Evander Holyfield vs Michael Moorer II Replay - Showtime 11-15-97 - video Dailymotion

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The Showtime Replay from the PPV the week before between WBA Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield and IBF Champion Michael Moorer in a rematch from their fight in 1994.

Transcript

00:00:09the winner by majority decision i was just so happy that the fight was over because i was just

00:00:15hurting and new heavyweight champion of the world

00:00:23winning the title often was the start of my career

00:00:30former heavyweight champion evander holyfield was brought to a local hospital tonight

00:00:35diagnosed with a serious heart condition

00:00:43i was doing good in the fight i was winning the fight and got like a day ago and just

00:00:49got caught

00:00:49with that one punch the world-renowned mayo clinic reported that evander holyfield is in excellent

00:00:56shape and no restrictions including boxing should be placed on the former champ

00:01:02i wanted the title when i won off a vander i wanted this more i wanted to be in that

00:01:08elite

00:01:08group of being a true time after the champion the winner once again michael

00:01:20you don't want to fight no more i swear to god i will have this man stop the fight if

00:01:25you don't

00:01:25fight i don't think both is going to finish this fight's over sticks in and stops the fight early in

00:01:31round 12

00:01:34against mike tyson holyfield is a prohibitive underdog

00:01:38no matter what happens from here on in there's a talk about the winner of the tyson holyfield fight

00:01:53which will be splendid we're getting to see strange things happen in boxing mike was having his best

00:01:59round he beat him again he beat him again he made a holyfield for the second time

00:02:03it's over it's over

00:02:09i'm one of the type of guys born to win i don't like losing anything this is a fight he

00:02:14has a title i have a

00:02:15title may the best man win

00:02:35the amount of world championship boxing matches that have been fought in las vegas

00:02:39just might rival the number of lights adorning the famous strip

00:02:44along this sparkling boulevard the bigger and brighter signs attract the most attention

00:02:49in boxing it's the big men that are the main attraction the heavyweights are the headliners

00:02:54and the division's championship is the sport's most coveted prize

00:02:58tonight evander holyfield and michael moore fight to unify two world heavyweight championships

00:03:09although our host for tonight's big show is the incredible mirage hotel the action takes place

00:03:14across town under the roof of the thomas and mac arena in their first encounter three and a half

00:03:19years ago a palliant holyfield desperately tried to hold on to his crown as a determined morris

00:03:25successfully fought to seize it tonight the rematch has all the makings of an all-out war

00:03:34good evening everyone i'm jim hill your host for tonight's coverage of what has become a rarity in

00:03:39boxing a world title unification bout now due to the modern day politics and policies of the sport

00:03:45it has become increasingly difficult to get title holders in the ring at the same time currently

00:03:51none of the weight divisions in boxing has an undisputed champion mike tyson was the last heavyweight

00:03:56to unify the crown which was passed on to buster douglas then holyfield and finally riddick bowe

00:04:01who then threw the division back into chaos by immediately relinquishing the wbc belt that act

00:04:08set into motion a series of events that resulted in some portion of the title bouncing back and forth

00:04:12between lennox lewis george foreman francois botha frank bruno bruce selden oliver mccall and mike tyson

00:04:19and the two participants this evening so as we embark down the road to the heavyweight championship

00:04:24unification tonight's main event victor will take a giant step towards taking his claim

00:04:29on heavyweight supremacy joining me tonight is the only man who has trained both holyfield and more

00:04:35and the current wbc titlist lennox lewis providing a very unique perspective on tonight's events is the

00:04:41renowned hall of fame boxing trainer emmanuel stewart and manny it is just wonderful to have you with

00:04:46us and we're looking forward to talking to you tonight i think it's going to be a wonderful fight

00:04:49jam now obviously you know both fighters very well inside and out having trained them i'd like you to

00:04:54give us just a little insight as they go into this bout tonight well i think both fighters are motivated

00:04:59going into this fight i think for different reasons first of all evander wants to prove that the last

00:05:03fight was a fluke and he really was injured michael moore right now has been really maybe one of the

00:05:08boring as heavyweights we've had in years and he wants to prove that he once again can be an exciting

00:05:12prize fighter and i think you're going to have a very emotionally high-paced fight tonight no matter

00:05:17who wins do you think the winner will go on and try and unify the division i think definitely that

00:05:22both

00:05:23of the guys who are going into the fight tonight have made up their minds that they're going to try

00:05:26to unify the title by fighting lennox lewis after this okay emmanuel thank you so much once again for

00:05:31being with us and we look forward to talking to him and getting his comments throughout the course of the

00:05:34evening now for more on the holyfield moore rematch let's go down to ringside and steve albert steve

00:05:39all right thank you jim so why is this the best fight for evander holyfield and michael moore to

00:05:44take at this time holyfield beat mike tyson twice he has nothing left to prove he's got his health a

00:05:49healthy bank account a palatial estate outside atlanta a loving wife and family why fight ibf heavyweight

00:05:56champion michael moore well when i recently put that to holyfield he simply said because moore is there

00:06:01in addition he feels that time is running out and moore is the only unavenged loss in his career

00:06:06meanwhile for michael moore this is an opportunity to repeat a win over in a banner holyfield whose

00:06:11star has never shown brighter thereby dispelling the cloud of doubt hanging over the first victory

00:06:16when holyfield was thought to have fought in a state of cardiac distress we'll have more on that

00:06:21later but right now let me bring on my ringside partners first the fight doctor ferdy pacheco and

00:06:26ferdy tell us about the problems holyfield and moore have had to overcome since their last meeting

00:06:30well let's take holyfield first uh holyfield appeared to all of us to be a fighter on the

00:06:36way out on the way to the stable he got tired with every fight even when he fought our partner

00:06:41bobby

00:06:41chez five rounds of a tough fight he was exhausted bob he was ready to go on and he was

00:06:47staggering

00:06:47around tired as he could be as we saw with bo could knock out bo then there was a question

00:06:53of the medical

00:06:53miracle of a hole in the heart did he have one did it go away if it did it was

00:06:57a medical miracle

00:06:58that is is uh everything was questioned his strength everything but his desire was questioned

00:07:04then he comes in shocks us all but one of the great performances of maybe the last two decades

00:07:10in upsetting tyson who was considered unbeatable i've strengthened him i fought him i thought him

00:07:16did everything possible now he's overcome all that and he's together he's ready to come march forward

00:07:21and unify the title on the other side is indecision on moore's side is a guy that doesn't know whether

00:07:28he wants to be the champion or whether he wants to fight or whether he wants to be a navy

00:07:33seal or a

00:07:34paratrooper you can't figure out what this guy wants and he fights that way he's good one day and terrible

00:07:40the next i don't think i've seen a good heavyweight look as bad as he did against bean and he's

00:07:45very good

00:07:45when he's good so therefore indecisiveness on the part of moore which he claims to have

00:07:52whipped by getting freddie roach in the corner and getting his head straight that's what we're

00:07:55going to find tonight if he's dedicated if he's focused if he wants it bad enough we're going to

00:08:00see one heck of a fight all right with that let's turn to our other partner here uh bobby chezz

00:08:05of the subject of the corners of course michael moore has made a significant change teddy atlas is out

00:08:11freddie roach is in and as far as evander holyfield he's basically remained with the same trainers don

00:08:15turner and tommy brooks your take on that and how that will affect the fight we know steven boxing

00:08:20continuity is a wonderful thing evander holyfield has that continuity with this corner and yet this

00:08:24is the same corner that michael moore has already beaten so maybe they've made the proper adjustments

00:08:28in their minds to defeat moore in the rematch now michael moore not just continuity he needs comfort

00:08:33he didn't have with teddy atlas and some of the previous trainers but now with freddie roach he says he

00:08:37has comfort he's comfortable he's happy he's going to be the heavyweight champion everybody thought he had the

00:08:41ability to be the big question remains steve for me and for everybody tonight is how will this

00:08:45corner meld in the heat of battle at this level evander holyfield one of the best heavyweights of

00:08:49his time and on top of that the heavyweight championship the unification of the heavyweight

00:08:53championship of the world at stake we don't know what will happen in actual fight circumstances but

00:08:57it's got to be different than a gym and you know event is going to press him we're going to

00:09:00find out

00:09:01real fast you think holyfield has an edge because of that continuity well you know i think evander just

00:09:06has an overall confidence because of his ethical workout he just does everything with his whole body

00:09:11mind and soul he puts everything into it michael moore cannot get focused enough all the time his

00:09:15weight fluctuates his motivation fluctuates the number of punches fluctuates he's never the same

00:09:20guy twice evander has had some lows he's had some troubles but he looks like he's on the money the

00:09:24last

00:09:24two times out yes indeed we we look forward to your comments throughout the night as well as those of

00:09:28the fight doctor right now let's go to another member of our broadcast team that's our roving reporter

00:09:33and that's jim gray jim all right thank you very much steve well usually by this time both fighters have

00:09:39arrived but evander holyfield the champion of the wba is not here yet of course this is not on the

00:09:45same

00:09:45side as to where uh they are staying they're staying at the mirage hotel and holyfield may be caught in

00:09:50some traffic on his way michael moore entered the ibf heavyweight champion 39 and one he brings the

00:09:56record in the ring came by himself very calm collected cool with his thoughts by himself no entourage

00:10:03as you see him walking in he is here some two and a half hours before the fight and we

00:10:08are now

00:10:08joined in the locker room by michael moore michael just how difficult is it we were talking before

00:10:13we came on television how tough is this two hours two and a half hours before the fight

00:10:17i'm sure every fighter would agree this is the worst part about it you know the nerves get to take

00:10:22over

00:10:22and things like that what do you do with this time you were trying to sleep can you possibly sleep

00:10:27in

00:10:27this instance oh yeah i'm relaxed it's just uh the intensity um i can relax i'm fine do you feel

00:10:35as

00:10:35though you'll be able to rise to the level of this competition it's been said that you kind of fight

00:10:39to the competition can you rise this evening to to the level of evander holyfield i think i can i've

00:10:45trained for it so i'm sure i can do it you've been annoyed really the only statements that have come

00:10:51out

00:10:51of either camp is you've been annoyed at his seemingly lack of respect and his giving you credit

00:10:58for your victory a few years ago has that bothered you and does it bother you as you go into

00:11:02the fight

00:11:02tonight no not necessarily it doesn't bother me um that was three and a half years ago something

00:11:08that i'm not going to focus on uh two totally different fighters now and since he is a different

00:11:14fighter as well as yourself what makes you think that you can be successful as you were the last time

00:11:18because i'm a confident person strong-minded person if i want to do something i'll do it have you gotten

00:11:23more confidence from the change in your corner having teddy atlas leave and now bringing in freddie roach

00:11:28that has nothing to do with it just being a person within myself that's um what type of confidence have

00:11:34you gained because maybe we haven't seen that in a few of your past fights specifically against vaughn

