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Jeff Lacy looks to remain undefeated facing Fike Wilson on Showtime Boxing
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00:04It's time!
00:08Too often, the sport of boxing is filled with mismatches and meaningless contests.
00:14But tonight, we bring you two perfect records, two contrasting styles,
00:20two world champions in the prime of their careers.
00:23The consummate boxer, Joel Casamayor, an Olympic gold medalist, a Cuban defector,
00:30one win away from being Cuba's best pro since Kid Chocolate.
00:35The absolute puncher, Ocelino Freitas, 29 knockouts in 30 fights,
00:41one punch away from stepping into stardom spot.
00:44Which champion will remain undefeated and unify the titles?
00:48The boxer, the puncher.
00:52The answer next on Showtime Championship Boxing.
01:43Tonight, Showtime Championship Boxing kicks off year number 16,
01:47with a triple header from the undisputed boxing capital of the world.
01:52Welcome to Las Vegas, Nevada, for one of the most anticipated fights in years.
01:57The wait is over for the on-again, off-again 130-pound mega bout,
02:01between two stars with dramatically contrasting styles.
02:06In our main event, a battle of undefeated.
02:08The slick boxer out of Cuba, WBA Super Featherweight Champion, Joel Casamayor,
02:13will meet the slugger from Brazil, WBO junior lightweight champ, Ocelino Freitas,
02:17in the long-awaited 130-pound world title, Unification Showdown.
02:23The co-feature will focus on former WBC bantamweight champ
02:26and Olympic silver medalist from Ireland, Wayne McCulloch,
02:29who wins a long two-plus year layoff to take on unheralded Alvin Brown.
02:35And for openers, you'll see a top prospect,
02:38as unbeaten 2000 U.S. Olympian and knockout artist Jeff Lacey
02:41is back in action against a fighter named V.E. Wilson.
02:47We welcome you to the Cox Pavilion at Annex of the Thomas & Mack Center
02:51on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
02:54The UNLV women's basketball and volleyball teams
02:56turn this recently constructed entertainment venue over to boxing for only the second time.
03:01The first was Chris Burr's 12-round victory over David Tua back in August.
03:06The crowd's settling in for a main event that has boxing fans very excited.
03:15Hello again, everybody. Steve Albert ringside from Las Vegas.
03:18Welcome to the first major fight of 2002.
03:21In the boxing ring, Joel Casamayor and Ocelino Freitas
03:24offer the kind of classic contrast and styles that makes for great fights.
03:28Cuba's Casamayor is a slippery southpaw who relies on superior speed and technique.
03:33Conversely, Freitas is a Brazilian bomber who has KO'd all but one of his 30 professional opponents.
03:39But these champions share more than is evident at first glance.
03:42Both grew up hungry and poor.
03:44Both used their fists as vehicles for their salvation.
03:47And both fought with great resolve to establish their respective identities.
03:51Tonight, they fight for boxing superstardom.
03:54And with respect to IBF champ Steve Forbes,
03:56supremacy at 130 pounds.
03:58Particularly if WBC champ Floyd Mayweather Jr.
04:02moves up to the lightweight division as expected.
04:05Take a look at the arrivals earlier.
04:08The WBA champion, Joel Casamayor.
04:12Born in Guantanamo, Cuba.
04:14Defected to the U.S. in 96.
04:15Resides in Miami.
04:16Trains out of Van Nuys, California.
04:18With the man to the right of your screen, Joe Goosen.
04:21Joel low-key reserved all business claims.
04:24Freitas used his recent personal issues,
04:26his management, weight problems, marriage,
04:28his excuses to avoid getting in the ring with him.
04:30Freitas did pull out of this fight twice.
04:33Casamayor says this should be the easiest fight of his career.
04:36Even though Freitas could pose big problems.
04:40And the arrival of the WBO champ.
04:43Ocelino Freitas with his wife Eliana.
04:45Carrying the championship belt.
04:48Their recent wedding was actually televised nationally in Brazil.
04:52Drew record ratings.
04:53Ocelino charismatic.
04:55Gets the movie star treatment in his native Brazil.
04:57Originally from Bahia, now Salvador.
04:59Supremely confident despite Casamayor's claims that he was ducking him.
05:03In fact, Freitas says, hey, the only reason Casamayor won the gold medal at the 92 Olympics
05:08was because he was too young to participate.
05:11Said Casamayor won't go five rounds.
