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Undefeated WBC Strawweight Champion Ricardo Lopez faces WBO champion Alex Sanchez in a unification fight on Showtime PPV from Madison Square Garden in NYC
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00:00Pride have always been part of the sweet science.
00:02Today, one of boxing's most intriguing rivalries
00:06is between the fans of Mexico and Puerto Rico.
00:14Mexico has produced an astounding 69 champions,
00:18while the small commonwealth of Puerto Rico
00:20has an equally amazing total of 30 champions.
00:25First, you have to understand that the Puerto Ricans and Mexicans
00:28are the two Hispanic communities
00:30that have produced the most champions
00:32in the history of boxing, from Latin America, that is.
00:36The rivalry has thrived because of the machismo
00:39inherent in both cultures,
00:40and because they both produce fighters
00:43in the lighter weight division.
00:45Plus, the contrasting styles of Mexican and Puerto Rican boxers
00:48often produce fascinating fights.
00:51It just seems that, for some reason,
00:53when the Puerto Ricans fight the Mexicans
00:54or the Mexicans versus Puerto Ricans,
00:56they always get up to the fight,
00:57and they make for memorable fights.
00:59It's just been a long, long war.
01:08Well, that so-called war continues this evening.
01:12Nationalistic fervor and pride will no doubt be in evidence
01:14here tonight at Madison Square Garden.
01:16Lopez and Sanchez goes beyond two men trying to unify a title
01:19as the boxing rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico rages on.
01:23We turn back to the fight, Dr. Ferdi Pacheco.
01:26What are the fundamental differences in style
01:29between fighters from Mexico and Puerto Rico, Ferdi?
01:31Well, I think we go first to something they have in common big time,
01:35and that is inhuman courage.
01:36I mean, these two countries produce fighters
01:39who have to fight every minute of every round.
01:42And I'm speaking now in generalities.
01:44I think the audiences make the difference.
01:45The Mexican audience won't take anything less than an all-out assault
01:50from the first round on.
01:51They want to see action from the first round.
01:53A Puerto Rican audience is more willing to watch the guy develop
01:56and fight beautiful fights.
01:57That's not saying there aren't many great Mexican fighters,
02:00obviously, who are exceptions to that rule
02:02because of Salvador Sanchez, Monzón, great fighters.
02:04But the Mexican fighter is straight ahead from the time he's a kid.
02:09In the gym, wherever you go, straight-ahead action.
02:11Never quit, never stop.
02:13Let me ask you, will Lopez become number one
02:15in the hearts of Mexican fans if he wins here tonight?
02:18That's a wonderful question.
02:18I think he's over the hit, overdue, overdue for that popularity.
02:23Yes, I think he's starting to go on as the tide goes out for Chavez.
02:28This guy comes in, and he's well due.
02:30He's won 20 fights in championships.
02:32All of us in boxing can see he's the best boxer going with one exception or two.
02:37For me, he's the best.
02:38For us, he's the best.
02:39Yes, I think it's due.
02:41It should be coming to him if he looks good to me.
02:44All right, well, Alex Sanchez didn't particularly distinguish himself all that much
02:48in his last fight against a fighter named Victor Burgos.
02:50Bobby, is he in the same class, the same league as Lopez?
02:53Personally, from my mind, no one is in the same league at 105 pounds as Ricardo Lopez.
02:58He's in a league of his own by himself, and he has no peer.
03:01At the same time, that's not to take away from Sanchez.
03:03He's an excellent boxer puncher, and if he rises to the occasion and Lopez is less than
03:07perfect, we could have ourselves a beautiful little war.
03:09Lopez is so disciplined, surgical-like, relentless, fundamentally sound.
03:14Let's go inside the ropes.
03:15Take us into the style of Ricardo Lopez.
03:18Absolutely, Steve.
03:19Ricardo Lopez always has his hands up.
03:20He's always ready to fight, ready to punch.
03:22He's always well-balanced.
03:24And I'll tell you what, when he gets his stuff together, it's a dangerous time.
03:27All right, so we'll see what happens between Ricardo Lopez and Alex Sanchez as we get more
03:34on the style of the great fighter from Mexico.