00:11:38bean well it's um those are fights that that are that are behind me uh these are the fights that's

00:11:44going to be most important to me now mike we wish you a lot of luck tonight and michael while

00:11:49we were

00:11:50talking your opponent has made it here to the thomas and mac center evander holyfield the wba champion

00:11:55making his way through very calm very poised seemingly always confident there you see

00:12:01his attorney behind him jim thomas so evander holyfield is now in the building and the fight

00:12:06will be underway the main event both combatants are here now let's go back upstairs to jim hill

00:12:14the countdown to the main event has begun soon it will be champion versus champion a desire for revenge

00:12:21versus a quest for respect holyfield versus mora for the unification of the wba and the ibf heavyweight

00:12:28championships now the first fight between evander holyfield and michael moore was a dramatic crossroads

00:12:35for both men it was a career threatening encounter for holyfield and a career breakthrough for mora

00:12:41consequently the two men who were in the ring have different views of what transpired and why

00:12:45so let's revisit that fateful night that set the stage for tonight's sequel

00:12:56any question from the challenger any question from the champion let's get it on

00:13:02evander holyfield has always maintained that entering the ring that night he was suffering from an

00:13:08injured shoulder well i hurt my shoulder in the red bull fight i strained it real bad i think the

00:13:15type

00:13:15of person evander is if it was something wrong he wouldn't have took the fight right from the opening

00:13:21bell moore took control of the fight with his right hand jab he can't fight a south ball i think

00:13:28i was

00:13:28beating it with my jab it wasn't bothering me but they were keeping me at bay where i just couldn't

00:13:36walk in on

00:13:36it i mean it was a good stiff jab and and and it was quick my jab was always in

00:13:43his face he couldn't do

00:13:45nothing about it and you know come the second round he was i realized that he was getting confident and

00:13:52i

00:13:52go catch it i think i was trying to throw a bomb with the uppercut and i lifted my head

00:13:58up and he

00:13:59caught me with a left hook i just didn't have enough time to really get on him and uh and

00:14:05then the bell

00:14:06but after that round i didn't have nothing left in my shoulder as the bout progressed the rounds were

00:14:14close but most ringside observers were giving more of the edge for his dominating jab vander can't fight

00:14:22backing up especially at southpaw my shoulder my left shoulder brother's left shoulder give me a rat

00:14:30because my my left shoulder was hurt he was able to jab over my shoulder because i couldn't do anything

00:14:36i couldn't get my arm up and top it entering the 12th and final round it was clear whoever won

00:14:43this round

00:14:43would emerge the winner i wanted to be convincing you know that was vegas and i didn't know he was

00:14:50the

00:14:50champion i didn't know if they were going to give him the decision because he's a vander and i was

00:14:56just in the one contender and trying to get the title you know i wanted to make it convincing for

00:15:01myself anyway as soon as the bell ring i shot my hand right up i knew i had one i

00:15:07guess the strangest

00:15:08thing in that fight is right at the end he raised his hand like he really did something i finally

00:15:15got

00:15:15angry i knew i had enough energy then to to really get it which made me feel bad for the

00:15:23winner by

00:15:24majority decision and new heavyweight champion of the world i don't talk about the past i talk about

00:15:34what's going to happen what's going to happen is i'm going to get it it's a rematch i'm gonna be

00:15:40ready

00:15:40i know he'll be ready evander will be at his best i'm gonna be at my best it's gonna be

00:15:46excellent fight

00:15:53now neither evander holyfield or michael moore can afford to live in the past if they want to emerge

00:15:57victorious in the rematch holyfield must not dwell on his previous defeat no more rests on his laurels

00:16:03now emmanuel stewart let's talk to you one more time how how big a factor will the first fight play

00:16:08in

00:16:09tonight's rematch i personally don't think that the first fight will be a big pack i think both

00:16:13guys for different reasons i put the fight aside and i think it's going to be like a total new

00:16:17fight

00:16:17all over now you know first time you know these fighters inside and out you know their weaknesses

00:16:22and their strengths i'd like you to talk about their keys to victory tonight and let's start with holy

00:16:26field well i think holyfield has to holyfield has to come in and dictate right away he cannot sit back

00:16:33and box michael at a normal distance he has to either move in and put a lot of pressure either

00:16:38move side to side uh michael's key to victory is to be prepared mentally to have an attitude of come

00:16:44on

00:16:44with it and be able to sit there and be ready to deal with evander when he comes in and

00:16:48after things

00:16:49move to another level to dominate with his right jab now you know both fighters as we mentioned i've got

00:16:54to get your prediction on tonight's main event got to get one from you it's really hard to say i've

00:16:59been

00:16:59i've got to get a prediction if a person had to bet looking at all the statistics you'd have to

00:17:02go

00:17:03with evander but there's a lot of intangibles that i'm concerned about will he become all overnight

00:17:07is michael moore going to be like kenny norton was to mohammed and ali to evander holyfield maybe

00:17:12his style will always bother evander and that those are things that i don't know so it's like a toss

00:17:16-up

00:17:17fight one of the great things about a heavyweight championship fight you never know what is going to

00:17:20happen that's right a one punch can turn the entire fight around too okay the main event is coming

00:17:24up in just a couple of moments but right now let's go back downstairs to jim gray jim

00:17:28all right thank you very much jim i'm now joined by evander holyfield and evander just talking to

00:17:33you here's a get easier with time you're singing and dancing once again it'll get better just better

00:17:38not easier yeah nothing i don't think easy is the word you know better is the word let me ask

00:17:44you

00:17:44such big fights with mike tyson the two big ones is this anti-climactic and are you feeling a bit

00:17:49of

00:17:49a letdown but not at all not at all this is uh this is another fight that getting a lot

00:17:54closer to uh

00:17:55what god ultimately have planned for me to do three years ago three and a half years ago you lost

00:18:00this

00:18:01fight how much different are you as a fighter than you were three and a half years ago as you

00:18:05will be

00:18:05tonight well i'm a lot wiser and i'm sort of me i'm a lot smarter and um and i can

00:18:11do things different

00:18:11and i'm able to adapt to whatever the circumstances may be and and what leads me to win i'm a

00:18:19holy

00:18:19warrior now michael moore evander has been somewhat annoyed by what he considers a lack of respect for

00:18:25his victory do you respect his victory and and was it something that he should be honored with well

00:18:30yeah i respect it he he did what necessary uh and appointed me uh just letting people know what the

00:18:37mistake that i made i wouldn't be taking anything away from him now he did what he had to do

00:18:41and it's

00:18:42not like he's supposed to let up it's not like he said well okay you know you got a hurt

00:18:46shoulder i'm not

00:18:46gonna do he did he did what he needed to do that time to get uh the judges vote you

00:18:53want to unify

00:18:54this title is there any chance you might be looking past the fight tonight and michael moore

00:19:00well not at all i'm you know i look through him you know i he's some a person that i

00:19:05have to deal

00:19:06with in and it's in a little while and i look forward to doing it vander we wish you all

00:19:10the

00:19:10best of luck there's absolutely no lack of confidence in here as you can read on the bulletin

00:19:14board like a football bulletin board there's a message and the new ibf champion the real deal

00:19:19holyfield let's go back out to you steve thank you jim as the countdown continues we close in on

00:19:26holyfield more or two of the crowd here at the thomas and max center on the campus of unlv settling

00:19:31in

00:19:31as the anticipation builds for the main event of the evening the battle to unify the wba and ivf

00:19:38heavyweight titles

00:19:42holyfield versus more two-pitch champion versus champion but ultimately it's a story about respect

00:19:47and revenge evander holyfield looking to exact revenge for his loss to michael moore in 1994

00:19:52moore is the only opponent holyfield has never beaten and while he's gone on to gain recognition

00:19:58as one of the best heavyweights ever matching muhammad ali as a three-time heavyweight champion

00:20:02dethroning mike tyson along the way he won't feel his career is complete until he evens the score with

00:20:08more holyfield says he still can't erase the memory of more raising his hands in triumph at the end of

00:20:13their first fight the normally finely tuned holyfield looked lethargic in defeat meanwhile

00:20:19moore feels that holyfield tarnished his victory by making excuses claiming a bad shoulder a bad

00:20:24heart and not just admitting the better man won so both have something very much to prove moore

00:20:29wants to show that his victory over holyfield was no fluke holyfield hopes to leave his legacy

00:20:34as the greatest heavyweight of his generation for that he must remove the final skeleton from his closet

00:20:40back with the fight dr ferdy pacheco and ferdy confidence or doubt what do you think is going

00:20:46on in the minds of holyfield and moore right now just minutes before the rematch i think holyfield

00:20:50is synonymous with consistency with maximum effort with championship he comes he gives his best he's

00:20:56well prepared nothing he can do different than fight his heart out and he does that every every

00:21:02fight that's what we can expect from holyfield for moore it's the opposite it's the inconstancy it's the

00:21:08fact that he's indecisive he doesn't know whether he wants to be a boxer or a seal or a moral

00:21:14mountie

00:21:15you can't tell what he wants to be one night he looks brilliant the next night he looks journeyman he

00:21:19couldn't look any worse than he did with bean so which one shows up you'll never know until this bell

00:21:25rings and that's why we're all here tonight if the guy shows up who can fight like a dream then

00:21:31we're

00:21:32going to have a wonderful night of championship fighting all right let's get it back over to bobby

00:21:35ches here and and talk some strategy do you think evander holyfield is going to look to lure michael

00:21:40moore into an ellie fight steve i think it behooves evander holyfield very much to lure michael moore

00:21:46into a street cat fight you know why there's a distinct difference between being tough and being

00:21:50good tough is your ability to give a beating which both of these fighters can do excuse me good is

00:21:54your

00:21:55ability to give a beating tough is your ability to take the beating now michael moore is tough but not

00:21:58as tough as evander we've seen evander get up from some very bad situations to come back

00:22:02and win if he gets into a brawl that goes to evander holyfield you think moore will be more

00:22:06aggressive than usual well you know he may not have a choice if evander holyfield comes out blazing

00:22:11what will michael moore do he'll either fight fast or he'll get run over now if he wants to come

00:22:16out

00:22:16fast on his own i think that would also be good for him but evander holyville is going to come

00:22:19to

00:22:19fight he always comes to fight michael moore in this case i believe has no choice all right let's get

00:22:24your keys to victory for michael moore michael moore it's no secret has to use a good jab steve if

00:22:30he's not

00:22:31jabbing for the distance keeping that distance in that range there's the jab he'll unload with

00:22:35the combinations right after that he'll come in behind that jab and work evander and again it's

00:22:40a simple thing but that jab another jab the distance has to be there for him that drab is powerful

00:22:45it's

00:22:46strong and look at evander's eyes over the course of 12 rounds that's what happens it busts men up

00:22:52that's what michael moore needs to do establish that jab in that distance for holyfield he needs to close

