- 6/20/2025
Tony Tucker battles Bruce Seldon for the vacant WBA Heavyweight Title on Showtime Pay Per View Boxing
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00:00Thanks again, Jim, with the World Boxing Association stripping George Foreman of the heavyweight title for avoiding the mandatory challenge.
00:06It opens the door for top contender Tony Tucker and number two challenger Bruce Sheldon to vie for the vacant crown.
00:13Tucker, once the IBF heavyweight champion for a blink of the eye, has been able to make the long climb back to the top of the ratings.
00:19He's waited patiently for his turn to recapture a world championship, overcoming personal and managerial problems,
00:24not to mention reconstructive surgery on his right hand, which he broke in three places prior to his 87 title fight with Mike Tyson.
00:32Seldon, meanwhile, overcoming a four-year prison term as a teenager.
00:35His past involved the violence in the streets and some less than wise personal decisions.
00:40But Seldon, able to turn his life around through boxing, and tonight he gets his first shot at a world title.
00:46This could be the last title opportunity for both Tucker and Seldon as well, which could add drama and desperation to this fight.
00:52Well, we've got two fighters who were once very highly regarded.
00:55The question, what will it take to realize their potential?
00:58Fred, are your feelings?
00:59Well, the main thing is TNT Tucker, who has always had everything you could want.
01:04Size, the right connections to get the fights, the beautiful boxing style.
01:08Accept no heart to really do it when he has to.
01:12By heart, I don't really mean cowardice.
01:13What I mean is desire.
01:15This flaming thing in your stomach that you've got to be the best, you've got to win.
01:18You can't get it out of Tucker.
01:21So, I think that's his big problem, and as far as Seldon's concerned, he's an in-and-outer.
01:26If he's in today, I pick him to win this fight.
01:28If he's in, and I'm in a distinct minority.
01:30Okay, and Bobby says the stakes have certainly increased since the return of Mike Tyson.
01:34Sure, Mike Tyson was formerly a very credible world champion, and I believe he once again set out his quest to unify that world title.
01:40So, all the heavyweights have been put on notice.
01:42He brings extra money and celebrity to the division.
01:44The world is watching and waiting, and the heavyweights are the people.
01:47Most people are picking Tucker here.
01:49Who do you like?
01:49You know what, I have to go with Tucker.
01:51My reason being his height, his reach, and the world championship experience, I think there might be a little too much for Seldon at this point.
01:57All right, let's hear again from Mike Tyson now, who brings a unique perspective since he's been in the ring with three of the four heavyweights on tonight's card.
02:04Here's the man who didn't allow Tony Tucker much time to savor his IBF heavyweight championship.
02:09Mike Tyson on Tucker vs. Sheldon.
02:12Very interesting fight we have here.
02:14We have Bruce Sheldon coming back on a rebound from back-to-back losses from Oliver McCall and Riddick Poe.
02:19And we have Tony Tucker coming back off a loss to Lennox Lewis for a championship fight.
02:25And these men both have something to prove here.
02:27And you look at the comparison of the two.
02:30Tony Tucker's around 6'5", 6'6", good boxer, good puncher, very experienced in cage even at this stage of his career.
02:37And Bruce Sheldon, very, very hungry, very eager, willing to win the title.
02:42And this is a big opportunity for both men.
02:45And here is the number two rated heavyweight contender, according to the WBA, Bruce Sheldon, 31-3 with 27 knockouts.
02:52He has strung together seven straight wins, all by knockouts and suffering the third loss of his career to Tony Tubbs in 92.
02:59His other two defeats to current WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall and current WBO heavyweight champion Riddick Poe back-to-back in 91.
03:07He comes off a first-round stoppage of Bill Corrigan in Quito, Ecuador in December.
03:11For 28-year-old Sheldon, his first world title shot.
03:16And now the number one heavyweight contender, Tony Tucker, an 8.5-to-1 favorite, courtesy of Caesars Palace Sportsbook.
03:23He is the former IBF heavyweight champ who beat Buster Douglas for that title in 87.
03:27Then his first title defense 63 days later, dethroned by Mike Tyson.
03:32Although Tucker one of only three to go 12 rounds with the former world champion.
03:36He did it with an injured right hand as well.
03:38The 36-year-old Tucker out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
03:4052-2, one no contest, 43 KOs.
03:45Let's check the numbers.
03:46As we go to the tail of the tape, biggest disparity in age.
03:49Tucker at 36, eight years older than Selden.
03:51Tucker has the size.
03:52At 6'5", nearly a four-inch height advantage.
03:54Tucker tipped the scales at 243.
03:57Selden at 236.
03:58And the five-inch reach advantage for Tucker.
04:00WBA rules, 10-point must system, three scoring judges, no standing eight count, three knockdown rule is in effect.
04:08Only the referee can stop the fight.
04:10A fighter cannot be saved by the belt except in the last round.
04:13So here at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, closing in on the third of five world title fights.
04:18The WBA heavyweight championship.
04:21Back to our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.
04:23Well, fans, we welcome you to our next world title feature bout of the evening brought to you by Don King Productions and King Vision
04:33in association with Showtime, Event Television, Corona Beer, and Caesars Palace.
04:39At this time, we present the vacant WBA heavyweight championship of the world.
04:46This bout is sanctioned by the World Boxing Association, President Gilberto Mendoza, Supervisor Alberto Sarmiento,
04:54along with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the Chairman Dr. James Knave.
05:00The judges appointed scoring this bout from ringside, we have Dwayne Ford, Art Lurie, and Jerry Roth.
05:08And introducing to you the referee in charge, working in this, his 76th world title bout, Mills Lane.
05:18All right, fans, here we go with the vacant WBA heavyweight championship of the world scheduled for 12 rounds of boxing.
05:27I introduce you first on my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
05:32He is wearing white trunks with red trim and fighting out of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
05:39He weighed in at 236 pounds, and his record includes 31 wins.
05:45Three losses with 27 wins coming by way of knockout.
05:50And here is the WBA number two ranked heavyweight contender in the world.
05:55Introducing the Atlantic City Express, Bruce Seldon.
06:06And presenting to you his opponent across the ring on my left, fighting out of the red corner, wearing black trunks with gold trim,
06:15fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, by way of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
06:20He weighed in at 243 pounds, and enters the ring with a record of 52 wins, two losses, one no contest, with 43 big wins coming by way of knockout.
06:34And here is the former IBF heavyweight champion of the world, currently ranked the WBA number one contender.
06:40Introducing Tony, TNT Tucker.
06:51And once again, here is your referee in charge.
06:53Now to give instructions, Mills Lane.
06:57Okay, gentlemen, we've already had your instructions one time in the dressing room.
07:09And right here, if he goes right here, it's going to be all right, all right?
07:13If he goes right here, it's going to be okay.
07:16All right.
07:16This is the WBA title.
07:18Expect a tough, clean fight.
07:21Protect yourself at all times.
07:23Let's get it on!
