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00:00:00This fight took place in Detroit. You heard James Kinchin refer to a backyard.
00:00:04Barkley's from the Bronx, New York. That's a long way from Detroit.
00:00:07But Detroit is indeed one of the cities of champions.
00:00:11And here tonight with Thomas Ernst coming back for his crowd,
00:00:14let's take a look at what Detroit means.
00:00:30Pay attention, what a fight. That's only the beginning.
00:00:33The winner, flip decision, Iron Barkley.
00:00:49What's this fight?
00:00:50Oh, it's a great fight.
00:00:52I think that's a chance for that.
00:00:53I think more on it.
00:00:56I think you're like, you're getting more on it than you're getting to the knockdown.
00:00:59You know, we can possibly show up, but they did cowl out of it, right?
00:01:02That's right. Yeah, probably a 10-8 round.
00:01:04When we get the card, let's see if we can get the score card.
00:01:23Tony, last week, he let go with one of his end-over-end shots.
00:01:27And all heck work was the over-the-board revenge.
00:01:32And you say, what does it feel like?
00:01:34It's everything that Hoff is all about to be the champion.
00:01:37It was one super moment.
00:01:39No team ever boasted a twosome as colorful and effective as Lion Hall of Famers,
00:01:44Bobby Lane and Joe Walker.
00:01:46And Joe Schmidt was the finest linebacker of his days.
00:01:49Fifty-seven championship game, we won 59-14.
00:01:55I got the game ball from the official and was walking off the field.
00:02:00And all of a sudden, the sport of humanity surrounded me.
00:02:05And everybody thought that they were carrying me off the field,
00:02:08but they were really after the football.
00:02:10In 1968, Bill Freehand caught the final out
00:02:14and hero Mickey Rolich, as the Tigers won another championship.
00:02:20And it was hometown hero Willie Horton who made the series' decisive fielding play.
00:02:25It was a play that we had to make.
00:02:28We was down in the game going into the later part of the game.
00:02:31After I made the throw, I could see that we had a chance.
00:02:36And I know that that was the turn point of my world series
00:02:39because I could look around and see the guy's eyes lighten up.
00:02:44Well, to me, I guess it was the greatest and the super moment of my life.
00:02:48In 84, they did it again with another Detroit native,
00:02:51Kirk Gibson, smashing the clinching three-run homer.
00:02:56The whole nation, the whole world's eyes are on Kirk Gibson and Coos Gossage.
00:03:01I don't want to walk you.
00:03:02Williams told him to walk me, and Gossage said no.
00:03:04You're talking about striking him out.
00:03:06Yeah.
00:03:06I can remember just saying,
00:03:07geez, I want to win this thing and get it over with.
00:03:11At that moment, I knew the Detroit Tigers were going to be the 1984 world champions.
00:03:17No city has hosted or won more Gold Cup championships
00:03:21than Detroit and its unlimited hydroplane racers.
00:03:27And the 4-81 Grand Prix circuit is now a yearly part of Detroit.
00:03:31Detroit's downtown team.
00:03:33A scene made even more attractive by a riverfront revival.
00:03:39There's a new people mover system that makes the excitement even more accessible.
00:03:43And an expanded Kobo Hall convention and arena facility.
00:03:47Detroit, a tough, proud, and pulsating city.
00:03:51A city of champions.
00:03:52The world's got a heart.
00:03:53That's all it's you.
00:03:55That's all it's you.
00:03:57That's all it's you.
00:03:58Come in.
00:03:59Kobo Arena.
00:04:01Well, we have just seen an upset,
00:04:03and we have the proud mayor of the proud city of Detroit,
00:04:06Coleman Young, with us,
00:04:07and well-known as a sports fan
00:04:09and enjoying that little feature of past sports triumphs
00:04:12here in the city of Detroit.
00:04:13Welcome to Showtime Championship Boxing, Mr. Mayor.
00:04:16What did you think of that fight?
00:04:17You were right into it.
00:04:19Very good fight.
00:04:20Very close fight.
00:04:21How'd you score it?
00:04:22Well, I thought that the kitchen would have won
00:04:26except for that knockdown.
00:04:27It was just that close.
00:04:28Well, that's probably reflected on the cards.
00:04:30A split decision, and I think you're probably right.
00:04:32Mr. Young, I think having 6,000 fans here in Kobo Arena,
00:04:36a big fight back here in Detroit.
00:04:38Certainly you have to feel good about the response
00:04:40of the sports fans here coming down
00:04:42to see their own man, Thomas Hearns.
00:04:44Well, Detroit is known across the nation,
00:04:46around the world, as being a good sports city,
00:04:49a good sports town.
00:04:51This is just another example.
00:04:52And over and above that,
00:04:54we produce our share of world champions.
00:04:57Sure do.
00:04:57The city of champions is what that feature was about.
00:04:59And I know you'd like to see Thomas Hearns
00:05:01fighting here more often.
00:05:03Always, of course, comes up the question of,
00:05:05you know, if somebody's got to put the money up
00:05:06for these big fights,
00:05:07and it's heartening to see that Thomas
00:05:09is fighting for a big purse in front of a big crowd
00:05:11right in his hometown.
00:05:12Yeah, we hope to have Tommy Hearns fight
00:05:14for a championship in the arena named after Joe Lewis.
00:05:20And I hope that that's soon.
00:05:21And it's about twice as big as this arena.
00:05:23That's right, right next door here in Detroit,
00:05:25the Joe Lewis Arena,
00:05:26where the hockey Red Wings are now playing.
00:05:27And, of course, the Red Wings are with a new coach.
00:05:30There are lots of high hopes for them.
00:05:32The Lions still struggling,
00:05:33but Darrell Rogers thinks he can bring them back.
00:05:35When are we going to see our next championship team,
00:05:38baseball, hockey, or football in Detroit?
00:05:40I think we'll see it in 1987 next summer
00:05:44with the Detroit Tigers.
00:05:45All right, there you go.
00:05:47The Pistons might surprise.
00:05:48All right, we left out the Pistons.
00:05:50We shouldn't do that.
00:05:51Well, nice to be with you, Mr. Mayor.
00:05:52Thank you for joining us here ringside at Kobo Arena.
00:05:54We hope you enjoy the championship fight featuring your own Thomas Hearns.
00:05:59And Thomas Hearns will defend his North American middleweight championship
00:06:02against Doug DeWitt from Yonkers, New York.
00:06:05Tommy Hearns not standing by waiting for the rematch with Hagler.
00:06:09He wants to fight.
00:06:13This Detroit team has won more than a chair of world championships.
00:06:17And this man, Thomas Hearns,
00:06:19is the superstar in the Crunk Galaxy of Boxing Champions.
00:06:22He has won two world titles and dreams of a third,
00:06:29but he refuses to stand by idly and wait for rematches.
00:06:35I'm not going to sit back.
00:06:37I'm not going to win on him.
00:06:38I'm going to stay active and move on and do the things that I have to do
00:06:41in order to be successful.
00:06:44And how successful he has been.
00:06:46The hitman was devastating as a welterweight.
00:06:49He was undefeated and equally awesome as a super welterweight.
00:06:57And now, as a middleweight, he continues to be a knockout artist,
00:07:00winning his North American title with a KO of James Shuler.
00:07:04But such immense talent creates great expectations among his fans.
00:07:07It's definitely a responsibility that I have.
00:07:10It's something that I don't mind living up to
00:07:13because I brought it on myself.
00:07:17I started it off by going out and knocking out all my opponents
00:07:20and making everybody happy by being successful by doing that.
00:07:26There's no doubt about it.
00:07:28When the hitman is in the ring,
00:07:30electricity is in the air.
00:07:31As soon as he comes face-to-face with an opponent,
00:07:40there's only one thought on his mind.
00:07:42Knockout.
00:07:44Hearns wants to send his foe home early
00:07:47and his fans home happy.
00:07:49But in his last fight,
00:07:50a game boxer named Mark Medell wouldn't cooperate.
00:07:54Even though Medell was overmatched,
00:07:56Hearns couldn't take him out early.
00:07:57Then in the sixth round,
00:08:08Thomas Hearns heard a sound
00:08:10he had never heard before in the ring.
00:08:12I never have witnessed the booing section before.
00:08:31And a lot of fans were pretty much happy.
00:08:35And then a lot of them were disappointed
00:08:36because I did knock him out.
00:08:37They seemed that I had him out but couldn't get him out.
00:08:42And that made them, like, disappointed.
00:08:46Eventually, severe swelling to Medell's eye
00:08:49caused the referee to stop the bout in the eighth round.
00:08:52Hearns' failure to knock out Medell
00:08:54was frustrating to him and his fans.
00:08:57He realized that the crowd only vented out their frustration
00:09:00because his image is that of a superstar performer.
00:09:03He's one of the few guys who, whenever he comes up to perform,
00:09:08you know that he's going to give you electrifying performance,
00:09:10win or lose.
00:09:11And when he didn't do that,
00:09:12he realizes then that he had let his fans down, he felt.
00:09:15So he began to try and to correct everything
00:09:18for this fight coming up.
00:09:20Maybe the disappointment of the Medell fight
00:09:22can be erased with a knockout of this man, Doug DeWitt,
00:09:25who's never been on the canvas.
00:09:28When Thomas fights Doug DeWitt,
00:09:29I think he's going to be an aggressive-type fighter
00:09:32who's going to be going for a knockout.
