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Vernon Forrest defends the WBC Super Welterweight Title against former IBF Welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo on Showtime Boxing
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00:00:00Two-time light heavyweight champion Antonio Topper will take on Danny Santiago.
00:00:04But up next, you will see Vernon Forrest, who's endured an injury-play career, roared
00:00:12back from an 11-month layoff to dominate Carlos Baldomir.
00:00:15Tonight, Forrest defends his WBC Super Welderweight title against former Welderweight champion
00:00:21McKellie Piccirillo.
00:00:22Earlier, our Jim Gray visited with Forrest in his dressing room.
00:00:26Steve, thank you very much.
00:00:28Vernon, appreciate you taking the time with us.
00:00:30Are you totally focused for this fight?
00:00:32You missed the weight.
00:00:32You were able to lose the pounds, and you did come in at 153.
00:00:35Is there a total focus for tonight?
00:00:37Absolutely.
00:00:38You know, I missed the weight.
00:00:40The weight really wasn't a problem.
00:00:41You know, it's a process we go through, and the skills.
00:00:44I was on a couple of skills that wasn't accurate, calibrated correctly.
00:00:48So, you know, there's no problem.
00:00:49How are your injuries?
00:00:50You had a problem with the elbow, a problem with the shoulder.
00:00:52You looked good against Baldomir, but how are you doing with the injuries?
00:00:55I'm feeling very, very healthy.
00:00:56I'm feeling really good.
00:00:57I don't want to put on a great performance for Showtime.
00:01:01This is my first time fighting on Showtime, so I look forward to putting on a spectacular performance.
00:01:04And is there anything that particularly concerns you about Piccirillo?
00:01:08He's a mover, and he's a counterpuncher.
00:01:11And so he's a mirror image of myself.
00:01:15So I just hope that he comes to fight.
00:01:17You know, it takes two to really make a great fight, and I hope he comes to fight tonight
00:01:20so we can put on a great show for Showtime.
00:01:22Vernon, we look forward to talking to you afterwards.
00:01:24Absolutely.
00:01:25Back out to you, Steve.
00:01:26Well, for Vernon Forrest, his last fight is much a personal triumph as it was a professional one.
00:01:32Now, he turns his attention to Michele Piccirillo, whose style, Al, is very different from Carlos Baldomir's.
00:01:38That's for sure.
00:01:39Now, he can be a patient counterpuncher or provide steady but controlled pressure,
00:01:43and the latter is what I believe will work for him tonight.
00:01:50Forrest does not expect Piccirillo to press forward, but Michele can, and he should.
00:01:56Piccirillo has a good left hook, but he should use this punch just to flavor his attack, not as a
00:02:00staple.
00:02:01The bread and butter for him is the old one-two as he moves forward or counterpunches.
00:02:06Piccirillo is a well-schooled European-style fighter, and this jab is number one, while the right hand, well, that's
00:02:13number two in the old one-two.
00:02:15Forrest drops his left hand sometimes, and Piccirillo's right is very quick.
00:02:21It can get there.
00:02:29Forrest better know that Piccirillo is in it for the long haul.
00:02:33A full night's work will be necessary for Forrest.
00:02:37Laying on the inside too long and trading gets Vernon in trouble.
00:02:41He can be there, but not too long.
00:02:43Piccirillo leans forward sometimes when he attacks, and Forrest has a great uppercut that will work.
00:02:48If Forrest is to become the first man to stop Piccirillo, it might be this punch that does it.
00:02:54The Forrest uppercut could change this match in an instant like it did against Shane Mosley.
00:03:10Mandatory challenger, former welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo,
00:03:14born in the same town as former middleweight champion Vito Antifuermo.
00:03:19That's Barry Italy.
00:03:20His fourth fight here in the United States.
00:03:23The amiable 15-year veteran won his belt via controversial decision over Corey Spanx back in 03,
00:03:29and then he lost it in the rematch.
00:03:31He has some quality victories, although his last world-class level fight was over two years ago,
00:03:37losing to Riccardo Maiorga.
00:03:39At 37, he knows this could be his last world title opportunity.
00:03:43That said, Al, he's had only three losses in 52 fights, and he's never been stopped.
00:03:48You know, there's a temptation to think that he's, in fact, as you point out,
00:03:52a 37-year-old who's hanging in there for a payday, coming here just for that.
00:03:56That's not the case at all.
00:03:59You know, I believe that he is a fighter who believes that he can win this.
00:04:04He's 4-0 since he lost to Maiorga, and three of those four fighters were top European junior middleweight.
00:04:10So he's been performing well, and I believe he thinks he can win this championship.
00:04:14He actually ran into Forrest once before back in 1991.
00:04:18Vernon beat McKellie at the World Amateur Championships in a one-sided decision.
00:04:22Of course, a lot has happened since then.
00:04:25Also, both competed at the 92 Barcelona Olympics, but they did not fight each other.
00:04:32So that's the lowdown on McKellie.
00:04:35Well, this guy's won three world title belts, but Vernon Forrest almost faded into oblivion.
00:04:42Inactive for two years following his second loss to the aforementioned Maiorga,
00:04:47he has come back from three operations.
00:04:50Two on his left shoulder, one on his left elbow.
00:04:53Plus, extensive physical rehabilitation.
00:04:55The supremely confident 15-year pro, only recently healthy for the first time in a long while.
00:05:03He looked tremendous against Valdemir to win the vacant belt.
00:05:08That victory, Al, capped one of the best boxing comeback stories in recent years.
00:05:13You know, what makes that story special is so many people in the boxing community,
00:05:17and fans as well, were rooting for it to work,
00:05:20because people like Vernon Forrest, and in a way, that may have helped the comeback,
00:05:24because when the people in the industry are rooting for you, you get those opportunities.
00:05:29Some last-second prang.
00:05:31He owns two wins over Shane Mosley.
00:05:33Dropped Mosley twice in the first bidding in Shane's first loss.
00:05:37He also beat Ike Corte.
00:05:39He has lost only one man, and that was twice, versus Maiorga.
00:05:43And if there's one guy Forrest wants again, it's Maiorga, which could be very intriguing.
00:05:52Let's size him up right now from Foxwoods.
00:05:55As we check the tail of the tape, the champion Forrest turns 37 in February.
00:05:59Picharillo pushing 38, his birthday next month.
00:06:025'10 1⁄2", as far as, with the inch-and-a-half height advantage and the slight edge in reach.
00:06:08And at yesterday's weigh-in, as reported earlier, Forrest a little over at first.
00:06:12An hour later, came back at 153.
00:06:14Picharillo, 152.
00:06:16And the notable rules for this world title bout, no standing eight count, no three-knockdown rule.
00:06:21A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
00:06:23If an accidental headbutt causes a fight to end within four rounds, it's a no decision.
00:06:28After four, they go to the scorecards.
00:06:30And if a punch causes a cut, and the injured fighter cannot continue, he'll lose by TKO.
00:06:37So here at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, getting ready for Vernon Forrest versus McKellie Picharillo for the WBC Super
00:06:45Wildaway Crown.
00:06:46Let's get the introductions from our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.
00:06:53Ladies and gentlemen from Foxwoods Resort and Casino here in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
00:06:58At this time, we present our co-featured bout of the evening, brought to you by Gary Shaw Productions in
00:07:05association with Foxwoods and Showtime.
00:07:09This bout coming away is sanctioned by the World Boxing Council, the President Jose Suleiman, the Supervisor Michael George, along
00:07:16with the Mashantucket Pequot Athletic Commission.
00:07:18Introducing to you our three judges, scoring this bout from ringside.
00:07:23From Rome, Italy, Massimo Barovecchio.
00:07:27From Rivervale, New Jersey, Steve Weisfeld.
00:07:30From Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Jack Woodburn.
00:07:35And our referee in charge of this bout, he'll be giving instructions after the introductions, Arthur Mercanti.
00:07:43All right, fans, here we go.
00:07:4512 rounds of boxing for the WBC Super Welterweight Championship of the World.
