- 7/8/2025
Undefeated NABF Welterweight Champion Vernon Forrest takes on former IBF Jr Welterweight Champion Vince Phillips on HBO Boxing After Dark.
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00:00:00You'll see why again. We're in the rock and roll gathering place called The Joint, and tonight's fighters are trying to reel in their opponents and look for greater stardom in the welterweight division.
00:00:10Girls just want to have fun, so do the rest of us. Let's do it now with this welterweight show on Boxing After Dark.
00:00:18Hello again, everybody. I'm Jim Lapley. We welcome you to this edition of HBO's Boxing After Dark, which could provide a blueprint for the future in the welterweight division.
00:00:28The future if Oscar Delahoy and Felix Trinidad move up quickly to 154 pounds, as many anticipate will be the case, or perhaps even if both of them remain in the division and one of the two star fighters you're seeing showcased here surpasses Delahoy and Trinidad in the ring, it certainly is not out of the question.
00:00:47Here to work with me, as always, as we get ready to see two welterweight stars trying to cross hurdles, HBO Boxing Analyst Larry Merchant.
00:00:54Larry, let's deal first with the subject of Vernon Forrest. We're seeing him in the first fight.
00:00:59Vernon Forrest is on record as saying that he doesn't want to be like Archie Moore and have to wait until age 39 for his first title shot.
00:01:07So how is it that a guy with his credentials, 30 wins, no losses, 25 KOs, could have reached this juncture in his career and still be on the outside looking in?
00:01:17Blame it on a rotten system that often overprotects the insiders and you can also blame it on a rotten hamburger, the one that Vernon Forrest ate the night before his debut in the 92 Olympics gave him food poisoning, led to a very costly opening round defeat because without Olympic exposure, it's very difficult to market a young non-heavyweight today.
00:01:45As a professional, Forrest could have been accelerated had his promoter, main events, chosen to match him with one of its star welterweights.
00:01:55Pernell Whitaker, Ike Corte, Jose Luis Lopez.
00:01:59It didn't choose to do so. And in a sense, we're here, Jim, to find out if they were protecting those fighters from Forrest or Forrest from those fighters.
00:02:10We should get a clue as to that as we watch this first fight, and it's a privilege to have working with us coming off of his shutout win over David Delesco and Radio City Music Hall last Saturday night.
00:02:21And despite the broken left hand, he did it with his right hand, world light heavyweight champion Roy Jones.
00:02:26Roy, across the ring from Vernon Forrest, Vince Phillips, nobody knows him better than you do.
00:02:31Boyhood buddies, of course, from Pensacola, Florida.
00:02:33He's now being promoted by your promoter, Mirad Mohamed, out of Pensacola.
00:02:37And this is yet another crossroads fight in the up-and-down career of Vince.
00:02:42What do you expect out of your buddy tonight?
00:02:43Well, I expect Vince to come out and understand that this guy is on the up climb.
00:02:47He's on the down slide, so he has to go out and do the logical thing.
00:02:50Try to knock him out.
00:02:52Don't go out there to win a decision. You're not going to outbox this young guy.
00:02:55He's 30 and over 25 knockouts.
00:02:57He also has a good punch, but Vince has a hammer for a right hand, and he could upset this guy,
00:03:01but it'll only be probably by knockout.
00:03:03You say Vince may have the biggest right hand in the welterweight division, even though he's just come up to 147.
00:03:08I think he still does have the biggest right hand in the welterweight division.
00:03:11Well, we'll see if he can make it count against Forrest in this fight.
00:03:15He can make it count against Forrest in this fight.
00:03:17There's a good look at cool Vince Phillips, 36 years old, last time on the marquee, unless he can win tonight, Larry.
00:03:25Yeah, well, he's often been at his best with his back against the wall.
00:03:30Now he's got his back in the wall.
00:03:33Of course, he's best known recently for his upset of Costa Zoo for 140-pound title a couple of years ago, a very large upset.
00:03:41But then he lost his title when he had to take off 47 pounds in seven weeks, was ill, out of shape, self-destructive move on his own part.
00:03:52As a consequence of his battles with promoters, he has declared bankruptcy.
00:03:58He's trying to get back on the plus side tonight.
00:04:02And that bankruptcy, symbolic of the number of times that Vince has short-chained himself in training for fights
00:04:08and hasn't given himself a real chance to win, as was the case against Millett last February.
00:04:14Meanwhile, Vernon Forrest is known to have no bad habits, has been a diligent and ardent worker all along,
00:04:20despite being in the shadows of the bigger names in the welterweight division.
00:04:23Here's his chance to shine, Larry.
00:04:25He was an outstanding amateur who beat lightweight champions, or future lightweight champions, Mosley and Johnston.
00:04:34He had two years of college in Northern Michigan while training for the Olympics.
00:04:38And typical of his career, his manager, Shelley Finkel, is not here.
00:04:43He's in London babysitting Mike Tyson.
00:04:45Of which Vernon says, OK, that's all right.
00:04:48The show must go on anyway.
00:04:50I'm accustomed to having to do my business without all of the trimmings around me.
00:04:55Tale of the tape now for Vernon Forrest against Vince Phillips.
00:04:58And you'll see the eight-year age advantage for Forrest.
00:05:02He's also got a four-inch height advantage, the corresponding reach advantage.
00:05:05They both weighed in a pound under the limit.
00:05:07They both put on four pounds before tonight.
00:05:09Rules of the bout with our unofficial ringside scorer, Harold Letterman.
00:05:12The Vernon Forrest-Cool Vince Phillips fight is scheduled for 12 rounds
00:05:16using the unified rules of the Association of Boxing Commissions.
00:05:19There is no standing eight count, no three-knockdown rule.
00:05:23Only the referee can stop the fight, and you cannot be saved by the bell at any round,
00:05:27including the 12th and final rounds.
00:05:30Jim.
00:05:30Thank you, Harold.
00:05:31Let's go to Michael Buffer for the official introductions.
00:05:36Ladies and gentlemen, good evening, and welcome to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino of Las Vegas, Nevada,
00:05:42where tonight it's Boxing After Dark on HBO, brought to you by Cedric Kushner Promotions,
00:05:47along with your undisputed, undefeated king of beers, Budweiser.
00:05:53The first bout is presented in association with main events and M&M sports.
00:05:57All the bouts are sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission,
00:06:00Chairman Dr. Elias Ghanom,
00:06:02Commissioners Lorenzo Fertitta,
00:06:04Amy Ayoub, Glenn Carano, and Dr. Luther Mack, Executive Director, Mark Ratner.
00:06:10Physicians at ringside, Dr. Flip Homansky, Dr. Margaret Goodman, and Dr. William Berliner,
00:06:15the timekeepers at the bell, counting for the knockdown seconds,
00:06:19Al Bicek and Mike Licella.
00:06:20This first bout is also sanctioned by the NABF, President Sam Macias,
00:06:24Supervisor at ringside, Mario Latraverse.
00:06:27The three judges scoring this bout on a 10-point must system will be
00:06:32Carol Castellano, Chuck Jampa, and Gail Van Hoy,
00:06:37and when the bell rings, your referee in charge of the action, Richard Steele.
00:06:42And now, ladies and gentlemen, from the Hard Rock,
00:06:4512 rounds of boxing for the NABF Welterweight Championship.
00:06:53Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner,
00:06:56the challenger wearing purple, trimmed with gold, and weighing 146 pounds.
00:07:02He has an excellent professional record in 44 bouts.
00:07:05He has 40 victories, including 29 knockouts with only four losses.
00:07:10A native of Pensacola, Florida, now fighting out of Las Vegas,
00:07:15ladies and gentlemen, here is the former junior welterweight champion of the world,
00:07:21Kool Vince Feldman!
00:07:28And his opponent across the ring in the red corner,
00:07:32wearing blue with black and weighing 146 pounds.
