Jean Marc Mormeck vs O'Neil Bell - Showtime 1-7-2006 - video Dailymotion

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Jean Marc Mormeck faces O'Neil Bell in a Cruiserweight Unification fight on Showtime Boxing.  Plus an interview with Diego Corrales

Transcript

00:00:00Cation matchup will which will feature John Mark Mourmec against O'Neal Bell

00:00:04Mourmec had a statement victory last year against Wayne Braithwaite brings two

00:00:09titles into the fray tonight taking on O'Neal Bell who is an IBF cruiserweight

00:00:14champion and the only thing bigger than O'Neal Bell's heart is his right hand he

00:00:19is a terrific power puncher this figures to be a very very exciting

00:00:25matchup and then the main event the arrival of undisputed well-to-weight

00:00:29champ Zab Judah of Brooklyn who happened to run into his opponent Carlos

00:00:33Baldomir looks like Judah wanted to start the fight early an awkward moment

00:00:38for Baldomir for Zab Judah never have the stakes been so high defending a

00:00:43unified world title and if he's victorious against Baldomir he could put

00:00:47himself in position to fight for the unofficial title of best fighter pound

00:00:52for pound in all of boxing yes it's a world title twin bill and it's all

00:00:59coming your way next on Showtime Championship Boxing America's fight

00:01:04night is straight ahead so stay tuned from New York City

00:01:14when hip-hop

00:01:22in the world of boxing the word undisputed is the rarest of titles the

00:01:37highest of accolades a badge of honor only the very best can wear tonight you'll

00:01:43see the first undisputed cruiserweight champion since Evander Holyfield and

00:01:48witness boxing's only current undisputed champion in action Frenchman

00:01:55Jean-Marc Mormac spent much of his career mired in the obscurity of the

00:01:59cruiserweight division but his fortunes changed last year when he risked his WBA

00:02:04title against his WBC counterpart undefeated and heavily favored Wayne

00:02:10Braithwaite he is now the unified cruiserweight champion of the world

00:02:15Jean-Marc

00:02:17with this victory Mormac became the first Frenchman ever to unify a title

00:02:23tonight he's hoping to make history again against IVF title holder O'Neill Bell

00:02:29the winner will become the first undisputed cruiserweight champion in 17 years

00:02:38Zab Judah has spent his professional life in the limelight but the zenith of his

00:02:43career occurred 11 months ago in the hostile confines of an imposing arena in

00:02:48St. Louis there he rematched against hometown hero undisputed welterweight

00:02:54champion Corey Spence using his speed and skill Judah avenged his earlier loss and

00:03:02entered the ranks of super stardom with this victory he earned the most cherished

00:03:08of boxing accolades tonight he returns home to New York to risk his undisputed

00:03:16status against number one contender Carlos Baltimore undisputed it's the ultimate

00:03:22dream of every fight tonight that dream can be fulfilled and sustained as we begin the

00:03:2820th year of Showtime Championship boxing

00:03:30ANDREI

00:04:46On this early January night in Midtown Manhattan, we welcome you inside to the theater at the world's most famous arena in a city that is always exhilarating, particularly this time of year, just six days after the famous New Year's Eve ball dropped in nearby Times Square.

00:05:03The knowledgeable, no-nonsense fans here settling in for a big night of boxing.

00:05:10It's fight night in New York.

00:05:12In our main event, he's boxing's only current undisputed world champion.

00:05:22Hometown product, Zab Judah, Super Judah out of Brooklyn, New York, comes to his own backyard to take on WBC number one contender, Carlos Baltimore.

00:05:31And in our co-feature, it's the battle for the undisputed championship in the underrated cruiserweight division as WBA BC titleist Jean-Marc Mormac will square off with IVF champ O'Neill Bell.

00:05:46That's a matchup that has the elements for fireworks.

00:05:50Hello again, Steve Albert from the theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

00:05:57Welcome to the 20th year of Showtime Championship Boxing, during which you've seen many of the greatest fighters in some of the most unforgettable fights in boxing history.

00:06:06And that was just in 2005.

00:06:08Last year was indeed special for boxing on Showtime, and judging by this, our first card of the new year, 2006 promises to provide just as much excitement.

00:06:19We cannot wait to get started.

00:06:21And with that, let me bring on my ringside partner, Al Bernstein.

00:06:24Al, your thoughts on 2005 and what you might be looking forward to in 06.

00:06:28I'll tell you what, we saw a little bit of everything, didn't we, last year?

00:06:31We saw upsets, we saw human drama, we saw controversies, but mostly we saw great matchups.

00:06:37And that is why boxing in general, I think, is having something of a renaissance.

00:06:42Fighters, managers, promoters, all willing to make the matches that the boxing fans really want to see.

00:06:47And when we look at the matches they're already on tap for this year, we can see there's a continuation of that.

00:06:51Well, Al, as you know, a fight that we are definitely looking forward to is Corrales Castillo III.

00:06:57That'll be Saturday, February 4th from El Paso, Texas.

00:07:00And that'll be right here on Showtime, the finale of an epic boxing trilogy.

00:07:04The first bout back in May, one of the greatest fights in recent memory.

00:07:08The leading candidate by far for fight of the year, if not the decade.

00:07:13After nine grueling, exhausting, bloody rounds, slugging it out in frenzied fashion, round 10 was a classic.

00:07:19Diego Corrales went down not once, but twice in that fateful round 10.

00:07:25Corrales showing his warrior mentality, particularly after that second knockdown where many people thought he was done.

00:07:31There was controversy as he gained recovery time after losing his mouthpiece a second time.

00:07:37But incredibly, he rose to his feet.

00:07:40And then he rallied for an unbelievably stunning comeback that lifted this fight to legendary status.

00:07:45Amazing drama.

00:07:47It was truly extraordinary.

00:07:48And it'll go down as one of the most compelling fights in boxing history.

00:07:56The return match just five months later, very tough to live up to the original.

00:08:00And it was shrouded in controversy.

00:08:02When Castillo failed to make weight, they agreed to fight anyway with Corrales' titles not at stake.

00:08:07But a stronger Castillo dealt a crushing left hook in the fourth that ended the night for Chico.

00:08:13Which brings us to the third meeting in just nine months and what has evolved into one of the thrilling rivalries in the sport.

00:08:20And joining us from Los Angeles right now where he is training for that February 4th fight with Jose Luis Castillo is Diego Chico Corrales.

00:08:33And Chico, first of all, thanks so much for taking the time and Happy New Year.

00:08:37Happy New Year to you guys and thanks.

00:08:40Well, how do you get ready for a fight that happened just four months ago, the second fight?

00:08:46Actually, you really don't have to get ready.

00:08:49You've basically been in camp for the last nine months, so it's actually pretty easy.

00:08:54Now, Diego, in the last fight you went toe-to-toe.

00:08:57In fact, in both fights you went toe-to-toe with Jose Luis Castillo.

00:09:01Much buzz about whether you'll do that again in the third fight.

00:09:04What about the strategy for this fight?

00:09:06Oh, I'm not changing a thing.

00:09:08I'm not changing because he landed a lucky shot.

00:09:10I mean, what's the point of changing what works and what works for me?

00:09:13I mean, we already know that he changed his style up a little bit, so there will be some slight adjustments.

00:09:18We know he liked, he liked, he wanted to stay on the outside a little bit more than stay on the inside.

00:09:22I think on the inside I'm a better machine than he is.

00:09:24He made sure he grabbed his combinations and got out.

00:09:26So we'll make adjustments to adjust to that, and that'll be that.

00:09:30Do you still think that Jose Luis Castillo intentionally failed to make weight before that second fight?

00:09:37And are you concerned that he could fail to hit 135 again?

00:09:40Absolutely. I believe that he had it in his mind.

00:09:43He wasn't going to make weight, and he didn't.

00:09:45He had no intentions on trying to make weight, which is why they tried to cheat the scale.

00:09:51All that being said, I think Castillo is still a great guy.

00:09:54I mean, take nothing away from what he did that night and our previous fight before that.

00:10:00I mean, unbelievable.

00:10:01So he's a great person and a great fighter, but do I think he had intentions of making weight?

00:10:04No, not at all.

00:10:06Diego, you're one of the boxers that has an awareness of making entertaining fights for fans

00:10:10and how people perceive you historically and all the rest of it.

00:10:14Does that put some extra pressure on you in your mind for this fight to be exciting as well as you winning it?

00:10:20No, not really.

00:10:20I mean, honestly, I believe that with what I've done in my career,

00:10:23I've basically had one of those creep-along careers that really will get me a long way

00:10:29and place me somewhere in history.

00:10:32I mean, I've fought some of the best names in the sport.

00:10:35So, no, I'm not really worried about my placement in history at this point.

00:10:39I'm just worried about what I do from this point forward.

00:10:41I've had a heck of a lot of three years.

00:10:43I went on a march to everybody, on everybody, and I plan on doing it again.

00:10:47Well, Diego Corrales, we look forward to seeing you February 4th from El Paso, Texas,

00:10:53in the finale of the amazing boxing trilogy with Jose Luis Castillo.

00:10:58Of course, it'll be right here on Showtime Championship Boxing,

00:11:00and we really look forward to it, and take care.

00:11:03We'll see you then.

00:11:04Thank you, and happy 20th of the Showtime.

00:11:06Oh, thank you very much.

00:11:08Nice wish.

00:11:08Yeah, that was very nice, the 20th anniversary wish.

00:11:12Really looking for more fireworks on February 4th.

00:11:14Yeah, you know, no matter what happens,

00:11:16whether he fights the same way he did the last time

00:11:19and stays there and engages Castillo,

00:11:21or even if he's more of a boxer puncher,

00:11:23the one thing we know for sure,

00:11:24this fight will have lots and lots of punches thrown and landed.

00:11:27Well, 2005 was also an important year for tonight's people.

00:11:32On tonight's card, the two cruiserweight titolists

00:11:35and the undisputed welterweight champ.

00:11:37Yeah, and, you know, in a way, it was a surprising year as well

00:11:41because the fact of the matter is that two of the fighters,

00:11:44Mohr Mech and Judah, had very surprising wins,

00:11:49big statement wins,

00:11:51but ones in which they were not the favorite in that fight.

00:11:53O'Neal Bell, in his case, won the title and achieved his dream,

00:11:58but it was a struggle for him and had some problems during the year.

00:12:01And the fourth participant tonight, Carlos Baltimore,

00:12:03had to create an upset to get his position as the number one contender.

00:12:08So, in a way, a year ago,

00:12:10you wouldn't have expected these four fighters to be in this position.

00:12:13Well, Al, as you very well know, 2005 was also the year

00:12:16we unveiled the first installment of Ask Al,

00:12:19and it's back by popular demand.

00:12:21We invite you, the viewers, to pose boxing-related questions

00:12:24to my partner, Al Bernstein.

00:12:25Al will answer some of the more intriguing questions

00:12:28from tonight, along with one sent earlier, to our website.

00:12:31You can send a question to askal.show.com

00:12:34or send a text message to 74-699.

00:12:44Well, the top two fighters in the division

00:12:46that has languished with spurts of attention

00:12:48but has gained respect of late

00:12:50is the cruiserweight division.

00:12:52Yeah, that's for sure.

00:12:54It has been a very special division,

00:12:56that's for sure, Steve.

00:12:57And tonight, you can think of me as a film critic

00:13:00whose job it is to steer you in the direction

00:13:02of a more obscure movie that maybe you didn't know about

00:13:05but will end up being very, very entertaining.

