Azumah Nelson vs Jesse James Leija - Showtime PPV 9-10-93 - video Dailymotion

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Azumah Nelson defends his WBC Super Featherweight Title against undefeated Jesse James Leija on Showtime Boxing PPV

Transcript

00:00:00Transcribed by ESO, translated by —

00:00:30We shall never cease to celebrate it.

00:00:55For 13 days at the Alamo, an abandoned mission on the San Antonio liver, 188 Texans volunteers held

00:01:03off 4,000 missions.

00:01:05189 volunteers were there fighting against General Santana until death in search of freedom.

00:01:17San Antonio Texans, se recuerda siempre el Álamo, la garnición que luchó hasta la muerte

00:01:26buscando la defensa de la República de Texas.

00:01:33Con su velocidad asombrosa, su buena pegada, su acción, Julio César Chávez.

00:01:48He will overpower the opposition and conquer another title in a new and heavier weight class.

00:01:57It's a bout of historic proportions between two of boxing's most celebrated fights.

00:02:06Live from the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas, the long-awaited fight for the title of best

00:02:12pound-for-pound fighter in the world today will finally take place.

00:02:17It's Gernell Whitaker versus Julio César Chávez for the WBC Welterweight Championship.

00:02:25The fight, Whitaker versus Chávez, is a promotion of Don King Productions

00:02:33in association with Main Events Monitor for King Vision and SET pay-per-view.

00:02:38This event is presented by the San Antonio Express News, Corona Beer, and Don King Productions.

00:02:48Welcome to the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.

00:02:56This new multipurpose facility is only three and a half months old.

00:02:59But in that short period of time, it has already played host to Paul McCartney,

00:03:03the Olympic Sports Festival, and the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys.

00:03:07And soon, the Dome will be the home for the San Antonio Spurs basketball team.

00:03:12But tonight, the eyes of Texas and the world will be focused on this new stadium

00:03:17in anticipation of a boxing match of enormous magnitude.

00:03:20It's the long-awaited showdown between WBC welterweight champion

00:03:24Cornell Sweet T. Whitaker and undefeated Julio César Chávez.

00:03:28The victory will almost certainly be acknowledged as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.

00:03:33And that singular recognition is more coveted than any other title in boxing.

00:03:38And good evening, everyone. I'm Jim Hill, your host for this very special event.

00:03:43You know, the sport of boxing is usually dominated by the heavyweight division.

00:03:46However, sometimes, extraordinary fighters in the lightweight classes are so gifted

00:03:51that they can step out of the shadows of those heavyweight and their giants.

00:03:54You know, Sugar Ray Robinson was a master of the sweet science.

00:03:57He fought from the 1940s to the 1960s, winning championships as a welterweight and a middleweight.

00:04:03So superb were his skills between the ropes that he was dubbed the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

00:04:08And that term, the pound-for-pound fighter, best fighter in the world, was invented to define Sugar Ray's excellence,

00:04:13and it became the goal of future fighters who aspire to truly greatness.

00:04:17Now, those who followed in Robinson's illustrious footsteps were the champions of champions.

00:04:22Regardless of a boxer's physical stature, it was his skill and not his size that determined if he should be considered the world's best fighter,

00:04:29the world's best fighter, the world's best pound-for-pound.

00:04:32In the 1980s, Leonard, Duran, Hearns, and Hagler waved the decade-long round-robin of ring wars.

00:04:39They pursued fame, fortune, and the mythical title of the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.

00:04:44To this day, the debate still raises as to which one was the best of their generation.

00:04:50This decade, the debate has been centered around two men who have risen above boxing's other champions,

00:04:55Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker and Julio Cesar Chavez.

00:04:59Between them, they've won ten world titles, five each in three different weight divisions.

00:05:04And the level of fan interest in this upcoming showdown can be measured by tonight's turnout here in San Antonio.

00:05:09Tens of thousands have come to the Alamo Dome to witness live the battle between Whittaker and Chavez.

00:05:16Tonight's projected audience of 65,000 would be the number one all-time indoor record for boxing attendance.

00:05:23If the prediction holds true, Whittaker Chavez will replace the Ali Speed Dream Act as number one.

00:05:29Now, earlier this year, Chavez set the all-time paid attendance for a boxing event,

00:05:33surpassing the Dempsey-Chunney fight.

00:05:35Over 130,000 people jammed into Azteca Stadium in Mexico City

00:05:40to witness Chavez successfully defend his superweight, super lightweight title against Greg Haugen.

00:05:46Now, no one expects that Chavez will be able to dismantle Whittaker the way he dominated Haugen.

00:05:50What we are expecting tonight is a battle for the ages between two of the sports best.

00:05:55Tonight's winner should earn the unofficial but undisputed title of boxing's pound-for-pound best fighter.

00:06:01Now, for more, let's go down to ringside and Steve Alvarez.

00:06:04Steve.

00:06:05All right, thank you very much, Jim.

00:06:06Tonight's main event between Purnell Sweet Pea Whittaker and Julio Cesar Chavez

00:06:10is not only for the WBC Welterweight Championship

00:06:13but also for the mythical title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today.

00:06:18Their impressive credentials and ring skills speak for themselves.

00:06:21Whittaker, the WBC Welterweight Champion, is a five-time world champ in three-weight division.

00:06:26He is a crafty southpaw with blazing speed and arguably the best defensive skills in the sport.

00:06:33His ring record, an impressive 32-1.

00:06:35The single blemish on his record he avenged in the rematch against Jose Luis Ramirez.

00:06:40And what more can you say about Julio Cesar Chavez?

00:06:4387-0 with 75 knockouts.

00:06:45Chavez, the current WBC super lightweight champion, has also won five world titles in three-weight division.

00:06:52Eye-popping 25-0 with 18 knockouts in world championship fights.

00:06:57Tonight, he moves up and weighs a challenge for the 147-pound title

00:07:01with hopes of winning a fourth weight division championship

00:07:04and becoming the first fighter in history to move up from super featherweight champion to capture a welterweight crown.

00:07:11Chavez, the complete package between the ropes, almost surgical-like, relentless with a granite chin.

00:07:16Perhaps no better finisher in the sport today.

00:07:19And a man who has set a standard of excellence unmatched in boxing.

00:07:23With that, let me bring in my partner, the fight doctor, Ferdie Pacheco.

00:07:26And, Ferdie, first off, let's get into the personalities of Whittaker and Chavez.

00:07:30Just about the only similarity is that they are both very family-oriented.

00:07:33Outside of that, quite different.

00:07:35They're very different.

00:07:36They're either ends of the pole.

00:07:37Whittaker doesn't take anything serious.

00:07:39Everything's a lark to him.

00:07:41Everything's a lark.

00:07:42Even this fight, he says,

00:07:43this isn't the most important fight in my life.

00:07:45The gold medal was.

00:07:46He makes fun of everything.

00:07:47And he does the same thing when he gets into the ring.

00:07:50His personality outside the ring mirrors his personality inside.

00:07:53Every fight is frivolous.

00:07:55He clowns.

00:07:56He does take chances unnecessarily.

00:07:58He makes fun of his opponent.

00:08:00And he takes it like he does life.

00:08:02On the other hand, Chavez takes everything with extreme seriousness.

00:08:06He knows how important he is to his country.

00:08:08He knows how important he is in boxing history.

00:08:10He knows his position in boxing history.

00:08:12There are no jokes and no funning around with him.

00:08:15He goes to work.

00:08:16And he does the same thing in the ring.

00:08:18In the ring, he's a determined killer looking to hunt his prey down and obliterate him.

00:08:23And he's been very successful in his series.

00:08:25All right.

00:08:26And as contrasting as Whittaker and Chavez are in terms of personality,

00:08:29the same can be said for their styles in the ring.

00:08:32On that note, let me introduce my other sidekick,

00:08:34former WBA Cruiserweight Champion Bobby Chavez.

00:08:37The opposite styles of Whittaker and Chavez greatly add to the intrigue of this particular matchup.

00:08:42Well, Steve, tonight's fight will take place between two terrific technicians.

00:08:46One, a mover, boxer, and counterpuncher.

00:08:48The other, a searcher and destroyer.

00:08:50Chavez brings to the table all the best skills of any fighter.

00:08:53The quintessential search and destroy fighter.

00:08:55A fighter that can dismantle his opponent's head and body attack like I've seen no other fighter do.

00:09:00However, the defense and the sharp skills counterpunching in Southwest style, the blazing speed of Whittaker,

00:09:05could prove that these two fighters will be evenly matched to the middle round, but just have to heat up to explode late.

00:09:11All right, Bobby.

00:09:12In case you were wondering, the odds are supplied to us by Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for tonight's main event.

00:09:17Julio Cesar Chavez a little more than a two and a half to one favorite.

00:09:21That's where the odds began.

00:09:22And after some fluctuation, they are back to where they started.

00:09:26Well, it's almost hard to believe after so many months of free fight buildup, this night has finally arrived.

00:09:32And on the subject of arrivals earlier this evening, the arrival of WBC Weatherway champion Perdell Sweet Pea Whittaker.

00:09:40Whittaker with his manager, trainer, motivator, guru Lou Duva by his side, left of your screen there.

00:09:47You see Lou Pernell looking a little pensive, wouldn't you say, hiding behind the dark sunglasses as he gets closer and closer to his first defense of this title.

00:10:06And earlier tonight, the arrival of the challenger Julio Cesar Chavez coming out of the limo, his entourage breech splinted in blue.

00:10:12Chavez looking very relaxed, smiling at times.

00:10:17There's the crowd reaction to the background as they see Julio on the big screen.

00:10:22Chavez, owner of the longest undefeated streak in boxing today.

00:10:26As a kid, he used to get very angry whenever his older brothers, top amateur fighters, would lose.

00:10:32Young Julio would say, I would never let anyone beat me.

00:10:36I told him I would be the one to be undefeated.

00:10:39Well, so far he's lived up to his word.

00:10:41The question is, will he still be undefeated by the end of this night?

00:10:47Listen to this salute for Julio Cesar Chavez, his picture on the giant screen.

00:10:53So the combatants for our main event are under the dome, making preparations for the WBC Weatherway Championship.

00:10:59And with that, let me now welcome the other member of our broadcast team.

00:11:03He'll be our roving reporter throughout the night.

00:11:05It's a pleasure.

00:11:06So let's go over to Montel Williams.

00:11:08Oh, thanks a lot, Steve.

00:11:09I tell you, it's a great pleasure to be a part of the team again.

00:11:11And I will tell you, to say that it is electric in this arena is an understatement.

00:11:15This is like nuclear.

00:11:17That's the only descriptive adjective I can come up with, nuclear reaction to both fighters.

00:11:21And I'm joined backstage back here in the tunnel area by a member of each camp with Lou Duva and also Gladys Rosa.

00:11:29And Lou, I've got to come to you first and ask your question.

00:11:31You have been in this position before two times against Chavez.

00:11:34What are you going to do different?

00:11:36Well, I'm going to move on.

