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Heavyweight contenders Maurice Harris and Jeremy Williams face off on HBO Boxing After Dark from the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Plus an interview with WBC Champion Lennox Lewis.
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00:00Fox Sports Network.
00:08The following is a special presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.
00:30The following is a special presentation of HBO Sports Network.
01:00The following is a special presentation of HBO Sports Network.
01:30The following is a special presentation of HBO Sports Network.
01:32A last-minute throw-in taking on knockout sensation and possible heavyweight contender Jeremy Williams.
01:39In the theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
01:42And while tomorrow brings for New Yorkers the cold prospect of the continuing slow execution of the Knicks by the San Antonio Spurs,
01:49tonight, welcome aboard for some boxing heat.
01:52As four heavyweights grapple to see who will seize center stage in the continuing competition to find new contenders for the heavyweight throne.
02:03Hello again, everybody. I'm Jim Lafley.
02:05We welcome you tonight to what might be one of the most significant cards ever in the three-and-a-half-year history of boxing after dark.
02:11Significant because Michael Grant already wears, among boxing media, the identity of heir apparent,
02:18maybe the number three or the number two man in the heavyweight division,
02:22maybe the man most likely to take the throne after Lennox Lewis somewhere steps aside.
02:26But, while there are continuing problems in the negotiation for a possible Lewis-Holyfield rematch,
02:33Lewis himself has flown across the ocean to be here at ringside tonight
02:37and has already held a news conference earlier in the evening to make the point
02:40that if, in fact, no fight can be made with Holyfield,
02:44he's ready to move his business forward and fight the winner of tonight's main event between Grant and Savary.
02:50So, the winner of that fight has at least a chance of fighting for the heavyweight title.
02:54At the very least, he's a pawn in the ongoing negotiations for a title fight.
02:59Before that, we had expected to see knockout sensation Jeremy Williams as a heavy underdog
03:04against the much more highly regarded Hasim Rahman.
03:07But Monday of this week, just five days ago, Rahman suddenly dropped out of the fight,
03:12citing a back injury, which many around here believe is suspect.
03:15And now Williams goes from heavy underdog to overwhelming favorite against last-minute throw-in Maurice Harris,
03:23whose new handlers at top-ranked promotions say he's the best fighter in the heavyweight division
03:28with nine losses on his record.
03:31No losses so far on the record of boxing analyst Larry Merchant,
03:34who joins us once again here on Boxing After Dark.
03:36Larry, I mentioned that in the eyes of many insiders in the boxing world,
03:40Grant already wears the mantle of best young upcoming heavyweight.
03:47When is the general public likely to join in and get on the Grant bandwagon?
03:52Well, first, Jim, I think the marquee name geezers, meaning Holyfield, Lewis, and Tyson,
03:58have to keep fighting in different fights, and there'll be a stampede off of their bandwagons.
04:04Next, the new kids on the block have to keep making their case.
04:08And if they do, by the year 2000, which isn't that far away,
04:12then the geezers will find suddenly that they have a real 3YK problem.
04:19Three young knockout artists are chasing them.
04:22In addition to Grant, there's Aika Bayabuchi, who may be the most talented,
04:27if not the most stable of the three,
04:29and David Tua, who has actually earned a mandatory shot at the title.
04:35Tonight, it's Michael Grant's turn to pull the bandwagon.
04:40And we'll see if Grant can seize the spotlight later tonight,
04:43or if Jeremy Williams has already stolen it in the preliminary fight
04:46with his left hook knockout power.
04:49Not much is known, incidentally, about Williams' opponent, Maurice Harris,
04:53but one of the things that makes light heavyweight champion Roy Jones
04:56the expert here on Boxing After Dark is that he knows Harris.
04:59In fact, he's sparred with him.
05:01So you've been in the ring with the guy.
05:03What chance does he have to upset Williams' apple cart?
05:06Maurice Harris has a brilliant chance of upsetting Williams.
05:09The main reason is because Maurice Harris has one of the best straight right hands
05:13in the business of boxing.
05:14Jeremy Williams has a suspicious chin, as we all know.
05:17Anytime you have a guy with a suspicious chin fighting a hard puncher,
05:21then you have a chance for an upset.
05:23So be on the lookout for that big right hand from Maurice Harris.
05:26All right, it's the Harris right hand against the Williams left hand
05:29in what could be a fireworks show.
05:31Let's take a look at the tale of the tape.
05:33Jeremy Williams in 1992 was an amateur star at 178 pounds.
05:37He went immediately to heavyweight and has been over 210 for quite some time.
05:42Weighs in tonight at 217.
05:44Three years older than Harris, who's been fighting as a pro since he was 17 years old
05:49and has a two-inch reach advantage here.
05:52Rules of the bout with our unofficial ringside scorer, Harold Letterman.
05:54The Jeremy Williams-Maurice Harris fight is scheduled for 10 rounds
05:58using the rules of the New York State Athletic Commission.
06:01Of course, no titles involved.
06:03The standing eight count is in effect.
06:05The three-knockdown rule is in effect.
06:08The referee or the doctor can stop the fight,
06:10and he cannot be saved by the bell in any round,
06:12including the 10th and final rounds.
06:14Jim.
06:17All right, thank you very much, Harold.
06:19We told you that Harris is promoted by top-ranked boxing.
06:21Therefore, he fought four weeks ago on the undercard of Oscar De La Hoya and Obakar in Las Vegas,
06:29knocking out Luis Monaco in one round that night.
06:32Says he stayed in the gym, stayed in shape,
06:34and is ready for this unlikely last-minute opportunity.
06:38Well, somebody out there is hoping that he's another Mike Weaver.
06:43Mike Weaver had a 14-8 record, if my memory serves,
06:48when he challenged Larry Holmes in the big room at the Garden,
06:52nearly knocked him out,
06:53and later went on to win a heavyweight title.
06:57Harris as one of the real good regional trainers in the sport,
07:01in Tommy Parks,
07:02who has been taking care of him in a New Jersey gym.
07:04Here's a closer look at hopeful Maurice Harris.
07:07He has actually sparred with a heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis,
07:13and Roy Jones, the former middleweight
07:15and the current undisputed light heavyweight champion.
07:17He lost a highly disputed 10-round decision to Larry Holmes in this ring a couple of years ago.
07:24And as Jim pointed out,
07:26he should be in near-top shape because he fought very recently.
07:30Jeremy Williams, when first signed out of the Amateurs in 1992
07:37by former Mike Tyson manager Bill Gayton,
07:41was penciled in to inherit the role that Tyson had held
07:45as the knockout sensation of the division.
07:47It hasn't always worked out that way.
07:49He's had two big stumbling blocks.
07:51His losses to boxer Larry Donald
07:53and 6-foot-8-inch anomaly Henry Akinwande.
07:57He says he just didn't know how to fight a guy.
08:00With Akinwande's frame at that time.
