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00:00:00the main event is an intriguing matchup between two heavyweights with a devastating arsenal of
00:00:06punches first the Thomas left jab as potent as any in boxing it was the one punch that carried him
00:00:18through Tim Witherspoon for the WBC title I'll be using my left jab I won't leave it in the dressing
00:00:29you know be with me I'll be setting everything else up off of it I don't expect when the weight I'm
00:00:36gonna sit back and just say let people tell me people I'll do a jab in a way I'm gonna like
00:00:41overlook the jab and look everything and go in and do my thing the Mike Weaver trademark is plain and
00:00:47simply power it comes in the form of a crushing left hook and when you add to that the punishing
00:00:53right hand it's no wonder that Weaver is considered one of the most powerful punchers in boxing to
00:00:58the day Weaver must try to avoid his typical slow start and that is to make people pick the Thomas
00:01:05fight a fast pace a pace and I'm gonna be thinking I'm gonna be thought throwing hard punches the head
00:01:10into the body mainly working the body open I got good reflexes good timing and a jab will always be
00:01:18the right hand a jab always be left hook it may end up being a matchup between the speed of Pinklin
00:01:24Thomas and the pressure applied by Mike Weaver the WBC champion is a gifted athlete with great foot
00:01:31at hand speed he'll need it all to counteract the tremendous pressure that Mike Weaver plans to
00:01:36generate from the opening bell I won't be running around the ring from him that's for sure I think
00:01:42that that will make him brave and come that much harder uh my fight plan is like to go out there and
00:01:49pressure him fight him get inside I'm gonna stick and stay and make it pay that's all I'm gonna be there there's no
00:01:56just like it's just a business he has something I want and he has something I want to keep so we both
00:02:02gonna fight real hard for it he do have a body of Hercules but Hercules is a myth and uh Pinklin Thomas
00:02:10is a real thing and now live from the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada HBO Sports presents World
00:02:20Championship boxing the main event WBC heavyweight champion Pinklin Thomas takes on number one
00:02:27contender Mike Weaver
00:02:29well the sun starts to set outside all the excitement started to build inside this arena
00:02:38the WBC heavyweight titles on the line all the strategic questions soon to be answered inside the
00:02:4420-foot square to our right and I'm Barry Tompkins with Sugar Ray Leonard and Larry Merchant let's talk
00:02:49about another battle that Pinklin Thomas is fighting it's one very near and dear to you he had a detached
00:02:54retina and he had it operated on he says it's not bothering him and he's not thinking about it but I
00:02:59think you probably know different than that well quite naturally anyone suffer especially the box that
00:03:03suffers attached retina was quite traumatic but thanks to medical technology was that now they
00:03:09insert the silicone buckle which makes the letters as strong as ever so there shouldn't be no
00:03:14psychological problem all right so it's Pinklin Thomas defending for the first time against the guy
00:03:18who's been there right now let's go over to Larry Merchant for his views on this very important
00:03:22heavyweight fight Larry Pinklin Thomas's eye focuses attention on an old dilemma in boxing that fine line
00:03:30between an acceptable risk and an unacceptable acceptable risk about 15 years ago another
00:03:37fighter out of Philadelphia a sensational welterweight named Gypsy Joe Harris was barred from the ring because
00:03:43it was discovered that he was blind in one eye that was an unacceptable risk and a good decision now
00:03:50the doctors say that it's all right for Pinklin Thomas to keep fighting despite the injury to his eye
00:03:56because it has been healed and because it will be monitored fight to fight another reasonable decision
00:04:03there's another kind of risk that Pinklin Thomas has to take tonight getting out from behind that
00:04:08thunderous jab of his which he tends to hide behind sometimes like troops behind a big tank if there's one
00:04:15thing the public won't accept it's a heavyweight champion who wears pink trunks and dominates his opponents
00:04:22with a jab but along with risks come rewards in boxing
00:04:28the trouble is sometimes those rewards are not as big as they seem
00:04:33boxing it's like no other sport in the world it's high rollers big-time celebrities in the lights of Las Vegas
00:04:46overnight a man can be thrust into an environment that he could hardly dream of but where do these dreams
00:04:53come from they come from the ghetto it's like no other place in the world it's hustlers and burned out
00:05:02buildings shattered dreams for most it's a life of survival but for a few it's a motivating force to
00:05:10escape Pinklin Thomas is lucky to have survived at all by the age of 12 Thomas was on the streets of
00:05:16Pontiac Michigan shooting heroin miraculously ten months ago he was named heavyweight champion earning
00:05:23a hundred thousand dollars in his largest payday ever today he lives in a Philadelphia suburb with his
00:05:29wife Kathy and son Pinklin jr. Mike Weaver may not have grown up in the ghetto but compared to how he lives
00:05:35today he's certainly come a long way since the Marine Corps when he first started to box the change began
00:05:41with a 15th round knockout of then WBA heavyweight champion John Tate thus far Mike has earned some six
00:05:48million dollars through boxing which has allowed him to live a lifestyle that's quite good and quite
00:05:53different from yesterday well when I won the title in 80 seemed like everything changed immediately you
00:06:00know when they all invited to the big-time parties and one celebrity was that and I got to meet
00:06:06everybody and it was like a new side of me the fighter is uniquely protected they deal with such a
00:06:15small community that their experiences are even more narrow than some of the other professional
00:06:20athletes so perhaps they're even less prepared emotionally or experientially to deal with the grouping of
00:06:26of people that hang on or the sudden fame and money but what is the money is there a misconception
00:06:32amongst the public and to the boxer as to how wealthy these newfound millionaires really are how
00:06:38is the purse divided up here's a generally accepted formula if a fighter receives a hundred thousand dollar purse
00:06:44a ten percent fee off the top is paid to the trainer even though the boxer receives training expenses in
00:06:50addition to his purse there can be other fight related expenses such as seventy five hundred dollars deducted in this
00:06:56example of the remaining eighty two thousand five hundred dollars the manager receives one-third and the
00:07:02fighter two-thirds leaving the boxer with fifty five thousand dollars before taxes when you when you
00:07:09you can say you make a hundred thousand dollars you don't walk away with a hundred thousand dollars you
00:07:13know people have a tendency to think that you know you walk away with the whole thing of course
00:07:19you know Uncle Sam is your partner in here boxing is now more than sport it's a livelihood fighters once
00:07:25worried about which street corner to hang out on now the dilemma what to do with the money here's a
00:07:30guy who'd never hadn't made any money in his life and they had some money it was like no dream come true and
00:07:37prayers answer to be comfortable is what I was looking for and I bought myself home I like Cadillacs I bought me a
00:07:44Cadillac I had bought myself maybe two or three cars purchase a home I found myself say wait I'm spending more
00:07:52you know I miss throwing money away spending money not necessarily this kind of problem is very common when
00:07:59money rolls in at such a fast and furious pace there are many brilliant businessmen Ted Turner Jack Kent
00:08:06Cook Donald Trump they handle their millions with genius they can't fight very well great fighters who
00:08:17generally come out of poverty don't understand how to handle money for some past champions it was
00:08:26possible when Gene Tunney retired from boxing the roaring 20s he had earned over two million dollars
00:08:31in the next 50 years through corporate chairmanship said marriage to a wealthy socialite Tunney accumulated
00:08:37four million more while Max spelling is best remembered for his two fights with Joe Lewis he also amassed a
00:08:44fortune through ownership of a coca-cola bottling plant and numerous farm and fur breeding investments
00:08:49Rocky Marciano was so concerned that he stashed millions in places his family is yet to uncover but
00:08:57unfortunately these fighters have been in the minority by 1951 Joe Lewis owed the US government a
00:09:03million dollars in back taxes Sugar Ray Robinson lost hundreds of thousands of dollars through quality
