- 7/1/2025
Gianfranco Rosi defends his IBF Jr. Middleweight Title against No 1. Contender Vincent Pettway on Showtime. Plus an interview with former WBC Super Welterweight Champion Terry Norris.
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00:00Let's see your notoriety, but think about this, the Mid-American...
00:09At the newly opened MGM Grand, the home of such classic characters as Dorothy and her three friends,
00:16four fighters hope to follow the yellow brick road to a storybook ending tonight on Showtime Championship Boxing.
00:24Showtime boxing gives me courage.
00:27In a conflict of kings, the newly crowned King of the Cruiserweights, WBA Champion Orlan Norris,
00:35will do battle with number one contender, King Arthur Williams.
00:40Showtime boxing knocks the stuffing out of me.
00:44And IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Gianfranco Rossi will need all his boxing wizardry
00:50to defeat the ferocious punching power of Vincent Hethway.
00:55There's no place like Showtime.
00:58From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, it's Norris vs. Williams for the WBA Cruiserweight Championship.
01:04And Rossi vs. Petway for the IBF Junior Middleweight title.
01:08It's a magical night coming to you on Showtime Championship Boxing.
01:13And welcome to the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.
01:31It's the house that Streisand built with her highly publicized New Year's concert that launched this spectacular sports and entertainment palace.
01:39But it's fast becoming a centerpiece for boxing here on the glamorous Las Vegas Strip.
01:47Hello again, everybody.
01:48I'm Steve Albert and welcome to another edition of Showtime Championship Boxing.
01:52And tonight we bring you back to back championships.
01:55In our first bout, you'll see Italian legend Gianfranco Rossi battle Vincent Petway for the IBF Junior Middleweight title.
02:02And in our co-feature, it'll be Orlan Norris meeting Arthur Williams, King Arthur for the WBA Cruiserweight Championship.
02:09Two very contrasting champions in that Norris is quite new to the championship scene.
02:13He won the title this past November, and tonight he's making his first title defense.
02:18While Rossi is one of the longest reigning champions in boxing, he's held his title for almost five years.
02:24And this evening, Rossi is making a staggering 12th title defense at 154 pounds.
02:30On that note, let me bring on my partner, two-time world champion Bobby Chez,
02:34who was forced to vacate his WBA Cruiserweight title in August of 1993 because of injuries sustained in a car accident.
02:41Orlan Norris subsequently won the crown.
02:43And, Bobby, do you think Norris will be a dominant force in the Cruiserweight division?
02:47I think Orlan Norris is an excellent fighter.
02:49I think he was long overdue for a world championship.
02:51I think had he been fighting Cruiserweight years ago, he would have had a championship years ago.
02:55Now, certainly I'll have something to say when I get myself back to 100%, and maybe we'll meet down the road.
03:00But Orlan Norris is a very good fighter.
03:02He's a well-disciplined fighter.
03:04He's deceivingly strong, has good speed and excellent defense, and he stays focused and hungry.
03:08I think he'll be a force in the division for as long as he fights in it.
03:11All right, Bobby, and now to our other sidekick, the fight doctor, Ferdi Pacheco.
03:14And, Ferdi, how has Gianfranco Rossi been able to stay champion for so long?
03:18Well, first, of course, is talent.
03:20Second is great management.
03:21They picked good fighters for him to fight fighters he can beat.
03:25And thirdly, he fights in Europe, which means he gets away from having to come to the United States and fight very tough and very different opposition.
03:32Now he has chosen to come over to the United States to try to get some gold out of here.
03:37And now he's going to be meeting different kinds of fighters than he fought in Europe.
03:41So it may not be as easy as it's been for Gianfranco Rossi.
03:45Do you think Rossi has too much experience for Pettway, or is Rossi beginning to show his age?
03:50Well, I think he does have too much experience for Pettway.
03:53We'll see whether he shows his age.
03:55He hasn't had a real hard career.
03:57He hasn't fought hard fights.
03:59I mean, there have been no Ali Frazier fights in his armamentarium.
04:02He's just been fighting relatively easy fights.
04:05I think we will see whether his age shows.
04:07I don't think it does.
04:08I think he's at his prime.
04:10I think we're going to see the best there is of Rossi tonight.
04:13All right, Bertie.
04:14So here at the MGM Grand Garden, coming up next, Gianfranco Rossi takes on Vincent Pettway for the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship.
04:23And we go behind the scenes into the dressing room of longtime champion Gianfranco Rossi, who has a stranglehold on the IBF Junior Middleweight title,
04:32wearing the belt for nearly five years.
04:34and eye-popping 11 successful title defenses in this weight division.
04:39Tonight, another veteran, number one contender, Vincent Pettway, will try to take the title away.
04:50First of all, I'm 37 years old.
04:52And I wanted to prove that I'm still, you know, a great champion in every team.
04:58I still can do what a champion, you know, can do.
05:03Youth will definitely give me a distinct advantage.
05:09I'm experienced as well.
05:10I've been fighting all my life.
05:11That's all I really know.
05:12Hopefully, if everything goes the way I want, then we won't have to be there all night.
05:16But if we do have to be there all night, then I think the later rounds will have an effect on him more so than myself.
05:23I fought people a lot younger than me.
05:25And I fought of an old man who was 19.
05:28I was already 31 years old.
05:30And if Pettway think this way, it would be a big mistake for him to think this way.
05:36I'm going to beat Mr. Rossi by guts, outboxing him.
05:41If I have to, I'm going to do whatever it takes to beat him.
