- 6/6/2025
Virgil Hill defends his WBA Light Heavyweight Title in front of his hometown fans of Fargo, North Dakota, against no 1. contender Lou Del Valle in the main event of HBO Boxing After Dark.
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00:00We are in Grand Forks, North Dakota, about an hour south of the Canadian border.
00:00:06And native son Virgil Hill is about to come on to defend his light heavyweight championship.
00:00:11The fight before his beloved North Dakota crowd for the 22nd time in his career.
00:00:18The opponent is Lou DelVal, who was raised in Long Island City in Queens and now fights out of the Bronx.
00:00:25DelVal, a southpaw with enormous ambition here tonight.
00:00:28He says this fight represents the dream of a lifetime for him.
00:00:32But Gil Clancy, there aren't too many tougher assignments in boxing than coming into North Dakota to take on Virgil Hill.
00:00:39Ever since he left the 1984 Olympics where he won a silver medal, he has carved out a unique career here.
00:00:45What is it that has made Virgil Hill, with only one loss on his record so far, 40 wins, such a consistent winner?
00:00:53Well, he's got great technique and he's always in great condition.
00:00:56And he has this great crowd behind him all the time.
00:00:59And it certainly does help him to do a real good performance.
00:01:02Not always a good thing for a guy to want to fight before his home crowd.
00:01:06Somehow, it benefits Hill more than it does other fighters.
00:01:09Well, yes, you know, I've seen other fighters, when they fight before their home crowd, they get a little overambitious.
00:01:14They try too hard and they take themselves out of there with them and they don't fight as well.
00:01:18But Virgil Hill, he thrives on this stuff.
00:01:20He's always fought good fights here in North Dakota.
00:01:23Now, if there's a criticism against Virgil Hill, it is the oft-stated claim on the part of his detractors that he's a one-handed fighter.
00:01:31Left jab, left hook, no right hand to speak of.
00:01:34That's a tough way to go when you're fighting against a southpaw opponent.
00:01:37He hasn't done that before.
00:01:39So the tough obstacle for Hill tonight is that he has to go against a southpaw in Lou Del Valle.
00:01:44How important to the fight is that?
00:01:45Oh, that is the key to the fight.
00:01:47I've seen many a good fighter, I mean real good fighters, that went with the southpaw for the first time and they look like they never had a glove on.
00:01:54The whole key is going to be to see how Hill can handle the southpaw and you're going to find out early in the fight.
00:02:00So Hill will have to be more resourceful than ever before, you suspect, as he gets ready to take on Lou Del Valle in his most recent title defense here before his totally devoted home crowd in North Dakota.
00:02:14Tale of the tape, and you can see that Hill gives up five years in age to Del Valle, has a one-inch height advantage.
00:02:22Hill weighed in at 174, and Del Valle weighed in at 175.
00:02:26Just a short time ago, we weighed them in their respective dressing rooms, and according to our scales, Virgil Hill will enter the ring tonight at 182.5 pounds.
00:02:37He's gone up 8.5 pounds since yesterday's weigh-in.
00:02:39Lou Del Valle will weigh in at 185.25, meaning he's gained 10.25 pounds.
00:02:45Hill with a four-inch reach advantage, and he may have to use it all to get around the southpaw and find his punching opportunities here tonight.
00:02:55Rules of the bout with our unofficial ringside scorer, Harold Lederman.
00:02:59The Virgil Hill-Lou Del Valle fight is scheduled for 12 rounds.
00:03:02There is no standing eight count.
00:03:04The three-knockdown rule in this fight is in effect.
00:03:07Only the referee can stop the fight, and he can be saved by the bell in the last round only.
00:03:12And we go to the scorecards after the fourth round on an accidental butt in this fight.
00:03:16Jim.
00:03:17Thank you, Harold.
00:03:18And first into the ring will be the man who calls himself Putty Boy.
00:03:22His handlers toss out pieces of bit of honey candy to his supporters and to boxing fans at ringside.
00:03:32You can see that it's been a little while since he's been in the ring, and his 22 victories have come against largely nameless opposition.
00:03:41In fact, his last five opponents have combined for a record of just over a 500 winning percentage, 26 wins, 24 losses, and a draw for those guys.
00:03:54So he hasn't been fighting anybody, and that's not necessarily a great way to prepare for Hill.
00:03:59No, absolutely not.
00:04:01Again, Hill is going to have a big edge in experience and quality of opposition.
00:04:08You have to remember that Virgil Hill has had 22 fights that have gone 10 rounds or more where DelValle has only had one.
00:04:17So the experience is certainly a big factor as far as Hill is concerned.
00:04:20But the main factor is going to be to see how he reacts to fighting a southpaw.
00:04:26And we'll take a look at the record for Lou DelValle.
00:04:29And you see the 22 wins, no losses, no draws, 15 KOs.
00:04:35He believes he has increasing punching power, although his detractors say he's not a puncher, he's a slapper.
00:04:42And we mentioned it's been a while since he himself has been in the ring, but he is nevertheless coming off a big victory.
00:04:49And one that our Gil Clancy witnessed in Madison Square Garden a couple of weeks ago, Lou DelValle's little sister, Melissa, married name Melissa Salamone, won the New York Golden Gloves championship in the 132-pound weight class.
00:05:07This is Melissa in the blue.
00:05:09She went to the Golden Gloves because her brother flew to Florida and told her that he thought she could win, and Gil, he was right.
00:05:16Not only did she win, I thought she was the outstanding woman fighter of the night.
00:05:20And you can see how excited he was watching it.
00:05:24Lou's a high-energy package.
00:05:27And he promises to bring it to Virgil Hill tonight.
00:05:30He has irritated Hill greatly in the weeks leading up to this fight by saying that this is nothing more than a tune-up fight for him.
00:05:38As he looks down the road toward his buddy, Roy Jones Jr.
00:05:42He has sparred with Jones, and of course, all light heavyweights hope that Jones will bring his personal magnetism and his money-making power up to their division.
00:05:52Well, I think the winner of this fight would be a very attractive fight with Roy Jones, no question about it.
00:05:57And DelVal said when he worked with Roy Jones, after the first three days, he said he thought he did very, very well any time he sparred with Roy Jones.
00:06:07Now, here is the most popular man in North Dakota.
00:06:09Here is the most popular man in North Dakota.
00:06:39Here is the most popular man in North Dakota.
00:07:09Here is the most popular man in North Dakota.
00:07:39And why do North Dakotans love Virgil Hill so much?
00:07:45Well, the two championship belts were carried into the ring by a former junior high school football coach and a former high school guidance counselor.
00:07:55Virgil Hill has never forgotten from whence he came.
00:07:59You see the record 41 wins, the one loss to Thomas Hearns back in 1991.
00:08:04He does not have a great deal of punching power.
00:08:08He tends to outbox his opponents, wear them down, and smother them with great technique.
00:08:14And now let's go to the ring announcer, Danny Campbell, to crank it up.
00:08:19Ladies and gentlemen, this bout for the WBA Light Heavyweight Championship of the World, scheduled for 12 rounds.
00:08:32This bout is under the rules and regulations of the World Boxing Association, President Gilberto Mendoza, matchmaker, Mr. Bill Benton.
00:08:43Judging this championship bout, Hermodillo, Sedino, Luis Rivera, and Manuel Rodriguez.
00:08:53The third man in the ring, in charge of the action, at the sound of the bell, referee Hubert Earle.
00:09:04Ladies and gentlemen, introducing first, the challenger.
00:09:09This young man took the scales at a ready 175 pounds, wearing the gold trunks with black trim, with an undefeated record of 22 big wins.
00:09:25No defeats, 15 of those wins by knockout.
00:09:30Hailing out of Bronx, New York.
00:09:32Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Lou Honeyboy DelVine.
00:09:39His opponent, Hailing out of the blue corner, this young man took the scales at 174 and one-half pounds.
00:09:59Turned the black trunks with Silver Trim, with an outstanding record.