00:22:57the gap look how close they are here hands high tight there's not a lot of distance on the inside

00:23:01bang with that terrific left hook he has he'll come up with right hands and another left hook he's the

00:23:06powerful man again more not as tough there's going to be times when that gap's there he's got to close

00:23:10that gap again get inside work his way in pick off the punches and come in behind those punches with

00:23:16combination there is no mystery to this both of the trainers have said it inside holyfield outside more

00:23:22and now again he's back outside that gap no he's got to come in and sometimes with the southpaw you'll

00:23:27throw a double right hand here you'll see evander do it one two he gets back inside where he is

00:23:32going

00:23:32to be affected those are his keys to win well moore may have the style but does he have the

00:23:39heart

00:23:39that's a big question some last minute thoughts will holyfield indeed come out and set a blistering

00:23:44pace as he told us he would will he force a physical contest can he overcome more's awkward southpaw

00:23:49style and in your face jab major factors in moore's 94 victory will moore uncharacteristically start out

00:23:56aggressively throw more combinations as opposed to his usual lulling approach will he be a hundred

00:24:01percent focus a major problem in the past is holyfield up for this fight following his two

00:24:06mega bouts with mike tyson is he over confident after the two wins over tyson will the infamous ear

00:24:12biting incident have any residual effect on holyfield tonight despite his words to the contrary and

00:24:17ultimately will holyfield and moore bring their best to the ring tonight if so the biggest winners

00:24:22will be the fans and let us take a look at the ivf heavyweight champ doing his last second pacing

00:24:31michael moore before he heads out where the crowd can see him he'll reportedly get eight million dollars for

00:24:37this fight that last check is a three and a half to one underdog he says he's trained like he's

00:24:44never

00:24:44trained before and although he comes in at 223 pounds that's what he says

00:24:52his new trainer the laid-back freddie roach in sharp contrast to the fiery teddy atlas says moore is happy

00:25:00but it's usually tough to tell he's always so sullen and moody

00:25:08his first fight with holyfield his most important performance but he has been an enigma ever since

00:25:14the ơifield had to tell the guy in and away from the inevitable world but one of the waves

00:25:15here is what he said to me when they came as a fan of his ticket it's really a great

00:25:15image

00:25:15let's get the reaction from the crowd

00:25:28hearing some cheers and boos it's kind of mixed

00:25:31as he makes his way towards the ring.

00:25:34A former ferocious light heavyweight champ

00:25:36always needing a push as a heavyweight.

00:25:41Mixed reaction in the ring for Michael Moore.

00:25:46What more motivation or incentive could a man want

00:25:49than arguably the most coveted prize in sports,

00:25:54the heavyweight title?

00:25:59Michael Moore.

00:26:05And now we take a look at the WBA heavyweight champion,

00:26:08Evander Holyfield, sporting his latest badge of honor,

00:26:11a partial ear, courtesy of Mike Tyson,

00:26:15as he sings and chants his way to the ring.

00:26:19The deeply religious spirit of Evander Holyfield.

00:26:22And the crowd already beginning to roar

00:26:26as they realize he is just seconds away

00:26:29from being in view.

00:26:35First fight with Moore.

00:26:37He lost by majority decision.

00:26:40He'll earn a reported $20 million for the rematch tonight.

00:26:46Some believe he might be taking Moore a little bit too lightly,

00:26:52but even Moore's camp doesn't buy that,

00:26:55saying he's just not the type to be distracted,

00:26:57too confident.

00:27:00Holyfield told us he's 100% healthy.

00:27:02Let's see if we can hear him sing.

00:27:06Let's see if we can hear him sing.

00:27:27Let's see if we can hear him sing.

00:27:38And the crowd reacts.

00:27:42And the crowd reacts.

00:28:03This is truly a man at peace with himself, Evander Holyfield.

00:28:10Drawing inspiration

00:28:14from the book of Philippians.

00:28:18The entrance of Holyfield and Moore has energized this crowd

00:28:22of the Thomas and Mac.

00:28:23Look at this entrance.

00:28:27It's like a revival.

00:28:47He is the people's champion, Evander Holyfield.

00:28:51The real deal.

00:29:02Introductions were determined by a flip of the coin.

00:29:07And this crowd at the Thomas and Mac getting ready to settle in.

00:29:11We go to the numbers.

00:29:13Check the tail of the tape.

00:29:18Holyfield turned 35 last month.

00:29:21Moore will be 30 in four days.

00:29:22The height almost identical.

00:29:25Holyfield a chisel, 214.

00:29:27Moore, a not-so-spell, 223.

00:29:30That's his highest weight since 92 when he was 224.

00:29:33He was 212 against Vaughn Bean.

00:29:36And of the uniform rules for this championship unification bout,

00:29:39the key rules, no standing eight count, no three knockdown rule.

00:29:42A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.

00:29:45If an accidental foul occurs before the end of the fourth,

00:29:48the fighters rule the technical draw.

00:29:50After the end of the fourth, they go to the scorecards.

00:29:52Incomplete rounds will not be scored.

00:29:54So here at the Thomas and Mac Center in Las Vegas,

00:29:57we are getting ready for the WBA IVF Heavyweight Championship.

00:30:01Holyfield, Moore, too.

00:30:03Let's get the official introductions from our ring announcer,

00:30:06the classy Jimmy Lennon Jr.

00:30:13Ladies and gentlemen, live from Las Vegas,

00:30:19the Mirage Resort welcomes you

00:30:21to our Heavyweight Championship of the World Main Event

00:30:26brought to you by Don King Productions

00:30:28and Showtime Event Television in association with the Mirage Resort,

00:30:34Main Events, Fight Night,

00:30:36and the undisputed, undefeated King of Beers,

00:30:41Budweiser, this bud's for you.

00:30:44This unification bout is sanctioned by the World Boxing Association,

00:30:49President Gilberto Mendoza,

00:30:51Supervisor Jimmy Binns,

00:30:52and the International Boxing Federation,

00:30:55President Robert Lee Sr.,

00:30:57Supervisor Walter Stone,

00:30:59along with the Nevada State Athletic Commission,

00:31:02the Chairman is Dr. Elias Ghanem,

00:31:04Commissioners Glenn Carano, Lorenzo Fertitta,

00:31:07Luther Mack, and Dr. James Knave,

00:31:09Executive Director Mark Ratner.

00:31:12Introducing to you our physicians,

00:31:14we have Doctors Flip Homansky,

00:31:16James Game, Margaret Goodwin,

00:31:18and Charles Signorino.

00:31:20Our time keepers at the bell also keeping count of the knockdowns,

00:31:24we have Jane Broadfoot and James Cavan.

00:31:28Presenting to you our judges scoring this bout from ringside,

00:31:32from Johannesburg, South Africa,

00:31:34Stanley Christodoulou,

00:31:35from Kent, Washington,

00:31:37Glenn Hamata,

00:31:39from Las Vegas, Nevada,

00:31:41Jerry Roth.

00:31:43White fans, here we go.

00:31:46The time has come

00:31:47for the main event of the evening,

00:31:50and now,

00:31:51ladies and gentlemen in attendance,

00:31:54and boxing fans joining us around the world,

00:31:58it's showtime!

00:32:01With the rematch and unification

00:32:04of the WBA IBF Heavyweight Championship of the World,

00:32:0812 rounds of boxing scheduled,

00:32:10we first present our referee in charge,

00:32:12the third man in the ring,

00:32:14working in this his 44th world title bout,

00:32:17Mitch Halpern.

00:32:19All right, fans, here we go.

00:32:21Introducing to you, first on my left,

00:32:24the defending world champion for the WBA

00:32:27in the red corner,

00:32:29entering the ring,

00:32:30wearing purple trunks,

00:32:31hailing from and representing

00:32:33his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

00:32:37He weighed in at a ready 214 pounds,

00:32:42with a record of 34 wins,

00:32:44three losses.

00:32:45He has 24 wins coming by way of knockout.

00:32:49He is only the second man in history

00:32:51to have captured the heavyweight crown three times.

00:32:55Please welcome the former undisputed

00:32:57cruiserweight world champion,

00:32:59the former undisputed heavyweight world champion.

00:33:02Here is boxing's warrior spirit,

00:33:05the WBA heavyweight champion of the world,

00:33:09introducing Evander,

00:33:12the real deal,

00:33:15Holyfield.

00:33:25And his opponent across the ring on my right

00:33:29is the defending IBF heavyweight champion,

00:33:32fighting out of the blue corner,

00:33:34wearing green trunks,

00:33:36and hailing from Detroit, Michigan.

00:33:38He weighed in at 223 pounds,

00:33:43boxing's very first

00:33:44Southpaw heavyweight champion.

00:33:47He has compiled a record of 39 wins,

00:33:50one loss, 31 wins coming by way of knockout.

00:33:55Please welcome the former light heavyweight world champion,

00:33:58now in his second reign as heavyweight title holder,

00:34:02introducing the IBF heavyweight champion of the world,

00:34:07known as Double M,

00:34:11Michael Moran.

00:34:17Once again, our referee in charge,

00:34:19Mitch Halpern.

00:34:20This will be a clean fight.

00:34:22Protect yourself at all times,

00:34:23obey my commands at all times.

00:34:25You guys have any questions?

00:34:25Okay, that's not low right there, okay?

00:34:28That is.

00:34:29All right?

00:34:29Touch the glass.

00:34:29Good luck.

00:34:35Around 18,500 on hand

00:34:38to witness this title unification.

00:34:40Evander Holyfield,

00:34:41he told us he really wanted to quit,

00:34:44but two things kept him fighting.

00:34:46One was the Lord,

00:34:47and the other,

00:34:47his quest to unify all three major heavyweight titles in the ring.

00:34:51His opponent,

00:34:52Michael Moran.

00:34:53He feels great,

00:34:54he says.

00:34:55Arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder

00:34:56following the Vaughn Bean fight in March.

00:34:58No factor.

00:34:59Rumors that he injured his hands in training,

00:35:01he says.

00:35:02Untrue.

00:35:03Here we go.

00:35:04Round one.

00:35:06Watch out for headbutting

00:35:07and possibly stepping on feet

00:35:09because of Moran's southpaw style.

00:35:12Over the years,

00:35:13opponents have complained about Holyfield's headbutts,

00:35:15led, of course, by Mike Tyson.

00:35:17Holyfield claims that Moran's lefty stance

00:35:19generates the headbutting.

00:35:20This first round,

00:35:22ever so important for both fighters.

00:35:23If Holyfield gets fought behind Michael Moran's jab a lot,

00:35:26it's going to be a long night,

00:35:27and vice versa.

00:35:28Michael Moran can't get out of the way of Evander's stuff.

00:35:30It's going to be a shorter night.

00:35:32Holyfield wants to drag Moran into a brawl.

