- 2 days ago
Heavyweight contender Greg Page faces James "Quick" Tillis for the USBA on ABC Sports Boxing from the Houston Astrodome.
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00:00Larry Holmes, unbeaten, 40-0, 30 knockouts, against Randall Tex Cobb, 20-2, in a battle for the WBC World Heavyweight Championship,
00:24and James Quick-Killis against Greg Page in an important 12-round heavyweight fight.
00:35Happy to have the privilege of introducing as my colleague tonight, he'll be calling for you, the Page Lillispout,
00:43a gentleman who's been a personal friend for a long number of years,
00:47one of the most versatile sports commentators on the North American continent, his name, Don Chevrier,
00:54during the Montreal Olympics in the Maurice Richard Arena, and finally in the Montreal Forum,
01:01he was in the booth next to me, detailing the boxing competition to the people of Canada.
01:07So, Don, it's a pleasure to have you aboard.
01:09Thank you, Howard, a pleasure to work with you indeed.
01:11And tonight, we're going to see, first of all, Quick Tillis, who fights out of Chicago,
01:16and Greg Page for the U.S. Boxing Association heavyweight title.
01:19Now, that's the reason the bat is 12 rounds.
01:21It doesn't mean a great deal more than that.
01:23As you know, Howard, what it does mean is a last chance, perhaps,
01:26for heavyweight ranking and recognition for both these guys.
01:29They're both coming off losses, but Greg Page, coming in tonight at 238 and three quarters,
01:35may have trouble doing what he always said he wanted to do,
01:37that is, emulate your good friend, Muhammad Ali.
01:39They're both from Louisville. He said he wants to move and stick and keep moving at 238 and three quarters.
01:45That won't be easy.
01:46Hardly, Don, because that's 17 and a half pounds more than he enjoyed
01:52when he fought Trevor Burbick and lost to him on June 11th of this year,
01:58the night that Holmes stopped Cooney in the 13th round.
02:02So, as Don repairs to his position to call the Page-Tillis fight for you,
02:08we'll be taking a quick look and meeting the two fighters as they're introduced into the ring.
02:14Over to you, Don.
02:15All right, Howard scheduled for 12 rounds.
02:20Greg Page and James Quick-Tillis.
02:22The world championship boxing brought to you by Don King Productions
02:28and Astronome Championship Enterprises
02:30under the auspices of the Texas Department of Labor and Standards,
02:35Lias B. Steen in attendance.
02:38The judges are David McCullough and Barry Yeats.
02:41Our referee is Mark Tessman.
02:43We are scheduled for 12 rounds for the U.S. B.A. Heavyweight Championship.
02:50Introducing first the challenger,
02:52weighing 216 pounds with a record of 22 and 2,
02:57wearing white trunks from Chicago, Illinois,
03:00James Quick-Tillis.
03:04And the current U.S. B.A. champion with a record of 19 and 1,
03:10wearing red trunks from Louisville, Kentucky,
03:14weighing 238 and three-quarter pounds,
03:17Greg Page.
03:21Well, as Howard said,
03:23Page over 17 pounds heavier than he was for his last bout,
03:27and that was last June 11th
03:29on the undercard of the Holmes Cooney made event in Las Vegas
03:32when Greg broke the thumb in his right hand,
03:34lost the decision to Trevor Burbick,
03:37the Canadian heavyweight champion.
03:38And as for Quick-Tillis,
03:40well, he was knocked out in the eighth round
03:42by Pinkland Thomas in Cleveland
03:43back on August the 14th.
03:46So they've had up-and-down careers.
03:48They are parallel in that respect,
03:49and as we stated at the outset,
03:51this indeed is a major opportunity,
03:54if not a last chance,
03:55for both Page and Tillis tonight.
03:57Larry Holmes has said so many times,
03:59at 33,
04:00he will not be fighting that much longer.
04:02The winner figures to be around
04:04in the chase for Larry Holmes' title eventually.
04:06The scoring, the referee has a vote,
04:09as do two judges.
04:11Ten-pound must scoring.
04:22Page still at 238,
04:24trying to move a little bit in the ring.
04:26Tillis was flat-footed for his loss to Thomas,
04:29and the suspicion is
04:31he'll get back up on his toes
04:32and bounce a bit more
04:33than he did that night.
04:35Had a great battle with Ernie Shavers,
04:36now retired as well.
04:38Dillis flicking the left hand out quickly.
04:43Dillis from Tulsa, Oklahoma,
04:45now fights out of Chicago.
04:47Page, of course,
04:47from Louisville, Kentucky,
04:48and Greg Page there
04:49with a couple of quick jabs
04:51following through at the right.
04:57The referee is Mark Tessman
04:59from Monroe, Texas.
05:02Scheduled for 12 rounds
05:03here in the Astrodome.
05:04The crowd's still sparse,
05:06as Howard told you,
05:06but they are filling in rapidly.