00:10:0441 wins, 41 wins, 1 defeat, 20 of those wins by knockout.
00:10:10From the great state of North Dakota, the two-time heavyweight champion of the world,
00:10:20Bertrand Hill!
00:10:22Okay, gentlemen, this is your last chance for questions.
00:10:41Do we have any questions?
00:10:42Okay, let's have a good, clean fight.
00:10:44I want to shake hands when the bell rings come out fighting.
00:10:46Hill is now trained by Mike Hall.
00:11:02He trains in New Jersey.
00:11:03So every time DelVal said something disparaging about Hill in the months leading up to this fight,
00:11:10Virgil read it in the New York Papers.
00:11:12Yes, that certainly could be a little thing to have a little more energy.
00:11:20So from the beginning, we watch to see how will Hill's left jab, left hook attack work
00:11:26against the southpaw with his right hand coming out.
00:11:32Well, DelVal is moving now the way he should move, fighting an orthodox fighter.
00:11:37And he's trying to keep his right foot outside Hill's left foot.
00:11:45DelVal believes that if he can keep that foot outside and make Hill move to his right,
00:11:51he'll reduce the number of punches that Hill's able to throw.
00:11:57When you fight a southpaw, that's what it is.
00:11:59It's mind over matter.
00:12:01Good left hand by DelVal.
00:12:03Another left hand by DelVal.
00:12:04Hill has been lunging early.
00:12:07DelVal says that'll give him opportunities.
00:12:09He's taken advantage of two of them so far.
00:12:12DelVal landing that left hook.
00:12:16Actually, it's sort of a slapping left cross.
00:12:27Hill kind of pawing with the left hand.
00:12:29Well, you can see he's a little puzzled by the fact that he's fighting at southpaw.
00:12:33He's going to have to try to figure DelVal's style out.
00:12:36And I think we should find out pretty quickly whether or not he's going to be effective against DelVal.
00:12:42In trying to locate southpaw light heavyweights,
00:12:44Hill was reduced to training with amateurs for a period of time.
00:12:48There just aren't a whole lot of southpaw sparring partners out there in this division.
00:12:53You can see DelVal fights with that right hand down around his thigh.
00:12:59Very confident fighter.
00:13:04Good left hook by Hill.
00:13:06Inside left hook by Hill.
00:13:08DelVal trying to counter over the top.
00:13:10You get a sense of the trouble that Hill has throwing hard punches with his right hand.
00:13:25He tends to fall with that hand.
00:13:30Hill's most effective punch in this fight is going to have to be his left hook.
00:13:33There, Hill's able to get an opportunity to use the right hand inside
00:13:38and landed flush on DelVal's face, but not with a lot of snap.
00:13:45Hill again with the right hand.
00:13:55He's making DelVal lead, and he's going to try to counter,
00:13:59but meanwhile, DelVal led that time and scored.
00:14:02DelVal scored about five times in the round with that wide winging left.
00:14:10And Hill still looking a little tentative as round one comes to a close
00:14:14in this educational experience of fighting a southpaw.
00:14:27The jab is working.
00:14:29Read it out first.
00:14:30Okay.
00:14:32Relax, okay?
00:14:33Don't give me some faith.
00:14:36Give me some faith.
00:14:37He cannot reach you, okay?
00:14:39When he comes in, when he comes in, you can hit him without a cock.
00:14:42But give him faith and move.
00:14:43Don't forget to make your angle on your turn, all right?
00:14:47When you pull it out, make sure you stick your head down and make your turn, all right?
00:14:51Nice defense.
00:14:52Here we go.
00:14:53All right, brother.
00:14:54Keep this left hand busy.
00:14:56Keep this left hand busy.
00:14:56Down and up.
00:14:58And you see the hook?
00:14:59Hook's right there all the time, all right?
00:15:01All right, bro?
00:15:02You'll go home.
00:15:03Let's go to your class, okay?
00:15:05It's puffing hard already.
00:15:06It's puffing hard.
00:15:06It's puffing right.
00:15:07Say that.
00:15:07No more.
00:15:08No more.
00:15:08Say that.
00:15:09No more.
00:15:09Say that.
00:15:10And go off your face.
00:15:11Let's go.
00:15:14Let's go.
00:15:15Lou DelVal and the gold trucks.
00:15:20Virgil Hill in the black.
00:15:21Round two begins.
00:15:23Hill, over the long course of his career, tends to land about 38% of his punches.
00:15:27He landed 38% in round one.
00:15:30And now you can see Hill trying to move to his left.
00:15:33Again, it gets to be a chess match when you watch this South Pole Box of the Orthodox Fighter.
00:15:38Hill is trying to get his left foot outside DelVal's right foot.
00:15:42Here comes a chess match and the war of wills.
00:15:46After all, the ring is only so large, so there's only so much room to play this little hopscotch
00:15:50game with the front feet.
00:15:52Sooner or later, somebody's got to throw a punch.
00:15:53That's correct.
00:15:58There's that left hook of Virgil Hill.
00:16:01You might have noticed there that Harold Letterman gave the first round to DelVal, and that
00:16:06reverses a pattern.
00:16:07Hill normally wins the first round and goes forward from there.
00:16:10As did I.
00:16:11I thought DelVal had a slight edge in the first round.
00:16:18You heard trainer Mike Hall telling Hill that the left hook is there.
00:16:22So far, he hasn't found opportunities for it in round two.
00:16:26Reaching with the right hand, and that could create exactly that opportunity for DelVal to
00:16:30counter with the left.
00:16:31Big left, big straight left hand by Lou DelVal.
00:16:35As soon as Hill lunged forward with the right hand, you could see DelVal's eyes light up.
00:16:39Of course, one question becomes, Gil, do you have legitimate hope of winning a decision from
00:17:02making a decision from Virgil Hill in North Dakota.
00:17:07Well, in Utopia, whoever scores the most points
00:17:11would win the fight, but we're not in Utopia.
00:17:13We're in North Dakota.
00:17:17It's got to be seen as a tough assignment,
00:17:19to say the least.
00:17:25Hill starting to stick the jab now.
00:17:27DelVal dropping the right hand.
00:17:30DelVal told us that he would invite Hill
00:17:32to throw the jab over his right hand
00:17:34and look for opportunities to counter.
00:17:38There's the hard left-hand counter again,
00:17:40but now Hill coming back with the right,
00:17:42and the crowd jumps out of its seats.
00:17:44And DelVal has a swelling under his right eye,
00:17:48swelling fairly rapidly.
00:17:59Hill pushing the right hand,
00:18:01pushing the right hand.
00:18:03DelVal still looking to counter with the left when he does it.
00:18:10Short left hand inside, and a knockdown.
00:18:14Referee Hubert Earle rules it a knockdown.
00:18:17Seven!
00:18:18It wasn't a very solid punch,
00:18:19but he did hit him, and he did go down.
00:18:21And there's a trickle of blood
00:18:22from the nostril of Virgil Hill,
00:18:24and I think it came from exactly that punch.
00:18:26Don't start it!
00:18:30I took that one.
00:18:36Relax for you!
00:18:37Relax, relax, relax!
00:18:38If I take another punch for one of you guys,
00:18:40somebody's going to destroy a punch.
00:18:42I didn't do nothing!
00:18:43I just want you on the back of your belly.
00:18:45Give me that punch!
00:18:46Give me that punch!
00:18:47Come on!
00:18:48Come on!
00:18:49Come on!
00:18:50Get your legs, Louie!
00:18:51Louie!
00:18:52You got a leg, baby!
00:18:53Use your legs!
00:18:54Come on!
00:18:55Come on!
00:18:56Here's the knockdown.
00:18:59Look for a solid left hand inside.
00:19:01Boom!
00:19:02Again, Hill lunged in.
00:19:03Again, that's fighting his southpaw.
00:19:05His timing was all off.
00:19:07Left himself wide open.
00:19:08You can see, look how he lunged.
00:19:09Look!
00:19:10Wide open.
