- 6 hours ago
Joel Casamayor defends his WBA Super Featherweight Title against Joe Morales on Showtime Boxing.
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00:00Up next our main event Joel
00:02Casamayor versus Joe Morales for
00:04the W.B.A.
00:05Super featherweight title.
00:06Well Cuba has sent such all time
00:08greats as Kid Chocolate Luis
00:10Rodriguez and Jose Napoli is to
00:12the pro ranks.
00:13There's no arguing that Joel
00:15Casamayor is the finest Cuban
00:16born pro of recent vintage but
00:18the Southpaw is not satisfied
00:20with that distinction.
00:21He wants to prove he's the best
00:22one hundred thirty pounder in
00:23the world.
00:24He also feels a Salino Freitas
00:26has been postponing the
00:28inevitable.
00:31The cancellation of the July
00:3214th fight has changed my life.
00:34Freitas didn't want to fight me.
00:36I was ready to fight whenever.
00:38He's always backing out saying he
00:40has managerial problems or this
00:41problem or that problem.
00:43I had the table set for him to
00:44come to eat.
00:47He has changed the fight day four
00:49or five times.
00:50It's not my fault.
00:51He is the one that's backing out
00:53of the fight.
00:53It's always an excuse.
00:55He's getting married or this or
00:57that.
00:57I have a name for him.
00:59The princess.
01:00I am ready for him whenever he
01:01wants.
01:02It's up to Freitas and his
01:03managers.
01:04I am ready for him at whatever
01:05hour.
01:06In Brazil.
01:07In China.
01:08In Japan.
01:09Or wherever.
01:10Maybe for other people he's a
01:11challenge.
01:11But not for me.
01:13To me he is nothing.
01:14He can't touch me.
01:15I'm ready for him.
01:16Very strong words from Casemayor
01:19who waited a long time for his
01:20freedom.
01:21So perhaps from his perspective
01:22his way to establish himself as
01:25the division's best hasn't really
01:26been that long at all.
01:28And Bobby as we heard Casemayor
01:30accusing Freitas of ducking him
01:33that all the distractions and
01:34disruptions and inactivity is just
01:36a smoke screen.
01:37Is there any validity to that in
01:39your mind?
01:39Well that criticism may not be
01:41completely unwarranted.
01:42Understand that Casemayor wanted
01:44this fight.
01:44Had this fight.
01:45Twice it's been postponed.
01:46Always by Freitas.
01:47And I'm not so sure he ducked him
01:48out of fear that he can't beat
01:49him.
01:49But it was a tumultuous time in
01:51his life.
01:52Personally and professionally he had
01:52a lot of problems managerial wise
01:54in his personal life.
01:55I don't think he was ready to step
01:57up to a fight of this magnitude.
01:58Now he claims to be ready.
02:00That's all behind him.
02:01This fight should happen.
02:02All right.
02:02Which brings us to your keys to
02:04victory for Casemayor Morales.
02:06Joel Casemayor is looking to stay
02:08sharp for his eventual showdown
02:09with Ocelino Freitas.
02:11But for Joe Morales this is the
02:12opportunity of his life.
02:16Number one for Casemayor.
02:18Use his overall speed.
02:19He has it in both his hands and his
02:21feet.
02:22Number two.
02:23Accurate and sharp counterpunching.
02:25He makes you miss and he definitely
02:26makes you pay.
02:27And lastly that straight left hand
02:28he's so accurate and quick with it
02:29it's amazing.
02:32Here Casemayor on the left against
02:33Roberto Garcia is going to block a
02:35right hand lead.
02:35He just stuffs it and he slides off
02:37to his left and then fires a
02:39beautiful straight left hand right
02:40down the middle catching Garcia on
02:41the button dropping him to the seat
02:43of his pants.
02:46He's so quick and accurate it's
02:47almost impossible to avoid.
02:52Joe Morales absolutely has to
02:54establish his jab.
02:55If he doesn't get the jab working
02:56he's not going to be effective.
02:58Also push Casemayor backward.
02:59Try and use his strength and push
03:01Casemayor back.
03:01Keep him out of his fight game.
03:03And lastly especially against the
03:04southpaw use the straight right hand
03:06down the middle.
03:08Here Joe Morales with his back to us
03:10against Carlos Contreras.
03:11He's forcing Contreras back.
03:12Not letting him come forward getting
03:14his fight plan.
03:16There's a nice jab in the right hand
03:17which gets Contreras in trouble.
03:19He follows up with a nice combination
03:20of multiple punches.
03:21And the referee has to come in and
03:23stop this fight.
03:31as we take a look at the challenger
03:34Joe Morales draped in an American
03:36flag getting his first shot at a
03:38world title.
03:38Oh, he doesn't want to fight.
03:41Here we go, gentlemen. Here we go.
03:44See you, man.
03:45Stay behind, right there.
03:52Well, he won't tell me to slow the album.
03:54Tell him to go.
04:16He's coming into the patriotic music, which makes us want to acknowledge and appreciation.
04:26New York City police officers Ray Stein and Mike McGon, who have been down at Ground Zero since moment one
04:33of the September 11th tragedy.
04:35We are grateful to them and thankful to have them with us.
04:39We couldn't be prouder of Mike and Ray.
04:46As far as Morales, I'll tell you what.
04:50You got to get Cosmo or something to worry about in the way of power.
04:53And this guy only has four knockouts in his 17 wins, Bobby.
04:56I know that's true.
04:56Steve Cosmo is one of the premier boxers in the game.
04:59If you're going to get any respect from him, you got to give him something to worry about and hurt
05:02him.