00:35:36Remember,

00:35:37even though Moran fights in a southpaw stance,

00:35:39he's really a righty.

00:35:40His left hand is quite weak.

00:35:42His real power is in his right jab.

00:35:57More not really known for his speed,

00:36:00somewhat flat-footed.

00:36:02He could be in trouble early

00:36:04if Holyfield wages an assault

00:36:06and fights from close range.

00:36:09Right now, it's a jabbing contest.

00:36:11Evander's throwing a nice jab.

00:36:12Michael Moran's not throwing a bad jab.

00:36:13There's the right-hand counter

00:36:15that Evander's got to be effective with.

00:36:16The left hook in the right hand,

00:36:18and Michael Moran trying to get the left hand down the pipe.

00:36:21Moran will have to hurt Holyfield early

00:36:23to gain some success.

00:36:24There's a combination by Evander Holyfield,

00:36:27but not much effect on Moran.

00:36:30They're keeping that distance.

00:36:31We talked about in the Telestrator earlier with Bobby.

00:36:34That distance is there,

00:36:35but the right jab has got to be established by Moran,

00:36:39and he's been thrown out,

00:36:40but not as hard as he did in the first fight.

00:36:42The first fight, it was a gonging, resounding jab,

00:36:45but it's not that right now.

00:36:47He's fighting a little tentative.

00:36:48He's more.

00:36:49Right now, Evander's being very effective

00:36:50with his counters.

00:36:51Four, five, and six punches.

00:36:53His right hand is finding the mark

00:36:54much more quickly than it did in the first fight.

00:36:56He looks a whole lot better.

00:36:58What do you think about the flab around the belly of Moran?

00:37:01You know, Michael Moran was very heavy,

00:37:02and he let the weight come down naturally

00:37:04to wherever he was comfortable,

00:37:04but my problem with that is this.

00:37:06If you're a young man, still under the age of 30,

00:37:08and you're not really leaned out,

00:37:12how much work did you really do?

00:37:13Or was your diet that bad?

00:37:14Both of them are bad signs.

00:37:16There was nothing good to be gleaned from that.

00:37:20Not at all.

00:37:21And it is loose fat.

00:37:25Moran coming in heavy.

00:37:29He is a good technician in the ring.

00:37:33And bear in mind, both men got heavy punches.

00:37:35I don't care what they say.

00:37:36Both these guys knock out the heavy.

00:37:38And many feel that Moran would crumble

00:37:41if Holyfield really challenges him,

00:37:43just jumps on him with a big physical attack.

00:37:47Here comes Moran.

00:37:49You know, it was a good right hook.

00:37:50It was more of a balanced shot, I think,

00:37:52than it was a big, hard shot.

00:37:54Back comes Holyfield with uppercuts.

00:37:58You know, I think it was more of a balanced shot

00:38:00where he caught him on the side of the head.

00:38:01Here comes let's go.

00:38:12Two squared up, boss.

00:38:14Two hands up at all times.

00:38:21Don't throw the right uppercut

00:38:23when you're outside.

00:38:25Get inside first and then rip it up.

00:38:27Hands up, boss.

00:38:28Hands up.

00:38:29One of the other times.

00:38:30Don't water.

00:38:33Remember, you don't have to look for no clean shot, either.

00:38:36That's the name.

00:38:37That's the name.

00:38:39You know the body is his leg.

00:38:42Let's take a look at Holyfield getting hit on the side of the head.

00:38:45See, he did get hit, and he went back.

00:38:47It was a balance, a little bit of a balance,

00:38:49but it also was a resounding hard shot.

00:38:51It was a good right hook to the table,

00:38:52but I think balance had a lot to do with the movement.

00:38:54You can't take anything off that, and he felt it.

00:38:57Good first-round action.

00:38:59But Moore has scored the best punch with just 15 seconds remaining.

00:39:03Round number two.

00:39:05Remember, Mike Tyson called Evander Holyfield

00:39:07the best counterpuncher he'd ever seen.

00:39:11Evander Holyfield is an excellent boxer counterpuncher and boxer puncher.

00:39:15And a great left hook, too,

00:39:16but here comes Michael Moore trying to smother Evander Holyfield.

00:39:21Then he takes a big step back.

00:39:23What you have to worry about now for both fighters

00:39:25when this fight unfolds this way,

00:39:26with the late rounds, the attrition, the training,

00:39:29where I believe the nod goes to Evander.

00:39:31Well, we're going to see if it gets to the late rounds

00:39:33because this doesn't look like it's going to be a late-round fight.

00:39:37Conventional wisdom dictates that a fast-paced fight

00:39:40would favor Holyfield's slow-paced Moore.

00:39:44Well, I think all that goes out the window

00:39:46when these two guys face each other

00:39:47with Drew speculating.

00:39:48Now it's there.

00:39:49There's a beautiful right-up of that counter by Evander Holyfield.

00:39:52Moore counters him, and he covers nice.

00:39:54Pretty combination by Michael Moore

00:39:56after the countering shots by Holyfield.

00:40:00So Moore ready to stand right in there and frame.

00:40:03I thought Evander won the first round.

00:40:05He won the whole round.

00:40:06Did it one big punch.

00:40:06He got hit again.

00:40:07I didn't think it was enough for Moore

00:40:09to take the whole round from him.

00:40:10It's going to be a very cat-and-mouse type thing,

00:40:12I think, for the first three or four rounds.

00:40:14Yeah.

00:40:15All right.

00:40:16The thing is that the counter of Evander is wonderful,

00:40:20but Moore fights back three and four punches at a time.

00:40:23He's not laying down here.

00:40:24This is a very, very competitive first and second round.

00:40:31Moore looks like he wants to jump on top of him

00:40:33and put some punishment on him early.

00:40:38Let him up.

00:40:39Step back easy.

00:40:40Step back easy.

00:40:40How about that?

00:40:41Michael Moore lifting Holyfield off the canvas,

00:40:43showing his strength.

00:40:45Well, he doesn't want to be pushed around like Tyson was,

00:40:48and he said he wasn't going to be.

00:40:49Well, let's see when he gets to pushing in the shove.

00:40:51Let's head.

00:40:52Come on.

00:40:52Let's head.

00:40:53Well, that answers some questions right there.

00:40:55Many felt Holyfield stronger than Moore

00:40:57and able to push him around like he did Tyson.

00:41:00We don't let it have to do to his styles and leverage.

00:41:02Tyson much shorter.

00:41:04His style, the way he moves.

00:41:06Evander used his leverage.

00:41:07With his height.

00:41:08Did some very good things with his movement,

00:41:09his feet, his balance.

00:41:10Michael Moore may just not be the same way.

00:41:15Oh, no, no, no.

00:41:16By Holyfield.

00:41:18A worn by Mitch Halpert.

00:41:22Halpert, who did a terrific job,

00:41:24and Tyson Holyfield once stepped away from the rematch

00:41:27after protests from the Tyson camp.

00:41:33Based on the way that turned out, he was glad he did step away.

00:41:36Mills Lane took over.

00:41:38I think Moore is doing very well this round.

00:41:42Yeah, I think this is a Moore round so far.

00:41:44He's getting his shots in.

00:41:48He's getting his shots in.

00:41:51They both established something.

00:41:53Holyfield in the first, Moore in the second.

00:41:58Good round for Michael Moore.

00:42:11Here we go, Michael.

00:42:13Deep breath.

00:42:16One more.

00:42:17There you go, son.

00:42:18Good job.

00:42:20Now, Mike,

00:42:22his three left hands will do real well for you.

00:42:24I want you to come back with the hook to the body behind that,

00:42:26and then off to the side.

00:42:27Don't stay in front of this guy.

00:42:28You hear me?

00:42:29After your combinations,

00:42:30you've got to get off to the side.

00:42:32All right?

00:42:34There you go.

00:42:40Shoulders and arms.

00:42:41Dying of the shoulders and arms.

00:42:42Everything open up.

00:42:44When you get in front of him,

00:42:45you've got to take off.

00:42:46Put your hands off your left feet,

00:42:48one or the other.

00:42:50All right.

00:42:51Let's go.

00:42:53Let's go.

00:42:57Let's hear what Emanuel Stewart has to say.

00:42:59Well, you know,

00:43:00the fight is moving along the course

00:43:02that I would say

00:43:02would be the worst for Evander Holyfield.

00:43:04There was three different styles

00:43:06that the fight could take place,

00:43:07and one would be for Evander

00:43:08to pressure of Michael

00:43:09to get over him close

00:43:10to move around

00:43:11and not to box him

00:43:12at a stationary position,

00:43:13which is what he's doing right now.

00:43:15And if this continues to go along,

00:43:17it is.

00:43:17Michael's right jab

00:43:19is going to be a big factor,

00:43:20and his precision little short punches.

00:43:22Evander's fighting the exact wrong fight

00:43:24to be fighting Michael Moore.

00:43:26Thank you, Emanuel.

00:43:27Boer looking confident and sharp.

00:43:29It was round two,

00:43:31three and a half years ago

00:43:32in which he was knocked down

00:43:33a countering left hook to the head

00:43:36by Evander Holyfield.

00:43:37He looks very solid, though,

00:43:39right now.

00:43:40Oh, watch the edge.

00:43:40Watch the edge.

00:43:41They're banging heads again.

00:43:42Evander's trying to work

00:43:43that left hook to the body very well.

00:43:45They're banging heads on the inside.

00:43:46That's Southpaw style,

00:43:47the way they lean over

00:43:48and bend into each other.

00:43:49Sometimes it's the feet,

00:43:50sometimes it's the head.

00:43:52Come on.

00:43:53Come on.

00:43:54Come on.

00:43:56Holyfield now pressing the attack

00:43:58momentarily.

00:43:59Steps back.

00:44:07Evander's left hook to the head.

00:44:09Evander's left hook very big.

00:44:12Right uppercut by Holyfield

00:44:14to the chin of Boer.

00:44:15A straight right hand by Holyfield.

00:44:18Let's see if Boer has answered.

00:44:22Go on.

00:44:22Get it out.

00:44:24Holyfield pouring it on.

00:44:25He scored kick with the right hook.

00:44:27Get it out.

00:44:28Get it out.

00:44:29Holyfield, though, I believe is cut.

00:44:32Right eye area.

00:44:33They banged heads.

00:44:34I think it was with headbutt.

00:44:35Time.

00:44:36In that corner.

00:44:37Come here.

00:44:38Here comes the doctor,

00:44:39and here comes bad news.

00:44:40Accidental headbutt.

00:44:41Let's go check.

00:44:42The back's out.

00:44:43I understand.

00:44:43Accidental headbutt.

00:44:44Mitch Elprin saw it the right way.

00:44:46They banged heads by accident over here.

00:44:48We mentioned it at the top of round one.

00:44:52Look out for the headbutting,

00:44:53and Holyfield looks to shake it off.