03:37Here you see him, hands up, always ready to punch.
03:38He slips against Villamar.
03:40Left uppercut on the bunt.
03:42All 105 pounds is behind it.
03:43His leg spring went down and up and in.
03:45And then defensively, as we'll see him in the next clip with Andy Depanis, he throws a nice
03:50one-two, sticks a nice right hand over the top, and he's ready to block.
03:54And watch the counter over his head.
03:56Slips it.
03:57Steps off.
03:58He's hard to hit twice.
03:59Never once.
04:00Never mind twice with clean punches.
04:02Hands always up.
04:02Body always in the right position offensively and defensively.
04:05The epitome of the sweet science.
04:07And Bobby Ches, the man who will be inside the ropes with Ricardo Lopez, the WBO champion,
04:13Alex Nene Sanchez.
04:15And he will have the crowd support from Puerto Rico.
04:18He's made six successful defenses of his title, holding the belt since 1993, but only one title
04:23defense in the last two years.
04:29Day
04:31Day
04:33Day
04:34Thank you very much.
05:09Thank you very much.
06:03Thank you very much.
06:33Thank you very much.
06:34And we'll take you to the WBC champion waiting in the wings undefeated Ricardo Lopez is the flag of Mexico
06:41boxing's longest reigning champ 19 consecutive successful title defenses.
06:46Through almost seven years.
06:48Thank you very much.
07:53And it's onBI bad break right Mike.
08:07carries himself with such a class and dignity bobby there are those who feel that to really
08:11solidify his greatness he needs to move up to improve his level of competition fight the top
08:17junior flyweights or flyweights remember too he's 30 years old what do you think you know if he hasn't
08:22moved up yet it's a possibility that he's just that's where he is he's 105 pounder the best i've
08:27ever seen and certainly universal fighters at 105 steve is small so maybe he has to go grow up
08:32excuse me go up and grow in weight a little bit to show people just how great he is but
08:37he's great regardless all right let's check the numbers as we go to the tail of the tape
08:42although lopez who turned 30 last month is six years older he has the height and reach
08:47advantages over sanchez the man called nanae as in a little child is only 5-1 lopez is over
08:54four inches taller with a four inch edge in reach and they're going with a wbc wbo
09:02combination for this title unification fight we'll check the main items here no standing eight
09:08count the three knockdown rule is in effect only the referee can stop it a fighter cannot be saved by
09:14the bell except in the final round if an accidental fall occurs before the bell to start the fourth round
09:21the fight is a technical draw if it happens after the start of the fourth they go to the scorecard
09:26so here
09:27at madison square guard we are getting ready for the wbc wbo 105 pound unification bout between
09:34ricardo lopez and alex sanchez let's get the free fight amenities from our ring announcer jimmy lennon jr
09:42ladies and gentlemen before we present our action in this bout at this time we'd like to ask you to
09:47rise for the respective anthems of both of the boxers in the ring we begin with the puerto rican anthem
09:54la borinquenia and to lead us at this time ladies and general please welcome world-renowned salsa vocalist
10:01and the montañez
10:04and the montañez
10:3112achtet- HIELY LOCUM
10:3115%agus
10:3715%
10:38B
10:38B
10:39B
10:39B
10:39Les sirve de doser y dan arrullos placidos
10:50Las olas a sus pies cuando a sus playas llegó color
10:59El clamo lleno de admiración
11:07Oh, esta es la linda tierra que busco yo
11:21Es por Inquén la hija, la hija del mar y el sol
11:30Del mar y el sol
11:36Del mar y el sol
11:40Del mar y el sol
11:49Nuestra nación
12:01And thank you very much Andy Montañez
12:05Please remain standing ladies and gentlemen
12:08For this time we play the national anthem of Mexico
12:12Let's go
12:13Let's go
12:14Let's go
12:39Let's go
12:42Oh, oh, oh, oh.
12:50Oh, oh, oh, oh.
13:47Oh, oh, oh.
13:54Oh, oh, oh.
14:34Oh, oh, oh, oh.
14:54Oh, oh, oh, oh.
15:13Oh, oh.
15:33Oh, oh, oh, oh.