05:08In advance of the main event coming up,
05:11Randall Tex Cobb
05:12and the heavyweight champion,
05:13Larry Hall.
05:16Wrestling first-round action now.
05:19Both men out to establish authority early.
05:23Both well aware
05:24of how important this bout is
05:25to their careers.
05:27Page, the former amateur champion,
05:29twice AAU champion,
05:30did not fight much internationally,
05:32turned pro two years
05:33before the Olympic Games in Moscow.
05:39Page, for his weight that he's carrying,
05:41showing surprising quickness tonight.
05:43Midway through round one.
05:58As we stated,
05:59Page's last fight,
06:01a defeat to Trevor Burbick.
06:03And the last for Tellis,
06:04a knockout by Thomas in Cleveland.
06:07And Tellis in some early trouble now
06:08as Page takes it to him.
06:10In the corner.
06:12Pucks!
06:13Pucks!
06:15Page waiting in,
06:16looking for the quick knockout.
06:18He has Tellis in some difficulty.
06:20He's backing him up.
06:21The good left hook,
06:22the right coming through,
06:23grazed it with another,
06:24chopping right,
06:25looping left.
06:26All punches from Greg Page.
06:28A good, stiff right hand
06:29comes through the back tie.
06:31Tellis,
06:31feeling the effects of the blows
06:33from Page here
06:33in round number one in Houston.
06:35Come on, Paul!
06:3630 seconds now remaining in the round.
06:43It has been a good round for Greg Page.
06:46Blood from the mouth now of Tellis showing up.
06:48The left scores again.
06:54A good right by Page.
06:56Rips the left hook around.
06:58Has the right block.
06:59Ten seconds to go on the round.
07:04Greg Page,
07:05very much in command in round one.
07:07Listen.
07:12They're alive.
07:12Bakersfield, California.
07:14It's a fact
07:15that over a million...
07:17Great stick.
07:18One, nine point nine.
07:22From the top of the dome,
07:23we look down on round two
07:25of Page and Tellis
07:26and Greg Page
07:27looking surprisingly fast on his feet
07:30and quick with the hands
07:31despite carrying over 238 pounds
07:34into this match.
07:36Scheduled for 12 rounds,
07:37but the laying page came out.
07:39It may not last that long.
07:40He took down
07:41Alfredo Evangelista in Detroit
07:43June 12th last year.
07:46Since then,
07:46he's won three of four.
07:48A knockout over Scott Ledoux
07:50in the Bahamas.
07:51Back on December 11th,
07:5281,
07:52and Ali's swan song
07:54knocked Ledoux down four times
07:55en route to that victory.
07:57Then the bad bout
07:58with Trevor Burbick,
07:59which he lost.
08:00He's not fought since then.
08:01June 11th of this year.
08:06Tellis now,
08:07looking at good punches
08:08lefts and rights.
08:10But there's no question,
08:11Tellis was hurt in round one.
08:14Capable, of course,
08:15of coming back
08:16with a good heavy punch
08:17and getting Page in difficulty.
08:18Time to lose.
08:20Tellis, time to lose.
08:23Referee Mark Tessman
08:24keeping them apart.
08:26Touches up.
08:28Go, Greg!
08:29Tellis is ranked ninth
08:35for Larry Holmes' title.
08:37Greg Page ranked number four
08:39in the world.
08:40Many questions remain to be answered
08:46about these two
08:47in this bout
08:48here at Houston tonight.
08:52And Page has been surprising.
08:54We're now midway
08:55in the second round.
08:56Perhaps not as quick
08:57as he came out
08:58of the first,
08:58but still looking effective
08:59for a man carrying
09:00nearly 240 pounds.
09:02The chopping right
09:03thrown by James
09:04is quick, Tellis.
09:07Page is 24.
09:09Tellis, 25 years old,
09:10approaching the prime
09:11of their fight careers.
09:13But this win tonight,
09:14oh, so important.
09:19Page is game play.
09:20The hands held low.
09:22The head fake action
09:23to Tellis.
09:24Sticks the good left out
09:25at him.
09:25Missing with a right.
09:28Tellis, four competitors,
09:29certainly in this round.
09:32But he's not able
09:33to sustain action
09:34against Page
09:34as Greg did with him
09:36back in the first.
09:40First round to Page,
09:42obviously.
09:43This one a lot more even.
09:45Now Page talking to Tellis
09:47as he stands over
09:48in the corner.
09:50Urging him to give him
09:51his best shots.
09:53Less than 30 seconds
09:55in the second round remaining.
09:59Remember,
09:59the heavyweight championship,
10:01Holmes and Cobb
10:02with Howard Cosell
10:03coming up later.
10:04This one scheduled
10:05for 12 rounds.
10:07The highlight of the
10:07undercard here at Houston.
10:16Tellis scoring effectively
10:18has got him on the ropes
10:19now.
10:19Hammers him when he is down.
10:21The referee backs him away,
10:22cautioning Tellis.
