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00:00On tap, it's commonly felt that Chávez is not what he once was, but he's still formidable.
00:06He'll clearly go down as one of the all-time greats.
00:09Lately, though, an obvious decline and a reluctance to credit opponents who've posed problems.
00:14Tonight, he hopes to reach the 100-win mark and continue his climb back to another world title.
00:21Larry LaCourciere, unrated, not exactly a household name.
00:24Nevertheless, no stranger to the boxing spotlight.
00:27His third fight against a former world champ in 93, he fought former IBF junior well-to-weight champ Kostya Zou
00:33and former IBF and WBA junior lightweight champ Tony the Tiger Lopez back-to-back.
00:37KO'd in the first by Zou, stopped in the fifth by Lopez.
00:43Julio Cesar Chávez in the early 90s and until his disputed draw with Pernell Whitaker,
00:48regarded as the best pound-for-pound of the world in his last fight against a game Tony Martin,
00:53not a power puncher. He was hit continually, looked out of shape, weighed a career-high 151,
00:58and admittedly didn't train hard. It was a bruising, bloody fight.
01:02Let's show you the numbers. We go to the tail of the tape, brought to you by The Ring magazine,
01:05the Bible of boxing at 34 Chavez, three years older than LaCourciere.
01:09The four-inch height advantage for LaCourciere and both over the 140 limit.
01:15Nevada rules again apply. We'll take a look at some of the key rules for you as you look along with us.
01:25No standing eight count. The three-knockdown rule is in effect.
01:28Only the referee can stop it.
01:32A fighter cannot be saved by the bell except in the last round.
01:35If an accidental foul occurs before the end of the third round, the fight is ruled a technical draw.
01:40If it happens after the end of the third round, they refer to the scorecards.
01:44Incomplete rounds are scored.
01:46So here at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas,
01:49closing in on Julio Cesar Chavez's quest for 100, set for the introductions,
01:54our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.
01:58Well, fans, at this time, we present Super Lightweights in Action in this bout coming away,
02:03brought to you by Don King Productions and King Vision,
02:06in association with Showtime, Event Television, the MGM Grand and Gold Premium Beer.
02:15Now we present the judges appointed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
02:20We have Bill Graham, Patricia Morse Jarman, and Dalby Shirley.
02:26Introducing to you our referee in charge of this bout, Joe Cortez.
02:32All right, fans, here we go with this special attraction coming your way,
02:36scheduled for 10 rounds of boxing.
02:39Presenting to you first on my left, fighting out of the blue corner,
02:43entering the ring wearing black trunks with gold trim,
02:47joining us from Hastings, Minnesota.
02:51He weighed in at 146 pounds.
02:54His record includes 22 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw,
02:58with 11 wins coming by way of knockout.
03:02Introducing Larry LeCourcier.
03:09And his opponent across the ring on my right,
03:13really needing no introduction the world over.
03:17Entering the ring wearing black trunks with gold trim,
03:20hailing from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
03:23With a weight of 148 pounds,
03:27tonight he is seeking his 100th victory.
03:31His record stands at 99 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw,
03:35with 83 knockouts.
03:38Here is the five-time world champion in three weight divisions.
03:42Please welcome one of boxing's great legends,
03:45currently ranked the number one contender by the WBA and the WBC.
03:49Here he is, ladies and gentlemen,
03:52El Gran Campeón Mexicano.
03:55Introducing Julio Cesar Chavez.
04:05Once again, Joe Cortez, our referee in charge.
04:09Okay, I gave you the rules in the dressing room.
04:12I want a good, clean fight.
04:17I want his trunks a little bit lower here.
04:20I can't hear.
04:21Very good.
04:22It is good.
04:23Give me a good, clean fight.
04:24God bless you both.
04:25Good luck.
04:27Recently, I heard Oscar De La Hoya,
04:29a man who's beaten both Chavez and Miguel Angel Gonzalez,
04:32say that Chavez is still strong, fast, and intelligent,
04:35but speed overwhelms him.
04:37LeCourcier told us he intends to use his speed tonight.
04:41When he's not in the ring, an extrusion operator.
04:44What's that?
04:45He does vinyl weather stripping for windows when he's not fighting.
04:49Also a frequent marathon runner.
04:51He's completed the 26-plus mile course in just over three hours,
04:55so we can at least eliminate stamina as a potential problem.
05:01He might have some others, though, against Mr. Chavez.
05:04Chavez has come out uncharacteristically quick.
05:07Come right in with a big left hook,
05:09pressing the attack a little faster than usual.
05:11A notoriously slow starter.
05:12Looks a little bit better than he has.
05:14He's been out of tendency to come in with kind of a little bit of beer fat around him.
05:18He looks like he's pretty trim now compared to the last two or three times I've seen him.
05:22I think he's anxious to get his career back up to 100 and then ended up with big fights rather than these smaller fights.
05:29Well, he's down to 148.
05:30He was 151-plus, and he'd been a little bigger than that.
05:33So not really what we would call trim yet, but he's trimmer.
05:36Yeah, I mean, it's a difference between what he used to see with beginning to look middle-aged.
05:41LaCourciere told us he'll start out cautiously.
05:44The jab will be key.
05:46He describes his style as finesse, idolizing Sugar Ray Leonard.
05:51Uses lots of speed and jabs.
05:55Says speed and movement is the key to beating Chavez, especially over the last few years.
06:00He says, I won't stand in front of him, or at least I'll try not to.
06:05And LaCourciere can't run.
06:07He's completed three marathons.
06:09That's a long time.
06:10The marathon's a lot of miles.
06:12Yeah, he's on a marathon right now.
06:14He's been running around like he's a long-distance runner, but he's got to stop and fight here.
06:18No matter how well he runs, too, Steve, he's going to have to stop, stand, plant his feet, and fire if he's going to be effective.
06:26Once he starts feeling Chavez's thumping hooks to the side, and that's what he's so great at.
06:32And then coming up with a hook to the head, it's a different race all of a sudden.
06:37Remarkable 17-year journey for Chavez.