00:07:35He has a perfect record as a professional.
00:07:3830 bouts, 30 victories, including 25 knockouts,
00:07:43and he is currently ranked as high as number three in the world.
00:07:47Ladies and gentlemen, from Augusta, Georgia,
00:07:50presenting the undefeated NABF Welterweight Champion,
00:07:55Vernon, the Viper Forrest!
00:07:58Okay, I gave both instructions in the dressing room.
00:08:22I gave them the same instructions.
00:08:24I'm telling them again, obey my commands all the time.
00:08:27The cuffs is riding a little high on both of you.
00:08:31So watch your low blows.
00:08:32Rich, he's got his up, Rich.
00:08:34He's got his up.
00:08:35He's got his up.
00:08:36Come on!
00:08:37Questions here.
00:08:39What do you want to do?
00:08:39Can Vince Phillips' 36-year-old legs take him through a long fight?
00:08:45Can Vernon Forrest handle Vince Phillips' punch
00:08:49if and when Phillips can land one?
00:08:53Lou Duva already complaining about the cup coming up out of the trunks of Vince Phillips.
00:09:00Lou Duva doesn't ever waste any time making himself a factor in the fight.
00:09:08So round one begins.
00:09:10Vince Phillips told us yesterday that he believed he was definitely in shape to go 12 full rounds.
00:09:16Never have any of Vince's championship fights ended.
00:09:21Over the distance, they've all been knockouts.
00:09:23He wins four times by KO.
00:09:25He was knocked out by Ike Forte and De'Ron Millett.
00:09:29He's already trying that right hand, Roy.
00:09:31Yeah, both of these guys are big right hand punches, though.
00:09:34And Vince Phillips is coming up from 140,
00:09:37so he may not be kind of big a punch as Vernon.
00:09:40When Phillips knocked out Costa Zoo,
00:09:47it was with a perfect right hand shot right up the pipe.
00:09:51You give him that opportunity and you will pay.
00:09:54The only problem tonight, though, that was different from that
00:09:56is that he's punching uphill tonight.
00:09:58Against Costa Zoo, he was punching level or downhill.
00:10:01Nice jabs by Forrest.
00:10:05And, of course, Forrest, corresponding to what Roy is pointing out,
00:10:08Forrest is jabbing downhill
00:10:10and dropping the right hand over downhill.
00:10:14And you saw Forrest sneak in a right hand
00:10:16as he moved around in the circle.
00:10:18Vince has to be very careful with that lazy jab.
00:10:20And there, Vernon tried to counter it, but he missed it.
00:10:23And when Vernon overcommitted with the right,
00:10:25Vince came up with a little uppercut.
00:10:26And there's a right hand inside for Phillips
00:10:28as Forrest misses with the left hand.
00:10:31You know, Forrest has already taken a couple of those right hands, Roy,
00:10:35and he seems a little bolder now.
00:10:37He seems sure that he can handle any one punch of Vince's.
00:10:40Oh, yeah, and he should be able to handle it
00:10:41because he's the one who started out at 147.
00:10:44Vince moved up to 147 late in his career.
00:10:46I'm not sure he's tasted Vince's A punch yet.
00:10:49No, he hasn't tasted the A punch yet.
00:10:51Maybe a B plus.
00:10:58It's not the A punch that Vince needs.
00:11:01It's the A plus fight.
00:11:02Good uppercut by Forrest.
00:11:04Step back, step back.
00:11:08And just as Larry pointed out,
00:11:10Forrest allowing himself to get a little closer now to Vince Phillips
00:11:13as round one progresses into the third minute.
00:11:17And I think Forrest is about the best skill
00:11:20in the division right now.
00:11:23He do.
00:11:24More skilled than Deloitte and Trinidad.
00:11:26Yes, I think he has more weapons than both of those fighters do.
00:11:28Well, that's saying a lot.
00:11:30He hasn't really been tested at that level yet.
00:11:34There's a hard right hand by Forrest
00:11:36that momentarily backed Phillips up.
00:11:38Now Vince tying Forrest up,
00:11:41and Forrest looking very bold now
00:11:44as the first round comes to a close.
00:11:46The only weapon I haven't seen
00:11:47is how well he takes a punch
00:11:49and how he deals with adversity.
00:11:52But skill-wise, I think he's right up there with those guys.
00:11:54So, in your view,
00:11:58has Forrest been a victim of the old syndrome
00:12:00too good for his own good?
00:12:02That's one thing he's been a victim of for sure.
00:12:05Good first round.
00:12:06Good first round.
00:12:36Number one.
00:12:41Ben, step around to the right,
00:12:42keep your hands up high,
00:12:44and quit trying to reach for him with the one shot, okay?
00:12:46When you're in close, stay close.
00:12:48If you've never seen Vernon Forrest work,
00:12:51and you've been wondering
00:12:52what all the jibber-jabber about is,
00:12:55here you can see him throwing the jab,
00:12:58staying in close,
00:13:00straight right hand over the top.
00:13:02Round one,
00:13:06CompuBox numbers.
00:13:0722 out of 72 for Forrest,
00:13:0917 out of 80 for Phillips.
00:13:10So together,
00:13:11they threw 152 punches.
00:13:13Phillips, of course,
00:13:14threw more than 100 punches per round,
00:13:16starting out in the heat of San Martin
00:13:18in the Caribbean
00:13:19against Ike Quartey,
00:13:21and eventually faded slightly
00:13:22as Quartey brought on the big artillery.
00:13:25And I think Vince fought a good round one himself.
00:13:30It's just that,
00:13:31it's just,
00:13:31is he going to be able to maintain this?
00:13:34And you saw them working on the swelling
00:13:35under the left eye,
00:13:36Vince Phillips between rounds.
00:13:38Of course,
00:13:38when you've shortchanged yourself
00:13:40often in the gym,
00:13:41as Vince has,
00:13:43and you've had weight fluctuations,
00:13:44and your body fluid content
00:13:46changes constantly,
00:13:47as Vince's has,
00:13:48you're a little more susceptible
00:13:49to cutting and swelling
00:13:50than some other fighters.
00:13:51Well,
00:13:51as you get older,
00:13:53your skin gets thinner as well,
00:13:55and right now,
00:13:55there are some bruises
00:13:57already
00:13:58around the left eye
00:14:00of Phillips.
00:14:02Hard body shot
00:14:03with the left hand
00:14:03by Vernon Forrest.
00:14:05Phillips blocked the right hand.
00:14:06Forrest finding the range
00:14:08with the jab.
00:14:12No holding.
00:14:14Great.
00:14:18You need only to take one look
00:14:28at Forrest in the ring
00:14:29to see that he's longer,
00:14:31longer than both Trinidad
00:14:32and Delahoya.
00:14:35It's an unusual body
00:14:37for a welterweight.
00:14:37He's not,
00:14:38he's not built like a statue up top
00:14:41the way Tommy Hearns was,
00:14:42but he's similar to Hearns
00:14:43in his length
00:14:45and height
00:14:46and range in there.
00:14:48Phillips needs to get inside
00:14:54of that range
00:14:55and just misses
00:14:56with the big right hand.
00:14:58Very hard to get inside
00:14:59of that range
00:14:59when a guy's using
00:15:00a good left jab
00:15:01that Vernon is using right now.
00:15:08Good head movement
00:15:09inside by Vernon Forrest,
00:15:11dodging Phillips' big shots.
00:15:14And Phillips is slipping
00:15:15more punches
00:15:15than we used to see
00:15:16him slip, too.
00:15:17And I'm thinking
00:15:18that if Forrest extends
00:15:20this fight,
00:15:21that's to his advantage
00:15:22because it figures
00:15:23that Forrest won't be
00:15:24as fresh
00:15:25in the second half.