08:02Since then, eight consecutive knockouts.
08:06What he says, Jim, is that he used to think only like a knockout fighter and a brawler.
08:12Now he's learned that fighting the big guys in the heavyweight division,
08:16he has to respect their strength and power
08:18and that he is starting to be a little bit more resourceful as a boxer.
08:24We'll see.
08:24Strong corner, as you see, with Ronnie Shields, the trainer,
08:27and Lou Duvla assisting.
08:28Closer look at Jeremy Williams of Long Beach, California.
08:32A very interesting background.
08:33His father is a black Syrian.
08:35His mother is Irish.
08:36He speaks multiple languages.
08:39And as Jim noted again,
08:41he has had nine straight KOs,
08:43but don't ask who he was fighting against.
08:46And now let's go up to ring announcer Michael Buffer
08:49for the official introductions.
08:50Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to New York City's Madison Square Garden,
08:58where tonight, main events in association with your undisputed, undefeated king of beers, Budweiser.
09:06This Bud's for you.
09:07Present professional boxing for your entertainment,
09:11sanctioned by the New York State Athletic Commission.
09:13The three judges assigned at ringside to score this first bout.
09:17Scoring on a ten-point must system will be Melvina Latham, Fred Ucci, and Steve Weisfeld.
09:25And when the bell rings, your referee in charge of the action, Arthur Mercanti, Jr.
09:30And now, ladies and gentlemen, from Madison Square Garden,
09:34ten rounds of boxing in the heavyweight division.
09:39Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner,
09:42wearing red, trimmed with white, and weighing in at 205 pounds.
09:48His professional record is 14 victories with nine knockouts,
09:53nine defeats with two draws.
09:54He comes to us from Newark, New Jersey.
09:56Ladies and gentlemen, here is Maurice.
10:00Moatbetter Harris.
10:06And his opponent across the ring, fighting out of the red corner,
10:10wearing gray and weighing in at 217 pounds.
10:14His professional record, 34 victories, including 31 by knockout with only two losses.
10:22Ladies and gentlemen, from Long Beach, California,
10:24here is Jeremy Williams.
10:30Good evening, gentlemen.
10:35You received the rules early in the locker room.
10:38I expect a nice, clean fight, touch gloves.
10:40Good luck to the both of you.
10:42Jeremy Williams, Jim, is not that highly regarded, certainly in the elite levels of heavyweight boxing.
10:49But for one reason or another, Aikabe Abuchi and Hasim Rahman had opportunities to fight him and for very good purses.
10:59And they found reasons not to.
11:02He does have a big left hook.
11:04And that could have been the reason.
11:06Williams is known to be a fast starter.
11:10Watch for the left hook early.
11:12Williams also has, as Roy Jones pointed out, a questionable chin.
11:16Let's see if Harris has a plan for that early on.
11:21Maurice Harris, a range E-fighter.
11:23And you see him trying to stick the jab early.
11:25Jeremy Williams trying to learn how to fight less upright, how to bob and weave a little more,
11:33how to bend his knees and fight like the smaller man instead of like the bigger man.
11:38But he's fighting like the bigger man here, Jim, because he is the bigger man.
11:42Harris at 6'4 and 205 does not have the build of a real heavyweight.
11:48We'll see if he's got that right hand of a real heavyweight that Roy referred to.
11:54Roy's touted his right hand.
11:57Last right hand I heard Roy talking about like that was Vince Phillips.
12:02And he sent Kostasuin to Never Never Land with him.
12:05The only problem here tonight is that Maurice is already letting Jeremy come in and get off too much.
12:10Jeremy is trying to show Maurice that he is the man and he's going to try to stay there tonight.
12:16Body shots by Williams.
12:17Uppercut inside by Maurice Harris.
12:23Vicious body shots with the right hand by Jeremy Williams.
12:27And Harris seems a little taken back by the early aggression.
12:31Yes, he does.
12:32And perhaps the occasion as well, although right in this ring he fought Larry Holmes two years ago when he was just 21.
12:39And Holmes was what, 82?
12:43That's the last time Harris appeared on television.
12:47A week ago, the last thing Harris would have expected is that he'd be on HBO tonight.
12:52Left hook lands for Harris and momentarily stops Williams from punching.
12:56Now Jeremy comes back starting behind the jab.
12:59Right hand for Harris.
13:04Slipped those punches very nicely.
13:09Right hand lands for Harris.
13:13Williams comes back with a straight left.
13:16Right.
13:16Williams took that right hand very good, though.
13:27Don't want to take too many of them.
13:34Harris with another right hand.
13:36I'm not sure Harris has yet landed the A-plus right hand.
13:40He's at least gotten the B-plus in there, though.
13:42And as you said, Jeremy took it pretty well.
13:45There's another cracking right hand by Maurice Harris as Williams comes inside.
13:51And Jeremy's in a good overhand right himself.
13:58Looks to be a cut or a red walk over Jeremy's left eye.
14:02Yep.
14:03Trickle of blood around Williams' left eye.
14:06Harris sees it and begins doubling up on punches as round one comes to an action-filled close.
14:12Listen to me.
14:15Go ahead.
14:16Open up a little bit.
14:16Okay.
14:17Listen to me, all right?
14:19Okay.
14:19Now, look, take your time, all right?
14:21Nice and easy, nice and easy.
14:22Just stay with the jab.
14:23Stay with the jab.
14:24Walk him out with this guy, all right?
14:25All right?
14:26Yes, look, listen.
14:28Hands high.
14:29Move the head a little bit.
14:30Relax a little bit.
14:31Try to butt yourself.
14:32Okay.
14:33Don't butt yourself with this guy.
14:34Okay.
14:35Come on, now.
14:36That was a good man.
14:37Level of intensity, right?
14:39You can get inside, though.
14:40Bang him into the light.
14:42Give me some water.
14:43Yeah, yeah.
14:44Good guy.
14:45Buck's in there.
14:46Yup.
14:47I see you.
14:47Buck's in nice.
14:48Let's go get nice.
14:49I know you're going to get him.
14:50I see you shooting that right hand with death on him.
14:52That's it.
14:53Just relax.
14:54Do what your man tell you.
14:55That little boy.
14:56That little boy.
14:57Shooting the right hand with death on it.
15:06Never heard that one before, Roy.
15:08That's what it has on it, though.
15:10Is that death with a TH or death with an E?
15:13I mean, that F.
15:15Oh, boy.
15:17Well, if it puts you to sleep, it's both.
15:22High death.
15:23Jeremy can't stay outside and allow Maurice this much room to throw this right hand, though.
15:30Jeremy should stay inside like he was doing with him earlier.
15:33Such a dramatic change for Williams.
15:35As of Monday or Tuesday, he was still expecting to fight Hasim Rachman.
15:39Rachman is bigger than Williams.
15:41Has a long jab that Williams would have labored to get inside.