00:11:38You know, you can go by Styles.

00:11:39Fighters don't beat fighters.

00:11:40Styles beat fighters.

00:11:41I think out of the three, Rocky Lockers for the draw for the decision with Chavez.

00:11:46It was a close fight.

00:11:48Melrod Keller is two seconds away from winning a decision this time here.

00:11:53I think I've got the better fighter at this time here because he's got the right style to beat a Chavez.

00:11:57Chavez is a tough guy.

00:11:58There's no doubt in my mind.

00:11:59I'm not underrating him.

00:12:00He's a good fighter.

00:12:01But a style will beat him.

00:12:03I think Pernell's got the style to beat him.

00:12:05Well, you know, we've heard all this talk this week about the fact that Pernell has been talking to other people,

00:12:08from Sir Ray Leonard, you name it, listening to this stuff.

00:12:11What is he going to do that's going to be different this time to make sure that it doesn't come to the 12th round and he might wind up out?

00:12:17Sugar Ray Leonard has called up.

00:12:19Many fighters have called up.

00:12:20Will he have called up?

00:12:21There's many guys that called up.

00:12:23The only thing I really show them is Michael Jordan take.

00:12:26That's all.

00:12:27Basketball.

00:12:28One-on-one basketball.

00:12:29That's all I show them.

00:12:30Outside of that, I take care of the fight business.

00:12:31He takes care of fighting in the ring.

00:12:33There's nothing different.

00:12:34He's going to go out there.

00:12:35He's going to fight just like it was the 84 Olympics.

00:12:37He went out and he fought his fight just like he won.

00:12:39He beat the Cubans just like he beat the Russians, just like he won all the titles.

00:12:42He's going to go out and fight this guy.

00:12:44He's fighting a great fighter.

00:12:45He's also got to figure Chavez out like Chavez got to figure him out.

00:12:49And that's what's going to make a great fight.

00:12:50Okay.

00:12:51Well, now, Gladys, let me ask you.

00:12:52This is the first time in seven years that Chavez has arrived in the arena and he is the challenger.

00:12:57What does he think about that?

00:12:58Julio is absolutely thrilled to be the challenger.

00:13:01This is something he's wanted to be able to be the fourth man and the second Latin in history,

00:13:06to be able to conquer four world titles in four different weight classes.

00:13:11He is absolutely thrilled.

00:13:12He's prepared and he's ready and he's going to be able to demonstrate to everyone watching tonight

00:13:17that he is the better fighter of the two.

00:13:19You know, there's been a lot of stuff in the media right now about the controversy surrounding this whole judges thing.

00:13:25And Julio has been heard to have said he needs a knockout to win tonight.

00:13:29Do you believe that?

00:13:30Well, I believe that it would be in his favor to get a knockout.

00:13:34We certainly have the belief that the judges will be honest

00:13:37and that they will take into account more heavy punches such as Julio throws

00:13:42instead of those little light slaps that Pernell tends to throw.

00:13:45Julio has been quite upset to know that there is an American judge here.

00:13:49So he wanted all neutral judges?

00:13:51He wanted neutral judges.

00:13:52He didn't want anyone in his favor because he knows he can handle himself in the ring.

00:13:55But he certainly wanted it to be neutral.

00:13:57But since it wasn't granted that way, he'll just go out there and he'll take care of business tonight.

00:14:01Okay.

00:14:02Now, Lou, you heard it.

00:14:03I mean, what about this controversy with the judges?

00:14:05There was no controversy.

00:14:06We followed the rules of the Texas Weather Commission.

00:14:08We followed them as of Monday, 3 o'clock.

00:14:10If King and the Chavez camp and O.J. Truman messed up, that's their fault.

00:14:15They had the right to strike anybody they wanted.

00:14:17They could have struck the American if they wanted to.

00:14:18They took not to strike the American and said and talk about the American.

00:14:23What they should have done, if they wanted to do it, was strike the American.

00:14:26And then Texas could have picked anybody they wanted.

00:14:28They didn't do it.

00:14:29That's their fault.

00:14:30Well, guess what?

00:14:31In a couple of minutes, it's going to be in the hands of just the combatants and not the judges.

00:14:35I've got to go to the main man here, our host tonight, that smooth guy from L.A., Jim Hill.

00:14:41All right, Montel, thank you very much.

00:14:43Well, fight fans, before we begin tonight's coverage, let me give you the entire menu of our broadcast.

00:14:48Coming up, a triple header fight card that should satisfy the appetite of the most avid fans.

00:14:53Of course, our main event is WBC welterweight champion Pernell Sweet T Whitaker against undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez in a battle of five-time world champions.

00:15:03Terrible Terry Norris makes his tenth title defense of his WBC super welterweight championship against Lightning Joe Gaddy.

00:15:10Norris has knocked out his last five opponents.

00:15:13Gaddy is a tough, determined boxer puncher with power in both hands.

00:15:18And the third championship fight of the night features the ageless Azuma Nelson, defending his WBC super featherweight title against San Antonio's own Jesse James Leha.

00:15:28And the undefeated Leha should have most of this Alamo Dome crowd supporting him.

00:15:32But Nelson is the road warrior, and he's the longest reigning title holder in boxing today.

00:15:38An outstanding night of boxing coming from the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.

00:15:43And our coverage begins right after this commercial message.

00:15:47Pay-per-view delivers the hit movies you want to see at the times you want to see them.

00:15:54He'll enter the ring to make his tenth title event against the undefeated Jesse James Leha.

00:15:59Our championship triple header coverage is coming up next.

00:16:02Starting with Nelson and Leha fighting for the WBC super featherweight title.

00:16:06Let's go back to ringside and Steve Albert. Steve.

00:16:09Thank you once again, Jim.

00:16:11Azuma Nelson versus Jesse James Leha for the WBC super featherweight championship upcoming shortly.

00:16:17Nelson follows in a long line of such superb African champions as Dick Tiger, Battling Tiki, David Little Poison Cote, Ayu Kalule, and Cornelius Boja Edwards.

00:16:28As Julio Cesar Chavez is revered in Mexico, the same holds true for Azuma Nelson in Africa.

00:16:33The list of opponents for this two-time world champion reads like a who's who in boxing, including a win over the man considered the greatest Puerto Rican fighter of all time, Wilfredo Gomez.

00:16:43His reputation as a complete fighter was never more illustrated than in February of 92 when he carved up former three-time world champ Jeff Fennec in Fennec's home base of Melbourne, Australia.

00:16:53In his last defense on the undercard of Chavez Haugen before 130,000 plus in Mexico City, he beat the number one contender, Gabriel Ruelas, 12 years, his junior.

00:17:03Tonight, undefeated local hero Jesse James Leha will take his best shot.

00:17:08Many feel Leha will be going to school against the self-proclaimed professor of pugilism.

00:17:13Leha, a San Antonio native, will have the crowd behind him.

00:17:16But will it be enough against the ageless road warrior Azuma Nelson?

00:17:20Azuma Nelson, the longest reigning champion in boxing today, winning the title back in February of 1988.

00:17:26Once again, we turn to the fight, Doctor.

00:17:27And, Ferdy, in your opinion, how has he remained a champion for so long?

00:17:31Almost in the same way that Chavez did, in dedicating himself purely to boxing.

00:17:36He comes into the country, he boxes like a gunfighter, he goes right back to where he comes from, and he stays in his village, and he stays in his town running his business.

00:17:44He doesn't run around, he doesn't get publicity, he doesn't show up on talk shows.

00:17:48This guy is purely a professional fighter, as he should be.

00:17:51I remember seeing him in 1982, came in as a complete unknown, as a substitute fighter to fight the great Salvador Sanchez.

00:17:57At the end of that night, he lost by a knockout in the 15th.

00:18:00There wasn't a person in Madison Square Garden that didn't feel that Azuma Nelson was going to be a future champion.

00:18:05He's brought that dedication, he's brought that concentration of boxing.

00:18:09He's the kind of guy that will stay on top and end up in the Hall of Fame.

00:18:12Where would you rank Azuma Nelson among boxing's elite today?

00:18:15He's right under Chavez because he didn't fight as much.

00:18:18For some reason, he didn't get the attention that Chavez did.

00:18:21He didn't fight as much.

00:18:22There aren't that many fights in Africa as there are in Mexico, so he didn't have that advantage, and he lost a couple of fights, which, after all, Chavez didn't.

00:18:30I think he ranked right under there.

00:18:32You have to admire him, his consistency, his longevity.

00:18:35He is the professor, as he calls himself, and he is the kind of man that can teach lessons in boxing.

00:18:41We'll see what kind of lessons he's going to teach tonight.

00:18:44All right, meanwhile, is the undefeated Jesse James Lehar ready to be a champion?

00:18:48Bobby, says your thoughts.

00:18:49The last time I was in San Antonio, I had the privilege of watching Jesse James Lehar literally dissect Troy Dorson.

00:18:55He has great hand speed, good power, and he shows a ring maturity and a nice, nice set of patience.

00:19:00He really is a patient kid.

00:19:01He's got championship caliber material.

00:19:03He is the good, but tonight he's not just fighting any champion.

00:19:05He's fighting a legend in the making in Azuma Nelson.

00:19:08If Azuma Nelson has just come down a little bit, as people say he may have, Azuma Nelson could lose his title tonight.

00:19:14What about this hometown crowd, a helper, a hindrance?

00:19:16Well, the crowd's never really too much of the help because they can't get in the ring and they can't fight for you.

00:19:20But as a young fighter looking to dethrone a champion of this magnitude, he may be able to feed off him, as he said, and get a little better and stronger as the fight goes on.

00:19:28We'll see.

00:19:29All right, Bobby, let's take our first look at the challenger, Jesse James Lehar, who is certain to have this crowd behind him.

00:19:36Hometown favorite from right here in San Antonio has never lost in 27 professional fights.

00:19:41Again, the reaction to the background as they see Lehar with a big screen.

00:19:4526-0-1 with 12 knockouts in the current NAVF featherweight champion.

00:19:50Rated number three by the WBC as the featherweight tonight.

00:19:53Lehar's first shot at a world title.

00:19:55Lehar's first shot at a world title.

00:20:01And.

00:20:02Go everyone!

00:20:03Go!

00:20:04Go!

00:20:05Go!

00:20:06Go!

00:20:08Go!

00:20:12Go!

00:20:13Go!

00:20:14Go!

00:20:15Go!

00:20:16Go!

00:20:17Go!

00:20:18Go!

00:20:19Go!

00:20:20Go!

00:20:21Go!

00:20:22Go!

00:20:23Oh, my God.

00:20:53Oh, my God.

00:21:23So, Jesse James Leha coming in with the NAVS featherweight belt and guns aurora, a man who has battled his way to this point by beating quality opponents, including two former world champions, Louis Espinosa and Troy Dorsey, plus 84 Olympic gold medalist Steve McCrory.

00:21:43Leha, the son of a Texas Golden Gloves champion and popular San Antonio pro Jesse Leha, who is working his son's corner.

