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Kostya Tszyu defends his WBC/WBA Super Lightweight Titles against undefeated no 1. contender Oktay Urkal on Showtime Boxing
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00:00:00July 21st, 5 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
00:00:05Up next, Kostiazou defends his dual 140-pound titles against number one, Akde Orkel.
00:00:10World-class fighters can't afford to split their focus, but Kostiazou and Zab Judah are only human,
00:00:15so how can they possibly help from keeping one eye on their respective opponents
00:00:19and the other on the unification battle that will largely define their careers?
00:00:24One thing's for sure, this is no time to have an off night.
00:00:37For most fighters, the sport of boxing is less of a physical contest than a psychological one.
00:00:43And sometimes the game playing begins in one of boxing's most curious rituals, the showcase.
00:00:48Here, two future opponents, such as Kostiazou and Zab Judah,
00:00:53are co-featured of the same card to promote their upcoming contest.
00:00:56While both pretend they're unaware or unconcerned about their long-time rivalry.
00:01:01Why should I be anything against him? He's a human being.
00:01:05He's a person who's got a mother and father and who's got kids.
00:01:11And, I mean, he's a human being. Why should I hate him or don't like him?
00:01:18This is the business that we do.
00:01:20He's a nice individual. Like I said, there's nothing personal here.
00:01:23But this is a sport, you know what I mean?
00:01:25This is something that we've got to do to feed our family and take care of our lives and things.
00:01:31So, you know, he's a nice guy.
00:01:34I mean, I don't have no animosity against him or anything like that.
00:01:37I'm just anxious to fight him. That's it, you know?
00:01:41This entire week, Zab Judah have been forced into each other's presence.
00:01:45And while they maintain no rivalry exists, they are fooling no one.
00:01:49While training at the same New York City gym, both refused to work out in the same room
00:01:53and would not acknowledge much less talk to one another.
00:01:58Of course, we both have some of our own mental games, mental tricks, which I won't tell you.
00:02:09Yes, I do have, and I'm sure Zab have.
00:02:13But very hard to break me in any different ways.
00:02:22I like to let my hands talk, you know what I mean?
00:02:24I like to, you know, like, most of the time, if you do that part,
00:02:28if you mentally scare a guy or psych him out,
00:02:31then by the time he's getting a ring, you know, he's really beat.
00:02:35Tonight, Sue and Judah are fighting more than just their respective opponents.
00:02:39They'll be sending messages, scrutinizing styles, and feigning indifference.
00:02:44I don't need to prove to him anything.
00:02:46He has to win his fight, I have to win my fight.
00:02:48I'm sure he'll gonna watch me after he finishes his own fight,
00:02:53and he'll be there, and he'll be cheering for me.
00:02:56I can't say, you know, after I fight, will I stick around and watch this fight?
00:03:00I don't know.
00:03:00I mean, you know, I'm really not concerned, you know what I mean?
00:03:04I'm just concerned about winning my fight and taking my best and going home and relaxing my family.
00:03:08I believe we need to beat these people impressively to show in the world that we are the best in
00:03:15this division
00:03:15and then fight against each other in the end of the year and show the world who is the best.
00:03:31Recently, not that long ago.
00:03:33That's right, Tom Glusby takes on Tom Glusby.
00:03:35Medal, in fact, two titles, his idol, Muhammad Ali, thus the nickname Cassius, also a bit of a showman, Akde.
00:03:41Impressive amateur career, several titles, but the pinnacle, the silver medal representing Germany
00:03:46at the 96th Atlantic Olympics, 184 amateur wins.
00:03:50He's of Turkish descent, born in Berlin, all but two of his fights in Germany, his second fight here in
00:03:55the States.
00:03:57Skillful boxer, punching power, though Bobby, as you know, not an asset, nor is his level of opposition.
00:04:03Obviously, a major step up for him.
00:04:05Is there any phase of his game, though, that could possibly pose a concern for Su?
00:04:09You know, Arcal has a pretty tight defense, so he's going to be hard to clean the lot.
00:04:13He has some reasonable speed and a little bit of pop, not big power.
00:04:16I think the only way I could see Arcal beating Su would be if Su gets so careless that he
00:04:21gets cut
00:04:22and the fight is stopped on a cut, because I don't think he has the power to keep him down,
00:04:25and it's not an easy guy to knock down to start with.
00:04:27We'll see if Arcal turns out to be the European version of Miguel Angel Gonzalez,
00:04:32whom, as you know, Su just dominated and punished.
00:04:36Well, sure, he had a tight defense, Dick Gonzalez, and did what he had to do,
00:04:39and stood up, had a good chin, but he got literally beat to the ground.
00:04:43So there is Octay Arcal from Germany.
00:04:49And he is now getting set and bopping to his music,
00:04:54readying himself for this man, Kastya Su, the champion.
00:04:58There's the perception that by avoiding the original May 19th date with Judah,
00:05:02choosing instead to fight Arcal, Su was ducking Judah because he wasn't ready.
00:05:09But Su insists no way that he is a fax from the WBC stating he must face the number one
00:05:15contender by July.
00:05:16Let's wait and see what kind of reaction he gets here.
00:05:19Let's wait and see what kind of reaction to making the first offense of both the WBC and VA versions
00:05:46of the 140-pound title.
00:05:49In his last fight, he retained the WBC crown a third time, won the WBA belt with a seventh-round
00:05:54TKO
00:05:55over Shambay Mitchell in February in a wild roughhouse affair.
00:06:00Judah, after watching Su fight Shambay Mitchell, said,
00:06:03Su has a lot of holes, Bobby. I'll take him apart.
00:06:06Do you see any so-called holes in Su's game?
00:06:09Well, some of the holes are the fact that he's so offensive-minded that he forgets about his defense,
00:06:13and he walks into some punches that he should never be hit with,
00:06:15some of them much more cleanly than they're meant to be.
00:06:18And he really also, when he gets hurt a little bit,
00:06:20he has this tribal thing that makes him want to hurt back right away,
00:06:23even before he's fully got himself together.
00:06:25So those are the holes that need to be attacked by Zab Judah.
00:06:28Of course, he also sent Julio Cesar Chavez into retirement.
00:06:33The fight is seen here on Showtime,
00:06:35but my eye is bold that when I saw recently
00:06:39that Chavez is thinking of coming out of retirement very soon.
00:06:44Let's size him up as we check out the tail of the tape.
00:06:48They're both 31.
00:06:49Erkal just a shade taller.
00:06:51Two and a half minutes reach advantage for Erkal.
00:06:56And yesterday's weigh-in, Zoo 139 and a half.
00:06:59He's actually 141 at first, sweated off a couple of pounds and came back and then got in under the
00:07:05gun.
00:07:05Erkal 138 and a half.
00:07:07Zoo 144 tonight.
00:07:08Erkal 140.
00:07:09And the key rules for this world title fight.
00:07:12No standing eight-pound, no three-knockdown rule.
00:07:14A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
00:07:17If an accidental headbutt occurs before the end of the fourth,
00:07:20the fighters rule the no contest.
00:07:21If it happens after the end of four, they go to the scorecards.
00:07:25So here at the Uncas Pavilion, getting ready for our main event,
00:07:28Kostya Zoo versus Akhtey Erkal for the WBC-WBA Super Lightweight Belts.
00:07:32The official introductions from our ring announcer, the classy Jimmy Lennon Jr.
00:07:41Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening to you.
00:07:44And we welcome you to the Uncas Pavilion here at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut
00:07:50for the featured bout of the evening brought to you by main events,
00:07:55Showtime Championship Boxing, and Budweiser, the undisputed King of Beers.
00:08:01This bout is sanctioned by the World Boxing Association,
00:08:05the President Gilberto Mendoza, Supervisor Jimmy Binns Jr.,
00:08:08the World Boxing Council, President Jose Suleiman, Supervisor Mario La Traverse,
00:08:13and the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Commission Athletic Unit, Unit Chief Jerry Boyle.
00:08:19Judging at ringside for this bout, from Braintree, Massachusetts, Richard Flaherty.
00:08:24From West Nyack, New York, Julie Letterman.
00:08:27From London, England, Terry O'Connor.
00:08:30And our referee in charge of this bout, working in this, his 84th world title bout,
00:08:36Frank Cappuccino.
00:08:39All right, fans, here we go with our main event of the evening,
00:08:4412 rounds of boxing for the WBA and WBC Super Lightweight Championship of the World.
00:08:50And now, ladies and gentlemen in attendance and boxing fans,
00:08:54joining us around the world, live from Mohegan Sun, it's Showtime!
00:09:07Introducing first the challenger, ladies and gentlemen, on my right,
00:09:12fighting out of the red corner, entering the ring wearing black trunks,
00:09:16joining us all the way from Berlin, Germany.
00:09:19He weighed in at already 138 and one-half pounds.
00:09:24He is undefeated with 28 wins, no losses, nine wins coming by way of knockout.
00:09:30He is ranked number one in the world by the WBC and number four by the WBA.
00:09:36Please welcome the 1996 Olympic silver medalist and tonight's challenger,
00:09:42introducing Octay, Cassius Urkhan.
