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Andy Tabanas faces Fahlan Sakkreerin in a rematch for the vacant WBO Jr Flyweight Title on Showtime Boxing
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00:00:00It's showtime!
00:00:04There's a time when posturing must be replaced by performance.
00:00:09When aspirations must be transformed into accomplishments.
00:00:14And clarity emerges from confusion.
00:00:18There's a time when only the truth remains.
00:00:22And that time is now.
00:00:25WBC champion Kostya Su meets WBA champion Shombe Mitchell
00:00:30to unify the 140-pound title next on Showtime Championship Boxing.
00:01:22We return to the boxing capital of the world.
00:01:24We return to the boxing capital of the world.
00:01:24In Las Vegas, Nevada, our locale, the elegant Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
00:01:29on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.
00:01:32This is fast becoming one of the premier venues in all of boxing,
00:01:35already playing host to a full dozen world championship events.
00:01:39And this evening, you can add to that.
00:01:43In our main event, it'll be the highly anticipated super lightweight unification showdown
00:01:48between WBC champion Kostya Su and his WBA counterpart Shombe Mitchell.
00:01:54In our co-feature, you'll see the fight for the vacant WBO junior flyweight title
00:01:59between number one contender Andy Tabanis and former IVF strawweight champion Falan Sikrerin.
00:02:08As we welcome you inside to the Mandalay Bay Event Center
00:02:11where the battle cry is,
00:02:13Let the tournament begin.
00:02:14Capacity a little over 3,000.
00:02:16And tonight, the eyes of boxing on the Thunder from Down Under
00:02:20and the little big man as Kostya Su and Shombe Mitchell square off
00:02:23in a long-awaited matchup.
00:02:28Hello again, everybody.
00:02:30Steve Albert ringside from Las Vegas.
00:02:32There was a time not too long ago
00:02:33when the title of champion meant that you were the best fighter
00:02:36at a particular weight.
00:02:38Now, with the proliferation of sanctioning bodies,
00:02:40additional weight classes and titles,
00:02:42the distinction has become somewhat blurred.
00:02:45Tonight, two champions with a combined record of 72-3-1
00:02:49with 50 knockouts will climb into the ring.
00:02:51And by the end of the night,
00:02:52we should be one step closer to proving
00:02:54who the best 140-pound fighter in the world really is.
00:02:58The winner is scheduled to face IVF champion Zab Judah on May 19th
00:03:02to unify three of the four major 140-pound championships
00:03:06and put that debate to rest.
00:03:08For the record, the WBO champ is relatively unknown,
00:03:11Ener Julio of Colombia.
00:03:13Now, some feel that Judah,
00:03:14the only undefeated champion in this weight class,
00:03:17is the man to beat.
00:03:18But he's come under some criticism of late
00:03:20for a lack of intensity in his last couple of fights.
00:03:23In fact, just three weeks ago here on Showtime,
00:03:25when Judah faced Reggie Green,
00:03:27Zab controlled the fight
00:03:28but never really had the challenger in trouble
00:03:31until the 10th round.
00:03:33Judah was urged to step up the pace by referee Arthur McCanty,
00:03:36so he asserted himself, went on the offensive,
00:03:39knocked down the rugged veteran Green
00:03:40with a single right, silencing the boos from the crowd.
00:03:43McCanty decided to let the bout continue,
00:03:45and Judah aggressively attacked his defenseless opponent,
00:03:48knocking him down again with another right.
00:03:50McCanty this time mercifully stopped the bout,
00:03:52extending Judah's unblemished record.
00:03:55So now Judah anxiously awaits either Tsu
00:03:58or fellow southpaw, Shambay Mitchell,
00:04:00and the opportunity to prove that he is king
00:04:03of all 140-pounders.
00:04:05We expect to hear from Zab later in the broadcast,
00:04:08but tonight it's round one with Kostya Zou,
00:04:10the fighter with the curious name and ruthless attitude,
00:04:12taking on the slick, ring-savvy Shambay Mitchell.
00:04:16And with that, let me bring on my ringside partner,
00:04:18former world champion Bobby Chez.
00:04:20And Bobby, what's your take on the overall significance
00:04:23of tonight's main event?
00:04:24Well, Steve, the significance of the fight tonight is big,
00:04:26especially at 140 pounds.
00:04:28Just two weeks ago,
00:04:29Diego Corrales was beaten by a flawless performance
00:04:31by Floyd Mayweather Jr., uniting that title
00:04:33and also making yours truly eat a little crow.
00:04:36But the unifications, the premium is always at high.
00:04:38It is the most significant bout that can be had
00:04:41in the division because what it does do
00:04:42is single out who is the best
00:04:44or who is en route to become the best.
00:04:45In this case, against Zab Judah,
00:04:47the public's been clamoring for it for years,
00:04:49at least four or five years now.
00:04:50We want to see one world champion in each division.
00:04:52Well, if they want that throughout the year
00:04:54in every division,
00:04:55they're going to have to come and support these fighters.
00:04:56That's right.
00:04:57Most people do think that power generally beats speed.
00:05:00We saw what happened a few weeks ago
00:05:01with Mayweather and Corrales.
00:05:03And even tonight,
00:05:04I think the guy with the power is going to win
00:05:06as Kostya Zhu is a five-to-one favorite.
00:05:09For more on tonight's featured attraction,
00:05:10let's swing it over to Tim Smith.
00:05:12Tim?
00:05:13I think we have a developing situation here
00:05:16in Charmbe Mitchell's dressing room.
00:05:18About five minutes ago,
00:05:19one of the gentlemen from his corner came out
00:05:21and asked for a ringside physician to come in
00:05:23and said that Charmbe was not feeling well.
00:05:26And in the interim,
00:05:27this has looked like Grand Central Station
00:05:29at five o'clock in the afternoon.
00:05:31People have been running in and out right now.
00:05:33We have the promoter of the fight, Don King,
00:05:35who is in the dressing room,
00:05:36along with Mark Ratner,
00:05:38the executive director
00:05:39of Nevada State Athletic Commission,
00:05:41along with Flip Omansky, a commission member.
00:05:44And Mark Ratner indicated
00:05:46that we could not go into the dressing room
00:05:48to talk to Charmbe at this time.
00:05:49So this situation is unfolding.
00:05:51We're not really sure what the situation is.
00:05:54He is not feeling well.
00:05:56We don't know whether he is going to be feeling well.
00:06:00To fight tonight.
00:06:02And when we get more information, Steve,
00:06:05we'll keep you posted.
00:06:07Over to Jim Gray.
00:06:09All right.
00:06:09Thank you very much, Tim.
00:06:10Of course, right now,
00:06:11Costa Zoo is getting checked
00:06:13by the Nevada State Commission.
00:06:14He is having his hands wrapped.
00:06:16Costa, let me give you the information
00:06:17as we have it right now.
00:06:19Charmbe Mitchell is not feeling well.
00:06:21And there's a possibility,
00:06:23nothing is definitive yet,
00:06:24there's a possibility he might not fight.
00:06:27We don't know exactly what the situation is.
00:06:29Will that impact upon you at all?
00:06:31I'm training.
00:06:32I'm preparing for fight.
00:06:34Let me ask you this.
00:06:35You had six rounds of boxing in the last year,
00:06:38Costa, against Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:06:41Any concern about any rust
00:06:42if this fight should go forward?
00:06:44Never concerned.
00:06:45I'm fit.
00:06:45Always fit.
00:06:47All right, Costa.
00:06:48We'll let you get back to taking your hands.
00:06:50Out to you, Steve.
00:06:51Not much to be said in here.
00:06:53All right, thank you very much.
00:06:54A very focused,
00:06:56Costa Zoo, ready to go.
00:06:59Looks like he's ready to take on anybody tonight,
00:07:01whether Charmbe Mitchell is okay or not.
00:07:03But we'll stay on top
00:07:04of the developing Charmbe Mitchell situation.
00:07:06Of course, certainly hope that he is okay
00:07:09so this fight can go on.
00:07:11All right, as usual,
00:07:12we invite Showtime subscribers
00:07:13with internet access
00:07:14to score tonight's fights online
00:07:15on the boxing area at show.com.
00:07:17Your vote will instantly update the webpage
00:07:19and the results will be announced here on the telecast.
00:07:22Online scoring will not influence the outcome of the fight
00:07:24and is only available to viewers of our live East Coast feed.