00:13:08And with that, I give two thumbs up

00:13:11to the cruiserweight division.

00:13:12Now, if you haven't discovered it yet,

00:13:14tonight's a great night to start.

00:13:16In this 167-76 to 200-pound division,

00:13:20the boxers are big enough to punch with power

00:13:22but small enough to throw a lot of punches

00:13:24and occasionally dazzle us with hand and foot speed.

00:13:27And in this division, everybody fights everybody else.

00:13:31All the champions and top contenders

00:13:32battle each other on a regular basis.

00:13:34What a novel approach.

00:13:36So what's not to like?

00:13:37And even historically,

00:13:38this division has more than had its share of moments.

00:13:44The founding father of the division was Carlos de Leon,

00:13:48who produced exciting fights

00:13:49and 10 title defenses through the 1980s.

00:13:52It felt like he'd be cruiserweight champ forever,

00:13:55except for a fellow you may have heard of,

00:13:58Evander Holyfield.

00:14:00In one of the best fights I've ever seen,

00:14:02Holyfield won the title against white Mohamed Kawi,

00:14:06unified it against longtime rival Ricky Parkey,

00:14:09and beat De Leon to become the division's

00:14:11only undisputed champion.

00:14:14While many cruisers followed Holyfield's example

00:14:17and moved up to the more lucrative heavyweight division,

00:14:20one of my favorites moved down.

00:14:24Orland Norris fought 33 times as a heavyweight

00:14:27before downsizing to become an entertaining cruiserweight champ

00:14:30in 1994.

00:14:31In the signature cruiserweight battle of the last decade,

00:14:38James Toney and Vasily Jirov competed in the best fight of 2003,

00:14:42with Toney earning the decision.

00:14:46Last year, Jean-Marc Mormec and Wayne Braithwaite

00:14:49brought luster to this division

00:14:50as they sought to unify two of its titles.

00:14:54The action-packed bout was decided by Mormec's power,

00:14:57setting the stage for tonight's historic match.

00:15:00And in addition in this cruiserweight division,

00:15:06now that it's 176 pounds up to 200,

00:15:09there's such a big gap there

00:15:10that some of the smaller cruiserweights

00:15:12may have some trouble dealing with the bigger cruiserweights.

00:15:14So a lot of drama in this division now.

00:15:16And this is really a benchmark fight.

00:15:18It's a fight that could go a long way

00:15:19in legitimizing the cruiserweight division

00:15:21if the winner stays put.

00:15:23But that's a big if, right?

00:15:25Well, unless there's a draw tonight,

00:15:27our first fight will produce only

00:15:29the second undisputed champion

00:15:30of the 26-year history of the cruiserweight division.

00:15:34Jean-Marc Mormec took the first step

00:15:35toward that distinction last April

00:15:37when he won the WBC belt from Wayne Braithwaite.

00:15:40Before that impressive win,

00:15:41Mormec was virtually unknown to American fight fans.

00:15:43But you're only as good as your most recent fight.

00:15:46And now Mormec is viewed as very good.

00:15:51As for IBF champion O'Neal Bell,

00:15:54well, his title fight win over Dale Brown

00:15:57was nowhere near as convincing

00:15:58as Mormec's triumph over Braithwaite.

00:16:00But Bell has been near the top

00:16:02of the cruiserweight rankings for years.

00:16:04And his big heart and even bigger punch

00:16:06make him a threat to anyone and everyone.

00:16:09The only previous undisputed champion at this weight,

00:16:12you might have heard of him.

00:16:13A fighter named Evander Holyfield

00:16:14unified the title back in 1988.

00:16:19Well, there is irony here.

00:16:21Mormec has been physically compared to Holyfield.

00:16:24Bell's pro debut was against Holyfield's nephew.

00:16:26And now Bell feels that this has to be

00:16:28a bull versus matador scenario

00:16:30to dredge up an old boxing expression

00:16:33for him to win.

00:16:35He, of course, being the matador or the boxer.

00:16:38But is he capable?

00:16:39Well, first of all, we're not going to give him

00:16:41an A for originality on that analogy.

00:16:42But it happens to be pretty accurate, that's for sure.

00:16:45Because John Mark Mormec has shown us bull-like rushes

00:16:49in his fights, especially his landmark win

00:16:51over Wayne Braithwaite.

00:16:53But if we think of bulls as one-dimensional

00:16:55and lacking creativity, well, think again.

00:16:57Because Mormec mixes defense and guile in

00:17:00with his aggression.

00:17:01And he's got a command of every single punch

00:17:04you can possibly throw.

00:17:05Now, O'Neal Bell will have to be a clever,

00:17:07busy, and powerful matador.

00:17:10Traits he's often, but not always shown in his fights.

00:17:17Part of that Bell matador strategy

00:17:19is not laying on the inside with Mormec.

00:17:22He can throw big punches, but from a distance.

00:17:24His signature punch is the right hand.

00:17:27And Mormec can be hit with this punch,

00:17:28but it has to be thrown in a straight manner.

00:17:31Bell has an uppercut in his arsenal,

00:17:33and it might be a fight-turner.

00:17:35Against Calvin Davis, another bull.

00:17:38Bell was able to land not one,

00:17:40but two uppercuts in this sequence.

00:17:44And just as impressively finished with the left hook.

00:17:48And this could very well work against Mormec

00:17:51and produce good results.

00:17:57Mormec wants to be close,

00:17:59where his strength can do the job.

00:18:01And an early body attack could slow Bell up,

00:18:05and it could also produce one other benefit.

00:18:08It will help Mormec set up his powerful right hand

00:18:11in what is a battle of right-handed punchers.

00:18:13These body shots debilitated Wayne Braithwaite,

00:18:16and they also lowered his defense.

00:18:21And this would allow a freight train right hand

00:18:24to get in there.

00:18:25This is a sequence Mormec hopes for tonight.

00:18:41And the underdog, Jamaican-born O'Neal Bell,

00:18:43a former state wrestling champ,

00:18:45very spiritual guy in constant search of his inner self,

00:18:49uses yoga and meditation in his unorthodox training,

00:18:53which might include fishing and hiking.

00:18:55He purifies, detoxifies, eliminates bad vibes,

00:18:59even changed his nickname from Give Him Hell

00:19:02to Supernova to sound more positive.

00:19:04But don't be misled.

00:19:05He's a dedicated pro who's worked hard to get here

00:19:08the biggest fight of his career.

00:19:10Al, he's unbeaten in 25 straight,

00:19:12but 2005 was kind of shaky.

00:19:14Ironically, it was a year in which he won a world title

00:19:17and defended it,

00:19:18and yet, Steve, you're right in characterizing it as shaky

00:19:21because his win to get the title over Dale Brown

00:19:24was very controversial,

00:19:25and he struggled mightily against Sebastian Rothman

00:19:28before knocking him out in the 11.

00:19:30But all that may actually point to Bell's main strength, Steve,

00:19:33because he has overcome adversity in many of his matches,

00:19:37and you know what?

00:19:37He believes he can always do it.

00:19:40Well, he can turn it all around tonight

00:19:42after a rough 2005,

00:19:44even though he won those fights.

00:19:46The thing about O'Neal Bell,

00:19:48while his skills have been questioned,

00:19:50he can punch,

00:19:51and he is resilient,

00:19:53and we'll soon see if it makes a difference

00:19:55versus the overpowering Jean-Marc Mormeck.

00:20:01There he is, O'Neal Bell in the ring.

00:20:05Terrific crowd on hand here

00:20:07to see Bell versus Mormeck

00:20:08in our co-feature at the theater

00:20:10at Madison Square Garden in New York.

00:20:14As for Mormeck,

00:20:15until tonight,

00:20:15a rarity in the sport

00:20:16with no intimidating nickname,

00:20:18so the good-natured Frenchman

00:20:19asked American fans to help,

00:20:21and in a show.com poll,

00:20:22voters selected a name

00:20:23from these five choices.

00:20:24All these options

00:20:25were approved by Mormeck,

00:20:27and when ring announcer

00:20:28Jimmy Lennon Jr.

00:20:29introduces him momentarily,

00:20:30everyone, Al,

00:20:32including Jean-Marc,

00:20:33will hear his nickname

00:20:34for the first time.

00:20:34Can I have a quick vote here?

00:20:35Sure.

00:20:36I like mighty Jean-Marc Mormeck.

00:20:38That's my favorite.

00:20:39He agrees with you.

00:20:40He also likes Black Thunder.

00:20:41My personal favorite,

00:20:42Hit the Deck.

00:20:44I think the name this guy really wants

00:20:46at the end of the night

00:20:47is Undisputed.

00:20:48And here is the fighter

00:20:49with the distinctive facial hair.

00:20:52And in contrast to Bell,

00:20:54the reserve, low-key,

00:20:56Jean-Marc Mormeck,

00:20:57France's first unified world champ.

00:20:59Talk about an identity crisis.

00:21:00Forget America,

00:21:01and forget Paris.

00:21:03That's right.

00:21:03They weren't even televising

00:21:04his fights in France

00:21:05until recently.

00:21:07Somebody had a good line.

00:21:09Being a cruiserweight

00:21:09and living in France

00:21:10is like being the fifth Beatle.

00:21:12No one really knows who you are.

00:21:15Well, if Mormeck wins

00:21:16and wins big tonight,

00:21:17he'll make some noise.

00:21:18And Al, like his opponent,

00:21:19hasn't lost in eight years.

00:21:2128 consecutive wins,

00:21:22but only one fight in 05.

00:21:24Yeah, that's kind of,

00:21:25by the way,

00:21:25I like his formal attire.

00:21:26He looks better than us.

00:21:28Yeah, it's been a pattern for him.

00:21:30The fact that he's only fought once here.

00:21:32He fought only once in 2004

00:21:33and in 2003.

00:21:35He's not happy about the inactivity,

00:21:37and yet despite

00:21:38an occasional slow start,

00:21:39it doesn't impact him very much.

00:21:41He does look.

00:21:42He's ready for the Academy Awards.

00:21:44Well, when he takes

00:21:46that beautiful formal wear off,

00:21:48he'll look like a finalist

00:21:50in a bodybuilding contest.

00:21:52A guy who thinks outside the box,

00:21:54or in this case,

00:21:55the squared circle,

00:21:56has his own management company

00:21:57representing others

00:21:58and his own clothing line.

00:22:00Let's check the numbers

00:22:01as we go to the tail of the tape.

00:22:04At 33, Mormeck is two years older

00:22:07than Bell,

00:22:07who turned 31 last week.

00:22:09Bell stands six feet.

00:22:10The slight edge in height

00:22:11and in reach

00:22:12at yesterday's weigh-in,

00:22:13Mormeck almost exactly

00:22:15what he was for Braithwaite.

00:22:16And Bell nearly 12 pounds

00:22:18more than Braithwaite was

00:22:19versus Mormeck.

00:22:21We'll see if that's a factor.

00:22:24And the key unified rules

00:22:25for this contest,

00:22:26no standing eight count,

00:22:27no three knockdown rule.

00:22:29A fighter cannot be saved

00:22:30by the Bell in any round.

00:22:32If an accidental headbutt

00:22:34causes a fight to end

00:22:35within four rounds,

00:22:36it's a no decision.

00:22:37After four,

00:22:38they go to the cards.

