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Undefeated WBC Strawweight champion Ricardo Lopez faces no 1. contender Ala Villamor on Showtime Boxing PPV
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00:00to where it can lead to in terms of the ring she's hoping that it opens some doors to other
00:04avenues other
00:05businesses where she can really cash in coming up next the wbc strawweight championship
00:10longtime champ ricardo lopez puts his title on the line against number one contender a la villamore right now
00:16let's go back up to jim hill
00:20all right steve thank you very much tommy morrison said that was the best bout of the evening so far
00:24now
00:24meanwhile the first encounter between mike tyson and frank bruno was a slugfest
00:28but the events leading up to their first battle were as wild and turbulent as the fight itself
00:33and perhaps the reason for the current bad blood stems from the rocky road to the ring some seven
00:38years ago 1989 was a year filled with personal problems for the undisputed heavyweight champion
00:52of the world mike tyson problems that continually postponed his battle with british challenger
00:58frank bruno i had broke my hand i had problems with my wife at the time i gained like 70
01:07pounds and it
01:08was just all crazy i was just killing myself you know i mean spiritually physically intellectually
01:15i was just a mess because then again when i was 21 20 19 i thought like i really believed
01:20that i could
01:21beat the world and i'm actually mean beat the whole world the whole five billion people
01:30and while bruno tried to train diligently for this bout the constant postponements and continual
01:36distractions took their toll i did over train you know i mean i went down i lost stones pounds mentally
01:43i was
01:44exhausted worn out tired you know getting up in the morning then the pose was bone getting down
01:50trying to get yourself up again it was a nightmare finally the two combatants met in the ring
01:57bruno's showing that he's not afraid hanging on bruno's already tagged with the right hand and there
02:02goes bruno for the first time in the fight the flash knocked down i think it's more of a slip
02:06than a knockdown if you see the fight he didn't connect right i slipped in the corner he came
02:11i went like that the referee can just knock down sensing a quick finish to the fight tyson attacked
02:18aggressively perhaps too aggressively he hit me with a pretty good shot but just it was more solid
02:34than anything i didn't avoid it i knew i had him hurt but it's a good fight you can't take
02:39nothing
02:39away from him it was onto me like a harbor shot close to me i couldn't get the range what
02:43i wanted to
02:44do it surviving that left hook and the round tyson took control of the fight ending it in the fifth
02:50round a fighter cannot be saved by the bell as the big right hand lands tyson knows he's got to
02:57be big
02:58if he doesn't answer it richard steel has moved in and has stopped the fight well he was out on
03:04his
03:04feet basically and um he took some um horrific punches i think and the referee came to stop the fight
03:14for bruno this loss was so bitter so devastating he disappeared from boxing for almost three years
03:22and while he used this time to train diligently if not obsessively he wondered if he still had a
03:28future in the sport he loved so much everything was going through my mind different what i wanted to do
03:34where i wanted to go i was training not twice a day i was training three times a day running
03:39all the time
03:39every gym i went in i wanted to make myself stronger get more better practice different moves and
03:46just wanted to get out i just wanted to do it and see if i still had it in me
03:50and i did and it paid off
03:53it paid off in a big way for in his comeback a more determined more focused bruno won eight out
03:59of nine
04:00bounds including the wbc heavyweight championship from oliver mccall and a chance and a remit with
04:07mike tyson i'm the champion wbc champion he's gonna try and take it off me but he's only gonna get
04:13a look
04:13at it because his time is gone i don't believe that he believed that he's any better when he fought
04:19me
04:19back then and i'm any less i don't believe that he believed he's better he said if i don't believe
04:26that he believed that he is i'm just sure i could beat him mike tyson is supremely confident that the
04:37outcome of the sequel between him and frank bruno will be the same as the first meeting the tyson bruno
04:42rematch is coming up after our next bout steve albert freddy pacheco and bobby chez will call that fight
04:48after the following announcements king vision and set pay-per-view would like to give special
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05:36in their last encounter in the ring mike tyson stopped frank bruno with a fifth round tko
05:42but not before bruno hit tyson harder than he'd ever been hit before now bruno's in the way of
05:50tyson's quest to regain the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world bruno versus tyson the
05:57championship part one now you can take home a piece of the action with your own official fight
06:03merchandise from bruno versus tyson the championship part one order your official event t-shirt
06:09tyson or bruno t-shirt cap mug or jacket today the heavyweight title bruno's got it tyson wants it
06:19and even though one of these guys is going home empty-handed doesn't mean you have to order your
06:26bruno versus tyson merchandise today have your credit card ready and call now 1-800-33 tyson
06:38it is now an official sellout 16 693 waiting for bruno tyson just ahead the wbc strawweight championship
06:46as undefeated ricardo lopez makes his 15th title defense against top contender a la via boar lopez
06:53an impressive knockout ratio for any weight class and just for argument's sake via moore may take
06:57some comfort in knowing that lopez's last opponent extended the champ to the 12th but while via moore
07:02is no stranger to the championship environment this is first fight in the u.s and it's against a long
