- 2 months ago
Undefeated IBF Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes defends his title against Carl "The Truth" Williams on NBC Boxing
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00:00programs regularly scheduled at this time will not be seen tonight so that we may bring you the following nbc sports special
00:00:08throughout this century great heavyweights have struggled to overcome the image of their champion
00:00:20predecessors a superb champion of the 1920s gene tunney fought against the public acclaim
00:00:27of the manassa mauler jack dempsey in the 1950s bull strong iron-willed unbeaten rocky marciano
00:00:38battled the success and the supreme popularity of joe lewis a national hero the famed brown bomber
00:00:46then came cassius clay an olympic champion enormously popular muhammad ali lightning
00:00:56hands lightning feet and a mouth to match
00:01:00ali's greatness has overshadowed yet another unbeaten champion larry holmes who as champion
00:01:17for nearly seven years still seeks the public acclaim and respect to do him as a longtime king
00:01:24of the heavyweights
00:01:27with the test of time tunney and marciano earned their deserved place among boxing's all-time greats
00:01:36now in the late years of a perfect career larry holmes has his chance with 47 wins in a row the
00:01:43undefeated holmes pursues marciano's perfect heavyweight record of 49 wins no losses tonight
00:01:51larry holmes not only risks that unbeaten string but he jeopardizes his place in history with boxing's elite
00:01:59nbc sports presents
00:02:10the ivf heavyweight championship of the world
00:02:18tonight's nbc sports special is brought to you by the stroh brewery company family
00:02:29brewed quality for over 200 years brewers of stroh's old milwaukee and other fine beers
00:02:36tucked against the still snow-capped foothills of the sierra nevada mountains downtown reno nevada
00:02:47at six o'clock in the evening the twilight of a beautiful mayday the heavyweight championship of
00:02:52the world contested in the lawlor event center on the campus of the university of nevada reno
00:02:58larry holmes atop the heavyweight ranks for nearly seven years defends against carl
00:03:03the truth william hello everyone i'm dick enberg and welcome to reno nevada once known as the divorce
00:03:10capital of the united states and young williams says he's going to separate the crown from the
00:03:15champion holmes tonight that's not the only fight you'll see two other top heavyweights are going to
00:03:21be matched in a 10 rounder both have fought for the title before marvis fraser he fought holmes his
00:03:26only loss of course a knockout you saw a year and a half ago here on nbc fraser will be opposed by
00:03:31james tillis tillis fought mike weaver for the wbc title in 81 lost a 15 round decision that bout is
00:03:38coming up but back to the main event this is the first championship fight heavyweight championship
00:03:43in reno since 1910 75 years ago and they dusted off the scales used when jack johnson beat jim
00:03:51jeffries in a 15 round decision yesterday for the weigh-in for this fight and as williams the
00:03:57challenger got on the scales there was an electrical failure all the lights went out
00:04:01the champion larry holmes with an omen in his eyes said that's what's going to happen again tonight
00:04:06to carl the truth williams well back from san juan puerto rico a job well done yesterday two great
00:04:11fights on nbc the fight doctor ferdy pacheco and with the blow by blow marv albert like a dick and
00:04:18during the course of the larry holmes run against younger inexperienced opponents i can recall that
00:04:23november night 1983 watching marvis frazier enter the ring looking overwhelmed looking in awe of the
00:04:30entire scene and then frazier was indeed overwhelmed by larry holmes who took him out in round number
00:04:35one what do you see tonight for carl the truth williams well how a young fighter reacts to an
00:04:40opportunity like this depends on two things how much respect does he give the old champion and how
00:04:45much confidence does he have himself obviously frazier gave too much respect and didn't have enough
00:04:50confidence but other inexperienced fighters as bay such as bay and witherspoon did have a lot of
00:04:57confidence did not show a whole lot of respect for larry holmes and consequently gave solid performances
00:05:02now there have been reports that holmes has not been training in a serious manner perhaps not taking
00:05:08the fight as seriously as carl williams thinks he should with that in mind do you see holmes going for
00:05:14the early knockout well when you say he didn't train like he should he had three weeks he had just fought
00:05:19march when you get to be that age you don't need a whole heck of a lot of training to get in shape
00:05:23especially since he just fought a good fight in march uh will it tell yes it'll tell in the later
00:05:29rounds but i don't think holmes expects to get to the later rounds so larry holmes will defend his
00:05:34heavyweight title against carl the truth williams but to get our prime time boxing underway we'll have
00:05:39a matchup of heavyweights marvis frazier going against james quick tillis how do you break that one down
00:05:44quick tillis is two kind of fighters when he has confidence that he can whip the other guy boy he's
00:05:49beautiful when he gives too much respect to the other fighter you're looking at a track meet
00:05:53tonight he thinks he can beat marvis because of marvis's poor showing against holmes and that's the
00:05:58crux of this quick tillis is going to come out full of confidence and i think we're going to see an
00:06:02exciting bout so that is just ahead marvis frazier james quick tillis to get it going here
00:06:07on nbc we'll be back right after we pause for these messages
00:06:27almost 26 years later to the day larry holmes began his professional career he too was 23 and like
00:06:34marciano started a winner title from jersey joe walcott
00:06:45in his 28th fight at the age of 28 larry holmes won the crown from ken norton
00:06:56you know when it comes to being a champion help a neighbor being attacked the neighbor will survive
00:07:00stab wounds the attacker is in custody a missing girl in overland is found safe and st louis
00:07:05transvestites lose their case in federal court friday at 6 15 the cardinals are in cincinnati to dust
00:07:13pete rose's reds charlie hustle can't save the reds from the rampaging redbirds as they snow the red legs
00:07:19under friday will show you daryl porter terry pendleton and willie mcgee leave the reds wondering
00:07:25what hit them cardinal control leads off our coverage with a profile of red bird southpaw john
00:07:31tudor cardinals and reds friday at 6 15 only on channel 5. that's a winner
00:07:41rain delays the start of the cards braves game join us for news weather and sports after the fight
00:07:47welcome back to reno perhaps the moral of that first bout was when you get a veteran fighter who
00:07:51changes his nickname beware james tillis from quick to the fighting cowboy and marvis fraser
00:07:57battling out of trouble in the second round knocked mr tillis out of the saddle and wins a unanimous
00:08:02decision now we move to the championship fight the experienced veteran unbeaten larry holmes
00:08:07against the untested raw talented rookie carl williams who is the truth we went to lake tahoe to find out
00:08:22lake tahoe the training site of the contender carl the truth williams indian legend has it that this
00:08:29lake was bottomless unending and undefined it fits the man williams we found him to possess considerable
00:08:36depth the lake and the fighter show ripples but one senses you'd have to search a long time
00:08:43underneath williams to find all the truth the lion that's in the den now is larry holmes yes uh larry
00:08:53is uh pleasantly holding the den and uh like i said it's uh like older lions they tend to overstay their
00:09:01reign like in champion larry holmes and we all know he's been a great champion throughout the years
00:09:06that's undisputable uh but like older champions like muhammad and those before him they don't know