05:02This is something that has to happen or else has to get his pound of flesh early or he is
05:06in big trouble.
05:09From San Antonio, Texas.
05:12Joe Morales.
05:13And he'll have to face this guy, the champion southpaw Joe Casamayor.
05:18Tremendously seasoned, well-schooled under the tutelage of Joe Goosen.
05:22And you hear the crowd get behind him.
05:25And you hear the crowd get behind him.
05:29And you hear the crowd get behind him.
05:52And this guy is the
06:43the colors of the American flag on a bandana and shirt at our meeting with him yesterday
06:49and he like all of us in this sport he's still reeling from the events of september 11th
06:54looking to lift the spirits during these difficult times
07:00if mayweather is number one consider number one at this weight bobby how close is this guy
07:06you know right now mayweather is considered number one for his spectacular performances
07:09against the very best well casemar is right behind him after his performances with bradford
07:14beasley roberto garcia nathan santana he's on his heels and closing fast casemar said he wants to
07:21end this early so he can go watch the trinidad hopkins fight let's size him up as we check out
07:27the tail of the tape with his son behind him there he's got three sons casemar hit 30 in july
07:35three
07:35years older than morales the height nearly even same for the reach and yesterday's way in casemar
07:40he's got three sons casemar right on the money morales just under tonight cost me a 135 morales
07:46134 and a quarter key rules for this title fight no standing eight no three knockdown rule the fight
07:51it cannot be sent by the bell in any round if an accidental headbutt occurs before the end of the
07:55fourth it's a technical draw after the end of four they go to the scorecard so here at micasuki
08:01we're getting ready for our main event joe casemar or joe morales wba super featherweight title
08:06let's get it up to our ring it out charati duncan
08:11ladies and gentlemen ladies and gentlemen we ask that you all stand right now for the customary 10
08:20count boxing has lost one of its greats a gentleman who brought showtime to the featherweight and
08:26lightweight division passed away on september 18th ladies and gentlemen please stand in silence as we
08:34honor the great sandy saddler
09:00thank you ladies and gentlemen may he rest in peace
09:07ladies and gentlemen welcome to the micasuki indian gaming and resort it is time for our main event of
09:18the evening scheduled for 12 rounds this bout is brought to you by america presents and showtime
09:25championship boxing tonight's vows are being held under the offices of the micasuki athletic commission
09:32the chairman of the micasuki athletic commission is billy cyrus the assistant chairman is jasper nelson
09:40the remaining commissioners are andrew burke matt billy jerry cypress and the counsel to the commission
09:48the captain is juan vargas the executive director is don hazelton and the tribe's executive boxing
09:55consultant is paul hermit this bout is sanctioned and approved by the wba the supervisor jorge
10:03jorge humberto clee our judges for this fight are gonzalo riveras al walensky and rocky young
10:15the referee for this fight the capable amanda garcia
10:22all right fight fans here we go 12 rounds of boxing for the wba super featherweight championship of the
10:30world now ladies and gentlemen and those in attendance and boxing fans joining us around the world it's
10:38presenting first the challenger in the blue corner wearing the black trunks fighting out of san antonio
10:51texas he weighed in at 129 and one half pounds his record includes 17 wins five losses and four
11:00knockouts please welcome joe morales
11:09his opponent across the ring needs no introduction
11:13wearing the red white and blue trunks fighting out of miami florida by way of guantanamo cuba
11:20he weighed in at 130 pounds
11:24his unblemished record is 25 and all with 15 wins coming by way of knockout please welcome
11:32the defending wba super featherweight champion of the world
11:38the defending wba super featherweight champion of the black trunks fighting out of miami florida
11:42i love you
11:43i love you
11:44i love you
11:46i love you
11:46i love you
11:47i love you
12:24god bless america
12:30and we echo the words of referee armando garcia from miami florida
12:44joel casemayor aside from staying sharp and focused does his fight prepare him technically for
12:50oscelino freitas the answer is no but he says he has been ready for freighters since july
12:57and joe morales very active this is fifth fight in 2001
13:02no first round knockouts
13:05one in three rounds or less good athlete rangy
13:08he's a busy guy but only four knockouts in 22 bouts
13:15and morales better get right to work as he just did with the jab he can find the range and
13:19keep that
13:19in cosmo's face gives him a little edge he's got a slight height and reach advantage be nice
13:26and if you can read the left leg sleeve of joe morales you'll be touched
13:36in memory of those lost september 11
13:442001. joel casemayor in the white trunks
13:48the flag of america adorning joe morales
13:56the flag of america adorning joe morales
13:56casemayor realizing morales prefers to box primarily from the outside
14:00not a big puncher probably has plenty of flexibility to do what he wants
14:03still he told us it's not going to be easy he's cautious has respect
14:08just look at the last fight with edwin santana that went the distance in a similar situation
14:16morales comes off his best fight his most important fight
14:19fight over carlos contraris much more experienced although contraris took the fight on late notice
14:26the dress was also moving up and waiting for it consistently a lighter weight but he looked good
14:30took him deep broken stayed broke him down and eventually stopped him in the 11th round
14:35an impressive performance from morales won by 11th round tko in june controlled the fight and landed a
14:41high percentage of punches he talked about the fact too that if he couldn't get get in past the
14:48awkwardness of casemayor southpaw style that he would switch to southpaw himself and see if
14:52jamming from the right side would help him interesting casemayor a tricky fast nuisance
14:58southpaw moving punching those are his games classic stick and move in and out elusive
