- 2 days ago
The replay from the PPV the week before of Christy Martin taking on Bethany Payne. Plus highlights of the WBO Heavyweight title fight between Henry Akinwande and Alexander Zolkin from the same card.
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00:15For three consecutive Sundays in December,
00:18Showtime presents three extraordinary original pictures
00:21about individuals confronting their moment of truth.
00:25A man discovers the power of shame.
00:27But a year ago, I had a house.
00:30Good job.
00:32The whole nine yards.
00:33Yes!
00:35I'm not a bum.
00:36I don't want to live like this anymore.
00:38We live like this because we don't have any choice.
00:41Beau Bridges, Bruce Davison, Hidden in America.
00:46A woman experiences the power of conviction.
00:49I know. I had an abortion.
00:52I will be threatened for the rest of your life.
00:54That is what we're fighting for!
00:56Freedom!
00:58Pamela Reed, Betty Buckley, and Diana Scarra make critical choices.
01:04A family survives the power of silence.
01:07Has he ever touched you, honey?
01:11Has he ever messed with you?
01:15I'm sorry.
01:16I'm not as sorry as you're going to be.
01:18I'm going to tell her everything.
01:20Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ron Eldred, Glenn Headley, and Jenna Malone
01:23in a film directed by Angelica Houston, Bastard out of Carolina.
01:28Three original pictures.
01:29So honest.
01:30So powerful.
01:32Only one network could make them.
01:33And you can see them on three consecutive Sundays in December.
01:36Only on Showtime.
01:39It was a fight that will be remembered forever.
01:46Today's two best heavyweights went toe-to-toe.
01:51And the whole world watched the unbelievable happen.
01:58Now, be a witness to boxing history.
02:01Holyfield.
02:02Tyson.
02:03Next, only on Showtime.
02:06America's number one boxing network.
02:36America's number one boxing network.
02:39Oh, there goes Jonas for the first time in his career.
02:43Now he can get up.
02:45There goes the heavyweight championship of the world.
02:47This is my man's fight.
02:49I'll get you.
02:50The improbable has happened.
02:53Evander Holyfield pulls off the colossal upset.
03:01After 10 years of the best boxing on television,
03:05X still marks the spot.
03:33He was 17.
03:34I'm 21.
03:36We talked and we laughed and, you know, we went out and things like that.
03:40I think we're cordial.
03:42These two cordial acquaintances would go on to become the two most dominant heavyweights of their era.
03:50There's nobody that can beat me.
03:52I'm the best fighter in the world.
03:53Let's get it on.
03:56But overconfident and under-trained, he lost his title to a 42-to-1 underdog.
04:01His name is Buster Douglas, and he's the new heavyweight champion.
04:07Holyfield, who had earned a reputation for his determination and willingness to brawl,
04:12had already cleaned up the cruiserweight division.
04:15If you hit me, I'm going to hit you back.
04:17As hard as you hit me, I'm going to hit you back.
04:20And in 1990, he became heavyweight champ by beating the only man to beat Mike Tyson.
04:26There's a new heavyweight champion in the world, and his name is Evander Holyfield.
04:34I would love to fight Evander Holyfield.
04:36By no means, right now, today, tonight, in the ring, out of the ring, anything he wants.
04:41One year later, the showdown was scheduled and then abruptly canceled.
04:46And throughout the ensuing years, there were legal problems, medical uncertainties,
04:50professional triumphs, and stirring comebacks.
04:53And the relationship between these two has become decidedly less cordial.
04:58I want to hurt him.
04:59There's no doubt about it.
05:00But if it happens in 30 seconds, 10 rounds, whatever it is, my objective is to hurt him.
05:07I'm the winner if the fight go one round.
05:09If it goes two round, I'm the winner.
05:11Three rounds.
05:12They don't make no difference what distance is to go.
05:14When it's all over, I'm the winner.
05:17After all of the waiting, all of the name-calling, all of the speculating, it's finally here.
05:23Tyson versus Holyfield.
05:43Las Vegas, Nevada, a desert resort city renowned for gambling, glitter, and glamour.
05:49And at no time are the stakes higher, the lights brighter, are the rich and famous more visible
05:54than when a world heavyweight championship fight is headlining on the strip.