07:08time champion as we take a look at the challenger number one rated edito via moore southpaw who took
07:15his nickname from his manager ala his biggest win to date a second round tko of former wbc strawweight
07:22champ napa kite wanchai setting up his first title shot which he lost for the ibf midi flyweight crown
07:28he's five and oh with four ko since that defeat his only loss in 31 fights ferdy tell us about
07:34via moore
07:35well via moore faces a dawning challenge because that uh ricardo lopez may be the finest unknown fighter going
07:41today uh he faces his task knowing that that lopez has been out for a year and has hand troubles
07:48on
07:48both sides so he must attack and he must try to take command but it is a huge task because
07:53if there's
07:54a wonderful fighter involved it's ricardo lopez it's ricardo lopez and let's take a look at the champion
08:00ricardo lopez right there he steps in the ring for the first time in nearly a year because of
08:04the injuries to both hands he is boxing's longest rating world champion defending his title a record 14 times
08:10he's held the belt about six years never lost pro or amateur has the most wins of any current
08:15undefeated world champion sensational 15 and 0 in world title fights going the distance only three
08:21times over that span bobby what about lopez well you know lopez is one of boxing's best kept secrets if
08:26not the best kept secret because of his low weight and lack of truly great fighters that that way we
08:30can't
08:30judge him but he belongs up there with the whitakers and the roy jones juniors he's a great fighter
08:34punch with both hands superb boxer defensive skills conditioning he is the epitome of what the sweet
08:39science is all right let's see how they stack up on paper we check the tail of the tape brought
08:43to
08:44you by the ring the bible of boxing lopez 28 three years older than via more slight height advantage
08:49lopez weight almost even the reach lopez 65 via more 64 and to the wbc rules for this title fight
08:5510 point much system three judges will score no standing eight no three knockdown rules only the referee can
09:02stop the fight fighter cannot be saved by the bell except in the last round if an accidental foul occurs
09:07before the start around five it is a no decision after the start around five they go to the cars
09:12so here at the mgm grand garden in las vegas getting set for the wbc strawweight championship
09:18let's get the introductions from our ring announcer jimmy lennon well fans we welcome you to our next world
09:25title bout of this big night of action brought to you by don king productions and king vision along with
09:30the sct pay-per-view corona beer and the mgm grand this bout coming your way is sanctioned by the
09:37world
09:37boxing council president jose suleiman supervisors at ringside john morris and haig collegian along with
09:45the nevada state athletic commission the chairman is dr james nave our judges scoring this out from ringside
09:52alfred asaro carol castellano and daniel vanderweal introducing a referee in charge of this bout he is
10:01working in this his 81st world title bout joe cortez all right fans here we go with the wbc strawweight
10:11championship of the world scheduled for 12 rounds of boxing introducing to you first the challenger on my
10:19right fighting out of the blue corner he is wearing solid black trunks and joining us all the way from
10:26mandue city on the island of cebu in the philippines he weighed in at 105 pounds his record includes 29
10:37wins
10:37only one defeat one draw with 26 big wins coming by way of knockout he is ranked the number one
10:46wbc strawweight
10:47contender in the world introducing the hard-hitting ala villa moore
10:58and his opponent across the ring we present the defending champion on my left fighting out of the
11:04red corner entering the ring wearing white trunks with green and red trim originally from cuernabaca
11:11morelos mexico now fighting out of mexico city distrito federal mexico
11:18he weighed in at a ready 104 and one half pounds his record represents the longest undefeated streak
11:26among current champions with 40 wins no losses 30 wins coming by way of knockout tonight he is making the
11:3415th defense of his title here is the wbc strawweight champion of the world introducing ricardo finito lopez
11:51once again here's our referee in charge joe cortez now to give instructions
11:56that good evening to make outs like how alegra could you tell him that bands welcome our
12:00gentlemen we went over the rules in the dressing room come over here Vilmar
12:04w今天 kann penetrating no good in the pedofli a limpia i want a good clean fight i akan di my
12:09command at all
12:09time okay these fronts a little high some policy on the local half of the neighborhood like a
12:26And as he told us in the first and fourth rounds of his last fight with Andy Tavanis,
12:30he underwent seven months of rehab, also treated at the UCLA Medical Center for ankle problems.
12:35Villamor's southpaw style should not affect Lopez.
12:38Of his 15 title fights, he's fought seven lefties, and he's seven for seven.
12:43And he's trained for this fight with Meltzer Cobb Castro at southpaw.
12:49Villamor down only once in his career in 93.
12:52His only loss, the seventh round TKO for the IBF title against Rotten Apple for Serafin of Thailand.
12:58This for the WBC Strawweight Championship.
13:00The champion, Lopez in the white trunks, the challenger, Villamor in the black.
13:06You look at Lopez, never lost as an amateur, never lost as a pro, reigning world champion, 15th out of
13:13the fences.
13:13His nose is perfectly straight. Drives me crazy.
13:17Well, at the time of that last Lopez fight, he just didn't seem to be himself.
13:21The crowd was going derisively, and now we know why.
13:24After talking to him yesterday, why he wasn't himself, because of the knuckle problems in his hands.
13:29He broke one in the first round, the other one in the fourth round, and he fought 12 rounds with
13:34two fractured bones in either hand.
13:35Now, that takes guts and literally, literally, literally beat the man with one hand.
13:40He fought almost a one-handed fight at that.