00:09:10business ventures and corrupt managers after a brief tap-dancing career he was forced back into
00:09:16the ring not even the greatest was spared financial embarrassment during his political exile this kind of Broadway
00:09:23appearance was necessary to pay the bills his financial status today is unknown and now in the 80s
00:09:30Roberto Duran is rumored to be bankrupt after earning seven million dollars in his last two fights while Alexis
00:09:37Arguello is reportedly six hundred thousand dollars in debt after he earned five million dollars in his
00:09:42last two years of boxing money the money that these people make today is unbelievable and many of them
00:09:52don't know how to handle it they don't know what to do my own personal experience being a manager is
00:09:58that no matter how good the advice might be no my no matter how many accountants that I attempt to get
00:10:06from my fighters no matter how many trust funds that Bill Caton and I set up nothing seems to work
00:10:13the fighters generally generally they end up with no money what he thinks is hey I got tomorrow I'm gonna
00:10:21knock out another guy so I'll go on and use this you know what I mean and if he puts it in a trust he
00:10:25will penetrate the trust he'll find some reason to open that trust up you know what I mean to take
00:10:29that money back with the idea in his mind that he will put it back on his next fight and he continues
00:10:35to do this year after year to year and in the evening begins to come in his career and he don't
00:10:40realize that he don't have that many more fights left and he finds himself in the same predicament that
00:10:45everyone else find himself and he'd be broke Mike Weaver could have easily ended up in that very same
00:10:50predicament but given four title shots he's been fortunate enough to learn from his
00:10:55mistakes my financial financial status today is good but I did lose a lot of money would have had a lot
00:11:02more if I wouldn't have lost so much but it's still good as for Pinklin Thomas it's rumored that he is in
00:11:09financial straits managerial problems continue to plague him much of his money is tied up in court
00:11:15battles and pending lawsuits we talk about figures you know you talk about big figures but
00:11:22securing figures they're not there you know that's what possesses me to maintain the hunger to want to
00:11:36have what I feel I deserve for Mike Weaver and Pinklin Thomas boxing has been more than learning how to
00:11:44protect oneself in the ring it's been learning how to protect oneself for the future upon leaving the ring
00:11:49and now basically now I'm learning about real estate that's why I want to go into boxing
00:11:53after boxing is to buy property and real estate that's what my next interest that's what I'm learning
00:11:58about now I'm into reading a lot about creating your own wealth and investing as long as there is a sport of
00:12:11boxing generating millions of dollars some will gain others will lose what the future holds for
00:12:18Pinklin Thomas and Mike Weaver is uncertain at best the question is whether they'll make millions like
00:12:23Max Schmeling or lose it all like Joe Lewis time we'll write the last chapter
00:12:30well will this be the last chapter for this man Mike Weaver is already in the ring he's a guy who's
00:12:37been around the track numerous times he's been in there against champions numerous times here's the
00:12:43record of Mike Weaver and Ray I think it's fair to say it's a little bit of a deceptive record because a
00:12:47lot of his losses came before he ever got anywhere near a championship pipe well that's true because
00:12:52this Mike Weaver is a true competitor well he's had two different careers six years ago when he
00:12:59fought Larry Holmes he had eight defeats for the sensational fight against Holmes he's only lost one
00:13:05fight in the last six years and that was that controversial one round stoppage against Michael
00:13:11Doe which I might say was one of the worst decisions I've ever seen here's the champion Pinklin Thomas
00:13:17making his way toward the ring now he looks all business but somewhere in the back of his head
00:13:22an awful lot of things going on Thomas of course the great jab still some question as to whether or
00:13:28not he's got a right hand well of Pinklin Thomas this fight does have an added significance he's
00:13:33fighting a tough opponent but he's also fighting some fighters greatest fear injury Pinklin Thomas has
00:13:40not wanted to talk about the injury to his right eye but we asked him if the detached retina would
00:13:46affect him mentally tonight I ain't going in with no mental blocks nothing sitting in my way to
00:13:53what I'm gonna crave will be all uptight about injury for us I'm concerned it's history my whole life
00:14:07it's been a gamble you know and it's a continuation so Picklin Thomas is in the ring now be decked and of course what else pink a little bit darker shade of pink than he had the last time here's his record can't get much better than that 25 victories he hasn't lost he has the one draw with
00:14:2720 knockouts but they're still even despite the fact that he is at 20 knockouts right there's some question as to whether or not he can really punch
00:14:35let's take a look at the tail of the tape now and there are a couple of interesting numbers here the most significant number that we'll
00:14:43see in the tail of the tape is the weight of Mike Weaver 221 and a quarter and his last fight he was 209 and a half and he says he was 238 three weeks ago he says that when he
00:14:55fights as low as 209 he feels weak before Larry home six years ago at 201 I'm not sure what any of it means and of course another big number 33 years old as Weaver Thomas 27 there are the common opponents Thomas the only draw only thing the more and otherwise perfect record with Jerry Coetzee Weaver knocked him out and quick till as both men emerged victorious Thomas knocked him out let's take a look at some of the numbers here's punched at our computer toy Pinklin Thomas against Coetzee threw only 12 jabs around
00:15:24landed eight and against with his booty threw almost four times that many he was concerned about Coetzee his right hand that's why he didn't throw that many jams and of course the number of punches per round in those two fights also reflected in his concern about Coetzee and so you wonder how concerned he is about Weaver who is acknowledged as the heavier puncher and here is Weaver in his two fights against Coetzee and in his 15 rounder against dopes landed about half of his punches in both of those fights threw more against
00:15:54Well the rules for this fight as they were in the fight you just saw 10 point must system three judges score the fight not the referee you can't have a standing gate count you can be saved by the bell only in the final round the ring doctor as you mentioned can stop the fight right now let's go up to the ring announcer Chuck Cole will get the introduction
00:16:09Ladies and gentlemen the officials assigned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the next contest of the evening the judges are Herb Santos Dave Moretti and Dick Cole the timekeeper is Al Bicek counting at the knockdowns Jane Broadfoot the attending positions at ringside doctors Donald Romeo and Flip Pomansky and your referee is Carlos
00:16:39WBC at ringside Mr. Twain Ford and Mr. Bob Bussey representing the Nevada State Athletic Commission at ringside Mr. Sig Rogic Mr. Art Lurie and Mr. Freddie Little this is the main event of the evening 12 rounds of boxing for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world introducing in the blue corner the challenger from Diamond Bar California weighing 200 pounds of boxing for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world
00:17:00introducing introducing in the blue corner introducing in the blue corner the challenger from Diamond Bar California weighing 221 and one quarter pounds with a professional record of 27 wins 10 defeats one draw with 18 KOs ladies and gentlemen the former WBA heavyweight champion of the world Mike Hercules Weaver
00:17:30and in the red corner fighting out of Philadelphia and in the red corner fighting out of Philadelphia Pennsylvania weighing 220 and one quarter pounds he is undefeated in his professional career with 25 wins no defeats one draw with 20 KOs the WBC heavyweight champion of the world Pinkland Pinky Thomas
00:18:00Thomas is a two to one favorite in this fight but I have found a surprising amount of support for Weaver among observers whose opinion I respect they just feel that that Weaver is the much stronger puncher that he's going to hurt Thomas to the body perhaps and maybe throw a punch over one of his jabs Carlos Padilla the referee and the instructions
00:18:26Okay Thomas weaver you are going to box for 12 rounds you know the rules of boxing avoid choosing any kinds of power don't throw any punches during the break is that clear?