15:45It was a whole different kind of fight than the one he winds up with against Harris.
15:49Well, I don't know.
15:49I don't think he would have wanted to stay outside with Rachman, either,
15:52because, like you said, Rachman is bigger.
15:54He has a longer jab.
15:55So I think either way, Jeremy would have had to be the inside fighter.
15:58And right here tonight, he needs to be the inside fighter.
16:00For sure.
16:01Working to get inside here.
16:03One minute into round two.
16:12Maurice Harris looking for an opportunity to drop in that straight right hand.
16:17Well, after that initial onslaught in the first half of the first round,
16:24Harris has shown some nice poise here.
16:29That's why Jeremy can't stay outside right there.
16:32He's hurt.
16:33I'll repeat right now.
16:34He can't stay outside because he's going to get him beat.
16:37Right hand gets a damage.
16:39Jeremy Williams wobbling against the ropes.
16:41Maurice Harris looking for a giant upset.
16:46Well, I thought Harris even wobbled a little bit when he went to the corner at the end of the first round.
16:50You mean, Williams.
16:51I mean, Williams.
16:52Yeah, I thought so too, Larry.
16:53But he can't fight outside here.
16:55If he fights outside, he's going to get caught that big right hand soon.
16:59Jeremy Williams with a behind-the-back connect.
17:05Is that against the rules?
17:07Oh, McCandy didn't like it.
17:12That cut has opened up now, too.
17:14And it is directly above the left eye where it could impair Jeremy's vision if the blood starts to flow.
17:20Right hand lands for Williams there.
17:22And blood comes from Harris' nose.
17:37Yeah.
17:41Product, I believe, of that Williams' right hand over the top.
17:45Either dead or the uppercut.
17:46The fact that Harris was unable to take advantage of Williams when Williams was clearly wobbled
17:53suggests to me that maybe he's really not in the kind of shape where he was willing to expend enough energy
18:01to see if he could get it all done.
18:04And perhaps with an eye toward that, Jeremy Williams starts going back to the body.
18:08There you see, early in the round, where Williams was hurt, right in here on the ropes.
18:23That uppercut seemed to wobble him.
18:25You can see him leaning back against the ropes.
18:27Still aware of what's going on.
18:30And later on, you see this behind-the-back punch.
18:33If he loses tonight, maybe the Knicks could use him in the backcourt.
18:36So, when you go, when you get close, you've got to hit this guy in the body.
18:40But you've got to throw uppercuts at the guy now.
18:42He's leaning down on you now, okay?
18:44This guy hucked him and puffed him already now, okay?
18:49Come on, give me some water.
18:50Give me some water.
18:51Okay.
18:51Now, look.
18:52Beat this guy on the arm.
18:53Beat his arm down.
18:53Beat his arm down.
18:54Give me some faints.
18:57Faints and walk him out, okay?
18:59No problem.
19:00No problem.
19:01Faints and walk him out.
19:02You heard Ronnie Shields' observation that he believes that Harris is having some kind
19:11of problem with his conditioning.
19:15Harold, how'd you score it through two?
19:16Jim, I got a 10-10, 19-19.
19:19I thought Jeremy was just too busy in the first two minutes of the first round.
19:22I thought he won that.
19:23But the second round, I thought Maurice Harris won when he hurt him with that right hand.
19:26The trouble with Maurice Harris, and this is what kills the judges, is he doesn't fight
19:30three minutes of a round.
19:31A lot of times he thoughts it when he should be punching.
19:34And, you know, you have to make a decision.
19:35Did he do enough at the time that he fought?
19:38He also looks like he's running out of gas a little bit here in round number three.
19:42Yes, he does.
19:43We suggest that he may not be in the condition that we think he would be in coming off of
19:47a fight four weeks ago.
19:49Maybe he took a couple weeks off and didn't tell us about it because, of course, he wants
19:54to put the best possible face on his participation here.
19:57Well, I'll tell you what.
19:58Jeremy Williams is doing a good job of throwing body shots to make sure he helps that conditioning
20:02problem if there is one.
20:04He's throwing very good body shots.
20:06Hard right hand by Williams.
20:08Turns Harris' head to the side.
20:11And the blood continues to flow from Harris' nose.
20:14And now, in round three, it's all Jeremy Williams as Harris is not getting off at all.
20:20As a little left to inside by Harris, the first landed punch for him in a while.
20:27Blood all over his face.
20:31Some of the blood from Jeremy's left eye, although they've done a pretty good job in his corner
20:37on that.
20:38Most of it is from his own nose, Jim.
20:40Yep, you're right.
20:44Harris stalking and looking to land one big right hand and turn it back around.
20:47But so far, it's been a big round for Jeremy Williams, and he slams the left hook through
20:52the guard.
20:53He's throwing a big left hook, too.
20:57Double left down for Jeremy Williams.
21:04He's much busy, and he's not giving Maurice a chance to get off now, and that's the way
21:09he should have been fighting.
21:10He can't win the fight fighting outside.
21:11He needs to be inside.
21:12He has totally put Harris on the defensive of this round.
21:18The body shots are calling for wear and tear, too.
21:24Fight scheduled for ten rounds.
21:29We're only in the third, and already Maurice Harris shows signs of flagging.
21:34Here's a quick right hand on the top by Harris.
21:37Just missed a tiny bit short.
21:40Could have turned things totally back around if he'd landed it on the bucket.
21:43Come on, come on, everybody, Larry.
21:45That body's already.
21:47Three, five.
21:50Clean that body, down there.
21:54Come on.
21:55All right.
21:56Round three comes to a close. Big round for Jeremy Williams.
22:16Coming up in the next bout, you'll see the heir apparent, the heavyweight division,
22:20or at least the man largely identified by media that way, Michael Grant,
22:24against veteran Lou Savarese.
22:26Savarese thinks he has a terrific chance to score the upset here tonight.
22:30Grant, when first he arrived here an hour and a half ago,
22:33was wisecracking with the television announcers,
22:35and for Michael Grant, he looks very loose and relaxed tonight.
22:39You're boxing beautiful out there, baby.
22:52Give me a deep breath. Let's do it.
22:54Look, you ain't very safe. This guy and I ain't no damn safe.
22:56Joe, get out.
22:58Jeremy Williams, well known for his left,
23:01but he can also throw the right.
23:04Later in the round, he gave him something of the left.
23:08Second's out. Second's out. Let's go.
23:11Jeremy Williams doubling Maurice Harris and power shots in the third round.
23:17Landing 14, only 7 for Harris.
23:20And Jeremy Williams comes out trying to keep the pressure on as round four begins.
23:27Jabbing, bobbing, and weaving inside, and going to Harris' body.
23:31And again, the blood begins to flow from the left nostril of Maurice Harris.
23:45Harris fighting with his mouth open here in the fourth round
23:49and appearing to gasp for breath.
23:51There's a straight right hand by Harris.
