- 22 hours ago
Julian Jackson defends the WBC Middleweight Title against undefeated No. 1 contender Gerald McCllelan on Showtime Boxing Pay Per View.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00The President of the United States
00:30June 9, 1978.
00:49Heavyweight history was made.
00:52For when champion Ken Norton met number one mandatory challenger Larry Holmes,
00:58he became the first heavyweight to defend the WBC title without winning it in the ring.
01:09Now, 15 years later, history repeats itself.
01:15For when champion Lennox Lewis meets mandatory challenger Tony Tucker for the WBC title vacated by Riddick Bowe,
01:22he'll become only the second heavyweight in WBC history to defend the title he never won in the ring.
01:30Like the battle 15 years ago, will it be a nonstop brawl from opening to closing bell?
01:41Or will these two genuine heavyweights, with their big punching power, end this one early?
01:54Tonight, these questions will be answered live from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
02:02King Vision and Showtime Event Television, in association with the Mirage,
02:06present Britain's Lennox Lewis vs. America's Tony Tucker in the WBC World Heavyweight Championship.
02:12Welcome to the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
02:20With the World Heavyweight Championship no longer unified,
02:23boxing's most prestigious crown is being claimed by more than one fighter.
02:27Tonight, Lennox Lewis, the WBC heavyweight champion,
02:30makes his first title defense against number one contender Tony TNT Tucker.
02:35There is an air of anticipation because many are anxious to see if Lennox Lewis is true boxing royalty
02:40or merely the lucky recipient of a title he did not win in the ring.
02:46The other mystery surrounds the challenger, Tony TNT Tucker,
02:49a former IVF heavyweight title holder who has lost only once in 49 fights.
02:54That defeat was a decision loss to Mike Tyson.
02:56So for Tucker, is he as good as his record or are his championship days behind him?
03:02Hello, everybody. I'm Jim Hill, your host for tonight's event.
03:07The heavyweight championship of the world was last unified by Mike Tyson back in 1987.
03:12But his iron rule of the division came to a startling end
03:15when he was upset by Buster Douglas three years ago.
03:18Douglas lost the undisputed title in his first title defense against Evander Holyfield.
03:23Holyfield successfully defended the crown three times before losing by decision to Riddick Bowe.
03:28Bowe then refused to defend the crown against the number one WBC contender Lennox Lewis.
03:33Upon relinquishing the WBC belt, Bowe lost one-third of the heavyweight world title
03:38and Lewis was crowned the WBC champion.
03:41This is only the second time a heavyweight has become champion without winning the title in the ring.
03:46In 1978, Ken Norton was declared WBC heavyweight champion
03:50when undisputed title holder Leon Spinks chose to have a rematch with Muhammad Ali
03:54instead of fighting Norton, then the number one contender.
03:57And now that we've concluded the history lesson and brought everyone up to date,
04:01let's get more on tonight's heavyweight title fight from Steve Albert down at ringside.
04:05Steve.
04:06All right. Thank you, Jim.
04:07There is definitely international flavor surrounding tonight's heavyweight championship fight
04:11as Lennox Lewis of Great Britain defends the WBC version
04:14of the title against America's Tony Tucker.
04:17The British have waited a long time for a heavyweight champion nearly a century.
04:21Lennox Lewis, the first English-born heavyweight title holder since 1897
04:25when Bob Fitzsimmons stopped Gentleman Jim, James J. Corbett, in the 14th round.
04:30So it's easy to understand why Lennox Lewis is regarded as a national hero back in Great Britain.
04:34It's also easy to understand the anxiety and anticipation here tonight
04:38for Lennox Lewis is still somewhat of an unknown factor.
04:41You see, Lewis may be the champion, but this is his first world championship fight,
04:46while Tony Tucker, the challenger and underdog, has world champion experience,
04:50although recently he has not fought world-caliber fighters.
04:53But he does have the bigger record and an impressive number of knockouts,
04:57creating an atmosphere of mystery,
04:58entering the World Heavyweight Championship between two fighters,
05:01one from Great Britain and one from the United States.
05:05And while the English created the heavyweight division,
05:07going all the way back to the bare-knuckle days of the 1700s,
05:10it's been the Americans who've dominated boxing's most glamorous division more than any other.
05:15With that, let me bring in my partner, the fight doctor, Ferdy Pacheco.
05:18And Ferdy, Lewis looks to have the tools, but is he the man to break the U.S. dominance?
05:23Yeah, well, first of all, let me say, he's not quite an English heavyweight.
05:26He learned how to fight in Canada.
05:28He fought American style with American fighters.
05:30He won the gold medal for Canada.
05:32All of a sudden, he's an English heavyweight.
05:33But whatever they call him, he's going to be around for a long time.
05:37He has got to look good against Tony Tucker tonight to be accepted in the same realm as Riddick Bowe.
05:42But that's what we're here to find out.
05:44Well, one of Tony Tucker's favorite battle cries has been,
05:47I've got more knockouts than Lewis has fights.
05:50With that, we welcome WBA Cruiserweight Champion Bobby Chez.
05:53And, Bobby, is there some credence to that?
05:55What about the experience factor?
05:57Well, certainly it's the quality of the fighters as opposed to the quantity of wins that's going to really matter.
06:01However, experience is something you can't be taught.
06:03You have to learn it in the ring.
06:04It may play a small factor as the fight goes on in rounds.
06:06All right, Bobby, we have the arrival for you of the challenger, former IBF heavyweight champion, Tony Tucker.
06:13Now the number one challenger.
06:14All of the waiting has finally paid off for this young man.
06:17Tucker remaining active, staying sharp in high expectation of this particular night.
06:22Another shot at the time for Tony Tucker.