16:23Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
16:24He has eight of his last nine
16:26wins by knockout Alex Sanchez a
16:29stable mate of tonight's
16:30headliner Felix printed dad and
16:32the white with the green trim and
16:34guess what Lopez in the white
16:36with the green trim but it says
16:39Nene on the front of Sanchez where
16:44you can tell the difference in
16:45the two fighters is the one with
16:46the jab and look at that says
16:48Ricardo on the front of Lopez
16:51always has his hands up I think
16:53you made a strong point of that
16:54so disciplined you know he really
16:56is hands are always up feet are
16:57always ready to move bend shift
16:59his reflexes are excellent he just
17:01threw a nice straight right hand
17:02down the middle and Nene Sanchez is
17:04going to have to get in the middle
17:05he's gonna have to come to the
17:07power of Ricardo Lopez and that
17:09has to be a nightmare right now he
17:11hasn't figured out how to block the
17:12jab real good he's getting it in
17:14Ricardo's getting it in with his
17:15usual efficiency and that usually
17:18means bad news because something's
17:19coming right behind it Lopez who
17:22epitomizes the term sweet science
17:24true craftsman tremendous
17:26combination puncher does have one
17:29punch power or though he doesn't
17:31fashion himself in that vein
17:33excellent defensive fighter
17:34beautiful stance brilliant ring
17:37technician systematic consistent
17:41surgical like meanwhile Alex
17:45Sanchez tough straight ahead
17:46fighter not bad fundamentally pretty
17:48good job an action fighter his best
17:51weapon is the left hook right now
17:54he's making a profession of eating
17:56leather because he's not throwing
17:57much and Ricardo's doing just
17:59about anything he wants to
18:00Sanchez yeah he's the shorter of a
18:02fighter he's got less than height
18:03less than reach he has to get on
18:05the inside inside and neutralize
18:07Ricardo Lopez's leverage because
18:08here's a guy who's perfect at
18:10everything inside and out certainly
18:11from the outside Sanchez has no
18:13chance Lopez a master of the
18:15uppercut is about four inches
18:17taller than Sanchez and he has a
18:20reach advantage of four inches
18:22well one of one of the things
18:24pounding shots off the head by as
18:26we're amazed by his variety of
18:28assault weapons you got to look at
18:30his defense stop a minute and
18:32watch when the other guy throws a
18:33punch this guy I mean he goes how
18:35not to be there I mean he is so
18:37beautiful in defense he's so
18:38elusive we've likened it to a
18:40basketball situation where he just
18:43does it at both ends you know when
18:46we joke with him about being one
18:47of the best if not the best
18:48powerful panties oh no Roy Jones
18:50De La Hoya Felix Trinidad he
18:52doesn't give himself any credit
18:54he's so modest in he he knows he's
18:56good but he doesn't think he is
18:58the the best and I think that's
19:00so refreshing in this age of
19:01blowhards nice right hook there by
19:06Ricardo Lopez getting the crowd
19:08going final seconds of the opening
19:10round scheduled for 12 for the
19:11unification WBC WBO 105 pound title
19:15that's a mouthful nice right hand
19:17by Sanchez is best punching
19:19around and good defense here by
19:21Sanchez ducking out of those shots
19:24by Lopez what a boxing point
19:48he says when he throws a right hand his
19:51hands are very high he's leaving his
19:54liver and his midsection exposed when
19:57he comes in with that right hand his
19:58hands are up go right to the liver
20:00go right with your hardest shot to
20:02the liver and of course he does what
20:04his corner tells him pretty well
20:13he said stand in front of him at all
20:15times don't run away from this guy
20:23that's what the fans want to say look at
20:25the hands up again by Ricardo Lopez
20:27that guy must sleep with his hands up
20:30he cuts up from the chair with his
20:31hands up even if he's got 20 seconds
20:33to go before the bell gosh that guy
20:35has trained trained himself to be a
20:38fine defensive fighter well round one
20:40was fought mostly at a respectful
20:42distance we'll see what happens here
20:44in round number two Lopez when asked
20:47yesterday what does unification mean
20:49to him he said it's just another