05:45I mean, even if he's almost in my life, I'm willing to do that.
05:48That's how bad I really want this.
05:49There is a Pettway that has to adjust this type of boxing towards my type.
05:58The corner is going to tell you one thing.
06:00His corner is telling him one thing.
06:01So when you get out there, it's going to be a thing of who's the smarter guy.
06:05I never underestimate anybody.
06:09I'm the best in my division.
06:12That is why I'm going to win this fight.
06:14There's no turning me back.
06:15I mean, he's been there.
06:16He's enjoyed it.
06:17It's been great for him.
06:18I'm happy for him for the time that he had it.
06:21And it's just time to pass the torch.
06:30And let's have a look at the challenger.
06:3228-year-old Vincent Pettway about to be sent in.
06:35Pettway, the number one contender for Rossi's title,
06:38has a record of 36-4 with 29 knockouts.
06:41This Baltimore.
06:42Maryland native comes off an 11th round TKO over Dan Sherry in Baltimore
06:46for the USBA junior middleweight title.
06:49Yeah.
06:50Yeah.
06:51Yeah.
06:52Yeah.
06:53Yeah.
06:54Yeah.
06:55Yeah.
06:56Yeah.
06:57Yeah.
06:58Yeah.
07:01Yeah.
07:05Yeah.
07:06Yeah.
07:09Yeah.
07:10Yeah.
07:11Yeah.
07:12That's a tendency.
07:45Well, for Vincent Pettway, only his second ring appearance here in Las Vegas.
07:50The first was only his second of four defeats when he was stopped in the sixth by Javier Suazo.
07:56Tonight, he looks to even his racket in Las Vegas, but he's got his work cut out against the champion, Rossi.
08:02And here is longtime IBF junior middleweight champion, 36-year-old Gianfranco Rossi, born in Assisi, Italy.
08:09Rossi, an Italian legend, 57-3, 17 KOs.
08:13He's held the IBF title for nearly five years, defending it ten times.
08:16Prior to this title, he held the WBC belt, which he successfully defended once before losing to Donald Curry.
08:22Rossi has made only one appearance in the U.S.
08:25when he won his current title by defeating Darren Van Horn in 89 in Atlantic City.
08:29Tonight, he makes the twelfth title defense of his career.
08:32Here we go.
08:35What's up?
08:45Okay.
08:49I'm sorry.
09:03Gianfranco Rossi, one of the most successful Italian boxers of all time,
09:29getting a new record for title defenses by an Italian world champion,
09:33breaking the record of popular Italian middleweight Nito Benvenuti.
09:37Let's take a look at the numbers as we check the tail of the tape.
09:41Rossi at 36, eight years older than Pettwee, the inch and a half height advantage for Rossi.
09:45Rossi tipped the scales at 154, Pettwee 150, and a slight reach advantage for Rossi.
09:52And the IBF rules for this championship fight.
09:54Ten-point must system in effect.
09:56Three judges will score the fight.
09:57No standing eight count, no three knockdown rule.
10:00Only the referee can stop the fight, and a fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
10:07So coming up here at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada,
10:10Gianfranco Rossi meets Vincent Pettwee for the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship,
10:15set for the official introductions to our ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr.
10:19Ladies and gentlemen, good evening, and we welcome you to the MGM Grand Garden for Global Warfare,
10:30here at the world's largest hotel, casino, and theme park,
10:33as brought to you by Don King Productions, the MGM Grand, and Corona Beer.
10:39At this time, we present the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship.
10:43This bat is sanctioned by the International Boxing Federation, the President, Bob Lee Sr.,
10:49Supervisor Alvin Goodman, along with the Nevada State Athletic Commission Chairman, Dr. Elias Ghanom.
10:55Introducing to you the judges as appointed, Keith McDonald, Sheila Martin, and Enza Scala.
11:04Introducing to you the referee in charge of this bat, working in this is 72nd world title bout, Mills Lane.
11:14And here we go with the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship of the World scheduled for 12 rounds of boxing.
11:21He's introducing to you first the challenger on my left, fighting out of the blue corner.
11:28He enters the ring wearing red, white, and blue trunks, fighting out of Baltimore, Maryland,
11:34and weighing in at the trim and even 150 pounds.
11:39His record includes 36 wins, 4 losses, 1 no contest, with 29 wins coming by way of knockout.
11:48He is ranked at number 1, IBF Junior Middleweight contender.
11:52Please welcome tonight's challenger, Vincent Petway.
11:55And his opponent across the ring is the defending world champion, on my right, fighting out of the red corner.
12:07He is wearing green trunks and hailing from Perugia, Italy.
12:12He weighed in at 154 pounds, and he enters the ring with a record of 57 wins.
12:19Three losses, with 17 wins coming by way of knockout.
12:23Please welcome the IBF Junior Middleweight Champion of the World,
12:27tonight making his 11th defensive end title, introducing Gianfranco Rossi.
12:38Once again, here's our referee in charge, Mills Lane.
12:42All right, this is for the championship of the world.
12:50You're going through all the instructions one time in the dressing room.
12:53I expect a tough, clean fight.
12:55Protect yourself at all times.
12:57Any questions from the challenger, Chief Sucker?
12:59No.
13:00Any questions from the champion, Chief Sucker?
13:02Let's get it on!
13:03Yes, there's only one Mills Lane, and only one Gianfranco Rossi,
13:13who came to the press conference bearing gifts.
13:16He gave Petway a cloth Italian hanging calendar with a picture of Rossi,
13:19and in order for that, Petway responded by saying,
13:22the only thing I have for you are my two fists.