05:18And with that, let me bring on my ringside partner,
05:20former world champion Bobby Chez.
05:22You heard those fighting words.
05:23What makes this championship unification fight so special in your mind?
05:27Well, Steve, as you just stated, it looks like Floyd Mayweather Jr.
05:30is going to lead the 130-pound division and go up to 135.
05:33A little while back, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Diego Corrales were touted as number one and two.
05:37They squared off.
05:38It wasn't title unification.
05:39It was Corrales that vacated his title.
05:41But now what's left is Ocelino Freitas and Joel Casamayor.
05:44Number one and two, one way or the other.
05:46And tonight's the unification to find out.
05:48Unification has become part of the style again.
05:50We saw recently, Kasia Zou and Zab Judah unify the title.
05:53Bernard Hopkins really stringed that unify the title.
05:56It's back in style and we have one here tonight and a great matchup at that.
05:59It's good for the fans to unify those titles.
06:01Our main event upcoming later featuring Joel Casamayor and Ocelino Freitas.
06:05But before that, we have two other bouts on tonight's card.
06:09Before we get to our first fight as usual,
06:11we invite Showtime subscribers with internet access to score tonight's bouts online
06:14in the boxing area at show.com.
06:17Your vote will instantly update the webpage
06:19and the results will be announced later on in the telecast.
06:21Online scoring will not influence the outcome of the fight
06:24and is only available to viewers of our East Coast feed.
06:27So to score tonight's fights and learn more about upcoming Showtime boxing events,
06:31log on to show.com.
06:32S-H-O dot com.
06:38Set to lead things off right now with the very promising and hard-hitting Jeff Lacey
06:43as he gets ready to face a fighter named Fiki Wilson.
06:47168 pounder, scheduled for six.
06:53Is Fiki Wilson the next sacrificial lamb for Jeff Lacey?
06:57Wilson, one of 30 children from South Philly by way of Tanzania.
07:02Turned pro at 15.
07:0310-4-1, seven KOs.
07:05Lost two of his last three off a third-round knockout loss.
07:08No fights between 94 and 99.
07:11Your best advice from Mr. Wilson?
07:13How about avoiding the left hook to begin with?
07:14Well, I'll tell you what, Steve.
07:15I might advise Wilson to get a bat.
07:17And even with bat in hand, he might have to land first.
07:19Or he could lose.
07:20Wilson's gonna have to find a way to make Lacey miss
07:22and make him pay and counterpunch him.
07:24He can push him back maybe.
07:26His best chance might be working the body.
07:28But based on his last performances and his resume,
07:30I'd say he's facing Mission Impossible.
07:33And you'll see, as soon as he disrobes there,
07:36he looks great, but not on the same skill level as this man.
07:39Jeff Lacey, overshadowed by the quick success
07:42of fellow 2000 Olympian Conchito Bojado,
07:44but gaining momentum.
07:46Highlight real-type knockout since turning pro last February.
07:49All six wins by early KO, but safe competition.
07:54Made it to the second round for the U.S. at City.
07:56Chiseled physique, explosive left hook.
07:58Pleasant dilemma here, Bobby.
08:00He needs the rounds, but keeps taking people out in a hurry.
08:02You know what, Steve?
08:03It's probably boxing's best dilemma,
08:05but I would never advise a fighter to take any opponent
08:07and carry him any rounds.
08:09When you can get rid of him, get rid of him.
08:10Anything can happen.
08:11Well, right now, Lacey's stepped up a couple of times
08:13with what we thought was better quality, tougher opposition,
08:16and he's blown them out, too.
08:17He has the potential right now, in the near future,
08:19to be one of the best 168, maybe even 175-pound punchers in history.
08:23He's that powerful.
08:24He wants a title fight maybe as soon as the end of this year.
08:29He's had only ten rounds, though, in six fights.
08:32He's got to get tested.
08:33Let's check the numbers as we go to the tail of the tape.
08:37At 24, Lacey two years younger than Wilson.
08:39Lacey two-and-a-half inches shorter, but has a four-inch reach advantage.
08:43At yesterday's weigh-in, Lacey right on the money, 168.
08:46Wilson under at 163.
08:48Tonight, Lacey plus one, Wilson plus five.
08:51So he's at 168.
08:52Key rules, no standing eight count, no three-knockdown rule.
08:55A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
08:57If an accidental headbutt occurs before the end of the fourth round,
09:00the fighters rule a technical draw.