20:50fight when asked if winning all the
20:53belts would be special he said no
20:54when asked what would be a special
20:56win for him he said they're all
20:58special this guy has a future in
21:00politics yeah I don't believe he's
21:03sitting on the fence I believe he's
21:04actually earnest so maybe politics
21:06would not be good but he's very
21:08much oh good point he's very modest
21:09very humble as you mentioned he
21:11thinks Jones De La Hoya and
21:13Trinidad are better than him I would
21:16say better or as good oh there he
21:18goes straight right hand and down
21:20goes Sanchez Alex Sanchez down for
21:23the first time in his career six
21:26seven eight he'll get up at eight
21:29he took the a count on his knee he
21:30doesn't seem to be really hurt but
21:32that right hand was sweet and he
21:33looks to finish it here in the
21:35second round 55 seconds and a long
21:37way to go for Sanchez in round two
21:43look at I put that uppercut in
21:45combination by Lopez for the head
21:47of Sanchez surgical light
21:48everything though beautiful
21:49uppercut down the middle right
21:50hand over the top followed by
21:51jab there again the uppercut a
21:53little sloppy at that time but he
21:54does so much so well and he could
21:56get away with almost anything it's
21:57scary continues to get through the
21:59gloves I wish he weighed the same
22:01famous Prince Nazeem I met oh the
22:04Prince is 126 featherweight champion
22:08and Lopez 105 the thing is good
22:10about him he doesn't go crazy and
22:12the guy down he just goes right
22:13back to boxing he knows it will
22:14come yes does exactly what got him
22:17out there such patience what we talked
22:25about in some of the inside the
22:27ropes his balance is always perfect
22:28his hands are always in the right
22:29position his body's ready to move
22:31his feet well under him it doesn't
22:34have been sold well it was a
22:35straight right hand that put Sanchez
22:37down for the first time ever look at
22:39this exchange tone it took wild
22:40swing and a miss with a left hook
22:42by Sanchez he's eating a lot of
22:43punches though Sanchez chances
22:45landed a couple of good shots but
22:47the effects are almost none another
22:49left by Lopez straight left hand
22:53powers both hands and he knows how
22:58to finish
23:06Sanchez
23:07Sanchez landed a nice right hand
23:08here
23:09wrestling tactics by Sanchez Lopez's
23:13counter not too effective and they
23:15got a little tied up
23:18here's more frustration in a man
23:19this sport get great defense by
23:22Ricardo Lopez big round for the
23:25champion Ricardo Lopez the WP
23:43B.C. champion
23:44We're going to have the luxury of
23:46three looks at this knockdown and
23:48keep your eye on the right hand
23:50there you go it's just a picture
23:53perfect he was turning him and
23:54landed the right hand what Bobby
23:56take a look at it from the other
23:57right we've got a little more of a
23:58close-up of it you'll see Lopez
24:00against hands always in position
24:01throws a nice right hand and
24:02there he is right back right back
24:04keeps his hands up timing's
24:05perfect but name a little off
24:07balance you know shot Bobby the
24:09thing is he keeps his eyes open
24:11all I mean he's like he knows
24:12where everything is the shot was
24:14open he landed it right there I
24:15mean the man is a perfect half of
24:22Lopez's thirty four knockouts are in
24:24three rounds or less as we enter
24:26round three Lopez asserting himself
24:28knocking the other champ down at
24:30the fifty five second mark of
24:31round two a stumble off balance
24:36Sanchez there was some bad
24:39intention on that left hook
24:40indeed you've got to land squarely
24:46hand right there fortunately for Sanchez
24:48the WBO mini flyweight champion
24:52Sanchez cannot stay outside at this
24:54range you'd be Lopez you can't do
24:56it Lopez look at how he punches
24:58look at the leverage against from the
24:59outside Sanchez has to smother those
25:01punches walk to hands up firing
25:04inside and rip them up Sanchez has
25:07never been in there with anybody
25:10I mean it don't seem like they're
25:12going to do any damage.
25:13We keep seeing them knock out
25:14people with those uppercuts.
25:17Nice combination by both men.
25:26Lopez 45 and 0 20 and 0 in
25:29world title bouts his 20th title
25:30defense.