06:25This is his D-Day.
06:26So, one of the combatants in the main event is in the house making final preparations for the WBC Heavyweight Championship.
06:35And with that, time now to introduce the other member of our broadcast team.
06:39He'll be our roving reporter throughout the evening.
06:41So, let's go to Montel Williams.
06:44Look, I'm back here in the locker room area.
06:45And I'll tell you what, Tony Tucker just arrived.
06:47And when he arrived, Tony came in here with all business about the face.
06:51I'm telling you, he would not look from right to left.
06:53His eyes were focused.
06:54His eyes looked mean.
06:55And he was ready to go.
06:56And just a few seconds ago, right where you were still talking, Lennox Lewis arrived.
07:00Lennox shows up.
07:01The guy was calm.
07:02He's like he's here on a party.
07:04I stopped him, asked him one or two questions.
07:05He said, hey, I'm going to take this home to my mom for Mother's Day.
07:08So, Jim, I think they're in the house.
07:09They're ready to fight.
07:10Let's go back to Jim Hill.
07:12All right, Montel.
07:13Thank you very much.
07:14Coming up tonight, Fight Fans is a championship tripleheader featuring some proud champions and confident challengers.
07:20Our main event is the WBC Heavyweight Championship.
07:24Undefeated champion Lennox Lewis makes his first title defense against the top contender and former IBF champion Tony TNT Tucker.
07:31Julio Cesar Chavez will put his remarkable undefeated record of 86-0 on the line as he defends his WBC super lightweight crown against the number one contender and Terrence Ali.
07:42And the tripleheader coverage begins with a shootout in the middleweight division between two knockout artists.
07:47WBC champion Julian the Hawk Jackson defends his title against former WBO champion Gerald McClellan.
07:55We began our coverage tonight with the WBC Middleweight Championship.
07:59Jackson and McClellan have won over 90% of their victories by knockout.
08:03The champion Jackson has experience on his side while the 25-year-old challenger counters with youth.
08:07And because both of these fighters command such dangerous arsenals, this championship bout promises to be an all-out war.
08:22War is declared in the middleweight division.
08:25As Gerald McClellan is poised to do battle with WBC champion Julian Jackson.
08:31The armed forces don't have bombs as dangerous as these.
08:41In a rare show of brute force, Jackson continues to devastate all opposition on his road to total conquest.
08:50In a fight like this, let's bomb me away.
08:53In a brilliant counter move, McClellan has decided to unleash an aerial attack, the likes of which this reporter has never seen.
09:02This fight is different because Gerald McClellan is going to be there.
09:06He's a banger.
09:08I don't see no problem in this fight for me because I won't have to chase down my opponent.
09:13The target will be, you know, much stable.
09:15So my punches will land much more effectively.
09:20I don't see the fight in one more than three rounds.
09:23Dream will come out swinging, forcing the fight, pressing the fight.
09:28And then I'll be there to capitalize on his mistake.
09:31Whatever you do, don't go to the bathroom.
09:33This fight is going to be over quickly.
09:36This is going to be the shortest war in history.
09:39It's bombs away.
09:40So if Jackson and McClellan live up to their pre-fight boasts, this should be bombs away from the opening bell.
09:50The WBC Middleweight Championship is next.
09:53Let's go back to ringside once again.
09:54Steve Alvins, Steve.
09:56All right, thank you, Jim.
09:57Just for the record, this fight was originally scheduled for February 20th, but Jackson had to postpone because of an injured hand.
10:02He's also had to overcome eye problems in the past and at 32 age, beginning to creep up.
10:07With time running out on his career, he seems almost desperate to prove how good a fighter he is and be recognized as a boxing superstar.
10:15Don't you think, Bertie?
10:16Well, I've never seen a guy that's got this much talent with this great record that has such abysmal bad luck in life.
10:22He's got eye problems.
10:23He's got hand problems.
10:24He doesn't have anybody to come at his time to give him a huge fight except Terry Norris, who he took care of very easily and now is looking for the one match.
10:32This guy should have been a superstar, and he's been cheated out of it by life.
10:35Meanwhile, for McClellan, who has toiled for the most part in obscurity, a victory tonight could really put him on the map.
10:41Of course, because a victory over Julian Jackson signifies he's a puncher, he's here, he's arrived, and then big money is down the line.
10:47And I'm sure Terry Norris would rather fight him than fight the guy that knocked him out.
10:51So big potatoes down the line for him, and it's a big win if he can get by Julian Jackson.
10:55Big win.
10:55Both Jackson and McClellan have extremely high knockout ratios.
10:58And, Bobby, where do you see the biggest differences in the techniques of these two KO artists?
11:02Well, the biggest difference might be the incredible aggressiveness of Julian Jackson, blazing with both hands each and every round for the entire round for the entire fight.
11:10With Julian Jackson, it's nonstop.
11:12With McClellan, we have more of a jab, some side-to-side movement, but a sneaky, powerful overhand right.
11:16Those will be the two differences.
11:17All right, set to take a look at the challenger, former WBO middleweight.
11:22Cops.
11:23In 91.
11:25McClellan calls this the most important fight of his life, saying,
11:28I won't be denied.
11:30Absolutely.
11:32Here we go.
11:34Come over.
11:35Get back.
11:39Hey, you got to slow down, bro.
11:40On your back.
11:46Showtime.
11:48All right, Gerald.
11:49Let's go, baby.
11:54All right, Gerald.
11:56All right, Gerald, man.
11:57Let's go.
11:58All right, .
11:59We are going to lose weight.
12:01Let's go.
12:01Let's go.
12:08All right, Gerald.
12:12Yeah.
12:13All right.
12:17And we are going to lose weight.
12:20All right, we are going to lose weight.
