- 23 hours ago
WBC Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes defends the title against European Champion Lucien Rodriguez on NBC Sports Boxing
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00:00:00Larry Holmes with a record of 41 at all and this is the 14th time that he has
00:00:07defended his heavyweight title a slight height advantage for Holmes over Rodriguez
00:00:14Holmes weighing in at 221 that's about five pounds heavier than usual but he
00:00:21says he's not fat not flappy he says it's a good heavy and the slight reach
00:00:27advantage for Holmes over Rodriguez and among the skeptics Rich Giacchetti the
00:00:34one-time manager and trainer of Larry Holmes he's one who feels the fight is a
00:00:39mistake on the part of Holmes Larry Holmes started in Scranton Pennsylvania which
00:00:42the people for Scranton and what he wants to do I feel good but it's dangerous
00:00:46because Lucian Rodriguez is a man that's 12 straight wins since he's had his loss
00:00:52he had Michael dokes in Florida he had him on the canvas he punches better than
00:00:56what people think at any time at any given day any heavyweight it walks in the
00:01:00ring could upset Scranton gave me an opportunity to be able to go on in my
00:01:05professional career and gave me a place to come and fight when I didn't have
00:01:10anywhere else to go to fight so you know I always said if I ever become champion I
00:01:15will always return I would try to return Scranton defend my heavyweight title now
00:01:21is Larry Holmes going to come in at 218 220 then when Muhammad Ali fought Ken Norton and
00:01:28got his jaw broken or is he Larry Holmes going to come in this slim and lean Larry
00:01:33Holmes and a great Larry Holmes champion well my weight will be probably heavy for
00:01:38this fight because it was it was two weeks off the time limit that I had
00:01:42originally set for but you know when conditioned every good and my punching
00:01:47power will be even better who is the heavyweight champion in the world is Larry
00:01:51Holmes the true heavyweight champion in the world or is the promoter going the
00:01:54other way and trying to build a new champion between either Mike Weaver or
00:01:57Michael dokes Larry home has to compete with this is his mind going to be
00:02:01straight and level of thinking about that fight his fight Lucian Rodriguez he
00:02:06signed to fight Tim Witherspoon in another month can Larry Holmes cope with all this
00:02:10and can he get in shape now I think is too much on his mind now he's trying to run
00:02:14everything Greg page is just another fighter to me Michael dokes just another fighter Lucian Rodriguez
00:02:21and and everybody else after that is just another fighter I'm just not really worrying
00:02:27about these guys because I got to do what I got to do to win and keep on winning if they got it bring
00:02:32up against Lucian Rodriguez Lucian Rodriguez has fought in the United States
00:02:39two previous occasions back in February of 1980 and about telecast here on NBC went up against a lot of
00:02:54Michael dokes we televised that let's pick up the call of round five this is round five
00:03:01from the Miami Beach convention hall Miami Beach Florida Michael dokes in the white and
00:03:08Lucian Rodriguez in the blue and dokes is ahead on the NBC card
00:03:13oh he was stopped by Rodriguez
00:03:28Lucian Rodriguez
00:03:31Rodriguez does have 13 knockouts
00:03:37well fans have to be surprised with what they have seen here thus far many thought it would be
00:03:45over by now that's true as you see as I stated before the power of those is not evident to
00:03:51Rodriguez and he's starting to take more liberties he's coming in more he's even more aggressive
00:03:56he's throwing good shot
00:03:58but there he got caught with a good hook and a good right hand
00:04:00and a good combination by dokes
00:04:02and Rodriguez hurt
00:04:05Rodriguez able to stun dokes just a moment ago as we open up this fifth round
00:04:13and Rodriguez now has it come above the left eye
00:04:18and a warning about the front of dokes the referee
00:04:31uppercut by dokes try to follow could not halfway through round five
00:04:38and we are live on sports world
00:04:43right hand by dokes
00:04:48another one
00:04:49and I can't
00:04:52how hard hit me
00:04:53Rodriguez is back out
00:04:55we've had tremendous action here in round five
00:05:04that time
00:05:06Rodriguez able to get in on dokes
00:05:10right hand by dokes
00:05:12taking body shots at the left hand
00:05:19what he's going to have to do is come up with the right hand
00:05:22so one downstairs two downstairs
00:05:24one downstairs and one upstairs
00:05:26you have to mix it up keep your man off balance
00:05:28and make him think along with you
00:05:30Rodriguez face cut up pretty badly
00:05:33now a half minute left
00:05:43in this fifth round you're probably are picking up the instructions in French from the corner of
00:05:48that was a very good combination by dokes there you go to a jab right hand came up with a very good powerful move
00:05:58but then again we're back to the awesome thing the power thing is the question whether the added weight has helped you or not
00:06:07all right final seconds of the round
00:06:12Scranton Larry Holmes with some additional scouting opportunity as we flash back to February of 1980 in Miami Beach a day that saw Michael dokes go against Lucian Rodriguez
00:06:23let's pick it up again with the 10th and final round
00:06:26can we go to the 10th and final round at the end of round nine a standing ovation from the crowd
00:06:32here at the Miami Beach convention hall they have appreciated what they have seen thus far
00:06:38I don't think that Michael dokes wanted this much to go 10 rounds
00:06:42oh no question
00:06:43or even not
00:06:45and dokes trying to end it right here in round 10
00:06:51well when we look back
00:06:54it has to be considered a learning experience for a very promising 21 year old heavyweight in Mike dokes
00:07:01right hand landed by dokes
00:07:05and as you look at the previous nine rounds unless he is KO'd
00:07:15you know it's a unanimous decision for dokes
00:07:18right as you saw in that combination there that dokes had
00:07:21he caught Rodriguez right on the button with the right hand with the hook another right hand
00:07:26and he didn't take the man out he didn't really hurt him that bad
00:07:29as I stated before as he graduates in the heavyweight division he's going to have to
00:07:34have to be able to take a man out in one shot
00:07:36there's a combination
00:07:41uppercut landed by dokes he has Rodriguez hurt once again but Rodriguez able to hang in again
00:07:50again every time I think something derogatory about dokes is punching power
00:07:53he comes on with a good combination with power
00:08:00Rodriguez is hurt now also but he still fights back he's a very game individual
00:08:06he has been hurt on three four occasions during the course of this fight
00:08:12as we approach the one minute mark 10th and final round
00:08:19and in a fight that has to be a major surprise
00:08:25Mike dokes taken to the 10th round by the 28 year old out of Paris France
00:08:31Lucian Rodriguez not only is the public surprised but I think Michael dokes is surprised and there's
00:08:37a possibility that Lucian Rodriguez is surprised
00:08:45is Publish?