00:07:28So to score tonight's fights
00:07:29and to learn more about upcoming Showtime events,
00:07:31log on to show.com.
00:07:33Once again, the address is s-h-o.com.
00:07:38Let's get to it.
00:07:39We close in on our first bout.
00:07:40His number one contender,
00:07:41Andy Tavadas meets former world champion
00:07:43and number three rated,
00:07:44Fallon Sakurin for the vacant WBO Junior Flyaway Championship.
00:07:48This is a rematch of a fight Sakurin won back in 1991.
00:07:54Southpaw Fallon Sakurin, his American debut.
00:07:57He's fought almost exclusively in his native Thailand,
00:08:00lost his pro debut in 88,
00:08:02won 22 straight,
00:08:03didn't lose again until 92
00:08:04and hasn't lost since,
00:08:06winning another 22 in a row,
00:08:07won the IVF 105-pound belt
00:08:09and hasn't lost since,
00:08:11winning another 22 in a row,
00:08:12won the IVF 105-pound belt.
00:08:15His 15th fight,
00:08:16seven successful defenses,
00:08:18including a decision over Tabanis.
00:08:20Tonight, his first title fight in over eight years,
00:08:23fighting more recently at 112,
00:08:24coming down to 108.
00:08:26Bobby, only 16 KOs among his 43 wins.
00:08:29Obviously not a big puncher,
00:08:31but plenty tough.
00:08:31You know what?
00:08:32Sakurin's never been stopped, Steve,
00:08:34in his entire career.
00:08:34He's an awkward southpaw
00:08:35with a good overhand left
00:08:36and a great jaw.
00:08:37This could smell trouble
00:08:38for almost any orthodox fighter,
00:08:40and these guys fought,
00:08:41and I'll forget,
00:08:4210 years ago,
00:08:42in a razor-close decision,
00:08:44was a split-decision win,
00:08:45and I'll tell you what,
00:08:46I expect another long,
00:08:47hard night for both men.
00:08:49And it was a brawl.
00:08:50How about keys to victory?
00:08:52Well, the keys to victory
00:08:53for Sakurin
00:08:54are going to be pretty simple.
00:08:55Box smart from the outside,
00:08:57make Tabanis miss,
00:08:58then counterpunch effectively,
00:08:59and a good overhand left
00:09:00is probably his best weapon.
00:09:03And we go on now,
00:09:04Bobby,
00:09:04to the opponent Filipino,
00:09:06Andy Tabanis.
00:09:07Polite young man,
00:09:08speaks a little English,
00:09:09one of 10 children,
00:09:10turned pro at 19 in 1989,
00:09:12impressive amateur career,
00:09:13won his first 17 pro fights
00:09:15before losing the slugfest
00:09:17to Sakurin
00:09:17for the IBF strawweight title
00:09:19in Thailand,
00:09:20Sakurin's backyard.
00:09:21He claims Sakurin
00:09:22did a lot of holding
00:09:23in that fight,
00:09:24and the referee
00:09:24just ignored it.
00:09:27You think he can turn
00:09:28the tables on Sakurin
00:09:2910 years later?
00:09:30You know, Steve,
00:09:31a lot can happen
00:09:32to any man in 10 years,
00:09:33especially a fighter.
00:09:34Their bodies and their minds
00:09:35have gone through so,
00:09:36so much in the wars
00:09:37that ensue.
00:09:38In this fight,
00:09:38the first fight,
00:09:39it was a very, very tight,
00:09:40close fight.
00:09:41Both of the fighters
00:09:42are almost exactly
00:09:42the same age,
00:09:43have almost the exact
00:09:44same amount of experience.
00:09:45I believe the man
00:09:46who puts his style
00:09:47to use more effectively
00:09:48and is committed emotionally
00:09:49is going to win this one.
00:09:50He made it all the way
00:09:51to the 12th
00:09:52against the supremely talented
00:09:54Ricardo Lopez
00:09:54before he was stopped,
00:09:56but he did take
00:09:56a systematic beating
00:09:57in that fight.
00:09:58How about your keys
00:09:59to victory?
00:10:00Well, Tabanis
00:10:01is not the boxer
00:10:01that his opponent is.
00:10:02He wants to keep
00:10:03the pressure on
00:10:03and cut off the ring,
00:10:04also work the body,
00:10:05get it,
00:10:06stop him from running,
00:10:06and also a good
00:10:07straight right hand.
00:10:08It's his signature punch.
00:10:10All right,
00:10:10let's check the numbers
00:10:11as we go to the tail
00:10:12of the tape.
00:10:12Just a year difference
00:10:13in age.
00:10:14Two-inch height
00:10:15advantage for Sakurin.
00:10:17Slight one-inch
00:10:17reach advantage
00:10:18for Tabanis.
00:10:19And yesterday's
00:10:20weigh-in, Tabanis
00:10:21right on the money.
00:10:22Sakurin just under.
00:10:23Fight time waits,
00:10:23both 115.
00:10:25And the key rules
00:10:26for this title fight,
00:10:27no standing eight count,
00:10:28no three knockdown rule.
00:10:29A fighter cannot be saved
00:10:30by the bell in any round.
00:10:32If an accidental foul
00:10:33ends the fight
00:10:34right before the conclusion
00:10:35of the fourth,
00:10:36the fighters rule
00:10:36they know contest.
00:10:38If it happens
00:10:38after the end of four,
00:10:39they go to the scorecards.
00:10:41So here at the Mandalay Bay
00:10:42in Las Vegas,
00:10:43getting ready
00:10:43for the WBO
00:10:44Junior Flyweight Championship.
00:10:46It's Andy Tabanis
00:10:47versus Fallon Sakurin.
00:10:49Let's get the formal
00:10:50introductions
00:10:50from our ring announcer,
00:10:51Jimmy Lennon Jr.
00:10:55Ladies and gentlemen,
00:10:57a very good evening
00:10:58to you,
00:10:58and we welcome you
00:10:59to the beautiful
00:11:00Mandalay Bay Resort
00:11:01and Casino
00:11:02in Las Vegas, Nevada
00:11:03as we have
00:11:05a big night
00:11:05of action coming away
00:11:07and it's all brought
00:11:08to you by
00:11:08Don King Productions
00:11:10in association
00:11:11with Vlad Wharton's
00:11:12Millennium Events
00:11:13along with the Mandalay Bay
00:11:15and Showtime
00:11:16Championship Boxing.
00:11:18This bout coming away
00:11:19is sanctioned
00:11:20by the World Boxing Organization,
00:11:22the President,
00:11:22Francisco Valcarcel,
00:11:24Supervisor and Attendance,
00:11:25Rudy Paz,
00:11:26along with the
00:11:27Nevada State Athletic Commission.
00:11:29The Chairman
00:11:29is Dr. Elias Ghanem,
00:11:31the officials
00:11:32as appointed,
00:11:33our physicians
00:11:33at ringside,
00:11:34Dr. Margaret Goodman,
00:11:35Dr. Jeff Davidson,
00:11:37Dr. William Berliner
00:11:38and Dr. Al Capana.
00:11:40Timekeepers at the bell
00:11:41also keeping count
00:11:42of the knockdowns,
00:11:43we have Al Bicek
00:11:43and Mike Lachella.
00:11:45Introducing to you
00:11:46our three judges
00:11:47scoring them out
00:11:48from ringside.
00:11:49From Las Vegas,
00:11:50Nevada,
00:11:50Bill Graham.
00:11:51Also from Las Vegas,
00:11:53Patricia Jarman Manning
00:11:55and from Lawnside,
00:11:56New Jersey,
00:11:57John Stewart.
00:11:59And now the third man
00:12:00of the ring,
00:12:00our referee in charge
00:12:01of this bout,
00:12:02working in this
00:12:03his 11th world title bout,
00:12:05Tony Weeks.
00:12:07All right fans,
00:12:08here we go.
00:12:0912 rounds of boxing
00:12:10for the vacant WBO
00:12:12Junior Flyweight Championship
00:12:14of the world.
00:12:17Introducing to you first
00:12:18on my right,
00:12:19fighting out of the blue corner.
00:12:21Entering the ring,
00:12:22wearing blue trunks
00:12:23with gold and red trim,
00:12:25hailing from the
00:12:27Maharasarakam province
00:12:28in Thailand,
00:12:29he weighed in
00:12:30at the limit
00:12:31of 108 pounds even.