12:23All right.
12:24All right, don't we?
12:26Gerald McClellan, who has won his last ten fights via knockout in the first three rounds,
12:39and claims that Julian Jackson was ducking him when he pulled out with the bad right hand in February.
12:45In fact, he was concerned that Jackson might pull out again just two weeks ago.
12:49And here is the WBC middleweight champion, Julian the Hawk Jackson,
12:54who has held the title since November of 1990.
12:57Tonight, the fifth defense for this knockout specialist from the U.S. Persian Islands.
13:01Jackson has stopped 43 of his 47 opponents for a staggering 92% knockout ratio.
13:0817 consecutive victories, 16 by knockout, overall 11 KOs in the first round.
13:16Here we go.
13:16Here we go, children.
13:18Music.
13:19Music.
13:24Music.
13:46Music.
13:48Music.
13:50Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
14:20Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
14:50Oh, oh, oh.
15:22Oh, oh.
15:24Oh, oh, oh.
15:26Oh, oh, oh.
15:29So here at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, closing it on the first of our boxing tripleheader, the WBC Middleweight Championship, Julian Jackson and Gerald McClellan set for the official introductions.
15:40Let's go up to our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon, Jr.
15:43Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening to you and welcome as the Mirage welcomes you to Las Vegas, Nevada.
15:53Don King Productions and King Vision in association with SET Pay-Per-View and the Mirage present a big night of action, the Star Spangled Glory.
16:06This bout coming your way is one of our featured events, the first of our three world title bouts as we present the WBC Middleweight Championship.
16:15This bout is sanctioned by the World Boxing Council, the President, Jose Suleiman, the Supervisor at Ringside, Eduardo Lamazon, along with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the Chairman, Dr. Elias Gunner.
16:28Now presenting the judges as appointed at Ringside, Dave Moretti, Terry Smith, and Tommy Tomihara.
16:39Now presenting the referee in charge of this bout, working in this, his 69th world title bout, Mills Lane.
16:47All right, guys, here we go with the long-awaited showdown for the WBC Middleweight Championship of the World, scheduled for 12 rounds of boxing.
17:00Introducing to you first the challenger on my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
17:05He is wearing gold trunks, fighting out of Freeport, Illinois, as he represents the world-famous crunk gym in Detroit.
17:14His weight, and even 160 pounds.
17:18His record, 27 wins, only two losses, with 25 big wins coming by way of knockout.
17:27Introducing the former WBO Middleweight Champion, tonight, the challenger known as the G-Man, Gerard McClendon.
17:37And his opponent across the ring.
17:44On my left, fighting out of the red corner, is one of the great knockout artists in boxing today.
17:50He enters the ring wearing white trunks with red and blue trim, hailing from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
17:58He weighed in at a ready 159 pounds.
18:02His outstanding record includes 46 wins, only one loss, and a tremendous 43 wins coming by way of knockout.
18:12He is the former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion, the current defending WBC Middleweight Champion of the World, Julian Rahuk-Jackson.
18:22Once again, here's your referee in charge, Mills Lane.
18:28All right, gentlemen, this is for the Championship of the World.
18:31We've gone through all the instructions one time.
18:34Expect a tough, clean fight.
18:37Protect yourself at all times.
18:38Any questions from the challenger?
18:40Any questions from the champion?
18:42Let's get it on.
18:43Let's get it on.
18:44Off the familiar words of referee Mills Lane, we are underway.
19:11Round 1, scheduled for 12 for the WBC Middleweight Championship.
19:16Williams' action of the white trunks with the red and blue trim, really opening himself up to criticism against Thomas Tate two fights ago, winning by tough decision.
19:25He showed some weaknesses.
19:27As a result, other fighters suddenly quite eager, getting in line to take a crack at the hook.
19:32Certainly not the case in the past.
19:34Well, I'll tell you, he is a tremendous puncher, which has always scared everybody.
19:37I mean, no one wants to fight anyone that's that dangerous, but two fighters, Thomas Tate, and his last fight against Eddie Hall, a relative unknown, had him in trouble more than once.
19:46Well, McClellan figures to give him trouble early.
19:48I mean, but Julian Jackson starts in a hurry, as you can see.
19:51There's a nice hook.
19:54There it is, a big right hand.
19:56McClellan's waiting with the jab and timing him on the way in.
19:58Something we spoke about earlier, using that jab.
20:01Bam, the right hand over the top.
20:03McClellan can bang, as we said.
20:04You've got to look for this guy early.
20:05Here he is over, and Jackson is dropped in the opening minute.
20:10He's going to be on the top of place.
20:14Really a catch-22 situation for Jackson.
20:17If he wins, people will say McClellan inexperienced, operated.
20:22If Jackson doesn't look good, and in fact loses, people might say he's lost him.
20:26He's not the same Jackson.
20:28The last exchange, Jackson ran.
20:30He ran into a good left hook.
20:32He himself, for just a minute there, was stumbling.
20:34Stumbling and staggered.
20:35That's the best thing that Jackson does, is come back from being hurt.
20:38He's hurt, but he comes back.
20:39When he comes back, he's got power.
20:41That's very strange.
20:42And it's caught McClellan off guard.
20:44He didn't expect that kind of balance.
20:46Going into tonight's triple header.
20:48Watchmakers gave McClellan the best chance to pull off an upset.
20:52Jackson only a 2-1 favorite.
20:54Pretty close odds in boxing.
20:56McClellan's taking chances with leading with the right hand,
20:59and just about taking every precaution and forgetting about it.
21:03Just going right for the bomb.
21:05You mentioned earlier, he didn't want to be reckless, and he came out very calm.
21:08But here he is.
21:09He is attacking Julian Jackson.