06:39Went 87-0 before losing.
06:42The record for the longest win streak from the start of a career.
06:46Stands along with the most title fights won at 31.
06:50Since his first loss in 94 to Frankie Randall, he's 8-1.
06:55The other loss, of course, to Oscar De La Hoya.
06:59Goal blow there by Chavez, as he is wont to do.
07:04That was a little south of the border, and yeah, it's not something that he's unfamiliar with.
07:07Straight right shotgun by Chavez, right on the butt.
07:13Right on the face of La Courcière.
07:15Now, La Courcière hasn't got a big neck at all.
07:21He doesn't look like he could take a very good big punch like this guy.
07:25He looks more like a guy, more at home with a fencing sword in his hand.
07:28I think he looks like a pirate.
07:30He's very thin, very thin.
07:32And he's doing his fair share of moving.
07:34The action at this pace will get the crowd into it any minute now.
07:37Final seconds of round one.
07:42It's scheduled for 10.
07:55Let's go over to Jim Gray.
07:59Jim?
07:59All right.
08:00Thank you very much, Steve.
08:01I'm now joined by Shaquille O'Neal.
08:03Shaquille's a big fight fan.
08:04Shaq, you're a Mike Tyson guy, aren't you?
08:06You're here to see Mike.
08:07I am here to see Mike, and I'm here to see Evander.
08:09You know, I just want to go out and wish both of those guys well,
08:13and I really don't want any of those guys to get hurt.
08:16I just want to see a good, clean fight.
08:17Shaq, now you have spent some time with Mike and so forth.
08:20What has he told you about this fight?
08:22How much has it eaten away at him over the past several months since November?
08:25I met Mike a long time ago, and every time I see him, you know, we give, I mean, you know,
08:30we show a lot of love towards each other.
08:32I mean, you know, we really don't, you know, talk about business, you know,
08:35or talk about anything like that.
08:36You know, it's just nice to see Mike.
08:38An event like this, does it compare to anything that you see in the NBA,
08:41or is it so totally different with everybody here?
08:44This will probably be like the Game 7 of a 3-3 Finals.
08:50Game 7 on the line.
08:52All right, Shaq, we look forward to seeing you next year with the Lakers.
08:54Eat at All-Star Cafe when you come to Vegas.
08:56Oh, yeah, right.
08:57All right, let's send it back out to Steve Albert.
08:59Getting a little plug in there, too.
09:01Round two, not too many punches connected from either fighter in round one,
09:06but Chavez did score with a straight right 2-10 in to probably win that round.
09:11Well, he chased the other guy.
09:12The other guy wasn't doing much fighting.
09:14Le Croissier is more intent on getting away than getting there,
09:18so you can't win rounds like that.
09:20And it's a question of time before he comes down off that bicycle
09:24and then starts to feel the real punishment of Chavez, who has heavy hands.
09:29I suspect if he can run a marathon, that this bicycle may not end anywhere in 10 rounds.
09:34He has to stop playing his feet to punch.
09:36He can't win without punching, so he has to stop somewhere along the way.
09:40Look out.
09:40Chavez normally relying on the accumulative effect,
09:45wearing his opponent's style and then going in for the finish
09:48with Julio on the verge of 100.
09:52In case you're wondering, the most wins by a boxer in the modern era is over 300.
09:56A guy named Hal Bagwell, a club fighter during World War II.
09:59He must have been fighting in the morning and in the evening.
10:05Yeah, in terms of Hall of Famers,
10:07Willie Pepp hitting the list with 230 wins.
10:12I think if they were keeping good records,
10:14Archie Moore would probably be right up there also.
10:16He fought more fights under different names.
10:22The dancing and the backpedaling continues by Larry LaCossiere
10:26from Hastings, Minnesota, a small town on the Wisconsin border,
10:29about 45 miles from Minneapolis-St. Paul.
10:33What Chavez probably has to do soon is just start flailing a few shots at the arms,
10:38bang off one or two off the top of his head,
10:40force him to stay still and fight.
10:42He's certainly trying to cut off the run.
10:44He's trying to do it, but this crowd is going to get very unruly here
10:48because no action's going on.
10:49And the crowd impatient because of the running tactics here by LaCossiere
10:53trying to elude those power punches,
10:55but Chavez.
11:00Here's the jab by LaCossiere,
11:03but gets a couple of two-three in there,
11:05then rolls away.
11:08Trying to stay on the outside
11:09and way outside.
11:16Yeah, this is the type of fight
11:18that generally gets the crowd upset.
11:20They call these a stinker
11:21because, you know,
11:22it's not prone to a lot of action
11:24and whatever action there is stops real quick.
11:26Because it's not a fight.
11:28It's a survival race.
11:29I mean, it's not two guys seeing who's best.
11:31It's seeing who can survive.
11:34Chavez, that makes a bad fight.
11:35Chavez continues to be on the chase.
11:38You get the feeling
11:41Chavez will soon shrug his shoulders
11:42and say, come on, Larry, let's go.
11:45Straight right hand
11:46right on the jaw by Chavez.
11:53He's getting disgusting.
11:54Yeah, he's very frustrated.
11:56Wide left, he hits after the bell.
11:59You hear the crowd.
12:00There's nothing to do but try to come in
12:18with your punches.
12:19Don't get wild.
12:20Don't get wild.
12:20One punch at a time.
12:21If he's not there, don't throw it.
12:26So wait till he's clear
12:31and then throw the punch.
12:39He doesn't seem too disgusted
12:40with the whole thing.
12:41He's winning easily.
12:42He's not getting hit.
12:43But the pressure will tire him out.
12:47Keep the pressure out.
12:48We'll see if the running tactics
12:56continue here by Larry LaCourciere.
12:59Well, I'll see what else he can do.
13:02I mean, he's...
13:03Chavez seems to be waiting
13:05to find out if LaCourciere
13:06can show him anything
13:07as we headed around over three.
13:10It's a nice little combination
13:11here by LaCourciere,
13:12but, you know,
13:12he has no real power on his...
13:14on his...