23:59That skims the tide for a moment, and Williams is wobbling again.
24:03He hurt bad, Jim. He hurt very bad there.
24:06And now Harris goes back on the offensive.
24:08And Williams fires a counter left, and then wobbles off the ropes.
24:12He's hurt very bad.
24:14His legs are not there.
24:15He's hurt very bad, but Harris is so tired,
24:19that he may not be able to catch a lot of those.
24:20Harris lands another right.
24:23Lands an uppercut.
24:25Williams not throwing.
24:27Upset in the making.
24:33He's too tired to capitalize, I think.
24:35This is the second time in the fight
24:37that Maurice Harris has had Jeremy Williams going,
24:40and the second time in the fight
24:42that Williams is going to survive
24:44because Harris doesn't have the ammunition to keep throwing.
24:47He just doesn't have the condition to keep throwing.
24:50We've still got a long way to go in this round.
24:53I have to be careful, though.
24:57Oh, the uppercut got him.
24:59He better lay on him.
25:00That could be the turning point.
25:02He's better than Jeremy Lay on him.
25:04Well, he's a very inexperienced fighter,
25:06despite 23 foot fights.
25:07And he's got him going now.
25:11And maybe Williams doesn't survive.
25:13Williams should take a count right now
25:15to go to his knee,
25:17give himself a blow.
25:18Williams did against Lance Whitaker a few months ago.
25:22Williams could really use the rest.
25:24Harris' arms are dead tired.
25:33Well, he's trying to get by
25:34on sheer professionalism and great
25:36right now, Williams.
25:42You're right about one thing, Roy.
25:45Harris has dynamite in his right hand.
25:47I told you what.
25:53Black tells the story
25:54as Jeremy Williams tries to last out the fourth round.
26:01He's dead tired, Jim.
26:04Morris has his dead tired.
26:06Can't do it.
26:09Williams is going to make it out of the round.
26:11Jeremy, come on, come on, raise up.
26:21Get the mouthpiece, Joe.
26:22You feel right?
26:23Yeah.
26:23All right, look, this guy's dead.
26:25Look, this guy pushed himself out now.
26:27Listen to me, damn it.
26:28Listen.
26:28Listen.
26:29Listen to me.
26:30Put the fuck in here.
26:30This guy's punched out.
26:31This guy's dead out there.
26:33Something to be like.
26:34He's dead.
26:36Just you worry just about the body now.
26:39Good shot to the head once in a while,
26:40but the body's going to kill him.
26:41Where's the towel?
26:42Take your towel and dry space also.
26:44Where's the towel?
26:45Give it a towel.
26:50Jeremy Williams is fighting for his professional life
26:54in this round.
26:56Hurt several times there by a left uppercut.
27:00Every punch you can get hurt by,
27:02he got hurt by in that round.
27:06One round.
27:06The folks at top rank look pretty good right now.
27:16Floyd Mayweather Jr. helped to convince them
27:19to take a chance on a heavyweight
27:21who had 13 wins and nine losses.
27:24And right now, Maurice Harris has a chance
27:27to make them look like geniuses
27:29if he can go ahead and knock out Jeremy Williams.
27:32He's been very close on two occasions.
27:37He just has to hope his conditioning
27:39doesn't come back to hunting.
27:40That's the main reason he has nine losses
27:42on his record now.
27:44Conditioning.
27:48Are you saying he didn't like to train
27:51when you knew him and you sparred with him?
27:53Well, I just don't think he took the sport
27:54serious enough to train every day.
27:56That's what he says, too.
28:00He was well into his career
28:01and already had seven losses
28:02before he realized he could be good.
28:05I got it. I got it.
28:06Don't tell me my job.
28:07I got it.
28:14Another thudding right hand for Harris.
28:17He's got Williams going again.
28:18Jeremy Williams has got to find a way
28:25to block or slip Maurice Harris' right hand.
28:28If he keeps eating it,
28:29he won't be here all night.
28:30As long as he let Maurice get off from the outside,
28:32Maurice is going to hit him with the right hand.
28:33Jeremy has to be inside
28:35and neutralize that right hand.
28:37He can't neutralize the right hand
28:38from the outside.
28:39So his mistake is to back up.
28:41Every time he backs up
28:43and puts distance between himself and Harris,
28:45he's increasing Harris' chances.
28:46To hit him with the big right hand.
28:47He should be stepping forward,
28:49not back.
28:58Awfully hard when you're eating leather
29:00to walk through it instead of away from it.
29:05Harris lands another right.
29:17Harris has shown some heart, though,
29:23because he's dead tired here.
29:26Good party shot by Jeremy Williams.
29:28As you watch Maurice Harris
29:42giving Jeremy Williams all the fight
29:46he can possibly handle.
29:48You have to wonder what Hasim Rahman
29:51and Ike Meabuchi are thinking.
29:53He took the words right out of my mouth.
29:56Good hook here by Marty's hair.
29:59He hurt Jeremy to the body.
30:00He hurt Jeremy to the body.
30:00He hurt Jeremy to the body.
30:00He hurt Jeremy to the body.
30:00He hurt Jeremy to the body.
30:04Jeremy is trying to get busier here.
30:06Ike Meabuchi turned down $575,000
30:12to fight Jeremy Williams.
30:15It was even more than that, Jim,
30:16because his promoter
30:17even wanted to give him some money.
30:20But Ike Meabuchi has some strange ideas
30:23of how much money he should be earning.
30:25But you want to know something?
30:28You got to pay a little attention
30:29to your corner here.
30:30Yeah, Maurice.
30:31Get that off my throat.
30:33You got to bang him to the body.
30:36Okay?
30:37Maurice Harris is getting $40,000.
30:40Nice job, Doc.
30:41Nice job, Maurice.
30:43In the clinches, right?
30:44Don't leave your head right in the middle.
30:46Controvers on the inside.
30:47Combination.
30:48When you finish punching,
30:49step around the guy.
30:50Don't just stand right in front of the guy.
30:52Come on, you got to...
30:53You on the outside, use the jab.
30:54Come on, this guy's more shit
30:55than you are out there for Christ.
30:57Come on, now.
30:57Come on, now.
30:58Come on.
30:58Come on.
30:59Six.
31:00Come on, now move your hands, all right?
31:01Come on, let me see your punch now.
31:02Come on.
31:03Wipe up that water, please.
31:05Get that water, please.
31:07Roy Jones, I see Harris looking over at you
31:09between rounds,
31:10and I get the sense that it inspires him
31:11to be fighting in front of you.
31:12Well, what he said was,
31:14I got him, Roy.
31:15I got him.
31:18And he has him with another right hand
31:20to start the sixth.
31:21Quickly, Harold,
31:22how do you have it through five?
31:23Jim, 4-2, 48-46.
31:25Maurice Harris,
31:26give him an extra point in round four
31:28without a knockdown.
31:29He certainly almost had a mouth.