00:09:04you
00:09:06folks able to land suddenly on Rodriguez who is intent on staying on his feet
00:09:12and you'll see the time running down final seconds 10th and final round
00:09:22ladies and gentlemen here's the score of the officials
00:09:31judge al walensky scores at 49 41 dokes
00:09:36judge gus jacobson scores at 49 40 dokes
00:09:43and the referee eddie eckert scores at 50 41 dokes
00:09:50winner and still undefeated michael dokes
00:09:55well larry holmes back in his dressing room here in scranton getting a final look
00:10:03at lucian rodriguez rodriguez suffering his last loss that was my decision to michael dokes back in february of 1980
00:10:14rodriguez and holmes coming up on sports for granton pennsylvania you see larry holmes getting ready we are
00:10:20approaching the holmes rodriguez wbc heavyweight championship count that's coming up
00:10:26on nbc sports world earlier here it was james hard rock green by unanimous decision over michael doer doer merely showing up for the first seven rounds it was all james green
00:10:40so just ahead the first world heavyweight title bout ever held in scranton the 10th in the state of pennsylvania
00:10:48that goes back to jack johnson who defended his title twice in pennsylvania that goes back to 1909
00:10:56so it'll be a larry holmes homecoming in scranton this is marv albert along with the fight doctor ferdy pacheco
00:11:03we hope you stay right where you are heavyweight champion lucian rodriguez this moroccan born frenchman
00:11:11has scored 35 victories during his career but he faces his greatest challenge today when he meets
00:11:17larry holmes in the ring for the undefeated and as the mayor of the city of scranton i want to welcome
00:11:23nbc sports and all the fight fans in america to the city of scranton because we're going to give you a
00:11:29fight scranton pennsylvania located in northeastern pennsylvania at one time the coal mining capital
00:11:37of the world well they've hit hard times in recent years here in scranton but today
00:11:43scranton is the boxing capital of the world larry holmes has fulfilled a long time promise
00:11:49to defend his heavyweight title in the city where it all began for home some 10 years ago
00:11:55and we welcome you to the whatress armory downtown scranton pennsylvania hi everybody i'm marv albert
00:12:02along with the fight dr ferdy pacheco at approximately 4 28 it'll be larry holmes defending
00:12:07his heavyweight title against lucian rodriguez in the ring to our left now as we discussed earlier on
00:12:15ringside there has been so much skepticism concerning this bout whether the bout in fact should have taken
00:12:22place what are you views on well it's a heavyweight title fight i've never seen such a fight that's
00:12:28mostly negatives no positives it's not what can the challenger do to the champion it is but the
00:12:34negative parts what's happening with holmes is he too old is he now starting to go downhill is he fat
00:12:39is his mind someplace else is he looking forward to may the 20th this sort of a negative
00:12:44fight i think if you're going to look at anything you got to assay what has happened to holmes in the past
00:12:50year since the coney fight is he starting to show signs of deterioration is he going downhill
00:12:56is he indeed going to risk his ring immortality by going one fight too many all right as we have
00:13:01seen larry holmes has certainly had his ups and downs in title fights which larry holmes will we see
00:13:10today will it be the larry holmes who was stunned by ronaldo snipes in round seven back in november of
00:13:1681 although holmes went on to stop snipes in the 11th or will it be the larry holmes who pummeled
00:13:24randy tex cobb over 15 rounds last november and holmes last appearance in the ring
00:13:31and randy tex cobb has since recovered in fact we'll be hearing from him during the course of the
00:13:43day from 30 rock now many people are wondering now therefore i james barrett mcnulty the mayor of
00:14:00the city of scranton do hereby proclaim the week of march 21st to march 27 1983 as larry holmes
00:14:08homecoming week in scranton and ask all of our citizens to pay tribute and honor to this world
00:14:14champion and this city's hero ladies and gentlemen the heavyweight champion of the world you know this
00:14:26is really a great moment homecoming means a lot when we was looking for a name
00:14:35so that we could be able to promote the fight get all fight promoters look for names like the other
00:14:42one brawl for it all with distinction braxton we wanted the name homecoming because to me this is
00:14:51homecoming scranton was is a club fight town and promoters does not want to promote here because it's
00:14:59not really the money the money is not really here in scranton everybody knows this money now is in
00:15:05land city in las vegas at one point in new york city my plan now is to make scranton the boxing capital of
00:15:14the world
00:15:26this may be the first time in your whole career since you've been the heavyweight champion that don
00:15:30king the figure of don king is not looming around somewhere behind you now both of you have been
00:15:35sort of an act together i mean you don't see homes that you don't see don king you don't see don king
00:15:40you don't see homes you really have been closely tied he did a lot for you you did a lot for him
00:15:44now all of a sudden we're in scranton bensilvania we're in a title fight and the questions on
00:15:48everybody's mind is where's don king is there a split here is there a rift between you two
00:15:53there's not it's not a rift between don king and i uh yes that don king doesn't didn't want to do
00:15:58this fight and i wanted to do it for the people in scranton there's a fact that there are two
00:16:02world heavyweight champions promoted by the same man work against you well see carl king manages
00:16:09michael does don king promotes michael does so you know there will be some conflict of interest
00:16:15if i will fight michael does they would say well larry was going out anyway he was getting old so
00:16:19he wanted to leave it behind if i if i lost and if i same thing if i beat michael they say well michael
00:16:25was young he can always come back and larry's getting out anyway will there be one heavyweight
00:16:29champion in of the world in the future i don't think the people would pay you know to see just a
00:16:36dokes weaver fight and this is why they probably won it in both ends at one place so i really can't
00:16:43say freddie i i really don't know i'm just gonna go out there and do what i gotta do and if michael
00:16:49does gonna fight on the same night that i fight i welcome him you know because you know give him
00:16:54opportunity to come and grow and make some money just like i did you know why would you take a chance
00:16:59whether greg page or witherspoon or lucian rodriguez when one more defeat would just make you
00:17:06pardon the word a chump in the word of the public just another guy that got talked into one fight
00:17:10too many uh greg page is just uh another fighter to me michael dokes just another fighter lucian rodriguez
00:17:18and and everybody else after that is just another fighter i'm just not really worrying about these
00:17:24guys because i got to do what i got to do to win and keep on winning if they got it bring it
00:17:29every time you've come in heavy you haven't fought your best fight what's your weight going
00:17:33to be like for this fight i might not have the speed or the snap as i wouldn't have as a lighter
00:17:39weight but i'll be able to get in there and get the job done and take this guy out there i hope
00:17:43you've never had any trouble preparing for a fight you're one of the best prepared fighters maybe
00:17:47that's the reason for your greatness that i've that i've known yet here it's not larry holmes the
00:17:52fighter that's preparing it's larry holmes the fighter the promoter the entertainer the politician
00:17:57how can you do all those things and still prepare for a heavyweight championship fight really my
00:18:01mind haven't haven't been on uh uh promoting or anything else because they got capable people
00:18:06with the felman foundation through del vecco and all those guys they're taking care of all the ends
00:18:11i've never seen you so affable good-natured and relaxed as you are now felucian rodriguez how can
00:18:15you get your mental toughness back for a fight like this right now this is just a fight this is a fight
00:18:19for the people in scranton and this is why i feel like i feel and and just go out there and do what i got to do
00:18:27but don king has been here in scranton since last tuesday he arrived the day after we
00:18:33taped the interview with larry holmes and as it turns out he's taken an active role in the promotion
00:18:40well fight time approaching but right now we return to our studio let's go to jim mayor's taking the time
00:18:47out of his busy schedule of governing our great nation and he's going to tell me how to box he's
00:18:52going to tell boxing people how to uh set up matches and things like this and and i sure appreciate