13:15the balls of his feet
13:16on his toes so much
13:17that he's not stopping playing
13:19and digging.
13:20He's not going to hurt Chavez.
13:20You can't hurt Chavez.
13:21You have a problem.
13:23Yeah, because he...
13:24when he throws a punch,
13:25he's almost leaving already.
13:26It's like,
13:27here, I'm gone.
13:28I mean, you know,
13:28he's not digging in
13:29to have an impression
13:31with his punches.
13:32He's gone as soon as he punches.
13:35Chavez always coming forward.
13:37Oh, nice low blow by...
13:40LaCourciere, nice low blow.
13:43And on the other side
13:44of the referee,
13:44he didn't see it,
13:45but you could see it
13:45on Chavez's face.
13:47He made a face.
13:48Like, this hurts.
13:52Chavez a little on
13:53the angry side right now.
13:54You can see that in his face.
13:55Yeah, he's an angry...
13:56He gets angry, Chavez.
13:58He gets mean.
13:59And he gets ferocious.
14:01And he really goes
14:02to the body.
14:02Combination by LaCourciere.
14:04Duck under by Chavez.
14:07Chavez looking to cut things off here
14:09and just continuing
14:10to try and chase down LaCourciere.
14:12Well, he's stepping up to chasing.
14:14Before, he was like,
14:15you know, in half step.
14:16Now he's kind of picking up
14:17the movement.
14:18Since he got hit low,
14:19he started to walk after him
14:20a lot stronger.
14:21Straight right hand
14:22to the face by Chavez.
14:24Watch the heads,
14:24the clashing of heads.
14:25We've seen that often enough
14:26with Chavez.
14:27It was a nice straight right hand.
14:28Chavez led with it
14:29and landed,
14:29but then he came in behind it
14:30and, of course,
14:31your banged head's right with him.
14:32It's incredible how Chavez
14:38remembers those cuts.
14:39The first thing he did
14:40was go look for the blood.
14:41I mean, he's been cut so many times
14:42things have happened to him.
14:44He's thinking about it.
14:45Chavez famous for not wasting punches,
14:48economical with his punches.
14:49There's a straight right
14:51right on the face
14:52of LaCourciere.
14:53Chavez landing.
14:54That was the first time
14:55he was close enough
14:56to throw something well.
14:57I mean, with steam on it
14:58and accuracy.
15:00And he's now starting
15:01to wear him down.
15:02Here's the left hook.
15:03He's starting to get down
15:04some of his timing.
15:05What Chavez is being forced to do
15:07is throw one or two big shots
15:09in counterpunch fashion
15:11because, of course,
15:12you're just running and holding.
15:13As soon as they get inside,
15:14one shot, land,
15:15hold, grab, hold, grab,
15:16and run some more.
15:17Chavez's trademark punch
15:18is the left hook
15:19to the side and to the head.
15:23Helps him set up solid rights.
15:26He still hadn't hardly
15:26banged the body.
15:27There's a good one to the body.
15:28Just as I said that.
15:30But he hasn't really worked
15:31on the body
15:31because this guy's running
15:32so much.
15:32There's another one.
15:33That one was clean.
15:34That was nice.
15:34Got in right underneath
15:35the elbow.
15:36Did you see him win, Bobby?
15:37Did you see how he went down
15:38with that?
15:39Oh, yeah.
15:40Those body shots
15:40will hurt.
15:42Final seconds
15:43of round three.
15:45Stinging punches here
15:46by Chavez
15:47catching LaCourciere.
15:55Combination to the body
15:56by Chavez
15:56is at the bell.
16:04Well, if you're wondering
16:05about common opponents
16:07for Holyfield and Tyson,
16:09take a look at this list.
16:11Henry Tillman,
16:13James Quick-Tillis,
16:14Pinklin Thomas,
16:15Alex Stewart,
16:17James Buster Douglas.
16:19You get the feeling
16:20Tyson remembers that one
16:21in Tokyo, 1990.
16:23Larry Holmes
16:24here at the MGM Grand Garden.
16:32Facts about rematches.
16:33The champions have retained
16:34their titles.
16:35Close to 80%
16:36of the 28 heavyweight championship
16:38rematches since 1902.
16:40So history is certainly
16:41on the side of Evander Holyfield
16:43as we get set for
16:44the rematch
16:45between Holyfield and Tyson
16:46after this Chavez fight.
16:49And here we go
16:59into a round number four.
17:01The sellout crowd
17:02of better than 16,300
17:04is getting a little anxious,
17:06of course.
17:07Anything would fail
17:08in comparison
17:09with what we'll be seeing
17:11following this bout.
17:12Holyfield Tyson, too.
17:15I think he sees...
17:16Oh!
17:16Straight right hand by Chavez
17:17and down goes La Courciere.
17:19Right on his behind.
17:20An excellent timing shot, Steve.
17:22Chavez waited watch.
17:23La Courciere went to throw
17:24right hand.
17:25Chavez beat him to the punch.
17:26Used his momentum
17:27against him and down he went.
17:28About 20 seconds
17:29into the fourth.
17:30A long way to go
17:31for this round
17:32for La Courciere.
17:35It was a flash.
17:36He got up quickly.
17:39But it was right there.
17:43Right on target.
17:49Now more of a sense of urgency.
17:51La Courciere shakes his head.
17:53Trying to shrug this off.
17:54Trying to bide some time here.
17:57A minute gone by.
17:58He's still got two minutes
17:59to survive here.
18:04Well, I'll tell you,
18:05his legs seem to be on
18:06and he's moving fine.
18:08Doesn't seem to have
18:08too many ill effects
18:09from the knockdown,
18:10but down he was.
18:12A one-sided affair here.
18:14No title at stake.
18:15Julio Cesar Chavez
18:15having his way
18:17against the running
18:18Larry La Courciere
18:19from Minnesota.
18:20He could characterize
18:21that as a flash knockdown, Bobby.
18:22I noticed the same thing.
18:23I just, I thought
18:24he got up very well
18:25and started running.
18:27So his legs,
18:27he's not wobbly.