00:18:41So what's left then is to decide this issue once and for all Hercules is Mike Weaver's nickname you look at Pinkland Thomas and he is sartorial splendor.
00:18:55I don't guess you buy those pink shoes off the shelf.
00:18:58I think everyone has been a notoriously slow starter in the past.
00:19:02Round one.
00:19:03Let's see what Thomas brings to the dance and what Weaver does early.
00:19:07Well as I was stating earlier what people want to see if not Pinkland Thomas going to stick to his game plan of trying to fight Weaver inside which has a chance of being a big mistake because of the power of Mike Weaver.
00:19:20Weaver has a tendency once in a while to be a little bit lazy and really get himself in gear so he has to know that this is just about his last hurrah.
00:19:35The jab the left jab of Pinkland Thomas is the most effective left jab I've seen outside of Larry Holmes.
00:19:42They say the best perhaps in boxing since Sonny Liston.
00:19:48Now look at the left jab of Mike Weaver.
00:19:55The left jab of Mike Weaver is already busting the mouth of Pinkland Thomas up already.
00:20:00Blood coming from the mouth of Pinkland Thomas the champion early on here.
00:20:05Start to choke on that it could be a problem.
00:20:18Could also possibly indicate a jaw injury of some sort.
00:20:26It is a solid jab put out there by Pinkland Thomas.
00:20:29You can see the damage is doing.
00:20:31A little abrasion over the left eye of Mike Weaver.
00:20:34Very early on here.
00:20:35So there's blood from the mouth of Pinkland Thomas and a little abrasion along the eye of Mike Weaver.
00:20:40And we are just halfway through the first round.
00:20:44A right hand.
00:20:45Good right hand by Mike Weaver.
00:20:47Weaver backed Thomas up with that right hand.
00:20:49A lot of action early on here.
00:20:52Well Pinkland Thomas doing what he stated.
00:20:55He's not going to run.
00:20:56He's going to stand toe to toe.
00:21:01Believe it or not, the jab, the left jab of Thomas is quite, well, stronger than his right hand.
00:21:09Because he's a converted southpaw.
00:21:11Came over with a right hand.
00:21:12That was a good shot.
00:21:13Backs Weaver up.
00:21:14And Thomas is right on.
00:21:15Weaver.
00:21:16Weaver is down.
00:21:17And Mike is hurt.
00:21:21Mike Weaver is hurt without question.
00:21:24It took Thomas a little bit of time to get to a neutral corner.
00:21:27And now Padilla picks up the count.
00:21:30Weaver's still in trouble.
00:21:32His legs are rubbery legs.
00:21:36Weaver trying to come back.
00:21:37Let's see if Thomas doesn't go after him.
00:21:38He's got a great jab.
00:21:40And another big right hand.
00:21:42Beautiful right hand.
00:21:43Weaver.
00:21:44Weaver's still in trouble against the ropes.
00:21:46He's got 12 seconds to get through.
00:21:50Another big right hand by Thomas.
00:21:54Thomas showing much more of the right hand than he has any other time we've seen him.
00:21:58Well, we asked the question before whether Thomas would come out behind that thunderous right left jab.
00:22:06And he sure did.
00:22:07He threw a lot of right hands.
00:22:09All right.
00:22:10Mike Weaver is disgusted with himself in the corner.
00:22:13Come on.
00:22:14Come on.
00:22:15Come on.
00:22:16Come on.
00:22:17Let's take a look at some of the action.
00:22:19There you see it.
00:22:20A wild Thomas right hand but then a straight one.
00:22:21Those are arm punches.
00:22:23But they landed on on Weaver and Weaver is flustered and goes down.
00:22:25I didn't think he was seriously hurt.
00:22:26I just thought he was flustered and lost his balance.
00:22:27Although the punches landed flush.
00:22:31I thought it would be a big mistake for Pickler Thomas to stand toe to toe.
00:22:34But apparently it's working.
00:22:39his balance of all the punches
00:22:41landed flush I thought it'd be a
00:22:45big mistake for Piglet Thomas to
00:22:47stand toe to toe but apparently
00:22:49it's working we said weaver
00:22:56started slowly it seemed that he
00:22:58was determined to start fast but
00:23:00about two thirds of the way
00:23:01through that round it caught up
00:23:02with him so we come to the second
00:23:05round have to go something to be
00:23:08more up-tempo than at first the
00:23:10reason Mike is being hammered by
00:23:13Piglet Thomas plus he's a
00:23:14stationary target he's standing
00:23:15directly in front of Thomas
00:23:17Piglet Thomas fighting a much more
00:23:21up-tempo fight than I've seen him
00:23:23fight before
00:23:23two good body shots by Weaver hurt
00:23:28Thomas
00:23:28Mike has to stop moving his hand
00:23:34and see the jab of Piglet is
00:23:38not not penny-packed it's a lot of
00:23:41power behind it it has a has
00:23:43capability of busting you up two
00:23:47jabs by Weaver on the face of
00:23:48Piglet Thomas
00:23:49Weaver still has a lot of strength
00:23:51left there's no question about that
00:23:53and you can also see that the eye of
00:23:57Piglet Thomas does not bother him at all
00:23:59Mike Weaver a more dangerous fighter as
00:24:11things go along but a stationary
00:24:15target for Piglet Thomas
00:24:16and a thumb and Weaver yells at Carlos
00:24:27Padilla
00:24:27thumb to the left eye and they are using a glove that is supposed to prevent that tonight we'll talk a little bit more about that
00:24:36Well the reason the webbing does not help because it's in the middle of the thumb and hand
00:24:43Weaver still being bothered by it took an uppercut
00:24:46and still bothers him
00:24:51They need to bring that attachment right there at the tip of the thumb
00:24:55right hand a little bit short by Mike Weaver one minute remaining
00:25:03left hand by Thomas what could be the case now due to that thumb
00:25:09Weaver's vision could be slightly blurred that's what normally happens
00:25:15there's been a lot of bombs thrown in the first two rounds here
00:25:18without question and they're putting all their body behind me
00:25:25I've seen more damaging punches in the first two rounds of this fight than in the entire
00:25:30Witherspoon Smith fight
00:25:35and still Mike Weaver rubs that eye that he says he was thumbed in
00:25:4710 seconds remaining second round
00:25:4910 seconds remaining second round
00:25:5110 seconds remaining second round
00:25:54Well they're going after each other these two battleships
00:26:06I know he did I know he did
00:26:09They're tending to the eyes of Mike Weaver in the corner
00:26:12but it seems all right now
00:26:13But it seems all right now
00:26:14What you gotta do you gotta stay in it
00:26:25We may have a picture of that thumb right here
00:26:28Right there you saw the punch
00:26:30Yeah
00:26:32Here it is again
00:26:34The wonders of television
00:26:36No question about it and it was inadvertent. It seemed seemed that the hand landed flesh on the brow. But the finger wandered into the eye. That's it.