00:45:04A straight right hand by Evander Holyfield.

00:45:09Perhaps sensing the urgency of the moment.

00:45:12Digging in with body shots, Holyfield.

00:45:14Evander Holyfield's mad right now.

00:45:15He's fighting hard.

00:45:16He's fighting furious.

00:45:18And he has that urgency.

00:45:20No question about that.

00:45:23So on the inside, he's a better fighter.

00:45:24He's more comfortable there.

00:45:25He's a more ball-balanced fighter inside,

00:45:29shifting his weight in his arms top to bottom.

00:45:31He moves well on the inside.

00:45:33The cut instigating the furious assault by Holyfield.

00:45:37Low blow by Moore,

00:45:38and then a straight right by Moore.

00:45:40Beating Holyfield on the punch there.

00:45:41Moore's getting his jab in.

00:45:42He's getting his jab in.

00:45:44And that's going to be the key.

00:45:47That's what really damaged Holyfield in the first fight,

00:45:50aside from the fact that his left shoulder was hurt.

00:45:52And now with the cut,

00:45:53it's even more reason not to keep eating that jab.

00:45:56And he is eating the jab.

00:46:02Final seconds of round three.

00:46:05A round that sees a cut on his other Holyfield.

00:46:10There's another butt there that bang heads again.

00:46:28Give me that spun.

00:46:29Give me that spun.

00:46:30Give me that spun.

00:46:33This isn't much, Holyfield.

00:46:34Don't worry about it.

00:46:35Look, Holy, no weapons bombed against you is a problem, baby.

00:46:39Don't worry about it.

00:46:42Don't worry about it.

00:46:42Here's the water.

00:46:44Here's the water, Holyfield.

00:46:46All right, give me the water.

00:46:47Give me the water.

00:46:48All right, give me the water.

00:46:48No weapons bombed against you is a problem, now.

00:46:50It's him.

00:46:56It looks like Holyfield is praying.

00:46:58I thought the same thing, Steve, I was watching.

00:47:00I gave him that round.

00:47:02He dominated the first minute very strong.

00:47:04I gave that round more because of his final performance at the end of it.

00:47:08I thought of him to dominate the first minute so much more superior that he won the round.

00:47:14We differ for the first time.

00:47:16He won't be the last.

00:47:17This is a very good fight, Bobby.

00:47:19Very good.

00:47:19His eye was cut by Moore in the fifth round of the first fight, and here it happens in

00:47:25the third.

00:47:25We enter round four.

00:47:27First evidence of flood from Holyfield's right eye about a minute or so into round three.

00:47:32Jim Strickland assuring him that it was okay, the cut man in Holyfield's corner.

00:47:37Three straight hard jabs to pick up where he left off.

00:47:42Moore getting confident now.

00:47:43Moore getting very confident behind that jab.

00:47:48The vendor looks like he's been weakened a little bit for some reason.

00:47:57Let's get it over to Jim Gray quickly.

00:48:00All right, Steve, I just talked to Flip Pomansky, the attending physician at ringside.

00:48:03He said the cut over Evander Holyfield's right eye is not serious at all right now, and it is not

00:48:08in any jeopardy of stopping the fight as of now.

00:48:11Steve.

00:48:12But that was a serious left hook by Michael Moore while you were talking, Jim.

00:48:16That sent Holyfield reeling back a bit.

00:48:20Both men are punching with a great deal of force.

00:48:23Very competitive fight.

00:48:25There are no light punches in this fight.

00:48:27They're going at it.

00:48:29That's the jab that Michael Moore needs to use.

00:48:33And that's the one that holds Holyfield that thing.

00:48:38Holyfield just waiting to counter here.

00:48:40His left hand down.

00:48:41What's he doing?

00:48:42I don't know what's going on.

00:48:43What's he doing?

00:48:44Evander Holyfield looks like he's weakened or something's wrong.

00:48:48Yep, he does.

00:48:49He looks so much similar to what he did in the first fight.

00:48:52He was very lethargic in the first fight.

00:48:57With all kinds of shoulder problems.

00:48:59With subsequent heart problems.

00:49:01Let's go, let's go, break easy, break easy.

00:49:03But saying no excuses coming into this fight.

00:49:06He's 100% physically fit.

00:49:16And now Moore lets up.

00:49:19That comes back with a swift left hook to the side of Holyfield's face.

00:49:22Holyfield smiles in Moore's face.

00:49:26Straight right hand.

00:49:27Beauty by Holyfield.

00:49:28Holyfield blocked that hook with his right hand pretty nicely.

00:49:31And a countering right by Holyfield.

00:49:33Flesh on Moore's face.

00:49:37But Moore walked right into that one.

00:49:39Moore's using a nice jab again.

00:49:41Yeah, as soon as he does, Holyfield smiles.

00:49:44That wasn't a smile.

00:49:46I think that was a scowl.

00:49:47Yeah.

00:49:47Holyfield's mad.

00:49:48He's walking into the jab.

00:49:49And angry, Evander Holyfield coming forward.

00:49:52A short, crisp straight right.

00:49:53He barrels in on Moore.

00:49:58Get up in the air.

00:50:02Again, that beautiful left hook.

00:50:04By a left hook by Holyfield.

00:50:06A countering left by Evander Holyfield.

00:50:09Moore comes back.

00:50:10What an exchange.

00:50:11Moore is pounding on the inside as well.

00:50:14That's not all one way.

00:50:23Now this is the fight you wanted, America.

00:50:30Go walking forward against Mr. Brasper, Holyfield.

00:50:33Give him that sponge.

00:50:35Give me an ice bag.

00:50:37Give me an ice bag.

00:50:38Give me an ice bag.

00:50:39Cast it when he put it behind his head.

00:50:43Ben, you listening?

00:50:46When you get in front of him, don't throw the right hand so long.

00:50:50Short and quick.

00:50:52Okay.

00:50:59A weapon bomb because he hit pop.

00:51:01He hit him with a left hook in the body and he held.

00:51:03Okay.

00:51:03Let's take a look and see if we can see it.

00:51:06One round ago, where that cut might have taken.

00:51:09They did butt heads there.

00:51:10It didn't look like that big.

00:51:11But anything can happen with a butt.

00:51:13Doesn't have to be big.

00:51:13It's an island start, doesn't it?

00:51:15It doesn't.

00:51:16But the cut over Holyfield's eye seeming not to be a factor.

00:51:20In round four, we had a round five.

00:51:21Hey, maybe Michael Moore truly does respond better

00:51:25to trainer Freddie Roach's TLC approach

00:51:27than he did to the tough love of Teddy Atlas.

00:51:30We'll see.

00:51:30Well, I think he's doing very well here.

00:51:32This is a very, very close fight.

00:51:33Either way, whichever way you got it at home, it's close.

00:51:42And there's the shape.

00:51:45Holyfield!

00:51:47Holyfield!

00:51:48Holyfield!

00:51:48Shades of Holyfield Tyson.

00:51:51Holyfield!

00:51:52Holyfield!

00:51:53Holyfield!

00:51:54Holyfield!

00:51:55Holyfield!

00:51:59Holyfield on the inside works nice.

00:52:00He digs that left hook, but he can't let Michael Moore

00:52:03push him back and stuff that jab.

00:52:06Right uppercut on the inside for Michael Moore.

00:52:07Also very effective.

00:52:10Holyfield!

00:52:12Holyfield!

00:52:13Holyfield!

00:52:14We've got a battle going on, not only in the ring,

00:52:16but in the stands.

00:52:18Fans yelling Holyfield, then Moore.

00:52:28straight right followed by a left hook by more effective punches that landed

00:52:35van oliville i don't know what he looks like he's looking for something he can't find his

00:52:39rhythm or maybe he's maybe he's a little tired or something's wrong he just looks a little off

00:52:43a little bewildered he looks a little tired and and bewildered his word the question is

00:52:48the distractions perhaps during the week are they taking their toll i think i think uh the biggest

00:52:54toll it's taking right now is nor is punching him silly that's what i think he's doing i mean

00:52:59he's punching him to the body that left hook is getting him dizzy i mean the uh not the hook

00:53:03but

00:53:03the jab the right jab is getting him dizzy or all of the above perhaps a combination of things

00:53:10and perhaps remember remember what we said this might be the night that he turns old you just

00:53:16don't know in boxing he's right now apparently leading this fight

00:53:21a lot of blood around the eye of evander holyfield and it is target practice for michael moore

00:53:29with that right jab we talked about that jab being key evander holyfield has not neutralized

00:53:33as much as he was supposed to oh a left hook by michael moore and that stung holyfield

00:53:45you know every man's got a bullet with his name on it michael moore just might be the bullet

00:53:49a straight right hand on it michael moore goes four out of nowhere four five six seven

00:53:58moore looks over to his corner and says he's okay 13 seconds to go

00:54:03fortunately for moore it's at the end of the round they resume with eight seconds

00:54:3310 seconds to go

00:54:41All right, Michael.

00:54:42Deep breath now. Come on.

00:54:44All right, let's take three looks at that old smashing right hand.

00:54:48That was enough to put away anybody.

00:54:49And Michael Moore did the right thing by going down to catch his wrist.

00:54:52You watch that right hand.

00:54:53Evander Holyfield sets him up, throws a right hand right down the middle.

00:54:56You see a jab, an uppercut jab, bang.

00:55:00And down he goes.

00:55:01You hear the crowd reacting to the big screen.

00:55:04Well, there's no question.

00:55:05As we just keep your eye on the right hand, there it is.

00:55:09It's just a perfect, perfect punch where it should be.

00:55:13Just when Moore was starting to have his way, things changed.

00:55:17It happened 2.35 in.

00:55:19Round 5, Moore down from the right on the chin.

00:55:23Here we go, round 6.

00:55:25The second time, Moore is down against Evander Holyfield.

00:55:30In the two fights.

00:55:32Look out.

00:55:33WWF tactics by Michael Miller.

00:55:37Apologizing to Holyfield.

00:55:38Let's go, come on, let's go.

00:55:38Keep it free.

00:55:39I'm not sure what that was about.

00:55:41Boy, just about everything has happened to Evander Holyfield in the ring.

00:55:44What's next?

00:55:46Well, there's no parachutes available.

00:55:47Oh, good.

00:55:48At least he can't come through the roof.

00:55:52Well, the whole promotion, ironically, has been marked by the politeness and respect for each other.

00:55:58But that goes out the window in the ring.

00:56:01Right now we see that Moore is not punching with the intensity he had just when he was getting on

00:56:05that road where it looked like he was finding the range.

00:56:08And it looked like Holyfield was slowing down.

00:56:10Look at these coupling up with left hooks by Holyfield.

00:56:13Horaceous shots by Holyfield.

00:56:16Holyfield with a nice triple left hook there.

00:56:18Started in the body and a double up top to the head.

00:56:20That's the punch that was the nemesis for Moore the first time.