07:29Fan favorite, Mills Lane.
07:31The district judge from Reno, Tony Tucker, with the size.
07:34He has speed and power.
07:36He fights cautiously, very methodical, sometimes predictable.
07:41But as Ferdie said, his desire a question mark.
07:43The rugged, hard-hitting Bruce Seldon has rededicated himself after the early career problems.
07:50Here we go.
07:50The bell for round one, scheduled for 12 for the vacant WBA heavyweight championship.
07:57Tucker was getting an earful from trainer Georgie Benton, almost right up to the bell.
08:03And there's nobody that can motivate you like Georgie Benton.
08:06He's been there himself.
08:07He's a great, great fighter, and now he's becoming a great corner man.
08:10That's one of the things they talk about, Tucker.
08:11They can't get him motivated, especially early.
08:13He's a very slow starter.
08:14Comes on in the later rounds.
08:16But tell you what, he looks a little more peppy tonight.
08:20Bobby, what about Seldon's chin?
08:22You know, there's been questions about it when Riddick Bowe hit him with the left hook.
08:25It didn't look the biggest left hook in the world.
08:27And it hurt him much more than it appeared it should have.
08:29And he's had some questions.
08:30Jose Revolta had him on the floor.
08:32That's been a question, and we're going to find out tonight, because I know TNT can hit.
08:37Yes, Tucker does have power.
08:39Ironically, Tucker's first title fight for the vacated IBF title, vacated when Michael Spinks was stripped.
08:44And here we are eight years later.
08:46He fights for his second world title.
08:48Again, a vacated belt.
08:49This time because George Foreman was stripped for not fighting Tucker, the number one contender.
08:54Tucker in the black trunk, Seldon in the white.
09:00Seldon's career as a contender appeared to be over when he suffered a first-round knockout against Riddick Bowe in 91.
09:06But he hung in there in his previous fight, stopped in the ninth by Oliver McCall.
09:09The other loss to Tony Tubbs.
09:12Seldon said, I almost wrote myself off after the Bowe fight.
09:15I thought maybe I'd gotten as far as I could go.
09:17But since the loss to Bowe, he has 13 wins, 12 by knockout, and is the number two contender.
09:23I knew his trainer, Carmen Graziano, had passed away, and they were very, very close.
09:26It was like his family.
09:28And Carmen believed in the kid, and I hope to see him do well.
09:32He's doing well this first round.
09:33I've been clocking the number of punches that are thrown, and he is throwing many more punches than Tucker.
09:39Tucker's trying to catch him on counter-punching, but he's not.
09:42He's too slow for that.
09:43You know what, though, Ferdi, not too many of them are landing, and he's up until right now,
09:48he was going backwards thrown, letting Tucker come forward with that size and that leverage
09:52might be a big mistake.
09:54Well, the size is very impressive to anybody who just tuned in and looked.
09:57I mean, a huge guy like this ought to be able to squatch a little guy,
10:00but that's not the way it works in the heavyweight picture.
10:03Seldon told us he intends to come out and end this fight early.
10:07He feels that Tucker will try to take the fight into the later rounds with the hope that
10:10Seldon will tire.
10:13Tucker does not fight as if he's in a hurry.
10:16Historically, very slow, particularly at the start.
10:19Here's Seldon with a little combination.
10:21Seldon said he's working on slowing Tucker down even more as fast and as early as possible.
10:27He's got a much better jab going.
10:28Bobby, that thing is really popping in there.
10:30Those last four jabs have been strong.
10:32Well, I'll tell you what, they started trading jabs a little bit.
10:34On the inside, Tucker seemed to get a little bit of the better of it,
10:36where you think that maybe Seldon with his compact size might do better, but not yet.
10:42Seldon said because Tucker's so tall, everybody goes headhunting.
10:46He says, I'll work the body.
10:49Not easy to knock out Tucker because of size.
10:51Let's go back over to Jim Gray, who's with the WBC champion of the heavyweight division.
11:04All right, thank you very much, Steve Alpert.
11:06We're here with Oliver McCall as he gets ready for his fight with Larry Holmes.
11:10You're watching this fight right now.
11:11You're not too nervous.
11:12Took you nine years to get here, and you're just smiling and having a good time.
11:14Yeah, I feel good.
11:15I feel fantastic, and I'm ready to give the people what they want to see.
11:18They want to see a champion that looks like a champion, fight like a champion,
11:22and be ready and prepared for Mike Tyson.
11:24I think I'm that guy.
11:25So I'm going to let the people choose and see.
11:27After the night, they choose.
11:28Do you want to see a sloppy Riddick bow the way he fought Herbie Hyde fight,
11:32or do they want a real bull, the iron bull, the atomic bull fight Mike Tyson?
11:36What does atomic bull mean?
11:37A lot of people are wondering that.
11:39Well, I'm a tourist, the bull.
11:40And, of course, when the Chicago bull, I'm a Chicagoan.
11:43So the Chicago bull, they made it.
11:45I'm the atomic bull.
11:46I'm a tourist.
11:46April 21st.
11:47My birthday is coming up in a couple of days,
11:49and this is for my birthday as well as Big John Stood.
11:51And I dropped them atomic bombs, baby.
11:54You mentioned Mike Tyson.
11:55What about Mike Tyson?
11:56You spent some time with him.
11:57Did he give you any advice?
11:59Well, I'm ready.
12:00Tyson haven't gave me no advice.
12:01He said, I need to win this, but I already know that.
12:03All right, Oliver, we look forward to seeing you shortly.
12:05Let's go back out to Steve.
12:07All right, thank you very much, Jim Gray.
12:08Round 2 for the vacant WBA Heavyweight Championship.
12:13Bruce Sheldon, the number 2 contender in the white.
12:15And there's a big right hand by Sheldon.
12:18Sheldon doing what he said he was going to do.
12:19Started jamming to the body, going to the body,
12:21and came up top with the right hand.
12:23I think he's outworking him, Bob.
12:25He all threw that first round.
12:26He seems to be doing that what he wanted to do, outwork him.
12:28And Tony is, as usual, too slow.
12:33He's not coming up.
12:34Sheldon, the last four or five years,
12:36has become more of a complete fighter,
12:39much more mature, much more focused.
12:42And he gets off the best punch thus far in the early going.
12:47Right hand again.
12:48Oh, and a countering right by Tucker.
12:50That was a beautiful countering right.
12:52It looked like it buckled one leg of Sheldon.
12:55And we're going to find out right now
12:56what the effects of that right hand are.
12:58There's another one.
12:59Sheldon looked momentarily dazed,
13:01but he is fighting back.
13:02That was a good shot by TNT.
13:04Oh, another right hand by Tucker.
13:09But Sheldon answering back,
13:11and then his knees do buckle
13:12as he wraps his arms around the waist of Tucker.
13:15He hasn't got strong legs under him right now.
13:17This is Tucker's chance.
13:18Let's see what he does.
13:19I'll tell you what, the door.