15:04smooth superior boxing skill
15:08tremendous speed quickness reflexes knows how to put the combinations together not known as a one punch
15:19as a one punch in the first knockout
15:23four of casemayor's 15 knockouts in the first in case you're wondering
15:28average is just under five and a half rounds so not in any particular hurry
15:33but usually gets the job done in surgical like fashion something that's happening here that's not
15:40even though morales is doing actually pretty well in his first round he's using a lot of energy
15:45jumping around hopping around herky-jerky movements whereas casemayor is very slow economical and wastes
15:50nothing very important if this fight gets deep
16:00in the corner of casemayor
16:01box go to the body don't give possibly or any time to rest and try not to walk into anything
16:12joe goosin in the corner of casemayor
16:16you got to go down you got to go down uh there's only three up here listen tell him
16:22uh that was very nice i like the fact that he didn't let him hit him
16:32okay now you let him know that he can't hit you go ahead use your jab a little bit more
16:36i still want him to box okay but a little a little in and out he'll get in a little
16:44bit but get out
16:48look for his body a little bit too but don't reach for it
16:53i don't know if you don't have it where's the metal piece
17:00joe's had some spanish uh in his background bits and pieces here not fluent in spanish but
17:05you've seen him in a corner in previous times speaking more spanish now he's going to interpret
17:09a bilingual corner two different voices in the ears of joel casemayor which certainly aids our cause
17:18makes it easy on us for those who don't speak espanol you know an excellent argument could be made that
17:24morales actually won the first round he threw a lot more punches he missed a lot more but he landed
17:29maybe
17:29a couple more and for the most part you know didn't do badly casemayor just taking his time
17:35watching his phone and now he's going to start to step it up and work that straight left hand you
17:39watch
17:40casemayor who's never been down he's been stunned morales never down casemayor now 30
17:47380 amateur victories won the world title fifth round tko over jean kwambek a korean and a thorough
17:58domination this is fourth defense 25 and 0 15 knockouts 3 and 0 in world title buzz morales's
18:06first world title shot little accidental bang of heads so morales complained to referee
18:12three morales 17 and 5 4 knockouts his highest rating number 14 wba
18:21cars are starting to get the timing down the straight left hand you watch more effective as
18:25this fight goes on yeah we saw that in his last fight in philadelphia mississippi
18:30with edwin santana back on may 5th it was a near shutout to retain the title
18:36and he had santana down early had him in trouble didn't know that he was going to actually
18:40last the fight but to its greatest intent and he was a survivor
18:53morales from time to time will switch to southpaw to try to confuse his opponent
18:57he did that briefly early in the round and he did that against contraris here he goes for a split
19:02second but he didn't throw any punches morales winging away blood on the face of morales
19:13his own blood as it trickles into his mouth
19:25and the heads clash
19:29and nothing unusual with a southpaw and cosmo's horses come on
19:34well cosmo ducked and came up and morales came charging him his head down a bit and his hands not
19:40up
19:40boy morales nearly got spun around there and off balance
19:53and the chance of cuba
20:04We'll take you into the corner of Joe Morales,
20:07who's got Tony Ayala Sr. in his corner.
20:09It was an accidental headbutt
20:11that caused the laceration on his lower lip.
20:13Okay, Joey.
20:14Accidental headbutt.
20:15All right.
20:17Hoppy.
20:18Look at him.
20:19Look at him.
20:22Yeah, he got hit in the bomb.
20:25All right.
20:26All right.
20:28You're all right.
20:29You're all right.
20:30You're all right.
20:30You're all right.
20:31You're all right.
20:31You're all right.
20:31You're all right.
20:31I can hit back the mark, motherfucker.
20:33Joe.
20:37You see that accidental bang of heads.
20:40Cosmere comes down and comes up again.
20:43Morales has his hands down and just comes in with his head,
20:45face out, and they banged heads.
20:49Here he switches to southpaw, jabbing with his right hand.
20:53Doesn't stay this way very long, but he tries a couple of jabs.
20:56A little straight left hand, and something that's probably going to be a problem all day.
21:02There's another headbutt.
21:03Comes up right into his chin.
21:05Morales looking over at referee Armando Garcia, but it was accidental according to Garcia as we enter into round three.
21:14Tony Ayala senior in the corner of Morales said, hey, I know it's a tough fight, but sometimes you just
21:20have to roll the dice.
21:22And tonight a daunting task.
21:24Morales against one of the top fighters all around in the world.
21:28That's a little Joe Casamayor.
21:33Nice left hook to the body by Morales, but he's not sitting on his punches.
21:38He's so thinking defensively that as soon as he lands, he jumps back.
21:42He negates all that he's done to work his way in.
21:45Referee Armando Garcia with a very close eye on Casamayor in light of those headbutts and barking out the words,
21:54guys fight clean.
21:55And most of that directed towards Casamayor right now.
21:59And there's really no reason for Casamayor to do anything unsavory.
22:06That left hand almost has a homing device on him for everybody's head.
22:10He's straight.
22:11He's quick.
22:12He's so accurate.
22:15Crisp sharpshooter.
22:16Joe Casamayor builds his biggest weapons of the straight left and the right jab.
22:22Busy, as you can see, throws a lot of punches.
22:29And has that tremendous speed.
22:34But he is not a fast starter.
22:38Left hand straight left to the nose by Casamayor.
22:49Casamayor keeps pressing forward as the chance of Cuba once again.
22:52Ring out.
22:56As we are coming to you from the Miami area.
23:00That beautiful counter right hook there over a drop left hand.
23:03But Morales and Casamayor right on target.
23:06That connected cleanly.
23:25As we are working the jab behind the power punch the left.
23:30Right hook and left hand by Casamayor and Morales walked into both of them.