00:21:51And now here is the champion, 35-year-old two-time world champ Azuma Nelson, hearing it from the crowd, affectionately called the mighty warrior in his native land of Afra, Ghana, Africa.

00:22:04But he likes to call himself the professor because he's the instructor teaching the young students, many of whom learn the hard way.

00:22:11Tonight, he makes the 10th offense to the title he's held for five years.

00:22:15Here's the show.

00:22:20Here's the show.

00:22:22Here's the show.

00:22:27Here's the show.

00:22:39Here's the show.

00:22:47Here's the show.

00:22:51Here's the show.

00:22:55Here's the show.

00:23:19Here's the show.

00:23:23Here's the show.

00:23:51Oh, my God.

00:24:21Oh, my God.

00:24:51Oh, my God.

00:25:21Oh, my God.

00:25:23Oh, my God.

00:25:25Oh, my God.

00:25:27Oh, my God.

00:25:29Oh, my God.

00:25:31Oh, my God.

00:25:33Oh, my God.

00:25:35Oh, my God.

00:25:37Oh, my God.

00:25:39Oh, my God.

00:25:41Oh, my God.

00:25:43Oh, my God.

00:25:45Oh, my God.

00:25:47Oh, my God.

00:25:49Oh, my God.

00:25:51Oh, my God.

00:25:53Oh, my God.

00:25:55Oh, my God.

00:25:57Oh, my God.

00:25:59Oh, my God.

00:26:01Oh, my God.

00:26:03Oh, my God.

00:26:05Oh, my God.

00:26:07Oh, my God.

00:26:09Oh, my God.

00:26:11Oh, my God.

00:26:15Oh, my God.

00:26:17last round so here at the animal

00:26:21dorm in San Antonio Texas closing

00:26:24in on the WBC super featherweight

00:26:26championship let's get the official

00:26:28introductions from our ring

00:26:29announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. ladies

00:26:35and gentlemen a very good evening

00:26:38to you welcome to the

00:26:39Dome in beautiful San Antonio

00:26:43Texas we have a big night of

00:26:46action coming your way and it's all

00:26:48brought to you by Don King

00:26:50Productions in association with main

00:26:52events monitor along with King Vision

00:26:54and SEC pay-per-view under the

00:26:57sponsorship of the San Antonio Express

00:27:00News and Corona Beer ladies and

00:27:04gentlemen before our first world title

00:27:06main event we ask you to rise for the

00:27:09playing of the national anthem on

00:27:12behalf of the defending champion the

00:27:15national anthem of Ghana

00:27:18the national anthem of Ghana

00:27:22Q & Progress

00:27:23the national anthem of governess

00:27:30G農 snow snow snow snow snow snown

00:27:42menos

00:27:44Thank you for your attention.

00:28:11At this time, fans, we bring to you the first of our three world title main events as

00:28:19we present the WBSC Super Featherweight Championship bout.

00:28:24This bout is sanctioned by the World Boxing Council, President Jose Suleiman, Supervisor

00:28:32Pega Collegiate, along with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the Executive

00:28:39Director Jack Garrison, the Executive Director Jack Garrison, Commissioner Arlen Spider-Bynum.

00:28:47Introducing the judges at ringside, Lawrence Cole, Keith Danzi, and Daniel Vanderweel.

00:28:57Introducing the referee in charge of this bout, he will be giving instructions after the

00:29:05introductions, Jerry McKenzie.

00:29:07All right, fans, here we go with the WBC Super Featherweight Championship of the World 12

00:29:17Rounds of Boxing.

00:29:19Introducing to you first the challenger on my right fighting out of the red corner.

00:29:26He is wearing black trunks with gold lettering, fighting out of and representing the beautiful

00:29:33city of San Antonio, Texas.

00:29:36He weighed in at 129 pounds with an undefeated record of 26 wins, no losses, one draw with

00:29:5012 wins coming by way of knockout.

00:29:53He is the NABF featherweight champion, ranked the number three WBC contender.

00:29:59Please welcome the pride of San Antonio, the undefeated Jesse James Leipzig.

00:30:08And his opponent across the ring.

00:30:18On my left, fighting out of the blue corner, the defending world champion, wearing gold trunks

00:30:24with red trim.

00:30:26He is hailing from Accra, Ghana.

00:30:29His weight, 128 and one half pounds.

00:30:32His record, 37 wins, only two losses, one draw.

00:30:37One draw with 26 wins coming by way of knockout.

00:30:42Welcome the former WBC featherweight and current WBC Super Featherweight Champion of the World

00:30:49in his 10th defense of his title.

00:30:51Introducing the professor of boxing known as the mighty warrior, Azuma Nelson.

00:31:05Once again, here's the referee in charge, Jerry McKenzie.

00:31:10Mr. Nelson, Mr. Lehigh, you've already had your instructions in the dressing room.

00:31:18Do we have any questions from either corner?

00:31:20All right.

00:31:21Number one.

00:31:22Protect yourself at all times.

00:31:23Have a good bout.

00:31:24Let's do it.

00:31:25Well, after that interesting gunplay, I'm not sure if Lehigh's planning to box Azuma Nelson or shoot him.

00:31:43You know one thing that's curious?

00:31:45I've never seen Azuma Nelson walk in with such a dead look in his eyes.

00:31:49He didn't seem to have any fire.

00:31:50Look at him even now.

00:31:51I mean, even in the dressing room, he wasn't with that zip that he's got.

00:31:55What came over him?

00:31:56Because he usually has such fire in his eyes.

00:31:59I'll tell you, it doesn't look like much fire, but it looks like a bad move.

00:32:02Yeah.

00:32:03Maybe that's what it is.

00:32:04Maybe instead of being blank, maybe he's just getting angry.

00:32:07Remember Melbourne, Australia, the fight with Fenwick, number two.

00:32:10He was coming down the aisles before that big crowd there.

00:32:13He was praying.

00:32:14Yeah.

00:32:15To each his own.

00:32:17Well, this is Azuma Nelson's 20th world title fight.

00:32:20He's 16, two and one.

00:32:22Lehigh's first world title fight.

00:32:24Nelson's only two losses, a 15th round TKO to the late Salvador Sanchez in 82,

00:32:29which was his first world title fight.

00:32:32Nelson had only two weeks to prepare as a late replacement.

00:32:35And the other loss to a fellow by the name of Pernell Whitaker in 1990 via decision.

00:32:41Meanwhile, Lehigh tried to become the second San Antonio to win a world title.

00:32:45The first Robert Carroga won the IVF Junior Bantamweight crown in 1990.

00:32:50There you saw Nelson trying to goad him in, get him to get a little wild.

00:32:53And as I said earlier, Lehigh's got tremendous patience.

00:32:56Well, Lehigh told us yesterday, I can't fight Azuma's fight, which is a brawling style.

00:33:03But by the same token, he said, I'm not going to back away.

00:33:06I'll move in and out.

00:33:07Well, he just landed a beautiful, crisp combination on Azuma Nelson.

00:33:11Those are the kind that gain points.

00:33:13He's patient all right, but this has just started.

00:33:15Right now, his jab, Lehigh, is split second quicker than Nelson's too,

00:33:19and it's got him a little off guard, a little off balance.

00:33:21Nelson, a superb counterpuncher.

00:33:24Lehigh will be doing a lot of jabbing.

00:33:26At least he said he'll try to be doing a lot of jabbing to try and counter that.

00:33:30Azuma often likes to fight off the ropes, giving the impression he's in trouble,

00:33:36as he did against Jeff Fennec, but he's actually unleashing vicious uppercuts in the process.

00:33:41And Lehigh, as his fight progresses, will have to be cognizant of that.

00:33:44Nelson does use the ropes as leverage better than any fighter I've seen in a long time.

00:33:49He loves to spring off him and leap into his opponents with big shots.

00:33:53Now there, Azuma's been winning the battle of the jabs just then.

00:33:57He landed four or five straight jabs, and you knew that overhand right was coming right after.

00:34:01Lehigh says, as great as Azuma Nelson is, if he keeps him guessing, it'll help his cause.

00:34:09Azuma goes in with one plan, says Jesse James Lehigh.

00:34:13If he has to change that plan, it could affect him.

00:34:17The crowd will react to every little thing that Lehigh does.

00:34:21Remember, Azuma picks up a lot of that on his gloves and with his head movement.

00:34:26He's hard to hit flush, is Azuma Nelson.

00:34:29Both of these fighters are very cute and very tricky.

00:34:31They block shots very well, and they're very subtle with their defense.

00:34:34Nelson combines intelligence and power.

00:34:38The final 10 seconds of round one scheduled for 12 for the WBC Super Featherweight Championship.

00:34:48.

00:34:59.

00:35:10Oh, hey, hey, I'm moving.

00:35:17I'm moving.

00:35:21Beautiful fight.

00:35:22Jabbing at his eyes.

00:35:23Jabbing at his eyes, but jabbing with his eyes,

00:35:25when he can't hit you with a right hand over, okay?

00:35:28Keep jabbing up at his eyes,

00:35:29when he can't get a right hand.

00:35:30That's all you're fighting.

00:35:31A beautiful fight.

00:35:32Just double up with it, double up with it.

00:35:33Double up with a jab.

00:35:34Make him commit himself.

00:35:36Go up high with the jab.

00:35:37Don't jab low where he can hit the right hand.

00:35:38Jabbing at his eyes.

00:35:39Make him commit himself.

00:35:41Come on.

00:35:42Right hand, James.

00:35:43Right over the top.

00:35:44Right over the top.

00:35:45Okay?

00:35:49Round two.

00:35:51What do you think?

00:35:52The edge to Leja in that first round?

00:35:54And a very, very, very slight edge.

00:35:56He was a little more effective.

00:35:57Few extra jabs.

00:35:58One or two combinations more.

00:36:00But, you know, at this early stage,

00:36:01with the champion you're facing,

00:36:02that could mean absolutely nothing.

00:36:03He could go either way.

00:36:04It could have been a draw.

00:36:05I gave it to Leja.

00:36:06So I just squeaked because he was faster

00:36:08because the jabs.

00:36:09The voice you heard in the corner

00:36:10giving that really good advice

00:36:11was Emanuel Stewart who said,

00:36:12keep the jab up, meaning keep it up

00:36:14at the forehead.

00:36:15Don't try to go down.

00:36:16Because you go down with that jab,

00:36:17he'll cross you over with the right hand.

00:36:19And he will.

00:36:20Azuma Nelson just waiting for the jab to lower.

00:36:22Emanuel Stewart and Jesse Rubello

00:36:25and Jesse Leja.

00:36:27Leja is dead working the corner.

00:36:29And again, at the end of that round,

00:36:32Azuma very deliberately walked back to his corner.

00:36:35I mean, like almost like an old man

00:36:37walking back there.

00:36:38I don't understand this facade that he's got for this fight.

00:36:41It's almost as if he's not that much interested in this.

00:36:44He better wake up.

00:36:45This kid is very interested.