00:22:39If a punch causes a cut

00:22:40and the injured fighter

00:22:41cannot continue,

00:22:42he loses by TKO.

00:22:49So here on America's Fight Night

00:22:51at the theater

00:22:51at Madison Square Garden,

00:22:53getting ready for

00:22:53John Mark Morbeck

00:22:54versus O'Neal Bell

00:22:55for the undisputed

00:22:57Cruiserweight Championship,

00:22:59we get the formal introductions

00:23:00from our ring announcer,

00:23:01Jimmy Lennon Jr.

00:23:07Ladies and gentlemen,

00:23:09a very good evening to you

00:23:10and we welcome you

00:23:11to the theater

00:23:12at Madison Square Garden

00:23:14in New York City

00:23:16as we have a big night

00:23:17of action coming away,

00:23:19a world championship doubleheader,

00:23:21and it's all brought to you

00:23:22by Don King Productions

00:23:24in association with

00:23:25Madison Square Garden

00:23:27and Showtime.

00:23:29This unified world title attraction

00:23:31is sanctioned by

00:23:32the WBC President

00:23:34Jose Suleiman,

00:23:35Supervisor Bismarck Morales,

00:23:37the WBA President

00:23:39Hibberto Mendoza,

00:23:40Supervisor Bolivar Icaza,

00:23:42and the IBF President

00:23:43Marion Mohamed,

00:23:45the Supervisor

00:23:46is Hiawatha Knights,

00:23:48along with the New York

00:23:48State Athletic Commission,

00:23:50the Chairman

00:23:50is Ron Scott Stevens.

00:23:53At this time,

00:23:54we introduce to you

00:23:55our three judges

00:23:55scoring the bout

00:23:56from ringside.

00:23:57From Brick, New Jersey,

00:23:59Tom Kazmarek.

00:24:01From Albany, New York,

00:24:04Tom Schreck.

00:24:05And from Rivervale, New Jersey,

00:24:08Steve Weisfeld.

00:24:10Introducing our third man

00:24:12of the ring,

00:24:12the referee in charge

00:24:13of this bout,

00:24:14he is working in this,

00:24:15his 42nd world title bout,

00:24:18Wayne Kelly.

00:24:19All right, fans,

00:24:22here we go

00:24:24with our co-featured

00:24:25bout of the evening,

00:24:2712 rounds of boxing

00:24:28for the undisputed

00:24:30Cruiserweight Championship

00:24:33of the World.

00:24:37Introducing to you first

00:24:38on my left,

00:24:40the IBF title holder

00:24:42in the blue corner,

00:24:43wearing green trunks

00:24:44with gold trim,

00:24:45he is fighting out

00:24:46of Atlanta, Georgia,

00:24:47by way of Jamaica.

00:24:49He weighed in

00:24:50at 199 and 1 half pounds

00:24:53with a record of 25 wins,

00:24:56one loss,

00:24:57and one draw.

00:24:58He has 23 big wins

00:25:01coming by way of knockout.

00:25:03Ladies and gentlemen,

00:25:03here is the hard-hitting

00:25:05IBF Cruiserweight Champion

00:25:07of the World.

00:25:09Introducing

00:25:09O'Neal

00:25:11Supernova

00:25:12Bell.

00:25:14And his opponent across the ring,

00:25:22the WBA and WBC title holder

00:25:25in the red corner,

00:25:26wearing black trunks

00:25:28and joining us

00:25:29from Pantin, France.

00:25:31He weighed in at 197 and three-quarter pounds.

00:25:35His record stands at 31 wins,

00:25:37two losses,

00:25:38with 21 wins

00:25:40coming by way of knockout.

00:25:42Ladies and gentlemen,

00:25:43please welcome the first

00:25:44and only Frenchman

00:25:46to hold a unified title.

00:25:48Here is the WBA

00:25:49and WBC Cruiserweight Champion

00:25:52of the World

00:25:53by popular demand

00:25:55known as

00:25:56The Marksman.

00:25:58Introducing

00:25:58John Mark

00:26:01Morman.

00:26:06Once again,

00:26:08we're in charge

00:26:08Wayne Kelly

00:26:09now to give instructions.

00:26:1112 rounds of boxing

00:26:13scheduled.

00:26:13G-Mark,

00:26:27O'Neal with boxing

00:26:28for the Unification

00:26:29Cruiserweight Championship

00:26:30of the World.

00:26:32I expect a clean fight.

00:26:33Obey my commands

00:26:34at all times.

00:26:35Protect yourself

00:26:36at all times.

00:26:37Shake hands.

00:26:38Come out boxing

00:26:39at the bell.

00:26:39Good luck.

00:26:4012 rounds.

00:26:43Back to your corner.

00:26:45Back to your corner.

00:26:47Well,

00:26:47the Marksman,

00:26:48as we just found out,

00:26:49has to be the best-dressed

00:26:50fighter in boxing.

00:26:52You don't want to be

00:26:53on the inside

00:26:54versus the physically

00:26:55imposing Mormac,

00:26:56a style predicated

00:26:57on strength,

00:26:58pressure, durability.

00:26:59He's got a very good chin.

00:27:00So check it out.

00:27:01And because of

00:27:02Bell's size,

00:27:04he told us

00:27:04he'll be able to handle

00:27:05the pressure of Mormac

00:27:06better than

00:27:07did Braithwaite.

00:27:09Bell,

00:27:09a dangerous hitter

00:27:10with either hand,

00:27:11but the right

00:27:11is his signature punch,

00:27:13and he's been known

00:27:13to change fights

00:27:14instantly.

00:27:18The general feeling

00:27:19this could start out

00:27:20as a boxing match

00:27:21and break into a fight.

00:27:23The question is when.

00:27:27And the interesting thing

00:27:28is they're both

00:27:29really slow starters.

00:27:30They both had issues

00:27:31early in fights

00:27:33in their major fights.

00:27:34So we'll see which man

00:27:35can get off better.

00:27:36Right now,

00:27:37it's O'Neal Bell.

00:27:40Bell said he would

00:27:41lay off,

00:27:42stay away,

00:27:42and boxed at least

00:27:44on the outset.

00:27:45He doesn't know

00:27:45what's going to happen

00:27:46after that.

00:27:49Throwing the jab.

00:27:51Mormac in the black trunks.

00:27:53Bell in the green

00:27:54with the gold trim.

00:27:57Bell getting in

00:27:58some nice right hands

00:27:59upstairs.

00:28:01And a right uppercut

00:28:02by Mormac

00:28:03that just missed.

00:28:04Steven Tindeskin already

00:28:05early, though,

00:28:06we see O'Neal Bell

00:28:08right on the inside

00:28:09with John Mark Mormac.

00:28:10He didn't want to do that.

00:28:12He didn't want to be

00:28:13languishing in there already.

00:28:14He's pretty much

00:28:15making this a slugfest

00:28:17right from the beginning.

00:28:18He's being very aggressive,

00:28:19chopping rights and lefts

00:28:21to the head of Mormac.

00:28:23Maybe he was just using

00:28:24that as a clever ruse

00:28:25of Floyd to throw people

00:28:26off, throw the send-off.

00:28:27And remember,

00:28:30we saw Wayne Braithwaite

00:28:33fight Justice Wayne

00:28:34do very well early

00:28:35against Mormac.

00:28:41And we know

00:28:42what happened there.

00:28:44O'Neal Bell,

00:28:45a suspect in,

00:28:47questionable technical skills.

00:28:49He has his skeptics.

00:28:51The controversial fight

00:28:52with Dale Brown

00:28:53didn't help.

00:28:55But he's roared back

00:28:56to win.

00:28:57Asked Sebastian Rothman,

00:29:00who was knocked out

00:29:01in the 11th.

00:29:02Kelvin Davis,

00:29:03who dropped Bell

00:29:04but lost by TKO.

00:29:06Wayne Kelly,

00:29:06the third man of the ring.

00:29:08Yeah, Steve,

00:29:08it's a good point.

00:29:09This is a fight

00:29:10in which please don't

00:29:11make any snap judgments

00:29:12as we go along

00:29:13because the plot

00:29:14could have many twists

00:29:15and turns with these

00:29:16two boxers.

00:29:17And both of them

00:29:18starting a lot faster

00:29:19than usual.

00:29:20You pointed out

00:29:21that they are not

00:29:21fast starters,

00:29:22but this is an aberration.

00:29:24Absolutely.

00:29:25Well, Bell forced the pace,

00:29:26and there's that uppercut

00:29:27from O'Neal Bell.

00:29:28Look at him.

00:29:29He knows,

00:29:29and we talked about

00:29:30that in the Keys.

00:29:31He knows that's a punch

00:29:32that can work

00:29:33against John Mark Mourmec.

00:29:35They're already opening up

00:29:36in this first round

00:29:37with a lot of the different

00:29:38tools that they have

00:29:39available.

00:29:39And Mourmec is hit on it.

00:29:42Well, he wondered

00:29:43when would it break

00:29:44into a fight?

00:29:44How about the first round?

00:29:46And Mourmec really going

00:29:48to work.

00:29:49Good shots to the chin.

00:29:51A bell.

00:29:52Oh, a big left hand.

00:29:53It snaps Bell's head back

00:29:54on the ropes.

00:29:57A lot of action here

00:29:58in the opening round.

00:29:59Twenty seconds remaining.

00:30:04Terrific flurry

00:30:05by John Mark Mourmec.

00:30:09Who will be

00:30:10the first undisputed

00:30:11cruiserweight champ

00:30:12since Savannah Holyfield

00:30:14in 1988?

00:30:16Unless it's a draw,

00:30:17that'll be decided

00:30:18tonight.

00:30:19Time!

00:30:33Talk to me.

00:30:35Move to your left.

00:30:36Talk to me.

00:30:37Talk to me.

00:30:38Move to your left.

00:30:39I want you to move

00:30:40to your left.

00:30:41Take a left.

00:30:42Throw a straight right hand

00:30:43down the center.

00:30:44Don't stay in and bang

00:30:46with him.

00:30:49Now, O'Neal Bell

00:30:50against the ropes.

00:30:51A place he doesn't want

00:30:52to be against Mourmec.

00:30:53Look how Mourmec

00:30:54goes to the body

00:30:55and that sets up

00:30:56punches to the head.

00:30:57He, too, has a great

00:30:58uppercut, which he threw.

00:30:59And look at those

00:30:59combinations.

00:31:00Those are creative

00:31:01combinations from

00:31:02John Mark Mourmec.

00:31:03It's so wrong to think

00:31:04he's a one-dimensional,

00:31:05bullish fighter.

00:31:07He has a lot of

00:31:08different weapons

00:31:08at his disposal.

00:31:09And as we look

00:31:10from the top,

00:31:12shows you Mourmec

00:31:13pushing Bell back,

00:31:15pressuring him

00:31:15against the ropes.

00:31:16Whenever O'Neal Bell

00:31:17gets against the ropes,

00:31:18he has issues.

00:31:19As did Wayne Braithwaite,

00:31:20the fight we saw

00:31:21last year.

00:31:24And it was on the ropes

00:31:25and close quarters

00:31:26where O'Neal Bell

00:31:27really struggled

00:31:28in his last fight

00:31:29with Sebastian Rothman.

00:31:31How about that shot

00:31:31by Mourmec?

00:31:33Bell's just going

00:31:34to have to land

00:31:35big punches

00:31:36to keep Mourmec

00:31:36off of him.