00:12:33With a record of 43 wins,
00:12:35two losses
00:12:36and one draw,
00:12:37he has 16 wins
00:12:38coming by way of knockout.
00:12:40Here is the former IBF
00:12:42Mini Flyweight World Champion,
00:12:43currently ranked,
00:12:45the WBO number three contender,
00:12:47introducing
00:12:48Thalan Sakrilin.
00:12:54And his opponent
00:12:55across the ring
00:12:56on my left,
00:12:57fighting out of the red corner
00:12:58in this 12-round
00:12:59vacant championship bout.
00:13:01He is wearing purple trunks,
00:13:03hailing from Cebu City
00:13:05in the Philippines.
00:13:07He weighed in
00:13:08at 108 pounds
00:13:10with a record of 40 wins,
00:13:12four losses
00:13:12and one draw.
00:13:13He has 24 of his wins
00:13:15coming by way of knockout.
00:13:17Tonight is his third attempt
00:13:18at a world title.
00:13:20Please welcome
00:13:20the WBO Junior Flyweight
00:13:22number one contender,
00:13:24introducing Andy,
00:13:26Tornado Tabanes.
00:13:31Once again,
00:13:32a referee in charge,
00:13:33Tony Weeks,
00:13:34now to give instructions
00:13:3512 rounds
00:13:36of boxing schedule.
00:13:38Okay, here we go.
00:13:43Let's go.
00:13:49Okay.
00:13:51Okay.
00:13:52Right here is good.
00:13:54Okay.
00:13:54I want you to
00:13:55obey my commands
00:13:56at all times.
00:13:58I want you to
00:13:59keep everything clean.
00:14:00You already see
00:14:00your instructors
00:14:01in your dressing room.
00:14:02Okay.
00:14:03Watch.
00:14:04Listen for my commands.
00:14:05Stop, box, and break.
00:14:07Okay.
00:14:08Right here is low.
00:14:10Right here is good.
00:14:11Right here is low.
00:14:12Right here is good.
00:14:13Right here is low.
00:14:14Any questions?
00:14:15Any questions?
00:14:16Let's go.
00:14:19final instructions
00:14:20from Tony Weeks.
00:14:24Sakrarin didn't
00:14:25understand a word.
00:14:27Tabanas understood
00:14:28some of it.
00:14:29Andy Tabanas,
00:14:31a boxer first,
00:14:32but has punching power.
00:14:33Dangerous right hand,
00:14:34good chin.
00:14:35The southpaw,
00:14:36Falon Sakrarin
00:14:37at the other
00:14:38corner,
00:14:39who started out
00:14:39in the intense
00:14:40form of kickboxing
00:14:42called Muay Thai
00:14:43when he was five,
00:14:44a ring-wise boxer
00:14:45who usually makes
00:14:46for good fights.
00:14:52This title became vacant
00:14:54when Will Grigsby,
00:14:55who won the vacant belt,
00:14:57was stripped of the title
00:14:58for failing.
00:15:03This title became vacant
00:15:05when Will Grigsby,
00:15:06who won the vacant belt,
00:15:07was stripped of the title
00:15:08for failing a urinalysis.
00:15:12So here we go.
00:15:13Round one scheduled
00:15:13for 12 for the vacant
00:15:14WBO Junior Flyweight Championship.
00:15:19Sakrarin wearing
00:15:20the light blue.
00:15:22Tabanas in the dark
00:15:23sequined blue.
00:15:25Sakrarin,
00:15:26the southpaw tough season
00:15:27pro,
00:15:28former world champ,
00:15:29very awkward.
00:15:30Kind of makes you miss.
00:15:31Lots of movement.
00:15:32He's aggressive.
00:15:33His primary weapon,
00:15:34the straight left.
00:15:35The main asset of Tabanas,
00:15:37the straight right.
00:15:39Tabanas already loaded up
00:15:40with one of those,
00:15:41but very little action
00:15:42right now for fighters
00:15:43at this weight.
00:15:44At this weight,
00:15:44they're usually
00:15:44throwing them right away.
00:15:46And Tabanas,
00:15:47great heart.
00:15:48He withstood some
00:15:50huge shots
00:15:51from Ricardo Lopez
00:15:52back in 1995.
00:15:55But he did take
00:15:56some kind of a shellac.
00:15:57Very late in that fight,
00:15:58he was just trying his best
00:15:59to survive that last
00:16:00call from final round.
00:16:01He just could not do it.
00:16:03Sakrarin,
00:16:04normally able to drive
00:16:05opponents back.
00:16:07Doesn't throw too many
00:16:08combinations.
00:16:10Lots of lead lefts.
00:16:12Sometimes sets it up
00:16:13with the right jab.
00:16:14He's sharp and accurate,
00:16:15economical with his punches,
00:16:16and like his opponent
00:16:18tonight,
00:16:18takes a good punch.
00:16:20Very much a feeling
00:16:21out round right here.
00:16:22Both fighters taking
00:16:23their time,
00:16:23looking,
00:16:24looking,
00:16:25being very,
00:16:25very patient.
00:16:26Not a lot of action.
00:16:27Very cautious.
00:16:28The first fight
00:16:29between these two guys
00:16:3010 years ago,
00:16:30there was a lot
00:16:31of action.
00:16:33Nabonis taught us
00:16:34he still has
00:16:34an intense feeling
00:16:35for revenge.
00:16:36And you hear the crowd
00:16:38getting into the
00:16:38early voing stages.
00:16:40He felt that Sakrarin
00:16:41used roughhouse tactics
00:16:42repeatedly in the
00:16:43first encounter.
00:16:44He called them
00:16:45judo tactics.
00:16:46Yeah,
00:16:47and I'm not sure
00:16:47how he got away
00:16:48with that,
00:16:48except again,
00:16:49it was overseas,
00:16:49so you never can tell.
00:16:53Claims that Sakrarin
00:16:54grabbed him
00:16:54and pulled him.
00:16:55The referee
00:16:55didn't do anything
00:16:56about it.
00:16:59Sakrarin claims
00:17:00he didn't do
00:17:01any holding
00:17:01in the first fight.
00:17:03And he said
00:17:04he would prefer
00:17:04to box
00:17:05for the rematch.
00:17:06Tabanis now
00:17:07with a little pressure.
00:17:08A wild overhand right.
00:17:09Tabanis has some
00:17:10bad attention
00:17:11on that right hand,
00:17:11that's for sure, Steve.
00:17:12He means to get
00:17:13that right hand home.
00:17:15Tabanis told us
00:17:15Sakrarin's a good boxer.
00:17:17His strategy,
00:17:18Tabanis,
00:17:18is to cut off the ring,
00:17:20keep the pressure on,
00:17:21work the body.
00:17:21But he's not really
00:17:22cutting the ring off.
00:17:23You notice he's following
00:17:24Sakrarin around
00:17:25to the right,
00:17:25which is exactly
00:17:26what Sakrarin wants
00:17:27to do,
00:17:27move to his right.
00:17:30Tabanis said he trained
00:17:31three months for this fight.
00:17:32He's been in Las Vegas
00:17:33about seven days.
00:17:34Feels great.
00:17:36But should this fight
00:17:37go deep,
00:17:37a little note
00:17:38to tuck away.
00:17:39He's gone 10 rounds
00:17:40only once
00:17:41since the end
00:17:41of 1995.
00:17:51Sakrarin calls this fight
00:17:52a huge opportunity.
00:17:54His manager said
00:17:55said that Don King,
00:17:56the promoter,
00:17:57told him if he wins
00:17:58tonight,
00:17:58he could possibly
00:17:59meet Ricardo Lopez
00:18:00or the WVH
00:18:02Mendoza.
00:18:07The crowd
00:18:08with its disapproval.
00:18:10Tabanis
00:18:10with translator
00:18:11Leon Peninsolo.
00:18:28Jab first,
00:18:30jab first,
00:18:31left foot and straight.
00:18:32Don't wait.
00:18:34Don't go too far, man.
00:18:40you'll get him
00:18:41you'll get him
00:18:41eventually
00:18:42side to side
00:18:44straight
00:18:45and then
00:18:47with the left hook.
00:18:50He's shot
00:18:51left hook
00:18:51and straight.
00:18:55Give him the Maltese.
00:18:56He's shot
00:18:59right around.
00:19:00Trainer Alfredo
00:19:00with the instructions
00:19:02in the corner
00:19:03was setting around two.