00:18:58that out of jim it's very rare you find that kind of compassion and seeing how a man of his busy
00:19:06schedule can actually set up and and figure out just who needs to fight who and just exactly what
00:19:12statistics mean and and things like this i i'm really impressed what old jim can do for for
00:19:18boxing and gosh for just humanity okay later today larry holmes the man you fought back in november
00:19:23going against european champion lucian rodriguez holmes has checked into this fight at 221 it's
00:19:28about 10 pounds heavier than he normally does is there any way this man can lose this bout there's
00:19:34always a way that you can lose the thing you got to remember about heavyweights any heavyweights uh you're
00:19:40dealing with situation where a man that is 200 pounds or more that can initiate a valid power structure and
00:19:47a good punch can take you out anybody can take you out that's the bottom line on heavyweights that's
00:19:52why regardless of mr florio's brilliant assertions the heavyweight is never out of the fight until
00:19:59the last 10 seconds anytime you land a punch you're gone if you don't think so ask mike weaver or john
00:20:05tate okay quickly a prediction text well i think larry's going to just out box him until
00:20:11probably about six seven rounds and then eventually he's going to land that big right hand
00:20:15to his and it could be uh goodbye sweet prince you stick around for the fight won't you thank
00:20:19you much one man's opinion randall text cobs bill mcatee will introduce someone with a different slant
00:20:24thank you michael well in a fight like this there are always a number of opinions so for his
00:20:29expert analysis of this fight coming up let's check in with saturday night live's joe piscopo
00:20:36thanks guys hello again everybody joe piscopo nbc sports world 30 rock boxing the big story holmes
00:20:44rodriguez nbc presents another awesome fight mismatch statistics holmes scranton
00:20:5641 and 0 29 ko's career earnings 20 million dollars rodriguez france 35 and 7 17 ko's career earnings
00:21:11hey lucian le joe piscopo
00:21:15hey lucien les gens c'était local c'était les putts translation take a hike pal get out while you can
00:21:24prediction let's take a look in the early rounds they'll be furious jabbing back and forth rodriguez
00:21:31blocking each punch holmes comes in about the sixth round and there's a knockout au revoir lucian
00:21:39joe piscopo nbc sports world 30 rock back to you boys thank you joe and as always truth is a good
00:21:47basis for humor this fight is viewed by some as a mismatch solution rodriguez
00:21:51knocked out three times by evangelista and then finally came back recently and won by decision
00:21:58over evangelista well we'll see shortly fight time is coming up maria capacity crowd close to 7 000
00:22:07awaiting the start of the bout between larry holmes and lucian rodriguez rodriguez one of a host of
00:22:13european contenders to fight for the heavyweight title european champions who did not succeed 1938 max
00:22:20spelling taken out of round one by joe lewis 1975 in malaysia muhammad ali 15 round decision over joe bugner
00:22:331921 jack depsy a fourth round ko of george carpentier of france and now lucian rodriguez
00:22:43comes from france to take a shot at larry holmes
00:22:51lucian rodriguez did provide a slippery time for michael dokes three years ago in miami beach
00:22:58florida but it was about but it was about the joke squad by decision
00:23:12his only impressions are that he came here to fight a good fight and to take the title
00:23:16and both larry holmes and lucian rodriguez are in the ring
00:23:23the crowd reacting to holmes chanting larry
00:23:33larry holmes with a record of 41 and 0 30 by knockout
00:23:48on the nbc this is the 14th time that he has defended his title won the heavyweight championship
00:23:55june 9 1978 15 round decision over ken norton lucian rodriguez 31 years old born in casablanca
00:24:06morocco now living in paris france that record of 35 and 7 and one draw 19 by knockout there is no
00:24:16evidence that holmes will have to fear rodriguez's punching power rodriguez is the european heavyweight
00:24:23champion he's defended that title successfully four times including a shutout decision over alfredo
00:24:29evangelista last june and as mentioned earlier evangelista a man who had knocked out rodriguez in
00:24:37three previous counts which considerably dense the credibility of rodriguez
00:24:47larry holmes who turned pro back in 1973 came on slowly first working as a sparring partner for
00:24:55muhammad ali and joe frazier and just beginning to get the respect that he had been looking for
00:25:02always piles up points with the jab but can be and has been nailed by ronaldo snipes by ernie shavers
00:25:14by mike weaver larry holmes and lucian rodriguez coming up right after we pause are getting set some
00:25:23boxing people feel that holmes did not properly train for this fight because he did not fear rodriguez and
00:25:30because of his involvement in the promotion of today's bout there's a question about holmes's
00:25:34concentration also ferdy and that holmes accepted this fight on such short notice you wonder how
00:25:40sharp will he be well the short notice is the most important of all because it throws your whole timing
00:25:44off you he took this fight two weeks before he wanted it actually that's the only time it could go on
00:25:50and and he accepted it as such but that cuts two weeks off your training so he's heavier than he wants
00:25:55to be he's not quite at the peak he wants to be although i think he's getting to the edge he just
00:25:59leaned over and said to us don't you guys know what time it is well we said the pot would get underway
00:26:04at 4 28. we're just about there let's go to the ring here's that julian ladies and gentlemen
00:26:11the world boxing council heavyweight championship belt which is scheduled for 12 rounds
00:26:26this is approved and sanctioned by both the world boxing council jose gulman chairman
00:26:34arioso panrique the supervisor in charge also approved and sanctioned by the pennsylvania state athletic
00:26:42commission the honorable james james chairman and the honorable charles chumbeckneric commissioner
00:26:52the judges for this afternoon the judges of mexico abraham chavalia of mexico and marcelo marcelo garcia of mexico
00:27:05the time to prevail is bill reese counting for the markdown six is kip rivensteiner
00:27:12in the ring at this time the man in charge of 7,000 but will not score a name above
00:27:19it's the 15th and the 15th and the 15th and 15th Yea world pitt of pre-cardering carlos patiria
00:27:29now boxing fans introduce the principles first in the big corner very blue charge
00:27:36with events and he waited a little 209 pounds this gentleman has a right of 35.7 rounds one draw
00:27:46with 17 knockouts, he is the European Olympic champion and is ranked right by the World Boxing Council.
00:27:56Ladies and gentlemen, here is the challenger, all the way from Paris France, Lucian Rodriguez!
00:28:04Nice reaction here in Stratton for Rodriguez.
00:28:17And in French之後, wept with repetent, he棒ed in in heία 221 realmente nãoques e isso aí.
00:28:26ThisEX好 é o melhor fitness میں, com as o de relação has o mosto cannon 128%,
00:28:33com relação anti DMVSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS 그렇게 quaisquer KN法 elysilissimo管 voce autemun gobierno adversário macquarie Captain America Coward!
00:28:46Capacity crown of 7,000 here in Scranton reacting to the champion, Larry Holmes, who
00:29:12made his professional debut in Scranton, March 21, 1973, by winning a four-round decision
00:29:19over Rodel Dupree.
00:29:21Don't throw any punches during the break.
00:29:28Referee Carlos Badilla with the instructions.
00:29:32Scoring on the 10-point must system handled by the three judges.
00:29:38And in WBC title fights, the referee does have the option of using a standing eight, three-knockdown
00:29:44rule wave.
00:29:45Bell will not save the fighter except the final round.
00:29:48In accordance with the WBC rules, this championship bout is scheduled for 12 rounds in contrast
00:29:55to the previous rules calling for 15 rounds for a title fight.
00:30:00Fuller underway.
00:30:01Holmes has come out in fast fashion, met him all the way across the ring.
00:30:15He looks a little bulgy in the midsection, but not much considering that's an extra 10 pounds
00:30:20that he's not used to carrying.
00:30:22Larry Holmes weighed in at 221, claims he's not fat, not flabby, but a decisive weight advantage
00:30:30over the challenger Rodriguez of 209, who is a small heavyweight.
00:30:35That was 221 yesterday.
00:30:39In the meantime, he's had a couple of meals, and I'm sure he's up to 225, 226 right now.
00:30:47We are live on NBC's Sports World.
00:30:53Holmes is beginning with that left jab.
00:30:56Holmes is certainly not playing around.
00:30:58He's looking to end this as fast as he can.
00:31:08Holmes using one of the best jabs in the heavyweight division right now.
00:31:12He used it to control Cooney.