23:40That's a good defensive maneuvering by Casamayor as well, ducking under that right hand by Morales.
23:46He ducked under that one because the first one actually caught him, Steve.
23:50You learn from your mistakes.
23:51Oh yeah.
24:05As we head for the bell round three.
24:08Some interesting spectators on hand here at Miccosuke.
24:13Ocelino Freitas and his new wife Eliana getting a little peck on the cheek there.
24:19Freitas won earlier but not with a knockout.
24:23He won by decision over former world champ Alfred Cote and goes to 30 and 0 with 29 knockouts.
24:30So his perfect knockout record goes away.
24:36Casamayor doing what I call the slow walking down.
24:38He's coming in slowly just coming through coming through.
24:42Landing punch after punch blocking some on the way in.
24:44He's gonna be breaking down.
24:46So he's gonna be breaking down.
24:47He's gonna be breaking down.
24:48He's gonna be breaking down.
24:48He's gonna be breaking down.
24:48Okay.
24:51Okay.
24:52Better at the round, Maduro.
25:03Good look at Casamayor.
25:0525 and 0.
25:0715 knockouts.
25:08He was hoping to fight Ocelino
25:09Freitas who has already had two
25:12of those encounters canceled.
25:17July and September.
25:20Freitas having personal problems
25:22and Casamayor accusing Freitas
25:25of ducking him.
25:27Freitas may have suffered a
25:28hairline fracture to the right
25:30hand of that first fight.
25:32We'll have to wait on that.
25:36But the two hoping to get
25:38together in early 2002 show
25:40plenty of time to heal for
25:42Freitas.
25:49Round four.
25:50It's been all Casamayor.
25:55Morales up on his toes.
25:57Casamayor again more aggressive
25:59coming forward going to the body
26:01now with a one two.
26:02That's a good combination.
26:08Morales has gotten through with
26:09a couple of punches.
26:12Missing more and more as time
26:13goes on.
26:13You see the misses are cleaner and
26:15cleaner and buy more space.
26:16him.
26:16More on him.
26:26Morales told us he was looking to
26:28stop that beautiful right jab of
26:31Casamayor but having difficulty
26:33dealing with it.
26:34And he said one of the ways was by using his own jab,
26:36which he came out with in the first round.
26:38And by the way, I gave him the first round
26:39just because I thought he just outworked Casamaro a little bit.
26:42Casamaro, let's face it, would just take his time
26:44looking and feeling out.
26:45Since then, he's been all dominant
26:47and almost every part of every round.
26:49But now it's going to become target practice
26:53once Casamaro settles in and picks it up.
26:55He's a slow starter.
26:55A little low there for Casamaro,
26:58being told by Armando Garcia to bring those punches up.
27:02It's going to take you, Casamaro more and more
27:04becoming a notoriously slow starter,
27:06but a pretty good finisher.
27:15Now, what Morales told us yesterday
27:17sounds good theoretically,
27:19but very tough to pull it off in reality.
27:24He said he would try to make Casamaro pay for his mistakes.
27:27For example, he throws the jab and then brings it down.
27:30But it's not the case.
27:33Well, you can draw it up on paper,
27:34but then they have the abilities to do it
27:36in the moment of the fight.
27:39Now, that's different.
27:40Oh, yeah.
27:45Pants just waiting for Casamaro to jump on Morales,
27:48who's playing around a little bit.
27:52He says, all right, Joe, bring it out.
27:54And now, you've seen Morales' self, well.
27:57Yeah, he switches again.
27:59Second or third time, we've seen him do it tonight.
28:02But it doesn't seem to be confusing Casamaro much.
28:06Oh!
28:07Diemple!
28:10Morales taunting Casamaro!
28:15Casamaro's wife, Scarlett, one of his three sons.
28:18That's Joel Jr., two years old, looking up.
28:23An animated Scarlett.
28:26Go, Adam.
28:28No, no, don't wait for him to do that.
28:33Hey.
28:44Two fighters becoming slightly animated
28:46toward the end of the round.
28:47You see Morales shaking his head,
28:49and a couple of punches exchanged.
28:52A little attitude adjustment going on in there.
28:56A little machismo game being played, Steve.
28:58That may come back to hurt good old Joe.
29:01Not Joel, but Joe.
29:10And it's round five, scheduled for 12
29:13for the WBA Super Featherweight Championship.
29:22This a division that was started back in the 1920s
29:26for fighters who were too heavy for featherweight,
29:29too light for lightweight.
29:31was created in New York.
29:33First champion, one of the all-time greats,
29:35Johnny Dundee.
29:37But remember the early 80s, Cornelius Coza-Edwards,
29:40Bazooka-Lemont, Bobby Chacon, Rolando Navarrete.
29:43Very exciting division back there.
29:45Great rivalries.
29:46Here's the medal!
29:48Let's take a look at the press-road scoring
29:50to this point.
29:51All-Casemayor.
29:53Four shots!
29:54Four!
29:55Four shots!
29:55Five!
30:04Four shots!
30:06Four shots!
30:08Four shots!
30:09Don't do that to Casemayor and to Morales.
30:13Things getting a little on the roughhouse side from time to time with the head-butting and some low blows.
30:20and some taunting by her eyes.
30:23Crowd getting into it every time
30:24Casamayor comes close to doing something.
30:27One of the things that's just
30:28so sweet about watching Casamayor,
30:30he comes and he takes his time.
30:31He never gets overly excited.
30:33He steps up when he wants to.
30:35He boxes when he wants to.
30:36Never gets emotional about anything.
30:38Just business as usual.
30:39Beautiful to watch.
30:44Today, about 20 years after the so-called
30:47golden era of this division,
30:49it has been revived.