00:31:37But as we pointed out,

00:31:39he cannot be

00:31:40on the ropes.

00:31:41Once the powerful

00:31:42Mourmec pins you,

00:31:43as Al mentioned,

00:31:44he did against Braithwaite,

00:31:45he really has

00:31:47the physical advantage

00:31:48and he has that

00:31:49very attack

00:31:50on the inside.

00:31:53Oh, a smacking

00:31:54left hand

00:31:55and another left

00:31:56by Mourmec

00:31:57to the head.

00:31:58Great!

00:31:59No hold, no hold.

00:32:00Come on.

00:32:01Bell has pinned

00:32:02a lot of his hopes

00:32:02on the uppercut

00:32:03on the inside,

00:32:04which is a good idea.

00:32:06He has to be very careful

00:32:07to not throw that punch

00:32:08too far out

00:32:09because he'll get

00:32:09countered and hurt

00:32:10by Mourmec.

00:32:11Oh, a great combination

00:32:12to the head

00:32:13by Mourmec.

00:32:14There goes the mouthpiece

00:32:15of O'Neal Bell

00:32:17on an uppercut

00:32:18to the chin

00:32:18that went flying

00:32:19into the seats.

00:32:23Wayne Kelly waiting

00:32:24for a stop

00:32:25of the action

00:32:25so they can replace

00:32:27the mouthpiece.

00:32:28Time!

00:32:29Time!

00:32:30Let's go!

00:32:31O'Neal!

00:32:32Over here!

00:32:34Let's get that mouthpiece

00:32:36in.

00:32:37Time in!

00:32:38So who's

00:32:38a slow starter again?

00:32:39Wow.

00:32:40Wow.

00:32:41They have been,

00:32:42but not tonight.

00:32:44John Mark Mourmec

00:32:45and O'Neal Bell

00:32:46getting right

00:32:47to the action.

00:32:49A left hand

00:32:50that just missed

00:32:51by Mourmec.

00:32:52A glancing blow.

00:32:53Now, Bell has been down

00:32:54in a couple

00:32:55of important fights

00:32:56early against

00:32:56Arthur Williams

00:32:57in round one,

00:32:58against Calvin Davis

00:32:59in round two,

00:32:59so he has struggled

00:33:00in fights,

00:33:01but as Steve pointed out,

00:33:03in fights like

00:33:04the Rothman fight,

00:33:05he can come back.

00:33:06He's got tremendous heart.

00:33:09Four times he's had

00:33:10knockouts

00:33:12in the 11th round,

00:33:13O'Neal Bell.

00:33:14So maybe let's just

00:33:14fast forward to the 11th

00:33:16and see what happens.

00:33:16He would like this.

00:33:18He sure would.

00:33:19You know what else

00:33:20is on display

00:33:20early in this fight?

00:33:21The fact that

00:33:22John Mark Mourmec,

00:33:23a better defensive fighter

00:33:24than some people

00:33:25give him credit for.

00:33:26He covers,

00:33:27he blocks a lot

00:33:28of the shots,

00:33:28they don't land flush,

00:33:29and we see his body

00:33:31punching it out

00:33:31of themselves.

00:33:33Mourmec with power

00:33:34in both hands,

00:33:35but a key weapon

00:33:36is the left hook.

00:33:37We've already seen

00:33:38it on display.

00:33:40Just keeps that

00:33:41pressure on,

00:33:42he crowds you.

00:33:44O'Neal Bell

00:33:44strategically doing

00:33:46exactly what he did,

00:33:47said he wouldn't do.

00:33:48Nice right hand

00:33:49by Bell.

00:33:50And you know,

00:33:50we got a hint of that

00:33:51when he suggested

00:33:51that his trainers

00:33:52are the one that said

00:33:53he really should

00:33:54be the matador

00:33:55to the ball

00:33:56and that he'd just

00:33:56as soon get in there

00:33:57and battle it out.

00:33:58Well, he's doing it

00:33:58and he's losing

00:33:59the battle

00:33:59of the uppercuts

00:34:00on the inside.

00:34:04Now Bell doing

00:34:05a good job

00:34:06of sticking and moving.

00:34:08No holding,

00:34:09step back.

00:34:12Mourmec missing

00:34:13with most of those

00:34:14attempts.

00:34:16Mourmec also has

00:34:17a very good right hand,

00:34:18but it's Bell.

00:34:19Beck comes for Mourmec.

00:34:20And again,

00:34:21not where you want to be

00:34:22for Bell on the ropes.

00:34:24But he turns him around

00:34:25and clubs him

00:34:26on the top of the hood.

00:34:29Boy, a high work rate

00:34:32in this fight.

00:34:35A lot of punches

00:34:35being thrown.

00:34:42See y'all, baby.

00:34:45Yes.

00:34:49Well,

00:34:51Bell has a nice uppercut,

00:34:52but so does

00:34:53Jean-Marc Mourmec.

00:34:54And when you lean in

00:34:55against a fight

00:34:55of the short size

00:34:56of Mourmec,

00:34:57you're asking

00:34:57for this kind of trouble.

00:34:59The mouthpiece

00:35:00just flying

00:35:01into the second row.

00:35:02A great uppercut

00:35:04by Jean-Marc Mourmec.

00:35:05And O'Neal Bell

00:35:07spending way too much time

00:35:08against the ropes

00:35:09in this fight.

00:35:10We saw Wayne Braithwaite

00:35:12in this position.

00:35:13And of course,

00:35:14Jean-Marc Mourmec

00:35:15makes it happen

00:35:15by pushing it.

00:35:16Look at the body shots.

00:35:18And the more

00:35:19you counter off the ropes,

00:35:20and Bell did,

00:35:21the more it makes

00:35:22Jean-Marc Mourmec

00:35:23go after you.

00:35:25Let's go,

00:35:25second down.

00:35:26This is the,

00:35:28you know,

00:35:28this fight,

00:35:29all the dramas

00:35:29we thought would be

00:35:30acted out in this fight,

00:35:31Steve,

00:35:31over the first few rounds

00:35:32have been acted out.

00:35:34So where do we go

00:35:36from here?

00:35:37It has been a busy,

00:35:38torrent pace

00:35:39over the first two rounds.

00:35:41Round three,

00:35:42scheduled for 12

00:35:43for the undisputed

00:35:46Trues Away Championship.

00:35:48John-Marc Mourmec

00:35:50holds two belts,

00:35:52B.A. and B.C.,

00:35:53O'Neal Bell,

00:35:54the IVF.

00:35:56Mourmec in the black trunks,

00:35:5731-2 with 21 knockouts.

00:36:00O'Neal Bell,

00:36:0125-1-1 with 23 ko.

00:36:04O'Neal Bell slapping

00:36:05a little bit

00:36:05with some of his punches

00:36:06on the inside,

00:36:07and that is diminishing

00:36:08some of the power.

00:36:09You can't get away

00:36:09with that against Mourmec.

00:36:13Big body shot

00:36:14by Mourmec,

00:36:16and he continues

00:36:16to land to the midsection.

00:36:24These are just two tanks

00:36:25going at it,

00:36:27and now in the center

00:36:29of the ring,

00:36:30toe-to-to-toe.

00:36:32Now Bell told us

00:36:33that while Braithwaite,

00:36:34who weighed 187

00:36:35when he fought Mourmec,

00:36:37couldn't handle the pressure.

00:36:38He said, I'm 199.

00:36:40He said, I'm almost a heavyweight.

00:36:41I'll be able to deal

00:36:42with this constant pressure

00:36:43for Mourmec.

00:36:44We'll see.

00:36:44So far,

00:36:47but you wonder

00:36:47if the cumulative effect

00:36:50is going to wear him down

00:36:51eventually,

00:36:52and that's perhaps

00:36:53what Mourmec is banking on.

00:36:55O'Neal Bell very busy

00:36:56in this round

00:36:57and probably landing

00:36:58more punches.

00:36:59That was an illegal move.

00:37:00A little shoulder.

00:37:01Come on, you know better

00:37:02than that.

00:37:02You all right?

00:37:04Getting the caution

00:37:05from Wayne Kelly.

00:37:07Braithwaite,

00:37:15or Mourmec,

00:37:16who's been very busy,

00:37:18fires away,

00:37:19misses.

00:37:21He was not very busy

00:37:23last year as a fighter.

00:37:24The only fight

00:37:25was with Braithwaite,

00:37:27and he is just

00:37:27continuing to pound away

00:37:29to the body

00:37:29and then goes upstairs.

00:37:31Mourmec.

00:37:31Wait!

00:37:32Stop no punches.

00:37:32The interesting thing

00:37:33about Mourmec is

00:37:34not only are his body

00:37:35punches used

00:37:36to debilitate his opponent,

00:37:37they always end up

00:37:38setting up something

00:37:39for the head.

00:37:40So, you know,

00:37:41it's a dual purpose

00:37:41and, boy,

00:37:42he can throw those shots.

00:37:44It's really one

00:37:45of the best-kept secrets.

00:37:46Yes, you're absolutely right.

00:37:48As you pointed out,

00:37:48even in France,

00:37:49they weren't televising

00:37:50his fight.

00:37:51Even in his homeland.

00:37:52Now, this is

00:37:53an interesting round.

00:37:54Mourmec has landed

00:37:55the harder punch

00:37:55with Bo'Neal.

00:37:56Bell has been busier

00:37:58in terms of numbers

00:37:58throughout.

00:37:59So, it'll be interesting

00:38:00to see how the judges

00:38:01look at this.

00:38:02Bell's just leaning

00:38:03on Mourmec now.

00:38:05And sometimes

00:38:06that can wear you out

00:38:07and wear out Mourmec.

00:38:08But Mourmec comes

00:38:09battling back.

00:38:10I think he's stunned

00:38:11on the other side.

00:38:13Some tough shots

00:38:14and it was Mourmec

00:38:15with his back

00:38:16to the ropes.

00:38:16There's an upper pen

00:38:17and a left hand.

00:38:17Beautiful combination

00:38:18to the head

00:38:19by Mourmec.

00:38:20And that really weakened Bell.

00:38:23Step back!

00:38:24And big punches

00:38:25like that at the end

00:38:26of the round

00:38:26usually mean

00:38:27you have won the record.

00:38:28Another straight right hand

00:38:30by Mourmec.

00:38:31A left hand up

00:38:31to the chin

00:38:32by Mourmec.

00:38:33What a finish

00:38:34by the Frenchman.

00:38:40When you pin it down

00:38:40like that

00:38:41step around

00:38:42and you find

00:38:43you're tired on it.

00:38:44Oh yeah.

00:38:45He's tired.

00:38:46He's tired.

00:38:46Listen to me.

00:38:47Come on.

00:38:48Come on.

00:38:48No, no.

00:38:49I'm okay.

00:38:50I feel better this way.

00:38:51You feel good that way.

00:38:53Look.

00:38:53I want you

00:38:55to step around

00:38:56and die.

00:38:57Don't look for a shot.

00:38:58Bang, bang

00:38:58and step around.

00:38:59Bang, bang,

00:39:00move left.

00:39:01Throw the one-two

00:39:02down the center.

00:39:03When you're in that

00:39:03this, that.

00:39:06You know,

00:39:06the variety of punches

00:39:07Mourmec is using

00:39:08in this fight

00:39:09is very impressive.

00:39:10And the left hook,

00:39:12which we didn't think

00:39:12would be a major weapon

00:39:13for him,

00:39:14it has been.

