Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00Championship boxing Holyfield against the former WBC heavyweight champ Pinklin
00:06Thomas Holyfield closing in on his second heavyweight bout the soft-spoken
00:11Holyfield more than just a boxer also a father and devoted son but aside from
00:16those full-time jobs he's taken on yet a new venture the world of acting he has
00:21a role in a comedy horror movie called get this blood salvage
00:29stand by and roll down
00:37and action $500 for one round one round
00:44acting is just one more addition to a very full life for Evander outside the
00:50ring Holyfield got his first taste of acting through his manager's son Ken
00:54Sanders jr. the film's producer
00:58when I was writing the script I of course had a I had a role for a famous boxer and
01:04I think had I chosen Mike Tyson Evander would have knocked me out
01:08but in the in the story we wanted to have we wanted to have a boxing scene
01:14because we knew that Evander would really want to be a part of the film
01:20my main concern is to to be good at one thing and that's boxing but once when it's over that I pretty
01:30much can fall back on to back on to acting you know it's something different something that I feel like I would enjoy because boxing is an entertaining thing and so to see myself on the screen before it's acting stuff I know that I could be happy with myself
01:52being happy with himself didn't come easily for Evander when he was young growing up in government housing projects Evander was guided by his mother's wisdom and love during these difficult teenage years where he came from and what his mother taught him are still a big part of his life today
02:08Evander was brought up right by his mom and he has great morals and he's the type person that he has a big heart he's loyal he's hard working he's trustworthy he's the type you say I'm gonna meet you at nine o'clock he's gonna be there before nine he won't be there the next day or five minutes later he'll be there he has respect for people and he appreciates his position
02:35I look at my mother as a big inspiration because to be a woman to raise eight kids without a father and to to discipline her kids the way she did and to and for the background she had no high school education but she was able to to inspire us to go to high school and try to be the best that we can be
03:02I see I see in him he happy
03:05and when he happy I'm happy
03:09he are my son I have four sons
03:13and I guess we all proud of him
03:18but
03:19I'm glad you know
03:24he making his goal because that's what he love
03:28Being a project person is very different because in high school kids would let you know that we live in the houses and you live in the government project and they would kind of discriminate and of course you know you have your friends that from the project you get along with and you have the people from the houses who thought they were better.
03:50I see myself as a role model for the underprivileged kids and kids that are privileged but I feel like it's hard to realize what these kids are going through if you never was in that situation I was in the situation I was there in the government project but one thing I was trying to let the kids know that no matter you know how low you are today you can get higher if you just strive for the best.
04:19Evander's entire family strangely enough calls the champ Chubby since his mom gave him the nickname when he was young we asked his mother to tell us how the nickname evolved.
04:32Evander's entire family was your health.
04:34I called him Chubby because I have a friend we are very close her name was Chubby and I have seen him in about fifteen years fourteen fifteen years and I was thinking about her.
04:47And Chevy was running around there playing about two or three years old.
04:53He was kind of chucking with a little big head, and I said, I'm going to call him Chevy.
05:01Nobody can be no better than they choose, and Chevy is a wonderful father.
05:17I don't get a chance to spend much time with my kids, but I let them know that their father loved them.
05:25Their father, I've been working hard for them to have the best education that's possible.
05:32Evander Holyfield is more than just a boxer.
05:36Thanks to the love and support provided by his family, he's become a complete man.
05:40Growing up in humble surroundings, his mother's presence was a constant inspiration.
05:48I want all of my children to know that I was there, I was their mother, and I love them all.
05:57And I want them to know that we didn't have much, but we had love.
06:08So off those poignant words by the mom of Evander Holyfield, Holyfield standing by and getting ready to face Pinklyn Thomas in our main event.
06:16Of course, he's going against the former WBC heavyweight champ.
06:19What does Holyfield have to do to prevail, Ferdy?
06:22Well, Holyfield has got to time the jab of Pinklyn Thomas.
06:25Pinklyn Thomas is going to come out to try to dominate with that strong jab.
06:29That timing is essential to cross with his right hand.
06:32Following that, he's got to get Pinklyn out of his rhythm.
06:35Pinklyn's an old fighter now. He's a one-two jab kind of fighter.
06:38He's got to get him off that rhythm and give him the older Thomas angles, motion, and new slants to confuse him.
06:45He can't just stand in front of him.
06:48All right, what about Pinklyn Thomas? What must he do to win this fight?
06:52Well, again, almost the key is the jab.
06:55Where Pinklyn has dominated his opponents was with a strong and fast jab.
06:59It's a Sonny Liston jab, a jab that does damage.
07:02So he must use that strong jab to control and position Holyfield so that he can fight his fight.
07:08Out-strengthening Holyfield to tire him out because he's a much bigger guy, leaning all over him, making him get tired.
07:17And, of course, the one thing an older guy's got to do, he's got to be first to attack.
07:21Don't let Holyfield get into his game plan.
07:23Don't let the younger, stronger, more reflexively active fighter get into it.
07:27But try to stop him by being first.
07:30All right, Pinklyn Thomas against Evander Holyfield, big main event coming up.
07:34This place is buzzing, a lot of celebrities on hand.
07:37Pinklyn calls this a crossroads fight.
07:39He says, I've got to win.
07:41Pinklyn Thomas has battled back from severe drug problems and now tries to battle back from inactivity.
07:46At the ripe age of 30, he is literally and figuratively on the run again for the heavyweight title.
07:53I had fell into the click on drugs at a young age.
08:10I got involved, thought it was cool.
08:12It took a lot out of me.
08:14It blew a lot of my potential.
08:16And it took a lot of my energy to practice, you know.
08:21So, for me to have been my best, it would have been best for me to have been involved in drugs.
08:28Pinklyn Thomas conquered his drug problem through boxing.
