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2000 US Olympian Clarence Vinson makes his pro debut against Adrian Valdez on HBO KO Nation.
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00:02Memphis Bleach will perform.
00:06But first, let's take a look at some upcoming program reminders.
00:12One week from today, it's Mucho Macho Madness as Hector Camacho Jr.
00:17and his father, Hector Camacho Sr., headlined in a boxing doubleheader for Miami's South Beach.
00:22February 17th, two tough fighters go against one another
00:26as Eric Morales challenges featherweight champion Guti Espadas.
00:30And on February 24th, Roy Jones Jr. is back
00:34defending his light heavyweight title against Derek Harmon.
00:37If he's successful, Jones may shed some pounds in the hopes of a future date with Felix Trinidad.
00:48Next up, the battleweight spring heat in this Cold War.
00:53U.S. bronze medalist Clarence Vinson out of Washington, D.C.
00:57goes up against Adrian Valdez of Mexico.
01:00Now let's go ringside with the voices of your visuals,
01:04Fran, the man Charles, and two-time featherweight champion,
01:08Flushing Flash Kevin Kelly.
01:12Clarence Vinson was a co-captain of the 2000 Olympic boxing team.
01:16He may have had the quickest hands of the bunch.
01:19Those quick hands earned Vinson a bronze medal
01:22as we take a look at Vinson receiving that bronze medal at a ceremony in Sydney, Australia.
01:28Kevin Clarence is only five feet, two inches tall.
01:31He will spend most of his career looking up at opponents, beginning with Adrian Valdez.
01:36Well, the major thing that Clarence Vinson is going to be facing is that he's going to always have to
01:40be getting inside to fight.
01:42He's a shorter man, five foot two, so he's very little.
01:46So he has to get the inside, work the body, bring his hands up to the head, and fold his
01:50man.
01:50Because they say the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
01:53And I know Clarence Vinson is looking to do that.
01:55When we talked to Valdez yesterday, he is already in the ring incidentally.
01:59He told us he felt his best fight plan was a quick knockout.
02:03He felt he could capitalize on Vinson's tentativeness here in his professional debut.
02:08Valdez says he can adapt to any style.
02:11But a big thing that Valdez has got to realize is that this boy has lots and lots and lots
02:15of experience.
02:16He knows how to get out of trouble.
02:17He knows how to fight.
02:18He knows how to get in the middle.
02:20He's been that short his whole life, so pretty much, except for birth, right?
02:23But he knows how to get inside a fight.
02:25That's a major thing Valdez has to make a mistake and get into a fight with him because that is
02:29Vinson's fight.
02:31Okay, Valdez is inside the ring.
02:33And as mentioned, he is a tall fighter as well.
02:37Vinson will have some problems with him in terms of height advantage.
02:41But Clarence Vinson says he has no problems fighting taller.
02:44Man, that's what he's used to.
02:45But I'm pretty sure all the guys that he boxed previously are all taller than him.
02:49The guys in the gym, the guys he's fought in the Olympics, they're all taller.
02:52So he's kind of used to this.
02:54Valdez, on the other hand, has to keep Vinson at the end of his jab all night long.
02:58If he don't, they can be trouble for Vinson.
03:01All right, now it's time to make bronze medalist Clarence Vinson.
03:05One year three three!
03:06Another four!
03:07A war, two!
03:09Go, JJ, go!
03:15Let's go, JJ!
03:17Go, JJ!
03:19Go, JJ!
03:19Go, JJ!
03:20Whatever you do, there's a lot of money out there.
03:23So baby, do your thing and get that paper man and get that paper man.
03:28There's a lot of haters in this world, even some in your crew, no.
03:31People gonna hate you for whatever you do
03:34It's a lot of money out there, so baby, do your thing
03:37And get that paper, man, and get that paper, man
03:39The situation's impossible
03:41There's jealous people out here, and they watch you
03:43Try to figure out your hustle
03:45And if we can wait and stop you, but don't knock the food
03:47See them chumps, they never do good
03:49While we spin the cheese away overseas, they stuck in the hood
03:52Trying to come up, flip a 62 just to get a quick buck
03:56If we get it with diamonds
03:59Or if they seem to regulate it, but they had to hate it
04:01It's to be right with the roof guard
04:02But I want to examine the shoes on and live a life like a superstar
04:06And I know the boss works on any hater on earth
04:09Who want to figure he gon' come and try to do it, huh?
04:12To a player like stop, who's from the city when we don't care who you are
04:16I raise my price to be on track, man
04:18I lay my rap down to be in black and black, man
04:21But if you wanna know why they gon' stop, right?