00:09:49And his opponent across the ring, the defending world champion,
00:09:54ready to fight on my left out of the blue corner,
00:09:56wearing black trunks with gold trim,
00:09:59fighting out of Sydney, Australia by way of Seraph, Russia.
00:10:03He weighed in at 139 and one-half pounds.
00:10:07His record 26 wins, one loss, one draw,
00:10:11with 22 wins coming by way of knockout.
00:10:14Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the current WBA and WBC
00:10:18super lightweight champion of the world.
00:10:21Here is the thunder from down under,
00:10:24introducing Kostya Zou.
00:10:30Kostya Zou.
00:10:35And once again, a referee in charge, Frank Cappuccino,
00:10:38now to give instructions, 12 rounds of championship boxing schedule.
00:10:43Gentlemen,
00:10:46good evening.
00:10:48World championship fight, I want you to protect yourself at all times.
00:10:51Now I'm looking at the belt, anything below here is a low blow.
00:10:56Anything under here is a low blow.
00:10:58I see his both, both his touch gloves, touch gloves.
00:11:03Good luck.
00:11:06veteran referee, Frank Cappuccino, with the final instructions.
00:11:12Bobby Chez, keys to victory.
00:11:15Certainly.
00:11:17Kostya Zou first.
00:11:19The champion.
00:11:20Always keep the pressure on.
00:11:22That's his fight game.
00:11:22He goes forward, doesn't fight well going backwards.
00:11:24Also, land his power shots.
00:11:26He has power like a middleweight.
00:11:27And use that lethal right hand.
00:11:29He's knocked so many men out with that right hand.
00:11:33For Arcao, it's going to be a little bit different.
00:11:34He's going to need to use his speed to offset some of that Zou's power.
00:11:37He doesn't have real power.
00:11:38And also, keep a tight defense.
00:11:40Zou's going to come.
00:11:41He's got to block.
00:11:42And if he can, push Zou backwards.
00:11:43Zou, much like many of the good fighters,
00:11:45don't fight as well going backwards.
00:11:47Him less than others.
00:11:53Here we go.
00:11:54Kostya Zou, one of boxing's most relentless fighters.
00:12:07Always looking to force a slugfest.
00:12:11Power in both hands.
00:12:12Has the power of a middleweight.
00:12:14Tremendous tenacity, endurance.
00:12:16In-your-face mentality.
00:12:18Constant pressure.
00:12:19And he starts off that way with Arcao.
00:12:25He's got that hammer-like right, excellent left hooks and uppercuts,
00:12:28and he is a legitimate threat every minute of every round,
00:12:32and a devastating finisher.
00:12:33And they use the term throwing punches with bad intentions.
00:12:36Kostya Zou fits that perfectly.
00:12:38He means to hurt you with everything that he throws.
00:12:42Arcao, more of a technical boxer,
00:12:44relies mainly on speed, quickness, footwork.
00:12:47Stop, stop.
00:12:48Only nine of his 28 wins by knockout.
00:12:50Just one of his last eight wins by KO.
00:12:53That was a stoppage in the tenth.
00:12:55So Zou, who normally fights with those mean intentions,
00:12:58as Bobby pointed out,
00:12:59can really step in and afford to be brave against Arcao,
00:13:02who will look to skillfully avoid the power of Zou.
00:13:08Arcao's usually not too bad a jab,
00:13:09but he doesn't have much in his right hand as of yet.
00:13:12And I haven't really seen left hooks to the body or head.
00:13:15Arcao has never been down in his career.
00:13:17He's got a good chin, tight defense,
00:13:20emblematic of German fighters.
00:13:23Always a nice stiff jab and left hook, decent right.
00:13:29There was a decent double left hook,
00:13:30but not a real powerful combination.
00:13:33That was a nice right hand, though.
00:13:49There was a couple decent overhand rights
00:13:52over the jab of the champion Zou,
00:13:54and they didn't necessarily shake him up,
00:13:56but they got his attention that, I guarantee you.
00:14:05He's undefeated, but his list of opponents, not a who's who.
00:14:12You need lots of movement against Kostya Zou.
00:14:14You got to try to tie him up, use your speed, throw a lot of jabs,
00:14:18don't get lured into a street fight.
00:14:20Pretty good jab there by Erkal got through.
00:14:23And what you see is after Kostya Zou,
00:14:25oh, so offensive-minded after he unloads sometimes,
00:14:27he just stops and looks, there's the hole, he gets hit.
00:14:33And as you pointed out earlier, every once in a while,
00:14:35he just forgets about defense.
00:14:37I'll tell you right now, if he throws a combination
00:14:38he's at Jude and poses, he's gonna get hit with a right hook.
00:14:43Well, he's down in the temple.
00:14:44Just got wobbled.
00:14:47Left hook to the temple, Steven, that made his legs do a little Leon Earl.
00:14:51Momentarily dazed, was Erkal late in round one.
00:14:54Erkal's trunks being held up by tape.
00:15:01No!
00:15:11Good boy, he's taken a crime.
00:15:14No mistakes, he's an AL on the card.
00:15:16Between the others.
00:15:18Between his feet!
00:15:20The spit-buckhead! Between his feet!
00:15:26Yeah, you see that left hook to the top of the temple.
00:15:28Look at those legs.
00:15:29They come out from under him a little bit.
00:15:30Could be a combination of balance,
00:15:32but I'll tell you right now,
00:15:33Zou hits hard for his weight,
00:15:34and that shot to the temple can hurt severely.
00:15:42Erkal nodding his head as if to say,
00:15:44I'm okay, which usually means the opposite right there.
00:15:56You see that left hook one more time.
00:15:58Not really, not a great left hook, but in the temple area again,
00:16:01the legs come down.
00:16:03Erkal comes running out as does Kostya Zou
00:16:06to begin round number two.
00:16:09Kostya Zou with more of a purpose here
00:16:12as he opens up the second.
00:16:17May have it on his mind to end things right here.
00:16:21I'll tell you what, Erkal,
00:16:22I watched the tapes and studied them,
00:16:23didn't seem to punch quite this good,
00:16:25and the tapes maybe worked on power just for Zou.
00:16:31But Zou always very patient,
00:16:33doesn't go in looking for the knockout,
00:16:35waits for his opening.
00:16:38Oh, he said, too.
00:16:39He said it's going to take six, seven,
00:16:40maybe even eight or nine rounds to break him down.
00:16:42He said the guy appears to be tough,
00:16:43has a tight defense, and fights back.
00:16:46He breaks you down by hitting very hard.
00:16:48He bruises you up and hits you in different places
00:16:52and just wears you down.
00:16:54Here's a good right hander,
00:16:55a short, crisp right by Zou that got in.
00:16:57Erkal counters, though, to the right.
00:17:00That overhand right is keeping some things
00:17:03for Lou Zou to at least worry about,
00:17:05keeping a little respect factor up high.
00:17:07Zou's only loss, May of 97,
00:17:1010th round TKO to Vince Phillips.
00:17:12Cool Vince.
00:17:13When he gave up the IVF Junior one-way title,
00:17:15Vince victorious earlier tonight.
00:17:17Don't look at me, don't look at me.
00:17:18With a seventh round TKO.
00:17:23Defeating a fighter named Marlon Haynes.
00:17:26Since the loss to Phillips,
00:17:27Zou ate no all by the knockout.
00:17:31He said to Zou that he became a fighter that night.
00:17:34He graduated, learned a life from that defeat
00:17:36to Vince Phillips.
00:17:38Right now, Zou's being outworked a little bit,
00:17:41taking his time.
00:17:42Not really as active as he should be.
00:17:43Combination is not flowing.
00:17:45Looking for one big right hand.
00:17:46He's not flowing.
00:17:47He's not flowing.
00:17:48He's not flowing.
00:17:48He's not flowing.
00:17:49He's not flowing.
00:17:50Stop.
00:17:50Break.
00:17:53Kashi Zou in his boxing prime,
00:17:55confident, disciplined, intelligent,
00:17:58typically tests his opponent's heart and chin
00:18:01almost from the start.
00:18:03Under a minute remaining round two.
00:18:06Kashi Zou talked at length about his loss to Phillips, Steve.
00:18:09He said it was a wake-up call for him
00:18:11because he started to ride on his laurels
00:18:13and rest on them
00:18:13and not really do the things that he needed to do.
00:18:17No more.
00:18:18He's 26-1-1 with 22 knockouts.
00:18:27The draw was in 97 with Leonardo Mas,
00:18:30a technical draw.
00:18:31He was really not throwing enough combinations.
00:18:34One at a time,
00:18:35he's looking for the jab in the big right hand,
00:18:36maybe even one hook or uppercut,
00:18:37but he's not really throwing combinations.
00:18:39Ah, no, no, no, no, no.
00:18:41No.
00:18:43No.
00:18:43No.
00:18:46That means no.
00:18:49In any length.
00:18:56As we head for the bell.
00:18:58A much better round.
00:19:00I tell you what,
00:19:00I think that Durkau won this round
00:19:01by just out working Kashi Zou.