00:26:46Good. Come on.
00:26:59Mike Weaver already has a mountain to climb to get back into this fight.
00:27:02Not the first time.
00:27:10Of course, against Big John Tate, he was out of it. He was a loser.
00:27:14Until the last few ticks.
00:27:16You can never count Mike Weaver out. He possessed that power throughout the fight.
00:27:24And he has had some pretty good body shots against Pinklin Thomas in this fight.
00:27:27Well, that's what they want him to continue to do, to work that body.
00:27:30And slow down some of the movement of Pinklin Thomas.
00:27:33That was the right hand. A little bit of a glancing blow.
00:27:38Angelo Dundee was telling Pinklin Thomas to continue to move to his left.
00:27:42To concentrate on that area.
00:27:44That was one of the few left hooks thrown by Mike Weaver. And Mike is known for a devastating left hook.
00:27:54That's one of his best punches.
00:27:56A lot of solid punches being thrown at close range here by both men.
00:28:04It's been a very fast pace opening round. And these guys can't keep this up the entire fight.
00:28:10Left hook by Mike Weaver.
00:28:26Left hook by Mike Weaver.
00:28:42I tend to wonder whether or not this additional weight of Mike Weaver is starting to bother his power.
00:28:48Weaver getting some short punches in on Thomas.
00:28:52There was a right hand by Thomas to back Weaver up.
00:28:54Mike has a very good left hand, and he should continue to use it.
00:28:59A couple of open handed punches by Weaver there.
00:29:06Now this one Mike Weaver needs to go to work. To the body.
00:29:18Both men scoring heavily. Good left hand. Two good left hands by Weaver.
00:29:22And Thomas is hurt.
00:29:24He rocked Pinklin this thing.
00:29:28Weaver definitely had the better of that.
00:29:30Don't be misled by the fact that Weaver was pushed off him into the ropes.
00:29:35That's right.
00:29:37Close the glove. Close the glove.
00:29:44Crowd really into this fight now.
00:29:46And the crowd seems supportive of Weaver.
00:29:48Weaver right hand.
00:29:49Another good left hand by Weaver.
00:29:51That stopped Thomas in his tracks.
00:29:53That buckled Pinklin Thomas.
00:29:55And there's a cut over the left eye of Pinklin Thomas.
00:29:58Mike is starting to go to work now.
00:30:00Let's watch that eye.
00:30:05It looks like a very bad cut on Thomas's eye.
00:30:10But I can't be sure whether it's just a laceration or a deep cut.
00:30:14Angelo Dundee is working on it furiously.
00:30:17Don't back up.
00:30:19Lay your head on his chest and drive the shots to the body.
00:30:23Lay your head on his chest and drive the shots to the body.
00:30:27That's off the body.
00:30:29Come up with shots.
00:30:30Left hooks.
00:30:31Left hooks on the top and right.
00:30:33And right hand through the middle.
00:30:35Shots.
00:30:36Driving shots.
00:30:37Lay your head on his chest and drive the shots to the body.
00:30:40Lay your head on his chest.
00:30:41Don't go back.
00:30:42That's the voice of Don Manuel.
00:30:44Who is the trainer of Mike Weaver.
00:30:47Even though we're watching Chalmers.
00:30:49Come on.
00:30:50Stop it.
00:30:51Push him off by you.
00:30:56Big round for Mike Weaver.
00:31:01That's the fourth.
00:31:03The cut will be a factor.
00:31:06Two left jabs by Weaver.
00:31:08The cut is over the left eye.
00:31:10Right at the moment.
00:31:11And there's a big right hand by Weaver.
00:31:14Thomas is hurt again.
00:31:15I just heard Mike Weaver's wife.
00:31:19And another combination.
00:31:25There was some consternation between rounds.
00:31:27We'll try to find out exactly what happened.
00:31:29Ray Leonard is trying to find out just what happened.
00:31:31It was in the audience somewhere involving something with Mike Weaver's wife.
00:31:34His wife.
00:31:35They say she collapsed.
00:31:39We'll try to keep you posted.
00:31:42And blood starting to show above the left eye of Thomas.
00:31:45Listen to the crowd.
00:31:46Weaver.
00:31:47Weaver.
00:31:48He has become the favorite here.
00:31:50Piglet Thomas being hit by those left hooks and right hand of Mike Weaver
00:31:54because he's moving back.
00:31:55And Angelo was telling Thomas not to back up
00:31:59because he makes himself susceptible to take those shots.
00:32:02Thomas also breathing through his mouth like a tired fighter.
00:32:08Look for some body shots by Mike Weaver now.
00:32:11Weaver's been there, remember.
00:32:14A lot of experience.
00:32:15Weaver just looks right now like he's trying to pick one shot.
00:32:22And it's a mistake that he's making because he's given Piglet Thomas an opportunity to get back into this fight because he was hurt.
00:32:37Look at the left jab of Mike Weaver.
00:32:38Weaver very effective.
00:32:45The cut is not really any trouble right at the moment to Pinkman Thomas.
00:32:48Very little blood showing.
00:32:54Two good jabs again by Weaver.
00:32:59Very strong jabs.
00:33:00I mean, they've talked about Pinkman Thomas' jab, but Weaver's jab has been every bit as effective in this fight.
00:33:09Right on the mouth of Mike Weaver from Pinkman Thomas.
00:33:16Mike Weaver, a little off balance there, and he's trying to get that right hand through.
00:33:30Look at the two pretty good-looking heavyweights here.
00:33:34And the jab of Weaver, very effective.