00:36:46Well, being the professor that he is,

00:36:48he may be playing emotionally with Leja,

00:36:49but who knows?

00:36:50The best flurry exhibited by Jesse James Leja

00:36:55as he went to the midsection of Azuma Nelson,

00:36:59but Azuma seeming unfazed.

00:37:04Well, certainly, Leja is not impressed by his history.

00:37:07He is in there fighting.

00:37:08That's a nice shot to the body.

00:37:09Just a nice hook to the body by Leja.

00:37:12He's not wasting any energy either, Jesse.

00:37:14He's not overthrowing his punch.

00:37:15He's not loading up on every shot.

00:37:17He's being quick, sharp, to the point, and very accurate.

00:37:20Leja, very aggressive fighter,

00:37:23likes to attack, sharp counterpuncher.

00:37:27Nelson's similar to Chavez in that he's a skillful boxer

00:37:30as well as a ferocious puncher

00:37:32and can be a punishing fighter

00:37:34who tries to wear down his opponents

00:37:36via a cumulative effect and go in for the kill.

00:37:39Nelson's right hand looks like he's got a spring in it.

00:37:41It's just ready to go.

00:37:42Look at how he's holding it.

00:37:44He wants to throw that so bad.

00:37:45There it goes.

00:37:48There you saw Leja trying to get cute,

00:37:50whipping a left hook over that right hand,

00:37:52but it missed.

00:37:53And Leja is smart because at least he's staying outside

00:37:57because Azuma Nelson, an excellent inside puncher.

00:38:01What he is doing is he's standing right in front of the cannon.

00:38:04He's not giving him any side-to-side movement.

00:38:06If Nelson gets the range here,

00:38:08this guy is really getting confident.

00:38:10It's Leja standing right in front of Azuma for an old fighter.

00:38:13He doesn't have to go get him.

00:38:14He's standing in front of the cannon.

00:38:17I'm surprised to see Azuma backing up quite as much as he is.

00:38:20You know, Jesse's not a big brawler type,

00:38:23and he said he wasn't going to brawl with Nelson,

00:38:25but he's constantly forcing the issue.

00:38:29Oh, that's a great body shot by Nelson.

00:38:36Oh, another great body shot.

00:38:38Now, that's thrown with a lot of force by Azuma Nelson.

00:38:41Final seconds, round two.

00:38:46Azuma Nelson coming alive.

00:38:56And standing by, coming up next,

00:38:58the WBC Super Welterweight Championship.

00:39:01Here's the champ, terrible Terry Norris, in his dressing room.

00:39:04Since winning the title with a first-round knockout

00:39:07of John the Beast Mugabe in 1990,

00:39:10he's knocked down seven of his ten opponents,

00:39:12five before the end of the fourth.

00:39:14Terry Norris, a fast worker.

00:39:16He'll try to make quick work of Joe Getty.

00:39:19He's moving back, and very few guys back him up.

00:39:24Yeah.

00:39:25You're backing him up good,

00:39:26but pick it up just a little bit faster.

00:39:27You don't have to push that much more,

00:39:29just keep making him move faster.

00:39:30Okay.

00:39:31Let the right hand go a little bit more, okay?

00:39:32Let the right hand go a little bit more after Jeff.

00:39:34Back him up a little bit.

00:39:35Give him a little too much room.

00:39:37Come on, Jay, pick it up.

00:39:40Pick up the pace, baby.

00:39:41He can't go to a round.

00:39:43That's what he's doing.

00:39:44He can't go to a round.

00:39:45That's why.

00:39:46And we are set for round three.

00:39:51Jerry McKenzie is the referee out of Mesquite, Texas.

00:39:55Zuma Nelson and his trainer, Jose Buffalo Martin,

00:39:57not thrilled to have a referee from Texas.

00:40:00Nelson said everybody is helping Leha get the title,

00:40:02including the WVC president, Jose Suleman.

00:40:05But there is one judge from Ghana, Keith Denzel.

00:40:09I think there's another judge from Ghana, too, Zuma Nelson.

00:40:12Yeah.

00:40:13Yeah.

00:40:14Oh, nice hook.

00:40:15Nice hook.

00:40:16Nice hook by Zuma Nelson, which set back.

00:40:18Jesse James Leha is on his heels.

00:40:20Nelson began to come alive in the second round

00:40:24after Leha probably took the first round in close fashion.

00:40:27Keith Dadsey of Ghana, Lawrence Cole of Dallas, Texas,

00:40:30and Daniel Vandelweil of Belgium are the three judges.

00:40:34A little bolo action there from Azuma.

00:40:37The crowd reacting to that little bit of showboating,

00:40:43uncharacteristic of Azuma Nelson,

00:40:45who doesn't do too much showboating.

00:40:47In some situations here, you think that the ring experience

00:40:49might start to tell a little bit.

00:40:51Nelson not using as much energy as Leha doing things very easy,

00:40:54just very nice, bringing Leha in,

00:40:56and countering with some big punches.

00:40:58Yes, he is.

00:40:59He's setting traps, and they're coming off.

00:41:01Now the advice in the corner was back him up.

00:41:03Well, how do you back a guy up that's thumping you when you come in?

00:41:06And another thing that Azuma Nelson does so well

00:41:08is block punches, and he's doing that with precision here.

00:41:12And now he's just working that jab to the head of Jesse James Leha.

00:41:17This fight, whatever happens, is a crowning achievement.

00:41:20A young man who didn't even consider boxing until he was 19.

00:41:26He's now 27.

00:41:39Those punches were blocked by Azuma Nelson.

00:41:44He's starting to become more of a chess match right now.

00:41:47Jesse's really trying to figure out the champion.

00:41:49The champion's starting to figure out Jesse a little more.

00:41:53Again, the crown reacting but not doing much damage to Azuma Nelson.

00:41:58Leha told us yesterday,

00:41:59I'm in a win-win situation with Azuma.

00:42:01If I lose, I'm still the NABF champ,

00:42:05and I can still try for the featherweight world title,

00:42:07but I am trying to get the super featherweight title now.

00:42:13The great thing about Jesse James Leha as a person,

00:42:16he said, the only thing that bothers me about this fight

00:42:18that I would not like to happen when you're on top,

00:42:21people want you to give talks to kids.

00:42:24And now Leha unloaded.

00:42:26A tremendous combination by Jesse James Leha,

00:42:30but what we've seen here is a lot of energy being expended,

00:42:33and the champion not stung, not phased,

00:42:36slowly now walking Jesse backwards.

00:42:38Back comes Azuma Nelson.

00:42:41That combination was a thing of beauty on the part of Leha's, though,

00:42:44and that could have won him the round

00:42:45because it would be even up to that point,

00:42:47he landed a lot of punches,

00:42:48even though they didn't have a big effect on Nelson.

00:42:50Let's take a look at Nelson.

00:42:53Let's look at the attack of Nelson.

00:42:55Now you see, Azuma, that was a great crunching left hook

00:43:22the great crunching left hook that Zuma landed.

00:43:25He's patient. He sees where he's at at all times.

00:43:27Now let's take a look at the other side.

00:43:29Well, you see the young challenger with his back to the ropes

00:43:30also fighting well off the ropes, throwing a nice combination,

00:43:33and landing a tremendous percentage of them

00:43:35all to Zuma Nelson's head.

00:43:37I think that's what won him the round,

00:43:38and these rounds are all being very close.

00:43:41I'm sure the Agana judge has all three for Zuma Nelson

00:43:45because they're very well-being.

00:43:46Don't worry out there.

00:43:47They're very close.

00:43:49Round number four is scheduled for 12.

00:43:54Bobby, you made a good point in that Leijas

00:43:57looks like he's expending all his nervous energy.

00:43:59It looks like it's bottled up,

00:44:00and he's just, like, blowing all his energy.

00:44:02And the other guy looks calm and cool.

00:44:03Sometimes, yeah, sometimes the magnitude of the event

00:44:06drains you emotionally and takes your adrenaline,

00:44:08and that could be happening to the challenger here.

00:44:11Well, every fight is an away game for Zuma Nelson.

00:44:16He is very much used to this hostile attitude

00:44:19in the atmosphere.

00:44:21Leijas feeds off the crowd,

00:44:23and the crowd behind him, as you can hear.

00:44:27Now you see the tables start to turn

00:44:29as Leijas going backwards most of the time,

00:44:31and Nelson is coming forward.

00:44:33But Jesse James can fight going backwards, too.

00:44:36He is a little bit of an outlaw.

00:44:38But Zuma's throwing in the fight punches.

00:44:40It's almost as if his partner said,

00:44:42OK, now start throwing punches.

00:44:44Now those are in the fight punches right there.

00:44:46Zuma Nelson has terrific power.

00:44:50He's not known as a one-punch knockout artist,

00:44:53but he sure does look like he's trying to end it

00:44:55with one punch here.

00:44:56Oh, and a good counterpunch by Leijas.

00:44:58A great last hook on the inside.

00:45:00That's the chance of Leijas with a combination.

00:45:03Oh, a big right hand of the hand of Zuma Nelson.

00:45:08Well, I'll tell you what, if they wanted to test the heart

00:45:10of the challenger, they got to answer.

00:45:12He's ready to fight.

00:45:14Downstairs and up by Leijas.

00:45:18Leijas looking very sharp.

00:45:21He took a big shellackey and came back

00:45:23just like if nothing had happened.

00:45:24That shows me a lot for Leijas.

00:45:26That is an incredible emotional booster

00:45:28for a young fighter like that, especially

00:45:29against such a legend.

00:45:31Especially when the legend is thumping

00:45:32those hard shots off your kidneys and your head.

00:45:34He was pumping away.

00:45:37Leijas feels very prepared to fight

00:45:41Zuma Nelson, having beaten two world champions.

00:45:44That was glove on glove.

00:45:46But it sure sounded worse.

00:45:50Zuma's coming in with repeated jabs

00:45:52and then trying to land that hard right hand

00:45:54and then watch the hook outwards

00:45:55because he can do that as good as anybody.

00:45:58He has a vicious left hook to the body,

00:45:59but that overhand right may be the telling blow

00:46:01for this particular fight.

00:46:05There it is. There it is.

00:46:06That's the right hand winging over in an arcing fashion.

00:46:11But Jesse James Leija able to duck.

00:46:15I think I see a little bit of blood

00:46:17by Jesse's left eye, but I'm not certain.

00:46:21The left hand pushing Nelson back.

00:46:24Under 30 seconds round four.

00:46:26It looks like there's a little nick there.

00:46:27Nothing big, but there is a drop.

00:46:32There's that right hand again, Bobby.

00:46:34It's finding its mark, and that can be trouble

00:46:36for our challenger.

00:46:41Well, this is the round that Azuma Nelson got serious.

00:46:47And Nelson able to scramble away.

00:46:49One, two, three!

00:46:58Huge crowd here at the Alamo Dome.

00:47:00That includes several celebrities,

00:47:02including Irvin Magic Johnson, big boxing fan.

