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2000 US Olympian Ricardo Williams Jr faces Rodney Jones on HBO Boxing After Dark
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00:00HBO, the heart and soul of boxing.
00:06The crowd of nearly 5,000 here in Little Rock, Arkansas just settling into their seats,
00:11getting ready for our second bout between Ricardo Williams Jr. and Rodney Jones.
00:16Ricardo Williams was touted as possibly the most talented member of the 2000 Olympic boxing squad.
00:23And so far as a pro, he's 3-0.
00:25One of his fights ended with a no contest.
00:28He definitely has exceptional speed with his hands and his feet.
00:32But so far, the knock on Williams Jr. has been, where is the power?
00:36Let's bring in Kevin Kelly once again.
00:39Ricardo Williams Jr. told us yesterday that he feels so far he's actually ahead of schedule.
00:44Do you buy that?
00:45I believe he's right on schedule.
00:47The quality of opponents, I could put him a little bit ahead
00:50because he's fighting guys with a lot more experience than usual.
00:53But I think he's progressing very nicely.
00:56He has these attributes of speed mixed with movement and angles.
01:01You know, yeah, a little punch and power can be added to the picture, but that'll come in time.
01:04Like I said, you've got to remember, he's only got four fights.
01:07Jones has been in the ring with a couple of champions,
01:10lightweight champion Paul Spadafora and also featherweight champion Eric Morales.
01:14He says, since this is Williams' first eight-round fight,
01:17that he's going to try and stretch the action into the later rounds
01:20and then test the reserve tank of Ricardo Williams.
01:24Do you think that strategy could work?
01:25Well, with Eric Morales' fight, you've got to say he's fighting a featherweight.
01:28With Spadafora, he's fighting a lightweight.
01:30So there is a weight difference there.
01:31I believe that as he tries to extend the movement and his speed, it doesn't slow down.
01:37We're not talking about a guy that's throwing exceptionally hard punches round to round in Ricardo Williams.
01:41I still believe that Ricardo Williams' movement and his speed and watch the Spadafora fight
01:46gave Rodney Jones a lot of trouble.
01:48Okay, let's take a look at the tail of the tape now for this junior-wathlete bout
01:51between Ricardo Williams Jr. and Rodney Jones.
01:55Jones, 10 years older than Williams, and there you see the height advantage for Williams.
02:00Four and a half inches over Jones, and also Williams with the reach advantage at four inches.
02:06Both fighters weighing in at the contracted weight of 141 pounds,
02:10and as they stepped on our unofficial HBO scales tonight, it's Jones gaining nine pounds.
02:16Rules of the bout now with our unofficial ringside scorer, Julie Letterman.
02:20The Ricardo Williams-Rodney Jones bout is scheduled for eight rounds
02:24using the unified rules of the Association of Boxing Commission.
02:27There is no three-knockdown rule.
02:29Only the referee can stop the fight.
02:32In case the fight has to be stopped due to an accidental foul,
02:35you go to the scorecards after four rounds,
02:37and you cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
02:40Fran.
02:41All right, it's time for Rodney Jones to make his way to the ring.
02:45Jones fighting out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
02:48He's been a pro for nearly six years,
02:52and as we mentioned, he's been in with some pretty stiff competition.
02:56He says he's going to try to keep himself up inside of Williams' chest to slow him down.
03:04Well, I asked him a major question.
03:05I said, that's fine and dandy.
03:07He's saying you're going to be in his chest, but how do you plan on getting there?
03:10There's one thing I'm saying what you want to do,
03:12and there's another thing about going and doing it.
03:21Rodney Jones comes into this fight with a record of 25-3 with 12 knockouts.
03:27And in his last five fights, he's 2-3.
03:30His last fight was a loss to Denmark fighter Thomas Danfard.
03:36Up-and-coming data.
03:37All right, let's send it over now
03:40as Ricardo Williams Jr. is ready to make his way to the ring.
03:57When we talked to Ricardo Williams yesterday,
04:01I asked him, what are you like best about being a professional?
04:04He said he likes the checks.
04:05He can keep the amateur trophies and the medals on the mantle.
04:10Let him collect dust.