00:09:16when to give it up and it's younger lions like myself they come along and it's time for us to take over
00:09:22the dead time for the younger lions you take over the dead how about the strategy of the fight one
00:09:32obvious point would be that since you're younger and quicker perhaps than holmes that if you can
00:09:38stretch the fight to its maximum 15 rounds you would have a better chance to win how do you see it
00:09:43it well that's true that's true if it went the distance i think it would more or less be in my
00:09:51favor because uh larry is 35 those legs are 35 see that's the thing about boxing legs are so important
00:10:00you know like many sports legs don't really mean that much in some sports but boxing is a main sport
00:10:06where legs are very important and larry is 35 years old now and i'm 25 i don't i'm going to push those
00:10:14legs into the journey of no return come on that move them old legs the question then if you should
00:10:23defeat larry holmes and become the new heavyweight champion of the world will you give him a rematch
00:10:29no question i would he would definitely get a rematch out of sheer respect and for being a true
00:10:35champion throughout the years he would definitely get a rematch no question what if you lose and are
00:10:42embarrassed in defeat what happens then to the truth that's something that i really can't foresee
00:10:50that's something that i really can't foresee based on my you know i am inexperienced as far as larry holmes
00:10:56is concerned and any fighting around today is you would have to say is an experience as far as larry holmes
00:11:02experience is concerned because he is one of the old dinosaurs but what if he really beat you up what
00:11:09if he really humiliated you larry holmes at 35 couldn't do that to carl williams at 25 impossible impossible
00:11:22come on old man come on the final question then carl
00:11:28is there any more of the truth i i really like that i like the nickname the truth i mean there's a
00:11:34lot of ways as a reporter we can play with the truth now we have the facts the truth is spoken or
00:11:39whatever what it what is the final the final words the final truth from you yeah it would have to be
00:11:45that i call the truth williams am the uncrowned king and the young heir to the throne and probably the
00:11:54baddest heavyweight in all the land and that's the truth
00:12:01soon carl williams will have a rare chance to win one of the most treasured titles in all of sport
00:12:07heavyweight champion of the world the current champion larry holmes has two opponents tonight
00:12:13the 25 year old williams with his incredible 85 inch reach and rocky marciano the former champion
00:12:21that story is our coverage from reno continues homes versus williams after these words from our local
00:12:29station blockbuster rocky marciano retired unbeaten at the age of 32 holding the title less than four
00:12:40years the current 35 year old heavyweight champion larry holmes is risking for the 20th time
00:12:51he's been the champ for nearly seven years
00:12:5719 title defenses for holmes and williams has only 16 pro fights a lot of like to like about williams
00:13:03he's got fast hands and feet articulate he's a charming young man now let's go to the champion
00:13:08unbeaten larry holmes home season and wise and he's chasing rocky marciano's all-time heavyweight
00:13:15championship record of 49 consecutive wins he wants to win tonight and two more to get 50. holmes was
00:13:21only two years old when rocky marciano won the title the heavyweight championship from joe walcott that
00:13:28was in 1952
00:13:34it's been called the greatest one punch knockout in heavyweight boxing history delivered by rocky marciano
00:13:42it came in philadelphia in the 13th round champion jersey joe walcott defending his title was well ahead
00:13:48on points apparently only a knockout by the underdog rocky marciano could win him the championship
00:13:54that paralyzing right hand from the 5 10 184 pound marciano will be long remembered with it rocky
00:14:03marciano of brockton massachusetts was the new king of the heavyweights
00:14:11dramatically rocky marciano had become the new heavyweight champion of the world defeating jersey
00:14:15joe walcott using what was to be known as the equalizer the one punch the right hand and walcott was
00:14:21down and out and marciano was the new heavyweight champion of the world it was one of his 49 straight
00:14:27professional victories he retired the undisputed unbeaten heavyweight champion of the world the
00:14:32current champion larry holmes also undefeated 47 in a row and the two men marciano and holmes had a
00:14:38common bond in order to maintain the perfect record they had to beat a very popular former champion
00:14:44national heroes for larry holmes it meant beating his idol muhammad ali holmes almost in tears apologized
00:14:52to ali later for rocky marciano it meant an unpopular beating of the aged ex-champion and hero joe lewis
00:14:58he hurried to lewis later to tell him he was sorry the brockton blockbuster a man with an iron jaw and a
00:15:06will to match he earned the undying respect from an adoring hometown brockton massachusetts 20 miles
00:15:13south of boston a blue-collar community once known as the shoe capital of the united states rocky's first
00:15:21bobs and weaves were in that house 80 brook street here in brockton massachusetts it was here 62 years ago
00:15:28that rocco francis marciano was born his parents perino a cobbler by trade and pasqualina italian
00:15:36immigrants met in the united states married here and raised their family of five children rocky the
00:15:43oldest son was a solid athlete at brockton high school he was a baseball catcher and a center on
00:15:48the football team his brother and sisters still live in the brockton area their memories of rocky
00:15:55are special as a young guy growing up 17 years younger than him i would have small problems but
00:16:00to him they weren't small he tried to always be helpful he was very close the family influence was
00:16:08always very close and and this was rocky marciano he was a very caring person he was protective of his
00:16:16sisters he was loving to his mother and father he was a great father to his children
00:16:24and husband to his wife
00:16:28and generous rocky left high school after his junior year and joined the u.s army it was there
00:16:35that he first took up boxing and he succeeded despite less than an ideal physical makeup number
00:16:42one he was too old to start uh he was too short for a heavyweight five foot ten and a half he only
00:16:48weighed about 185 pounds and he broke every rule in the book he was an exception marciano built an
00:16:54impressive undefeated record and finally after 42 consecutive wins he earned a shot at the heavyweight
00:17:01championship of the world well of course we assume that each of you fellas feels that he can win this
00:17:07fight and uh rocky i want to know how do you think you can handle joe walcott in the ring well that's
00:17:11yet to be seen i this is a shot i've been waiting for and i'm ready for the fight of my life good enough
00:17:17rocky and uh joe walcott how do you think you're going to handle yourself in defending that world's
00:17:21heavyweight championship well i feel very good and very confident i know i have a tough job but
00:17:27i think after 23rd i'll still be the heavyweight champion of the world and the first time yeah
00:17:33walcott came out there and hit him with a left hook and dropped him
00:17:36well at that time you could hear a pin drop my heart get a little palpation in the 13th honor to
00:17:42get that wall cut was up against the ropes and just weaved over to the uh right to let that long
00:17:47right hand go and rocky threw that inside right straight right hand it wasn't a loop of one he
00:17:52caught him smash on the chin and walcott's face looked like it was made of rubber he was uh strong
00:18:01determined absolutely stupidly stubborn i think there were two things that won the title for marciano
00:18:08and kept him undefeated and that was his conditioning he was always in superb condition and his dedication