09:02If it happens after the end of round four, they will go to the scorecards.
09:05So here at the Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, getting set for Lacey and Wilson,
09:10let's get the formal introductions from our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon, Jr.
09:15Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening to you,
09:18and we welcome you to the Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV here in Las Vegas, Nevada,
09:24as we have a big night of action coming your way,
09:28and it's all brought to you courtesy of Arthur Polluno's Banner Promotions,
09:32and America presents, in association with Green Valley Ranch, Station Casino, Showtime,
09:39and Budweiser, the undisputed King of Beers.
09:43Tonight's action is sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
09:46Our timekeepers at the bell also keeping count of the knockdowns,
09:49we have Al Bicek and James Cavett.
09:52Our three judges scoring this bout from ringside,
09:55introducing Robert Hoyle, Jerry Roth, and Paul Smith,
09:58and the third man in the ring, the referee in charge of this bout, Tony Weeks.
10:05All right, fans, here we go with a super middleweight special attraction,
10:10scheduled for six rounds of boxing.
10:13Introducing to you first, on my left, he is fighting out of the blue corner,
10:17wearing white trunks with blue trim,
10:19fighting out of South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
10:21by way of Dar es Salaam Tasdemania.
10:25He weighed in at a trim and ready 163 pounds.
10:30His record stands at ten wins, four losses, one draw,
10:33with seven wins coming by way of knockout.
10:37Introducing Fiki Wilson.
10:43And his opponent across the ring on my right,
10:46fighting out of the red corner, the six-round attraction.
10:49He is wearing black trunks with silver trim,
10:52fighting out of St. Petersburg, Florida.
10:54He weighed in at 168 pounds.
10:57He is undefeated in his campaign to the ring with six wins, no losses.
11:02All six wins coming by way of knockout.
11:05Please welcome the hard-hitting and undefeated 2,000 U.S. Olympian.
11:11Introducing Jeff Leftro-Clacy.
11:19Once again, referee in charge, Tony Weeks.
11:22Now the instructions at six rounds of boxing schedule.
11:25Take the shirt off.
11:27Switch.
11:31Okay.
11:32You already see your instructors in your dressing room.
11:35I want a good, clean fight.
11:38Obey my commands at all times above all.
11:40Protect yourselves at all times.
11:41Okay.
11:42Anything right here is good.
11:43Anything below this is going to be low.
11:45Right here is good.
11:46Anything below this is going to be low.
11:48Are there any questions?
11:49Let's go.
11:54Lacey with the Olympic pedigree.
11:56Probably the hardest puncher from the U.S. team.
11:58All six of his KOs have come in three rounds or less.
12:01Four in the first round.
12:03And Wilson who looks physically imposing but telegraphs his punches.
12:08Kind of pulls it back before he unloads.
12:11Throws wide looping shots and leaves himself open.
12:14And that is not a good thing against Jeff Lacey.
12:18Wilson who does 3,000 sit-ups a day.
12:22That's a lot of sit-ups, Steve.
12:26Yes, it is.
12:29Lacey comes off an impressive third round knockout over a late sub named Scorpion Bawa.
12:35A perfect left hook to the chin.
12:37A thunderous shot.
12:38He's got power in both hands.
12:40Speed in his punches.
12:43Wilson talked about early on he wanted to push Lacey back.
12:46Now, two things happen.
12:47You get hit when you come in.
12:50Next.
12:50You get hurt.
12:51Lacey has had several late substitutes.
12:55Beautiful left, right.
12:56And okay, right.
12:57Out on his feet appears to be rough.
12:59Wilson's in trouble early.
13:03And he's in a bad spot right there in the corner.
13:07And that's it.
13:09It is stopped right off the bat by Tony Weeks.
13:14Wilson couldn't even get out of the first round.
13:17He walked into a right hand, Steve.
13:19He left his left hand down.
13:21And somehow, he just didn't seem to be paying attention to Lacey's punches.
13:24And he got cracked good.
13:31With Lacey winning so easily, you wonder though if it can be a good thing or a bad thing for
13:37Lacey
13:37in terms of his overall development down the road.
13:57I mean, is this happening to build Lacey's confidence or to pad his record so it seems impressive prior to
14:04a title shot?
14:05Well, Steve, there's a combination of both that go with that.
14:07You want to build a record so the man has a resume.
14:10You want to build his confidence and see what he can do.