00:47:10The crowd seeing Magic's picture up on the big screen,

00:47:13giving him an ovation.

00:47:20And now let's see how the old warrior

00:47:22goes at trying to finish this fight with one punch.

00:47:24Look at these punches.

00:47:25They're determined. They're hard.

00:47:27He wants to end it on one, and he can't get that one

00:47:29because Lehigh's was very clever,

00:47:31and yet he comes back.

00:47:33Well, here you see Lehigh credit

00:47:34to the challenger's heart and his ability.

00:47:36He comes back, lands a couple of combinations,

00:47:38and definitely gets the attention of the champion

00:47:40backing into the corner and working nicely.

00:47:45Good round of championship fights.

00:47:47Look behind the right hand, too.

00:47:49Come on, Bobby.

00:47:52And we begin round five.

00:47:56This is for the WBC Super Featherweight Championship.

00:47:59The champion, Azuma Nelson, in the gold with red trim.

00:48:02The challenger, Jesse James Lehigh,

00:48:03who just uncorked the combination in the black.

00:48:06That is San Antonio.

00:48:09That was a very cute uppercut.

00:48:11He just landed, and he came back with another one,

00:48:12although he ran into a hook himself.

00:48:22Nelson stalking.

00:48:26Again, Lehigh standing just in front.

00:48:29And he doesn't waste any motion.

00:48:30When they break, he's always got a little hook,

00:48:32something to remind you that he's been there.

00:48:34As Azuma Nelson just doesn't stop every second

00:48:37he's looking for you.

00:48:39Jesse seems to be trying to come up the middle a little more

00:48:42inside that big, looping right hand.

00:48:43We'll see if he's effective with it.

00:48:45A couple of those uppercuts landed right on the mark.

00:48:46I say this for Jesse.

00:48:47I don't see any wear and tear with the kind of shots he's been taking.

00:48:50It looks like at least his confidence will be shaking a little bit,

00:48:52and he's not.

00:48:54He's still there, and he's still just fighting as hard

00:48:56as he has been.

00:48:57This is a very even fight up to now.

00:49:08Jesse looks a little more comfortable now.

00:49:10He may very well have gotten the butterflies out of his system.

00:49:12He got the big punches.

00:49:13He gave the big punches, and now he's ready to settle into his game.

00:49:16Yeah, we better not settle in too deep because he's not doing any fighting now.

00:49:20He's just looking right now.

00:49:21He's just spent about 30 or 40 seconds without doing anything.

00:49:24That's the kind of stuff that you can't do with Azuma Nelson.

00:49:27He'll steal the round from you.

00:49:29Well, because Azuma punches so hard, too,

00:49:31he always keeps anyone that fights him a little bit worried.

00:49:34Well, look how inactive he's been now.

00:49:36Most of this round, Lehas has really not come forward throwing anything.

00:49:39He's trying just to react to Azuma,

00:49:41pulling back every time Azuma punches hard.

00:49:43He's got to do something to win a round.

00:49:53A lot of posturing going on by Jesse James Leha.

00:49:59But not much happening.

00:50:03What's happening is Nelson's jabbing in Silly.

00:50:07Keeps that up. He's setting up the right hand.

00:50:09There's also another little nick under Jesse's right eye.

00:50:12I see a little bit of blood there,

00:50:13but it doesn't seem to be anything

00:50:14that could be dangerous to the fight.

00:50:16No, it just goes to show you that those blows

00:50:18that Azuma is landing are causing damage to the tissues.

00:50:30Get him up, guys. Get him up now. Come on.

00:50:35That was the kind of low blow that doesn't hurt,

00:50:36but it definitely is low.

00:50:38Kind of hit him in the buttocks, his hip area.

00:50:48Looked like Leha just conserving energy here at half five.

00:50:51Yeah, he sure gave that one away.

00:50:53That was a Christmas present.

00:50:54And coming up following this fight,

00:50:59the WBC Super Weatherweight Championship right here.

00:51:01Look at the challenger.

00:51:02This is Joe Gaddy in his dressing room

00:51:04awaiting his first world title attempt

00:51:07against a fierce competitor,

00:51:09terrible Terry Norris.

00:51:10Gaddy, 20 and 2, 15 knockouts,

00:51:12all 15 within the first three rounds.

00:51:15He's rated number three by the WBA,

00:51:17number seven by the IBF,

00:51:19number 11 by the WB suit.

00:51:26One of the greats to be,

00:51:28perhaps Oscar de la Hoya.

00:51:32And he's hearing it from the crowd,

00:51:34wearing the Chavez headband.

00:51:36You know who he's rooting for.

00:51:38Come on, come on, Jim.

00:51:39We got to start doing the rounds, OK?

00:51:40OK, we got halfway now, Bubba.

00:51:49Come on, let's go.

00:51:54And we are now.

00:51:55It's around six.

00:51:56One's commissioned.

00:52:01And the corner says, we're halfway.

00:52:02That's the kind of mathematics

00:52:03that confuses the box at Neckwhite.

00:52:05You've got to get through six to be halfway.

00:52:06and then you've got six big rounds to go with this guy

00:52:09and then wants to punch your hand.

00:52:10Oh, nice right hand right on the button of Azuma Nelson by Lehas.

00:52:15And he still carries that poker face.

00:52:16You can't even tell when he's hurt.

00:52:19Jesse James Leha unloading his best punch of the night.

00:52:25That one caused sweat to fly all the way out

00:52:27to where we're sitting here, and that was a beauty.

00:52:29And yet, it did not have any effect on Nelson that we can see.

00:52:32Now, Azuma Nelson exhibiting a tremendous chip.

00:52:41Nice jab. Nice stiff jab.

00:52:44See, here's a round where Lehas has come back

00:52:46after taking a round off.

00:52:47Now, his corner sent him out to fight.

00:52:54Well, I'll tell you right now, Nelson is not doing a lot,

00:52:56but he's the kind of guy that, you know,

00:52:59round 9, round 10, round 12 shows up.

00:53:01He's getting a little stronger, and this is why.

00:53:03He knows where to save his energy.

00:53:05Yeah, that comes with all that experience and talent.

00:53:11Leha fighting a much better round this round than the last round,

00:53:14which he seemed to take off.

00:53:16In the past, not uncommon for Nelson

00:53:18to fall behind on scorecards in the early rounds

00:53:20and slowly and systematically punishes opponent

00:53:23before moving in for the finish.

00:53:25We've seen that happen before.

00:53:29Past the midway point of round 6.

00:53:32Come on, come on, come on.

00:53:34Leha going to the body now upstairs,

00:53:36but Nelson had that well-cut.

00:53:38Come on, James, get him up.

00:53:39There you see Leha pull back.

00:53:41He doesn't want to get overconfident.

00:53:43He doesn't want to waste a lot of energy,

00:53:44and Nelson is almost asking him to do just that.

00:53:47He's asking him, inviting him to come to the ropes,

00:53:49and as he told us yesterday, we looked at those tapes.

00:53:52We don't want to get him on the ropes.

00:53:53If he gets to the ropes, we want to get him off.

00:53:55And he did just that.

00:53:57Good instruction by his corner

00:53:58and a good strategy taken by Leha.

00:54:04When you look at Azuma,

00:54:06it really almost seems as if he is teaching,

00:54:09if he's the professor.

00:54:12He's so confident in there.

00:54:19A little more cat and mouse

00:54:31trying to figure each other out a little bit.

00:54:34Yeah, a lot of faints.

00:54:35A lot of see what you go for.

00:54:39I think they're both beginning to realize

00:54:41this is going to be a long and hard fight,

00:54:43and that it's going to be important

00:54:44to the rate of attrition to stay in there.

00:54:46Get him up, James. Get him up.

00:54:47As we head for the bell.

00:55:08A little more cat and mouse

00:55:09trying to figure each other out a little bit.

00:55:12Yeah, a lot of faints.

00:55:13A lot of see what you go for.

00:55:17I think they're both beginning to realize

00:55:19this is going to be a long and hard fight,

00:55:21and that it's going to be important

00:55:22through the rate of attrition to stay in there.

00:55:25Get him up, James. Get him up.

00:55:27As we head for the bell.

00:55:29Hey!

00:55:30Hey!

00:55:31Hey!

00:55:47Hey!

00:55:48Hey!

00:55:49Here's a wake-up call that Le has put right on Azuma Nelson.

00:56:05He catches attention.

00:56:06Look at that right hand.

00:56:07See the sweat just pour off?

00:56:08Let's take another look at that.

00:56:09Bobby, why did he get hit so open?

00:56:11Well, I'll tell you what.

00:56:12He drops his hand.

00:56:13He leans back.

00:56:14See how he just leans back?

00:56:15There's nowhere to go.

00:56:16The right hand is on its way,

00:56:17and he's not going to get out of the way of it.

00:56:18Maybe a little more follow-up is necessary.

00:56:20He's going to do it.

00:56:21The right hand is going to do it right off the jab.

00:56:23He got a slow jab.

00:56:24He got to slow down.

00:56:25Yeah, but double-step with it.

00:56:27Step in.

00:56:28Double-step with it.

00:56:29Come on.

00:56:30Hey!

00:56:31I'm going to get out.

00:56:32All right.

00:56:33Round 7, scheduled for 12, WBC Super Featherweight Championship.

00:56:39Now we're halfway, and it's still pretty much an even fight.

00:56:42Yep.

00:56:43I got an even fight.

00:56:44Oh, another one of those right hands.

00:56:46Same shot.

00:56:47A spray of perspiration our way, or water, rather, our way.

00:56:52Same shot, same time at the opening of the round

00:56:55when Azuma was too confident.

00:56:59I think too relaxed.

00:57:00He just seems to be a little too relaxed tonight.

00:57:03Yeah, that fire is not there.

00:57:04It's what we saw walking in.

00:57:05He just didn't see.

00:57:06Even when he was punching in the dressing room,

00:57:07he wasn't punching with his usual strength.

00:57:10I don't know.

00:57:11I saw that, and I just thought it was different.

00:57:13He looked different.

00:57:19Lehigh continues to stand right in front of the champion, Azuma Nelson.

00:57:24A low blow referee wants to say something but didn't.

00:57:27That was kind of grazing.

00:57:28I don't think it was too much that anybody could pay attention to anything.

00:57:30That wasn't something you warned something about.

00:57:31I would start to warn him about keeping him up,

00:57:32because he's landed a lot of weakness.

00:57:33Mostly to the back, but there's low nonetheless.

00:57:37That's silly on the part of Azuma.

00:57:39He's got his hands down just tempting him to come in.

00:57:41There has to be a strategic purpose for what he's doing.

00:57:43I'm not sure what it is, but the professor, the teacher, he is.

00:57:46Maybe he's just trying to lure him into combat.

00:57:50You always do feel as if Azuma Nelson has something lurking.

00:57:54No matter what.

00:58:08He always has that big right hand up his sleeve.

00:58:10That we all know.

00:58:14Oh, nice right hand by Nelson.

