- 5/14/2025
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00:00:00Harding, McCallum, Hill, Tate.
00:00:05An explosive mix of grit featuring WBA light heavyweight champ Virgil Hill
00:00:11as he defends his title a record-breaking 16th time against number one contender Frank Tate.
00:00:16Also, WBC light heavyweight champ Jeff Harding meets up with number one challenger Mike McCallum.
00:00:21In this long-awaited bout, it's a who's who of light heavyweights.
00:00:25Next, exclusively on Showtime Championship Boxing.
00:00:47Once it was a home for such legendary fighters as Archie Moore and Bob Foster.
00:00:55However, since Michael Spinks became the last to unify the division nine years ago,
00:01:00the 175-pound weight class has fallen upon lackluster times.
00:01:05But now, in the hopes of returning the division to its glory days,
00:01:08four of its best will battle it out in a step towards unifying the light heavyweight championship.
00:01:14In front of his enthusiastic hometown fans in Bismarck, North Dakota,
00:01:18champion Virgil Hill will fight number one contender Frank Tate,
00:01:22his former Olympic teammate and longtime rival,
00:01:25in a rematch for the WBA light heavyweight championship.
00:01:29And after a 19-month hiatus,
00:01:31Australian Jeff Harding is back defending his title
00:01:34against veteran two-time champion Mike the Body Snatcher McCallum,
00:01:38now seeking the WBC light heavyweight championship.
00:01:42From the beautiful, wide-open state of North Dakota,
00:01:46where the vestiges of the Wild West still remain,
00:01:49comes the Battle of the Badlands.
00:01:52Live from the Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota,
00:01:55on Showtime Championship Boxing.
00:01:57And greetings from the house that Virgil built,
00:02:15the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota,
00:02:19where the old expression,
00:02:20there's no place like home,
00:02:21was never more suitable
00:02:22as hometown hero Virgil Hill
00:02:24headlines this light heavyweight championship showcase.
00:02:27Hill's had 13 fights in the capital city of Bismarck,
00:02:30all victories.
00:02:31He's 20-0 in the state of North Dakota.
00:02:3314 of his 18 title fights have been here in his home state.
00:02:37And you guessed it, he's 14-0.
00:02:39Tonight, in a rematch of a fight that took place nearly two years ago
00:02:43in this same arena,
00:02:44Hill's former Olympic teammate Frank Tate
00:02:46hopes to silence Hill's many adoring fans.
00:02:51Yes, they come from all over the state of North Dakota
00:02:53just to see their idol.
00:02:54The good-looking and personable boxing champion Virgil Hill.
00:02:58Here are the fans arriving earlier this evening.
00:03:01And when you think about it,
00:03:01the population of Bismarck is about 50,000.
00:03:04Meanwhile, the capacity of the Civic Center
00:03:06is about 8,000 for boxing.
00:03:08Therefore, almost one-fifth of the city of Bismarck
00:03:12could be here tonight to see their pride
00:03:14and inspiration defend his title
00:03:16for the 17th time overall.
00:03:21Hello again, everybody.
00:03:23I'm Steve Albert,
00:03:24and welcome to another edition
00:03:25of Showtime Championship Boxing.
00:03:27You regular viewers are aware
00:03:28that this past year
00:03:29we've brought you to such faraway places
00:03:31as Puebla, Mexico,
00:03:33and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
00:03:35Well, this evening marks Showtime's first trip
00:03:37to America's heartland,
00:03:38Bismarck, North Dakota,
00:03:40for two world title fights.
00:03:41We should also mention here at the outset
00:03:43that we hope to get a comment from Don King
00:03:45on his recent indictment
00:03:46and pending trial later in the telecast.
00:03:49As per usual,
00:03:50I'm joined here at ringside
00:03:51by the fight doctor,
00:03:52Ferdie Pacheco.
00:03:53Bobby Chez will not be joining us tonight
00:03:55as he is training for a fight
00:03:56later this summer.
00:03:57And Ferdie,
00:03:58your thoughts on the light heavyweight division
00:03:59and who might potentially unify the title.
00:04:02Well, I think we're lucky.
00:04:03We're seeing all four
00:04:04of the top light heavyweights
00:04:06as far as I'm concerned.
00:04:08Whoever wins tonight,
00:04:09the two winners should fight
00:04:10to unify the title.
00:04:12There is another champion,
00:04:13Henry Mask of Germany,
00:04:14but he's not quite in the category
00:04:16of the four men we're going to see tonight.
00:04:18So fortunately,
00:04:19we're going to see what amounts to
00:04:20an elimination for the final unification
00:04:23of the light heavyweight championship.
00:04:24All right,
00:04:25before we get to tonight's featured bouts,
00:04:27we'd like to recap
00:04:28what took place earlier tonight
00:04:29on the undercard.
00:04:32Alfred Cole defended his
00:04:33IVF Cruiserweight Championship
00:04:34against number one contender
00:04:35Nate Miller.
00:04:37In a rather uneventful affair,
00:04:39Cole retained his title
00:04:40via unanimous decision.
00:04:43Well,
00:04:44the first of two world championship fights
00:04:45coming up next
00:04:46as we take you behind the scenes
00:04:48into the dressing room
00:04:49of WBC light heavyweight champion
00:04:50Jeff Harding
00:04:52doing some facial exercises.
00:04:54He comes a long distance
00:04:56to defend his title here tonight
00:04:57all the way from
00:04:58and down under.
00:05:00Harding,
00:05:01the hitman from Australia,
00:05:02will defend his WBC light heavyweight title
00:05:04against the WBC interim champion,
00:05:07veteran Mike McCallum,
00:05:08who is gunning
00:05:09for his third world championship belt.
00:05:14Jeff Harding was scheduled to fight
00:05:15Randall Yonker this past March 4th,
00:05:17but he had to pull out because of a cut
00:05:19over his eye,
00:05:19an injury sustained in training.
00:05:22Meanwhile,
00:05:22Mike McCallum,
00:05:23who was slated to fight on the undercard,
00:05:25was moved up to fight Yonker on short notice.
00:05:28Didn't seem to phase McCallum,
00:05:29who scored a fifth round knockout over Yonker,
00:05:32thus gaining the title as interim champion
00:05:34with the proviso
00:05:35that he take on Jeff Harding
00:05:36for the WBC light heavyweight crown
00:05:38as soon as Harding
00:05:39was physically fit.
00:05:40Well,
00:05:41all systems are go,
00:05:43and tonight Harding will face
00:05:44the mandatory challenger,
00:05:45Mike McCallum.
00:05:47Now,
00:05:47even though Jeff Harding is the champion,
00:05:49he hasn't fought in over 19 months
00:05:51due to injuries and other setbacks.
00:05:53Ferdy,
00:05:53what about the effects of such
00:05:54a long absence on his career
00:05:56and his abilities?
00:05:57Well,
00:05:57it's a great effect.
00:05:58When you get to that age,
00:05:59you haven't fought for that long,
00:06:00your body gets soft,
00:06:01not accustomed to the punching,
00:06:03and your reflexes go a little bit.
00:06:05Bad news is,
00:06:05Mike McCallum,
00:06:06as we all know,
00:06:07is a body snatcher.
00:06:07So,
00:06:08you better have a body that's hard
00:06:09and ready to take the punishment.
00:06:11Is Harding ready to take that punishment?
00:06:12We don't know.
00:06:13Harding's answer was,
00:06:14I'm going to punish his body
00:06:16before he gets to mine.
00:06:17So,
00:06:17we've got a very interesting fight,
00:06:19if not the best fight of the night
00:06:20coming up right now.
00:06:21Mike McCallum is a two-time world champion,
00:06:23former junior middleweight
00:06:24and middleweight title holder.
00:06:26He may be 37,
00:06:27but he really hasn't shown
00:06:28too many signs of age to this point.
00:06:31I think
00:06:31both fighters have to start fast.
00:06:34You know,
00:06:34Mike McCallum's one of these patient guys.
00:06:36He'll work on your body,
00:06:37work on your body,
00:06:38and then all of a sudden,
00:06:39around the 8th or 9th,
00:06:39if he wakes for Harding,
00:06:43because Harding is all heart
00:06:44and all guts,
00:06:45as we've seen him fight.
00:06:46And so,
00:06:47therefore,
00:06:47what I think we're going to see
00:06:49is a very wild
00:06:50and very fast fight
00:06:51starting up very soon.
00:06:53All right,
00:06:54Bernie,
00:06:54we look forward to your comments
00:06:55throughout the evening.
00:06:56We are closing in
00:06:57on our co-feature,
00:06:58the battle for the WBC Light
00:06:59Heavyweight Championship
00:07:00between Jeff Harding
00:07:02and Mike McCallum.
00:07:17I don't know the reason
00:07:19why Jeff didn't want to fight me last year,
00:07:21but last year,
00:07:23we trained for the fight
00:07:24very intelligently,
00:07:26in a fight three or four times.
00:07:29I still don't know for any reasons.
00:07:30Fights were falling through
00:07:32due to lack of finances.
00:07:36People were making the wrong decisions,
00:07:40not knowing previously to make them.
00:07:44And, you know,
00:07:44I don't blame anyone,
00:07:46but just bad luck.
00:07:48I'm going to give a beat for that.
00:07:51I'm going to give a beat for that.
00:07:53This fight should have been happening
00:07:55three a year ago.
00:07:57I'm going to beat him up for that.
00:07:59Definitely.
00:08:00I'm going to spank him for that.
00:08:02Turn him over and spank him.
00:08:03I'm sure he's got a lot to say
00:08:07in a belligerent sense towards me.
00:08:11I'm glad he's not saying anything but,
00:08:14because this is the boxing sense,
00:08:18you know,
00:08:19like the jungle out there.
00:08:21Kill would be kill,
00:08:22so to speak.