00:15:30Cool Vince Phillips
00:15:31in the purple trunks
00:15:32against Vernon Forrest
00:15:35in the black trunks
00:15:37with blue trim.
00:15:38Forrest grew up in Augusta, Georgia,
00:15:40now lives in Atlanta.
00:15:42Pals around occasionally
00:15:43with Evander Holyfield,
00:15:45his physical trainer.
00:15:46Charles Watson used to work
00:15:47with Holyfield.
00:15:52Hard right hand by Phillips
00:15:54as Forrest was leaning in.
00:15:56Left hook lands for Forrest
00:16:04and another one
00:16:05backing Phillips up
00:16:06as the second round ends.
00:16:08He's trying to steal the round
00:16:16in the last 10 seconds,
00:16:17okay?
00:16:18Look,
00:16:18you're winning the round
00:16:19easy, okay?
00:16:20But look,
00:16:21all you got to do now
00:16:21is start doubling
00:16:22over the jab,
00:16:23bringing it right here
00:16:23behind him,
00:16:24okay?
00:16:24Now look,
00:16:25you're trying too hard,
00:16:26baby,
00:16:26because you're trying
00:16:27to hit this guy
00:16:28with something
00:16:28that's just talking
00:16:29right out,
00:16:29okay?
00:16:30And you don't need
00:16:31to pull back
00:16:32out of range.
00:16:32That's what you're doing.
00:16:33You're pulling back
00:16:34out of range.
00:16:35Stay down
00:16:36at the same time.
00:16:37Stay within your range.
00:16:38You understand me?
00:16:39Keep pivoting
00:16:39and stepping around
00:16:40to the right.
00:16:41You're not doing that.
00:16:42Catch the jab
00:16:43and step around,
00:16:44okay?
00:16:44Step to,
00:16:45catch the jab,
00:16:46step around,
00:16:46drop the right hand
00:16:47underneath and back
00:16:47over the top,
00:16:48okay?
00:16:49Come on, baby,
00:16:49let's get it going.
00:16:50Don't try to match
00:16:51the width with him
00:16:52and try to catch him
00:16:53from the outside.
00:16:54It's too long
00:16:54of a reach,
00:16:55okay?
00:16:55You with me?
00:16:58Phillips listening
00:16:59to Kenny Adams.
00:17:00Good advice, Roy.
00:17:02Pretty good advice.
00:17:03Pretty good advice.
00:17:05Kenny Adams,
00:17:06the longtime
00:17:06U.S. Army boxing coach,
00:17:08has been a force
00:17:09in amateur boxing
00:17:10in the United States
00:17:11for a long time
00:17:12and his work
00:17:13with professionals,
00:17:14Vince Phillips
00:17:14and Kennedy McKinney
00:17:15in particular,
00:17:16has been noteworthy.
00:17:17He's the one guy
00:17:18who's been able
00:17:18to get Vince to focus
00:17:20and work hard
00:17:21in the gym
00:17:21sporadically
00:17:22through his career.
00:17:24Forrest dropping
00:17:25in a right hand
00:17:25over the top
00:17:26and the CompuBox story
00:17:27of the fight
00:17:28through the first two rounds
00:17:29is Vernon Forrest's
00:17:30jab in round two.
00:17:32He landed 20 of 42
00:17:33against only 3 of 45
00:17:35jab connects
00:17:36for Phillips.
00:17:37That's why
00:17:37Kenny Adams said
00:17:38don't stay out there
00:17:39at range
00:17:40and try to out-jab him.
00:17:41Well, that's obvious
00:17:42because of Vernon's height,
00:17:44his height advantage.
00:17:45He's the outside fighter
00:17:46and his jab
00:17:47should definitely
00:17:47be his key
00:17:48weapon in this fight.
00:17:50And you saw Forrest
00:17:51winging hard
00:17:52right-hand shots
00:17:53to the body.
00:17:53Two of those in a row.
00:17:55Phillips comes back
00:17:55with a right-hand
00:17:56to the body
00:17:56on his own.
00:18:05One thing that happens
00:18:07with the older fighters
00:18:08is that they lose
00:18:09a snap in their punches.
00:18:10That's when you can tell
00:18:11that the age is starting
00:18:12to set in a little bit.
00:18:13left hook by Forrest.
00:18:20Good right hand,
00:18:21by Forrest.
00:18:24And Vincent lands
00:18:25the right hand again.
00:18:28Great!
00:18:29Step back.
00:18:33You're courting danger
00:18:34if you give Vince Phillips
00:18:35any chance to stretch out
00:18:36the right hand on you.
00:18:37You saw that uppercut
00:18:38snapping Forrest back.
00:18:39side, side, side, side.
00:18:44Forrest faints
00:18:45with the right hand there.
00:18:47I have to be with Larry,
00:18:48though, the longer
00:18:48this fight goes,
00:18:49the better it is
00:18:49for Vernon Forrest.
00:18:55Well, even on his good nights,
00:18:56Vince has never looked
00:18:57terribly steady on his legs.
00:19:01You know, he's always been
00:19:02kind of a stiff-legged fighter,
00:19:03Roy.
00:19:04Yes, he has,
00:19:04but it's because
00:19:05he's such a strong puncher.
00:19:07He relies on his legs
00:19:08strictly for power.
00:19:09Phillips' eyes
00:19:14beginning to show
00:19:15the wear and tear
00:19:17from Forrest's jab,
00:19:19and Vernon Forrest
00:19:20just taking his time
00:19:21and pot-shotting
00:19:22Phillips from the outside,
00:19:24staying at range,
00:19:25making it easy for himself
00:19:27through the third.
00:19:29Phillips is making work now.
00:19:31Oh, Phillips is getting
00:19:31all first,
00:19:32and that's good for Phillips.
00:19:36He just can't wear himself out.
00:19:37Yeah, well, this is what
00:19:39Phillips really wanted to do,
00:19:40which was to crowd Forrest,
00:19:42and right now,
00:19:43he's out working Forrest.
00:19:45Quick left hook inside
00:19:47by Forrest.
00:19:48Phillips drives a right hand
00:19:49through Forrest's chin,
00:19:51tries another one.
00:19:52Vernon coming back
00:19:53with lefts and rights
00:19:54of his own.
00:19:54Good action,
00:19:56well-to-wait fight
00:19:57through the third round.
00:19:58There's a solid left-hand counter
00:19:59by Vernon Forrest.
00:20:01Vince Phillips
00:20:01trying to make it
00:20:02into a brawl.
00:20:03He's making it
00:20:03into a brawl.
00:20:14Give me a boxing round,
00:20:16this one.
00:20:16Kind of a Noah's Ark
00:20:17thing going on here
00:20:18with the round card girls
00:20:19as the two round card girls
00:20:21have elected to work
00:20:22in tandem round by round.
00:20:24Maybe that's a heavy card,
00:20:26and they need two of them
00:20:26to lift it.
00:20:28Maybe.
00:20:28Maybe.
00:20:28Maybe.
00:20:28Maybe.
00:20:28Maybe.
00:20:28Maybe.
00:20:32Still to come tonight,
00:20:37Sugar Shane Mosley's
00:20:38second assignment
00:20:39in the welterweight division.
00:20:40The former world
00:20:41lightweight champion
00:20:42beat the stolid,
00:20:43strong Wilfred Rivera
00:20:45in his first welterweight fight.
00:20:46Can he find the slick
00:20:48box and move Willie Wise?
00:20:58We got you,
00:20:59we got you covered, Doc.
00:21:01The left eye of Forrest,
00:21:05I mean, of Phillips,
00:21:06I should say,
00:21:07tells the tale
00:21:08as we go to round four.
00:21:13In round three,
00:21:14by CompuBox numbers,
00:21:15Phillips landed 18 of 58
00:21:17power shots.
00:21:18Vernon Forrest,
00:21:1916 of 34.