10:24Page,
10:25wildly getting up,
10:26bouncing off the other side
10:27now,
10:27was stunned
10:28by that sudden flurry.
10:30James Quick Tellis
10:31comes after him again.
10:32There's the bell.
10:33Fights after the bell again.
10:35Has to be waved away
10:36by the man in the middle
10:37with his work count out
10:38for him tonight,
10:39referee Mark Tessman.
10:41So a sudden turn of events
10:43after a Page first round.
10:45It was Tellis coming on
10:46better in the second
10:47and then particularly
10:48late in the round,
10:49just a couple of seconds
10:50remaining.
10:51He got Greg Page
10:52over against the ropes
10:53just above us
10:54and he indeed did hurt him.
10:55Flurry of punches
10:59coming through.
11:00Delayed reaction.
11:01He fell then
11:01was hit on the way down
11:03with the left.
11:03That might have done
11:04as much damage as anything
11:05but there is the good
11:06straight right coming through.
11:08That's the one
11:08that made him wobbly
11:09and down he went.
11:11So they'll work on
11:12Greg Page now
11:13to repair him
11:13if they can
11:14for round number three.
11:16And he hammers him
11:17another time
11:18as he's down.
11:19So the referee
11:20is very lenient
11:21toward Mr. Tillis
11:24who was over-anxious
11:25to finish it off.
11:27Round three
11:28coming up.
11:29Scheduled for 12
11:30but it's given us
11:30no indication
11:31it is going to go
11:32that far tonight.
11:34One round each
11:35and now Tillis
11:36on the attack
11:37takes a punch
11:37coming in.
11:38Almost Florida
11:39knocked him off
11:40balance for a moment
11:40the right from Greg Page.
11:44Neither one
11:45wants this to go 12
11:46aiming for the knockout
11:47to end it right here.
11:55Tillis now forcing
11:57Page to back up.
11:59Page was coming forward
11:59nicely in the first round
12:01but that's all changed now.
12:04Fighters were up
12:05and down careers.
12:06Tillis taking punishment
12:07there as he was trying
12:08to pin Page on the ropes.
12:10Page was hopefully
12:11holding on
12:13and then got the hands
12:15free to fire out of Tillis
12:17who was cautioned again
12:18by the referee.
12:20It's been a good match
12:21so far.
12:22Many thought
12:22we wouldn't see
12:23much action
12:24between these two
12:24but it's given us
12:25a real show so far.
12:29Wading in
12:30with punch after punch
12:31Tillis now
12:32the good left
12:32comes through.
12:33Page
12:33back to the ropes
12:35and screams off quickly.
12:41Tillis ranked ninth
12:42Page fourth.
12:45I would think
12:46the extra weight
12:47that Greg is carrying
12:48would cost him more
12:49as he goes along.
12:50Tillis only 260
12:51over 22 pounds
12:54lighter than
12:54Greg Page is.
13:03Halfway through
13:04round three.
13:08Tillis hurt
13:09in the first round
13:10Page in the second round.
13:13Page has bounced back
13:13to fight more evenly
13:14at this stage
13:15past the midway point
13:16of the third.
13:17Moving better
13:18but mostly backwards.
13:20Starts to circle
13:21around a little more
13:22now.
13:27Page's hand still
13:29held low.
13:35Tillis
13:35failed to move in
13:36and inflict any more
13:38serious damage
13:39early in this third round.
13:42He has Page
13:43blocking.
13:45Good counter-punching
13:46by Page.
13:47He'll slug it out
13:48with Tillis
13:48coming in
13:49and has heard him
13:49a few times
13:50doing that.
14:01Over 450 pounds
14:04of heavyweights
14:05in the ring
14:05here at Houston.
14:06Here at Houston.
14:18Another left thrown out
14:19by Page.
14:20With Tillis coming in.
14:21He takes quite a few
14:22that way.
14:24You see the time
14:25remaining in this
14:26is the third round
14:27scheduled for 12.
14:33Round three over
14:34and Page acquitting
14:35himself extremely well
14:37in round three
14:38after being in serious
14:39trouble
14:39back in the second.
14:42All right.
14:42Tillis, as we said,
14:43is a habit of walking
14:44into punches.
14:45Page caught him
14:46on this exchange.
14:48Tillis,
14:48both arms extended,
14:50went down
14:51ever so briefly,
14:52spun around
14:53as he was stung
14:54by the right hand
14:54of Greg Page.
14:57Angelo Dundee.
14:59You come on.
15:01Just do your thing,
15:02aren't you?
15:02Spit it out.
15:03Give me the
15:04goddamn spit bucket.
15:05A little frustration
15:06there is all the equipment
15:07that's not right
15:08at Angelo's disposal.
15:10Working with James
15:12Quick Tillis.
15:12Side to side.
15:14Go under and over
15:15with your shot.
15:16Take it easy.
15:19All right, Harry.
15:20Easy.
15:21Well, good for me.