00:09:34I think you're going to see him come out
00:09:35with the same intensity that he had
00:09:37when he fought James Schuller.
00:09:39We're here now to damage his record.
00:09:42Since he has never been knocked down or knocked out,
00:09:46we plan to get both of them in one night,
00:09:48knocked down and out.
00:09:51There's one fight in 1,500.
00:09:52Just let him lay there.
00:09:53There is Thomas Hearns, two-time world champion,
00:09:56now defending his middleweight title,
00:09:58the Championship of North America,
00:10:00tonight against Doug DeWitt.
00:10:02And Gil Clancy, let's just do a quick little look
00:10:05at this scorecard.
00:10:06We've had one upset here already this evening.
00:10:08Doug DeWitt hoping he can be next.
00:10:09Hiran Barkley over James Kinchin.
00:10:11Randy Erickson, who scored the fight for Kinchin,
00:10:15scored it a 10-9 round in that ninth round for Barkley,
00:10:18gave it to Barkley with a knockdown,
00:10:20but only a 10-9 round.
00:10:21The other two judges scored it 10-8,
00:10:23as you would expect with a knockdown.
00:10:24Well, Tim, we have a lot of judges that are like that.
00:10:26They don't take advantage of the point system.
00:10:28Here's a case where Barkley was winning the round
00:10:30up until the time of the knockdown.
00:10:32It wasn't a flash knockdown.
00:10:33It could have even been a 10-7 round.
00:10:35I think they should use the point system
00:10:37for what it's supposed to be.
00:10:39Otherwise, go back to the round system.
00:10:40All right.
00:10:41Well, Iran Barkley, the upset winner,
00:10:43with a split decision over James Kinchin.
00:10:45Doug DeWitt would love to beat a guy
00:10:47who scores the next upset right here
00:10:49in Thomas Hearn's hometown.
00:10:50And Gil, let's talk about the possibility of that.
00:10:54Nobody seems to think there is much possibility.
00:10:57Doug DeWitt has proved one thing.
00:10:58He's very durable.
00:10:59He's never been down.
00:11:00On the other hand, he hasn't proven
00:11:02that he can be consistent
00:11:03and that he will fight an intelligent fight.
00:11:06Well, the one thing he does have, Tim,
00:11:07he's got a good left hook.
00:11:09If he hits you with that left hook,
00:11:10he can hurt any middleweight.
00:11:11And, you know, we're not so sure of Tommy's chin.
00:11:13Well, that's the question mark
00:11:15I was just going to lead us to.
00:11:16Not so much his chin,
00:11:17but the fact that...
00:11:19Nice to have you on television with us, pal.
00:11:21I'd like to have the discussion center
00:11:24around whether Thomas Hearns
00:11:26is really a guy who can punch at 160 pounds
00:11:30and knock people down.
00:11:31We saw him do it to James Shuler,
00:11:33but that was over so fast.
00:11:34I'm not sure that we really know yet.
00:11:36Well, Tim, Tommy Hearns is in a tough position.
00:11:38He's had a spectacular career.
00:11:40In his last fight,
00:11:41it was the first time he heard the boos.
00:11:44He couldn't...
00:11:44He hurt Mark McDowell in the first round.
00:11:46He couldn't get him out.
00:11:47He was at 154 pounds.
00:11:49I think that he's going to be able to punch
00:11:50better as a 160-pounder.
00:11:52It goes against what usually happens.
00:11:54Usually, as they go up in weight class,
00:11:55they lose their punch.
00:11:57I just happen to think that Tommy's going to be
00:11:58a better puncher than 160 pounds.
00:12:00All right.
00:12:01Well, we'll certainly find out.
00:12:02Doug DeWitt thinks otherwise.
00:12:04He thinks this might be the night
00:12:05of the biggest upset of his career.
00:12:07Let's find out more about
00:12:09Doug DeWitt and his chances.
00:12:14In his last fight,
00:12:16Doug DeWitt was outboxed over 10 rounds
00:12:18by former welterweight champion
00:12:20Milton McCrory.
00:12:23But he never gave up.
00:12:28Doug DeWitt never gives up.
00:12:30But this real-life Rocky wants to do more
00:12:40than just go the distance.
00:12:42I've fought some good punches,
00:12:43such as Donnelly and Milton McCrory
00:12:45and other guys.
00:12:47And they've never even...
00:12:48Not only have they not knocked me out
00:12:50or knocked me down,
00:12:51they never even really shook me up.
00:12:52So I feel proud about the fact
00:12:56that I've established myself
00:12:58as a fighter who takes
00:12:59a tremendous punch.
00:13:00But I just don't want to be known
00:13:01as a fighter that takes
00:13:03a tremendous punch.
00:13:05DeWitt is working hard
00:13:06to get in shape
00:13:07for the biggest fight
00:13:08of his career.
00:13:09He's a huge underdog
00:13:10to the powerful Hearns,
00:13:12but DeWitt hopes that Hearns
00:13:13and his manager, Emmanuel Stewart,
00:13:15are looking past him.
00:13:16In their mind,
00:13:17they probably figured
00:13:17this guy can't beat us.
00:13:19Let's just see
00:13:20if we can knock him out.
00:13:21And that could be
00:13:22a mistake in their part.
00:13:24I've been in the corner
00:13:25against him before
00:13:26with Milton McCrory.
00:13:28And in that fight,
00:13:28even though we are boxing,
00:13:29I was always afraid
00:13:30because Milton was telling me
00:13:32between rounds
00:13:33that he's a great punching pal.
00:13:35There's more to the story
00:13:36of Doug DeWitt
00:13:37than his prowess as a puncher.
00:13:39He lives in Yonkers,
00:13:40about 10 miles north
00:13:41of New York City.
00:13:42There's no big entourage
00:13:43that follows DeWitt
00:13:44to his workouts.
00:13:45He's a lunch pail type of guy
00:13:47in a blue-collar town
00:13:48who trains inside
00:13:49the local community gym.
00:13:51DeWitt's also a young man
00:13:52with a lot of responsibility.
00:13:54I live with my mother
00:13:54and my two brothers.
00:13:55My father died
00:13:56when I was 18 years old,
00:13:58so I took over the house.
00:13:59I supported the house
00:14:00since I was 18.
00:14:02At 25,
00:14:03DeWitt's the man of the house
00:14:04for his two younger brothers,
00:14:05Tony and Glenn,
00:14:06his dog, Lucan,
00:14:08but most importantly,
00:14:09his mom.
00:14:10My mother is a good person.
00:14:13She gives me a lot of motivation
00:14:14because she's had
00:14:15a pretty hard life
00:14:16and I would love
00:14:17to make it for her.
00:14:18So when DeWitt trains
00:14:20for a fight,
00:14:20it's not just for himself,
00:14:22but his family as well.
00:14:23They're all in his corner.
00:14:25Years of hard work
00:14:26he's put into this,
00:14:28dedication.
00:14:30I think if anyone
00:14:31deserves to be a champ,
00:14:33he does.
00:14:35Doug views the three losses
00:14:36on his record
00:14:37as learning experiences
00:14:38en route to a championship.
00:14:40After this fight,
00:14:41win or lose,
00:14:42I feel,
00:14:42because I'm 25 years old,
00:14:44it's going to make me
00:14:44a better fighter.
00:14:45Hagler lost two fights
00:14:47in the prime of his career
00:14:48when he was coming up.
00:14:49I'm sure a lot of people
00:14:50counted him out
00:14:51and said,
00:14:52ah, Marvin,
00:14:53pack it in,
00:14:53this or that,
00:14:54and I'm sure he had a lot of,
00:14:56you know,
00:14:56it wasn't like it is now
00:14:57for him,
00:14:58but he stuck with it,
00:14:59determination,
00:15:00he kept training,
00:15:00now look at him.
00:15:01So in a fight
00:15:02where most don't give
00:15:03DeWitt a shot,
00:15:04he remains upbeat
00:15:05about his chances.
00:15:08I have to go in,
00:15:09put into my mind
00:15:10that I'm going to win
00:15:11and try my best.
00:15:12He shouldn't knock me out.
00:15:13He's a,
00:15:14he's a welterweight
00:15:14coming up to middleweight,
00:15:16and I've fought middleweights
00:15:18that are good punchers.
00:15:20So,
00:15:20I feel like I've got a shot
00:15:21to win this fight.
00:15:24Doug DeWitt
00:15:25thinks he has a shot
00:15:26to win this thing
00:15:27and comes in
00:15:27in a leopard-spotted cape,
00:15:29looking very determined,
00:15:31ranked number five
00:15:32by the WBA.
00:15:34Perhaps one of the
00:15:35question marks
00:15:35about Doug
00:15:37is the fact that,
00:15:38well,
00:15:38he says that he doesn't
00:15:39want to be just a survivor,
00:15:41doesn't want to just
00:15:42go the distance.
00:15:43On the other hand,
00:15:44you don't hear him say,
00:15:45I'm going to win this fight.
00:15:46You hear him say,
00:15:47I think I've got a shot.
00:15:48So we have to wonder
00:15:49how much confidence
00:15:50he brings in,
00:15:51especially off the loss
00:15:52to Milton McCrory.
00:15:54Well,
00:15:54he lost to Tommy,
00:15:55Tommy's teammate,
00:15:56Milton McCrory,
00:15:57and I'm sure
00:15:58that everybody in Detroit
00:15:59and I guess everybody
00:16:00in boxing
00:16:01thinks right now
00:16:02Tommy's a more
00:16:02formidable fighter
00:16:04than Milton McCrory.