00:08:23So I'm just glad he's not
00:08:24blowing the kisses
00:08:25and giving me marshmallows.
00:08:29I'm not underestimating Jeff Harding.
00:08:31Understand me.
00:08:32I know this man is a young man.
00:08:34He's younger than me.
00:08:35This man is strong.
00:08:36This man is a champion.
00:08:38And I'm going to test him a couple times
00:08:40with the body to see what happens.
00:08:41You know what I mean?
00:08:42I'm straight inside.
00:08:43I'm going to fight him a couple times.
00:08:44I'm going to box him a couple times.
00:08:46You know,
00:08:47I know he's the old,
00:08:48wise,
00:08:49wise man.
00:08:50And, you know,
00:08:50he's very capable,
00:08:52very,
00:08:53he's very flamboyant.
00:08:54He's got lateral movement.
00:08:56He can box on the outside.
00:08:57He can box on the inside.
00:08:59You know,
00:08:59he's got it all.
00:09:00I'm actually a big fan of Mike McCallum,
00:09:01or I have been.
00:09:02And it's great that I get in
00:09:04the opportunity
00:09:05to get in there and beat him.
00:09:06And let's take our first look at Mike McCallum,
00:09:17who has quietly but effectively become one of the true elder states bit of boxing.
00:09:21The 37-year-old McCallum,
00:09:23a two-time world champion,
00:09:24nearly won a third title
00:09:25when he fought James Toney to a draw
00:09:27for the IBF Super Middleweight Championship.
00:09:30The man they call the body snatcher,
00:09:31nicknamed by former sparring partner,
00:09:33Tommy Hearns is 46-2-1 with 35 knockouts.
00:09:37He hails from Kingston, Jamaica,
00:09:39and resides in Brooklyn, New York.
00:09:42Music.
00:09:43Yeah.
00:09:48There you go.
00:09:50You got it, Mike.
00:09:51You ready?
00:09:52Yeah.
00:09:53What's up, Mike?
00:09:55You ready?
00:09:55You ready?
00:09:56You ready?
00:09:56You ready?
00:09:57You ready?
00:09:59You ready?
00:10:01You ready?
00:10:18Yeah.
00:10:19Nice to see you.
00:10:49The fans responding to the
00:11:04engaging and personable Mike
00:11:06McCallum who says he wants to
00:11:07win this championship for the
00:11:09older generation.
00:11:10I referred him earlier as an
00:11:11elder statesman you might call
00:11:12him the Jack Benny of boxing.
00:11:14Although he admits to being 30
00:11:1570 may actually be closer to 40
00:11:17or beyond.
00:11:18But that doesn't take away from
00:11:19the fact that he still has the
00:11:21skills.
00:11:22Mike McCallum the old pro fighting
00:11:24since 1981 one of those rarities
00:11:26McCallum the challenger of four to
00:11:28one favorite.
00:11:31And here is the champion 29 year
00:11:33old Jeff Harding out of Sydney
00:11:34Australia Harding 23 and one with
00:11:3717 KOs making the third defense of
00:11:39his second WBC light heavyweight
00:11:41title even though he recaptured the
00:11:43belt in 91 as mentioned he has not
00:11:45fought in over 19 months tonight
00:11:47representing his first fight since
00:11:49December 3rd 1992.
00:11:52he's going to be he's closing for
00:12:05Neg backups so maybe she can Press
00:12:07TV on Teddy, never Visit me sitting
00:12:11on Jason on down and on and on.
00:12:12Have a hard time to stay and
00:12:14have a hard time.
00:12:16I can't remember giving me that day to myself.
00:12:23Someone else is the same as me.
00:12:34Let's go.
00:12:35Let's go.
00:12:36Let's do it.
00:12:37Let's do it.
00:12:38We're going to walk.
00:12:39We're going to go.
00:12:41When the back is broken.
00:12:43When the matter moves away.
00:12:47I'll treat you about yourself.
00:12:50Never give up.
00:12:52Never give up.
00:12:54Never give up.
00:12:56Jeff Harding back in the ring for the first time in nearly two years.
00:13:00He originally won the title in 89, stopping Dennis Andres in the 12th, then in his only loss.
00:13:05He was knocked out of the seventh by Andres in their 1990 rematch.
00:13:09Then in 91, Harding regained the title with a decision over Andres.
00:13:13And just when most people thought he was back on track, he wound up fighting only twice since that third meeting with Andres.
00:13:22Let's see how they stack up on paper as we go to the tail of the tape.
00:13:25The biggest disparity right off the bat.
00:13:27The age McCallum at 37, eight years older than Harding.
00:13:30The slight height advantage for the champion at six feet and a quarter.
00:13:33McCallum five ten and three quarters.
00:13:35The weight McCallum one seventy four and a half.
00:13:38Harding one seventy four and a one and a half inch reach advantage for McCallum.
00:13:43Add to the WBC rules for this championship bout.
00:13:46Operating under the ten point must scoring system.
00:13:48Three judges will score the fight.
00:13:50There is no standing eight count.
00:13:51No three knockdown rule.
00:13:52Only the referee can stop the fight and a fighter cannot be saved by the bell except in the last round.
00:13:57So here at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota, we are closing in on the WBC light heavyweight championship.
00:14:06Jeff Harding versus Mike McCallum.
00:14:09Let's get the official introductions from our ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.
00:14:14Ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening to you.
00:14:25We welcome you to the Bismarck Civic Center in beautiful Bismarck, North Dakota.
00:14:31Well fans, we have a big night of action coming your way.
00:14:37And it's all brought to you by Don King Productions in association with Corona Beer.
00:14:43At this time we present one of our featured events of the evening.
00:14:47The WBC light heavyweight championship of the world.
00:14:52This band is sanctioned by the World Boxing Council.
00:14:56President Jose Suleiman, Supervisor Mario Latraverse, along with the North Dakota State Athletic Commission.
00:15:03The Deputy Athletic Commissioner is Mary Feist.
00:15:07Introducing to you the judges appointed at ringside.
00:15:11Tommy Kaczmarek, Rudy Ortega, and Terry Smith.
00:15:16Introducing the referee in charge of this bat, he'll be giving instructions after the introductions.
00:15:21Working in this is 81st World Title Bout, Marty Denkin.
00:15:26All right fans, here we go with the WBC light heavyweight championship of the world scheduled for 12 rounds of boxing.
00:15:41Presenting to you first on my left.
00:15:44Fighting out of the blue corner, he is wearing red trunks with white trim.
00:15:49Fighting out of Brooklyn, New York by way of Kingston, Jamaica.
00:15:54He weighed in at 174 and one half pounds.
00:15:59His record includes 46 wins.
00:16:02Two losses, one draw with 35 big wins coming by way of knockout.
00:16:09Please welcome the former WBA junior middleweight and middleweight champion.
00:16:13And current WBC interim light heavyweight champion of the world.
00:16:17Introducing Mike, the body snatcher, McCallum.
00:16:31And his opponent across the ring.
00:16:33On my right is the defending champion fighting out of the red corner.
00:16:38He enters the ring wearing purple trunks and joining us all the way from Sydney, Australia.
00:16:45His weight and even 174 pounds.
00:16:49His record is an outstanding one at 23 wins.
00:16:53Only one loss with 17 wins coming by way of knockout.
00:16:57Tonight, he is making his third defense of his title.
00:17:01Welcome the current and defending WBC light heavyweight champion of the world.
00:17:06Introducing Jeff Harding.
00:17:11Point to the end, he is the referee in charge.
00:17:17Now to give instructions, Marty Dinkin.
00:17:32Okay, Jeff, Mike, I explained what your responsibilities are.
00:17:35I told you what my responsibilities are.
00:17:36So let's all go do a job.
00:17:38Shake hands out.
00:17:45Final instructions from referee Marty Dinkin.
00:17:48The body snatcher and Jeff Harding.
00:17:51We asked Harding yesterday why he's been so inactive 19 months without a fight.
00:17:55Claimed on a combination of problems like surgery for cuts over the left eye in February of 93.
00:18:00Bad dealings, logistical problems being in Australia.
00:18:03Bureaucratic problems told us he actually had his bags packed for four fights that fell through at the last minute.
00:18:11As we begin this fight scheduled for 12 rounds for the WBC light heavyweight championship here in Bismarck, North Dakota.
00:18:20Mike McCallum told us yesterday he's not taking Harding lightly.
00:18:23He trained very hard for this particular fight, but we asked him for his thoughts on the possible effects of Harding's long absence.
00:18:30He felt that Harding's timing might be off.
00:18:32His body could be soft, but the Ferdy, he emphasized, he realizes that Harding's got a big heart.
00:18:40He does, but one of the things you have to look at, he cuts and he had plastic surgery over the left eye so that it would repair that cut.
00:18:48Whether that stays healed or not, we don't know, but he has a great reputation for cutting.
00:18:53So let's see what plastic surgery did.
00:18:55In the meantime, this is starting off very slow, little cat and mouse stuff here.
00:18:59Harding was also hurt not only by the cuts, by what manager Paul Hutz calls the publicity machine that rallied behind Jeff Feddeck, another Australian fighter.
00:19:09Harding called the unknown champion.
00:19:13He's the only Australian champ since 1989, but it's been a tough, tough road.
00:19:19He told us that during his dry spell when he was inactive, he was on the verge of going out and actually getting a real job for him.
00:19:25Can you imagine?
00:19:26Can you imagine?
00:19:27He spoke of that with real horror in his voice.
00:19:29A job.
00:19:30Imagine that.
00:19:31But he said the biggest effect of the lengthy layoff, my bank book is screaming.
00:19:36Bottom line.
00:19:38Bottom line here is the body snatchers only landed two body blows, one very low.
00:19:43Dinkins saw it and said, keep it up.