00:19:19Let's take our time to move forward.
00:19:21Let's take our time.
00:19:25Uh huh
00:19:34Hey,
00:19:37Uh huh.
00:19:39Piscina
00:19:39From perspective.
00:19:47interested spectator Zab Judah who's all smiles after his victory earlier
00:19:53costume is next if Sue prevails
00:19:58the big showdown November 3rd
00:20:02should this man cooperate
00:20:04again Sue comes dashing out to begin
00:20:07round number three Sue has been effective when throwing that powerful right
00:20:12connecting through the gloves of Urkel
00:20:20Sue told us he trained very hard can't look ahead to Judah
00:20:24now he's starting to work with a little bit more enthusiasm at least it appears
00:20:28he worked ahead he worked at a body not just one jab and a right hand
00:20:32he told us he studied Urkel very closely pretty good left hook there
00:20:36and a followed by a right by Urkel
00:20:38that left hook landed very clean and he didn't necessarily shake Sue up
00:20:42but really got his attention you can see the look in his eyes of concern
00:20:47nice left sneaky left jab there by Urkel
00:20:49got through the gloves
00:20:53Sue's getting a little frustrated it appears with the defensive maneuvering of Urkel
00:20:58the tight hands up top
00:20:59he's not able to break through it so easily
00:21:01he's getting on his nerves Steve
00:21:05Urkel 28-0 just nine knockouts
00:21:08never on the canvas
00:21:09rated number one by the WBC
00:21:11and WBO
00:21:13former European champion
00:21:15140 and 1996
00:21:17Olympic silver medalist for Germany
00:21:26who looks off to me
00:21:27he doesn't look like he's in the zone
00:21:29he can't seem to find his rhythm
00:21:31not as sharp as we've seen him in the past
00:21:34last with Sean Bain Mitchell
00:21:36before that Julio Cesar Chavez
00:21:38before that Miguel Angel Gonzalez
00:21:42and on and on
00:21:44where he just looked ferocious
00:21:49and the crowd beginning to turn a bit
00:21:53as we come up on the final minute of round three
00:22:01a lot of folks just thought that
00:22:03not a fast starter would come in and tear this guy apart
00:22:06once again dazes Urkel
00:22:09momentarily
00:22:09I think that was a combination too
00:22:11of your feet getting tangled Steve
00:22:12I don't know that he hit him as good as it appeared
00:22:21some of those punches are getting through
00:22:22by the German
00:22:25of Turkish descent
00:22:26Urkel
00:22:30Judah now pressing forward
00:22:32lands a right to the head
00:22:35I should say Zu
00:22:44nice right up
00:22:45got on the inside by Zu
00:22:46but again
00:22:46he looks like
00:22:48he looks like something's not right
00:22:49his timing's not right
00:22:50he's not as busy as he used to be
00:22:52and granted Urkel's working hard
00:22:54to keep him off
00:22:55maybe winning the round
00:22:57well perhaps we'll find out later
00:22:59what was going on in the mind of
00:23:00of Kostya Zu
00:23:01does he have Zab Judah on his mind
00:23:04is it the awkward style of Urkel
00:23:06that is
00:23:09producing this display by Zu
00:23:19he's using the jab
00:23:20he's using the jab
00:23:21but Urkel's blocking it nice with the right hand
00:23:24he's throwing his little hook in here
00:23:25and he's landing and Zu's not countering him back
00:23:30there he's starting to go by
00:23:31there's the hook up top
00:23:32that one misses
00:23:33again Zu just a jab
00:23:34and the hook again
00:23:35landing clean
00:23:36Zu throwing one jab at a time
00:23:37it's just not working
00:23:40now you watch on the inside
00:23:42right up in here
00:23:42uppercut
00:23:43uppercut
00:23:44popping the head back
00:23:45of
00:23:46the challenger
00:23:48he rips that uppercut
00:23:49right up on the inside
00:23:53okay we missed the uppercut
00:23:54but
00:23:54it didn't happen
00:23:59well as we've said in the past
00:24:00if there's any one weakness for Zu
00:24:02he does forget about his defense
00:24:03from time to time
00:24:04getting too focused
00:24:05and anxious on offense
00:24:11in the loss to Phillips
00:24:13there was no defense
00:24:13now he's coming on stronger
00:24:15that was a big right hand
00:24:16he got hit with a hook
00:24:17coming back
00:24:18Arkaus showed a great chin
00:24:20Zu looks like he wants to
00:24:22do a lot of damage here
00:24:24in round four
00:24:26no knockdowns thus far
00:24:31it's as if he got the wake-up call
00:24:32and said enough is enough
00:24:35because it's been fairly
00:24:36lackluster to this point
00:24:37on the part of Zu
00:24:38and Zab Judah has to be loving
00:24:40what he's watching
00:24:42as he's probably saying to himself
00:24:44well if this is the costume
00:24:45they put in front of me
00:24:46come on
00:24:46come on
00:24:47I can do okay
00:24:51I thought the last couple of rounds
00:24:52because Arkaus was out working Zu
00:24:54first round I thought was Zu's
00:24:56he came out strong in this round
00:24:58but again it's a matter of being out work
00:25:00one big shot does not a round make
00:25:03and left uppercut got in by Arkaus
00:25:05to the apex of Zu's chin
00:25:08Judah may be wondering to himself
00:25:10well with my speed
00:25:12I'll have no problem handling this guy
00:25:15well I'll tell you what coming off this so far
00:25:17if you had to handicap it
00:25:19the speed looks like it might outdo the power
00:25:24because thus far the power has not been there for Kostya Zu
00:25:31so far
00:25:33that could change in a moment
00:25:36good good good
00:25:37come on
00:25:38come on
00:25:38come on
00:25:46Urkow holding his own to this point
00:25:48he's holding a little Akasha Zu's with him
00:25:57right
00:26:01left hook that got through to the jaw
00:26:03by Zu
00:26:05but Urkow is very game
00:26:06he comes charging forward
00:26:08you know what
00:26:09Urkow
00:26:10first of all he starts
00:26:11he initiates
00:26:12and his speed is able to get him in and out
00:26:14before Zu has a good time to counter
00:26:16solidly
00:26:17and his speed is offsetting the power
00:26:18like right there
00:26:19Urkow once again
00:26:20pressing the attack
00:26:21and leading with his punches
00:26:23not countering
00:26:30to move
00:26:31Zu moving slowly
00:26:32very deliberately
00:26:33a left hand got hit by Urkow
00:26:35ah no
00:26:36Zu is having trouble at timing the speed of Urkow
00:26:39it's causing him a problem
00:26:40if it's causing him a problem
00:26:41imagine what Zab Judah would do
00:26:43yes
00:26:43and Zu annoying Frank Cappuccino by hitting on the break
00:26:48stop
00:26:48break
00:26:51crowd very quiet right now
00:26:53there's some blood
00:26:55there's some blood
00:26:55lower lip of Zu
00:27:01body shot by Zu
00:27:02right hand to the
00:27:03mid section by Zu
00:27:14best punch of the night especially for Kashi Zu
00:27:17beautifully timed right hand
00:27:18and you can see the neck and face just shake
00:27:21that right hand but
00:27:22to his credit Urkow comes back with punches
00:27:27beautiful camera work
00:27:28let's get it over to Jim Gray
00:27:30alright
00:27:30thank you very much
00:27:31with Zab Judah who we just saw fight a little bit earlier
00:27:33you're watching this fight
00:27:34what'd you think of that right hand
00:27:35I mean you know it's a good punch
00:27:37but um
00:27:37you know he got to work on getting his defense
00:27:39you know punch a punch and movement
00:27:41because um
00:27:41that's all he got when he fight me November
00:27:43it's gonna be a short night
00:27:44you know what I mean
00:27:45you think your speed will be able to handle him
00:27:47based on what you've seen so far this evening
00:27:49I mean you know Kashi Zu is very good you know what I mean
00:27:51I don't want to um
00:27:52let
00:27:53I don't want to underestimate Kashi
00:27:55you know Kashi is a very strong fighter
00:27:56he's very physical
00:27:57and um
00:27:57he gonna come to fight but um
00:27:58I'm here to win man forever
00:28:00Super Judah
00:28:00certainly three of your last four fights
00:28:03up until tonight
00:28:03he might have had the same impression of you
00:28:05right
00:28:06he might have thought so
00:28:07but now
00:28:07he's showing up
00:28:08every fight he let me wait
00:28:09I get stronger and stronger and stronger
00:28:11and better and better
00:28:12quickly analyze this here for us
00:28:14as you watch this
00:28:15you know Kashi is getting more
00:28:17Kashi is getting more um
00:28:18you know um
00:28:20he's getting
00:28:20yeah he's getting more confident now
00:28:22about what he's gonna what he's gonna do now