00:39:14And then the uppercut

00:39:15came right after it.

00:39:16What we see

00:39:17is just a variety

00:39:18of punches.

00:39:19Straight jab.

00:39:20In all these sequences,

00:39:22you see everything

00:39:23from Mourmec.

00:39:23He even got tangled

00:39:24up in the ropes.

00:39:25Still, Bell couldn't

00:39:26quite take advantage

00:39:27of this fight.

00:39:27And the hook

00:39:28has been, I think,

00:39:29the one big surprise

00:39:30for Mourmec.

00:39:31It's been landing

00:39:32much more than

00:39:33we would have

00:39:33anticipated during

00:39:34the course of this fight.

00:39:36Very impressive

00:39:37by Jean-Marc Mourmec

00:39:39in the black trunks

00:39:40as we enter round four

00:39:41scheduled for 12

00:39:42for the undisputed

00:39:43Trues-Away Championship.

00:39:47Bell holding.

00:39:49Bell holding

00:39:49and hitting.

00:39:52If he can just,

00:39:53oh, what a short,

00:39:54crisp left hand

00:39:55to the chin

00:39:55by Mourmec.

00:39:56On the inside,

00:39:57a right upper cut

00:39:58by Mourmec.

00:39:59Bell comes,

00:40:00comes firing back,

00:40:02but then just a jab

00:40:03by Mourmec

00:40:03sends Bell back.

00:40:05This is a fight

00:40:06that is worthy

00:40:07of having

00:40:08an undisputed champion.

00:40:10They are putting

00:40:10everything on the line.

00:40:11We're into the fourth round

00:40:12and already we've seen

00:40:14a good skill level

00:40:15and lots of action.

00:40:17Tremendous activity.

00:40:20If Bell can only get

00:40:21Mourmec

00:40:22to the late rounds,

00:40:23perhaps he's thinking

00:40:24because Mourmec

00:40:26has been inconsistent

00:40:28in that area.

00:40:32Oh, big right hand

00:40:33by Mourmec.

00:40:34That snapped Bell's head back.

00:40:36Bell in trouble

00:40:37in the corner.

00:40:37He's got to get away

00:40:38from the ropes.

00:40:39That's Mick.

00:40:41Well, he gets

00:40:42Wayne Kelly

00:40:43to help him.

00:40:43Boy, that was a break

00:40:44for O'Neal Bell.

00:40:47A little holding

00:40:48and hitting

00:40:49by Bell as well.

00:40:50A little desperation

00:40:51here by Bell.

00:40:52He has felt

00:40:53the wrath,

00:40:54the power,

00:40:54but then he comes

00:40:55right back

00:40:56with a pair

00:40:57of right hands.

00:40:57This is the charm

00:40:58of O'Neal Bell

00:40:59as a fighter.

00:41:01Every fight

00:41:02is filled with drama

00:41:03and adversity

00:41:03for him.

00:41:04And yet,

00:41:05he hangs in there.

00:41:06Can he against

00:41:07Mourmec?

00:41:08Bell showing a lot

00:41:09of heart.

00:41:11Bell has been down

00:41:12by his account

00:41:13about six or seven times.

00:41:15Last time down,

00:41:16he was dropped

00:41:16by Dale Brown

00:41:18two fights ago

00:41:19on the fourth,

00:41:19but the rough rule

00:41:20that was after the Bell.

00:41:22Mourmec's never been down,

00:41:23only in the amateurs.

00:41:24And remember

00:41:24against Sebastian Rothman,

00:41:26as you pointed out

00:41:26in his first defense

00:41:27of the IBF title,

00:41:28he was way behind,

00:41:29had many issues

00:41:30and came back

00:41:31in that fight.

00:41:32So he has

00:41:33tremendous resiliency.

00:41:35And even now,

00:41:36even though he's not

00:41:36landing on all those

00:41:37punches,

00:41:37as he's firing back

00:41:38against Mourmec.

00:41:39Mourmec firing as well.

00:41:41What a spiraling

00:41:43left hand

00:41:43to the stomach

00:41:45by Mourmec.

00:41:45Mourmec.

00:41:46Keep him up, man.

00:41:57It has been

00:41:58nonstop action

00:41:59from the opening bell

00:42:01as Pell

00:42:03goes into approach.

00:42:05Again.

00:42:07Gets a rise

00:42:10from the crowd.

00:42:12Well, he's an

00:42:13unorthodox guy

00:42:14in the way he trains.

00:42:15He's a little unorthodox

00:42:16in the ring right there.

00:42:20He's been very busy

00:42:22in this round,

00:42:22O'Neal Bell,

00:42:23but again,

00:42:23Mourmec landing

00:42:24the harder punches.

00:42:25So, interesting round

00:42:27to score.

00:42:27Mourmec out working,

00:42:29Bell.

00:42:29Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

00:42:30Keep him up.

00:42:31Keep him up.

00:42:32Well, Mourmec doesn't speak English,

00:42:35but he speaks boxing.

00:42:36He understood.

00:42:37Eric Ramey

00:42:38in the

00:42:39Mourmec corner,

00:42:41our translate.

00:42:42Excellent.

00:42:43Excellent.

00:42:44Great.

00:42:44Good.

00:42:56Release your punches.

00:42:59No, no, no.

00:43:00I don't want to put it

00:43:01because I have to put it

00:43:02in the base.

00:43:03I don't want to move.

00:43:03I like it.

00:43:04It's good.

00:43:05In fact, on back.

00:43:05Relax.

00:43:06Accelerate.

00:43:06Relax.

00:43:07Accelerate.

00:43:09The pressure of Mourmec

00:43:11continues to have

00:43:12a very adverse effect

00:43:14to Bell,

00:43:14and this was

00:43:16a very dangerous position

00:43:17for Bell,

00:43:17not just against the ropes,

00:43:18but in the corner

00:43:19where very hard

00:43:20for him to get out of the way.

00:43:21Now, a lot of those punches

00:43:22didn't land,

00:43:23even though it looked more

00:43:24on the O'Neal Bell

00:43:25indicating they didn't land,

00:43:27but still,

00:43:28there were some

00:43:28that got in

00:43:29by Mourmec.

00:43:30O'Neal, back.

00:43:31There is a cocky side

00:43:34to O'Neal Bell as well.

00:43:35We saw it in the

00:43:37Dale Brown fight,

00:43:38perhaps a little

00:43:38overconfident in that fight,

00:43:40why he had some

00:43:41difficulty there.

00:43:44Very controversial

00:43:45win over Dale Brown.

00:43:47But we see in this fight,

00:43:49O'Neal Bell,

00:43:50there's a good jab

00:43:50in the straight right hand.

00:43:51He would be so much

00:43:53better served

00:43:54to stand the outside,

00:43:55Bell.

00:43:56From this posture,

00:43:57he's got a better shot

00:43:58at landing the jab,

00:43:59the right hand,

00:43:59look at how he mixes

00:44:00in the hook,

00:44:01and a little movement

00:44:02against Mourmec

00:44:03goes a long way.

00:44:03He's going to have

00:44:04to use movement

00:44:05and guile

00:44:05against a powerhouse,

00:44:07a thoroughbred

00:44:07like Mourmec.

00:44:10Now, this is also

00:44:11a very small ring,

00:44:12about less than 20 feet,

00:44:14which doesn't work

00:44:15in the favor

00:44:16of O'Neal Bell

00:44:17in terms of this movement.

00:44:18But look at this round.

00:44:19We're very close

00:44:20to a minute

00:44:20into this round,

00:44:22and O'Neal Bell

00:44:22has at least

00:44:23for this portion

00:44:24used the strategy

00:44:26he talked about.

00:44:26He has an 18-foot ring,

00:44:29great uppercut

00:44:30on the inside

00:44:31by Mourmec,

00:44:31which has been

00:44:32a very valuable weapon

00:44:33for him throughout the night.

00:44:35I think the problem

00:44:36for O'Neal Bell

00:44:36is he can't sustain that.

00:44:38That score happens

00:44:40to completely agree

00:44:41with mine.

00:44:41I have a 39-37

00:44:43as well.

00:44:44That's the unofficial.

00:44:44Unanimous to Mourmec

00:44:46after a four.

00:44:54Chuck Johnson

00:44:55from the USA Today,

00:44:56Greg Leon,

00:44:57BoxingTalk.com,

00:44:58Franklin McNeil,

00:44:59the Newark Star Ledger,

00:45:00our press row score.

00:45:01Oh, low blow.

00:45:03Good bye.

00:45:04Time!

00:45:05Not the first time

00:45:06that this has happened.

00:45:07We were just talking

00:45:08about it.

00:45:08It happened in the...

00:45:09Take a hand.

00:45:09You feel all right?

00:45:10You have a little bit of time,

00:45:12five minutes to recover.

00:45:13You want to go now?

00:45:15All right.

00:45:17Time in!

00:45:18Time in!

00:45:18It happened in the Rothman fight.

00:45:19Well, Mourmec

00:45:20just takes a few seconds.

00:45:21He has up to five minutes

00:45:22if he wants.

00:45:23Big mistake.

00:45:24Twice against Rothman,

00:45:25he was penalized

00:45:26for low blows on O'Neal Bell

00:45:27and once against Kelvin Davis.

00:45:29So that's not

00:45:30an isolated incident.

00:45:33And perhaps adding to it

00:45:35frustration setting in

00:45:36for Bell.

00:45:38He's clowning around a little.

00:45:40But, you know,

00:45:41this is around round five

00:45:42in which he's done

00:45:43the right thing.

00:45:45He's probably winning

00:45:46this round

00:45:46and he's stayed away

00:45:47from the power of Mourmec.

00:45:52Bell using everything,

00:45:53shoulders, elbows,

00:45:54whatever he can do

00:45:55to get the edge.

00:45:57And you know, Steve,

00:45:58the movement of Bell

00:45:58is now making

00:45:59those left hooks

00:46:00by Mourmec short

00:46:01and they're not

00:46:02quite getting it.

00:46:05Bell's a tough guy,

00:46:06I tell you.

00:46:06He just invited Mourmec in.

00:46:09But again,

00:46:10languishing on the throat

00:46:11is not the place to be.

00:46:12All of a sudden, though,

00:46:14Mourmec is pushing

00:46:15his punches a little bit.

00:46:22This is an important round

00:46:24for O'Neal Bell.

00:46:24He's gotten himself

00:46:25back in the fight

00:46:26at a point

00:46:27where it looked like

00:46:28he was in danger

00:46:29of really slipping

00:46:30into a deep abyss.

00:46:31and then holding

00:46:34when he can

00:46:35so as not to

00:46:36allow Mourmec

00:46:37to do damage

00:46:38on the inside.

00:46:39But Mourmec is

00:46:40with the left hand

00:46:40primarily.

00:46:44And a right uppercut.

00:46:47Boy, these are really

00:46:48vicious body shots

00:46:49by Jean-Marc Mourmec.

00:46:52And a right hand

00:46:53just before the bell

00:46:54by Bell.

00:46:54O'Neal Bell set the tone

00:47:10for what was

00:47:11his best round

00:47:12of the fight

00:47:12by staying on the outside,

00:47:15throwing punches,

00:47:16then slight lateral movement.

00:47:18Throwing punches,

00:47:19back,

00:47:20and movement.

00:47:21He's not standing

00:47:22right in front of him.

00:47:23He continues to move.

00:47:24He goes back.

00:47:25He kept a distance.