31:30He certainly deserves that extra point.
31:33So, Harris in control
31:35on the Letterman scorecard.
31:38Harris with a 49-34 edge
31:40and power shots
31:41by CompuBox numbers through five.
31:43Harris carrying the day
31:45after having taken this fight
31:47fewer than five days ago.
31:51See, this is Jeremy's mistake.
31:52He can't beat Harris outside there.
31:54He cannot beat Harris
31:55and fight outside like that.
31:56Because you give Harris a chance
31:58to take a full swing
31:59with that right hand.
32:00Too much room to punch.
32:01Just like that.
32:02Way too much room to punch.
32:04If Harris keeps getting to throw
32:05that right hand,
32:07Jeremy Williams is going to go to sleep
32:08at some point along the way.
32:10He keeps giving him all that room.
32:11and he's going to continuously
32:12get hit with that right hand.
32:20Jeremy, too short of the two fighters,
32:21he needs to get inside
32:22and try to punish Maurice Harris' body.
32:26He must be hurt again
32:27because he's on the move.
32:33Well, there you go.
32:34Jeremy Williams,
32:35who was a huge puncher
32:36throughout his amateur career,
32:38still struggles as a heavyweight
32:40to learn to fight
32:41as the smaller man.
32:42He's here against a taller fighter
32:44and he keeps standing outside
32:45and giving him rain.
32:46Yeah, but that was a good right hand
32:47by Jeremy Williams just now.
32:49A very good right hand.
32:50Step back.
32:51Let's keep it clean now.
32:56Solid left hook
32:57by Maurice Harris.
32:59Williams wobbled again.
33:01Boy, that left hook
33:02was thrown with as much power
33:04as his right cross.
33:05He has good punches
33:06in both hands, Jim.
33:07Can those punches hurt
33:10a real big, tough heavyweight, Roy?
33:14Yes, they can.
33:15He has that Muhammad Ali speed on him.
33:17Speed can hurt anything.
33:21If I ever do go up to the heavyweight division,
33:23I'll show you.
33:26Well, would you fight him
33:28as your first heavyweight, Roy?
33:29Fight who?
33:30Maurice?
33:30Yeah.
33:31If he wins tonight?
33:32Well, he doesn't have a title.
33:33What's in it for me today
33:34and for Maurice?
33:36So you're only going to fight title holders
33:37for the likely.
33:40They're big.
33:42They're bigger than Maurice.
33:44Oh, yeah.
33:45Great.
33:45Crowd getting its money's worth.
33:54Great.
33:56It isn't Williams
33:56against Tassim Rahman.
33:58From the standpoint
33:59of sheer entertainment,
34:01it may be much better.
34:02I believe it is.
34:04Oh.
34:05Williams is exhausted, Roy.
34:08Yes, he is.
34:11Three rounds ago,
34:12it was Harris' conditioning
34:14which was the issue.
34:16Now Williams is out
34:17on his feet from exhaustion.
34:20Come on, man.
34:22Oh, man.
34:23Look.
34:24We're at the point there.
34:27Right here is the story
34:29of the fight,
34:30which is that Harris
34:31has been able to nail
34:32Williams with those right hands.
34:37The other part of the story
34:39is that Harris has taken
34:41Williams' punches
34:42moves pretty well.
34:43Very well to be,
34:44what,
34:4512 pounds lighter?
34:48Yep.
34:4812 pounds lighter's right.
34:54Nice job, Corner.
34:55Nice job.
34:57Maurice.
34:58Yeah, don't stand by the front.
35:00Nice job, Corner.
35:00Nice job.
35:01Okay?
35:01Okay, come on.
35:02Come on.
35:02Let's go.
35:03Come on.
35:03Let's go.
35:03Let's go.
35:04You heard him.
35:04She's got a tiny tail.
35:05Look at her.
35:09Steve, one of you had seven.
35:12Jeremy Williams
35:14going to have to win,
35:16oh, at least three
35:17of the next four rounds
35:18and maybe do something
35:19dramatic,
35:20get a knockdown
35:21or a knockout
35:22because he's fallen
35:24well behind.
35:25Round seven
35:25of a scheduled ten.
35:28He can't win
35:28him fighting outside, Larry.
35:31But when he came inside,
35:33he was nailed
35:33with some punches, so...
35:35But that's where he does
35:36his most damage,
35:36right there,
35:37when he's punching
35:37on the inside.
35:52We're in the seventh.
35:54It's been four years
35:56since Jeremy Williams
35:57went more than seven rounds.
35:59He went nine
36:00with Everton Davis
36:01in 1995.
36:04So this is quite
36:05a workout for Williams,
36:07much more than he might
36:08have expected
36:09going in against
36:10Maurice Harris
36:11with a record
36:11of 14 wins,
36:12nine losses.
36:16As we mentioned,
36:17Harris was billed
36:18to us by his promoters
36:19as the best 14-9 fighter
36:22in the heavyweight division.
36:24Question now becomes,
36:26is he the best
36:2614-9 heavyweight
36:28of all time?
36:32Oh, good left hook.
36:34He just missed
36:34with the left hook
36:35that would have ended it.
36:38Al Williams
36:38with a brutal left hook
36:39to the body.
36:40Williams punches
36:41don't have the same steam
36:42that they had
36:43on them earlier, though.
36:44Nope.
36:45Oh!
36:47That's the way to be.
36:49Combination from Harris.
36:59He has quick hands.
37:01He's shown a lot
37:02of stuff here.
37:04Bring us the nine guys
37:05who beat him.
37:07No, you don't want
37:08to see the nine guys
37:09who beat him.
37:09Oh, no.
37:09And one of them,
37:10one of them
37:11was the New York cop,
37:12Rick Frazier,
37:14who was an embarrassing,
37:15mandatory opponent
37:16for Roy Jones
37:17earlier this year
37:17in the light heavyweight division.
37:19Yeah, that was when
37:20when he was 17 years old,
37:23had no amateur background,
37:26needed the money.
37:30I think he beat
37:31Rick Frazier now.
37:34Don't even suggest it.
37:43I know some governing body
37:44might decide
37:45it's a good idea.
37:45break.
37:51Oh, my goodness.
38:01It all pays for Jeremy to beat.
38:04A tactical round,
38:05the seventh.
38:07It looks less and less likely
38:08that Jeremy Williams
38:09can rescue himself
38:10with a knockout.
38:11So now it's in the hands
38:14of the scorers
38:15for the moment.
38:16Still to come,
38:17Lou Savarese.
38:1939 wins,
38:20losses only
38:21to George Foreman
38:22and David Izon.
38:25Savarese
38:25against Michael Grant
38:27tonight
38:27in what he thinks
38:28is a great spot
38:29for him.
38:30and David Izon.
38:33Now,
38:33why are we here?
38:35Go ahead.
38:35Let's take a hand.
38:37You got to do your basics.
38:40Work what you do.