00:18:15well rocky marciano was what the name signifies a rock marciano successfully defended his title six
00:18:22times beating walcott in a rematch desert charles twice roland la starza and don cockle and finally
00:18:28he defended against the highly popular light heavyweight archie moore so the mongoose archie moore
00:18:35became the 49th consecutive victim of rocky marciano no heavyweight before and none since
00:18:42can make the claim 49 out of 49 in 1956 at the age of 32 he retired he promised my wife that i would
00:18:55retire before the month of may arrived we were on a vacation in south america when i made that promise i
00:19:03like to profit by others mistakes and if joe lewis couldn't make a successful comeback i will not try it
00:19:11on august 31st 1969 the day before his 46th birthday rocky marciano died in a private plane crash in newton iowa
00:19:24larry holmes the ibf champion 47 and 0 and closing in on the marciano record but if he breaks that mark
00:19:32can these two champions honestly be compared i think that in a fight between marciano and holmes i
00:19:40think uh holmes would uh certainly out point marciano uh up until the time when marciano knocked him
00:19:48out there is no way that you can you can make comparisons you know different styles different
00:19:55period holmes would have got off quickly he would have been beating marciano beating him badly marciano
00:20:01would have caught up to him and my estimation would have knocked him out delicious fodder for saloon
00:20:06debates marciano or holmes holmes marciano wonderfully impossible to compare nevertheless here in 1985
00:20:15marciano's record still stands if it should fall to larry holmes it will produce a reaction as immediate
00:20:23as a marciano right hand
00:20:28rocky marciano with that silencer and some of the old timers feel he would have knocked out holmes
00:20:41although holmes would have won most of the rounds but one of the strengths of the current champion
00:20:46larry holmes is he's a great counter puncher so here he is now with his side from his corner here's
00:20:51the rebuttal from the current champ uh it's not my problem if people do not happy that i broke marciano's
00:20:58record people were not happy when i won the title uh people are not happy that i'll continue to defend
00:21:03my title with 20 successful title defenses dion king is not happy because i'm not fighting for him for this
00:21:10show so a lot of people are not happy but you know i'm happy but those on the other side say you're not
00:21:16fighting anyone how do you defend the fact that you're not fighting the men in the ring that marciano
00:21:22did as a champion whatever people want to say about liar holmes that's their hard luck and if they want
00:21:27to get into marciano and me they better check take a good look at his record and get in the history book
00:21:34like i did and she was before his brother four times under different assumes name and find out why he got
00:21:40suspended in different cities because he was taking on brothers and at that time he was fighting exhibition
00:21:47fights and they was counting them as fight so if we're in essence rocking marciano's record is really
00:21:53broke we're just doing this now for the public and the dollars and the enjoyment champions don't think
00:21:59about losing that's why they're number one but should you lose how would you react tonight
00:22:04i shake his hand and say good luck to you son good luck to you sir he is an eight to one favorite
00:22:13to beat his young challenger tonight and we're set we're moments away from the entrance of the two
00:22:18gladiators first our national anthem to be sung by famed star jose feliciano ladies and gentlemen at this
00:22:28time if you all please rise as the incomparable jose feliciano will lead us in the singing and playing
00:22:39of our national anthem ladies and gentlemen mr jose feliciano
00:22:56oh say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we held at the twilight's last gleaming
00:23:20those broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight for the ramparts we watched were so gallantly
00:23:42the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rocket's red glare the bombs bursting in air they gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star
00:24:10does that star's spangled banner yet wave for the land and of the free and the home of the brave
00:24:38this nbc sports special is brought to you by the strobe brewery company family brewed quality for
00:24:55over 200 years brewers of strobe's old milwaukee and other fine beans defending his title and this
00:25:02would have to be would have to be the longest trip of his unbeaten career williams hard to imagine
00:25:07what's happening inside that young man he has seemed very composed and in control even when taunted
00:25:13by holmes at the weigh-in yesterday crowd now recognizing williams as he first enters the arena
00:25:21he's a heavy underdog he says he'll force the action with him is his trainer carmine graziano
00:25:28they've worked at lake tahoe at a much higher altitude than reno which they feel will help
00:25:33if the fight goes the distance and the experts feel if williams has any chance at all
00:25:37it'll be to stretch holmes into the late rounds
00:25:41he is built like a tight end 6-4 and 2-15 as you see when he takes off the rope a marvelous build he's a
00:25:50great athlete and quick hands and quick feet and he was very impressive in that regard whether he can
00:25:56throw a solid punch and knock holmes back or whether he can take a punch that
00:26:02will be part of the whole process tonight and now they ready the champion
00:26:10meanwhile carl williams now acknowledged as he enters the ring
00:26:19did not start boxing until 20 years he said he did some of his fighting in his home area was unbeaten
00:26:26there he technically was unbeaten as an amateur lost one fight in a disqualification for slapping
00:26:32and unbeaten in his 16 pro fights the one measure that we can give you you just saw james tell us
00:26:37get frazier in early trouble that's what he did to williams but williams rallied to take a 10 round
00:26:42decision in his last fight there's the championship belt and behind it will come the champion and his
00:26:48entourage from eastern pennsylvania larry holmes his 20th title defense he beat ken norton for the
00:26:56title down in las vegas that was in 1978 with him his veteran trainer eddie futch regarded as one of
00:27:04the best men ever in the corner home strengths that long left jab an excellent counter puncher
00:27:12his right hand could be the punch to watch and he now is recognized here at the lawner events arena
00:27:26for holmes this will be a 2.3 million dollar pay night while williams gets only as he said a buck and a
00:27:35half 150 000 but holmes said hey i've given you the chance to make a lot of money but you've got to beat me
00:27:42it's a match between youth and age experience and raw talent ladies and gentlemen from the lawler event
00:28:05and center of this beautiful city of reno and the silver state of nevada
00:28:11murad mohammed president of murad productions is proud to present quest for glory the international
00:28:20boxing federation heavyweight championship bout scheduled for 15 rounds is approved and sanctioned by
00:28:29both the international boxing federation the honorable robert w lee president and by the nevada state
00:28:38athletic commission the honorable sig roguish chairman in attendance commissioners duane ford
00:28:46sam macias art murray and freddie little the chief physician in attendance of ringside this evening
00:28:53is charles filipini along with dr clip homanski the judges jerry roth of las vegas al rothenberg of
00:29:04virginia beach virginia and paul gibbs of seattle washington the timekeeper the bell is dan connelly
00:29:13counting for the knockdown seconds john rogers in the ring at this time the man in charge of the
00:29:21scheduled 15 round ibf heavyweight championship bat from reno nevada referee mills lane
00:29:33now boxing fans introducing the principals first in the blue corner wearing the all white trunks