13:25That's not nice.
13:26That's not nice.
13:27But probably appropriate.
13:28Here we go.
13:30Round one, scheduled for 12.
13:31Now, for Petway, he considers this the biggest fight of his career up until now,
13:35his biggest fight, a win over Gilbert Baptist for the USBA title.
13:40He said, I'll try to get him into the later round, says Petway.
13:43He's older, so it's to my advantage.
13:45He says, Rossi's style is awkward.
13:47He's correct.
13:50Oh, Mills Lane just got a shot, though.
13:52Lonesome Dub got one right on the nose.
13:55Only in professional boxing.
13:57Wow.
13:57The district judge for Marino got tagged.
14:00Do you think he starts his day in court with, let's get it on?
14:04I mean, wouldn't that be frightening when the judge comes in and says, let's get it on?
14:07He may not say it, but knowing Mills Lane, he means it.
14:10He always brings a smile to the faces of boxing fans.
14:14One of the best referees around.
14:16Leave Mills alone to go work now.
14:19Rossi, his style, he hits and grabs, tries to wear you down.
14:23Pettway says, doesn't do a lot of physical fighting.
14:28Pettway would like to keep a quicker pace.
14:30We'll see what happens.
14:32There's another time where a younger fighter wants to test and press because of the age factor.
14:36And right now, the pace isn't such that it would really determine anything major.
14:41But also, Franco Rossi said, if Pettway doesn't show me some respect soon, he said, I'm not coming out of the road.
14:49Rossi is unorthodox, awkward, but extremely effective.
14:53He likes to stalk and pressure his opponent.
14:55Very difficult for the opposition to figure out.
14:57Fast, underrated right hand, equally effective against boxers and sluggers.
15:03Right now, he's using a good left hook underneath to the belly.
15:06Franco Rossi is really putting it in there nice, and that could matter in about three, four, five rounds.
15:11He starts to weaken Pettway's body.
15:13He's fighting with the confidence of a champion.
15:15I mean, he's fighting like a guy that's got a game plan he's following.
15:18He knows what to do.
15:19He's not looking for anything.
15:21He knows what he's doing here.
15:23And you're right, he is a little awkward, and he is a little unusual.
15:25He knows the European fighters a little bit different than the American fighters.
15:28He's what we would call effective in his awkwardness.
15:31Yes.
15:32All these years in boxing, his first fight in Las Vegas.
15:35Rossi in the green, very outgoing.
15:38And look up as Pettway goes to the canvas.
15:42That's enough now.
15:43He's shaking his head yes, but I'm not sure he would have totally gone down if it wasn't a charge and a push.
15:48I really don't think so.
15:49No, it was, and the shot wasn't hard enough to drop him.
15:52It was the push that followed that dropped him.
15:54Yeah, it was a clean shot, but it wasn't one that I think would have put him down.
15:57Although Pettway got up, shook his head, I don't think he's in any big trouble.
16:01He's shaking his head, something like nodding his head.
16:03He went, yeah, exactly.
16:06The crowd getting behind Pettway now.
16:09They call him the ambassador.
16:10They call him the ambassador.
16:11I'm sorry, Steve.
16:12They call him the ambassador, and that's what he did.
16:14He was very polite about it.
16:16I would have said, no, that wasn't.
16:17Oh, it is, oh, a low blow by Pettway.
16:22Mills Lane gets between the two.
16:24And he warns Pettway about.
16:26Oh, right there he is.
16:29Keep that jab in his face, and count with a hard right hand.
16:40Step in with the right hand.
16:42Hit him and smell that, okay?
16:43Hit him with the right hand.
16:44Come back with the hook.
16:46You understand what I'm saying?
16:50Keep that jab in his face, hit him with the right hand, and smell that.
16:53Then he can't count it by.
16:55You get inside, you short hook, you short hook, okay?
16:59You can't beat him.
17:00You gotta work, you gotta work.
17:01Be careful.
17:02Take a look at that knockdown.
17:04Keep your eye on.
17:06There is sort of a hook.
17:07Now watch the push.
17:08You see, that to me is not a knockdown.
17:10Well, you know, he rocked him back on his heels a little bit.
17:12You take a look at it again.
17:13He watches, he rocks him back.
17:15He's back.
17:15But if he didn't run into him in that manner, I don't believe Pettway hits the floor.
17:21I agree with that.
17:23Let's see what Lonesome Dove does.
17:24Oh, in all his peacefulness, the Ranger, Augustus McCall, gets hit.
17:30Locked.
17:31Round two, schedule for 12.
17:33And Pettway nearly just got caught with a left hook.
17:36He did get hit with that.
17:37He was pretty clean.
17:38And he just jumped in and held on to rush.
17:40And now he's getting a little dirty.
17:42Some headquarterting.
17:43And now, again, Mills Lane in between with a left hook.
17:49No more dirty tactics, this move.
17:51Interesting, and then he doesn't understand English.
17:53So that was a one-way lecture to Pettway.
17:57And Pettway was the one that was doing the money.
17:59It looked like a little nick opened up over Rossi's crowd.
18:03He wasn't happy at all.
18:03He told us he thought Pettway will try to do anything to win.
18:11But I don't think he has any chance, said Rossi.
18:14Well, he said he wasn't prepared for anything.
18:16He realizes it's a world championship opportunity for Pettway, but he has the answer to whatever he's running.
18:21And again, brawling tactics at Mills Lane, that munishes Rossi.
18:28They touch gloves and continue here in round two.