00:33:37That's not to take anything away from the one of Thomas.
00:33:42And again, the jab of Weaver in the face of Thomas.
00:33:45This is a jabbing contest.
00:33:48But I mean, they're strong jabs.
00:33:54Mike looks prepared to throw a body shot the way he leans because he digs it in.
00:34:00At the bell, just to clear up what happened between rounds, we mentioned that Mike Weaver's wife passed out.
00:34:05What actually happened was that Mike Weaver's mother got in a fight.
00:34:10Did she win?
00:34:11No, Mike.
00:34:13Okay.
00:34:14Give me some deep breaths.
00:34:15Way up.
00:34:16Way up.
00:34:17All right.
00:34:18And I'll give.
00:34:19Come on.
00:34:22Now, listen, Mike.
00:34:23Here's what you got to do.
00:34:24You've got to keep taking it to him.
00:34:26You jab jab.
00:34:27You hurt him.
00:34:28Then you back off him.
00:34:29That gives him the initiative.
00:34:30You understand?
00:34:31Stay with this guy.
00:34:32Keep jabbing.
00:34:33But two jabs all the time.
00:34:34And he's got a body.
00:34:35You're forgetting that body.
00:34:36When you get inside...
00:34:37Nothing else.
00:34:38Tie up the left hook.
00:34:39Be close, okay?
00:34:40When you try to get in...
00:34:41Come on, now.
00:34:42You're part of a bad, bad fight, son.
00:34:43Come on, now.
00:34:44Pick it up.
00:34:45When you try to get in...
00:34:46A little more grease on this.
00:34:47A second's out.
00:34:48Come on.
00:34:49Deep.
00:34:50Deep.
00:34:51Step up.
00:34:52Come on.
00:34:53Go to work.
00:34:54Let's go to work.
00:34:55They look like they're working pretty hard to me.
00:34:57Right?
00:34:58They're working pretty hard.
00:34:59Angela Watson to work harder.
00:35:01This is the fifth round.
00:35:03It's been a great fight so far.
00:35:04Angelo wants Thomas to tie up that left hook because that left hook, Mike Weaver, has
00:35:08been landing.
00:35:09And it's nothing to play with.
00:35:14Angelo telling Weaver he's fighting a bad fight.
00:35:19Angelo telling Weaver he's fighting a bad fight.
00:35:22Or rather, Thomas, I beg your pardon.
00:35:25And, uh, I tell you, it's not...
00:35:28It's not something that you want to hear.
00:35:30Go on!
00:35:31Go on!
00:35:36And in Weaver's corner, they were telling him,
00:35:38you're the one that's backing off.
00:35:39Don't back off.
00:35:40Stay on top of it.
00:35:41Look at the jabs now.
00:35:43And what's happening, they're left hook by Picklin Thomas.
00:35:46But Mike Weaver's jab has more authority on it now.
00:35:52Picklin Thomas' jab is more consistent.
00:35:55But left hook, that hurt Picklin Thomas.
00:36:00You have to be impressed by anything without headway division.
00:36:03Is there ability to take a punch?
00:36:06There's a right hand by Thomas, but Weaver says,
00:36:08no, it didn't harm me none.
00:36:18Two more jabs.
00:36:27Mike appears to be a much better fighter since that,
00:36:30um, unfortunate luck, well, win by this qualification
00:36:34to Tony Anthony back in November.
00:36:36Back in November.
00:36:37He seems to be a new fighter, a newborn fighter.
00:36:42He has had a rollercoaster career, to be sure.
00:36:48And why Mike can't get that right hand in cleanly
00:36:50is because he raises up.
00:36:52He throws two jabs and he comes up.
00:36:58Again, no further damage on that cut
00:37:00above the left eye of Picklin Thomas.
00:37:02You don't see halfway through these,
00:37:04these kind of left jabs that often.
00:37:06Very, very, very seldom you see this,
00:37:08this type of punches thrown.
00:37:15That was a pawn in the left hand that time by Thomas.
00:37:17Did not have his sting that he had earlier.
00:37:19A right hand would work beautiful
00:37:22against Picklin Thomas,
00:37:23because what's that left hand?
00:37:24He goes, what's that left hand?
00:37:25He keeps it down.
00:37:26Just laying there.
00:37:27It's all the way down by his thigh.
00:37:28Reminds you of Thomas Herms.
00:37:30But Herms is faster.
00:37:31A lot faster.
00:37:32Mike looks so tired.
00:37:45He does look tired.
00:37:46He does look tired.
00:37:47I was just going to say,
00:37:48right at the moment,
00:37:49Pinklin Thomas looks the pressure.
00:37:50Body shot by Mike Weaver.
00:37:51Good body shot.
00:37:52Takes a right hand.
00:37:56And Weaver right on top of Thomas again.
00:37:58Hammering Thomas.
00:38:03Tremendous pace in this fight.
00:38:04Unbelievable.
00:38:05Got to start moving, baby.
00:38:06Give a race, Pink.
00:38:07Go inside and around, Pink.
00:38:08Give a race, Pink.
00:38:09Go inside and around, Pink.
00:38:10Go inside and around, Pink.
00:38:11Go straight back.
00:38:12You're making this guy come first, Pink.
00:38:13You can't do that, son.
00:38:14I'm sorry.
00:38:15You can't do that, okay?
00:38:16Let's take a look at Mike Weaver as he goes to work here.
00:38:30I thought Thomas slipped all of those punches, actually.
00:38:40And that was just a pawing right hand.
00:38:42But there was a good punch inside.
00:38:45Are you listening?
00:38:46Are you listening?
00:38:47Are you listening?
00:38:48You're going to work on this guy.
00:38:49Let's go to work.
00:38:50Let's go to work.
00:38:51Let's go to work, please.
00:38:57Mike Weaver's body punching Mike Teller in this fight.
00:38:59Conditioning Mike Teller in this fight.
00:39:01It's a terrific heavyweight fight right now.
00:39:04Sixth round, scheduled for 12.
00:39:07There's a cut on the inside of, um...
00:39:12Bigger Thomas left lip.
00:39:16Low lip, brother.
00:39:17That was there almost from the opening bell, actually.
00:39:20Thomas seemed a little tired in the middle of the fifth round,
00:39:26but then finished with a rush.
00:39:28So he might have just been pacing himself.
00:39:33Now Mike Weaver's retreating.
00:39:47It's not in his best interest.
00:39:49Mike fights...
00:39:50Mike fighters to take the fight to his opponent.
00:39:52He's far more effective that way.
00:39:54Backing up.
00:39:55Thomas can use that jam.
00:39:57Tempo has slowed a little bit here in the sixth round.
00:40:01No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
00:40:02No, no, no, no, no, no.
00:40:06No, no, no, no.
00:40:07We've been to work.
00:40:08No, no.
00:40:09Tenpo has slowed a little bit here in the sixth round.
00:40:10No, no, no, no.
00:40:11Oh, my God!