04:24If you wanna play a civilian, bring life to your doctor's side
04:27It don't matter if I so, blows and clothes
04:30Gats and bets, track and racks
04:31If I so buy them in the church
04:33Man, you can pull it out, you can pull it out, you can pull it out
04:36For the Washington D.C. native, his first bout came when he was just eight years old
04:42Clarence Vincent was taking a fight in a 65-pound weight division
04:45He needed to stick a five-pound weight into his shorts
04:49Just so he could qualify for the bout tonight
04:52It'll be Vincent taking off materials he's used to having on
04:56Headgear and also a shirt
04:58Well, he's untouchable
04:59So, being he's untouchable, being a shorter man
05:01I'm sure Valdez will be looking for him tonight
05:04He's smaller, it's actually harder fights, some shorter guys
05:06Alright, let's take a look at the tail of the tape for this bantamweight fight
05:10Between Clarence Vincent and Adrian Valdez
05:14Vincent, two years older
05:16And we talked about the height advantage for Valdez
05:18He comes in at 5'8
05:20Vincent came in at 117.5 pounds
05:23Valdez, 118
05:24Valdezo, putting on 10 pounds on our unofficial scales
05:28It's Vincent, though, with a reach advantage by two inches
05:31Let's throw it up to Michael Buffer for the pre-fight introductions
05:35Ladies and gentlemen, here at Madison Square Garden
05:38The action continues
05:39The three judges assigned for this bout will be
05:41Melvina Lathan, Ron McNair, and Tony Paolillo
05:45Your referee in charge of the action
05:47Boxing Hall of Famer, Arthur Mercanti
05:51And now four rounds of boxing
05:53This is in the bantamweight division
05:55Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner
05:58Wearing purple, trimmed with white letters
06:01And weighing in at 118 pounds
06:03His professional record, three victories
06:06With one loss and a draw
06:07He comes to us from Juarez, Mexico
06:10Ladies and gentlemen, Adrian El Gallero Valdez
06:21And his opponent, across the ring
06:24Fighting out of the red corner
06:26Wearing camouflage trimmed with silver
06:28He weighed in at 117 and one half pounds
06:32And he comes to us from Washington, D.C.
06:35A member of the U.S. Olympic team
06:37And he captured a bronze medal in Sydney, Australia
06:40Ladies and gentlemen, making his professional debut
06:44Here is Clarence, untouchable, Vincent
06:54Vincent is a three-time national champion
06:57Only the 16th amateur boxer in history
07:00In the United States to win three consecutive national titles
07:05He calls himself untouchable
07:07Kevin, he also calls himself the entertainer
07:10Not a bad combination
07:12Not a bad combination
07:12You both know the rules
07:13Shake hands now
07:14Come out boxing at the bell
07:15Good luck
07:18We talked about the quickness of Clarence, Vincent's hands
07:23And you love hand speed
07:24I love it
07:25I have it myself
07:27I'm not going to bust and flash for nothing
07:28But I tell you
07:29Speed is power all day long
07:32All right
07:33So Adrian Valdez in the purple trunks
07:37Against Clarence, Vincent
07:40Vincent in the camouflage
07:43Vincent's from a very fast captain
07:45Mark Tushak Johnson happens to be Vincent's uncle
07:49And right away, Arthur McCanty Sr. warns Vincent about
07:53Blows below the belt
07:57Valdez comes through with a big right hand
08:03I don't think Valdez realized that Vincent was going to be as
08:06As smooth and as as his hands down on his side
08:09And it's flowing and free flowing
08:11A lot of hand speed
08:12Punches on different angles already
08:14He's doing some very nice accuracy
08:16I mean, he watched the fight for last week
08:18Saw Mayweather doing certain things
08:20That Vincent is doing that comes naturally to him
08:25Vincent pushes Valdez back
08:27And then displays his speed
08:30But Valdez comes right back
08:33That has been the ring before
08:34You know, he's got professional fights
08:36He's seen some things already
08:38And I don't think he'll be discouraged so easily
08:46Vincent knows his fight
08:48Is inside the taller Valdez
08:52What's weird is he's outside bouncing about this
08:54He's giving a time like I said
08:55He's pro debut and he's got time
09:00Vincent calls himself an entertainer
09:03He's flashed a couple of smiles on his first round
09:07Referee Arthur McCanty Sr. warning Vincent
09:11To quit holding and hitting
09:13One thing Vince is not doing
09:14Not picking his shots
09:15As you've seen Navarro do earlier
09:18He's not placing his punches
09:20He's kind of still reaching
09:21Still amateuristic
09:22Wild punches
09:23Like he just did right there
09:24With the left hook
09:25Um
09:27Comes through the uppercut right there though
09:29Some things will happen
09:30Some things won't happen
09:37How nervous is Clarence Vincent right now?