18:28He's not, you know.
18:30That could be a product
18:30of the marathoning.
18:32His legs in very good shape.
18:33There's another straight right.
18:36It didn't have full impact
18:37though on the face
18:38of La Courciere,
18:39fortunately for him.
18:42La Courciere showing
18:43some defense.
18:45They're able to elude
18:46another right hand
18:47by Chavez.
18:50Chavez stalking,
18:51straight right hand
18:52that lands to the face
18:53of La Courciere.
18:55Not hard,
18:55but he is not
18:56getting away
18:57as easily
18:58or frequently
18:59as he did before.
19:00He's slowed down.
19:00Now he's taking those bombs
19:01on the ropes
19:02when he gets there.
19:02La Courciere can't win
19:03this fight this way.
19:04You know, he just,
19:05he's just here to survive now.
19:07This is not,
19:07this is not a fight
19:08that he can win.
19:08He's not putting himself
19:09in play.
19:10Fighter has to take a chance.
19:11He's got to stop.
19:11He's got to stay
19:12and he's got to score.
19:13None of those things
19:14are in his mind.
19:15Combination by
19:16Courciere gets the crown.
19:17He heard me.
19:20Courciere with a right uppercut
19:22to the chin of Chavez
19:23who has one of the most
19:24solid chins
19:25through boxing history.
19:34Now the old Chavez,
19:35the fastest Chavez
19:36would have taken care
19:37of these little punches
19:38would have been
19:38counter punches.
19:40The older Chavez
19:40is not counter punching
19:42off these.
19:42That's reflexes.
19:43He's just a split second
19:44too slow for any
19:45extra weight.
19:45The old timing,
19:47everything's gone
19:47just a little downhill.
19:48That's what it,
19:49that's what being
19:50an old fighter means.
19:52No question,
19:52the skills have eroded
19:54for Julio Cesar.
19:56Shop is as we head
19:56for the bell.
19:58Two warnings
19:58for low blows.
20:06Now the nose ain't bad.
20:07It's just a little bit.
20:09Just a little water.
20:12You don't have to put much
20:15in there, okay?
20:16How you doing?
20:17Okay.
20:18Just be careful.
20:19You gotta keep your hands up.
20:20Don't set yourself
20:21where heat can come in on you.
20:22When you get hit by him
20:24once and you can't get away,
20:24just move in and grab a hold.
20:26Do you hear?
20:26Let him breathe.
20:27Let him breathe.
20:27Let's take a look
20:28at the knockdown.
20:29Let's see what put down.
20:31Oh, well,
20:32the right hand
20:32right on the button.
20:34There's no doubt about that.
20:35Look at his face.
20:35Ouch.
20:36That hurt.
20:37And then he got right
20:37back up Bobby.
20:38He slipped the jab nice
20:39and La Corsera was ready
20:40to throw a right hand
20:41of his own
20:41and Chavez got there first.
20:43Who gets there first
20:44usually gets there
20:45best and biggest
20:45and you see it very clearly.
20:47Chavez makes the jab,
20:48miss,
20:48little slip,
20:49bang.
20:50Just a little slip
20:51right over the jab,
20:52right on the chin.
20:52Perfect timing shot.
20:54Not a big punch,
20:55but very well timed.
20:57La Corsera down 20 seconds
20:59into round four.
21:00Spent most of the next
21:01two and a half minutes
21:02on his bike.
21:03He was on a motorcycle.
21:05It was a Harley.
21:07He was fairly effective
21:08in staying away
21:09from any more big blows
21:10as we enter into
21:11round number five.
21:13Now I would have expected
21:14Chavez to try and close
21:15a little more,
21:16but I'll tell you,
21:17he just,
21:18he slowed down
21:18just a little bit.
21:19No surprise
21:20in the online scoring.
21:21Chavez up four zip.
21:24Fans get into it.
21:25Well, it would be impossible
21:26for anybody to vote
21:27the other way right now.
21:29The only way he can win
21:30a round is they take
21:30a round away from
21:31and he's warned him
21:32twice already
21:33about low blows.
21:34Just proves
21:34that the fans are paying
21:35close attention.
21:37With Chavez,
21:38is it more mental
21:39or is it more physical?
21:41Has his skills eroded
21:42or is he just not
21:43working as hard
21:44as he used to?
21:45No, I think
21:45when you get his age
21:46and you've had 100 fights,
21:48it's a wear and tear
21:49of life in the ring.
21:50I mean, he's not as fast.
21:51He's not as sure
21:52of himself.
21:53But that's what happens
21:54with those fights.
21:55It happened to Ali
21:55and Joe Lewis
21:56and Marcion.
21:57I'm like,
21:57God, what happened
21:58to this guy?
21:58Also, how psyched,
22:00how motivated could he be
22:01against a guy
22:01like La Force?
22:02Yeah, that's true.
22:03They don't.
22:04But real punches
22:04just like him
22:05to have a tendency
22:07to go out and finish.
22:08You know,
22:08like he doesn't want
22:09to hang around
22:09for 10 rounds.
22:10He'll go out and finish.
22:11Some feel he's lost
22:12the desire and hunger,
22:14which is understandable
22:14after over 100 fights.
22:16Well, when you owe
22:17the Mexican government
22:18a few million bucks,
22:19there's a lot of desire
22:20building up in there.
22:22Chavez is chasing
22:23him a little more quickly,
22:24but he's still not
22:24putting together enough punches.
22:25He needs to make
22:26those punches land.
22:27You know,
22:27ram him off the shoulder,
22:28off the side of his head,
22:29the neck,
22:30hit him anywhere,
22:31get him to stop moving.
22:33The thing about Chavez
22:33is he's got two or three people
22:35that you're dying
22:35to see him fight.
22:36Frankie Randall's
22:37one Gonzalez's.
22:38I'd like to see him
22:38fight Delahoy again
22:39without a cut.
22:41I'd like to see that go on.
22:42And he feel that
22:42is highly unlikely
22:43as he is now
22:44the welterweight champ.