18:31Well, in all fairness, Vincent Pettway's fight is that.
18:34To get him mad and to get him on this mobulated.
18:36So he won't systematically put him apart.
18:39Well, he's got him mad.
18:39He's mad.
18:41Rossi's mad.
18:41He wants to finish this now.
18:44Look at this.
18:45Look at this.
18:46Oh, he's hitting him behind.
18:48From behind, continuing to lay the line.
18:49Continuating to lay the leather on Rossi's face.
18:53You know, I'll tell you, this is going to be a fight that could get really, really ugly.
18:58If it lasts that long, you know, Rossi is not out for blood.
19:03In front of Rossi, 57-3, 17 knockouts.
19:09The IBF junior middleweight champion looking to hold out of the title.
19:13He's held for nearly five years.
19:15And wearing away at Pettway.
19:17It started out as a little bit of a chess match.
19:19Some nice jab and a couple of counters.
19:21And now it's turned into a little bit of an alley cat type brawl.
19:24And Pettway made it that by grabbing and holding and punching while he was holding and turning him around and punching.
19:29He has really discombobulated Gianfranco Russell.
19:32It has developed into a wicked street fight.
19:38And we're only in round two.
19:41This is the type of fight, too, in the later rounds, really start to take its toll on your body.
19:45Show me your own stuff to hurt.
19:46Your body's hurting your head getting lumped up.
19:48This could be a big battle of attrition later on.
19:51Boy, that sounds like fun.
19:52No, it's not.
19:53Bob has done the fight.
19:54It's over here, but I've been there.
19:55Yes, I have.
19:56Under 30 seconds in round two.
20:05Rossi working to the head.
20:09Pettway doing a lot of bobbing and weaving.
20:11A little left jab there by Pettway.
20:19The ambassador against the Italian legend.
20:26So we go into the Rossi corner with the help of our interpreter alongside Maria Santini.
20:37Oh, Steve, they're saying, you know, don't get nervous.
20:45Listen.
20:46Listen to me carefully.
20:50Play around with him.
20:52Oh, tease him a little bit.
20:53Stay on top of him.
20:55As he lowers his head, hit him.
20:58Always keep your hands up.
20:59Well, it's his kind of rough stuff that got Rossi so upset in this fight as to abandon his game plan
21:12and just try to punch out.
21:13Now, here is the lonesome dove there.
21:17Mills Lane trying his best to split.
21:21Later in the round, the fight's getting a little, you know, some more of the same.
21:24He's got him turned around.
21:25He's reaching around, trying to punch him in the face of the back of the head.
21:28And it's getting dirty.
21:28Bobby, can you do that?
21:30Can you turn a guy, hold him, and just when it looks like they're about to break,
21:33reach around and hit him in the face.
21:35I was always a firm believer that if a fighter turned his back on me,
21:38I could reach around and punch him in the face with a legal blow.
21:40But not holding him into it, that you can't do it.
21:43It's protect yourself at all times.
21:45It's a rule.
21:45Boy, Petway, he's coming back.
21:48Round three, Petway was knocked down at 212 on the first round.
21:53Petway is concerned with at least three good left elbows at least.
21:57And it has been a dirty book.
22:01Again, some low blows there, but Petway inside.
22:05You know, Rossi, Rossi ahead in this fight, no question about it.
22:08But Petway's in this fight all the way.
22:10And he's getting him more upset.
22:12And he's coming on stronger and stronger.
22:14So, you know, forget the score.
22:16This is a heck of a fight right now.
22:18This is up for Petway to take command now.
22:20He's 36-4 with 29 knockouts, one no contest.
22:3028 years old out of Baltimore.
22:33He is currently the USBA junior middleweight champ, ranked number one by the IVF.
22:38And Petway is a master of bunting.
22:42He put that head right in Rossi's face and just kept running.
22:46Good defensive job by Petway.
22:48Shielding a lot of those Rossi punches.
22:51And Petway coming forward.
22:52And punching, Petway punching harder and more effectively.
22:56Rossi's punches all of a sudden have taken sort of a winging kind of amateurish look to them.
23:00And Petway with the combination.
23:11Petway, a magnificent amateur career.
23:16Former Maryland state champion of the 84 Olympic trials.
23:20Here's Petway with a heavy left.
23:21But Rossi comes back and misses.
23:25Well, he's giving Rossi all he can handle.
23:27Oh, yeah.
23:28And he's punching much crisper and harder.
23:30And he's, and he is putting that head in there every chance he gets.
23:34He's doing everything.
23:35Look, look at it.
23:36Look at the way he's got his head in.
23:38You see that?
23:39And he even butted him as they were being separated.
23:42I mean, that guy is classy with his use of the head.
23:45And there it is again.
23:46Look where the head is.
23:47Right in Rossi's face rubbing.
23:49Look.
23:54Well, it's going to be a long night for Mills Lane.
23:57Used to be in control of the fight.
23:58Oh, look at this.
24:00Vincent Petway.
24:05Very good round for Vincent Petway, who is now finding the range.
24:08Oh, and his punch is a heart.
24:10They've got steam on him, and he can bust.
24:13So interesting night building up here for Petway.
24:17Vincent Petway thinking upset in the final seconds of round three.
24:22Oh, right in the right hand by Petway.
24:24Right on the flip chain.
24:29Petway's best round.
24:30He is detonating punches off the jaw of Rossi, and Rossi's looking bewildered.
24:35With your hands.
24:46You lost the punch with that, with that, keeping your hands up.
24:49Keep touching.
24:49Keep giving him combination.