00:58:17Had missed a big upper cut, but came back with a big right hand,

00:58:19and now Lance comes back.

00:58:23Here he is 16.

00:58:25Good body shot by Lehar.

00:58:27Uppercuts on the inside by Nelson.

00:58:29And both landing.

00:58:31Great give and take by both fighters.

00:58:33Nobody's getting the edge so far.

00:58:35And again, Jesse James Lehar said to us yesterday

00:58:38he did not want to get into a trawling situation with Azuma Nelson,

00:58:42but that's what we're seeing here in round 7.

00:58:44Well, Azuma's obligating him to do so by his pressing tactics

00:58:47and by the fact that he's putting on steam,

00:58:49he wants to get this guy out of here.

00:58:50Not only that, I think it's something that I've always maintained

00:58:52every fighter has to get his, as we say, pound of flesh

00:58:55to get the respect of the other fighter,

00:58:57especially such a great fighter that has the power of Nelson

00:58:59just to keep him off.

00:59:01You never know what's gonna happen,

00:59:02but you get the feeling Azuma Nelson is sucking him in.

00:59:07You feel that the trap's being laid,

00:59:09yet the young man is answering the call.

00:59:11There was a first good trap.

00:59:13You throw your right hand and let it go by,

00:59:15and I'm gonna nail you with a combination,

00:59:17and that's just what Azuma Nelson did.

00:59:19Look at that uppercut.

00:59:20That'll land one of these times, and it'll be all over.

00:59:23And the rounds flying by.

00:59:26Final seconds round seven.

00:59:30Hey!

00:59:35Masterpiece.

00:59:37Beautiful.

00:59:38That's what we gotta do.

00:59:39That's what we gotta do.

00:59:40How you feel, Dan?

00:59:41He's getting tired.

00:59:42The punches that you've been missing

00:59:43and went early in the round,

00:59:44you're starting to get to him,

00:59:45what you understand?

00:59:46Because he was pulling back on the punches.

00:59:47He's not going underneath your punches.

00:59:48He's pulling back.

00:59:49As he gets tired, his judgment is gonna be off.

00:59:51The shots that you've been falling short,

00:59:52you're gonna start finding him.

00:59:53Sit still, baby.

00:59:54With the left hook and the right hand, okay?

00:59:55All right, let's watch Leher at work for a change.

00:59:57That's that right hand that we keep talking about.

00:59:59Azuma, let him land a couple of those,

01:00:00and they're devastating.

01:00:01But later in the round, let's take a look at what happened.

01:00:03Well, later on, they have a good exchange

01:00:04with her back and forth.

01:00:05Azuma Nelson tries to come on

01:00:06and back Jesse off.

01:00:07And Jesse stands with him as if to say,

01:00:08I'm here and I'm not going anywhere.

01:00:10Fires back, counters back,

01:00:11exchanges give and take, both land.

01:00:12Yeah, excellent round.

01:00:13Excellent round for both.

01:00:14Let's go.

01:00:15Let's go.

01:00:16Well, I tell you what,

01:00:18I just got to go.

01:00:19I got to go.

01:00:20I got to go.

01:00:21I got to go.

01:00:22I got to go.

01:00:23I got to go.

01:00:24I got to go.

01:00:25I got to go.

01:00:26I got to go.

01:00:27I got to go.

01:00:28I got to go.

01:00:29All right, I got to go.

01:00:30I tell you what, I sure hate to have money on this fight one way or another, or have the judge.

01:00:36The judges keep that as the of Ghana, Lawrence Cole of Dallas, Daniel Vandelweil of Belgium.

01:00:43Well, they have their work cut out tonight.

01:00:45It's going to hang on what the Belgian says, because I guarantee you,

01:00:48if you're from Ghana, it's going to be Nelson's fight.

01:00:51And if you're looking at it from a Texas viewpoint, it's Lehigh.

01:00:55Because this is close.

01:00:56The chance of Jesse James Lehigh.

01:01:03You heard Emmanuel Stewart in Lehigh's quarters say, he's getting tired.

01:01:06We'll see. He's talking, of course, about Azuma.

01:01:09You'll watch now, too, in these rounds, as we get to mid-late rounds,

01:01:12that those body shots will start to take the toll on both fighters.

01:01:16It is round eight scheduled for 12.

01:01:20They stand toe-to-toe.

01:01:23Lehigh's gambling a little bit more now.

01:01:24He's willing to go toe-to-toe, out-slicking, out-speeding.

01:01:28Maybe not out-slicking, but out-speeding, Azuma Nelson.

01:01:31Youth has served here.

01:01:33When he gets in close, how he can keep this up.

01:01:36We'll soon see.

01:01:37The 27-year-old Lehigh with the young legs

01:01:39against the 35-year-old mighty warrior in gold, Azuma Nelson.

01:01:44Five years he's held the title.

01:01:46The crowd really into this.

01:01:58Well, this is a local favorite.

01:02:00This kid is undefeated, and he's a sweetheart here in this community,

01:02:03so we've got to be for him.

01:02:04In between those bursts of combinations,

01:02:06we have a lot of this chess match, like boxing,

01:02:08watching each other, slipping punches,

01:02:10looking for that opening that may decide the round.

01:02:12Oh, good left hand by Lehigh.

01:02:15Good, short, crisp left.

01:02:16He was looking, and he found it.

01:02:18And he found a little right hand and followed it by Azuma.

01:02:20You just don't get away without getting a receipt from this guy.

01:02:23Ha, ha, ha.

01:02:25I think he's just got a receipt there and some change.

01:02:29Yeah.

01:02:31I'm amazed that he hasn't gone more to the body, Azuma Nelson,

01:02:34because that's his fight to the body.

01:02:36Get off-line break.

01:02:37Get back.

01:02:38There have been no knockdowns.

01:02:42We're in round eight.

01:02:53A very cautious round on both fighters' behaves.

01:02:56Watching, still looking, looking for that shot.

01:02:58One or two small bursts, but nothing consistent.

01:03:02Azuma Nelson, uncharacteristically,

01:03:04a little too relaxed.

01:03:09A little flurry there for Jesse James Lehigh,

01:03:11but pitter-patter.

01:03:13Right hand by Lehigh, glancing go.

01:03:15Didn't have full impact.

01:03:17Lehigh's eyes are slowly closing up on him, though.

01:03:21He's got a nice right hand.

01:03:22Nasty little mouse underneath that left eye.

01:03:25Could be trouble later,

01:03:26but we've got eight rounds just about under our belt.

01:03:29That'll do it.

01:03:30Let's go over to Montel Williams.

01:03:41I'll tell you, Steve,

01:03:42I've been walking around in a crowd here,

01:03:43and it is electric.

01:03:44I'm telling you,

01:03:45everybody's really getting their feeling.

01:03:46If you look around in this dome,

01:03:48which really isn't a dome,

01:03:50I'm going to tell you a little bit about it.

01:03:51It costs $186 million to build,

01:03:541.2 million square feet,

01:03:56and tonight they estimate

01:03:58we are well over 60,000 fans in the room.

01:04:01I'm going to come right back to you, Steve,

01:04:02but I'm telling you,

01:04:0360,000 people rocking for a hometown boy.

01:04:05Back to Steve Albert.

01:04:07Thanks, Montel.

01:04:07Because of this fight,

01:04:08people have converged on San Antonio.

01:04:10This is a city we're hosting a national convention.

01:04:14Oh, we can have it.

01:04:15We can have it.

01:04:17Don't worry, James.

01:04:18You've got to take this round now, okay?

01:04:19You've got to finish strong.

01:04:20Okay?

01:04:21Keep doubling up with that jab.

01:04:24You don't got nothing behind these punches anymore.

01:04:26Okay?

01:04:27Just double up with a jab,

01:04:28and that right hand got to be strong.

01:04:29Right on the money.

01:04:30Come on.

01:04:33Round number nine.

01:04:35I think a great deal of the people

01:04:37that came to this fight, 60,000,

01:04:39came because Jim Hill was a big high school star

01:04:41here, and they've come to see him.

01:04:42There you go.

01:04:42Hey, listen, when you come from Highland High,

01:04:44people come to say,

01:04:45where's Jim?

01:04:46It has nothing at all to do with

01:04:47Julio Cesar Chavez or Jesse Jones, later on.

01:04:51Well, we've got a pretty even fight, Bobby.

01:04:53I got Azuma a slight,

01:04:55slightly ahead,

01:04:56but it could just as soon be Leha.

01:04:58This is one of those fights

01:04:59that defies accurate judging.

01:05:02Boy, you've got to see

01:05:03the give and take of both fighters.

01:05:05So far, no one has established himself

01:05:07as dominant over the other.

01:05:09I'll tell you,

01:05:10this is a difficult type of fight to score.

01:05:12A little bit of give and take,

01:05:13a little bit of ebb and flow.

01:05:15A couple of punches here,

01:05:16a couple there.

01:05:17So the round starts to teeter-totter

01:05:18all the way to the end.

01:05:20Whoever closes stronger

01:05:21invariably wins some of these close rounds.

01:05:23Right now,

01:05:24I also have it very close.

01:05:29Wild miss by Azuma Nelson.

01:05:33Nelson now working the jab,

01:05:34trying to set up for the right.

01:05:36You know,

01:05:37you get the feeling

01:05:37of determined burst

01:05:38that takes two or three rounds in a row

01:05:40will win this fight.

01:05:41You know,

01:05:41you get that feeling

01:05:41if one guy gets on a roll

01:05:43and goes two or three rounds in a row,

01:05:45he can take this fight.

01:05:45Right now,

01:05:46no one has done that.

01:05:47They've just been training rounds.

01:05:49Wicked,

01:05:49wicked uppercut to the body

01:05:51by Azuma Nelson.

01:05:53Kind rattles your ribcage.

01:05:55I think the championship rounds,

01:05:5711 and 12,

01:05:58may be the difference.

01:05:59And there's,

01:06:00that's where Nelson is.

01:06:01He's at home the past five years.

01:06:02That's all he's known,

01:06:04championship rounds.

01:06:05Well, Bobby,

01:06:06but even a great champion

01:06:07like Azuma Nelson

01:06:08gets old one night.

01:06:09It may be tonight.

01:06:11Certainly,

01:06:11he's got a guy in front of him

01:06:12that has given him all he wants.

01:06:14No respect.

01:06:15He's gone right to him.

01:06:16Up until this point,

01:06:18and even against Gabriel Rojas,

01:06:20we didn't see much evidence

01:06:21of Azuma aging.

01:06:23But it seems to be

01:06:25a case here tonight.

01:06:27Generally,

01:06:28the skills do erode gradually.

01:06:32He's got a guy

01:06:33with a lot of confidence.

01:06:34He's never been beaten.

01:06:35He's in front of his hometown.

01:06:36He's doing all right.

01:06:37He's taking all his shots

01:06:37and nothing's bothered him.

01:06:38So, hey,

01:06:39this is going to be

01:06:40an interesting finish

01:06:41to this fight.

01:06:42Jesse's fighting

01:06:43a smart fight.