00:29:41he weighed in at an even 215 pounds this gentleman is undefeated in 16 professional bats with 12 knockouts
00:29:54from white plains new york ladies and gentlemen here is the challenger carl the truth
00:30:05and his opponent in the red corner wearing the white trunks with the red trim
00:30:16he tipped in at 222 and one quarter pounds this young man is undefeated in 47 professional bouts with 34
00:30:28knockouts ladies and gentlemen the only recognized heavyweight champion the international boxing
00:30:35federation champion
00:30:42and so the champion larry holmes defends for the 20th time against carl williams let's go to ringside
00:30:49here's marvin ferdy thank you dick of the psychological warfare taking place between the champion larry
00:30:57holmes and carl the truth williams scoring on the 10-point must system mandatory eight count in effect
00:31:05no standing eight three knockdown rule not in effect the bell will not save the fighter except in the final
00:31:13round carl williams strategy against holmes he feels holmes won't go to the body so he says he's more
00:31:19concerned about putting what he calls a fence around his head looking to block holmes rights with his
00:31:25forearms fall starts as mills lane now we're on the way for the heavyweight championship of the world
00:31:33larry running right out there right off the bat you can see as they were warming up
00:31:38carl the truth williams is dripping with perspiration means he warmed up good nice stiff jab to open the
00:31:44about
00:31:51audience can see almost right off the bat they're mirror images of each other they look alike
00:31:55one looking like a very young version of the other
00:32:02and carl williams with that long reach at 85 inches holmes at 81
00:32:07all standing right in front of him not giving him side to side movement standing in front and
00:32:19out jabbing larry holmes which in the opening minutes is some kind of feat because larry's very
00:32:25good at the beginning good strong right hand by holmes and that's what carl gets for getting too
00:32:30close to that powerful right hand of the champion larry holmes
00:32:42williams has had a history of right hand injuries although he says that right hand is just fine
00:32:51there's nothing wrong with his left he is up jabbing larry holmes at the beginning of this round
00:32:56there's a question about williams is the chin that is why he whoo roundhouse attack by williams
00:33:08and then the combination that is why williams says he wants to protect his head he was knocked down twice
00:33:13in the first round of his last bout by james tillis and then went on to win the decision over tillis
00:33:21he's confident he can out jab larry now and he's standing right in front of him which could be a
00:33:25mistake because he can larry can fire that right hand very sharply over the extended left jab of
00:33:31carl the truth williams
00:33:36less than a minute left in this opening round and williams getting the left jab in
00:33:42much faster and they're landing forcing larry to go back
00:33:46larry showing a little frustration and exasperation with that jab going in there as if to say come on
00:33:57let's rumble here a young man and not losing his composure certainly has and appears to have the
00:34:03confidence that we spoke of at the top of the show and not giving larry respect that right hand by williams
00:34:10grazing homes and he is hitting pay dirt with the left jab
00:34:18so a solid first round offering by the younger man carl the truth williams scoring with the left jab
00:34:26we'll be back right after these words
00:34:28back in reno marv albert ferdy pacheco and ferdy the last prime time fight that nbc televised at this
00:34:38point we were into replace with the home stopping marvis frazier in round one so a good start here
00:34:46from that point of view you had to remind me
00:34:48carl the truth williams stood oh good right hand by holmes that's the first telling blow landed by holmes
00:34:59as williams continues to get that left jab in carl williams standing throughout the rest period between
00:35:05rounds one and two as if to send a message to holmes that he feels very fine but he's standing right
00:35:11straight in front of larry holmes he has not attempted any lateral movement and he certainly
00:35:16stopped jabbing that right hand made him stop jabbing that's a mistake
00:35:26larry holmes looking to get that right hand in he almost did a moment ago
00:35:30with a very nifty combination larry's trying to finish this with a cocked right hand but that one
00:35:37right hand landed and did not seem to phase carl the truth williams but it did stop him from jabbing
00:35:42made him think about it
00:35:48left hand by williams followed by the right
00:35:51larry trying too hard to end this in a hurry not not going back to his boxing and his basics he's
00:36:00just trying too hard to put carl the truth williams out truth getting a little cocky because he's out
00:36:06speeding larry holmes
00:36:17you have to go all the way back to the witherspoon fight to see somebody out jab larry holmes
00:36:21holmes looking a little bit confused
00:36:24but we are very early
00:36:30and carl williams to this point has been able to paint the face of holmes with that left hand
00:36:37crowd reacting to the combination
00:36:48what you're seeing here is the speed and reflex of a young man
00:36:52against the slowdown reflexes of an older and more experienced fighter
00:36:56as you can see on the lower right hand corner that is running time and we will stay with the clock
00:37:04right throughout 235 into the second round well larry wants to throw that right hand so bad
00:37:14combination by williams
00:37:16champ getting a little frustrated and exasperated through two amateurish punches
00:37:26final seconds second round and another strong one for the truth
00:37:35and this is round three carl williams and only his 17th professional bout he's 16 and 0
00:37:43well by knockout going up against the man who is 47 and old and again a reminder we are very early
00:37:50but williams has been taking the fight to the champion to this point and won the first two rounds
00:37:57unofficially on my scorecard
00:38:00with an exceptionally fast jab and smart combinations which seem to have the champion a little confused
00:38:07larry has got to go back to the bases he can't look for that big right hand he is looking for the big
00:38:11right hand it's not going to land that way he's got to get his jab going there he goes and now comes a right
00:38:20and he has that right hand cocked and ready to go
00:38:33holmes does come off one of his better performances in his last bout against david bay
00:38:38oh and that time holmes nearly landed with the counter whoa two cannon shots by both men and both missed
00:38:51larry not convinced that he can't land that right hand he's still doing it this round
00:38:54well Williams continues to snap the jab on holmes as we hit the halfway point of round three
00:39:08now if he had movement with that jab he could get away from the right hand he's got something going for
00:39:13him he's got to have that movement so that larry can't time the left hand and cross with the right
00:39:17there's the holmes jab
00:39:32holmes jab is going to be followed by the holmes right because that's what the jab is for
00:39:38less than a minute left round three
00:39:40holmes did get a right hand in but it took but took a terrible shot to the body in exchange
00:39:56holmes to this point having difficulty getting to the bigger man Williams
00:40:01pouring away that's why he didn't want to fight a bad a big man he has continuously said he want to
00:40:06fight a smaller lighter man and this just came up uh-oh blood on the left eye of carla truth Williams
00:40:12a small trickle of blood holmes getting a little closer and down to business
00:40:18good cut man in the corner of uh Williams and Eddie Aliano so that should be no problem
00:40:23final seconds of this third round scheduled for 15
00:40:35and we'll be back in 30 seconds back to the corner of carl Williams
00:40:41a look at that long left jab of carl the truth Williams a jab that has been compared
00:40:46to the jab of larry holmes snapping the head back of holmes as we check out the corner of Williams