25:33Staggering numbers undefeated as
25:35well as an amateur in 40 fights
25:3785 and 0 all the time.
25:38Well told right now Sanchez 2 is
25:41about the best there is at this
25:43weight for Ricardo Lopez to face
25:46and it's not even a question as
25:48to who's the better fighter right
25:48now.
25:50The other champions are far from
25:54household names.
25:59It's even hard to pronounce their
26:00name.
26:01Rosendo Alvarez of Nicaragua but
26:03here's the tough one.
26:04Ratan Salvador Finn from Thailand.
26:08He is the IVF champ.
26:09I'll raise the WBO.
26:13Well I got to give him any
26:15credit at least he's been hurt in
26:16both rounds and he still is
26:18standing in front of him still
26:19bringing the fight.
26:20Well he came to the fight for it
26:21was no question in my mind that
26:23he would.
26:23He came to fight he's here to win
26:25this fight.
26:25Can he do it.
26:26That's another question.
26:28Pretty good counter there.
26:29Straight left by Sanchez at
26:30back.
26:31Lopez up momentarily.
26:35No pulling down Sanchez being
26:38cautioned being warned by about
26:41pulling Lopez down.
26:43Lopez answers back with a left
26:44uppercut to the midsection.
26:45Well that one started way back
26:47there.
26:48That was a long uppercut.
26:49Seems like you could count of
26:50that.
26:51South of the corner by the
26:53Mexico.
26:56under 30 seconds in round three.
27:03Lopez just takes his time when
27:04he wants boxes when he wants.
27:06We got caught with a nice left
27:07hook right hand.
27:08Got another right hand.
27:09Alex Sanchez having his best time
27:12now.
27:12He says come on back.
27:13Come on in.
27:14Urging Lopez in.
27:15Knock it off.
27:20Final seconds of round three.
27:21Big finish by Sanchez.
27:25Let's get it over to Jim Gray
27:26with Jose Torres.
27:28Jim.
27:29All right.
27:29Thank you very much Steve.
27:30The former light heavyweight
27:31champion of the world back in
27:32the 1960s.
27:34Right now you're watching
27:36Sanchez.
27:36He's from your hometown in
27:37Puerto Rico.
27:38You've been screaming some
27:38instructions.
27:39You're kind of nervous for him
27:40aren't you?
27:41I'm very nervous because I get
27:42involved with this little kids
27:45from my hometown who are trying
27:47to do their best and this
27:49includes the rivalry between
27:51the Mexican and the Puerto
27:53and the Puerto Rico now you're
27:54a little bit fearful however
27:55in this instance that the
27:56Lopez is a little bit better of
27:57a fighter.
27:58Lopez is such a great fighter
28:00with such a great record that
28:02scares anyone and I'm one of
28:05those who are very nervous
28:06because I know the talent of this
28:09Mexican fighter.
28:11You remember your fight here
28:12back in 67 it ended in a riot.
28:13I remember the thing I remember the
28:16most is that the announcer always
28:20used to finish his broadcasting by
28:24saying I this is Don Donky from the
28:29from Madison Square Garden now he
28:30says this is Don Donky from on the
28:32team I don't know what's going on.
28:35Let's hope Steve Albert isn't under
28:36the ring Steve thanks very much
28:38Jim I echo those thoughts Don
28:40Donky one of my idols in fact his
28:45son Bob is our director of the
28:46control truck as we speak here's
28:49the online scoring a Lopez leading
28:51two rounds to one.
28:59And Sanchez shakes it off he shrugs
29:00the third round.
29:01And Sanchez had a couple of good
29:02combinations.
29:03I don't feel it was enough to win
29:04the round.
29:05I don't either.
29:06I've got him winning all three
29:08rounds.
29:08Oh look at these double up with the
29:10left by Ricardo Lopez another
29:13whipping left hook combination to
29:15the head straight through and
29:16Sanchez shakes it off he shrugs it
29:18off but that usually means he's
29:19hurt.
29:20That was so beautifully throws a
29:21double left hook steps back
29:23hesitates slips a punch a third
29:24left hook then a left hook right
29:25hand.