24:54All right, thanks to interpreter Maria Santini.
25:02You birdie, let's take a look at Petway, how he begins to take command of this round.
25:07There he went in with a head as usual.
25:09Look at that shot right off the chin, and comes right back and smothers Rossi before he has
25:15the chance to answer.
25:16Perfect fighting.
25:17Now, again, the command of Petway.
25:18Whoop right on the chin.
25:20Now, that's a detonating blow.
25:22Boy, that gets there and explodes off his jaw.
25:24And I'm going to say, Rossi's got to have some kind of a jaw.
25:27Take that kind of a jaw.
25:28And he better have some answers here.
25:29Petway with even intention as we headed around four.
25:32And Rossi surging forward, looking to press the attack.
25:37Wants to erase the last moment.
25:40And here he comes.
25:41The effortful Rossi looking for a barrage.
25:44A glory by Rossi.
25:47He has taken the play completely away from Petway as this corner told him.
25:52He told him, he lost that round, they told him.
25:54He better come out and take the beginning of this round.
25:56He has done it.
25:57Done for the starting.
26:00Rossi coming in from all angles.
26:03But Petway very quick, able to dodge a lot of those shots.
26:07I must say, Petway is not impressed with Rossi.
26:09He's not scared of him.
26:10He's waiting for him to get in the shootout again.
26:13And I admire the way Petway is fighting.
26:17Yes, Petway is showing Rossi no respect.
26:21Oh, another little buzz there.
26:23You can see how Rossi's head went back.
26:26It'll be a miracle if he doesn't get cut in this fight.
26:29That way does not care that Rossi holds three records.
26:37The oldest reigning champion, the longest reign in the division's 32-year history, most successful defenses in the division 10.
26:45And Petway with the end fighting, trying the uppercut, Rossi gaining his distance.
26:56Rossi came out winging and landing, getting a little sloppy now as this punch starts losing steam and starts missing the target.
27:04See, that's nothing.
27:07Those are slapping shots there.
27:09And then one of those penetrated just got between the blows.
27:13They were sort of tentative blows.
27:14The last one was a zinging one, but...
27:17That way is that, look at all.
27:19Two hooks, three hooks.
27:21And Petway going to the body, effectively.
27:23Petway showing himself very well here against the champion.
27:31And you can hear Rossi breathing all the way over here.
27:33He went through the ropes.
27:38Once the body leaves the ropes, he's on the other side of the ropes, he cannot punch him.
27:43Just as if he were out of the building.
27:46Cannot touch.
27:50Petway missing with the uppercut and then stinging with the left.
27:52No question, Rossi taking the round because he's busier, but that doesn't mean that Petway is not fighting back.
27:59Rossi extremely active here in the fourth.
28:05Furious exchange as they go from the top of the center of the race.
28:09That comes Petway.
28:15Great action.
28:17Great, proud, going wild for him.
28:20Great action as the champion must be wondering what it is.
28:22And the world is holding this guy up because he's hammering.
28:25Petway with Petway coming back hard.
28:28Oh, after the fellow right-hand by Petway and Rossi.
28:32Just don't do that.
28:36Right now, let's go to Bobby Chez, who is standing alongside a guy who knows from rough tactics.
28:43That's right, Steve.
28:44I'm here with Rick Rufus, the undisputed kickboxing light heavyweight champion.
28:48A man that can not only punch you hard, but a man that can kick you hard.
28:51He's headed toward a showdown on March 26th on Showtime Event Television with John Yves Theriault.
28:55And what does that fight mean?
28:57Is it the most important fight of your career?
28:59Absolutely.
28:59It's a fight that's been in the making for about eight years.
29:03John Yves and I have really no love lost between each other.
29:07And it's either put up or shut up.
29:09And I'm coming there to melt the Iceman.
29:11So the Iceman may get melted.
29:13We thank you.
29:13And we'll go back to ringside to Stephen Ferdy.
29:15All right.
29:16Thank you very much, Bobby.
29:17Let's look at the end of the round and look at what Pettway gives him to remember him by.
29:23The bell sounds.
29:24Jim Franco turns around.
29:25The bell's already sounded right there.
29:26Now look at his reaction.
29:27Hey, what did you do that for?
29:30Very, very clear reaction on the part of Jim Franco Rossi.
29:36Hey, you're going to let him get away with it?
29:38And Mills Lane says, go back to your corner.
29:40Ferdy, we've seen just about every dirty tactic there is in boxing.
29:44And strong, strong fighting on the part of both men.
29:48They have both been exchanging leather.
29:51The diffraction, the close hair, the decision goes to Jim Franco Rossi on that fourth
29:56because he fought most of the round before Pettway came back.
30:00So strong, Pettway came back as strong as he did
30:02because he felt the blows of Rossi losing their power.
30:07Round five moves on for the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship,
30:10the first of two World Championship fights on the docket tonight.
30:13Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho.
30:15We set back clean. Here we go.
30:16Mills Lane, a busy man this evening.
30:18You can see the cut on the bridge of his nose.
30:21He got tagged by a shot earlier in the play.
30:24Get him up now. Come on, San Jose, keep him up.
30:26Punch out, come on, punch out.
30:28Does the fight ever been stopped uncut by the referee?
30:33Oh, we have enough standby reps as Rossi go is to the body.
30:36and jump Pettway into the corner.
30:42Tell you what, that left hook hurt Ross a little bit,
30:44but he is just in there.
30:46He is held back on breaking Pettway down.
30:50He is so determined to knock this guy out
30:53that he can take those shots of Pettway,
30:55and Pettway, believe me, is landing thunder.