00:47:28But,

00:47:28later in the round,

00:47:30we will see

00:47:31a low blow

00:47:32as he's on the inside.

00:47:35And I mean,

00:47:35that was low.

00:47:36And as I pointed out,

00:47:38not the first time

00:47:39that has happened

00:47:40for O'Neal Bell.

00:47:42Journalistically accurate

00:47:42to record it.

00:47:43We're not saying

00:47:44that he's a dirty fighter,

00:47:46but he's been

00:47:46penalized for that

00:47:47in the past.

00:47:49There's no question

00:47:49he's had a history.

00:47:51But we didn't see

00:47:52any indication

00:47:53there was a penalty

00:47:54for that.

00:47:56So,

00:47:57round six,

00:47:57scheduled for 12

00:47:58for the undisputed

00:47:59Cruiserweight title.

00:48:04The Frenchman,

00:48:05John Markmore-Mech,

00:48:06in the black trunks,

00:48:0731-2,

00:48:0821 knockouts,

00:48:09has been in control.

00:48:11O'Neal Bell,

00:48:12in the green with gold,

00:48:15being warned about

00:48:17hitting behind the head,

00:48:1825-1-1,

00:48:1923 KO.

00:48:23Ormec,

00:48:245'11,

00:48:24197-3 quarters,

00:48:27Bell,

00:48:276 feet,

00:48:28199-1-1-2.

00:48:30Nice right hand,

00:48:31but it just flipped

00:48:32Bell on the chin.

00:48:34Didn't have full impact.

00:48:36Bell moving back

00:48:37just in the nick of time.

00:48:38And we see in this round,

00:48:40round six,

00:48:40more movement from Bell,

00:48:41combinations.

00:48:43So this is the strategy

00:48:45we anticipated

00:48:46from the beginning

00:48:46from here.

00:48:47And despite that

00:48:48great success

00:48:49by Malmec early,

00:48:50Bell's still able

00:48:51to do this.

00:48:53Yeah, Bell hanging tough.

00:49:01He's trying to get

00:49:02this fight as deep

00:49:03as he can

00:49:04because Malmec

00:49:05has had

00:49:05some fatigue problems

00:49:08as fights have gone

00:49:09late.

00:49:11And Bell seems

00:49:12to come on better

00:49:13in the later round.

00:49:15And we have confirmed

00:49:16that there was not

00:49:17a point deducted

00:49:18because of that low blow.

00:49:20Yeah, it's just a warning.

00:49:22But he's coming close.

00:49:23Yes.

00:49:24Good body work.

00:49:25This is a superb round

00:49:26again for O'Neal Bell.

00:49:28Malmec, honestly,

00:49:30slowing his work rate

00:49:31perceptibly.

00:49:32Nice right by Malmec,

00:49:33and he waves Bell in,

00:49:34but will Bell take the bait?

00:49:37And remember,

00:49:37Bell, a guy who can change

00:49:39a fight with one punch.

00:49:41He can turn things

00:49:43around instantly.

00:49:43But speaking of being

00:49:45turned around,

00:49:46Mourmec turned Bell around.

00:49:47One of the keys I had

00:49:51was good body work

00:49:52early by Mourmec.

00:49:53Well, boy, has he done it.

00:49:54Now, the question is,

00:49:55what impact will it have

00:49:56on O'Neal Bell

00:49:57as this fight goes on?

00:49:58Because in truth,

00:49:59it's been Mourmec

00:50:00who's looked a little tired.

00:50:02Both are so physically strong.

00:50:05Bell is somewhat awkward,

00:50:06which can work

00:50:07to his advantage.

00:50:08It might be bothering

00:50:09Mourmec,

00:50:09who just landed

00:50:10with a right cross.

00:50:11We said this would be

00:50:12a battle of the right hands.

00:50:14Well, in the last 30 seconds,

00:50:15finally in this fight,

00:50:16it was.

00:50:20This is an excellent fight.

00:50:21This is really a great fight.

00:50:26Bell may have lost

00:50:26his mouthpiece again,

00:50:28and I'm not sure

00:50:29the referee is aware.

00:50:31And John Mourmec

00:50:32now going to town

00:50:33on O'Neal Bell.

00:50:35And he has made this

00:50:36a close round again.

00:50:37That was one

00:50:38O'Neal was controlling.

00:50:44Final seconds, round six.

00:50:52And a good round,

00:50:53comeback style for Bell.

00:50:57He launched his mouthpiece.

00:51:01Love you, baby.

00:51:02Love you, baby.

00:51:03Look, let me tell you

00:51:04something.

00:51:05Looking good.

00:51:05I want this guy.

00:51:07On my face, on my face.

00:51:08What's on the face?

00:51:08He is covering up.

00:51:10Come on, man, on the face.

00:51:11You know, he's covering

00:51:12up his body.

00:51:13Work, work, work, work.

00:51:14But I want you to

00:51:16kick his hand.

00:51:17Get the shot.

00:51:18And run up shot.

00:51:20Run up shot.

00:51:20Run that.

00:51:21You got me.

00:51:23You do.

00:51:24And I want you to

00:51:24keep them hands out there.

00:51:26And do it.

00:51:27And box him.

00:51:28Remember this.

00:51:28Okay, you're doing a beautiful job.

00:51:43It's good work you're doing.

00:51:44Great work.

00:51:48Okay, go get him.

00:51:49Round seven, scheduled for 12

00:51:54for the undisputed Cruiserweight title.

00:51:56No knockdowns thus far.

00:52:01O'Neal Bell coming on a little bit now

00:52:03after Mormek controlled

00:52:04the first five rounds or so.

00:52:16Mormek just missing

00:52:17with the uppercut.

00:52:18He scored with the left.

00:52:27Mormek just hammers away.

00:52:29Hey!

00:52:32Mormek breathing deeply.

00:52:37And all of a sudden,

00:52:38things have slowed considerably.

00:52:40The pace was so quick earlier.

00:52:43And I think Mormek,

00:52:45I don't know,

00:52:47maybe running out of gas a little

00:52:48or he's just trying to conserve

00:52:49his energy and trying to

00:52:50get a second win.

00:52:53Against Wayne Graceway,

00:52:55remember, he tired in the later rounds

00:52:56and he also did it in his second fight

00:52:58with Virgil Hill

00:52:59in which he ended up winning his decision.

00:53:01So there have been fights

00:53:02and now he's getting whacked around

00:53:04and hurt by Bell.

00:53:05Yeah, he is.

00:53:06Remember, he's never been down

00:53:07as a crow.

00:53:08O'Neal Bell jumping all over Mormek

00:53:10as this thing has really turned around.

00:53:16We've talked about the resiliency of Bell

00:53:18and he's showing it.

00:53:18A series of right hands

00:53:20to the head by Bell.

00:53:22Sit back, sit back.

00:53:23Oh, Mormek's in trouble.

00:53:25Yeah, he's stepping back.

00:53:26He's exhausted.

00:53:28He's run out of gas.

00:53:30And he's accepting body shots.

00:53:32Oh, then he comes back

00:53:33with a wicked combination to the head.

00:53:35Mormek with tape flying from his left glove.

00:53:39But here comes Bell again.

00:53:41Amazing giving tape.

00:53:42They should be stopping this for the tape

00:53:44even though it would hurt Bell

00:53:45if they did it.

00:53:46The ropes may be holding Mormek up here.

00:53:49Bell misses with a right.

00:53:50Lining it up with a right hand.

00:53:53Mormek trapped up against the ropes.

00:53:58Wayne Kelly trying to get in there

00:54:00at a strategic time

00:54:01with that tape flailing away.

00:54:05Bell doing all the hitting.

00:54:07Nothing happening for Mormek.

00:54:09Kelly's waiting for a low in the action.

00:54:11It hasn't happened.

00:54:12Then Mormek says,

00:54:12come on back to Bell.

00:54:14He invites him in again.

00:54:16A lot of machismo here.

00:54:22I can't believe Wayne Kelly's not stopping this

00:54:25to get that tape ripped off.

00:54:26He's letting the action go.

00:54:27Less than 30 seconds left in the second.

00:54:29Now he finally steps in.

00:54:32No, that's astonishing.

00:54:34He didn't stop it to fix the tape.

00:54:40Oh, what a left hand by Mormek.

00:54:42And he comes out of nowhere.

00:54:46With his hands down low.

00:54:48Back comes Bell now.

00:54:50Oh, what an ebb and flow.

00:54:52Tremendous round.

00:54:54Round seven.

00:54:55Early candidate for round of the year.

00:54:58Fix left and right.

00:54:59Make a decision right.

00:55:00Now.

00:55:06They are standing at the theater.

00:55:08O'Neal Bell started out this round lazy.

00:55:19He landed a couple of clubbing right hands.

00:55:21That's what hurt Mormek.

00:55:23And you know,

00:55:23they landed in the back on the back of the head around the temple,

00:55:27which I think affected Mormek's equilibrium.

00:55:29And then he was having a very hard time figuring out how to defend himself against O'Neal Bell.

00:55:35But John Mark Mormek give him big marks for courage and resiliency.

00:55:41Those were two tremendous shots he just hit O'Neal Bell with.

00:55:44That left hook was right on the button.

00:55:46And Bell kept coming.

00:55:48And the last part of this round was as exciting as it gets.

00:55:52Mormek in trouble, we thought, against the ropes.

00:55:55And yet, even though Bell would land shots, Mormek did as well.

00:55:59And now, at a round eight, coming off a spectacular round.

00:56:08Scheduled for 12 with the undisputed cruiserweight title.

00:56:12And as Al pointed out, worthy of such.

00:56:15There's the uppercut from Bell.

00:56:17But all of a sudden, Mormek now throwing his punches in a more crisp fashion and with more power.

00:56:24And let's see if Mormek has caught his breath.

00:56:26But O'Neal Bell once again pinning Mormek into the corner.

00:56:31Bell really coming on the last few rounds.

00:56:36After it looked like he was in serious trouble.

00:56:41The interesting thing is, we've talked about Bell not languishing on the ropes.

00:56:45It's Mormek who's been doing that for the most part.

00:56:47And that's because of fatigue.

00:56:48There's no question.

00:56:49And he just keeps inviting more trouble when he says to go, come on in.

00:56:56But he's exhausted.

00:56:58What Bell needs to do, though, is stay his distance.

00:57:00Throw his punches, but not languish on the inside.

00:57:02That's where Mormek can hit him with those uppercuts and kind of clubbing right hands.

00:57:09Bell asked for that.

00:57:10He came inside.

00:57:12No reason to do it.

00:57:13Look at Mormek.

00:57:13And the guts, the heart of Bell.

00:57:17He's taking some hellacious shots by Mormek.

00:57:20That's been the hallmark of his career, as you pointed out.

00:57:23In trouble, in a number of fights down at least seven times in his career,

00:57:27he finds a way to hang around, hang in there until he can get the job done.

00:57:31He's only lost once in 27 fights.

00:57:34It's just amazing when you consider how many perils of Pauline he goes through in every fight.

00:57:41Oh, a heavy right hand by Mormek that drove Bell back.

00:57:45He bounces off the ropes.

00:57:46More than that seems to have gotten a little more wind back.

00:57:58And a right hand over the top by Mormek.

00:58:00Close round this round, this eighth round.

00:58:03This is a round that could go either way.

00:58:06The gap closing in this fight.

00:58:12As Bell has turned it around.