04:11Right now, he likes the authority of being a professional,
04:14and he likes the checks.
04:16Well, the big thing is, of course, everybody likes the money.
04:18It does help out.
04:19But I tell you, the big thing we like watching as fans
04:22is his movement, his ability, and his speed.
04:27He definitely is the most polished of the group that we have seen so far.
04:34Ricardo Williams Jr. comes in with an undefeated mark of 3-0 with two knockouts.
04:39He also mentioned the one-note contest.
04:41He's a 2000 Olympic silver medalist.
04:45As you watch tonight, you can log on to HBO.com slash boxing
04:49where you'll find our Boxing Alert newsletter,
04:51keeping you up to date with the latest boxing news,
04:54fine announcements, and more.
04:55Don't forget to check out the latest installment of our popular
04:58Where Are They Now? series featuring former lightweight champion
05:02Ray Boom Boom Mancini.
05:03He's trying to make a career in Hollywood.
05:09All right, let's send it inside the ring now to Mark Thero
05:12for the official free fight introductions.
05:15Ladies and gentlemen,
05:17DiBella Entertainment in association with
05:19Lights Out Productions and Budweiser,
05:22This Bud's For You presents this next contest
05:26eight rounds junior welterweights.
05:29Your judges at ringside are
05:32from Texas, Ray Hawkins,
05:35from Tennessee, David Hudson,
05:38and from Arkansas, Jim Lindberg.
05:42Your referee for this event,
05:45once again, from Dallas, Texas,
05:49Lawrence Cole.
05:52Introducing now the principal's first
05:55in the blue corner to my left,
05:58wearing the All-American red, white, and blue,
06:01and weighing in at 141 pounds.
06:05His professional record reads
06:0725 victories,
06:09three defeats,
06:10and 12 wins coming by way of knockout.
06:13He hails from Fort Smith, Arkansas.
06:16Here is Rodney Pitbull-Jones.
06:22Jones.
06:24His opponent in the red corner,
06:27wearing the red sequined drums,
06:29and weighing in at 140 and a quarter pounds.
06:33He is undefeated in three professional bouts.
06:38Two wins coming by way of knockout.
06:40He hails from Cincinnati, Ohio.
06:43Here is the 2000 U.S. Olympic silver medalist,
06:50Ricardo Slickrick Williams Jr.
06:55Williams Jr.
06:568 rounds, Jr. Welterweight.
07:01All right, gentlemen,
07:02I gave your instruction,
07:02girl, in the dressing room.
07:03I want you to obey my commands.
07:04Direct shots all times.
07:06Touch them up.
07:07Good luck.
07:09Rodney Jones says he plans to cut off the ring.
07:12He told us yesterday he's going to fight this fight
07:15in a phone booth.
07:17Whether he can catch the quick Williams
07:21is another question.
07:29As we begin the first of a scheduled eight-round
07:31junior walkway bout
07:34between Jones and Williams.
07:48Rodney Jones comes in here
07:49with a record of 25-3.
07:54One thing you have to give
07:55Ricardo Williams credit,
07:56and most of these Olympians
07:58that we've seen on HBO,
08:00is that they haven't come in
08:02against the normal
08:06stick competition
08:08to build their records.
08:10There's been some pretty
08:12competitive fights.
08:13Well, the major thing here is that
08:15they're coming along at a pace
08:17where they're not being baby
08:20so much.
08:21you're seeing the Olympics
08:22and knowing what they have
08:23rather than waiting
08:25until they get in a 20th
08:26or 34th fight.
08:28And there's been an error
08:28in the past
08:29on some Olympian fighters.
08:33Williams is southpaw
08:34and next to the straight
08:35left hand.
08:37And you've also got to remember
08:38that Williams is in southpaw.
08:40Standing lefty,
08:41and that's one thing
08:43that Jones has to deal with.
09:01I'm not seeing a lot of jabbing
09:03I expected from the power of Williams.
09:05He has very quick hands,
09:06and I expected much more
09:08combination of punching
09:09off the jab.
09:11He's more or less surveying
09:13his landscaping right now.
09:14And the team with Jones
09:15has to offer
09:16before he attacks.
09:19Williams comes upstairs
09:20with another straight left hand.