15:22Under and over.
15:24Now in Page's corner.
15:29Take it down.
15:30Come on.
15:30Keep the hands up.
15:31Come on.
15:33Round four is underway.
15:42Dundee urging
15:43Tellis to move better
15:45in the ring.
15:45He did not move well
15:46in the third round
15:48in particular.
15:51Page continues to move
15:53and you wonder
15:55how much more effective
15:56he would be
15:57at about 216
15:58instead of 238
16:00and three quarters
16:00in terms of the style
16:02he likes to deploy.
16:03from Louisville
16:08as Page
16:09attended the same
16:10high school
16:10as the then
16:11Cassius Clay.
16:15Tellis is home
16:17and birthplace
16:17as Tulsa
16:18fights out of Chicago.
16:19and you would have to rate
16:28this just about even
16:29right now.
16:32Into round four.
16:33Tillis smiling now
16:40at Page.
16:42Page backing up again.
16:44Something he was doing
16:44earlier that cost him
16:45but off the ropes
16:46he sends a tremendous
16:47combination of punches.
16:49Tellis shakes his head
16:50to say it didn't hurt me
16:51but indeed
16:52he must have felt
16:52with that combination.
16:54Again the flood
16:54coming from the mound.
16:58Interrupts into a slugfest
17:00from time to time.
17:06Mouthpiece is out
17:07from James Tillis
17:08as we're past
17:10the midway point
17:11of round four.
17:16Page flicks the jab out.
17:18Page for a chance
17:19to bring that low
17:20right up
17:20and score with it.
17:22With the low guard
17:30openly disdainful
17:31of
17:31Tellis' attack
17:34Page indeed
17:37was hurt by it
17:38earlier
17:38as was Tellis.
17:40They both paid
17:40a price so far
17:41for this
17:42perhaps the most
17:43important bout
17:44right now
17:44in their respective
17:45careers.
17:46Now the left
18:03from Page
18:03comes through
18:04less than 30 seconds
18:05remaining in the
18:05fourth round.
18:06blood from the left
18:18of Tellis' now
18:18takes another
18:19good blow
18:20from Greg Page.
18:22Ten seconds
18:23to go on the round.
18:24Page coming on
18:24and he's waning
18:25second
18:25gaining favor
18:27from the judges.
18:29Round four
18:30coming to an end.
18:31Midway in that
18:36last round
18:36Tellis' mouthpiece
18:37went flying
18:38the right
18:38got it partially
18:39out
18:39the left
18:39from Page
18:40took it all
18:40the way out
18:41and now
18:41in round five
18:42back to live
18:43action with you
18:43in the Astro
18:44home in Houston
18:44Texas.
18:49And this
18:49much better action
18:50as we've said
18:51than many
18:52anticipated here.
18:53Both men
18:54have been hurt.
18:55Tellis has had
18:56blood coming
18:56from the lower
18:57lip
18:58off and on
18:58throughout this
18:59valve.
18:59That must be
19:00bothering him.
19:01It's a good
19:01solid chopping
19:02right hand
19:03from Page.
19:04Page tends
19:05to do that.
19:06Give you that
19:06short hard right
19:07as he appears
19:08to be fading
19:08away from the
19:09action.
19:09It stings.
19:11I got you.
19:11Step no points.
19:12No points.
19:13Step no.
19:13Any seven.
19:14No points.
19:15Test and
19:16separating them.
19:24As the
19:24bow wears on
19:25the recurring
19:26problem with
19:27stamina
19:27that Page
19:28has had
19:28throughout his
19:29career
19:29will become
19:29a question.
19:33Especially
19:34at 238
19:35and three
19:35quarters.
19:36Tellis weighing
19:36216.
19:47Page has
19:4716 knockouts
19:48from his
19:4919 victories
19:50till a 17
19:51of his 22
19:51wins ended
19:52by a KO.
19:53and it
19:57looked for the
19:57first couple
19:58of rounds
19:58it was going
19:58to be an
19:59early knockout
19:59tonight.
20:00But here
20:00they are
20:01battling
20:01into round
20:02five.
20:02Scheduled
20:03for 12.
20:04There we
20:04go.
20:04Now we're
20:05back on.
20:08Looping left
20:09thrown by
20:09Tillis.
20:10Page now
20:11will stand
20:12in the car
20:13as we've
20:13seen before.
20:14Let Tillis
20:14come in and
20:15catch him on
20:15the way in
20:16if he can.
20:17This time
20:18Tillis holds
20:18on.
20:19There we
20:19go.
20:20I got you.
20:20Don't punch.
20:25Page has
20:26a two inch
20:27reach advantage
20:27which is not
20:28as significant.
20:29Five or six
20:30inches would
20:31be.
20:39If it does
20:40go the
20:40distance
20:4112 rounds
20:4110 point
20:43must scoring
20:43systems in
20:44effect here
20:44in Texas.