00:19:46McCallum said he's not going in looking for the knockout.
00:19:49He'll take his time, but if the opportunity presents itself, he'll go for it.
00:19:53This is one of those fights, Bernie, that has the potential to be a war for four or five rounds.
00:19:58And later by the eighth or ninth, what you like to call the money rounds, when a fighter like McCallum really goes to work.
00:20:03He's going to work right here, though.
00:20:05He's going to work right now.
00:20:06He just dropped the invitation down here.
00:20:08This is going to be more of this all during a fight.
00:20:11It's what McCallum does best.
00:20:13Punch to the body.
00:20:14He's patient.
00:20:15He's hard punching and driving when he goes to the body because he knows that'll pay off.
00:20:20Harding told us he's got great respect and admiration for Mike McCallum.
00:20:24But added, it's my time, not his.
00:20:27Had his Harding plan to circumvent or somehow neutralize McCallum's relentless body shots.
00:20:32He replied, hey, I've got my share of body shots to dish out, too.
00:20:35But he hadn't even thrown one.
00:20:37He's got his gloves up by his face, so he doesn't get jabbed.
00:20:40Even so, his face is getting red.
00:20:42I didn't see that many jabs going in yet.
00:20:44And I think he's very aware of that cut potential of his brows.
00:20:49Gloves very high up, and he's done no body punching.
00:20:52Just as I say that, he threw five body punches, of course.
00:20:57Final seconds, round one.
00:20:59A good finish to the round for McCallum.
00:21:03Very good round for McCallum.
00:21:06Very good round for Mike McCallum.
00:21:19Keep sticking, keep sticking, and keep moving side to side.
00:21:24Don't get into a fight with him right now.
00:21:26Use that jab.
00:21:28Use combinations.
00:21:29Once in a while, a three-punch combination.
00:21:31Get on out of there.
00:21:32All right.
00:21:37Nice and loose.
00:21:39All right.
00:21:40Let's see why they call this man the body snatcher.
00:21:43Mike McCallum has made his reputation on heavy and hard body punching.
00:21:47Let's take a look at it and see if we can see some of it here.
00:21:49There goes one good shot.
00:21:51After he pummels ahead, one good shot.
00:21:53And now at the very end of the round, we see at just as Harding starts to get a little brave,
00:22:00back comes McCallum with everything working for him.
00:22:04You heard the voice of Eddie Fudge, a venerable and highly respected, the greatest authority in boxing.
00:22:09I just about say very calmly, just keep that combination going side to side, punch two or three times,
00:22:15avoid getting into a fight with him.
00:22:18The octogenarian, the classy Eddie Fudge in the corner of Mike McCallum.
00:22:22Mike McCallum, years of valuable experience in the corner of McCallum.
00:22:25Nice combination by Mike McCallum.
00:22:27People often talk of McCallum's age, but this division famous for its champions of advanced years.
00:22:32Bob Fitzsimmons, the inventor of the solar plexus punch, was 40 when he won the title.
00:22:36Dick Tiger, 37.
00:22:37The great Archie Moore wanted it, 39, and held it for over nine years.
00:22:41So Mike McCallum could be in some very fast company suit.
00:22:47He plays his cards, right?
00:22:49Well, he's one of these guys we call the Warriors.
00:22:51Azuma Nelson was one, he's another.
00:22:53Year in, year out, he's here patiently doing what he has to do.
00:22:56Won championships and now he's back to get another one.
00:22:58Let's see if he can do it.
00:23:00McCallum very much like the great warrior Azuma Nelson and vintage Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:23:04And then he likes to accumulate punches and go in for the finish.
00:23:08Middle, later rounds.
00:23:09He's a very intelligent fighter.
00:23:11Very intelligent.
00:23:12He knows where to place the punches.
00:23:14He knows not to get into shootouts.
00:23:17He's steady.
00:23:19He's quality.
00:23:20You won't get flash from McCallum.
00:23:21Great experience.
00:23:22Excellent ring technician.
00:23:24His trademark, of course, the resounding body shots.
00:23:27That's the nickname, the Body Snatcher.
00:23:29Well, you see, what's happening with Harding is if he doesn't launch a big attack,
00:23:36as he said he was, if you shake off that ring rust and see he's there,
00:23:39he's getting picked apart.
00:23:41And that's not helping his confidence any.
00:23:43He's got to come on.
00:23:44And what he's well known for is to be just, he's a bush fighter, man.
00:23:48He's an Australian.
00:23:49He comes in there fighting with everything he's got.
00:23:51And he hasn't done that yet.
00:23:52He's been very quietly absorbing punishment.
00:23:54That's not good for him.
00:23:56And it could be the product of his long layout.
00:23:58His reflexes aren't there.
00:23:59He's waiting for everything to start popping in and clicking.
00:24:02I don't think there's any question about that.
00:24:04He's basically a straight up, straight ahead fighter, Jeff Hardy.
00:24:07Always the type to take two punches to get one.
00:24:10Lay off or no lay off.
00:24:12That is his style.
00:24:13Willing to trade.
00:24:14He's a counter puncher.
00:24:15He does have a disruptive jab.
00:24:17We just saw the jab.
00:24:18One of his chief weapons, I might add,
00:24:20which sometimes sets up a nice overhand right.
00:24:22He has a good uppercut.
00:24:23He's a busy action fighter.
00:24:25And probably his best possession is his heart.
00:24:28And he has a good chill.
00:24:30Now he says he's got heart and smarts.
00:24:33Well, that's what all old fighters says.
00:24:35Get old.
00:24:36Because something substitutes for youth.
00:24:39And that's usually experience and smarts.
00:24:41But you're talking about a smart man and Mike McCallum.
00:24:43He doesn't get hit with many jabs.
00:24:45He wants a number of jabs that missed or are blocked by McCallum.
00:24:48McCallum had a spare tire on his midsection.
00:24:53His last spot against Randall Yocker.
00:24:55Looks to be in a little better shape.
00:24:58There's a terrific right hand.
00:25:00Out goes the mouthpiece of Jeff Harding.
00:25:02McCallum with a heavy right.
00:25:04And the mouthpiece went flying out of Harding's mouth.
00:25:07Well, he's taking some punishment as Harding.
00:25:09He's trying to come back gangly, but he's taking some kind of beating.
00:25:12Good round.
00:25:19Good round.
00:25:20Good round.
00:25:21Okay.
00:25:22Remember all the hard work, right?
00:25:23That's what it's going to take.
00:25:24Okay?
00:25:25Arms down.
00:25:26Come on, beat him.
00:25:27Great round, Jeff.
00:25:29Okay.
00:25:30Remember the 400s.
00:25:31Okay?
00:25:32You've got to dig deep this one.
00:25:33Okay?
00:25:34Double your jab up.
00:25:35He's hitting you with left hands.
00:25:36You've got to get that defence.
00:25:37Pick up the water, Jeff.
00:25:38If you're getting hit with left hands, it's not good, okay?
00:25:45Let's watch the way that McCallum uses his right hand.
00:25:48It's a thing of you.
00:25:49Whack!
00:25:50Right on there.
00:25:51Right on the target.
00:25:52He just doesn't let anybody jab him without making him pay with a right.
00:25:55And here we see how the mouthpiece flew out.
00:25:57He was getting pummeled pretty good.
00:25:59It's amazing that at this earliest stage, Harding is still breathing hard.
00:26:07Every second round.
00:26:08He's only starting.
00:26:09I mean, that's that layoff.
00:26:10And he's got to get himself back in second wind.
00:26:12He's got to get started.
00:26:14And round three, scheduled for 12 for the WBC light heavyweight championship.
00:26:21And by the way, that replay showed it was McCallum.
00:26:24I think they lost him out.
00:26:25Beeson, not Harding.
00:26:26Which didn't make much difference.
00:26:29He was doing the beating, so he's entitled.
00:26:34So let's see if Harding can pick up the pace here in round three.
00:26:39Showing effects early of that 19-month layoff.
00:26:44Probing jab by Mike McCallum.
00:26:46A little bit of a low blow.
00:26:47Marty Dakin, the third man of the ring.
00:26:50He refused to be Mike.
00:26:55Toying right by Jeff Harding.
00:26:56Doing no damage whatsoever to McCallum, who comes back with the jab.
00:27:00Look at the quality of the punches.
00:27:02Harding is throwing sort of pillow punches.
00:27:05Not really hard.
00:27:06Like, he's not quite sure he's going to get there.
00:27:08And there's zipping and zing to the punches of Mike McCallum, who's sure of what he's doing.
00:27:14A minute in to round three.
00:27:26Jeff Harding wants to get this started.
00:27:27He wants to get this into a brawl.
00:27:29Mike McCallum doesn't oblige.
00:27:31Good defense and then a good counterpunch and patience.
00:27:34A lot of patience from Mike McCallum.
00:27:36Good body shot.
00:27:37Another two good body shots by Jeff Harding.
00:27:4123 and one with 17 knockouts.
00:27:45His only defeat.
00:27:47His second of three fights with Dennis Andres.
00:27:49Kale by seven in 1990 in Melbourne, Australia.
00:27:52He won the title from Andres as a last minute replacement for Donny Alon.
00:27:56Another nice right hand by Mike McCallum.
00:28:03The midsection.
00:28:05A little low there by McCallum.
00:28:06But now he comes back upstairs to the head.
00:28:08Marty Dinkins only warned him once in the first round and has not said anything since.
00:28:13Mike McCallum going in with his head.
00:28:16That's a little dangerous.
00:28:17And the danger is for Jeff Harding who cuts up.
00:28:20McCallum's punches a lot more crisp than Jeff Harding to this point.
00:28:26McCallum likes to jab to the midsection.
00:28:29Does it almost casually but effectively.
00:28:32He is calm yet busy.