29:34How about Arthur McCartney almost
29:37echoing exactly what you just said.
29:39I mean it's disgusting.
29:41He's a two champs of Germany.
29:43Well Sanchez showed his
29:45championship medal in round three
29:47we're into round four halfway
29:49through.
29:51But then Lopez coming right back.
29:53He did it again.
29:53Oh he hit him when he was on his
29:55way down.
29:55He's taking a point away from
29:57Sanchez.
29:58One point now.
29:59One point now.
30:00One point.
30:01Deduction.
30:01Dirty tactics.
30:03One point.
30:04One point.
30:04One point.
30:05One point.
30:05One point.
30:05And that goes for the crowd too.
30:07One point for them.
30:08Now he's giving everybody a point.
30:11He's giving everybody a point.
30:11Anybody who looks sideways and
30:13Mark County's a tough family.
30:15Arthur McCartney senior.
30:18Wonderful man.
30:19Wonderful man.
30:20Former broadcast partner of mine
30:21and refereeing so many great
30:23champions.
30:24Either senior or junior will take
30:25anything in there.
30:26They're the boss.
30:27Indeed.
30:28The illustrious Baltimore County
30:30senior and junior doing a great
30:33job as well.
30:35Under a minute round four.
30:38Oh.
30:39Oh.
30:40Oh.
30:40That wasn't low.
30:41Oh.
30:42A left hook by Ricardo Lopez as he
30:44answers back.
30:45Ricardo Lopez now going to the
30:47uppercut.
30:47All over the place.
30:48A barrage.
30:49Lefts and rights.
30:51And oh.
30:52Sanchez goes down.
30:53He tries to pull Lopez down with
30:55him.
30:55It's not a knockdown.
30:56It's going.
30:56No knockdown but it was.
30:57You could see.
30:57It was a knockdown.
30:58It was.
30:59Look at him.
31:00Look at Sanchez resting on one
31:02knee and McCartney's going.
31:03What are you doing?
31:05He was still hurt fellas.
31:06Yeah.
31:06I think that was clear
31:07evidence.
31:07He was trying to take an eight
31:09count.
31:09It wasn't clear the knockdown
31:10but it was.
31:12It was a knockdown.
31:12Final ten seconds.
31:13Sanchez just looking to survive
31:15here now.
31:17Lopez kind of letting him off the
31:19hook.
31:20And now oh.
31:21Humbling.
31:21Right uppercut to the body.
31:23At the bell.
31:25Sanchez makes it through as he
31:27stumbles to his corner.
31:28And he's in trouble.
31:29That.
31:30I don't understand why the
31:31referee didn't give him an eight
31:32count.
31:33He went down on his knees like.
31:59Yeah, that's not gonna work.
32:02That's not.
32:03Here's what he gets hurt.
32:04He's got him to look out.
32:04He's teed up pretty good.
32:05He hits him with a nice right hand here.
32:06And the hook on the temple, you see him stagger back.
32:09Now what happens here is Lopez starts to clean up on him.
32:12And as he leans into Lopez, Lopez is hitting him.
32:14You'll see him kind of lean into Lopez.
32:16Almost just fall into him and down.
32:19No, that's where he's going down.
32:20He was falling and he just grabbed on and, you know,
32:22just holding on to whatever he could.
32:25And it's round number five.
32:28You should have never failed Lopez and got him aggravated.
32:30Sanchez down for the first time in his career earlier in the fight.
32:34And for all intents and purposes, went down in that last round
32:38but not officially ruled a knockdown.
32:39But he was in trouble.
32:42I think if the referee sees a guy on one knee taking a knee down,
32:46automatically it's an eight count.
32:47He's taking an eight count.
32:51And then he just staggered to his corner.
32:54Arthur McKenzie said, what are you doing?
32:56He wasn't even sure.
32:58Oh, what a left hook by Ricardo Lopez.
33:02And Sanchez with a low blow.
33:04Yeah, come on.
33:05That was a little bit low.
33:06No question about that one.
33:08Here's that left upper cut followed by a left hook by Lopez,
33:11doubling up with the left.
33:12The punches that Ricardo is landing now.
33:15The punches are just too big.