30:51Three of the four champions,
30:52including Casamayor, undefeated, charismatic.
30:56Along with Joel, there's Floyd Mayweather Jr.
31:00and Ocelino Freitas.
31:02Steve Forbes, who won earlier tonight
31:04over John Brown in the rematch,
31:06has one loss, 20 wins.
31:10And of course, one of the greats
31:12at around this weight,
31:15Featherweight, passed away recently.
31:17He was honored earlier
31:19by our ring announcer, Ronnie Duncan,
31:21the great Sandy Sadler,
31:24who won like three out of four
31:25over one of the best all-time,
31:28Willie Pepp.
31:30And Sadler, highly unusual
31:33because he was so tall,
31:35rangy, lean,
31:36lean, and had so much power.
31:38And a lot of people feel
31:39that Sandy Sadler,
31:40if he were in his prime today,
31:42would wipe out everybody
31:44at Super Featherweight
31:46fighting right now.
31:47Sandy Sadler was somewhat of a female,
31:49almost like a lighter Bob Foster,
31:52tall, lean, but overpowered.
31:56Final seconds, round five.
32:01And again, Morales switching
32:02to southpaw and says,
32:04bring it on, Castamayor.
32:06Landed with a straight left
32:07and a good finish to the round
32:09for the challenger.
32:14Let's go inside the ropes
32:16with Bobby Chavez.
32:17This has not been the cleanest of fights.
32:19Now we have some headbutts.
32:20This is early in round two.
32:23A little later in round two.
32:26Once again, round two,
32:28full of headbutts.
32:29And then eventually
32:30there's a nice low blow.
32:34At the end of this round,
32:35the low blows.
32:35You know what?
32:36It's a shame, but...
32:37And I don't think he's really
32:38doing it on purpose.
32:39I think he's just...
32:41Obviously, the southpaw thing
32:42is always a problem.
32:43Stepping on feet, banging heads.
32:45The short to the tall
32:46and the styles.
32:47And the low blows, I think,
32:48was just a lack of concentration.
32:53Busy night
32:54night for Armando Garcia.
32:56What are we going to do, baby?
32:57We're going to go
32:58keep your fucking ass.
32:59That's right.
33:00Don't do it.
33:02Don't do it.
33:03Don't do it.
33:04Don't do it.
33:04Don't do it.
33:06Don't do it.
33:07Don't do it.
33:09Don't do it.
33:09Round six
33:10of this WBA
33:11Super Featherweight Championship.
33:13As we have talked
33:14about, Casemiro,
33:16often a slow starter.
33:18Joe Morales,
33:19a heavy underdog,
33:21but he's been hanging
33:21in there tough.
33:22He's been taking
33:23to get some nice punches.
33:24I don't think that
33:24the Casemiro has actually
33:25hit him with his very best yet.
33:27I think that's yet to come.
33:28Again, Casemiro,
33:29not a one-punch knockout artist,
33:30but he can sting you
33:32with his speed.
33:34A sharp, slashing puncher
33:37who can just pick you apart.
33:40But sometimes it's a slow
33:42building process
33:43through the fight
33:44for Casemiro.
33:48We saw that
33:49with Edwin Santana,
33:51with Garcia,
33:54Radford Beasley.
33:55That was a pretty right hook
33:57to the body
33:57that Casemiro threw,
33:59but he didn't come up top
34:00with anything.
34:00Another right hook up top,
34:02a straight left,
34:02an uppercut, nothing.
34:08Most of that,
34:09the block by Casemiro
34:11by the elbows and arms.
34:14One or two got to the belly
34:15by Morales.
34:22Casemiro seems to be
34:23taking his time
34:24quite a bit, Steve.
34:25Just really taking his time.
34:27A little more so
34:27than usual, perhaps?
34:29It kind of appears
34:30that way to me.
34:31Maybe, again,
34:31it's just the clash of styles.
34:34Maybe the style he's facing,
34:35some extra things
34:36he needs to figure out
34:37or he wants to do.
34:38Maybe Morales
34:39waste some extra energy.
34:40I don't know.
34:41Big wide left hand
34:42to the head
34:43by Casemiro,
34:44but it only infuriates
34:46Morales.
34:47Came through
34:48with a right hand there.
34:51Missing with a
34:52wild left hook,
34:54Morales.
34:59And once again,
35:01the chance of Cuba
35:04in support of Casemiro
35:05from Guantanamo
35:07originally.
35:14Casemiro in the white,
35:1525-0, 15
35:18knockouts,
35:18fourth title defense.
35:20recently hit the 30 mark.
35:23Morales, 17-5,
35:25four knockouts,
35:25certainly not in the class
35:26of Casemiro,
35:28rated number 14
35:29by the WBA.
35:30His first world title shot
35:32three years younger
35:33than Casemiro,
35:34but he's holding his own
35:36against one of the top
35:37fighters in the world.
35:38You notice every time
35:40Casemiro lands
35:41a good combination,
35:42Morales nods at him
35:43and says,
35:44yeah, okay,
35:44you hit me,
35:44you hit me,
35:45I hear you,
35:45I'm still here.
35:47Kind of comical,
35:48but I understand it.
35:49In almost talking fashion.
35:52Here's Casemiro opening up.
35:54Morales' counter punches
35:56are being blocked.
35:59Casemiro getting
36:00the better of these exchanges.
36:03No, no, no,
36:03that's what he's doing.
36:07Now, Morales is game.
36:12Come here.
36:24Morales is chasing Casemiro.
36:27Nice body work.
36:29Decent left over the top
36:30as he takes a southpaw stance.