09:39I think he's very nervous
09:40I think the nervousness is gone really
09:42Now he's realizing that Valdez is trying to hit him
09:43He's trying to win
09:44So nervous energy is no room for it right now
09:50But he has to jab first
09:51He's not jabbing at all
09:52He's gonna learn that down the road
09:54That everything comes off a jab
09:56He's not jabbing at all
09:57He's gonna step behind his jab
09:59Get inside
09:59Punch to the body
10:00And punch to the head
10:01Instead he's outside
10:02Where he's in Valdez's range
10:05And not his own range
10:09Just like Kenny Berrios
10:10For Jose Navarro
10:13Adrian Valdez
10:14Is here to fight
10:26Clarence Vincent
10:27Making his professional debut
10:29The bronze medalist
10:30From the 2000 Olympic Sydney boxing team
10:33Hey baby
10:38Hey baby
10:39Hey baby
10:40Holy shit
10:41He's trying too hard
10:42He's trying to talk too hard
10:45He's trying to talk too hard
10:50He's trying to talk too hard
11:00He's trying to talk too long
11:00on long
11:01But it's gonna be all right
11:02You gotta go with you
11:07When he throws him in right hand
11:09You gotta move down
11:10You gotta move down
11:10We practice this
11:12Go pull
11:13Right in the rib cage
11:16Breathe in
11:16And be calm
11:26Clarence Vincent's parents in the crowd here to root on their son and inside the corner
11:33you heard the voice of Vincent's grandfather Pam Johnson Johnson is Vincent's trainer another
11:43fight family he got mark to shop Johnson who goes another champion okay at 115 I believe and
11:50happens to be the uncle of Vincent and this is going to continue that legacy become world champion
11:55himself Kevin you talked about the last of Vincent's jab in the first round landed just one of 26
12:04because he's not really jabbing he's pouring with it he's got to set everything up off the jab he's
12:09got to stick the jab don't pour with it he's laying it out there and it's just a matter of
12:13time for
12:13boundaries realize they come over the top with his left hook
12:20Vincent letting go for a four punch combination
12:27backs Valdez up
12:32Valdez is using a very smart tactic anytime he's in any kind of trouble he simply ties up
12:36but it's a professional and approach makes a big difference
12:41Valdez right now things is waiting a little bit too long to get off
12:45not utilizing his jab that's why he's not etching the rounds out
12:48he's going to strip right hand he's not coming back on anything off of the right hand
12:52and uh i think that's making a difference both men are kind of swift swinging and missing
13:06that's why he's got blood on this is glove and uh this can make a big difference here for
13:14this is the one who's cut that's right he's cut over his right eye i think it was a cut
13:23by a headbutt
13:26well i didn't see the punch i hope in the history but i see it but
13:29that cut could make a difference his first professional fight over his right eye
13:34it's in jumps in with a strong left hook valdez may be cut on the right side of his head
13:48as there's blood now streaming down the right side of valdez's head
13:53i think this has happened because vincent just rushes in with his head first not his punches
13:59instead of throwing punches first he throws his head first then he throws punches
14:03these are things that he's definitely going to have to practice in the gym
14:08nice lock hook that time from clarence vincent
14:18i think vincent right here is trying to be an entertainer more or less
14:21he's got a contract a little bit more boxing and how his how his delivery is stepping in off the
14:26jab
14:28vincent told us he likes to showboat
14:32but he needs to settle down in box as we come to the end of the second round
14:45i think that's what we're doing
14:57so uh...