00:19:11Ran right into that straight left-hander.
00:19:12Down he went.
00:19:13And he's more hurt than I thought he was.
00:19:15Jimmy really got hit with that punch.
00:19:17Good, solid punch.
00:19:18You talk about walking into a punch.
00:19:20All of Hill's momentum was bringing him forward toward the blow
00:19:23as DelVal connected.
00:19:25Now DelVal wants a timeout.
00:19:28Victor Machado almost forgetting to give him the mouthpiece.
00:19:31Not almost.
00:19:32He forgot.
00:19:33Good point.
00:19:34Danger for DelVal.
00:19:39Danger for DelVal to go left-hand crazy now
00:19:44with the temptation of having discovered what he found in the second round.
00:19:47You read my mind, Jim.
00:19:48That's exactly what I was going to say.
00:19:50Instead of waiting and countering with that left hand,
00:19:54he tried leading with it right away.
00:19:56He could walk into one doing the same thing that Hill did.
00:20:00And already, Lou DelVal with a working margin on Harold Letterman's scorecard.
00:20:09As he tackles the forbidding task of trying to win a decision from Virgil Hill in North Dakota.
00:20:15Right!
00:20:16Solid left hand by DelVal again, right on his chest.
00:20:21DelVal's got a good plan here,
00:20:23and it'll be fascinating to see if Hill can counter it with some new strategy of his own.
00:20:28Because what he does in the first couple of rounds seems to play into DelVal's hands.
00:20:33Well, again, that's fighting a southpaw, Jim.
00:20:35You have the greatest fighter in the world,
00:20:38and the first time you put him in with a southpaw,
00:20:40it's like he never had a glove on.
00:20:42As a manager trainer, you used to protect your fighters from southpaws, right?
00:20:46I just would never let my guys fight a southpaw.
00:20:50Spent too much time teaching him techniques to change everything to fight a southpaw.
00:20:55And there's DelVal punishing him with that left hand again.
00:20:59And again, Hill virtually defenseless against that left hand inside
00:21:03as he leaned in looking for his own punching opportunity.
00:21:06Crowd was chanting,
00:21:07Virgil, Virgil, Virgil.
00:21:08They quieted down pretty fast.
00:21:10That's exactly what Virgil Hill should do.
00:21:14Go to the body.
00:21:16Well, where DelVal has that right hand down,
00:21:19he should throw left hooks right at that right hand.
00:21:22And you'll be surprised half the time the fighter gets the hand out of the way
00:21:26and you hit him in the body.
00:21:27But it also would bring Hill closer so he could land his own right hand.
00:21:31Well, he's going to have to find punching opportunities to the body
00:21:33because he's lunging and reaching too much when he tries to go to the head.
00:21:41Hill a little bit more assertive here in round number three.
00:21:44He seems to recognize that strategically he's got an uphill fight,
00:21:48so he's going to have to make it into a war of wills
00:21:51and try to stare DelVal down.
00:21:57Lands a right hand.
00:21:58There's a small trickle of blood coming out of DelVal's left nostril.
00:22:01But again, DelVal is moving the way he wants to move.
00:22:16DelVal ripping with the left hand again.
00:22:21Hill reaching with the right again.
00:22:23Very dangerous for him.
00:22:25Look how elusive DelVal is.
00:22:34All right, all right.
00:22:36I feel it small enough.
00:22:38Close your eyes.
00:22:39Close your eyes.
00:22:40Oh, look.
00:22:41Give me water.
00:22:42Yeah, you can talk to him if you want.
00:22:43Don't wait.
00:22:44That's all.
00:22:45I'm counting.
00:22:46Yeah.
00:22:47I'm winning the fight though, huh?
00:22:48You're winning the fight.
00:22:49You're winning the fight.
00:22:50You're ahead.
00:22:51You're ahead.
00:22:52Nice and smart.
00:22:53You're looking at that side.
00:22:54The same way you tagged him last time.
00:22:58Boom, boom, boom.
00:22:59Turn the hook.
00:23:00You can pop him on the shoulder with the right hand.
00:23:02You can keep him from throwing that left.
00:23:04Stop popping him with the right hand on, all right?
00:23:06One more defense.
00:23:10He's all right.
00:23:11He's all right.
00:23:12He's all right.
00:23:13He's all right.
00:23:14Okay?
00:23:15You're gonna water.
00:23:16You're gonna water.
00:23:17You're gonna water.
00:23:18First check.
00:23:19Let's go.
00:23:20Seconds.
00:23:21Second job.
00:23:22Under the arm.
00:23:23Under the arm.
00:23:24Let's go.
00:23:25Let's go.
00:23:30Round four in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
00:23:33Home turf for light heavyweight champion Virgil Hill.
00:23:38Apparently in a tough uphill struggle at this moment as he tries to regain command of the fight against challenger Lou Del Vau.
00:23:45There's been one knockdown.
00:23:47It was Hill who went to the canvas off a short Del Vau left in the second round.
00:23:52Now Hill is moving the way he should be moving.
00:23:59Moving to his left.
00:24:01This creates punching opportunities for him with the left hand.
00:24:04Hard right hand to the belly by Hill.
00:24:14And Del Vau countered with a short left.
00:24:17You can see Hill is becoming very wary of that left hand.
00:24:22He flinched that time before Del Vau even threw the punch.
00:24:25Again, Del Vau lands the left inside as Hill was leaning forward trying to throw the right hand punch.
00:24:35Jim, whoever leads really has the disadvantage because the most effective punches the way this thing is going now are the guy that's countering.
00:24:43Whosoever countering is doing the scoring.
00:24:47Again, Del Vau let it in.
00:24:49He'll counter with two punches.
00:24:51Hill will help himself a lot if he can focus on continuing to move to the left.
00:24:55He did it in the first minute of this round and now has backed away from it.
00:24:59Slapping right hand over the top lands for Hill.
00:25:04You can see how desperately short of power he is from that side.
00:25:10Just not a whole lot of leverage on those punches.
00:25:13And you see when Del Vau takes that little step over to his right.
00:25:16It throws Virgil Hill completely off.
00:25:27Little left hand swat to the body by Hill there as Del Vau was moving away.
00:25:37Del Vau not as active in this round.
00:25:39And that's giving Hill more chances to punch.
00:25:52Now Hill moves to his right.
00:25:53That's the way Del Vau likes it.
00:25:54Del Vau comes closer and looks for a chance to throw the left.
00:26:01Hill goes back to his left and he gets a chance to hit Del Vau in the body.
00:26:05It's amazing how simple it is, Jim, if you just watch how one guy moves one way, he controls it.
00:26:18If the other guy moves that way, he controls it.
00:26:20A lot easier from over here, isn't it?
00:26:22Chess match continues.
00:26:24Del Vau winging with the left hand.
00:26:26It was partially blocked by Hill, who is now totally conscious of Lou Del Vau's left.
00:26:39Four rounds in the books out of a Schedule 12.
00:26:42Harold Letterman, how do you have it?
00:26:44Jim, 2-2, but 38-37.
00:26:47Lou Del Vau, I think he deserves an extra point for that knockdown.
00:26:52I've got him ahead by one point.
00:26:53Jim, I want to tell you something.
00:26:54Virgil Hill certainly has a good advantage fighting in his hometown here.
00:26:58Because, you know, round one was very close.
00:27:00I gave it to Lou Del Vau.
00:27:01I thought he had punched him.
00:27:02The judges may go with Hill because they're screaming for him.
00:27:05I mean, there's no doubt that you have that crowd advantage here.
00:27:07I mean, it's a big advantage to Hill.
00:27:09But Lou Del Vau had two terrific first rounds.
00:27:11Virgil Hill got much busier in rounds three and four.
00:27:14Looking over Gill's shoulder, I can see that he has scored the fight
00:27:17exactly the same way, right?
00:27:19Exactly the same way as Harold Letterman.
00:27:21Getting scary for you, isn't it, Gill?
00:27:23You're starting to agree with Harold round by round.