05:59Tonight, this neon oasis will host an historic event from the MGM Grand Gardens Arena.
06:07From the high rollers at ringside to the boxing fans and the bleachers, the idea of Mike Tyson
06:12and Evander Holyville meeting in the ring had almost become a sports fantasy.
06:16Well, the fantasy has finally become a reality, and a crowd of almost 17,000 is anticipated
06:23here to witness the showdown.
06:25Tonight, spectators at the MGM are expected to be joined by a record pay-per-view audience
06:30in the United States, and millions more via satellite around the world.
06:37Good evening, everyone.
06:38I'm Jim Hill, your host for tonight's mega event.
06:41For the first time in history, three reigning world heavyweight champions will defend their
06:46respective titles on one fight card.
06:48But even the historic nature of these collective bouts cannot overshadow the long-awaited main
06:53event between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, both of whom are multiple winners of heavyweight
06:59titles.
06:59Since his release from prison, Mike Tyson has won both, the WBC and WBA championships.
07:05But he has relinquished the WBC crown, leaving it for top contenders Lennox Lewis and Oliver
07:11McCall to battle on January the 11th.
07:13Consequently, Evander Holyfield's second attempt to regain a world heavyweight title will be
07:19for the WBA version only.
07:21For more on tonight's main event, let's go to ringside and Steve Albert.
07:24Steve.
07:25All right.
07:26Thank you, Jim.
07:26The common thread that runs through tonight's heavyweight trifecta is the road to Mike Tyson.
07:31This evening, it's Evander Holyfield's turn, while four other heavyweights on this card
07:34wait in line, hoping to cash in on the Mike Tyson sweepstakes.
07:38As you know, Holyfield was originally scheduled to fight Tyson in 1991, but Tyson's rib injury
07:43and subsequent incarceration put everything on hold until now.
07:47Therefore, the main event is entitled Tyson vs. Holyfield Finally.
07:50But in light of recent events, perhaps it should be called Tyson vs. An Opponent Who Won't Quit
07:55Finally.
07:56Now, while some feel Holyfield will not only survive, but win, others predict he's just
08:01another Tyson victim in waiting.
08:03But be mindful that Tyson and Holyfield are two totally different people today in terms
08:08of mindset, circumstances, and yes, even ring style.
08:12Bad blood.
08:12Well, that's another issue with Team Tyson claiming that Holyfield once said he wouldn't
08:16fight a convicted rapist.
08:18It all contributes to the heavy anticipation of this fight, which may explain a sold-out
08:23arena and potential vast pay-per-view audience.
08:26As we bring on the fight doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, and Ferdie, maybe you can try and put this whole
08:31thing into perspective.
08:32Your general overview of this extraordinary fight.
08:35Well, this fight has got the imagination of the public going.
08:39This is the opening door that Tyson's been waiting for.
08:42He's fought for meaningless fights.
08:44Now he's become box office.
08:46He's become baffled box office.
08:48People are coming to watch him, and in this fight he has chosen to fight a guy who's going
08:52to fight him back.
08:53The most you can expect in a heavyweight title fight, or any title fight, is that two men
08:57will give their best, try to beat each other, come in convinced they can win, and absolutely
09:02unable to accept the concept that they can lose, and go at it 100%.
09:06That's what we're going to see tonight.
09:07Now, as far as Tyson is concerned, he has now become the box office, the draw, the attraction.
09:13All he needs to do now to make it bigger is to go on a little tour of the world
09:18like Ali
09:18did, go to Malaysia, Jakarta, Africa, and so forth, and find out that he is the champion
09:24of the whole wide world.
09:26All right.
09:26How about the so-called animosity between Tyson and Holyfield?
09:30Hype or reality?
09:31I think it's hype.
09:32These two are very professional.
09:33They've been friends.
09:34Very professional.
09:35I don't think that Mike, as Mike has said, I can't believe that he thinks he can beat
09:40me.
09:41So, I mean, Mike is just in awe of the fact that this guy thinks he can beat him.
09:44So, he's going to come in and show him.
09:45But it's a purely, it's a pure contest between two men that are driven champions and love
09:51the sport.
09:51That's all you can ask for.
09:52However long it lasts, the quality of this fight, I think, is going to be superb.
09:56All right.