00:31:14He used it to control everyone else.
00:31:16And what it does, even if it doesn't set up the right hand, it keeps Rodriguez at bay,
00:31:22so far away that he can't land with his shots, as he did just then.
00:31:25Halfway through this opening round,
00:31:30Larry Holmes coming off that one-sided 15-round decision over Tex Cobb last November.
00:31:37And the fear of many is that today will also be a bell-to-bell paint job by Holmes or a quick ending.
00:31:49One never knows in boxing.
00:31:50So far, the jab has controlled this round completely.
00:32:04The efforts that Lucien has made to get in haven't even come close.
00:32:08Such is the difference in size and such is the difference in that jab and the capacity of Larry Holmes.
00:32:17Larry just doesn't let him even get close.
00:32:22As he tries to hook, he picks it off in mid-air.
00:32:37Lucien's going to have to start thinking about going to the body with jabs.
00:32:40Getting down lower.
00:32:46So a feeling out opening round.
00:32:49It's been the jab of Larry Holmes.
00:32:51Lucien Rodriguez not able to make the move in this opening round.
00:32:56And Rodriguez getting set for round two.
00:32:59Rodriguez began boxing at the age of 19, became the world military champion, turned pro in 1973.
00:33:0677 won the French heavyweight title.
00:33:09Also won the European championship that year, defeating Jean-Pierre Coupon.
00:33:14His father is Spanish, his mother Italian, from a family of three sisters, four brothers.
00:33:20The brothers all fought as amateurs, as did his father, who operates a gymnasium in Paris, France.
00:33:27The jab of Larry Holmes continues to keep Rodriguez away.
00:33:34And setting up that right hand just at the end of round one.
00:33:38He was trying to land the right hand just as the bell ended.
00:33:41He just picked up that idea and landed at the beginning of round two.
00:33:46It was a solid right hand, but Lucien took it well.
00:33:52Whoa!
00:33:53Right hand by Holt.
00:33:56That's starting Rodriguez.
00:33:59Rodriguez is going to have to give him a lot more movement to get away from that right hand or he's going to get leveled by it.
00:34:05He's got to go side to side.
00:34:08Eddie Fletch in the corner, warning the champion, watch his left hook because he follows it with a right.
00:34:14He just did it just then.
00:34:16Lucien Rodriguez trying to get those hooks in.
00:34:18The hooks will not come into Larry Holmes as long as he's got that big long reach out there.
00:34:22Halfway through the second round, we're scheduled for 12.
00:34:35The size of the ring was a question.
00:34:40First, it was a small 18 foot ring.
00:34:43But both camps asked for the larger ring and the city of Scrantz came through with the 22 foot ring.
00:34:50Well, this might give Rodriguez a little more room to run for some additional rounds.
00:34:55Well, he's not running much.
00:34:56He's right now chasing Larry Holmes, which is an oddity.
00:34:59And he's not giving him much movement side to side.
00:35:01He's standing in front of Larry Holmes.
00:35:02He's just looking to put the right hand in.
00:35:04You can see it in his eye.
00:35:06Offer cut by Holmes gets some damage after the straight right hand.
00:35:15There have been some great left jabbers in the heavyweight division right now.
00:35:27They're just starting to evaluate this superb left jab of Larry Holmes and put it in the category
00:35:32of Joe Lewis, Sonny Liston, and whether you believe it or not, Muhammad Ali,
00:35:36who could drive you crazy with a left jab.
00:35:39John, you were born again!
00:35:41Oh, good good hand by Holmes, countering the Rodriguez attempt.
00:35:49At our final second round two.
00:35:51Another right by Holmes.
00:35:53So Holmes beginning to make contact.
00:35:57The dead deuce right here behind him.
00:36:00Worthyusz.
00:36:01Cheers there.
00:36:02That'd be the boss, big jack.
00:36:04Or see or shift.
00:36:05Not to be the boss.
00:36:06Not to be the boss.
00:36:08noget him up.
00:36:09He's gonna come with that.
00:36:10He's gonna come with that right there actually.
00:36:19Lowry Holmes, mate Cole, take charge, be the boss.
00:36:22This is round three.
00:36:24three he has been the boss over the first two I don't think he could be much more of a boss than
00:36:30he was over those first two they want him to shorten the jab so that he can get in with the
00:36:33right hand doesn't have to reach with it I thought he was just starting to get Rodriguez in trouble
00:36:39at the end of that last round with a very hard right hand and that jab is such a dominant feature
00:36:48this is round three Marv Albert with the fight Dr. Bernie Pacheco we're live on NBC Sports World
00:37:06Larry Holmes defending his WBC heavyweight title and has had no difficulty in this part with Lucian
00:37:14Rodriguez which is not a surprise
00:37:17not giving him enough movement
00:37:22Rodriguez stunned by the right hand again
00:37:27now Holmes eager to treat this hometown crowd to a real exhibition of heavyweight fighting skill
00:37:37and he's certainly done that over the first two rounds
00:37:39I hate to sound patriotic or apologize for it but in this era of struggling cities it's heartwarming to appreciate Larry Holmes just
00:37:54the right hand
00:37:56good shot
00:37:57the right hand that rocks Lucian Rodriguez and let's see how he'll react the rest of the way
00:38:04and a long way to go
00:38:07another hard right by Holmes
00:38:12over a minute left of this third round
00:38:15Holmes sensing it just looking for that right hand
00:38:20he's got a lightning-like right hand today
00:38:22Lucian trying to fight back he has really very light ammunition
00:38:31he has not been able to land successfully I don't think one time on the face of Larry Holmes
00:38:37now Holmes with no respect for the Apache power
00:38:43Bob Rodriguez been able to wade in
00:38:45now you got the feeling he can walk right through
00:38:49and Holmes continues to measure with the left hand
00:38:58he's just looking for the right hand look at him just ready to go he just won't stand still if he ever stops
00:39:07so that will do it for round three Holmes getting in with a couple of right hands on Rodriguez
00:39:21back at our studios at 30 Rock in New York
00:39:25Randy Tex Cobb has predicted that this will be the round he's seen enough he says Holmes will put
00:39:30put Rodriguez away of this round four
00:39:34well he may be right
00:39:36there's a good right hand there's another right hand by the champion
00:39:39Rodriguez just continues to lunge to try to get in
00:39:45not get by the long reach of a height advantage of Larry Holmes
00:39:53he has not tried to tie up Larry Holmes as he should when he comes in he just can't get to him to tie him up
00:39:58referee Carlos Padilla having an easy time of it
00:40:04a lot easier than he had in the thriller in Manila
00:40:06Ali Frazier three boxing's version of the world war
00:40:20Holmes absolutely flat just as if he's anchored there ready to throw his best shot
00:40:26waiting waiting waiting for Lucian Rodriguez to stop moving
00:40:33and continues to cock the right hand and measure with the left
00:40:37he snaps the jab and the left hook again the lunge by Rodriguez
00:40:43Rodriguez's corner told me if we can get past four or five
00:40:50he's going to start to wear out with that extra weight
00:40:52well it's hard to get past four or five when you got this kind of cannonade going up against your head
00:40:57to stay fight
00:41:03let's go
00:41:09to stay
00:41:10to stay
00:41:13to stay
00:41:15to stay
00:41:17to stay
00:41:17to stay
00:41:17to stay
00:41:18to stay
00:41:20in the fourth round scheduled for 12
00:41:22Larry Holmes
00:41:24lives at Easton, Pennsylvania, 80 miles away from Scrantz.
00:41:30That was an illustration of the lunging moves of Rodriguez,
00:41:33who has been making contact with gloves and arms.