00:28:34But he shows no mercy.
00:28:36And he goes from side to side.
00:28:38As Eddie Smuts, Papa Smurf said, goes side to side and get out of there when the punching starts.
00:28:43He's been able to do that.
00:28:45Harding trying to come back with uppercuts but having no effect as McCallum just spins him around and comes back with uppercuts to the chin.
00:28:52Oh boy.
00:28:53That is a thing of beauty.
00:28:56That little series was a thing of beauty for Mike McCallum.
00:28:59It shows you what a terrific high caliber of fighter is Mike McCallum.
00:29:04But here is Jeff Harding still there frustrated trying to get in the shootout but not being able to.
00:29:10McCallum at 37 going for his third world championship belt.
00:29:14In the NFL.
00:29:15Vital seconds round three.
00:29:16Inside.
00:29:17Stay inside.
00:29:18Alright?
00:29:19Stay inside.
00:29:20You drop your hand down and you've got your butt up.
00:29:21Put it up there and cover the eye.
00:29:22You won't touch it with anything.
00:29:23Alright?
00:29:24You can't stay there.
00:29:25Here comes the water Jeff.
00:29:26Put some water on.
00:29:27Put some water on his head.
00:29:28Put some water on his head.
00:29:29Put some water on his head.
00:29:30Put some water on his head.
00:29:31Put some water on his head.
00:29:32You alright?
00:29:33Get this jab working a bit over to him.
00:29:34Get up and walk up with him.
00:29:35Okay where's the body now?
00:29:36Here we go Jeff.
00:29:37Here?
00:29:38Okay.
00:29:39You can see the frustration in Harding as he's trying to get an offense going that's the best
00:29:57of the entire round that he did.
00:29:58He really hit arms and gloves and misses all over the place.
00:30:02And here's the head of McCallum right into his body.
00:30:04That'll come up and cut him in due time.
00:30:06And here's that splendid little rally.
00:30:08Two nice uppercuts.
00:30:09A hook.
00:30:10Another uppercut.
00:30:11I mean the variety of punches of Mike McCallum.
00:30:14Throws him from all angles.
00:30:16Can't get away from Jeff Harding.
00:30:18He's frustrated.
00:30:19And as you mentioned Harding with that history of cut problems the heads are really coming together.
00:30:25In Harding's second fight with Andre's in that he had to be postponed a month because of
00:30:29cuts.
00:30:30A fight that Harding eventually lost.
00:30:32And cut over his eye and training forced him to bow out of the fight with Randall Yonker
00:30:35this past March.
00:30:36McCallum filled in and stopped Yonker in the fifth round.
00:30:40Left hand.
00:30:41This way down by Mike McCallum.
00:30:44What an educated left hand that is.
00:30:46Mike McCallum.
00:30:47Mike McCallum.
00:30:48When he wants to jab he does everything.
00:30:49He does everything.
00:30:50He does everything.
00:30:51He does everything.
00:30:52You think that Harding despite the long layoff of nearly two years wouldn't mind getting
00:31:04McCallum into the later rounds because of McCallum's age but that doesn't work too well either.
00:31:08Because McCallum is ready and able to go the distance despite his advancing years.
00:31:14Five of his last six seven of his last nine fights have gone the distance.
00:31:18That's two warnings.
00:31:19This crowd's not going to like it if you take it away from him but he has warned him twice.
00:31:24And he's hit him low about seven times.
00:31:26This crowd clearly behind the body snatcher the challenger but the 4-1 favorite Mike McCallum.
00:31:36Nice little rally by Jeff Hardy.
00:31:39Jeff!
00:31:40Jeff!
00:31:41Jeff!
00:31:42Jeff!
00:31:43Jeff!
00:31:44Jeff!
00:31:45Jeff!
00:31:46Jeff!
00:31:47Jeff!
00:31:49Jeff!
00:31:50Jeff!
00:31:51Jeff!
00:31:52Jeff!
00:31:53Jeff!
00:31:54Jeff!
00:31:55Jeff!
00:31:56Jeff!
00:31:57Jeff!
00:31:58Jeff!
00:32:01Jeff!
00:32:02Jeff!
00:32:03Jay!
00:32:04red.
00:32:05He's talking to the tables that weren't.
00:32:06Jeff!
00:32:07Jeff!
00:32:08Giovanni!
00:32:09Jeff!
00:32:10Jeff!
00:32:11Jeff!
00:32:12Jeff!
00:32:13Jeff!
00:32:14Jeff!
00:32:15Comment on someLS.
00:32:16Jeff!
00:32:17Jeff!
00:32:18Jeff!
00:32:19Jeff!
00:32:20Jeff!
00:32:21Jeff!
00:32:22Jeff!
00:32:23Jeff!
00:32:25Jeff!
00:32:26Go ahead, I'll give you one.
00:32:29I had not given him a round up to this point.
00:32:32I had three straight rounds for McCallum.
00:32:34And should this go on, this will give him an even round here.
00:32:39Hardy continues to come straight in, and he's getting punched.
00:32:43How about that right uppercut?
00:32:44Oh, what a thing of beauty, a little right uppercut.
00:32:46Just landed right on the head, and there's another one right on the head.
00:32:49Oh, what a right drop by McCallum, and now he's airing it out.
00:32:56But very patient, very steady, waiting again for his moment of opportunity.
00:33:01Quick right hand by McCallum.
00:33:03That right so effective tonight.
00:33:05Oh, low blow.
00:33:06Another one.
00:33:07Look how fast he fires off when Jeff misses.
00:33:11When Harding comes in with his hard punches missing,
00:33:13he can expect almost immediate retaliation.
00:33:16Boy, that's fast.
00:33:18And Harding with some head work there.
00:33:21Harding trying to get in a shootout.
00:33:24Not been able to yet.
00:33:26This is as close as he's come.
00:33:29And round four is in the books.
00:33:40Stepping, keep turning, keep that jab working.
00:33:43Keep putting those combinations together.
00:33:45Yeah.
00:33:47Don't stand in front of him.
00:33:49Move the left.
00:33:50Move to the right.
00:33:51Keep that left hand.
00:33:52All right.
00:33:56Got to keep those punches up now.
00:33:57The borderline, that's how I've been letting it go.
00:33:59You just got to stop.
00:34:01Here comes that first warning.
00:34:02Let's see.
00:34:03This is really actually the second warning, and that was low,
00:34:06way below that silver lining you see on his trunks.
00:34:09No doubt about it.
00:34:10And here was the third, and he had no choice but to do it.
00:34:14One, two of them.
00:34:16A left and a right, and they were way below.
00:34:19Way south of the border.
00:34:20Had no choice but to take one away.
00:34:21But since Mike McCallum won the round anyway,
00:34:25you give a point away to the other guy,
00:34:27and you end up with an even round.
00:34:29Well, here in North Dakota, Ferney,
00:34:30most of these punches administered by Mike McCallum
00:34:32have been in South Dakota.
00:34:34Round five, scheduled for 12 for the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship.
00:34:39It has been mostly Mike McCallum got a point deducted last round
00:34:43because of the low blow.
00:34:45And that has been the only way Harding has registered points.
00:34:51And again, pretty much the same pose by Jeff Harding,
00:34:54just straight in, blocking those punches, though, by McCallum.
00:34:59McCallum, if you're just joining us,
00:35:02very effective with the right hand throw out.
00:35:10McCallum backpedaling, Ferney, but doing most of the down.
00:35:13Yeah, he's backpedaling, but he's firing as he goes.
00:35:16And Harding is really getting into the thing now.
00:35:19He's pressing much, much harder.
00:35:22He's coming on a little bit stronger, and he's getting closer now.
00:35:25But every time he gets close, he gets powdered.
00:35:27Exquisite uppercuts by Mike McCallum.
00:35:30Has been the story all night.
00:35:32Low blow by McCallum, but overlooked by Marty Dakin.
00:35:36He's going to get hit low all fight long.
00:35:38When you punch to the body as often as he does,
00:35:40you always expect to lose a round like that.
00:35:42But I don't know why Mike McCallum just then looked at the referee.
00:35:46Nothing happened to him.
00:35:48I don't know why Mike McCallum.
00:35:52Beautiful jab by McCallum.
00:35:56That's got to be so annoying.
00:35:58Look at that move.
00:36:00He went one way, the body went the other, and he threw a punch.
00:36:04He just does not fight like a man of 37, which by normal standards is very young,
00:36:09but in boxing standards, another story.
00:36:11And he's been around a long time, and he's been in some very hard fights as Mike McCallum.
00:36:15I mean, he has fought wildly all his life that put him in tough.
00:36:19We were talking about that with McCallum in our meeting with him yesterday.
00:36:23He has been in some brutal wars, turned pro back in 1981.
00:36:29He said one of his toughest fights was in Italy in 84 with Luigi Mancino,
00:36:34as he retained the WBA junior middleweight title.
00:36:36He said that seemed to really weigh heavily on his mind.
00:36:39He's been in there with McCrory, Donald Curry,
00:36:42Sambu Colombe a couple of times.
00:36:44James Toney, of course, a couple of times.
00:36:48Great history, Mike McCallum.
00:36:51He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
00:36:55And really one of the nicest guys in the game of boxing as well.
00:36:59Pleasure to talk.
00:37:00And corner work by maybe the nicest guy in boxing,
00:37:04maybe aside from Angelo Dundee, Eddie Futch.
00:37:08Papa Smurf is running for a costume.
00:37:11Eddie Futch, who used to train Virgil Hill,
00:37:14who will be in our main event from Bismarck against Frank Tate
00:37:17for the other flight heavyweight championship, the WBA.
00:37:20The WBA.
00:37:25Final seconds round five.
00:37:28The right hand there by McCown stuck one in here at the end of the round.
00:37:31Again, the mastery of McCallum evidence through this whole round.