13:41Andy Tavanis, the other man.
13:43So, so he's had intense physical preparation for this fight, but he hasn't fought in a year, which brings up
13:49the questions of ring rust.
13:51Will it take some time for the reflexes and the reactions to, to kick in?
13:55You would think a, uh, a normal human being.
13:58Yes, well, we'll see about this guy.
14:01Some think he's immortal in the world of boxing.
14:03If he was working with Cobb Castro in the gym, Cobb Castro brings a lot to the table, and his
14:07reflexes would have to have been honed then, and I believe they probably will be.
14:11And even though Villamore's a left-hander, he told us his best punch is the right hook.
14:17And, of course, uh, Lopez has seen so many left-handers, it just doesn't bother him a bit.
14:22I mean, not a bit.
14:24Villamore, the Southpaw precision puncher, has a good straight left, the right hook, as we mentioned, he's a hard hitter.
14:31Right now, he's giving, uh, Lopez too much respect, too much, um, just watching and waiting kind of thing.
14:38Lopez is doing his thing.
14:39That's not hard.
14:40He's just trying to feel him up, but he is doing all of the fighting.
14:43Lopez has 30 KOs in his 40, uh, fights, all victories, told us he's not concerned with what round this
14:50ends in.
14:50It doesn't really matter, but 15 of his 30 KOs, just for the record, are in three rounds or less.
14:56He's gone the distance only 10 times in his 40 fights.
15:01Villamore's only had three fights go the distance.
15:0426 out of 29 didn't make it.
15:06And we're talking about some bombers here, folks, but right now, they look like they're just throwing wallflowers.
15:11He's a little, little pity pads.
15:13They're not throwing anything big yet.
15:16Lopez, tremendous puncher, but not a one-punch fighter, relies on the accumulation of punches.
15:21He says he doesn't go in looking for the knockout, even though he's got so many.
15:25He says KOs are circumstantial.
15:27What's the head?
15:27What's the head?
15:27He's a good combination.
15:29When he hits you with two or three, he'll step off, he'll come back with two or three counter.
15:33He is good.
15:34Bobby's remarkable how he's gone to his right hand this run.
15:37He's thrown it so many times, Lopez has.
15:40He must see something.
15:41All right, that's the end of the opening round.
15:42Let's go over to Jim Gray.
15:44Thank you, Steve.
15:45I'm with a very familiar face.
15:46He is the owner of the world champion, Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones.
15:50Jerry, good to see you.
15:51A lot of people say, Jerry, that the Super Bowl is the biggest event in the world, but there
15:54are those who would disagree and say a heavyweight championship fight is.
15:57What's your opinion?
15:58Well, of course, if we get to play in that Super Bowl, I'm going to have to say it's a
16:01Super Bowl, but, you know, you get these guys out here one-on-one and all the aura of two
16:07men against each other fighting it out, and you have to give it its due, but we're excited
16:12about the Super Bowl in the NFL.
16:13The feeling that's here is really like none other.
16:16It's not like this at the Super Bowl, just the electricity, correct?
16:18Well, of course, when you're in my shoes and you get to play in a Super Bowl like we did
16:23this last weekend, I mean, this was six weeks ago, then it's pretty exciting.
16:28Jerry, congratulations on your Super Bowl victory.
16:31Good luck to you.
16:31Jim, good luck to you.
16:32Enjoy the fight.
16:33Let's go back to Steve.
16:35All right, Jim, thank you very much.
16:36As we get set for round two, scheduled for 12 for the WBC Strawweight Championship.
16:42Better than 16,000.
16:43It's an official sellout here.
16:45Getting ready for the next fight.
16:48A couple of guys by the name of Bruno and Tyson.
16:51As we finish the first round, Ferdy talked about the right hand that Lopez is throwing,
16:54and that down the middle right hand is a stereotypical type of thing that a guy will do against the
16:59southpaw.
16:59I don't know when I box the southpaw.
17:00I like that right hand.
17:02Some like the left hook, but I do like the right hand.
17:04And, you know, Bobby, he puts it to the body and to the head.
17:07I mean, he's just like convinced that's where the money is, and he goes, there it is again.
17:11It's the lead right.
17:12You know, I'm a firm believer in that right hand of the body and to the head down the
17:15middle, too, with the southpaw.
17:16When I'm working with one, it seems to be the best punch for me, so I'm going to agree
17:20with him on this one.
17:21The fact that Ricardo Lopez in the white trunks is one of the premier fighters in the world
17:26yet doesn't receive the recognition he deserves is somewhat troubling, says Ricardo Lopez,
17:32as we spoke to him yesterday.
17:33But he doesn't lose much sleep over it.
17:35He told us the solution, though.
17:37He says he needs to eat more and become a heavyweight.
17:40A practical solution.
17:42Bobby, I walked with him across the lobby here.
17:46We walked right by everybody.
17:47Nobody knew who he was.
17:48Nobody.
17:49But that's because also television.
17:50He has not been in major, major fights on television.
17:53You need television to let the public know who you are.
17:55The media can make him break.
17:57You need television.
17:58Well, his problem was walking alongside you.
18:03People thought I was Larry Merchant, maybe the low point of my life.