38:41Work what you do.
38:42Don't worry about it.
38:43Right hand.
38:44Don't forget about it.
38:46Use that left hand.
38:47Use the right hand
38:47only when you have to.
38:48Yeah.
38:49Work what you do.
38:50Hold this back there,
38:51you got it.
38:51All right.
38:52Keep off the rope.
38:53Keep off the rope.
38:54And throw it.
38:55Straight right here.
38:55Use the jab.
38:56Use the jab.
38:56Double jab right here.
38:57A lot of double jabs
38:58right here.
38:59Double jab right here.
39:01Here you see
39:02a clean right hand
39:03by Maurice Harris.
39:06More of a hook
39:07than a cross
39:07but effective
39:09no matter what you call it.
39:11He told his corner
39:11just like he broke
39:12his right hand.
39:14Harris did?
39:15Yes.
39:16Believes he's broken
39:17his right hand, huh?
39:18That's what you see.
39:20Well, he's landed
39:21enough of them.
39:25If he just stays
39:26at range
39:27and the scores
39:28aren't out of whack
39:29his chances
39:30look pretty good.
39:31Yep, but he still
39:32has to avoid
39:32Jeremy's big punches.
39:34Jeremy's a big puncher.
39:38Trying to get even bigger.
39:39I know it.
39:41He has to feel
39:41desperation at this point.
39:44Well, you heard
39:45Ronnie Seals
39:45asking for a lot
39:47of double jabs
39:47and right crosses.
39:49Jeremy tried
39:49to follow that instruction.
39:50One of those
40:03eye contact fights
40:04that reminds you
40:05just want to
40:06tough
40:06business
40:07heavyweight
40:08boxing is.
40:18Punishing Williams
40:19to the body
40:19with the left hand
40:20as Harris.
40:23Doesn't seem
40:23terribly anxious
40:24to throw
40:25the right hand.
40:27Doubling and tripling
40:28up with the left.
40:29His score points
40:30against Williams.
40:33When's the last time
40:33you've seen a heavyweight
40:34throw triple left hooks?
40:35Would you kill
40:42Ali maybe?
40:43Maybe.
40:44But you can't
40:44count Jamie Williams
40:45out.
40:47There's a lot of
40:47heart and he's
40:48going to count.
40:48And I think
40:49Williams' chances
40:50improved because
40:51clearly Harris
40:52doesn't much
40:53want to throw
40:54the right anymore.
40:55He's not throwing
40:55it with the same
40:56authority.
40:56Harris
41:13kind of slapping
41:14with the right hand.
41:14Yeah he's slapping
41:15with the right hand.
41:16He doesn't want to
41:16throw it hard because
41:17it must be hurting
41:17him pretty bad.
41:18But as he tries
41:26to protect
41:27his right hand
41:27Harris as Roy
41:28Jones pointed out
41:29doubling and tripling
41:30up with the left hand
41:31and showing you
41:32yet another dimension
41:33of his remarkable
41:35potential.
41:41Remarkable only
41:42because we didn't
41:42know much about
41:43him before.
41:43Good left
41:49outcome he's
41:50hitting Jeremy
41:50with too.
42:03That's the back
42:04of the head down.
42:05Come on.
42:05Come on.
42:10Harris's corner
42:11is insisting to us
42:12that his right hand
42:13is fine but he
42:14didn't fight in
42:15that round as
42:16though his right
42:16hand was fine
42:17although he did
42:18well using the
42:19left.
42:22You look like
42:23a champ.
42:25Kick a leg out.
42:25Kick a leg out.
42:27Look like a champ.
42:28Give me a nice
42:31sponge.
42:33We're going to get
42:34you out of the
42:34water.
42:35We're going to get
42:35you some water.
42:37We're going to get
42:37water baby.
42:38Don't worry about
42:39nothing.
42:39We're going to
42:40take care.
42:41Look don't
42:41go in there.
42:42Put your head
42:45over here.
42:46Put your head
42:46over the bucket.
42:49Okay.
42:51All right big
42:52move.
42:53Listen Moses.
42:54What I want you to do
42:56is jab this guy.
42:58You can't miss your
42:59jab.
42:59Okay.
43:00I don't know why
43:00you're not doing
43:01jabs at all.
43:02Where's the mouthpiece?
43:03There you see where
43:07Harris landed a right
43:09hand in an earlier
43:10round and you saw
43:11him sort of try to
43:13twirl his right hand
43:14as though he had
43:15hurt it at that
43:16instant.
43:16That may have been
43:17the punch.
43:18which he punched
43:23himself out.
43:24By CompuBox numbers
43:26in round seven
43:27Jeremy Williams
43:27only threw 34
43:28punches.
43:29That's well below
43:30the heavyweight
43:30average.
43:31He needs to be
43:31busier if he's
43:32going to have a
43:33chance to turn the
43:34tide and come back.
43:35Round nine of a
43:36scheduled ten.
43:39We'll give you
43:40Harold Letterman's
43:40scorecard at the
43:41beginning of the
43:41last round so you
43:43can get your bearings
43:44on where Letterman
43:45believes the fight
43:45stands.
43:47Let's give it to
43:48you now.
43:48Harold, how do you
43:49have it to wait?
43:49You know, Jim, I
43:50think Maurice Harris
43:51is running away
43:52with it.
43:5378, 73, six
43:54rounds to two
43:55Maurice Harris.
43:56Jim, I think he
43:57won the last five
43:57rounds in a row.
43:58I mean, he's the
43:59cleaner puncher, the
44:00sharper puncher, good
44:01defense by Harris.
44:02He's not getting
44:03hit much.
44:03He's the aggressor.
44:04Maurice Harris
44:05winning the fight
44:06big.
44:06And I'm not sure
44:07what's happening
44:07with Jeremy
44:08Williams.
44:09He just took one
44:09of those Oliver
44:10McCall walks away
44:11from Harris as
44:12though he wasn't
44:13interested in the
44:14fight anymore.
44:14And then Harris
44:15banged him twice
44:16with the left
44:16hand and knocked
44:17Williams back
44:18into the ropes.
44:20And Jeremy just
44:21not busy enough
44:22to mount the
44:23necessary rally.
44:30Maurice Harris
44:31has only gone
44:32ten rounds once.
44:33That was in his
44:33loss to Larry
44:34Hall.
44:36Most of his
44:37nine losses
44:37are TKO's.
44:39And by his
44:40own admission
44:40in most of those
44:41fights, he quit.
44:42There's no quit in
44:45Harris tonight
44:46as he appears
44:47headed toward a
44:47possible giant
44:49upset of Jeremy
44:50Williams.
44:59Jeremy Williams
45:00looks like an old
45:0126-year-old fighter
45:02here.
45:04The only place he
45:05could go from
45:06a defeat like this
45:08if the fight goes
45:08the best of the way
45:09is back home to his
45:12jewelry business in
45:13Long Beach.