33:18There's another big one.
33:19An overhand right to the head of Sanchez.
33:22He has taken a penalty.
33:23He was good.
33:25Sanchez is taking a penalty.
33:35How about the sounds coming up?
33:36The gloves.
33:38There, right there.
33:39You know, he's a...
33:41It's the beginning of the end here.
33:42Look at his face.
33:43He's holding on right now.
33:44He doesn't want to go down again.
33:46So he clings to the waist of Ricardo Lopez.
33:50It may have saved him from a knockdown.
33:51I'll tell you what, right now, this is almost academic.
33:53I think the kid's in trouble big time.
33:55This fight is almost over.
33:57Oh, great.
33:59It looks like a matter of time.
34:02Ricardo Lopez is no nonsense.
34:04This is not just boxing.
34:05This is making a statement.
34:06Left hook off the combination.
34:08And now goes Sanchez again for the second time of the fight.
34:11Four, five, six, seven, eight.
34:14And he staggers around.
34:15He's in tremendous, tremendous trouble.
34:18That's it.
34:19That's it.
34:19That's it.
34:19It's over.
34:20They've stopped it.
34:21That's it.
34:22After the second knockdown, really the third, it is all over.
34:26And Ricardo Lopez has unified the WBC and WBO 105-pound championships.
34:36I hope this country gives him the credit that he deserves.
34:39He should be a national hero.
34:40He has made some statement with that knockdown.
34:43I don't know what they're waiting for.
34:44They're not going to find a representative of the country cleaner, better, more modest,
34:48and a better boxer than this guy.
34:50I don't think I've ever seen anybody come out of Mexico this good.
34:53A vicious attack.
34:54He just took Sanchez apart piece by piece, round by round.
34:58And there is Alex Sanchez, who is dethroned, no longer the WBO mini flyweight champion.
35:05This was his seventh title defense.
35:08He was 7-0 in world title vows.
35:10And now, it all belongs to Ricardo Lopez.
35:14Now, let's take a look at the beginning of the end for Sanchez.
35:17By this time, he was really softened up.
35:20That right hand right there could have put him away.
35:22Almost anything could have put him away.
35:23And look at how he holds up, like, for dear life.
35:28Now, when you see that kind of stuff, I don't know what the referee, you know, can do but separate
35:32him and let him go back at it again.
35:34And, of course, what was waiting for him would be in.
35:37The punches were just too hard for it.
35:39He was leaning clean with everything he threw.
35:41Nay Nay couldn't get out of the way.
35:42He was no more defense at the time.
35:44It was a matter of trying to survive.
35:46And you've got a guy in front of the way he's built.
35:48There's almost like 105-pound Bob Foster, tall, rangy, beautiful power, thin and deceiving.
35:54And this guy is just a monster.
35:56And he finishes beautifully.
35:59Boxing's longest championship reign rages on.
36:03Ricardo Lopez unifying the WBC and WBO 105-pound titles.
36:07His 20th consecutive successful defense of the WBC strawweight title, which ties him with former featherweight champ Ava Tell
36:14for the most consecutive successful title defenses.
36:18Let's go over to Jimmy Lennon Jr. right now for the official time.
36:24Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time of 1 minute 58 seconds of round number 5.
36:31Our referee in charge, Arthur Mercanti, stops the contest.
36:35He's the winner by way of technical knockout.
36:38He is the new unified WBC and WBO 105-pound champion.
36:44And still undefeated, Ricardo Lopez.
36:52Lopez remains undefeated, 46-0, 35 knockouts, staggering 21-0 in world title bouts.
37:00Meanwhile, Alex Sanchez now 25-2, his first loss in a world title fight.
37:04And Lopez becomes only the third unified champion of the world today, joining Nassim Hamed and Johnny Tapia.
37:12The question now, will Lopez look to clean up the rest of the strawweight or mini-flyweight division
37:18or move up to junior flyweight, which is 108 pounds, or perhaps flyweight, which is 112.
37:27So coming up next, it's our main event, the WBC super-welterweight elimination bout into the dressing room of Puerto
37:34Rican hero,
37:35Felix Trinidad, who ventures into foreign territory tonight against number one contender Troy Waters.