22:47Of course,
22:47Chavez,
22:48no problem with the weight.
22:50Oh, here comes
22:50a straight right hand
22:51by LaCourciere
22:52that got through
22:52the defense
22:53through the gloves.
22:54It was a terrific
22:54counter-uppercut.
22:56Chavez,
22:56the right hand,
22:57LaCourciere,
22:57went underneath,
22:58dug up,
22:59and hit him
22:59with a beautiful
23:00right uppercut,
23:01but not the power
23:02that he needed to hurt him.
23:02But it was a thing
23:04of beauty.
23:04I mean,
23:05that was a good
23:06right uppercut.
23:09Of course,
23:10every once in a while
23:11scores,
23:14but being clearly
23:15outclassed here
23:16by Chavez,
23:17even though
23:17this is not
23:18the Chavez
23:18of a few years ago.
23:23Well,
23:24when you're as good
23:24as he is,
23:25Chavez,
23:25you see there,
23:26will beat 98%
23:27of the fighters fighting.
23:28So,
23:29yeah,
23:29he's not the old guy,
23:30but he's still
23:31awesome
23:32when he gets in
23:33with anybody.
23:34Formidable,
23:34as we mentioned earlier.
23:36Some of the things
23:37that go first
23:37with the age
23:38are the reflexes
23:38and maybe the legs,
23:39but the last thing
23:40to go is the punch.
23:41When you can punch,
23:42you can always punch.
23:43As George Foreman
23:45certainly proved.
23:47He may not quite
23:48be ready
23:48for the senior circuit,
23:49but he's closing in
23:50on it.
23:51Final seconds,
23:51round five.
23:52He's getting frustrated.
23:55He's getting frustrated.
23:55He's already going to put a little bit more energy into it, a little bit more life.
24:25You have to open up now.
24:29Don't stay behind because he's running.
24:32Come on, it's time to start stepping on again.
24:36Give it everything.
24:39Come on, let's finish this thing off.
24:42Okay, throw to the head, finish this off.
24:45Come on.
24:47Come on.
24:49Well, when you look at what Chavez and Chavez, they got kind of different opponents.
24:53But Gonzalez came out and took care of business.
24:55You know what I mean?
24:56He had to work hard.
24:57He had to take care of business.
24:58And now this guy, they're on a collision course.
25:00This guy's doing about the same thing.
25:01He's got a guy in front of him that's just surviving that fight.
25:04And he's been sent out to destroy.
25:07Let's see what he does.
25:08You're really looking at the next two guys that are going to fight Gonzalez and Chavez.
25:11I, for one, think that would be a nice, blazing fight.
25:13Well, these fights are certainly different from what we will see.
25:16This is more of a showcase for both of them.
25:18Show their skills and prep and tune up for the eventual meeting.
25:22But I'll tell you what, Chavez just doesn't have what he used to have.
25:25Miguel and Hell Gonzalez might have just enough to get by him.
25:27Yeah, it's going to be a very good fight.
25:29Very good.
25:31LeCourcier has traded blows with Chavez to some extent.
25:34But he's way behind at this point, halfway through the bout.
25:37Uh-oh.
25:38Some blood on the eye, right eye, of Chavez.
25:41He's wiping it off.
25:43Nothing bothers him more than that.
25:45This guy really hates to get cut.
25:47See?
25:48He's wiping it off right at the point.
25:52He certainly had his history of cut difficulties.
25:57Joe Cortez takes a good look at LeCourcier's face.
26:01I'll tell you what, some of the blood might be from LeCourcier's face too
26:04because I saw blood on both fighters out of the nose of LeCourcier.
26:07I think that's what got on Chavez.
26:09You know, Chavez's got a cut, Bob.
26:11He does.
26:12Yes, he does.
26:13He's got one that's bothering him.
26:15Straight right by Chavez that connected to the nose of LeCourcier.
26:20You notice it's picked up here, the sense of urgency.
26:24Chavez blood all over his back from himself and LeCourcier.
26:29Oh, we just got splattered with blood all about our faces.
26:36And our shirts and our paperwork.
26:38I got it right on my lip.
26:41It's getting to be a dirty business.
26:43They are both bleeding profusely.
26:47And now so are we here at ringside.
26:54Thanks to these two guys in the ring.
26:56Somebody nicely tossed via towel from the Chavez corner.
27:00Jose Buffalo Martin in there.
27:03Less than a minute.
27:04Round six.
27:05And see, these are the things, these little, these little dramas that Chavez finds himself in.
27:12Now he's bleeding.
27:13Now the doctor comes and looks at it.
27:14Now he's got another problem.
27:15You know, against a guy that's nothing.
27:17Chavez now beginning to look like what he looked like in the last fight with Tony Martin.
27:25That was a bloody battle as well.
27:27You know, since the knockdown, LeCourcier's actually gotten a little braver.
27:30Stopped and fought more often.
27:31Fired some punches and good combinations back.
27:36Maybe he's emboldened by the blood he sees on Chavez.
27:40But he's a lot of blood on him too.
27:42Straight right hand by Chavez Atlanta.
27:44He missed with the left.
27:47You hear the Chavez corner.
27:49Combination to the head by Chavez.
27:52Missed with that straight right.
27:55He's definitely trying to put him out.
27:57Let's see what they say.
27:59If we can keep up with the rapid fire Spanish here.
28:01I'll give you more or less what they're saying.
28:03Oh, my.
28:04Spray of blood.
28:09He said to the referee, that's nothing.
28:10No, it's nothing.
28:15It's nothing, he says.
28:17All right, he says finish it off this round.
28:22Just pressure, pressure, and finish it off.
28:25Finish it off.
28:26Let's not have trouble.
28:27Let's go to the blue.
28:28Some water, Bobby.
28:29Verdani.
28:30Look at me.
28:34What up?
28:35Get the little cut on the top of the barrel.
28:37All right.
28:38Just a tiny cut.
28:39Let's take a look at that great right hand by Chavez.
28:41He's starting to land these things.
28:42Boop.
28:43Right on the forehead.