00:40:53the water let's get some of them on no it stays right in that'll fall right out there get that
00:41:00stuff out of there it's okay what was mills lane angry about saying get that stuff out of there
00:41:07he wants that coagulant out of um carla truth Williams eye they put what looked like a boulder
00:41:13dam there of white stuff a coagulant that uh carmine graziano says that stays there
00:41:21and the bell rang and solved that problem it stayed this is round four scheduled for 15 larry holmes
00:41:30defending his heavyweight title against carl williams and has been having his problems with that jab of
00:41:38way and is doubling up holmes reaching for the ropes a sure sign when he's hurt holmes reaches over for
00:41:44the ropes
00:41:50carl the truth williams begins these rounds in fantastic fashion but then he sort of
00:41:55winds down as holmes starts to close now the crowd chanting for the truth
00:42:02the underdog as williams continues to back up holmes and now a chant of larry for larry holmes
00:42:24the truth keeping the pressure on although he slows down as the round progresses
00:42:37if he could put together a three minute round of pressure
00:42:42larry would begin to feel that he's got to do something dramatic to change this around
00:42:54now holmes landing with that left jab
00:43:03williams continues to force the action
00:43:09what carl the truth is doing is fainting holmes holmes is going for the faint if he had more experience
00:43:15as he did just then if he had more experience he would be landing even more silently than he does larry
00:43:20is going for every fake good counter by holmes and williams shakes his head as if you say you didn't hurt
00:43:27me and comes right back
00:43:36the truth williams
00:43:42approaching 20 seconds remaining oh a thumb he got thumb the truth williams got thumb
00:43:48now larry crosses the right hand
00:43:50final seconds fourth round
00:44:07once again repairs over the left eye of carl williams between rounds as we get underway here
00:44:12in round number five the repairs on what looks like a nasty little cut
00:44:18the injury was the thumb and as mills lane came over to complain about the uh
00:44:22substance being put on carmine said yeah but make him close his hand when he jabs he's
00:44:27thumbing we've seen larry holmes do that his entire career
00:44:30and referee mills lane separating these two big heavyweights carl the truth williams 25 years old
00:44:49born in west palm beach florida grew up in the new york city area going up against the 35 year old champion
00:44:55larry holmes bar valvet with the fight doctor ferdy pacheco along with dick enberg from rito nevada
00:45:01and things beginning to get interesting carl williams given very little chance
00:45:07and the champion has hung in and has carried the fight to this point and has landed with a combination
00:45:16larry tried to bounce like ali and papa jab off the bounce
00:45:19carl the truth williams brought him right down to his feet into reality with a good series
00:45:24harry holmes looking to that left eye of williams he has found a target and he's looking to get the jab in on
00:45:41well that's going to be his chance if they can stop this fight on a cut because
00:45:48this kid shows no quit in him right now he is on a causeway here he knows where he's going oh what a
00:45:54shot by carl the truth williams that missed
00:45:57coming up on a minute left in this fifth round
00:46:07if as the experts speculate this goes longer it is to the disadvantage of larry holmes who has not
00:46:14trained overly long for this he's got a roll of fat around his midsection and it should be in the
00:46:20favor of the younger man who has been diligently training for six weeks
00:46:23depending on the severity of that cut by the eye good combination by holmes
00:46:34and williams able to answer oh right hand by williams looks like he heard holmes
00:46:42holmes trying to fight out of it
00:46:45oh can't get can't get careless now
00:46:48williams complaint he was hit on the top of the head by holmes
00:47:01so this heavyweight championship bout will continue on to round six
00:47:08hey guys i'm back
00:47:10larry holmes out for round number six to meet up with carl williams
00:47:15referee mills lane again complaining about the substance being used over the left eye of williams
00:47:21right into the corner once again and look at that jab of williams
00:47:28well they if it's approved by the commission and they're using improved substance they can
00:47:32put in what they want if it's approved they just can't put in too much
00:47:36the approval was given by the commission uh at the hearing at the meeting of the weigh-in
00:47:46and there are certain things you can't use and certain things you can it's it's standard almost
00:47:50throughout the united states and of course they're they've got one of the best cut men in the world
00:47:54eddie
00:47:59holmes tying up williams and mills lane able to step between
00:48:07williams giving no respect whatsoever to larry holmes out jabbing him and beating him with
00:48:14combinations right now he's ahead on my unofficial scorecard 49 to 46 and it is quite unofficial
00:48:21scoring is on the 10-point bus system and the scoring handled by the three judges referee does not
00:48:27vote
00:48:36very important what just occurred mills lane said close your glove larry jabs with an open glove which
00:48:42is what comes a fighter as it already happened carla truth williams
00:48:46williams on that last jab attempt
00:49:03carl williams setting the pace right from the start by getting the left jab in square to the nose of
00:49:10holmes and he continues to land and you can tell the effectiveness of a jab by the way it drives the
00:49:15other fighter back drives his head back and takes any plans of immediate action out of his head
00:49:20if it's jabbed and misses larry can cross with the right hand he has not been able to do that with any
00:49:25degree of success and that is what holmes is looking to do that time he grazed the chair here's williams he
00:49:32back up
00:49:40oddly enough that's where he's most dangerous because don't look at the corner says the corner as he
00:49:46looks right over there never take your eyes off your opponent
00:49:55good right hand by holmes as we come up to 10 seconds left in the round
00:50:02but once again a strong round for carl the truth williams
00:50:11because your car is special because you're special to me
00:50:18between rounds jake holmes the brother of larry in larry's corner
00:50:22telling him you're waiting too long let's get going of course he said it
00:50:27in stronger terms much more as forceful as one brother can talk to the other it's interesting that
00:50:31he talked through the whole second up through the whole round but the main voice eddie futch
00:50:36the brains in that corner didn't say a word
00:50:39he'd be much better served if eddie starts to give him a menu of
00:50:43options because he is running out of trying to out jab this young kid
00:50:48call the truth williams cannot abandon his game plan he is winning this fight with his game plan
00:50:54of the jab crossing with the right in combinations and then moving out of trouble
00:50:59and you have to figure that carl the truth williams wants this fight to extend against the 35-year-old
00:51:05larry holmes but holmes knows one right hand could do it particularly with the question
00:51:11about the chin of carl williams in his last bout james tillis put him down twice in the first round
00:51:17and then williams did come back to win by decision
00:51:22heavy jabs being traded that's not good for carl the truth williams
00:51:28here's the holmes right hand about to come over
00:51:30but holmes not able to connect what williams has to do is jab when he sees that that right
00:51:43hand about to come over and disconcerting as he has done for the past six rounds almost he almost
00:51:49has a radar about that right hand when it looks like it's about to come he flicks those jabs in
00:51:53there and stops larry from throwing it right hand followed by the left by holmes
00:52:05this is round seven scheduled for 15.