37:39Trinidad divided 154 for the first time, 11 title defenses of his IBF welterweight crown, which is not on the
37:47line tonight.
37:47He's undefeated, 31-0, 27 knockouts.
37:51That's his story.
37:52Felix Trinidad always loose, always confident.
37:57Numero uno, he says.
37:58Right now, set for post-fight reaction.
38:00Let's go to Jim Gray in the ring.
38:01Jim.
38:02All right.
38:02Thank you very much, Steve.
38:03I'm now joined by Ricardo Lopez.
38:05Once again, Abel Sanchez will translate for us.
38:08Ricardo, your thoughts on your performance here tonight.
38:11What do you think of your palavra?
38:13I thank God for my 20th defense, and I'm sure glad that I am with Don King.
38:27He knows how to guide a fighter to greatness.
38:29Let me ask you, do you now feel as though you have taken over the mantle as the greatest fighter
38:33in Mexico,
38:34or is that still Mr. Chavez?
38:36Do you think you're the best fighter in Mexico after this fight?
38:41No, the best is Julio Cesar Chavez.
38:44No, the best remains Julio Cesar Chavez.
38:46Tell us now, if you'll look at the monitor, Ricardo, and tell us about the knockdown in the second round.
38:52Talk about the knockdown in the second round.
39:00He slipped the hook that Nene threw and hit him with the right hand.
39:03It was a clean shot, and he went down.
39:04And now let's jump ahead to round five as the match ends here.
39:08It's about end.
39:13He's having a word right now.
39:14The two fighters are conversing here.
39:16Go ahead and tell us what he said.
39:17Nene said to him, I admire you a lot.
39:19Boxing is boxing.
39:21I was crazy to be your friend, but I couldn't be your friend before the fight.
39:24But after the fight, I want to be your friend.
39:26You're a great champion.
39:26I congratulate you.
39:28You're the best.
39:32A heartfelt statement right there, wasn't it?
39:35Yes.
39:36I came very well prepared, and you beat the heck out of me, so you're a great champion.
39:39What is next for you, and do you feel as though now you are pound for pound the best fighter
39:44in the world?
39:45What is next for you?
39:46If he's not, who's better?
39:54He said, no, no, I'm not the best in the world.
39:56There's a lot better fighters than I am.
39:57And what's next?
39:58My boss.
39:59Como quien?
40:01Como.
40:04Can't think of anyone, huh?
40:05Just Chavez.
40:06Just Chavez, huh?
40:07What's next?
40:08Let's bring in Don King real quick.
40:09Don, what's next for Ricardo?
40:11He's going to fight on October the 25th in the Plaza de Mexico, probably against Ava as the WBA champ.
40:17And will that be on the Chavez-Gonzalez card?
40:19It'll be on Chavez and Gonzalez.
40:21All right, we'll have more from Don in a bit.
40:24Congratulations to you, Ricardo.
40:25Very nice.
40:26Let's send it back now to Steve.
40:27All right, thank you very much, Jim.
40:30Let's take a look at the online scoring results from our last bout.
40:35And there it is.
40:37Lopez four, Sanchez one through the five rounds before it was stopped.
40:43If you took part in the voting, we thank you for your participation.
40:46The online voting will continue with the start of our next bout.
40:48Felix Trinidad versus Troy Waters.
40:51And right now we're set to go back inside the ropes with some analysis of that fight from Bobby Chet.
40:59Bobby?
41:01Sanchez does, excuse me, does some things on the inside trying to work hard.
41:04But look at, look at, just look at the way Lopez finishes.
41:07He throws punches.
41:09They're hard.
41:09They're deceivingly hard.
41:10He's a thin frail guy.
41:11Only weighs 105 pounds.
41:12But he's ripping the shots up on the inside, left and right.
41:16He works the uppercuts.
41:17We've got a quick view there at the tail end.
41:21All right, Bobby.
41:23As we go outside inside the ropes, once again, coming up next, our main event,
41:27the WBC super welterweight elimination bout, a crowd of better than 14,000 on hand here,
41:35we are just told, at Madison Square Garden, the mecca of boxing.
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