28:44Had that been a little bit lower.
28:45Could have been something big.
28:47Bobby.
28:48Watch the head snap back on an extreme close-up.
28:50Chavez doesn't get the full right hand in, but he lands right.
28:52And that head snaps back.
28:54If he'd have got a little closer, maybe six more inches,
28:56that could have been a knockout punch.
28:58This one has really turned ugly as we enter into round seven.
29:02The first visible cuts appeared on both fighters.
29:04LaCourcier came out the worst in these days.
29:07From LaCourcier's corner, they're saying keep moving.
29:11Don't stand still.
29:12He's getting tired.
29:13Keep your hands up.
29:18The stalking rages on by Chavez.
29:21The distance is closing between the two men.
29:24The distance is getting close.
29:25Come on.
29:26Keep him up, man.
29:27And one knockdown.
29:2820 seconds into round three from a right hand by Chavez.
29:31Oh, nice right hand.
29:32Nice straight right hand by Chavez right through the guard.
29:36Chavez continues to apply the pressure.
29:41You know, he's doing what he wants to do.
29:43He seems to be a little frustrated.
29:44And LaCourcier's got the kind of style where it's almost impossible
29:47to actually look good all the time.
29:48He's doing what he has to.
29:49I'm sure he's mad about the cut, though.
29:53There's the trademark shot to the body, that hook to the side.
29:57Oh.
29:58That's right.
29:59Now, if he'd have closed the gap a little earlier
30:00and got some of those big shots in,
30:01he wouldn't be able to run like this.
30:06Chavez, you'll recall, not long ago, had a head like a rock.
30:11It was, like, impenetrable, but he just keeps bleeding a lot lately.
30:14Well, that's what happened.
30:15Once you start getting cut, you start getting scar tissue,
30:17and scar tissue pops open.
30:19It's not that rubbery stuff that you used to have there,
30:21the great skin that he had.
30:23Now he's got scars, and scars are brittle.
30:25That's what's happening there.
30:26Not only that, but he's not 22 years old anymore.
30:28Combination.
30:29Vicious combination to the head by Chavez
30:31after a lucky punch for La Courciere.
30:33And again, that's got Chavez angry.
30:36La Courciere all bloody, bouncing off the ropes.
30:45La Courciere now starting to get tired.
30:48You can almost sense a finish here by Chavez.
30:53There you clearly saw a move.
30:55Chavez made a slip and a dip to the left side
30:57and just couldn't get it off.
30:58Five years ago, that punch was unloaded
31:00and maybe two or three more.
31:02Chavez now sticking the jab.
31:04Twice, Cortez has whispered to La Courciere,
31:07you all right?
31:08And he said yes.
31:09In other words, are you taking a beating?
31:11You want to stop?
31:12No.
31:13Game.
31:14The cut has not become a factor to Chavez
31:24because it's not bleeding badly.
31:26Of course, it's not getting hit there either.
31:28There's a straight right hand by Chavez.
31:30That snapped La Courciere's head back.
31:33Smacking right hook by Chavez to the side of the face.
31:37Beautiful left hook around La Courciere's right hand
31:39and a straight right right up behind it.
31:41That's a beautiful one-two.
31:43That was beautiful.
31:44There's another one.
31:45Not bad either.
31:46The double jab setting up the overhand right by Chavez.
31:50It's a question of how much of these he can take.
31:53Those are not small punches.
31:55That's a good game.
31:56Good game.
31:57Good game.
31:58Time.
31:59Holyfield-Tyson the rematch is coming up after this one.
32:04Here at the MGM Grand Garden,
32:06we'll take you into the locker room of Mike Tyson.
32:10Richie Giacchetti said we'll see a new Mike Tyson.
32:16Looked like Tyson was yawning.
32:20Giacchetti says there'll be two new things in the first round,
32:23but he would not elaborate.
32:24Some feel that we'll be able to tell who'll win
32:26by what happens in the first round.
32:29Tyson comes in low.
32:30Bobbing and weaving.
32:31Doesn't get pushed back.
32:32We'll see.
32:33Holyfield-Tyson two next.
32:42There's an extreme close-up of Chavez throwing a combination,
32:45getting a left hook around La Courciere's right hand
32:47and a straight right right behind it,
32:48right on the jaw line.
32:49That's what he's been doing.
32:50Very effective the last two, three rounds.
32:52Beautiful one-two lead counter punches.
32:56Eighth round.
32:58Round number eight.
33:00Should Chavez be able to put away a fighter of La Courciere's ability?
33:03It would be his 100th win.
33:14La Courciere back on his bicycle.
33:17And can you blame him?
33:19Even though it's not great for the fans.
33:23He's just trying to avoid Chavez any way he can.
33:26I'm sure he doesn't really care what the fans think.
33:28He's staying out of harm's way as best he can any way he can.
33:32I tell you, Bobby, he really does have runner's legs.
33:34I mean, he should have been slowed down a great deal from the shots he's taken.
33:40He's got great legs.
33:41Well, Chavez hasn't been that affected with the body shots.
33:44Ferdi, La Courciere's moved out of the way quite a bit.
33:47And Chavez, let's not forget, is not as crisp and sharp as he once was.
33:54Double left hook there by La Courciere.
34:00That looked pretty neat but did no damage.
34:03Combination by Chavez.
34:07And that right hand really stumped to the face of La Courciere.
34:13Oh, there's another straight right hand by Chavez.
34:16But La Courciere able to spin out of there.
34:19One thing, as we mentioned, he does have his stamina.
34:22So he's hanging around and he does have the strong legs.
34:25And he's got some pretty good speed, too.
34:27Flicks the punches out.
34:28They're not big shots but they're kind of quick.
34:30But there's no power in them, Bobby.
34:32There's no power at all.
34:33That's absolutely right.
34:34And you've got to have something to keep Julio off.
34:37La Courciere down once.
34:39Back of the third round.
34:4020 seconds in from a straight right hand.
34:42It was a flash knockdown.
34:44He recovered nicely.
34:50Jose Buffalo Martin in the background.