00:21:26But it's easy
00:21:27to speculate
00:21:28that a judge might have
00:21:29looked at that round
00:21:30and said, well,
00:21:31Phillips was so much busier,
00:21:33he deserves the round.
00:21:48Phillips is making a good fight
00:21:49out of this fight.
00:21:53And toward the end
00:21:54of the last round,
00:21:55you were right, Roy,
00:21:56Vince was succeeding
00:21:57and tempting Forrest
00:21:59into a brawl.
00:22:01If he can keep getting
00:22:02Forrest to trade
00:22:03power shots with him
00:22:04and get Vernon
00:22:05to go away from his jab,
00:22:07he improves his chances
00:22:09of winning the fight.
00:22:09That's right,
00:22:10because his way
00:22:10of winning this fight
00:22:11is strictly by knockout
00:22:12unless Vernon tires.
00:22:13Phillips will beat Forrest's body
00:22:26a little bit more.
00:22:27Phillips will beat Forrest's body
00:22:29a little bit more.
00:22:29Forrest pulling
00:22:46down from behind the head
00:22:48as Vince came in.
00:22:49Vince losing his balance momentarily.
00:22:51And you're right, Roy,
00:22:59Phillips not working
00:22:59nearly enough to the body.
00:23:02So Forrest will have
00:23:04more in the bank
00:23:05than he might
00:23:05as we go to the late rounds.
00:23:09I think Forrest is now
00:23:10waiting for Phillips to tire.
00:23:11right hand by Phillips.
00:23:18Now Phillips remembers
00:23:20to punch to the body
00:23:21as he gets inside,
00:23:22but you can see
00:23:23how hard Vince is working
00:23:25to try to get in
00:23:26a big right-hand shot.
00:23:27And Forrest misses
00:23:28over the top
00:23:29with his own right hand.
00:23:32If Phillips is in good shape,
00:23:33this is going to try
00:23:34to be a very interesting fight.
00:23:35Uppercut inside by Forrest.
00:23:41Phillips lands a long
00:23:42right hand across the top.
00:23:43I think that was
00:23:44an eight right hand.
00:23:45Yep.
00:23:48There's a good left hook
00:23:49inside by Vernon Forrest
00:23:50and a right and a left.
00:23:51And he knocks Phillips
00:23:52back on his feet.
00:23:54Uppercut lands inside
00:23:55for Forrest.
00:23:56Phillips once again
00:23:57getting the action
00:23:59of the fight
00:23:59to go his way abroad,
00:24:00but taking a lot of leather
00:24:02from Vernon Forrest
00:24:03in the closing minute
00:24:04of the round.
00:24:05Keep shooting uppercuts
00:24:17at this guy, okay?
00:24:18Keep missing with uppercuts.
00:24:19Keep him on the outside.
00:24:20Keep him on the outside.
00:24:22As soon as he gets close,
00:24:23as soon as he gets close,
00:24:24then you got to go
00:24:25with the uppercut.
00:24:26But get the overhand
00:24:27right now, okay?
00:24:28I only want to trade
00:24:29right hands at the man, okay?
00:24:30But I'm going to uppercut.
00:24:31Keep shooting uppercuts
00:24:32at him, then give me
00:24:33no hook, okay?
00:24:34You're trying to kill him
00:24:36with punches.
00:24:36Look, relax.
00:24:39Use the jab, use the jab.
00:24:40When you get close...
00:24:41...side bench.
00:24:42Sit down and plant your shots.
00:24:44Quit aiming for the right
00:24:45hand at the head.
00:24:46If you just aim at his chest
00:24:47somewhere,
00:24:48you'll hit the target, okay?
00:24:49And come back
00:24:50to the left real quickly, okay?
00:24:52You with me?
00:24:53Hands up.
00:24:54Do me something.
00:24:55Hands up, son.
00:24:56Hands up.
00:24:57Hands up.
00:24:58Hands up, son.
00:24:59I don't know if
00:25:02Vernon Forrest
00:25:03is a little overexcited
00:25:05at this opportunity
00:25:07for everyone to see
00:25:10what all the shouting
00:25:11behind the scenes is about,
00:25:13but he's missed
00:25:13an awful lot of big punches.
00:25:15A little wild,
00:25:16maybe overanxious.
00:25:17So let's see what
00:25:18Harold Letterman thinks
00:25:19in the first four rounds.
00:25:21Jim, 39-37,
00:25:23three rounds to one.
00:25:24Vernon Forrest.
00:25:25You know,
00:25:25I tell you,
00:25:26he did real well
00:25:26in the first three rounds
00:25:27when he kept Vince Phillips
00:25:28to the end of the jab,
00:25:29but in round four,
00:25:30Vince got in,
00:25:31started landing right hands
00:25:32like he's doing now,
00:25:33and he had Vernon a little.
00:25:34But I tell you,
00:25:35Vernon Forrest,
00:25:35a big guy,
00:25:36amazingly good defense.
00:25:38He slips punches.
00:25:39I mean,
00:25:39he actually ducks
00:25:40when Vince Phillips
00:25:40throws that right hand.
00:25:41Watch the good defense
00:25:42with Forrest.
00:25:42I have it three rounds
00:25:47to one as well.
00:25:48Vince threw some body shots
00:25:49in the beginning of this round.
00:25:51That's pretty good.
00:25:53Phillips threw 92 punches
00:25:55in the fourth round.
00:25:57So far,
00:25:58he's been as good as his word
00:25:59with regard to conditioning.
00:26:02Good barrage by Forrest.
00:26:05And of course,
00:26:05we asked Forrest yesterday
00:26:07if he was excited
00:26:08about his HBO debut
00:26:10and the chance
00:26:10to show his wares
00:26:11to a larger audience
00:26:12than before,
00:26:12and he said,
00:26:13oh no,
00:26:13this is just another fight.
00:26:15Right.
00:26:20And again,
00:26:20they're trading shots
00:26:21at close range.
00:26:23And there's a big
00:26:24left hook inside
00:26:25by Forrest.
00:26:29And there's a right hand
00:26:30across the top
00:26:31by Phillips that lands
00:26:32and drives Forrest back.
00:26:35Phillips is most definitely
00:26:36the busy on the inside.
00:26:39He has to watch
00:26:40for that big uppercut
00:26:40by Vernon Forrest, though.
00:26:41This is still
00:26:42the fight that Vince
00:26:43needs to fight, right, Roy?
00:26:44Oh, most definitely.
00:26:46So Forrest is giving
00:26:48Phillips his chance
00:26:49to be in the fight.
00:26:51Or Phillips is carving
00:26:52it out himself.
00:26:53Actually, Forrest is giving
00:26:54him a chance
00:26:54by letting him stay that close.
00:26:56But Phillips has to be careful
00:26:56because he's walking
00:26:57on the inside,
00:26:58and if he gets caught
00:26:59with a good punch
00:27:00while he's walking,
00:27:00he may go down.
00:27:01As Larry pointed out,
00:27:04Forrest has missed
00:27:05a lot of big shots.
00:27:07Roundhouse right,
00:27:08swinging left hooks.
00:27:11And you have the feeling
00:27:12if he lands one of them,
00:27:13things could change
00:27:13in a hurry.
00:27:14Punch it out!
00:27:15Punch it out!
00:27:16But it takes a lot
00:27:17of energy
00:27:17to miss those big punches.
00:27:19As we saw last week.
00:27:22Heavyweight,
00:27:23Derrick Jefferson
00:27:24going down.
00:27:25There's a cut.
00:27:27Rich Phillips
00:27:28has a cut
00:27:28on his left eye.
00:27:29I can't tell
00:27:30whether it's a bad one
00:27:31yet or not.
00:27:32I think it is.
00:27:33It's a bad cut.
00:27:42Their heads have been
00:27:43close together
00:27:44throughout the round.
00:27:45It could have happened
00:27:46that way,
00:27:46or it could be
00:27:47a Forrest right hand
00:27:48that did it.