00:27:25Yes, and as a matter of fact, in the Whittaker fight,
00:27:27the last week you agreed with him.
00:27:29Exactly the way Harold Letterman scored it.
00:27:31Frightening.
00:27:33In round four, Del Vau's punch output, according to Punch Stat numbers,
00:27:37dropped to 46.
00:27:39He'll need to be more active than that
00:27:41to win an on-the-road decision against Virgil Hill.
00:27:45Well, we have to remember that the big edge in experience
00:27:49and going the distance is with Virgil Hill.
00:27:54Another short left hand inside there by Del Vau as Hill was coming in.
00:27:58And now he reaches to land the left and does so.
00:28:02Constant changes in momentum here.
00:28:06Shifting tides of fortune.
00:28:08And now the good stuff is happening again for Del Vau.
00:28:11Hill having to reach and lunge to throw to the body with the right hand
00:28:25is a dangerous enterprise for him.
00:28:27But he landed twice.
00:28:29And the third time.
00:28:31But he's exposing himself when he does that.
00:28:35When he reaches in like that.
00:28:37There he is.
00:28:38And that's the reason.
00:28:39That's the danger right there.
00:28:41Stamps.
00:28:43Stamps for the Ram.
00:28:44Stamps for the Ram.
00:28:45Stamps for the Ram.
00:28:47Stamps for the Ram.
00:28:48Stamps for the Ram.
00:28:50Again we see the elusiveness of Del Vau.
00:28:53He's not an easy target.
00:28:54Stamps for the Ram.
00:28:55Stamps for the Ram.
00:28:56Again we see the elusiveness of DelVal. He's not an easy target.
00:29:26Tactical boxing match between a 32-year-old old pro who has spent as of tonight more than half his professional career in title fights of Virgil Hill's 42 fights. This is the 22nd championship bout. It's Lou DelVal's first title shot.
00:29:48So it's a battle between the old pro and a young one with a lot of hope.
00:29:56A lot of swelling under the right eye of DelVal. So far it doesn't compromise his vision in any way. No bleeding.
00:30:13Hill trying to flurry in these last 30 seconds. We told you he's a savvy old pro and certainly one skill he knows is how to steal rounds.
00:30:22And he may be stealing this one with a flurry of activity down the stretch. Now DelVal comes back at him as the bell sounds.
00:30:31Headbutt. Headbutt.
00:30:40Headbutt.
00:30:41He's cut.
00:30:42well we've already had one technical draw tonight actually a no contest
00:31:01in the heavyweight bout that opened our show between obed sullivan and buster mathis jr
00:31:07both fighters were cut by accidental butts and eventually the fight was stopped after four rounds
00:31:11nothing going on the record either way and now here's a look at how this particular headbutt took
00:31:17place all right seconds let's go boom and there it was it looked as if delval butted
00:31:25the virgil hill but he got the worst of it virgil hill landing almost half of his jabs
00:31:39in the fifth round he's beginning to find a formula for scoring gill yes and and jim uh delval has a
00:31:47cut high up on his scalp it's not dangerous but those scalp cuts they usually bleed profusely
00:31:52so his corner is going to have to do a real good job controlling it this one i think is a little
00:31:56bitty one not to be compared for instance with the severe gash that uh bothered wilfredo rivera
00:32:01a week ago in san martin against brunell whitaker oh no it's not dangerous at all except
00:32:05the but it might wake delval up and force him to be more active which is what he needed to be in
00:32:11the last three rounds and just now he uh flowed pretty well you know his punches seem to be a lot
00:32:17more effective uh when they land than than virgil hill's up to this point in the fight well think
00:32:23about it if he throws that left hand the only price he pays is that hill might counter with the right and
00:32:28hill it appears just can't hurt you with the right hand
00:32:38low blow by virgil hill and worn by the referee good job by hubert earl stepped right in and said bring
00:32:44it up again delval is forgetting that movement to the right and he's standing right in front of virgil hill
00:32:52now hill still not finding many openings and delval landed a pretty good left hand on the inside
00:33:04delval starting to step up the activity again in round six he had been lulled to sleep a little bit
00:33:09in three four and five as hill began to rat-a-tat rat-a-tat with the jab but now in the sixth delval is
00:33:16raking him again with the left hand and seizing the momentum back
00:33:22you can see when delval slides over to his right he just loses virgil hill completely pops the jab slides
00:33:34to the right and virgil is left looking at air
00:33:41break another hard left hand inside by delval virgil almost walked into another solid punch aim close
00:33:52another hard left hand inside and virgil was stunned by that one
00:34:10crowd going quiet and that's the last thing hill wants he'd like to keep crowding now there's a mouse
00:34:16under his right eye gill and he wobbled delval he wobbled it with a right as a matter of fact
00:34:24and hill looking to seize the opportunity but the seconds are ticking away around six
00:34:38he's okay he's all right you guys stupid look at his stupid you're better boss than that you're more
00:34:57clever you're okay louis you're more clever he's in his hometown
00:35:02now here late in the round there's the left hand by delval and there's the right hand
00:35:20that stunned lou delval couldn't have got hit more solid right on the button and he's still standing
00:35:25and uh jim this is the first time i've disagreed with uh harold letterman on a round i gave that
00:35:32round to delval i thought he won the entire round except for that last big punch so harold we finally
00:35:37parted ways you must be regaining your senses huh gill maybe so round seven second half of the fight
00:35:45begins but again in hill's corner they told him that he had to keep moving to the left that it was
00:35:50critical so let's see if he can follow uh orders from the corner from mike hall his trainer victor
00:35:57machado doing a heck of a job with lou delval in the other corner key stat through six rounds by
00:36:03punch stat numbers delval has thrown more punches than hill 305 to 287. that's a very bad sign for
00:36:10virgil hill who normally outworks all his opponents in title fights
00:36:20swelling under the right eye of virgil hill swelling under the right eye of blue delval
00:36:26hill again slapping over the top of the right but landing flush
00:36:30and delval landed flush as well with a left hand
00:36:33another left hand shot for delval both fighters a little bit more stationary now in round seven and
00:36:43we're going to see harder punching as this round progresses
00:36:53again who's ever doing the counter punching usually gets the best of it
00:36:58and we're getting a left cross display from delval in this round he's landed about a half dozen of
00:37:04those left hand shots now and he is regaining momentum with each passing second so you had the
00:37:11one right hand by hill toward the end of round six but other than that the last five minutes have
00:37:16belonged to delval and a good right hook by delval and break punch we haven't seen much of
00:37:29hill is certainly wary of that straight left hand of delval's he's being very very cautious
00:37:36he's been down once that was in the second round
00:37:40when he simply walked right into a left hand shot from delval landed a good left hook then virgil hill
00:37:46did but again it was very dangerous because he was wide open when he threw the punch he's only
00:37:51gotten in two or three good left hooks all night and that's his best punch
00:37:54right and it's the best punch against the south four that's the punch he should be but how do you
00:38:00set it up again he should be throwing that left hand right at valde at delval's down right hand
00:38:09that will bring him close to delval and he can double up that left hook back up on the chin so for
00:38:14virgil hill the key tactic would be step to the left throw the left hook to the body step to the left again
00:38:20keep throwing the left hook to the body hard left hand by delval to punctuate what appeared to be a
00:38:31good to be a very successful round seven
00:38:47harold letterman your scorecard 27. jim let me tell you something i think louis delval's gonna
00:38:52have to get a lot busier to win this fight he's gotta back this guy up he's not gonna win it in
00:38:57north dakota doing what he's doing five rounds to two 67 65 virgil hill virgil hill just stays on top