09:57We look forward to your comments throughout.
09:59And then there's the question, will a victory tonight over a world-class fighter like Holyfield
10:03validate Mike Tyson's comeback, or will the skepticism continue?
10:07We welcome Bobby Tis.
10:08Bobby, your thoughts on that?
10:09Well, Steve, I'll tell you what.
10:10In 1991, most experts, including myself, thought that Mike Tyson would beat Evander Holyfield.
10:15But we all thought it would be six, seven, maybe even an eight-round war.
10:18Nowadays, I don't know one of those same experts who picks Evander Holyfield to win the fight,
10:22and many think the fight will be much, much shorter.
10:24A victory over Evander Holyfield will do some things for Mike Tyson, but he's going to need to beat
10:27the Bows, the Lewises, and the McCalls to get validated, once again, to be that man he once was.
10:33Well, Evander Holyfield started out as a 25-to-1 underdog.
10:37He is now just a 6-to-1 underdog, a huge turnaround.
10:40Right now, let's go to our roving reporter for more, Jim Gray.
10:44Thank you very much, Steve.
10:45Well, Evander Holyfield, the challenger tonight, made it here to the arena.
10:49He just relaxed in the hotel today.
10:51Evander Holyfield looking to make history tonight, trying to become just the second man,
10:55and the only other man since Muhammad Ali to recapture the heavyweight title for the third time.
11:00A short time ago, I spoke with Evander.
11:03Holy, you guarantee a victory tonight.
11:06What makes you think that that will be the case?
11:09Well, tonight is a night in USC.
11:12You have an awful lot of confidence.
11:14Not many people step into the ring without being intimidated and fearful of Mike Tyson.
11:19What will you do in those initial moments to counteract that?
11:22Well, you know, I'm led by the Holy Spirit, so, you know, whatever I do, I know I will have
11:27enough to win.
11:28In fact, you have invoked God in saying that God is on your side, in essence,
11:33and you have said that it is his will that you will win tonight.
11:37Now, that has drawn the ire of Mike Tyson by him saying, well, God doesn't like me.
11:42I mean, if God is to pick sides, do you really think that God's involved in this fight?
11:45Well, there's no doubt.
11:46This fight will shape the whole world, and it's more than, I guess, I can explain right now at this
11:53time.
11:54Bad blood.
11:55Is there bad blood between you and Mike Tyson based on a comment that you may or may not have
12:00made
12:01back when Mike was convicted of rape?
12:03Well, no.
12:04Or prior to his conviction?
12:05I don't think it's so much of bad blood.
12:06It's just something that will have to be done, and it will be done tonight.
12:11So you don't feel an amount of animosity toward Mike?
12:15Well, no.
12:16I don't have enough love for people.
12:18You know, I have a job to do, and I'm out to do the job, and I will do it.
12:21So all of this was hype?
12:22Well, you know, I don't know about hype.
12:24You know, any time you compete, you go out and do your best, and you go out to win.
12:29And, you know, this win is for the Holy Spirit.
12:32You've had a lot of confidence before.
12:34I want to retry this question.
12:35What made you feel as though you could personally guarantee a victory?
12:38We haven't heard those type of things basically since Joan Namath did back in the Jets a long, long time
12:43ago.
12:44Well, I did it in the Bo 2 fight, and I was victorious.
12:48You know, a little different setting.
12:50Well, yeah, a different setting.
12:51I'm seeing the peoples are different, but, you know, God's still the same.
12:55Yesterday and today, he's still the same.
12:57Good luck to you.
12:59And a short time after Holyfield made his way, Mike Tyson finally arrived.
13:03It was not an easy trip for the WBA heavyweight champion.
13:06He was stuck in traffic outside the Grand Garden, and he finally made his way through, flanked by his managers,
13:12got through the traffic, Rory Holloway and John Horn, and was able to get back into his dressing room
13:17about 30 minutes later than he had planned.
13:19Tyson, of course, lives here in Las Vegas and had to battle all of the elements getting in here into
13:24the arena.
13:25He's in here now.
13:26He's ready.
13:27He said today that he felt very comfortable.
13:29The thing that bothered Tyson the most is yesterday he got his 10-ounce gloves.