00:56:23This time was the straight right hand.

00:56:24But Moore comes right back inside against Holyfield.

00:56:29He's just not punching hard.

00:56:30He's not punching as hard.

00:56:31He needs his round to recover, I believe.

00:56:36Moore knocked down in the last round late.

00:56:40On.

00:56:42Of Evander Holyfield bloody the right side.

00:56:44Evander Holyfield does look tired to me now, gentlemen.

00:56:47I don't know what.

00:56:48It just seems to be something's off.

00:56:50It seems like he has a repeat in the first fight.

00:56:52Maybe Michael Moore just is the nemesis

00:56:54because he was down in both fights,

00:56:56but Evander has not looked strong in both.

00:56:58Well, Moore has dished out his share of punishment

00:57:01and has taken steam out of Holyfield.

00:57:04Holyfield wincing, trying to get the blood out of his right arm.

00:57:07This has turned out to be a super heavyweight fight.

00:57:10Both guys equally match.

00:57:12Anyone can take the other out in a minute.

00:57:17So now we got drama.

00:57:18We got bleeding.

00:57:19We got tiring Holyfield

00:57:21and a guy who has dropped Moore.

00:57:24Excellent, excellent drama.

00:57:25That blood is bothering Holyfield.

00:57:28He's trying to rub it away.

00:57:29It's getting into the right eye.

00:57:32Let's not forget, if they stop this on cuts

00:57:34because of an accidental bite,

00:57:36we still go to the scorecards.

00:57:39If an accidental foul occurs before the end of the fourth,

00:57:41the fighters roll the technical draw

00:57:43after the end of the fourth.

00:57:45Indeed, look at the cards.

00:57:46It's round six.

00:57:48Holyfield surprised a little bit

00:57:49by not opening up and going right after Moore.

00:57:51When he had him down,

00:57:52he's let him off the hook.

00:57:55They thought it was a low blow

00:57:56from the Moore corner by Holyfield.

00:57:58That was not a low blow,

00:57:59though.

00:57:59That was under belt and above.

00:58:01The belt is legal.

00:58:04Holyfield able to block that left hook.

00:58:06That's his ass, come on.

00:58:08That's something he was unable to do

00:58:10for most of the first fight.

00:58:13Because of injury.

00:58:20Get in your rhythm.

00:58:21Get in your rhythm.

00:58:22Come on, sit down.

00:58:25Give him the response.

00:58:30Ice bag.

00:58:39You got to have your punches put together now.

00:58:41You're getting too tall, too.

00:58:42Keep your eye close.

00:58:44Hey, stay small and put your punches together, baby,

00:58:46to get this guy out of here.

00:58:49Don't try too hard.

00:58:50It's going to come.

00:58:51Get in water.

00:58:52Get in water.

00:58:53When you're small, you're powerful.

00:58:54When you're small, you're powerful.

00:58:56Here, drink this one.

00:58:57Drink this one.

00:58:59Well, it's his technique born out of desperation, I think.

00:59:02Yeah.

00:59:03He was a linebacker in his day.

00:59:05But I wouldn't like to lift him like that.

00:59:07Heavy work.

00:59:09I don't think that does Moore any good at all.

00:59:12Personally, I'm too lazy.

00:59:15Well, let's see what Mr. Holyfield's got in mind

00:59:17for Mr. Moore.

00:59:18Emmanuel Stewart, you've trained both these guys.

00:59:20Your thoughts at this point?

00:59:24Well, you know, the way the fight is going right now

00:59:26is, to me, still in favoring Michael Moore.

00:59:28Even though Evander is looking good,

00:59:30Michael seems to be more sturdy,

00:59:32and this is the pace and the distance

00:59:34that he likes to operate from.

00:59:35Evander should either start moving from side to side,

00:59:38either go strictly to the inside

00:59:39and try to fight from inside.

00:59:41But at this stage that he's fighting in,

00:59:43Michael Moore is seeing much more stabilized,

00:59:45much more comfortable,

00:59:46and that right jab is becoming more and more

00:59:48of a big factor in the fight.

00:59:50All right, Emmanuel, thank you very much.

00:59:52Halfway through the bout could be some interesting scoring.

00:59:55You know, Holyfield wasting a lot of energy

00:59:57jumping around and bouncing like that.

00:59:58He could step and just be as easy,

01:00:00you know, moving from side to side.

01:00:02He's trying to get into a rhythm, though.

01:00:03You heard Don Turner say get into a rhythm.

01:00:05Maybe this is his rhythm, a la Terry Norris,

01:00:07but I just don't see it.

01:00:09Guys, your unofficial numbers at the halfway mark.

01:00:11I have got Michael Moore and Holyfield tied.

01:00:16I have Holyfield ahead by a couple of points

01:00:18with the knockdown.

01:00:20Look out.

01:00:21Moore is in trouble.

01:00:24A straight right hand by Holyfield,

01:00:27looking to put Moore down.

01:00:29And this time he doesn't have enough time

01:00:31to sweat it out.

01:00:31There was a delayed reaction here.

01:00:33Moore almost went down and refound his balance.

01:00:36Again, it's the toughness is what we're talking about.

01:00:39The good and the tough.

01:00:40Both can give good beatings.

01:00:41But who's tougher?

01:00:42There's another stagger.

01:00:43Moore momentarily days in the left hook.

01:00:45Again, wobbles him.

01:00:47He's being rocked.

01:00:48A straight right hand pushes Moore back.

01:00:51Moore has been staggered.

01:00:52Too much time.

01:00:53Too much time.

01:00:55Moore has got too much time to kill.

01:00:58Holyfield should attack with everything.

01:01:00All fighters are squared up fighting,

01:01:01but they're very tired.

01:01:03A 15-second barrage by Evander Holyfield.

01:01:07He continues to come forward and goes forward.

01:01:10Down to one knee.

01:01:12Second knockdown for Holyfield.

01:01:14Five, six, seven, eight.

01:01:17He gets up by eight, but he has 55 seconds.

01:01:21He looked at his corner real hard,

01:01:23and everybody said, get up.

01:01:25So he did.

01:01:27Could this be the end?

01:01:30Moore in dire.

01:01:32He's in trouble.

01:01:3340 seconds.

01:01:34He goes right up the top.

01:01:35Down he goes again.

01:01:36Those no three knockdown rule.

01:01:39This is headed toward a 10-7 round.

01:01:41Six, seven, eight.

01:01:44You all right?

01:01:44Down to 155.

01:01:46Again at 220.

01:01:47Can he survive the final 25 seconds?

01:01:49Back comes Holyfield.

01:01:51In furious fashion.

01:01:55Looking to end it here in round seven.

01:01:58Moore fighting back with all his heart.

01:02:00A right on the temple.

01:02:03Uppercut left.

01:02:04Left cut by Holyfield.

01:02:05Michael Moore taking some big shots.

01:02:07And he's fighting back.

01:02:10He's going to make it.

01:02:12And there's the ball.

01:02:14Moore gets caught.

01:02:19Whoa.

01:02:23Nice deep breath, son.

01:02:25Get some ice on his neck, please.

01:02:27Get some water.

01:02:28And top.

01:02:29Yeah, it worked nice, Ralph.

01:02:30All right.

01:02:31Man.

01:02:32Nice deep breath, Malcolm.

01:02:34There you go.

01:02:37Talk him back.

01:02:37How you doing?

01:02:38You okay?

01:02:41Come on.

01:02:42All right.

01:02:42Take a look at that first punch.

01:02:43It gets him in trouble.

01:02:45It's a hook.

01:02:45And you see him.

01:02:46It's just too much for him.

01:02:48Two right hands.

01:02:49It looks like he's on the way down.

01:02:51And all he needs is to finish it.

01:02:54Now you'll see the first knockdown of Vanderhoof.

01:02:56He knows he has this man in trouble.

01:02:57Michael Moore trying to sustain.

01:02:58Right uppercut on the inside.

01:02:59Beautifully timed.

01:03:00Right between the gloves.

01:03:01Perfect shot.

01:03:04All right.

01:03:05This is second knockdown.

01:03:06Apparently second knockdown.

01:03:08And that, again, is affecting Ian.

01:03:10Nice uppercut came in there.

01:03:11Right uppercut.

01:03:13I'll tell you what, though.

01:03:14You can't question his guts.

01:03:17Michael Moore down three times in the fight.

01:03:20Twice in the seventh.

01:03:22We enter into round eight.

01:03:24Well, he certainly sheds that heartless, lackluster tag tonight.

01:03:30Michael Moore in the breeze.

01:03:32And people who thought they might see a dull fight can forget it.

01:03:34This is excitement in the heavyweights.

01:03:36I had that last round 10-7, which gives the Vander commanding lead two times, almost three.

01:03:47He's absolutely far, far ahead.

01:03:49About the only way he can lose this now is to get knocked out himself.

01:03:55I have it 4-2-1 even.

01:03:58A frantic assault in the last round by Vanderhoof.

01:04:02Putting Moore to the canvas twice.

01:04:05But he couldn't finish him off.

01:04:08Moore is showing a lot of guts.

01:04:09Lock your heads.

01:04:09Come on.

01:04:10Lock your heads.

01:04:12You know, that thing I was talking about earlier, the good and the tough, both good fighters.

01:04:16And Vander tougher than Michael Moore.

01:04:18The difference, it is clearly the difference here tonight.

01:04:22All right, wait.

01:04:23Easy, gentlemen.

01:04:23Don't punch.

01:04:24Don't punch.

01:04:24Well, if there was a question about Moore's conditioning because of his fat,

01:04:28those three knockdowns kind of answer the question.

01:04:31He may be fat, but he's got guts and he's got conditioning.

01:04:34He's back here.

01:04:37Now, the question is, how far does Holyfield get tired?

01:04:40We've seen him get tired in almost every fight except the Tyson fight.

01:04:51And sometimes Holyfield needs to get hit to get it going.

01:04:55And that's what we saw here tonight.

01:05:05That was blocked partially, but there he goes again.

01:05:08Combination.

01:05:09He's down for the fourth time.

01:05:11Michael Moore rolling around the canvas with a minute to go in the head.

01:05:14Six, seven, eight.

01:05:17You okay?

01:05:18Really upset with himself.

01:05:19He gets up at eight again.

01:05:21He'll have 50 seconds to survive.

01:05:23It happened 151 at around eight.

01:05:26Down for the fourth time, Michael Moore.

01:05:31Holyfield is fighting like a great champion.

01:05:33That wobbled Michael Moore again.

01:05:36Michael Moore's legs are not totally under him.

01:05:38He's not sturdy.

01:05:39Right now you see him.

01:05:40He's leaning off to the side.

01:05:41Michael Moore is getting hurt by a man.

01:05:43One or two more punches could end it for Holyfield.

01:05:46Well, he's delivered him and he doesn't do it again.

01:05:5025 seconds and counting.