00:07:55Introducing to you first, the challenger.
00:07:57He is on my right, fighting out of the blue corner, wearing blue trunks with white trim, hailing from Modugno,
00:08:04Italy.
00:08:05He weighed in at a trim and ready 152 pounds, with a record of 48 wins, three losses, and one
00:08:12no contest.
00:08:13He has 29 wins coming by way of knockout.
00:08:18Ladies and gentlemen, here is the former IBF Welterweight Champion of the World, currently ranked at WBC No. 2 Super
00:08:26Welterweight Contender.
00:08:28Introducing Michele, the Gentleman, Pichirillo.
00:08:39And his opponent across the ring, the defending world champion on my left, fighting out of the red corner, wearing
00:08:47silver trunks with purple and black trim, and fighting out of his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
00:08:54He weighed in at a ready 153 pounds, his record 39 wins, two losses, one no contest, with 28 wins
00:09:04coming by way of knockout.
00:09:06Ladies and gentlemen, here is the three-time world champion in two weight divisions, and the current WBC Super Welterweight
00:09:16Champion of the World, introducing Vernon, the Viper Fulist.
00:09:30Welcome to watch Arthur Mercanti, now to give instructions.
00:09:41Let's go, chap.
00:09:44Good evening, gentlemen.
00:09:45You received your rules early in the night by the commission.
00:09:48Let's go toe-to-toe, touch gloves.
00:09:50Good luck to the both of you.
00:09:54And we close in on the WBC Super Welterweight Championship.
00:09:59Rangy, long-arm, quick-handed Vernon Forrest, who said he does not see this as a gimme,
00:10:04calling Picharillo a smart fighter, but feels he has the superior skills to make Picharillo do what he wants, as
00:10:12he did with Valdemir.
00:10:16Forrest fought very confidently in his last fight, looked 100%.
00:10:20No problem throwing with either hand.
00:10:23His power, speed, and conditioning were excellent.
00:10:25He took risks, and he was trying for the knockout.
00:10:28Will he have the same mindset here against a very different kind of opponent?
00:10:33You know, both men have a jab that makes everything work, and we see both men trying to establish it
00:10:40right away.
00:10:43Buddy McGirt, the trainer, one of the trainers for Forrest, said the plan is to bring smart aggression.
00:10:51Which, to me, means if the knockout opening is there, take it.
00:10:57But Picharillo doesn't make a lot of mistakes.
00:10:59As mentioned, never stop.
00:11:01Very good defender, hard to hit cleanly.
00:11:04He'll certainly try to discourage Forrest as best he can, make Forrest work for it.
00:11:09Picharillo in the blue, not a big puncher, but a good technician.
00:11:12He's durable.
00:11:14But he's prone to head clashes, could be slowing with age in the many hard fights.
00:11:19Forrest, although a contemporary could be fresher because of the injury time off.
00:11:27Picharillo is not by trade a super aggressive fighter, but he can be aggressive.
00:11:32And I think after the first few rounds, when we see him feeling out for us and trying to counterpunch,
00:11:37I think he will bring the heat a little bit more to Vernon Forrest.
00:11:41Forrest landed with a left hook there.
00:11:42He said he'll have to make this a fight or there won't be a fight.
00:11:46The feeling that Picharillo doesn't come forward, that he's strictly an outside counterpuncher.
00:11:53Forrest insisted that if Picharillo comes in, he'll knock him out.
00:11:59There's the double left jab by Picharillo.
00:12:03Picharillo mixing a nice jab against some hooks.
00:12:06And he understands, and I think he does from watching the video of Forrest, that that's a punch you can
00:12:11get in from time to time.
00:12:13Picharillo just isn't a left hook artist.
00:12:15So he's going to throw a big right by Forrest.
00:12:17Forrest on the attack.
00:12:21He's throwing out his entire arsenal here.
00:12:25And you saw him throw the uppercut.
00:12:27He just missed an uppercut that could have changed this fight.
00:12:30And you pointed that out in the keys.
00:12:33The uppercut could be a factor here for Forrest.
00:12:37But his money punch really is the big right hand, which he injured a couple of fights back in a
00:12:43very close win over Ike Corte.
00:12:46Approaching 30 seconds, remaining in round one, scheduled for 12 for the WBC Super Welterweight title.
00:12:52First defense for Forrest in the silver and purple.
00:12:57With a good left hook there.
00:12:58Left hook by Forrest.
00:13:00Left-right combination.
00:13:01The left landed.
00:13:03The right missed.
00:13:11So a fine opening round for the champion, Vernon Forrest, as we head for the bell.
00:13:16Stop holding in.
00:13:18Time.
00:13:19Nice, folks.
00:13:26A big one, okay?
00:13:27Okay.
00:13:27Make everything come off the jab.
00:13:28Make everything come off the jab.
00:13:30Keep touching downstairs.
00:13:32Okay?
00:13:32You're landing one good shot upstairs.
00:13:34But after that, you go for the next big shot, and he's pulling back.
00:13:37So you go upstairs, bring the next one downstairs.
00:13:39You got to move over.
00:13:40Okay?
00:13:40And keep the jab going downstairs, and then the right hand downstairs.
00:13:43Okay?
00:13:43But come behind the jab.
00:13:45Go ahead, Al.
00:13:45Okay.
00:13:45Remember where the head shots go at?
00:13:47Yeah.
00:13:47Keep going to the head.
00:13:48Don't let them fool you with that.
00:13:49Well, Vernon Forrest lands a nice, straight right hand.
00:13:52The jab set that up.
00:13:54Picharillo in a position where he got nailed with that right hand.
00:13:57Now, Forrest landing a lot of punches there.
00:14:00He's getting ready to throw the uppercut, which didn't land, but he knows that punch could
00:14:03be an important one on the inside for him.
00:14:09Keeps ripping shots, and there was the uppercut that didn't quite get there for Vernon Forrest.
00:14:13An all-star corner in there with Buddy McGirt and Al Mitchell, who was the Olympic coach
00:14:19in the 1996 team, and also great cut man, Jimmy Glenn.
00:14:22The venerable Jimmy Glenn, the ubiquitous Buddy McGirt.
00:14:27Every time we turn around, there's Buddy.
00:14:29Well, it just looks like Picharillo's having a lot of trouble handling the hand speed of
00:14:33Vernon Forrest.
00:14:37Almost everything seems to be connecting.
00:14:39You know, one of the misnomers about Forrest, and he addressed it, is that somehow he's
00:14:43not an exciting fighter.
00:14:45Good right by Vernon Forrest.
00:14:47He is aggressive.
00:14:48People think of him sometimes as more passive than he is, but his recent fights with Cortez
00:14:54and Baltimore, he performed very well offensively.
00:14:56He's a boxer who can fight.
00:15:02Picharillo offers something up there, but not any damage.
00:15:05I think he needs to just keep throwing that over and over and over again.
00:15:13It's the thing that can land against Forrest.
00:15:16Wow, Forrest landed a big run.
00:15:18Forrest, once again, all over Picharillo.
00:15:27These are the rounds where, against Mayorga, for instance, Mayorga had Picharillo down several
00:15:31times.
00:15:32It looked like Picharillo was out of the fight, but he hung in there.
00:15:35And in recent fights, his last couple of fights, Picharillo has won with knockouts in
00:15:39the 11th and 12th rounds.
00:15:41He hangs in there.
00:15:42Hard to get him out of there.
00:15:43And then in the later rounds, he's effective.
00:15:45We'll see if that's the case in this fight.
00:15:47Well, this apparently is the example of the smart, controlled aggression.
00:15:52The game plan of Vernon Forrest.
00:15:54Forrest letting his hands go.
00:15:57Left-right combination.
00:15:58Backing Picharillo up.
00:16:02Going to the body with the jab.
00:16:03Able to block that left hook by Picharillo.
00:16:06So, Vernon Forrest sparkling here over the first two.
00:16:11And even the faints that Forrest throws, Picharillo's really reacting.