21:11And Jackson's spinning around.
21:15Jackson's getting nailed.
21:15But remember, he comes back.
21:19Gerald McClellan, called by his trainer and manager, Emanuel Stewart,
21:22the best all-around fighter he's ever had.
21:25In fact, one of the reasons heavyweight Michael Moore left Stewart
21:28was because he wanted to devote more time to his prized pupil in the gold trunks.
21:32That lead right hand is going to get him in trouble.
21:35Bobby, you can't throw that right hand without strength,
21:37and nothing to protect yourself after you've thrown it.
21:40He's done it several times now.
21:42And Jackson has a tremendous left-foot counter, as we well know.
21:45But I'll tell you, right now, McClellan, he's forcing the pace.
21:48He's making Jackson do some backing up and some covering up,
21:51something he's not accustomed to doing.
21:53Oh, he is having a terrific first round as McClellan.
21:57But Jackson's still here.
21:58He's weathered it, but McClellan has really put some fear into Jackson.
22:03Final seconds, round one.
22:04Terrific round for the challenger, McClellan.
22:16Good back room, man.
22:19Yeah, my guy.
22:21He's coming to the store, man.
22:23Come on, look at the time.
22:26Come on.
22:26Go to go.
22:29You okay?
22:32I'm okay.
22:33All right, here's that early surprise sneak attack that got Jackson in trouble.
22:38Jackson's just trying to get organized.
22:39Now watch that right hand.
22:40And that's what got him right hand crazy.
22:42That right hand put Jackson in trouble.
22:44Look how much trouble he's in there.
22:45Take a look at the second one, Bobby.
22:47Well, I'll tell you, what McClellan said he was going to do
22:48is use the jab, wait, and bang.
22:50Over the top, there it was.
22:51But as the round progressed, he started getting a little chaos,
22:53got hit a few shots of his own.
22:54Because he went right hand crazy, though.
22:56Boy, if that does it with the right hand, let me just shoot the right hand.
22:59That's a big mistake.
23:00And I'm sure Emmanuel Stewart is pointing that out in the corner.
23:03And what happened in the corner, Julian Jackson was his corner.
23:06I started looking for the counter.
23:08Now, start looking for that counter.
23:10Both of us have said here,
23:11the counter to that right hand could just put McClellan on the canvas.
23:14Despite Jackson's impressive record,
23:17many are saying he is on the decline in his career,
23:21and Gerald McClellan out to prove it.
23:24McClellan's best combination,
23:26a right hand to the head,
23:27left hook to the liver.
23:2817 of his 25 knockouts,
23:30according to Emmanuel Stewart.
23:32Get that special.
23:34Again, you saw that right hand over the top.
23:35It's something you have to worry about with punches.
23:38The punches are all big.
23:39They're all heavy.
23:40You start missing, and you get tired prematurely.
23:42And also, something that has probably plagued Jackson in the past few fights
23:45is not so many people out so easily
23:47that he doesn't pay as much attention to defense.
23:50Two good body shots exchanged.
23:52One by Jackson, one by McClellan.
23:53These guys did not let any aspect of the punishment game go by.
23:58Both of them punishing the body.
23:59Both of them going with a power punch to the head.
24:01This is a whopping middleweight title fight.
24:03And while most people anticipated a shootout,
24:06a slugfest, as we are seeing here at the outset,
24:09Jackson told us yesterday
24:10he thought it would be a more technical fight
24:12that he'll pick his shots, set them up.
24:15He says McClellan is not a good boxer,
24:17although front fighters are generally good sound boxers.
24:27Jackson told us his right hand,
24:29which he entered prior to the February 20th card in Mexico City,
24:33is up to par.
24:34He's been digging shots.
24:35He says he won't hold back.
24:37When I mentioned that McClellan questioned
24:39whether the hand was fully healed,
24:40Jackson laughed.
24:42And so why don't we test it on Gerald's head?
24:44But it's been McClellan,
24:45who has been doing the testing to this point.
24:48Jackson's been a little more effective now using the jab.
24:50McClellan's laid off his jab a little bit.
24:51And it's gotten to be a little more chestnut right now.
24:54The big bombs are still coming.
24:57Jackson has kicked it into another gear in the second round.
25:00And McClellan has been fighting retreating fight.
25:02All this is if you didn't believe it's good luck in that first round.
25:04First round went to Gerald.
25:06Got him in, got Jackson in trouble.
25:07But now all of a sudden it's Jackson in the pursuit.
25:09And taking him apart slowly,
25:11a little at a time, good body shots,
25:13using his jab effectively.
25:15Jackson's fighting very well here.
25:16And now lunging shots by Julian Jackson.
25:21But not having any effect on McClellan,
25:24who comes back strong,
25:24but back comes Jackson with a heavy right.
25:27One thing about Julian Jackson,
25:29you can hurt him, but never count him out.
25:30Not only can he punch with both hands,
25:32but he inside this ring is a vicious, vicious man.
25:35McClellan thinks Jackson is looking ahead to Terry Norris,
25:38who is sitting ringside off to our right.
25:41I don't know if either one of these two guys
25:43got anything in mind except survival here.
25:45And Gerald, Gerald is looking scared.
25:48Big right hand by Julian Jackson,
25:51sending McClellan back.
25:53Now Jackson beginning to open up more
25:56and gain confidence.
25:58This is what you call intimidation.
26:00And it's all happening to McClellan.
26:03He's getting intimidated here.
26:05But Jackson's completely turned the tables
26:06from the first round,
26:08but McClellan, also still a dangerous fighter.
26:15So round two is in the books.
26:16Let's go over to Montchel Williams.
26:20I'm here with Julio Cesar Chavez
26:21right here in his dressing room.