08:32And these days, he trains rigorously in Miami, residing in a condominium amongst senior citizens.
08:37He's proud to be their adopted son.
08:40Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
08:45Any interesting mail today?
08:47Nothing.
08:48Jump mail.
08:49Jump mail.
08:50Jump mail.
08:51Jump mail.
08:52Hey, Bernie.
08:53I've seen you throw you in the driving game, Bernie.
08:55We'll stay at the gym.
08:56No chicks.
08:57No chicks.
08:58No chicks.
08:59No chicks.
09:00Good luck.
09:01Tomorrow.
09:02Thomas' trainer is the legendary Angelo Dundee, who lists among his famous pupils the likes of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.
09:25Included among his nine other champions is Pinklyn Thomas.
09:29And what does Pinklyn think of Angelo?
09:31Great inspiration to me.
09:32A great cornerman.
09:33A good strategician.
09:34A good trainer.
09:35He keeps me loose.
09:36It's a real relaxed atmosphere.
09:37Working with him.
09:38There's no stone, pigeons, or, you know, knuckleheads walking around the gym.
09:52That atmosphere is very clear and clean.
09:55He's overly nice.
09:56He gives of himself.
09:58Easily led.
09:59Which is a scary thing.
10:01So, but down there there was nothing to lead.
10:03Proper conditioning.
10:04Proper eating.
10:05And this is the way I brought him here in shape.
10:08He's done little or nothing here.
10:10Because, you know, if a guy's not ready five days for a fight, God help us.
10:13That's the way it's gotta be.
10:14But he's ready.
10:15He's ready for a great fight.
10:17And he's ready to show people that he's back.
10:20Thomas won the title in 84 with a 12-round decision over Tim Witherspoon.
10:26One championship, Bruce, is the ultimate.
10:30There's nothing like the championship of the world.
10:32It's the highest prize in sports.
10:34Ricky Thomas.
10:35Then it was a successful defense against Mike Weaver in 1985 via an eighth-round knockout.
10:47But that was followed by a somewhat lethargic performance in 86 when he lost his title to
11:03Trevor Burbick.
11:06The odds were seven and a half to one for me to beat Burbick.
11:09But if you're not mentally together, your physical body don't operate.
11:14And looking back on the film of the fight, I can see I wasn't myself.
11:21Thomas' last fight was May 30, 1987, when he was knocked out by world heavyweight champ Mike Tyson in round six.
11:28Pinklin was actually controlling the bout until that fateful sixth.
11:32Thomas would like nothing more than to avenge that defeat and someday capture the title again.
11:39I want the title so bad.
11:42I mean, what's in my way now is Hollyfield.
11:45And I'm gonna bury him.
11:47You know, I mean, I want this title bad.
11:50I want the championship back.
11:52I want to countries, different countries and met prime ministers.
11:59I just want the title back.
12:01I think I can represent it better than I did before.
12:04I think that I got it in me to be a better champion than what I was before.
12:11Pinklin Thomas on the run again.
12:16Showtime championship boxing.
12:18Our host, Hotel Caesars Atlantic City.
12:21We're on the boardwalk at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
12:24Some of the glitz and glamour normally associated with the high profile sport of boxing.
12:32And we're awaiting our main event.
12:34Pinklin Thomas against Evander Holyfield.
12:38Of course, not to forget Caesar and Cleopatra.
12:41I thought that was the main event.
12:44Back in B.C. it was.
12:47And here comes former WBC heavyweight champ Pinklin Thomas en route to the ring for the first time in over a year and a half.
12:55A variety of reasons, injuries, personal problems.
12:58You see his ranking like Michael Doakes, a survivor of drug addiction.
13:02Although Thomas hooked on heroin, not cocaine.
13:05Earlier in life from age 10 to 20, Doakes was in his prime.
13:08Pinklin now with a new lease.
13:10A revered trainer in Angelo Dundee.
13:14Lives in the tranquility down in Miami in a condo that houses mostly senior citizens.
13:19The 30 year old Thomas, 29, 2 and 1.
13:2224 knockouts.
13:24His only two losses to Trevor Burbick.
13:27And in his last fight to Mike Tyson back on May 30th, 1987.
13:33Pinklin Thomas with his white cap.
13:37Extremely confident when he was talking to you earlier in the week.
13:41He certainly didn't bounce into the ring.
13:44He sauntered into the ring casually.
13:46Let's see. And the crowd did not give him any kind of applause.
13:49Let's see what happens with Evander.
13:51The crowd can pick up that he's coming in and get excited.
13:54And whether he bounces in in a more excitable fashion.
13:58You're right. Not a big reaction.
14:00Evander Holyfield coming off his victorious heavyweight debut back on July 16th.
14:07When he sent James Quick Tillis into retirement, in fact, with a fifth round TKO.
14:11The crowd responding more to the entrance of Holyfield.
14:14Evander didn't knock out Tillis, you recall.
14:17And the question still lingers concerning his strength and size in the heavyweight ranks.
14:22Holyfield says his hand speed and foot speed will be the difference.
14:26The 26-year-old Evander Holyfield has given up his World Cruiserweight Championship.
14:32And he has set his sights on Mike Tyson in the World Heavyweight Championship.
14:36Holyfield undefeated at 19-0-15 KO's.
14:40Now, as far as the game plans, the strategies entering tonight's main event.
14:45An opportunity to hear from the two trainers, Lou Duva and Angelo Dundee.
14:53I want Evander to hustle this guy. Keep him off balance. Negate his jab.
14:57I mean, get close to him. Do some body punch and fight him on the inside.
15:01And give him a lot of mobility. Keep turning him around. Let him look for him.
15:04We're going to go under. We're going to go over. We're going to go around.
15:07We're going to nail him on the outside. The guy comes in. In close. Going to nail him with hooks.
15:12A variety of things are going to be done.