13:33Now, he is trained the entire time with 24-ounce gloves, and they felt very light to him.
13:38So, he spent a lot of time today at his house with the 10-ounce gloves on, trying to get
13:42comfortable.
13:43He's comfortably resting now in his locker room.
13:45For more on tonight's fight, let's go outside to Bill Boggs.
13:48Jim, thank you very much.
13:50Wow.
13:51I have been here in Vegas, roaming through the events of Fight Week since Sunday.
13:55The most colorful event, the weigh-in.
13:58Open to the public.
13:58Yesterday's weigh-in actually featured a fist fight between Moore's trainer, Teddy Atlas, and a writer.
14:03The weigh-in is kind of a combination of raw, macho,
14:07So, I'm standing here in my underwear, and I'm going to knock you out, kind of energy, and a carnival
14:13-like atmosphere.
14:15Ladies and gentlemen, a very good afternoon to you, and we welcome you to the MGM Grand Garden.
14:25Oh, I can't wait to see Tyson in the skivvies.
14:28Alexander Zolkin, 235 pounds, 235.
14:34Henry Akinwandi, 238 pounds, 238.
14:41You're really warm, sir.
14:43Hand-to-hand, character.
14:46And the soccer continues.
14:49Francois Bota.
14:52224 pounds, 224.
14:55Michael Moore.
14:59219 pounds, 219 pounds.
15:03Let's go, boys!
15:06My family, let's go.
15:08Holyfield!
15:09The name is Tyson.
15:11I want Holyfield to win.
15:13Are you crazy?
15:14How are you doing?
15:15How are you doing?
15:16Come on, boys.
15:19A welcome, ladies and gentlemen.
15:21Allow security to do their job.
15:29It is time for the weigh-in of Tyson versus Holyfield.
15:34Finally, introducing Evander, the real deal Holyfield, 215 pounds, introducing Iron, Mike Tyson, 222 pounds, 222 for the champion.
15:57That is the weigh-in like no other event in all of sports.
16:03And on this clear Nevada night, turning out like they do for no other event in sports, celebrities.
16:09They'll sit ringside waiting for that opening bell with the same sense of breathless anticipation that fight fans all over
16:16the world have tonight.
16:17They're here from the four corners of show business to witness a clash for the richest prize in sports.
16:23And to experience the electricity that always accompanies a Mike Tyson fight, but is somehow heightened by this long-awaited
16:30battle with Evander Holyfield.
16:31Whether they're savvy professional athletes or just close friends of other super fighters, they want to be in the room
16:38when Tyson, who's been intimidating and destroying opponents, faces Holyfield, who is so unintimidated he's guaranteeing a victory.
16:46So what do they think?
16:48Well, Harry Connick doesn't see how Tyson can lose.
16:51Dennis Hopper thinks Mike might have an easy ride.
16:54Angelica is just happy to be part of it all.
16:57And Captain Kirk told me Holyfield needs to go where no man has gone before.
17:03Most feel that Tyson will dominate, but they've got their fingers crossed that Holyfield goes beyond the first round.
17:09But it's that very question that has lured so many of the beautiful people to the ringside seats closest to
17:16the action,
17:16where they can feel that total body high a moment before the opening bell.
17:22Two great champions are going to collide, and hundreds of personalities from entertainment and sports are waiting for them tonight
17:29at the MGM Grand Hotel.
17:32All right, Bill, thank you very much.
17:34Now, before we continue our coverage of tonight's main event, Tyson versus Holyfield for the WBA Heavyweight Championship,
17:40let's take a look at the highlights from this unprecedented undercard.
17:44Christy Martin, the schoolteacher turned slugger, squared off against Bethany Payne in a six-round woman's bout.
17:50Entering the ring wearing gold trunks and fighting out of Atlanta, Georgia.
17:56She weighed in at 133 pounds.
17:58Her fine record stands at 15 wins, only one defeat, with eight wins coming by way of knockout.
18:05Introducing Bethany Sweet Brown Payne.
18:12And her opponent across the ring on my left, fighting out of the red corner in this six-round attraction.
18:19Entering the ring wearing her traditional pink trunks with white trim,
18:24fighting out of Orlando, Florida by way of West Virginia.
18:27She weighed in at 138 pounds, with a record of 36 wins, two losses, and two draws.