00:19:06Well,
00:19:06gave him some good advice.
00:19:07Cut off the ring,
00:19:08worked the body,
00:19:08didn't come up top
00:19:09of the left hook,
00:19:09but now he's going to do it.
00:19:12Those are the words
00:19:13he told us
00:19:14in our fighter meeting
00:19:15with him yesterday as well.
00:19:17What he intended to do
00:19:18so far,
00:19:19he has not.
00:19:24See,
00:19:25part of the problem
00:19:25when you're a shorter fighter
00:19:26with shorter arms
00:19:28and shorter height,
00:19:28you do have leverage
00:19:29on the inside
00:19:30and from the outside,
00:19:30you don't.
00:19:31Sometimes you just have
00:19:32to walk through those punches,
00:19:33block them stuff
00:19:34in the counter,
00:19:34but you have to respond
00:19:36when the punch
00:19:36is being thrown at you.
00:19:41For the most part,
00:19:42both continue to
00:19:44fight from the outside,
00:19:46not looking to
00:19:47take any chances
00:19:48or risks
00:19:49on the inside.
00:19:53It's just a chess match
00:19:54at this point.
00:19:57And that has drawn
00:19:59the ire of the crowd.
00:20:02Rabbit punch there
00:20:03by Sikrarian.
00:20:05Getting behind the head.
00:20:08Tabatis claiming
00:20:09Sikrarian
00:20:09and fouled him
00:20:10many, many times
00:20:12in the first fight
00:20:12back in 1991.
00:20:14You know,
00:20:14there's no question
00:20:15about it.
00:20:15Tabatis has got to work more.
00:20:17He's got to work his way
00:20:18in, maybe double,
00:20:19triple jab,
00:20:19but he's got to make
00:20:20those hands be in motion
00:20:22if he's going to get inside.
00:20:23It's a total fighter.
00:20:24Nice right-hand lead,
00:20:25but that's it.
00:20:25One and done.
00:20:28Tabatis not following it up
00:20:29with a left hand.
00:20:30There's another
00:20:31left hook,
00:20:31but a grazing blow
00:20:33and it's one and done
00:20:34for Sikrarian as well.
00:20:35I pointed out earlier,
00:20:36a guy who doesn't throw
00:20:38that many combinations.
00:20:39He'll throw the lead right
00:20:41and then he'll stop.
00:20:42He'll pull back.
00:20:45Tabatis is leaping in
00:20:46and not very accurately.
00:20:48Wild punches
00:20:49going from both fighters
00:20:50over the head,
00:20:51around the side.
00:20:52Both of them looking
00:20:53very off-balance
00:20:54with their loading up shots.
00:20:54and both extremely cautious.
00:20:58Tabatis fought most of his fight.
00:21:00He trips against Lopez
00:21:02in the mid-90s
00:21:04in extremely overly cautious fashion
00:21:06for fear of being hurt.
00:21:09Of course,
00:21:09Lopez had a big reach advantage
00:21:10and he also punches
00:21:12extremely hard
00:21:13for this weight class.
00:21:16A pitter-patter
00:21:17right-left combination
00:21:18there by Sikrarian
00:21:19that did absolutely nothing.
00:21:23The ebb and flow
00:21:24stays like this team.
00:21:25It all leans
00:21:26towards Sikrarian.
00:21:27He's got the height.
00:21:28He's got the range.
00:21:29Laning a few punches more.
00:21:31Tabatis not making him work,
00:21:32not tiring him out at all.
00:21:37Sikrarian,
00:21:37a two-inch height advantage,
00:21:385'4 to 5'2.
00:21:41And a one-inch reach advantage
00:21:42for Tabatis.
00:21:43Tabatis,
00:21:44the number one rated fighter
00:21:45at junior flyweight
00:21:46according to the WBO.
00:21:48Sikrarian, number three.
00:21:49Sikrarian,
00:21:50a former strawweight champ.
00:21:52Tabatis getting his
00:21:53third world title shot.
00:21:54No world title shot.
00:21:56Final seconds of round two.
00:21:58Another boring round.
00:22:03Let's get more
00:22:04on the developing
00:22:04Shambay Mitchell situation
00:22:06with Tim Smith.
00:22:08Thanks, Steve.
00:22:09It seems like the fight
00:22:10is still on
00:22:11and we have updates here
00:22:12from Dr. Flip Omansky,
00:22:14the former medical advisor
00:22:15for the Nevada State
00:22:16Athletic Commissioner
00:22:17and the executive director
00:22:18of the Nevada State
00:22:19Athletic Commissioner,
00:22:20Mark Ratner.
00:22:21And we're going to
00:22:21find out now
00:22:22exactly what happened,
00:22:24Dr. Omansky.
00:22:25What happened back there?
00:22:25Tim, we were just notified
00:22:27that Shambay had some problems
00:22:30with his knee.
00:22:30We went back to talk to him.
00:22:32He is committed to fighting.
00:22:34He says that he's had pain
00:22:36for two years
00:22:37since he had ACL surgery
00:22:40on his left knee.
00:22:41It's been doing great.
00:22:43He's had some recent inflammation.
00:22:46Back there,
00:22:47he was in no distress.
00:22:49It is his decision
00:22:51to go forward
00:22:51and we support that.
00:22:52Is he in any kind
00:22:54of danger or risk
00:22:56against a guy
00:22:56who is a hard puncher
00:22:57in terms of his
00:22:59not being able
00:23:00to avoid taking shots tonight?
00:23:03I'm sure that Shambay
00:23:05wants to be at 100%.
00:23:06He told us he is at 100%
00:23:09and we take him
00:23:10at his word.
00:23:10Our referee is excellent.
00:23:12Shambay knows the sport.
00:23:14He's a veteran.
00:23:15I'm very comfortable.
00:23:16And Mark,
00:23:17will you advise
00:23:18your personnel
00:23:19outside the ring,
00:23:20inside the ring,
00:23:20the ring doctors
00:23:21to watch him closely?
00:23:22Absolutely.
00:23:23The ring doctors
00:23:23will be notified.
00:23:24I'll let Referee Cortez
00:23:26just know that there was
00:23:28a little question
00:23:29in the dressing room.
00:23:30But the most important thing,
00:23:32mentally,
00:23:32he is ready to fight.
00:23:33He wants to fight.
00:23:34He said he can't wait to fight.
00:23:36So Shambay Mitchell
00:23:37came into this fight
00:23:39tonight wanting to be
00:23:40one of the top fighters
00:23:42at 140 pounds.
00:23:44He's going to gut it out,
00:23:45Steve,
00:23:45and we'll see
00:23:46what he's got tonight.
00:23:48Tim,
00:23:49that physical problem
00:23:50could turn out
00:23:51obviously to be a factor
00:23:52because,
00:23:53as Shambay told us
00:23:54countless occasions,
00:23:56a key to victory
00:23:57against a guy like Costez
00:23:58will be his movement.
00:24:00And if he is restricted
00:24:01with that left knee,
00:24:02it could be a major problem
00:24:04against a power puncher
00:24:05like Sue.
00:24:06I agree, Steve.
00:24:07There's no way
00:24:07Shambay Mitchell
00:24:08if he has a legitimately
00:24:09bad injury in his knee
00:24:11he's going to have
00:24:11a chance against Sue
00:24:12without being able
00:24:13to move and move well.
00:24:16He's already a 5-1 eye.
00:24:18Been an awful lot
00:24:18of missing by big punches too.
00:24:20Cabanas is telegraphing
00:24:21that right hand
00:24:22incredibly so.
00:24:23I mean,
00:24:23he's just loading up
00:24:24and you can see it
00:24:24coming a mile away.
00:24:26There's a poking left
00:24:27right on the face,
00:24:28right on the head
00:24:29by Sakurin.
00:24:32Nice 1-2 by Sakurin.
00:24:34His left hand is not strong.
00:24:35Again,
00:24:35not a big knockout puncher,
00:24:36but he's getting through
00:24:37and he's hitting Tabanas.
00:24:38He's adding up
00:24:39point by point.
00:24:44Tabanas in the dark blue
00:24:46sequined trunks,
00:24:4744-1.
00:24:4840 wins,
00:24:494 losses,
00:24:501 draw,
00:24:5024 knockouts.
00:24:53Balan Sakurin,
00:24:5443-2-1
00:24:55with only 16 knockouts.