00:41:41That's his only chance to fight back.
00:41:42Even though he's just hitting gloves and arms,
00:41:44he just hit Holmes with a right hand that glanced off.
00:41:47As Larry Holmes measures him in that Liston-like way.
00:41:56Oh, a combination by Holmes.
00:42:06Well, it looks like that's Cobb's prognostication
00:42:10that Holmes would put Rodriguez down in his fourth round.
00:42:13Here comes Rodriguez.
00:42:15He's going to go to round five.
00:42:17Open up in round five.
00:42:19Let's listen-in on the corner of Larry Holmes.
00:42:21You'll hear his trainer Eddie Fuxch.
00:42:24If you've never heard of him, he's going to fight back.
00:42:26He's going to fight back.
00:42:27Don't be alert. Just find alert.
00:42:28Step back on the counter, Holmes.
00:42:31We're going to be the ball out there.
00:42:33We're going to be the ball out there.
00:42:34Get it, Tom.
00:42:35Get it, Tom.
00:42:36Get it, Tom.
00:42:40Larry Holmes quick to get off the stool
00:42:43as the fifth round got underway.
00:42:44Lucian Rodriguez looking tired.
00:42:47In fact, the bell rang.
00:42:48He was still on the stool.
00:42:51I think he's getting maximum rest.
00:42:53Wisely so.
00:42:54I would keep him there till the bell rang.
00:43:00Larry's been all steam and thunder first rounds,
00:43:03and now he's starting to slow up a little bit
00:43:05in that he's putting that left hand out in a very lazy way,
00:43:08allowing Rodriguez to mount a charge,
00:43:12which was heretofore unseen.
00:43:16We saw him fight coach.
00:43:17We know there's no end to bravery.
00:43:20There's certainly a difference in talent.
00:43:25And it got by, fifth round.
00:43:36This is a homecoming for Larry Holmes.
00:43:38He had mentioned many times that he wanted to stage
00:43:41a nostalgic return engagement here in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
00:43:47And this return has been very well-received throughout the week.
00:43:52I think it was a great thing he did,
00:43:54and the city appreciated it a great deal.
00:43:57Rodriguez's last fight last November,
00:44:02won by 12 rounds of surfing in Paris,
00:44:05over to Medico Adalto.
00:44:09He's won his last 12 since losing to Dose.
00:44:13In by Adalto.
00:44:14Right hand by Holmes did not get the full effect of it.
00:44:18He was trying to get past a double jab.
00:44:21First double jab that Lucien has been able to throw in there.
00:44:24He whipped the right hand over it, but it didn't work.
00:44:27The left hand did work.
00:44:37Lucien Rodriguez, 31 years old.
00:44:39Bought in Casablanca, Morocco.
00:44:42Now living in Paris, France.
00:44:49Larry, at this stage of the career,
00:44:51begins to remind me of Ali at the end of his career,
00:44:53where he could just play with you with his arms.
00:44:56He has such experience, you can't get to him.
00:44:57He ties you up with his arms like an octopus.
00:45:00Wherever you move, there are those big arms.
00:45:02Tie you up.
00:45:03Whoa!
00:45:05Oh.
00:45:06Oh.
00:45:09Larry has his own cheering section.
00:45:20At the end of round five, listen to the card.
00:45:24All right, the quarter of Lucien Rodriguez,
00:45:32who faced a new twist in the Larry Holmes repertoire a moment ago.
00:45:37The roar of Holmes looking to spark himself.
00:45:40He almost got dropped by that roar.
00:45:41Did you see the look of surprise on his face when he roared?
00:45:45Round six.
00:45:47Now the crowd coming to life.
00:45:49Barb Albert with the fight doctor.
00:45:51Bertie Pacheco, we're live in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
00:46:06Now Rodriguez beginning to move more consistently.
00:46:11He has to move.
00:46:12That's the key to his fight.
00:46:14He has to move.
00:46:15As these rounds go by,
00:46:17Holmes should get tired carrying that extra weight.
00:46:19Right hand by Holmes.
00:46:23Responding to the champ.
00:46:33On their toes.
00:46:35That's the champ bouncing up and down like Ali.
00:46:38Like saying, let's rumble.
00:46:39Let's get this thing on.
00:46:43And you get the feeling that he can do whatever he wants.
00:46:46Rodriguez is standing right in front of him seeming to just look right in his eyes saying,
00:46:55don't holler.
00:46:56Let's don't holler again.
00:47:01It has been a boxing exhibition to this point.
00:47:04I get the feeling unless Rodriguez is able to land a very lucky punch.
00:47:11As Ronaldo snipes did in his heavyweight bout.
00:47:15Back in November of 81, putting Holmes down in round seven.
00:47:19Unless there is such an occurrence,
00:47:22Larry Holmes has come back to Scrant.
00:47:24And is putting on a boxing clinic before 7,000 pounds.
00:47:27Before we bury Lucian Rodriguez too soon,
00:47:44let us say that a fight goes to the 12th round.
00:47:48Having been in it for 25 years,
00:47:50nothing would amaze me.
00:47:52But it has been a shutout to this point for Larry Holmes.
00:48:01Witherspoon watching this fight
00:48:03has only seen one thing new in the Larry Holmes repertoire.
00:48:07And that is an ear-splitting yell.
00:48:10Larry Holmes committed to go against Tim Witherspoon
00:48:13May the 20th in Las Vegas.
00:48:16So Witherspoon's concerned is that nothing happens to Holmes.
00:48:20Lucian not moving all of a sudden
00:48:25and that's just the most dangerous thing he can do.
00:48:28Oh, the uppercut putting Rodriguez down!
00:48:32Flash knockdown, Rodriguez all right
00:48:35as time is running out in the sixth round.
00:48:41Uppercut by Holmes to put Rodriguez down
00:48:45and that's it, the end of round six
00:48:48as we follow Lucian Rodriguez to his corner.
00:48:54A short uppercut by the champion Holmes
00:48:58for the first knockdown of the mound.
00:49:01He'll be back.
00:49:02It just puts a little push involved also.
00:49:05Let's see, yeah.
00:49:07He was headed down, but Larry helped him.
00:49:10Well, he lifted him off the canvas with a punch.
00:49:14No question, the punch was very good.
00:49:15He was off balance.
00:49:16Wasn't one of those things where he was in trouble
00:49:17when he got up.
00:49:19Cloud set up.
00:49:20Larry Holmes was in the corner area
00:49:23of Lucian Rodriguez
00:49:25just as he was getting up off the stool.
00:49:28I think this is the round
00:49:30that most boxing experts picked.
00:49:32The seventh.
00:49:33It has been Holmes throughout
00:49:45as the left took by Rodriguez
00:49:48to the side of the head of Holmes.
00:49:51First time that it landed flush
00:49:53didn't bother Larry Holmes at all.
00:49:55If this fight continues as it's been,
00:50:04it is an excellent preparation
00:50:06for Witherspoon on May the 20th.
00:50:09He couldn't get this much training
00:50:10in three more additional weeks.
00:50:20And here's Rodriguez doubling up.
00:50:22Right after he got hammered
00:50:26by a picture-perfect right hand.
00:50:30Lucian has been eating some stiff jabs
00:50:33and every once in a while
00:50:34he digests a nice right hand
00:50:36from Larry Holmes.
00:50:43Right hand covered by the uppercut.
00:50:47That's what Larry's got to do.
00:50:49Put the punches together.
00:50:50It doesn't seem that one punch
00:50:52is going to do
00:50:53to knock out this tough
00:50:55Lucian Rodriguez
00:50:56who's really been taking some shots here.
