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The HBO Replay from the TVKO broadcast of Roy Jones Jr defense of the undisputed Light Heavyweight Title against Eric Harding
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00:00:00Actress in a Movie, HBO honored for Best Actor in a Drama Series, Best Supporting Actress in a Movie, Best Performance in a Variety Program, Best Non-Fiction Special, Best Children's Program, and receiving three Emmys for the quarter, including Best Miniseries, winning 20 Primetime Emmy Awards. It's not TV, it's HBO.
00:00:21Mark for Death will not be seen at this time, so that we may bring you a special presentation of the Roy Jones Jr. vs. Eric Harding Light Heavyweight Championship Fight.
00:00:32Exhilarating. Hard-hitting. Unbeatable.
00:00:36HBO Sports.
00:00:42And now, the HBO Sports presentation, World Championship Boxing.
00:00:51The following is a special presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.
00:01:11The past seven years, the debate over who is the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet has never strayed far from Roy Jones.
00:01:19Without defining opposition, Jones has pursued his boxing legacy through utter domination.
00:01:25He is indeed, boxing's one-man show.
00:01:29In 1994, Jones dismantled then-super middleweight champion James Toney, staking his claim to the pound-for-pound throne.
00:01:38Since then, Roy's performances have undeniably sizzled.
00:01:41It's amazing, the wrinkles that Roy has added over the years as he's buried his game, buried it again, and then added new levels here and there.
00:01:50While Jones' competition has been less than stellar, he has been simply awesome.
00:01:55Overwhelming opponents in a series of virtuoso performances.
00:01:59Jones tattooing Telesco's much of this round, trying to add an element of humiliation to what has so far been punch-by-punch domination of David Telesco.
00:02:10While Jones has lost only one round in his last five fights, a few divisions south, war is being waged among the sports elite.
00:02:19Shane Mosley has been first to claim the spotlight.
00:02:22His decisive victory over Oscar De La Hoya has garnered him newfound support as the sport's top dog.
00:02:29With a Felix Trinidad-Fernando Vargas megafight on the horizon, Jones' claim to the title as the sport's best is clearly in peril.
00:02:37And while his competitors for the best pound-for-pound title have had tough opposition to prove their wares, Roy Jones goes it alone.
00:02:46Pursuing a legacy of greatness, not through defining battles, but defining performances.
00:02:52Last Saturday, Roy Jones made his latest case as boxing's best.
00:02:57My sword and I really appreciate it.
00:03:03He emailed his most of his favorite concepts as boxing bean belt.
00:03:09He was trying to join and brag now as his魅力 improves but interested in programming.
00:03:13He managed to cane the motivational joint drinking.
00:03:16He told me he believed the yielding of his музeju.
00:03:20He wants to read the title of Oregon.
00:03:23the city of new orleans has waited nearly two decades to host a major world championship fight
00:03:42and they finally got it last saturday night featuring arguably the best pound-for-pound
00:03:47fighter in the sport roy jones defending his light heavyweight titles against top-ranked
00:03:52challenger eric harding from hartford connecticut hi everyone i'm tim ryan in for jim lampley here at
00:03:59new orleans arena site of the light heavyweight championship bout between roy jones and eric
00:04:04harding joined by larry merchant and larry we've watched roy jones through most of his 42 victories
00:04:10turn in virtuos of performances many of them almost solo acts because they've been so easy for him but
00:04:16the last few he has struggled against some of these bigger light heavyweights what's your impression of
00:04:21that roy jones is vulnerable and what he's really vulnerable to are the high expectations and the
00:04:28high standards that he has created he comes to new orleans the birthplace of jazz where improvisation
00:04:35was turned into art everyone expects roy jones is going to belt out some improvisational magic
00:04:42with those remarkably fast hands and feet didn't happen new orleans is also known as the big easy
00:04:49it wasn't easy because the other guy eric harding didn't let it be that's for sure well now one of
00:04:57the issues i guess george foreman can address because suddenly roy jones the boxer was also roy jones the
00:05:04promoter out there selling the pay-per-view to uh help his own purse how much of a distraction
00:05:10george do you view this might have been for roy this week well i think every professional fighter
00:05:15would like to step out of the shadows of your typical palooka you want to go down as i did it
00:05:20my way and all these kind of things roy jones would never be content or satisfied until he's done it
00:05:25this time he's got a chance to prove i can be all of the things my way my man well that's what it's all
00:05:32about and you got to do it at one point or another anyway it turned out to be a very difficult evening in
00:05:37more ways than one and let's go back to last saturday night at new orleans arena and see what
00:05:42transpired with our call of the fight let's take a look at the tail of the tape for the main event
00:05:4931 year old roy jones the undisputed light heavyweight champion came in easily at 173 and a half
00:05:55and harding as well made the weight with no problem 173 and three quarters eric harding 27 years of old
00:06:03of age ranked in the top ten by two of the boxing organizations and as we continue to say
00:06:10he is a very confident young man feeling that he's not just another one of the easy victories that
00:06:15roy jones has had in his career larry how about the punch step yeah this is roy jones against southpaws
00:06:23who he claims he hates to fight and yet he has done a very effective job
00:06:29uh harding is the sixth southpaw he will have faced in the last seven fights
00:06:35harding's numbers are a four fight average they speak for themselves as many punches as jones not
00:06:42nearly as economical harold letterman how about the rules for the main event okay the roy jones jr
00:06:48eric harding fight is scheduled for 12 rounds using the unified rules of the association of boxing
00:06:53commissions there is no standing eight count no three knockdown rule only the referee can stop the
00:06:59fight and you cannot be saved by the bell at any round including the 12th and final round
00:07:05tim all right harold eric harding the challenger from hartford connecticut born and raised in philadelphia
00:07:12he's come from the mean streets to a chance at a title in new orleans he's come from the the mean drug corners
00:07:21of philadelphia where he thrived survived and then got out of town
00:07:30he says that he was involved in four shootings he himself was shot twice
00:07:38stabbed three times decided to make something of his life with the talent he had looking to become
00:07:48the fifth light heavyweight champion to come out of philadelphia following the legendary philadelphia
00:07:57jack o'brien tommy lafrin harold johnson and the last one
00:08:08matthew saad muhammad well now he lives in hartford connecticut he turned his life around he says i've got
00:08:16more than money now i've got peace of mind he's married with three children he goes to the
00:08:21the pta meetings uh dotes on his daughter and he has his life together this is a monumental event