20:45The referee
20:45and the two
20:45judges at
20:46ringside
20:46score.
20:47The free
20:47knockdown
20:48rule is
20:48waived.
20:50There's a
20:51mandatory
20:51eight count
20:52and you
20:53cannot be
20:53saved by
20:53the bell
20:54except for
20:54the 12th
20:55round.
21:05The momentum
21:06comes and
21:06goes in
21:07this fight.
21:07One fighter
21:08takes the
21:08advantage and
21:09then the
21:09other man
21:10tends to
21:10take over.
21:11It was
21:11Page late
21:12on the
21:12last round.
21:13Now Tillis
21:13backing Page
21:14into the
21:15far
21:15corner.
21:17There we
21:18go.
21:20Looping left
21:21that's the
21:21right
21:21connected
21:22though
21:22from Tillis.
21:23Right
21:23heavyweight.
21:24There we go.
21:32He's two
21:33heavyweights
21:34at the
21:35bell to end
21:35round five
21:36and Tillis
21:37again wants
21:38to continue
21:38the action
21:38after the
21:39bell.
21:39here's Larry
21:43Holmes in
21:44the dressing
21:45room here
21:45in Houston
21:46watching the
21:46action here.
21:47Oh yeah
21:47I'm on TV
21:48right Larry
21:49and of course
21:50Howard will
21:50have that
21:51for you.
21:51Larry Holmes
21:52defensive as
21:52title.
21:53He looks
21:53ready against
21:54Randall
21:55Tex Cobb.
21:57He'll be
21:57coming up
21:58later.
21:59Cobb the
22:0028 year old
22:01with great
22:02one liners
22:02a man with
22:03a tremendous
22:03sense of
22:04humor
22:04calls all
22:05the reporters
22:06darling.
22:07I don't know
22:07if he called
22:07Howard that
22:08but it
22:08wouldn't be
22:08more than
22:09once.
22:11He is a
22:12character.
22:12That's coming
22:12up of course
22:13on ABC
22:13but right
22:14now we're
22:14watching great
22:15action here
22:15in the
22:16Astrodome.
22:17Quick Tillis
22:17and Greg
22:18Page also
22:19heavyweights
22:19the USBA
22:20heavyweight
22:20championship
22:21on the line.
22:22Page the
22:22champion.
22:23This is
22:23fourth defense
22:24of that
22:24crowd.
22:27And we're
22:28approaching the
22:28halfway mark.
22:29Round six.
22:30Tillis already
22:31on his feet.
22:32and a pretty
22:38even fight
22:38to this point.
22:46Mildly
22:47surprised
22:48that it
22:48has gone
22:48this far.
22:50The potential
22:50to end it
22:51earlier
22:51was there
22:52for both
22:52men.
22:54Needle
22:55could follow
22:55up.
22:57Page
22:57appeared to
22:58be hurt
22:58the more
22:58of the two
22:59in the
22:59early
22:59rounds.
22:59Both
23:04showing a
23:05little more
23:05caution here
23:06early in
23:06round six.
23:14Tillis
23:15bouncing a
23:15little better
23:16but still
23:16fairly flat
23:17footed in
23:17the ring.
23:19And that
23:19is the
23:20style that
23:20cost him
23:21an eighth
23:21round knockout
23:22to Thomas
23:23in Cleveland
23:23in his
23:24last bout.
23:26Page
23:26as we
23:26told you
23:26decision
23:27by Trevor
23:28Burbick
23:28who then
23:29went out
23:29and fought
23:30a terrible
23:30fight
23:30and lost
23:31to
23:31Ronaldo
23:32Snipes
23:32the man
23:32who knocked
23:33Larry Holmes
23:34down
23:34about a
23:35year ago.
23:36Holmes
23:36coming back
23:37of course
23:37to win it.
23:38So it's
23:39a scramble
23:39beneath
23:40Holmes
23:41for the
23:43right to
23:43finally
23:44replace him
23:44when Holmes
23:45decides to
23:46pack it
23:46in.
23:47Of course
23:47Dex Cobb
23:48is hoping
23:48he'll pack
23:48it in
23:49tonight.
23:49Tillis
23:59has had
23:59blood
24:00from the
24:00left
24:00and is
24:00not
24:01showing
24:01up
24:01at
24:01the
24:01stage
24:02round
24:02six.
24:10Give a cut
24:11to tell
24:11if they
24:11are tiring
24:12or whether
24:14just taking
24:14a more
24:15cautious
24:15approach
24:15into the
24:16sixth round.
24:20Cage
24:20does not
24:21have a
24:21history
24:21of long
24:22fights.
24:24Now
24:24takes some
24:24abuse.
24:25Left
24:26and right
24:26coming up
24:26from
24:27quick tillis
24:27who pounds
24:28away to
24:28the body
24:28tries to
24:29work it
24:29up to
24:29the head
24:30over on
24:30the far
24:30side
24:31and again
24:31the referee
24:31Mark Tessman
24:32has to
24:32come in
24:33and break
24:33it up.