01:05:52Look who's going back.

01:05:53Look at Moore waving Holyfield on.

01:05:55He is game.

01:05:57I'll tell you what.

01:05:58If he loses here tonight, he'll gain more fans and friends with this fight than he has in many of

01:06:02his victories.

01:06:03Michael Moore's stock goes up regardless.

01:06:06Yes, indeed.

01:06:07Look at that.

01:06:07Right up to the chin by Holyfield.

01:06:10Oh, down he goes for the fifth time.

01:06:11This fight's over, Johnny.

01:06:12He does not give up.

01:06:13This is it.

01:06:14Down on his back.

01:06:16Scroll.

01:06:16Six.

01:06:17Seven.

01:06:18He's going to make it.

01:06:19That's you.

01:06:21For two of me.

01:06:22Are you all right?

01:06:23Here's your turn.

01:06:24The foul ends the round.

01:06:28What an incredible fight.

01:06:30All right.

01:06:37All right.

01:06:38All right, son.

01:06:39Talk to me.

01:06:41All right.

01:06:41Look at me, Michael.

01:06:43Give me some water.

01:06:44Give me some water.

01:06:47Look at me, Michael.

01:06:48Look at the flip.

01:06:49Look at the flip.

01:06:50Look at me, Michael.

01:06:50Look at the flip.

01:06:52All right.

01:06:53No, it's okay.

01:06:55It's enough.

01:06:56It's enough.

01:07:10They are waving it off.

01:07:12Michael Moore cannot answer the bell for round nine.

01:07:15It is all over after five knockdowns.

01:07:20This is the first knockdown in the round.

01:07:22It's the fourth of the fight.

01:07:23Michael Moore coming in and unloading.

01:07:25Beautiful combination.

01:07:26There you see a right hand, a left hook, and another right hand.

01:07:29Michael Moore goes down again and still gets up to face Evander Holyfield.

01:07:35This is where Evander Holyfield wanted to wage war from the beginning.

01:07:37On the inside, making a slugfest, drawing Michael out into a street fight.

01:07:41The uppercuts, the hooks, the combinations.

01:07:43Evander Holyfield is a terrific combination puncher.

01:07:46This would be the final knockdown, number five of the fight.

01:07:52And that was right at the bell.

01:07:55You know, there was three seconds left when he hit the camera.

01:07:57So, on the whole real, I mean, it was, it's just, it was overwhelmed.

01:08:02Boy, but what a heart on Michael Moore.

01:08:11I said between eight and nine, and what is it exactly between eight and nine?

01:08:16Bobby, a vicious assault by Evander Holyfield, but by the same token, tremendous heart by

01:08:24Michael Moore.

01:08:24Michael Moore impressed me tonight.

01:08:26I thought he came here ready to fight.

01:08:28I thought he was in better condition than normal.

01:08:29Even though he didn't look at an appearance, he took some tough shots, and that's the

01:08:32thing I was talking about, that toughness factor.

01:08:34The toughness factor is why I gave the nod to Evander.

01:08:36I knew this would be a shootout.

01:08:38The over-under, Bobby, was nine and a half.

01:08:40The under-betters, one.

01:08:44Evander Holyfield, a three and a half to one favorite.

01:08:47It's funny, they asked me what I thought, and I said, Holyfield, an eight or nine.

01:08:50And it was exactly between eight and nine.

01:08:52There you go.

01:08:53At three minutes of the eighth, because the ninth bell never started.

01:08:55Hold on, hold on, hold on.

01:08:56Holyfield now one-third away from achieving his dream of unifying the heavyweight title.

01:09:03He secures his WBA heavyweight belt, and once again adds the IBF heavyweight title to his

01:09:09growing collection.

01:09:12The question now, is WBC heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis next to complete the trifecta?

01:09:19Holyfield's lawyer Jim Thomas told me, getting a fight with Lewis, big business, complicated,

01:09:23dealing with the networks and promoters, the courts, the courts are now involved.

01:09:29Mandatory challengers want to get their shot.

01:09:31It may not happen.

01:09:36Let's see if we can decipher the scoring through eight rounds.

01:09:40You know, Steve, I had it 78 to 70, and here you see, 78-69, 78-70, and 78-69.

01:09:46We were all on target.

01:09:47Michael Moore won a couple of rounds, he did, but Evander won every round by two points

01:09:51and some three-point.

01:09:52Two knockdowns.

01:09:52It's a 10-7 round here.

01:09:54You clearly see him.

01:09:55Two knockdowns, 10-7.

01:09:56That was a seven.

01:09:56And, you know, it's just seventh and the eighth, as well as the 10-8 round in the fifth.

01:10:01Holyfield by TKO end of the eighth.

01:10:04Referee stops the bout.

01:10:05We'll get the official word from Jimmy Lennon, Jr.

01:10:09Ladies and gentlemen, this bout has been stopped at the end of round number eight.

01:10:15A referee in charge, Mitch Halpern, stops the contest on advice to the ringside physician,

01:10:20Dr. Flip Homansky, the winner by way of technical knockout, and he is now the WBA and IBF heavyweight

01:10:29champion of the world, Evander, the real deal, Holyfield.

01:10:41So there he is, the WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield.

01:10:49Jim Gray is standing by in the ring with Evander Holyfield.

01:10:54All right.

01:10:55Thank you very much, Steve.

01:10:56Evander Holyfield, congratulations.

01:10:58First, let's talk about in the second round, what happened to your eye, and how much did that

01:11:01scare you that the pipe maybe stopped?

01:11:03First of all, I just got to give honor to the Lord.

01:11:05I mean, he's always good, even in the tough battles.

01:11:09Now on to the question here.

01:11:10Your eye in the second round, did it bother you?

01:11:12Were you afraid that it could stop the fight?

01:11:14And how did it happen?

01:11:15You know, I wasn't afraid.

01:11:16You know, I don't know if I got hit in the eye of the headbutt, you know, because by him

01:11:21being softball, we come in together, and you know, I just know I had blood in my eye, but

01:11:26you know, you got to understand, I don't have about four or five fights with the same thing,

01:11:30and you know, when it's not the first time, you don't panic.

01:11:33You realize that, you know, you got capable cut men in your corner, and they can stop it.

01:11:39Let's take a look at the headbutt here.

01:11:41Evander, if we look here at the monitor, this is approximately when it occurred.

01:11:44As we look at it, tell it.

01:11:46Well, you know, I was going to the body, and you know, we both were going to the body,

01:11:52and you know, you have to step forward with your head, and it's just unfortunate I came

01:11:57up with the cut.

01:11:58Let me ask you now, Evander, until the fifth round, it looked like Michael Moore was going

01:12:01to be your nemesis again, and then you knocked him down at 235.

01:12:04Tell us about the fight up until that time, because it looked as though you might be in

01:12:08trouble.

01:12:08Well, you know, I wasn't in trouble.

01:12:09The thing is that Mike got a good jab, and I either can try to match his jab and lose

01:12:16my

01:12:16game plan.

01:12:16I realized that if I could just not get hit with a jab as many times I got what happened

01:12:22the first fight, then, you know, I would have a lot better.

01:12:24You know, even, you know, if my arm wouldn't bother me, and I could slip some of the jabs

01:12:28off my shoulder, and I was able to hold him off.

01:12:30Was there something wrong with your left hand and your left arm?

01:12:32It looked as though it was drooping again.

01:12:33No, no, no.

01:12:34Uh-uh.

01:12:35I dropped it on purpose, because I figured that, you know, it would make him charge in,

01:12:40and I have a cleaner shot.

01:12:41You know, I was able to hit him with clean right hands, but the thing is that I couldn't

01:12:45follow up with a combination.

01:12:46He was able to get away from the second punch.

01:12:49As Janice attends to your eye, tell us now about that big seventh round.

01:12:52He went down twice.

01:12:53Let's take a look at a couple of those.

01:12:54Are you surprised he got up?

01:12:56Well, no, no, because it's the sheer win of an individual.

01:13:00This right here is the last one.

01:13:02Wait, you know, deep down inside, when people come to win, and they mind, they already say,

01:13:07if anything happened, I'm getting back up.

01:13:08So he was able to get back up each and every time, and that just showed the courage and

01:13:13the heart that he had.

01:13:14He came to win.

01:13:14And, you know, when you have a guy that come to win, there's always going to be a good

01:13:18fight.

01:13:18You know, there's no quitting.

01:13:20And there's a proven fact that, you know, regardless of what you say, there's an individual

01:13:25themselves that just showed that determination.

01:13:28What about next for you, Evander?

01:13:30Will it be Lennox Lewis, or will you take the mandatory fight, or what is going to be

01:13:34your position?

01:13:35You know, right now, you know, Don King is the promoter, and if Don King can work something

01:13:39out, whether Lennox Lewis and I can fight, I'm ready, because I am on promotion with Don

01:13:46King.

01:13:46And I'm the type of person, I honor my contract, and I'm willing to do what's necessary to

01:13:52show everybody they ain't number one champion.

01:13:54And, you know, I'm willing to put it all on the line.

01:13:57Your eye is a little hurt tonight, but it looks like you made it through okay, huh?

01:14:00You're okay.

01:14:01God is good, and he's good all the time, even with the lumps in the box.

01:14:05Congratulations to you, Evander.

01:14:06We look forward to the next fight.

01:14:07All right, now let's send it over to Ferdy Prochekho.

01:14:11All right.

01:14:13Shouldn't that fight have been stopped?

01:14:15No, Flip had asked me in the corner.

01:14:17He asked if it was all right.

01:14:17I looked right at him.

01:14:18I said, I'm fine.

01:14:19How about Ferdy?

01:14:20Ferdy here.

01:14:21What do you think?

01:14:22I agree.

01:14:23Michael seemed to be fine.

01:14:24I was talking to him.

01:14:25I asked Michael a couple questions, and I made sure that he was okay.

01:14:28He answered me back fine.

01:14:30Your fight was one of the strong and toughest fights I've seen in a long time.

01:14:33How many times can you go down before you're going to quit this thing?

01:14:36There was no three-knockdown rule.

01:14:37I was ready to fight.

01:14:38I like fights like that.

01:14:39You like to go down like that and get up and fight?

01:14:41Yeah, I'm a champion.

01:14:42Did you think you were pretty even with him until he knocked you down?

01:14:46Yes.

01:14:46Or ahead?

01:14:47I think I was probably maybe one round ahead, but he had to knock down, so it was a 10

01:14:52-8 round.

01:14:53Yeah.

01:14:54And at that point, he had knocked you down three times and two times.

01:14:58You know, it was getting to be a yo-yo contest for your own health.

01:15:02I still got up and fought, though, Doc.

01:15:04Oh, yes, you did.

01:15:05You're great.

01:15:06You were great at that.

01:15:07But for your own safety, it was a good thing.