36:34Here we see him again
36:34as a southpaw.
36:36You see him as a southpaw.
36:37He's been a little more
36:38effective as a southpaw.
36:42Here's a little shimmy
36:43or Mr. Bojangles dance
36:46from the waist up.
36:46Here are some pity-pat punches
36:48that don't really land flush.
36:50But Casemiro starts to come back
36:51and get a little more
36:53intentional with his bombs.
36:54There you see
36:55a beautiful left uppercut
36:56snapping the head.
36:57And again,
36:58straight left hand
36:59down the middle,
37:00meaning business
37:01with some of the punches
37:01in that sequence.
37:08Bobby, to this point,
37:09are you wholeheartedly satisfied
37:12with what you're seeing
37:13from Casemiro tonight
37:14if he wants to establish himself
37:16as one of the best,
37:18if not the best,
37:19at 130 pounds
37:21and also taking into effect
37:24the last couple of fights
37:26as well with Santana
37:27Roberto Garcia.
37:28Are you satisfied?
37:29Well, like I said,
37:30and I always have to repeat
37:31this, certain styles
37:32make for better fights.
37:34Garcia didn't match up as well
37:35because he's not quite as awkward.
37:38Morales is tall range awkward.
37:39Maybe a little tougher,
37:41I'm not sure,
37:41but to see him,
37:42it's just awkward.
37:44Casemiro doesn't have
37:45all the answers for him
37:46immediately.
37:47Casemiro, though,
37:47he's one of the best
37:48fighters in the division.
37:49There's no question about that.
37:51What kind of performance
37:52we're going to get tonight
37:53still remains to be seen.
37:54WF tactics there
37:55momentarily by Morales
37:57who tried to
37:59take Casemiro down
38:00over his hip.
38:03So you think
38:04it's chalked up
38:05to the style
38:05of his opponent tonight
38:07that he can't
38:08take him out?
38:08His style
38:09and his toughness.
38:10He's shown a pretty good chance.
38:11Casemiro's hit him
38:11with some very good
38:13left hands.
38:13Two, three in a row.
38:14Some right upper
38:15cuts and hooks as well.
38:17Morales is,
38:18you know,
38:18he's decided,
38:18hey,
38:19I want to be here too.
38:19I want to get my pound of flesh.
38:21And he's swinging
38:22and he's fighting back.
38:23But this has been the case
38:24for three fights in a row.
38:28Edwin Santana,
38:30not a big hitter,
38:31took him the distance
38:32and Roberto Garcia
38:33took to the ninth
38:34to finally stop Garcia.
38:35A tough fighter
38:36in his own right,
38:37no question about it.
38:38Not only tough,
38:39but a much better
38:39offensive machine.
38:40He has a fine right hand,
38:41a good left hook.
38:42Garcia went undefeated
38:43for many years.
38:44Great fighter.
38:50But it just makes you wonder.
39:05Would you like to see
39:07more of a sense of urgency
39:08out of Casemiro?
39:10Would you like to see
39:11a dramatic,
39:13emphatic knockdown here
39:14as he nails Morales
39:16and gets the crowd going?
39:18Morales pulled like
39:18a Muhammad Ali
39:19where he actually acted
39:20like he was staggered
39:21and dove into the punch
39:22of his own.
39:22He continues to sort of
39:24make fun of Casemiro here.
39:26For me, my style,
39:27my thought process,
39:28yes, I'd love to see him
39:29step it up, pick it up
39:30and make a statement.
39:31But that's not necessarily
39:32his style.
39:33That may throw him
39:34out of his natural game plan.
39:35All right.
39:41There is blood on Morales'
39:50blood on the face of Morales now.
39:53Not sure if it was a puncher
39:55ahead, but there's that
39:56Muhammad Ali thing again
39:57by Morales taunting
39:59Casemiro,
40:01making as if he's hurt
40:03or not hurt,
40:05but usually that's the reason
40:07that he is hurt.
40:12And the stare down.
40:17He's trying to get inside the head
40:18of Casemiro,
40:19but that can't be easy.
40:23I don't know if he's trying
40:24to get inside his head
40:25or just let him know
40:26that I'm here to stay.
40:27No matter how hard you hit me,
40:28I'm going to take it,
40:28come back.
40:29No, no, no, no, no, no.
40:30Joe, you're getting hit too much.
40:33Come on, come on, come on.
40:34All right, okay.
40:40No, no!
40:45Morales coming in
40:46as the southpaw.
40:47So, kind of a little WWF there, a little spin and flip and toss.
40:56Later, he gets hit with a nice left hand, right hook, shoots me down the middle,
41:00and he does his little, he does his little shimmy, his little dance.
41:05I don't know how effective it is, but I'm getting a kick at him.
41:08They're having trouble Bobby in the corner there, trying to stop the bleeding of Joe Morales.
41:13This cut man, Victor Rodriguez, working furiously on the cut, and it's not, it's not clotting, it's not stopping.
41:20And that could really factor in here, as referee Armando Garcia takes a very close look at the face of
41:27Morales.
41:31It is round eight.
41:37Casemayor has controlled the fight.
41:42Well, Morales showing toughness.
41:45Oh, Casemayor here, working the face.
41:47And you notice he's economically, doesn't waste punches, he doesn't get in a hurry, and he lands crisply and cleanly.
41:54Quick report from Jim Gray.
41:55Well, Steve, as you mentioned, they cannot stop the bleeding on Joe Morales,
41:59and that cut is just being picked on and picked on right now by Casemayor.
42:02It is a problem, it is dripping directly right down into his left eye, and on good shots, it's even
42:07jumping over to the right eye,
42:08so he's going to have a vision problem, Steve.