34:52Chavez's trainer.
34:54Chavez is trying to send a message with that right hand, too.
34:58He's trying to sneak a little closer and a little closer.
35:01And La Courciere is staying just outside range
35:03where it's going to be real effective.
35:10Well, I think this place is filled up to the very tip-top.
35:13You don't think they can get too many more people in here.
35:1516-3-3-1-plus.
35:18Is that a phone number?
35:21Digging.
35:22Left uppercut by Chavez to the body of La Courciere.
35:25Nearly a low blow there.
35:26La Courciere grimace.
35:36Well, this is certainly not a problem for those of you who are scoring fights.
35:39because there's nothing happening here but a one-way exhibition.
35:42Final seconds of round eight.
35:44It's scheduled for ten.
35:45An untitled belt.
35:46Another round like the other one.
35:48Another round, another dullard.
35:49Straight right hand just before the bell by Julio Cesar Chavez.
35:54Rated to the face.
36:05Not here. Not there. Not there. Not here. Not here.
36:08And looking at the cut, he says it's a cut.
36:12And the guy said there's nothing.
36:13There's really nothing there.
36:14So he's still worried about it but Buffalo says Trung regional,
36:16there's nothing there.
36:17Now breathe and take it easy.
36:19Take it easy.
36:31It's a ninth round, let's finish good. Do all you can. This guy is bad, but do all you can.
36:41He runs a lot, but he's open. Come on, close the fight.
36:45There's nothing really a corner can say to him.
36:50Come on, give him everything you've got because you've still got a lot left in the tank.
36:56Come on, come on.
36:58Chavez, 99-2-1, going for 100.
37:02LaCourciere, 22-6-1 with just 11 knockouts. Chavez continues to pile up the points.
37:10All right, break, break, break.
37:15LaCourciere hasn't shown he has the knockout power.
37:19There's a combination right on the nose of LaCourciere by Chavez.
37:23Chavez wants to close the show now. You can see he's not desperate, but you can see that he has his mind on stopping this guy.
37:29He's mad. He's almost embarrassed. I mean, here he is, a guy still there that shouldn't be there.
37:38That wouldn't have been there five years ago. Let's put it that way.
37:42Five years ago, I don't think he would have got outside the fourth round where he was knocked down.
37:46Yeah. He was only 20-some odd seconds in. Again, he's butted again. Now the other side he's butted.
37:52Okay. What's ahead? What's ahead, Buzz? All right?
37:55The warning to LaCourciere by Joe Cortez.
37:58And he said, está bien, meaning it's okay. He did the champion in this next time.
38:05Chavez, in my mind, is the champion. There's no way to refer to him as anything else.
38:12A champion always in the hearts of Mexico.
38:18Combination to the head by LaCourciere. Continues to backpedal.
38:22There's a whipping left hook to the head by Chavez, followed up by a straight right, but that didn't do damage.
38:27But these are accumulating. Combination by Chavez. Continues to wear down his opponent.
38:32Chavez is just chasing around, almost walking one foot after the other.
38:35He's just chasing him down. It's almost a solid foot race marathon.
38:39I think he got mad with the butt again. I mean, you know, it's just like he's just trying to run after a guy down the street.
38:46Boy, that left is part of the combination. Snap LaCourciere's head.
38:55See, it's a nice combination when he stops and fires, but there's no real power on it. Certainly not enough of him.
39:00Straight right hand by Chavez to the face of LaCourciere. Chavez picks up the tempo.
39:10They want him to end it in that corner. I don't speak Spanish, Bertie, but I can sense that's what they're saying.
39:15Well, they sense it. He's got it going. He's hitting the guy, but he just won't get a solid punch off.
39:22And it's just, you know, running down the street and avoiding somebody.
39:29When you hear the word, vamanos.
39:31Animo means, you know, energy, energy. Let's get this guy out.
39:35Chavez is falling just short with the right hand. You watch. He looks to use the left hook as a range finder.
39:41And he's not quite on his balance. His feet are up in the air a little bit. Cannot quite get that right hand.
39:47Well, LaCourciere is taking some kind of beating this round. I mean, it's in flight, but he's eaten a lot of punches.
39:53Well, he'll go back to Hastings, Minnesota, perhaps, and say, I went 10 rounds with Julio Cesar Chavez.
40:00All right, quick.
40:21Nothing on the other side.
40:25All right, let's take a look at the headbutt.
40:29And this is Chavez's unfortunate luck.
40:32All right, let's take a look from here, and then Bobby looked the other way.
40:35Now watch. Keep your eyes on his head. Boom.
40:38No, I don't know that was it.
40:41Well, apparently it was.
40:43Let's look at it from the other. I can see if Bobby can sit.
40:45You know, you get an extreme close-up. You'll see right where they land.
40:47Chavez comes in. There it is right there.
40:49He leans just right into his eye and slammed his head in there.
40:52I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose. It's just a matter of, he was trying to get out of harm's way
40:56and pulled into Chavez's face and hit him in the eye.
40:59Yeah, he did not. That's not a butt like an intentional butt.
41:02He got hit and it went in the eye.
41:05They touch gloves for the final round. These two fighters have piled up the miles as they've been circling the ring most of the night.
41:11There's been one knock down back in the third as LaCourciere went down from a straight right hand by Chavez.
41:1720 seconds and it was a flash.
41:23See, Chavez has just fallen short with that right hand again.
41:25He's just not quite got the range. LaCourciere is just a little too quick for him getting out of the way.
41:30Bring up, bring up, bring up.
41:39Well, I can assure the public at home and hear that if this has been kind of a yawn, the next one is going to be anything like this.
41:46It's thunder and lightning coming at you.
41:49This crowd ready to erupt for the dramatic rematch between Holyfield and Tyson.
41:54That's coming up next after Chavez LaCourciere.
42:00See right here at this stage of the game, Chavez not being maybe even 90% of what he once was.
42:06Still 150% of the average guy, but this is kind of a shameful display of what he doesn't have left.
42:12Overhand right by Chavez at staggers. LaCourciere, he stumbled around.