18:09Round two continues, scheduled for 12.
18:13A la Villamor, 29, 1, and 1, with 26 knockouts from the Philippines.
18:18His second world title shot.
18:21His first was for the IVF mini-flyweight title.
18:24He finally lost in Thailand where the champion was from and right here Ricardo Lopez 40-0 with 30
18:32knockouts from Mexico City his 15th title defense 14 at all in title fights.
18:39He certainly doesn't show too much ring rust I'll say that for him.
18:43He's bippin and boppin and carrying around what Bill Amor is waiting for I don't know.
18:48Bill Amor has a sort of a respectful look on his face he doesn't have what we've seen that right
18:56hand offered up by Ricardo Lopez he does like to use the right but he told us he's determined to
19:01be the best left hand of the business he says a fighter is only as good as his left hand
19:06he is smart exactly he's a student of the game he takes the cerebral approach to the sport of boxing
19:14and we really my pleasure we really got wind of that
19:19in our meetings with him yesterday now via more trying to open it up a little bit but the crafty
19:29Lopez showing his defense and then coming through with a straight right he Lopez throws all good punches crisp clean
19:35not each one's a bomb but each one is effective and each one hurts and he throws it from such
19:41a beautiful stance Bobby I mean he is so perfect excellent to watch
19:54thisundo
20:02keep seeing
20:03all right a bunch of commoner nacho says you're doing good with the right hand now start working the left
20:12hook and jab
20:18Okay, here you're going to see Lopez.
20:20He uses the jab to find the range.
20:21Again, the left hand is strictly adjacent to the right hand on the southpaw.
20:26And this right hand down the middle has been effective all day.
20:28Watch him work.
20:30There goes the jab.
20:31He throws that straight right hand down the middle.
20:33Now, that one was a little bit off out of range, but he's been doing it throughout the rounds.
20:36And it's basically been his key and his go-to right now.
20:40So, Ricardo Lopez, who has not fought in about a year because of broken knuckles in each hand,
20:46comes out ready to go round three.
20:49Nacho Bernstein is a capable corner man in the right hand is landing.
20:52Now, go with the uppercut.
20:53Uppercut, straight right hand, and don't forget the left hooks.
20:56And so, he's satisfied as he should be.
20:59He's won both rounds, but now he wants to step up the action.
21:04Verstain, who has played eight world champions, including Ricardo Lopez.
21:09Lopez said he's a huge fan of Julio Cesar Chavez, and historically Sugar Ray Robinson.
21:16Chavez and Lopez are fans of each other.
21:20They often critique each other's performances.
21:22Well, he's admiring the right people, I'll tell you.
21:28That's the straight right by Ricardo Lopez coming up short.
21:33There's a good left-hand counter by Villamore.
21:35Straight left.
21:36That may be the best punch he's thrown so far and landed.
21:39Beautiful straight right hand underneath, thrown by Lopez.
21:42They're making another attempt to get in underneath, digging the ribcage.
21:46He's working that right-hand overtime.
21:48Every punch by Lopez is crisp.
21:50They're not all landing, but they're so beautifully thrown.
21:52Unfortunately, when you look at a final, you're looking at his offensive action,
21:55but you're not looking at what a fine defense.
21:57Look what he just did.
21:58What a fine defensive fighter he is.
22:00I mean, if even when he misses, he never leaves himself out of position to come back for a punch.
22:05If it's open.
22:07Wonderful, wonderful.
22:08Great fighter.
22:09You don't get to be 40-0 by accident.
22:12He's got the whole package.
22:14Hold the hat.
22:14Don't hold the hat, Villamore.
22:15Don't hold the hat.
22:15The warning from Joe Cortez, holding the hat to Villamore.
22:21The Bruno fans chanting in the background.
22:24They're getting ready.
22:26Yeah, they've been doing that in the lobby for about six hours.
22:30They've been doing it for about 48 hours.
22:32They really cranked up.
22:34They started in my room earlier today.
22:37Well, I hope they're calm if the fight doesn't turn out right.
22:41They expect about 5,000 from Britain to cheer on Mr. Bruno.
22:49Meanwhile, this fight goes on for the WBC Strawweight Championship.
22:54Ricardo Lopez in his 15th title defense against Edito Alavie Amor of the Philippines.
22:59See, Lopez will very quietly take apart a very good fighter and just win every round convincingly,
23:03clearly, cleanly, and with very little effort as it would appear.
23:07And sustain no damage.
23:08He's just a mark.
23:09He's remarkable.
23:10And some of those left jabs look like he's got a saber in his hand.
23:13He's dueling.
23:14I mean, he steps in with the same motion you thrust with a dueling sword.
23:19I mean, the guy is a thing of beauty.
23:24Villamore, his first fight ever in the United States.
23:27What a card to be on, huh?
23:29The undercard of brutal tights, your first fight in America.
23:34Yes, exposure and pressure because of who he's facing.
23:38Look at that.
23:40Look at that defense.
23:43Let's go over to Bill Boggs.
23:45Bill?
23:46Well, thank you very much, Steve.
23:46Yeah, we're actually here in the fight tunnel with Don Johnson.
23:49We're just watching the monitor coming from the celebrity party, right, Tom?
23:53Yeah.