15:14Holyfield tries out stronger. Well, who's got more strength? Pinklin.
15:19Who punches harder? Pinklin.
15:21Who's got the best left hand? Pinklin. He's going to get licked.
15:25I mean, there's too many things against him for him to win.
15:28He's going to get knocked out late round, but a heck of a fight.
15:32So Pinklin Thomas getting ready for Evander Holyfield. We'll take a look at the tail of the tape.
15:41Holyfield is four years younger than Thomas.
15:44Slight half-inch height advantage for Pinklin Thomas and a big weight advantage for Thomas.
15:49For what that's worth, 12 pounds. A one-inch reach advantage for Evander Holyfield.
15:54And a look at the New Jersey rules.
15:56Ten-point must system. Three scoring judges. A standing eight count in effect.
15:59Three knockdown rule also in effect. And a fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
16:04Jim Morata with the intro.
16:07...Atlantic City, New Jersey.
16:08Caesars Atlantic City in association with Main Events Monitor Productions and Don King Productions
16:15are pleased to present you the best in professional boxing on Showtime.
16:20This is the main event of the evening, scheduled for ten rounds in the heavyweight division.
16:26Your judges, Rocky Castellani, Henry Grant and Frank Brunette.
16:31The referee, Tony Perez.
16:34Introducing first, in the red corner, from Pontiac, Michigan.
16:40He is wearing white trunks with pink stripes.
16:44He weighs in at 222 pounds.
16:4824 big knockouts in his 29 wins.
16:53The former WBC heavyweight champion, Pinklin Pinky Thomas.
17:06And his opponent in the blue corner is from Atlanta, Georgia.
17:15He is wearing white trunks with gold and black trim.
17:19He weighs in at 210 pounds.
17:2315 knockouts in his 19 wins.
17:27He's undefeated.
17:29He's the undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world.
17:33And the number one heavyweight contender, as rated by Ring Magazine.
17:38Here he is.
17:39The real deal.
17:41Evander Holyfield.
17:44Holyfield.
17:46Holyfield.
17:49Henry Austin.
17:51Henry Austin.
18:00The fungi of another.
18:01Henry Austin.
18:04I understand you got the rules this morning.
18:06I'm here to enforce them.
18:08You're here to obey them.
18:09Alright?
18:10Give me a good clean fight, and I will not find one of you.
18:13Most of all, protect yourself at all times.
18:15Shake hands, good luck with us.
18:17I wasn't sure if Pinklin was going to take off the hat.
18:21Ten-round heavyweight bout, our main event, Evander Holyfield
18:23versus Pinklin Thomas, the former WBC heavyweight champ.
18:28The static in the air, the electricity here is almost like the old garden.
18:32The place is packed, heavyweights with the title shimmering in the distance
18:36with Tyson around, and here we go.
18:38Holyfield in the white with the gold trim.
18:41Thomas in the white with the pink trim.
18:43And as we said at the outset, key factor going in,
18:47will Thomas' inactivity affect his conditioning, particularly tonight?
18:51Because one of Holyfield's best qualities is his recovery power,
18:55his recuperative power.
18:57And look out now, as Thomas got tangled up between the legs of Holyfield.
19:04What a start.
19:05A little sloppy.
19:07The only thing I saw in that opening flurry is that Pinklin has landed the jab
19:12a couple of times and popped back the head of Evander Holyfield.
19:17Now, Holyfield wasn't supposed to be eating that jab.
19:19So let's see what happens as it develops.
19:21Keep your eye on the left jab of Pinklin Thomas.
19:24That took him to the championship.
19:26And Holyfield, known for his great hand speed and foot speed.
19:30Can Evander withstand a legitimate heavyweight jab owned by Thomas?
19:34And how can he counter the jab?
19:37There's a solid left by Holyfield.
19:40Does Holyfield have the mobility to keep his distance from Thomas' punches?
19:46And the ongoing question, does Holyfield have heavyweight knockout to power?
19:49What he's got is speed.
19:50Hand speed.
19:51And that's what you've just seen in the last 30 seconds.
19:54And that's what we spoke off at the top of the show.
19:57Get off first.
19:58Dominate.
19:59Make sure that you're punching and the other guy is protecting himself and not punching your back.
20:07Holyfield, 6'2 1⁄2, 210 from Atlanta, Georgia.
20:1219-0, 15 knockouts.
20:15His last fight, as seen on Showtime July 16th, at Lake Tahoe.
20:19His heavyweight debut, a fifth round knockout of James Quick-Killis.
20:22Excellent combinations by Holyfield.
20:26Most caught on the glove of Piclon Thomas, but under and over.
20:32Body to the head.
20:33Looking as good and slick as he has in his previous 19 fights as Evander Holyfield.
20:39All right, get him loose, get him loose.
20:41In your interviews with each fighter early in the week,
20:44both fighters seemed to think that both fighters were straight-up fighters.
20:48But Holyfield has really worked on his mobility.
20:53Here's a solid right by Holyfield that tagged Thomas on the head.
20:57Set up by a good left hand.
20:58Holyfield is boxing beautifully, landing combinations.
21:02Piclon seems mesmerized by the activity.
21:05Punging left there by Evander Holyfield.
21:09Now a flurry by Holyfield and a left by Holyfield that connected.
21:14And Thomas in trouble early.
21:16Holyfield going for the knockout early.
21:19Piclon buckled.
21:20A huge left to the head by Holyfield that really put the strain on Thomas.
21:27Good.
21:27Opening round for Evander Holyfield.
21:30Getting Piclon Thomas in trouble early.
21:33And that is it for round one.
21:36A successful opening round for Evander Holyfield.
21:40As you look at Piclon Thomas with Angelo Dunne.
21:42It's kind of a combination punching.
22:12is what puts an older guy in trouble.