00:16:05So he's tackled
00:16:06the tougher task
00:16:07this time.
00:16:08But he said
00:16:09that he fought
00:16:10a very dumb fight
00:16:11when he fought
00:16:11Milton McCrory
00:16:12and you and I
00:16:13did the fight
00:16:13and we thought
00:16:14he fought a dumb fight.
00:16:15He stayed right
00:16:16in the range
00:16:16of McCrory's punches.
00:16:18The secret
00:16:18for the wit
00:16:20in this fight
00:16:20is he's going to have
00:16:21to be able to get
00:16:22under the snake-like
00:16:23jab of Tommy Hearns.
00:16:24That's going to be
00:16:25the key early
00:16:26to see if Hearns
00:16:27can land that left jab.
00:16:28Well,
00:16:28his record indicates
00:16:29that he can punch.
00:16:30He's got a good
00:16:31solid left hook.
00:16:32That's his most
00:16:32damaging blow.
00:16:34He throws it
00:16:34to the body
00:16:34and he can bring
00:16:35it up top
00:16:36and he can knock
00:16:37people out.
00:16:38But of course
00:16:38so can Thomas Hearns.
00:16:39I continue to raise
00:16:40the question
00:16:41can Thomas do that
00:16:42at 160
00:16:43and here he is
00:16:45planning on
00:16:46fighting
00:16:46at 175 next.
00:16:48That's the conversation
00:16:49involving Thomas Hearns
00:16:51perhaps going up
00:16:51to light heavyweight.
00:16:52He has said all along
00:16:53The hitman
00:16:58Thomas Hearns
00:16:59in front of his
00:17:00hometown crowd
00:17:01for the first time
00:17:02in two and a half years.
00:17:04Thomas Hearns
00:17:05the NAVF
00:17:07middleweight champion
00:17:08being welcomed
00:17:10into Combo Arena.
00:17:12He's got a good
00:17:42Thomas Hearns, and not unexpected.
00:18:10Huge welcome for the NABF middleweight champion, former welterweight, junior middleweight champion.
00:18:18He has just vacated his 154-pound crown, the WBC version, and defends his middleweight title tonight.
00:18:26Let's look at the NABF championship rules for this fight.
00:18:3112 rounds the distance on the 10-point must system.
00:18:34No standing eight count.
00:18:36There is a mandatory eight count if you're knocked down.
00:18:38Three knockdowns in one round ends the bout.
00:18:41Count continues after the bell except in the final 12th round.
00:18:45Let's look at the tail of the tape.
00:18:47Thomas Hearns, again, that formidable height.
00:18:49Six-foot-one.
00:18:50He came in at 159.
00:18:52Doug DeWitt at 5'10".
00:18:54Came in at 160.
00:18:56Weighed in early this morning at 161-and-a-quarter.
00:18:59Had to take off a pound-and-a-quarter to make the official weight of 160.
00:19:03Shouldn't be any problem for him, however.
00:19:05He took it off readily, so it will be Hearns against DeWitt in Hearns' hometown of Detroit, Michigan.
00:19:13And the usual cast of thousands following the champion, Thomas Hearns, into the ring.
00:19:18Doug DeWitt appearing calm, cool, and collected.
00:19:22And now let's go for the ring introductions to Michael Buffer.
00:19:25The 301st Military Police Command Station in Inkster, Michigan, are presenting the color guard.
00:19:33And here to sing America the Beautiful is Atanas.
00:19:36Please rise for America the Beautiful, sung by Atanas.
00:19:39Oh, beautiful for spacious skies, for amber ways of gray,
00:20:02For above the mountain's majesty, above the mountain's majesty, above the mountain's majesty,
00:20:17America, America, America, God shed His grace on thee.
00:20:31And crowned by good, with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
00:20:50Well, America the Beautiful, sung by a local singer by the name of Atanas, here at Kobo Arena.
00:21:08Let's go back after Michael Buffer.
00:21:10The honor guard of the 301st Military Police Command.
00:21:12Well, America the Beautiful, sung by a local singer by the name of Atanas, here at Kobo Arena.
00:21:18Let's go back after Michael Buffer.
00:21:22Who is the Boxing Commissioner of New Jersey.
00:21:24The three judges will be Harold Letterman from New York, Rose Grable from Michigan, and Rich Fisher from Michigan.
00:21:30And now, ladies and gentlemen, let's get ready to rumble!
00:21:36This is it!
00:21:38The main event of the evening!
00:21:42Pro-Round for the North American Boxing Federation Middleweight Championship.
00:21:47The referee for this contest is Bobby Watson.
00:21:53Introducing first in the red corner.
00:21:57He's wearing the black trunks with white trims.
00:22:00And weighs an even 160 pounds.
00:22:04His professional record.
00:22:06An excellent one of 27 victories.
00:22:09Only three defeats and three draws.
00:22:1117 big KOs.
00:22:14He's from Yonkers, New York.
00:22:15He's never been stopped.
00:22:17Never been down.
00:22:19Ladies and gentlemen, Doug Cobra Dewitt!
00:22:24And his opponent in the red corner, wearing the cross-goal trunks.
00:22:362,169 pounds.
00:22:40Raymond is a special order.
00:22:4242 victories, only two defeats.
00:22:4636 KOs.
00:22:49From the northern city, Detroit, Michigan.
00:22:54Right number one in the northern city.
00:22:57The hitman, Thomas Cobra.
00:23:06The hitman, Thomas Cobra.
00:23:06Go!
00:23:06Go!
00:23:06Go!
00:23:07Go!
00:23:19Go!
00:23:19Go!
00:23:20Go!
00:23:21Go!
00:23:22Go!
00:23:23Go!
00:23:24Go!
00:23:25Go!
00:23:26Go!
00:23:27Go!
00:23:28All right, fellas.
00:23:29First thing I want to tell you is when you're at a clinch and I tell you a break, I want
00:23:32you to stop fighting, take one step back, then resume fighting.
00:23:34I want you to watch your low crunch as you're holding your hand, getting back here and back
00:23:38there are fouls, and make lots of fights.
00:23:40In the event the fighters knock down, you know the fighters standing will go to the furthest
00:23:44neutral corner and stay until I tell you to come out, and the fighters down, you know
00:23:49must take a full eight pound at least.
00:23:51I want you to shake hands, protect yourself at all times from out fighting with a belt,
00:23:56and good luck to both of you, John.
00:23:58Who's a cheap second here?
00:24:00Who's a cheap second?
00:24:02All right.
00:24:04You heard the instructions from the referee, Robert Watson, pointed by the Michigan State
00:24:07Athletic Commission.
00:24:08Rose Grable, Rich Fisher, Harold Letterman are the judges.
00:24:11Harold Letterman from New York.
00:24:13Rose Grable, Rich Fisher both from the State of Michigan.
00:24:15Doug DeWitt.
00:24:16Doug DeWitt, 27-3, perhaps his last hurrah at least in the sense of having a huge opportunity
00:24:27to vault into the middleweight title picture as Iran Barkley did by defeating number one
00:24:32rated James Kinchin.
00:24:33Just a minute to go here on Showtime Championship Boxing.
00:24:37Tim Ryan and Gilclancy watching DeWitt and Thomas Hearns round one.
00:24:45Tim, you know Showtime's getting to be known as the station of upsets.
00:24:51Donald Curry, James Kinchin.
00:24:54You know Thomas Hearns doesn't want to be another victim.
00:25:01Especially here in front of his hometown crowd.
00:25:04He also wants to look good winning.
00:25:06He felt that in the Mark Medell fight, he wasn't at his best.
00:25:10Said it was difficult to make 154.
00:25:13Had trouble with Medell.
00:25:15Eventually the fight stopped, but primarily because of cuts and swelling in the face of Medell.
00:25:19And Hearns hearing booze from the crowd in Las Vegas.
00:25:23He would like to make it a good, quick, short, effective hitman style knockout over a guy who's never been down.
00:25:30And also dangerous with the left hook.
00:25:33Tim, the key is going to be if Hearns can keep that jab into his face and set him up.
00:25:40DeWitt, the natural 160 power.
00:25:49He put it down himself.
00:25:50Hearns coming up.
00:25:51Tim, the other way.
00:25:52This is the way Hearns started with James Shuler.
00:25:57Good left hooks to the body and he hit him with the right hand on the chin and it was all over.
00:26:01Hearns nearly stumbled there as DeWitt stepped on his foot accidentally.
00:26:11How do you know it was accidentally?
00:26:13I was assuming that, Gil, but we'll watch and see if he tries it again intangible.
00:26:18There's that left hook of DeWitt.
00:26:30And the one-hit mark we go.
00:26:33Short right hand landed by DeWitt.
00:26:37DeWitt said his plan was to start reasonably slowly in the first two or three rounds.
00:27:00He'll be effective at Kearns punching power.
00:27:03Get a sense of the range and then he would come on and he thinks Hearns' stamina will be in question in the later rounds.
00:27:15Final seconds of round number one scheduled for 12.
00:27:18The North American Middleweight Championship.
00:27:23Thomas Hearns who has had hand problems.
00:27:26Seems to be throwing it freely twice now.
00:27:28He's had to require treatment on a broken hand following the Hagler fight the last time.
00:27:33We asked him about how that happens.