31:00So what Pettway's doing to his crowd,
31:01he's covered up and he's leaping out
31:02and jumping out and springing with some good shots.
31:04And right now, Ross, he's taking this up a little too clean.
31:07Bobby's taking that head, watch the head, Bobby.
31:10Every round, he's got that head right in his face,
31:12rubbing it in his face, punching him with it.
31:15He does not miss an opportunity to put his head in.
31:20I'll tell you what, Mills Lane slapped the hands
31:23that were holding, and one hand got loose.
31:24So what did Ross do, uppercutting him right in the face.
31:27Well, a lot of people thought this might go in the distance,
31:35but it's certainly a lot more exciting
31:36than many folks anticipated.
31:39Well, I don't think anybody thought Pettway
31:40was going to put up this kind of a fight.
31:42He is in this fight all the way,
31:43although my scorecard has Rossi ahead still.
31:46This is a fight to touch the glass.
31:50The great action rages on.
31:51Well, based on the fact that I gave the first two rounds
31:54to Rossi, the first one, 10-8,
31:56because Pettway was on the court,
31:57I had a run to do a couple interviews
31:59and couldn't be with you guys,
32:00so I'm going to have to defer to my colleague,
32:02Bertie, here to give me his scorecard.
32:05Pettway knocked down at 2-12 of the first round.
32:09Punch out, you got two hands.
32:10Pettway knocked down to the fight,
32:11final seconds of round five.
32:13And if this gets close,
32:14that could be an important knockdown
32:16after the 10-8 round to open,
32:17so this could be important here.
32:20All of those two-point rounds.
32:21Punch out, you got two.
32:24Come in, punch out.
32:25And we head for the bell.
32:26One of both, it's up.
32:28Nine, two.
32:38You got to keep count.
32:39When you roll like this, go punch back.
32:41You mean, you can go punch back.
32:42When you roll like that, go punch back.
32:44Just go punch.
32:45When you go, I can see you.
32:46Punch back back with both hands.
32:48Left and right.
32:49How do you feel?
32:50You feel all right?
32:50I can't beat you, man.
32:53Be my teeth.
32:54Who's got nothing?
32:54He's nothing.
32:56You just flick.
32:56You got to watch him on the break.
32:58You got to work body shots.
32:59Hard body shots, man.
33:00Hard body shots.
33:01And come back with the hook.
33:03Yeah, right?
33:03Look at the nose of Mills Lane.
33:05He looks like you've been kicked by a cow.
33:09Mills Lane, a tough competitor.
33:11Yeah.
33:12Tough in court, I'll say that one.
33:13He got that earlier today to this fight.
33:15Gives a little wink to somebody along ringside row.
33:19I didn't know you.
33:19I didn't know you could get a boxer's nose referee.
33:22No, let me tell you.
33:23He was a boxer and he was in the Marine Corps and a tough, tough man.
33:27This is the man's man.
33:30All right, now, round six.
33:32Wealth forming under the right eye.
33:36Petway, Petway landed with that right hand.
33:38Is his good right hand doing it?
33:40Landed right in his eye.
33:41Look at the blood turning out of the side of the left eye.
33:44Rossi, he is a complete miss now.
33:47Now, we need to use it.
33:49Wait a minute.
33:49Was it the right hand or was it the headbutt?
33:51Wait a minute, wait a minute.
33:52Why a timeout?
33:55All kinds of trouble now for Rossi.
33:58Wait a minute.
33:59Why a timeout?
34:00It occurred.
34:01You're in a fight.
34:06That fight's over, boys.
34:08Whoa.
34:08That is big potato.
34:11Oh, look at that.
34:13The crowd reacting to the big screams.
34:14They see it.
34:19That is big, big.
34:20They won't allow that to continue.
34:24Those land getting the Petway people over to explain.
34:27Unintentional butt.
34:28Unintentional butt.
34:29Unintentional butt.
34:30Unintentional butt.
34:32Unintentional butt.
34:40And who wins?
34:41Those land are ready to still unintentional butt.
34:46But we'll have to wait for the butt rule.
34:50The butt rule.
34:51But in the fighting side, it's an unintentional butt.
34:54I think they go to the scorecard.
34:56We'll know exactly in one moment.
34:58Mills Lane picking up the scorecards if they're anything like mine.
35:00You know, Franco Ross needs to win on that second.
35:03Yeah, at a certain point, they go to the scorecard.
35:09Yeah, there's no parada.
35:11He just came over and told me that the commissioner advised him
35:22it's a technical draw.
35:25A butt before the sixth round is over is a technical draw.
35:29So once again, we have a peculiar night on Showtime.
35:33But Rossi holding on to the title as a result of a draw.
35:36Before the sixth round and unintentional butt.
35:39Before the end of the sixth round, it is rule a technical draw.
36:01Mills Lane nice enough to come over and explain the rule.
36:05So, Jim Franco Rossi will remain the IBM junior middleweight champion on the draw.
36:20Let's take a look at the butt that ended the fight, and it happened fast.
36:29Now, here we go, Pettway coming together.
36:32You saw the heads come together.
36:37And that was where it happened.
36:39We can't see from our angle, but the other side, the blood started spurting out profusely.
36:47Oh, look at that shot, though, by Pettway prior to Pettway was really coming on.
36:52Watch this reaction by Jim Franco Rossi when he gets spun around with that right hand by Pettway.
37:01The infighting continues.
37:07And there is the blood was hard to tell it was either the headbutt or the right hand that caused the blood.