00:16:15So, the power of Vernon Forrest has made an impact on the Kelly Picharillo at this point.
00:16:20In the back.
00:16:28You know, Forrest made the point that because he had all those injuries, he started to throw
00:16:32his punches not correctly.
00:16:33And Buddy McGirt and Al Mitchell had to work on him once he was healthy to throw the punches
00:16:38the right way.
00:16:39And he said he almost had to go back to the drawing board and relearn all the basics.
00:16:42First hurt his left shoulder back in 1994.
00:16:45But instead of getting it fixed, he took a lot of cortisone shots so he could continue fighting.
00:16:53Big rights by Vernon Forrest.
00:16:55And that punch has been a signature so far in this fight.
00:17:00Eventually, following Forrest's second fight with Majorgan, 0-3, took two years off to
00:17:05have the shoulder and elbow repaired.
00:17:10And, as we said, looked up.
00:17:12Oh, big right hand by Forrest.
00:17:14In back, Picharillo to the ropes.
00:17:17Final seconds of round two.
00:17:19Oh, and the head came together.
00:17:22And you saw Forrest's reaction.
00:17:28Listen, the double jabs in the face, and you punch off that, you have an easy night.
00:17:34Okay?
00:17:35Double jabs.
00:17:37He's going for all the fakes.
00:17:39All the fakes he's falling for.
00:17:41But now, let's focus on the body a little more, Chad.
00:17:44You're both sitting there, sir.
00:17:46Okay.
00:17:46Okay.
00:17:48Okay, McKenna.
00:17:49Okay.
00:17:57That happened so fast, Al.
00:17:59I'm not sure it was a headbutt or an elbow.
00:18:01Let's see what happened.
00:18:04Yeah, I guess the heads banged together there.
00:18:07Yeah.
00:18:08Yeah, it was.
00:18:08Must have been the head.
00:18:10That was later on in the round.
00:18:12And there we get a better example of it.
00:18:15Well, it's just kind of a glancing crack of the heads.
00:18:18I'm surprised that had such impact on Vernon Forrest.
00:18:21Why is Vernon Forrest landing those jabs in straight right hands, you ask?
00:18:24Because he's fighting tall, giving himself room to throw those punches.
00:18:28That is an important key for him in this fight.
00:18:31He's utilizing the right strategy.
00:18:35So we enter round three scheduled for 12 for the WBC Super Welterweight Championship.
00:18:41Excellent start for the champion Vernon Forrest.
00:18:44Silver and purple.
00:18:45Hey, you got it.
00:18:46Hey, you got it.
00:18:47Hey, you got it.
00:18:48Hey, you got it.
00:18:48Hey, you got it.
00:18:48Hey, you got it.
00:18:49Hey, you got it.
00:18:50Hey, you got it.
00:18:51Forrest, an exciting offensive fighter.
00:18:54Terrific long jab.
00:18:56Doubles up nicely.
00:18:57Big, powerful right, as we've already seen.
00:19:00Good left hook.
00:19:01All the tools and very fast hands.
00:19:04We talked about a nice jab there by Piccirillo.
00:19:06And the man who's in his corner, Sambu Columbi, who was a middleweight champion in the late 80s.
00:19:12A wonderful boxer and defensive fighter who has helped Piccirillo a lot.
00:19:18That wins over Harold Graham, Iran Barkley, Mike, the body snatcher, McCallum, Doug DeWitt.
00:19:25Terrific career for the former middleweight champ, Columbi.
00:19:31Forrest can afford to take risks.
00:19:32He has a very good chin.
00:19:34The only time he was really in trouble was versus Majorca.
00:19:37That's probably due to the bad shoulder.
00:19:40It's very tough to beat when he gets into the zone.
00:19:43Very focused and determined.
00:19:44And he has won the battle of the jabs for the most part in this match.
00:19:50That's a very big ring.
00:19:51Well over, looks like 22 to 24 feet.
00:19:55And so far, that's giving Piccirillo at least some room to escape, some escapability, if you will.
00:20:02Barr is trying to keep clear of Piccirillo's head.
00:20:07As mentioned earlier, Piccirillo prone to head clashes.
00:20:10And we already saw one here at the end of the second round.
00:20:13Although when we looked at the replay, it didn't look that bad.
00:20:17It's funny.
00:20:17Easy for us to say, huh?
00:20:19Probably right.
00:20:23Piccirillo cannot get going offensively.
00:20:26He has not been able to land.
00:20:27There's a right-hand throw with conviction by Piccirillo.
00:20:31At least that's the case.
00:20:32And there, there's the straight one-two that I talked about before the fight.
00:20:35He's got to use that weapon a lot more.
00:20:39Only three men have beaten Piccirillo in 51 fights.
00:20:44Vernon Forrest looking to be number four.
00:20:46Step back now.
00:20:51Piccirillo lost to Ricardo Mayorga, the only man to beat Forrest.
00:20:54Also Corey Spinks in a Danish fighter earlier in his career.
00:20:58As he won the title from Spinks and then lost it in a rematch.
00:21:01Just a jab by Piccirillo.
00:21:03You know, Piccirillo's not winning this round.
00:21:05But it is a better round for him.
00:21:07At least he's finding a little bit of a rhythm to throw some punches.
00:21:11Final seconds of round three.
00:21:16From Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
00:21:19Bar is missing and the countering attempts there by Piccirillo.
00:21:25It's clean now.
00:21:35Very good.
00:21:36Very good, Michele.
00:21:37Oh, definitely.
00:21:39Va bene così.
00:21:39Vedo quando porto il destro, no?
00:21:42Quando fai quel passo indietro, rientro subito col destro.
00:21:45Non andare senza mettere il destro.
00:21:46Il destro si non lo fai via.
00:21:48Throw the right hand when it...
00:21:49E faccela prendere con quel...
00:21:51Colpilino che...
00:21:52You will find that.
00:21:53You will get him with the right hand.
00:21:56Go with left.
00:21:58And go after with the right.
00:22:00Right, you step over with your back leg, okay?
00:22:03Stop reaching for the head too much.
00:22:04When he hits the ropes, you reach.
00:22:06No, that's wasted energy.
00:22:08Okay, crack him downstairs.
00:22:09You don't reach when you stay behind the jab.
00:22:11You understand what I'm saying?
00:22:12Again, the clash of heads.
00:22:14We'll see another one, a different one.
00:22:16Oh, yeah, there's Piccirillo coming in and punctuates it with a right hand.
00:22:20But the heads came together there.
00:22:22And, of course, that has been known to happen during Piccirillo's fights.
00:22:24By the way, that was Sambu Colombeye in the corner of Piccirillo.
00:22:28Very impressive.
00:22:29He was born in Zaire but has lived in Italy a long time.
00:22:32And, obviously, he's fluent Italian.
00:22:34Our thanks to our translator, Christian Kerki.
00:22:38Round four.
00:22:42Colombeye thinking that the right hand ultimately will get there from Piccirillo.
00:22:46We'll see.
00:22:53Vernon Forrest is fighting a very intelligent fight.
00:22:55He's not laying in on the inside.
00:22:57He's staying on the outside using his jab and straight right hands for the most part.
00:23:01And occasionally dipping in with the hook.
00:23:04Forrest, a guy who, after dominating Shane Mosley in 0-2,
00:23:07people thought he'd just march through Mayorga on the way to Oscar de la Hoya.
00:23:12But Mayorga had other ideas.
00:23:14Stopping Forrest to the third.
00:23:15A shocker.
00:23:16Followed by the close majority decision.
00:23:18Which Forrest blamed on overconfidence.
00:23:22He didn't train correctly for it.
00:23:24There's a booming right hand over the top by Forrest that landed.
00:23:29Missed with that one.
00:23:30Digs a left hook into the body.
00:23:33You know, Vernon Forrest, it reminds me a little bit of Tommy Hearns.
00:23:37He has a very good left hook to the body.
00:23:39But I cringe when he throws it because he leaves himself open just as Tommy Hearns used to.
00:23:46And it's a little less effective than him staying on the outside with the jab and the straight right hand.