14:12But they've tested him with a couple of reasonably tough guys with some skills.
14:16Not to his level yet.
14:17And they've all pale by comparison badly.
14:20All of his seven opponents have had winning records coming in.
14:24But that could be misleading.
14:28Lacey, of course, looks like a future star.
14:31But he has to be tested.
14:33When does that take place?
14:34Is he being held back even though his record looks great?
14:37Over the course of years I've seen a lot of fighters coming up starting undefeated records.
14:41A lot of knockouts, if not all knockouts.
14:43Somewhere around the 10th to 12th fight they put him in with a journeyman who may not necessarily be that
14:49skillful
14:50but is incredibly tough and will push you and is in good shape.
14:52So that's something we've got to look forward to hopefully with Lacey.
14:56And in a strange way, his power may be working against him.
15:02He's a little frustrated by the fact he cannot show off his boxing skills.
15:10We'll take a look at Lacey working in behind the jab.
15:13There's a nice right hand and a left hook.
15:16They land pretty clean but they're not the big bombs.
15:24There's the right hand.
15:25Wilson just didn't see it over the left hand.
15:28And you can see he can barely get his feet.
15:30Lacey pursues.
15:31Right hand down the middle working the uppercut.
15:33Not a lot landing cleanly but eventually he tees.
15:35He's a couple of clean body shots.
15:38Wilson backs him into the corner offering up no offense.
15:40Notice that.
15:41He's not fired back.
15:42If you don't fire back you just go into a passive position.
15:46The referee takes a good look and says no.
15:47Not happening.
15:48This fight's over.
15:51If you look at it again from another angle.
15:53Here's the first right hand and left hook.
15:55Not real big power shots.
15:57But this right hand that comes over the left hand you watch it.
16:00Feige's not paying attention.
16:01Hands down bang the right hand.
16:03You can see him.
16:04Equilibrium's gone.
16:05Legs are not under him.
16:06And he offers up again.
16:07No offense.
16:08Doesn't even throw a punch back.
16:10Just covering up passively.
16:11Well there's a couple of sort of slaps.
16:13But he goes into the corner.
16:14And the referee's watching him very clear right now.
16:17He's got good position.
16:18And Lacey's unloading.
16:19And those two shots snapped his head well.
16:21Referee made a good call.
16:22It was all a matter of a few seconds.
16:26In super slow motion.
16:27We'll look at the first right hand left hook.
16:29Oh.
16:31Watch.
16:31Watch this in this right hand.
16:33It's going to really hurt in super slow motion.
16:34Because it lasts a whole lot longer.
16:36Right over the left hand.
16:40Bang.
16:41Look at that delay reaction and his bend.
16:44His legs are not under him.
16:46He needs the ropes.
16:47Without those ropes he'd be in the first row.
16:49A few shots don't land well.
16:50That one does land well.
16:52Comes to the body.
16:53Two body shots.
16:54Very clean.
16:54Left hook to the solar plexus.
16:55Very impressive.
16:56That Lacey remembered the body.
16:58Now here comes the coup de gras.
17:00Pushes him back with the jab.
17:01The referee's really already seen enough.
17:03That left uppercut snaps his head up.
17:07And you'll see.
17:08There's no real reaction from Ziki.
17:12Because he doesn't think he's out.
17:13I mean he doesn't think it's a bad call.
17:15He knows.
17:16Lacey knows it was over.
17:17Yeah Lacey knows that pose.
17:19This is his fastest knockout.
17:2150 seconds.
17:23His previous fastest was a minute 41 over Tommy Attardo in his second professional fight.
17:30His first professional fight his opponent took one look at him with his shirt off at the weigh-in.
17:35And took the next bus home.
17:37Maybe Wilson should have done that too.
17:38Let's get it up to Jimmy Lennon Jr. for the announcement.
17:47Ladies and gentlemen we have the time of 50 seconds in round number one.
17:52A referee in charge.
17:53Tony Weeks stops the contest.
17:55The winner by way of technical knockout.
17:57Still undefeated now with a perfect record of 7-0 with seven knockouts.
18:02Jeff left hook Lacey.
18:08So Lacey remains undefeated 7-0, seven knockouts.
18:14And he did tell us that he would love to have a world title shot in a year.
18:20Perhaps by the end of this year.
18:25So another successful night over an easy opponent for Jeff Lacey.
18:29Coming up next, former Bandaway champ Wayne McCullough.
18:33From...
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