00:39:04he backs him up he backs him up he backs him up and he stays busy with that left jab i'm telling you
00:39:10virgil hill's in control and if louis delval doesn't get busier and jump on him and hurt him he's not
00:39:15going to get the decision well fascinating harold now i'm the one who has to disagree with you i don't
00:39:19even score the fights round by round but i would have had to have given the seventh to delval well i
00:39:24certainly gave it to delval no question about that i'm not talking about just the last punch of the
00:39:33round but hey that's why they have three judges because there's going to be disagreement and that's
00:39:38why boxing is a subjective sport and you can't satisfy everybody and i back up my man harold in a general
00:39:44sense whenever he scores a fight that goes against the way the decision comes out from the judges it's
00:39:51usually against our business interests so you can't argue with harold's integrity round eight begins
00:40:00now delval is doing all the leading but not scoring
00:40:03and hill starting to go back to work with the left hand two snapping jabs there
00:40:20virgil loves to double up on the jab delval says when he doubles up too much i'm gonna be able to go at
00:40:27him with the left hand he also said that his secret punch is going to be a right uppercut when
00:40:34when virgil doubles up that jab he had him scouted pretty good but he's not countering it at all and
00:40:40i haven't seen him in position to throw that right uppercut although he just landed another
00:40:43left cross and it wobbled virgil a little bit that was a good solid punch
00:40:46body shot by hill delval lands a left uppercut inside he's gonna have to turn his feet around to
00:40:57throw the right uppercut and he hasn't done that so far
00:41:03seems to me that hill is getting stronger now as the fight progresses we have to remember he has a lot
00:41:08more experience at the distance than delval and he's got a great record coming down the home stretch
00:41:17you bang again you're going no banging
00:41:22referee hubert earl telling delval's trainer victor machado that he can't bang his hand on the canvas
00:41:29right hand shot by hill and the referee says if he does it again he's gone
00:41:34that would be a handicap taking machado out of the corner
00:41:42mouse is getting bigger under hill's right eye he seems to feel a sense of urgency
00:41:46he's working harder in this eighth round and he now has regained the momentum in the fight
00:41:51he's going to be a big hit and he's going to be a big hit and he's going to be a big hit
00:41:56greener prince
00:41:59solidest left hand of this round by delval delval leans in hill tries to chop him with the right and just
00:42:06misses
00:42:10hard right hand shot
00:42:13by hill crowd starting to warm to its task again he caught delval in midair that time
00:42:19delval was trying to jump back from a punch he was actually up in the air when he got hit
00:42:25break break
00:42:29good round for virgil hill
00:42:32tape on his glove
00:42:33one that round yes
00:42:44listen you got to keep control
00:42:48every time you get off first you can't do
00:42:50shit
00:42:51that's second win all right
00:42:53don't you bounce sadie mcquade at the start of the evening
00:42:55mother of two waitress at hooters down the road in fargo
00:43:00made the big trip up here tonight for this once in a lifetime shot
00:43:03god you you ahead was it you let this bend look you don't look good don't let him look good
00:43:19here we go here we go come on let's go second let's go
00:43:31round nine of a scheduled 12 delval landing a right hand shot big solid right hook yep
00:43:51best right hook of the fight so far for delval hasn't used that weapon much
00:43:59oh
00:44:08i like this referee gill
00:44:09that does a very good job excellent no question about it not an easy fight to work
00:44:14with a southpaw against a conventional fighter he's been terrific
00:44:16he's in control
00:44:22chopping right for hill as delval momentarily lost sight of the opponent
00:44:28another body shot another left hook up top hill seems to be getting stronger
00:44:36and uh maybe lou delval is starting to wind down again he doesn't have much experience going
00:44:45a lot of rounds
00:44:50hill is just a grinder you can see the work ethic he just keeps gunning in there
00:44:55but delval is going to have to start pegging back pretty soon
00:45:00he can't be he can't be a cutie and just try to make uh
00:45:03but you'll miss he's gonna have to throw some punches
00:45:07it'd be different if they were fighting in the bronx
00:45:10well right now it wouldn't make any difference hill is winning this round
00:45:15no matter where they fought hill is just out working his man coming and coming he's taking
00:45:20some shots in return but he's throwing more leather and he's got the crowd back up
00:45:25it's just the way he wants it going into the championship rounds
00:45:43body shot inside by hill delval trying to say to the referee that it was low but
00:45:48it did the damage nevertheless break
00:46:08delval just angry enough to last back out with that left hand and take a chance
00:46:12out and he gets a return from it as he temporarily quiets hill's attack
00:46:24good hard left by delval and overall another activity round for virgil hill
00:46:42you gotta keep moving you can't stand in front of this guy you pick up your rhythm and
00:46:57throw the double dab and move to the left you can do any punch you want
00:47:02come on that's enough 10th round coming up we're in north dakota you gotta get
00:47:07you gotta win your sounds okay you see you jump down look you gotta get off first
00:47:12you see you jump down you cannot relax and dump your hands
00:47:17another look at action from round nine there's the blow that delval complained was low and as i said
00:47:25he did the damage and virgil hill able to throw that one with the left hand
00:47:28his stronger punching hand we're in the double figures as the 10th round begins class usually
00:47:35tells and victor machado said it all when he said to his fighter we're in north dakota you gotta
00:47:40get going right he's gonna have to take over now and start becoming the boss in the fight
00:47:48you see harold letterman scorecard virgil hill with a long winning streak on that card now there's a
00:47:53hard left hand inside by deval and hill is stunned again they're now backing him up and looking for
00:47:59another opportunity but you can see the veteran he knew enough to he knew enough to hold on
00:48:05right right but he certainly was hurt no question about it and there was another one he is still wobbling
00:48:11from that left now hill's able to get back up on his toes start punching again well as mike paul told
00:48:23him in a corner if you just oh another oh the mouthpiece comes out for hill and delval coming at him
00:48:30break break hubert earl's got to wait for a lull in the action before that mouthpiece can be replaced
00:48:37well he told us that's what he was going to do he says i pick it up and i throw it to the corner
00:48:41and wait for a lull in the action he is a very very good referee
00:48:45great cupid earl and didn't take any time at all excellent
00:49:01another monster shot by delval and hill comes back with a left of his own and now the mouse under hill's
00:49:08right eye has opened and the blood is going to flow and he got nailed by another left hand by delval
00:49:13down break delval has landed three of his very best punches of the fight here in the first two
00:49:19minutes of the 10th round
00:49:27and you can see what delval is doing he's making virgil hill lead and when virgil hill leads
00:49:34he's wide open for that left hand
00:49:35right right and if virgil hill would pay attention to mike wall in the corner he would be going to
00:49:43his left right double speed and using that left jab but he's not doing that he's standing right in
00:49:49front of delval well his professionalism has shown in so many ways but the one thing he's forgotten to
00:49:55do is keep moving to his left well there he did it that time he actually hit on delval but he missed his
00:50:01punches he'll getting in a couple of shots to the body delval has resisted the urge to go left hand
00:50:09crazy but he's run out of steam just a little bit in the last 30 seconds and that's going to give
00:50:15hill a chance to survive the round
00:50:27earl telling delval to stop holding behind the head and hitting