14:59hands back take a deep breath breathe in I want to see how mentally strong you
15:05are breathe in
15:14here we see some action we see Vincent trying to rush in like I said the
15:17meeting heads are awful lot there's a clash of heads that's what happened to
15:21the cut I believe either on the right side of Valdez or Vincent I think that
15:26was the headbutt that opened up the cut on the right side of Vincent here we got
15:31an exchange of punches they running back and forth into each other and I think
15:35that's going to be more cuts hopefully not in this fight when Clarence Vincent
15:41gets back in the gym he'll have to work more on the jab and so he comes out here
15:47though firing four straights just one of 49 landing through two rounds the great
15:53Ham Johnson wanted him to keep his hands up he started doing that and let his
15:57punches go from the up top because your hands are down it's much harder hit your
16:01man here with that kind of speed I just see his hands above his head finally
16:05he's blocking shots and I'm sure Ham Johnson don't want that cut to get any worse than
16:10it is Valdez knots Vincent off balance
16:17that flashiness is what defense in the trouble all for awfully a lot in this round in these
16:21fights and this professional you know you got no headgear on and those shots are much more
16:27effective because from eight-ounce gloves
16:35nice right hand that time from Clarence Vincent
16:39I'm sure Ham Johnson getting back in the gym after this fight and make him work that right hand
16:43properly and the jab it's kind of looping kind of wide and wild but a little nervous energy give
16:49Vincent credit though he is making an adjustment in the middle of the fight as you mentioned his
16:54hands are now back up high not down low and he's trying to utilize the jab a little bit more
16:59high break cut back
17:05the guard is credit too he's no opponent he's not laying down the shot he is getting hit
17:10and he's still in there in this fight and he's still trying to land his punches correctly
17:14straight right hand left points
17:21both cuts seem to be under control the one on the right side of the head of Adrian Valdez
17:27and right over the right eye of the bronze medalist Clarence Vincent
17:34Valdez is doing some very smart things keep his hands high but he's not taking advantage of those misses that
17:40Vincent misses he has to take advantage of them right away
17:43don't hit on a break shut back
17:45let's go
17:45let's go
17:48let's go
17:49let's go
17:58Valdez
17:59Valdez may be cut now underneath his left eye and also it appears blood is coming from his nose
18:05they go bitch and holding a hitting behind the head open a willick a trick
18:10and before him probably would have run into some bodies
18:13Vincent though displaying his speed once he gets inside letting go
18:18three four punch combinations
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19:08That is bronze medalist Jermaine Taylor.
19:12He will be coming up next in a middleweight foul against Chris Walsh
19:17right after Clarence Vinson and Adrian Valdez.
19:40Let's bring in Julie Letterman to see how she has the fight scored through three rounds.
19:45Julie?
19:45Brandon's got three rounds to nothing, 30 to 27 for Vinson, but you know what?
19:50He's fighting a very dirty fight.
19:51I mean, like Kevin's saying, he's holding his opponent behind the head, which you can't do.
19:56He's opening up his glove when he's jabbing.
19:59He's measuring with it, then he opens it up.
20:01I mean, he's very one-dimensional.
20:03He throws the right hand, and that's all he does.
20:05And then when he starts, there he goes right now, he's starting to hold.
20:07Hard break!
20:08I don't know.
20:09I mean, to me, he's a very, just, he's got the right hand, but that's it.
20:13You know, he's landed the right hand, so he's winning the fight, but he's not showing me anything else.
20:21I believe Julie's not impressed by, uh, Clarence Vinson, and, uh, I'm starting to believe
20:26that it's definitely a lot of work that he's done.
20:28He's going one punch overhand right, but that kind of hand speed.
20:31When he lands a shot, she can land three or four more.
20:36But in this fourth round, Valdez has become a little less active.
20:43You've got to be very careful.
20:44This is the professional.
20:45And all that showroom, of course, to get knocked out, those R-8 out gloves.
20:49Remember, he's used to fighting with tens.
20:51These are eights, and he's fighting a professional fighter.
20:55Clarence Vinson told us he likes to put on a show.
20:58But definitely there's a little bit of rush in the game of Clarence Vinson.
21:07All the showroom, the fans don't like the showroom.
21:10They feel that it's not necessary here.
21:12They've got to do more fighting, and, uh, the shot that they're going to get hit with is definitely discouraging.
21:17Valdez attacking with a one-two, landing a right, a left cross.
21:21And actually, you've got to give the great Arthur McKenzie, who's legendary status, a lot of credit.
21:27He don't like it, and he stopped Vinson from doing it right away.
21:29Vincent, though, rocking Valdez with a right hook.
21:39Then he walked into a big right hand.
21:42You've got to be careful.
21:45Valdez doing a nice job of countering.
21:47Here in the fourth round, catches Vinson again.
21:50Vinson's showboat says, I'm all right.
21:53But he's still rushing in with that head.
21:55And they go up with another cut.
21:56He definitely, these are things he has to work on.
21:59Not rushing with the head.
22:01Pull behind your punches.
22:02Not with your head first.
22:03Kevin, it hasn't had an effect on Jury's card.
22:06How will it affect the judges, though?
22:08From the standpoint of Clarence Vinson hasn't looked spectacular here.
22:13But Jury still hasn't won it all three rounds.
22:15I haven't won it all three rounds.
22:16I haven't won it in the fourth round.
22:17But what I'm saying is, for future fights, future dates, future matchups, the stuff that
22:21he's doing now, he cannot do as he continues with a professional career.