13:20The jab was working for Sheldon,
13:22and he just started winging,
13:23and he can't do that with Tony Tucker.
13:24He's too big and strong.
13:25So Tucker able to come back,
13:28right hand there, but a glancing blow.
13:31Why don't we step back?
13:31Come on, we step back in the corner.
13:36Now the right hand by Sheldon now.
13:38Uppercut in.
13:38Left hand, left hook by Bruce Sheldon.
13:41The crowd reacting, but it did have full impact.
13:46One minute to go in the second.
13:47These are big men, Steve.
13:49They can't keep this kind of pace up for too many rounds.
13:51One man will have to give in.
13:53The pace here in the second round has been furious.
13:56Seldon has landed more,
14:00but Tucker much more effective with his.
14:02He's, he has really stunned Seldon.
14:06But Sheldon going right back at Tony Tucker.
14:13Now, a little holding and hitting by Sheldon on the break,
14:17being cautioned by Mills Lane.
14:18Now Mills won't let you get away with that.
14:20A lonesome dove is right on top of it,
14:22but he just will not let any foolishness go on.
14:24You see a little blood coming out of Tony Tucker's nose right now, too.
14:27So some of those punches that are being thrown by Seldon
14:29are making their, making their mark.
14:31Lots of action here in the second round.
14:33Less than 20 seconds remaining.
14:36It's a much better fight than I anticipated
14:38because Seldon is making TNT fight.
14:42Final seconds of the round.
14:45All right, we'll step back.
14:46I'll touch the hands.
14:47I'll step back.
14:47I'll hit him.
14:50Blood continues to come from the right nostril of Tony Tucker.
14:54Now, listen.
14:59You're doing a beautiful job.
15:02Free through your mouth.
15:03You're doing a beautiful job.
15:04Now, listen.
15:05Keep the jab going.
15:07Now, listen.
15:07Do not back over this guy.
15:08I don't give a damn what happened.
15:10Do not back away from the guy.
15:12Keep the pressure on.
15:12And when the guy fires, just keep going down like you're doing.
15:16Uh-huh.
15:16You understand?
15:17Yeah.
15:18And when you're fired, you're good.
15:19Don't blow your nose, Tony.
15:20Don't blow your nose.
15:21Now, when you're fired, fired to the bottom first, then to the top, right?
15:25Okay.
15:25Now, but to keep the jab going and do not back off.
15:28Because when you're back off, it's the only time you're getting hit.
15:30You got me covered?
15:31Yeah.
15:31And when punches come your way.
15:32Let's take a look at Seldon working hard.
15:34Now, this is the kind of work that opened this round.
15:37It looked like Seldon just made up his mind.
15:38He just maybe knocked this guy out right now in the second round.
15:41But let's see what happened to him later.
15:43That's what he did.
15:44He came out.
15:44But Tony Tucker, being a big former champion, he was, he came back with a couple left hooks
15:48in the right hand near you.
15:49So on the inside, he is not going to roll over and go away.
15:52I thought he was going to go down on one knee, Bobby.
15:55That guy buckled his knee.
15:56That's TNT to Seldon.
15:58But Seldon is back.
15:59He's tough.
16:00He said he wants to fight 20 rounds.
16:02Well, he may have his chance.
16:03So we come off an excellent round of boxing, but can these two huge men keep up this frantic
16:10pace?
16:11Round three begins.
16:12Or more likely than the little one keeps staying up with this huge guy that keeps following
16:16him.
16:17You know, Tony Tucker is really a whole lot taller, but weight-wise is only six or seven
16:21pounds, 236 to 243.
16:23So the weight is just distributed in different places.
16:26And right now, the shorter man's out jabbing a big man.
16:29I think he's, and the speed of the punch is too much for Tucker.
16:33He doesn't respond well.
16:34See that?
16:34He doesn't respond this fast, Bobby.
16:36A powerful jab by Bruce Seldon.
16:39Almost a shotgun jab.
16:43Seldon's big right connected.
16:4527 seconds into round two.
16:47Then Tucker staggered Seldon 45 seconds later.
16:50And that's about where we stand right now in round three.
16:54And Bobby, there's something wrong with TNT Tucker's nose.
16:56I've already told him, don't blow out that nose, meaning they're afraid that the blood is
17:00coming out and will spread out into the sinuses.
17:02So, yeah, he was already problems.
17:04Yeah, he was bleeding a little bit from the last round and again in the corner.
17:06Also, his left eye's got a nice little knot on it.
17:08So, that may start to close on him soon, too.
17:10Well, we might see what kind of heart Tony Tucker has tonight.
17:13Come on, come on.
17:14Here we go.
17:14Come on.
17:15Well, he's got more heart in those first two rounds than he did in the last two fights.
17:18He fought like a sleepwalker.
17:19Now, he's really fighting like what he should be, a top heavyweight.
17:23Midway.
17:24Round three.
17:25Body shots by Bruce Seldon.
17:27Come on, Tucker, you've got to get him up.
17:28Keep your punch up on him.
17:29Come on.
17:29He's digging to the stomach.
17:32See that jab?
17:32That jab is starting to take control.
17:35Short, crisp right hand by Tony Tucker again.
17:38That may have dazed Bruce Seldon for the moment.
17:42And that left eye of Tony Tucker's closing.
17:45Well, Tucker's got him right now if he wants to follow it up.
17:48Seldon's doing nothing to get away from that.
17:50He's got to move, son.
17:51He's got to move away.
17:52He is doing it.
17:53He's moving away.
17:54It is.
17:55He's moving right now.
17:55There are damage being shown on Tucker's face, but he is unloading.
17:59Tucker has Seldon backing up.
18:01And on steady, unsteady lows.
18:03Oh, a right hand by Seldon.
18:06Seldon coming back, missing with a wild right.
18:09I'll tell you, both these men came to win this title.
18:11Yeah, there's no slowness here.
18:14This is an all-out campaign.
18:15Keep him up.
18:16They are toe-to-toe with furious exchanges.
18:20Under 30 seconds in round three.
18:25Step right.
18:25Don't point you on the break.
18:26Come on, come on.
18:26Step back in here.
18:28Come on, come on.
18:28Bill's Lane has to fight the two off.
18:32Quick body shot by Tony Tucker.
18:34Great right hand to the body.
18:35Tony Tucker.
18:38Missing with that right.
18:40The left eye of Tucker all but completely shut.
18:44As we head for the bow.
18:46But that right hand has found a hole.
18:48Tony Tucker knows how to throw that right.
18:49And it's landing.
18:51How much more Seldon take?
18:54One round.
18:56Get down, baby.
18:57Now you're doing a number on him.
18:59Now listen to this.
19:01And breathe.
19:02That bucket.
19:03Split bucket.
19:04Come on.
19:04You're too slow.
19:05Spit on the bucket.
19:08Listen to this, boys.
19:09Listen.
19:10You got that closed eye.
19:12You see his eye?
19:13It's closed.
19:14Now you listen to me.
19:15Listen to me well.