22:14You see his legs start to go just then.
22:17Piclon Thomas was in a little measure of trouble.
22:19Look how well he covers up.
22:20The mark of an experienced fighter.
22:22Evander showing a little bit of over-eagerness just then.
22:26He wanted to put him away.
22:27He did not want to wait.
22:32Angelo Dundee.
22:33As round two starts.
22:35Saying don't bend down and push him back.
22:38Bending back negates his height advantage.
22:40He's just bending into Evander Holyfield's punches.
22:43And Holyfield is obliging since he has the hand speed.
22:46And Evander Holyfield pick up where he left off in round one.
22:49Round two scheduled for ten.
22:51Interesting irony when a young up-and-coming heavyweight named Pinklon Thomas fought James
22:55Quick-Tillis at 82.
22:56Angelo Dundee was in Tillis' corner.
22:59Lou Duva was with Pinklon Thomas.
23:02And Pinklon in an upset.
23:04KO Tillis in the eighth round.
23:06And I've got to think, Lou Duva being as smart as he is in boxing,
23:10knowing what Pinklon's got has designed a good attack for Evander Holyfield.
23:16Along with Georgie Benton, a very good boxing ring.
23:21They've developed a strategy and it's been paid off in the first round.
23:24Lou Duva knows that Pinklon Thomas does not like to be hustled.
23:27And that's what they'll try.
23:29Evander Holyfield there.
23:31Good right hand by Holyfield right on the noggin.
23:35A Pinklon Thomas who blinked.
23:37Pinklon is looking confused and slow.
23:40There's another heavy left by Evander Holyfield.
23:44Holyfield looking confident.
23:47Maybe a little too confident to be cautious.
23:51Remember, you're facing Pinklon Thomas.
23:53The last thing to go is that big punch.
23:56Does Holyfield have a heavyweight punch?
23:59Lou Duva says, so what if he doesn't?
24:02He can do it in two or three punches.
24:04But some people can do it in one.
24:06I remember they kept saying Muhammad Ali didn't have a punch.
24:08He just kept knocking out everybody.
24:10That's right.
24:11That's Evander's record.
24:1215 KOs and 19 fights.
24:15Somebody's knocking them out.
24:18Some wrestling tactics there by Pinklon Thomas.
24:22There's that jab by Holyfield.
24:25Holyfield outspeeding him with a jab.
24:28Thomas has a good chin, so Holyfield going to the body.
24:33Good blocking there.
24:34Good defense by Holyfield.
24:35They've been working on that as well.
24:37Ticking to the ribs was Holyfield.
24:41Holyfield is just simply a good athlete.
24:44I mean, his athleticism is unquestioned.
24:47He just does things in a ring that you've got to be a very good athlete.
24:50Good instincts, superior quickness.
24:53And we've already amplified on the handspore.
24:59No question about that.
25:02He's out jabbing Pinklon Thomas.
25:04Now watch an old slow jab and a real fast jab.
25:07When they both jab, they start at the same time.
25:10But Holyfield comes zipping in and lands, whereas Pinklon's jab lands in the air.
25:17Holyfield with the combination.
25:20Holyfield bouncing around, showing good movement.
25:23Angelo Dundee said that Holyfield has no lateral movement.
25:26Well, he's moving side to side.
25:28And there's a jab being rejected by Holyfield.
25:33That's it for round two.
25:36We will follow Evander Holyfield and listen in to Lou Duba and company.
25:40Take your time.
25:42Climber's jab.
25:44You throw him one jab at a time, most of you.
25:47Go right over there with your right hand.
25:49Come on, breathe in, baby.
25:49Breathe in.
25:50Yeah.
25:51All right.
25:51And if you touch it, come back with your left hook.
25:53Take a deep breath.
25:54Come on.
25:55You got me coming?
25:57Get inside, go to work.
26:01You understand?
26:01And remember when I told you about that arm.
26:03I left arm.
26:04What about it, right?
26:05Okay.
26:05Okay.
26:06Those jab to work in beautiful.
26:07Can you hear me how it touches?
26:08Start snapping.
26:09It's snapping.
26:10Don't let him get off first.
26:11You get off first.
26:11I lose it.
26:12Stick him in the pillow.
26:13A couple nice breaths for me.
26:14All right.
26:15You understand?
26:16In.
26:17Out.
26:18You're boxing beautiful out there, right?
26:19Come here.
26:21Okay.
26:21Let's go to work, son.
26:24Don't be bashful.
26:25Don't save nothing.
26:26Come on.
26:26Come here.
26:28Come on.
26:30Let's go, Juan Yellow.
26:31Let's go.
26:31Go down with a sucker shot.
26:33That gravelly voice you heard as the third round begins was Georgie Benton, whose theory
26:38is if you can't hit anything else, hit him on the arm.
26:41You hear him say, aim for that left arm.
26:43His theory is you keep hitting that left arm, it keeps going down and has no snap in the punches.
26:47Sometimes you miss the arm and hit the guy on the chin.
26:50And that happens from time to time.
26:52And they were saying, get off first.
26:54Get the punch off first.
26:56And there he did.
26:58And Pinklon rocked by that hook.
27:01Pinklon Thomas showing no mobility, slow foot speed and having difficulty.
27:05Here's a flurry by Holyfield.
27:08Pinklon Thomas folding.
27:09Holyfield just nailing Thomas with punch after punch.
27:17Big trouble for Pinklon Thomas.
27:20He's hanging on.
27:22But he has been.
27:23Oh brother, what a crisp left as Holyfield doubled up with the left.
27:28And Thomas is gazed.
27:30He's got a cut under his right eye and he is gazed.
27:34Evander Holyfield is having target practice.
27:37Thomas is a stationary target.
27:40Absolutely he cannot move.
27:42He is riveted to the canvas.