00:52:12holmes is not really showing any signs of weariness yet he is not showing any signs of rust
00:52:17here comes the right hand again you can just see larry cocking it and that kid kid
00:52:22carl the truth williams cannot stand in front of larry
00:52:27and again the blood flowing out of the left eye of williams
00:52:41close your hands shouts the referee mills way well he's going to warn him that he's going to take a
00:52:46point away if he doesn't oh there's the right hand and again by holmes williams shakes his head no
00:52:53as if to say it did hurt well he's going to shake his head all the way down to the canvas if he stands
00:53:00there and tests that because larry holmes will put you away with that right hand
00:53:05and williams answering the question we asked right at the start would he be in awe of larry holmes but
00:53:14continues to show great confidence the iceman mccrory his icy approach has chilled more than one boxer
00:53:24one of boxing's hottest properties the champ unleashes a vicious cleanup hook that levels
00:53:30opponents mccrory battles santana the iceman cometh to nbc sports world sunday
00:53:40let's look at larry holmes as he throws that right hand twice the truth williams shakes his head
00:53:45it's nothing but larry keeps putting that right hand in the truth's got to keep moving so some schoolyard
00:53:51tactics from carl williams who grew up in the new york city area looking to bother holmes continues to
00:53:57indicate that holmes has had no effect on him with the right hand carl williams very effective with the
00:54:07jab from the start and so we are in round eight that was that last round was the first one i gave
00:54:14larry holmes since the third it is now 68 65 in favor of call of truth williams quite unofficially
00:54:20i do not hesitate to remind you but it does appear that carl truth williams is out jabbing the
00:54:25champion and as long as he moves and sticks to his game plan he is winning the rounds when he slows down
00:54:32and just watches homes he's going to be looking at right hands bouncing off his chin
00:54:45we are one minute in round eight scoring is handled by three judges al rothenburg of virginia beach
00:54:52virginia jerry roth of las vegas paul gibbs of seattle referee mills lane does not score the bounce
00:54:59and it's on the ten point bust and here is holmes landing with the jab
00:55:06carl truth williams coming back with two jabs and a hook of his own across the right which didn't land
00:55:11but holmes is picking up the pace no question about it he knows he can't stay here
00:55:24home's home's going to work in pay dirt down below
00:55:44again the slap by williams i think williams getting a little bit too cocky or is that part of the game
00:55:50plan i think that's a loop oh oh is that out of a popeye movie
00:55:59just the breeze shook uh holmes
00:56:08he's got to throw something he cannot stand there holmes will let fly with the right hand
00:56:12it looks to me as if carla truth williams running on nervous energy and adrenaline has reached this
00:56:22point and has run temporarily out of the enthusiasm they had before in the gas he has not kept up that
00:56:29feverish pace at one of all the beginning rounds he's doing all right but he's slowing down holmes
00:56:34does not seem effective he's a total pro that he is he's just waiting for the time that he can
00:56:42so final seconds of this eighth round and now williams looking to step it up we'll be back
00:56:48right after this message get that roundhouse attempt by carl williams and we are on to round
00:56:55nine marv albert with the fight dr ferdy pacheco and dick edberg from reno nevada and carl williams
00:57:04based on our unofficial scorecard with the edge over the champion larry holmes and continues to do
00:57:11it with the left jab he's 78 75 quite unofficially but something ominous happened in the corner he came
00:57:19back and he said i'm tired braziano said you're tired he is more tired
00:57:26a little for a forearm to the trachea there and larry said he made it
00:57:36two
00:57:42angelo ducky always had a rule never say tired in the corner
00:57:46just don't talk about it but williams lucky to get up on his toes once again
00:57:52that's what he should do he's ahead of this fight and he should be boxing and trying to let
00:57:56larry exhaust himself to catch up
00:58:04those right hand shots of larry's are landing
00:58:06get back and they will have effect in due time
00:58:12you don't get hit by a man like larry holmes with right hands like that and not feel it
00:58:19midway through round nine scheduled for 15.
00:58:23you know that uh that's a pose come on snap the photo that's a you're tired and i'm tired let's
00:58:35take a little break here
00:58:38holmes going to the body this round he's got to he knows he's getting this kid tired
00:58:43carl and truth williams if he keeps pounding his body he's going to come down off his feet already he's
00:58:47not jabbing as much already he's not leading in this fight he is letting larry do the leading
00:58:58no says williams although holmes and connect he might say no to larry william to larry holmes but
00:59:06the judges like those points and holmes now taking a shellacking to get to be able to land a couple of
00:59:15body shots
00:59:23larry working that body this is vintage larry holmes now and a good right hand by holmes
00:59:30followed up by the left as williams took a respite and williams being pushed around the ring but
00:59:38claiming it has no effect
00:59:42so holmes with his best of the bout although carl williams continues to shake his head
00:59:49we're going to stay right here between rounds
00:59:52that body shot at the end almost crumpled
00:59:56carl letruth williams but i'll tell you what all of that effect on larry holmes can't be beneficial
01:00:03let's listen to the corner
01:00:08well there's nothing now carl just move where's the water
01:00:22where'd that spline go
01:00:23now let me get the right now let me get the free man let me get the free
01:00:27free
01:00:28well do big man she's hurting carl he thinks you're hurting when you hurt
01:00:32carl letruth williams said you're going to fool me
01:01:01because those body shots took a lot out of carl letruth williams but it remains to be seen how
01:01:06much that charge took out of larry holmes remember we're down into the territory where holmes is
01:01:11supposed to be getting awfully weary and one of those charges like that takes a lot out of it
01:01:16following our prime time boxing local news will follow on the nbc network
01:01:32except of course on the west coast where it will be seen in
01:01:38the normal time period this is bar valvet bernie pacheco dick enberg from reno nevada
01:01:43we are in round 10 scheduled for 15 you recall carl williams telling dick enberg that if this fight
01:01:52should go into the late rounds the fight will be his meanwhile larry holmes who reportedly did not
01:01:57train severely hanging in very well for a 35 year old and what they're doing right now
01:02:03is taking a rest holmes very weary from that thumping that he tried to give williams williams
01:02:08trying to get over that body punishment that he took he's just dancing away willing to give up
01:02:14around if necessary although right now he has been dancing and popping a jab
01:02:19comment should be made into the favor of eddie aliano the expert corner man who has closed that
01:02:25cut so that it is not a factor in this fight once again proving you've got to have good
01:02:30cornermen if you're going to fight for the championship
01:02:37and we are staying with the wide shot here so you can check out the legs particularly of larry holmes
01:02:45as we enter the late rounds well it's never been more evident than this and in this round
01:02:51because carla truth williams has been bouncing along like a little uh tennis ball and with sodden legs
01:02:59holmes has come forth not trying to catch him particularly now it's the first bounce you've seen
01:03:04he has just been resting in holmes last fight this past march he did go 10 stopping david bay on the
01:03:1110th in fact put bay down twice in the eighth round incredible that carla truth williams should
01:03:17stop moving right at the end of every round and let larry get brave
01:03:21and carl williams has never gone beyond 10 as we head to 11. nice counter by williams
01:03:36doing it with the hook there's been so little action in this fight that that little exchange
01:03:42could win the whole round for williams inexorably he's building up a lead
01:03:46oh larry just gave him laces all over the face
01:03:53we'll be back with ron larry holmes virtually unmarked
01:03:59he had no knockdowns to this point it has been the jab of carl williams setting the early pace