00:51:04To this point
00:51:06Lucian Rodriguez has been
00:51:10beaten to the punch
00:51:11has rarely connected
00:51:13but has not taken the kind of beating
00:51:15that Tex Cobb did.
00:51:16It's a different kind of fighter.
00:51:18Tex Cobb's one of those brave guys
00:51:20with an iron chin
00:51:21that just keeps coming in
00:51:22and daring you to hit him
00:51:23which is his style.
00:51:26It's not Lucian's style.
00:51:27But can you imagine
00:51:28here we are
00:51:28we're measuring
00:51:29the severity of a beating.
00:51:32Yeah.
00:51:32Oh yeah.
00:51:37Of course that's what you do
00:51:38viewing a fighter
00:51:43of the quality of Larry Holmes
00:51:45claims there's no one else
00:51:47out there to fight
00:51:48and that he has fought everyone.
00:51:50Not true though
00:51:51he has managed to stay away
00:51:52from the matchup
00:51:53with Michael Goetz
00:51:54subject you discussed
00:51:55with him earlier.
00:51:56Goetz happens to be
00:51:57under contract
00:51:58to Don King
00:51:59who has handled Holmes.
00:52:01I think the only person
00:52:04that can beat him
00:52:04is father time.
00:52:09That'll rough it
00:52:10for round seven.
00:52:13On to round eight
00:52:14Stratton, Pennsylvania.
00:52:16Again, Lucian Rodriguez
00:52:17taking his time
00:52:18and coming out of his corner.
00:52:20Larry Holmes is ready.
00:52:21We've had one knockdown
00:52:22and a flash knockdown
00:52:23off the short uppercut
00:52:24back in round six.
00:52:27It's Larry Holmes
00:52:28throughout.
00:52:31It has been a shutout
00:52:33for Holmes
00:52:34against Lucian Rodriguez.
00:52:42Don King
00:52:43taking it all in
00:52:44at ringside
00:52:45and it was handled
00:52:47both Larry Holmes
00:52:48and Michael Goetz.
00:52:50King's son,
00:52:51Powell, the manager
00:52:52of Goetz.
00:52:55And the question
00:52:56has been raised
00:52:57about the conflict
00:52:59of interest
00:53:00and that Holmes
00:53:02and Goetz
00:53:02have not been able
00:53:03to come together.
00:53:15And it's gone by
00:53:16in this eighth round.
00:53:18Larry Holmes
00:53:20controlling the action
00:53:22from the start.
00:53:24Using the jab
00:53:25has that right hand
00:53:26cocked throughout.
00:53:27One knockdown.
00:53:29A quickie
00:53:29on the sixth round.
00:53:30Rodriguez
00:53:30right back to his feet.
00:53:34Rodriguez stays
00:53:34in this corner
00:53:35right to the bell rings
00:53:36which is very smart
00:53:37on his part.
00:53:38He's got to conserve
00:53:39the energy.
00:53:39He's got to be moving.
00:53:40He's got to keep
00:53:41this movement going.
00:53:43It's now getting
00:53:43into the eighth round
00:53:44and it's going to be
00:53:45pretty soon getting
00:53:46into doer tie time
00:53:47for him.
00:53:48He's going to have
00:53:48to mount his charge.
00:53:55Strong right hand
00:53:56by Holmes.
00:53:56Phil has been any
00:54:12solid blow
00:54:13that Rodriguez
00:54:13has landed here?
00:54:14Not of a telling variety.
00:54:16He has landed solidly
00:54:17a few times
00:54:17but there were tentative blows
00:54:18and weren't like
00:54:19everything that he had
00:54:20behind it.
00:54:21I don't think he can afford
00:54:22to put that kind of steam
00:54:23in a punch
00:54:24because that leaves you
00:54:25very vulnerable.
00:54:26So far he's been
00:54:26fighting a defensive fight.
00:54:28He's been fighting
00:54:28a survival fight.
00:54:32Waiting, waiting,
00:54:33waiting for Holmes
00:54:34to fade.
00:54:34Holmes so far
00:54:35has not faded.
00:54:36He is slowing down
00:54:37considerably
00:54:38but not faded.
00:54:38And we approach 15 seconds
00:54:57left of this eighth round.
00:54:59Holmes continues
00:55:00to land
00:55:01with the right hand.
00:55:04Well, another round
00:55:05for Larry Holmes
00:55:07will be back here
00:55:08on Scrant
00:55:09right after we pause
00:55:10for these words.
00:55:15Well, back at round eight,
00:55:16another dominating round
00:55:18for Larry Holmes.
00:55:20And Holmes
00:55:20able to brush Rodriguez
00:55:22up against the ropes
00:55:23and opens up
00:55:24with the jab here
00:55:26in the ninth round.
00:55:27It's scheduled for 12.
00:55:28Missed in accordance
00:55:29with WBC rules.
00:55:31Championship bounce
00:55:32now at 12 rounds
00:55:33in contrast
00:55:34to the previous rules
00:55:35calling for 15
00:55:36for a title buy.
00:55:37I think that's pretty good
00:55:39for Larry Holmes
00:55:40in this fight
00:55:41which is charitably
00:55:43to be called
00:55:44a tune-up fight
00:55:45for the 20th
00:55:46and maybe that's
00:55:47a tune-up fight
00:55:47for the real fight,
00:55:49Greg Page.
00:55:52Minklon Thomas
00:55:52who comes off
00:55:53a victory yesterday
00:55:54over Alphonso Ratliff
00:55:56as seen on NBC
00:55:57also would like a shot
00:55:59at Larry Holmes.
00:56:00Tim Witherspoon
00:56:01is next.
00:56:01I think Alphonso Ratliff
00:56:05was fair opposition
00:56:08for Pinkline.
00:56:10Pinkline had to struggle
00:56:11a whole 10
00:56:11so I think Pinkline
00:56:12is about a year away
00:56:13from this kind of competition.
00:56:16Pinkline does have
00:56:16a devastating punch
00:56:17I think.
00:56:20The thing that's impressed
00:56:22me about Larry Holmes
00:56:23is he's not lost
00:56:23his patience
00:56:24he's kept coming
00:56:25behind that jab
00:56:25but we'll see it.
00:56:26Oh!
00:56:26Now, right hand!
00:56:29That's the biggest blow
00:56:31of the ball
00:56:31from Rodriguez
00:56:32able to hang in.
00:56:35When they get to the point
00:56:36where he has to
00:56:37pull the trigger
00:56:37he is awesome
00:56:38in his speed.
00:56:43He's really measuring
00:56:44him trying to cut
00:56:45the ring off
00:56:45trying to cut the ring
00:56:46the right hand
00:56:47is just waiting
00:56:48to unload.
00:56:59Holmes in pursuit
00:57:00the crowd
00:57:01the crowd
00:57:01is sensing it.
00:57:05Lucien must fight
00:57:06back some
00:57:07he just can't
00:57:07let it go
00:57:08like this
00:57:08because he will
00:57:09be counting the stars
00:57:10in a few moments
00:57:11if he doesn't
00:57:12fight back some.