18:35She has 26 wins coming by way of knockout.
18:39She is taking the world by storm.
18:41Here is the women's pound-for-pound champion.
18:44Introducing the coal miner's daughter, Christy Martin.
18:52Christy Martin.
18:53Once again, our referee in charge, Kenny Bayless, now to give instruction.
19:01We're going by the rules of Nevada State.
19:04Remember, the rounds are two-minute rounds.
19:06Keep all your punches up and in front of the person.
19:12All right, any questions from the red corner?
19:14Any questions from the blue corner?
19:17Good luck, girls.
19:28Bethany Payne, despite her keen awareness of Martin's power, she said she plans to go right after her,
19:33keeping Martin off in the beginning, using her reach advantage along with her jab.
19:37And Christy and her trademark pink satin trunks, former substitute schoolteacher, wants to be appreciated as a boxer, not just
19:46as a women's boxer.
19:47Kenny Bayless, the referee.
19:49And here we go.
19:50The way that we're talking, this has the ingredients of a war.
19:54And Christy Martin, as expected, comes out in very aggressive fashion, as does Bethany Payne.
20:01And Payne started out as a southpaw and now has switched immediately to orthodox.
20:05And there's a straight right hand by Martin.
20:09That momentarily dazed Payne.
20:11A right uppercut to the ribs by Payne, but did no damage to Christy.
20:15You know, you can see, Steve, if you watch Payne throw, she's certainly game.
20:19She came to fight, but she does not have the skills in execution, as does the coal miner's daughter.
20:27Countering combinations, though, being offered up by Bethany Payne.
20:31She is certainly game, no question about it, but wild.
20:38You know, too, Steve, Payne's keeping her head very, very high.
20:41She's landing some right hands there, but she is keeping her head high.
20:44And Christy's going to eventually connect.
20:46As you would say, effective in her awkwardness is Bethany Payne.
20:50There's a lead right hand by Bethany Payne.
20:53Counterpunch straight right hand by Martin.
20:55Martin now looking to swarm a little more.
20:57Payne showing a pretty good chin there, too.
20:59Took a couple good shots.
21:00No bad effects.
21:06Bethany Payne missing wildly again with the left hook.
21:09And a short, crisp left hook by Christy Martin.
21:18Combination to the head and body by Christy Martin.
21:21Some big punches by Martin, especially to the body, but Payne showing no effects whatsoever.
21:27Payne able to shape those punches off.
21:30And a lead right, followed by a left by Christy Martin.
21:32Thumping shots.
21:35Getting to the point where you wonder what's holding Payne up.
21:39Final seconds of the opening round.
21:42Work out, work out of there.
21:44Come on, work out.
21:45Oh, a combination at the bell.
21:51And Payne is staggered.
21:54Kenny Bayless waves it off.
21:56It's over.
21:59That's what you call out on your feet, Steve.
22:02Out on your feet.
22:05Just prior to the bell to win round one, Christy Martin unleashes a furious assault
22:13on this young lady, Bethany Payne.
22:16And she could not even make it to the corner.
22:18She staggered.
22:19She was out on her feet.
22:21And Kenny Bayless wisely stopped it.
22:24You know, I don't think she would have made it all the way back to the corner without Kenny Bayless.
22:28Bethany, do you know where you are?
22:29Yeah.
22:30Where are you?
22:30MGM.
22:31Okay.
22:32The questions to Bethany Payne.
22:34Does she, if she's all K, do you know where you are?
22:36And she knew she was at the MGM Grand.
22:41Christy Martin makes it 10 wins in a row.
22:44Ups her record to 31, 1, and 2.
22:47Continues to stand out.
22:50It didn't take her long to end this one.
22:56Here you watch, here you watch Christy working, and she just does work.
23:00She's a good puncher.
23:01She comes over the top with that right hand.
23:03That's what started it.
23:04And there you see Payne is pretty much out.
23:06It was one shot.
23:07Can't get her legs under.
23:08She is doing a staggered leash.
23:11She cannot stand up.
23:12Payne in very much pain right there.
23:16Mizan Kemp, the manager trainer, conferring with Kenny Bayless.
23:20Here we'll look at it again.
23:21And you see Christy looking for that right hand.