00:50:31and hill will regain his wits as the round comes to a close
00:50:35the back of the head and hitting the back of the head and hitting the back of the head and getting a break
00:50:57all right
00:50:57here's the water
00:51:01let's take a look at what was a big round
00:51:06for Lou DelVal
00:51:07first that left hand shot
00:51:10and then later a classic
00:51:14left cross behind the jab
00:51:16mouthpiece came out you can see it there
00:51:18to the left of Hill's feet
00:51:19and then at the end yet another left cross
00:51:22behind the jab
00:51:23one-two combinations working like clockwork
00:51:26in that round for Lou DelVal
00:51:28very very good round for DelVal
00:51:29he really hurt Virgil Hill in that round
00:51:32I haven't seen the Hill in that kind of trouble
00:51:34in a long long time
00:51:36into the last two rounds
00:51:4411 and 12 through 10 rounds
00:51:46Harold Letterman what you got
00:51:47Jim 96 93
00:51:507 rounds to 3 Virgil Hill
00:51:52Louie DelVal he's got to get busy
00:51:54to pull this one out
00:51:55I thought that he had a great 10th round
00:51:57but he just didn't do enough throughout rounds
00:51:593, 4, 5, 6, and 7
00:52:01I mean you know
00:52:01up until that 10th round
00:52:03he just let Virgil back him up
00:52:04and in North Dakota
00:52:05Virgil's going to win every time
00:52:07doing that stuff
00:52:08yeah well I'm not so worried about North Dakota
00:52:11I'm scoring the fight the way I think
00:52:13I see the fight
00:52:14and I have it five rounds each
00:52:15but I have DelVal one point ahead
00:52:17because of the knockdown
00:52:19so there you have it
00:52:21two dissenting opinions
00:52:22and the likelihood of a very close fight
00:52:24as we come down the stretch
00:52:26five minutes to go
00:52:28DelVal with another inside left hand shot
00:52:31he landed big in the 10th
00:52:34but only threw 41 punches
00:52:35stopped punching in the last minute of the round
00:52:38when he might have had a bigger opportunity to score
00:52:40crowd very tentative here
00:52:47and Victor Machado in the corner
00:52:50was really telling DelVal
00:52:52you're in North Dakota
00:52:54he says you're going to have to really take over
00:52:56and DelVal is being
00:52:57not really pegging
00:52:58as much as he should
00:52:59but late in the fight
00:53:01he should really
00:53:02try to out-hustle Virgil Hill now
00:53:05it's been an interesting study
00:53:06both fighters in their way
00:53:07trying to be responsive to their trainers
00:53:09but neither able to remember
00:53:11to do all the things
00:53:12that their trainers want them to do
00:53:14well the thing that Mike Wall
00:53:15is telling Virgil Hill is simple
00:53:17not so much to do you
00:53:18just have to continue moving the left
00:53:20and continue using that left jab
00:53:22but Virgil being a little bit too much of a warrior
00:53:25is coming straight in
00:53:26he got nailed again
00:53:27with a big straight left hand
00:53:29by DelVal
00:53:30Virgil Hill's face
00:53:32an ugly knotted mask
00:53:34blood seeping down
00:53:35from the knot under the right eye
00:53:37DaVal still with a lot of swelling
00:53:39under his right eye
00:53:40but looking a little bit better
00:53:42than Virgil as they get ready
00:53:43for the last
00:53:44three minutes of the fight
00:53:46going to be one of those fights
00:53:48in which somebody's going to have
00:53:49to try to make a statement
00:53:50in the 12th round
00:53:51DaVal with another one-two
00:53:53come on let's kick your head up
00:53:55incidentally we know that the classic Spanish pronunciation here would be DelValle
00:54:10but the fighter himself says DelVal
00:54:12so we say DelVal to satisfy Luke
00:54:16he likes it that way
00:54:17come on
00:54:18low blow by Virgil Hill
00:54:25and Hill
00:54:32outlanding DelVal
00:54:35in the last 10 seconds
00:54:36of the 11th
00:54:37we'll see who's got the mustard
00:54:39in the 12th
00:54:40last round
00:54:41too close
00:54:42too close
00:54:43too close
00:54:44you want his title
00:54:45get off on him first
00:54:47you're hurting him every time
00:54:48you get off first
00:54:49he's wrong
00:54:503.50 minutes
00:54:523.50 minutes
00:54:533.50 minutes
00:54:54you win it
00:54:55yes
00:54:56all right
00:54:57you win it
00:54:58all right
00:54:59okay
00:55:00yes
00:55:01you gotta keep
00:55:02you gotta keep
00:55:03to your left
00:55:04move to your left
00:55:05move to your left
00:55:06and jam
00:55:07go
00:55:09walk
00:55:10kick
00:55:11you
00:55:12last round
00:55:133.00 minutes left
00:55:14come tight
00:55:16go
00:55:17you need it
00:55:18you need it
00:55:20you ne
00:55:22go
00:55:24go
00:55:26go
00:55:27go
00:55:28go
00:55:29go
00:55:30go
00:55:31go
00:55:32go
00:55:33go
00:55:34go
00:55:35go
00:55:36North Dakota rises for Virgil Hill.
00:55:41Can they bring him home one more time?
00:55:45I have the fight dead even going into this round.
00:55:52Right!
00:55:54Hattern in the last four rounds has held firm.
00:55:57DelVal lands the harder shots.
00:56:00Hill throws more punches.
00:56:06Again, whoever does the leading loses.
00:56:30Slapping right hand landed inside for Hill.
00:56:33DelVal looking for another chance with that left-hand shot.
00:56:36Let go! Let go! Come on!
00:56:51Both men landing some counter shots inside as they lean against the ropes.
00:56:57Hill with a left hook.
00:57:00Flashiest punch of the exchange.
00:57:03DelVal with another straight left hand.
00:57:05Half a round to go.
00:57:14Let's get the boxing.
00:57:22Both fighters are fighting strictly on courage right now.
00:57:25They're both spent.
00:57:26Empty gas tanks.
00:57:28Come on, don't hold your hand or freeze!
00:57:30The fumes alone.
00:57:31Come on, Irvin!
00:57:35Hard left hook for Hill.
00:57:38DelVal landed some solid punches.
00:57:40Those last four punches, Jim,
00:57:42were the best punches of the fight,
00:57:44of the round, I should say.
00:57:45Virgil Hill with a record for total light heavyweight title defenses.
00:57:57Twenty-second title fight of his career.
00:58:00Twenty-second time fighting in North Dakota.
00:58:03Left-hand shot landed for DelVal.
00:58:07Hill trying to walk through it and keep bringing enough.
00:58:10Only one knockdown in the fight.
00:58:21That was when DelVal briefly put Hill on the canvas in the second round.
00:58:25Tactical battle all the way.
00:58:27And one more big cheer for Hill from the home state crowd.
00:58:32Well, it was DelVal's corner which celebrated most raucously.
00:59:00And now as Hill parades around the ring with those two North Dakota flags,
00:59:07the crowd rises for that.
00:59:09In the 12th round, according to punch stat numbers,
00:59:12Hill threw 80 punches and DelVal threw only 49.
00:59:16Could that be the difference?
00:59:22Harold Letterman, how did you score it over the 12-round distance?
00:59:25Well, let me tell you, Jim,
00:59:26I didn't think the 12th round was such a great round for Virgil Hill.
00:59:29He was leaning in a lot and slapping a lot.
00:59:31But in any case, I got it seven rounds to five.
00:59:35114, 113, Virgil Hill.
00:59:37I think he just did enough in the middle of the rounds to squeak it out.
00:59:40He wins the fights consistently the same way.
00:59:44He fools the judges by backing you up and backing you up.
00:59:47He puts constant pressure on you.
00:59:49He lands that easy left jab he throws,
00:59:51that soft right hand,
00:59:53and he just dominates the round.
00:59:54He stays in control throughout all the middle rounds.
00:59:56I don't know.
00:59:57He took a lot of punishment tonight
00:59:59in attempting to win the judges over with that old formula.
01:00:11We'll find out in a matter of moments.
01:00:13Interesting, Harold.
01:00:18So you scored it for Hill by one point.
01:00:20One point.
01:00:20It doesn't get any closer than that.
01:00:23Nice try.
01:00:24And as you know, Gil Clancy had it dead even going into the 12th round.
01:00:28So let's find out what the judges thought.
01:00:30Danny Campbell with the official announcement.
01:00:32Ladies and gentlemen, the decision as follows.
01:00:37Lloyd, Lloyd.
01:00:38Judge Carmodillo Cedino scores the fight 114-113.
01:00:47Judge Luis Rivera scores the fight 116-112.
01:00:53And Judge Manuel Rodriguez scores the fight 116-114.
01:01:03All for the winner.
01:01:04And still, the WBA right heavyweight champion of the world,
01:01:12Virgil Hill!
01:01:23Two judges scored the 12th round for DelBal.
01:01:45One judge scored the 12th round even.
01:01:48Down the stretch, it was DelBal who was winning rounds.