00:28:23so now he's gonna walk to him with a good strong jab
00:28:25and look land that big that big right hand
00:28:27are you surprised that Urkel's done so well
00:28:29well I mean
00:28:30I mean I figure anybody with good with good movement
00:28:32and fast hands
00:28:33they're gonna do better than Kashi
00:28:35all right
00:28:36Sean Bay showed that you know what I mean
00:28:38we'll check in with you after the fight
00:28:40that
00:28:41let's get it back to Steve Albert
00:28:42quite a blow right there Steve
00:28:44and a big smile on the face
00:28:45Jim of Kostya Zoo
00:28:47indicating he's all right
00:28:48but sometimes you have to wonder about that
00:28:50but it wasn't really the punch
00:28:51if you watch it
00:28:52the feet got tangled
00:28:53and the arms got tangled
00:28:53and it was more of a
00:28:54swinging throw than it was a punch
00:28:56that would be uh
00:28:57not a clean blow
00:28:59cause that much damage
00:29:00got everybody's attention
00:29:02a very diplomatic
00:29:04Sab Judah with Jim Gray
00:29:06although a confidently diplomatic
00:29:08Sab Judah
00:29:09they're pretty much echoing what we said earlier
00:29:15under two minutes remaining in round five
00:29:17let's see how the folks at Press Row have it
00:29:20Ron Gorgeous
00:29:21Boston Globe
00:29:22Scott Schaefer
00:29:22FightNews.com
00:29:23Bill Tavares
00:29:24New London
00:29:25They all have Zoo ahead
00:29:27through four
00:29:28I have it even
00:29:29so maybe I'm not sure
00:29:30I know what I'm doing
00:29:32I think Zoo got outworked in the middle rounds
00:29:34and started to get back on track
00:29:36with a big right hand last night
00:29:37Ron Gorgeous
00:29:38Scott Schaefer
00:29:39had Urkel winning
00:29:40in the third
00:29:42come on
00:29:43come on
00:29:43come on out here
00:29:44come on out
00:29:44let him go
00:29:45let him go
00:29:45break
00:29:47now a lot of holding
00:29:48when I say break
00:29:49break man
00:29:54a welt began to appear
00:29:56under Urkel's right eye
00:29:57late in round four
00:29:59you see that developing
00:30:06see he's just outworked
00:30:08he's doing the inside
00:30:08he's using speed for more punches
00:30:16again
00:30:16Zap Judah's confidence on the sidelines has to be
00:30:20building immensely
00:30:21building immensely watching this
00:30:24but he knows not to get false confidence
00:30:27ooh
00:30:28a little head move in there by
00:30:29Urkel right under the chest of Zoo
00:30:34here's the welt under the right eye of Urkel
00:30:36you can see clearly now
00:30:38straight right hand got through by Zoo
00:30:40right on the head
00:30:41but it's one and done
00:30:42Steve he's throwing one, one and two at a time
00:30:44not more than two or three punches ever
00:30:46and that's shocking
00:30:47because I'm conscious
00:30:48it was always shown to be
00:30:49good shape
00:30:50devastating and a great finish
00:30:51yeah that's not like Zoo
00:30:52no no no
00:30:53usually punches bunches
00:30:56when they both throw at the same time
00:30:58but Zoo had more effect
00:31:00and back comes Urkel
00:31:01with a right left combination to the head
00:31:05got a lot of resolve
00:31:08octay Urkel
00:31:08no no
00:31:10no no no no
00:31:37He just tripped over his feet.
00:31:37Show what it looked like a big punch,
00:31:39but it was more of a trip.
00:31:40Right here you see his feet.
00:31:41He just tripped over his feet, that's all.
00:31:43Not really a big punch, more of a trip.
00:31:47Look at it from the overhead camera.
00:31:49Right here, just a trip.
00:31:50And then his right foot tripped him again
00:31:54to continue the trip.
00:31:56It's made him appear to be staggered.
00:31:58Yeah, the fans got a rise out of it,
00:32:00but as you can see on the replay,
00:32:04and I think Bobby had it right when we first saw it,
00:32:06it was the result of feet getting tangled up
00:32:08and a lot of pushing.
00:32:11But nothing really got through there
00:32:12to hurt Kostya Zou.
00:32:16Kostya Zou...
00:32:19and...
00:32:20Octay Urkel.
00:32:21Zou 26-1-1, 22 knockouts,
00:32:2410-1-1 in world title fights.
00:32:26Urkel 28-0, 9 knockouts.
00:32:29Beautiful combination of Urkel.
00:32:31Lead right hand, double left hook.
00:32:32Pushing Zou backward, keeping him going backward,
00:32:34one of my keys to victory.
00:32:36Certainly not the best we've seen Kostya Zou.
00:32:39Stop, stop, stop, stop.
00:32:40So a guy like Zab Judah can go backwards
00:32:42and kill you on the way in,
00:32:43or beat you to death coming forward.
00:32:45This is not the type of fighter
00:32:46that can beat you up as badly going backward,
00:32:48if at all.
00:32:52An uncharacteristically
00:32:54subpar performance by Kostya Zou.
00:33:00Break!
00:33:02Break!
00:33:02And on the break, Urkel,
00:33:05with an overhand right.
00:33:07Not nice.
00:33:11Zou with a short left to the head.
00:33:21Well, this is about the point where you have figured
00:33:23that Kostya Zou would really turn it up.
00:33:26Stop, stop.
00:33:26I figure he would start to break him hard to the body,
00:33:30as well as the head in the first three or four rounds,
00:33:32then around, give or take, six or seven,
00:33:35that maybe Urkel will start to fade,
00:33:36but he's not fading a bit.
00:33:37And here we are, you know,
00:33:39we'll end around six.
00:33:40Well, there hasn't been the usual
00:33:43accumulative attack to the body and head
00:33:45that we see from Zou.
00:33:47Thus, Urkel is hanging around
00:33:49and still in pretty fair shape.
00:33:56Not the normal, relentless siege of Kostya Zou.
00:34:01Hate to keep harping on it, but it's surprising,
00:34:05particularly against the relatively unknown,
00:34:08although number one, Urkel.
00:34:09He's in the back of the trail.
00:34:11Break! Break!
00:34:12Break!
00:34:12Right now, based on the accomplishments
00:34:14that Zou has in the bank,
00:34:16Urkel Stark should go up.
00:34:20Not many would have banked on that.
00:34:31Zou missed with the right, a glancing blow on the chin.
00:34:37And that right was blocked by Kostya.
00:34:40Not the left, though.
00:34:41That got through to the chin of Zou.
00:34:44The cat landing with the right hand.
00:34:46Back comes the right hand.
00:34:47Counterpunch by Kostya Zou.
00:34:49Well, one and done.
00:34:50He just lands the one and doesn't come back.
00:34:52He did not follow it up.
00:34:55Final seconds, right?
00:34:56Break!
00:34:57Break!
00:35:07Stop!
00:35:13Let's go to Jim Gray with our new analyst.
00:35:15All right.
00:35:16Thank you very much, Steve.
00:35:18Zab, are you getting nervous?
00:35:19There's an awful big payday on the line here,
00:35:20and right now, Kostya's not living up to his end of the bargain.
00:35:24I mean, yeah, I mean, I'm getting kind of nervous.
00:35:26Kostya, I don't know what he's doing.
00:35:27He's not moving his head.
00:35:28He's acting like he's in another world right now,
00:35:30but I don't know.
00:35:31I mean, hopefully he'll put together
00:35:33and come up with a devastating knockout punch.
00:35:36My memory serves me right.
00:35:37You fought Urkel before, correct?
00:35:39Yeah, well, I was an alternate on the 19th Olympic team,
00:35:42and a month before the Olympics,
00:35:44we had a duel meet with the Germans.
00:35:46You beat him, right?
00:35:46Yeah, and I beat him.
00:35:48And so I'm no stranger to this guy.
00:35:50If he wins, we can get it on to.
00:35:51It don't matter to me.
00:35:52I'm taking on all comers.
00:35:53You heard?
00:35:54Come at me.
00:35:55As we take a look at the replay here of just what went on,
00:35:59Kostya Zoo is backpedaling.
00:36:02Yeah, I've never seen that.
00:36:04I mean, I didn't even fight him yet, and he doing that.
00:36:06Damn.
00:36:06I thought I was going to be the first one to do that.
00:36:08Oh, man.
00:36:10All right, Steve, back to you.
00:36:11We'll get some more analysis later.
00:36:13Steve and Bobby.
00:36:14All right, Jim and Zab, thank you very much.
00:36:17This fight lasts longer than many expected.
00:36:21Arkell looks like he's gaining confidence
00:36:23as we hit the halfway mark.
00:36:27Bobby unofficially, and Arkell comes on strong here.
00:36:30No, no, no, no.
00:36:31How do you have it quickly?
00:36:32Well, I'll tell you what.
00:36:33I have three rounds of three, so this is an even fight.
00:36:36Wow.
00:36:36I think Arkell is really coming to fight,
00:36:39and he's just outworked.
00:36:39You see, like, in that sequence?
00:36:40Just outworked.
00:36:42Got Shizu for the first half a minute of the first round.
00:36:45I think it's all Arkell.
00:36:50Break.