23:22And once again, Payne had that head up in the air and got caught with it clean.
23:26Christy leaped in with the body, turned that right hand over the top.
23:30And you can see Payne doesn't know where she is.
23:32Can't get her legs under.
23:33And Kenny Bayless does the right thing.
23:34No sense letting that young lady get hurt.
23:37In ferocious Mike Tyson-like fashion.
23:39One more time, we'll show you from another angle, yet a third angle.
23:42That right hand right in the jaw temple area.
23:44And you can see it almost disconnects Bethany Payne.
23:47She's just not there as she was for the entire round.
23:50And she took some good shots, but that one certainly the coup de gras.
23:54The title of the fight was set only 15 seconds in by a big right hand by Christy Martin.
23:58You see Kenny Bayless looking in very carefully there and did the wise thing by stopping the fight,
24:04even though it was the very end of the round.
24:07So there she is, the coal miner's daughter, Christy Martin.
24:16So we're set for the official time from our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.
24:26Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time of two minutes to round number one.
24:31Our referee in charge, Kenny Bayless, stops the contest.
24:34The winner by way of technical knockout, the coal miner's daughter, Christy Martin.
24:47England's newly crowned WBO champion, Henry Akinwande, defended his title against the number one contender from Russia, Alexander Zolkin.
24:57Introducing to you the challenger on my right, fighting out of the blue corner, entering the ring, wearing solid red
25:04trunks.
25:04He is fighting out of Columbus, Ohio, by way of Moscow, Russia.
25:10He weighed in at 235 pounds.
25:13His record includes 24 wins, two losses, 15 wins coming by way of knockout.
25:19Here is the former Soviet heavyweight champion, and currently ranked at WBO number one heavyweight contender.
25:27Introducing Alexander Zolkin.
25:34And his opponent across the ring on my left, fighting out of the red corner, presenting the defending world champion,
25:41entering the ring wearing black trunks from Dulwich, England, by way of Lagos, Nigeria.
25:47He weighed in at 238 pounds.
25:50His record is undefeated at 30 wins, no losses, one draw, and 18 wins coming by way of knockout.
25:59Tonight, he is making the first defense of his title.
26:02Here is the undefeated WBO heavyweight champion of the world.
26:07Please welcome Henry Akinwande.
26:11Let's go, baby. Let's go, baby.
26:15Once again, a referee in charge, Richard Steele, now to give instructions.
26:24Okay, I spoke to both fighters in the dressing room.
26:27I'm parsing again, obey my commands at all times.
26:30In case there's a knockdown, the man must go to the neutral corner.
26:34Stay there until I tell him to come out.
26:37Shake hands, good luck.
26:40Akinwande's big weapon, that long, straight right, as Jerry Williams found out,
26:44the man who replaced Zulkin in June.
26:48You know, I've watched tapes of Zulkin, and he's gotten Americanized pretty quick.
26:52He's improved quite a bit over a short amount of time.
26:54Two good right hands by Akinwande.
26:57Oh, oh, down, almost, almost.
27:02Alec, Zulkin, look out, after the bell.
27:05After the bell, Henry Akinwande charging into Alec Zulkin.
27:09And I don't blame the fans for food.
27:11That was uncalled for.
27:13Okay, don't hit him up to the bell.
27:14The bell clearly sounded, and Akinwande came charging across the ring
27:19to try and nail Zulkin, and he got him, too.
27:21What is it?
27:22Poor Richard Steele is always in some kind of Bermuda Triangle.
27:26Well, you know what happened was, Zulkin just stood there.
27:29Akinwande went to the neutral corner as if it was a knockdown before the bell,
27:32and Richard Steele just stood there like, you know, okay, guys, you can still fight.
27:36No one went down in the bell didn't ring.
27:43He's coming.
27:44He's coming.
27:44You think you're hurt.
27:46Let's take another look.
27:47You understand that?
27:47And listen.
28:00Yeah, but the bell clearly sounded, and Akinwande came rushing across the ring,
28:05and now he has incurred the wrath of this crowd here at the MGM Grand,
28:10and Alex Zulkin has become their man.
28:12Go hold him!
28:13The underdog.
28:14As we have, we just finished saying that the right hand was finding a home.