23:54Yeah, I guess.
23:55Those guys are fast, aren't they?
23:56Those guys are very fast.
23:57I think that's going to be quite a contrast between these guys and the next guys.
24:02Bruno and Tyson.
24:03What's your feeling about the fight?
24:04What do you think Frank Bruno has to do to win, Don?
24:07Well, he's got tremendous reach advantage.
24:10And, you know, Tyson himself has said that he's never been hit harder except for maybe Buster
24:17Douglas.
24:18And so I would think that were I him, I'd be calling the airport for a ticket.
24:25But I'm not.
24:27And I think he's just got to use his reach and, you know, and try and keep him off of
24:32him.
24:32Well, that's it, Don.
24:33Don Johnson, good luck.
24:34We'll be seeing the big one soon.
24:35Back to you, Steve.
24:37All right, thank you very much, Bill.
24:40We are set for round four, scheduled for 12.
24:44Ricardo Lopez, the champion in the white trunks, a la Villamore, the challenger in the black.
24:50And I only wish we could understand the Philippine dialect that they're using in the corner.
24:55I would love to know what the corner is, the same to Villamore.
24:58Because what instructions can you give a guy when you're being taken apart offensively
25:03and then being taught a lesson defensively by a fighter.
25:07What can you say?
25:09Lopez doing a systematic job on a la Villamore.
25:14Well, I'll tell you, Freddie, I'm sure his corner wants him to work behind the jab and get in,
25:17maybe try digging the body and throw that left hand and there he threw into the body.
25:22I would think he's got to work off the left hand and throw the big right hook if that is
25:25his go-to punch.
25:26But right now, I think anything he throws, you better get closer with it.
25:30Villamore being cautioned for low blows.
25:31If this were a basketball game, you'd be saying that Lopez doing it at both ends.
25:36Offense and defense.
25:37That's exactly right.
25:38I've been overdosing on basketball and I've heard that over and over.
25:44Beautiful footweight work employed by the champion, Ricardo Lopez.
25:49Wild swing and a miss by Villamore.
25:51He's the number one contender for the strawweight title.
25:56Remember, Villamore's got a big knockout punch that's going to turn around on one punch
25:59if he can get close enough or clean enough to punch in on this highly elusive Ricardo Lopez.
26:0626 knockouts and 29 victories for Villamore.
26:09Slapping left hook there by Lopez, blocked by the glove of Villamore.
26:12Wait, wait, wait!
26:14But it seems like the overriding factor here is not so much the offense,
26:18but the defense of Lopez, able to elude those Villamore punches.
26:22You see, he can stop on a dime plant, fire punches, step off, pivot, make you miss,
26:28make the punches just glance off his gloves so effortlessly.
26:31It's just a beautiful thing to watch.
26:33The champion control, Ricardo Lopez,
26:36as he just continues to make Villamore miss.
26:40Tied to side, footwork, everything.
26:53You know, Bobby, you watch perfection like this.
26:55You think of great fighters like Willie Pepp.
26:57And I think of a very young Muhammad Ali when he was Cassius Clay.
27:01This is what he did.
27:02He gave you all kind of angles, moved.
27:03You couldn't hit him.
27:04There was no way to find it.
27:05And you think of the great, great fighters that have these styles.
27:10It's good to see one guy that has that perfection.
27:13Over the top by Ricardo Lopez.
27:16A looping right hand that caught Villamore right on the head.
27:19He has genuinely mastered it all.
27:20Defense, offense to the head, to the body,
27:23with his feet, with his hands, with his head.
27:25He slips, he moves, he steps in, he puts his head in the right place.
27:28He's safe on the counter.
27:29He just really does everything so well.
27:31Final 10 seconds of round four.
27:35Ricardo Lopez in complete command.
27:38Nice right hand down the middle.
27:40That got Villamore's attention.
27:51Yeah.
27:52Castillo and upper gancho a ligado.
27:54Gancho a ribida.
27:54Gancho a ligado.
27:55Lo que termine engancho a ligado.
27:57Well, it is al brazo.
27:58He acabas de meter una derecha al cuerpo.
28:00So whatever you do, end up with a right hand to deliver.
28:02And watch his head.
28:03He's getting very close.
28:04You don't want to cut here.
28:08He's pleading with a right hand to deliver.
28:11He says, that's your shot.
28:12It's going to finish this guy off.
28:13He's the one who is marking the rhythm of the fight.
28:15He insists on pressing.
28:16As he hits the body, he's going to get a little bit.
28:21Are you sure?
28:33Don't lift your head.
28:34Your head's not low enough because you're going to get butted.
28:37He said, don't forget the right hand to deliver.
28:39Roseanne on hand and, uh, wow, fortunately not singing the national anthem.
28:44Look how nice she looks.
28:45Hmm.
28:46Seems to lost weight and looks very, very nice.
28:48Round five.
28:50I got what's that.
28:51This is the fight preceding the main event.
28:53Bruno Tyson.
28:53The odds have been fluctuating on that fight all night.
28:55It's now down to five to one for Tyson.
28:58Bruno by KO has dropped from 12 to one to five to one.
29:01A couple of minutes ago, we got that.
29:02The over-under is still five rounds.