00:57:18Holmes just missing
00:57:20to the top of the head
00:57:21of Rodriguez
00:57:22he's trying too hard
00:57:24now
00:57:24he's pressing too hard
00:57:25now
00:57:25he's got to go back
00:57:26to be loose
00:57:27and relaxed
00:57:28less than a minute
00:57:34left
00:57:34and this ninth round
00:57:35we've had one knock down
00:57:37back in the sixth
00:57:38Holmes with a short
00:57:40uppercut
00:57:40putting Rodriguez
00:57:42to the canvas
00:57:43and he almost put him
00:57:45down a moment ago
00:57:47with a right hand
00:57:48now back to the jail
00:57:49oh the right hand
00:57:54by Rodriguez
00:57:55got him there
00:57:56he's got that sneaky
00:57:57right hand
00:57:58remarkably little damage
00:58:02to Lucien's face
00:58:03from all this battering
00:58:04looks like a squint
00:58:08under the eye
00:58:09under the left eye
00:58:11of Rodriguez
00:58:12and here is
00:58:15that powerful
00:58:16right hand
00:58:17that Holmes
00:58:17landed
00:58:18on Rodriguez
00:58:20in the ninth round
00:58:21this is round 10
00:58:24Harry Holmes
00:58:28defending
00:58:29his WBC
00:58:31heavyweight championship
00:58:32for the 14th time
00:58:33he won the title
00:58:34back in June
00:58:35at 78
00:58:3615 round decision
00:58:37over Ken Norton
00:58:38Rodriguez
00:58:41is showing us
00:58:42what he showed
00:58:42three years ago
00:58:43against Dokes
00:58:44he's hard to hit
00:58:45and when he does
00:58:46get hit
00:58:46he responds well
00:58:47alright
00:58:49little pause
00:58:50by Holmes
00:58:51he's talking
00:58:52to one of the judges
00:58:52well he wasn't
00:58:59a sparring partner
00:59:00for Ali
00:59:00for nothing
00:59:01for all these years
00:59:02not only did he
00:59:03pick up the jab
00:59:03but he picked up
00:59:04Ali's ability
00:59:05to talk to the crowd
00:59:06a not wonderful
00:59:08trait
00:59:09in boxing
00:59:10Larry Holmes
00:59:18and Harrison
00:59:20Lucien
00:59:20Rodriguez
00:59:21obviously not
00:59:22taking him
00:59:23seriously
00:59:23although Rodriguez
00:59:25did get
00:59:25as you label it
00:59:26the sneaky
00:59:27right hand
00:59:27in the last round
00:59:29and there is a
00:59:44straight
00:59:45under the left eye
00:59:46of Rodriguez
00:59:48considering all the
00:59:49punishment he's been
00:59:50taking
00:59:50that's a very
00:59:51light price
00:59:53to pay for getting
00:59:54bombed like he's
00:59:55been getting bombed
00:59:56but he's keeping
00:59:57up his motion
00:59:58I'm not an
00:59:59apologist for this
01:00:00but when I can
01:00:01see a boxer
01:00:02move
01:00:02and still move
01:00:04at the tenth round
01:00:05while Holmes
01:00:05has been trying
01:00:06so desperately
01:00:07to knock him out
01:00:07for the last
01:00:08four or five rounds
01:00:09I've got to say
01:00:12that at least
01:00:12he came to fight
01:00:13and we're less than
01:00:19a minute remaining
01:00:20in this tenth round
01:00:21it has been a workout
01:00:25for Larry Holmes
01:00:26that's been it
01:00:29has not been tested
01:00:31combination by Holmes
01:00:32he did put Rodriguez
01:00:34down briefly
01:00:35in the sixth round
01:00:37I'm beginning to wonder
01:00:40if Larry Holmes
01:00:41has lost some of that
01:00:42punch or is it just
01:00:43that Rodriguez
01:00:43is so iron tough
01:00:45I mean he's been
01:00:46getting hit
01:00:47some right hands
01:00:47that should have
01:00:48put him out
01:00:48should have put him
01:00:49into one of those
01:00:50coal mines
01:00:51that they have
01:00:52deserted around here
01:00:52here comes the right
01:00:56hand of Holmes
01:00:57Holmes countering
01:01:01with that right
01:01:02right on the butt
01:01:03so the Larry Holmes
01:01:11blanking of Lucian
01:01:12Rodriguez continues
01:01:14and here we see
01:01:16that replay
01:01:17of the Muhammad Ali
01:01:18move
01:01:19talking
01:01:19cheering
01:01:20and really not
01:01:22respecting his opponent
01:01:23round 11
01:01:26Lucian Rodriguez
01:01:28and Larry Holmes
01:01:30it has been
01:01:33Larry Holmes
01:01:34in a thrashing
01:01:36of Rodriguez
01:01:36as we mentioned
01:01:38earlier
01:01:38unfortunate but
01:01:41here we are
01:01:43comparing the
01:01:44severity of the
01:01:45blows taken by
01:01:46Lucian Rodriguez
01:01:47and a Randy
01:01:48and a Randy
01:01:48text Cobb
01:01:49at Holmes
01:01:49last bout
01:01:50but Rodriguez
01:01:52has not taken
01:01:53the kind of pounding
01:01:54that Cobb did
01:01:55last time out
01:01:57now that may be
01:01:58to the fact that
01:01:59Holmes is not
01:01:59in the kind of shape
01:02:01that he was
01:02:01when he went up against
01:02:03Cobb
01:02:03neither quantitatively
01:02:05nor qualitatively
01:02:06not as many punches
01:02:07not as hard as punches
01:02:08and that's due
01:02:11to the fact
01:02:11that Lucian
01:02:12has moved
01:02:12moved
01:02:13moved
01:02:13whereas Randy
01:02:14is right in front
01:02:15of you
01:02:15just showing you
01:02:16a lot of heart
01:02:17and a lot of courage
01:02:17and his face
01:02:18just anything to keep
01:02:36Larry Holmes off
01:02:37I think we're seeing
01:02:41Rocky one here
01:02:42all he wants to do
01:02:43is go to 12
01:02:44if he can go 12 rounds
01:02:46with Larry Holmes
01:02:47he may be welcomed
01:02:48back in France
01:02:49as a hero
01:02:50Rodriguez
01:02:54a European heavyweight
01:02:56champion
01:02:56he's defended that title
01:02:58successfully four times
01:03:00here are the states
01:03:04they don't necessarily
01:03:05buy the credibility
01:03:06of the European heavyweight
01:03:08championship
01:03:08let's get on the billboards
01:03:12they have not had
01:03:13a great record
01:03:14in the United States
01:03:14when they come to fight
01:03:15American champions
01:03:16except of course
01:03:17Singabar Johansson
01:03:18who brought with him
01:03:21an unpleasant surprise
01:03:23there are scattered
01:03:29boos in the back
01:03:30now
01:03:31as these stuff
01:03:32Scranton fans
01:03:33want to see a knockout
01:03:34they want to see
01:03:35their hero come on
01:03:36Larry Holmes did predict
01:03:41that he would knock out
01:03:43Rodriguez
01:03:43which is not exactly
01:03:47going out on a limb
01:03:49but he did say
01:03:50it would not go the distance
01:03:51not action
01:04:05round 11
01:04:07he will stay between rounds
01:04:11listening in on the portal
01:04:12on Larry Holmes
01:04:14hear the reaction
01:04:14from the crowd
01:04:16they want more action
01:04:18You got to keep moving those jabs up and down, up and down, working the body, every opportunity
01:04:41you get Larry, they keep working the body and eventually their hands will come down.
01:04:46Last round, last round.
01:04:48Don't put too much here.
01:04:50He's running.
01:04:51Yeah, I can't hit them all.
01:04:53Yeah.
01:04:55It's all right.
01:04:59I'm way ahead.
01:05:02Yeah, you're way ahead.
01:05:04Give me a shot in my mouth if I can get it.
01:05:07We got you here, champ.