37:20Well, we're going to send it up to Jimmy Lennon Jr. to provide the crowd with the official word on exactly what transpired.
37:29Well, let's go to Jim.
37:30Ladies and gentlemen, this bout has been stopped at 19 seconds in round number six.
37:36We're also receiving an unintentional butt.
37:39The ringside referee, Mills Lane, stops the contest on advice of the ringside position.
37:46Dr. Flip Homansky, fighter unable to continue.
37:50Under the IVF rules, the bout must go six full rounds for it to be an official decision.
37:55This bout stops 19 seconds in round number six.
38:00Therefore, the decision is a technical draw, and the champion retains his title.
38:04A technical draw.
38:09So there you have it, a technical draw.
38:11In case you were wondering, on the scorecards, Keith McDonald had it 49-45 Rossi after five rounds.
38:19Enzo Scala had it 49-45 Rossi, and Sheila Martin had it 48-46 Rossi.
38:25So up to that point of the cut, Rossi was ahead.
38:30Rossi does retain the title, though.
38:34The IVF Junior Middleweight Championship remains with Rossi.
38:41Well, not only will we see it, let's hear how it sounded when the two heads came together.
38:48And there the blood streaks profusely from the left side of the eye of Gianfranco Rossi.
39:06The fight doctor is in the ring right now for post-fight reaction, so let's go up to Ferdi Pacheco.
39:11This was definitely a headbutt.
39:15Did he see that coming?
39:17Was he being butted all during the fight?
39:20What did he do, always with his head, every night?
39:24Yes, let's say that he, prevalentemente, fought with his head.
39:27He tried there, in the third round, to give me a shot of head.
39:31It was almost a, I'm sorry, almost an intentionality to cut me.
39:36He feels that he has fought the whole fight intentionally with his head, and he feels very bad,
39:41because, you know, he was intensely sitting with his head, his whole, the whole fight was with his head.
39:46You, you, you retain the championship, would you fight him again, to clarify that?
39:51You have already taken the title.
39:53Do you fight him again with him?
39:55Yes.
39:56Yes, exactly.
39:57For me, it was important.
39:59I came out of the fifth, the sixth round and then.
40:02And he was in the fourth round.
40:04I would have done really 12 good rounds for the show.
40:07Yes.
40:08And I am also willing to give the win.
40:10How not?
40:11Now it's to see.
40:12Yes, he would like very much to fight him again.
40:14He feels that he was, you know, winning.
40:16He was coming out in the five and the sixth round.
40:18And that he would have put a beautiful, spectacular for the fans that are here tonight.
40:23Well, tell him he fought a very good fight.
40:25And I'm going to interview Pettway now.
40:27Tell him he fought a very good fight and pleased the audience.
40:30And young Mr. Pettway, you fought a very strong fight.
40:34I didn't personally think you went down in the first round, did you?
40:37I didn't think so either.
40:38First, I want to give honor to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for even allowing me
40:41to be in this fight here today.
40:43But I think on the first round, I didn't think it was a knockdown.
40:46He threw a punch and the punch, I blocked the punch.
40:49It was pretty close to landing.
40:50But he shoved me as well.
40:51Yeah, it was a shove.
40:52He put me there.
40:53It was more of a shove.
40:54But referee Mills Lane thought it was a knockdown.
40:55So we thought it could cost him.
40:56More to the point, we're talking about the butt, which caused this to come to a draw.
41:01You also are cut, as you can see up here, from that cut.
41:05Right.
41:06It's just a matter of his awkward style.
41:08I was throwing a punch at the time, and he was running in, and we both, I guess, clashed
41:12his.
41:13I didn't think it was a head clash.
41:14I thought I caught him with a right hand.
41:16But as you see, both of us are cut, so it came from a headbutt unintentionally.
41:19Did you think there was an awful lot of budding going on?
41:22You know, at one point, you busted Mills Lane's nose here.
41:26You cut Mills Lane.
41:27I'm sorry that I cut the referee, but it was just a point of me trying to establish
41:32myself and let Rossi know who's the boss in here.
41:34He did a few things like cheap shots or whatever, and I wanted to let him know whatever he did
41:38to me, I was going to do it back.
41:39I don't know if it was intentionally on the break or what, but he hit me on the break.
41:43So it's just like I said, take it back to the street.
41:45He do something to me.
41:46I'm going to do it right back to him.
41:47It was an enthusiastically tough, tough fight.
41:49This wasn't a Marcus to Queen Bird.
41:51Oh, yeah.
41:52It was definitely a tough fight.
41:53I knew it was going to be a tough fight coming into the fight.
41:55I know Rossi's a tough champion.
41:57He's been, like you said, this is the 11th title defense here.
41:59So you have to be able to fight some in order to hold a fight, hold a belt that long.
42:03Take a look at this.
42:04Here is the first knockdown.
42:05I got Mills Lane with me, the lonesome dove.
42:07And now let's look at the knockdown.
42:09Now there's one little punch, you look stunned, and then you get pushed down.
42:12Yeah, and that punch actually missed.
42:14That punch actually missed right there.
42:16And he shoved me at the same time he threw the punch.
42:19And it was a push down, and referee Mills Lane thought it was a knockdown.
42:22What do you think of that?
42:23Well, you know, I got great respect for this young man.
42:26He fought a great fight.
42:27He got hit with a left hook, and then he was starting to stagger and went down.
42:31It was a fifth-second call.
42:32That's the way I saw it.
42:34Well, you know, it was a very tough fight.