00:27:35What's happened to him particularly?
00:27:37The real problem with a lot of fighters, especially having punches, they, when they're like boxing with people,
00:27:46and like they have a certain thing, they, boxers have a tendency of, or have an open hand all the time to try to flick off to block punches from like things like that.
00:27:57And when they see an opportunity to shoot their hand, they just, to really just shoot it out there and never close your hand, make a full offense and make it tight.
00:28:06And that will give you, uh, your wrist opportunity to, to bend.
00:28:10And when your hand bends, it takes the impact and it's not strong enough to, to really hold up to that.
00:28:19Well, Gil Clancy, uh, this is something, uh, you know a lot about, uh, the physics of boxing, uh, I'm sure you agree with, with Tommy's assessment there.
00:28:27Well, Tim, the purpose of the hand bandage is to protect the metacarpet bones, but you also have to throw your punches straight.
00:28:34It has to be a straight line from the knuckle right up to the shoulder.
00:28:37As Tommy said, if you bend your wrist, you can break your hand.
00:28:40And it's happened to him.
00:28:41And he feels like he's learned from that experience.
00:28:44And it's hard to keep a clench fist all the time, so your, your timing has to be important.
00:28:49You've got to be relaxed in there, but you've got to have it ready to throw.
00:28:52Round number two.
00:28:54Scheduled for 12, Thomas Hearns in front of his hometown crowd.
00:28:58Doug DeWitt from Yonkers, New York.
00:29:03Tim, Doug DeWitt landed a good left hook to the body in the first round.
00:29:06And Tommy knows now that DeWitt could snap a pretty good punch off, so he's been a little cautious.
00:29:12DeWitt won in Youngstown, Ohio, but grew up in Yonkers, New York.
00:29:16Actually, he lived in Detroit for a brief time.
00:29:19Rank number five by the WPA, number 15 by the WBC.
00:29:23There's a solid left hook by DeWitt.
00:29:27Two left hooks by DeWitt.
00:29:29And there's a right hand over.
00:29:35Now Hearns just sticking out that left hand, and DeWitt not impressed with that at all.
00:29:39Tim, I'll tell you the key to this fight, if Tommy lands a good punch, he has a tendency sometimes to relax and he can get nailed back.
00:29:47If DeWitt punches back, there's a chance he can nail Tommy with a pretty good shot.
00:29:51Hearns' feats are well documented against a lot of the great fighters.
00:29:58There's only defeats at the hands of Leonard and Hagler.
00:30:01DeWitt with victories over Teddy Mann.
00:30:03Mike Tinley, not in the same class of fighters that Hearns has been in.
00:30:08Hearns has been in at his very great division, coming up from the Wellers.
00:30:16DeBuru Duran, Tufino Cuevas, James Schur, Wilfred Benitez, all victims of Thomas Hearns.
00:30:22DeWitt does spot him, has been very, very quick with that left hand.
00:30:32A hundred minutes ago, and DeWitt trying to stay closer in this round.
00:30:35He took a real solid right from Tommy there.
00:30:38DeWitt fighting inside, where he figures to be most effective.
00:30:52Being as close as he can to the rangy Thomas Hearns.
00:30:57There's that snapping jab of Hearns.
00:31:01Right hand landed by DeWitt.
00:31:04Good combination. Perfect, and look at DeWitt.
00:31:08Look over to the corner of Hearns, people, and he does that.
00:31:12He's a real macho man in the real sense of the term.
00:31:14He doesn't really accomplish anything.
00:31:16But it feels important to him, evidently.
00:31:19Well, I guess that's the way he psychs himself up, Tim.
00:31:22Final seconds of round number two.
00:31:24So, Doug DeWitt has taken some of the best shots of Thomas Hearns in the early going.
00:31:38Right near the end of round number two.
00:31:40Shrugged them off.
00:31:41What effect do they have long term over the course of twelve?
00:31:44We'll find out.
00:31:45Let's listen in to which corners.
00:31:46Keep the concentration.
00:31:47I always expect that, Craig.
00:31:48Just this.
00:31:49Okay?
00:31:50Keep your hands up.
00:31:51Keep your hands up.
00:31:52Keep doing what you're doing.
00:31:53Keep doing what you're doing.
00:31:54You're looking good.
00:31:55All right?
00:31:56Make it work.
00:31:57Make it work.
00:31:58Put it inside.
00:31:59Be stronger than you.
00:32:00Okay?
00:32:01Good.
00:32:02Good.
00:32:03Good.
00:32:04Good.
00:32:05Good.
00:32:06Good.
00:32:07Good.
00:32:08Good.
00:32:09Good.
00:32:10Good.
00:32:11Good.
00:32:12Good.
00:32:13Good.
00:32:14Good.
00:32:15Good.
00:32:16Good.
00:32:17Good.
00:32:18Good.
00:32:19Good.
00:32:20Good.
00:32:21Good.
00:32:22Good.
00:32:23Good.
00:32:24Good.
00:32:25Good.
00:32:26Good.
00:32:27Good.
00:32:28Good.
00:32:29Good.
00:32:30Good.
00:32:31Good.
00:32:32Good.
00:32:33Good.
00:32:34Good.
00:32:35Good.
00:32:36Good.
00:32:37Good.
00:32:38Good.
00:32:39Good.
00:32:40Good.
00:32:41Good.
00:32:42Good.
00:32:43There's his brother Glenn in the corner with him and cut man Eddie Aliano.
00:32:47They're in round number three, scheduled for 12, the North American middleweight title at stake.
00:32:57Thomas Hearn, the champion.
00:33:01Good enough took by Rice, setting it up with the jab, announce him.
00:33:05That's what he has to do.
00:33:06There's that good snapping jab again.
00:33:14Now DeWitt on the outside here in round number three after staying close in round two.
00:33:40And DeWitt complained that Hearns is thumbing him, Tim.
00:33:43Complained to the referee.
00:33:48The referee is Robert Watson, local Michigan referee.
00:33:56Two judges from Michigan, one from New York.
00:34:07DeWitt locked off left hand underneath from Hearns.
00:34:10And then he punched back, Tim.
00:34:11That's what you have to do with Tommy Hearns.
00:34:15Because that's the one time when he's vulnerable, is after he punches.
00:34:19The right hand of the body by DeWitt.
00:34:25He certainly didn't come here for a payday, Tim.
00:34:29He's throwing punches with bad intentions.
00:34:32Only a snap.
00:34:33Again, the show for Hato by DeWitt calling Hearns in.
00:34:55Only 30 seconds to go, round three.
00:35:02Hearns respects DeWitt, I can tell you that.
00:35:06Hearns unable to land as DeWitt's on good defense.
00:35:10Now he gets a big right hand.
00:35:12He's very leveled.
00:35:14He has him in trouble.
00:35:15Hearns trying to finish him here in round three.
00:35:18DeWitt trying to bob and weave.
00:35:19But he's got five, six right hands, seven, eight, nine.
00:35:26There's a bell ending round three.
00:35:31And DeWitt complaining about the punches after the bell.
00:35:37No, Tim, I don't think DeWitt heard the bell.
00:35:39He was telling Tommy, come on, get me some more.
00:35:41No, Tim, I don't think I'm so patient with that right hand, you couldn't count them.
00:35:46The hand of this guy, buddy!
00:35:49In the corner at LeGarrette.
00:35:58Let's try to count these right hands by Tommy Hearns.
00:36:00There's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
00:36:12It's like chopping down a tree, Tim.
00:36:15But this tree moved forward.
00:36:16No, that's exactly right.
00:36:18Actually, two or three of those in that exchange of right hands,
00:36:21he didn't really have a lot of leverage on.
00:36:22He was a little over-anxious.
00:36:25And DeWitt started to bob and weave, even though he had been wobbled.
00:36:29He did a good job of surviving, and he's an expert at that.
00:36:32This is round number four, scheduled for 12.
00:36:36Hearns managed to get in a couple after the bell.
00:36:38I don't think either fighter heard the bell.
00:36:40It wasn't intentional.
00:36:41He was just trying to finish off his man.
00:36:56DeWitt does not appear any of the worst for wear.
00:36:59But we'll see what the cumulative effect is.
00:37:01And whether he can turn some offense on here is a good round after the fifth series by Hearns.
00:37:11With DeWitt, it's going to have to take one big punch to get him back in the fight, Tim.
00:37:16He certainly isn't going to out-point Tommy Hearns.
00:37:19I gave DeWitt the second round, but Hearns had two on a high score card in the big round in round number three at the end.
00:37:33What Tommy is doing, Tim, he's faking, sliding over to the right and throwing his right hand over DeWitt's low left hand, which is a good strategy.
00:37:42Now DeWitt trying to muscle him, and this is something that I think DeWitt knows he's got to do, which he didn't do against Milton McClory.
00:37:53Tim, this is a much better Doug DeWitt than a Doug DeWitt at Fort Milton McClory.
00:37:58He's alive tonight against McClory seems to be in the days.
00:38:13A little swelling under the left eye of Doug DeWitt from the action to the end of round three.
00:38:20First time he ends up combination for long range, and then he slides over to the right, Tim.
00:38:28Good left hook by DeWitt in the body.
00:38:31A little low, but it had its effect.
00:38:35Under a minute to go, round four.
00:38:40Tommy Hearns just blew his nose, and that's one of the worst things he can do.
00:38:44His eye can swell up.