42:11Jim Casemayor surgically taking the face apart of Joe Morales now.
42:21Like a shark-seeing blood.
42:25But Morales gaimely fighting back.
42:29There's definitely no quitting, Morales.
42:31He's shown that.
42:32Every time he gets hit really hard, he does a little dance for the crowd to let him know he's
42:36okay, whether he's hurt or not.
42:38In defeat, his stop will go up if he loses.
42:46Left hand followed by a right by Casemayor, still working that target.
42:51The head of Morales.
42:53Those punches were blocked by Joe Morales.
43:02There seems to be blood in the left eye of Morales, but overall it seems a little better.
43:10It's not smudged all over his face, but now referee Arnaudo Garcia may call the doctor in to see if
43:16it's too much.
43:16As you say, the doctor is really in my eyes.
43:19Come on, come on.
43:22Mark Gordon, the doctor.
43:27You're going to go four more rounds?
43:29I don't think so.
43:31Oh, they're waving it off.
43:33Mark Gordon said, can he go four more rounds?
43:36I don't think so.
43:37The doctor.
43:38They stop it, but he'll make the suggestion.
43:41And Armando Garcia, the ref, said, okay, I'm going to stop it.
43:45I've never seen a referee not take the doctor's recommendation.
43:48Your deck wouldn't make sense.
43:50Well, those are the rules, nevertheless.
43:52And the flag of Cuba.
43:55Here in this heavily Cuban crowd, Joe Casamayor consoling Joe Morales right now.
44:03Now this fight is stopped in the eighth as Morales is unable to continue with that cut around the left
44:08eye that was plouting his vision.
44:11And it was actually, it seemed like it was getting better at the time, but that was at the point
44:16when Garcia pulled over the doctor, Dr. Gordon.
44:20And he said, I don't think so.
44:22And Garcia agreed.
44:26All right, there's a possible future opponent for Joel Casamayor, Ocelino Freitas, who won by decision.
44:32That's right, by decision earlier tonight, if you're just joining us, you're flipping around, and it was not a knockout
44:39to keep his perfect knockout streak alive.
44:40He went to 30-0, 20-9 KOs with a decision over former Manamweight champ, Alfred Jose.
44:47And Joe Casamayor victorious tonight with an eight-round TKO.
44:55And Joe Casamayor consistently backing up Morales, taking pot shots at the eye, just pecking, coming in, no sense of
45:04urgency, just working it, working it, working it.
45:08The eye is very ugly, and it was very, very bloody.
45:10As he got close to us, you could see how big that cut was.
45:13Dripping right down in his eyes.
45:16Horrible cut in a horrible place.
45:20There's punch after punch landing on the side of his face, adding to the misery of that eye.
45:28Just before the stoppage, Casamayor just again, taking his time, no sense of urgency ever, just working methodically, systematically taking
45:37apart his opponent.
45:38Today he was surgeon-like, zeroing in on that eye and cutting it out.
45:48And no argument from Morales.
45:50And eventually the referee looks at it and he sees how much blood's coming out of the eye.
45:53We're squirting.
45:56So Casamayor lifting his record to 26-0, 16 knockouts.
46:01As that WBA belt craped around his body, Morales drops to 17-6.
46:05So it should be, we hope, Casamayor's final tune-up for getting in the ring with Ocelino Freitas to unify
46:13the two belts.
46:13There's a kiss from his wife, Scarlett.
46:17Casamayor insists he was always running for Ocelino Freitas.
46:22Let's get it over to Ronnie Duncan, our ring-a-down.
46:24Ladies and gentlemen, referee Armando Garcia stopped this contest at 2 minutes and 4 seconds of round number 8 due
46:34to a cut over the eye.
46:36The winner and still WBA IVF Super Thunderweight Champion of the world, Coral Casamayor.
46:47The WBA Super Thunderweight Champion, Coral Casamayor.
46:52So the fourth title defense for Casamayor, as the fight is stopped in the eighth round because of the cut
46:59over the left eye of Joe Morales.
47:05And Casamayor now 26-0, 16 knockouts.
47:12And we'll just have to wait and see now what happens in terms of Casamayor and Freitas.
47:19Let's go up into the ring and hear what everybody has to say to Jim Cray.
47:23Jim?
47:24All right, thank you very much, Steve.
47:25Joel, congratulations, Joel.
47:27Luis de Cubas will translate for us.
47:30Were you as sharp as you thought you could be tonight?
47:45You know, I traded for two months for this fight.
47:53This guy very seriously, I was ready to go 12 rounds to this guy.
47:56You know, he's a little bit of an awkward guy.
47:57He never been, you know, the guy never been off his feet, so he knew he was ready for a
48:00fight.
48:00He could go 12 rounds.
48:01So he just decided he was going to relax and bust him up with a front hand.
48:05Clearly you were in control of this entire fight tonight.
48:08Steve Albert said it was like a shark with blood in the water once you were able to open his
48:12left eye.
48:13Was that the feeling that you had?
48:20I got him coming in with a right hook, and that's when I cut him up.
48:24I opened him up.
48:26What next?
48:30Next one's Freitas.
48:31He's in the ring.
48:32Now we won the IBA world belt and the WBA.
48:35Now we got two belts.
48:36We're going for all of them.
48:37Let's bring them in.
48:38Yeah, come on.
48:39Come on in here.
48:41Okay.
48:44Gentlemen, this has been postponed for a couple of times, and now there's an announcement that will be made.
48:54Well, there will be an announcement made, and I guess we're going to do it now.
48:58So you two will face one another, and what about the postponement?