00:08:29for him tim but he says nervous you don't know what nervous is nervous is a guy pointing a gun at
00:08:36your head and saying get out of my neighborhood well he's in roy jones neighborhood now
00:08:41eric harding's record he's had 20 professional fights 19 0 and 1 only six ko's although he claims to
00:08:52have knocked down all but two of the fighters among the 19 victories that he had started as a middleweight
00:08:59turned to a light heavyweight in 1997. last fight was a qualifier to get here an elimination bout against
00:09:08the former olympic star antonio carver and he beat him in a tough fight in which he hurt carver
00:09:15considerably roy jones coming into his 18th title fight won the wbc title as a super middleweight in his
00:09:2520th professional fight and he's had 16 defenses as a middleweight super middleweight and a light
00:09:32heavyweight as one of the rappers put it he is the sun that don't shine don't shine on his opponent
00:09:43the 1988 silver medalist in that controversial defeat at the hands of the korean boxer
00:09:48at the solo olympics 31 years of age from pensacola not far from new orleans
00:09:53got lots of friends and family here to root him on he said he wanted to stage a big fight
00:09:58in new orleans the first in 18 years here since hbo was here years ago for a double header that
00:10:04featured hearns and bonitas and gomez and pintor
00:10:10and that is roy jones night in new orleans
00:10:12in new orleans 42 victories only one defeat he avenged that after losing to montel griffin on a dq just
00:10:28thought of occasion came back to beat griffin 34 kails along the way at three different weights
00:10:33saying now that he probably will stage this as his last light heavyweight bop he's going to go back to
00:10:41168 where he feels he's strongest and of course that's where felix trinidad may lie ahead for the
00:10:47introduction let's go to ladies and gentlemen michael buffett murada muhammad m&m sports in
00:10:52association with grand casinos jordan brand valley's casino resort square ring and bodyhead entertainment
00:10:59present the main event of the evening 12 rounds of boxing for the undisputed
00:11:08white heavyweight championship of the world sanctioned by the ibf wba wbc ibo nba
00:11:19and the louisiana state boxing commission chairman fielding lewis vice chairman buddy imbenato
00:11:25secretary al tophand commissioners jim la cava bobby chauvin and nat hall the scoring for the bout
00:11:32will be done by three judges at ringside scoring on the 10-point must system they are dick clarity
00:11:40barry orgeron and kenny santes and when the bell rings your referee in charge of the action johnny femia jr
00:11:48and now for the thousands in attendance and the millions watching around the world courtesy of hbo
00:11:55sports and tv ko from new orleans louisiana ladies and gentlemen
00:12:05the trump
00:12:14introducing first trading out of the blue corner wearing white trimmed with gold
00:12:20he weighed in at 173 and three quarter pounds his professional record an excellent one 19 victories
00:12:27without a loss including six knockouts with a draw tonight he plans to shock the world ladies and
00:12:35gentlemen originally from philadelphia pennsylvania now living and fighting out of east hartford connecticut
00:12:42here is the undefeated number one right light heavyweight contender in the world eric magic
00:12:50two thousand hardy
00:13:00engines opponent across the ring fighting out of the red corner wearing black trimmed with silver
00:13:07he weighed into 173 and one half pounds this 1988 olympian now has an outstanding professional
00:13:14record consisting of 42 victories including 34 knockouts with only one disputed loss he is universally
00:13:23recognized as pound for pound the best in the world today ladies and gentlemen from pensacola florida
00:13:31presenting the four-time world champion the reigning and defending undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world
00:13:42the world
00:13:47the world
00:13:53the world
00:13:55the world
00:13:57the world
00:13:58everybody for two seconds everybody else out
00:14:02well you in two seconds everybody else out
00:14:04all right guys we've given you instructions early in the dressing room you're both professional
00:14:17i expect you to behave like professionals out here okay touch left and come out box
00:14:22a fighter named al hauser once fought sugar ray robinson
00:14:29he is the grandfather hauser of eric harding
00:14:34who now fights roy jones
00:14:38who is looked upon as the robinson of his era perhaps
00:14:48larry we've already heard from roy jones he hates fighting southpaws six of his last seven
00:14:55opponents by happenstance have been southpaws and eric harding
00:14:59here's another one that he'll face tonight he doesn't like to fight them he's harding is a tall montel
00:15:08griffin a lot of heart but a defensive counter puncher in style without a lot of power but he is worried about
00:15:16i know trying to fight them and that he has more than that when he hits into a shot
00:15:21uity and then he has had a exit by going to the back of a developmental coach and then he got
00:15:23no problem why jones is to be himself and go early to the body to make this boy taste his power
00:15:27harding of course has gotta try to win every round you can knock him out keep trying you can't win
00:15:33to win a fight and lose two or three rounds and try to
00:15:36catch up with Roy Jones with much win every round.
00:15:42Harding in white, Roy Jones in black.
00:15:45Team Ryan with George Foreman, Larry Merchant,
00:15:48Harold Letterman here.
00:15:53Roy Jones Jr. is the best body puncher in boxing today.
00:15:58He can actually knock you out with a body shot.
00:16:03Harding making Jones take the lead,
00:16:06something Jones would rather not do,
00:16:09but he can do it.
00:16:11Right, straight right to the body already,
00:16:14thrown one, two, and landed one.
00:16:18Harding only six KOs in his 19 victories,
00:16:20but he put some hurt on Tarver in the fight that got him here.
00:16:23Broke some ribs, finished very strongly,
00:16:26and for Tarver, painfully.
00:16:28You see already the taller guys allowing the short opponent
00:16:34to back him up.
00:16:35You should not allow him to back you up.
00:16:37You've got the reach.
00:16:38Stick your hand out there and make him stay as distance.
00:16:41That's what Harding should do.
00:16:43Left hand behind the right just to the point of the chin of Jones.
00:16:57Not much on it.
00:16:58It was fully extended at the time with Jones stepping back.
00:17:00Another straight right to the body again.
00:17:12Roy Jones has known exactly what he's doing here.
00:17:15Body punching, body punching,
00:17:17make the taller guys start protecting his body,
00:17:19and you hit him to the head.
00:17:21Down or left landed by Harding to the body of Jones.
00:17:25Harding goes back to the chest with a good left.
00:17:28Straight left.
00:17:43Harding keeps his right hand very low,
00:17:46shoots his jab from different angles.
00:17:48It looks like it's easy to shoot a punch over him,
00:17:52but Roy Jones has yet to try it.
00:17:54You know why?
00:17:55Because he's too tall.
00:17:56You've got to make him get low,
00:17:58drop his head just a little bit more.
00:18:00Final seconds of round one.
00:18:02A brief flurry from both fighters.
00:18:03No damage.
00:18:04Ha!
00:18:05Ha!
00:18:06Ha!
00:18:07Ha!
00:18:08Ha!
00:18:09Ha!
00:18:10Ha!
00:18:11Ha!
00:18:12Ha!
00:18:13Ha!
00:18:14Ha!
00:18:15Ha!
00:18:16Ha!
00:18:17Ha!
00:18:18Ha!
00:18:19Ha!
00:18:32Ha- Ha!