09:25You'll also see
09:26Ricardo Williams
09:28use his quickness
09:29to step back
09:31and then fire a quick counter.
09:33The one thing Jones
09:34is not doing right away,
09:35he says he's going to be
09:36in the chest of Ricardo Williams,
09:38and it seems like
09:38Ricardo Williams
09:39is in the chest of Jones.
09:40That's right.
09:41Plenty of room
09:41as Williams down.
09:44Unveiling a combination.
09:56Another amazing thing tonight
09:57that we're not seeing,
09:58we're not seeing
09:59the use of
10:00radio-spotting gloves
10:01for the city of Punch's glove,
10:02but seeing Everlast
10:03where most fighters feel
10:04that they don't produce
10:05knockoffs with.
10:07The thinking being
10:09that there's a lot
10:10of padding
10:10on Soprania the glove.
10:12Well,
10:13saying is a lot more,
10:13Freddy.
10:15Little rough
10:16house tactics
10:17by Rodney Jones
10:19as the first round
10:21comes from the close
10:22and Lawrence Cole
10:23administering
10:24a strong warning.
10:28Hey!
10:28good job,
10:41good job.
10:44Good job,
10:45good job.
10:50Good job.
10:58Keep making a miss.
10:59All right?
11:00Once you get in, when you're grabbing, let go of it, work in there.
11:04That's going to be where you're going to get to work, okay?
11:07There you go.
11:08Aces out.
11:09Aces out.
11:09We're down past the first round now.
11:12Okay?
11:13You're going to make them work.
11:15Hold on.
11:15Get up for you.
11:16Step number, man.
11:17It's going to be right where you want to be.
11:18Put it together, baby.
11:19Put it together.
11:20Don't rush it.
11:24The boys in Ricardo Williams Jr.'s corner.
11:28It's his father, Ricardo Williams Sr., telling his son,
11:33be patient and go to work to the body.
11:37Very smart tactic because Rodney Jones has seemed to take a lot of headshots early
11:42and you've got to start wearing down your opponent.
11:44He's teaching him how to slow down your man and wear him out a little bit.
11:51Jones following.
11:52Williams following his father's advice.
12:03He's still waiting for his attack.
12:04Rodney Jones told us the fighter means that he would attack and be in the chest of Ricardo
12:10Williams.
12:15I think two things are bothering Rodney Jones.
12:18The hand speed is number one and the southpaw of Ricardo Williams is definitely bothering us.
12:25He's got to figure those things out before he can get in the chest of Ricardo Williams.
12:35A list of accolades from Williams Jr. Amateur career.
12:40Long, two-time junior Olympic champ, two-time junior world champ, two-time national champ,
12:45national gold gloves champ, 98 gold medals at the Goodwill Games,
12:49all before the age of 17.
12:53Had over 200 amateur fights.
12:56Jones may be hurt.
12:58Sticks out his tongue, says, I'm all right, bring it on.
13:00And Williams obliges.
13:02Two straight lefts upstairs.
13:05Now, this is where Williams, as a seasoned professional, you see, didn't attack.
13:10Jones, he kept his distance, he kicked his punches.
13:13There are some things here that definitely Williams is doing, which is very seasoned as we fall in boxing.
13:22He's going back downstairs to the body.
13:24Very, very important as a young fighter up-and-coming to know how to stay to the body,
13:2950 shots, no more holding, understand?
13:34Box!
13:49Jones, taking plenty of leather from the quick and elusive Ricardo Williams.
13:55That's right.
14:08Both fighters firing blows, but it's Ricardo Williams' shot to the chest and he drops Rodney Jones.
14:19They both throw a hook, but Steve got there first.
14:23Oh, my God!
14:48Look, he's getting wild on that inside, Rodney.
14:53You just got to keep your cool when you're coming up.
14:55Keep that shot tight when you're coming back with a punch.
14:58That's when you make a miss.
14:59I'm on the chin.
15:00Don't worry about the top of the head.
15:01Bring him up.
15:02Yeah, you're going to hit your hand.
15:03All I want to see you do, make him a couple times, see if he's going to duck down in
15:07today.
15:08How's your hand?