00:36:55Zou told us he trained extremely hard for this fight,
00:36:59that he was not to be looking ahead to Zab,
00:37:02not thinking beyond Zab Judah.
00:37:05He said, I studied Arkell very closely.
00:37:08He knows all about him.
00:37:09Break?
00:37:09What?
00:37:10Uh-uh, no.
00:37:11When I say break, stop.
00:37:12You got to think twice after seeing this exhibition.
00:37:15Oh, good left hand by Arkell to the chin.
00:37:20Well, he nailed Zou with that one,
00:37:22and it slowed him in his tracks.
00:37:27Zou, it's just a point jab, getting nowhere with that.
00:37:30Doesn't follow it up with the right hand.
00:37:31When we went south of the border,
00:37:32I was just gonna say,
00:37:33and Zou pointed it out to Arkell,
00:37:35and he touched gloves to make up.
00:37:36Stop, stop, stop.
00:37:36He said, uh, that's a no-no.
00:37:38They're going too low.
00:37:39And Frank Cappuccino cautioning Arkell
00:37:41for the low blows.
00:37:44Break!
00:37:44Inside, quick right hand by Zou,
00:37:47and a shot to the midsection by Costia.
00:37:50Yeah, but then you see Arkell
00:37:51coming back with three or four punches.
00:37:53He's outworking, Zou,
00:37:55and it's just shocking me that he's allowing it.
00:37:59A very surprising turn of events here
00:38:01at Mohegan Sun,
00:38:02with a minute remaining in round seven.
00:38:05It has not been Costia Zou's night.
00:38:08The count is making him look bad.
00:38:10Stop. Uh-uh.
00:38:11Uh-oh.
00:38:14No good by Costia Zou,
00:38:16hitting on the break again.
00:38:18I think they were both guilty
00:38:20of that one a little bit, Steve.
00:38:21How much of that is frustration now, Bobby?
00:38:23It's got to be that.
00:38:24I'm sure that's part of his.
00:38:33There's that jab.
00:38:35That's a little bit of a harder jab by Zou,
00:38:37but once again,
00:38:38holding off with the right hand.
00:38:40I'll tell you what,
00:38:41much harder jab.
00:38:41He landed five or six of them
00:38:43out of the seven or eight from very well.
00:38:45And a good right hand
00:38:48by Akhtair Kyle.
00:38:52Kind of a sneaky right
00:38:54that gets through from time to time.
00:38:59There's a double jab by Zou,
00:39:01but again,
00:39:01holding back on the right.
00:39:03Oh, look.
00:39:03It's almost if there's something wrong with his right hand.
00:39:06And again,
00:39:07a little blow.
00:39:10Keep him up, man.
00:39:27Keep him up, man.
00:39:32The concerned father of Kostya Zou,
00:39:36that's Boris,
00:39:37who spent about three decades in the steel mills
00:39:41of the former Soviet Union,
00:39:42but he's squirming in his seat right now.
00:39:47You want to be a parent or a sibling,
00:39:49or a fighter?
00:39:51Hang on.
00:39:51Someone nauseating at ringside.
00:39:53We need a good man to slide him down.
00:39:54We need a good man to slide him down.
00:39:55We need a good man to slide him down.
00:39:55We need a good man to slide him down.
00:39:56Okay?
00:39:56We've got to make sure
00:39:57we don't get a shot away on us.
00:39:58Be careful pulling out after something.
00:40:00Come on, Kost.
00:40:01Step it up.
00:40:02Step it up, Kost.
00:40:03Step it up, man.
00:40:04Gash on the chin there,
00:40:05as you can see,
00:40:06the good close-up.
00:40:10We enter into round number eight.
00:40:13Cal's sneaking that left jab over Sue's left,
00:40:17as the Russian-slash-Australian
00:40:19tends to hold it a little low,
00:40:22and Frank Cappuccino has had to warn Cal
00:40:25a couple of times,
00:40:26two, three times about low blows.
00:40:29Yeah, the last round,
00:40:30there was three solid low blows,
00:40:32and Frank Cappuccino warned him for the second time.
00:40:34I got a funny feeling
00:40:35that that's a good result in a point.
00:40:37And the way things are going here,
00:40:39a big point,
00:40:40because this one is very tight.
00:40:42Right now,
00:40:43it appears that Sue is a little more focused
00:40:45on stuffing the jab hard,
00:40:47but he's not really following the combination.
00:40:49There have been very few left hooks he's thrown
00:40:51throughout this fight by comparison with Bats.
00:40:54Right, right, right.
00:40:55No knockdowns.
00:40:56Kost.
00:40:56Azu has been down four times in his career.
00:40:59Ur-Cal has never been on the canvas.
00:41:08Again, it's Ur-Cal is pressing forward.
00:41:10No, no, no, no. Step back. Step back.
00:41:11Step back.
00:41:12Zu almost in a funk.
00:41:18This is certainly not himself tonight thus far.
00:41:24Right.
00:41:25Body shot with the left by Ur-Cal.
00:41:30Something else at Zu's corner said,
00:41:32don't pull up with your head up.
00:41:33Keeps doing it just like that.
00:41:35Leaning, trying to lean out of the way.
00:41:37Ur-Cal does not think he can be reaching.
00:41:38His head's up and he gets hit.
00:41:40And there's almost no way to rebound
00:41:41from that.
00:41:42People draw balance.
00:41:43Back comes Kostya Zu.
00:41:44He wobbles Ur-Cal.
00:41:46He says, bring it on.
00:41:47And Ur-Cal's gloves touch the floor.
00:41:49I'm not sure off the punch,
00:41:50but his gloves touch the floor.
00:41:52Zu knows Ur-Cal's in trouble.
00:41:54Hold it. Hold it.
00:41:55Hold it.
00:41:56Cal being warned for a hold.
00:41:58Back of the head.
00:42:02And now, Kostya Zu on the prowl.
00:42:07With about a minute remaining in round eight.
00:42:09The economy of punches from Zu
00:42:11has to be totally bamboozled.
00:42:13I don't know what's going on.
00:42:14Yeah, we're dazzled here at ringside
00:42:16as to why Zu doesn't jump on Ur-Cal
00:42:19after getting him in a bit of trouble there.
00:42:21He's letting him off the hook once again.
00:42:23Got to keep them hands loose, man.
00:42:28The hook was blocked by Ur-Cal.
00:42:33I saw something in Ur-Cal's eyes a few minutes ago, Steve.
00:42:36I think there's a piece of his system
00:42:38that's starting to fade.
00:42:40And I see something that's just changing his eyes.
00:42:45Zu's trying to inflict board damage here
00:42:47at the end of round eight.
00:42:48Step back, step back.
00:42:51To look a much more confident now
00:42:54as he digs to the body.
00:42:56With the left.
00:42:58Flicks the jab.
00:42:59This is with the right cross.
00:43:02Back comes Ur-Cal, but blocked by Zu.
00:43:10Stuck!
00:43:12A better round for the champion.
00:43:19All right, mate.
00:43:21Come on.
00:43:24Mate, this guy's going to have one more go at this round,
00:43:26so we've got to be careful.
00:43:27We've got to meet him.
00:43:28Make him miss and make him pay.
00:43:30Okay, Kloss?
00:43:31Simple as that, mate.
00:43:33We'll step right on him this time, mate.
00:43:35Julie.
00:43:37Zu's stepping up the pace,
00:43:38doing what he should have been doing earlier.
00:43:41Double jab, right hand and hook.
00:43:43There's another jab, another right hand,
00:43:44a body shot right over the top
00:43:46that seemed to stun Ur-Cal a little bit.
00:43:50But here we see a 5, 6, 7, 8 punch combination.
00:43:53We've seen none of that all night until now.
00:43:58I'm trying to get in here if he can just back up a little.
00:44:02See, I'm...
00:44:02Very calm and composed in that Kostya Zu corner.
00:44:06Do you think we are beginning to reach a point, though,
00:44:08in the fight, Bobby,
00:44:09where there should be more of a sense of urgency, though?
00:44:12No, I think Kostya is starting to get in a position
00:44:15to close out the fight,
00:44:17and I don't mean necessarily by knockout,
00:44:19but you can see Ur-Cal fading in the last round badly.
00:44:22Well...
00:44:23Not coming forward at all,
00:44:24really fading and punches put out.
00:44:26I think conditioning a big factor experience right now
00:44:28through taking over.
00:44:29Nobody knows Kostya like this corner better.
00:44:34So that's the way they operate there.
00:44:36As we begin round 9 and Zu starts fast.
00:44:41Beautiful jab by Zu,
00:44:42but again holds off on the right.
00:44:46He did not offer up the combination like he did more of
00:44:49in the last round.
00:44:52Stalking Ur-Cal.
00:44:56And hammering away.
00:45:00He's looking too much to really zone a shot in.
00:45:04I mean, he's looking to like zero and pinpoint it.
00:45:06He needs to just throw him and let him fly.
00:45:08And Ur-Cal unleashes a quick right hand.
00:45:10That comes Zu with the jab.
00:45:13But no right.
00:45:17We'll check Pressro scoring once again.