00:23:51It's a great punch though.
00:23:53There's a good left hook to the body by Forrest.
00:23:58Midway through round four.
00:24:00Scheduled for 12.
00:24:01The WBC 154 pound title.
00:24:11Pizzarillo languishing on those ropes a lot.
00:24:14Obviously, it's not someplace he should be.
00:24:21When Vernon Forrest has a fighter on the ropes, he really gets after them.
00:24:25We saw in the clip we ran in during the keys when he had Shane Mosley against the ropes.
00:24:28How he picked his punches so well.
00:24:30And there was that uppercut again trying, Forrest trying to get that punch in.
00:24:35Yeah, when he sees Pizzarillo leaning in, that's the time to fire that uppercut.
00:24:41And Pizzarillo does that.
00:24:46Nice little subtle move as Forrest cut off the ring on Pizzarillo.
00:24:50Just cut him off and was able to get another punch in here.
00:24:54Forrest pacing himself.
00:24:56He has these surges, but they're usually pretty explosive when they occur.
00:25:02There's a right uppercut on the jaw by Forrest.
00:25:06And Pizzarillo showing a solid chin.
00:25:09Oh, there's a body shot by Forrest, a left hook that was borderline.
00:25:15I think the body work is starting to have a big impact on Pizzarillo.
00:25:18So Vernon Forrest done a good job downstairs in this match.
00:25:22Take the body and then the head.
00:25:24The old boxing axiom as we tick down to the end of round four.
00:25:29Time!
00:25:41You setting him up for the uppercuts?
00:25:43Now just give me this work on the speed now, baby.
00:25:45No need to throw bombs.
00:25:46You got to respect it.
00:25:47Okay.
00:25:49Another water.
00:25:49Oh, I got it right here, Jimmy.
00:25:50I got it.
00:25:51Okay.
00:25:51I got it.
00:25:52Okay.
00:25:53Good work, champ.
00:25:54Good work.
00:25:54Stay behind the jab.
00:25:55Stay relaxed, baby.
00:25:56You can fight like this all night.
00:25:57Okay.
00:25:58Okay?
00:25:58Great work by Buddy McGirt in the corner and terrific advice.
00:26:02Now, Vernon Forrest landing that over and right.
00:26:04Didn't even need a jab to set it up and comes with the left hook as well.
00:26:08Pizzarillo backing up against the ropes.
00:26:11Not a good posture for him.
00:26:13There he tries the uppercut.
00:26:14They talked about that in the corner and then he went down to the body.
00:26:17That body work paying dividends for Vernon Forrest.
00:26:27Pretty good crowd on hand here at the Fox Arena in Foxwood.
00:26:32Spirited crowd as well enjoying the action.
00:26:34Vernon Forrest with Kelly Piccirillo for the WBC Super Weatherweight Championship.
00:26:43Nice jab by Forrest, doubling and tripling up, pushing the challenger back.
00:26:50You know, Pizzarillo owns his own gym in Italy, but made it quite clear that it's just for his training.
00:26:57He has no interest in staying in the gym business after boxing.
00:27:01He would rather be a television commentator.
00:27:03He worked for a couple of shows over in Italian television.
00:27:07He said he'd love to learn to speak English and take our job.
00:27:11He's a handsome guy. He might do it.
00:27:13Well, complete and utter domination along press row.
00:27:17For Forrest?
00:27:18I have every round for Vernon Forrest as well.
00:27:29Nice defensive maneuver there.
00:27:31By Forrest blocking that attempted right with his left arm.
00:27:37And you've got to be careful with that left arm.
00:27:40That's the one that was operated on.
00:27:42You know, the tenor of what Buddy McGirt said in the corner, so apparent, reminding Vernon
00:27:48not to take extra chances, work behind the jab, don't, you know, don't load up on your punches.
00:27:54That's it. Come on, fellas.
00:27:55They wanted to just keep doing exactly what he's doing.
00:27:58Dang it. There you go.
00:28:00Stop holding. Let's go.
00:28:03Third man of the ring, Arthur Mercanti.
00:28:09Nice left body shot by Forrest.
00:28:11Yeah, that was a little low.
00:28:12A little low, says Mercanti.
00:28:14But then Piccirillo had just thrown a couple low punches, so Forrest might have been responding.
00:28:18Now, remember when we were at the fighters meeting, Al Mitchell pointed out that when Piccirillo
00:28:24gets a little bit behind, Mitchell, of course, one of the trainers of Forrest, he will be more
00:28:28aggressive. And I believe in the coming rounds, we'll see Piccirillo press the attack a little
00:28:33bit more.
00:28:33And he's had some late scoring knockouts.
00:28:37Yeah, last two fights, he knocked out Michael Jones in his last fight in the 12th round,
00:28:42before they had an 11th round knockout. So he can get the job done later in the fight.
00:28:48Now, that was Luca Messi.
00:28:50Yeah.
00:28:51It was right before Michael Jones of England.
00:28:55Those were good, those are good European junior middlewights. They're not Vernon Forrest,
00:29:00but they're good fighters.
00:29:01Yeah, he is really stepping up here against the two-division champion.
00:29:06And he's using the jab, Piccirillo, and the straight right hand. He's now using that
00:29:10weapon a little bit more effectively.
00:29:19Chopping right hand and a jab by Piccirillo. So it's not as if he's necessarily winning this
00:29:25round, but you can feel a subtle shift. At least he's getting himself in the fight a little bit.
00:29:30Forrest with Piccirillo momentarily pinned. Big right hand with Piccirillo on the ropes.
00:29:35And look out. Ooh, Arthur Mercanti almost...
00:29:38Loud and got to be louder.
00:29:39...almost took a left hook by Forrest. That was close.
00:29:42A little louder, yeah.
00:29:44And getting ready for the main event.
00:29:48Antonio Tarver, the Magic Man, getting set for Danny Santiago.
00:29:58Working back in his dressing room.
00:30:03Wants to get his second win in a row here on Showtime. And able to get that last win over
00:30:11Elver Marike in a fight in which I thought he performed pretty well, actually.
00:30:39So we begin round six. Yeah, it's going to be interesting with Tarver.
00:30:43There are many wondering about his future. Does he still have that edge? What does he have left?
00:30:49Is he at the end of the road? Or will we see vintage Antonio Tarver later tonight?
00:30:54A lot of questions surrounding Antonio Tarver.
00:31:03Now, Vernon Forrest, in that exchange, throwing kind of a wild left hook, which left him himself
00:31:09a little vulnerable, Piccirillo couldn't land the counter right hand, but Forrest doesn't
00:31:13want to be, um, anxious and do silly things, like throw wild punches.
00:31:20And that's what Buddy McGirt and Al Minchin will be cautioning him not to do.
00:31:23Nice hook.
00:31:24That rock. Piccirillo trying to battle back with the left hook off the ropes.
00:31:28Another right over the top by Forrest.
00:31:30And these punches really have to be taking their toll on the soon-to-be 38-year-old Piccirillo.
00:31:37Vernon Forrest has done some tremendous body work in this match, and he's mixed his attack
00:31:43so well to both the body and the head. It's been a really superb performance by Forrest.
00:31:49Keep it up, Vernon.
00:31:51Another punch in the belt line that gets a warning from Arthur McCanty Jr. by Forrest.
00:31:56Nice, fellas. Nice work.
00:31:58We've seen, uh, a few roughhouse tactics below the belt. Head clashes.
00:32:02Stop holding out.
00:32:04No, uh, no cuts. No bleeding.
00:32:08Stop holding out.
00:32:10That took Locke on the right hand of Piccirillo.
00:32:16Forrest showing some exquisite defense.
00:32:19And Piccirillo is the one coming in as the, uh, valley-hood defensive fighter.
00:32:25One like Piccirillo, who says he has no interest in being involved in the business of boxing.
00:32:29Um, Forrest has his own promotional company.
00:32:32Company what else is new.
00:32:34There's only four boxers that don't.