26:23And Julio, you look great.
26:24You look like you're in good shape,
26:26but you look really relaxed.
26:28Are you looking past Terrence Allin,
26:30looking towards Cornell Whitaker?
26:31No, de alguna manera estoy muy serio.
26:35He's very serious about Terrence Allin.
26:39He's already had so many championship games.
26:40He doesn't get nervous as he did.
26:43Estoy relajado.
26:44He's very relaxed.
26:45Y espero esta noche ganar.
26:46And he expects to win this evening.
26:48Me encuentro muy bien.
26:49He feels very good.
26:50You know, Whitaker told me about a week ago
26:51that he's going to knock you out the block.
26:55Bueno, lo que él diga me tiene que cuidado.
26:57Arriba, lo que eso va a hacer.
26:58He says he's not at all afraid
27:00of whatever Whitaker says.
27:01Whitaker will see once they get in the ring.
27:03All right, thanks.
27:03We're going to go back to you, Steve.
27:04Thanks a lot, Julio, for letting us all.
27:06All right, Marcel.
27:07Next up after this one,
27:09the WBC Super Lightweight Championship,
27:11Chavez versus Terrence Allin.
27:12This is round three
27:13in a most exciting fight.
27:17Julio getting his head of steam up,
27:18and I'm sure Emmanuel Stewart said,
27:20son, you've got to do some fighting
27:21or this guy come right over you.
27:23And, uh,
27:24McCollum, he's got to get him back on track
27:26with some of those right hands
27:27that were landing.
27:28He's got to box more about it.
27:30He just can't stand it from all the way.
27:31He came out with a good stiff jab,
27:32and now the jab's more of a feeler.
27:34He's using it to feel, feel, feel,
27:36looking for the right hand.
27:37He's got to use a stiff jab
27:38to set up that right hand.
27:39And now Jackson's winging big shots,
27:41gaining confidence out the round go down.
27:44Jackson's hands are very heavy.
27:45And when they land,
27:46even though it's off to the side of the head,
27:48it hurts,
27:48and he's beating it now.
27:49That's what's getting him intimidated.
27:51A solid right uppercut
27:52by Julian Jackson.
27:55And Jackson's beginning to answer back
27:57after a rugged first round.
28:02McCollum said
28:03he is not scared going in.
28:06Many people often are
28:07when they're facing Julian Jackson.
28:09He says,
28:09my tools are better.
28:11I punch as hard as Jackson does.
28:12I'm faster,
28:13and I'm stronger.
28:15He seems to be a little quicker
28:16when he wants to be with that jab.
28:18His right hand seems to almost be an equal,
28:20but his left hook doesn't.
28:21Except for the body.
28:23McClellan, 27-2,
28:2525 knockouts,
28:26his two defeats
28:26fairly in the career.
28:28Decisions to Dennis Felton
28:29and Ralph Ward
28:30back-to-back in 89.
28:33Meanwhile,
28:34Julian Jackson,
28:3446-1,
28:3543 knockouts,
28:37two-time world champion.
28:39Oh, look out!
28:40What a right hand
28:41by Julian Jackson.
28:42That's that counter
28:43that he was measuring him for,
28:44and it landed.
28:46You can't just flick
28:46an idle jab out there
28:47and not expect Julian
28:48to come over.
28:49And he did.
28:50I haven't seen McClellan
28:52in a lot of fights
28:53where he's gotten hit hard,
28:54and I was always wondering
28:55just how good is his chin.
28:56And right now,
28:57it doesn't seem to be too bad.
28:59McClellan hanging in there.
29:01Yeah, Bobby,
29:01he seems very impressed
29:03by the power
29:04of Julian Jackson.
29:06Jackson with explosive
29:08knockout power,
29:09particularly with the right hand
29:11and the left hook.
29:11We just saw the right
29:12and so did McClellan.
29:16That right fist
29:17and a countering left.
29:18Also,
29:19a grazing blow by McClellan.
29:21Now,
29:21lunging rights
29:22and uppercuts by Jackson.
29:23Jesse,
29:23I think it's something
29:24that McClellan has to do
29:25with that left-handed-after counter
29:26because Julian Jackson
29:27right now is just key
29:28on McClellan's right hand.
29:30One-handed fight.
29:31It's going to be
29:31Jackson all the way.
29:35Unintentional butt
29:36is what happened.
29:36Julian's cut.
29:37Unintentional butt
29:38and Julian is cutting.
29:40Julian Jackson complaining.
29:41There's a big left hand
29:42by McClellan.
29:49And now McClellan
29:50looking to measure Jackson off.
29:53Sometimes those butts
29:54get you a little bit dizzy.
29:55I wonder if that happened to Julian.
29:56He just seemed to stop fighting
29:57after that butt
29:58and got hit by two hard punches
29:59by another big right hand
30:02right on the button.
30:04Gerald McClellan landing
30:06with the heavy right.
30:11Jackson slips.
30:15As the bell sounds.
30:18No knockdown.
30:22Interesting round.
30:23Julian Jackson was having his way.
30:24All of a sudden
30:25he gets fired.
30:26He quit fighting.
30:26He gets hit twice
30:27and makes it an even round.
30:28Keep fighting him now.
30:31Keep letting him go
30:32dig and let folk walk.
30:34Leanna's getting tired now
30:35but you're letting him
30:35get away with two minutes shots.
30:36McClellan don't know
30:37what the hell he's doing.
30:40Come on, Leanna.
30:52Let's take a look at that butt.
30:53It's on the bridge
30:54of the nose.
30:54It's not that bad.
30:55Let's take a look at it
30:56and see if we can see it well.
30:58There it is.
30:59Not bad.
31:00I don't see if that's a bad butt, Bob.