27:44Evander giving him all kind of angles and getting good hard shots off.
27:48Pinklon Thomas is in dire trouble with a lot of time left in round three.
27:52That punchy block.
28:01Evander is in.
28:04Total command.
28:05Total command.
28:05I meant to say Pinklon Thomas is in total slow motion.
28:09As if every bit of energy has been drained from him.
28:12Beautiful defensive move by Evander Holyfield.
28:15Blocked one shot and then came in with another.
28:18Youth and speed and reflexes.
28:19That's what we're seeing here.
28:20Older experience and old age.
28:25The weight difference of 12 pounds in Thomas' advantage.
28:29That formula leads to the inexorable conclusion.
28:34The young guy with the reflexes is having his way.
28:37Thunderous left by Holyfield.
28:40Penetrating to the head of Thomas.
28:41Thomas taking a fearful shellacking right now from the younger Holyfield who seems to be taking his time and measuring him.
28:50Not overexcited.
28:51Just doing his work in a workmanlike fashion.
28:53I noticed even a little smile by Evander Holyfield just now.
29:00Just like I knew this was going to be easy and that's what it is.
29:03Well he just stared right at Thomas and smiled.
29:09But that doesn't scare you.
29:13Left jab by Thomas.
29:15He'll take a jab and then he'll turn the hook off of it and get Pinklon in trouble again.
29:22Pinklon's cut.
29:24Pinklon's cut is under the right eye.
29:26And it's swelling.
29:27Angelo has his work cut out for him.
29:29Dundee, one of the best cut men in the world.
29:31But he's got his work cut out.
29:33And that'll do it for round three.
29:36Another impressive round for Holyfield as we look at Pinklon-Thomas.
29:40Let's listen in to Angelo Dundee.
29:44Come here.
29:44You all right?
29:46All right.
29:46You got to start climbing.
29:49That's a thumb.
29:50That's a reverse psychology of the guy who's going to break his hand on your chest.
30:16Stop backing up on the guy.
30:17Here's where Holyfield had Thomas stunned and totally dazed.
30:27And it was downhill from there.
30:35Here we go.
30:36Round four.
30:37Scheduled for ten.
30:40I think as this picks up and before Evander gets really hot, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine.
30:46That I was stuck 30 days in Seoul, Korea.
30:49A man by the name of Marv Albert.
30:50You might have seen him around your house early in your life.
30:53I think we're former roommates.
30:55You thought it was a dress funny.
30:57I just happened to notice that.
30:58Marv, do you notice that the white of the glove doesn't necessarily touch the anterior?
31:03Oh, what a right hand.
31:04A great way.
31:05Holyfield.
31:05Jump right in, Marv, if you feel the urge.
31:07But I told you not to show up with me at these fights because you only confuse the fight now.
31:13I think Bob Thomas is much further gone than I thought.
31:17That's my first impression.
31:19He looked dizzy in the first round.
31:21He just can't seem to handle the speed of Holyfield, who has just looked like he's having a very good time.
31:30Evander Holyfield in total command from the outset.
31:37That jab, that famous jab of Franklin Thomas has had no effect on the much quicker Evander Holyfield.
31:43And as in the dopes fight, he's holding it way down low.
31:46Something you cannot afford to do as a man has such quick reflexes.
31:50Not only are you going to get jabbed to death, but the right hand is going to come over and sing him just like he did the right hand.
31:57Well, Angelo Dundee told us that he was going to get Franklin Thomas to do some more lateral movement,
32:02some more left to right motion.
32:03That has been invisible.
32:06Well, when you're getting punched silly like that, movement goes out the window.
32:09No matter if you've got the greatest trainer in the world, you can't execute if your legs are dead from the body shots.
32:14And that's what you're just seeing.
32:16The body shots have robbed Franklin Thomas of all mobility.
32:20Right now, Thomas just looking to survive.
32:23Come on, touch him, touch him.
32:26Holyfield just totally confident.
32:29And toying, almost toying with Thomas, doing anything he wants.
32:34You get the feeling that if Holyfield puts together several combinations,
32:37that it's going to be all over for Pinklon Thomas.
32:41Well, Pinklon Thomas said to everybody that he was going to send Holyfield back to the cruiserweight division.
32:47But I don't think so.
32:49I don't think there's any immediate danger of a return to the cruiserweights.
32:55I don't think he could go back to the cruiserweights if he wanted to.
32:58He is a heavyweight.
33:00He has arrived and he's here to stay.
33:01Well, he said he has his sights set on Mike Tyson.
33:05Evander Holyfield, the number one contender right now.
33:10The big question is, does he have the punch to take a Tyson out?
33:15Well, right now, he doesn't seem to have the punch to take Pinklon out.
33:19He's hitting him with everything there is.
33:20Pinklon is just absolutely finished on his feet.
33:23And he's not finishing him.
33:25He's winning every round handily.
33:27And he's inflicting a lot of damage, but he is not knocking out Pinklon Thomas.
33:32Final seconds of round four.
33:37So, Mark, what's your impression of the fight to this point?
33:40Do you think he's winning, Mark?
33:43I think the point you brought up, the question raised,
33:47would he have the punch to go up against a Mike Tyson is the major question.
33:52I don't think that's something we'll be able to discover until they actually step into the ring.
33:57And I don't know what a Doakes battle against Holyfield would prove.
34:02And obviously, that's what they are trying to set up.
34:07Well, I think that the fact that they're going to move him against Doakes,
34:10which is going to be a repeat of the same thing.
34:12I mean, it's a slower guy against this very fast guy.
34:14If he hasn't got a punch by then, then he better know how to box an awful lot.
34:17The score sheet is a total, total wipeout by Holyfield.
34:21Well, one of those rounds could have been a 10-8 round without any trouble
34:24because he had Pinklon Thomas almost knocked out.