00:37:36Well, we've mentioned the upcoming main event.
00:37:39Let's go backstage and into the dressing room live
00:37:42and take a look at Virgil Hill awaiting the defense of his WBA light heavyweight title.
00:37:47He grew up in Williston, North Dakota, about 250 miles west of where we are in Bismarck,
00:37:52trained in Grand Forks approximately 280 miles east of here.
00:37:55And he's had many of his big fights right here in the middle in Bismarck.
00:37:59Virgil Hill, who won his first WBA light heavyweight title at age 24,
00:38:04only his 19th pro fight.
00:38:05Major upset as he killed Leslie Stewart in the fourth round.
00:38:08And they've turned out in some pretty good numbers to see their idol, their hero,
00:38:14their pride and joy, Virgil Hill.
00:38:17That's upcoming later as he faces his old Olympic teammate, Frank Tate.
00:38:22And let's listen in on the qualms as they say goodbye to their fighters.
00:38:29You're taking apart the jab.
00:38:30It's beautiful.
00:38:31It's beautiful.
00:38:32Double jab.
00:38:33He's fucked it.
00:38:34The jab.
00:38:35But as you know, being in the corner for so many years with Muhammad Ali,
00:38:39those are long good bites.
00:38:40Yeah.
00:38:41Well, I tell you what, in spite of the score,
00:38:46Jeff Harding is in this fight all the way.
00:38:48I mean, he's not getting some kind of huge whipping that won't enable him to come back.
00:38:55He's right in the fight and he's trying.
00:38:57Oh, hammering shot by McCallum just as Harding has really put on the gas and throwing hard punches.
00:39:04Now, Harding is really after him.
00:39:07But he got hammered.
00:39:08That one good shot by McCallum neutralized the one or two little punches of Jeff Harding.
00:39:13Hard to score this fight for Harding.
00:39:16He's trying so hard.
00:39:17He's in there punching, but he's missing so much.
00:39:20The defense of Mike McCallum, so superior,
00:39:23and the counter punching that doesn't allow Harding to punch with impunity.
00:39:28Every time he punches, he gets hit back.
00:39:32McCallum, the body snatcher.
00:39:34Look at that.
00:39:35A name given to him by Tommy Hearns.
00:39:37Used to be a sparring mate, but a guy who never actually got into the ring with him
00:39:40in a real fight, perhaps for good reason.
00:39:42What an uppercut by Mike McCallum.
00:39:44Another one.
00:39:45It's been working all night.
00:39:49He certainly has not figured out how to stop the uppercut.
00:39:54Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard never fought McCallum either.
00:39:57And Jeff Harding, I think he's finding out why.
00:40:01Swing and a miss by Jeff Harding, who has really nothing behind those punches even when he does connect.
00:40:09There's another low blow.
00:40:11Another one on this side.
00:40:13But Dinkins is always on the other side.
00:40:15Marty Dinkins on the other side of the low blows.
00:40:18And I imagine he's got a great deal of relief,
00:40:20because it'd be often to take another point away in a championship fight right now.
00:40:23That's close to just having taken a point away.
00:40:26He took a point away a couple of rounds ago.
00:40:28We're now in round six.
00:40:30But it is Mike McCallum dictating the tempo, controlling the pace throughout.
00:40:39And this fight continues to pour it on.
00:40:43Another crisp low punch, but that was right in front of Marty Dinkins.
00:40:48Harding coming back, but McCallum with a fine answer.
00:40:52And he spins him around with a pouring lead.
00:40:55Look at the way this old man bends his body.
00:40:59You see, that's so good for a fighter.
00:41:01When he bends his body like that, you can't quite hit him.
00:41:03And no matter how old he is, he's still got the subtle movements of a young man.
00:41:08And he does it so casually, so calmly.
00:41:10Look at that shot.
00:41:11And a left hand by McCallum.
00:41:13And another one.
00:41:14Doubles up on the left.
00:41:15And another one.
00:41:16Oh, oh, is he teeing off?
00:41:18He's putting on a clinic.
00:41:20Good left hand.
00:41:21Countered by Jeff Harding.
00:41:22Probably his best punch of the night.
00:41:24Well, Harding said he's counting on his heart,
00:41:26and to come through at the last of the fight.
00:41:29Boy, he's paying an awful price.
00:41:31A big ticket to get to the end.
00:41:33As we head for the bell.
00:41:35Oh, what an uppercut.
00:41:37Okay, what a two second.
00:41:39A lot of them aboard a low side.
00:41:40I don't want to take another point away.
00:41:41You've got to keep it on.
00:41:42Oh, in the way, all right.
00:41:43He's going to be right.
00:41:44You've got to keep him on.
00:41:45Hey, you've got to keep him on.
00:41:46Yeah.
00:41:47Yeah.
00:41:48How are you doing it?
00:41:49And you've got to keep him on.
00:41:50Let me go.
00:41:51Oh, I've got to keep him on.
00:41:52Nice.
00:41:53A little bit of he's going on.
00:41:54Get your hands on the other way.
00:41:55Yeah, yeah, all right.
00:41:56Two seconds.
00:41:57Put your hands on the other way.
00:41:58Okay, get that.
00:41:59Get that.
00:42:00Now, get that.
00:42:01Yeah, okay.
00:42:02Good idea.
00:42:03Come on.
00:42:04Yeah.
00:42:05You got to keep it up.
00:42:07All right.
00:42:08Okay.
00:42:09All right.
00:42:11Keep ducking underneath.
00:42:13That's what to master at work.
00:42:15When you see these replays, keep your eyes on the gloves of the calendar.
00:42:19Always active.
00:42:20They're either blocking or they're throwing a counter punch.
00:42:22And when he sees an opening, the uppercut just flies.
00:42:25That was an uppercut round because he just found a home for it.
00:42:30There it is.
00:42:31Just like that.
00:42:32Boy, that hurts.
00:42:33I mean, there's nothing there to stop it.
00:42:34It lands flush.
00:42:35That's a painful punch.
00:42:36And you don't know where you heard it.
00:42:39Marty Dickens went to McCallum's corner and said,
00:42:42they're borderline.
00:42:43I don't want to take away another punch, but you got to watch what you're doing.
00:42:49Round seven scheduled for 12, the WBC light heavyweight championship.
00:42:53Mike McCallum, the challenger, but the four to one favorite having his way
00:42:59and winning this fight against the champion, Jeff Harding.
00:43:03The uppercut, which does not stop.
00:43:05The ungentle rain that's falling on the jaw of poor Jeff Harding, who just keeps coming on.
00:43:10He's got a lot of heart, just as advertised.
00:43:12They may call McCallum the body snatcher, but he has landed a good number of blows to the head.
00:43:18Very effective blow.
00:43:20And has not stopped Jeff Harding from coming on to take more punishment.
00:43:25He just keeps coming on.
00:43:26Look how many times he missed just now.
00:43:28Finally lands the right hand, but how many times did Mike McCallum make him miss?
00:43:32And then comes back with a flurry.
00:43:34Mike McCallum.
00:43:35Then a bit of a low blow.
00:43:37That time Dakin right there, but let it pass.
00:43:40Only Harding's third fight in the U.S.
00:43:43Started fighting as a pro in Merrickville, which is the hope of another great Australian champion, Jeff Fettig.
00:43:48Look at that.
00:43:49He just saw him coming and ducked in the time mouthpiece went out of...
00:43:58Mike McCallum's got to wash it off.
00:44:00Next time you leave him, we'll take a point.
00:44:03He just said, next time he puts him on, we'll take a vote.
00:44:07He's already taken one point away from Mike McCallum.
00:44:13That's about the only way Harding is the registering point.
00:44:20Well, we never know what judges are watching, but...
00:44:22We're a long way from Las Vegas.
00:44:24Yeah.
00:44:25Well, these are good judges from every different corner of the United States,
00:44:28and I just see that Mike McCallum is putting on a boxing clinic right now,
00:44:33punching him, counter-punching him, better defense,
00:44:35and the only thing you can give Jeff Harding is offense and guts.
00:44:41He's there to take the punishment.
00:44:42McCallum showing everything in his repertoire.
00:44:45Look at that combination.
00:44:46Head and body.
00:44:48And so active and busy.
00:44:51He just never lets up.
00:44:52Relentless.
00:44:53Low blow by McCallum.
00:44:55You know, I don't count those low.
00:44:57When they get into that gray area right there where that server thing is now,
00:45:00but when it's below that and, you know, really, really low,
00:45:03then I think he'll take a point away.
00:45:05Well, it's almost like a strike zone.
00:45:07Every umpire and referee has his own.
00:45:09Marty Dink is a very experienced referee, and he uses good judgment.
00:45:12He's not going to take that point away unless it's a real blast to a ball.
00:45:16What a beautiful defensive move by McCallum just a second ago
00:45:18to bob and weave away from that punch by Jeff Harding.
00:45:22Harding is getting closer to what he wants.
00:45:25He's getting very close in there, and he's getting it into an alley fight.
00:45:28So if old AIDS creeps in here toward the later rounds and Mike can't back up more.
00:45:35Uh-oh.
00:45:36Two low blows.
00:45:37Then it may just be what Harding has been waiting for,
00:45:41but he sure is pushing this old man back.
00:45:44Final seconds round seven.
00:45:47Incidentally, the judges are Terry Smith of Sacramento, Rudy Ortega of San Francisco,
00:45:56and Tommy Cashman of the Brick, New Jersey.
00:46:03And round seven is history.
00:46:07Behind the scenes, into the dressing room of Frank Tate,
00:46:10the number one contender for Virgil Hill's light heavyweight crown,
00:46:13the main event upcoming next.
00:46:15As an amateur, Tate a member of the famed Trunk Gym in Detroit turned pro in Houston
00:46:19with the Houston Boxing Association.