49:03You have postponed this fight twice now, and it will take place.
49:06Are you ready this time?
49:08Are your problems behind you?
49:30You have called this man a princess.
49:35You've been very upset that he has not shown up the past couple of times.
49:40Are you happy now to finally have this fight seemingly that we've been put together here shortly?
49:45This is part of the show.
49:47I have respect to him.
49:49This is part of the show because he's a man.
49:51Anyway, it's a show for us.
49:54It's a show.
49:57It's a promotion, you know, he's a human being just like him.
50:00You know, we respect him.
50:01He's a great fighter.
50:02You know, the guy, I call him the Duran of the year 2000.
50:06You know, I think it's a great, great, great showdown.
50:08You know, you've got a great boxer against a great puncher, and that's what makes great fights.
50:12A great fight for Latin America and South America and for all America.
50:15All right, gentlemen, stand by here.
50:17We're going to bring in the promoters, and we're going to announce the date here in a few minutes.
50:19Let's go over to Steve Albert ringside, and we'll continue with this in just a few moments.
50:24All right, Jim, let's see how the scoring went for Casamayor versus Morales.
50:29First, we'll take a look at the official judges' scorecards through the seven rounds.
50:34Gonzalo Rivera's, Al Walensky, Rocky Young also all had it in favor of Casamayor.
50:40Pretty convincingly there.
50:42Let's see, Rivera's had it, the biggest disparity, 70-64.
50:45And the press row scoring, Manolo Alvarez, Santos Perez, Jesus Suarez all had it convincingly through seven for Casamayor as
50:56well.
50:57So really no contest, and the online, same story.
51:01Casamayor through seven had it six rounds to one.
51:06Looking ahead, let's see what boxing coverage is coming up in the near future here on Showtime.
51:14Showbox, the new generation, returns in two weeks with two of the most exciting young prospects in boxing today.
51:20Unbeaten lightweight sensation Francisco Panchito Bajardo takes on Eliezer Conferris,
51:25and undefeated super middleweight Jeff Lacey squares up against LeBond Easley at 5 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
51:31Later that night, former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson returns to the ring
51:36versus hometown hero Brian Nielsen from Copenhagen, Denmark.
51:40Don't miss this Showtime special Saturday, October 13th at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
51:45And then on November 3rd, we'll present the much-anticipated 140-pound unification bout
51:51between WVA and WVC champion Kostya Zhu
51:54and undefeated IVF champ Zab Judah at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
51:58Catch this exciting action in the coming weeks only on Showtime.
52:05Well, we look forward to those upcoming fights, and right now, as promised,
52:09let's swing it back upstairs to Jim Gray.
52:11Jim?
52:12All right, Steve.
52:12Well, they're going to make the announcement official now.
52:14I have Matt Tinley of America Presents and Art Palullo of Banner Promotions.
52:18We flipped a coin.
52:19We're going to let you go first, Matt.
52:22Lost the coin toss.
52:24When is this fight going to take place?
52:26Beginning of January.
52:27Artie and I almost have everything wrapped up.
52:31It's going to be a go beginning of January, and it should be a hell of a fight, Jim.
52:34Do you know where it will take place?
52:36I'd like it right down the road at the American Airlines Arena,
52:39but Artie has a difference of opinion on that.
52:41And where would you like to see this happen, Artie?
52:43Well, I have an arena in Brazil that would be a terrific location for the fight.
52:48But probably the fight belongs in Las Vegas.
52:50That's where all the big fights are.
52:52That's where this type of fight should be.
52:53I do want to say one thing.
52:56If it wasn't for Jay Larkin to put us all together to get it done,
52:59the fight would not have come off so we can get this unification done by January.
53:04Why, Artie, has this taken so long?
53:06And how can we assure the public who's watching tonight that, in fact,
53:10it will take place after your two cancellations?
53:12Well, we don't have enough time for all of those answers.
53:17But let's just say now that Asselino is the WBO Junior Lightweight World Champion.
53:23He's got a great trainer.
53:25He's very happy.
53:26The fight is on.
53:27We are going to be there, and we're going to win the fight.
53:30And I know they think they are, too.
53:31Will your hand be okay?
53:33Will his hand be okay?
53:34Please tell us, Oscar.
53:37Then we'll be okay because the doctor already checked it.
53:39It's no fracture.
53:40Basically, it's bruised from all...
53:41No problemos?
53:42No, no problemos.
53:43Okay.
53:43No problemos.
53:44Listo.
53:44Listo.
53:45How about fighting this guy?
53:48What about this guy are you most concerned about with now just a few months, really, to prepare?
53:53¿Qué es lo que más te preocupa de él para preparación, para la pelea, la próxima pelea con él?
53:58No, a mí no me preocupa nada.
53:59Yo soy un peleador de experiencia.
54:01Él me va a preparar con todos los días, sus igualidades, sus golpes.
54:04Y a prepararnos.
54:05Yo voy a prepararme solamente.
54:06I'm a fighter with a lot of experience, you know.
54:09I'm just going to condition myself.
54:11I'm going to prepare myself.
54:12I'm going to condition myself for every fight, okay?
54:14I'm ready to fight.
54:15Gentlemen, we look forward to this fight.
54:18Everybody is.
54:18It'll take place early in 2002, January.
54:22Not in Brazil, probably in Las Vegas, maybe in Miami.
54:25We'll have that announcement when we have further information, Steve.
54:30And there they are.
54:31Thank you, Jim.
54:32Joel Casamayor and Ocelino Freitas,
54:35hopefully, will get together in the same ring sometime in early 2002.
54:40Two.
54:40Two.
54:40One.
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