24:34It's past
24:35the two-minute
24:35mark of
24:35the sixth
24:36round.
24:55Sparse
24:55action
24:56so far
24:56in the sixth
24:57round
24:57the lightest
24:58action
24:58of the
24:58entire
24:59fight
24:59so far.
25:03Rick Tillis
25:04looking the
25:04right out.
25:08He's
25:08changed his
25:09lead on
25:10Greg Page
25:11in an attempt
25:11to confuse
25:12him.
25:14It's
25:14cuffed by
25:15the left
25:15hook of
25:16Page
25:16at the
25:16end of
25:16that
25:17exchange.
25:22Seconds
25:23winding
25:23down
25:24now
25:24in
25:25round
25:25number
25:26six
25:26as
25:27more
25:27abuse
25:28for
25:28Tillis
25:28coming in.
25:29Page
25:29counter
25:29punching
25:30very well
25:31when he gets
25:31pinned in the
25:31corner.
25:33Almost trying to
25:33trap Tillis in
25:34there.
25:34There's the
25:35bell to end
25:35around six
25:36and again
25:36a push from
25:37Tillis
25:37just after the
25:38bell.
25:39Howard Cosell,
25:40your impression
25:40and so far.
25:49Howard, we've got
25:50some trouble with
25:50your microphone
25:51for a moment.
25:51We'll get back to
25:52you for your
25:52impression of it.
25:54It would appear to
25:54be a pretty even
25:55fight right now
25:55with both men
25:56laying off in that
25:57sixth round much
25:58more than they
25:59had earlier.
26:00But both still
26:01contesting it in
26:03the ring.
26:03So the early
26:06knockdown
26:07was not an
26:08indication of
26:08what to expect
26:09as things have
26:10turned out here
26:10as Greg Page
26:11gets some
26:12advice over in
26:13his corner.
26:14Angelo Dundee,
26:15the man in
26:16charge there.
26:17Portellus.
26:18Dundee, you
26:34heard him say
26:34the man is
26:35tired.
26:35A comment about
26:36Greg Page is
26:37Tillis on his feet
26:38ten seconds before
26:39the bell ready to
26:40come out for round
26:40number seven.
26:43Tillis could not
26:44capitalize when he
26:45had Page in
26:46trouble in the
26:47second round.
26:48Page came back
26:50well in the third
26:51and I thought
26:52gained a slight
26:52edge in the
26:53fight around the
26:53third and fourth
26:54round.
26:56Tillis going into
26:57his shell for a
26:58while.
26:59Takes a long
26:59left, partially
27:00blocked by his
27:01gloves.
27:01Again, Page,
27:02hands still held
27:03low.
27:04His style hasn't
27:04changed one bit
27:05although he
27:06certainly is moving
27:06much slower than
27:07he was earlier.
27:09So the comment by
27:10Dundee that Page
27:11may be tiring could
27:12be the correct
27:13assessment.
27:18Many thought that
27:26Greg Page was the
27:27logical successor
27:28to Muhammad Ali.
27:29You're seeing flashes
27:30of Ali's style here
27:31but it's cumbersome.
27:33It's slow motion.
27:35The minuet against
27:36Disco because of the
27:37heavy weight that he
27:38is carrying at 238 and
27:39three quarters.
27:40He saw right a moment
27:41ago.
27:42Bring a grimace of pain
27:43into the face of
27:44James Putt-Tillis.
27:46Tillis driving the
27:47left to the body of
27:48Page.
27:52Chopping right by
27:53Tillis backs Page
27:54away.
27:55He's backing up
27:56perhaps in a tactical
27:58sense trying to draw
27:59him in.
28:08A low blow indicated
28:10from the referee
28:11Tessman asking Page
28:12if he is all right.
28:13So Tillis is
28:14throwing them low
28:15and throwing them
28:15late here tonight.
28:17In a desperate
28:18attempt to regain
28:19stature in the
28:19heavyweight division
28:20he's ranked number
28:21nine coming in.
28:22Page is ranked
28:23fourth.
28:26Both men want
28:27this win oh so
28:28badly.
28:33Good right coming
28:34out from Greg
28:35Page.
28:37Tillis dropped
28:38his head for a
28:38moment then sent
28:39the left through
28:40jams the left hand
28:41in again and missed
28:41for the uppercut.
28:43again a chopping
28:47right coming through
28:48as a counterpunch
28:48effective from Greg
28:49Page.
28:51They are tired
28:51leaning on each other
28:52as Tessman breaks
28:53them up again.
28:57Getting late now
28:58and this is the
28:59seventh round
28:59scheduled for twelve.
29:00couple of rapidly
29:11tiring heavyweights
29:12with a good right
29:12thrown by Greg
29:13Page.
29:14Follows through with a
29:15combination.
29:16A left comes through
29:17the right uppercut
29:18pushing Tillis off
29:19and attempt to drop
29:20through him again.