00:46:21Although a 1984 Olympic teammate of Hill's, the two were not what you'd call best buddies,
00:46:26each hanging out with different clicks on that sensational record-setting team.
00:46:30Tonight, Frank Tate looks to even the score in his rematch with Virgil Hill for the title.
00:46:40So here at the Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota,
00:46:47the fans turning out to see Virgil Hill and Frank Tate and this co-feature.
00:46:52A jab by Jeff Harding dislodged the mouthpiece of Mike McCallum.
00:46:56That's the second time tonight, meaning that he's got his mouth open.
00:47:01He's puffing a little bit also as Mike McCallum as well.
00:47:04He should since he's been doing so much for the fighting.
00:47:07And here we go into round number nine, scheduled for 12.
00:47:10That last round was about the best that Jeff Harding has done in a while
00:47:14because he did some good heavy punching in there even though he got punched back evenly.
00:47:18Still, he's where he wants.
00:47:21His punches are now growing in intensity.
00:47:23They were very soft and sort of measured at the beginning.
00:47:26Now he's letting go with good stuff.
00:47:28It's Jeff Harding and backing up.
00:47:30Mike McCallum, who continues to fight, a fighting with Duke stepped on his foot.
00:47:35Did Jeff Harding look not as good.
00:47:37Harding very much in jeopardy of losing his title tonight,
00:47:40the third defense of his second WBC light heavyweight belt.
00:47:43It just looks like the younger man, Jeff Harding, is much stronger, physically stronger,
00:47:51and is willing to bull and push the guy back, push Mike McCallum back.
00:47:55And Mike, being an older man going back, it's not easy.
00:47:58So it just could be that these last few rounds are going to get very interesting.
00:48:03Come on, Mike. Come on, Mike.
00:48:05He's good. He's good.
00:48:07He's good.
00:48:09Again, Harding coming straight in.
00:48:13But even in the retreat, Mike McCallum landed.
00:48:19It's a boxing lesson up to now.
00:48:23Oh, what a sucky punch to the midsection by the challenger, Mike McCallum,
00:48:28and the Red Harding's got to be so frustrated right now.
00:48:31He came back with a good shot of his own.
00:48:33He's not quitting.
00:48:34He's fully landing in some good shots.
00:48:36They don't seem to bother McCallum at all.
00:48:38See, he just, he gives you four or five shots and moves up.
00:48:42Look at that.
00:48:43Big overhand right by Mike McCallum.
00:48:45Followed up by a left.
00:48:46Passed the midway pointer.
00:48:47Round eight.
00:48:49Beautiful body movement.
00:48:50Still bending his waist.
00:48:52Still moving.
00:48:53Oh, look at that.
00:48:54He dodged a bullet.
00:48:55Then he came back with a shot to the upper chest area.
00:48:58And for a guy his age, that was really reflexive.
00:49:01Look at that.
00:49:02Combination by McCallum.
00:49:03Toying now with the champion.
00:49:06Shots to the head.
00:49:07Final minute of round eight.
00:49:08Uh-uh.
00:49:10Well, it's hard to see how they can give any of these rounds
00:49:13to Jeff Harding because of the boxing lesson that he has taken
00:49:16from Mike McCallum, who seems to have known intimately
00:49:20every punch that's ever been thrown in boxing and he's using them all.
00:49:23But Harding continues to show great courage and heart,
00:49:26just keeps coming straight in despite the punishment being
00:49:29dished out by McCallum.
00:49:31Just like that.
00:49:36White uppercut by McCallum.
00:49:39And it sends Harding's head back.
00:49:42I don't know how much of these uppercuts he can take.
00:49:45Jeff Harding has got a rock for a chin.
00:49:48Boy, he has been taking some blows.
00:49:50About the only good thing you can say about Harding right now,
00:49:52he hasn't cut.
00:49:53No, he is all marked up though.
00:49:54His face is all puffy and red.
00:49:55But that's good as of yet.
00:49:56But no sign of a cut or even the beginning of a cut.
00:50:01Right just above us, the bell's down.
00:50:14Nice work.
00:50:15Great real.
00:50:16OK.
00:50:17Good work.
00:50:18Listen.
00:50:19Get up, have a rest, have a rest on you.
00:50:21It's all right?
00:50:22Remember Slim?
00:50:23Eh?
00:50:24It's all right, it's good.
00:50:25Don't worry about your eye.
00:50:26It's all right, it's good, Jim.
00:50:27OK.
00:50:28Listen, if you let this out, you're not going to be a man.
00:50:29It's good, Jeff.
00:50:30OK.
00:50:31Listen.
00:50:32If you let this bloke stand three foot off you,
00:50:33he's going to throw everything at you.
00:50:34That's what he's doing.
00:50:35You've got to get inside him.
00:50:36OK?
00:50:37Now, you know how to get inside him?
00:50:38What you did with Slim, remember?
00:50:39Yep.
00:50:40I got some more water, Jeff.
00:50:42Put your arms across, you walk up, and away you go.
00:50:45Your jab's beautiful, Jeff.
00:50:48Get some little uppercuts.
00:50:50He's fallen apart, his arms are dropped,
00:50:52he's opened from anything up the guts too.
00:50:54OK, this bloke's an old man.
00:50:55He's looking for a breather all the time.
00:50:57Don't let him have a rest this rear.
00:50:58Just a bit more water, Jeff.
00:51:01If he starts going, do some after.
00:51:03Where is it?
00:51:05Keep the jab going.
00:51:06Jeff, it's beautiful.
00:51:07It's working beautiful.
00:51:10Now you've got to go to work, baby.
00:51:12Now you own this.
00:51:13It is round number nine.
00:51:14You hear the corner of Jeff Harding,
00:51:16Jim Brown, the chief trader there.
00:51:18They're saying that his jab was beautiful.
00:51:21They'll get inside on the belt now.
00:51:23They're hanging in between.
00:51:24They want to see more uppercuts from Jeff Harding
00:51:26because they feel that McCallum's arms are down
00:51:28and that the window opportunity is there.
00:51:31What do you think about those remarks?
00:51:32Oh, I think it's a fairytale.
00:51:34They're just encouraging guys.
00:51:36They're telling you his jab is working beautiful.
00:51:38And he should say, yeah, then why is he hitting me
00:51:40immediately after me through the right hands
00:51:42and killing me with uppercuts?
00:51:43I mean, somebody's doing something for him.
00:51:45The jab is not even bothering you,
00:51:47nor is it landing much on Mike McCallum.
00:51:50But the good advice was to get in close.
00:51:53Smother him so he can't get all his beautiful punches off.
00:51:55And that was good advice.
00:51:57Well, that he's trying to do, as you can see,
00:51:59he's coming in with uppercuts, trying to get inside,
00:52:01trying to get underneath the arms of Mike McCallum,
00:52:05but doesn't seem to be getting anywhere with him.
00:52:07Yeah, well, when he bends over to get underneath,
00:52:09he gets nailed with uppercuts,
00:52:10and that's why the uppercuts are hanging with such force.
00:52:13He's trying to get under there,
00:52:14and that sets him up from the uppercut.
00:52:15Yeah, the problem is McCallum has all the answers.
00:52:17Yeah, that's true.
00:52:19He's a real throwback.
00:52:21He was.
00:52:23So far, been no further repetition of the low blows,
00:52:26and I think Mike sort of consciously has quit
00:52:29throwing much to the body
00:52:30because of the repeated warnings by Marty Dinkin.
00:52:33Work into there! Work into there!
00:52:35Work into there!
00:52:36McCallum's had one point deducted because of low blows.
00:52:45But he has dictated the tempo throughout.
00:52:47Mike McCallum, and he continues.
00:52:50Cast midway round nine.
00:52:52Smarts. Ring Smarts just then.
00:52:55Looked like they were breaking off, and Mike fired off a shot.
00:53:01Mike McCallum landed right on the jaw of Jeff Hart.
00:53:05And look at this.
00:53:06Mike McCallum at 37 here in round nine,
00:53:10showing no signs of fatigue.
00:53:12If anything, he's building up more steam as we progress on.
00:53:16Mike has had a very physical fight here, and it's going to be interesting to see,
00:53:27if all this bullying and pushing is going to wear him out in round ten, eleven, and twelve,
00:53:31because up to this point, he's not showing much signs of weariness.
00:53:34He's still punching with a great deal of authority, and I must say, he's landing two, three punches to one.
00:53:40Here comes Jeff, trying hard to get in there for some punishment.
00:53:44Well, that's what has to be going through the Mind 30-0.
00:53:46The champion, Jeff Harting, who continues to get pummeled.
00:53:50Oh, look at these shots by Mike McCallum.
00:53:53And back comes Jeff Harting.
00:53:58What a heart on Harting, like all Australian fighters.
00:54:01These guys are not a win.
00:54:03They just keep coming.
00:54:05Jeff Harting, who has to be in pain.
00:54:08He has taken some shots to the head and the butt.
00:54:12Here comes the butt.
00:54:14Let's go. Take a deep breath. Give me a deep breath.
00:54:27Okay?
00:54:28Give me one more.
00:54:30Hold it.
00:54:31One more deep breath and hold it.
00:54:34Now let it go.
00:54:35Okay.
00:54:36Now, Mike, when you go down underneath,
00:54:39when you come up, don't step big back.
00:54:41Step off to the side, you see?
00:54:43Step off to the side.
00:54:44All right.
00:54:45You lose it when you go down underneath.
00:54:46All right.
00:54:47But when you straighten up, you break right into this punch.
00:54:50Step off to the side.
00:54:51One way or the other.
00:54:52All right.
00:54:56When you come out of those mouthpieces, you're doing fine.
00:54:57All right?
00:54:58Okay.
00:54:59Mike, when you come out of those clinches, don't come straight.