22:24The second of our five fights, going the distance here at the theater in Madison Square Garden.
22:44Let's bring in Julie Letterman.
22:46Let us know how you have it, Julie.
22:48You know, Fran, you were saying how we're not that impressed with Vinson.
22:51But you know what, bottom line is, he's landing.
22:53He's fighting an opponent, okay?
22:55So maybe it's not a pretty bout.
22:56I've got four rounds and nothing for Vinson.
22:58But you know what, the right hand is landing.
23:00He's getting cute.
23:01He's moving a little bit.
23:02But, you know, his opponent's not hitting him.
23:04So bottom line, it's not a pretty fight.
23:06But he's doing what he has to do to win the round.
23:11I agree, Julie.
23:13A hundred percent.
23:14Clarence Vinson's speed may have been a little bit too much for Adrian Valdez.
23:19But give Valdez credit.
23:20He stayed right in there.
23:21He stayed in there.
23:22He threw his punches.
23:23He never gave up.
23:24Clarence Vinson definitely needs to work on some things.
23:26But, like I said, it's his first professional fight.
23:28Exactly.
23:29And, you know, we've got to take that into consideration that, you know, he's not a seasoned professional.
23:34He's becoming a professional.
23:35So that definitely has something to do with it.
23:38Vinson's father there, hoping for the best.
23:45My scorecard, unofficially, I had a fully 36, just like Julie.
23:48I didn't see Valdez winning any rounds.
23:58Clarence Vinson, a co-captain of the U.S. boxing team from the 2000 Summer Olympics, along with heavyweight Michael
24:08Bennett, who we will see in just a minute.
24:11All right, now, let's send it up to Michael Buffer with the official decision.
24:15Gentlemen, we go to the Budweiser scorecards.
24:18Tony Paolillo scores it 40 to 36.
24:21Melvino Latham has it 39-37.
24:24And Ron McNair scores it 40 to 37, all for the winner by unanimous decision, winning his professional debut, Florence
24:32Untouchable Vinson.
24:56As you can see, the fans really didn't like the performance by Vinson, but, um, and they kind of like...
25:07They got a total punch in this fight.
25:09You can see that Vinson outthrown and outlanded, um, but not much.
25:14Um, he outthrew him by a little bit margin of 21%, 11%.
25:18Valdez had his moment, but they sure were far in between.
25:25Now, back to you, friend.
25:28All right, Kevin, I'm standing here now with the unanimous winner, Clarence, Vincent Clarence.
25:32The first time that you've been cut in your career and not wearing the headgear.
25:36How do you feel?
25:37Um, I feel okay.
25:38You know, I got headbutted early in the round, but, uh, you know, um, I took control of the fight.
25:46I boxed him.
25:46I made him miss, and I made him pay.
25:48And that's why I'm victorious.
25:50Were you surprised that Adrian Valdez stood right in there with you?
25:54Oh, definitely.
25:55He took some hard shots.
25:57Um, he just kept coming.
25:59Um, he's a great fighter.
26:00Um, I told my manager and him that I didn't want nobody but the best, um, to get me ready
26:06for my pro debut.
26:07And he got me a good opponent.
26:09He could have gave me somebody that I could have hit with one punch and knocked him out,
26:12but he didn't.
26:13He gave me a credible opponent.
26:15And, um, I showed everybody that I can box.
26:18And, um, and even when I'm cutting everything that I still can, you know, overcome.
26:23All right, Clarence.
26:24Let's take a look at some of the action from your bout.
26:27You came in the shorter man, but you had the longer reach.
26:31And there you displayed your right hand.
26:33Was your quickness too much for Valdez?
26:35Oh, definitely.
26:37Um, that's what I got him with a lot of fast punches.
26:40Um, he was much slower than me, but he was, he was a lot taller.
26:44Clarence, what about the holding?
26:45A couple of times Arthur McKenzie Sr. had to warn you about the holding and firing at the
26:50same time.
26:50Well, he kept coming in with his head, and, um, that's how I got headbutted.
26:54And, um, you know, instead of, and, I mean, this is my pro debut.
26:57Um, I really don't know how to protect myself from a head, but it's the only thing that I
27:01could do was push his head to the, to the end of my shoulder, and that's what I did.
27:06Okay, well, Clarence Vincent, congratulations on your victory and your pro debut.
27:10We look forward to seeing you in the future.
27:14All right.
27:14Well, we talked to the unanimous winner.
27:16You hear what the crowd believes when it comes to the Vincent Valdez fight.
27:21Still to come, we have more action.
27:24We're going to hear from Ricardo Williams Jr., the Olympic silver medalist.
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