29:21A good flurry late in
29:23this round by Greg
29:24Page.
29:25Again the right
29:25causes pain.
29:26Tillis battling to
29:29stay in his feet
29:29at this stage
29:30under an assault
29:31from Page late
29:32in round number
29:32seven.
29:40Don Chevrier with
29:41Howard Cosell
29:42with you for the
29:42eighth round of
29:43Page and Tillis
29:44on the Astrodome
29:45and these guys
29:45in the main
29:46except for one
29:47lax round of
29:48sixth they've been
29:48giving us plenty
29:49of action.
29:50Scheduled for
29:51twelve rounds.
29:54Page with a big
29:55edge toward the
29:56end of that
29:56previous seventh
29:57round.
29:59Tillis so
29:59susceptible and
30:00vulnerable with
30:01the right hand of
30:01Page took two of
30:02them just there.
30:07A third right
30:08coming through
30:09scoring by Page.
30:10Another one
30:10landing.
30:13Tillis was
30:13shaken earlier
30:14as was Page.
30:16And that right
30:17is going to
30:18send him down.
30:19James Peck
30:20Tillis covering
30:21his eyes.
30:22I'm not sure
30:23he's going to
30:24make it.
30:24Here is Page
30:25jumping around
30:26the ring.
30:26Indeed it is
30:27all over.
30:28The sudden
30:29shot from Page
30:30ends it.
30:31Here early in
30:32the eighth round
30:33in the Houston
30:33Astrodome.
30:36Tillis still
30:37wobbly.
30:38Angelo Dundee
30:39with him.
30:39At least he is
30:39on his feet.
30:40That appears to
30:41be all right.
30:42The end came
30:43swiftly and
30:44suddenly with
30:45a heavy
30:45chopping blow
30:46by Greg
30:47Page.
30:50Howard you
30:50had said
30:51before we
30:51tried to
30:52establish your
30:53microphone that
30:54that's exactly
30:55what James
30:55Tillis had to
30:56be cautioned
30:57about and
30:58indeed it did
30:58burn him.
30:59Tillis is
31:00very susceptible
31:01to punches and
31:02goes down
31:03quickly.
31:05Page fought
31:05with power
31:06tonight.
31:07He was
31:07pushed when
31:08he just stuck
31:09his tongue
31:09out at
31:10Tillis.
31:11bad behavior.
31:12Page is
31:13not the
31:13fighter he
31:14had the
31:14look of
31:15becoming when
31:16he was a
31:17young amateur
31:18on his way to
31:19the Olympics
31:20which he later
31:21foresaw.
31:22But for him
31:23a good victory.
31:25And Howard
31:26indeed what many
31:26thought was to be
31:27a turkey one day
31:28late for Thanksgiving.
31:29This was a
31:30remarkably fine
31:31bout considering
31:32the weight that
31:33Page was carrying
31:33around and
31:34considering the
31:35fact that
31:35Tillis has
31:36really been
31:36inconsistent lately.
31:37It was an
31:38action fight.
31:40That much can
31:40be said for
31:41it.
31:42Tillis was
31:42actually ahead
31:44in rounds
31:44up until the
31:46seventh which
31:46Greg won and
31:47then in the
31:48eighth you could
31:49see that Tillis
31:50was ready to
31:51go.
31:52Ahead by a
31:53narrow margin
31:54but that
31:55sudden punch
31:56did him in
31:57here in eighth
31:58rounds at the
31:5843 second mark.
32:00We'll return for
32:01more of this ABC
32:02sports exclusive
32:03after this from
32:04our local
32:05stations.
32:06Sunday.
32:14Want to take
32:15the money market
32:15bull by the
32:16horns?
32:18The horns at
32:19Frontier Federal.
32:23Channel 42
32:24KVEW
32:25Kennewick.
32:2643 seconds
32:38into round
32:39number eight.
32:40But a bristling
32:41fight it was.
32:41Good solid action.
32:43What an important
32:43win for Greg
32:44Page in his
32:45career.
32:46Coming back
32:46from the loss
32:47to Trevor
32:47Burbick back
32:48on June
32:4811th in
32:49Las Vegas
32:50Nevada.
32:51Let's go to
32:52Howard Cosell
32:53with Greg
32:53Page.
32:53Greg I
32:55haven't seen
32:56you follow
32:57through with
32:57your punches
32:58that well in
32:59a very long
33:00time.
33:01Well Howard
33:02let me say
33:03let me readdress
33:04that Mr.
33:04Cosell.
33:06I've been
33:07in my professional
33:08career I have
33:09a lot of ups
33:10and downs
33:10you know
33:11lost my
33:11father
33:12controversy
33:13with
33:13commotors
33:14and at
33:15first it
33:15was kind
33:15of hard
33:16for me
33:16to really
33:17have my
33:17mind
33:17together
33:18on what
33:18I really
33:18wanted to
33:19do.