00:24:57Not a huge puncher.
00:25:00Uses boxing skills.
00:25:05Sakurin from Mahasarikam, Thailand.
00:25:09Tabanas out of Sabo City,
00:25:11the Philippines.
00:25:12When you have an outside boxer
00:25:13like Sakurin,
00:25:14especially the fact
00:25:15that he's a south pole
00:25:16and he's much more comfortable
00:25:17outside,
00:25:17he's probably a little awkward
00:25:18for most orthodox fighters,
00:25:19you have to press him,
00:25:21take him out of his game plan,
00:25:22work his body,
00:25:23make him work
00:25:24and do things on the inside
00:25:24he's not comfortable with.
00:25:26Like that.
00:25:31A lot of movement here,
00:25:32side to side,
00:25:33bobbing and waving
00:25:34by Tabanas,
00:25:35but he's not getting much done.
00:25:37He's doing a lot of missing,
00:25:38but right there,
00:25:39Sakurin didn't make him pay
00:25:40when he missed.
00:25:49Our translator,
00:25:51Erika Checha-Chung
00:25:52for Sakurin.
00:25:53He's doing a lot of movement.
00:25:55He's doing a lot of movement.
00:25:57Combination,
00:25:59light combination.
00:26:00Take the water.
00:26:05Be good.
00:26:09Combination.
00:26:11Left and light and up cut the body.
00:26:13He has the heart tongue.
00:26:41Round four,
00:26:42scheduled for 12
00:26:43for the WBO junior flyweight championship.
00:26:47as reported earlier by our colleague Tim Smith.
00:26:52The main event is on.
00:26:53Kostya Zou versus Shambay Mitchell as we speak.
00:26:56Shambay Mitchell with an injury to his left knee.
00:27:02But when he heard that there was a possibility of the fight being canceled,
00:27:09he broke down and got very emotional.
00:27:13He calls this the fight of his life.
00:27:15He doesn't want something like this to stop the fight.
00:27:18And Kostya Zou has said the same thing.
00:27:20This is the fight of his life, Buck.
00:27:21Well, we talked earlier about the premium on the significance of this fight,
00:27:23not just in this division, but in boxing.
00:27:25It makes a statement.
00:27:26I look back to Hagler, Leonard, Durant, Hearns.
00:27:29Guys have stepped up to be counted.
00:27:31And he's stepping up as is Zou.
00:27:32And lately, these title unification fights are breathing new air into boxing.
00:27:36The quality of matchups is improving.
00:27:40Trinidad Vargas, Mayweather, Corrales.
00:27:42Tonight, Zou Mitchell, Kostya Mayor Freitas down the line.
00:27:45There seems to be a new awareness of the desires of the fans,
00:27:49the public demanding better fights.
00:27:51But I'll tell you, while the fans and the media are finally getting what they want,
00:27:55the turnstiles aren't really turning.
00:27:58There's a lack of presence of the national media here tonight.
00:28:01Yes, there's another fight show going on, but not nearly the same significance as the main event tonight.
00:28:07And you can't blame the gate on Steve Price's.
00:28:10This one is relatively reasonably priced.
00:28:12The cheapest seat, $25.
00:28:15It's a dilemma.
00:28:17Sometimes people wish for certain things.
00:28:20They get them and they don't support them.
00:28:21And it's not normal for boxing fans to do that.
00:28:37Nice counter, left hook and right hand by Tabanis.
00:28:40Probably the best combination of the night.
00:28:44Less than a minute in round four.
00:28:46He's starting to get his counterpunch timing back.
00:28:48He's not going to look to the body.
00:28:51Might have been a little low.
00:28:54These two guys are trying to fill a vacancy tonight.
00:28:58Ricardo Lopez, the IVF champ from Mexico.
00:29:01Babis Mendoza, the WBA champ from Colombia.
00:29:05Choi Osam of South Korea, representing the WBC,
00:29:08recently retained his title.
00:29:12Just a few weeks ago.
00:29:24Tabanis having a much better round,
00:29:26but there he walks into a one-two.
00:29:28He's just waiting too much.
00:29:29There's lack of size.
00:29:31He's got to get in there and close the gap.
00:29:34As we head for the bell, round four.
00:29:37Stop, stop.
00:29:38Tabanis looks frustrated.
00:29:42So coming up next,
00:29:44we are pleased to report
00:29:45Kostya Zou, Shambay Mitchell,
00:29:48our main event to Univy,
00:29:49the WBC and WBA super lightweight titles.
00:29:53Kostya Zou breathing a sigh of relief
00:29:55after hearing that the fight is still on.
00:29:58In light of the injury to Shambay Mitchell's knee,
00:30:02Kostya holding the WBC version of the belt
00:30:05will receive a purse of $800,000 reportedly.
00:30:08Mitchell getting $900,000.
00:30:10Former Russian amateur star
00:30:11who journeyed to Australia
00:30:12after he won the World Amateur Championships in 91
00:30:15with the then-Soviet Union breaking up.
00:30:18He passed on the 92 Olympics,
00:30:20settled in Sydney, turned pro,
00:30:22moved his wife, two sons, and parents
00:30:24down under as well.
00:30:25Speaks with a Russian-slash-Australian accent
00:30:29as he limbers up and gets ready
00:30:31for Shambay Mitchell.
00:30:42Round five.
00:30:44Not much of a fight,
00:30:45but if you have to pick a guy who's in the lead,
00:30:48I would say it's Sikrarian right now.
00:30:50You know, I have Steve three to one.
00:30:51The last one, I thought,
00:30:52the bandits started to close the gap,
00:30:53also started to land some of those punches.
00:30:55Most of his power punches were starting at home,
00:30:57but he's not throwing enough punches,
00:30:59not working hard enough,
00:30:59and Sikrarian just out moving them
00:31:01from the outside a little bit.
00:31:02Of course, here in the States,
00:31:03usually the heavier the weight class,
00:31:06the more attention,
00:31:07but in many parts of the world,
00:31:08like the Pacific Rim
00:31:09and in the Latin countries,
00:31:11the lighter weight classes
00:31:12really get celebrated.
00:31:15Easy to assume the ugly American attitude
00:31:18and snub the little men of boxing,
00:31:21but oftentimes they provide just as much,
00:31:23if not more, excitement than the big guys,
00:31:25but so far, unfortunately,
00:31:26tonight, the exception.
00:31:31Now, I can see where he might
00:31:33do that against
00:31:36a great fighter like Ricardo Lopez,
00:31:39but he could beat this guy
00:31:41if he asserted himself a little more.
00:31:52And he said he doesn't have any trouble
00:31:53with Southpaws,
00:31:55even though he lost to Sikrarian
00:31:56the first time around.
00:31:57He says, generally speaking,
00:31:58they do not give him that much grief.
00:32:01They say he has one sparring partner
00:32:03at the Southpaw,
00:32:03which he uses all the time
00:32:04just for that reason.
00:32:11He got a little braver
00:32:12against Lopez midway through the fight.
00:32:14He took some risks,
00:32:16but he fought more just to survive
00:32:18rather than to win the title.
00:32:20He fought as if he just
00:32:22didn't want to get hit.
00:32:24And sometimes who could blame him
00:32:25against a guy like Lopez?
00:32:28I think he even talked about
00:32:30before that fight time
00:32:31that he wanted to tell
00:32:32his grandchildren someday
00:32:33that he went the distance
00:32:34with the great Ricardo Lopez.
00:32:36Not something you should worry about.
00:32:38He fell just short of that.
00:32:41Yeah, it was stopped
00:32:41in the twelfth round,
00:32:42so you can't even tell them that.
00:32:44Watch the heads.
00:32:45The current came in close
00:32:46and the awkward nature
00:32:47of the Southpaw style
00:32:49usually creates that.
00:32:58Both fighters doing a lot of waiting.
00:33:00One-two punch combinations
00:33:01and that's it.
00:33:02One-two punch counters.
00:33:14One-two punch突.
00:33:15It's apparent at times
00:33:18almost taunting Tabanis.
00:33:20He doesn't understand Ty,
00:33:22of course, Tabanis,
00:33:23but he's making gestures
00:33:23indicating to Tabanis the punch.
00:33:26Come on.
00:33:26Is that all you have?
00:33:28And you hear the crowd reaction.
00:33:30One-two-three-three-three-three-three-three-three-three-three.
00:34:06What are you doing?