29:05You know, when you've got a fighter this good and this headed toward legendary,
29:10your corner seems to be respectful.
29:11At the end of all the tirade, Nacho said to him, you agree with what I said?
29:15He said, yeah.
29:16He says, well, go out and do it.
29:17I mean, he's asking, is it okay, boss?
29:19Is it okay, chief?
29:20And I once had a trainer when I was in the amateur say to me,
29:23came back in the corner after the second round of a very tough fight.
29:26There's only three rounds in the amateur.
29:27He's only got one round left to make the difference.
29:29And he said to me, no, you fight better than I ever did.
29:31I can't tell you what to do.
29:32And I thought, wow, I could have a problem here.
29:34So here's a guy that I'm sure was better than his trainer.
29:37Although the trainer can see things he can't, he knows what to do.
29:40Well, it's what Ali used to do.
29:42Ali used to come to the corner and say, shut up.
29:43I know what I'm doing.
29:44That was it.
29:45End of conversation.
29:47He was his own man.
29:48Oh, yeah.
29:48He knew better than we didn't.
29:51Ignacio Beristain, who's trained several world champions,
29:54and his prized pupil right now is Ricardo Lopez.
29:57And Lopez continues to have his way against Alavi Amor.
30:01As for the WBC Strawweight Championship, ooh, he rocked him there.
30:05I think he kind of tripped on his leg.
30:07Well, there was two solid punches.
30:09Lopez coming right in the hook.
30:10Coming right in on Alavi Amor, who's been down.
30:13Keep in mind, only once in his career in 31 fights.
30:17Well, he's been receiving a thudding right hand,
30:20and he's holding up well, but that's going to start to wear out.
30:23There's the right hand to deliver that he wanted him to deliver.
30:26We have more looking a little wobbly right here.
30:29He's starting to cave in.
30:31The punch is beginning to take their toll.
30:34As Lopez told us, it's the cumulative effect that wears his opponents down.
30:39That's why Nacho wanted him to go to the liveries.
30:41So this guy's wearing out now.
30:43You can just thud a few punches off the liver, and it does.
30:45That's a very effective punch, very weakening to get hit in the liver.
30:48Beautiful lefts, doubling up, tripling up by Lopez.
30:51The right hand is finding his mark more and more.
30:54It's getting down in the middle, and it's just landing.
30:55You can hear the thudding.
30:57Less and less glove, more and more chin and head.
30:58And this is a guy coming off two broken bones in his hands,
31:02so showing no signs, no ill effects.
31:05Wow, it's going to miss by Villamore.
31:10Yeah, there was a left-hand to deliver.
31:11A little long to the land, thumping, but he's trying.
31:14There's another one.
31:16Villamore's going to feel this in the morning.
31:1825 seconds to go in round five.
31:20Yes, he is now beginning to look like a hunted animal.
31:24He now begins to look like the guy that's being hunted down.
31:27This could be a matter of time.
31:30You know, he's just so consistent, so accurate with his punches,
31:33his slips, his counters, all one after another, on the money.
31:37Very frustrating to have to be an opponent for his man.
31:40He is so sure of his punches.
31:54Oh, no, no.
31:57Oh, no.
32:01What?
32:02What do you want to hear?
32:10Ah, ah?
32:11No, no, no.
32:20Okay, once again, you'll see that this right hand, he's looking to get this right hand down the middle, or
32:24looping it, and he steps to him, he closes the gap, and he fires this punch, and he does it
32:28double, he'll back it up, and you'll see him, he throws one, the first one doesn't get there, which is
32:33actually, that one's a little long, right back with another one, right on the money.
32:36He's just so consistent, and so accurate with that punch, there's no way for Bill Martin to get away from
32:41it.
32:42Well, he had a round six.
32:46Let's see if Lopez picks up where he left off in round five, where he's very effective.
32:51He's just to say it's a shutout.
32:54You know, Bobby, with the assurance that he throws that right hand to the body, it would seem that he
32:59would be open for the other guy to fire as soon as he, because he's landing it, you know, like
33:04he doesn't even care.
33:06This guy throws anything back at him.
33:08Seems like you should be able to hit him when he does it.
33:10See there, he's completely, he throws it, and he's completely wide open.
33:13You know what, part of the problem with that is a little deceiving for it, because the way he, he
33:16almost drops down like a sidehand pitcher, and sometimes he takes that up and hit you in the face, so
33:20if you're not watching for it, it can catch you flush in the face, therefore he watched for it and
33:24hits you right in the belly.
33:25The old submarine, very, very deceiving.
33:28Lopez knows he can connect almost at will right here.
33:31He's got a great, great bag of tricks, and he, he's awesome.
33:35And more bad news for Villamore, the champ's confidence seems to be growing.
33:43When you're 40, you know, almost all knockouts, you have the right to have confidence, overconfidence, as a matter of
33:50fact.
33:5130 knockouts out of those 40 victories.
33:55For Lopez, his fifth, 15th title defense, Joe Cortez, the referee.
34:04A couple of straight lefts there by Villamore, but having a little or no effect on the champion, Lopez.
34:10Lopez, who stands right in there.
34:15You know, Lopez, saying he would like to fight one big fight to get the attention of the public, but
34:20the problem is, who's out there that's anywhere close to as good as this guy?