00:45:20Ron Borges, Boston Globe,
00:45:21Scott Schaefer, FightNews.com.
00:45:23Bill Tavares to London Day.
00:45:25Again, Zu ahead, but very close.
00:45:28He's looking too close.
00:45:31Particularly on one card.
00:45:35Where it was separated by just one point.
00:45:37Which would mean that that particular person
00:45:39would have to have one round even.
00:45:40Stop, stop, stop, stop.
00:45:42Middle rounds are going to Ur-Cal.
00:46:08Break.
00:46:10There's an attrition factor starting, I think,
00:46:12to tell on Ur-Cal.
00:46:14It's not telling on Zu yet.
00:46:16Zu fights this type of fight all the time.
00:46:18A rough, physical fighter.
00:46:21And I think Ur-Cal is finally getting a taste
00:46:23of some real tired fatigue and pain.
00:46:26Well, now he's bruising up Ur-Cal.
00:46:29Wearing him down.
00:46:32But a very game Ur-Cal.
00:46:35Standing right in there.
00:46:39But these punches are obviously beginning to weigh Ur-Cal down.
00:46:42A rough, physical fighter.
00:46:47Just touching, touching, jabbing.
00:46:49Now a right-handed whipping right by Zu.
00:46:51He's pretty much having his way now.
00:46:56May not be anything too overwhelmingly dramatic,
00:46:59but he is certainly wearing him out.
00:47:02But he's neutralizing all the punches
00:47:04that was at one time being thrown by Ur-Cal.
00:47:06He can't muster up now.
00:47:08And he's pushing him back.
00:47:10Whereas Ur-Cal is pushing him back.
00:47:12Stop!
00:47:13Well, should Zu win,
00:47:14the big unification showdown is likely to be November 3rd
00:47:19here at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
00:47:23And two very interested spectators, Zab Judah on the right,
00:47:26the man who will fight Zu should Zu prevail tonight.
00:47:30And Boris Zu, the father of Kasia Zu.
00:47:40Kasia Zu, I'll tell you right now,
00:47:42he's not posing a threat to Zab Judah in Zab's eyes.
00:47:45You can tell by his speech,
00:47:46I can tell by his performance.
00:47:48No one's done this before, neither.
00:47:48Well, all you have to do is back off.
00:47:53We're in a fight here, folks.
00:47:55Keep that under check.
00:47:57Don't let him get another shot away on us, okay?
00:48:00You smart him on, mate.
00:48:05Well, even Zu may be ahead,
00:48:07what you would have to call
00:48:09an uninspiring performance.
00:48:13Good work.
00:48:14Thanks.
00:48:17Round 10.
00:48:18Always pays to have the thesaurus in front of him.
00:48:26Kasia Zu, coming from his home in Sydney, Australia,
00:48:31to the United States two weeks ago
00:48:33in advance of this fight.
00:48:36Something that Zu does,
00:48:37and it's probably horrible to do
00:48:39for the average fighter,
00:48:40but for a guy like Zab Judah would be...
00:48:42Right, right.
00:48:42Come on, come on, come on.
00:48:44He's got a London dollar.
00:48:45He moved straight back.
00:48:47Zu was so quick.
00:48:47He just...
00:48:48I mean, Zab Judah's so quick
00:48:49he could step to him and hurt him badly.
00:48:51Well, it's pretty apparent right now
00:48:54that Zu might be respecting
00:48:56or Cal's punching power a little too much.
00:48:59Cal only has nine knockouts.
00:49:01Stop.
00:49:01Ha-ha-ha.
00:49:02Certainly not at this level of competition.
00:49:07Break.
00:49:08Zu was kind of coy about his tactics when he spoke for this,
00:49:11but really hasn't shown any of those secret tricks
00:49:15he planned on using.
00:49:16Break.
00:49:16He's got a good one.
00:49:17He's got a good one.
00:49:19He's got a good one.
00:49:21He's got a good one.
00:49:22Again, the pace really slowing down now.
00:49:24Crowd very quiet.
00:49:26Earlier, Zab Judah ended matters rather briskly
00:49:30with a third-round knockout.
00:49:36Fair exchange there in the center of the ring.
00:49:39Break.
00:49:43Judah's knockout over Denmark's Alan Vester,
00:49:46the IVF number one contender,
00:49:47previously undefeated,
00:49:50but certainly unheralded.
00:49:52Hadn't have fought the level of competition
00:49:54that Zab had fought.
00:49:55A little bang of heads there,
00:49:58and Kostya's holding the left eye area.
00:50:03They banged heads,
00:50:04but it was just one of those incidental things.
00:50:08We approach the final minute.
00:50:09Round 10.
00:50:10Not many thought it would go this far.
00:50:13Scheduled for 12.
00:50:14WBCW be a super lightweight title on the line.
00:50:21It's all Kostya Zou chasing now,
00:50:23but still not throwing the punches
00:50:25and combinations
00:50:26that people used to see him throw.
00:50:32Not the Kostya Zou
00:50:33we have come to know over the years.
00:50:36You notice how he leans out with his head?
00:50:38You can't do that.
00:50:39With an average fighter, maybe.
00:50:41With a good fighter, don't.
00:50:42With a great fighter like Judah,
00:50:44absolutely impossible to do
00:50:46to get away with.
00:50:47A lot of movement now from Erkal.
00:50:54Erkal with an awkward style.
00:50:59See that little lean?
00:51:00That's just not good.
00:51:01He keeps his head up high,
00:51:02his hands are down.
00:51:03He's getting caught a lot.
00:51:08Final seconds of the 10.
00:51:11Stop!
00:51:12And you hear the Bluebirds again
00:51:13here at Mohegan Sun.
00:51:20A tough outing for Kostya Zou.
00:51:24Let's go back to Zab Judah with Jim Gray.
00:51:29All right.
00:51:30Thank you very much, Steve.
00:51:31Well, Zab, are you surprised
00:51:33at how easily Kostya Zou is being hit tonight?
00:51:35Well, I mean, I mean, I always,
00:51:37I always knew it from watching previous fights,
00:51:39you know.
00:51:40That's the reason why Vince Fels knocked him out,
00:51:41because, I mean, he's a straight,
00:51:43a one-dimensional fighter.
00:51:45I mean, he's got very good power and stuff,
00:51:47but he never moves his head, you know what I mean?
00:51:49It's got to be good news for you.
00:51:50I mean, like I said, come November,
00:51:54I'm going to show everybody,
00:51:55I'm going to shock the world.
00:51:56For those who are with me,
00:51:57you're going to be happy.
00:51:58For those who are not, you're going to be sad.
00:51:59Well, tell us exactly what you would do here
00:52:02in these final championship rounds
00:52:03if you were your cow.
00:52:05I mean, you got to pick it up.
00:52:07You got to counterpunch him now,
00:52:08you know what I'm saying?
00:52:08You got to use your defense and stay inside with him,
00:52:11flip, flip, flip and counter.
00:52:13You know what I mean?
00:52:13Use your jab to back him up,
00:52:14throw punches to offset him.
00:52:16Do you believe he has enough
00:52:17to win this fight, Urkel?
00:52:18No, no way.
00:52:19He just survived him right now.
00:52:21That's it.
00:52:21It's a matter of time,
00:52:23I'd be surprised if Zu hit him with a clean shot,
00:52:25it's all over.
00:52:27All right, Zab, we appreciate it.
00:52:28Talk to you in a bit, Steve.
00:52:30The confidence of Zab Judah
00:52:32building minute by minute.
00:52:34Thank you, Jim.
00:52:35As he sees this performance by Kostya Zu,
00:52:38which is less than inspiring.
00:52:42I'm sure most folks thought that it would be
00:52:45an even fight going in,
00:52:46but the handicappers will probably give the edge
00:52:48to Judah after seeing this performance
00:52:50by Zu in November.
00:52:52The handicappers earlier in the month
00:52:54had Zu, actually a dog,
00:52:58I think eight to five or nine to five dog.
00:53:01He had Zu, the underdog?
00:53:03Yes.
00:53:08Left hook that was guarded by Zu.
00:53:11He got the glove up in time.
00:53:13You got him with a good right hand there, too.
00:53:14Again, he's leaning backwards,
00:53:15using his legs defensively, just leaning.
00:53:18Can't do that.
00:53:21Urkel making Zu look bad tonight.
00:53:24Very rare.
00:53:26Frank.
00:53:29Last time he didn't look good
00:53:30was probably four years ago
00:53:32when he lost to Vince Phillips.
00:53:35Stop! Stop!
00:53:38He also had some questionable moments
00:53:39against Hurtado,
00:53:40who dropped him twice.
00:53:41After he hurt Hurtado,
00:53:43he ran in when his arm was down,
00:53:44and Hurtado clocked him on our way in.
00:53:45He got up, ran into another one,
00:53:47and went down twice in the same round.
00:53:48Defined Cuban fighter,
00:53:50Diosbellis Hurtado.
00:53:51There's a good right cross,
00:53:53and connected by Zu.
00:53:55Right to the head.
00:53:57And you didn't jump on him.
00:53:58I'm surprised.