00:40:41You know, there's been so much talk about how great the left jab of Picknell-Thomas is.
00:40:55And now I see Mike, we've thrown a number of left jabs.
00:40:59So he could possibly be psyching out Picknell-Thomas to say, hey, my jab's just as good as yours.
00:41:04And I'm not too sure, but at least on this night, it isn't.
00:41:06He's been very effective with it.
00:41:09Two good runs that time by Thomas, two good runs coming back by Mike Weaver.
00:41:16And there's a couple more.
00:41:18They're just bothersome.
00:41:23The left jab is a thing of beauty.
00:41:25And both of these guys are executing so well.
00:41:28It is very active.
00:41:37Good left hook by Mike Weaver.
00:41:44Weaver continues to back up.
00:41:58But while he's doing so, he's doing a very crisp jab.
00:42:07I said earlier that Weaver had a mountain to climb, and I think he's climbed it, and I have him ahead by a point so far in this fight.
00:42:15But we've got to lose him.
00:42:16And we've got to lose him, but I think we've got to lose him.
00:42:17And I'm not gonna lose him, but I'm not going to lose him.
00:42:18And I'm going to lose him.
00:42:19I need more.
00:42:20Kind of bend down and hit him in right hand to the kidney and try to set him up with your left.
00:42:25Give me the spit bucket.
00:42:26Spin bucket.
00:42:27Bring the spit bucket.
00:42:28Okay, give them a rinse.
00:42:29We're listening to Don Manuel in the other corner, as well as this corner with Pinklin Thomas.
00:42:39Double jab on the guy. You shouldn't take a jab from this fella.
00:42:43You're too good a fighter for this guy. Let's go to order.
00:42:46Vaseline, sit your left hook.
00:42:48Hit him with a left hook to the joint.
00:42:50Okay, my feet, my feet, my feet, my feet.
00:42:53Pow!
00:42:59Seventh round, still a long road to Ho here.
00:43:11Incidentally, what we were hearing there was only Pinklin Thomas' corner.
00:43:14We were not hearing Mike Weaver's corner.
00:43:17A little hard to tell sometimes with the audio in the corner that gets jumbled.
00:43:20The right hand of Thomas is going to get through.
00:43:29They've done a great job, incidentally, on the cut of Pinklin Thomas.
00:43:36It has been no bother to him since it happened.
00:43:42Good right hand.
00:43:44Mike appeared to have buckled him by the right hand.
00:43:47Yes, he did.
00:43:48Took a full step back.
00:43:49There's a right hand by Weaver.
00:43:51And now Thomas holds on.
00:43:53No question about it, Barry.
00:43:55Both guys are starting to hurt each other.
00:44:00But I think what is happening, they're hitting each other with their best shot, and they stop it.
00:44:06They need to start following up with those shots.
00:44:10And I'm surprised that Mike Weaver's not still attacking the body of Pinklin Thomas.
00:44:15It's there.
00:44:16Especially when he's close.
00:44:18Three-punch combination by Thomas.
00:44:20Backs Weaver up.
00:44:25These guys have done a lot of punches for the past six rounds.
00:44:29So they're both really fatigued.
00:44:35There's a good left hand right to the chin of Mike Weaver.
00:44:38It's going by Pinklin Thomas.
00:44:39You can tell that Thomas is really tired because he throws that jab and he just drops it.
00:44:45I mean, actually, that's a ball.
00:44:48But he still has a snap.
00:44:50Well, they both do.
00:44:51I think they're both tired, but they both are still bombing.
00:44:54And I think probably there's a little bit of a hesitancy really to follow up
00:44:57because you always have to allow for the fact a man's going to be standing there,
00:45:00and you've got to have something left.
00:45:02Goes up.
00:45:03Well, just then, Thomas threw an uppercut.
00:45:05A right uppercut.
00:45:06That was a good punch.
00:45:07Because of what's happening, Mike Weaver was starting to fall in.
00:45:16A jab of Thomas is really bothering Weaver.
00:45:23Jab by Weaver once more.
00:45:24And vice versa.
00:45:25Oh, a good left hand by Thomas.
00:45:41And it backs Weaver off once more.
00:45:43And another.
00:45:48Weaver seemed bothered by Thomas at the moment.
00:45:50Mike Weaver still backing up at the belt.
00:46:01A big round for Thomas.
00:46:04We want to remind you, more boxing coming your way.
00:46:07World Championship boxing on HBO continues Saturday, August 10th,
00:46:1010 o'clock Eastern, 7 Pacific.
00:46:11We'll be on hand live for the Jose Luis Ramirez,
00:46:14defending his lightweight title against the Macho Man,
00:46:17Hector Macho Camacho.
00:46:26All right.
00:46:27Give you some deep breaths.
00:46:28Real deep.
00:46:29Real deep.
00:46:30Come on.
00:46:31Real deep.
00:46:32Feel a little wrong job.
00:46:34Okay.
00:46:35You've got to go to him, Mike.
00:46:36And you're doubling up jab.
00:46:37You see, you missed it here.
00:46:38The body.
00:46:39Turn his body.
00:46:40You have to do it the wrong way.
00:46:41But shoot more than one shot.
00:46:43Two and three shots at the time.
00:46:44You understand?
00:46:45Back him up.
00:46:46You know what I'm saying?
00:46:47Back him up.
00:46:48All the time.
00:46:49Okay.
00:46:50Keep that left jab going.
00:46:51Which fighter is in better condition?
00:46:53Which fighter is hungrier?
00:46:57Well, here's the first step to that answer.
00:47:03Thomas comes out quickly here, up on his toes early on.
00:47:09This round.
00:47:10Thomas, just to the eye, seems to be the pressure at the moment.
00:47:16Weaver's going to want more body shots.
00:47:19I think it's a very good instruction.
00:47:24You can see Weaver visibly take a deep breath and blow it out.
00:47:28Oh, yes, I mean, he's really tired.
00:47:31But he can make Thomas even tired about throwing body shots and slowing him down.
00:47:37There was the uppercut thrown by Thomas again.
00:47:39And he paid the price, took two body shots from Mike Weaver.
00:47:43Oh, yes.
00:47:44What I see in Piglet-Thomas, he's throwing a few light punches, light jabs, and just waiting
00:48:06for Weaver to open up to drop the ball.
00:48:13This has been a very technical fight on the count of both fighters.
00:48:21This is the eighth round coming down toward the halfway mark.
00:48:25What a right hand by Piglet-Thomas.
00:48:29And I mean one of the great one-punch knockdowns and probably knockouts.
00:48:34This one, I believe, is going to be over.
00:48:37Let's see.
00:48:38Why?
00:48:39It's over.
00:48:40It's all over.
00:48:42And I mean just like that.
00:48:44If there was ever a question about the right hand of Piglet-Thomas, it was answered right
00:48:49there, Ray.
00:48:50Well, you know, I was saying earlier that he was throwing light jabs and waiting to drop
00:48:53the bomb.