00:34:18you understand tie no I don't but I understood some of those hand gestures
00:34:25yes the universal language of boxing round six but I still won't venture a
00:34:34guess I do not blame you
00:34:40the body to this trainer was telling him when he goes to the body to come back up
00:34:43with combinations which is a smart thing to tell a fighter but again my
00:34:48interpretation was amateur at best that's as good a guess as any okay Bobby
00:34:55well and it wouldn't be bad advice because he's landed some good bite shot
00:34:57but he didn't come up top with anything after that and certainly that's where he
00:35:00goes start at the body
00:35:12this is still looking to get one big right hand to see one and done and it's
00:35:17really a shame there again and he falls down with at least the left hook but he's
00:35:21strong one counter punch at a time those punches met in midair
00:35:29they were thrown simultaneously he's securing at least throws two three maybe even four
00:35:35when he misses he comes back with something else like that he missed two punches so here he comes back
00:35:40in
00:35:47last time give him up the band is being cautioned by 20 weeks for a low blow I thought it
00:35:53was
00:35:53it's a career who was guilty
00:35:54oh wow it's a career is getting awfully close with that head
00:36:01again a straight left hand by secret and does not follow it up with the right
00:36:06what in the world is he afraid of
00:36:14and I could say that more so about Tavannis because Tavannis only has 16 knockouts it is 43 away
00:36:20the guy Tavannis does seem overly cautious Steve I think you're right but what he seems to be doing
00:36:25is you see him he's going back on his right foot he's rocking and trying to fire his right hand
00:36:29as if he's going to catch him with some leverage on the way in but he's just not catching him
00:36:47nice straight left to the body there by
00:36:50but this fight's not going to break any records for punches thrown
00:37:02one at a time none in bunches no clusters no sustained attacks no flurries no combinations even
00:37:10one two combination you don't see here's one
00:37:16stop
00:37:19and that will do it for round six
00:37:29let's get an update from Tim Smith
00:37:32Steve this fight is on Charmbe Mitchell little big man
00:37:36he's going to show a lot of heart tonight he's going to get in the ring he's going to prove
00:37:39that he's the best 140 pound champion
00:37:43Charmbe is it going to have any effect on you tonight the knee
00:37:48oh not at all
00:37:49not at all I'm going in there like a champion I'm a true champion
00:37:53um
00:37:54they only told us one thing in the ghetto and that's fight
00:37:56and that's all I know how to do
00:37:58so you're going to make a fight of it
00:37:59now what precipitated the problem with your knee
00:38:03it was years ago
00:38:04I had a knee injury in training just before I fought for the world title and um
00:38:08you know I had to have surgery on it
00:38:10things happen you know um
00:38:13I just told my camp that I want to fight
00:38:15this is what I worked all these years for
00:38:19and there's no way I can go out with just not fighting
00:38:22are you crazy come on
00:38:23and there's another belt over there that I know I can have
00:38:25it's mine
00:38:27now you work with Mackie Shillstone to get in condition for this fight
00:38:32the guru worked with you and he helped you out
00:38:34what do you think that's going to bring for you in this fight
00:38:37oh um
00:38:38you know I've been going 12 rounds
00:38:39I'm just going to go a lot stronger
00:38:41I'm a lot more powerful
00:38:44um
00:38:44I'm going to do what I have to do
00:38:46now they say that uh
00:38:48Kasazu is a hard puncher
00:38:51and he's uh
00:38:52he's supposed to be a strong guy and knockout artist
00:38:54does this injury change your strategy
00:38:56and the manner in which you were going to fight him
00:38:58I don't know not at all
00:39:00not at all actually you know what
00:39:02it's going to enhance it
00:39:03because I'm going to push even harder
00:39:07okay Steve
00:39:08there you have it from Shambay Mitchell
00:39:11little big man with a big heart
00:39:12he's going to fight tonight
00:39:14he's going to go in and try
00:39:15to take that title away from Kasazu
00:39:19all right Tim thank you so much
00:39:21a defiant Shambay Mitchell
00:39:23looking to overcome
00:39:24not of the odds of five to one underdog but an injured knee
00:39:30now the good news is the fight is still on
00:39:34a little bit of a cut over the right eye of Sakurin
00:39:37I got a funny feeling might have been banging heads because there was
00:39:40a lot of clashing in the early part of this round
00:39:44again a leaning straight left a leaping
00:39:49punch there by Sakurin but that is it
00:39:52now both fighters look tired
00:39:56the seventh round
00:39:58that's the halfway point
00:40:03Sakurin still started out this round
00:40:05using much better pace
00:40:07than Sabanis
00:40:08Sabanis has got to pick it up
00:40:10like he's trying to end it on one punch
00:40:13he did score with that heavy right
00:40:15but Sakurin has a great chin
00:40:18and all that but now he's hanging back
00:40:20waiting as if Sakurin is going to put his chin out there
00:40:22for him to hit it
00:40:26yeah he's daring Tabanis
00:40:28obviously feels that whatever Tabanis is throwing
00:40:30it's not bothering him that much
00:40:33there's another right hand off the head of Sakurin
00:40:35and Sakurin didn't even flinch
00:40:40and Sakurin comes forward
00:40:41and now Barney launches
00:40:43somewhat of a barrage
00:40:44Sakurin still being the aggressor
00:40:46even though Tabanis is the bigger puncher
00:40:51the blood outside the right eye
00:40:54of Falan Sakurin doesn't seem to be getting into the eye
00:40:57to blur his vision and be a factor
00:40:59to his advantage
00:41:03Tabanis going back to the ropes
00:41:05this does not suit him against his style he's fighting
00:41:07he's getting when he's backing up he can't land the power shots
00:41:10he rocks on his right foot he's trying to land the home run
00:41:13but it's just too little too late
00:41:14a good defense by Sakurin
00:41:16it is almost as if he knows what punch is coming in advance
00:41:19a straight left that sends
00:41:21Tabanis back
00:41:22by Sakurin just before the bell
00:41:24another round for Sakurin
00:41:29that he is piling them up
00:41:31he is for the counselors
00:41:34a few weeks ago
00:41:34hello
00:41:38how do they do it
00:41:41the道 of 비카fer
00:41:42this is the way
00:41:48and I don't know
00:41:52initially i've got
00:41:54Tabanis a couple of weeks ahead
00:42:07This is where the head has butted and the cut may have been right there.
00:42:15His eye right into the forehead of Tabanis, that could have been it there.
00:42:21And Krista Korn-Pukh Rajab, the cut man for Saperian, going to work.
00:42:26He's got a lot of pressure between rounds.
00:42:27Round eight, the restless fans in attendance here at the Mandalay Bay Event Center were louder in round seven as
00:42:33they sensed blood from the right eye of Fallon Sakharin, but still, it did hold Sakharin back from his aggressive
00:42:42nature.
00:42:42Well, you know what? It also picked up the pace this fight. It really got better in the seven.
00:42:46You see now the fighters are fighting. First round, a lot of feeling out. Second and third rounds, equally light
00:42:51in action. This is better.
00:42:56This is for the vacant WBO junior flyweight or 108-pound championship.
00:43:05So you can see Tabanis, he backs up a little at a time, a little at a time, and rocks
00:43:08off that right foot, trying to land a home run ball.
00:43:12Here we go. It's just not working.
00:43:15Tabanis, 24 of his 40 wins by knockout.
00:43:20His third shot at a world title. He's rated number one by the WBO.
00:43:25Sakharin, former IVF strawweight champion, won the title in 1990 with a seventh round TKO over Eric Chavez.
00:43:34Seven successful defenses through three years, including a decision over Andy Tabanis in 91.
00:43:41Lost the title in 92 to Manny Melkor and hasn't fought for a title since until tonight.
00:43:49Nice left hand by Sakharin, right over the top of the gloves of Tabanis.
00:43:55Tabanis tried to counter back, but it was the best punch of the night for Sakharin.
00:44:01Tabanis has not been able to hurt or really get the respect of Sakharin, and Sakharin just landed with a
00:44:08straight left.
00:44:08And he tells Tabanis, come on, punch!
00:44:11You know what, Sakharin right now, Steve is out working with Tabanis.
00:44:13That's how he's winning the fight.
00:44:16He is out hustling Tabanis, no question.
00:44:22A suitable counter right hand by Tabanis.
00:44:24One and done.
00:44:25Really ate a right hand, didn't he?