00:55:00Get this hand up in here where you take those punches as you come out.
00:55:03Okay?
00:55:04All right.
00:55:05Let's watch some more of that action.
00:55:07Clean shot by Mike.
00:55:09Falls back.
00:55:10Uppercut by Mike.
00:55:11See how Mike keeps his eyes right on him?
00:55:13Like just measuring.
00:55:14Just saying, okay, now this is going to land.
00:55:15That's going to land and throws it.
00:55:17Wonderful.
00:55:18Good advice.
00:55:19Those are the Cardinals of boxing.
00:55:21The Cardinal rules that Eddie Fudge is saying.
00:55:24Don't back up after you throw those punches to one side or the other.
00:55:27Now, you can hear that whether you hear it in the amateurs
00:55:29or whether you can hear it in the championship fight.
00:55:31That's what a corner man always says.
00:55:32Go off to the side.
00:55:33Don't go back straight.
00:55:34So much experience in that corner.
00:55:36Eddie Fudge, Hedgman Lewis, former terrific fighter in his own right.
00:55:40Thel Torrance on cuts.
00:55:42Hedgman Lewis is a great welterweight.
00:55:45We fought him with Montague Annapolis in Mexico City.
00:55:48He was Ryan O'Neal's fighter, and he brought little Tatum O'Neal to see him.
00:55:52Poor Tatum.
00:55:53Well, that was her hero.
00:55:54What a shellac he had that night.
00:55:56I think he still is Tatum O'Neal's hero.
00:56:01As we move on to round 10, here in Bismarck, not only the home of Virgil Hill is upcoming,
00:56:07but the historic home of Custer's last house as opposed to Custer's last stand.
00:56:11This could be Harding's last stand here if he doesn't get it together soon,
00:56:15as he has been controlled by the challenges.
00:56:19Well, I see a point spread here that's so big that Harding is going to have to get a knockout to win,
00:56:28unless I'm badly mistaken.
00:56:30Mike McCallum is way ahead, and I think what we're seeing is a lot of the effects of that layoff.
00:56:35I mean, he just can't get it together.
00:56:37He can't punch together.
00:56:38He is fighting a master boxer, but he looks slow.
00:56:41He looks like he's hasn't got the reflexes that he used to have.
00:56:44So it could be he should have fought a little tune-up fight before this one,
00:56:48and maybe this is a mistake to just step in with one of the best fighters fighting today.
00:56:53Jeff Harding, who has not fought in 19 months since December 3, 1992,
00:57:00because of an assortment of problems, cut problems,
00:57:06traveling problems, logistic problems, just a lot of bureaucracy and red tape
00:57:10has held him back, those from his manager, Paul Harts.
00:57:14We mentioned that Harding needs a knockout, but the depressing fact is that McCallum is never lost by knockout.
00:57:21He's lost by decision, never by knockout.
00:57:23So it's a daunting task ahead of Jeff Harding.
00:57:26He's trying as hard as he can, but not able to match the superiority of Mike McCallum.
00:57:31McCallum's last loss came in 1992 to James Toney.
00:57:35His first loss, Sambu Conovey in 1988.
00:57:38He's 46-2-1, 35 knockouts, two-time world champion,
00:57:42looking for his third world championship tonight against Jeff Harding.
00:57:46And on the room.
00:57:48And McCallum, Mike McCallum for the first time, his mouth is wide open.
00:57:52He's gasping as well he should.
00:57:54It's the tenth.
00:57:56It's the tenth round of a very aggressive and strong fight from Jeff Harding's
00:58:02mauling and pushing.
00:58:03It's almost a rugby experience here.
00:58:05It's almost a football game the way he's playing it.
00:58:07Australian rules football.
00:58:09Final seconds, round ten.
00:58:11Good work, Jeff.
00:58:25Great round, Jeff.
00:58:30Okay?
00:58:31You're doing it.
00:58:32You're doing it.
00:58:33You're safe.
00:58:34Two to go, okay?
00:58:36All the screaming we've done down New Orleans.
00:58:39Let's bring it home, okay?
00:58:41You can throw your hands up all you like.
00:58:44Come on.
00:58:45You're doing it good, mate.
00:58:46You're doing it good.
00:58:47You're doing it good.
00:58:48Your jab's beautiful, Jeff.
00:58:49Your jab's working beautiful.
00:58:50You're safe, isn't it?
00:58:51You're safe.
00:58:52You're backing up with your jab.
00:58:53Yeah, they're good, mate.
00:58:54They're holding up.
00:58:55He's got to catch up, not you.
00:58:56Please, Jeff.
00:58:57Just play safe.
00:58:58Tuck in and just work off your jab, mate.
00:58:59I love it.
00:59:00If you get an unclinch, don't fight out of it.
00:59:01I'll get you out of it.
00:59:02Okay, see you again.
00:59:03Nice, mate.
00:59:04Give me one more round like that.
00:59:05Okay, baby?
00:59:06Yeah.
00:59:07One round at a time.
00:59:08Yeah.
00:59:09Okay.
00:59:10Marty Dankin and old pro like Mike McCallum are setting the ground rules as we enter the
00:59:27so-called championship round, round number 11.
00:59:30Watch the holding to Mike McCallum and sort of soothing Jeff Harding by saying, don't clinch,
00:59:36I'll get you out of there.
00:59:38And that one voice keeps saying that jab is working great.
00:59:42Keep doing it, man.
00:59:43I just don't see that the jab is working so great for Jeff Harding.
00:59:46Somebody should write different dialogue.
00:59:48As they say, I don't know what fight they're watching.
00:59:53Well, there is a jab going good, but it's not his.
00:59:56Well, I think, oh, look at those shots.
01:00:00All with the left.
01:00:01A struggle left hand by McCallum.
01:00:03Impressive.
01:00:04That's definitely.
01:00:05And McCallum continues to build steam even though we're in the 11th round.
01:00:13And I mentioned, I think it's important to reiterate, ready to go the distance.
01:00:18Mike McCallum, despite his years, he's gone the full distance, five of his last six,
01:00:23seven of his last nine.
01:00:24So it means nothing to him.
01:00:26And we must note again, ever since that warning storm by the referee taking a point away by
01:00:34Marty Dankin, suddenly he changed his game plan, did Mike McCallum, and began going to
01:00:39the head and abandoned the body, which is unusual for him.
01:00:42I mean, he doesn't give it up.
01:00:43But he'd done his work.
01:00:44He'd done what he wanted to do.
01:00:45And now he's building up the points where these flashy combinations are bouncing off the
01:00:51hapless Jeff Harding's skull.
01:00:58And I'm sure Jeff Harding is soothed to no end, to know that McCallum's going to his head
01:01:03now rather than his spitz.
01:01:06Either way, Harding just landed a good series there.
01:01:10Seemed to stop Mike McCallum in his tracks.
01:01:14But he just doesn't have enough.
01:01:15He'll be two or three good punches, and then he gets four or five back.
01:01:19There we go.
01:01:20Just when we stopped talking about body shots, he's landed three straight.
01:01:23The clinic continues by the challenger, Mike McCallum.
01:01:28Watch your head, he said.
01:01:31He was right, that head has been there all night long.
01:01:34Mike McCallum puts his head in in such a subtle way you don't hardly see it.
01:01:42Uppercut by McCallum, who's having a field day here.
01:01:45Just bouncing punches off the head of Jeff Harding.
01:01:48Let it go, Mike.
01:01:50It's like a target crowd.
01:01:53Now he goes back to the body, living up to his nickname, Mike McCallum.
01:01:57Less than 30 seconds in round 11.
01:01:59Well, it's a pleasure to see a guy that has mastery of all forms of boxing as Mike McCallum has.
01:02:08And I think I've seen fighting since the 40s and 50s.
01:02:11He could have been in there anywhere with anybody.
01:02:13I mean, he is a warrior from the old throwback to the old days.
01:02:18He's classy and classic.
01:02:21He near flawless.
01:02:23He just doesn't make mistakes.
01:02:27Big smile from the counter as he is.
01:02:29Back to his corner for the final round.
01:02:31There's Jeff Fennick in the corner.
01:02:33Tried to check things out.
01:02:36Three-time world champion.
01:02:37Come on, Jeff.
01:02:38Last round, he's tied.
01:02:39Walk through him.
01:02:40You can hear him.
01:02:41Jeff first, Jeff.
01:02:42We first with the jab.
01:02:44Kind of urge on Harding.
01:02:46Come on, he's safe.
01:02:47Don't let him steer it off.
01:02:49You see him get set.
01:02:50If he's back and back, jump on you.
01:02:52If you let him come forward, he's going to hit you.
01:02:54If you let him stay still, if you let him stay on you, he's going to hit you.
01:02:58Okay.
01:02:59Jab's working beautiful.
01:03:00Right on.
01:03:01So we want it home.
01:03:02We want to come home safe.
01:03:03Okay?
01:03:04Okay.
01:03:05All right?
01:03:06Yeah.
01:03:07Listen.
01:03:08Sweet, mate.
01:03:09No stupid stuff.
01:03:10No silly right hands.
01:03:11All the time.
01:03:12My head up.
01:03:13My head up.
01:03:14My head up.
01:03:15My head up.
01:03:16My head up.
01:03:17My head up.
01:03:18My head up.
01:03:19My head up.
01:03:20Ladies and gentlemen, we're approaching round number 12.
01:03:22The final round this night, this year's last day in the celebration of round 12.
01:03:30There's the foul signaling at the beginning of round 12.
01:03:33They'll come in and touch gloves.
01:03:34The crowd responding.
01:03:38And here we go.
01:03:39So the please of countryman Jeff Fennec to the ears of Jeff Harding.
01:03:44But I'm afraid he's going to be more than Fennec in his corner.