34:28You know what I noticed?
34:29Your handwriting is much neater on Showtime belts than on NBC Sports belts.
34:34I can't put my finger on them.
34:35We have literate people at Showtime.
34:38Round five.
34:39We should point out that the Barb is in town to do the Kansas Temple basketball game
34:43on NBC tomorrow right here in Atlantic City.
34:45Nice seeing you, fellas.
34:46Nice seeing you, Marvin.
34:47Give our regards to the coach, Al McGuire.
34:49Bye.
34:50Round five scheduled for 10.
34:54The coach, Al McGuire, sitting behind us, taking in the action as well.
34:59I checked his scorecard.
35:00He had to pick for Thomas winning.
35:04But Evander Holyfield in total command.
35:07Heavy lefts by Holyfield.
35:17And Pinklon blinked.
35:19He couldn't open his eye as if he'd gotten thumbed.
35:21He's blinking away there.
35:22That's the same eye that had that bad eye infection.
35:25That postponed about in October.
35:27He said he had caught that in time.
35:30He could have lost his sight.
35:34This fight originally planned for October the 14th.
35:39And he scratched his eye in a sparring session.
35:41That's Pinklon Thomas.
35:43It was the left eye.
35:43You get the impression that Holyfield could go 50 or 20 rounds like this.
35:49What a specimen he is.
35:51Evander Holyfield eyeing a date with Michael Doakes, who won an item of his position earlier tonight against Rocky Sikorsky.
36:05That fight set for March.
36:08Then he does nothing more than to go against Mike Tyson, a heavyweight champion, a world champion.
36:16Holyfield is putting in some very heavy body punishment.
36:19Right hand under the heart.
36:21Just brought up the knee of Pinklon Thomas.
36:25This has got to be a very one-sided contest because Pinklon is just simply not fighting back.
36:30Holyfield dancing around and lunging with the left.
36:36He has Thomas tied up in knots.
36:38When you see a fighter put his hand on the ropes and leave it there, that's usually a sign of weariness and frustration.
36:44And fatigue.
36:51Holyfield just showing his entire repertoire.
36:56Now the wrestling tactics by Thomas is trying to hang on.
36:59Thomas is trying to tire him out.
37:01He's stronger and he's bigger and he's hoping that that will wear out the smaller man.
37:05But it has no effect on Holyfield, who is in superb condition.
37:11What a right hand by Evander Holyfield.
37:15Vicious right.
37:19And Holyfield, once he gets him in trouble, never neglects the body.
37:23Goes right back to the body.
37:25You pay dirt and it is absolutely immobilizing Pinklon Thompson.
37:37And that'll do it for the fifth round.
37:38Michael Dokes, who picked up the unanimous decision of Rocky Sikorsky earlier, taking in the action.
37:44Back in the dressing room.
37:50Happy holidays and season's greetings from Showtime and Sports Television International.
37:57Some Christmas spirit here on the boardwalk at Atlantic City.
38:00In the Atlantic City Convention Center.
38:02That's what's going on outdoors, but indoors.
38:09Here, our host, Caesars Atlantic City.
38:13This is the last round.
38:16You want to give me a round?
38:19You want to give me one good round?
38:21Give me one good round.
38:23Stop making him grab you around the head.
38:25Next time he grabs you around the head, hit him right there.
38:27Let's look at that punch where Pinklon blinks.
38:33You see how he's blinked?
38:34I think that's a thumb in the eye.
38:35That kind of hook puts a thumb right in your eye and you're just temporarily blinded.
38:41Round six, scheduled for ten.
38:44It has been all Evander Holyfield.
38:47Thumping combination.
38:48Even Angelo Dundee willing to concede all of the previous rounds.
38:53He said, just give me one round.
38:54Just win one.
38:56He's trying to get his guy to fight one round.
38:58Maybe he can get himself together.
38:59Maybe he can get a little confidence.
39:01Right now, he has no confidence.
39:03He's just a stationary target for the apparently tireless Vandoli.
39:08England Thomas inactive for some 19 months since the loss to Mike Tyson.
39:15And he is having his problems here.
39:20Inactivity is the bane of old fighters.
39:24Just to stay off for a long time and come back with a hard fight like this is almost impossible.
39:30Big right cross by Holyfield just the second back.
39:36Mostly shots are landing.
39:38The thing that's amazing is that Pinklin has not really put in a hard punch yet.
39:45I mean, he hasn't really thrown anything with pepper on it.
39:48I mean, he's just sort of arm-weary, lethargic, disinterested punches.
39:56Well, this was the round that Mike Tyson knocked out Pinklin Thomas.
40:00It was the sixth round back on May 30th, 1987 in Las Vegas.
40:05As Tyson defended his world heavyweight title.
40:08And here he is going against Evander Holyfield in the sixth round with a minute 23 and counting.
40:15And Thomas looking to be in all kinds of difficulty.
40:21Thomas' legs are just jangling like a puppet on a string there.
40:25Evander almost disinterested at this point.
40:36He just can't put those punches together to finish him off.
40:39He's hit him with everything, but the ring post, the proverbial ring post, and still stands there, losing every round, but still standing there.
40:46Thomas with virtually no side-to-side movement, right in front of Evander Holyfield, and Holyfield having his way almost at will.
40:57Of course, Thomas always had a good chin, but at this stage of his career, Holyfield should have taken him out by now.
41:06It's going to give rise to an awful lot of speculation that Holyfield just doesn't have that kind of punch to get in there with Tyson.
41:14Thomas has no power.
41:15He is just barely standing.
41:18Well, you know, there's more than one way to win a fight.
41:21I mean, you don't have to knock out somebody.
41:22You can out-box Mike Tyson, and you can out-survive him, so he's certainly not going to out-punch him, that's for sure.
41:36That'll do it for round six.