42:36We kept looking at these butts going on and on and on and on.
42:39Now let's look at the butt that ended it because there were many of these.
42:42This happened to be the most spectacular of all.
42:44Let's take a look at it now closely.
42:46Let's watch his.
42:47Watch the head.
42:48Boom, right there.
42:49Right there.
42:50You see it?
42:51I think that was on the part of both people.
42:53Both people come in.
42:54That wasn't a butt, one guy going to butt the other.
42:56That was two guys coming together.
42:57The thing about it is, Bertie, is both of these young men are tough, tough kids.
43:00Rossi's style makes for a fight like that.
43:02And this young man's a hell of a fighter, and he just stood right in there and took it to him.
43:06So it's one of those things that happened.
43:08Yeah, I thought he held his ground as Rossi was coming in.
43:11And you're holding your ground, two heads come together.
43:13But it was unintentional, and the rules are very clear.
43:15You know, if the sixth round isn't over with, then it goes to a technical draw.
43:18All that means is you get another chance to come back because if the guy standing right
43:22behind him is wrestling me for the microphone, anxious to tell you you got another chance.
43:26He certainly does.
43:27He's going to be done again.
43:28That's what it's about.
43:29The rules are clear.
43:30So it's a technical draw.
43:31That means they got to go fight again.
43:33This is a mandatory defense, and it's going to be replayed again.
43:36You're going to get another opportunity to meet John Giofranco Rossi, and it's exciting,
43:40but it was a tremendous fight.
43:42And let me ask you something.
43:44Have you got something on the champions that you're doing, John, that we don't know about?
43:47Every time you get a champion on Showtime, you get them knocked off or in a bizarre fight.
43:51All right.
43:52Back to Steve, who has peace and quiet at ringside.
43:55All right.
43:56Thanks very much, Ferdie.
43:57A foul-mired fight here at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
44:02Orlin Norris waiting in the wings.
44:04He's got plenty of support of the house, and that includes a guy he used to beat up as a kid,
44:09his younger brother and former WBC super welterweight champion Terry Norris, who is alongside our Bobby Chiz.
44:17Thank you, Steve.
44:18I'm with Terry Norris here.
44:19Terry, you saw 254 panels here.
44:21Obviously, the fight got short because of the butt, but how would you compare them with the likes of yourself and, say, Simon Brown?
44:26Well, Rossi is a good fighter.
44:28Um, Pedway, I don't know much about him, but he put up a good fight.
44:32And, um, Simon Brown, he's also a good fighter, too.
44:35You know, I fought him, made a bunch of mistakes, and he capitalized on him.
44:38But, um, the fight on May 7th would be a whole different fight, then.
44:43Now, we know your brother's coming out in a little while.
44:45I know when I was younger, my brothers were fighting.
44:47I was more nervous and upset watching them fight, waiting to watch them fight, than when I fought myself.
44:51How does that affect you, and what do you expect from your brother tonight?
44:54I'm getting a little bit, I guess, used to it a little bit.
44:57But, uh, it still makes me nervous.
44:59I don't sit down for the fight.
45:00I walk around.
45:01And, you know, um, I do a lot of praying and hope that he comes through it well.
45:05Certainly understandable as I did on May 7th.
45:08Repeat or revenge?
45:09You and Simon Brown go at it again on a big card.
45:12What can we expect you to do different this time than you did last time?
45:16This is definitely revenge, you know.
45:18I'll come out boxing, sticking to moving, um, make Simon Brown make mistakes instead of, uh, myself
45:24coming out making a lot of mistakes trying to knock Simon Brown out.
45:26I'll box him, capitalize on him, and take him into the late rounds and then do what I'd normally do.
45:31Now, I understand you're probably, uh, you're planning presently to put a tune-up together on Showtime.
45:36Later this month, do you know who that is or where it's gonna be?
45:38Uh, right now, I'm not sure who I'm fighting, but, uh, you know, I'm in great shape.
45:42I'm ready to fight and I'm ready to do what I have to do.
45:44You know, I've been boxing in the gym.
45:46I haven't been slugging, so I'm ready.
45:48I'm ready.
45:49Terry, we appreciate you taking the time to talk with us.
45:51We're gonna go back to Steve Albert at ringside.
45:53All right.
45:54Thank you, Bobby.
45:55I wonder who Mom liked best.
45:56Later this month on Showtime, terrible Terry Norris, the former WBC Super Weatherweight Champion,
46:02returns to the ring for a non-title bow.
46:05Also featured that night, Juan Koji defends his WBA Junior Waterweight Championship against Edgar Gonzalez.
46:14So here at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, coming up next, our main event,
46:20as Orla Norris meets King Arthur Williams for the WBA Cruiserweight Championship.
46:25Norris told us just yesterday.
46:27I don't know why, thanks, Mitch James.
46:29William Woods for the last few months.
46:30I'm on podcasting 3loading!
46:31Here at the MGM Grand Station is up to official deployments.
46:33My players are a companies about Air Forcebus that weren't consecutive kazan.
46:35I'm inмерished.
46:36We're not seeing a7.
46:37We're not seeing any in the one-lot.
46:38So here at the MGM Grand duct 16 used to parce que if a half-tower bigС all becaptured
46:40thePL or as half-tower say it.
46:41Now you're watching this.
46:42My children gave us a number of the sessions for work.
46:43These Easter guests areÐœistas who wereammed and there's ajasdee a 4th stá»™ng
46:45per minute.
46:46What are the questions made here?
46:47Do you have anything to do as a battle?
46:48Kind of happens to get off at once?
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