00:18:33to get a little bit more okay and what's the damn
00:18:50deep breath no no deep breath come on one more come on let's go second best known as a cut man
00:19:00that was Al Gavin who is who is the trainer for Eric Harding he said I've seen Robinson lose I've seen
00:19:10Lewis lose I expect to see Jones lose
00:19:23not much damage by either boxer in the first round and in any of his title fights that's the least
00:19:29punches that the fewest punches that Jones has thrown or landed at this point and we don't know
00:19:37whether that has any significance or not but perhaps at least a little bit of respect trying to figure
00:19:41out Eric Harding in round one Eric Harding has got that long reach he can tap you but if you swing at
00:19:48him he's too far to step back you're going to miss it Roy Jones has just got to get a little closer
00:19:54out of the game Harding had an excellent amateur career 76 wins six defeats two Philadelphia gold glove
00:20:01titles start his pro career and then because of various difficulties was out of action for more
00:20:07than three years that's why he's had only 20 pro fights at age 27 there's a right to the body from
00:20:13Jones Jones and a good combination counter back to Harding
00:20:17followed by a pretty good jab
00:20:22I'm sure viewers are trying to read the tattoo on his back it says forgive me father I have sinned
00:20:29he acknowledges his previous life Roy Jones getting a little closer now he's almost touching toe to toe with
00:20:36him that's where he needs to be the father he's away and Harding is going to be hit Harding
00:20:44getting closer combination landed by Harding he's giving he's giving Roy some problems here by mixing it
00:20:53up save away jumping in just like that and some ladies landed three shots or one right through the guard
00:20:59of Jones on the first one to open him up now Jones trying to catch him coming in
00:21:05and Harding pays him for it usually takes Roy about 20 seconds to figure out his opponent I don't think
00:21:20he's figured him out yet
00:21:27all right he's got good concentration here in the early going looks very relaxed there's
00:21:32no way he can win these rounds backing up like that you're going to get a fella's title you got
00:21:37to win every round can't play that counter punch yourself with a quick man
00:21:45Jones with a miss well time ducked by Eric Harding final seconds of round number two
00:22:04Jones yet to land a really good clean shot
00:22:07I gave that round to Harding I think that Roy has lost about one round in his last three or four
00:22:16fights six fights maybe look when he threw that right hand coming into this 35 of 36 rounds went to him
00:22:22okay when you shoot that right hand sweep it down keep going yeah he's doing it he's going he's going
00:22:26when he throw that when he throw that right hand you can get your hook right now
00:22:30huh yeah yeah yeah man what
00:22:35hi it's Jay I'll be right in South Park
00:22:38you're sweeping and come back with your hook
00:22:40not the right hand I'm gonna hit it right now you heard me right okay let's do it for third round
00:22:45you heard what they said in the corner of Harding I think he's getting frustrated and aggravated
00:23:06the right hand it's going to be right now
00:23:11round number three scheduled for 12. Jones and black Harding and white
00:23:19big crowd on hand at New Orleans Arena late arriving they came to see Roy Jones in action
00:23:24the right Jones caught the tap with his jab a little bit more rather than waiting on that one
00:23:36straight one down the line you gotta mix it up and make this guy duck and dodge not just stand straight
00:23:50right now
00:23:55one thing about Harding he's not afraid of Roy Jones
00:24:00the referee's got to really keep his eye on the backhanding by uh
00:24:04party
00:24:07the right jab turned into a backhand with no problem at all
00:24:13great right hand hurt him and Roy's closer because of it
00:24:20the right hand
00:24:22right there
00:24:26Jones picked off that left hand
00:24:28that's what he why Jones wanted him to do is start committing himself to a
00:24:32a straight left or cooking right hand like that
00:24:36that's what he wants
00:24:37he does he gets a little close to get in the pocket and start pitching
00:24:40to get in the pocket and start pitching him up as soon as Jones got close
00:24:48the jab back from Harding
00:24:51Jones trying to close the distance here round three
00:24:56right hand again
00:24:57he ties up Harding then pulls away what you want to do if you Roy Jones make this man pace your power
00:25:03make him hurt make him afraid to do what he want to do
00:25:07goes back to the corner he's afraid the corner is not going to be able to talk to him when his eyes are hurting
00:25:12but so far
00:25:16so far
00:25:18Harding hasn't let Jones beat Jones
00:25:20yeah but Jones have been able to hit him in the face with some hard shots
00:25:25a couple of wild swings by Harding there
00:25:27he's tasted Jones power quickly
00:25:32that's what you want to do with the inexperienced fighter make him go back to a corner big questions
00:25:37mark so he does not believe his corner
00:25:40under 30 seconds in round three
00:25:42Harding gives him a very good angle I mean poor Harding you see how he
00:25:47doesn't get himself squared up against
00:25:49Jones a little harder to hit
00:25:52Jones wants that straight right hand if he catch him leaning too much to the left
00:25:55he'll make him duck that right hand and run into his left hook
00:26:00final seconds of the third round
00:26:13I gave that round to Harding again
00:26:15and get as well close but
00:26:18making a round too slow
00:26:20okay
00:26:21pick it up something
00:26:22step to your left a little bit
00:26:24keep that right hand at the end trying to when you're trying to get in
00:26:27come on back with the hook
00:26:29okay
00:26:31keep to your left don't trail him
00:26:34don't trail him
00:26:36all right
00:26:38keep pressing your action
00:26:39keep pressing on your body too
00:26:43you ready?