00:48:54And it did just that.
00:48:56I didn't think, well, we all figured that Thomas didn't have a good right hand.
00:49:00But he showed people that that right hand do exist.
00:49:04I want to tell you, you don't see a lot of one-punch knockouts in the heavyweight division
00:49:07too much anymore.
00:49:08That was just about as picture-perfect as you can expect.
00:49:12It was executed so perfect.
00:49:14He took his time.
00:49:15He set up Mike Weaver and he just released that right hand.
00:49:19Another one of the great fights, too.
00:49:21He had a tough opponent on his hands tonight.
00:49:23I think the last time we saw him fight Tim Witherspoon, Ray, we were impressed with Piglet-Thomas,
00:49:27particularly impressed with his jab.
00:49:28And I think after the fight, you and I were talking and said, this guy may be for real.
00:49:32And I think tonight really is going to make an awful lot of believers out of people.
00:49:35He wasn't just fighting a little guy in there.
00:49:38Mike Weaver was a tough opponent for him.
00:49:41Let's take a look at it once more.
00:49:42I mean, this is postcard stuff here, Ray.
00:49:44Well, you can see Thomas setting Mike Weaver up.
00:49:47Well, we didn't get a chance to see it happen so fast there.
00:49:50Over the top with the right hand.
00:49:52Here's another look from another angle.
00:49:54Let's see the jab.
00:49:55He just throws that right hand.
00:49:57Picture perfect.
00:49:58And he was out before he hit the canvas.
00:50:01Let's take one more look from yet another angle here.
00:50:03Watch the overhand right.
00:50:04You see the right hand.
00:50:05The left jab of Mike Weaver just dropped.
00:50:07And the counter right hand by Piglet-Thomas went over top.
00:50:10Looked like it hit him right between the eyes, actually.
00:50:13Looked like it hit him very high on the head.
00:50:15It's not the type or not the location, really, that you would think you could knock a man out that quickly with.
00:50:19Well, you saw that Mike was really hurt, too.
00:50:21He was out.
00:50:23And Piglet-Thomas, a very happy man.
00:50:25He earned his pay tonight.
00:50:26I'll say that.
00:50:27And he fought a very tough customer.
00:50:28And right now, you really have to think that we may be looking at the brightest prospect in the heavyweight division.
00:50:34We'll talk more about that right now.
00:50:35Let's go up to the ring announcer, Chuck Cullen, get the official decision.
00:50:38Ladies and gentlemen, the time, one minute, 42 seconds of the eighth round, the winner by a knockout.
00:50:50And still, the WBC heavyweight champion, Piglet-Thomas.
00:50:57Well, the usual assortment.
00:51:07Let's take a look down at punch stat.
00:51:09And there's an awful lot of numbers up there.
00:51:11There's one number that isn't up there.
00:51:12That was the biggest punch of the fight, of course.
00:51:14But take a look.
00:51:15Forty-eight percent effectiveness for Thomas.
00:51:17Forty-six percent effectiveness for Mike Weaver.
00:51:20It was a very, very close fight in every aspect of the fight, Ray.
00:51:24Well, it was a lot of punches thrown by both fighters.
00:51:26And I think what our viewers at home have seen tonight, witnessed tonight, rather, are the cream of the crop in the heavyweight division.
00:51:35What do you suppose went through the mind of Piglet-Thomas when he got cut up above the left eye?
00:51:40Well, I tell you, he kept his cool.
00:51:41He maintained his cool.
00:51:42And he kept that jab up.
00:51:44I'm so impressed with his jab.
00:51:45Now I'm impressed with his right hand.
00:51:47All right.
00:51:48Let's go up to the ring now, where Larry Merchant is with the winner and still champion Piglet-Thomas.
00:51:51Larry.
00:51:52Piglet-Thomas, where have you been hiding that right hand?
00:51:55Well, I tell you, I was told I'd never throw a right hand like that since I knocked out Leroy Caldwell in the 10th round.
00:52:04But first of all, I want to give Don King a lot of credit for putting on the Immaculate Show,
00:52:12bringing together heavyweight championships for the number one contender.
00:52:15Please hold it, Larry.
00:52:16Let me finish.
00:52:17I also like to thank the World Boxing Council for representing such a great organization.
00:52:25I also want to thank my corner man who made it all possible to put me in the top-flight shape and give me the publicity that I need.
00:52:35And HBO for television.
00:52:37As long as you said that, we're all right.
00:52:40But tell us, where were you hiding the right hand?
00:52:43Was it because of the fact that you had damaged that hand and had it operated in the past that you hadn't thrown it as much as you did tonight?
00:52:50Well, my left hand has been operated on three times.
00:52:53My right has only been operated on one.
00:52:55I've always had a good right hand.
00:52:57It's just never been exposed.
00:53:00Fortunately, I was clocking.
00:53:02We were seeing him getting tired in the later rounds and I knew I was going to eventually land.
00:53:05All right.
00:53:06It looked like he gave you some real trouble, sir, through the fifth and sixth rounds.
00:53:11Were you surprised at the strength of his jab against your jab?
00:53:14No, I think Mike is, as I said, he was one of the best out there.
00:53:19He was the best.
00:53:20He was the number one contender.
00:53:21But that's over now.
00:53:22That's history.
00:53:23I want peanut here at Larry Holmes.
00:53:25All right.
00:53:26But, Pinklin, was that as good a right hand?
00:53:30Yeah.
00:53:31Well, yeah.
00:53:32Pinklin, did you see him noticeably tiring all of a sudden around the eighth round, ninth,
00:53:37around the seventh round and looking for the right hand?
00:53:40Excuse me.
00:53:41I ain't getting you.
00:53:42Were you consciously looking to land that right hand at that time?
00:53:44Well, I knew that he was carrying his left low and when he jabbed, he dropped it.
00:53:49And I got him looking at my left jab when I double jabbed it.
00:53:53And I was really trying to close his eye and cut him.
00:53:56But, unfortunately, that didn't come.
00:53:57So, I seen him getting tired and all I had to do was lean in with the right hand.
00:54:01And I would nail him.
00:54:02Were you surprised that he came back from the earlier knockdown as well as he did?
00:54:06No, I anticipate that.
00:54:08Seems like every time you get a guy in the first round, it never ends in the first.
00:54:12So, I had to take my time and pace myself because he was a devastating puncher.
00:54:16What about your eye?
00:54:17Were you concerned about it?
00:54:18Did it ever buy to you?
00:54:19No.
00:54:20Hey, I feel great.
00:54:21I had no problems.
00:54:23I feel magnificent.
00:54:24Were you hurt?
00:54:25No.
00:54:26You were never hurt?
00:54:27No.
00:54:28I was never hurt.
00:54:29Because it looked like you were a little bit flustered there for a while.
00:54:32Well, you know, if you don't get hit in the game and feel it a little bit, something is wrong with you.
00:54:36So, of course, you know, I felt his shot.