00:58:15Bell 2-0 in world title fights.

00:58:19Mormek 5-0.

00:58:23Now Bell using that movement again that he used earlier.

00:58:26And pot-shotting from the outside against Mormek.

00:58:28So O'Neal Bell may be cementing this round for himself.

00:58:32Unless he gets caught, which he might here.

00:58:34Bell was on rubbery legs earlier in the fight the first few rounds, but survived.

00:58:48Step back.

00:58:50Step back.

00:58:51Well, still to come from New York City, our main event, it'll be Brooklyn's Zab Judah coming home to meet the top WBC contender, Carlos Baltimore.

00:59:05Okay, here is the undisputed welterweight champion.

00:59:08Okay, okay, okay.

00:59:09Cutting out all the potential distractions of fighting in his hometown.

00:59:13And also the many looming megafights being mentioned.

00:59:17Tough not to get caught up in all of that.

00:59:19Nevertheless, he says he's fully prepared for Baltimore, not overlooking him.

00:59:24A guy who hasn't lost in 19 straight, Baltimore.

00:59:27Can Baltimore catch Judah looking too far ahead?

00:59:30Stay tuned.

00:59:31We'll soon find out.

00:59:32Judah, Baltimore, our main event for the undisputed welterweight crown.

00:59:36Round nine, Wormett gazing into the crowd.

01:00:01You know, this is, yeah, really, it's interesting.

01:00:03This is where you wonder about the one fight per year for John Mark Wormett.

01:00:07He has not, he's not happy about that inactivity.

01:00:10But this is where you wonder if he can retain his sharpness over the course of time with that kind of schedule.

01:00:17And he's got his hand in so many things now.

01:00:19A management company, a clothing company.

01:00:21You wonder if that serves as a distraction.

01:00:25O'Neal Bell, promoted by the Warriors promotion down in Florida.

01:00:29They're connected, oh, big right hand by Wormett.

01:00:32They're connected with the Seminole tribe.

01:00:34Carlos Baltimore, we're going to see in the next fight, promoted by the Siquan tribe in California.

01:00:40It's a new trend in boxing.

01:00:41These fighters promoted by some of the Native American casino organizations.

01:00:45And now how ironic it would be if O'Neal Bell becomes the first undisputed Cruiserweight champ since Holyfield because his first win was over Evander's nephew.

01:00:58A first-round TKO in Atlanta back in 1998.

01:01:04Bell's first fight is a pro.

01:01:06Yeah, and an Atlanta resident.

01:01:08So he's many, and Holyfield has been with him on occasion.

01:01:12Now, in this round, there's a shot by Moore-Mech that went a little bit low to O'Neal Bell.

01:01:18Yeah, you saw the grimace by Bell.

01:01:23Bell, who used to drive a UPS truck in Atlanta, a former state wrestling champ in Delaware, born in Jamaica, but hasn't been there since the early 90s.

01:01:35Hasn't been back to Jamaica, since he's got to get back soon.

01:01:40This is maybe the only round in the fight in which I think you can say these fighters are trying to take a little time off to get there.

01:01:48Even though it's still an active pace for most normal fights for this one, it's been a little less frenetic.

01:01:54Let him go.

01:01:55Let him go.

01:01:56Less than a minute remaining in round nine.

01:02:00There's the press row scoring.

01:02:02Chuck Johnson has it all even now with this comeback by Bell.

01:02:07Greg Leon has Bell up by two, and McNeil has it even as well.

01:02:11I've got it 77-76 for Bell.

01:02:14I had one even round.

01:02:15So, I mean, so far, for all us unofficial scorers, we're pretty much in line with each other.

01:02:22The real judges are Tommy Kaczmarek from Brick, New Jersey, Tom Schreck from Albany, New York, Steve Weisbilt from Rivervale, New Jersey.

01:02:29O'Neal Bell having a pretty good ninth round.

01:02:33He's been very active.

01:02:36And I think he's outworking Mormek, although there's that big uppercut in the inside from Mormek.

01:02:41A corkscrew uppercut to the chin by Jean-Marc Mormek.

01:02:44��는 the center's standing on the ropes, finishes with a left hand.

01:02:57Yeah, super. That's good. That's good.

01:03:11OK, breathe, breathe, have something to drink.

01:03:19Release the oxygen.

01:03:27OK, get a sense of an inner peace with that guy O'Neal Bell sitting there with his eyes

01:03:55shut. He is into yoga and meditation and that kind of stuff to get himself prepared for

01:04:01these fights.

01:04:07Again, though, languishing on the inside with Mormek. That gives Mormek a chance from the

01:04:12outside, especially a tired Mormek, and we think he is a little more fatigued than Bell,

01:04:17but has a harder time. Well, this couldn't spell trouble for Mormek. He started off so nicely

01:04:23in this fight the first five or so rounds, but it's O'Neal Bell who gets better as fights

01:04:29wear on, and Mormek usually doesn't. Big shots on the inside there by Mormek.

01:04:36Oh, a big right hand. A right cross to the head by Bell.

01:04:40He's landing that short, chopping right on the side of the head, and it's impacting Mormek.

01:04:46Mormek looks like he's got some unsteady legs.

01:04:50And you know, Bell has gone to the body more in the last couple of rounds, which is Corner

01:04:53urged him to do James Plenty, and it's been effective.

01:04:57I think that now, Al, that Mormek is arm-punching and isn't getting it from the legs.

01:05:03That sequence right there is the right sequence for O'Neal Bell. He landed two more shots, step

01:05:08back. Don't languish on the inside, at least from this standpoint with Mormek, because that

01:05:12is what can happen to you.

01:05:15Bell goes right back to it. Going to the body. Hard shots by Bell. Then a right uppercut

01:05:21on the chin by O'Neal Bell. Another right uppercut that was blocked by Mormek.

01:05:25This is great action on the inside. And again, they are in this corner. When Bell stays on

01:05:32the inside, it gives Mormek at least an opportunity.

01:05:38Now Bell dancing away momentarily to set up. Takes Mormek back to the center, but Mormek keeps

01:05:45going backwards. He backpedals to the ropes for some reason.

01:05:52Bell got suckered in to come in there. And there's no reason for him to stay on the inside

01:05:59that way. Standing outside and jab him to the right and then step back.

01:06:02Look at Mormek. He just keeps going back to the ropes. He's got to be tired. That's the

01:06:06only reason he could be doing that.

01:06:08I agree. And Bell is winning this round, I believe, but he still puts himself in harm's

01:06:12way when he does that. Mormek just needs something to lean on.

01:06:16I think you're right, Steve. He's a tired fighter right now.

01:06:20As we approach 30 seconds left in round 10, Bell smacking Mormek all over the place.

01:06:30There goes Mormek's mouthpiece. And Mormek's in trouble.

01:06:35Bell smothering up. He goes down for the first time in his career.

01:06:40Crumbles to the campus. I don't think he's gonna make it.

01:06:44Quade Kelly waves it out. It's over. It's over.

01:06:52It's over. John Morfek on the campus. And O'Neal Bell is the undisputed

01:06:57Cruiserweight champ. The first since Holyfield.

01:07:01A come-from-behind victory for O'Neal Bell. What else is new?

01:07:18And they're taking every precaution, thank goodness, for the safety of John-Marc

01:07:30Morfek. They don't want him to get up so fast.

01:07:36Keeping him on his back. There's no rush to get him up there.

01:07:43There was some very hard shots to the head.

01:07:46And they are being very, very cautious with Mormek.

01:07:50Taking no chances.

01:07:53And at the end, the punch on the top of the head had an impact.

01:07:58And the celebratory O'Neal Bell.

01:08:04Rick! In the house!

01:08:07We'll talk about dramatic contrast.

01:08:10Congratulations.

01:08:13Things I told him yesterday.

01:08:16When is he last?

01:08:19Now, come on, I'm joking. Come on, I'm joking.

01:08:21Well, of course, this is a good sign that he's talking.

01:08:23No, I'm talking.

01:08:25Coherent.

01:08:27Please tell me something when you see me.

01:08:29Don't dodge me.

01:08:30Now, finally able to make a move.

01:08:38They want to get him on the stool.

01:08:40He's able to sit up and now stand and sit down on the stool.

01:08:44And the doctors will check him out.

01:08:49Almost certainly, he'll be taken to the hospital.

01:08:51Anytime there's a knockout, they take a fighter to the hospital

01:08:53just for precautionary reasons.

01:08:55There's something I'm talking about when I watch a wall, okay?

01:09:04Well, Jean-Marc Mormec has never been knocked out.

01:09:07A pastel full of belts.

01:09:10O'Neal Bell, and here is how he got them.

01:09:13Bell on the inside.

01:09:14That was a tremendous right hand.

01:09:16And you'll see Mormec as he's going down here get clubbed.

01:09:20Great uppercut.

01:09:21Clubbed on the top of the head a couple of times.

01:09:24He's way low.

01:09:27And Bell doing a very good job, by the way,

01:09:29of picking his shots.

01:09:30Very accurate with those punches.

01:09:32Hitting what's available to him.

01:09:33And in retrospect, looking at this,

01:09:36he got it with some major punches.

01:09:37And that punch at the end on the back of the head

01:09:40was a dangerous one for Mormec.

01:09:43He looked like he was short-circuited, Mormec,

01:09:46on his way to the canvas.

01:09:48And Kelly hardly even counted.

01:09:52The impressive part of this sequence, I think, for O'Neal Bell,

01:09:56as we look at it again, is how accurate he was with his punches.

01:10:00How he picked his spot.

01:10:02And for the most part, didn't rush his punches.

01:10:05He's weighing his options here and looking to hit Mormec.

01:10:09Mormec getting very low, which made him a tough target.

01:10:11That's why some of those punches landed on the back and top of the head,

01:10:14which, of course, is more dangerous.

01:10:15And that right hand may have been the one that really did in Mormec.

01:10:21And then that right hand on the top of the head, obviously dangerous.

01:10:24But we talked about O'Neal Bell's resiliency.

01:10:27He had some hellaciously bad rounds early in this fight.

01:10:30But he does not give up.

01:10:32He doesn't lose his poise in fights.

01:10:34And he can come back to do what he ended up doing here tonight

01:10:39and giving himself a chance at celebration.

01:10:42A glorious victory for O'Neal Bell.

01:10:44He told us his intention was to bring limelight to the cruiserweight division.

01:10:48But he'd like to see bigger paydays, of course, at cruiser.

01:10:52But you never know.

01:10:53He could always give in to the temptation of the heavyweight division,

01:10:56particularly with the current diluted state.

01:10:58If every fight that the cruiserweights would have

01:11:00is like this one as a championship fight,

01:11:02who wouldn't want to see them and who wouldn't pay more money?

01:11:05It has really gained momentum the last year or so

01:11:09because of the fact that the best is fighting the best,

01:11:14and they have been action fights.

01:11:16Good to see a smile on the face of Moorbeck after he went down.

01:11:22The show of sportsmanship here between Bell and Moorbeck.

01:11:25So let's get the official word from our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.

01:11:32Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time.

01:11:35Two minutes, 50 seconds in round number 10.

01:11:39He is the winner by way of knockout.

01:11:42And now the undue cruiserweight champion of the world, O'Neal Supernova Bell.

01:11:55So Bell raises his record to 26-1-1, 24 knockouts.

01:12:04Moorbeck slips to 31-3, his first loss since 1997,

01:12:08snapping a 28-fight win streak.