00:27:50Forrest trying to finish
00:27:51the fight with that
00:27:52one shot.
00:27:53He's getting frustrated.
00:27:56That's a bad cut.
00:27:58Around the left eye,
00:27:59Vince Phillips.
00:28:01Nothing he hasn't seen
00:28:02before.
00:28:02He's going to get out.
00:28:03Break.
00:28:03Stop it.
00:28:06Cut man is
00:28:07Dr. Richard Lucy
00:28:08from Pensacola, Florida.
00:28:10This is your cut man,
00:28:11right?
00:28:11Yes, he is.
00:28:12He's very good
00:28:12at handling cuts.
00:28:15There he goes.
00:28:16All right.
00:28:17Here you go, Jerry.
00:28:17This is a nasty one, guys.
00:28:21Don't worry about
00:28:22your eyes.
00:28:23Everything okay, baby.
00:28:24You got to stay
00:28:25close to him now.
00:28:26You got to stay
00:28:26close to him.
00:28:27You got to stay
00:28:28close.
00:28:28When you get close,
00:28:29bend your knees.
00:28:30Bend your knees
00:28:31when you're close.
00:28:31Bend your knees
00:28:32and turn them
00:28:33shots under.
00:28:33You understand
00:28:34what I'm saying?
00:28:35Ben, please do that,
00:28:36okay?
00:28:37Bend them knees
00:28:38and turn them
00:28:38shots under
00:28:39and back over the top.
00:28:40Keep everything
00:28:40short, baby.
00:28:41Ben, no long shots.
00:28:43Start to put
00:28:43everything short.
00:28:44A little short.
00:28:45Stay close to him.
00:28:46Stay close to him, Ben.
00:28:47Stay close to him.
00:28:48Stay close to him.
00:28:50Let's see if we can
00:28:51catch the punch
00:28:52that did it.
00:28:53There's an uppercut
00:28:53right there
00:28:54which seemed
00:28:55to open him up.
00:28:56Yep.
00:28:57He had a lot
00:28:58of scar tissue
00:28:58in that area
00:28:59and quite frequently
00:29:01it's the scar tissue
00:29:02area that opens up.
00:29:04There you have it.
00:29:06Total in round five,
00:29:07Forrest landing
00:29:0832 out of 64
00:29:09by CompuVax numbers.
00:29:10Phillips 17
00:29:11out of 72.
00:29:12Forrest 29
00:29:13of 49 power shots
00:29:14in his most
00:29:15accurate round
00:29:16so far.
00:29:19I think the reason
00:29:20he was so accurate
00:29:21is because
00:29:22Vincent was right
00:29:22there for him.
00:29:24So how aware
00:29:25is Vincent
00:29:26of that cut
00:29:26and how will it
00:29:28change his outlook
00:29:28on the rest
00:29:29of the fight, Roy?
00:29:30Vincent is a hard-nosed
00:29:31fighter.
00:29:31He doesn't really
00:29:32care about a cut.
00:29:32He's aware of it
00:29:33but he doesn't care.
00:29:34Stuff like that
00:29:34doesn't bother him often.
00:29:35Yeah, but it's
00:29:36a desperation time
00:29:37from Roy.
00:29:38I don't think
00:29:39he can go 12 rounds
00:29:40with that cut
00:29:41against a young,
00:29:44ambitious fighter
00:29:45like Forrest.
00:29:46Oh, that could be true.
00:29:48But I'm saying
00:29:48Vincent, he doesn't
00:29:49really care about it.
00:29:51He's not going to
00:29:52try to protect himself,
00:29:53that's for sure.
00:29:54No, he's not.
00:29:55He's going out
00:29:55on his sword
00:29:56in this fight
00:29:57one way or another.
00:30:07So Vernon Forrest
00:30:12with a lot going
00:30:13for him now
00:30:14as we near
00:30:16the midway point
00:30:17of the bout.
00:30:19Right, right,
00:30:20step out, step out.
00:30:22Fight scheduled
00:30:23for 12 rounds
00:30:25because Forrest
00:30:27has a national-type
00:30:30welterweight title.
00:30:31That's yet another
00:30:39advantage for Vernon.
00:30:40Vince might have
00:30:40liked a 10-round
00:30:41fight better.
00:30:42Oh, yeah.
00:30:42Vince seems to get
00:30:43a little tired now.
00:30:44And he's caught
00:30:45some right hands
00:30:45from Forrest
00:30:46who just landed
00:30:48two of his bigger
00:30:48shots of the fight.
00:30:50And now the blood
00:30:51beginning to flow again
00:30:52from the left eye
00:30:53of Vince Phillips.
00:30:54It's an uphill task
00:30:55for Phillips now
00:30:56as they reach
00:30:57the last minute
00:30:58of the sixth.
00:30:59And Forrest,
00:31:01who had trouble
00:31:01with accuracy
00:31:02in the early rounds,
00:31:03has begun to land
00:31:04with regularity
00:31:05with his power shots.
00:31:07And he's...
00:31:09At the inside
00:31:09of Forrest's mouth
00:31:11is now bloody.
00:31:15That cut from
00:31:16Gus and Phillips
00:31:17is bleeding
00:31:17pretty badly now.
00:31:22Great!
00:31:24Phillip tying Forrest
00:31:25up after the right hand.
00:31:28Phillips showing
00:31:34determination
00:31:35and desire.
00:31:38But Forrest
00:31:39in tactical command
00:31:40of the fight.
00:31:45Putter, get out of there!
00:31:54Get up,
00:31:55cut by Phillips.
00:31:58One thing about
00:32:06Vince Phillips,
00:32:07even on his worst nights,
00:32:09he's never come
00:32:10to do anything
00:32:10but fight.
00:32:11His game
00:32:11as they come.
00:32:14Get it!
00:32:15Come down!
00:32:17Larry, a lot of people
00:32:20regard the welterweight division
00:32:21as the most loaded
00:32:23and talented
00:32:23in the sport.
00:32:24Tell us about it.
00:32:25Well, here are the top
00:32:26welterweights out there,
00:32:27Trinidad and Delahoe,
00:32:28despite the fact
00:32:29that they brought out
00:32:30the worst in each other.
00:32:32Still on top.
00:32:34Page owns
00:32:34one of the titles,
00:32:35a dangerous fighter.
00:32:37Here's Forrest
00:32:38and Shane Mosley.
00:32:40I don't think
00:32:40that the top guys
00:32:41are losing any sleep
00:32:42over Vernon Forrest
00:32:43after having watched him
00:32:45tonight,
00:32:46but Forrest
00:32:46certainly can be
00:32:48a factor there.
00:32:48with the overhand
00:32:49right alone,
00:32:50okay?
00:32:51You're not getting
00:32:51here with the shot now.
00:32:53So look,
00:32:53don't try to hit him
00:32:54back with the shot,
00:32:55okay?
00:32:56Snap your punches.
00:32:56Snap!
00:32:57Come on.
00:32:58Give me some fat.
00:32:59Do you have it?
00:32:59Do you have the method
00:33:00that there?
00:33:01Take charge
00:33:02if they're doing it.
00:33:03Come on, Murray!
00:33:06Commission doctors
00:33:07looking carefully
00:33:07at Phillips' eye
00:33:08between rounds
00:33:09and round six
00:33:11by Copybox Nungers.
00:33:12Vince Phillips
00:33:13was able to land
00:33:13only seven out of
00:33:1479 punches,
00:33:15so Forrest,
00:33:16despite being
00:33:17a big,
00:33:18tall target,
00:33:18in there,
00:33:19is nifty
00:33:20on defense.
00:33:22At least he has been
00:33:23ever since
00:33:23Phillips sustained
00:33:24the cut.