00:54:38He's a great puncher.
00:54:39But, fortunately enough, my right hand came through from me.
00:54:43And I'm just still Adele.
00:54:45I want to give this guy a lot of credit.
00:54:47This guy really did a number for me.
00:54:49I'm Steve Lee, who got me in shape for the last eight months.
00:54:52What are your plans now?
00:54:53What would you like to do in the best of all possible worlds?
00:54:56I want to cut Larry Holmes off at the pathway.
00:55:00I want Larry Holmes to get in the ring and prove to the world that he's the reigning heavyweight champion that he say he is.
00:55:08If Mr. Don King, the entrepreneur of boxing, can put it together, another D-Day, bring in the Marines because it'll inspire me.
00:55:17And we can do it.
00:55:18We can do it.
00:55:19But you know that Larry Holmes, after he saw you tonight, he's 100 miles away already.
00:55:24But he was cheering for Weaver.
00:55:26He was cheering Weaver on.
00:55:27I heard him.
00:55:28I just couldn't stop in the middle of the fight to say nothing to him.
00:55:31And I want him better than a monkey eat one peanut.
00:55:34I want him.
00:55:35I want him because I feel that he's robbing the people of their money.
00:55:39He's got to come out and fight a real contender.
00:55:41I'm the real heavyweight champion of the world.
00:55:43I carry the title that represents 104 different countries.
00:55:47The WBC heavyweight champion of the world.
00:55:50Ain't no reigning.
00:55:51Ain't no WBA.
00:55:52Ain't no IBF.
00:55:53We got to clean it up.
00:55:54Right now.
00:55:55Do you think the decisiveness of this win will give you the credibility to be a champion that people will accept you now?
00:56:02All due respect to Don King, HBO, those who can put the fight together, the IBF or whoever is involved.
00:56:13Let's do it.
00:56:14Let's put it together.
00:56:15Let's make it.
00:56:16Thank you, Pinklin Thomas.
00:56:17You made it tonight.
00:56:19And now back to Barry and Ray.
00:56:21Okay.
00:56:22Thank you very much, Larry Merchant.
00:56:23And I think it's fair to say that the guy has got to be recognized as being quite a talent in the heavyweight division.
00:56:27As we mentioned earlier, we were impressed the last time.
00:56:29I can only speak for myself, Ray, but I was tremendously impressed with Pinklin Thomas.
00:56:33And I don't know how long Larry Holmes can logically duck him before there's a public outcry.
00:56:36Well, no question about it tonight displayed the talent of our heavyweight division.
00:56:41Just those four or five guys.
00:56:43And the fact that we're looking forward to some exciting fights now because all the other guys have been weeded out.
00:56:48Well, we talked about the fact that this would clear up what has been a very muddled picture.
00:56:52Do you really feel it has?
00:56:53Have we come away from tonight with two logical candidates as being the survivor to the heavyweight title?
00:56:59These two, Tim Witherspoon and Pinklin Thomas, quite naturally all the successes to Larry Holmes' crown.
00:57:05We should mention one other thing, too.
00:57:07There was a fight that was held earlier tonight between Trevor Burbick and David Bay, both of whom had fought Larry Holmes.
00:57:11And there was a surprise in that one.
00:57:13Trevor Burbick won the fight, but I don't think really he can be considered of the caliber of Witherspoon or most particularly of Thomas.
00:57:19It wasn't a Trevor Burbick that we saw with Larry Holmes, against Larry Holmes, rather.
00:57:23He was lackadaisical in the fact that maybe there's too much pressure, the anticipation of fighting for a major fight again.
00:57:30Pinklin Thomas, of course, everybody had talked about what a great jab he has.
00:57:33And the big question mark about him, and we said this at the beginning of the fight, was can he punch?
00:57:37But I think he's really answered those questions.
00:57:39Well, I think Angelo Dundee has done a great job as far as having Pinklin Thomas settle down and get more leverage and power behind our right hand.
00:57:45Normally he raises up and he takes away the punch, but now he possesses some power in that right hand.
00:57:51All right, let's get back up to the ring then.
00:57:53And some final thoughts from Larry Merchant.
00:57:54Larry.
00:57:55The heavyweight division seems to be running along on parallel roads.
00:58:00On one road, perhaps the high road, perhaps the low road.
00:58:04Larry Holmes, a longtime champion, is sort of exercising the divine right of kings, fighting who he feels like he can fight, fighting the least guy out there for the most amount of money as his reign starts to run out.
00:58:17On the other road, there have been a bunch of strong young men looking to assert themselves.
00:58:24And I think we saw that Pinklin Thomas asserted himself tonight.
00:58:28What we have to keep in mind is this.
00:58:30Larry Holmes is 28 years old when he won the title.
00:58:33When he was 25, 26, 27, nobody gave him a chance to be a champion, much less a dominant champion.
00:58:40Same thing for Rocky Marciano, whose record Holmes is pursuing.
00:58:45So I think that out of this top group of heavyweights within a year, Pinklin Thomas, maybe Tim Witherspoon, Tony Tubbs, someone will emerge as a recognized champion.
00:58:57Back to Barry and Ray.
00:58:59Okay, thank you, Larry.
00:59:00And we want to remind you to join us as HBO Sports presents our 11th year of Wimbledon.
00:59:04Two weeks of extensive coverage of tennis's most prestigious event.
00:59:07Right through the women's semifinals.
00:59:09It all begins Monday, June 24th, right here on HBO.
00:59:13So, for Larry Merchant and Sugar Ray Leonard, I'm Barry Tompkins saying so long from Las Vegas, Nevada.
00:59:20The executive producer of HBO Sports is Tim Brain.
00:59:27Tonight's telecast was produced by Ross Greenberg.
00:59:30And directed by Mark Payton.
00:59:32The associate producer is Rick Bernstein.
00:59:35The associate directors, Michael J. Whalen and Peter DePaola.
00:59:39And the assistant to the producer, David Harmon.
00:59:43The production manager is John McCallie.
00:59:46The production manager is John McCallie.
00:59:48I made a resolution and a plan to keep my word.
00:59:53Well, I need you to make it work.
00:59:55You've got to read my message, understand what all my minds would bring.
00:59:59What's not to say would be a crime and we can lose it any time.
01:00:00We've got to show some respect.
01:00:01We as love.
01:00:03The
01:00:07And we can lose it any time
01:00:12We gotta show some respect
01:00:14We gotta love to protect
01:00:18Don't take it for granted
01:00:20I know that if we want to stay close
01:00:25We gotta show some respect
01:00:28Well, I believe it's working
01:00:36But I believe in a little help
01:00:40Cause I'm not a lot
01:00:43And to myself, we gotta think of value
01:00:47Ourself, a second best
01:00:50We don't know what's up ahead
01:00:53We can let ourselves forget
01:00:56We gotta show some respect
01:01:00This has been a presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions
01:01:09We don't know what's up, but we don't know what's up
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