01:12:10And O'Neal Bell becomes the second undisputed cruiserweight champ

01:12:15since the division was created back in 1980.

01:12:18It's Bell and Holyfield who went on, of course,

01:12:21to become undisputed heavyweight champion.

01:12:26Well, if he does stay at cruiser, some feel he should give Dale Brown a rematch

01:12:30given the closest of their fight last year.

01:12:33Coming up next from the Madison Square Garden Theater here in New York City,

01:12:38our main event.

01:12:39Give us the start of our 20th year on Showtime Championship Boxing.

01:12:42Brooklyn's Zap Judah will fight in front of his hometown fans

01:12:46for the first time as undisputed champion

01:12:48as he goes up against WBC number one contender Carlos Baldomir of Argentina.

01:12:57That's coming up shortly, but now we're set for post-fight reaction.

01:13:00So let's go up to the ring in Jim Gray. Jim?

01:13:03All right, Steve. Thank you very much.

01:13:04O'Neal, congratulations to you on becoming the first champion

01:13:08since Evander Holyfield to unite this division.

01:13:10What are your thoughts right now?

01:13:11It feels great.

01:13:12I got to give glory to the Moor side because without him,

01:13:14I would not be here.

01:13:15And the hard struggles, I thank those who made it hard for me.

01:13:18But it's an honor.

01:13:19It's an honor just to go down in history with Holyfield.

01:13:21Seriously, I can't say no more.

01:13:22How much has Holyfield helped you being from Atlanta,

01:13:25having fought there and having seen him on so many occasions?

01:13:28Well, he wasn't there in the physical presence.

01:13:30But spiritually, I read upon him.

01:13:31You know, he was there in spirit.

01:13:33I'm thriving off of his momentum, his accomplishment.

01:13:36I can never fit in the shoes of Holyfield, seriously.

01:13:39But I'm going to keep trying.

01:13:40I'm going to keep trying.

01:13:41O'Neal, what changed the complexion of this bout?

01:13:43It seemed as though you had given up the first four or five rounds

01:13:46and then you came to life and got stronger.

01:13:48What changed the complexion of this bout in your mind?

01:13:51Okay, if you say I was losing the first round, my strategy...

01:13:53Well, I told you my strategy...

01:13:54You're not saying you were losing.

01:13:55It was the apparent that you got stronger as the fight went on.

01:13:58Exactly, exactly.

01:13:59I'm way more conditioned.

01:14:00Like I said, it's a war of attrition.

01:14:02Who's in better shape?

01:14:03Who has the willingness to win?

01:14:05You know, he folded.

01:14:06He started folding in the fifth and sixth round.

01:14:08You know, I kept the pressure on, kept the pressure on.

01:14:10The man's supposed to be a bull.

01:14:11He's backing up against the ropes.

01:14:12I dominated him throughout the whole fight.

01:14:14Tell us about the seventh round where you really did dominate it.

01:14:16It looked as though you might knock him out in the seventh round.

01:14:18I thought I was gonna knock him out, but he was stronger than I expected.

01:14:21He lasted two tremendous straight right hand, right in his jaw,

01:14:24right in the center of his head.

01:14:25You know, I commend him for that.

01:14:27It's not too many people can hold up to a straight right hand,

01:14:29especially delivered by Supernova, baby.

01:14:31Supernova.

01:14:32O'Neal, let's take a look at the knockout as we look over here at the monitor.

01:14:36Tell us what happens here as you go through the tenth round.

01:14:39Okay, well, I'm working the body, working the body.

01:14:41I'm looking for the head right there, the jaw.

01:14:43He gave it to me clean.

01:14:44He's been open the whole night with a straight right hand to the jaw,

01:14:47behind the ear.

01:14:48It's a legal shot, uppercut, uppercut all day.

01:14:50He folded.

01:14:51The will.

01:14:52The willingness to win, he's gone, you know.

01:14:54And then he turned the back of his head to me.

01:14:56I had no other course but to go ahead and take the advantage and take him out, you know.

01:15:01Protect yourself at all times, which he did.

01:15:03He was out.

01:15:04And he did not get up.

01:15:05Was there ever any time in this fight, O'Neal, where you were in trouble?

01:15:09I wasn't in trouble, but he landed a tremendous, tremendous hook to the body.

01:15:12You know, I folded on it, but I had to play it off.

01:15:15It's a war of attrition.

01:15:16I had to play the game.

01:15:17You know what I'm saying?

01:15:18It hurt, but I didn't show it as well.

01:15:19You know what I'm saying?

01:15:20I was able to persevere and keep on going.

01:15:22Big Don, keep doing it, baby.

01:15:24With you, I got the exposure, for real.

01:15:26Yes, we're going to do it.

01:15:27And what exactly will you do from here?

01:15:29Hey, if it's team Cunningham, mandatory, move up to heavyweight, wherever.

01:15:32Move up to heavyweight, so you want to follow that path as well.

01:15:35I want to follow that path, but I definitely want to make a tremendous impact in the two-weight division

01:15:40to get the 1.5s, you know what I mean?

01:15:42So I'm going to keep trying, defend my title.

01:15:44I love defending my title.

01:15:45Read the record.

01:15:46I've always defended my title successfully, no matter what the opposition is.

01:15:50So I'm not ducking and dodging anyone.

01:15:51I love to fight.

01:15:52I love this game.

01:15:53And would more Mac possibly get a rematch?

01:15:55Hey, I told him, you can get a rematch any time.

01:15:57He's a tremendous champion.

01:15:58I'm saying, I like fighting a man, for real.

01:16:00He's a strong bull.

01:16:02All right, let's bring him in.

01:16:03Stick with us for just a moment, O'Neal.

01:16:06We'll have Eric Ramey.

01:16:07We'll be our interpreter here.

01:16:09First of all, how are you?

01:16:10Are you okay?

01:16:11How are you feeling now?

01:16:13I'm a bit upset because I've lost my belt, but I'm feeling all right.

01:16:24You seem to have control of this fight in the early rounds.

01:16:28What happened?

01:16:29What changed?

01:16:30Did you run out of steam?

01:16:31On a vu que vous contrôlez les premières ronds.

01:16:34Qu'est-ce qui arrive avec vous un petit peu plus tard?

01:16:37Ben, je pourrais pas l'expliquer.

01:16:39Si je le savais, franchement, j'aurais pu remédier à ça.

01:16:42Après, O'Neal Bell a fait preuve de...

01:16:46Il a prouvé qu'il était aussi un grand champion et qu'il fallait croire en lui.

01:16:49Maintenant, moi, je suis désolé pour moi, mais bon, il a gagné.

01:16:53If I had the answer for that, I could be happy to tell you.

01:16:56But at a certain point, I realized that he was a great champion

01:16:59and he did win this fight.

01:17:01A lot of people are going to wonder if your mind was diverted

01:17:05because you haven't fought much.

01:17:07Was there some ring rust?

01:17:08And are you too involved in your own management

01:17:10and your clothing company and other things other than boxing?

01:17:13Le temps que vous avez depuis votre dernier bout,

01:17:18est-ce que vous avez d'autres choses dans votre vie,

01:17:20d'autres business,

01:17:22qui peut-être à vous destrir de ce bout aussi ce soir?

01:17:26Non, ouais, j'ai ma société de management,

01:17:29c'est une société de vêtements.

01:17:30Mais bon, j'ai perdu un combat.

01:17:32J'ai pas perdu la guerre, donc je vais revenir

01:17:35et je vais reboxer.

01:17:37C'est pas un problème.

01:17:39Yes, I do have my other businesses,

01:17:41but I just lost one battle.

01:17:43I have not lost the war and I will be back.

01:17:45He said he would fight you again.

01:17:47Would you like a rematch in English? Rematch?

01:17:49Est-ce que vous voulez faire un entrebat avec Green?

01:17:52Après, c'est lui qui décide.

01:17:53C'est vrai que maintenant il est le champion,

01:17:54c'est lui qui décide.

01:17:55Je sais pas ce qui a été signé.

01:17:57Mais bon, s'il veut faire un rematch avec plaisir.

01:17:59Mais peut-être ce serait à sa défaveur.

01:18:01Since he is the champion now,

01:18:02it is his decision for the rematch,

01:18:04but yes, I would be happy to rematch.

01:18:06Congratulations.

01:18:07We hope you're okay.

01:18:08He fought very well this evening.

01:18:11Thank you very much.

01:18:12All right.

01:18:13What's going to happen, Don?

01:18:15It seems as though he's turning over his future to you.

01:18:17Hold on.

01:18:18Listen to the question.

01:18:19No.

01:18:20Listen to the question a second.

01:18:21You've got a lot of time.

01:18:22Okay.

01:18:23What would you advise him

01:18:24and where do you think this will go?

01:18:26Well, what he's doing,

01:18:27he's doing the right thing.

01:18:28He said he'll fight anybody.

01:18:29He's not dodging anybody.

01:18:30Steve Cunningham is the number one contender,

01:18:31stepped aside so he could do this unification.

01:18:33So he's going to go in there and take care of Steve Cunningham.

01:18:35He's going to fight him.

01:18:36All right.

01:18:37Congratulations, O'Neal.

01:18:38It's a great night for you.

01:18:39Thanks for having me.

01:18:40Hey, stay tuned, baby.

01:18:41Bigger and better things.

01:18:42Going down in history.

01:18:43Hall of Fame.

01:18:44Supernova.

01:18:45Yo.

01:18:46All right.

01:18:47Steve, back to you now.

01:18:48All right, Jim.

01:18:49Thanks very much.

01:18:50So O'Neal Bell is now the IVF, the WBA, and the WBC Cruiserweight Champion.

01:18:56He has united this division with a ceiling of 200 pounds.

01:18:59The first to do it since 1988 when a guy named Evander Holyfield pulled it off.

01:19:04And then, of course, he went on to become an undisputed heavyweight champion.

01:19:08O'Neal Bell coming from behind to knock out Jean-Marc Mormeck.

01:19:14Here are the scores at the time of the stoppage.

01:19:16The judges' scorecards.

01:19:17Tommy Kazmarek had Bell ahead, 87 to 84.

01:19:21Tom Schreck had Mormeck in front by one point, 86 to 85.

01:19:25And Steve Weisfeld had Bell up, 86 to 84.

01:19:27So it was a split decision in favor of O'Neal Bell at the time of the stoppage.

01:19:32And the press row scorers.

01:19:34Chuck Johnson from the USA Today had Bell up, 86 to 85.

01:19:37Greg Leon from BoxingTalk.com had Bell ahead, 87 to 84.

01:19:42And Franklin McNeil from the Newick Star-Ledger had Bell ahead, 86 to 85.

01:19:48So that was a unanimous decision for Bell at the time of the stoppage.

01:19:51And Al Bernstein had an 87-85 at the time of the stoppage for O'Neal Bell.

01:19:58A great seventh round.

01:20:00Spectacular ebb and flow.

01:20:02Back and forth.

01:20:03Give and take.

01:20:04Really was a thriller.

01:20:05A stirring seventh round.

01:20:07The highlight of this particular contest.

01:20:12And before we continue our coverage from New York, let's take a look at what's coming up in the near future

01:20:17here on Showtime.

01:20:19The greatest attack on American song in modern times.

01:20:22If you missed any of the Golden Globe nominated series sleeper sales.

Jean Marc Mormeck vs O'Neil Bell - Showtime 1-7-2006

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