19:16You want to win this fight?
19:19Well, stop rushing the fight.
19:20You're being aggressive.
19:22You don't have to do that, Bruce.
19:24Come on.
19:25You can beat this guy just by pointing him.
19:27What was our plan?
19:29Boxing him, right?
19:30Why are you being aggressive?
19:31He's staying like this, waiting for you to counter with that right.
19:33You're letting him hit you with that right.
19:35Don't do that.
19:36Let's take a look at that overhead shot where Tucker finally gets in the left hand.
19:41Right there.
19:42The right hand that begins to bother Seldon.
19:44He's been getting it in all through the fight, but now it's beginning to really have an effect.
19:48Started laying very steady, Bertie.
19:51How do you like that advice?
19:52Don't be too aggressive to Seldon.
19:54Well, I'll tell you what, to treat trainers, Diego Rosario is someone I used to spar with when I weighed 105 pounds.
20:00That was long ago.
20:01I'm about to know.
20:02Former standout, Diego Rosario, shouting instructions at Bruce Seldon.
20:06Saying stick with the plan, box him, and you've got his eyes shut.
20:10Yes, Tucker's left eye almost completely closed by the end of round three.
20:15Diego, when he was younger, was a great boxer.
20:17As a trainer to train Seldon, he may be trying to get him to draw Tucker's big bombs,
20:20let him get tired, and box him, and work him, and not be open to that dangerous big punch.
20:24And Seldon looking to set up the right with the jab.
20:27Well, the danger is here with that right hand, but the damage is being done on TNT Tucker's face
20:33is showing the effect of that terrific jab of Seldon's.
20:36I don't know if I'd tell him to ease off, because he's doing very well with that hard jab.
20:40Tucker's nose and left eye damage.
20:43We're in round four for the vacant WBA Heavyweight Championship.
20:47There's that beautiful doubling up of the jab by Seldon.
20:49So even the short man can use that jab very well.
20:52It's one of my favorite punches, the best punch in boxing.
20:57Nearly a four-inch height advantage for number one, Tony Tucker.
21:01To the body goes Seldon.
21:02Seldon answering to the instructions of Diego Rosario.
21:09He's beat every time he initiates the action.
21:11He's first.
21:12He comes up one, two, three jabs, and he moves on.
21:15That kind of formula will pile up rounds for him.
21:17But when he lands that second and third jab, Ferdinand, they land and they find the mark,
21:20that right-handed hook should be right behind it.
21:22Yeah, if not, the right hand of Tucker is going to come in, and he's been praying to load that up as a counterpunch.
21:28And he has had some success with it, just not enough.
21:31Tucker's face continues to be very messy.
21:36Now there's slight bleeding from his foul.
21:40You know, we talk about Oliver McCall being the younger heavyweight champion fighting Larry Holmes.
21:45And right here you have a former champion, too, who's got some years on the challenge.
21:48And a miss there by Seldon, looking to end it on one punch.
21:53Seldon is really loading up the right hand.
21:55He's missed it every time he throws it.
21:56It'd be interesting to see when it lands what happens, because he's really getting thrown it hard.
21:59Countering right hook by Bruce Seldon, but not flushed.
22:04Here's a good jab.
22:05Not a bad jab at all by Bruce Seldon.
22:08And remember, Bruce is punching up.
22:10I mean, he is punching up a tree, and he's hitting with that jab.
22:13That's a very, very good jab.
22:15Remarkable for Seldon to hit that many.
22:17Again, there's that doubling up of the left jab, setting up the big right by Bruce Seldon.
22:21Doing a fabulous job of boxing here in the fourth round.
22:25He's starting to work that body, too, Steve.
22:27He's starting to do what he said he wanted to do, and right now he looks pretty good.
22:30And Tony took one of those big breaths that you take when you're tired, and this is only round four.
22:35Fifteen seconds to go in the round.
22:37Tucker already looks like he's gone 12.
22:44Again, gorgeous jabbing by Seldon.
22:49Now Seldon to the top of Tucker's head.
22:52Beautiful round for Bruce Seldon.
22:59Now, listen to T, you ain't doing it.
23:01Relax, you know, you're right.
23:03Let me on this corner, please.
23:05Uh-huh.
23:06Listen.
23:06Uh-huh.
23:07The jab is working good for you.
23:09Uh-huh.
23:09But you got the jab more regular.
23:11Okay.
23:11You understand?
23:12Okay.
23:13But see, don't just jab at his head, jab at his chest, jab at his belly.
23:16Okay.
23:16Then the jab is working good for you.
23:18Okay.
23:18Now go out there and look, you're doing a hell of a job with the jab, but you just let this guy out there.
23:23Now let me see you go out there and step in step.
23:24All right, here's Zeldon.
23:25Let's take a look at that jab of beauty.
23:27And also notice what the target is, that eye.
23:29He's going right for that eye.
23:30He wants that eye to swell and shut and the nose.
23:33You know, the angle he comes in, he's short and he's squatting, he's crossing that jab.
23:36And I don't even know if he can aim that specifically in that heat of battle, but that's where it's landed.
23:41Well, it's that side of the face, and that's what's doing the damage on that side.
23:44Don't back off so much.
23:45This isn't when the guy's getting the best.
23:46I think the advice now was well taken by Dario.
23:49Box him, box him, don't try to get in a shootout with this guy.
23:53Well, Zeldon told us beforehand that Tucker's most powerful aspect here, it's probably his last chance.
24:00He should have the incentive.
24:02It's desperation time for Tucker.
24:04But Bruce Zeldon has been dictating the pace.
24:13See, right now you see he's doing what Diego told him.
24:15He's boxing, he's making Tucker miss, but he's not counting.
24:17He's not making him pay.
24:20And on the other side, Benton told TNT, you've got the better jab, go to it.
24:25But up to this point, I don't know what he's talking about because he doesn't.
24:28He doesn't have a better jab.
24:29It's Zeldon's jab that's controlling this fight.
24:37Zeldon aiming for the body.
24:39Now he goes upstairs, again with the jab.
24:41And they are loving it in Zeldon's corner.
24:43Beautiful one, two, three.
24:45Oh, and he just missed with the right hand.
24:48He's out speeding him.
24:49This is called you first.
24:51This is what you love to see in a corner if it's your fighter.
24:53You go first.
24:56Zeldon, all kinds of confidence moving side to Zeldon.
24:59Zeldon's right again, setting up the right with the jab.
25:02The eye is really getting closed.
25:04Now it's looking ugly, but that jab is doing some number.
25:06It is target practice.
25:08It's not only closing his eyes, but he's getting very confused as Tucker.
25:12He's not fighting with the same kind of Brio that he did.
25:17After lackluster performances previously, fellas,
25:21they act like they mean it right here.
25:22And this is the heavyweight championship of the world.
25:24This is everything that you ever wanted in your whole life right here.
25:27They've got to fight as hard as they can, and Zeldon is doing it.
25:32Pass the midway point of round five, Bobby.