00:32:35But he wants to bring matches to his area in Atlanta, North Carolina, South Carolina.
00:32:39He'd like to bring some big matches there.
00:32:41Nice poking right hand that got through.
00:32:43By Forrest upstairs.
00:32:45Great!
00:32:48Great connect percentage for Forrest.
00:32:51Yeah, you're right, Steve. He's landing a lot of what he throws.
00:32:55The jab by Piccirillo falling short.
00:32:58That right hand came up empty for Forrest.
00:33:03And the lead right hand, which we just saw a moment ago, landing so much, not always even
00:33:07necessarily for the jab from Forrest to precede that right hand.
00:33:12Well, Forrest said that if Piccirillo comes forward, he's going to knock him out.
00:33:15And Piccirillo, at times, has been coming forward.
00:33:18Mostly from the outside, though.
00:33:20Which is smart.
00:33:23Oh, big right hand, left-right combination that got the attention of Piccirillo.
00:33:28But Piccirillo is down.
00:33:30An overhand right to the top of the head.
00:33:33He claims it was an illegal punch behind his head.
00:33:36Seven, eight.
00:33:38I get him.
00:33:39It's being scored a knockdown, and Piccirillo going down for the fifth time in his career.
00:33:45Once again, indicating it was a rabbit punch.
00:33:49Reminiscent of when Majorca knocked him down with a punch that landed kind of on the side
00:33:54of the back of the head.
00:33:55And we'll, of course, we'll have a chance to examine it for a moment.
00:34:09It's okay.
00:34:12Well, we'll get to judge for ourself.
00:34:15Here is Forrest landing the right hand.
00:34:19That's one on the side of the head.
00:34:21Now, here we're going to see another one.
00:34:23Yeah, that was pretty well on the back of the head.
00:34:25I mean, that definitely landed on the back of the head.
00:34:27Whether it was intentional remains to be seen.
00:34:29I don't think it was.
00:34:30But that punch, no question, landed on the back.
00:34:37But in the heat of the moment, when you're not looking at a replay, pretty tough for a referee
00:34:40to not call that enough.
00:34:42Oh, second time.
00:34:43Come on, champ.
00:34:44Piccirillo L protesting, but to no avail.
00:34:48So he goes down for the fifth time.
00:34:49You referred to Majorca.
00:34:51He went down three times in 05 against Ricardo Majorca.
00:34:56Lost the decision.
00:34:57And then one time in 06 versus Lucas Konechny in the European title fight.
00:35:04And Piccirillo won that one by decision.
00:35:06Unanimous.
00:35:09But this one, a questionable knockdown from Vernon Forrest.
00:35:13A knockdown nonetheless.
00:35:16And a 10-8 round.
00:35:20But he is in complete domination of Piccirillo.
00:35:24He's controlled this fight right from the beginning.
00:35:28And Piccirillo now in a position, as we look at the presser of scoring,
00:35:32clearly there will be some desperation for him.
00:35:42So we're halfway through.
00:35:44A wild left hook attempt there by Forrest,
00:35:48looking to end matters on one punch.
00:35:53Forrest, 39-2.
00:35:55One-no contest with 28 knockouts.
00:36:01Four and two with the one-no contest in world title fights.
00:36:05The former WBC and IVF welterweight champion.
00:36:09Making his first defense at the WBC super welterweight title.
00:36:14Which he won from Carlos Valdemar.
00:36:17You know, we...
00:36:18A vacant fight.
00:36:19Sorry, Steve.
00:36:20We talked about the uppercut from Forrest,
00:36:22but Piccirillo's uppercut has landed on the inside.
00:36:24There comes Forrest banging away with that punch and the hook.
00:36:27Pretty good exchange there.
00:36:28But Forrest is getting the upper hand.
00:36:30But back comes Piccirillo.
00:36:32He's game.
00:36:33Good competitive situation here in round seven.
00:36:38And the difference here is power as well.
00:36:41Piccirillo just not as big a punch as Forrest.
00:36:43Now left hook for Piccirillo.
00:36:44Big right hand by Forrest.
00:36:47Piccirillo stands right in there.
00:36:49Now he backs up.
00:36:51And the jab by Forrest keeps him at play.
00:36:54Nice, fellas. Nice.
00:36:57Right hand blocked by Forrest.
00:37:00Forrest really looking good defensively.
00:37:03Come on, fellas.
00:37:04Work.
00:37:04Yeah, it's a very good point.
00:37:05You know, we could easily slip past that.
00:37:07While Vernon Forrest has done a good job on offense.
00:37:11Defensively, he has slipped a lot of punches.
00:37:13Blocked a lot of punches by Piccirillo.
00:37:21Well, that was really a nice flurry by Forrest moments ago.
00:37:25Final seconds of round seven.
00:37:30Forrest continues to pick Piccirillo apart surgically.
00:37:57Very good, very good, Michele.
00:38:09Throw the right hand when it...
00:38:13You will find that.
00:38:15You will get him with the right hand.
00:38:17Go with left.
00:38:19And go after with the right.
00:38:21Come on, come on, come on, come on.
00:38:24Round eight scheduled for 12 for the WBC super welterweight title.
00:38:27Well, Piccirillo in the blue.
00:38:29The challenger has been tagged by a number of huge right hands by Forrest.
00:38:35But doesn't seem to be that physically phased.
00:38:37They are making a mark on the scorecards, though.
00:38:40Yeah, but maybe not on his face.
00:38:43Yeah, Forrest dominating most of these rounds.
00:38:45Vernon Forrest, seven and one in matches in which he has gone 12 rounds.
00:38:49And Piccirillo is nine and three in 12-round decisions.
00:38:56Now, we did utter the words earlier that Piccirillo does have some late knockouts.
00:39:01But, boy, he's going to have to find some real drama to rally here.
00:39:05And the tenor of those fights was different.
00:39:07Against Michael Jones, for instance, he was ahead on the scorecard.
00:39:10So he was already doing some valuable work against Jones.
00:39:13And that was, you know, a hometown situation.
00:39:16He had the crowd behind him.
00:39:22And he was pretty much controlling that affair.
00:39:25Completely different story here tonight.
00:39:27And you see Piccirillo, as we suggested, now that he's behind,
00:39:31trying to make some things happen, being aggressive, throwing a nice jab there.
00:39:36And let's see if that changes the tenor of this fight at all.
00:39:39And let's see if, in fact, Forrest is able to land something big as Piccirillo comes in at Torre.
00:39:44Once again, Piccirillo was leaning in, so he got the eight, a right uppercut.
00:39:57Midway through the eighth.
00:39:59Nice jab, that shotgun jab by Forrest, but didn't follow it up.
00:40:05Body shot there with the left hook.
00:40:06You know, for Piccirillo, at age now almost 38, obviously this is his last opportunity on the world stage to
00:40:14win a world title, you would have to think.
00:40:16And so for him, he looks at these last four rounds or so as his last chance.
00:40:22And as we said earlier, both are about the same age.
00:40:26Piccirillo's a little older, but he's been in a lot of hard fights.
00:40:32And Forrest did have those two years off to have surgery and recuperate, so he's probably got the fresher legs
00:40:39as a result.
00:40:41And from a marketing standpoint, Piccirillo not as big a star in the division, not as well-known as Vernon
00:40:47Forrest.
00:40:47Forrest, of course, the former Olympian, like Piccirillo was, but a former champion who has some cachet.
00:40:54That very low punch there by Forrest.
00:40:58Time, time, time.
00:41:00You all right, champ?
00:41:01You all right?
00:41:02You got five minutes rest, okay?
00:41:04Take your five, all right?
00:41:05You all right?
00:41:06Walk it off.
00:41:07Suck it off.
00:41:08Here, walk it off.
00:41:09Walk it off.
00:41:10Walk it off.
00:41:12So, it's a warning now, okay?
00:41:15Let's keep it clean, all right?
00:41:16My bad, my bad.
00:41:21All right, you all right?
00:41:22Take your time.
00:41:22Take your time.
00:41:23All right, walk it off.