01:15:09You'll fight another day because now you're bigger than ever off of this fight.

01:15:12You fought, you erased all doubt that you're a top heavyweight.

01:15:17No doubt about it.

01:15:18So from here, where do you go?

01:15:20Well, I beat him first time.

01:15:21He beat me this time.

01:15:22Let's do it in the third time.

01:15:23Well, that's brave words after a fight like that.

01:15:26Let me go back to Jim Gray.

01:15:28All right.

01:15:29Thank you very much, Ferdy.

01:15:30I'm now with Dr. Flip.

01:15:31Holmanski made the decision or requested to the referee that he stop the fight.

01:15:34But let's go back just a moment here to Evander Holyfield's eye.

01:15:37Was there ever any time where you considered stopping the fight because of what happened over

01:15:40his right eye?

01:15:41No, Jim.

01:15:42The cut was going to get messy.

01:15:44There was bleeding, but it was lateral to the eye.

01:15:47I didn't think it was affecting his vision, and I was comfortable with that.

01:15:51Then we go into the eighth round.

01:15:52You made the recommendation after the round ended to stop the fight to Mitch Alpern.

01:15:56I was comfortable with each decision Mitch did with the knockdowns.

01:16:00When I checked him the round before, he was sharp.

01:16:03He was focused.

01:16:04I had no problem with it going on.

01:16:06When I checked him that last time, he did not focus.

01:16:09He did not look at me when I needed him to, and it was my impression that he shouldn't

01:16:13go on, and Mitch agreed.

01:16:15Flip, thank you.

01:16:16Obviously, Mitch Alpern here now joining us.

01:16:18You agreed.

01:16:19Were you close to stopping the fight anyway after the fifth knockdown?

01:16:21Well, any time you have a lot of knockdowns like that, you get close.

01:16:24But again, every time Michael Moore got up, he looked me straight in the eye, asked me

01:16:26if he wanted to continue fighting, and he did, so I let him give him a chance to compete.

01:16:30After each of those knockdowns, the first couple, it was still a very game fight.

01:16:34As a referee, though, you've got to wonder when a guy's taken one punch too many.

01:16:37Were any of those knockdowns specifically, any one of them, one through five, worse than

01:16:41the other in your evaluation?

01:16:43You know, that's hard to say.

01:16:45The bottom line is the condition he had when he got up from the knockdowns.

01:16:47He got up at the mandatory eight.

01:16:49You know, he looked me square in the eye.

01:16:50He answered my question, so, you know, he was ready to go.

01:16:52Mitch, thank you.

01:16:53All right, let's send it back now to Steve Albert.

01:16:55Thank you, Jim.

01:16:57Eight rounds of blazing action.

01:16:59The referee stopping it on the advice of Dr. Flip Homansky after round number eight.

01:17:05Michael Moore put to the deck five times by Evander Holyfield.

01:17:12Bobby Chez, let's go to the Telestrator and check things out.

01:17:16Now, we're going to watch Evander Holyfield.

01:17:18What he does so very, very well is he closes the gap.

01:17:21He gets to the inside where he's got to get.

01:17:23And I'll tell you what, right here, you'll see the distance.

01:17:26This isn't quite the distance Michael Moore wants, but Evander works his way in with a

01:17:30jab, takes a right hand to the body.

01:17:31Once he's inside, you'll see the uppercuts come right here, catch Michael clean, hooks

01:17:36around the side, body work.

01:17:37As we roll the tape, Evander comes in, throws a straight right, not quite the body.

01:17:42There's the hook.

01:17:43Now, watch the uppercut.

01:17:43He's inside.

01:17:44Here's where he's affected.

01:17:45He's the inside fighter.

01:17:46That right uppercut did a ton of damage.

01:17:49Michael's hurt.

01:17:49He's in trouble.

01:17:50He's on his way to Florida.

01:17:51Here's a combination, basically, to just finish him off.

01:17:53He was on his way there after the uppercut.

01:17:56Evander closed the gap, got inside, and did what he does best.

01:18:00As Evander Holyfield makes his exit and heads back to the dressing room.

01:18:06As the WBA and IBF heavyweight champion of the world, your final thoughts, Bertie?

01:18:12In this case, I'm not sure there was any loser here because Moore reestablished himself as

01:18:17a great heavyweight fighter with a lot of heart.

01:18:19I don't think there was a loser.

01:18:20This was a great night.

01:18:21The fans won tonight.

01:18:22I'm happy we saw a championship fight between two determined guys, a perfect exhibition

01:18:28of guts and brains and fighting.

01:18:31Thank goodness for that.

01:18:32So a lot of drama here tonight, Bobby.

01:18:33Oh, yeah, Steve, a lot of drama, and like I said, the toughness factor I thought would

01:18:37prevail.

01:18:38Evander Holyfield a little tougher than Michael, but Michael, he looked good.

01:18:40He got up from some vicious knockdowns, ready to fight, Steve, and I think that's the point.

01:18:44He got up ready to fight.

01:18:45He showed the world that he is the heavyweight that we all thought he was.

01:18:48And Evander Holyfield, meanwhile, remains the people's champion.

01:18:52That'll do it from here at ringside.

01:18:53Let's go back upstairs to our host, Jim Hill, along with Emanuel Stewart.

01:18:57Jim?

01:18:58All right, Steve, thank you very much.

01:19:00Well, with Emanuel Stewart, now I see why you did not and refused to make a prediction

01:19:05on tonight's main event.

01:19:06It was a very good fight.

01:19:08I figured it would be a good fight.

01:19:09It turned out to be more drama than I even expected.

01:19:12I mean, when you and I were talking, the thing you said was, man, this is one hell of a

01:19:15fight.

01:19:16It was a good fight.

01:19:16But, you know, even though Michael Moore was knocked down all of a sudden,

01:19:19and they were really vicious knockdowns, if you looked very closely, his eyes were clear

01:19:22every time he arose.

01:19:24And it was amazing.

01:19:25And still, it was a danger of him landing the punch that could have hurt Evander.

01:19:28Oh, man, I'm telling you, it was indeed one heck of a main event.

01:19:31All right, now, let's recap tonight's championship quadruple header that was headlined by the

01:19:35Holyfield-Mora main event.

01:19:37Imamo Mayfield is the new IVF Cruiserweight champion with a unanimous decision over Uriah Grant.

01:19:43This young kid, Mayfield, could be a great, great champion.

01:19:46He showed me a lot of talent, a lot of plays.

01:19:49And indeed, he is the new champion of the IVF Cruiserweight division.

01:19:53Next up, the WVA Featherweight title.

01:19:55Will Fredo Vasquez retain his title over Gennaro Rios in somewhat of a controversy right here?

01:20:00Vasquez was very lucky to come out with a title.

01:20:02Most of the observers here at the ringside and also the judges that was unofficial thought

01:20:07he lost the fight.

01:20:09Meanwhile, Nate Miller was talking the talk, but he couldn't walk the walk.

01:20:12He lost his WVA Cruiserweight title to Fabriziozzo.

01:20:15It was simply a case of a champion underestimating challenge.

01:20:19And it's just that simple, right?

01:20:20Because he looked lazy and out of shape and just took it for granted.

01:20:23And then, of course, we move on now to our main event, Holyfield versus Moore.

01:20:28And this was an amazing match as Michael Moore is knocked down five times.

01:20:32It was a very exciting fight.

01:20:34The knockdowns were very good, brutal knockdowns.

01:20:36And mainly when he finally got in close is when he did his damage because he knows how to pump

01:20:39and move forward at the same time.

01:20:41And it was the inside punching is what was the most effective fight.

01:20:44And it was amazing.

01:20:45Both fighters did and didn't do exactly what you said they should and shouldn't do.

01:20:50Okay, so here's another look at our results tonight.

01:20:52Imamu Mayfield showed he has a great deal of talent by beating Uriah Grant to become the new

01:20:57IBF Cruiserweight Champion.

01:20:59And in a controversial decision, Roberto Vasquez retained his WBA Featherweight Championship

01:21:03over Gennaro Rios, who didn't even get to town until 11.30 last night.

01:21:08Nate Miller, well, he gave a very uninspiring and a pitiful performance.

01:21:12And he lost his WBA Cruiserweight title to Fabrice Tioso of France.

01:21:16And in the main event, it was one heck of a fight.

01:21:18It was Michael Moore going down five times by Evander Holyfield, who is now the IBF and

01:21:24the WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World.

01:21:27Now, Emmanuel, you've worked both with Holyfield and Michael Moore.

01:21:30I'm wondering right now, what's next for these guys right now in your mind?

01:21:34Well, I think that Michael Moore right now is going to fight again.

01:21:37I think he reestablished himself probably the best that he's fought in his last 10-11 fight.

01:21:41So he is definitely a very remarkable fighter now.

01:21:43I think Evander Holyfield is going to make every effort, as he indicated tonight, to try to

01:21:47unify the Heavyweight Championship fight with Lennox Lewis.

01:21:50Okay, that's what I was getting to.

01:21:51You train and manage Lennox Lewis.

01:21:54What are you going to tell him when you go back and talk to him now?

01:21:57Oh, I think it'll be a good fight.

01:21:58I mean, I didn't see nothing that made me afraid.

01:22:00But, you know, I feel that whoever wins the fight should win.

01:22:03I'm not concerned about whether my guy can beat another guy.

01:22:05You know, everyone should get together to try to have one Heavyweight Champion of the

01:22:09World.

01:22:09You can have fragmented champions in other divisions, but when a person walks in the room,

01:22:13you want to say, that's the Heavyweight Champion of the World, that's Muhammad Ali.

01:22:15It's Mike Tyson.

01:22:16It shouldn't be, well, which one is it, the WBO, the W, you know, the Heavyweight Champion

01:22:20of the World should be one person for the betterment of boxing, and regardless of who

01:22:24wins or loses, I want to see the fight take place between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield.

01:22:28When would you like to see that fight take place?

01:22:30How soon?

01:22:31As soon as Evander Holyfield can heal up.

01:22:33I think that should be maybe around May or June or next year, or maybe even sooner.

01:22:38And it would be one heck of a fight as well?

01:22:40Anytime.

01:22:40Yes, it's got to be a good fight.

01:22:42Okay, listen, Emmanuel Stewart, thank you so very much for being with us.

01:22:44We've enjoyed having you up here with us.

01:22:46And next time we see you, maybe you'll be in the corner down there or something.

01:22:49Emmanuel Stewart, Hall of Fame trainer.

01:22:51One final look at the two valiant warriors who waged such a courageous battle here tonight.

01:22:56The victor Holyfield all smiles as he continues on his path to ring immortality.

01:23:04But loser, Moura, perhaps shining brighter in defeat than he ever did in victory.

01:23:11This is Jim Hill saying goodbye for all of us in Las Vegas.

Evander Holyfield vs Michael Moorer II Replay - Showtime 11-15-97

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