15:09He's going beautiful, baby.
15:10Carry a little bit back.
15:11Huh?
15:11All his power, I took his power tonight.
15:13Here we take a look at the knockdown.
15:15Ricardo Williams throwing his shot.
15:17Don't throw in the hook.
15:18Ricardo Williams being the faster the two gets there first.
15:22Here's another look at it.
15:24You see the same thing.
15:25Both of them throwing hooks.
15:26Ricardo Williams' hook getting there first.
15:28He's quicker.
15:28He's faster.
15:30Results, Rodney Jones gets up.
15:40All right, let's bring in Julie Letterman to see how she has the fight scored through
15:44two rounds.
15:44Cran, this is all Ricardo Williams Jr. with his aggression like he's doing right here.
15:49He's landing all the cleaner shots, especially head shots.
15:52I mean, Rodney Jones is taking a lot of head shots.
15:54They've got a 20-17, an extra point for Williams to the knockdown.
15:58Two rounds to nothing of Ricardo Williams.
16:05It's obvious right now, Jones is having problems with Williams' speed.
16:09And Kevin, big left hand busts right through to the fence of Rodney Jones.
16:15Kevin, is there anything negative that you see in Ricardo Williams' arsenal?
16:21Not at all.
16:22He's doing some very good things here.
16:25Set up his punches, stepping away.
16:26He's keeping his distance.
16:29I don't think he's jabbed me a little bit more than he's jabbing, setting up his shots.
16:33Other than that, everything else he's doing is great.
16:37Look at the blistering shots.
16:38I mean, great hand speed, great showmanship.
16:41He has a lot of tools right now, the seasoned profession.
16:46Nice quick counter with the right hand from Williams, catches Jones to the side of the head.
17:01And choosing an opponent for Ricardo Williams for his fifth foul.
17:09Nice body shot from Ricardo Williams to the midsection of Jones.
17:14Catches Jones now with three overhand left.
17:19And Jones wants to showboat.
17:34Target practice for Ricardo Williams in the third round.
17:43Kevin, why would a fighter continue to stick his tongue out and play games when he continues to get peppered?
17:49Well, he's frustrated.
17:51He doesn't know how to get to Ricardo Williams.
17:52And out of all that frustration, he's figuring if he can piss off Ricardo Williams, maybe he can get lucky
17:57with a good shot.
17:58And out of all that frustration, he can get lucky with a good shot.
18:00And out of all that frustration, he can get lucky with a good shot.
18:02Williams now buying in, strong shot to the body.
18:07Jones takes him in.
18:09Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
18:22Ricardo Williams, Jr.
18:24Daniel, dancing on the ropes, earns the third knockout in his young professional career as Rodney Jones
18:32gets up immediately after the ten count and not a moment before.
18:38Well, body shots will do that to you.
18:40They are very discouraging shots, I'll tell you that.
18:50Williams clearly faster.
18:52You're fighting, man.
18:53You're fighting, man.
18:54Clearly more poised.
18:58And there were questions about Ricardo Williams' power.
19:02Did he show you something tonight?
19:03Ain't that no better than me?
19:04Very good question, Carlos.
19:06If y'all sing, rap, no questions.
19:08I mean, it eventually comes.
19:09He's early in his career yet.
19:10It will come.
19:13He got a knockout tonight.
19:15So, I mean, you stop the man who Morales knocked out in one.
19:19It's about a forward to distance.
19:20He's in the ring, sweetheart.
19:22So, when I tell you after your announcement to come with me, come just to you, okay, babe?
19:27They say we don't hit all.
19:29Here we take a look at the end of the fight.
19:31As you see, they were going head and head.
19:33But the body shot is the one that did it.
19:35Right to that right hook to the solar plex area, which stopped Rodney Jones.
19:40Here we look at it again.
19:41The torn and the teasing of.
19:43And then the body shot right there.
19:44Oh, that hurt me.
19:48Here we take another look at it.
19:50The same hook.
19:51Hand speed dominates.
19:52It was two body shots that took Rodney Jones down.
19:55He would not get up.
20:05All right.
20:06Let's send it in now to ring announcer Mark Fero for the official decision.