00:41:25Walk around.
00:41:26You all right, you got five minutes.
00:41:27You got a five-minute rest, right?
00:41:30You are correct, Mr. Mercanti.
00:41:32If a fighter is hit below the belt.
00:41:33You want to go?
00:41:35Can't continue.
00:41:35You want to go?
00:41:37Within five minutes, he loses.
00:41:38One second.
00:41:40He only took 45 seconds.
00:41:41Let's keep it clean, okay?
00:41:43Time in.
00:41:44And about 30 seconds left in the round.
00:41:54That looked unintentional.
00:41:56Yeah, both men have thrown a lot of body punches that have been right around the belt line and
00:42:00some a little bit low.
00:42:01They're both trying to work the body.
00:42:02So, that will happen.
00:42:05Final seconds of round eight.
00:42:08But, uh, some anxious moments there for Picharillo.
00:42:13Look out.
00:42:14They continue after the belt.
00:42:15You hit a belt, you both stop.
00:42:21Getting a little rough in there, Al.
00:42:23A little on the testy side.
00:42:26Good, Mikel.
00:42:28Good, Mikel.
00:42:46Vernon Forrest has been working the body, and, uh, he will dig this left hook, and it
00:42:51is extremely low.
00:42:52Yeah, that one, that one did not land in a very good spot for Picharillo.
00:42:56And, uh, Vernon Forrest, uh, you heard him admit to Arthur McCante Jr., my bad.
00:43:02And it was, but it turned out bad for Picharillo.
00:43:05Toward the end of the round, they did not hear the bell, apparently, and they were both firing
00:43:11away, and Arthur McCante Jr. had to get in harm's way.
00:43:15He's been threatened several times.
00:43:17Yeah, he almost ate a left hook by, uh, was it Vernon Forrest earlier in the fight?
00:43:22Just able to avoid that.
00:43:28So, Vernon Forrest now controlling this fight, and unless something really dramatic happens,
00:43:34he looks like he's headed toward a decision win.
00:43:37And I think you have to look at this fight and say that if you're grading what he did,
00:43:42what he's done in this fight, and how he looks, it's pretty unimpressive.
00:43:46He's fighting very, very well.
00:43:49No question about it.
00:43:50Vernon Forrest winning just about every round.
00:43:53Go ahead, go ahead, keep clean.
00:43:54Has a knockdown to his credit, even though it was, uh, questionable.
00:43:57Might have been on the back of, uh, in fact, it was on the back of Picharillo's head.
00:44:03There's your press-throw scoring.
00:44:06All Forrest, Ron Borges, ESPN.com, Keith Eidek, Herald News, the record, and Jack Obermeyer from Boxing Digest.
00:44:14I have it even more dramatic, like 80-71 for, uh, for Forrest, so I think he's just pretty much
00:44:19controlled everything in this fight.
00:44:21Forrest going for his 40th win in his 15-year career.
00:44:26Only has the two losses to Mayorga.
00:44:29Long right hand.
00:44:30That connected.
00:44:32And sent Picharillo back.
00:44:34Now the left hook.
00:44:35Blocked.
00:44:37And speaking of Mayorga, people are already thinking to themselves, hey, wouldn't that be an interesting matchup for Vernon Forrest?
00:44:43Good point.
00:44:44Yeah, he comes off the, oh, left hook upstairs by, uh, Forrest and a right uppercut on the chin.
00:44:50Finally got that uppercut in after that big left hook.
00:44:54Mayorga comes off the victory over Vargas at 164.
00:44:58The question is, could he come down to this weight?
00:45:02I think, if nothing else, they could get him to a catchweight, certainly.
00:45:05But, uh, I would think, by the way.
00:45:07Oh, big right hand, and down goes Picharillo for the second time in the fight.
00:45:11That one.
00:45:12Four.
00:45:13Was solid.
00:45:14Five.
00:45:14And no question about it.
00:45:16Six.
00:45:17Seven.
00:45:18Eight.
00:45:18Walk to me, bro.
00:45:20Come on.
00:45:21You all right?
00:45:21Going the wrong way.
00:45:22He's in, he's in some trouble.
00:45:24Wow, he was walking backwards when he got the instructions walk to me.
00:45:29And almost a minute left to go in this round.
00:45:30Yes.
00:45:31He's got a lot of time here to survive.
00:45:33Farris going for the dramatic end here.
00:45:36Winging away right hand.
00:45:39Left hook.
00:45:41Machete looking very closely at Picharillo.
00:45:4335 seconds left in round nine.
00:45:46Picharillo trying to get through this round.
00:45:49And he is in difficulty.
00:45:50He's disoriented.
00:45:53Go ahead.
00:45:56He's fighting back, though.
00:45:58He's got grit.
00:46:00A very brave Picharillo.
00:46:06So that knockdown, as opposed to the first, no doubt about it.
00:46:15And Picharillo is going to make it through the round.
00:46:21On very wobbly legs.
00:46:26And a cut.
00:46:32Give me the towel.
00:46:33Give me the towel.
00:46:34Give me the towel.
00:46:36Give me the towel.
00:46:38Yeah, you need something to work on that cut.
00:46:49Vernon Forrest getting Picharillo in some trouble with what was a tremendous left hook.
00:46:54And then lands the uppercut.
00:46:56Those two punches alone should have done something to him.
00:46:59But it took this overhand right by Forrest.
00:47:02Lead right to put Picharillo down.
00:47:05So those are three solid punches landed by Vernon Forrest.
00:47:09The lazy jab of Picharillo languished out there.
00:47:14And Forrest was able to come over the top.
00:47:17You know what you have to like about this performance, Steve?
00:47:19Even though Picharillo, a good, decent fighter.
00:47:22Maybe not in the top four or five in the weight division.
00:47:25But it's the way Vernon Forrest is beating him that's so impressive.
00:47:29A very convincing performance here by Vernon Forrest and Picharillo
00:47:34in all kinds of trouble.
00:47:36Another 10-8 round in that ninth round for Vernon Forrest.
00:47:40And then some blood appearing from near the left eye of McKellie Picharillo.
00:47:46And I should say Picharillo is ranked second by the WBC,
00:47:50but I don't know that he's universally acclaimed
00:47:52as one of the top three or four in the division overall by everybody.
00:47:57It is possible that the rankings sometimes are not great.
00:48:00Just barely.
00:48:01Just.
00:48:11A lot of action towards the end of that last round, so...
00:48:19Vernon looking for the second wind here.
00:48:22You know, Vernon Forrest came back and off the layoff fought Ike Porte.
00:48:26It was a very close match.
00:48:27You could tell Forrest was still figuring out how well he could do,
00:48:30trying to get himself back after the surgery.
00:48:33Better against Baltimore and even better tonight against Picharillo.
00:48:38So it's been a work in progress,
00:48:39but you can see steady improvement from him.
00:48:46Able to put Picharillo down twice.
00:48:49Baltimore, of course, with a concrete chin.
00:48:51Very tough to get him down.
00:48:58Picharillo with a solid chin as well, but down twice,
00:49:00although the first one really came from an illegal punch.
00:49:04But the second one ain't no doubt about it.
00:49:08Beautiful right hand.
00:49:09I mean, it was a ferocious right hand.
00:49:12Come on, let's go, boys.
00:49:12By Forrest.
00:49:14Arthur McCartney urging these two on as they sort of take the round off.
00:49:21It really is pretty astonishing Picharillo is still hanging in there,
00:49:24especially after the last one.
00:49:25He took some monstrous punches.
00:49:31And, you know, this might sound a little maudlin,
00:49:35but this is when I respect boxers and boxing.
00:49:39Here's Picharillo, a 37-year-old fighter getting dominated in a fight.
00:49:45But you know what?
00:49:45He hangs in there, he competes,
00:49:47and he wants to show that he can hang in against this fighter,
00:49:51even if this might be his last major fight.
00:49:55Nice left hook to the jaw by Forrest,
00:49:59getting that second win towards the end of the round.