42:16The old Chavez would have jumped on him, mugged him, and it would be over.
42:19That was a strong punch and just drove him all the way across to the other side.
42:28But those marathon legs of LaCourciere keeping him up.
42:34Combination by Chavez, but rancing blows.
42:38Oh, pretty combination by LaCourciere out of nowhere. Landed.
42:42See, Chavez is making the right steps to move, but it's a split second off in his timing.
42:46It has to do with age and all the ring wars, but just a split second off.
42:51Look at Chavez shaking his head out of frustration.
42:55He's so frustrated, he held his head and punched him.
42:59That's not nice.
43:01Under a minute remaining of the tenth and final.
43:04The bloody face of LaCourciere.
43:17Well, as you said, he can go home and say he went ten rounds with the great Julio Cesar Chavez.
43:22And who's to tell him that it was a track week ten years from now?
43:25Take out, take out.
43:26Something to tell your grandchildren.
43:28And your grandchildren say, who's Chavez?
43:32Straight right hand by Chavez to the face of LaCourciere.
43:35LaCourciere's face looks awful.
43:37It looks like it has run a mile of marathons on its own.
43:40Won't be surprised if that nose is busted.
43:43Come on, he says, let's fight or let's go out of here.
43:46He didn't fight for the first nine. Why would he fight in the last one?
43:49Final nine seconds now.
43:53Chavez trying to at least end it with a flourish.
43:56A little bobbing and waving there by Chavez.
43:58And that is it.
44:01This one mercifully comes to an end.
44:05LaCourciere with a moral victory, surviving ten rounds.
44:10With six-time world champion Julio Cesar Chavez.
44:13The bloody nose and the bloody face.
44:16So Chavez closing in officially on a milestone.
44:26But on a mission to recapture a world championship.
44:31Moments away from gaining his 100th career victory.
44:35An eye-popping record of 100 wins, two losses and one draw
44:39after Jimmy Lennon Jr. makes the announcement.
44:41And looks to pave the way for a dramatic showdown with fellow Mexican Miguel Angel Gonzalez.
44:48Perhaps in September in Mexico.
44:51And that will draw a few people.
44:55Bragging rights for all Mexico.
44:59Well, here he is, arguably the best all time from Mexico.
45:02I don't think you'll get too many arguments there.
45:06No, one would just wonder if Salvador Sanchez would go just how great he could have been.
45:11The idol of so many fighters today.
45:16The late great Sanchez.
45:18But here's Julio Cesar Chavez.
45:21If he wants to become a seven-time world champion,
45:23it's time to fight either WBA junior welterweight champ Khaled Rahilou of France
45:27or perhaps IBF champ Vince Phillips, who recently upset Costas Zoo.
45:31How about WBO title holder Giovanni Parisi of Italy, whom Chavez has already beaten?
45:35So here at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
45:43We're getting set for the decision between Chavez and La Coursera.
45:46And that'll be followed by what you've all been waiting for.
45:50Holyfield Tyson the rematch.
45:56Very unlikely, though, that Chavez will get another crack at the WBC welterweight champion Oscar de la Hoya.
46:01May not be in the cards.
46:05Here we go.
46:06Ladies and gentlemen, after 10 rounds of action, we have a unanimous decision.
46:11Judge Brinkside Patricia Morse Jarman scores the bat 99 to 90.
46:16Dalby Shirley and Bill Graham both score the bat exactly the same, 100 to 89.
46:22All three in favor of the winner and Grand Campeon Mexicano Julio Cesar Chavez.
46:35So there it is officially unanimous decision for Julio Cesar Chavez and he gets win number 100.
46:42Coming up next, the main event Holyfield versus Tyson the rematch.
46:48Let's go behind the scenes into the dressing room of the champion singing.
46:52Let the earth sing, follow your majesty, so much praise and praise and praise to me.
47:05Yes, forever I stand, forever I stand, let me compare, let me compare to the promise of Jesus.
47:17The deeply religious, spiritual, believing Evander Holyfield.
47:29We'll see Evander Holyfield the champion shortly against Mike Tyson in their rematch.
47:34Right now, let's go up into the ring in the fight, Dr. Ferdie Pacheco.
47:38That was a boring fight champion, but even in fights you get cut.
47:51He says he will look much better, he'll be much better prepared when he fights to the title.
47:55Yeah, it's a preparatory fight.
48:00He says it was boring for him, but it was difficult for Julio because his opponent ran very much.
48:04What's next and where do you go from here?
48:10World title fight.
48:12And then we'll see what you say, Ferdie.
48:14All right, and now back to the corner and Steve Albert.
48:23All right, Ferdie, let's take a look at the online scoring results from our last bout.
48:27No surprise, the HolyfieldTyson.com website went to Chavez in a shutout.
48:33Ten rounds to nothing.
48:35If you took part, we thank you for your participation.
48:37The online voting will continue with the start of our main event, Holyfield vs. Tyson 2.
48:41Now Bobby Chez goes to the Telestrator.
48:49Okay, we're going to see LaCourciere's got his back.
48:51He's got his back to the ropes. His feet are not on him.
48:53He throws out a little jab.
48:55Chavez being real smart, does a nice little counter.
48:57Dips right over with his right hand.
48:59Comes right over the top and rolls the tape.
49:01And LaCourciere gets caught because he's got his right hand starting too.
49:04Right over the top.
49:05Perfect timing shot.
49:06Not a big punch, but a clean knockdown.
49:08Steve esports right over the top and corner out.
49:10Mariner White他 can stayFTs right back,
49:11and have them抓picking up.
49:12With my wrath and下 lotta ос,
49:13And thus close to the start of the door.
49:14No chị will congratulations on the bed.
49:15We win this no need for the quadro cent.
49:16It's gonna be Until then.
49:17A clean knockdown.
49:18Mariner White, it's full.
49:19That's the game.
49:20Looking for McCutcheere.
49:21A clean knockdown.
49:22Cleen knockdown.
49:23.
49:24.
49:28.
49:29.
49:30.
49:31.
49:36.