45:14And based on the
45:15Jeremy Williams we've
45:16seen tonight,
45:18taking another hammering
45:19with the left hand from
45:20Harris.
45:22If Hasim Rahman doesn't
45:23in fact have an injury
45:25and he dropped out of
45:26this fight because he
45:27thought there was some
45:28danger in fighting
45:28Williams, he must feel
45:30like a fool.
45:34Well, he might not
45:34want to fight
45:35Maurice Harris either
45:36though.
45:36Nope.
45:37He wouldn't have had
45:38to fight Maurice Harris.
45:40The date was with
45:41Williams.
45:43I don't think
45:44your best 230 pounds
45:47or 35 pound
45:48heavyweights
45:49are going to be
45:50afraid to fight
45:51Maurice Harris.
45:53As quick as he is
45:54with his hands.
45:56Let's keep in mind
45:57that Jeremy Williams
45:59does not have a
46:00great chin.
46:01He's been hit on
46:02that chin on numerous
46:03occasions by Harris
46:04and he's still
46:05standing.
46:12Ninth round is
46:13another big round
46:15for Harris.
46:17And it would now
46:18appear that Williams
46:19is desperately
46:20in need of a
46:21temporary knockout
46:22to avoid
46:24a disastrous defeat.
46:26Jeremy, no.
46:27Do I have to tell you
46:28that you're way
46:29behind in a fight?
46:30Huh?
46:31Do I have to tell you
46:31that?
46:32Huh?
46:33Now listen.
46:34The only way you're
46:35going to fight a knockout
46:36you gotta go after.
46:37You throw punches
46:37at the fucking guy.
46:38Where's the right hand?
46:39I don't know why you're
46:39hitting me.
46:40Just let the fucking
46:40hands go.
46:41Don't go for
46:42a knockout.
46:43Don't go crazy.
46:44You get a shot,
46:45you take it.
46:45Way ahead of the game.
46:47All right.
46:49Last round.
46:51Touch gloves, champ.
46:52Touch fast with the guy.
46:53Throw right hands with the guy.
46:55Touch gloves.
46:58Hey, you gotta go for
46:58broke on the pitch.
46:59Come on, this face.
47:01Come on.
47:02Pay attention, Ma.
47:03A bad idea whose time
47:10may have come.
47:11Open scoring was
47:12recently approved
47:13by the New York State
47:14Legislature.
47:15Who wants it?
47:16You don't know
47:17if you'll ever see it,
47:18but the crowd here
47:19certainly doesn't need
47:20open scoring to know
47:21who's winning this fight.
47:24Jeremy Williams
47:24by CompuBox numbers
47:26only threw 19 punches
47:27in the ninth round.
47:28That's a give-up
47:30punch output.
47:31It was a give-up
47:31round for Williams.
47:32And you heard the anger
47:34that it elicited
47:35from Lou Duva
47:36and Ronnie Shields
47:37who told their fighter
47:38in no uncertain terms
47:39that he's lost the fight
47:41unless he can produce
47:42a knockout.
47:43I think he's coming
47:44to look for the knockout
47:45this round.
47:51And after looking
47:55totally out of gas
47:56in the third
47:56and fourth rounds,
47:58Harris has acquitted
47:59himself rather well
48:00in the second half
48:01of the fight.
48:02Yes, he has.
48:10Another landed right cross.
48:12And that's the most
48:15authoritative right hand
48:16Harris has thrown
48:17since he seemed
48:18to hurt it
48:18a couple of rounds ago.
48:22I've heard of
48:22Cutman in the corner.
48:23Maybe he's got
48:24a surgeon in the corner.
48:26A helicopter man.
48:27I think that was more
48:29of a slap though
48:30because if it would've
48:31been involved
48:31of a fish
48:31he would've knocked
48:32Jeremy down
48:32with that punch
48:33and maybe out
48:33with that punch.
48:34Might've knocked him
48:35out of the ring
48:35with that punch.
48:36Come on, let's go!
48:42And Williams
48:53not doing much.
48:57Shields and Duva
48:58asked him
48:59where the heck
48:59were the left hooks
49:00and the right crosses?
49:03And midway through the round
49:04he got asked
49:05the same thing.
49:06Where's the rally?
49:08They're in the past
49:09for Jeremy Williams.
49:13No better, Harris.
49:18Has something of a future
49:20they tried to say
49:21exactly what.
49:22He wanna quit, Morris.
49:26He wanna quit.
49:27He wanna quit.
49:37The more and more
49:38it looks as though
49:39we'll go ten full rounds.
49:42And Maurice Harris
49:43will wait to hear
49:44the scorecards
49:45in anticipation
49:47of a big upset win.
49:51Unanimous decision
49:52is what it ought to be
49:53over Jeremy Williams.
49:55Williams bouncing away
49:56and walking away
49:57and walking away
49:59from his chance
50:00to be a serious contender
50:02in the heavyweight division
50:03because this finishes
50:05that for the time being.
50:09He's not fighting
50:10like a guy
50:10who's desperate
50:11and who needs
50:11a knockout
50:12to win the fight.
50:14No, he just wants
50:15to get out of here
50:16alive.
50:17He survived.
50:18Even if he were
50:19to get an outrageous
50:20gift decision
50:20he did nothing
50:22to improve his stock
50:23as a heavyweight contender.
50:25Maurice Harris
50:26came out of nowhere.
50:27Good fight, Jerry.
50:28No, he came out
50:29of Newark, New Jersey.
50:31Good fight.
50:32Well, and some...
50:33No, never mind.
50:34Good fight, Jerry.
50:36Maurice, man.
50:37You got it.
50:38Once again in round ten,
50:45Jeremy Williams
50:46threw 19 punches.
50:47So in the ninth
50:49and tenth rounds
50:50Williams had nothing
50:52and no chance
50:53to come back.
50:54And the Prophet Muhammad
50:55may allow his peace
50:56and blessings be upon him.
51:02Seemed like you had him hurt.
51:03Nice fight, Johnny.
51:04I think I broke my hand.
51:08Both fighters are Muslims.
51:19Neither uses his Muslim name
51:21in the ring.
51:23But the winner
51:23will be praising Allah.
51:25Come on, Jeremy.
51:27Good job.
51:28Come on.
51:31And for Tommy Parks
51:37and company,
51:38their corner,
51:38hoping that they've scored
51:41the big upset
51:41over Jeremy Williams.
51:43Well, certainly
51:43CompuBox numbers
51:44would tell you they have.
51:45Total punches.
51:47Harris landing 58 more,
51:49throwing 67 more,
51:51landing at an 8% higher
51:53rate of connection.
51:56Power punches.
51:58More one-sided numbers
51:59in favor of Harris.
52:00Almost doubling Williams
52:01in the landed department.
52:03Throwing 82 more,
52:04landing at an 8% higher percentage.
52:06Let's go to Michael Buffer
52:07for the official decision.