00:38:46Again DeWitt stepping on Hearns as Hearns tried to move away from the ropes.
00:38:51DeWitt's using his forearms, his elbows, his head, anything he can use to win this fight.
00:38:58Quick snappy jams by DeWitt.
00:39:12Quick snappy jams by DeWitt.
00:39:12Quick snappy jams by DeWitt.
00:39:20Into the end of round number four, Doug DeWitt gets a little spill in him with that left guy.
00:39:26Cool on the nomination right at the bell.
00:39:29Doug DeWitt returns to his corner, and before the fight, we asked him about his strategy for this fight.
00:39:34He, having agreed, he didn't do so well against McCrory.
00:39:39The first and second round, he's got so much power in that right hand.
00:39:42And after the third round, that's when I would try to take the fight to Hearns.
00:39:47I mean, really take it to him, take chances, you know, even if I had to get hit with some shots.
00:39:52Like Cavill said, he had to take some to give some.
00:39:57Well, there is Doug DeWitt in round number four.
00:40:01The round he was planning to get started out there.
00:40:04It was the attack of Thomas Hearns that we did dominate.
00:40:21A little swelling over the left eye of Doug DeWitt and under that eye.
00:40:26Put some Vaseline on there to try and help those punches slide off those areas that easily puff up quickly.
00:40:35Round number five, and there's a famous jab of Thomas Hearns.
00:40:41Thomas Hearns.
00:40:49DeWitt is a lot quicker than I've ever seen in a tempers.
00:40:52Tommy Hearns has fast hands, and he's managing to slip and avoid a lot of Tommy's punches.
00:41:00There's a right hand lead.
00:41:02Beautiful move by Tommy Hearns.
00:41:04Step and jab behind it.
00:41:12DeWitt rushing in, and they're not happy with themselves, saying that's not the way to do it.
00:41:16I'm going to work my way in.
00:41:18Now the left hook a little low by Doug DeWitt.
00:41:31He's okay.
00:41:32Yep.
00:41:33DeWitt sliding to the right again.
00:41:37Hearns now appearing to me, Gil, to be trying to stand his ground in the muscle department
00:41:48as well.
00:41:49It showed me that he can't beat muscles back.
00:41:51Something that DeWitt moved out, hoping to work in his favor.
00:41:57Now Tommy Schmeier, and this guy is here, DeWitt's right with him.
00:42:02More showboating going on.
00:42:04Again, DeWitt is not going to outcry Tommy Hearns.
00:42:11He's going to have to nail him with a big punch.
00:42:16Irene Barkley in the previous fight was winging punches.
00:42:20That might be DeWitt's best chance to take a shot.
00:42:23Well, he said in his interview there, a moment ago, that's what he was going to do.
00:42:28He needs to be seen.
00:42:30Looks like a hand fight, looks like a hand fight DeWitt, and Tommy Hearns is copying
00:42:35from DeWitt.
00:42:36He can't hurt me.
00:42:37Another right hand fight DeWitt.
00:42:39DeWitt.
00:42:40DeWitt stays there this time.
00:42:42DeWitt trying to get underneath those long arms.
00:42:46Hearns just ties him up.
00:42:53DeWitt.
00:42:54DeWitt trying to get underneath those long arms.
00:42:56Hearns just ties him up.
00:42:59One hundred twenty seconds we go, and round five, scheduled for twelve,
00:43:11North American Middleweight Championship, Tommy Hearns detaining against DeWitt.
00:43:17Showtime championship boxing, Cameron and go Clancy, we are ringside in Pro Bowl Wiena, out, Detroit, Michigan.
00:43:30In round number five, some boos from the crowd and Miss Lois Hearns, Tommy's mother, who was at all of his fights and always decked out in support of her son.
00:43:47And looking, just not concerned, but a little nervous, as you might expect.
00:43:53A little swelling here on the face of Thomas Hearns, they're working on it.
00:44:03Reminder that the night of the middleweights will be seen again tomorrow on a videotape delay here on Showtime, 3 o'clock Eastern and Pacific, 2 o'clock Central.
00:44:12So if he came in late after the round or something and missed the first fight, it was a dandy.
00:44:19Iran Barkley upsetting James Kitchen, you can still see it tomorrow here on Showtime.
00:44:25But we saw the Hearns corner working on some swelling on the face of Thomas Hearnsgill.
00:44:30Yeah, Tim, it was right on the upper lip, left side of his face, and they were using the end swell on it.
00:44:36They were swelling down.
00:44:38Tim, I don't understand why anybody would have booed this fight thus far.
00:44:42You're seeing two well-conditioned, well-schooled middleweights who are letting it all hang out.
00:44:50Well, I'm not sure whether it's the booze for Hearns for not getting this guy out earlier, or whether they were doing the tactics of Doug DeWitt.
00:45:00It's irrelevant, I agree with you.
00:45:02It's been a very tough first five rounds.
00:45:05We're in round six scheduled for 12.
00:45:08Now, DeWitt trying to jab more here.
00:45:11Changing jabs with Hearns will be a losing battle.
00:45:13As we said in the beginning, the key is to DeWitt to get underneath that jab.
00:45:21The counter for a jab is a left hook, Tim.
00:45:23He should be slipping the jab and trying to hit Tommy with left hooks.
00:45:26That's his best point.
00:45:28And thus far, he hasn't done it.
00:45:30He's jamming with Hearns.
00:45:34He's got a couple in, and then he's got three back.
00:45:40There's a good move inside.
00:45:42And DeWitt is talking to him again.
00:45:50I don't know whether it's X-rated, but he's talking to him.
00:45:53Strong points with that left hand.
00:46:01Strong points with that left hand.
00:46:14He's got a great warning from the referee, Robert Watson.
00:46:29Now, DeWitt pressing Hearns in a corner.
00:46:32And in the left hand.
00:46:35And Hearns ties him up.
00:46:36There's a cut over the right eye of Thomas Hearns.
00:46:39And I think it came from a punch, a left hand.
00:46:43A left hand by DeWitt, I believe.
00:46:45Referee Watson went over to the NABF prep.
00:46:50It was Larry Hazard.
00:46:52So there was a discussion with him.
00:46:54And there was a butter nut.
00:46:54It looks like an angry cut, Tim.
00:46:56Yes, it is.
00:46:57Thomas Hearns in trouble.
00:47:02He has a bad cut over his right eye.
00:47:05Doug DeWitt in round number six.
00:47:11Good right hand by Tommy Hearns.
00:47:15Again, I'm not sure what that discussion would have been between the referee and Larry Hazard.
00:47:20Well, he may have told Larry Hazard that it was a foot.
00:47:24I'd like to find out.
00:47:25Yeah, well, I can't be sure.
00:47:27But I thought it was from a punch.
00:47:28There's the end of round number six.
00:47:31Thomas Hearns comes back with blood screaming.
00:47:33See, this is an angry, angry cut.
00:47:35Ralph Citroen will go to work in the urge corner.
00:47:40We will try and determine what the discussion was between the referee and Larry Hazard.
00:47:47Hazard trying to get the referee's attention right now.
00:47:57From the reaction in the corner of DeWitt, it appears that they're going to fall in a foot.
00:48:03Oh, that accidental butt.
00:48:05Accidental butt is the rule that came from Larry Hazard, who is the supervisor at ringside.
00:48:11Now, Hilt, should he have the call ahead of the referee?
00:48:15The referee is on the action in the ring, Tim.
00:48:17Absolutely not.
00:48:20Absolutely not, Tim.
00:48:22The referee has to make the call.
00:48:24All right, now, let's see.
00:48:28Well, as if that's just a little right hand, I believe it occurred just before that.
00:48:31Maybe we can try and get that replay back for him.
00:48:34Can't promise, but it was a punch before what we just showed you, that if it was a punch that did the damage, it was a left hand.
00:48:41If it was a butt, the way Larry Hazard saw it, it was rolled an accidental butt.
00:48:45Tim, two bad things can happen to Tommy Hearns on account of this butt.
00:48:49Number one, the cut itself is a terrible cut.
00:48:52The fight could be stopped.
00:48:53And number two, it gives DeWitt that extra confidence, that extra adrenaline sometimes can change a fight.
00:48:59I've seen fighters that they thought they were dead tired.
00:49:02And all of a sudden, they've cut the other guy.
00:49:04And it's like a breath of fresh air, breath of oxygen.
00:49:07Down sevens of blood from the nose of DeWitt now.
00:49:10There's a cut bleeding over the right eye of Thomas Hearns.
00:49:15It appears to be high on his eyebrow, closer to his nose than the corner of his eye.
00:49:20It's a bad shot.
00:49:21And bleeding directly down into his eye.
00:49:24And now Tommy Hearns is having to fight DeWitt's fight.
00:49:27No more jabbing.
00:49:28Now they're going to war.
00:49:30He has to try to get DeWitt out of here.
00:49:32And by doing that, it nailed himself.
00:49:34Well, again, we've had one upset already tonight.
00:49:41Irene Barclay over James Pynchon, the number one ranked middleweight.
00:49:47Miguel, I have to keep drawing back in my continuing crutching about Hearns as a middleweight.
00:49:53Although DeWitt has the reputation nobody's knocking down.
00:49:56It's still up to question the punching power at 160 pounds of Thomas Hearns.
00:50:01Well, Tim, up to this point, he's nailed DeWitt with some pretty good shots and nothing's happening.