00:26:43no
00:26:44I gotta go all out
00:26:47both hands
00:26:49both hands
00:26:49where is the roy jones of uh story and rap song
00:27:11and so far he hasn't been able to put any hurt vocally or otherwise on eric harding
00:27:21we're in round four harold what he got through three okay tim i got a two rants two rants to one
00:27:2729 28 eric harding he's certainly one rants two is red and he's the busier guy laid the more shots but he's going backwards he's a tough guy to hit he keeps both hands high and his elbows in tight
00:27:37tight to get tough guy to get a you know to get a shot at roy's with many was hard right
00:27:42hands and now he's taking the left hand to the body which is probably where harding is most vulnerable
00:27:46but so far two to one party
00:27:49all right two rounds to harding and one round even
00:27:53i'm with you on that larry exactly at this point we heard alton murkison jones trainer saying start
00:27:59moving to your left roy doesn't feel he has to do that against southpods it's kind of the traditional
00:28:04way to move and he's done it a little bit so far in this round
00:28:09maybe a sign that this southpods a little more difficult than the other southpods he's face
00:28:14i don't think you guys are looking at those right hands that roy jones is leading with
00:28:18and hurting this guy you can be a jewish watching those things and really get those rounds to roy jones
00:28:26i guess we just have to agree to disagree then george
00:28:29i think this is so far been his most effective round body shot there landed by jones left to the body
00:28:41but i could easily give raw jones those rounds
00:28:45good straight right hand and wilderness right there there's one that landed between the gloves of
00:28:51harding that time and jones picking up his temple and closing his distance a little more
00:28:55well now finally he seems to have figured something out about harding how to find him
00:29:03you know right from harding to the year of jones
00:29:07i think he figured it out a lot earlier now harding picked up his right hand made it a little more
00:29:14difficult first couple of rounds he was sticking his right hand out and just a jab with it but this
00:29:21time he picked it up and covered himself up a little bit that's difficult for roy jones now
00:29:28focus closed blocked by the challenger harding
00:29:34soft jab landed on the cheek of jones and he shoved it off literally
00:29:41now he's dropping his right hand again roy jones can key in on him then because he can't get it back up
00:29:46in time enough for this right hand
00:29:54roy jones at his left hand right in position and the guy threw that shot he's been waiting on it all night
00:30:03now harding lands a good right jab the referee better watch the backhanding that's right he flicks
00:30:08it and it does come up in a backhand way in the round four and roy nods as is to say i got it now
00:30:22one more run one more run you gotta punch you're not punching now
00:30:28he's not i can't handle him can he move him then move with him okay okay come on
00:30:39keep it tight i got to get the apron
00:30:40keep it tight i got to get the right hand when he's dropping that might be able to get the count all
00:30:57close i'd better run through him with a right hand after you do it too
00:31:02okay
00:31:02bring her out gavin wants harding to throw more punches harding says i can't i can't reach him he's
00:31:13too quick that's what i said earlier you gotta send that youngster back to his corner he's inexperienced
00:31:19doubting his corner and that's what he's done the corner tell him to do something he disputes
00:31:23he's trying to get himself break and throw to the body leads to the body and harding comes in the
00:31:39flooring not much damage done jones covering up but the effort by harding here now pounding to the body
00:31:45harding trying to keep her pinned in the corner jones comes out with a sharp left hand of his own
00:31:58the right hand lead
00:32:01let him go
00:32:04raw jones has always been in excellent condition
00:32:10he's allowed fighters to get back into the fight in the lateral rounds but
00:32:14because he was in great condition he could always finish strong
00:32:19i don't think he's ever out of condition
00:32:23finished another minor league basketball season with his gulf coast sundogs in the usbl this summer
00:32:33the training for boxing and promoting this fight
00:32:36morning is allowing this roy jones to hit him in his body as though nothing's going to happen but you
00:32:46don't want a guy hitting hit you on the body and in the shoulder like roy jones doing he's even hitting
00:32:50him on his
00:32:53on his right shoulder that's his punching
00:32:59war jones able to land one good left jab he's going to take over
00:33:03he's going to take over defense and harding having difficulty finding a way through it
00:33:17what is that tennessee walking horse act that's what you want to do as soon as the guy throw a shot get
00:33:24right back on him and if you can make it kind of a dramatic even better the crowd
00:33:30make him think he hasn't done anything
00:33:31what is that tennessee going to play funny
00:33:36approaching the 32nd mark in round number five
00:33:47more defensive round for harding
00:33:51the gones still unable to really put something together
00:34:01The hands are free, watch out.
00:34:22You need to make this ticket burn a little bit.
00:34:25I'm here.
00:34:30All right.
00:34:35He got out.
00:34:36Okay.
00:34:37He got out again.
00:34:38He's got one.
00:34:39Come here.
00:34:40Come here.
00:34:41He's got technicals on that.
00:34:43Okay.
00:34:44Okay.
00:34:45Let's get him.
00:34:46Come on.
00:34:51You got to watch.
00:34:53Okay.
00:34:54Okay.
00:34:55All right.
00:34:56Pick it up, man.
00:34:57Now's the time.
00:34:58Close the gap.
00:34:59So you're closer to him.
00:35:00It'll be easier for him.
00:35:05What's the back?
00:35:08Trainer Al Galvin telling Harding.
00:35:11He's got to work a little bit more.
00:35:15Get closer and throw more punches.
00:35:17I don't think he want to get any closer to Roy Jones.
00:35:19He better just take advantage of what he's been doing with his reach.
00:35:22Now he's got his gloves up around his head, protecting himself as though he's going to be coming in and looking to throw punches.
00:35:29That's correct.
00:35:30He's trying to get close to this.
00:35:31So he's moving his arms out of the way.
00:35:34Remember that guy's trained around Philadelphia so he can mix it up some.
00:35:41Carding has a great sense of that Philadelphia Fight Club history.
00:35:47You name the names he's heard on going way back.
00:35:50He knows that there's expectations about his performance from the fight fans in Philadelphia.
00:36:00Even though he now lives full time in Hartford.
00:36:02He goes back to visit his old neighborhood.
00:36:08Roy Jones is putting everything into his leaping, jumping right hand.
00:36:12Overhand left to the ear of Harding.
00:36:27Harding comes back.
00:36:29Didn't throw anything effective against Roy Jones in that exchange.
00:36:33Well in a sense, Roy Jones has won the boxing battle and is forcing Harding to come to him.
00:36:40And now he feels he can start landing some of that heavier, heavier shots.
00:36:45Harding did land the right jab and then a low blow behind it.
00:36:49Jab hook combination.
00:37:02Coaching a minute to go in the sixth, scheduled for 12.
00:37:05Roy Jones, light heavyweight titles at stake.
00:37:08Against the number one ranked Eric Harding.
00:37:17There you go.
00:37:18Hitting Harding on his shoulders.
00:37:24Harding just wants to counter.
00:37:25That's his game.
00:37:26That's what he's comfortable with.
00:37:28Georgia, you don't feel he can win that way.
00:37:30Just being a counter puncher.
00:37:31No, you got to win every round.
00:37:33And as Larry Merck and myself, we, I had it one way, he had another way.
00:37:37But when you try to take someone's title, you don't want that indecisiveness in the judges.
00:37:41You want them to say one way or another.
00:37:43And they're going to give it to the champion.
00:37:46Win the round and leave no doubt in anyone's mind.
00:37:50And that's what Harding is doing.
00:37:52Maybe he's winning, maybe he's not.
00:37:57Jones leaps in with a right to the body.
00:38:01Final seconds of the sixth.
00:38:03Looks like a fight is about to break out, guys.
00:38:08Ward Jones is upset that he hasn't been able to get it in.
00:38:12He's getting mad.
00:38:22Yeah, I like it.
00:38:23I'm here.
00:38:24Yeah, I like it.
00:38:25I like it.
00:38:26You cut that body a little bit more?
00:38:28Yep.
00:38:29Get that body.
00:38:30That's what I want.
00:38:31That's all I want you to do.
00:38:33You're slowing down.
00:38:34Now, the head will come.
00:38:35Give me them body shots.
00:38:37Give me them body shots.
00:38:39That's all I want you to concentrate on.
00:38:40Keep your head moving a little bit when you go in.
00:38:42Put leaning over to your left and right all the time.
00:38:44All right.
00:38:45Give me...
00:38:46Watch what he's doing.
00:38:49The right hook will hit him if he'll throw it.
00:38:51The jab and the right hook.
00:38:52When you're close to him, hit him in the body.
00:38:54Okay.