34:24You know, it's a shame he's such a lightweight.
34:26I'd love to see him around 160 or 170 or 200 pounds.
34:30But, you know, a little bit higher up, there's some pretty good fighters, if he's willing to add a little
34:35weight.
34:35He's going to have to move up because the other champions in this particular division are not exactly household names.
34:43And the strawweight champions.
34:45He got hit with a good straight left there.
34:47But once again, no second or third punch was able to catch him.
34:50He slips, ties his man up, spins off.
34:52Not a problem.
34:53That might have been the first punch that landed good in about three rounds now.
35:00Villamore looking to come on a little more now offensively.
35:04They landed a straight left hand there with not really that much damage.
35:08Lopez comes right back to the body of the head.
35:10Lopez has a bloody nose, so there's a little bit of sting on a couple of those left hands.
35:16What a systematic beating he's taking, Villamore.
35:2020 seconds, systematic breaking down of a fight.
35:25Blood on the face of the champion, Lopez.
35:29Coming out of the nose, as Bobby pointed out.
35:34Left hook, crisp left hook there by Lopez.
35:37Hold the head, hold the head down.
35:41There's the bell that went round six.
35:48Let's get it over to Jim Grant.
35:50All right.
35:51Thank you very much, Steve.
35:52I'm now joined by Eddie Murphy.
35:54Eddie, you're a big boxing...
35:55Pardon?
35:56Eddie Murray, not Eddie Murphy.
35:59Eddie, I want to know what you think about the Mike Tyson fight coming up here.
36:02You are a big boxing fan, and you've virtually seen all of Mike's fights.
36:05I'm a huge boxing fan, and I'm really happy to be out and see Mike get one of his three
36:11belts back.
36:12I'm really looking forward to it.
36:13I love Mike, and he knocked this kid out.
36:17Two rounds.
36:18Two rounds.
36:19Frank, I have nothing against you.
36:20You're a wonderful man, but that's Mike's belt, okay?
36:24You got a movie coming up, The Nutty Professor.
36:26When's it coming out?
36:26June 28th.
36:28June 28th.
36:29Is it funny?
36:30Yeah, it's a pretty funny one.
36:33Hope so.
36:35Nice to see you, Eddie.
36:36Back to you, Steve.
36:37All right, Jim, and Eddie Murphy very happy he's not trading places with Bruno or Tyson.
36:43Round seven.
36:45Villamore's corner yelling that he has to go for growth.
36:49He has come through with his left and bloodied Lopez's nose.
36:53That happened in the sixth round.
36:56Well, let's see if he continues.
37:02Well, this has been surgery by Ricardo Lopez, a surgical process.
37:08He just carved it out.
37:12Oh, straight right hand.
37:13Beautiful.
37:14You see the effects of that?
37:15A little bit of a delayed reaction?
37:16That split second when he's just wobbled.
37:18And the sweat is just flying off the hair of Villamore, which makes it even more dramatic.
37:25Like something around had a raging bull.
37:27A news photographer's dream.
37:29I'm ready to get that.
37:31Well, Lopez is really making contact with that straight right.
37:34Right down the middle.
37:35And Villamore separates his gloves and opens it up.
37:40Oh!
37:43Oh!
37:43That is, again, a straight right.
37:49But this Villamore is game.
37:50He just keeps charging forward.
37:52All right.
37:53All right.
37:53Break, break, break.
37:54Look out.
37:54Holding and hitting.
38:01And the midway point of round seven.
38:03Never overanxious.
38:04Never in too big a hurry.
38:05Takes his time.
38:07Systematic dismantling his opponents.
38:08He's just beautiful to watch.
38:09He epitomizes what the sweet science is all about.
38:12Hit and not get hit.
38:13Do on to others and then split.
38:14He really is good.
38:16Very nice, buddy.
38:26Oh!
38:27Lopez with a solid straight right hand.
38:30Watch on the face and then another shot with a laugh.
38:32That's what happens when you stick your face out against a guy with that kind of talent.
38:36Yeah.
38:36You can stick your face out, but it can't be against Lopez.
38:39Not somebody with good talent.
38:41You're right.
38:41And notice even at that, he stick his head out there, just laid it for him.
38:44He didn't go jumping and crazy.
38:46Just put him on here and take that with you.
38:48Went back to business as usual.
38:49He does it with such calmness.
38:52He's got a great rhythm about him.
38:54Lopez.
38:57Oh, digging to the body with uppercut.
38:59Ricardo Lopez.
39:00They almost knocked his.
39:02And then a straight lift by Lopez.
39:05Just showing it all.
39:16Under 30 seconds.
39:24Another big round for the champion, Ricardo Lopez.
39:33Final seconds of round seven for the WVC Strawweight Championship.
39:39Undefeated Ricardo Lopez is 15th out of defense in command.
39:45Let's go up to Jim Hill.
39:46Jim.
39:47All right, Steve.
39:47Thank you very much.
39:48And you know, Tommy, you are really impressed with Ricardo Lopez and his performance.
39:51Absolutely.
39:52He's a very, very good technician.
39:53And I tell you, I wish that the heavyweights could keep up this sort of pace.