00:50:06Whether it's DeWitt's chin or the fact that Tommy really doesn't have that much power as a middleweight,
00:50:12we still don't know.
00:50:13He looks so big and strong, Tommy.
00:50:15He looks like a full-fledged middleweight, maybe even a light heavyweight from the waist up.
00:50:21But he's hit DeWitt again.
00:50:23Good shots.
00:50:24Look at DeWitt.
00:50:24DeWitt's using the heel of his glove.
00:50:26He's hooking back on that cut.
00:50:27Oh, and a quick sneak move by Hearns.
00:50:31He gets stood there.
00:50:33As soon as the break was completed, he fired off a tough combination in the face of DeWitt.
00:50:39This is a war now, Tim.
00:50:41As they say, Tommy had to go to war.
00:50:42Round 7, scheduled for 12, a dramatic North American middleweight title fight.
00:50:57There's a big one out of DeWitt's hand.
00:50:59Again, the Witt didn't move.
00:51:03Hearns have lost only to Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler.
00:51:06Tim, if Tommy Hearns can stay around for a while,
00:51:09Ralph said those cut stuff will take a hold of him,
00:51:12and that cut wouldn't be as dangerous.
00:51:14It takes a little time for the cut stuff to work.
00:51:20Hearns have been having his way, apart from round 2 on my card,
00:51:24until the damage in round 6.
00:51:31There's the end of the 7th round.
00:51:33Let's go back again, into round number 6, and see what happens.
00:51:41Here's it work, as best we can.
00:51:43DeWitt works his way in.
00:51:45Looks like they clashed heads right there.
00:51:47Absolutely.
00:51:48Yes, there is.
00:51:49You see the expression.
00:51:50Definitely a putt.
00:51:51The referee made a good call.
00:51:53Accidental putt.
00:51:54And there's the shot.
00:51:55So,
00:51:57it may well have been the referee's call,
00:52:00although it appeared when he went to Larry Hazard
00:52:03that it was Larry Hazard's call,
00:52:04but we can't know that for sure.
00:52:06Lois Hearns, a little concerned
00:52:08about her son's situation in the fight.
00:52:12And they're working on him feverishly now in the corner.
00:52:15You can see it as high on the eye crowd,
00:52:17just inside the roof of his nose.
00:52:19You know, although Tommy Hearns is winning the rounds,
00:52:33in my opinion,
00:52:35he's not winning by a big margin,
00:52:37and he's taking punishment himself in every round.
00:52:40I'm sure he didn't expect this guy to have a fight
00:52:42from Doug DeWitt,
00:52:43but as I say,
00:52:43DeWitt looks to me like a much better fighter
00:52:46than if Doug DeWitt had shown up in Las Vegas.
00:52:49He's fighting over the crowd.
00:52:51Certainly strategically,
00:52:53he's got a lot better.
00:52:55Trying to work his way in.
00:52:56He's been in there and used everything he's got.
00:52:59Strength, muscle, roughhouse tactics.
00:53:04Then they have a heavy layer of grease
00:53:06over the left thigh of Doug DeWitt.
00:53:08Whether he has it caught,
00:53:09I haven't seen it.
00:53:10I didn't see it caught on Doug DeWitt,
00:53:12but it looks like they worked on it.
00:53:15What I saw was from his nose in the last round,
00:53:18but not very much.
00:53:20Now, some swelling over and under his right eye
00:53:22early in the fight,
00:53:23but did not appear to be serious.
00:53:27Hearns fighting with renewed purpose,
00:53:29knowing what that fight was caused.
00:53:34Now, Valsicco's cut stump
00:53:36has taken hold,
00:53:37and you don't see any blood
00:53:38coming out of his right eye
00:53:40and Tommy Hearns takes a little time.
00:53:44Meanwhile, Hearns finally got points here
00:53:46and bounds for eight.
00:53:56Doug DeWitt has a pretty quick little jab himself, Tim,
00:53:59even though he's jabbing in the taller guy.
00:54:01Hearns is not counting his jabs.
00:54:04Good combination by DeWitt.
00:54:05And he goes to his head again.
00:54:08I'm sorry by the way
00:54:33What some of those blows and a good offensive glory by the way and so there was to him plenty of leverage on those punches
00:54:44There's
00:54:56Face
00:55:03The right eye of her
00:55:09On that cut
00:55:11Mr. It is some tough guy Tim. Well one. He's taunting Tommy. I'm telling him to come out and fight
00:55:19It's like talking a locomotive. He's standing on the tracks
00:55:23Stop turns coming in to the left
00:55:25Final seconds around eight
00:55:33Oh
00:55:37Emanuel steward in the tommy hearns corner
00:55:39I'm
00:55:41I'm
00:55:43I'm
00:55:45I'm
00:55:47I'm
00:55:49I'm
00:55:51I'm
00:55:53I'm
00:55:55offset
00:55:57beta
00:55:59This
00:56:01Part
00:56:02That
00:56:03That
00:56:05That
00:56:07I
00:56:09�
00:56:11Meh
00:56:12Bueno
00:56:13Do
00:56:15You
00:56:16Get
00:56:17Better
00:56:18dass
00:56:22Jacob's telling Doug DeWitt that Herbs is weak now, and I agree with that, but that's psychology.
00:56:32But I think his advice was good. Keep the pressure on.
00:56:36You've got to just double up on the pressure, you can hear him say.
00:56:40Herbs Stewart almost calm in the corner of all of his boxers, including Herbs,
00:56:45saying, you know, another round of the bank, Tommy, just keep boxing.
00:56:48And the first right hand is DeWitt, DeWitt, where he hit Tommy right on the bad eye
00:56:54and knocked all of the cut stuff right off him.
00:56:58We're flying into the air.
00:57:02On the 9th, scheduled for 12th.
00:57:07Dr. Witt was counting on the fact that Herbs may not have the stamina after the early rounds.
00:57:12Well, we're into the 9th.
00:57:15He also said that he would be putting on the pressure.
00:57:17Here I say he's been trying to do that.
00:57:20Well, Manny Silver told Tommy one more round.
00:57:24He says, and then we'll open up.
00:57:25So, I guess they're going to take the double pressure away from DeWitt next round.
00:57:31Next round should be a beauty if we can find this one.
00:57:38Now, don't forget that Herbs felt it was important to look good, not just win,
00:57:42but to come in here and hopefully knock out the man who's never been knocked down.
00:57:48He really got tangled up that time in DeWitt.
00:57:51Wanted to throw that right hand, but Marcus has been very preventative.
00:57:56Look at the Ripper, his hands on his sides.
00:57:59Hands on his sides.
00:58:00He's talking about not respecting a punch.
00:58:01He's talking about Tommy's head now.
00:58:12Tommy's doing it to him.
00:58:14Look at this.
00:58:15Tommy should not get caught in this trap and start doing the things that DeWitt's doing.
00:58:19He should fight like Tommy Hearns.
00:58:25Hearns, no doubt, a little frustrated.
00:58:27Wanting to look good in front of his hometown crowd, he's been in command of the fight,
00:58:34in our cards at least, but he has not seen it.
00:58:38Tim Holtz, it's in this round.
00:58:42The winner's having some beautiful combinations, short punches, good shots to the body.
00:58:46But there's a muscle and a pangle on their head.
00:58:48Another one on their head.
00:58:52Taking the point away from DeWitt.
00:58:57We're using his head inside, I believe.
00:59:00Oh, Tim, I think he blows a low blow.
00:59:03All right.
00:59:04After he's back was to us, so we can't read his lips or hear him.
00:59:09What a tough guy.
00:59:13Oh, what a light hit he got here, Tim.
00:59:15Nothing happened.
00:59:20He's just walking in now, his hands down.
00:59:22Tim, he has nice roll.
00:59:24Oh, my God.
00:59:27Tim, he's really well at his feet.
00:59:34The time he's letting you all hang out, I wonder how much that took out of him.
00:59:39He ends the round number again.
00:59:44DeWitt appeared to have the best of that until the final seconds when he put his hands down.
00:59:49But he had a point, taking it away.
00:59:51Yeah, that was going to end the round number nine.
00:59:53That caught him a point, and here's the round finishing plurie by Thomas Hearns.
01:00:10But this was mainly because DeWitt, after this exchange, just really let Hearns fire away.
01:00:16Look at his hands down.
01:00:17Didn't punch back.
01:00:20Kearns took advantage.
01:00:29Tim, I don't know how much Tommy Hearns has left.
01:00:32I mean, this has been some pace, and he just expended a lot of energy last round.
01:00:36I think this round is going to be the key round in the fight.
01:00:39Remember, this is a 12-round fight for the NABF.
01:00:43Middleweight title.
01:00:44We're in round 10.
01:00:45Tim Ryan and Joe Clancy have dramatic middleweight display.
01:00:48Thomas Hearns cut in round number six.
01:00:53He's had problems since that point.
01:00:56We have scored a round for DeWitt, and he might have won the last one, except for that point
01:01:01being taken away from the low blow.
01:01:07And now, now, Ralph Sico has a joke for him on the cut on Tom Brant's eye.
01:01:12If you hit that joke on one goal, and DeWitt going right after it.
01:01:17There's also a target for DeWitt.
01:01:19What about the substances that are allowable, Gil?
01:01:31Well, Tim, nowadays, they only allow adrenaline chloride.
01:01:36Is that involved in this?
01:01:41You can use a gel pump, Tim.