01:06:43He's using his quick hands

01:06:44and he's using his strength

01:06:45speed in the youth.

01:06:46It does happen.

01:06:46I'll tell you what,

01:06:47the strength factor

01:06:48might be the difference

01:06:49in the strength.

01:06:50And he comes into this fight

01:06:51with Jesse James Leha

01:06:53with tremendous confidence

01:06:54as he imparted to us yesterday.

01:06:56He feels now

01:06:57he's got the experience

01:06:58under his belt

01:06:59to take on

01:07:00a guy like Azuma Nelson.

01:07:02And he's exhibiting

01:07:04that here tonight.

01:07:04Well, he's certainly

01:07:10done nothing here tonight

01:07:11that would besmirch

01:07:12his reputation

01:07:13and not even announce.

01:07:17That one missed.

01:07:18Oh, a wide raising left

01:07:19by Nelson.

01:07:22Good uppercut

01:07:23by Azuma Nelson.

01:07:27That might be

01:07:28the first clinch

01:07:29of the fight, eh?

01:07:29I mean,

01:07:30have you seen him clinch

01:07:30beside that?

01:07:31It was a smart clinch.

01:07:33Yeah, really smart.

01:07:37Well, things really

01:07:39heating up here

01:07:40as we take a look

01:07:41at terrible Terry Norris

01:07:42doing some shadow boxing

01:07:44in his dressing room,

01:07:46getting the applause,

01:07:47the rhythmic applause

01:07:48from his support team,

01:07:50getting set to defend

01:07:51the WBC Super

01:07:52Welterweight Championship.

01:07:56Turn around.

01:07:57Turn around now, okay?

01:08:01Time to work, baby.

01:08:02Get the middle around him, boy.

01:08:03The man is tied

01:08:04like motherfucker,

01:08:04you know?

01:08:06Put the pressure

01:08:07inside the man.

01:08:08Inside the man.

01:08:09This man is signing a punch.

01:08:12Let's go.

01:08:13Pull your punches.

01:08:13You're going to pick up.

01:08:15This is the rounds

01:08:15that we need.

01:08:17Manual.

01:08:17Watch this one, manual.

01:08:19Don't get caught

01:08:19with nothing short.

01:08:21Okay, okay.

01:08:23Don't get caught

01:08:24with nothing short,

01:08:25you have nothing short.

01:08:26You keep moving out

01:08:27of here like you are.

01:08:27Steal the rounds.

01:08:29Okay?

01:08:29He's pressing.

01:08:30He's pressing.

01:08:31I think this is where

01:08:44the fight really sits.

01:08:45The finisher,

01:08:46the one who finishes

01:08:47his last three rounds

01:08:48to the stronger,

01:08:49may get this decision

01:08:50just on that alone.

01:08:54Again, one judge

01:08:55from Dallas,

01:08:56one from Ghana,

01:08:57the neutral judge

01:08:59from Belgium.

01:09:02What do they have

01:09:03in Belgium?

01:09:04Not waffles.

01:09:07Not much boxing.

01:09:09Get them up.

01:09:10Get them up.

01:09:11Watch your head.

01:09:12Watch your head.

01:09:13Watch your head.

01:09:14I think we just had

01:09:15an accidental hit,

01:09:16but Jesse's eye

01:09:17swelled immediately.

01:09:19There's already

01:09:19swelling some,

01:09:20but it just right away

01:09:21started to puff up.

01:09:22Referee Jerry McKenzie

01:09:24hasn't had to do much work

01:09:26here tonight.

01:09:27The two men in front of him

01:09:28doing it all.

01:09:31Get him up.

01:09:32Let him up.

01:09:33Let him up.

01:09:33Azuma's corner said,

01:09:34okay, step on it.

01:09:35We need these with rounds now.

01:09:36They're so right.

01:09:37They need these rounds,

01:09:38and he better step it up.

01:09:42These are the rounds

01:09:43that will decide this fight.

01:09:44It's still up in the air.

01:09:45Well, that must have been

01:09:52some head bump, Bubba.

01:09:54That head bump.

01:09:55I mean, nothing.

01:09:56Yeah.

01:10:02You see a terrible knot

01:10:06right above his left eye,

01:10:07Lehigh.

01:10:07And it's red.

01:10:10The pace quickens.

01:10:12The crowd getting louder.

01:10:15So, right here is where

01:10:24I think Nelson may just be

01:10:25too strong physically.

01:10:27Big bombs, heavy hands,

01:10:28and his presence is just

01:10:29always right in front of him,

01:10:31keeping mental pressure on Lehigh.

01:10:32And for a young fighter

01:10:33chasing a champion of this caliber,

01:10:35it could be just a bit too much.

01:10:38He can be relentless.

01:10:40And he's punching in bunches there.

01:10:42If he misses two,

01:10:43he hits one, the third one.

01:10:45And he's shortening his punches.

01:10:47Just what Lehigh's corner told him,

01:10:49don't, don't let him do.

01:10:51Don't let him shorten those fences.

01:10:52And that's just what Azumah's doing.

01:10:54I have to tip my hat to Lehigh,

01:10:56though he has answered the call every time.

01:10:58Yeah.

01:10:58Never really backing off.

01:10:59Or he has just kept,

01:11:01he's just kept in this fight.

01:11:02Neither backing off nor grabbing,

01:11:04nor clenching.

01:11:05No way, no way to steal a minute's rest.

01:11:07He's in there.

01:11:08Oh, look at that nice right hand.

01:11:09And then Nelson missing the counter.

01:11:12Two class fighters in there.

01:11:14I'm ready.

01:11:15In the final seconds of the 10th round.

01:11:27Whatever happens,

01:11:29Lehigh's stop goes up.

01:11:30All right, get, get out.

01:11:33That's cool.

01:11:34You've got to win this round, okay?

01:11:35Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.

01:11:39All right, and you're gonna take the Renovar

01:11:58It's not enough left.

01:11:59It's a lie.

01:12:01That's right here.

01:12:03Grab the cup, grab the cup, man.

01:12:05He's beginning to butt already.

01:12:06He's beginning to butt.

01:12:08Oh, shit.

01:12:08What happened that gave him such a knot?

01:12:12Sort of just swung under.

01:12:13Boy, that wasn't a big one.

01:12:15Did Nelson and banged into it.

01:12:16Let's look at another look,

01:12:17because that didn't look very big to me.

01:12:19Bang.

01:12:20Yeah.

01:12:21Oh, yeah.

01:12:22But it wasn't a kind of buffalo button head.

01:12:24No, it wasn't a buffalo head.

01:12:25But, you know, when you both go back and say,

01:12:27what was that, it's kind of a glancing button.

01:12:29But it sure had an adverse effect on the forehead of Leha.

01:12:33It would be a shame for that to taint despite it all.

01:12:35All right.

01:12:36These two rounds.

01:12:38Championship round.

01:12:39The championship in play right now.

01:12:42In play.

01:12:43This is a very even fight.

01:12:46Emmanuel Stewart said in the corner to Jesse.

01:12:48He said, you lost that round.

01:12:49Didn't throw enough punches.

01:12:50You have to win this round.

01:12:51Let's see what that does for the young fighter.

01:12:53I assume.

01:12:54And Nelson defending his WBC super featherweight title here

01:12:58against the upstart Jesse James Leha.

01:13:01Hey!

01:13:02Hey!

01:13:03Step back.

01:13:04Step back.

01:13:05Come on.

01:13:06Nelson looked frustrated as he stepped back.

01:13:08The crowd building once again behind Jesse James Leha.

01:13:11Big right hand there by Azuma and Nelson.

01:13:12Azuma's getting stronger.

01:13:13This is what I was talking about, that strength.

01:13:14And he's throwing punches with his whole body, Bobby.

01:13:16I mean, you could see him.

01:13:17He's trying to put maximum strength and effect into it.

01:13:18He legitimately has bad intentions on most of those right hands.

01:13:20I think he's getting delayed.

01:13:21The crowd building once again behind Jesse James Leha.

01:13:26Big right hand there by Azuma and Nelson.

01:13:29Azuma's getting stronger.

01:13:30This is what I was talking about, that strength.

01:13:32And he's throwing punches with his whole body, Bobby.

01:13:37I mean, you could see him.

01:13:38He's trying to put maximum strength and effect into it.

01:13:41He legitimately has bad intentions on most of those right hands.

01:13:45I think he's getting delayed for the first time in the fight.

01:13:48For the first time, they have a show sign of weariness.

01:13:51Low blow there by Azuma and Nelson.

01:13:54And he missed with the wild right.

01:13:57The pressure is all Azuma.

01:13:59Azuma's taking command.

01:14:08Oh, how about that for missing?

01:14:09You missed and you got three little punches in return.

01:14:11This is that attrition process we talked about earlier.

01:14:14He just wears everyone down.

01:14:16No matter how old he gets, he just is still doing his thing

01:14:19in rounds 11 and 12.

01:14:21Nelson really going to work here now on the attack.

01:14:30No surcease. He gives him no time to take a breath.

01:14:33He's right on top of him as Azuma and Nelson.

01:14:36He's right on top of him.

01:14:37He's right on top of him.

01:14:38crowd urging Leha on, though.

01:14:40Getting behind him.

01:14:42Hoping to give him that adrenaline

01:14:47that he so desperately needs now.

01:14:49I have to admire the courage of Leha.

01:14:54He hasn't given up an inch.

01:14:55He's still in there giving it all he's got,

01:14:57but he's taking a shellacking now.

01:15:03The chance of Lehigh! Lehigh!

01:15:11Jesse wants to do something, but he just can't.

01:15:13He just doesn't have quite what he needs to to get it done.

01:15:16The champion has a little too much juice at this stage of the fight.

01:15:19And an assault there by Sumanosin,

01:15:23back in Lehigh.

01:15:26There's no quit Lehigh whatsoever.

01:15:28He really wants his championship.

01:15:33Big round for Sumanosin.

01:15:35Boy, did he put on the gas.

01:15:43We're going to the crown.

01:15:45Three minutes away from being champion of the world, okay?

01:15:48But the fight is close enough where if you don't win this round,

01:15:51you may not get it.

01:15:52I'm telling you right now,

01:15:53you're not getting out of the way home.

01:15:54You've got to win this round, okay?

01:15:56You've got three minutes and you've got to win this round, okay?

01:15:58You've got three minutes and you've got to win this round.

01:16:00This is the last round.

01:16:02Okay?

01:16:04I like this round like the first round, okay?

01:16:08Beautiful.

01:16:09You're possible to do it.

01:16:10Like the first.

01:16:11Okay?

01:16:12Thank you, baby.

01:16:14Give me the charm.

01:16:15Give me the charm.

01:16:16Give me the charm.

01:16:17He's tired.

01:16:18Get him.

01:16:19Get him.

01:16:20Get the inside.

01:16:21Don't get Curtis out there, James.

01:16:22You've got three minutes and you've been the champ, baby.

01:16:23We've got to steal the round though.