33:19So now
33:20since we
33:21have
33:21promotion
33:22wise
33:22management
33:23wise
33:23everything
33:24is running
33:25smooth
33:26I feel
33:26that I
33:27can perform
33:27a little
33:28bit better
33:28have more
33:28confidence
33:29in my
33:29management
33:30and my
33:30promotion
33:30promoters
33:31and like
33:33amateur
33:33it's always
33:34great to
33:34see you
33:34Howard.
33:35Thank
33:35you Greg
33:36under any
33:37circumstances
33:38we had a
33:39duty and we
33:39did
33:40comment it
33:41on your
33:41weight
33:42Don
33:42Chevrier
33:43and his
33:43call of
33:43the fight
33:44we were
33:45concerned
33:45about loss
33:46of stamina
33:46because of
33:47the amount
33:47of weight
33:48you were
33:48carrying
33:48why are
33:49you so
33:50heavy?
33:50Well Mr.
33:51Cosell
33:51let me say
33:51it like
33:52this
33:52I come
33:53from a
33:53very big
33:53family
33:54my father
33:54before he
33:55died
33:55he weighed
33:55about
33:55250
33:56and you
33:57know
33:57maybe
33:58that was
33:58about
33:585%
33:59fat
33:59and my
34:00mother
34:00she's not
34:01fat but
34:02she's a
34:02big woman
34:02she comes
34:02from a
34:03big style
34:03and myself
34:04I'm a
34:04big person
34:05my brothers
34:05are big
34:06my little
34:06brother
34:06he's
34:0714
34:07he's
34:0813
34:08he weighs
34:09about
34:09maybe
34:09160
34:10165
34:11it's just
34:11not a
34:12case of
34:12fat
34:12or baby
34:13fat
34:14or
34:14kiddish
34:15blubber
34:15what all
34:16these
34:16reporters
34:18might call
34:19it
34:19it's
34:19something
34:19called
34:20like right
34:21now
34:21I'm starting
34:21with
34:21my body
34:23is starting
34:23to lean
34:23up
34:24and I'm
34:25very glad
34:26that you
34:27and other
34:28reporters
34:29and commentators
34:29are concerned
34:30about my
34:31weight
34:31alright
34:33I want
34:34to take
34:35a look
34:36in slow
34:36mo
34:37of the
34:37knockdown
34:38now watch
34:38that's what
34:39I mean
34:39by following
34:41through
34:41the left
34:42missed
34:43but Tillis
34:44dropped his
34:44fists and
34:45he was
34:46wide open
34:47for the
34:47right
34:47too frequently
34:49you had
34:49gotten into
34:50the habit
34:50of moving
34:52backwards
34:52as you
34:53delivered
34:53punches
34:53you at
34:54least
34:55got out
34:55of that
34:55habit
34:56tonight
34:56well
34:57I haven't
34:58got out
34:58of that
34:58habit
34:59you know
34:59it's like
34:59this
35:00when I was
35:01coming up
35:02I was
35:02boxing
35:03the Russian
35:03opponent
35:04as you
35:04know
35:04and I
35:05was very
35:05effective
35:06with these
35:06moves
35:06so what
35:07I was
35:07trying to
35:08do
35:08I would
35:08try to
35:08perfect
35:09it
35:09in such
35:10a manner
35:10so that
35:11it wasn't
35:12really
35:12you couldn't
35:13really
35:13counter punch
35:14it
35:14but you
35:14can see
35:15it
35:15coming
35:15but you
35:15wouldn't
35:15know
35:15what
35:16direction
35:16to come
35:17to leave
35:17Greg
35:18I hope
35:19you can
35:20get back
35:20to the
35:23Soviet
35:24fighter
35:25Vasatsky
35:25who had
35:26beaten
35:27Stevenson
35:27then you
35:28had the
35:28look of
35:29another
35:29Ali
35:29congratulations
35:30good luck
35:31as usual
35:32I'm very
35:34glad
35:34and very
35:35proud
35:35to have
35:36ABC
35:36behind me
35:37and whatever
35:37I do
35:38and I know
35:39that you're
35:39behind me
35:39as much
35:40as I'm
35:40behind you
35:40so I'm
35:41glad to have
35:42you out here
35:42him in the
35:43fight
35:43and whatever
35:44so forth
35:45and so on
35:45I want to
35:46make it
35:46clear to you
35:47my friend
35:48thank you
35:49very much
35:49and we
35:50just report
35:51the fights
35:51we don't
35:52root for
35:52anybody
35:53back to
35:53Don
35:54Chevrier
35:54all right
35:57Howard
35:57and the
35:58big one
35:58is still
35:58to come
35:59the
35:59heavyweight
36:00championship
36:00fight
36:00Holmes
36:01and
36:01Cobb
36:02stay
36:02with us
36:02we'll
36:02have
36:03it
36:03for
36:03you
36:03live
36:03from
36:04Houston
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