01:01:43You can't use anything with an iodine base, anything that will burn its issue.
01:01:49Give me room, Rick.
01:01:52The Hearns here on the floor, but DeWitt will not.
01:01:55Yeah, but Tim, Hearns is putting around to the bank.
01:02:03Some little tape on the glove of Hearns.
01:02:07Now, LePair needed in the Hearns corner.
01:02:09Well, it didn't take Randy Stewart long.
01:02:11He's a real pro.
01:02:12I had to scissor, Eddie.
01:02:15Now, for DeWitt to win this fight, Tim, I'll say, again, they say,
01:02:18he has to land a big punch at the land that he has to throw it.
01:02:23He has knocked out that gel foam off the corner of the eye of Thomas Hearns,
01:02:29but there's no bleeding at the moment.
01:02:31It seems to me DeWitt gets a decision to throw that left eye
01:02:34if it doesn't throw it.
01:02:38Now, there may be a cut at the corner of the left eye of Thomas Hearns.
01:02:42In addition, he won over his white eye.
01:02:48Here goes DeWitt with his head, using an elbow.
01:02:51And again, Hearns must be ahead of Doug DeWitt in the crowd,
01:03:02responding to the one sportsman-like tactic on the front of Doug DeWitt.
01:03:07He's going to do everything he can against the heavy favorite,
01:03:11Thomas Hearns, in his hometown.
01:03:12We have Hearns comfortably ahead on our card through nine rounds.
01:03:24Tim, here's an example where Tommy Hearns had to look good.
01:03:27Everybody says, well, he did not throw the wheel out.
01:03:29Don't knock the Iron Man out.
01:03:31Now he's worried about surviving and winning.
01:03:35Cuts over both guys at Thomas Hearns.
01:03:37Two rounds to go after this one concludes.
01:03:41We're in the final seconds of round 10.
01:03:48White hand over by DeWitt.
01:03:51That's right hand by Hearns at the valve.
01:03:53And an extra cheer from DeWitt.
01:03:55That angers Thomas Hearns.
01:04:01Well, this is a partisan crowd, as you might expect for Thomas Hearns.
01:04:05But believe me, there are a lot of people here cheering
01:04:07the performance of Doug DeWitt.
01:04:08Either they came here to cheer him,
01:04:11or they felt that he's giving them more than they expected,
01:04:14and they're responding to the fact that he's made this a dramatic
01:04:17little weight championship battle.
01:04:19Push this car backwards.
01:04:21Double your punches, Doug.
01:04:22Triple your punches.
01:04:23Then right down to your dog fight.
01:04:25Sit down and fight like hell on the ropes.
01:04:27You understand?
01:04:28Sit down and dozen both legs to the ground.
01:04:30Right open, Doug.
01:04:31You didn't come to the top.
01:04:32You understand?
01:04:33Down the boat with his head, bones, and body,
01:04:36and comfort.
01:04:36Top of the bunch.
01:04:37You've got two rounds to go, he's all over.
01:04:40Go for the back.
01:04:40Go for the back.
01:04:41Go for the back.
01:04:41Go for the back.
01:04:41Go for the back.
01:04:41Go for the back.
01:04:41Go for the back.
01:04:42Go for the back.
01:04:42All right, take it, Doug.
01:04:49Thomas Hearns out with some of that same protection
01:04:52to try to stop the full blood of the right eye.
01:04:56Didn't see any serious damage,
01:04:58and that what appeared to be a slight cut of the corner
01:05:01of his left eye may simply have been blood
01:05:03from the cut of the right eye.
01:05:05They'll try to get a closer look.
01:05:10Can't see any serious.
01:05:12Well, I'm going to let down.
01:05:14Well, number 11.
01:05:18The crowd chanting, Tommy, Tommy.
01:05:29As usual, the challenger situation
01:05:32of having to make something happen.
01:05:34Hard to win a decision in a title fight
01:05:37in the other guy's hometown.
01:05:38As we have it, turns as comfortably ahead.
01:05:41A point taken off by DeWitt helping in round nine.
01:05:44But the danger of the cut still a factor
01:05:47with the round and a little more to go.
01:05:50Well, the thing is, again, DeWitt has to take chances.
01:05:53And this is like 10 feet.
01:05:55He has to throw the punches.
01:05:56Absolutely has to let it all hang out if he has any chance to win this.
01:06:04It'll be another one of those game shows by Doug DeWitt.
01:06:08He went the distance, etc.
01:06:09But it still comes up in the loss column.
01:06:13Bear in mind, he's only lost three times.
01:06:16And he's won 27 in three draws.
01:06:18And it's in the 11th round.
01:06:35What is he waiting for?
01:06:36And Herschel Jacobs told him in the corner.
01:06:39He said, sit on the ropes and fight like hell.
01:06:41Again, trying to ruck him up and get to warning for the referee
01:06:51for using his head inside.
01:06:53There's a right hand.
01:06:55That's up, turns.
01:06:58Got to do more.
01:06:59That's what he has to do.
01:07:00He has to win.
01:07:00Take chances.
01:07:01Thomas Hearns, continuing to box, move, make his punches score.
01:07:20If it goes the distance, there can be little doubt as to the outcome.
01:07:27There's another pretty display by Doug DeWitt.
01:07:30But then again here, strategically, in these final two rounds,
01:07:33getting away from what was having the bad effect on him.
01:07:38Look at that right hand.
01:07:40Tommy's got this wide open again, Tim.
01:07:43Look at the right, but his hand's down.
01:07:45Look at this.
01:07:48I can't believe this guy.
01:07:50But to what point?
01:07:52I don't know, Tim.
01:07:53That's the thing.
01:07:54I guess he needs a corner man as a psychiatrist or something
01:07:58to make him throw those hands.
01:08:01Look, he has so much ability.
01:08:02The most important thing a fighter has to be able to do
01:08:05is take a punch, and he can take a punch,
01:08:07and he's quick, and he can punch.
01:08:09But you have to know where you are in a fight.
01:08:11If you're behind, you have to throw punches.
01:08:13Don't make a mistake that you dive in like a snake,
01:08:16real quick like a snake.
01:08:18You know what I mean?
01:08:18Keep it away from now.
01:08:19Going back into that 11th round and see W. W. Witt.
01:08:33Now we lost our videotape there.
01:08:36Technical difficulty.
01:08:37Don't fight it all the way through.
01:08:39Fight it all the way through.
01:08:40Go for the gusto.
01:08:41Go for the gusto.
01:08:41Go for the gusto.
01:08:41Go for the gusto.
01:08:41Go for the gusto.
01:08:41Go for the gusto.
01:08:47Well, as corner saying go for the gusto,
01:08:49I don't know whether they think he's got enough on point
01:08:52to win this fight with just a good busy round.
01:08:55In our view, he's got to stop Thomas Ernst
01:08:58to have any chance to win.
01:08:59Although, again, credit to his gritty display.
01:09:02He's tried awful hard, but, again, he's got to keep up the pace.
01:09:07Got to make something happen.
01:09:10Not enough to say you can take a punch.
01:09:15Now some loose tape on DeWitt's glove.
01:09:17Well, that's 1-1 in the net score now, Tim.
01:09:20Let's see if this is going to go.
01:09:21He's just as quick as Manny Stoll.
01:09:22He's got a scissor out.
01:09:26There's more advice from Herschel Jacobs.
01:09:28My advice would be to bar the weave and wing.
01:09:40But this has been a night that Thomas Ernst so won't forget.
01:09:47Well, he's talking about going up to meet the WBC light heavyweight champion,
01:09:55the new one, Dennis Andres of England, if he wins here tonight.
01:10:00And then waiting out for middleweight picture,
01:10:03his desire to win four championships,
01:10:06so very much in his mind.
01:10:08But I'm afraid I have to continue to question
01:10:10how effective he can be at 160 and 175.
01:10:15As a puncher, not to say he can't win fights and become a champion.
01:10:19You see, the box is so beautiful.
01:10:21That'll win you a lot of fights.
01:10:23Superb boxing exhibition by Hermans again.
01:10:35We've come to expect it.
01:10:37And we've expected his grip in the termination.
01:10:44A proud champion.
01:10:47About to let Doug DeWitt take this away from him here tonight
01:10:50in front of his hometown crowd.
01:10:51A minute to go in the fight.
01:11:03I can't understand the way Doug DeWitt's performing now, can you?
01:11:07No.
01:11:07This is back to the McCrory fight.
01:11:10Same idea as though the fight's somehow over
01:11:12and, again, you're just out there
01:11:14thinking you've got one for some reason
01:11:16to finishing up.
01:11:18It's an odd mental state that Doug DeWitt let us do in.
01:11:26Well, there's a kid.
01:11:27Timmy has a lot of ability.
01:11:28I just don't see anything lacking in his ability.
01:11:32It's a question of, you're using it.
01:11:35Slips punches.
01:11:36He's a punch.
01:11:37He takes a punch.
01:11:38But he doesn't put it all together.
01:11:42Good left hook by Tommy Renz.
01:11:459 on 30 seconds of the fight.
01:11:48Good right hand by Tommy Renz.
01:11:50Hearns trying to put him away.
01:11:54Love to finish this with a knockout.
01:11:56It's not likely to be forthcoming.
01:11:58No knockout to him.
01:11:59We're now in the final second,
01:12:01so there will be no knockout.
01:12:03That's it.
01:12:10Tough fight for that sportsmanship today, huh?