01:03:48If he has any ideas of escaping and stealing this victory, he's going to need a knockout.
01:03:53A nice two-handed attack to the body.
01:03:56And then here comes Mike McCallum back to even it out.
01:04:02It's just discouraging.
01:04:03Just when you look like you got something going, McCallum comes back and multiplies the punches.
01:04:07You hit him twice, he hits him four or five times.
01:04:09Nice jab that time.
01:04:10Now that was the first good series of jabs he's grown in the entire night.
01:04:16I think McCallum is getting tired and weary.
01:04:20And not as sharp as he was because he was getting hit by a jab.
01:04:23A little late in the game.
01:04:25Harding with that 19-month layoff.
01:04:30You have to wonder about the effects of that.
01:04:34You saw that right by McCallum once again.
01:04:36Well, this crowd groans every time that right hand lands because it's so clear.
01:04:42Good press right by Harding.
01:04:44He's doing much better.
01:04:47This is a 15-round fight.
01:04:48He'd have some kind of a chance, but it's not.
01:04:51It's the 12th.
01:04:52It's the final round.
01:04:53Maybe we can get a quick rule change here.
01:04:56Yeah.
01:04:57Mike McCallum is in command.
01:04:59There's a long right.
01:05:00A full extension right uppercut by McCallum.
01:05:02And that made contact.
01:05:03Look at that.
01:05:04He's still bending over.
01:05:05You can see.
01:05:06For a while, as we saw Chavez go downhill, Chavez wasn't bending at all.
01:05:11And here's this old guy bending just like if he was a young kid.
01:05:15Well, Mike McCallum seemingly found the fountain of youth.
01:05:19He might be beyond 40.
01:05:21Well, that's why he's got an 80-some-odd-year-old guy in the corner.
01:05:24They can relate.
01:05:27It's discouraging to be in the corner, and you're the oldest guy in the corner.
01:05:31I mean, you know, you've got to get a guy that's older than him in the corner.
01:05:34It's tough.
01:05:35I think it's tough to come back and listen to Kit tell you how to play.
01:05:40Mike McCallum, who came awfully close to being a three-time world champion for James Toney.
01:05:44To withdraw.
01:05:45He might be on the threshold of his third world title here in 40 seconds.
01:05:49But or not, there's something wrong in North Dakota because this has been a boxing lesson by Mike McCallum.
01:05:56Harding doing very respectful right now, very well, trying as hard as he can to pull it out, but he's not doing it.
01:06:07He's fighting against a guy who's not used, or not, will not accept getting knocked out.
01:06:13He just won't go.
01:06:14Harding trying to apply some pressure here in the final seconds, but it's too little too late.
01:06:22Five seconds left in the fight, and Mike McCallum is just a few seconds away from his third world title.
01:06:31Well, nice action fight for his crowd, and set the pace for the evening.
01:06:40I hope the fight that follows has half that much action in it.
01:06:43And I really have him ahead by almost six points, 117, 111.
01:06:47I have Mike McCallum ahead, and we'll soon see what the judges have it.
01:06:53You know, sometimes you get to watching a guy doing as well as he's doing, and you just, the rounds fly by, you can't find one to give to Jeff Harding.
01:07:02117, 111, and I think we have a new champion.
01:07:06So there's Jeff Harding, and Mike McCallum, arm and arm, McCallum, fighting pros since 1981.
01:07:19At 37, they finally get the attention and recognition that he so deserves by winning a championship in his third different weight class.
01:07:28Just a great story with Eddie Fudge, combining their wealth of experience and knowledge.
01:07:35The Jamaican-born Brooklyn resident, Mike McCallum, winning titles at 154 and 160.
01:07:45Now looking for 175.
01:07:48Looking to the throne, Jeff Harding for the WBC light heavyweight title.
01:07:52And what a nice gift for the classy Eddie Fudge, who would add yet another world title notch to his belt.
01:08:00Apply the ice to Jeff Harding.
01:08:04And all smiles and laughs in the corner of Mike McCallum.
01:08:08There's the venerable Eddie Fudge right behind Mike.
01:08:11So we're awaiting the decision.
01:08:18I need some of them bodies, man.
01:08:20Let's go up to our ring announcer, Jimmy Leonard Jr.
01:08:22Ladies and gentlemen, after 12 rounds of boxing, here are the score totals.
01:08:28Judge at ringside, Rudy Ortega scores at 116, 114.
01:08:33Tommy Kaczmarek scores at 116 to 113.
01:08:39Terry Smith scores about 117 to 113.
01:08:44All three in favor of the winner and new champion, Mike.
01:08:50The body snatcher, McCallum.
01:08:57I got it, man.
01:08:58We both about to get it.
01:08:59Crowd goes wild.
01:09:00Mike McCallum.
01:09:01Well, you can throw that interim label right out the window.
01:09:05He is now the WBC light heavyweight champion.
01:09:10His third world title, Mike McCallum, a disappointed Jeff Fennec will have to go all the way back to Sydney, Australia to map out his plans.
01:09:28So Mike McCallum able to celebrate with 80-plus year old Eddie Fudge.
01:09:33What a lovely sight that is.
01:09:35So coming up next here at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota, as we congratulate Mike McCallum.
01:09:42Our main event coming up, the WBA light heavyweight championship.
01:09:45His hometown favorite Virgil Hill will defend his title against number one contender Frank Tink.
01:09:51Hill has successfully defended the light heavyweight title more times than anyone in history.
01:09:57Tonight, he hopes to add to this impressive record while his opponent, Frank Tate, seeks to end Hill's reign as champion.
01:10:03And Hill, a 13-5 favorite to win.
01:10:05Right now, we're just about set for post-fight reaction from our first bout.
01:10:11So let's go to the fight.
01:10:12Dr. Ferdi Pacheco in the ring.
01:10:14Well, you said you were going to attack the body.
01:10:17You did.
01:10:18You stopped a little bit there, but you are a master of punches.
01:10:21Well, my distribution.
01:10:22Distribution is a good word.
01:10:24My favorite, my variety of distribution, both to the body and head.
01:10:29Only Don got the words, but I'm coming steady.
01:10:31I was great tonight.
01:10:32Well, you look like you're one of the old-time fighters, and you every punch to throw, and you threw them all.
01:10:37You didn't leave any at home.
01:10:38I won the first Don Guard.
01:10:40Don Don Kidd.
01:10:41Don U Showtime and Ferdi.
01:10:43Mr. Fudge here.
01:10:44In Jamaica, Mr. Mike Manley, Lucian Chen, Mike Finnell, Kid Teeley.
01:10:48Lucian Chen?
01:10:49You got Lucian in there.
01:10:50Yeah, my homeboy in Brooklyn, Carl Harvey, Pick, and Roger.
01:10:55Go ahead.
01:10:56Let me say, Eddie Fudge, a venerable and great, great man in boxing.
01:11:00Your opinion of his performance today?
01:11:02I think it was exactly what the doctor prescribed, that he did all the things that we had planned to do, and he did them well.
01:11:11He had the condition and he had the determination.
01:11:13All right.
01:11:14I want to thank my corner, Ed Tell Torrance, he don't get much play, but he's a great trainer.
01:11:18He helped me a lot.
01:11:19Eddie Fudge, Hedgman.
01:11:20Hedgman Lewis.
01:11:21And the two guys in my column.
01:11:22Tatum O'Neal's favorite fighter.
01:11:24And Don King, we have a new champion.
01:11:27What are your plans?
01:11:28It's gonna be a master, a master series that we're going for the light heavyweights now.
01:11:31We're gonna try to bring some life into the heavy, heavy, light heavyweight series.
01:11:35And I'm very happy that Showtime, Tony Cox, give us the opportunity to put this guy out here and let him do his job and do it so grandly.
01:11:41I thought that Jeff Harding fought a great fight.
01:11:43He was a very aggressive, working hard to really make him shine and shine.
01:11:47He did so.
01:11:48We're gonna try to unify the light heavyweight title.
01:11:50Then we're gonna unify the cruiserweight title and we're gonna bring them all together for it.
01:11:54So it's gonna be nothing but the best in boxing on Showtime Championship boxing.
01:11:58Very good one.
01:11:59The last.
01:12:00Oh, I go.
01:12:01I want to say my lawyer manager, Mils Waske.
01:12:02A great man.
01:12:03Thanks to him.
01:12:04And we're standing with the loser and ex-champion.
01:12:06But I must say, you said you were gonna bring heart to this and you brought an awful lot of heart to this.
01:12:10Yeah, you know, I thought I got the, did enough to win.
01:12:15You know, the scores were a bit favorable the other way when the decision was read out.
01:12:22But, I don't know, I had a sort of a bit of taste in my mouth going into this fight.
01:12:27All the things that have happened over the last 16 months.
01:12:30Well, you know, that's boxing.
01:12:31You think you had your ring rush from all of that time that you haven't fought.
01:12:35Do you think that affected you?
01:12:37Well, you know, maybe that's a reason for it.
01:12:39But, you know, the real people out there know what really happened.
01:12:42And, you know, that's all that counts.
01:12:44And I'd like to take my hat off to the champion, Mike.
01:12:46Great fighter.
01:12:47One last comment from the champ who said, if you want to do it again.
01:12:50Yeah, congratulations to you, Jeff.
01:12:52If you want to do it again, man, you know we do it again.
01:12:55All right.
01:12:56You're a great fighter, man.
01:12:57Okay, thanks.
01:12:58Thanks a lot.
01:12:59That's what it is.
01:13:00Good fight.
01:13:01All right.
01:13:02From two fighters who have fought their best, back to Steve Albert at ringside.
01:13:05All right.
01:13:06Thanks, Ferdy.
01:13:07The always classy Mike McCallum right there offering up a rematch for Jeff Harding.
01:13:11So here at the Bismarck Civic.
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