01:05:09Bernie, can you believe that Larry Holmes asked that question?
01:05:13He said, I'm way ahead, aren't I?
01:05:16Yep.
01:05:17Well, you never know.
01:05:18I'm in Scranton.
01:05:20In boxing, you never know.
01:05:23Or anywhere with the overwhelming lead that Holmes has on Rodriguez.
01:05:32Rodriguez has hardly landed a punch.
01:05:35And I would think that Holmes would try to accelerate the action.
01:05:41Well, Holmes said he's running.
01:05:42I can't hit him.
01:05:43He's running.
01:05:44And he blew that last round.
01:05:46He didn't blow it in the score.
01:05:47It was an even round.
01:05:49Here he comes.
01:05:50Well, he'd like to end with the knockout as Rodriguez continues to travel.
01:05:56And I got to think there's a fair number of people in Scranton here
01:05:59who would like to see the bell ring for number 12.
01:06:02Because Lucien has been here.
01:06:04He's fought.
01:06:05He's run.
01:06:06But he's there with a world heavyweight champion.
01:06:08And such a meritorious thing to go back to France with.
01:06:19And we are one minute in.
01:06:2112th and final round.
01:06:27Harry Holmes did put Lucien Rodriguez down.
01:06:30Briefly in the sixth.
01:06:32Caught him with a short uppercut.
01:06:34Holmes has been scoring with the jab with the right hand.
01:06:39He's in a little bit of trouble.
01:06:41I just got hit with a really hard right hand.
01:06:43He's in a little bit of trouble.
01:06:45He must keep running.
01:06:47And Holmes looking for the knockout.
01:06:54Holmes putting in a thunderous body attack that he should have done at the beginning.
01:06:59Crowd urging Holmes on as we approach a minute left in the box.
01:07:08In the box.
01:07:18At times I get the feeling that I'm watching a full phone.
01:07:25The crowd thirsting for a knockout.
01:07:30Well it's not Apollo Creed in there.
01:07:32But he's sure given this French Rocky Balboa a pasting in his last round.
01:07:44Combination by Holmes.
01:07:46Running out of time in terms of a knockout.
01:07:51Lucien Rodriguez will be delighted to say that he has lasted for 12.
01:07:55About a 20 seconds left.
01:08:05Inside 15.
01:08:10So this will go the distance.
01:08:13Fourth and final round.
01:08:15Larry Holmes successfully defunding his WBC heavyweight title.
01:08:19Back here in strength.
01:08:22Pennsylvania.
01:08:23Found not pleased.
01:08:24They wanted a knockout.
01:08:28Lucien Rodriguez congratulated.
01:08:31Holmes on his corner.
01:08:32Will be back with the decision.
01:08:34Will also be talking with Larry Holmes.
01:08:37But first, let's pause for these messages.
01:08:41Getting set for the decision.
01:08:43The scoring on the 10-point must handled by the three judges.
01:08:47Cards being collected by the ring announcer Ed Darien.
01:08:52And we're set.
01:08:53Let's go to the ring.
01:09:02Ladies and gentlemen.
01:09:05We have a unanimous decision.
01:09:07Unanimous decision.
01:09:08And the scoring as follows.
01:09:14Judge Abraham Chavaria of Mexico.
01:09:18Scores it 120-108.
01:09:25Dr. Arsenio Garcia.
01:09:28Also from Mexico.
01:09:30Scores it 120-109.
01:09:33And the judge Omar Minton of Mexico.
01:09:34Scores it 120-109.
01:09:35And the judge Omar Minton of Mexico.
01:09:37Scores it 120-109.
01:09:38For the winner.
01:09:39And still the world boxing council heavyweight champion.
01:09:40Larry Holmes.
01:09:42Scores it 120-109.
01:09:43For the winner.
01:09:44And still the world boxing council heavyweight champion.
01:09:45Larry Holmes.
01:09:46Larry Holmes.
01:09:47Larry Holmes.
01:09:48In a shutout.
01:09:49Of Lucian Rodriguez.
01:09:50In effect for Larry Holmes.
01:09:51A sparring session.
01:09:52Before a sellout crowd.
01:09:53Here in Scranton.
01:09:54We'll be back to talk with the champion.
01:09:55But first let's get back to 30.
01:09:56Senior Jason.
01:09:57The champion.
01:09:58The champion.
01:09:59The champion coach.
01:10:00The champion coach.
01:10:01The champion coach.
01:10:02Weren't 12 rounds the distance again.
01:10:03Were you surprised at all?
01:10:04Well, the thing about I remember is that Larry had to chase this guy.
01:10:09That's a very difficult thing to do is fight somebody who doesn't want to fight.
01:10:13Chappie, but first, let's get back to 31.
01:10:15Chappie and Tex went 12 rounds the distance again.
01:10:17Were you surprised at all?
01:10:19Well, the thing you've got to remember is that Larry had to chase this guy.
01:10:22That's a very difficult thing to do is fight somebody who doesn't want to fight.
01:10:26And I feel as though possibly if Lucerne had decided to try to occupy the same space and time that Larry did,
01:10:31it might have come out a tad different, a bunch shorter.
01:10:33Tex, we appreciate you being here today and answering some of the questions we talked to you earlier about,
01:10:37and good luck in your career. I know it's still going to go on.
01:10:39Thank you very much, Mike. I appreciate that.
01:10:41Let's go back to ringside and Marv Albert.
01:10:43All right, Larry Holmes now 42. Larry Holmes 42-0 as he successfully defended his title.
01:10:52Easy victory over Lucian Rodriguez.
01:10:54Holmes is all set in the ring. Let's go to the fight, Doctor.
01:10:58Larry Holmes still undefeated champion of the world.
01:11:01Pitch to shut out. A little sense of frustration I sent you to try and knock him out that last round.
01:11:05Yeah, I was trying to take him out, but the guy was very awkward running.
01:11:09And again, Freddy, people put me up on that plateau.
01:11:13That's one of the greatest champions of all time.
01:11:15I feel that it's true that I am one of the greatest champions of all time.
01:11:18But you never take a guy lightly.
01:11:21The guy was strong, took good punches, and he deserves to have that title shot.
01:11:26When other networks did what I wanted and messed around and jived with me, NBC scored a knockout today.
01:11:32They got one of the greatest fights of all time.
01:11:34Going the distance with one of the European heavyweight champions.
01:11:37They shouldn't sell it short, Freddy.
01:11:38No, every fight is a fight until it's over, as we both know, through painful experience.
01:11:44Thank you for the plug, but that was not necessary.
01:11:46Yes, it was.
01:11:47Well, I'll make you number one.
01:11:48No, what's necessary is to find out what this does for you with Witherspoon.
01:11:53It seemed to be a great workout for Witherspoon.
01:11:54Yes, it was.
01:11:55This is what I needed.
01:11:56And I told them that's what I needed.
01:11:58Long time.
01:11:59I was off for holidays, chicken, turkey, and everything, drinking a little booze, a little beer.
01:12:05Very little.
01:12:06Very little.
01:12:06Very little.
01:12:07All right.
01:12:08Listen, Larry Holmes, we wish you continued success.
01:12:10You know how I feel.
01:12:11I hope you retire undefeated.
01:12:14God bless you.
01:12:14Thank you, Freddy.
01:12:15I would.
01:12:15I would say happy birthday to my daughter, Misty, and all my kids all over the world because we're a knockout.
01:12:21NBC and I, we're going to do it together.
01:12:23And back to the knockout of Marv Albert at ringside.
01:12:27All right, did Larry Holmes say that was one of the greatest fights of all time?
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