01:01:52But just as Harold Letterman suggested,
01:01:55on all three judges' scorecards,
01:01:58Virgil Hill got his winning margin from dominating the middle rounds.
01:02:02And you see the punch stat numbers?
01:02:04And that shows you how close the fight was.
01:02:07But if there was a key difference there,
01:02:09note that Virgil Hill threw 100 more punches in the fight
01:02:14than did Lou DelBal.
01:02:1635 more jabs and landed 50 more jabs than did DelBal.
01:02:21Almost certainly, the margin of victory comes from those numbers
01:02:25and the way the judges perceived them.
01:02:29And now let's go to Gil Clancy with the man who has won
01:02:32for the 22nd time in his career without defeat
01:02:35in his home state of North Dakota,
01:02:37Virgil Hill.
01:02:39Virgil, congratulations.
01:02:40Real, real, real tough fight.
01:02:41Mike, congratulations.
01:02:43Thank you, guys.
01:02:43Virgil, did you want to fight another South War next month?
01:02:46Oh, definitely.
01:02:48We've got to get right back in there with them.
01:02:50First of all, I'd like to give thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, first of all.
01:02:53Yeah, I would.
01:02:54You know, I haven't fought one in 12 years.
01:02:56So, you know, we just need to get right back in there.
01:02:59It seems to me that that was probably the toughest fight
01:03:01that you've had in a long, long time.
01:03:03It really was.
01:03:04You know, good thing we trained accordingly.
01:03:06We're in good shape.
01:03:08I think a long layoff was a contribute to this fight.
01:03:12We hadn't fought in almost nine months.
01:03:14So I think now that we're with Cedric Kushner,
01:03:16you know, we'll be busier and we'll improve.
01:03:19Was he a little more elusive than you thought he'd be?
01:03:21It seemed to me he was having a lot of trouble hitting him.
01:03:23Yeah, I did.
01:03:24You know, I went head-hutting.
01:03:25I didn't go to the body enough.
01:03:27And basically that's what happened.
01:03:28I didn't follow the game plan.
01:03:30And there you, on the second round,
01:03:32you walked into a straight left hand and down you went.
01:03:35Yeah, it was a flash knockdown.
01:03:36And he can swat a little bit.
01:03:37I don't know if I had my eyes closed
01:03:39or he just cracked me with a good shot.
01:03:41Probably both.
01:03:42And, you know, Mike, in the corner,
01:03:44you were telling Virgil, move to your left,
01:03:46move to your left, and double that left jab.
01:03:49And I think, Virgil, I think if you would have paid attention,
01:03:51a little more attention to Mike,
01:03:52you would have had an easier fight.
01:03:54Isn't that the case all the time?
01:03:56Yes.
01:03:57Mike is an excellent trainer.
01:03:58He's the best in the world.
01:03:59Okay, well, congratulations again, guys.
01:04:01And let's get downstairs to Jim Lampley.
01:04:04Thank you, HBO.
01:04:05All right, thanks very much, Gil.
01:04:07And I'll tell you,
01:04:08regardless of whether you thought Virgil Hill
01:04:10was a winner or loser tonight,
01:04:12regardless of what you think of him
01:04:14as a fighter over the long course of his career,
01:04:17you can't argue with the guy as a human being.
01:04:19He is as terrifically personable,
01:04:21nice, direct, honest, and straightforward as a guy,
01:04:25a guy as you will find to deal with in this sport.
01:04:27So Gil Clancy ready now with the loser Lou DelVal.
01:04:31Gil?
01:04:32Well, Lou, it was a tough night,
01:04:34a very, very tough fight.
01:04:35I thought it was a very, very close fight.
01:04:37Yeah.
01:04:38No, you know, they gave it to the champ
01:04:40because he's hometown and all that,
01:04:41but I really thought I scored the harder punches,
01:04:44you know, the sharper punches.
01:04:44He was hitting me with a pity-packed jab, you know.
01:04:47If the referees think, you know,
01:04:48that amateur style is the fight, you know,
01:04:50well, let it be it, you know.
01:04:51I'll be back, you know.
01:04:52It's just so I let down.
01:04:53It's only my first loss.
01:04:55I want to just say sorry to my sister,
01:04:56my mother that I let them down,
01:04:57but, you know, I tried, Melissa.
01:04:59I'm sorry.
01:05:01You didn't let anybody down.
01:05:02Lou, you fought a real good fight
01:05:04against a good, solid fighter
01:05:05with a lot of experience.
01:05:07All those long championship fights that he had,
01:05:10you only had one 10-round fight.
01:05:12Well, you know, I trained for 12 rounds, you know.
01:05:17I was training in the mountains.
01:05:18I trained hard, you know.
01:05:19Virgil was in great shape.
01:05:20He showed that, you know, he didn't lose it, you know,
01:05:22but I felt I edged him a little.
01:05:23I thought I hit him with the better shots, you know.
01:05:25What are you going to say, you know?
01:05:27Like I said, I'm sorry, you know.
01:05:28Sorry to everybody in Morris Park, you know, in the Bronx.
01:05:30Everybody along out of the city, Queens, I'm sorry.
01:05:32You know, I had my best.
01:05:34Well, you have nothing to be sorry about.
01:05:36You guys are a real great show.
01:05:37Now let's get down to ringside to Jim Lampley.
01:05:40All right, thanks very much, Gil,
01:05:42and certainly no apology necessary for DelVal.
01:05:45He fought his heart out and provided as good an effort
01:05:47as you could have possibly expected
01:05:48under these circumstances coming into North Dakota
01:05:51to fight against Virgil Hill.
01:05:52As Gil makes his way back down here to ringside
01:05:55for final comments, we'd like to send a message to Atlanta,
01:05:59to Evander Holyfield, because it's our understanding, Evander,
01:06:02that your mother has passed away this weekend,
01:06:05and after our many long, fruitful years of association with you,
01:06:10certainly we send all of our most heartfelt wishes
01:06:13and condolences to you and your family
01:06:15in this, your weekend of grief.
01:06:18Thank you, Evander, for everything you've done for us,
01:06:21and we hope that you can find peace
01:06:23in this hour of your mother's passing.
01:06:26And now Gil's going to make his way over,
01:06:28and we'll have a final comment here
01:06:30on what was a heck of a battle,
01:06:32really a terrific fight between Lou DelVal and Virgil Hill,
01:06:36and, you know, we talk so much about experience
01:06:38and what it means in the ring.
01:06:40Ultimately, tonight, I'm sure you're going to tell me
01:06:42that that was the difference.
01:06:43Well, absolutely, it was the difference.
01:06:45You know, Lou DelVal fought a great fight,
01:06:48but again, Virgil Hill had all of those long championship fights,
01:06:52and you can see the experience.
01:06:53The one time when DelVal really hurt him badly,
01:06:56he knew enough to hang on, fool everybody,
01:06:59and stay in the fight and fool DelVal as well.
01:07:02The light heavyweight division has long been overlooked
01:07:05in terms of star value and star potential.
01:07:08Certainly, there are interesting fights on the horizon for DelVal,
01:07:11as well as for Virgil Hill,
01:07:13who might fight again against Fabrice DiOzzo,
01:07:16who might look down the road toward a possible meeting
01:07:18with Roy Jones Jr. if he would come to this division,
01:07:21who could go to Germany and fight against Henry Masca,
01:07:24who's become a huge star over there in Germany.
01:07:26All of those sound like interesting fights.
01:07:28They're all good fights for Virgil Hill as well,
01:07:31and the big money fight, again, is with Roy Jones Jr.
01:07:35You know, Lou DelVal worked as a sparring partner for Roy Jones,
01:07:39and he said he did very well with Roy Jones,
01:07:41and if he did very well, I guess a fight between Virgil Hill
01:07:44and Roy Jones Jr. would be a big, big fight anywhere.
01:07:47So plenty to come in the future, we hope,
01:07:49for both Hill and DelVal,
01:07:51both of whom gave us a terrific showing here tonight.
01:07:53Gil, thanks very much, as always.