28:18He hit him two straight good rights, and the third one sent him all the way across.
28:21Now, you know, Zulkin somewhere along the line has got to be told,
28:24there's a right hand coming after every left.
28:26You better start thinking about blocking and countering.
28:28He's not doing either one, neither blocking nor countering.
28:31Akinwande just seemed convinced that he was going to eventually hit the floor as he staggered,
28:34but he didn't, and he just waited for the eight count, which required none,
28:37and then came over in the middle of the rush.
28:39The bell rang, but he was already in the motion, so.
28:41Yeah, but the bell rang clearly, and he ran all the way across.
28:43That was just clearly a foul.
28:45He's lucky they didn't take that round away from him.
28:48Zulkin has never been down in his career.
28:50We asked him, have you ever been down?
28:51He replied, only once in recess, showing his sharp width.
28:56He's funny and a nice guy, but he almost went down that time.
29:00He came close.
29:01For 235 pounds, he doesn't appear to be punching hard enough to get the respect necessary.
29:07Akinwande's got a little bit of extra courage now, having staggered Zulkin already.
29:11Zulkin needs to unload.
29:13There you saw Zulkin in another straight right down the pipe.
29:16Zulkin continues to be the aggressor, pressing the attack.
29:21It is very similar to the fight we had with Joppy a few weeks ago,
29:25where Joppy kept landing the right hand, and the other guy never figured out how to stop it,
29:28and he got eaten up by it.
29:29You can't accept that right hand from this big a guy and not feel it.
29:33I mean, you know, that's going to turn it.
29:35A right uppercut there by Akinwande that just missed.
29:43There's a cut over the right eye of Alex Zulkin, a straight right by Henry Akinwande.
29:48That's the area that we talked about.
29:53The cut gets worse, Ferdy, and that's what originally was the reason he pulled out the first time.
30:00Well, that should start lighting some fires right now.
30:02Zulkin already being seeming a little desperate will now get very desperate.
30:07So the sense of urgency now for the challenger, Alex Zulkin in the red.
30:11As well he should, Bob.
30:12He's being outboxed by this guy.
30:14It's a left jab and a right hand, and a left jab and a right hand.
30:17I mean, you know, come on, start fighting.
30:19And as soon as he gets inside, Ferdy, he gets tied up, and he's allowing it.
30:22He shouldn't allow it.
30:24He's got to work through that.
30:26He's got two problems.
30:27He's got the right hand banging incessantly, and he's got to cut.
30:29A short, crisp, straight right by Henry Akinwande right on the nose of Alex Zulkin,
30:36who's taking some punishment here.
30:38There's another beautiful straight right by Akinwande.
30:42That one Zulkin guarded.
30:45Akinwande now having his way with those right hands.
30:48That right hand is causing damage.
30:50It's a great pace for men this big.
30:54Zulkin's conditioning may play a factor late in this fight if we get there.
31:00As we head for the foul.
31:04Stay to your right, Alex.
31:06Stay to your right.
31:07Don't make no pity on you.
31:10You've got to be quick.
31:10I'm going to tighten up here.
31:11It's my son.
31:12Trump.
31:13Okay, get this on here.
31:15I got it.
31:16I got it.
31:17I'm correct.
31:19You've got to start finishing with your right hand.
31:21You've got to start setting your right hand up.
31:23Don't reach with your left hand.
31:25You understand?
31:26Work off your jab.
31:27Work off your jab.
31:30This guy's kind of ripping out your ass.
31:32I'm sorry.
31:33Stay down and throw straight.
31:36Stay down and throw straight.
31:38Let's take a look at that good stiff right that is peppering Zulkin.
31:42Look at that.
31:42Not once, but many times in each round that's landing.
31:46And by the way, that cut does not look good at all.
32:09That's the first time Zulkin's been off his feet in his career.
32:19So, with about a minute 30 remaining in round four, Zulkin on the canvas with a short, crisp right hand.
32:25And now Akinwani single-minded in purpose, looking to end it.
32:31Akinwani is probably going to load up on the right hand here, but he should just stay with what he's
32:34doing.
32:35Work the jab, throw it right down the middle.
32:37There he is.
32:37See him trying to come just inside the leverage of Zulkin.
32:40Come back.