25:34I'm sorry.
25:34If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times.
25:36The single most coveted prize in all professional sports.
25:38If you don't give 100% of yourself at this level, what are you going to do?
25:42And that was a criticism of TNT.
25:44Both times he went for it.
25:46He froze.
25:46He didn't do anything.
25:47And right now, he's getting out-slicked and out-whipped,
25:49and he's not really coming on strong here unless he gets lucky.
25:52One of his big punches.
25:55Sheldon continues to have his way.
25:58Oh, that left.
25:59A stinging shot to the face of Tucker.
26:01And now Tucker's kind of turning around, trying to see him with one good eye.
26:05And that is target practice from there on out.
26:09He talked to Sheldon.
26:10He said he wanted to throw 50 to 60 jabs around, and I guess he meant it.
26:14Yes.
26:14You know, the only thing he does, Bobby, sometimes he stays there after the jab.
26:17It scares me to death.
26:18One good counterpunch then, and you got trouble.
26:21Like right there.
26:22You need to stay there.
26:23Tony Tucker cannot see out of the left eye.
26:26Seldon continues to be in total command.
26:30Hey, hey, hey, come on.
26:32Ray, come on.
26:35Seldon dedicating to this fight to the two most important people in his life,
26:38his mother and Carmen Graciano.
26:41Bobby mentioned, two passed away a few years ago.
26:44Right hand by Bruce Seldon.
26:46Landed right on that eye, Steve.
26:48Come on, you target.
26:48Come on.
26:51Time.
26:56I'm using that left hand.
27:00Grab and left hook.
27:01All right, let me listen.
27:02Stay right on the top.
27:03Give me some water.
27:04Give me some water.
27:05Look at me, Tony.
27:07You see an all right out of that eye?
27:10Yeah.
27:10Okay.
27:11All right, now listen.
27:12The jab is working real good for you.
27:14Now, do me the paper.
27:15Don't pull away from punches.
27:17Now, you notice when you're going down, the punches don't near you.
27:20When you pull away from punches are when you're getting hit.
27:22Okay.
27:23Now, stay right up close.
27:24Okay.
27:24And don't get yourself tied up, right?
27:26You've got to be first, Steve.
27:27Use your hands.
27:28Punch, punch, punch.
27:29Do good, man.
27:30Do good.
27:30That's strength.
27:31You can punch out.
27:32Now, listen.
27:33Keep your hands up good and high.
27:35Don't bring your head close.
27:36We'll just try to steal your hands.
27:37Regret your teeth that's going to hurt, but that's the only way to keep it open.
27:41Keep the same corner.
27:42Stay on top.
27:43With my feet, when you get close, when you get close, get your hands on.
27:47He can't punch and block at the same time.
27:49Don't want to know.
27:50Yes, a crowded corner over there with Dr. Flip Pomansky, the ringside position, looking
27:57very closely at that damaged left eye of Tony Tucker, and they continue.
28:02Here we are, round six for the WBA heavyweight title.
28:04He's got to wake up as TNT and start taking some charge of this fight, or else these rounds
28:11are going to start piling up on him.
28:13Not only is weariness piling up, but that damaged eye and nose is going to continue to
28:17hurt worse and worse as he gets pummeled, so he better get started here.
28:21The more that eye closes, the more it's going to cause him problems where he can't see certain
28:25punches from certain angles.
28:26It's also quite painful when he gets hit.
28:27Yeah, that's if the people don't really know, Bobby, the pain of that sore arm.
28:34I'll tell you, it's a good combination here, and he got Seldon's attention a little bit.
28:37Stopped him in his tracks, but Bruce is still in control, walking away, doing the right thing.
28:42So Tucker's stalking now, and a lick of a left jab by Seldon.
28:47Seldon moving back, but getting the better of Tony Tucker.
28:51It's beginning to look like a Hollywood movie with some little guy who's starting to beat up
28:54on the big guy.
28:55He's starting to look confused, and he's not throwing that counterpunch right, you know,
29:00which is the thing that was winning those early rounds for him.
29:05Seldon continues to throw that scintillating jab, confusing and puzzling Tony Tucker,
29:12and looking to set up the overhand right.
29:15Here you can see that he's really bothering him as he's looking.
29:24He has to squint, and he has to turn his face even a little bit
29:26instead of giving him an extra angle.
29:28That is always a problem.
29:31Tucker beginning to land a little bit here to the head of Bruce Seldon.
29:35That's because Bruce is standing still and abandoned that jab and move away.
29:38A left hook there by Tucker.
29:40He better wake up again.
29:40As you all know, in the heavyweight division, things can change in a hurry.
29:47One punt can change this in a minute.
29:49That's what makes this division so exciting.
29:53The chance of Bruce from this crowd at Caesars.
30:00Oh, good body shot by Seldon right under the arm.
30:03But back comes Tucker with a short, crisp left hook.
30:06Interesting.
30:09Well, I'll tell you, right now, Tucker's outworked Bruce for this round.
30:11He's trying to turn the tide a little.
30:13Can he keep it up?
30:14We'll soon find out.
30:15This is the best round he's had for the last three or four.
30:19Tucker.
30:19Tucker's showing a lot of heart.
30:20Founcing shots off the head of Seldon.
30:23Less than 30 seconds round six.
30:26Right hand just missed by Tucker.
30:28Back comes Seldon to the left.
30:29And a right to the body.
30:30Looks like Bruce woke up and said,
30:37Hey, I'm losing this round.
30:37I better come back.
30:41What a brutal sight, that left eye of Tony Tucker.
30:45Final second.
30:45Nice.
30:50Time.
30:51Now, when he punches at you, just get low.
31:14Don't go to tying him up because that's used a good strength.
31:17And you don't need that now.
31:19Just make it miss.
31:20Use your defense.
31:20You know, it doesn't die.
31:22All right, I've got to get in there, Tony.
31:23It's the doctor again.
31:23Let me see the other eye.
31:26All right, let me see this eye.
31:28Look at me.
31:29Yeah, he got the gloves open.
31:31Now, Tony, you have to stay on top of the guy
31:35so you don't get hit to punch him.
31:37Don't blow your nose, Tony.
31:39Now, Tony.
31:41Fire.
31:42Fire.
31:42All right.
31:43Keep this guy going back.
31:45Keep him going back.
31:46Now, don't pull away from him.
31:48Don't blow your nose.
31:49Use the jab.
31:50And what a contrast.
31:53The faces of Tony Tucker and Bruce Seldon.
31:57Once again, the doctor checking closely.
31:59The left eye of Tony Tucker.
32:01The instructions, don't blow your nose to Tony Tucker.
32:04He is a mess.
32:06And even so, my score unofficially, of course, is 58 to 57.
32:10Bruce Seldon ahead.
32:12You know, the corner always tell you when your eye starts to swell,
32:14not to blow your nose because there are little passages that connect.
32:17And when you blow your nose, it blows your eye up even further.