00:33:41One fighter
00:33:42who was not
00:33:43in that graphic,
00:33:44Ike Korte,
00:33:45because he is
00:33:46moving up
00:33:47the junior middleweight
00:33:48to fight Vargas
00:33:51in April.
00:33:52Big right hand
00:33:53by Phillips.
00:33:55Landed flush.
00:33:56Forrest comes back
00:33:57with a hard right
00:33:58to the body.
00:33:59Yeah,
00:33:59that's a good body shot.
00:34:05That's one way
00:34:05to take away
00:34:06your opponent's momentum
00:34:07if he's got you going.
00:34:08Get to the ribcage
00:34:10in a hurry.
00:34:10That right hand
00:34:25to the bottom.
00:34:25May have taken a little bit
00:34:26out of this.
00:34:27and there's a solid right hand
00:34:38inside by Forrest.
00:34:40Backing Phillips up
00:34:41once again.
00:34:42Vince gets in
00:34:42his own shot.
00:34:43They trade
00:34:44at the center
00:34:44of the ring.
00:34:49Vince has taken
00:34:50some very good punches
00:34:51here from
00:34:51a natural welterweight.
00:34:53Now the guy
00:34:53has moved up
00:34:54such as himself.
00:34:57Now this is
00:34:57a resolute effort
00:34:58for Vince Phillips.
00:35:00This is a guy
00:35:00whose career
00:35:01is at stake
00:35:02and he knows it
00:35:02and he's showing
00:35:03the determination
00:35:04that ought to go
00:35:05with an occasion
00:35:06like that.
00:35:06Oh, good right hand.
00:35:09That one might have
00:35:10stung Forrest a little bit.
00:35:13Forrest is big.
00:35:14I don't think
00:35:14those punches
00:35:14really hurt him
00:35:15as bad as they would
00:35:16regular junior welterweight.
00:35:18Get out of there.
00:35:22Great.
00:35:23Step back.
00:35:32We're gonna get out.
00:35:34We're gonna get out.
00:35:34We're gonna get out.
00:35:36Keep going.
00:35:37Break.
00:35:37Step back.
00:35:38Step back.
00:35:39Step back.
00:35:40Come on, work this out and get out.
00:35:55Combination by Forrest.
00:35:57Phillips landed a right hand.
00:36:00Hard right hand by Forrest.
00:36:02Phillips walks right through it and keeps coming
00:36:04as he works all the way to the bell.
00:36:07And Forrest looks at him as if he's an old man.
00:36:10Hey, you're still here.
00:36:14Where'd you come from tonight?
00:36:20All right, Vince, we're sticking with it.
00:36:22We didn't do much that round.
00:36:24Although I thought you probably won that round,
00:36:27but the thing is, Vince, he's still not doing enough.
00:36:30He's still trying to aim at his head.
00:36:31It's going to look like you're not listening in that manner, okay?
00:36:34He's still aiming at the head.
00:36:36Okay?
00:36:37He's got a body.
00:36:38Right here.
00:36:39The lady right here.
00:36:39Straight, though.
00:36:40Don't open it some more.
00:36:41Okay?
00:36:42Now, look, when the guy get close,
00:36:43shoot some body shots in there and some uppercuts
00:36:45and step around the guy, okay?
00:36:47Now, that's the way we're trying to do.
00:36:51Good body shot.
00:36:54Later in the round,
00:36:55some good exchanges
00:36:57between the guy trying to make a name
00:37:01and a guy trying to keep his name and a guy trying to keep his name in boxing.
00:37:06What a great scenario.
00:37:07And what a tough business.
00:37:11Good body shot.
00:37:13Off the top by Vince Phillips.
00:37:15Harold Lederman persuaded to give Vince Phillips round seven,
00:37:18but Forrest with a working margin as we go to the eighth on the Lederman card.
00:37:23And you saw the copy box numbers between rounds
00:37:28indicating that Forrest has landed more than twice as many punches
00:37:32in the fight as has Vince Phillips.
00:37:35I'm surprised that Forrest hasn't been able to do anything with that bad eye, Roy.
00:37:51Oh, there's a good left hook inside by Forrest
00:37:55after a right and a left.
00:37:57So a three-punch combination landing for Forrest there.
00:38:01One of the differences between the two fighters.
00:38:03Phillips has been able to get in one good shot at a time.
00:38:06Forrest has been much more able to land two and three punches at a time.
00:38:10But you expect that out of the younger fighter
00:38:12because he's a sharper puncher,
00:38:14and he's out there to outbox the older fighter.
00:38:17Those are trying to out-punch him.
00:38:19And Forrest committing to some right hands here
00:38:23as he feels he has the chance to do damage.
00:38:25But in doing so, he gives Phillips a chance to come back
00:38:28with power shots of his own.
00:38:30Yeah, and Larry, as you're asking,
00:38:31Vince has a lot of experience at dealing with cuts
00:38:34and being put in fights.
00:38:35As you know, he's been cut a few times
00:38:37on several different occasions.
00:38:44Well, no matter what happens,
00:38:46Vince is showing that he is still a viable opponent
00:38:49for fighters at 140 to 147 pounds.
00:38:54I hope for his sake he can get in the kind of shape
00:38:57that allows him to compete at 140,
00:38:58which I think is his best weight level.
00:39:00I don't know if he can get down there anymore.
00:39:03Very hard for him.
00:39:04Phillips putting up a brave fight,
00:39:14making Vernon Forrest prove his worth.
00:39:18Good left, Mike Forrest.
00:39:19Good right uppercut.
00:39:22Back comes Phillips.
00:39:23The harder he hit through, the harder he punches back.
00:39:28Well, isn't that something?
00:39:29I guess he's one of those guys
00:39:30in the thinking press is,
00:39:32well, if he hit me and hurt me,
00:39:33he must be open to be hit.
00:39:35Just right there.
00:39:36Big right hand and a solid left hook by Forrest,
00:39:39and Phillips just hanging in there.
00:39:42You know, when a guy has battled drug addiction problems
00:39:45for much of his adult life, as Vince Phillips has,
00:39:47the stereotype is he'll quit.
00:39:50Vince is no quitter.
00:39:51Not at all.
00:39:55His addiction now, he tells us,
00:39:57has been Krispy Kreme donuts.
00:39:59A box at a time,
00:40:03which is why he's had to battle his weight
00:40:05as much as his opponents.
00:40:09And incidentally, next Thursday,
00:40:11after you buy your next box of Krispy Kremes,
00:40:14tune in to the show, The Pros Watch.
00:40:16Inside the NFL, join Len, Chris, Nick, and Jerry
00:40:18for highlights of tomorrow's AFC and NFC championship games.
00:40:22And they'll preview the matchups
00:40:24for Super Bowl XXXIV from Atlanta, Georgia.
00:40:29The Pros Watch.
00:40:35Land bill, very, very funny.
00:40:37Last weekend on the CBS studio show,
00:40:41when he lifted his chair and said,
00:40:43I'm not giving this chair to Jimmy Johnson.
00:40:46I cracked me up, too, Jim.
00:40:47Right here.
00:40:48Keep me in the center of the ring.
00:40:49Keep me in the center of the ring.
00:40:50Not on the road.
00:40:51Jab, jab.
00:40:51The guy walking by the door,
00:40:52the guy ain't got nothing for you.
00:40:53He's got to jab, jab.
00:40:55Come on.
00:40:56Come on.
00:40:56He'd walk out of the ring with the stool and say,
00:41:00well, if they want to take my stool, they'll have to bring their own.
00:41:06Harold, how do you have it going into the ninth round?
00:41:08Okay, Jim, six rounds to two, 78-74, Vernon Forrest.
00:41:13Jim, I think it's only rounds 1-4 and 7 when he did get inside
00:41:18and landed a couple of those nice right hands.
00:41:20Otherwise, Vernon just keeps him on the end of that, Jim,
00:41:22pecks away at the cut, bombs him with hard right hands,
00:41:25and I staggered him a couple of times like now.