39:56I think that they'd be champions forever.
39:58You know, it's kind of amazing when you watch the little guys, so to speak, fight.
40:01They give you continuous action.
40:03They absolutely do.
40:04They work just as hard as everybody else.
40:05It doesn't seem like they're getting near the glory, though.
40:07You know, when you talk about Ricardo Lopez, what impresses you the most about him?
40:11His ability to be so offensive and at the same time so defensive.
40:15You know, he's just such a good defensive and offensive technician.
40:18I think he does a great job.
40:20You know, and it's really amazing that a lot of people don't know that much about him.
40:23You know, we talk about a lot of people don't know that much about him.
40:26And, you know, when you look at him now, you can see exactly what you're talking about.
40:29Absolutely.
40:29Right there is throwing a good right hand.
40:32He keeps himself at a good distance as well to be offensive again if he has to.
40:35And it also looks like he's just pacing himself and doing exactly what he wants.
40:39Steve, back to you now.
40:40All right.
40:41Thanks, Jim.
40:42Lots of celebrities settling in here ringside, and they're seeing a convincing performance here
40:45by little Ricardo Lopez as we enter round number eight.
40:51Lopez captured the title in 1990 with a fifth-round knockout of Hideyeko Oashi
40:55in Tokyo, and he's made 14 consecutive successful title defenses.
41:00He was 25-0 at the time.
41:02He got his first world title shot and was ranked number four at the time.
41:08And he hasn't looked back.
41:09What a great uppercut.
41:14Bobby.
41:15He can't get up.
41:16He doesn't want to now.
41:18He's gone.
41:19Forget about it.
41:20It's over.
41:21It's over.
41:22That was a thing of beauty.
41:24Sweet slip.
41:25Moving.
41:26Step in with a punch.
41:27Use his body behind it.
41:28And effortless.
41:29One punch came.
41:30A convincing victory for Ricardo Lopez as he knocks out a la Villamore here in round number eight.
41:40And he does it with an explosive display.
41:45And Villamore remains on his back.
41:48He has Villamore sprawled out on the canvas, and Ricardo Lopez now going to 41-0 with 31 knockouts
41:57and retains his WBC Strawweight Championship in his 15th title defense.
42:04So it's hugs all around for the most impressive Ricardo Lopez
42:11with a surgical-like procedure here against a la Villamore.
42:20He continues to hold on to the title.
42:23He has held since October of 1990.
42:26Ricardo Lopez now 41-0.
42:29Here you see a replay of pure perfection.
42:31He steps in, slips the counter, throws a left uppercut, and you just watch that delayed effect.
42:37He just did such a, it was two or three moves all at once.
42:41It's just such an effortless fashion.
42:42Here you watch it again.
42:43He'll step in, watch the jab, he'll step in, slip it, and go right under it.
42:47Slip it, under, bang.
42:49It's almost like a blind shot, because with your own jab out, you won't see that punch.
42:52He slips it, and then all of a sudden you're getting hit full force.
42:55He had his body in line.
42:56You watch it again.
42:57Look, he digs up, he springs up with his legs, digs right up into it.
43:01That's just a delayed reaction.
43:03That is a beautiful, beautiful shot.
43:05A thunderous left uppercut.
43:07We'll take another look in super, super slow-mo.
43:09Here he goes.
43:09Steps under and rips up from the floor with his foot.
43:13Back foot was up a little bit, but he got all of them with that punch.
43:16What a delayed reaction as his legs buckled all of them with that punch.
43:21What a delayed reaction as his legs buckled and down he went.
43:25Let's go up to Jimmy Lennon Jr. for the official announcement.
43:32Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time of 40 seconds even in the round number 8.
43:38A referee in charge, Joe Cortez, reaches the count of 10.
43:42He's the winner by way of knockout.
43:45Still undefeated.
43:46Still the WBC strawweight champion of the world,
43:50Ricardo Benito López.
43:57Ricardo López, the pride of Mexico City, Mexico,
44:02records his 15th defense of the WBC strawweight championship.
44:07He does it in his most convincing fashion with an 8th round knockout.
44:14Viamor goes to 29, 2, and 1.
44:17And we're standing by now for the fight, Dr. Ferdy Pacheco.
44:24That was a perfect fight.
44:27Lo esperaste.
44:28Did you think you were going to get that perfection?
44:39He thanks God and his father here, and he said,
44:42no, he didn't expect that perfection,
44:43but the man came to fight, and it was lucky.
44:46Ese uppercut que tú le diste fue sólido.
44:49Tú esperaste no quedarlo tan fulminante.
44:51No, como repito, todos mis golpes llevan mucha pólvora.
44:55Aguantó mucho, vino bien preparado.
44:57Aguantó dijo que el presidente de Filipinas le auxilio con todos sus gastos,
45:01que venía por el cinturón.
45:03Pero mientras yo sea campeón baja, me tienen que bajar en camilla de aquí.
45:07He said, the president of the Philippines sent the man to get the belt,
45:10but they've got to carry him out of the ring before he can lose his belt.
45:13So the doctor has said he's fine.
45:15It was a tremendous knockout.
45:17He didn't expect it that much,
45:19but we have to go back to Steve Albert at ringside.
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