41:38A slight flurry there by Pinklin Thomas at the bell.
41:42Had no effect on him.
41:43But it was the best thing he's thrown in the last four or five rounds.
41:47And another edition of Showtime Championship Boxing coming to you from Atlantic City.
41:52Our host, Caesars Atlantic City.
41:57Good crowd on head.
42:00Hit him in the body as often as possible, man.
42:02And this is the Holyfield.
42:03Don't get care of it.
42:04Don't get care of it.
42:05Come on, breathe in.
42:05Come on.
42:06Out of it.
42:07Breathe in.
42:07Listen, keep that jab operating.
42:09That jab is cutting him a brand of legs.
42:11Man, then when you go down with that right hand to the body, you've got to come back with the left hook.
42:13Understand?
42:14You're throwing right hand to it, not coming back with the hook.
42:16Let's go.
42:18You've got to move both those hands.
42:23Well, in February, 25 years ago, Angelo Dundee was in the corner of a young, strong guy fighting an old champion that could take your head off with a jab.
42:34He figured out how that young, strong guy could beat and out-slick the old champion.
42:39And we had Muhammad Ali as the heavyweight champion of the world over Sonny Liston.
42:43And now, 25 years later, the roles are reversed.
42:47Angelo's got the old fighter with a stinking jab that's just about quit.
42:51And Holyfield is looking like Muhammad Ali, just bouncing and bipping and bopping and having a good time.
42:56Angelo was with Pinklin Thomas when he beat Tim Witherspoon for the WBC heavyweight title.
43:03He was not with Pinklin when he lost it to Trevor Burbank.
43:07So he's made a difference in Pinklin Thomas' life.
43:09But right now, I don't know if Superman can help out Pinklin Thomas.
43:19Tonight is Holyfield's sixth straight Showtime Championship Boxing appearance.
43:24He has beaten Ricky Parkey, Asi Ocasio, Dwight Decaui, Carlos De Leon.
43:29That's when he unifies the Cruiserweight title.
43:31And most recently, Quick Tillis.
43:34And if things continue to go well, and nothing unusual happens, he's cruising toward another victory here.
43:43Because simply, Pinklin Thomas cannot win a round.
43:47It's a shutout up to this point.
43:49Very good cruising towards victory.
43:52He'd like to put that word out of his vocabulary right now.
43:55It's heavyweights or bust for Evander Holyfield.
43:58Look at Holyfield dancing around.
44:02And again, the stationary target taking the beating.
44:05Pinklin Thomas off the ropes.
44:07And Holyfield going to town.
44:15Pinklin is just ready to go.
44:17Oh, that was a clincher by Holyfield, but it missed by him.
44:22And he connected.
44:23He would have been lights out.
44:26Okay, let him lose.
44:27Tony Perez, the referee.
44:35Thomas continues to hang on.
44:42Fight totally dominated by the up-and-coming Evander Holyfield,
44:47who has barely broke a sweat.
44:49And proving again and again, speed, youth, reflexes, will always beat experience.
44:59Good top flight fighter like Pinklin Thomas, who has been at one time the heavyweight champion of the world.
45:05Oh, what a shot by Holyfield.
45:14Pinklin almost buckled like a deck of cards.
45:19It's a thumping blow by Evander Holyfield, but Thomas remains up.
45:31Holyfield with a barrage.
45:36An assault to the head of Thomas.
45:39And the bell saves Pinklin Thomas here at round seven.
45:44And he walks gingerly back to his corner.
45:46Tony Perez taking an awful, long, lingering look.
45:50And I think Angelo has said bye-bye.
45:53That's it.
45:53That's it.
45:54He's stopping it.
45:55Angelo is stopping the bout.
45:57Angelo Dundee said to the referee, that is it.
46:00We don't want any more.
46:01And Evander Holyfield says hello to the heavyweight ranks.
46:05It is all over.
46:08Evander Holyfield dominating from start to finish.
46:13And here at the end of round seven, Angelo Dundee says that is it.
46:18So Evander Holyfield remains unbeaten.
46:22Lou Duva, his trainer, a very happy man.
46:28Holyfield 2-0 as a heavyweight.
46:30And now 20-0 with 16 knockouts overall.
46:43Pinklin Thomas drops to 29, 3-1.
46:47So his three professional losses to Trevor Burbick, Mike Tyson, and this man, Evander Holyfield.
46:54Starting with a smile on the face of Evander Holyfield, the end of round seven.
47:04And the end of the fight for Pinklin Thomas, who just totally ran out of gas.
47:09The flurry, the assault by Evander Holyfield was relentless throughout the fight.
47:14This one just polished it off and was the punctuation mark to a one-sided affair.
47:19And eventually, at the end of the seventh round, Angelo Dundee said to his fighter, that's all, no more.
47:31So a very difficult moment for 30-year-old veteran Pinklin Thomas, former WBC heavyweight champion.
47:40Tough, tough night.
47:43Very despondent.
47:45He wants to go over and say something to Holyfield for the first time all night.
48:03And understandably so, a smile breaks out for Pinklin Thomas and nothing to smile about during the fight.
48:0826-year-old Evander Holyfield of Atlanta will get the official word from Jim Morata in the ring.
48:23Ladies and gentlemen, the winner by technical knockout at the end of the seventh round,
48:28still undefeated, the real deal, Evander Holyfield!
48:34So it's official, winner by TKO at the end of round seven.
48:41Ferdie Pacheco standing by with Evander.
48:44Well, the decision's still going to be, can you punch in the heavyweights?
48:48What do you think?
48:49Yes, he stopped, you know, he stopped the fight.
48:51I was, I'm getting a good shot.
48:53The guy have a good chin.
48:54And I was able to hit him with, like, a constant left hook.
49:00Hit him right on the chin.
49:01But he was able to get past the next punch.