32:20Here comes Seldon, pouring it on, digging to the ribs, going upstairs.
32:24Tucker trying to fight back.
32:27Come on, Bruce.
32:27Come on, Tuck.
32:28Here we go.
32:28You watch Seldon, too.
32:29He switches every once in a while right into the left.
32:31He switches his feet and hammers home shots from unorthodox angles.
32:34Overhand right by Seldon off the top of the middle.
32:37Come on, come on, Bruce.
32:38Come on, get back clean.
32:39Here we go.
32:39Come on.
32:45The doctors are confirming with officials right now.
32:53Well, how much more can you want to see a guy take to the eye is the problem here.
32:56And it doesn't look like, unless he gets incredibly lucky with the punts,
33:01that Tucker's got anything to keep Seldon off.
33:03Well, I'll tell you what.
33:03Seldon is having his way.
33:05Ferdy, I've had my eyes, unfortunately, closed considerably worse than that.
33:09I'm not proud of it.
33:10But you've got to let the man fight.
33:11It's a world championship fight.
33:16Again, Seldon with the left jab, aiming for the left eye of Tucker.
33:22Got him with the right hand, did Seldon.
33:23Bobby, what's your score now?
33:26I'll tell you what.
33:27I have to fight myself 58-56 for Seldon.
33:30Four rounds.
33:30Only gave two rounds to Tony Tucker, the first one in this past round, and that's it.
33:35Yeah, I had one even round, but that makes a difference at one point.
33:38But we're basically in agreement that Seldon is taking this fight.
33:41He continues to box dynamically.
33:45Now bouncing around, keeping his distance, picking his moments.
33:48Bruce Seldon in the white trunks.
33:51Continues to fire out the jab.
33:53That last one was blocked by Tucker.
33:55That one wasn't.
33:56Then a right hand by Tucker, but can't follow it up with the left.
34:01He can't go to sleep.
34:02Seldon's got to stay on top of him and stay on top of him.
34:04And if he does that, he's got this fight.
34:08Bobby, Bobby, why doesn't he circle like he's doing now to that eye?
34:13Letting him get to that side.
34:15Well, you know, he may be just taking a rest.
34:16I don't know if he's looking to zero in on any particular target offensively.
34:19He may just be looking to take a little rest.
34:21But he feels he's ahead, I'm sure.
34:23And he's boxing, staying outside.
34:24Make Tucker make some mistakes so he can compromise it.
34:27Now, you know what I mean?
34:27Up to this point, he has not intentionally gone that way because he can't see on that side.
34:32You would think he'd be fighting on that side of him all the time with a closed eye.
34:35I'd be throwing more right hands than working off that side for you.
34:38I think you're right.
34:39There's a miss with a right hand by Sheldon.
34:42Ten seconds to go in the seventh round.
34:44Come on, folks.
34:44Come on, Chuck.
34:45All three judges from Nevada.
34:47Jerry Roth, Dwayne Ford, Art Lurie.
34:51Time!
34:51Now, you're doing a good job.
35:02Now, you know, Tony, you've got to punch at the guy's body.
35:07You know, straight right hands for the body.
35:08Straight right hands for his chest.
35:10You understand?
35:10Okay.
35:11Because the guy is moving away from me.
35:13Now, when you see him moving around like that, don't jab at his head.
35:16Jab at his chest, jab at his belly, anything.
35:18But just don't jab at his head.
35:20Okay.
35:20Because he's moving his whole body.
35:24So you've got to use the jab, right?
35:26But at the chest and belly, right?
35:28Then when he slows down, then you jab at his head.
35:30Okay.
35:31All right?
35:32We need to use that hook.
35:34Hey, Chuck, good shot.
35:35That's it, son.
35:35Now, when he's fine, let's keep on playing.
35:37That's it.
35:38Look, you're doing a good job.
35:38The referee is a single.
35:39That's it.
35:40That's it.
35:40The referee is a single.
35:41That's it.
35:42Woo!
35:42Woo!
35:43Woo!
35:44Woo!
35:44That's it.
35:45Bruce Sheldon just loading.
35:47He is the...
35:48WBA heavyweight champion.
35:51The discussion was between the Dr. Flip and the referee,
35:55and the referee said,
35:57well, I think that's it.
35:58And they both agreed,
35:58and that was the end of that.
36:00And he loses the title sitting on the stool,
36:02dejected.
36:03And once again,
36:04the heavyweight championship has slipped away
36:06from Tony TNT Tucker.
36:08Tony Tucker saying, no, no, no.
36:11Ferdy, I think in the wake of what happened
36:13with the Norris fight
36:14and some of the events of that nature,
36:16the McClellan thing,
36:17I think this is a bit of a premature stop for myself.
36:19Look at this reaction
36:21as Bruce Sheldon
36:23exalts.
36:25He has climbed a long road back
36:30to get here.
36:31Champion stand.
36:32He said he had lots of butterflies,
36:34but confidence coming in.
36:36This is what he's been fighting for
36:38for eight years,
36:39the heavyweight championship.
36:41Bruce Sheldon,
36:42he said it really hit me earlier in the week
36:43when I walked past the arena for my physical.
36:46I looked to my manager, Rock,
36:47and said,
36:47this is the big time we've made it.
36:50And now he is a champion.
36:53And a great boxing exhibition at that, Bobby.
36:56Steve, he did what he wanted to do with that jab.
36:58That was his key.
36:59That was what Diego wanted.
37:00He said he saw things in Tucker
37:02that he knew he would get the jab home.
37:04He said,
37:04Tucker starts slow,
37:05and he just,
37:06his lackadaisical,
37:07doesn't really get excited early.
37:09And although Tucker got more excited,
37:10not the energy levels
37:12that Sheldon showed us.
37:14Bruce Sheldon,
37:15his first shot at a world title
37:17as he does some fraying.
37:20He is the new WPA heavyweight champion.
37:22You could probably make an argument
37:25that this might be the last time
37:27Sheldon would get this opportunity.
37:29He makes the most of it.
37:31Getting the hugs.
37:33And you have to wonder
37:34if at age 36,
37:35Tony Tucker will ever get another shot.
37:38Jimmy, whatever happened,
37:39man, I can't move like this, man.
37:40We are ready for the official time.
37:44So let's go up to our ring announcer,
37:45Jimmy Lennon Jr.
37:48Jimmy, Jimmy!
37:49How do you feel?
37:50How do you feel?
37:50Look, look, look, look, look, look, look.
37:52Ladies and gentlemen,
37:56after seven furious rounds of boxing,
37:59this bout has been stopped
38:00upon the advice of ringside physician
38:03Dr. Flip Homansky,
38:05the winner by way of technical knockout
38:08and the new WBA heavyweight champion
38:12of the world,
38:14the Atlantic City Express,
38:16Bruce Sheldon.
38:19Bruce Sheldon,
38:2328 years old,
38:25now 32-3,
38:26and now the proud owner
38:27of a portion of the heavyweight title.
