't stop fighting.
00:52:37He must fight or else this guy will come over him.
00:52:39Hey, you can lose this in the last round.
00:52:41Stay away, too sharp.
00:52:45Let's go.
00:52:45Too sharp's got a pop-up jab, and he's got to fight just like he was fighting before.
00:52:49He can't change it.
00:52:50Can't let this guy keep leading.
00:52:52Come on, look back, man.
00:52:53Look back.
00:52:54Boy, this is an intriguing game plan by Mark Johnson.
00:52:59He's losing the last round for what that's worth.
00:53:01Well, what it is is the guy that's so far ahead in his cards up.
00:53:04Don't lose this.
00:53:05Take it easy.
00:53:06And he's taking it easy.
00:53:07He's wasting away the time.
00:53:08He's clenching.
00:53:09How many clenches have you seen this fight?
00:53:10Hardly any.
00:53:11We've already had three or four in this round.
00:53:13I mean, look at him.
00:53:14He's just trying to get past the time of day.
00:53:16He's perhaps going out of his way to try to please, to try to entertain.
00:53:20Oh, a punch right as they were trying to break by Voropin.
00:53:24Not nice, but not effective.
00:53:30Here's the part in your life as a basketball guy where they take the 20-minute second timeout.
00:53:36Unfortunately, though, in boxing, you can't call a T.O.
00:53:39and go to the bench and talk it over.
00:53:47Well, Mark Johnson is proving that he is one of the top overall pound-for-pound fighters
00:53:54in the world with the skills that he has displayed here tonight.
00:53:56No question.
00:53:57No question about that.
00:53:58Brown Volk, he is already against celebrating the championship before the belt.
00:54:04And we'd love to see him fight, guys, like Austin and Tapia someday soon.
00:54:09Love to see it, Steve.
00:54:10I think any one of those two fights, terrific fights.
00:54:12Are gigantic fights.
00:54:13Not just terrific, they're gigantic fights.
00:54:15They would be so good for the public, so good for boxing.
00:54:19Two good boxing.
00:54:20That's what we need.
00:54:21The best for the best.
00:54:22The public judges who's the champion.
00:54:24Not the WBC, the WBA, and the IBM.
00:54:27It's the people who judge who is the champion.
00:54:29Mark Johnson just moments away from having the second belt around his waist.
00:54:33And he's already asking, where's my new belt?
00:54:42It's on its way.
00:54:45As he's hoisted to the air.
00:54:47Meanwhile, a very gutsy game.
00:54:52The Tanachi Vorapin from Thailand went the distance with one of the best.
00:54:58But didn't have enough to match the skill level of this young man.
00:55:10Mark Johnson closing in on his second world title.
00:55:15Former IBF Flyway champ looking to up his record to 37-1.
00:55:22And making the hometown fans very happy.
00:55:24Well, let's take a look at what happens when you try to play a little bit too safe.
00:55:29You start to move around also, and the other guy gets sprayed.
00:55:32Watch this shot.
00:55:33Bang.
00:55:33Right on there.
00:55:34They could have carried him away.
00:55:35And that would have been too, too bad.
00:55:37One round just about.
00:55:45...who hasn't been running since 1990.
00:55:50Excellent.
00:55:51...who hasn't been running since 1990.
00:55:54...who doesn't have to shake all the fans here.
00:56:02And having a discussion with the...
00:56:04...the hockey talk.
00:56:12...who hasn't been running since 1990.
00:56:14Discussing the open scoring.
00:56:16Don't tell him, don't sweat the small stuff.
00:56:19Yeah, don't, don't.
00:56:20Nobody's talking.
00:56:22He says it takes away from the fan.