01:16:24We've got to get the round.

01:16:25To the champ.

01:16:26Here we go, round twelve.

01:16:27They'll touch ground.

01:16:28Great sportsmanship.

01:16:29They said something to each other.

01:16:30Here we go.

01:16:31Emmanuel Stewart saying you're three minutes from being champion of the world, but if you

01:16:49don't win this round, you may not get it.

01:16:52He did not get it.

01:16:54Greg Emanuel is doing whatever he can

01:16:56to implore his fighter to just give it his all.

01:16:58Some of the rounds were so close

01:17:00it could be judged either way, especially in Texas.

01:17:02Yep, that's all you got going for you.

01:17:04Because in the other corner they said,

01:17:06Nelson, give it to me like you did the first round.

01:17:08I would have said, give it to me like you did that last one.

01:17:10The last one was some kind of piece of work.

01:17:14The crowd is on at speed and appreciation

01:17:16of the efforts of both of these fighters.

01:17:18It's been a great fight.

01:17:20Think about it, 12th and final round

01:17:22for the WBC Super Featherweight title.

01:17:24Azuma Nelson with the barrage.

01:17:28Lehigh trying to summon something from deep.

01:17:34And there is that characteristic Azuma Nelson,

01:17:37that kind of African stalking through the woods look.

01:17:40I mean, boy, when he gets that,

01:17:42it looks like you don't have a chance.

01:17:44He's coming for you.

01:17:46Lehigh is buying every minute.

01:17:49Now you know who's tired.

01:17:51Lehigh got really cute.

01:17:53He held on to him, turned to his corner

01:17:55and listened for some instructions.

01:17:57Yeah, like what?

01:17:59Like trying to survive.

01:18:01Meanwhile, Azuma Nelson looked down at us and smiled.

01:18:03That's quite a character.

01:18:05Lehigh...

01:18:07But nothing to it.

01:18:13Azuma Nelson giving his final exam here.

01:18:15This is his oral.

01:18:17And he is doing it like the champion he is.

01:18:21This is the Regents, the SATs, everything wrapped into one.

01:18:23Right.

01:18:24Yeah.

01:18:25This is everything.

01:18:27Oh, what a shot.

01:18:28Right on the button.

01:18:29Right on the button.

01:18:30What a shot by Azuma Nelson right down the pike.

01:18:33But what a chin on Lehigh.

01:18:34He's back.

01:18:35Listen a minute in round 12.

01:18:37Lehigh taking a pummeling.

01:18:41I'll tell you what.

01:18:43Right now, Azuma Nelson is totally in control.

01:18:45Look at that.

01:18:46Look at that.

01:18:47Look at that.

01:18:48There's no quit Lehigh.

01:18:49There's no quit Lehigh.

01:18:50Look at Lehigh.

01:18:52Look at that.

01:18:53Look at that.

01:18:54There's a trap on the ropes though.

01:18:55You've got to watch that with the old man.

01:18:57Nelson comes out smiling.

01:19:00Tying with Lehigh.

01:19:0230 seconds left in the fight.

01:19:04Azuma Nelson in command.

01:19:07The Warrior.

01:19:12The Professor.

01:19:13He's finishing up big.

01:19:15The roof will come off when this fight ends.

01:19:20I'll tell you what.

01:19:21I truly believe that Jesse James Lehigh will be world champion one day.

01:19:25And I just know it wasn't today.

01:19:45It was a great effort.

01:19:55Great theater.

01:19:56Just before.

01:19:57by Jesse James Lehigh.

01:19:58But I'm afraid it may not have been enough.

01:20:07Listen, if they take the title away from Azuma Nelson off of that fight, they should have a little trouble here.

01:20:12Because that finish was so big that nobody could take a title away from a Warrior like that off that performance.

01:20:27Once again, the strong finish in rally by Azuma Nelson.

01:20:43Watch Azuma's intent.

01:20:44Intent to hurt.

01:20:45He's got his right hand gonging right off the chin.

01:20:46And then he comes back again.

01:20:47And here he comes again.

01:20:48And that's the way the whole round went.

01:20:50Let's take another look at it.

01:20:51Yeah.

01:20:52He started to get into his tribal dance.

01:20:53Walking to Jesse.

01:20:54Doing what he wanted.

01:20:55Slipping punches.

01:20:56Bang.

01:20:57Same combination from a different angle.

01:20:58Right on the button.

01:20:59And he took the last few rounds.

01:21:00And I think he won the fight.

01:21:07It is now the hands of the judges.

01:21:09Keith Dadsey of Azuma Nelson's home of Ghana.

01:21:14Plus Lawrence Cole of Dallas, Texas.

01:21:17And Daniel Vandelweil of Belgium.

01:21:22We may need to get under the ring if this decision goes against Texas.

01:21:26Because the crowd seems to think he won the fight.

01:21:29Maybe their hearts instead of their minds.

01:21:31Yes.

01:21:32As they salute the challenger Jesse James Leha who is beloved here in San Antonio.

01:21:39Outstanding effort by the young man.

01:21:45But always difficult against this man.

01:21:48Azuma Nelson.

01:21:50His tenth defense of the title.

01:21:52A title he's held since February of 1988.

01:21:55When he decisioned Mario Martinez.

01:21:58He's held the title for five years.

01:22:03His only losses to the late Salvador Sanchez in 82 KO by 15.

01:22:09And against.

01:22:10Cornell Whitaker.

01:22:11In 1990 via decision.

01:22:14All right.

01:22:15They sure are taking their time Bobby.

01:22:18Making sure that they've got this one right.

01:22:20They're dotting the eyes and crossing the GTs and double-checking the arithmetic I'm sure.

01:22:27Azuma Nelson posing for the crowd and thus the booing reaction.

01:22:36And there is your referee Jerry McKenzie.

01:22:40Standing between Nelson and Leha holding their hands ready to raise one.

01:22:45We are set for the decision.

01:22:47Let's go up to our ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.

01:22:57Ladies and gentlemen.

01:22:58After 12 rounds of boxing.

01:23:00We have a split decision.

01:23:03Here the score totals.

01:23:05Judge at ringside.

01:23:07Thunder wheel scores the bout.

01:23:09116-115.

01:23:12Azuma Nelson.

01:23:15Judge at ringside.

01:23:17Lawrence Cole scores the bout.

01:23:20115-113.

01:23:23Jesse James Leha.

01:23:26Judge at ringside.

01:23:29Dunsey scores the bout.

01:23:31118-112.

01:23:34In favor of the winner.

01:23:37And still champion.

01:23:39Azuma Nelson.

01:23:42Well, there you have it.

01:23:47Azuma Nelson retains his title.

01:23:52The neutral judge from Belgium had it Nelson.

01:23:56The Dallas judge had it Leha.

01:23:58And the Ghana judge had it Nelson.

01:24:00Well, we kind of figured out about Ghana and Texas.

01:24:03I really believe by a slight edge that Azuma Nelson won the fight.

01:24:07We had it roughly 116-113-14.

01:24:09Verde and myself.

01:24:11He deserved to keep his championship.

01:24:13Leha fought a great fight.

01:24:15But it wasn't quite enough to take that man's championship.

01:24:20Big finish by Azuma Nelson.

01:24:23Solidifying the victory.

01:24:29And don't forget.

01:24:30Coming up.

01:24:31Here at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.

01:24:35The WBC Super Welterweight Championship.

01:24:39With terrible Terranoris defending his title against Joe Getty.

01:24:45A tough act to follow.

01:24:47There he is.

01:24:48The champion.

01:24:49Terrible Terranoris from up in the Texas Panhandle.

01:24:53Lubbock, Texas.

01:24:54Although he makes his home now in San Diego, California.

01:24:57Comes off the victory over Australian Troy Waters.

01:25:00Not without some anxious moments where he was actually knocked down

01:25:03for only the second time in his pro career.

01:25:06The first time by Julian Jackson.

01:25:08Tonight, he sets his sights on young Joe Getty.

01:25:13Right now, we are set for post-fight reaction.

01:25:16Should be interesting.

01:25:17So let's go up into the ring of the fight.

01:25:19Dr. Ferdi Pacheco.

01:25:23Azuma, why did you wait so long to get started?

01:25:26You know, if I'm in good condition, it take me a long time before I warm up.

01:25:31Before I come in.

01:25:33You know, I saw you walking in.

01:25:35I didn't see the fire in your eye like you usually had.

01:25:37You walked in very calm.

01:25:38And I thought, uh-oh, this guy hadn't got the fire that he had.

01:25:40You didn't look like you hit yourself.

01:25:42You know, I have a problem from Ghana, you know.

01:25:46And I'm not happy myself, you know.

01:25:49But I thank God that I won.

01:25:51One, I know I'm going to win.

01:25:53But I can perform the way I want to perform.

01:25:57Did you think you needed that last big finish to win the title?

01:26:00You know, you know, I'm always finished hard.

01:26:02You know, that's the problem.

01:26:03If I fight you from first to ninth round, the third rounds remaining,

01:26:07I know I'm going to take it.

01:26:08So no question about that.

01:26:10Buffalo, the trainer, I'm going to speak in Spanish a minute and translate.

01:26:14Are you worried he can lose it here?

01:26:15No, no, really not.

01:26:16I look in all the rounds, you know.

01:26:17I know Azuma and he balanced the fight.

01:26:18You understand very well.

01:26:19Azuma sees something back in the middle.

01:26:20He talked to me, you know.

01:26:21He said, don't worry.

01:26:22I win the fight.

01:26:23You understand?

01:26:24And I'm not complaining.

01:26:25The guy is all right.

01:26:26Azuma win unanimous decision, you know.

01:26:27All right.

01:26:28So, Azuma, not one of your best, but certainly one of your greatest finishes,

01:26:29because you did finish well.

01:26:30And Don King, is this a heartbringer of what's to come?

01:26:47We got one Texas judge who gave him the fight, gave the other boy the fight from Texas.

01:26:52Are we going to have that problem with the last fight?

01:26:54I feel they're going to get fair judgment on this fight.

01:26:56I think Zuma started slow as he said.

01:26:58He had to get warm to the goal.

01:26:59We just want Azuma to start a little earlier from now.

01:27:01So I want to acknowledge Buffalo and Eddie Maffouse and all of them to encourage him to be ready to come out,

01:27:06because he's one of the best fighters in the world.

01:27:08He's a legendary champion.

01:27:10We're very proud of him.

01:27:11I'm very thankful that he won tonight.

01:27:12And we're looking forward to big and better things with Azuma Nelson.

01:27:15All right.

01:27:16And thank you very much, Azuma.

01:27:18Another professorial event.

01:27:20And we'll go back to ringside.

01:27:23And Steve.

01:27:24Another and another, and you just get deeper and deeper.

01:27:27And.

01:27:28Yeah.

01:27:29Yeah.

01:27:30Yeah.

01:27:31Yeah.

01:27:32Yeah.

01:27:33Yeah.

Azumah Nelson vs Jesse James Leija - Showtime PPV 9-10-93

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