01:04:05home showing some signs the last couple of rounds
01:04:08but we are down the championship causeway what ali like to call the championship cause
01:04:16with those last five round is when a champion comes out remember carl the truth williams has
01:04:20never fought past ten and this is old stuff for holmes he's patient he's waiting for this
01:04:27kid to make his mistake so far he hasn't made one just underway around 11. carl williams 25 years old
01:04:39born in west palm beach florida now makes us home in white plains new york 16 and 0 12 by knockout
01:04:46while larry holmes chasing the perfection of rocky marciano at 47 and 0 34 by ko marciano at 49 and oh and
01:04:57every so often between rounds holmes is reminded let's make it 48 and oh holmes's left eye is now closing
01:05:06all of a sudden it's just ballooned up he might have caught a thumb although he did not complain about
01:05:11it it is just closing up it of course has to be a product of those many many many jabs that have
01:05:19landed all night long he hasn't exactly that eye has been catching them all
01:05:25get those hands closed come on come on all right instructional advice from the referee mills lane
01:05:32oh there's a right hand followed up by holmes and again carl williams says no no respect
01:05:48and he's still holmes just measuring him for the right hand but can't trigger it off
01:06:03holmes is taking his first big sigh
01:06:07under a minute left round 11 now blood is pouring down from the left eye of carl williams it has not
01:06:15bothered him and williams now talking to holmes he said what's the matter champ holmes does not feel
01:06:23like talking smart move on the part of carl the truth williams he's got this round one all he's got
01:06:35to do is waltz around now coming up final seconds 11th round
01:06:45is this an upset of the making or will holmes the champion get to the challenger carl williams
01:06:53will be back with the 12th in a moment closing into a slip and this reminds us of yesterday in san juan
01:07:00where a great champion overwhelmed the judges on reputation that the rocky lockridge
01:07:08found with wilfredo gomez with gomez winning a controversial decision over lockridge and a fight
01:07:16televised here on nbc it is on to round 12 scheduled for 15 to get the idea holmes looking to pick it up
01:07:24a sense of urgency i think his corner has told him you may be losing this champ you better pick it up
01:07:32now and this is the part where holmes has saved the day many many occasions he's hoping to do it
01:07:39once again will those old tired legs carry him to it and will that right hand be able to neutralize the
01:07:45jab of carl williams we shall see oh there's a good left hand but again williams shaking his head
01:07:52remember holmes has had several adventures the bout with tim witherspoon home crusher smith
01:07:59ronaldo snipes earlier in his career ernie shavers mike weaver as holmes took the thumb from weaver
01:08:08and was in trouble williams making a mistake of not firing that jab now making an amateurish mistake of
01:08:16thinking he's got this fight won and not wanting to work for the rest of it he better
01:08:22and williams corner saying go with the right hand over the top to follow that jab
01:08:40williams getting cocky as he blocks those holmes jabs and he's playing uh cutesy with with holmes you
01:08:47can't do that holmes will pop you with that right hand
01:08:57combinations thrown by holmes have had little effect on carl williams
01:09:04oh talking talking talking to the champion taunting him saying you can't do anything to me and those
01:09:08don't hurt but in the meantime that didn't help the judges he's got to get on in action and take that round
01:09:18less than a minute left holmes doing better this round than he's done in the last two or three
01:09:23mainly due to the inaction of carla truth williams who has chose this round to rest
01:09:27my advice after yesterday's fight don't rest any rounds don't take anything for granted keep fighting
01:09:36until labelle ends the fight at the 50th as rocky lockridge discovered against wilfredo gomez
01:09:42as you can see coming up on 20 seconds left in the 12th round another thumb another thumb and williams
01:09:53took time out to complain larry answer with two thumping shots to the body
01:09:58both these guys have been keeping their
01:10:28glove open and you can see right there the effect of it
01:10:34oh don't wipe it don't wipe it his eye is closed carla truth williams eye has been closed by that
01:10:39thumb well yet yet again a strong argument for thumbless gloves and this is round 13.
01:10:50and there has to be a sense of desperation out of the part of the champion larry holmes
01:10:56what is your scorecard show he's three points behind 116 to 113 and he's got three rounds to pull it out
01:11:02in remember if it's a draw he keeps the title if he wins these three rounds and remember the judge has
01:11:09also given an awful lot of credit to a champion of his capacity and reputation so it may be some of those
01:11:16close lines went to holmes on reputation and carl the truth williams has won himself some support here in
01:11:28but hand of the truth from the crowd
01:11:37again holmes taking aim at the left eye of williams
01:11:45but williams continues to get in close on holmes to smother those right-hand attempts he'd do better to
01:11:51stay out and pop that jab as he's been doing why he's abandoned it the last two or three rounds
01:11:56i'll never know because it got him this far and he's ahead because of that jab
01:11:59right and here's holmes cocking the right looking to throw it
01:12:08there's no question that holmes is desperate he's got to come on he senses he's behind
01:12:13he is he's got to pull us out these three rounds and williams on his toes and holmes pursuing but
01:12:22looking fatigue yeah he's dragging his feet holmes is not picking up and putting out his feet in the
01:12:28right way that's what he's got to do carl the truth williams got to move and pop and
01:12:36larry holmes the champion has got to cut him off and pound the body
01:12:44meantime the time flies
01:12:46the time flies under a minute left in this thirteenth round
01:13:05he's doing a modified ali he's frustrating holmes holmes should know how to handle that he's
01:13:26been a sparring partner for ali a long time holmes almost tripping over his own feet he is weary
01:13:31still 20 seconds to go rather 10 seconds in this 13th round and still two rounds to go
01:13:39but right here we do have an upset in the making with carl williams handling larry holmes taking a
01:13:47look back as we look at some of the great upsets in heavyweight history dempsey and tunney
01:13:52back spare james j braddock back in 1935 and long island city braddock defeating baron a 15-round
01:14:03unanimous decision to take the title ingebar johansson floyd patterson june of 1959 johansson over patterson
01:14:12with the ko on the third round for sonny liston and the then cassius clay miami beach february of 1964
01:14:24clay defeating liston with the tko and muhammad ali and leon sphinx the one bout that can be
01:14:31compared to what is taking place here today because sphinx with very little experience
01:14:38of course right here we still have two rounds remaining
01:14:47out for round 14 larry holmes defending his heavyweight championship trying to make it 48 and
01:14:55hold against carl williams who is coming out strong and connecting with the jab
01:15:09home trying his heart uh-oh a hand on the rope by holmes signs of weariness fatigue and confusion
01:15:26holmes a great champion has he stayed on too long
01:15:36now he's going to need a marciano finish here marciano way behind us we saw will welcome
01:15:40pull him away into round 15. can he do that to this kid
01:15:44and the crowd getting behind carl williams larry holmes seeking that one big right hand
01:16:03halfway through round 14 the last time that larry holmes went 15 was back in november of 82
01:16:21when he led the beating on randy tex cobb look at the puffed up face of holmes both of them have
01:16:27puffed up eyes holmes trying to go to pay dirt in the body he knows he heard him there before
01:16:33but carl the truth williams just won't stay there to get pummeled he keeps moving
01:16:39he's almost moving with the grace of an alley right now just gliding over the floor
01:16:43home's raising him with the right hand oh that could be dangerous back comes carl the truth
01:16:55under a minute left in this 14th round
01:17:04you got to give larry holmes credit he's trying with every fiber in his body
01:17:08to get that knockout he will not quit he will not admit defeat