20:12Ladies and gentlemen, the time, two minutes, 38 seconds of the third round, the winner by
20:21knockout and still undefeated, Ricardo Slickrick Williams, Jr.
20:33They got, guys, move out of the way so they can get those pictures.
20:37Ricardo Williams earns his third knockout, his fourth victory on his young professional career.
20:46Let's take a look at some final punch stat numbers.
20:52The total punches, as you see, clearly dominated by Williams, throwing 180, landing 102 for a 57% clip.
21:01Jones throwing 55 and landing just 13.
21:04And now we take a look at the power punches.
21:09And that's where you can see Ricardo Williams concentrated.
21:12The power area, the shots to the body are the ones that ended up crippling Jones in a route to
21:18Williams earning his fourth victory.
21:21Ricardo Williams joins me now live.
21:24Ricardo, Jones came in with a record of 25 and 3.
21:27You didn't look at all intimidated by the fact that here's a guy who's been in the ring with the
21:31likes of champion Spadafore and a champion in Eric Morales.
21:34Well, you know, came in with a record of 25 and 3.
21:39And, you know, I really paid an attention.
21:41You know, I did all I was supposed to do in training.
21:43So I was fully prepared.
21:44You know, it's the first time I went to camp.
21:46So I could have went eight rounds if I had to, maybe 10.
21:49First of all, I'd like to thank God, you know, for giving me, you know, bless me with the ability
21:53to perform like I did.
21:55Okay, a knockout in the second round and a knockout in the third round.
21:58We're going to take a look now here at the end of the fight.
22:02Your father gave you good advice in the corner.
22:04Make sure you work the body and it seemed like you paid attention.
22:07Yes, I did.
22:08You know, he came out throwing a lot of hard shots up top.
22:12And, you know, I was throwing some body shots early in the first round, you know, just jabbing them up
22:16and down.
22:16And I seen that the body shots took it out of him.
22:18So, you know, I pity pat him to the head because he was a clown in a little bit.
22:21As soon as I brought it down to the body, it was over.
22:24Yes, sir.
22:25He did a lot of messing around with you.
22:28He was sticking out your tongue at all.
22:29Were you at all rattled by that?
22:31I know I was.
22:32You know, we do a lot of things like that in the gym.
22:34But, you know, you see what the end result was.
22:36You know, let me say what's up to Cincinnati.
22:38We represented again.
22:40AT, keep your head up.
22:41Good luck in the Goodwill Games, baby.
22:42What's up, little Al?
22:43One more question for you.
22:44You told us yesterday that you believe you were ahead of schedule.
22:48Kevin Kelly says you're right on schedule.
22:50Your thoughts now after your fifth fight and your fourth victory?
22:54I feel like I'm ahead of schedule still.
22:56You know, that's a lot of things that I have to learn as a professional.
22:59But, you know, that's what anybody, you know.
23:02I'm just coming out the amateurs.
23:03So it's a lot of things I still have to learn.
23:05Okay, Ricardo Williams, Jr., congratulations.
23:08We look forward to seeing you in the future.
23:10Still to come, it's what the house is waiting for.
23:13Little Rock, Arkansas' own Jermaine Taylor will take on that man, Efren Garcia.
23:18Garcia taking the fight on just eight days' notice.
23:22Taylor stretching, getting ready to put on a performance in front of his home crowd.
23:27First, though, let's take a look at some upcoming HBO boxing programming.
23:33For boxing, mark these dates on your calendar.
23:36September 8th, Boxing After Dark returns with a doubleheader featuring Marco Antonio Barrera.
23:41Fresh off his victory over Nassim Hamed, Barrera faces the always-tough Enrique Sanchez.
23:47Also, undefeated cruiserweight champion Vasily Jirov will take on Julian Lederlof.
23:52One week later, September 15th, TVKO Pay-Per-View brings you Felix Tito Trinidad versus Bernard Hopkins
23:59in a much-anticipated showdown for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world.
24:03And on September 22nd, World Championship Boxing is back with Fernando Vargas and Shibata Flores
24:10facing off for a 154-pound title.
24:14HBO, the heart and soul of boxing.
24:19Two fights are in the books.
24:21Now we await the third.
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