00:50:01Break!
00:50:04Keep it up, burn it up.
00:50:09Well, it's been a very rough fight for Picharillo.
00:50:12There have been head clashes.
00:50:13Of course, that might have been his fault,
00:50:14but the low blow, two knockdowns, bleeding,
00:50:17and just getting outboxed, outslugged, outworked.
00:50:25Time!
00:50:28All right, come on.
00:50:38Stay behind that stiff jab.
00:50:39We're going to keep him off rhythm this round.
00:50:41These next two rounds, we'll keep him off rhythm.
00:50:42Don't look to gun him out.
00:50:44Just do your thing.
00:50:45Everything we want, gun him in the gym.
00:50:46This is where we put it together.
00:50:47Stay relaxed.
00:50:48Boom, nice face.
00:50:49Nice counter.
00:50:50All right, don't jump back so much.
00:50:52Stay on the ground and fire something.
00:50:53Go ahead, Al.
00:50:54Plenty of talent at 154,
00:50:56which is being showcased tonight with Vernon Forrest.
00:50:59Well, we've seen Alcine and Corey Spinks.
00:51:02We saw Alcine win his title against Travis Simms.
00:51:04And Sergey Zinseric, he's kind of the mystery man in this division.
00:51:07Very good fighter.
00:51:08Some believe he's the best at 154.
00:51:11Forrest would, of course, take issue with that.
00:51:13And while you think title unification,
00:51:16the fights Forrest really wants,
00:51:17as we've mentioned, are with Ricardo Mayorga
00:51:20and, of course, Mayweather.
00:51:22Stay focused.
00:51:24Or the winner of the Mayweather Hatton fight,
00:51:26I guess you could say.
00:51:29That's where the real big money matches are.
00:51:33And we mentioned Mayorga.
00:51:35That is a fascinating fight
00:51:36because, number one,
00:51:39Mayorga's such a colorful character,
00:51:41and, number two, he's kind of given himself
00:51:42a little bit of validity
00:51:45with some recent wins.
00:51:48And there's an issue to be settled there.
00:51:55But, of course, he did beat a guy
00:51:59who was headed towards retirement
00:52:01even before the fight.
00:52:02Vargas?
00:52:03You notice I said some validity.
00:52:04Yes.
00:52:06Hence my statement.
00:52:07So, we agree?
00:52:08Yes, sir.
00:52:10Well, it's round 11.
00:52:14No.
00:52:15And just Picharello is just getting batted around.
00:52:18Well, you know, those were two good left hooks
00:52:19by Picharello.
00:52:20Best punches, he's landed,
00:52:21but it doesn't even move Forrest.
00:52:23And bit right hands by Forrest
00:52:25dominating the action,
00:52:28controlling it,
00:52:29just setting him up with the left jab.
00:52:32You know, we saw Luis Maldonado,
00:52:34and now we're seeing Picharello,
00:52:35both underdogs,
00:52:36who haven't quite been able to get the job done,
00:52:38but their bravery and courage in the ring,
00:52:41really extraordinary.
00:52:43And like Maldonado,
00:52:45he's still fighting,
00:52:46punching back,
00:52:47trying to win this fight,
00:52:49and occasionally landing some nice punches,
00:52:51just not enough.
00:52:53Looking to go out on his shield.
00:52:55McKellie Picharello.
00:52:59Again, those were fighting for a rabbit punch.
00:53:02Keep it clean.
00:53:02Let go.
00:53:13A beautiful left hand by Farsi,
00:53:16faked the right,
00:53:17and then shot out the left,
00:53:18and Picharello did not expect it.
00:53:20That's another one of the,
00:53:21you know, Buddy McGirt mentioned
00:53:23that all the faints that Forrest is using,
00:53:25very effective,
00:53:27and that's been one of the subtleties
00:53:29in this fight
00:53:30that has worked in the favor of Forrest.
00:53:32The other one is
00:53:33how well he's cut off the ring
00:53:34when Picharello tries to give him movement.
00:53:36A slight of hand move there by Forrest,
00:53:39and then he finishes it off with blazing speed.
00:53:41I'm going to tell you,
00:53:42this is as good as Vernon Forrest can look.
00:53:45Oh, heavy right hand over the top by Forrest,
00:53:48just as you said that,
00:53:49to punctuate the remark
00:53:50and a right hand,
00:53:51and down goes Picharello again,
00:53:52and Arthur Mercani stops the fight.
00:53:54That's it.
00:53:55He's seen it up.
00:53:55I'll stay there, baby.
00:53:56Third knockdown of the fight
00:53:58for Forrest,
00:53:59and Picharello still argues
00:54:01because he wanted to continue.
00:54:02I think Picharello hurt his ankle as well.
00:54:05That's part of the problem.
00:54:06He did, yes.
00:54:10You told me there's always another day.
00:54:12He's trying to let them know
00:54:13that he hurt his ankle.
00:54:14It's too a language issue there.
00:54:16Yeah, he went down
00:54:18and twisted his ankle,
00:54:19but he is so brave
00:54:21and so courageous,
00:54:22but just a dominating night
00:54:25for Vernon Forrest,
00:54:27just picking Picharello apart.
00:54:36I didn't see that.
00:54:38Good pick-up, Al.
00:54:40At first,
00:54:41I thought that he was like
00:54:42waving to Mercani.
00:54:43I can still go,
00:54:45but completely the opposite.
00:54:47Well, it was an awkward,
00:54:49you know,
00:54:50way he fell,
00:54:51and it's a shame
00:54:54on top of everything else
00:54:55for him to have to suffer
00:54:56an injury like that.
00:54:57They're trying to get
00:54:58the shoe off as fast as they can.
00:55:00It looks like,
00:55:01as Al pointed out,
00:55:02the ankle.
00:55:07He was hit
00:55:08and went back so awkwardly
00:55:11for this man,
00:55:12Vernon Forrest.
00:55:13He just smiles.
00:55:23Forrest retaining his title,
00:55:25his first successful defense.
00:55:27Goes to 40-2
00:55:28with 29 knockouts.
00:55:32His technique was so good
00:55:34in this fight.
00:55:35The jab,
00:55:36the straight right hand,
00:55:37through the uppercuts,
00:55:39they work on the foot
00:55:41of Picharello.
00:55:42Splinting in here.
00:55:44Splinting in here.
00:55:45Just give it a splint.
00:55:46And the replay will show us
00:55:49how awkwardly he went down
00:55:51and the nature of the injury.
00:55:54Big right hand
00:55:56pushes him back,
00:55:58and then there'll be
00:55:58another right hand.
00:56:03And you see his leg
00:56:05get caught underneath him.
00:56:08And from the overhead camera,
00:56:10we'll see a better view
00:56:11of what, you know,
00:56:14is a gruesome-looking situation
00:56:17with his, uh,
00:56:19all his weight
00:56:20went right on to his,
00:56:22his ankle.
00:56:23And, uh,
00:56:26there'll certainly be
00:56:27an injury to that ankle.
00:56:28At the very least,
00:56:30a sprain,
00:56:30and maybe more,
00:56:31but we'll...
00:56:32Immediately applying, uh,
00:56:34the cold pack
00:56:34of the ice
00:56:36if there's a swelling.
00:56:38And you can see
00:56:39the grimacing
00:56:39and the pain
00:56:42expression
00:56:42on the face
00:56:43of Picharello.
00:56:44You know,
00:56:45that's just adding
00:56:45insult to injury
00:56:46because, you know,
00:56:47you get knocked out
00:56:48and, uh,
00:56:49lose a fight,
00:56:50and then, uh,
00:56:51the bad circumstances
00:56:52create that injury.
00:56:53But this man,
00:56:55uh,
00:56:55if this is
00:56:56the end of his
00:56:57major fights
00:56:59in his career,
00:57:00he showed grit,
00:57:02determination,
00:57:03skill in spots,
00:57:04but just didn't have
00:57:05enough firepower
00:57:05to deal with
00:57:06Vernon Forrest.