00:53:59Again, he just restrained, held back.
00:54:04Very uncharacteristic.
00:54:05He may actually be tired, Steve.
00:54:07It may be something we've all overlooked
00:54:08that he just doesn't have the juice today
00:54:10to do what he normally does.
00:54:11Stop!
00:54:12And lastly,
00:54:13we all know there's that thing
00:54:14called growing old.
00:54:16Sometimes you grow old in a day,
00:54:17this might be his day.
00:54:18And I think, though,
00:54:1931 years old,
00:54:21it's possible.
00:54:22Break!
00:54:24Most people would be under the impression
00:54:26he's in his boxing prime right now,
00:54:28but anything's possible.
00:54:31Could be a combination of things.
00:54:33He looks tired.
00:54:34He could be thinking ahead to Zab Judah,
00:54:36and it could be the awkward style of Rakow.
00:54:39Break!
00:54:44He's putting all of these late rounds
00:54:46in the bank,
00:54:47so I don't think a decision
00:54:48is going to be in jeopardy here now,
00:54:50but he's...
00:54:51I'll tell you what,
00:54:51he's just not looking good.
00:54:52Is Zu in sort of a tough way right now
00:54:55because the smart move would be for Zu
00:54:57to stay away from Rakow
00:54:59since he'll score a clear victory on points.
00:55:01Should he play it safe,
00:55:03or try to go in for the knockout
00:55:05to try to wipe away
00:55:08the uninspiring performance?
00:55:09Number one,
00:55:10he doesn't know how to play it safe.
00:55:11Number two,
00:55:11he can't fight going backwards
00:55:12from boxing on the other side.
00:55:14Number three,
00:55:14that's his fight.
00:55:15And in four,
00:55:16it can't be scored to the judge's mind.
00:55:18Okay.
00:55:21Does that tell you?
00:55:22That nailed it.
00:55:24No, mate.
00:55:29In this last round of your life, mate, okay?
00:55:40He has that great right hand,
00:55:42and as he counters with it so often,
00:55:45this man does not fall.
00:55:47And watch now,
00:55:48he steps back and just stares at him.
00:55:52Another look at it.
00:55:53On the retreat,
00:55:54comes back in with the counter right hand.
00:55:56Not a great right hand if you watch his right foot.
00:55:58His right foot was lifted in the air a little bit,
00:56:00so that was an arm punch,
00:56:02although it was clean and crisp.
00:56:03While he appears to be
00:56:06ahead on points,
00:56:07you would think that he would want to
00:56:09salvage his pride
00:56:12and end this
00:56:15in exciting fashion.
00:56:17Talking, of course,
00:56:18about Costas who they touched close
00:56:19for the 12th round.
00:56:26Break?
00:56:27Uh-uh, no, no.
00:56:31Zu once again,
00:56:32very tentative.
00:56:36Right hand over the top by Arkell.
00:56:39That's scored.
00:56:40That's what happens
00:56:40when Acosta Zu,
00:56:42in that style that he has,
00:56:43gets tentative.
00:56:46Oh, a straight right,
00:56:48right on the button by Arkell.
00:56:51Zu got staggered momentarily.
00:56:54He just caught Arkell on the win,
00:56:56but Arkell right now is going for broke, Steve.
00:56:58You gotta tip your hat to him.
00:56:59You really do.
00:57:01You have to give tremendous credit
00:57:03to the challenger,
00:57:04Octay Arkell here.
00:57:06Another right hand by Arkell that connects.
00:57:08No, no, no, no, no, no.
00:57:09Right on the jaw of Costas Zu.
00:57:12Zu's getting hammered here in the 12th round.
00:57:16With two minutes to go.
00:57:19Arkell continues to come forward.
00:57:21A left hand by Arkell that scored.
00:57:24A right that got in.
00:57:25Right?
00:57:26I'm convinced that Zu is tired,
00:57:29and that he's just not,
00:57:31does not have his rhythm today.
00:57:38And you can hear them in the Zu corner
00:57:40off to our right saying,
00:57:41come on, Costia.
00:57:42A very worried corner.
00:57:46No, no, no, no.
00:57:47A little smile from Zu.
00:57:52That right was blocked by Costia.
00:57:55Stop! Stop!
00:57:56And both are exhausted.
00:57:58I don't think Zu lost the fight,
00:57:59but he didn't do anything to help his stock.
00:58:01Oh, no.
00:58:02The right and the left hand just missed by Arkell,
00:58:04but he comes forward again.
00:58:06Arkell winning over a lot of fans here tonight,
00:58:09and Zu's stock goes down.
00:58:17A left hand by Arkell to the chin.
00:58:20I don't think I can say it enough times,
00:58:21Costas Zu keeps going straight back,
00:58:23never out to one side or the other,
00:58:25slipping side to side, straight back.
00:58:27He gets caught on the tail end of every punch
00:58:29and Arkell throws because he rushed in.
00:58:32Arkell dominating the 12-foot final round.
00:58:37A good left hand by Arkell.
00:58:39It was a right-left combination.
00:58:40The left scored.
00:58:48And a right cross by Arkell.
00:58:50Now.
00:58:53Rock and the heart plays Costas Zu.
00:58:56You might want to play it safe of your head,
00:58:58but if you don't fight back,
00:58:59you'll look even worse.
00:59:00Double left took by Zu.
00:59:02Finally comes alive.
00:59:04There's another left with 10 seconds to go by Zu.
00:59:09Well, they're going to both end up standing for quite a finish.
00:59:16That's it.
00:59:21The crowd was definitely behind the challenger,
00:59:24Octay Arkell.
00:59:30Uninspiring is the word you used before.
00:59:31I'm going to use it again.
00:59:33Very uninspiring.
00:59:34By Costas Zu.
00:59:36Arkell gets the salute from the crowd
00:59:38as he jumps on the ropes.
00:59:41And he has to feel very proud of himself.
00:59:44A tough night for Costas Zu.
00:59:49It's now the hands of the three judges,
00:59:53Frank or Richard Flaherty of Graintree, Mass,
00:59:57Julie Letterman, West Nyack, New York,
00:59:59and Terry O'Connor from London, England.
01:00:06Really be interested to hear the words of Costas Zu
01:00:08after this one.
01:00:11I can hardly wait.
01:00:13Arkell being hugged there by his trainer,
01:00:15Fritz Zidunek, who knew Costas Zu very well
01:00:18from the amateurs.
01:00:20So they did a good job of homework against Zu.
01:00:25Arkell had a game plan, did a good job,
01:00:30and a very difficult night for Costas Zu.
01:00:32Who would have thought this would go the distance?
01:00:38And Zu was hurt in this fight.
01:00:42Well, this specialist last round,
01:00:43Arkell comes out, follows him, just follows him.
01:00:46Again, Zu just going backward.
01:00:48That's more of a trip off the ropes and feet,
01:00:50but he got hit clean there under several punches.
01:00:53And Zu did rally, but he didn't come close
01:00:55to making this round even.
01:00:59Nice stuff of a shotgun jab.
01:01:07And again, not much there.
01:01:09Arkell actually outworks him in punches.
01:01:11Not all of him landing.
01:01:13Gets stuffed with a nice jab from the challenger.
01:01:16He just looked awful tonight.
01:01:31All right, let's get the final tally from our ring announcer,
01:01:35Jimmy Lennon Jr.
01:01:41Ladies and gentlemen, after 12 rounds of action,
01:01:44we have a unanimous decision.
01:01:47Here the score totals.
01:01:48Judge at ringside Julie Letterman scores about 115 to 113.
01:01:54Judge Terry O'Connor scored about 116 to 113.
01:02:03All three in favor of the winner and still champion, Kostia Zu.
01:02:13Three in favor of the winner and still champion, Kostia Zu.
01:02:23Unanimous decision for Kostia Zu.
01:02:25Unpopular here at Mohegan Sun.
01:02:29Well, there's no question that Zu outpointed Urkau,
01:02:33but Urkau won a lot of fans over.
01:02:35He had Zu stunned toward the end of the fight,
01:02:40but Zu rallied in that last round,
01:02:42although Urkau won that last round in convincing fashion.
01:02:46No question about that.
01:02:47This should be very interesting stuff as we set it up to Jim Gray in the ring.
01:02:50Jim?
01:02:51All right, thank you very much, Steve.
01:02:53I'm here with Kostas.
01:02:54He gets the belts wrapped around him.
01:02:56Kostia, let me, as he calls for his opponent, Octay, to come over.
01:03:00Kostia, were you hurt in this fight
01:03:02and were you stunned in the 12th round?
01:03:05Me?
01:03:06Yes, you.
01:03:07Come on, guys.
01:03:09You probably watched a different fight.
01:03:11Well, I guess we all were watching a different fight,
01:03:13but you're telling us that no point in this fight were you hurt?
01:03:17No, no.
01:03:18He was a good fighter, very tough.
01:03:21I expect this and I prepare for this.
01:03:24And look, 12 rounds, easy.
01:03:26You expected this?
01:03:27Oh, I did expect it.