00:38:55Come on.
00:38:56He's tired already.
00:38:58Well, Roy Jones normally is...
00:39:00Landed 25 punches around against the South Bosies face previously.
00:39:05So far here, through six rounds, he's averaged about eight.
00:39:09So, he's still having some problems finding Eric Harding.
00:39:14And Eric Harding showing some good defense.
00:39:17And you might call him ultra-conscious.
00:39:19Also, I think, is getting his shoulder there and not presenting a great target for Jones.
00:39:25Still made him a bit of a problem for Roy Jones.
00:39:28The other thing.
00:39:29Each corner is telling the other guy to do the same thing.
00:39:32That was a good left hook by Roy Jones.
00:39:34Harold, what do you got through six?
00:39:35Okay, Tim.
00:39:36I got it.
00:39:37Fifty-eight, fifty-six.
00:39:38Four rounds to two.
00:39:39Roy Jones Jr.
00:39:40You know, Tim, I gotta tell you something.
00:39:41You don't win fights on great defense.
00:39:42Eric Harding is a tough guy to hit.
00:39:43But unless he picks it up and shows us a little bit of offense and starts to put some hurt
00:39:44on Roy Jones, he ain't good in his fight.
00:39:45Because when Roy hits him, Roy hurts him.
00:39:46Just like George said.
00:39:47Roy, when he comes in with that powerful right, does more damage.
00:39:48Roy Jones Jr.
00:39:49I'm the hardest shot.
00:39:50Well, I haven't seen any evidence yet that Roy has really put any hurt on Harding.
00:39:54I have a three, two, and one for Jones.
00:39:58Roy Jones has been throwing the right shots.
00:40:00He just can't get Harding's head.
00:40:01Lord, I know.
00:40:02I know.
00:40:03I know.
00:40:04I know.
00:40:05I know.
00:40:06I know.
00:40:07Once he does, the same punches that he's throwing will get him a knockdown.
00:40:23Harding seems to keep his height.
00:40:26Jones has been in some long fights recently against these light heavyweights.
00:40:30And this goes to the judges.
00:40:32Two of them are from Louisiana and one from the state of Massachusetts.
00:40:36They'll be the ones who will decide what could be as we've been discussing here.
00:40:41You know, little differences of opinion as to how he would score some of these rounds.
00:40:47Good body punch by Jones.
00:40:51No disagreement.
00:40:52The challenger has to be doing more than Harding has.
00:40:55But still, Jones unable to take over and dominate.
00:40:59Once you land a body shot like that, that guy's thinking that hurts.
00:41:02That hurts.
00:41:03Puts his elbow around the side to make sure he doesn't hit him there again.
00:41:07And then you got your jab whenever you want it.
00:41:09Well, George, you used to wear a bulletproof vest.
00:41:12You can't have one of those in the ring.
00:41:14No, no.
00:41:15Well, Roy Jones has got his body.
00:41:17The guy's body's hurting.
00:41:18His hands are down.
00:41:19That right hand is going to start counting for something.
00:41:24Harding leaning on him here.
00:41:29Kind of story inside.
00:41:30Got a couple of punches in but without much on him.
00:41:33Cock Jones there with a right jab.
00:41:35And then a left hand.
00:41:36There's a right back from Roy Jones that landed.
00:41:39Now Harding's head is lowered every now and then.
00:41:42Same shot that he was missing him a little bit, he's hitting him with.
00:41:46Jones finding his range finally here in the seventh round.
00:41:50Putting some hurt on Harding.
00:41:54The good thing about Roy Jones, it could be the bad thing.
00:41:57He's an entertainer, he thinks, and he doesn't want booze.
00:42:00A guy like that could get hurt.
00:42:04He gets paid enough money to have to entertain, George.
00:42:10That's what he's got caught up in there when the cross starts to be.
00:42:14He doesn't.
00:42:23You got any snap on his front of his hand?
00:42:25Not much.
00:42:26All right.
00:42:27He got hit him.
00:42:28Yeah.
00:42:29Did he hit him?
00:42:30Yeah.
00:42:31Okay.
00:42:32Mix up, make sure you keep that can down and come out.
00:42:37Don't come out now.
00:42:38Okay?
00:42:39You're bringing that hook when you come out.
00:42:41Okay?
00:42:42Pin point right between here on this chest.
00:42:44That's where you want to land.
00:42:45Come on, baby.
00:42:46You can win this fight.
00:42:47You can win it.
00:42:48Look at him over there.
00:42:49He's tired.
00:42:50Look at that guy.
00:42:51He's an old man.
00:42:52You're a young man.
00:42:53Come on.
00:42:54Take a breath.
00:42:55Win these rounds, Eric.
00:42:57Okay.
00:42:58All right.
00:42:59With your power.
00:43:00The body punch a couple of years.
00:43:01And he put a tape.
00:43:02Knocked him out with a punch like that.
00:43:03Harding is still here.
00:43:04I thought there was some mention in Jones' corner about hurting his hand.
00:43:05I'm not 100% sure.
00:43:06He told us that his left hand, which he hurt in a motorcycle accident a while back, before
00:43:09his fight with Telesco, is only 85%.
00:43:10I don't know if that is what he was talking about.
00:43:28It's only 85% I don't know if that what is what he was talking about
00:43:33They throw it a lot of shots winging them when we get to the air ball back to the head
00:43:39That's awesome down. You can really break your fingers
00:43:43Got to keep those fingers tight, but when you do you sacrifice speed
00:43:48I'm trying to plant an exchange there, and he did manage to get a right hand in over the top
00:44:02Well Gavin asked him to pick up his tempo when these rounds
00:44:08Rainer must feel that he's just not that active enough which would be our view over the last four rounds of me
00:44:12Boyd Jones is aiming for that man right shoulder hits him on that shoulder
00:44:26The God of know when you reach to throw that shoulder and if something doesn't happen, you don't know why
00:44:31It's him again on the same right shoulder
00:44:41That's the defense that Harding is presented to him and now he's aiming at that jet. No, I'm agreeing with you, George
00:44:47I think that's just
00:44:49Take that
00:44:51I believe in your defense
00:44:53Rocky Marciano would hit guys on their arms and their arms and things like that and next thing you know, they just drop their hands
00:44:59Harding got a one right hand in in the last exchange
00:45:04Harding's hand is already dropped
00:45:07Lord, but I meant to protect themselves at all
00:45:12Don't think of the people harding trying to get
00:45:19Right in the pocket now, you know something his corner hasn't even told him to do these things
00:45:29Right here a minute around eight. He's literally taking this guy's right hand out of the show
00:45:35Right here and I already maybe his best clean punch of the fight with this left
00:45:42Except the jab following that left
00:45:44That's backed up Jones because he was throwing as he came in I think that right hand got roy's attention and got him angry
00:45:57Hard thing to make him lose this temple
00:46:00Harding trying a little movement for a change
00:46:02Like when you those matter doors when they stick those bulls they make them do something
00:46:09another good right hand right harding another one now they stand in trade
00:46:15at the end of round number eight
00:46:17You got a punch just the way you did now you can still win this fight, but you got to go hard
00:46:33Take a deep breath what round
00:46:38Take a breath
00:46:40Started off with the jab keep close to him
00:46:42And hit him with the hook there nice
00:46:48Might be able to get a hook off of him
00:46:51Okay
00:46:54On the inside now make sure you work down and up don't stay up top all the time
00:47:02There you see Jones apparently shooting with the right arm and shoulder of harding
00:47:09But later in the round
00:47:13Harding comes right with the right right there
00:47:18We're into round nine scheduled for 12
00:47:21Eric harding and white the champion roy jones in the black with the right
00:47:24A red trim
00:47:28It hasn't been an easy go for jones who acknowledges
00:47:31They don't like to fight these southpaws and this guy might be the most difficult one
00:47:35The only thing you know you hear a clock
00:47:40Harding supporters from philadelphia carrying eric eric who would have drunk it
00:47:47Jones has been passed eight twelve times in his career we're in the night harding only three times
00:47:53But here's a guy fighting for the light heavyweight championship of the world
00:47:56He's on defense in the ninth round.