38:29He'll take that WBA belt
38:31back to Atlantic City,
38:33New Jersey,
38:34as Tony Tucker couldn't answer the bell
38:36for round number eight.
38:38So here at Caesars Palace,
38:40three down, two to go.
38:42Coming up next,
38:43our co-feature,
38:44the WBC Super Lightweight Championship,
38:46Julio Cesar Chavez
38:47versus Giovanni Parisi.
38:50We are standing by for that up next,
38:52and we take you behind the scenes
38:54into the dressing room
38:55with the champion,
38:56Julio Cesar Chavez,
38:57getting ready to make
38:58the third title defense
38:59in his second reign.
39:00As the champ,
39:01he regained the title
39:02in May of 94.
39:03Controversial technical decision
39:05over Frankie Randall,
39:06last defender of the crown
39:07this past December
39:08over Tony Lopez.
39:10So that's upcoming
39:12as he takes on Giovanni Parisi
39:16of Italy.
39:17They're psyched up.
39:18Let's go to Jim Grant.
39:20Okay, thank you, Steve.
39:21I'm with Dr. Flip Pomansky,
39:22the attending physician
39:23here at ringside,
39:24as well as the referee,
39:25Mills Lane.
39:27Flip, what did you say,
39:28and why did you decide
39:29to stop the fight
39:29to Tony Tucker?
39:30I had checked the fighter
39:32for the three rounds
39:33prior to this.
39:34A round earlier,
39:35Mills had called me in.
39:36We're concerned that
39:38there could be
39:39an orbital rim fracture.
39:40I'm concerned about
39:40a nasal fracture.
39:42He was gradually losing vision
39:44out of the left eye,
39:45and I was concerned
39:48more for his eye
39:49than for his title shot,
39:50and that's just how
39:51I had to handle it.
39:52Mills, was this more so
39:53at your recommendation
39:54that this fight was stopped?
39:55No, I would take Flip's advice,
39:57but the way the swelling was,
39:58the swelling was just
39:59not in the eye.
39:59The swelling was beginning
40:00to come back behind the eye.
40:02That bothered me.
40:03So I had Flip to take a look.
40:04He looked the first time
40:05and said it's okay.
40:06Then he came in the next round,
40:08told me that he felt
40:09fragments in the nose
40:10and he felt some fragments here,
40:12and he said,
40:12Mills, that's it.
40:13That's enough.
40:14So he's a doc.
40:15Tucker begged you to continue.
40:17He said, I'm fine.
40:17My nose is not broken.
40:19My eyesight is fine.
40:20What was the determining
40:21factor in your mind?
40:22Tell us what you said
40:23to Tony Tucker.
40:24Well, it's not what I said
40:25to Tony Tucker.
40:26It's what both Mills
40:27and I have to do,
40:28and that's to protect the fighter.
40:29That's our ultimate goal here.
40:31And Lord willing,
40:33Tony can come back
40:33and fight again,
40:34but we've got to make sure
40:35that eye is all right.
40:36It was going to close totally.
40:38We're concerned about that area,
40:39and we had to do what was right.
40:41Okay.
40:41Thank you both.
40:42Let's go over to Ferdy
40:42with the new champion.
40:44We're coming.
40:45We're coming.
40:45We're coming.
40:46Yeah.
40:47All right.
40:47We're the new heavyweight
40:48champion of the world,
40:49which we said in the interview,
40:50next time I call,
40:51I see you,
40:52I call you the heavyweight
40:53champion of the world.
40:54Now tell me,
40:54that fight was so energetic.
40:56Didn't it take too much
40:57out of you?
40:58It didn't take too much
40:59out of me,
40:59but it took an awful lot
41:00out of me.
41:01At any point where you hurt,
41:02it looks like he hurt you
41:03in about the second round.
41:04He didn't hurt me,
41:05but he stung me.
41:06He stung me real good.
41:07I guess you would say
41:08he hurt me a little bit,
41:10but I trained hard.
41:11I trained intense
41:13for this fight,
41:14and I was just focused.
41:16I was determined
41:17to win this battle,
41:18and I didn't.
41:20The fact that the eye
41:21was closing almost immediately
41:22and his nose looked
41:23like it was broken.
41:24Did you see that yourself
41:25and did you understand
41:26that that was what
41:27you were aiming for?
41:28I did see it,
41:29but see,
41:29Tony Tucker is such
41:30a great veteran fighter.
41:32He knew that his eye
41:33was a little swollen,
41:36whatnot,
41:37so he knew how to turn
41:38away from me.
41:39Turn around, man.
41:39You know,
41:40he knew how to turn away
41:41from me to keep me
41:42from hitting his eye.
41:44He knew,
41:45I guess through word of mouth,
41:46he knew that I was going
41:47to try to work more
41:48on his body.
41:49He kept me away
41:49from his body.
41:50In all due respect
41:51to you, champ,
41:52we got a brave challenger
41:53here.
41:53He's upset,
41:54and understandably so.
41:56Tony, give me love, man.
41:57Come on, man.
41:58It's a sport, man.
41:59Let me finish.
42:00Tony, your word?
42:02Give me a rematch, man,
42:03because you know
42:03that was wrong
42:04for you to stop fighting.
42:04All right, Tony.
42:05Tony, I'm giving you
42:06a chance to talk
42:07to America here.
42:07What do you feel?
42:08Give me your feelings.
42:09I'm protesting this fight.
42:10I was winning the fight
42:12clearly.
42:12I was ahead
42:13on all the scorecards.
42:14I mean,
42:15the doctor didn't even
42:15come and say
42:16that, you know,
42:17in between rounds,
42:18you know,
42:19he may start the fight
42:19like the nose is broken.
42:21He did not give me
42:22any indication at all
42:23that he was going
42:24to stop the fight.
42:25I mean,
42:25when we come back out,
42:26I seen him turn.
42:27He was weakening.
42:28I was going to get him
42:29in later rounds anyway.
42:30That was the plan
42:30to get him in later rounds.
42:32And the next thing I know,
42:32they stopped in the fight.
42:33I'm like,
42:33what the hell?
42:34What's the hell going on?
42:35Where this boxing coming to?
42:37I mean,
42:37I'm winning the fight clearly,
42:39and they just stopped the fight.
42:41For what?
42:42Well,
42:43I can understand your chagrin.
42:45The doctor didn't give me
42:46no indication at all.
42:47That he was going
42:48to stop the fight.
42:49No indication at all
42:50that all of a sudden
42:51he stopped the fight.
42:52He came in between rounds,
42:53you know,
42:54you know,
42:55to talk to the corner
42:55and say,
42:56you know,
42:56like,
42:56you know,
42:57his nose is getting broke,
42:58you know,
42:58if you keep getting hit,
42:59we're going to stop the fight.
43:00You know,
43:00it looks like something
43:01is going wrong in the corner.
43:03Some kind of indication
43:04that he was going to stop the fight.
43:05Wait a minute.
43:05Wait a minute.