31:02No, it's really an accidental butt.
31:03It didn't look like a bad one
31:04but there is a cut from it
31:06so it has to be noted.
31:06And I wonder if it's done
31:07because he just kind of
31:09stopped fighting.
31:09It wasn't the same intensity
31:10when he came back
31:11and Gerald was able
31:12to land two or three good shots
31:13and even up the round.
31:14I mean, this is kind of
31:16an even fight right now, folks.
31:18There is blood streaking down
31:19the bridge of the nose
31:20of Julian Jackson
31:21the result of that
31:22unintentional headbutt
31:23by Gerald McClellan
31:24in the third round.
31:25The end of round four.
31:26That cut will never be a factor.
31:28At the location in his head,
31:29he can bleed all at once
31:30and he'll never stop a fight there.
31:32And you know,
31:32sometimes blood ignites
31:34the killer instinct
31:34in the fighter.
31:35McClellan's fighting much better
31:36from the time
31:37that butt's happened to now.
31:38Yeah, he's like he got
31:40a new life
31:41once he saw that blood come.
31:42Julian Jackson's
31:46lone defeat
31:471986
31:48against Mike McCallum
31:50for the WBA
31:51Junior Mid-Away title.
31:52A second round knockout.
31:56See, there's something
31:57you'll see.
31:57He leaps in with that big hook
31:59with throwing ducks
31:59and that's where the heads clash.
32:01Yep.
32:03One step back.
32:04Come on, one step back.
32:05Has that been much
32:06much mauling
32:06and brawling here?
32:07They've just been punching
32:08for three rounds.
32:09This is their first time.
32:10Any sign of
32:11a little bit of a rest
32:12coming for both fighters
32:13grabbing each other.
32:20McClellan
32:21extremely quick
32:22on the defense.
32:25Julian just looks bothered.
32:26He looks like he's
32:27blinking from that eye.
32:28Oh, nice body shot
32:30but right at the break.
32:32And Mills Lane
32:33admonishing
32:34Gerald McClellan.
32:35That doesn't stop it
32:36from hurting.
32:37Well, I'll tell you
32:37it takes a certain amount
32:38of extra energy too
32:38to keep moving
32:39like McClellan is
32:40bouncing, bouncing.
32:40That starts to take
32:42its toll on your legs
32:42as the fight goes on.
32:43Jackson still walking
32:44slow, methodical,
32:46conserving energy.
32:50Julian Jackson
32:51trying to
32:52get his composure here
32:54and turn things around
32:55in his favor.
32:56Ooh, nice body shot.
32:57Body shot.
32:58Julian Jackson.
32:59Get that club
33:00off of his face.
33:01Come on.
33:01Have a look at him.
33:02Come on.
33:02Right on the butt.
33:12McClellan continues
33:13to land effectively
33:14with the right.
33:16The right hand
33:17that Julian Jackson
33:18is aiming at the body
33:18to take its toll
33:20in three or four rounds
33:20and really debilitate
33:22Gerald McClellan.
33:25Julian is doing
33:26his homework to the body.
33:27No doubt about that.
33:28He may be sacrificing
33:29around but he's really
33:30putting in some shots.
33:31Mclellan burst
33:33into the national spotlight
33:35back in 87
33:35by winning the
33:36ABF 156-pound title
33:39after soundly defeating
33:40future Olympian
33:41Roy Jones Jr.
33:43at the 88th
33:43Golden Glove Semifinals.
33:45He was disappointed
33:46though he was not chosen
33:47to compete
33:48on the Olympic team.
33:52I think you'll see
33:54McClellan doing
33:54a little bit
33:55when they separate.
33:56He's bopping around,
33:56he's bopping around,
33:57he's trying to measure
33:58Jackson and time him
33:59with that right hand
33:59on the way in
34:00to double the impact
34:01of the punch.
34:02But it's a dangerous
34:03thing to do
34:03with Julian Jackson.
34:04Yeah, because you can
34:05get met by a punch
34:06and you're on the
34:07seat of the pants
34:08when that happens.
34:09All I'm going to say
34:10McClellan ever
34:10sends a fight
34:11at his fault
34:11with more confidence
34:12like he figures
34:13hey I can get
34:13into this thing,
34:14I can win this thing.
34:15Good round for Gerald.
34:17McClellan.
34:18You got your floor now.
34:23You got your floor
34:24to move in here.
34:27Hold him up here.
34:28It's a bucket.
34:29It's my knees.
34:31Relax, relax.
34:36Looking good, baby.
34:39Looking good,
34:40Julian.
34:40You got your floor
34:40now, okay?
34:41Semifinals work
34:42too hard.
34:43All right.
34:44It will be once
34:45you might be
34:45looking for the butt.
34:50Put it on us.
34:52What he said?
34:54I'm trying for him
34:55for the butt.
34:58Come on,
34:58they just got to get
34:59a little more aggressive.
35:00Yeah, yeah.
35:00Come on.
35:01Don't stand in front of them.
35:03You stand in front of them.
35:04Don't wait on them.
35:05Come on.
35:06You're not getting
35:08checked.
35:08No.
35:08Why did you find
35:09it?
35:10Yeah.
35:11Yeah.
35:11Bill Slade just
35:15informed us
35:16that there's a
35:16one-point deduction
35:17for that butt,
35:19even if it was
35:20unintentional,
35:21one point off McClellan
35:22from back in the
35:23third round.
35:24And in a close fight
35:24like this, Bobby,
35:25that is a big penalty.
35:26I think it's a bad
35:27rule, I really do,
35:28and you know,
35:29it only seems to be
35:30that if the butt
35:31crosses a cut,
35:31if they would have
35:31just banged heads
35:32and he would have
35:32swelled his eyes shut,
35:33nobody would say a word.