00:47:59That's not the way you do it.
00:48:01Jones got a good clean shot in there with his right hand.
00:48:04Hasn't had too many of them in this fight.
00:48:06Let him go, Eric. Let him go inside, Eric.
00:48:11Roy Jones continues. He's the aggressive.
00:48:15No question now.
00:48:18Champion of the world is the aggressive.
00:48:20What is happening? Roy has put his right hand, his left hand, over Hardy's right hand,
00:48:32and he keeps his hand up high so there's nothing he can hit him with.
00:48:37Jones landed to the body.
00:48:39Didn't move, Hardy.
00:48:40Keeps his left hand right above Hardy's right hand, and he walks in close.
00:48:45Hardy has to pick it up, and when he does, he runs into Roy's hand.
00:48:50There you go, Eric. Let him go inside.
00:48:58You tie the guy's hand up.
00:49:03Going exclusively now to the body, Roy.
00:49:08Harding hasn't knocked anybody out this late,
00:49:10so certainly he's got to be the more busy, aggressive fighter against Jones in these circumstances.
00:49:16Rodney's harding to step forward a bit so he can land a good shot.
00:49:21He can't hit him if he's leaning back.
00:49:25Wild swinging right.
00:49:27Landed to the tie on the cheekbone, just near the ear of Jones.
00:49:31Didn't seem to have too much effect.
00:49:32The fight that got him here, he finished strongly against Antonio Tarver.
00:49:42Put some hurt on him at the end, breaking a couple of ribs.
00:49:46And he hasn't shown any power that's bothered Jones so far.
00:49:51Let him go, Eric.
00:49:51Oh, big right hand by Jones, but he didn't move Harding.
00:50:06He's been waiting on that shot all night for Harding to be lowered, and he got him.
00:50:11Finally got him.
00:50:13Too bad he doesn't have the power of a true light heavyweight to finish him.
00:50:17He got him.
00:50:18And right at the bell, a straight right from Harding to the face of Roy Jones.
00:50:25One guy, he's going down now, you better be kidding, man.
00:50:30Man.
00:50:31That's the best you care.
00:50:33I'm going to go, one hand.
00:50:35That's how you're done.
00:50:36Well, what do you want to do?
00:50:38You and us.
00:50:40I can't hold the hand.
00:50:42I can't hold the hand.
00:50:43Left arm is.
00:50:44Left arm is bad.
00:50:46Look at him.
00:50:47I'm looking for a full round.
00:50:49Give him a little deep.
00:50:49Let it work.
00:50:50He's standing straight up.
00:50:51Right up.
00:50:51He's ready to sit.
00:50:55Shift your head moving in over.
00:50:59Roy Jones finally got in his big right hand.
00:51:03He's hit a lot of big light heavyweights with this punch.
00:51:06and it stuns them
00:51:09but that does not do them in.
00:51:12Harding complained of a problem
00:51:14with his left hand
00:51:15or left arm
00:51:16in the corner.
00:51:21Well, that count
00:51:21he's taken on his right shoulder.
00:51:23You think it'd be his right hand
00:51:24but it may have been
00:51:25from a punching through.
00:51:28We'll have to wait
00:51:29until after the fight
00:51:30to find out.
00:51:30Well, right now
00:51:31it's going to be
00:51:31nuts and guts time.
00:51:34We're into the 10th.
00:51:36Scheduled for 12.
00:51:39Harold, what do you got so far?
00:51:41Hook gets him.
00:51:4287, 84, 6 rounds to 3.
00:51:45Roy Jones screaming.
00:51:46You know,
00:51:46Roy Jones is the aggressive
00:51:50in the entire fight
00:51:51and he is.
00:51:52He's walking his side down
00:51:53constantly.
00:51:54Judges love affecting
00:51:55aggressive fighters like that
00:51:57and he's strong combinations
00:51:59hard and strong one at a time.
00:52:03Jones picking up some tempo
00:52:04here too in the latter rounds.
00:52:06It's all true, Harold,
00:52:07but this has been the most
00:52:09difficult fight
00:52:10for Roy Jones
00:52:11in a long time.
00:52:27Roy Jones steps
00:52:28and then steps
00:52:28to the outside.
00:52:31Harding's right foot.
00:52:33The fact is
00:52:34there's no evidence
00:52:35to show that Eric Harding
00:52:36could come up
00:52:36with a knockout shot
00:52:38or one shot
00:52:39and yet that's what
00:52:40he seems to be looking for.
00:52:41Oh, I think now
00:52:42he's looking to stay
00:52:43out of the harm's way.
00:52:45Roy Jones allowed him
00:52:46to taste that power
00:52:47and he doesn't want
00:52:48any of it.
00:52:52It's Roy Jones' quickness
00:52:53that intimidates
00:52:54his opponents
00:52:55from throwing
00:52:56too many punches.
00:53:07Harding got
00:53:08the right hand in.
00:53:10Solid jab.
00:53:12But Jones came right back
00:53:14with a combination count.
00:53:16He beats you to the punch
00:53:17before you can set up.
00:53:18He's gotten it.
00:53:19Harding's had everything
00:53:34in the world to whip
00:53:36Harding's had everything
00:53:38in the world to whip
00:53:40Harding's had everything
00:53:42in the world to whip
00:53:48Roy Jones with
00:53:49and Roy Jones went out
00:53:51and disarmed him.
00:53:52Beat him on one side
00:53:53of his shoulders.
00:53:55Made him miss
00:53:56and hurt in one hand.
00:53:58Just completely disarmed him.
00:54:01Right hand landed
00:54:02by Jones there.
00:54:04And that gets him
00:54:05backing up.