01:17:13and we do not know whether the judges will see it as we are looking at it right now
01:17:18carl the truth williams is ahead on our card
01:17:27and we will stay right here
01:17:39and we will stay right here
01:17:53about that many did not think would go past the early rounds we'll go to a 15th
01:18:00and final round just take a look at me
01:18:13let's take a look back to the final seconds of the 14th round the short right hand in rock williams
01:18:35again williams indicating that he was all right here's a look from up top
01:18:42and he did hurt the truth and that happened with a minute left to go it might be all over now
01:18:47the 15th and final round for the heavyweight championship of the world holmes actually stumbling
01:18:55out as he meets up with williams here at the center of the ring
01:18:59carl the truth williams looking to rest the crown from the long time champion larry holmes
01:19:07well he better take this round because this fight is up for grabs it's 143 and 144 larry holmes
01:19:14winning the last three rounds
01:19:18that is the unofficial count on the fight doctor scorecard williams doing the 360. he's getting too cute
01:19:34and here's holmes looking to take charge looking to rally it's the mark of a champion that you pull
01:19:41it out in the 15th right now it's larry holmes doing the champion number
01:19:51how curious that carl the truth williams doesn't see fit to attack larry holmes to
01:19:57take this heavyweight title which means millions of dollars
01:20:03we are a minute 15 in 15th final round larry wide open for a right hand so tired
01:20:11but pulling it up from someplace to fight a tough 15th round
01:20:27holmes doing most of the punching in this 15th round now williams snapping the jab as holmes counter
01:20:36and we approach a minute left in the fight he must think he's got this fight one and he can just
01:20:41while away this last round carl the truth williams has not done the fighting that he has
01:20:46to do to take the championship from larry holmes
01:20:49under a minute left in the fight and this will be a very tough one to score
01:20:59that's how the 10 point must be handled by the three judges if it does go the distance
01:21:05you see the clock working its way to the three minute mark two exhaustive fighters
01:21:21and if he does he just may rescue his title and get a draw
01:21:31and if he does he just may rescue his title and get a draw
01:21:43final seconds 15th and final round and we'll go to a decision is it carl the truth williams
01:21:53pulling off the upset to win the championship larry holmes looking very dejected but you never know
01:22:02it is in the hands of the three judges
01:22:05let's go upstairs to dick emper now the question and how tough the decision will be those judges
01:22:17at ringside remember the referee does not cast a ballot three judges will score it and traditionally
01:22:24to beat the champion to take the title away on a decision you have to be much the best was carl the
01:22:31truth williams that much better than uh rallying larry holmes tonight
01:22:38one thing is for certain win or lose the champion holmes met a good match tonight and carl the truth
01:22:45williams relatively untested and inexperienced proved tonight that for one he has a major league jab
01:22:53and as a young man possessive of tremendous talent raw talent and certainly one that has a most promising
01:23:00future maybe as the champion they're totaling the cards at ringside is it the challenger an upset or does the
01:23:07champion hold on
01:23:12they are competing now
01:23:16the swift
01:23:20the strong
01:23:25the athlete
01:23:30they are preparing now for rose 1987
01:23:36moment of truth from reno nevada the decision
01:23:43ladies and gentlemen from the lawlor event center here in reno nevada we have a unanimous decision
01:23:51and the scoring by points as follows judge paul gibbs of seattle washington observe the fight 146-139
01:24:08judge jerry ruff of las vegas has it 143-142
01:24:16and judge al ruffin berg of virginia
01:24:22of the beach virginia scores at 146-139 for the winner
01:24:28for the winner
01:24:30and still
01:24:33the international vaccine federation and only recognized heavyweight champion
01:24:38and i think that's the winner of the world
01:24:51the champion of the world is the champion of the world
01:24:52number 48 was not as easy as holmes had thought but he remains the undefeated
01:24:59heavyweight champion of the world.
01:25:03Let's go down to ringside and Freddie Pacheco.
01:25:08Jeff, you can't have a tougher night than that.
01:25:11Well, Freddie, these young guys are really game.
01:25:14This guy here is big, got a hard left jab.
01:25:18He's very game.
01:25:20You seem to have pulled it out in the last four rounds
01:25:23by your concerted attack and your champion's heart.
01:25:26Well, that's what championship is all about.
01:25:28My champion is to fight until no more bells.
01:25:32When I did that, the young man was strong.
01:25:35Gonna give a lot of fights a lot of trouble
01:25:36if he cleans up his ass.
01:25:39Do you still think that you want to go for Marciano's record
01:25:42or is a night like this gonna make you do some serious thinking?
01:25:45Well, every fight you do serious thinking,
01:25:47but we always take one step at a time.
01:25:49Right now, I'm gonna heal my eyes,
01:25:51go home with my family,
01:25:53not take any more crash programs
01:25:54and just wait and see what happens.
01:25:56This man was waiting in the wings with Marvin Frazier.
01:26:00He's been training for months
01:26:01and I took it on a three-week notice.
01:26:03And it's hard to get up for young man
01:26:06when you're always in negotiating
01:26:08to own a negotiating table and always doing your business.
01:26:11It's so hard.
01:26:12So we have to take a good look
01:26:13and see exactly what we're gonna do,
01:26:16take a rest.
01:26:16This is my third fight since November
01:26:19and it shows that I'm a fighting champion
01:26:21and I give all young people the opportunity.
01:26:23And you should get a well-deserved rest.
01:26:26Go home, think about it.
01:26:28I'm sure all America wishes you the best.
01:26:30And I want to say this before we close.
01:26:32Hi to my mom,
01:26:32hi to all my friends back home,
01:26:34Eastern to John Henry.
01:26:35And again, NBC scored another knockoff.
01:26:39And back to Marv Albert,
01:26:41who is waiting to talk to Carl the Truth Williams.
01:26:44All right, Ferdy,
01:26:45and in the Carl the Truth Williams corner,
01:26:47they're claiming that you are the uncrowned champion.
01:26:50What is your feeling about the decision?
01:26:51Well, basically, Marv,
01:26:52that's something that I've always been saying,
01:26:54that I'm the uncrowned king
01:26:56and the young heir to the throne,
01:26:57and I'm the baddest heavyweight in all the land.
01:27:00Yes, I am.
01:27:01How do you figure the decision?
01:27:02All right.
01:27:03It was close.
01:27:07Do you think he won?
01:27:09Yes, I do.
01:27:10I think the least I could have got was the draw.
01:27:13I fought a hell of a fight.
01:27:16You were giving the impression
01:27:18that you were not hurt,
01:27:19but I thought in the final rounds
01:27:21he did rock you a couple of times,
01:27:22although you were shaking your head no.
01:27:24No, I wasn't really hurt, Marv.
01:27:27I basically just walked it off.
01:27:29You know, it was a hell of a fight.
01:27:31But I wasn't really hurt.
01:27:33The champ didn't really hurt me
01:27:34because working with Carmen Graziano,
01:27:36I was basically working the blocking overhand punch,
01:27:39which you've seen a lot.
01:27:40The right hand never got in.
01:27:42Early in the round, he landed some right hands,
01:27:45but after that, I was blocking everything
01:27:46that was basically thrown.
01:27:48All right.
01:27:48What a good effort, though,
01:27:49by the challenger,
01:27:50Carl the Truth Williams of the Larry Holmes,
01:27:52has won the heavyweight champion for the world.
01:27:55Let's go back to Dick Enberg.
01:27:57So, Carl the Truth Williams
01:27:58vaults high up on the heavyweight ladder
01:28:01with his performance tonight,
01:28:02although a unanimous loser
01:28:04to the still unbeaten champion Larry Holmes,
01:28:0648 in a row for Holmes,
01:28:08who certainly weathered through a tough 15 rounds.
01:28:11He isn't the fighter that beat Ali or Norton or Shaver.
01:28:14Some say he's picking easy wins.
01:28:16He almost gambled and lost tonight
01:28:18against a tough young man in Williams.
01:28:20But the measure of the champion indeed is in the heart,
01:28:23and Larry Holmes rallied to retain his title.
01:28:26He's still the heavyweight champion of the world.
01:28:30This has been a presentation of NBC Sports.
01:28:33This has been a presentation of NBC Sports.
Comments