00:44:28But, again, it didn't faze him.
00:44:30Good chin, he's never been stopped, and Tabanis is gonna have to learn combinations.
00:44:34Maybe the second or third one gets him off his feet.
00:44:37Sakharin is tough.
00:44:38He's got a little trickle of blood on the bridge of his nose.
00:44:41He's got blood on the outside of his right eye.
00:44:48And it's not bothering him a bit.
00:44:53Good right hand there to the side of the head by Sakharin.
00:44:56It may have not landed clearly, but it'll get your attention.
00:45:13Wild swing and a miss by Tabanis, but Sakharin couldn't make him play.
00:45:27Well, a little more action anyway.
00:45:39You're just throwing one or two punch.
00:45:42Why are you not throwing more than three punches?
00:45:45You have to use a lot of punch.
00:45:47Throw a lot of punches.
00:45:52One of the better punches of the round, a straight left hand and an overhand left for Sakharin.
00:46:00The left hand began through, and there he's taunting Tabanis a little bit.
00:46:04And Tabanis does eventually answer him back with a couple of right hands of his own.
00:46:09Looks like today.
00:46:12Bobby Tabanis, his trainer.
00:46:14Alberto Villa are pretty much just expressing our sentiments.
00:46:19It's being at work, Steve.
00:46:21He's well behind, he's being at work, and we're getting the dangerous part of the fight now, round nine.
00:46:27Scheduled for twelve for the bacon, W.B.O. Jr. flyweight title.
00:46:32there's a lot at stake here for these two 30-something fighters
00:46:39but it's only secret who seems to be pressing the issue not to ban us
00:46:47as far as effective aggressor goes the vast majority of this fight the aggressiveness has
00:46:51been by superior and he's been pretty effective tabanis has sat back tried to counter rock and
00:46:56roll lay on superior looking for one or two shot counters but it's not getting the job done
00:47:02badness again claiming he's getting head-butted by secret the best punches by
00:47:09uh sabanis are those that security seems to be walking into
00:47:19there's a good left hand that puts the pen is back right on the jaw
00:47:25body shot first he came up with the chin just what his trainer had said two or three rounds
00:47:30yes the crowd unable to follow it up with a combination to the head
00:47:37good left hand by tabanis but they're getting the right hand one at a time that's it one left
00:47:41hook one right uppercut he's got to throw some combinations he's got to let them hands fly
00:47:55but he's looking the much younger of the two here that punch was south of the border by secure and
00:48:00that was definitely low yeah every once in a while he unleashes oh there's a good straight left hand
00:48:05that really got the attention of tabanis and mary follows it up with another combination now those
00:48:10punches didn't land but at least he's making the effort one of those old warriors who tries every
00:48:16trick in the book you see he tests the referee he sees what he can get away with that's the
00:48:25mark of an
00:48:25old boy he'll headbutt he'll rabbit punch he'll go south of the border he'll still test it and in the
00:48:37meantime he frustrates and plays with the mind of his opponent almost completely counter punching
00:48:44from the outside moving back and side to side Steve and I just don't think it behooves him being shorter
00:48:54the man is getting pushed back again remember security is used to fighting at a higher weight
00:49:04at uh at 112 he's actually coming down a bit to 108 so he is uh probably the stronger of
00:49:12the two
00:49:12naturally he walked into a nice left hook superior and did stop let me go round nine of the books
00:49:22good
00:49:22time to remind you that showtime championship boxing returns next Saturday February 10th when we travel to
00:49:29witness England just outside Liverpool to bring you a world championship bout WBO junior middleweight
00:49:35champ Harry Simon faces the heart-punching Robert Allen catch this special same-day coverage at 10 p.m.
00:49:42Eastern and Pacific that's my birthday Steve congratulations ahead of time 21 again
00:49:48yeah you don't look at day over 20 thank you so much
00:50:06guys throwing more punches
00:50:13throw a little punch give him water
00:50:19Leon Panincilo giving us the words of trainer Alberto Villavere again who's saying pretty much what we were
00:50:26saying who's being exactly accurate he's being out punches being out work and that's costing him this fight
00:50:35that was a rare left right combination by Tabatis in this fight and it landed and he didn't come back
00:50:40with anything
00:50:50again it is a prayer and coming forward and he just ate a shot by Tabatis that was a beautiful
00:50:56counter right hand by Tabatis but no
00:50:58no follow-up no left took her uppercut and he moved so beautifully landed right in the button slipped the
00:51:03straight left
00:51:04right to clear and it's a shame there he tried to do it again but not with the same results
00:51:09the batters with his hands down really low
00:51:12asking for trouble trying to use his leg movement to scoot away from secured
00:51:18it's hard to fight going backwards as you know Bobby not too many guys could do it successfully Muhammad Ali
00:51:23of course and especially shorter guys
00:51:25it seems short man can't go before we go backward his leverage is on the inside coming forward
00:51:32certainly not on the outside going back
00:51:36the man steps forward he shot the left but it was blocked nicely by security there's another one and done
00:51:42a
00:51:42straight right by Tabatis he's landing some nice counter shots but again they're one at one at a time with
00:51:48no follow-up
00:51:49what's the other one and you know another thing Bobby I've noticed Tabatis doesn't work the body enough he really
00:52:08has been
00:52:08head hunting all night just rocking that right hand a couple of big left hooks like that nothing downstairs not
00:52:13systematically
00:52:14breaking down the taller man in any way
00:52:16and I've been accustomed to the schooling of boxers they learned it
00:52:30look he just consistently satisfied staying outside walking away from supreme
00:52:36and I'm leaving it for one big shot and if it lands it lands if it doesn't no harm no
00:52:41foul
00:52:41they've got to be very upset of the Tabatis corner Alberto Villever Richie Augustine Randy Beltran the
00:52:48the trainers
00:52:58this may be a reason Andy Tabatis doesn't have any world title he's been close on a couple of occasions
00:53:05this is third shot
00:53:08show some nice defense there landed a couple counters again one at a time made secure and miss but this
00:53:14is
00:53:14not how you win a world championship very unusual Tabatis looking into the crowd and smiling
00:53:22I'm not sure what's going through his mind right now
00:53:27I'm there
00:53:33back on the left hook
00:53:37how many punches throw four rounds you have to be 11th round you're not throwing enough punches
00:53:46only one two punch what's wrong
00:53:52don't throw only one two punch there's only two rounds left you have to throw more punches
00:54:03throw body
00:54:09you need to throw punches you need to throw punches
00:54:12you need to throw more punches you can hear the sense of urgency now and the Tabatis
00:54:17part of the book on Tabatis as we
00:54:19reached the 11th round traditionally called the championship rounds he likes to keep busy and
00:54:26throw nice combinations but we have seen no evidence of that here
00:54:29you know I don't know if he's got a hurt hand or he's tired or something's wrong but
00:54:32he just seems to be
00:54:34trying to stay outside look he just walks back and walks backward loads up one shot and then just
00:54:39walks backward again well something it prompted alberto villiver his trainer to say what's wrong
00:54:45so he must think something's wrong with Tabatis too because this is not
00:54:48Tabatis's normal stuff and he's just being outworked it's just that simple
00:54:55he's been able to acclimate to the uh to the environment he's been here about seven days it is a
00:55:00long trip from the philippines he said about 15 hours stop but he's certainly had enough time to
00:55:06adjust well i have him behind so far that he needs a knockout to win with only a couple rounds
00:55:11left including the rest of this round so he's got to do something pretty quick stop no no no no
00:55:19back
00:55:26Tabatis sticking the jab does not follow it up with a right hand or a left hook 10 years is
00:55:31a long
00:55:31time to wait for revenge and then not even make a real serious attempt at it and after he told
00:55:35us
00:55:35point blank yesterday as again he looks over to the crowd and smiles for some reason
00:55:40anti-deventus he told us to our faces despite the fact that it's been a decade since their last
00:55:46fight which he lost to secret he still has an intense rage and fire for revenge you wouldn't
00:55:52know it by his performance tonight there's a beautiful right encounter but again it's just one
00:55:56his left hand is dangerously low consistently very few hooks being thrown i can't but wonder if the
00:56:02left hand doesn't have a little bit of a problem unless there's something wrong with it correct and
00:56:05there's a hook but again not like he was there's a beautiful right hand but again does not
00:56:10follow it up that's the best right hand he landed all night long another see a little bit of wobble
00:56:15in supreme's legs and he didn't follow it up with much at all well unless Tabatis can score a dramatic
00:56:20come from behind knockout here forget about it look how he's just staying away and keeping his hands down
00:56:26down by his sides
00:56:45sneaky left hook there as they were breaking by Tabatis
00:56:52down by his side do you think there is any possible way that Tabatis can win this fight
00:56:57on points and i'm not being facetious i'm just asking you as he made the transformation to box
00:57:24that's the best best punch he has landed all night
00:57:31flush right hand buckling knees just a little bit of superior here's another look slips it and hits
00:57:37him right in the jaw that was his best punch tonight but no left hook behind it no uppercut nothing
00:57:43here's a little bit of the throw yeah that's kind of a little bit
00:57:54all right they'll touch gloves for round 12. tony wings brings them together here we go oh
00:58:02securit offers a little hug and it pushes him away you know what fighters are strange people
00:58:08oh yes i know that from working with you bobby but we won't go any further that's okay i recognize
00:58:14my insanity too i just hope it's not rubbing off here we go round 12.