49:04And I was trying to make sure that I could go through the battle plan
49:08and not just get out there, get in patience, start running into punch because I hadn't hurt.
49:14Did you, you seemed to be just getting stronger and stronger and stronger.
49:19Is your conditioning so good that you could go 10 like that?
49:22I feel like I can go 10.
49:24I'll train, train hard.
49:26I've been training 12 weeks for this fight.
49:27And my main concern was trying not to overpeak too soon because of the put-off on the fight.
49:35Are you going to get any bigger as a heavyweight?
49:38Well, I'm going to stay between 210 and 215, not try to go over 215.
49:45You're looking forward to Michael Dokes as your next opponent?
49:48Yes, I just passed his test, yes.
49:50Looking forward to Michael Dokes.
49:51Well, I think the guy can tell us more about that as young Mr. Sanders here, the manager.
49:55What is your plan, especially about Tyson?
49:57What do you think this young man will do with the Tyson fight?
50:01Well, of course, our next step is Michael Dokes, as Lou and him has lined up.
50:05And Michael Dokes looked great tonight, so he's got a big job ahead of him right there.
50:08Well, Holyfield Dokes is going to be in showtime.
50:11And maybe Tyson, while it may not be in showtime, will have a shot at it somewhere along the line.
50:16When do you see Tyson in his future?
50:18Next year.
50:19Next year.
50:19Next year, you mean next year?
50:22You mean next summer?
50:23Maybe.
50:24Maybe.
50:24Just when Lou and Tim and everybody and Evander says that they're ready, then we're ready.
50:29All right.
50:30One last question.
50:31The redoubtable manager, Lou Dua, you satisfied with the performance?
50:34Lou, this was your plan.
50:35Oh, this guy's getting better and better.
50:36Like I tell you, when Georgie Benton gives him a plan, he follows a plan.
50:39He's so easy to work with in the corner.
50:40He knows how to make adjustments.
50:41Let me tell you something.
50:42He wasn't trying to knock this guy out.
50:44He was just trying to hurt him, go out there, follow a fight plan, put on a good showing.
50:48And when he did hit him, let me tell you something.
50:50This guy's got a hell of a chin out there.
50:51So it was a good fight.
50:52You must have been satisfied.
50:53I didn't hear any cussing from you all during the fight.
50:56You had one last thing.
50:57You had an announcement.
50:58You said in a press conference you were going to make an announcement.
51:00What was that announcement that you kept referring to?
51:03That I was going to give up the cruiserweight belts and I'm going straight forward for the heavyweight.
51:09No turning back on my way.
51:11I just passed this test.
51:13And first of all, like I said, thanks God for this victory.
51:16And I thank all the people that supported me through it.
51:19All right.
51:20From a very satisfied Evander Holyfield and his corner men, we return to Steve Albert.
51:26Thank you very much, Ferdy.
51:29Evander Holyfield, now 2-0 as a heavyweight.
51:32He beats James Quick Tillis back on July 16th at Lake Tahoe.
51:37And tonight he takes care of business against Pinkland Thomas to lift his record to 20-0 with 16 knockouts.
51:46Ferdy Pacheco has Pinkland Thomas.
51:48A very tired and a very beaten Pinkland Thomas.
51:56Did you ever think this guy was going to give you that much help?
51:58Hey, man, he surprised me.
51:59Strong, fast, very durable.
52:03He got a good shot.
52:05What do you think he'll do with Dokes?
52:09Beating.
52:10I think you're beating.
52:11You think he's got a chance with Tyson?
52:13Of course.
52:14You know, I think I had Tyson going.
52:17I had a broken shoulder bone.
52:19And I was handling him pretty well to a golf thing.
52:22How did you compare?
52:24How would you compare having fought Tyson recently, almost recently, and having just fought Evander Holyfield?
52:30How do you compare these two?
52:33I think this kid is strong.
52:35He got more twos to work with than Tyson.
52:38Tyson's had his problems.
52:39You know, he's got to clean his body up.
52:44Has he got the punching power?
52:45That's what everybody keeps...
52:46Tyson.
52:47Yeah, I know.
52:48We know Tyson's got Evander Holyfield.
52:50He's strong.
52:50He can punch.
52:51He's surprising.
52:52He got more in his arms than I've thought he had.
52:53You look like you were in trouble two or three times.
52:55I don't know.
52:57It just wasn't there.
52:58All right.
52:59Angelo Dundee, you've had many, many champions, and you've been an inspiration to everyone in
53:03boxing in a corner.
53:04You did the right thing in stopping this fight.
53:05What's the future for Pinkland Thomas?
53:07Well, that's up to Pinkland.
53:09That's a decision he has to make.
53:10Tonight, he was empty.
53:11He had nothing.
53:13You've got to get credit to the other guy.
53:14The other guy's a much stronger guy than I thought he would be.
53:17He took some decent shots also because Pinkland hit him a couple of Sunday right hands.
53:21One last question.
53:22What's he going to be?
53:23I don't know.
53:24Take it as it goes.
53:26I really don't know.
53:27All right.
53:28From a beaten but energetic Pinkland Thomas down to Steve Albert at ringside.
53:35And that'll do it for Dave.
53:36And her Holyfield moves on.
53:38Happy holidays from Showtime.
53:40The executive producer of Showtime Championship Boxing is Jim Spence.
53:49Tonight's telecast was produced by Bob Lanning and directed by Bob Dunphy.
53:54Associate producer, Dick Ellis.
53:57Director of planning and production, Rich Feinberg.
54:00Production manager, Maria Sancilio.
54:32For Bernie Pacheco, I'm Steve Albert saying so long from Atlantic City.
54:51Don't forget, Showtime will present an encore presentation of tonight's telecast tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time.
55:00This telecast was a production of Sports Television International and has been a presentation of Showtime Championship Boxing.