35:35Yeah, but those
35:35are the WBC rules
35:36that he said,
35:37regardless of who's
35:38fault it was,
35:38I mean,
35:38it was Gerald's fault.
35:40There was a cut,
35:41there was a butt,
35:42and that,
35:42but you know,
35:43that neutralized the round
35:44because McClellan
35:44was taking that round,
35:45so you take a point
35:46away from him,
35:46and you got an even round.
35:48I mean,
35:48this is a very even fight.
35:52Wild miss by
35:53Joe McClellan,
35:54and a left hand,
35:55a short fist left
35:56by Julian Jackson
35:57that connected.
36:01You can see him
36:02dig their right hand
36:02to the body,
36:03and McClellan
36:04comes back
36:04with a left hook
36:04to the zone.
36:07Jackson being frustrated
36:09by 25-year-old
36:10Gerald McClellan.
36:13Little wink of the eye
36:14by McClellan
36:15as he eluded a punch.
36:21Right now,
36:22very difficult to catch
36:23is Gerald McClellan.
36:25Righty,
36:25low, low, low,
36:26low, low.
36:28Julian Jackson,
36:29low.
36:30That was a big,
36:30heavy shot down south.
36:31Another one,
36:33another one.
36:33And McClellan needs
36:36a breather.
36:36How much time do you want?
36:38Mills Lane says,
36:39as much time as you want.
36:41How much time do you want?
36:42I felt that.
36:44Yeah,
36:44and it was two in a row.
36:45It wasn't just one.
36:46And so,
36:47now,
36:47all of a sudden,
36:48no matter how much time
36:49they give you.
36:49The second time.
36:51One time
36:51is going to cost you for it,
36:52okay?
36:53Mills Lane says,
36:54that's the second time.
36:55One more,
36:56and we take a point.
36:56So a point
36:57did not come off,
36:58but boy,
36:59the effect
36:59of two good
37:01hard-body shots,
37:02Bobby.
37:02You can't come back
37:03so soon from that.
37:04You know,
37:04many people talk about
37:05the cuff and the protector,
37:06which is what it's actually
37:07called an athletic protector,
37:08but the power
37:09and the force
37:09that you can hit down low
37:10in a very sensitive area.
37:13And he,
37:13you know,
37:14he needs all the strength
37:15he can get
37:15and all the fluidity
37:16and reflex,
37:17and that takes your legs
37:17out from under you.
37:18Ooh,
37:19nice shot by Junior.
37:20As he goes upstairs,
37:22no chance to,
37:23south of the air.
37:24Junior's going to win
37:25right here.
37:25Down goes Jackson.
37:27A left cuff
37:28by Joe McCollin.
37:30Almost sent him
37:30through the ropes.
37:32Six.
37:33Seven.
37:34He is in serious trouble.
37:36His legs are not there.
37:37This fight could very well
37:38be over
37:38right this minute.
37:39And there's a minute
37:40left to go.
37:42Ten.
37:43McCollin.
37:44Finish him off.
37:44He's down again.
37:46Two.
37:47Three.
37:48Four.
37:49Five.
37:50He's not going to make this,
37:51Bobby.
37:51He's not going to make this.
37:54Julian Jackson
37:55doesn't know
37:56that it's over.
37:57Hill's lane
37:58has stopped the fight.
38:00And Joe McCollin
38:01has upset Julian Jackson
38:03and he is the new
38:04WBC middleweight champion.
38:09After that first knockdown,
38:11you can see he was
38:12totally out.
38:13He got up just on reflexes
38:14and it was just
38:15academic after that.
38:16He could not have
38:17overcome it
38:18in a minute
38:19some odd left.
38:20His head was not clear
38:21and his legs
38:21were not under him
38:22and that is the sign
38:23of when it's just about done.
38:24And Bobby,
38:25it was a lightning light
38:26three blow combination.
38:28And just when you thought
38:29Julian was starting
38:30to turn things around,
38:31Bob,
38:32what we said before,
38:33explosive punches,
38:35Bobby,
38:35you don't know
38:35when it's going to end
38:36either way.
38:37You really didn't know
38:38how this was going to end,
38:39but Julian,
38:40who has been showing
38:41signs of getting hurt
38:42in other fights,
38:43finally had his night
38:44of being the victim.
38:46Well, again,
38:46we mentioned that his defense
38:47hadn't been what it should be
38:48and many times
38:49because he's such
38:50a tremendous knockout puncher
38:51and didn't pay as much
38:52attention in here at Austin Durant.
38:54So Gerald McClellan
38:55goes to 28-2
38:57with 26 knockouts.
38:59The 25-year-old
39:00out of Freeport, Illinois
39:01who trains
39:02with the clock team
39:03in Detroit
39:04is the new
39:05WBC middleweight champion.
39:08Julian Jackson
39:09looking to make
39:09his fifth title defense
39:11with only his
39:12second loss
39:13in 48 foot.
39:16Well, let's follow
39:17the course and demise
39:19of Julian Jackson.
39:20First, let's pick it up
39:22from the low blow
39:22and you can see
39:23it was a legitimate
39:24low blow
39:25and you can see
39:25the damage.
39:26Look at that.
39:27I mean, that's way
39:28below the lettering
39:29and down goes McClellan
39:30saying,
39:31I just can't continue.
39:33This gives him
39:34time to recuperate,
39:35but it looked like
39:36he was weakened
39:37when he got up,
39:38maybe giving Julian
39:39a lot of energy
39:41to think he's
39:42going to put it out.
39:43Now, now let's watch
39:43what happens.
39:44Well, here he comes again,
39:45right, straight right hand
39:46down the pipe
39:46and it was
39:47Ferdi Ali right hand
39:48finishing it off
39:49with the left hand.