00:41:27It's all Vernon Forrest.
00:41:30Well, I think now we're going into the last third of the fight,
00:41:33and Forrest thinks that the old guy should be ready to go.
00:41:38And Vince may be thinking just the opposite.
00:41:40He may be thinking, I've got him just where I want him now
00:41:42because he's leaning in, he's committing a little bit more to his shots,
00:41:46he's trying to knock me out, and I might get a chance to counter with the right.
00:41:50You know, that's the mindset of a puncher.
00:41:52You know, I'll just stay here if I stay here long enough.
00:41:55I'll get something in.
00:42:00Oh, another big right hand bomb by Forrest.
00:42:03And again, Vince Phillips keeps coming.
00:42:06How frustrating for Forrest now, Roy,
00:42:08that he's been able to land the kind of artillery he's landed,
00:42:11and Phillips is still right there.
00:42:13Well, he should.
00:42:13Oh, good body shot by Vince Phillips.
00:42:15He should be seasoned enough, Jim,
00:42:18to know that you're not going to knock every point out with one big punch.
00:42:20Sometimes it takes an accumulation.
00:42:22And if you're beating a guy, you should be complacent with doing it.
00:42:24You should be, you know, cool with just doing that and getting it over with.
00:42:27Don't worry about trying to knock every guy out.
00:42:30That's what this corner was trying to tell him.
00:42:31You're going for the knockout.
00:42:33The big punches are making you look bad because you're committing to them so much,
00:42:36and you're missing.
00:42:37And they're making him tired.
00:42:38That's why he's holding right now.
00:42:39And sometimes that big punch is taking the easy way out
00:42:50because you don't want to work with a guy,
00:42:52and you're trying to throw that big punch
00:42:53and knock him out and get it over with.
00:42:57Hey, incidentally, Roy,
00:42:58that lengthy discussion last Saturday night
00:43:01between you and David Telesco in the ring,
00:43:03the problems of the small farmer,
00:43:05internet stocks on the NASDAQ,
00:43:06or something to do with the fight.
00:43:08Something to do with the fight.
00:43:11Actually, some of everything was asked.
00:43:15I think he even asked me,
00:43:17why was George Foreman being so hard on me in the commentary?
00:43:20I said, maybe this is to remind him of Muhammad Ali
00:43:23and George Foreman back in the old days.
00:43:27George, having watched Derek Jefferson
00:43:29fall down against David Azan
00:43:31in a replay of his own Zaire experience
00:43:34of a quarter century before.
00:43:36Knocked himself out.
00:43:38I know one thing.
00:43:43The minute you see Aizan out on his feet,
00:43:46bet on it.
00:43:46He's about to win.
00:43:48If the referee don't stop the fight, you're right.
00:43:56That was a strike.
00:43:58The minute you see him out on his feet,
00:44:00bet on him, huh?
00:44:00That's all.
00:44:01Listen, three out of his last five fights.
00:44:03It's time.
00:44:04It's time.
00:44:09Look.
00:44:11All right.
00:44:12You got to cut the shit right now, okay?
00:44:14Cut the shit right now.
00:44:16I want you to fucking box the fucking guy
00:44:18in the center of the goddamn ring.
00:44:19In the center of the ring.
00:44:21Okay.
00:44:21Not on the roof.
00:44:22Not in the fucking corners.
00:44:23In the center of the goddamn ring.
00:44:25Okay?
00:44:25Hold it.
00:44:26Hold it.
00:44:26Hold it.
00:44:26Now use the jab.
00:44:27The guy walking right to you.
00:44:29Rodney Shields has a firm opinion.
00:44:29You let the guy back in the fight
00:44:30because you're not throwing punches now.
00:44:32Okay.
00:44:32You can't win the fight with your leaning.
00:44:34The guy leaning all over your stuff.
00:44:35No problem.
00:44:37You get, hey, everything is working for you,
00:44:39but you're not doing anything off of it, Vince.
00:44:41Keep your eyes closed.
00:44:42Keep your eyes closed.
00:44:43Keep your eyes closed.
00:44:44You understand me?
00:44:48Look at me.
00:44:48Look at me.
00:44:49What you going to do about it?
00:44:50What are you going to do about it?
00:44:51What?
00:44:54Here's Forrest at a distance.
00:44:56Still trying to land a haymaker,
00:44:58even though his punches simply have not had the effect on Phillips
00:45:02that you would think a full young heavyweight's punches would have
00:45:07on a fellow who's been 140 pounder most of his career.
00:45:13Conversely, Phillips has landed some good punches on Forrest,
00:45:17and Forrest hasn't gone anywhere either.
00:45:21So, all in all, you've got a pretty good welterweight fight.
00:45:24Although Vernon Forrest would seem to be comfortably in the lead.
00:45:29In round nine, Forrest only threw 54 punches,
00:45:32resting just a little bit.
00:45:34Landed 23 out of 54.
00:45:36He only threw 11 jabs in that round,
00:45:38and I think that's the reason you heard Ronnie Shields say enough of that.
00:45:41Well, I think Ronnie Shields was auditioning for the Sopranos
00:45:45in the corner of that round.
00:45:48I tell you what, Doc Luce has done a real good job
00:45:50on that cut from Vince Phillips.
00:45:52Hadn't he, though?
00:45:53Has not been a factor in the last few rounds.
00:45:58So add Dr. Richard Luce to the lengthening list
00:46:02of outstanding cut men in the sport.
00:46:04Good body shot by Phillips again.
00:46:18Phillips still in there.
00:46:28Still with a high energy level in the 10th round.
00:46:33Giving Vernon Forrest a stern test.
00:46:36But Forrest, for the most part, calmly doing what comes to him.
00:46:44Controlling the fight with his jab, his right hand,
00:46:46and some pretty good counter left hooks.
00:46:49And two good body shots there.
00:46:51Look inside and get out of there.
00:46:53That one hurt me.
00:46:54Yeah.
00:46:55Those were excellent body shots.
00:46:56Two good left hooks again from Forrest.
00:47:02Welcome to the main spin back.
00:47:04Great.
00:47:04Come back.
00:47:05Watch your head.