43:05Wait a minute.
43:06All of a sudden,
43:06he was going to stop the fight.
43:08Wait a minute.
43:08You are a Don King fighter.
43:10You don't have to talk
43:10as good as Don,
43:11so let me let Don in here.
43:12Don,
43:12this was a good
43:13heavyweight championship fight.
43:14Let Don talk a minute.
43:16Don.
43:16I'm protesting the fight first.
43:17All right.
43:18Because I was winning
43:18the fight clearly.
43:19I was the hell of a scorecard.
43:20Let's listen to the man
43:21that makes the fight.
43:22I demand to see the scorecard.
43:23Bernie,
43:23let me say this was a great,
43:24great heavyweight fight.
43:25I was as shocked as it was
43:27that the doctor stopped the fight.
43:28I don't know why
43:29he said some reason or another,
43:30but I really don't know
43:31why he stopped the fight,
43:32you know,
43:33and so he said
43:34this safety reasons
43:35or whatever,
43:36but nevertheless,
43:36this is clearly
43:37something that we have
43:38to look into,
43:39but my point of view,
43:40because this was a great fight.
43:42Great heavyweight.
43:42We got to have rematch.
43:43It was going along
43:44really sippingly,
43:45and I think what they said
43:47was there are bone fragments
43:48in the eye
43:49as well as in the nose.
43:50How can he see without x-ray?
43:52Without x-ray.
43:52So that's what we're going to right now.
43:55Let's go find out.
43:57Let's go find out if it was right.
43:58I think that Tony,
44:00Tony,
44:01he should go to the hospital
44:02immediately
44:02and get an x-ray
44:04and find out if he do have
44:06that if you don't have
44:06that you've got a legitimate protest
44:08and I would demand
44:09that it be a rematch.
44:10All right.
44:10And with that,
44:11and sorrowfully,
44:12we have to leave
44:13and go back to Steve Albert
44:15at ringside.
44:16All right, Ferdy.
44:17So the eye on the nose
44:18is not the only thing
44:19spent out of shape
44:20as far as Tony Tucker
44:22is concerned.
44:22Let us take a look
44:23at the scorecards
44:24through seven rounds.
44:27Bruce Seldon was ahead
44:2868-65,
44:3067-66,
44:31and 67-66.
44:34All three judges,
44:36all from Nevada
44:37here tonight.
44:39So it was indeed
44:40Bruce Seldon
44:41ahead on all three
44:42scorecards
44:43through seven rounds.
44:45And let us take a look
44:46at the reaction
44:47of Bruce Seldon
44:48when he learned
44:49he won the fight.
44:53And here it is.
44:55The celebration begins
44:56for Bruce Seldon.
44:58What a feeling, Bobby.
44:59You know what that feels like.
45:01You know what?
45:01Steve, it's incredible,
45:02and I know what he's worked for
45:03and how hard it's been for him.
45:05I don't think even he can
45:06control the emotion.
45:07He won't really hit him
45:07until later when he walks by
45:09and somebody says,
45:09Champ,
45:10and he turns to look for one
45:11and they realize
45:12they're talking to him.
45:13Looking for people to hug.
45:15Bruce Seldon,
45:16and he'll have no problem there.
45:18So Bruce Seldon,
45:19the number two contender
45:20coming in,
45:21is the new WBA
45:23heavyweight champion
45:25taking care of business
45:26in beautiful boxing fashion
45:28against number one rated
45:30Tony Tucker.
45:31So here at Caesars Palace
45:32in Las Vegas,
45:33we move on,
45:35and let's throw it
45:36back upstairs
45:37to Jim Hill.
45:41All right, Steve,
45:41thank you very much.
45:42Back at the host position
45:43with the marvelous one,
45:44Marvin Hagler,
45:45and that hate in the air
45:46that you talked about
45:47is still there.
45:48Still there.
45:49It's still more to come.
45:50Yo, I can believe it.
45:51You like to watch
45:51the big fellas go ahead.
45:52Oh, I love to hear
45:53that big boom when they fall.
45:54You were down at ringside,
45:55and so you heard
45:56some tremendous thuds down there.
45:57Oh, they were throwing
45:58big blows.
45:58I love that,
45:59to see the heavyweights
46:00go like that.
46:01But I have to agree
46:02with the doctor.
46:03I thought he did
46:03the right thing
46:04because his eye
46:05was starting to swell,
46:06and we don't need
46:06another detached recta
46:07or anything like that
46:08for anyone to be serious
46:10in the ring.
46:10I mean, seriously hurt
46:11in the ring.
46:12So I believe the doctor
46:13did a great thing.
46:14Now, one of the things
46:15that Bruce Seldon
46:16really accomplished tonight,
46:17he had a tremendous jab
46:19in the ring.
46:19We're going to take
46:19a look at some of them.
46:20I mean, it's slow-mo action
46:22here.
46:22His jab was absolutely perfect.
46:24And I would imagine
46:28that this was his plan,
46:30especially after TNT's
46:32Tucker's left eye
46:33started to close.
46:34Well, you know,
46:34it wasn't only quick,
46:35it was hard, too.
46:37And, you know,
46:38he was very awkward,
46:39and you see that
46:40he would never go to the,
46:41once he'd seen the eye
46:42swelling,
46:43he would go to the opposite
46:44side, give him a movement
46:45target.
46:46You know, he was very smart,
46:47trying to just look for the eye,
46:48work on the eye,
46:49and use that jab quick.
46:51But he was worried
46:51about Tony Tucker's right hand
46:53because he respected Tony Tucker.
46:55So you see him,
46:56Bruce Seldon,
46:57as a very mature fighter
46:58because he was very patient.
46:59Well, I still think
47:00that he has a long way to go,
47:01but by being champion now,
47:03you tend to learn
47:04a lot quicker.
47:05Yeah, you certainly do.
47:06You mentioned a couple
47:07of minutes ago
47:07that you watch Bruce Seldon,
47:09and you thought that
47:09there were a couple of times
47:11when he almost cashed it in.
47:12Well, I thought so.
47:13You know,
47:14he got hit a couple of times
47:15with the right hand,
47:16and he wanted to quit,
47:16but I felt as though
47:17that he wouldn't quit
47:18behind the fact
47:19that he looked so tremendous
47:20in his shape.
47:21And that's what I think
47:22what kept him up.
47:23And knowing that
47:24all he needed
47:24was another shot
47:25to continue.
47:26It's really amazing
47:27Tony Tucker was talking about
47:28he was sure he was ahead
47:30on the judges' scorecards
47:31when in fact
47:32it was just the opposite.
47:33Exactly.
47:34I felt that
47:35Sheldon was ahead.
47:36Do you think
47:37this is the end
47:37of the line
47:38for Tony Tucker?
47:39No.
47:39Maybe they have
47:40that rematch again,
47:41but,
47:41because see,
47:42Tony's a type of fighter
47:43that he really,
47:44he's not hurt,
47:45so he can't continue.
Recommended
23:41
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