00:57:07And we're told,
00:57:08uh,
00:57:09by the officials here
00:57:10it actually could be broken.
00:57:11All right.
00:57:12Let's get the official time
00:57:13from our ring announcer,
00:57:14Jimmy Lennon Jr.
00:57:18Ladies and gentlemen,
00:57:19we have the time
00:57:20of 2 minutes,
00:57:2221 seconds
00:57:23in round number 11.
00:57:24A referee in charge,
00:57:26Arthur Mercanti,
00:57:27stops the contest.
00:57:28He is the winner
00:57:29by way of technical knockout
00:57:31and still
00:57:32the WBC
00:57:33super welterweight
00:57:34champion of the world,
00:57:36Vernon
00:57:37the Viper
00:57:39Forrest.
00:57:44So congratulations
00:57:45on a dominating victory
00:57:46by Vernon Forrest,
00:57:48one-sided,
00:57:48uh,
00:57:49and, uh,
00:57:50they're gonna take
00:57:51no chances, Al,
00:57:52with, uh,
00:57:53McKellie Picharillo,
00:57:54and they've got
00:57:54the, uh, gurney
00:57:56standing by
00:57:56to wheel him out
00:57:58because he just
00:57:58cannot put any weight
00:57:59on that foot.
00:58:05And right now,
00:58:06our Jim Gray
00:58:06is up in the ring
00:58:07standing by
00:58:08with the champion.
00:58:09Jim!
00:58:10All right, Steve.
00:58:11Thank you very much.
00:58:12As you reported,
00:58:13uh,
00:58:14his ankle could be broken
00:58:15according to the ringside physician
00:58:16who I just spoke to
00:58:17and they will wheel him out
00:58:18on the gurney.
00:58:19They have put his leg
00:58:20into a splint.
00:58:20Vernon,
00:58:21congratulations to you
00:58:22on this fight.
00:58:23Uh,
00:58:24you were very impressive
00:58:25tonight.
00:58:25Were you
00:58:27pretty pleased
00:58:27with the way you fought?
00:58:28First of all,
00:58:29I had to thank God
00:58:30for giving me this victory
00:58:30and I had to thank my sponsors.
00:58:32Ironhead Boxing,
00:58:34Poe Therapy,
00:58:35and then Vera Beach,
00:58:35and also, um,
00:58:37who the other one?
00:58:38Ironhead.
00:58:39Ironhead,
00:58:39and who else?
00:58:40Let's get to the questions.
00:58:41We'll get to the commercial
00:58:42a little bit later.
00:58:43Come on, Vernon.
00:58:43How about your performance?
00:58:44Uh, it was, uh,
00:58:45I give myself a great, um, B+.
00:58:49You know, I, I, he,
00:58:50I got hit a little bit more
00:58:51than I expected,
00:58:52but, you know, uh,
00:58:54I, I got the win,
00:58:55so I'm happy with that.
00:58:56Three knockdowns
00:58:57and you seem to have
00:58:58all of your stamina
00:58:59and maybe some people
00:59:00thought that maybe
00:59:01your conditioning
00:59:01wasn't going to be
00:59:02up to speed
00:59:02before the fight,
00:59:03but I guess you proved
00:59:04that wrong.
00:59:04Here's the first knockdown.
00:59:05He thought you held him
00:59:06in the back of the head.
00:59:07Tell us about the second.
00:59:08Uh, he went for a fake,
00:59:09it was like an old sucker move,
00:59:11you know,
00:59:11old school move.
00:59:12I faint right,
00:59:13I faint left,
00:59:14and then went right.
00:59:15And that's the end
00:59:16right there
00:59:16where he,
00:59:16where he caught his ankle
00:59:17and, uh,
00:59:19that was the end
00:59:19of the fight.
00:59:20So, Vernon, now,
00:59:21you look so impressive
00:59:22tonight that, uh,
00:59:24um, it's almost
00:59:25where you can take
00:59:26this thing, uh,
00:59:28to yourself.
00:59:28Is it Mayorga
00:59:29who you'd like to go after?
00:59:30Absolutely.
00:59:31I want Mayorga again.
00:59:32You know, uh,
00:59:33you know, he got
00:59:33one legitimate win
00:59:35and they gave him a win
00:59:36and so we gotta
00:59:37definitely do it again.
00:59:38But also,
00:59:39I'd like to look at
00:59:39the win of Mayweather
00:59:41and, uh, Haddon,
00:59:42uh, uh,
00:59:43La Jolla if he want,
00:59:44uh, get this belt back.
00:59:46Um, you know,
00:59:46Koda if he want to come up.
00:59:47So there's a lot
00:59:48of good fights out there.
00:59:48But, um, uh,
00:59:50Mayorga,
00:59:50he definitely can have it.
00:59:51What do you think
00:59:52would be different
00:59:53this time
00:59:53than the other two times?
00:59:54You've seen it,
00:59:55you've seen, uh,
00:59:56you've seen,
00:59:56I'm healthy.
00:59:57You know,
00:59:57I can,
00:59:58I have all my, uh,
00:59:59all my skills,
01:00:00all my,
01:00:00all my movement,
01:00:01all my weapons,
01:00:02all my arsenal.
01:00:03So, this time
01:00:04it'll be a completely
01:00:05different fight.
01:00:06Was your right hand
01:00:07at all injured
01:00:08or bothered tonight
01:00:09because it looked
01:00:10for a couple of rounds
01:00:11as though you didn't
01:00:11want to throw it
01:00:12or were hesitant?
01:00:13No, he, he has,
01:00:14um, he pulls back.
01:00:15He has a slight movement
01:00:17when he pulls back.
01:00:18And, um,
01:00:19a couple of times
01:00:19I threw it
01:00:20and I would,
01:00:20damn near fill out the ring.
01:00:21So, uh,
01:00:22so I had to kind of
01:00:23put it in my pocket
01:00:24for a little while
01:00:25and let him forget about it.
01:00:26And then I brought it back,
01:00:27you know,
01:00:27after a few rounds
01:00:27where he,
01:00:28he forgot about it.
01:00:29How come you're not sweating?
01:00:30Hey, man.
01:00:31It was good work.
01:00:32It was a good fight.
01:00:33Good work.
01:00:33You know,
01:00:34I was sweating.
01:00:34I never just,
01:00:35you know,
01:00:35I just know how to,
01:00:36I know how to be cool.
01:00:37I'm a cool dude.
01:00:37Let him see you sweat.
01:00:38Congratulations, Vernon.
01:00:39Terrific performance.
01:00:40All right,
01:00:40Steve,
01:00:40back to you now.
01:00:43All right,
01:00:43Jim,
01:00:44thank you very much.
01:00:46The hand of the background
01:00:48for Vernon Forrest
01:00:49as we check the scoring
01:00:50for Forrest versus Piccirillo.
01:00:52There are your judges'
01:00:53scorecards.
01:00:54Uh,
01:00:55Borovecchio
01:00:55had Forrest ahead,
01:00:56uh,
01:00:57big time,
01:00:5798-90.
01:00:58Same for Steve Weisfeld
01:00:59and the same
01:01:00for Jack Woodburn.
01:01:01Yeah,
01:01:01totally appropriate scoring
01:01:04for them.
01:01:04I had a margin
01:01:05very similar to that
01:01:06and,
01:01:06um,
01:01:07really,
01:01:08Forrest was just dominating.
01:01:09Yeah,
01:01:09three knockdowns
01:01:10in the fight,
01:01:10although the first one
01:01:11was questionable
01:01:12for Vernon Forrest.
01:01:14We'll take a look
01:01:14at a panel
01:01:15of press row judges.
01:01:16Ron Borges,
01:01:17Keith Eidek,
01:01:18and Jack Obermeyer.
01:01:20Obermeyer had the,
01:01:21uh,
01:01:22the biggest,
01:01:23uh,
01:01:23margin
01:01:23at 99-90
01:01:25for Vernon Forrest.
01:01:27So,
01:01:27a lopsided victory
01:01:29for Vernon Forrest.
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