32:41Henry Akinwani continues to hammer away with that straight right hand.
32:46It is a beauty.
32:48Well, and it was a little delayed effect there, but it's been landing all the time.
32:52And it's just wearing him out so that eventually he'll cave in.
32:55He did just then, but it wasn't hurt, hurt.
32:58It's just exhausting.
32:59It was a flash knockdown.
33:00Less than a minute remaining in round four.
33:04A chopping tomahawk right there by Zulkin, but doing nothing.
33:10See that one shot's not going to work for Zulkin because he's going to get tied up by Akinwani.
33:14Low arms.
33:15Akinwani on the other hand throws two, three, four in combination.
33:18And that's what he has to do.
33:19Vicious straight right hand by Henry Akinwani.
33:22Flush on the face of Zulkin.
33:24He's got Zulkin backing up.
33:26Applying the pressure.
33:28Continues to press.
33:29Back comes Zulkin to the body.
33:31With the left hook, but again, doing no damage.
33:37Right uppercut there by Henry Akinwani, but a glancing blow.
33:41Akinwani's two right hand crazy right now.
33:42He got spoiled by that knockdown.
33:44He got to go back to boxing.
33:46He also remembers what he did to Jeremy Williams, his last fight.
33:49That was with a crisp right hand.
34:00Champ, you can't get in front of this guy and stay.
34:03You got to get on your toes where you can work.
34:06You understand that?
34:06You got to spit on this because you're using Zulcala.
34:09Zulcala.
34:11You got to start to start to start to start.
34:17You got to keep the combination together.
34:19And don't get in front of him.
34:20How are you doing now?
34:21You're good.
34:23Don't get in front of him.
34:24Don't do that.
34:24All right, let's take a look.
34:25Two good looks at this knockdown.
34:27Watch the right hand.
34:28Just keep your eye on the right hand.
34:29Just watch nothing but the right hand.
34:31Here he comes.
34:32Boom.
34:33It's a delayed reaction.
34:35He hit him right.
34:36He kind of slipped and lost his weight.
34:37He wasn't really hurt.
34:38Bobby, let's take another look.
34:40You call it.
34:40You know, as I look at it, Ferdy, he's a nice, clean, little short right hand side, but he's pushed
34:43him.
34:43Watch here.
34:44There's the right hand.
34:45And then he gets pushed.
34:46He's a little bit of a balance.
34:47He slips.
34:48I'm not sure why he didn't argue that that wasn't knocked on that.
34:50As we see it on the replay, it's more of a slip.
34:52Much more of a slip.
35:01There's the jab.
35:02Pretty jab by Akinwani looking to set up the right.
35:06Doubling and tripling up on the jab.
35:11Chopping right by Zulkin but doing nothing.
35:13Akinwani's conditioning now starting to prevail a little bit.
35:16He's starting to be a little more accurate and Akinwani tiring a bit.
35:24Let it go.
35:26Let it go, sir.
35:29Akinwani wearing a knee brace on his left knee.
35:32Do you remember that being there in the Jeremy Williams fight?
35:35Yeah.
35:36I think it was another little trip to the dock.
35:38Here's Flip Hamansky.
35:44Look at me.
35:53It's over.
35:55Hamansky recommends to Richard Steele in the fight.
35:58And that is it here in round 10.
36:00As Henry Akinwani retains his title.
36:03That's a big cut, Steve.
36:04That's a big cut.
36:05I don't mind him because he had no shot.
36:07Look at the big lump he has on his forehead here.
36:10I mean, his whole face was getting battered.
36:11I don't have any objection to that stoppage at all.
36:13I mentioned that earlier.
36:15Not only the cut, but the welt that has turned into a large lump
36:20over the bridge of the nose near the right eye.
36:23Very ugly look.
36:25So Henry Akinwani remains the tallest world champion in history
36:29as he retains his WBO title.
36:31Also remains undefeated now at 31-0
36:34in his first defense of the championship.
36:38Now we're ready.
36:40Ladies and gentlemen,
36:41we have the time of 2 minutes 32 seconds of round number 10.
36:45Our referee in charge, Richard Steele,
36:48stops the contest on advice of ringside physician
36:50Dr. Flip Hamansky.
36:53We're ready.
36:53We're ready.
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