00:54:07Eric Harding
00:54:07lost the confident look
00:54:10he started to fight
00:54:10with for sure.
00:54:11And the young man
00:54:14doesn't even know
00:54:15what has happened to him.
00:54:16Final seconds
00:54:17of the 10th round.
00:54:19Now he's trying to keep
00:54:20his right hand
00:54:21out of the way.
00:54:23Look how he holds it
00:54:24as he walks.
00:54:27That's it.
00:54:29You want to quit.
00:54:30I can't feel too much.
00:54:33You got a doctor here?
00:54:35A doctor?
00:54:36I want a doctor.
00:54:38Doctor.
00:54:38I would like a doctor.
00:54:43I'll get you one.
00:54:44I'll get you one.
00:54:45Breathe, breathe.
00:54:46You can't fight like that.
00:54:48Don't talk like I am.
00:54:49Leave him alone.
00:54:50Why?
00:54:51Muscle.
00:54:53Where's the doctor?
00:54:54Come on.
00:54:55Al Gavin calling
00:54:56for the inside doctor.
00:54:58It looks like Al Gavin
00:55:00wants to stop the fight.
00:55:01I think he thinks
00:55:03that Eric Marting
00:55:06may have torn a muscle
00:55:07in his left bicep.
00:55:08Don't touch it.
00:55:22Don't touch it.
00:55:23Don't worry about it.
00:55:33Well it has been stopped
00:55:35because of an arm injury
00:55:36suffered by Eric Marting.
00:55:39The ring doctor
00:55:41advising him to not continue.
00:55:44Al Gavin
00:55:45the trainer Eric Harding asking for the doctor to come in and certainly the wise thing to not
00:55:55have his boxer out there so severely handicapped the doctor recommending that he could not go any
00:56:03farther with fighting one-handed in effect I don't think so I think he the guy was getting
00:56:09shut down and he told us all what the guys want to do now all of a sudden the guy can't do anything
00:56:15hardly protect himself doesn't want to get him knocked out called to quit George you're saying
00:56:20the guy quit and he wasn't injured is that right quit and the injury so what fighters get injured
00:56:26all the time we've broken our arms legs you hit Rod Jones said he fought with broken hands I agree
00:56:33with you on that you just don't quit like that until the doctor don't touch it all right let's
00:56:40get the official word on the finish from Michael Buffer ladies and gentlemen your attention please
00:56:47following the end of round 10 referee consultant with a corner of the challenger and the doctors
00:56:55the challenger suffers a torn ligament in his left arm he's unable to continue the winner by
00:57:02technical knockout and still the undisputed white heavyweight champion of the world
00:57:10Roy jones jr again the winner and again not the kind of a fight or the kind of a finish or the kind
00:57:29of a victory that he would like to have but he wins his 43rd against only one defeat
00:57:36Eric Harding unable to continue because of an arm injury consulting with his trainer then with the
00:57:44doctor and besides he's had enough and Roy jones gets the win final punch stat 101 punches landed by
00:57:57Roy jones to only 54 by eric harding harding it actually shows through more punches
00:58:05more punches than jones did but jones came on as the fight started to open up in the fifth and sixth round
00:58:12the power punch category jones landing 98 and harding only 31 of those and more of them thrown by
00:58:20Roy jones and let's go up and join the champion the lottery merchant
00:58:27thank you tim all right congratulations roy why do you think the fans are booing at the end of this fight
00:58:34because you know they want to see him get knocked out for one and for two you know eric is a difficult opponent
00:58:39he's tall and he's left handed a lot of pressure first of all I like to take time I thank God my Lord and Savior
00:58:43for everything he's done for me I'm so glad smoking a final morning world title thank everybody that got the pay-per-view
00:58:48helping to feed the kids all over the world and I just thank I just thank God that we got to do another
00:58:52successful night but yeah they wanted to knock out of course and he was wearing down they knew it was coming
00:58:56because he was getting tired and uh you know I knew it was going to be difficult to get up it was difficult for me to get up to train for Eric for one
00:59:00why because I had so much traveling the promoter to do I didn't fear Eric I didn't think he was really a big threat
00:59:06and it's hard to get up to fight guys like that especially at a time like this and then there's a lot of pressure on me
00:59:10because you know that was my last contract fight so now I'm like a free agent and um it's just it's difficult to go through
00:59:16such a task like that worry about smoking the world title shot so many different things to focus on
00:59:21why did it take you longer than usual to figure him out like three or four rounds I had him figure out
00:59:27I just wanted to work his arms that's why I beat his arms a lot and kind of that helped me out in the end
00:59:32because his arms wore down I beat his arms a lot I didn't want to wear it to none of his big shots
00:59:36he's heavy heavy and like I told you yesterday these guys are bigger than me so I can't get them free
00:59:40shots from me early I have to work them down then let them hit you've commented before about how light
00:59:47heavyweights true light heavyweights are guys who walk around well over 200 pounds and that you consider
00:59:53yourself really a big middleweight still a true super middleweight is what I really am so what impact
00:59:59does that have you've gone now with four tough fights against big strong light heavyweights how will
01:00:05that impact on your future now I'll get a chance to move back down and go fight some of the super
01:00:10middle super middleweight because I feel like that's my best division as super middleweight I'm glad like
01:00:15I said that I got this one out of the way this is one I didn't want to do I didn't really want to
01:00:18fight hard because I couldn't get up really for the fight because I call it one time where you had
01:00:22two words so are you saying that you're going to give up your light heavyweight belts I'm not saying
01:00:26that yet if somebody if something big comes along with Darius Mikoshevsky or something like that I'll
01:00:30stay and fight but other than that I'm going to be looking at going back to the super middleweight
01:00:33division so you're still holding out the possibility that Darius Mikoshevsky the undefeated German
01:00:39might be able to come to terms with you but barring that you're looking down towards
01:00:44a Hopkins rematch possibly or even a fight with Tito Trinidad anybody who wants to meet me at 168
01:00:54are welcome to come on my way you know I like I said I'm so glad to get through this and this was a
01:00:57lot of pressure on me so where most light heavyweights are looking to move up and wait and fight the
01:01:03heavyweights you feel that your best long-term interests are to move down and look for some of
01:01:09the good young and veteran fighters in the lower division fighting people my size quit giving these
01:01:14guys such a big size disadvantage on me is it disappoint you in any way that you weren't
01:01:18able to put on a real kind of jazz performance in the capital of jazz no because I knew my opponent
01:01:27was going to be difficult to put on that type of show with and I was more interested in smoke fight
01:01:31tonight than I was my own I was so happy that smoke got a victory because that's something that I've been
01:01:35sacrificing a lot of my career for you sure have and and you've been given a lot of credit for being
01:01:41so generous to your friend do you think in any way that a performance like this will have any
01:01:48effect on people's view of you as a the pound for best pound for pound best fighter in the world you
01:01:55know really I don't care if they got somebody they think about pound better than me tell them bring
01:01:58them to me I'll meet them so we'll find out who the best you know me I don't play I'm ready for
01:02:03whatever if they got somebody they think can beat Roy Jones Jr. send them to my way and I'll show you