00:56:24you know in our interview he says you know it takes away from the fans if you know i'm ahead
00:56:29then then you know i'm going to fight safe everything the fans are losing that if they
00:56:34didn't know that they said maybe this guy's close maybe this is a close fight it would have been a
00:56:37different enjoyable fight in this case i didn't think it applied so much because he was so superior
00:56:43it's interesting though he told us as a boxer if you know you're ahead late in the fight you can
00:56:49coast in the later rounds but that's not something he did that was interesting he kind of got there
00:56:54and drawled with the guy which is a little dangerous i'll tell you what i think that the fighters and
00:56:59corners probably should know but for the crowd the expectation the whole entire ambiance of the fight
00:57:05game maybe they should know the people at home should know but i think clearly a fighter deserves to know
00:57:09if the work he's doing counts because anybody that might have thought this was close to get a job
00:57:14let's go to jimmy ladies and gentlemen after 12 rounds of boxing we have a unanimous decision here
00:57:25the score totals our judge at ringside a valerie dorsett scores about 118 to 109 judge b paul herman
00:57:35scores about 117 to 110 judge c paul weitzel sees about 116 to 110 all three in favor of the winner of the ibf
00:57:46junior bantamweight title and he is now a two-time world champion mark two sharp johnson
00:57:55well there you have it the question now who's next he said he wanted to defend this title three or four
00:58:08times then perhaps go up to 118 standing by is andrea joy all right thanks guys mark congratulations
00:58:15you had rated voripin as one of the best was this the fight you expected from him
00:58:20well first of all i'd like to thank my lord and savior jesus christ yes this was the fight we
00:58:24expected from him a good strong southpaw it kept coming um and you know like i said um the open
00:58:29scoring was gonna hurt the crowd once i knew i was up eight rounds why should i go out there and try
00:58:34to win or knock him out but it looks like it might have affected you toward the end i mean you had said
00:58:38that you would probably back off and play it safe but it looked like it got a little sloppy and a little
00:58:42reckless at the end well um once you know you're winning you kind of get a little sloppy but but the main
00:58:47thing is that once i was up eight rounds i had fun i'd do what i had to do to keep the victory
00:58:51i held on and did things that if the open storm wasn't here i would have went out and fought more
00:58:55but um i'm i'm i'm ready to go out 115 already johnny toppy stop running let's do it you can meet me
00:59:02at 116 and a half or we can come up to 118 stop running just the belt you gave up all right mark
00:59:08congratulations best of luck back to you guys all right andrea thanks here's a look at the
00:59:13the scorecards with the names we're allowed to give you the judges names at the end of the fight
00:59:19dorsett had a 118 109 herman 117 110 and weitzer 116 110 it was mark johnson all the way who improves
00:59:29to 37 and 1 he's now a two-time world champion mark johnson now the idf junior bantamweight champion
00:59:39of the world now the idf junior bantamweight champion of the world congratulations and we are
00:59:47back live here at an empty mci center in downtown washington dc crowd of 11 437 filing out on an
00:59:56exciting night of boxing a world championship triple header and uh one of the keys to this
01:00:01night was an experiment they called it open scoring we're going to just get some final comments from
01:00:07the fight doctor and bobby chez judge ferty your final verdict on open score i'm totally against
01:00:13that i think it robs the sport of the wonderful drama of knowing who uh... have won the fight at
01:00:18the very end of getting that little announcement where the classy jimmy lennon says and the winner
01:00:22is when all of america stops to watch that that's gone now and i don't think any of the boxers listened
01:00:28to care about or heard what the uh... what the uh... uh... scores were about in the 1980s we tried it in uh...
01:00:37in nbc for a whole year and when we ended up we found out the boxes didn't want it the managers
01:00:42didn't want it the reverie didn't want it and the public didn't want it and freddie pacheco still
01:00:47doesn't want it and if they they really want to make a statement they have to attach the
01:00:51judges names next to the score during the fight absolutely but i mean i don't want to know till
01:00:56the end who wins the fight that's all fun of the thing when this is a game this is two people fighting
01:01:01i want to know at the end who won but i want it to be a hitchcockian drama i don't want it to be
01:01:06a foregone conclusion well let's turn over here to bobby chez you recently retired as a whole do you
01:01:12think boxers want to know the score while the fight is going on steve it's only logical that a fighter
01:01:17would want to know if his good work is being counted and if he's winning and what he has to do to win if
01:01:21he's not winning as with his corner maybe in his present form it's bad it takes away from the ambiance but
01:01:26johnson clearly knew he was way ahead and did some things especially late to just not bother
01:01:31fighting or getting himself in harm's way also we saw in a fight earlier i mean with charme mitchell
01:01:36that charme mitchell he knew he had to just stay on his feet because he was two points up on the
01:01:41scorecards and conversely his opponent knew that he needed at least a knockdown to bring it to a draw
01:01:46it's nice to know what you need it's the only sport we don't know if you're ahead or you're behind
01:01:49any fighter or fight corner would logically want to know what is necessary what does he need to do to win
01:01:55stay ahead or come from behind to do so at the same time in its present form i think it's bad for
01:01:59the sport and the ambiance of the sport all right it's late here on the east coast we better get out
01:02:04of here before they start laying down the ice for the 99 2000 season for the washington caps let's take
01:02:09a look at a final recap of the results from the mci center right here in washington dc well local favorite
01:02:17mark johnson was too sharp for thailand's ratana chai borapin to capture his second world title
01:02:23a disputed finish but it is sweet revenge for local product keith holmes as he puts the belt
01:02:28back in the united states holmes taking the rematch from frenchman hasin sharifi and regains the wbc
01:02:33middleweight championship and finally shambay mitchell wins the backyard rivalry over reggie green but it
01:02:40wasn't easy it's his second title defense right now shambay it is time to unify the title
01:02:46and that'll do it for another edition of showtime championship boxing hope you enjoyed it we'll see
01:02:53you again may 15th for the fight doctor ferdy pacheco bobby chez and rea joyce our entire crew
01:02:59steve albert saying so long from washington dc
01:03:16so
01:03:20so
01:03:24so
Be the first to comment