01:03:28And this guy never been stopped.
01:03:29He never been knocked down.
01:03:31You were not frustrated?
01:03:32Huh?
01:03:33Were you frustrated?
01:03:34Me?
01:03:34Yes.
01:03:35I mean, when you fight against a good guy and win him,
01:03:38I thought the judging was a little different.
01:03:41I mean, it was...
01:03:42The fight was close.
01:03:43But I never thought it was so close.
01:03:45The crowd is chanting the words that we can't repeat on the air.
01:03:50So, apparently, all of us saw a different fight.
01:03:52But you're saying that you weren't hurt and that you weren't frustrated
01:03:55and that you were prepared for this.
01:03:57So, you weren't looking forward at all to Zab?
01:04:00Now I'm looking forward to fight Zab, of course.
01:04:02Before this fight, were you looking forward to Zab?
01:04:05Of course.
01:04:06I mean, so I knew it's like a semi-final.
01:04:10It was semi-final.
01:04:10Now the final final arrived.
01:04:12And now we will fight.
01:04:15We need to talk with the promoters.
01:04:18Well, it appears that that's all set.
01:04:20But we now have Zab Judah who is stepping in here.
01:04:26Zab, we talked to you throughout the fight.
01:04:28You clearly were amazed at the ease that Costa was hit with.
01:04:33How does that now set up for you on November 3rd to fight him here?
01:04:38Well, I mean, I want to say congratulations, first of all.
01:04:41And I'm glad that we finally made this fight.
01:04:43And, you know, I'm looking forward to having a good fight whenever November.
01:04:48And it'll be right here.
01:04:50Do you fear Zab Judah's speed having seen what he can do
01:04:55and having seen what happened here this evening?
01:04:58I mean, if you ask Zab, does he got a fear?
01:05:00He'll say no.
01:05:02I'm not asking Zab, I'm asking you.
01:05:05Don't be rude to me, please.
01:05:06I'm not, but I mean...
01:05:07Let me answer.
01:05:08Any boxer, any boxer will never fear anybody.
01:05:12And when he stepped in the ring with the two fighters, with two warriors, and...
01:05:17Bobby Chez made an interesting comment tonight.
01:05:20You're 31 years of age and he said sometimes fighters can get old in a fight.
01:05:24Yep.
01:05:25Do you feel old tonight?
01:05:26Uh, no, I wasn't really old tonight.
01:05:2812 rounds.
01:05:29I mean, I never fought 12 rounds since 95.
01:05:31Uh, I mean, uh, it's really good for me to have these rounds, uh, have experience to
01:05:37fight these 12 rounds against very tough guy.
01:05:39I mean, Oracle has never been down.
01:05:42And there's very good chin.
01:05:43And, uh, are you happy that you decided to postpone the fight and to take another fight?
01:05:49You felt you were being rushed into this.
01:05:50Not postpone the fight.
01:05:52You see, fight, it's happening.
01:05:53Now, the two champions, now we're gonna see each other in the ring.
01:05:57This is gonna be a tremendous fight.
01:05:59And now you're exciting.
01:06:01Now you can see, now you want this fight even more.
01:06:04Absolutely.
01:06:04You're exactly right.
01:06:06Final thoughts from you, Zep?
01:06:07Well, I mean, you know, I just can't wait to November.
01:06:09And, um, hopefully I'm gonna do my best and I'm gonna work very hard.
01:06:12And, um, after that, I'll be the undisputed champion, the undisputed champion of the world.
01:06:18I'm kind of, I'm kind of happy right now because, um, you know, I just felt very confident
01:06:22about this fight and real good.
01:06:24Not depending on, um, um, Zu's performance tonight because, um, you know, he did, he did
01:06:29what he had to do to win.
01:06:30And, um, about him being scared of me, I wouldn't want no fighter to come in to fight scared of
01:06:34me because that'll make the fight, you know, real, real whack.
01:06:37You know, how people be booing and stuff.
01:06:38If you, if you got two conditioned great athletes, that's gonna make a hell of a fight.
01:06:42And Kosta's a warrior, you know what I mean?
01:06:43And Zagudo's a warrior.
01:06:44So, you got a thunderbolt going on.
01:06:46Zep?
01:06:48Kosta, congratulations.
01:06:49We look forward.
01:06:49Here are all the belts.
01:06:50And they'll battle for them all November 3rd.
01:06:53Right back here.
01:06:54Steve?
01:06:54All right, Jim, uh, Jim Gray getting under the skin of Kostya Zoo tonight almost as much as
01:06:59Octay Urkel did.
01:07:01Let's check the scoring for Zoo versus Urkel.
01:07:04First, the judges.
01:07:06They all had Zoo ahead.
01:07:07There's Richard Flaherty.
01:07:08Julie Letterman had it the closest.
01:07:11115-113 for Zoo.
01:07:13Terry O'Connor had a 116-113 to Zoo.
01:07:18And we have some more scoring for you.
01:07:21This from Press Row.
01:07:23As we love to monitor, Ron Borges, Boston Globe, Scott Schaefer, FightNews.com, Bill Tavares,
01:07:29New London Day.
01:07:30They all had Zoo ahead.
01:07:32The closest was Ron Borges, but the difference was in the homes.
01:07:37How about this, folks?
01:07:38You had it.
01:07:39Octay Urkel, seven rounds to five over Kostya Zoo.
01:07:44Well, Bobby, from time to time, I guess people tend to root and cheer at home more than the
01:07:52reality.
01:07:52They don't just root, Steve.
01:07:52They see one side.
01:07:53They don't see the other.
01:07:55When they're fans of someone, that's what they do.
01:07:57And they're not ringside.
01:07:58They can't see a lot of punches that didn't land that appeared to have landed.
01:08:00So we ringside have the best seat.
01:08:02Yeah, we got to put it in perspective there.
01:08:04Looking ahead, let's see what's coming up.
01:08:07A lot of action in the near future here on Showtime Championship Boxing.
01:08:13Take a look.
01:08:16Next week, Saturday, June 30th, we'll come to you from Las Vegas as the always entertaining
01:08:21Johnny Tapia continues his quest for a fifth world title as he takes on former WBC featherweight
01:08:28champion Cesar Soto in a 10 round bout.
01:08:30Also on the card, WBO 140 pound champion Ener Julio makes the first defense of the title
01:08:36he won last July facing number nine contender Felix Flores.
01:08:40Catch this exciting twin bill next Saturday, June 30th at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
01:08:47And coming up on July 21st, the debut of Showtime's new afternoon boxing series Showbox
01:08:53The New Generation.
01:08:55Every other Saturday will come to you from either the United States or Europe to bring you some
01:08:59of the world's finest young talent showcasing their skills on their way to the top.
01:09:04It's boxing pure and simple.
01:09:05Catch the debut edition of Showbox The New Generation Saturday, July 21st at 5 p.m.
01:09:11Eastern and Pacific.
01:09:13You won't want to miss it.
01:09:18the United States of the United States.
01:09:18Very interesting night here at Mohegan Sun now that it's official.
01:09:21November 3rd here at Mohegan Sun.
01:09:23Kostya Zoo versus Zab Judah.
01:09:25What should we expect now?
01:09:26I think you're going to expect a barn burner.
01:09:28I think the fight's gonna be fantastic.
01:09:30This is a throwback to Leonard Hearns Hagler Duran era.
01:09:32When the guy step up and put the titles at risk, this is what we're calling for unifications.
01:09:37Now we got it.
01:09:38I want to see it.
01:09:39Last time we had an undisputed champion at 140 pounds was 1968, Nicolino Loche.
01:09:46What did we learn tonight?
01:09:48Well, what we learned tonight was that Zab Judah and his speed may be better than Kuscha
01:09:52Zou and his power, at least based on tonight.
01:09:54All right.
01:09:55With that, let's take a look at tonight's results from Uncasville, Connecticut.
01:09:59A final look in our first bout.
01:10:02Panchito Bajardo chalked up another W as he made it six for six since turning pro this
01:10:06past January.
01:10:07Again, kid perfect in every aspect of the game so far.
01:10:09Kid perfect.
01:10:10The natural, the baby-faced assassin.
01:10:13And in our co-feature, Zab Judah retained his IVF 140-pound belt, remained unbeaten, kept
01:10:18his hopes alive for title unification.
01:10:20When he needed to turn it on and sparkle, he did just that.
01:10:24And in our main event, as we mentioned, in an uninspiring performance, Kuscha Zou protected
01:10:29both the WBC and VA 140-pound belts and now sets his sights on the big November showdown
01:10:34with Zab Judah.
01:10:35Everybody has a bad day, Steve, but if he has that one in November, it'll be a lot shorter.
01:10:39Okay.
01:10:40And on that note, we'll tell you that'll do it for another edition of Showtime Championship
01:10:44Boxing.
01:10:45We'll see you again a week from tonight with Johnny Tapia.
01:10:48For Bobby Chez, Jim Gray, our entire crew.
01:10:50Steve Albert saying so long from Uncasville, Connecticut.
01:10:55We'll see you again.
01:10:55We'll see you again.
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