39:56Watch what happens.
39:57Well, here he comes again,
39:58right, straight right hand
39:59down the pipe
40:00and it was
40:00Ferdi Ali right hand
40:01finishing it off
40:02with the left hand.
40:09He's going to put it out.
40:10Now, now let's watch
40:11what happens.
40:11Here he comes again,
40:12right, straight right hand
40:13down the pipe
40:14And it was Ferdia Lee's right hand, finishing it off with the left hand, and down to Jackson.
40:19Just what he's been trying to land, the right hand landed just like he wanted it.
40:23And here's the second one, and by this time it was academic because Julian was gone.
40:26That's it. Right there is the end of that.
40:29Again, his legs weren't under him, and his head wasn't clear, and you're not going to respond.
40:34His eyes just weren't, couldn't focus. He was just gone.
40:38Mills Lane did the right thing, stopping the fight.
40:40After that first knockdown, it was all over his academic,
40:42but I think he caught him by surprise.
40:44With the right hand, he'd been trying to land all night long,
40:46and he landed and followed up with the left really, really well.
40:49So a big surprise, but not quite as surprising because in this middleweight fight,
40:54we expected an explosion, and we got an explosion.
41:02So the power and speed of Gerald McClellan.
41:07Doing in Julian Jackson.
41:09Jackson, a 2-1 favorite coming in.
41:11And he watched the closest odds of all three fights on our boxing triple head.
41:17Gerald McClellan, only a very business-minded, serious young man,
41:22particularly when he met with us and with the press throughout the last couple of days,
41:26but with reason to finally let out with his side.
41:29So we're ready to get the official word from ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.
41:37Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time.
41:43Two minutes, nine seconds in round number five.
41:47The referee in charge, Mills Lane, stops the contest.
41:51The winner by way of technical knockout,
41:53and the new WBC middleweight champion of the world,
41:59the Demon, Gerald McClellan.
42:02The winner by way of the thriller.
42:05Yeah, there it is.
42:08Thank you, man.
42:09God bless you, man.
42:10All right.
42:13Ladies and gentlemen, have a hand in recognition for a great sport
42:17and a great effort to a great champion, Julian the Hawk Jackson.
42:21WBC title before that.
42:41Here at the Thomas and Max Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
42:45We are set for post-fight reaction.
42:47Let's go up to the fight.
42:48Ferdy Pacheco in the ring.
42:52All right.
42:53All right.
42:54With an exuberant champion, did you expect that quick finish after those two low blows?
42:59It looked like you were weakened.
43:00Well, he weakened me with a whole bunch of shots.
43:02Julian's real strong.
43:03Tipped my hat to him.
43:04And I worked too hard, ran too many miles, made too many sacrifices.
43:08I had to have.
43:09He had to kill me to keep that belt.
43:11All right.
43:12Julian Jackson, you're experiencing what 43 guys experienced from you.
43:15Were you surprised that that right hand puts you in so much trouble?
43:19Yeah, I was surprised, you know.
43:21Gerald McClendon, you know, he's sure a lot.
43:24I knew I had him.
43:25You know, by experience, I knew I had him.
43:28And he just caught me with a good punch.
43:29Did the headbutt seem to take anything out of you?
43:31It looked like you stopped fighting there for a moment and Gerald came right on.
43:34Yeah, I got a good butt, you know.
43:36And it affected me.
43:38And it sort of messed with my eyes a bit.
43:40Emanuel Stewart, were you concerned at all when they took a point away from you?
43:44It was a very close fight.
43:45No, I didn't know the fight.
43:46It wasn't going to limit.
43:47I knew that.
43:48Not about points at all.
43:49Well, let's take a look at replays as we stand here with Don Ging and Emanuel Stewart and the two fighters.
43:55Let's take a look at the right hand shot to Julian so he can see.
43:59This is the first knockdown.
43:59There's the right hand.
44:01Now, this one misses.
44:02Now, the next is perfect.
44:03Right there.
44:04Now, I don't know how you got up from that, Julian.
44:07Well, hey, man, that's Jackson and I'm made of steel, man.
44:12Well, all right, this is the second one.
44:15And that right hand was all it needed.
44:16Well, Julian punched very hard.
44:18I got a tremendous headache.
44:20I'm going to go back to the room and maybe sleep two or three days.
44:22That was a good fight, Julian.
44:23Hey, go for it.
44:24Put it up, man.
44:25All right, two super athletes competing at the top level.
44:29It was an explosion, Don.
44:31This was one of the great middleweight fights I've seen in a long time.
44:33It certainly was, Ferdy.
44:34This is what we promised the public and this is what we give the public, guarantee, customer satisfaction.
44:39And what Tony Cox and I are planning to do and continue to do is to bring the best in boxing to the public.
44:44One of the things that comes straight to my mind, I'd like to see these two guys go again.
44:48I didn't know who was winning that fight.
44:49Would these two guys go again?
44:50Yes, they will.
44:51You know, the champion now has an optional fight and then he's going to come right back at Julian and give him another opportunity.
44:56And that's where we're going from there.
44:57The greatest middleweight fight that could be made was made right here today on King of the UNSET.
45:02Well, that certainly was one of the most exciting fights of this year thus far.
45:06So we go back to Steve Albert at ringside.
45:08All right, Ferdy.
45:09McClellan was wondering before the fight if Jackson might be looking ahead to Terry.
Recommended
36:15
|
Up next
1:08:03
40:30
31:22
40:49
41:34
1:04:18
1:28:41
36:21
58:57
1:19:25
1:10:18
50:31
49:04
49:43
47:48
39:57
31:49
34:43
Be the first to comment