01:07:56And we'll be back with a final word
01:07:58on what happened here in the ring in just a moment.
01:08:00Right now, let's look ahead to some upcoming programs on HBO.
01:08:03Riddle me this. Riddle me that.
01:08:07Who's afraid of the big black bat?
01:08:11The bat signal is not a beeper.
01:08:15My place. Midnight.
01:08:17I'm a part of this, whether you like it or not.
01:08:23Blast him!
01:08:26The biggest movie of 1995 to hit pay TV,
01:08:29Batman Forever,
01:08:31premieres Saturday, May 4th on HBO.
01:08:33Something very heavy is about to go down.
01:08:38Brace yourself for one rare night.
01:08:40Three huge fights and six big men.
01:08:43Live from Madison Square Garden,
01:08:45six of the world's best heavyweights are pumped and primed
01:08:47for one of boxing's biggest nights.
01:08:50One.
01:08:50Witherspoon versus Gonzalez.
01:08:52Two.
01:08:52Lewis versus Mercer.
01:08:54Three.
01:08:54Holyfield versus Chez.
01:08:56Something very heavy is about to go down.
01:08:58A heavyweight triple header,
01:09:00coming in May on HBO.
01:09:05Our third edition of Boxing After Dark
01:09:08brought unusual action,
01:09:09as has always been the case.
01:09:11In the heavyweight battle
01:09:12between Obed Sullivan and Buster Mathis Jr.,
01:09:15there were accidental headbutts on both sides,
01:09:17a particularly deep cut over the right eye of Sullivan,
01:09:20another cut over the brow of Mathis.
01:09:22The fight was stopped after four rounds,
01:09:24and it is a no contest.
01:09:26Neither fighter gets anything on his record.
01:09:29And then Virgil Hill fighting for the 22nd time
01:09:32in his 42-bout career in his home state of North Dakota,
01:09:35fighting in his 22nd World Championship fight.
01:09:37Got a typical Virgil Hill unanimous decision,
01:09:40a little tougher than most,
01:09:41as Lou DelVal was able to put him on the canvas,
01:09:44break him with left hands throughout,
01:09:46and leave his marks on Hill's face.
01:09:48But Hill, with a greater activity level,
01:09:51professionalism down the stretch,
01:09:52won the unanimous decision.
01:09:54Coming up immediately following Boxing After Dark.
01:09:56Stay tuned for Dangerous Indiscretion right here on HBO.
01:09:59And in May, catch the next installment of Real Sports
01:10:01with Brian Gumbel.
01:10:03Among the show's features,
01:10:04a look at one case illustration of the dangers of boxing,
01:10:07the too brief boxing life and death
01:10:09that Jimmy Garcia,
01:10:10Larry Merchant reports in May on Real Sports.
01:10:13So now for Gil Clancy and Harold Letterman,
01:10:16I'm Jim Lampley saying goodbye from Grand Forks, North Dakota.
01:10:22The executive producer of HBO Sports is Ross Greenberg.
01:10:26Tonight's coverage of Boxing After Dark
01:10:27was produced by Dave Harmon
01:10:29and directed by Mark Payton.
01:10:31The associate producers, Brian McDonald and Dave Leapson.
01:10:34Assistants to the producer, Thomas Oedelfeldt and John Crystal.
01:10:38The production managers, Janet King and John McCallie.
01:10:41And the technical supervisor was Bob Hunter.
01:10:43The production manager, Thomas Oedelfeldt and John Crystal.
01:11:13The production manager, Thomas Oedelfeldt and John Kelly.
01:11:43Sports, the network of champions.
01:11:49Late on a Saturday night is when the action gets hot.
01:11:53HBO Boxing After Dark.
01:11:55Undefeated Enrique Sanchez versus Ricardo Vargas.
01:11:58World Super Featherweight Champion Azuma Nelson versus Jesse James Leha
01:12:02in their third decisive battle.
01:12:04Coming in June on HBO.
01:12:06Some of the best in the business work the night shift.
01:12:10Next on HBO.
01:12:12An ad exec learns that philandering doesn't pay
01:12:15when the powerful husband of one of his lovers
01:12:17discovers their dangerous indiscretion.
01:12:21Something special's on next.
01:12:25The Dice Man Comin'.
01:12:26I'm not saying this to demean women in any way, shape, or form.
01:12:30With an all-new show.
01:12:32This is the only time I can fuck.
01:12:33You know, when they get pregnant?
01:12:35I just can't do it.
01:12:36I don't care whose wife it is.
01:12:37You know what I'm saying?
01:12:38Some chick suing the president?
01:12:40You're like, figuring her on an elevator or something.
01:12:43That's what I heard.
01:12:45What is she running to the newspapers for?
01:12:47This is something you cherish.
01:12:50That you tell your grandchildren about in years to come.
01:12:53The HBO Comedy Hour.
01:12:55Andrew Dice Clay assumed the position.
01:12:57Premieres Saturday, May 11th on HBO.
01:13:00Treat me like the pig that I am.
01:13:03Need me say more.
01:13:09Horribly disfigured.
01:13:11I don't need your pity.
01:13:12Genetically deformed.
01:13:14I want your strength.
01:13:15Brighteningly brilliant.
01:13:16You've perfected liquid skin.
01:13:19He faces the world from its darkest corners.
01:13:22Crime has a new enemy.
01:13:24And justice has a brand new face.
01:13:27Jeff Fahey.
01:13:37The HBO world premiere movie.
01:13:39Darkman 3.
01:13:40Die, Darkman, die.
01:13:42Premieres Saturday, May 4th on HBO.
01:13:45I trusted you.
01:13:47Life's a bitch.
01:13:49And so am I.
01:13:50It was the shocking story that broke the rock.
01:13:53I don't know what it's like.
01:13:54What's like Alcatraz?
01:13:56Christian Slater.
01:13:57Are you guilty of the murder of Rufus McCain?
01:14:00Kevin Bacon.
01:14:01How was the weapon?
01:14:02Gary Oldman.
01:14:03I will not be treated the same way as this.
01:14:06This lying, murdering, two-time loser.
01:14:09Murder in the First.
01:14:11Premieres Monday, May 6th on HBO.
01:14:15Here's a question for you.
01:14:17What's the name of the biggest international box office hit of 1995?
01:14:22Here's a couple of clues.
01:14:24Piece of cake.
01:14:27Give us something harder next time.
01:14:34Is the camera rolling?
01:14:37Oh, yes.
01:14:37Beautiful, sexy, smart, and determined.
01:14:40Ashley Judd is a brilliant young actress who's no stranger to fame.
01:14:44Her mother, Naomi, and older sister, Winona, are country music stars.
01:14:48The Judds.
01:14:49My mom and sister have always stood for a certain kind of quality, and they certainly have espoused
01:14:54really great values.
01:14:56Although her family roots are in music, her future is in acting.
01:15:00She starred in the coming-of-age film, Ruby in Paradise, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
01:15:09I'm so flattered that my debut film is at a place like Sundance.
01:15:15It's hopefully a stamp of things to come.
01:15:18Like a role in Heat, opposite Al Pacino and Val Kilmer.
01:15:22It ain't worth the risks you take.
01:15:23Like in risk versus reward, baby.
01:15:25And this dynamic performance in the Muramax film, Smoke.
01:15:30I don't need your help.
01:15:31I got a man to take care of me, which is more than you can say for yourself, Hawkeye.
01:15:34She just wrapped production on A Time to Kill, based on the popular novel by John Grisham.
01:15:39Well, I never wanted a spotlight, and at this point, what I want to do is act.
01:15:43In fact, a year from now, I'm going to be a very famous actress.
01:15:48Ashley puts all of her talents to use in the upcoming HBO picture, Norma Jean and Marilyn.
01:15:53The true story of Marilyn Monroe, a Hollywood icon tormented by the demons in her past.
01:15:59What was your name again?
Recommended
1:05:05
|
Up next
12:33
13:39
55:40
1:18:14