01:12:13Thomas Hearns appreciating the effort of Doug DeWitt.
01:12:18Even though there was a lot of roof housing going on in there,
01:12:21Doug DeWitt again shows that he can go the distance
01:12:24against anybody in the middleweight division.
01:12:27I would like his chances in that respect.
01:12:29He can play anyway.
01:12:31But winning is another problem.
01:12:32He's won 27 times.
01:12:35He's lost three.
01:12:36I think he's going to lose this one.
01:12:38But for Doug DeWitt,
01:12:39given the big opportunities and the big fights,
01:12:42just doesn't seem to have that mental ability
01:12:44to use all the tools and go after it.
01:12:47That's the kind of a fighter that's really an enigma.
01:12:50Tim and he can drive a train of really crazy
01:12:53because I see the ability that this kid has.
01:12:56It's a question of putting everything together.
01:12:58I don't see anything that he can't do.
01:13:01You're in charge, Gil.
01:13:02I'm going up to the ring.
01:13:03Okay, Tim.
01:13:07All right.
01:13:10All right, now here was the turning point in the fight,
01:13:13and this is what put DeWitt in the fight.
01:13:15There's come DeWitt's head up,
01:13:16and there's the butt,
01:13:17and it opened an angry cut over Tommy Heard's right eye.
01:13:21And you can see Tommy grimace
01:13:22from the effect of the butt on mid-dug.
01:13:24And that's gentlemen, Doug DeWitt.
01:13:26After he butted him, he hit him with a right hand.
01:13:28So I tried to open it a little further.
01:13:30When he's in the ring, Doug DeWitt,
01:13:32he's trying to win any way he can.
01:13:34They have a referee.
01:13:35As long as the referee lets him do things,
01:13:38he's going to do them.
01:13:40I was very, very impressed by the resistance of the fight.
01:13:43It was a fast-paced fight.
01:13:45Two quick fighters,
01:13:46two well-conditioned fighters.
01:13:48Tommy Heard's was just by far
01:13:50the better technical boxer.
01:13:52Landed most of the clean punches,
01:13:54and in my opinion,
01:13:55won almost every round in the fight.
01:13:57Although, in every round, he was in jeopardy.
01:13:59The cut could have been open.
01:14:01He could have been nailed by a good punch,
01:14:02because, believe me, Doug DeWitt can punch.
01:14:05I've seen him knock out some pretty good fighters.
01:14:10It was an exciting fight.
01:14:12I'm sure that Tommy would like to have got a different result.
01:14:15He was trying to get a knockout,
01:14:17especially after the last fight with Mark McDowell
01:14:19when he was booed for the first time in his life.
01:14:22He wanted to have an impressive performance.
01:14:25All right, now let's go up to ring announcer Mike Puffer.
01:14:29Here's the official scoring.
01:14:30We have a unanimous decision.
01:14:32Rich Fisher from Michigan scores at 118-109.
01:14:36Rosie Grable from Michigan scores at 117-110.
01:14:40And Harold Letterman from New York scores at 116-110 for the winner.
01:14:46And still the North American boxing generation,
01:14:49Meloie Chapman,
01:14:51the Morris City Hitman,
01:14:53Ahmed Taylor.
01:14:57In the ring, this time to present the belt,
01:14:59New Jersey State Boxing Commissioner, Larry Hatter.
01:15:09This got to be kind of a very rough fight.
01:15:12There were a lot of rough tactics in there, Tommy.
01:15:15And yet at the end, as soon as the fight was over,
01:15:18in the great boxing tradition,
01:15:19you embraced Doug DeWitt.
01:15:21Obviously a measure of respect for him.
01:15:23Well, I always have respect for my opponent.
01:15:26And this man here, Doug DeWitt,
01:15:28that was a man with a lot of heart and a lot of ability.
01:15:30I told, leading to the fight,
01:15:32I told everybody that this is not an easy fight.
01:15:35This man has, like they said, styles make fights.
01:15:37This man has a certain style that made it very difficult for me.
01:15:41And he used it to his advantage.
01:15:43He was there, he was working,
01:15:44and I give this man a great deal of respect.
01:15:46I think that he will be a champion sometime down in the future.
01:15:48Doug DeWitt, Tommy, is a superb boxer.
01:15:51You knew that coming in.
01:15:52That's really what won him the fight.
01:15:54He was unable to put you away.
01:15:55You have that record intact.
01:15:56But that's not enough for you, is it?
01:15:58Our question was, in those final couple of rounds,
01:16:00where you had to feel that you had to let it all hang out,
01:16:04what were you thinking in round 11 and 12?
01:16:06Well, against a great fighter like Kearns,
01:16:08you can't try to have stuff.
01:16:09I always try to stay on the outside,
01:16:11and he's great from the outside.
01:16:13I think I gave him a tough fight.
01:16:14I feel he won the fight,
01:16:16but I feel I could have put more into the fight.
01:16:17But there's no excuses.
01:16:18He won.
01:16:19I thought it was a great fight.
01:16:20But I think, like he said, styles is everything.
01:16:23I think I could give Marvin Haglund the shit that I gave him.
01:16:26I believe that because I boxed Marvin Haglund.
01:16:28Styles is everything.
01:16:29He's not going to do good shit.
01:16:30How do I knock him?
01:16:33Satellite Nation want information on how to subscribe.
01:16:36I'm going to knock him.
01:16:36I'm just saying, you know, the styles is everything.
01:16:39But I didn't put 100% into him
01:16:41because I should have been winging and throwing a lot of punches.
01:16:43But he was his ability.
01:16:44Doug, let's say this.
01:16:45You made a very exciting fight tonight.
01:16:47You've done that before.
01:16:48You're in here against one of the all-time greats.
01:16:50We congratulate you for your effort.
01:16:52I'm fighting men like Kearns, McCrory, Don Lee.
01:16:54They got guys in Kitchen, number one contender, right?
01:16:57Where does that come up?
01:16:58I'm not kitchen out.
01:16:59And Sims, I'll knock out.
01:17:00This is the only man that beat me.
01:17:01He's probably the only man that could beat me.
01:17:02Doug, you make a good point.
01:17:04You make a good point.
01:17:04You have fought the toughest guys,
01:17:06and we hope you continue to do so.
01:17:07I hope you're behind the right.
01:17:08Doug DeWitt, Thomas Hearns,
01:17:09we can just ask you to step in a little closer here.
01:17:12Tommy, I know you wanted badly
01:17:14to shine for your hometown fans.
01:17:16You didn't want another Mark Vidal fight.
01:17:18You hope that you might be the first guy
01:17:20to knock this guy out.
01:17:21How do you feel now?
01:17:22Well, I feel great because I think I put up a great show
01:17:24with this man's style that Doug DeWitt possesses.
01:17:29I feel that I put up one hell of a fight
01:17:31because it would have made it very difficult.
01:17:33I had to use the left hand
01:17:35because it seemed like the left hand
01:17:36was the only thing that really was working.
01:17:38So I had to be effective with the left hand.
01:17:40Time after time, I just kind of like slowed off.
01:17:44I kind of like banged down and stopped using the left hand.
01:17:47But when I stopped doing that,
01:17:48it just put me in a right position,
01:17:49made him able to come in and do some big shots.
01:17:52Can anybody knock this guy out?
01:17:54I don't know.
01:17:56I hit him with some hard shots,
01:17:57and he like laid in,
01:17:58and I hit him repeatedly afterwards.
01:18:00And he just did.
01:18:01I said, well, hey, it's no use of me trying to knock this man.
01:18:04I'll get off and start boxing.
01:18:06All right.
01:18:06Well, Tommy, we congratulate you
01:18:08for another game display
01:18:09and a brilliant boxing display as usual.
01:18:12I know you're happy to win
01:18:13in front of your hometown crowd,
01:18:14and you're talking next about the light heavyweight.
01:18:17Yeah, I've been giving it a lot of thought.
01:18:20My plan is to move on to the next division
01:18:21and not worry about Marvin Hagler
01:18:23because Marvin Hagler,
01:18:24I think that he don't want to fight me.
01:18:26He's going to move on.
01:18:27So I'm going to go on and move on and stay busy
01:18:28just in case that he decide he wants to fight.
01:18:30I'll come back down and fight him.
01:18:31All right.
01:18:32Well, good luck to you, Thomas.
01:18:33You're always an exciting fighter to watch
01:18:34and great to be here with you in Detroit.
01:18:38And great to be here with you in Detroit.
01:18:39Thomas Hearns
01:18:43defending his middleweight championship
01:18:45of North America
01:18:46with a grueling fight
01:18:48against Doug DeWitt.
01:18:49Now, remember,
01:18:50Showtime on Friday, December 5th,
01:18:52will feature
01:18:52the 15-round IVF lightweight championship
01:18:55by another of the great cronk fighters,
01:18:57lightweight champion Jimmy Paul
01:18:59from Detroit, Michigan.
01:19:00He will defend against Greg Haugen.
01:19:02That fight will take place in Las Vegas.
01:19:05And also on that card,
01:19:06a young man who won here earlier.
01:19:07The spring of 1970
01:19:15is an angry time.
01:19:17People, especially young people,
01:19:20fill the streets,
01:19:21protesting this, advocating that,
01:19:23confident that their rambunctiousness
01:19:25Huntaway,
01:19:27burn the road to Detroit.
01:19:38Good luck to you.
01:19:39Welcome to Portland.