00:47:05two good left hooks again from forest well i had a view of forest as a right-hand puncher
00:47:19he's impressed me with the quickness of his left hook tonight
00:47:22and now the blood begins to flow from both eyes of vince phillips dr lucy can do his work between
00:47:31rounds but during the rounds if forest connects there's nothing he can do about that that's right
00:47:49now but bernard parser went back to boxing like he should have been doing the whole time
00:47:53yep not if he wanted to make a statement as a welterweight who mattered
00:48:01sometimes making that statement takes right out of those type fights though
00:48:07monday morning willie wise will be back at work at seven o'clock in the morning
00:48:12as a forklift operator on long island he needs the job because he needs the full-time health
00:48:17insurance to take care of his son tonight he'll try to score another huge upset to go with his
00:48:23victory this past fall over julio cesar chavez a little bit later on wise against jane mosley
00:48:29in the main event as you get back just laying stuff out laying stuff down let's get with it okay
00:48:35you ain't doing out there nothing to him forget about him
00:48:39all clean doc it's all clean look out look out let me see
00:48:47man you gotta turn the punch you loose you can feel fire for yourself all day that doesn't mean a
00:48:54damn thing you always have the good jams come on as he left vince phillips's corner
00:49:04nevada state athletic commission dr flip homansky took richard steel aside and normally when they
00:49:09have that conversation homansky is saying to steal your discretion anytime yeah look like i saw two cuts
00:49:17on what i just did i think there are two cuts over the left eye yeah
00:49:22one outside the brow and one inside the brow
00:49:30jabs in round 10 forrest 12 out of 43 phillips 4 out of 34. so after throwing only 11 jabs in the
00:49:37ninth round forrest listened to ronnie shields lecture and then threw 43 of them in the 10th
00:49:43i posed the question before the fight roy was main events protecting their star welterweights from
00:49:53forest or was forest being protected from them what what do you think i think he was protecting them
00:49:59from forest myself because the new forest had a future and their time was then why use far to not
00:50:04to take out one of their own guys who had better things to do at that time well it was really a
00:50:09little boat wasn't it yeah yeah so uh we couldn't see the forest for that tree the tree that's right
00:50:16the tree welterweights we couldn't see the fire for the trees
00:50:23once again main events had pernell whitaker ike parte and jose luis lopez all under promotional
00:50:29contract at the time when was coming up and he was never matched with any of the three
00:50:35well why waste too much with those two guys when they're your guys your guys when you can use it
00:50:38with guys like trinidad and well because maybe he emerges as a star and can win a title uh you know
00:50:46yeah but when your main event you have to look at it from a business standpoint yeah well it didn't
00:50:50work out for vernon forrest's message that's why sometimes vernon has to look at it that way too yeah
00:50:55but vernon says that he's waited patiently and he's ready now plenty of time left for him or at least
00:51:00that's the way he sees it he'll be 29 in about two or three weeks lincoln's on lincoln's birthday
00:51:07um don't hold him don't hold him when will he get his shot should be soon i'll tell you what else
00:51:11was good about that though he got a lot of valuable experience in being around those guys
00:51:15at their prime times good point come on work and he has not looked so doggone dangerous here that
00:51:21anybody's going to say we absolutely have to stay away from it it's a viable business proposition to fight
00:51:27this guy now that's right
00:51:31this is second time okay come on watch your head okay let's go
00:51:41right step back step back step back
00:51:47well despite the bloody mask cuts above both eyes and the tattooing he's taken from forest's jab at
00:52:04lengthy right hand mince phillips stands to finish the fight he can come out and fight the 12th the
00:52:10way he has the rest of the way okay now listen to me come on joe listen listen look this guy is
00:52:17fucking desperate now you understand me he's desperate no you shouldn't the referee shouldn't
00:52:22even have to break you because you're not supposed to be in there that's a final round okay i want you
00:52:27to keep it clean and watch your head all right all right now you gotta put you gotta give it your all now
00:52:33i hear the same thing don't keep doing that standing cinnamon use the jab okay
00:52:38further you're walking back to you okay bernie let's jab jab jab he's gonna he's gonna
00:52:43come after you it's the last round he's gonna be leaning over the place you can do whatever
00:52:54all right here we go
00:52:55the faces tell the story of the fight you could do your scoring off the contrast in the eyes of
00:53:11forest and those of phillips harold lederman how do you have it jim uh 108 101 nine rounds to two
00:53:19vernon forest i don't think he's lost the red since round seven but it was one in the previous
00:53:24round by richard steel for shoving him off of that shoulder
00:53:30and it looks like he's uh freezing the ball right here so what should vince do roy well
00:53:36he gotta go for the knockout that's the only thing he can do
00:53:41which in his case means trying to set up a right hand right but he has to be careful because brother's
00:53:45still strong here nothing to be careful about roy first thing that can happen for you is you lose
00:53:51the fight well you got a point there but nobody wants to get knocked out though should be abundantly
00:53:59clear to vince he ain't winning any decisions here tonight
00:54:04so the professional thing is to risk everything in pursuit of a knockout
00:54:09as for forest well you heard what ronnie shields had to say
00:54:12richard steel shouldn't have to break you you shouldn't be that close
00:54:15i think forest would love to have a knockout because he knows the difference in that credential
00:54:22and a decision over vince phillips that's the temptation that faces him as he lands against
00:54:29phillips's bloody mask
00:54:34big right hand by forest
00:54:38phillips worked himself into superior condition for this fight
00:54:41not the same vince phillips who was atrocious against teron malette in new york last december
00:54:48when he lost his hunter or lost february i should say when he lost his 140 pound title
00:55:03here's where one weapon one weapon can also hurt you if he had left hook he'd be able to make
00:55:15contact with the left hook because burning is laying to the right side yep
00:55:21this opinion or this fight change your opinion of vernon forest at all roy no no no it doesn't not at all
00:55:27he's dealing with a worthy veteran here a strong puncher and he's basically had his way with him
00:55:33and do you still think that he is as skilled or more so than delahoyan trinidad yes i do anytime
00:55:38when he's fresh when he's fighting under his regular machine he counter punches every time
00:55:42vince comes at him he uses the jab wisely when vince doesn't come at him he fights a perfect fight for
00:55:48me for a long rangy guy gotcha don't want to get out come on he's not he's not like what trinidad was
00:55:55in the delahoyan fight which was out over his front group you couldn't tell whether trinidad was a
00:55:59rangy fighter or inside fighter correct this guy knows what type of fighter he is well said
00:56:04a good decisive victory by forest but probably not the kind of dramatic victory
00:56:19that he would have preferred to force his way into the top echelon of the welterweight division
00:56:26and maybe for vince phillips who has financial problems enough of a sturdy performance and a
00:56:33demonstrated commitment here to lengthen his career a little bit and get him a few more decent paychecks
00:56:39maybe
00:56:39roy uh forest told us the story of his days as a high school track runner 400 800 yards and he was in a
00:56:50race and the guy was coming up to pass him he turned around and cold cocked the guy and i guess that's
00:56:56when he knew he was a fighter that's one way to win
00:57:03harold let's get the 12th round okay i gave it a vernon forest once again 10 rounds to two 118 110
00:57:12vernon forest like like larry says a very decisive victory he snaps the jab scored hard right hands
00:57:18caught vince phillips on the way in constantly vernon forest every point we score on defense
00:57:24aggressiveness clean punching everything he just dominated the fight vernon forest deserves this one
00:57:30big
00:57:34and let's go to ring announcer michael buffer for the official particulars
00:57:39gentlemen hbo boxing after dark is famous for its battles tonight another chapter has been added
00:57:46to its great wars how about a round of applause for both champion and challenger
00:57:50as the leather flew here tonight we now go to the budweiser scorecards carol castellano
00:57:58and chuck champa both scored the ballot 117 to 111 gail van oy has it 120 to 108 hold the winner by
00:58:07unanimous decision and still champion vernon the viper forrest
00:58:18so vince phillips was a harder rock than we might have expected but vernon forest crushed him anyway
00:58:25unanimous decision for the welterweight contender making his first appearance here on hbo and stating
00:58:32his case for a higher foothold in the division's galaxy of stars final punch that numbers and you will see
00:58:40that forest landed more than twice as many as phillips through slightly less and therefore connected at
00:58:47more than twice as high a percentage vince phillips trying but failing to reverse the tide of of the combat
00:58:55as forest nominated almost all the way jab numbers and of course we talked about forest's
00:59:00superior range and length and he made it pay off landing 93 more jabs throwing 42 fewer but tripling the
00:59:08connect percentage of the opponent vince phillips another welterweight contender upcoming as in our next
00:59:16bout you'll be seeing shane mosley once the supreme lightweight in the world now having moved up 12 pounds
00:59:23he gets ready for his second welterweight appearance the first one was against tough wilfredo rivera this
00:59:28one is against slick willy wise we'll be back with that after this look at upcoming programs on hbo
00:59:35february 19 tune in for a special edition of boxing after dark one night one fight 122 pound
00:59:42champ eric morales defends his title against fellow mexican marco antonio barrera both fighters hoping the
00:59:48winner then gets a shot against nasim hamed one week later oscar de la oya makes his return to the
00:59:54ring in his first fight since his disappointing loss to felix trinidad last november de la oya hopes to
00:59:59rebound against daryl coley live from madison square garden also that night the human action figure artura
01:00:06gatti takes on joey gamache only on hbo the heart and soul of boxing and on monday tune in
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