00:58:25well i did notice jim gray getting a little strange
00:58:29nice inside combination there sakurin again out working tabanis and now tabanis is running from
00:58:35outside i think he should be pressing the fight he needs to do something as the last round he has
00:58:39no more time and a wild miss there by tabanis and nearly another roughhouse tactic there by sakurin
00:58:49yes every once in a while tabanis does get a punch off that lands but not often enough
00:58:55the last round was one of tabanis's better rounds but he's had so few
00:59:00two or three rounds about most he's won the whole fight so far
00:59:04i can't see how he would expect the decision and he doesn't look to me like he's desperate for a
00:59:07knockout but you know what he's fighting as if he thinks he's ahead on points does it appear that way
00:59:12look at him that's what i mean he doesn't seem desperate at all for a knockout and i can't think
00:59:17that he thinks he's ahead perhaps in his mind he is just by his body language
00:59:25well i just got done telling you all fighters are a little crazy
00:59:32obviously sakurin feels the same way that he's ahead
00:59:37well he's done a little more work you see this showboating by a guy who seems to be losing
00:59:43and not losing by a little bit you think by a lot i think by a significant margin
00:59:54but then again maybe the only people steve a little crazy than fighters are some of the judges
01:00:00i've seen some decisions that didn't look like what i watched after doing so many fights not
01:00:05not just in las vegas and we're not going to start getting into that stuff but anywhere you do see
01:00:11some unusual decisions oh tabanis walked right into a left and then he buckled and nearly went down
01:00:17and you know what steve i think after he hit him with the left they banged heads and that shocked
01:00:20him
01:00:21even more than a punch and he's blinking his eyes he is not all there bobby tabanis just got short
01:00:28circuited and secure and didn't jump on him didn't see what we saw or just content to stay on the
01:00:34outside
01:00:34for the next 25 seconds or so and win tabanis on rubbery legs right now he's trying to regroup
01:00:3920 seconds and counting he put his hand up and he gets fooled by the crowd if he thinks he
01:00:47wants
01:00:47his decision after the fight in the interview i'm going to be in shock well i think that's what's going
01:00:52through his mind right now he thinks he's ahead and i wouldn't be surprised if people here in ringside
01:00:58felt the same way but oh i don't i would be surprised if i wouldn't be as nice as you
01:01:04okay
01:01:05now i'm just going on history here
01:01:10and that's it
01:01:14this fight is in the books for the vacant wbo junior flyway championship which we think was won
01:01:20not by this man but by the other guy fall on security
01:01:23and that's what i mean even the corner of tabanis was exhorting him urging him to to be busier
01:01:34he's out punching you he's out punching you and that's not a signal that you're winning
01:01:39but again it would not surprise me if the decision went the other way
01:01:49it would not surprise me and there he is andy tavattis looking to uh complete a dream here of his
01:01:55first
01:01:55world title but to be very honest i just don't think and i know bobby feels the same way that
01:02:01he
01:02:02fought like he was chasing a dream changed his style from yeah from the fighter he definitely did not
01:02:07fight with the championship attitude you think it worked for him to do it yeah the past early the
01:02:12boxer holy fighter now he can do i would say sakurin wins the fight but i just have a feeling
01:02:17it's
01:02:17going to be close right if he wins the fight we're going to take a look at that straight left
01:02:21hand he
01:02:22throws it right down the pipe and he lands and then well that wasn't head so you don't want to
01:02:27right hook after that and then they sort of pushed him but it was a good clean left hand and
01:02:31a little
01:02:31bit of a short right hook afterward what do you think a split decision majority decision draw
01:02:35unanimous decision runaway decision that's what i think too but you don't know here
01:02:42now look like just a clean punch
01:02:47let's get it up to jimmy lennon jr for the decision
01:02:53ladies and gentlemen after 12 rounds of boxing we have a split decision here the score totals
01:03:00judge at ringside john stewart scores about 115 to 113 in favor of fallon sakridin
01:03:09judge at ringside patricia jarman manning scores about 116 to 112 in favor of andy tabanis
01:03:18judge at ringside bill graham scores about 114 to 114 even a draw the decision is even a draw
01:03:29but i say one of the judges had sakridin losing eight rounds to four
01:03:35116 112 that's a four-round swing in a 12-round fight that's eight to four had tabanis winning it
01:03:41116 to 112 another one had it a even 114 114 bill graham from vegas john stewart uh 115 113
01:03:50for sakridin
01:03:51and that's uh the one that makes the most sense i did nine rounds to three 117 114
01:03:57sakridin stewart from jersey by the way and uh that's that uh no surprise
01:04:04i'm not surprised by it well at least my jersey guy had the right winner yeah he had the right
01:04:09he
01:04:09i mean he was my his was a lot closer than mine was but oh my goodness a draw and
01:04:14uh superior has to
01:04:15really be miffed really be upset because it seemed from this advantage point that sakridin won you
01:04:21could hear the reaction by by the crowd that decision was almost as much a stinker as the fight look
01:04:28at
01:04:28the look at the guys there and tabanis with a great big smile with the draw and the other guy
01:04:32disappointment
01:04:32should tell you that one of those guys actually knew they won whereas the other just prayed for the best
01:04:39results i don't know anybody that smiles for draw or thinks the draw is fair ever not a fighter they
01:04:46all think they won right my stuff do they won whereas the other just trade for the best results
01:04:56i don't know anybody that smiles for draw or thinks it draws fair ever not a fighter they all think
01:05:02they
01:05:02they won right and there are the official judges score cards bill graham had it even 114 114 here's
01:05:18the one that really raises our eyebrows patricia german manning uh had to banish one to get quite
01:05:24convincingly 116 to 112 and uh the one we most agree with the john stewart had sakrana had 115 to
01:05:31113 so it is a draw when you look at that steve 116 112 is eight rounds to four and
01:05:38the other way is
01:05:38seven rounds to five you're talking about going from winning seven rounds to all the way to the other
01:05:44guy winning eight rounds it's amazing that there's a big difference 115 113 114 114 on a similar page at
01:05:50least john and manning gave sakran only four rounds out of the twelve interesting and we'll take a look at
01:05:57how
01:05:58the folks at press row saw it well how do you like that tim dahlberg of the a.p had
01:06:04it a draw
01:06:06roger grand jennais of fight news dot com color me shocked that sakran uh well i wonder how the
01:06:12people at home had it and steve kim house of boxing dot com had to banish winning at 115 to
01:06:17114 to draw
01:06:19so who we agree with the roger roger grand bet yeah grand genet that's grand jennais grand jennais i'm
01:06:26sorry he uh and the folks at home wow i had it i had a nine to three yeah they
01:06:32had it uh overwhelmingly
01:06:34sakran 11 to one of course you know hey let's be honest they do get a little influenced by some
01:06:39of
01:06:39the things that we see and the lacy's opponent pulled out only hours before the bot which was
01:06:43subsequently canceled last night in columbus ohio lacy did in fact make his long-awaited pro
01:06:49debut against two and two gerald lowe in a scheduled four round super middleweight bout
01:06:53lacy regarded by many as the hardest puncher among the 2000 u.s olympians left up to his reputation
01:06:59with a vicious left hook to the body two minutes into the first that was it a successful pro debut
01:07:05for jeff lacy who just turned out to be the sleeper of the 2000 u.s olympic team
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