52:10Ladies and gentlemen,
52:11we go to the Budweiser scorecards.
52:13Fred Ucci scores the belt
52:1498 to 91.
52:16Steve Weisfeld has it
52:1898 to 90.
52:20And Melvina Latham scores it
52:2299 to 89.
52:24For the winner
52:24by unanimous decision,
52:26Maurice Moebetter-Handris.
52:30He is certainly Moebetter
52:32tonight and he can look forward
52:35at the very least
52:36to making some money
52:38in this game.
52:39More better money
52:40than he's been making.
52:43$40,000 was his biggest purse.
52:46I think maybe he has
52:48to build himself up
52:49a little bit, Roy.
52:51Add 5, 10 good pounds.
52:54Take his time
52:54in a couple of years.
52:55Still only 23.
52:58Maybe he can make a mark.
53:04All right.
53:09Thank you very much,
53:10Larry Merchant.
53:10So it's a huge win
53:11for Maurice Harris
53:13who takes the fight
53:14this past Tuesday.
53:16Comes in here
53:17with literally four days
53:18to get ready
53:19to fight Jeremy Williams.
53:20Williams,
53:21an overwhelming favorite
53:22against a guy
53:22who had a record
53:23of 14 wins.
53:24Nine losses coming in.
53:26Make it 15-9
53:27and call him
53:28the best 15-9 fighter
53:30in the division
53:31as Williams' star
53:32plummets
53:33and Harris'
53:34suddenly emerges.
53:36Biggest star
53:37in the heavyweight division
53:38sits next to me now.
53:39We told you
53:39at the beginning
53:40of the evening
53:40that a heavyweight champion,
53:41Lennox Lewis,
53:42had made his way
53:43across the Atlantic
53:44to be here
53:45for a news conference
53:46earlier this evening.
53:47And Lennox,
53:48welcome aboard.
53:49The substance
53:49of that news conference,
53:51I assume,
53:51earlier this evening
53:52had to do
53:52with the stalled negotiations
53:54for a possible
53:55Lewis Holyfield fight.
53:57I say stalled,
53:58maybe there's progress
53:59being made.
53:59What can you tell us
54:00about those negotiations?
54:01I can say
54:02there's a lot of progress
54:03being made.
54:04You know,
54:05the two sides are talking now.
54:06I know the two fighters
54:07wanted to get it together.
54:08I believe there should be
54:09only one heavyweight champion
54:11of the world.
54:11Everybody knows
54:12that I won the fight
54:13March 13th
54:14and, you know,
54:15I'm basically putting
54:16that behind me.
54:17I basically won another fight
54:18against Evander Holyfield
54:20and this time I'll just
54:21prove to the world
54:22that I'm the true
54:22heavyweight champion
54:23of the world.
54:24But there have been
54:25problems in the negotiation
54:26trying to solidify
54:27a second fight
54:28for you in Holyfield
54:29and Time Warner,
54:30at least,
54:31has said that there
54:32isn't an open-ended process.
54:34There's a deadline
54:35at some point.
54:36Do you have a deadline
54:37beyond which you say
54:38the heck with another
54:39Holyfield fight,
54:40I want to move forward
54:41and fight somebody else?
54:42Well, you know,
54:43I just want to keep busy.
54:44I just want to box.
54:45I want to box
54:46the very best there is.
54:46And if Evander Holyfield
54:48doesn't want to box me
54:49or we can't get
54:50the fight together,
54:50I still have to continue
54:52with my career.
54:53So I'm just out scouting
54:55and seeing who's
54:56possible opponents
54:57for Lennox Lewis.
54:58And is the probable
54:59opponent the winner
55:00of the fight we're about
55:01to see between
55:01Michael Grant
55:02and Lou Savarese?
55:03Very probable.
55:04Has Grant earned
55:05his status as the heir apparent
55:07in the division?
55:08I think he's worked.
55:10He's boxed a couple
55:11good fights,
55:12but, you know,
55:12you look at guys
55:13like Maurice Harris
55:14that's been there
55:15a long time
55:16and the whole world
55:17can see him now
55:18and how great he is
55:19and what kind of talent
55:20he's got.
55:20So, you know,
55:21he should definitely
55:21be up there as well.
55:22Kind of exciting
55:23to see a guy like Harris
55:24emerge out of nowhere
55:25with a performance
55:26like that, huh?
55:27Well, this is the kind
55:27of chances he needed
55:28and now a lot of people
55:30can actually open
55:31their eyes and see him.
55:32What kind of a fight
55:33do you expect to see
55:33between Grant and Savarese?
55:35I think it should be
55:35an interesting fight.
55:36You've got Grant
55:37which has a long reach
55:38and you've got Savarese
55:40who has great schooling.
55:42So we're going to see
55:42how that works out.
55:43Styles make fights
55:44so we're going to see
55:44what happens.
55:45All right.
55:46Well, Lennox,
55:46you'll be with us later on
55:48so we'll look forward
55:48to talking to you
55:49and getting your review
55:50of Grant Savarese
55:51coming up.
55:52Lennox Lewis
55:53here in New York
55:54at ringside tonight.
55:55Perhaps, perhaps
55:57to fight the winner
55:58of the bout
55:58you're about to see
55:59and Michael Grant
56:00and Lou Savarese
56:02two big heavyweights
56:04ready to come
56:05into the ring
56:05and face each other
56:07in a bout scheduled
56:08for 12 rounds.
56:09That one will be
56:09coming up
56:10immediately following
56:12this look
56:12at some upcoming
56:14sports programs
56:15right here on HBO.
56:19This Monday,
56:20HBO Sports
56:20celebrates its 25th year
56:22of Wimbledon tennis
56:22with 59 hours
56:23of weekday action
56:24accompanied each night
56:25by a one-hour
56:26highlight show.
56:27Some of the stories
56:28featured on Real Sports
56:29this month include
56:30John McEnroe
56:31voicing his opinions
56:32on the problems
56:33of tennis today.
56:34Baseball's umpires
56:35who've been at the center
56:36of controversy
56:37in recent years.
56:38And an on and off
56:39the court look
56:40at Venus, Serena
56:41and Richard Williams.
56:42Then on July 17,
56:43junior middleweight champion
56:44Fernando Vargas
56:45is featured in one
56:46of Boxing After Dark's
56:47all-time best matchups
56:48as he takes on
56:49former champion
56:50Raul Marquez.
56:51Then on August 12,
56:52Sports of the 20th Century
56:53presents Fisks of Freedom,
56:55a documentary
56:55that looks back
56:56at the origin,
56:57the individuals
56:58and the after effects
57:00of the moment
57:00when African-American
57:01athletes competing
57:02at the 1968
57:03Summer Olympic Games
57:04changed the face
57:05of sports forever.
57:10And we bring you
57:11back live to ringside
57:12with world light
57:12heavyweight champion
57:13and...
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