01:02:07what I do with him tonight was not an interesting fight because like I don't know I didn't think
01:02:11harder could beat me I wasn't worried I really haven't really been training like I supposed to
01:02:14I've only been running like two weeks because I've been going so much trying to promote the fight
01:02:17I wanted to have smoke get a world title and promote this fight and give the paper through a chance but
01:02:21is it fair is it fair to fight fans who want to see you at your absolute best which many people
01:02:39believe is the best out there not to have trained seriously for this fight for whatever reason no
01:02:44it's not fair it was not fair to me because I didn't get a chance to as you know Larry they said I was
01:02:48rebellious because I didn't do things like that because I put training first this is the one and
01:02:52only time that I ever would go out and promote a fight like that and put that before the fight
01:02:55no more would that ever happen so when you hear back about me being not showing up to stuff again
01:02:59you know what happened I'm ready back to be back to fight I'm glad I got this man a title now now I
01:03:03can go forward you're a free agent now do you have any opportunities out there you want to tell us
01:03:10about any choices any decisions you've made no I won't talk I'm waiting to see what come out
01:03:14way I won't talk I'm the champion I'm glad you can to finally finish this off and still be world
01:03:20champion at the end of my contract got smoked in a world champion out of two of us me and Jay
01:03:24Prince about to do some good things you know we got to do some real big things in boxing I ain't
01:03:27doing it yet that was just like I said that was just one to get me out of the way what's up
01:03:30faith thank you for the song baby that hooked me up that got me ready tonight because it was very
01:03:33hard thank you very much Roy thank you for the call in the house what's up baby two world champions
01:03:39all right Larry here the final scorecards all three judges had Jones ahead at the stoppage now let's
01:03:48return to the ring and Larry Merchant with Eric Harding all right Eric you seem to have him confused
01:03:55early in the fight then he adjusted to you you didn't seem to be able to adjust to him after that
01:04:03what happened well not to make no excuses but at the second round I was throwing straight left hands
01:04:08then some I wanted to throw overhand left and he blocked it with his right hand and it tore the
01:04:13muscle in my arm there the second round second round and I told Al and he goes well just don't
01:04:18think about it that's what they kept at my corner kept hollering don't think about it don't think
01:04:20about it and I just I mean I couldn't throw left hands like I wanted to I mean so I just went I
01:04:25just was fighting with one hand and after the 10th level round I was like man that's just that's it
01:04:29I mean he wasn't hurting me at all so you're fighting with one hand but you're still fighting you're
01:04:33in a you're in a fight with Roy Jones you're fighting for the light heavyweight championship of
01:04:37the world you mean to tell me you couldn't find some way to get through it oh I could have got
01:04:42through it I could have went two more rounds I mean he wasn't hurting me at all it was a corner
01:04:45decision I told him to let me go I mean he never he never won't have me hurt he he doesn't hit as
01:04:50hard as as people say he does I mean he's fast but his punches wasn't hurting me at all I mean I
01:04:55could have went I can survive two rounds with anybody but one hand so why didn't you take it upon
01:05:01yourself then to say look I want to finish this fight I told him I wanted to finish but Mr. Gavin
01:05:05said you can't fight with one hand you went long enough and that was it all right now Gavin you
01:05:10tell us he could have finished the fight he says why didn't you let him go on I've seen those kind
01:05:15of injuries before and it could be the end of a career if he went a couple more rounds I'm not a
01:05:21doctor but when I see that he can't keep his arm up I've got to be concerned and ask a doctor I had
01:05:27the doctor come to the corner and he agreed with me thank you very much Al well that was last Saturday
01:05:34New Orleans we're here at New Orleans Arena and when you take a look at the last seven fights fought
01:05:40by Roy Jones you'll see that with one exception against an unqualified opponent he went the full
01:05:4512-round distance three times and went 10 rounds or more than the other three fights against an
01:05:52unqualified opponent he went the full 12-round distance three times and went 10 rounds or more
01:05:57than the other three fights which leads me to ask George Foreman is his apparent decision to go down
01:06:02to 168 pounds a good one and is it driven perhaps by the fact he can't flatten these big guys you know
01:06:09when I in my boxing day I had one of the highest knockout percentages of anyone mainly because I
01:06:14didn't believe I could win by decision you'd be afraid to try to go out there and go 12 rounds Roy
01:06:20Jones jr's got confidence he believed that he can win fights over the distance he's gonna he's gonna go
01:06:25to distance for a long time because of his confidence he drops down into the middleweight still has the
01:06:30confidence is still going to distance a lot okay well now Larry Merchant again it sounds like Roy's
01:06:36made up his mind here is it a good idea in your opinion and if so why Roy Jones has always said that
01:06:43Roy Jones wants a challenge it is not a challenge for Roy Jones who even though he wasn't knocking out
01:06:49light heavyweights was soundly trouncing most of them to move back down to a lower weight he doesn't
01:06:56want to fight the big heavyweights out there today understandable that's where the real challenge is
01:07:02but moving down in weight will get him the other thing he wants the big mega event he could fight a
01:07:09rematch with Bernard Hopkins that would be the first time in half a century that the best light
01:07:15heavyweight and the best middleweight in the world met in the ring and then later on he could be meeting
01:07:20Tito Trinidad in what would truly be a mega event he's doing the smart thing if not the challenging
01:07:28thing Tim well I can't disagree with that and it sure sounds like that's where he wants to be
01:07:33at 168 pounds where he himself says he would be at his optimum weight and that's a weight in which he
01:07:40would knock out most of his opponents of course one thing will drive this more than any other and
01:07:45that's money join us later tonight at 11 30 eastern and pacific for inside the NFL as Len Chris
01:07:52Nick Jerry and the newest member of the team Dan Marino take a complete look back in the first look
01:07:57ahead at all the action throughout the NFL real sports with Bryant Gumbel continues throughout the
01:08:02month of September some of the stories to be featured include the most controversial owner in
01:08:06the NFL Washington Redskins Dan Snyder also find out how the money is being used in Sammy Sosa's
01:08:13Charity Foundation not quite the way you would expect real sports nothing is out of bounds for
01:08:19Larry Merchant George Foreman and Harold Letterman this is Tim Ryan saying so long from New Orleans
01:08:23Arena in New Orleans Louisiana the executive producer of HBO Sports is Ross Greenberg tonight's broadcast
01:08:31produced by Rick Bernstein and directed by Mark Payton feature producer Jonathan Crystal associate directors Greg
01:08:39backer Walter roll potty and Michael Whalen assistant to the producer Thomas Huffine production manager
01:08:45John McCallie our technical supervisor Jim Baker and the technical director Douglas get
01:08:51and did not
01:09:02in the world
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01:09:06do
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