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00:00:00On June 11th, the parking lot at Caesars Palace was transformed into an arena of naked battle

00:00:08when Larry Holmes and Jerry Cooney met for the heavyweight championship of the world.

00:00:13There was the sudden knockdown of the giant Cooney in the second round.

00:00:17You gotta move in and rough this guy, you gotta move in.

00:00:22The crushing low blow suffered by Holmes in the 9th round.

00:00:26Ain't nobody better than you, champ. You work every day for it.

00:00:32And in the 13th round, consummate craftsman Larry Holmes batted Jerry Cooney to retain his title.

00:00:52Larry Holmes and Jerry Cooney for the heavyweight championship of the world.

00:01:20This is round one, round one in eastern Pennsylvania, Larry Holmes' lounge.

00:01:25Behind me, you'll notice a blow up and cut out of Larry as he fought Muhammad Ali.

00:01:30Larry is with us to take a look at his fight with Jerry Cooney.

00:01:34We're gonna show you the entire fight with Jerry Cooney, and also we're gonna isolate on the key

00:01:39and some of the controversial moments in that fight.

00:01:42Inevitably, just as there are questions before a major fight, there are questions after a fight.

00:01:47What about Cooney's punch? Was it as hard as advertised?

00:01:51What about that peculiar scoring of the fight?

00:01:54And where is Larry Holmes' place in boxing history now?

00:01:57Larry, even though you won the fight convincingly, I thought at the end of the fight you were just totally spent.

00:02:04It had been as hard a fight as you'd ever fought.

00:02:07Yes, I would say it was a hard fight, but I wasn't totally spent.

00:02:11What took a lot out of me was the people coming into the ring, hugging me, squeezing me, just taking it all out of me.

00:02:19Ray Arcel, he was so happy, he didn't want to let go, and he took a lot out of me, and so did Don King.

00:02:26But I was just happy that was over.

00:02:29You were angry before this fight, angrier than I had ever seen you,

00:02:33and yet you focused that anger in a positive way rather than a negative way on the fight.

00:02:39Yes, well, I was angry, but I didn't let the anger get me down, make me forget of what I had to do.

00:02:45I wanted to be able to yell into the ring and demonstrate all my talent

00:02:49and to show people that I'm a bigger man or a better champion or have more class than what they say I have.

00:02:55So I went on out there, and I done what I had to do.

00:02:58As I said earlier before the fight, in order to knock Jerry Cooney out, I had to make him drunk before I mug him.

00:03:05And this is what my plan was, so I went out and I boxed him,

00:03:08did what I had to do to get him in the position to take him out.

00:03:11Larry, let's go back to the other round one now,

00:03:14the round one in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Heavyweight Championship of the World, June 11, 1982.

00:03:23It is the mecca for the world of lavish entertainment,

00:03:26a showcase for the top names in show business,

00:03:28a playground for flamboyant high rollers,

00:03:31and the dramatic arena for the Super Bowls of boxing.

00:03:34Tonight, from Caesars Palace on the strip of Las Vegas, Nevada,

00:03:38HBO Sports presents World Championship Boxing.

00:03:42The pride and the glory, WBC Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes

00:03:46defends his crown against the number one contender, Jerry Cooney.

00:03:50To be sure, the heat here in Las Vegas has been oppressive,

00:03:53but the 100 degree temperatures that we recorded on our own thermometer ringside here at Caesars Palace

00:03:58just a little bit ago are nothing compared to the heat of anticipation

00:04:01that has surrounded this Heavyweight Championship fight.

00:04:04Hello, everybody, I'm Barry Tompkins, and it is a pleasure to welcome Sugar Ray Leonard,

00:04:08the welterweight champion. Ray, good to see you back among them.

00:04:11Well, thank you, Barry. This is my first major appearance, and it's always a pleasure working with you.

00:04:14All the statements about this fight have been said,

00:04:16all the words have been spoken and written for the past several months.

00:04:19Ray, let me give you some of those statements.

00:04:21Give me your response, if you would.

00:04:22First of all, the one that we hear and see all the time,

00:04:24Jerry Cooney is just not of the caliber, too inexperienced,

00:04:27to be fighting a guy like Larry Holmes.

00:04:29Well, that is true, Barry. Jerry Cooney is inexperienced,

00:04:32but I think that factor won't make a difference because he does carry a big punch in the left hand.

00:04:36Larry Holmes, 32 years old, people say the legs are gone.

00:04:39Well, Larry Holmes has been in a lot of wars with Ernie Savers, Ken Norton.

00:04:43He's been through a series of knockdowns with Rinaldo Snipes.

00:04:46I think that there's a question mark there, and Jerry Cooney will have to answer it.

00:04:51Jerry Cooney is a one-handed fighter. He has a left hook, he has nothing more.

00:04:54Again, the same answer for Jerry Cooney. He's a big heavyweight, and all he needs is one punch.

00:04:58Larry Holmes is the kind of guy who doesn't possess a knockout punch.

00:05:01The only man he's put down for the count since he's been heavyweight champion is Alfredo Evangelista.

00:05:05Well, Larry Holmes, he throws a series of combinations,

00:05:08and I think the accumulation of punches that Larry Holmes throws is very, very effective.

00:05:12Jerry Cooney has fought people on the way down. He's fought nobody on the way up.

00:05:16Well, that's true once again, but I still believe that Cooney is capable of knocking any man he lands a punch on.

00:05:21Larry Holmes is a guy who's scared right now, out-psyched, if you will,

00:05:24because the public support has gone to Cooney, and Holmes feels it should have been to him.

00:05:27Now, I have to say no to that, because I think that Larry Holmes has been knocked down,

00:05:31and there's a great fear there, Barry, the fact of getting off the canvas and coming back.

00:05:35Larry Holmes has been through major wars, and the fact that he faced Muhammad Ali here,

00:05:40and that was a very significant fight. I don't think he's gun-shy or he's in awe of any of this attention.

00:05:46As we've said, the statements have been made.

00:05:48The final statement is about to be made in this 20-foot square ring right behind us.

00:05:51But, you know, this is much more than just a sporting event.

00:05:54And for the other side of this heavyweight championship fight, let's get some comments from our own Larry Merchant.

00:05:59Larry?

00:06:00The basic reason for this multimillion-dollar extravaganza is that,

00:06:04just as blacks identify with heroes like Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali,

00:06:08white people occasionally invest in a Vince Lombardi or a Jerry Cooney.

00:06:13Because Sugar Ray Leonard is the most popular athlete in America of any persuasion,

00:06:17I think it's fair to say that this impulse is more racial than racist.

00:06:22But that impulse has projected Jerry Cooney into this rich opportunity,

00:06:27despite the fact that he's never faced a legitimate contender,

00:06:30and that he hasn't fought anyone for more than a year.

00:06:33That's the simple truth of the matter.

00:06:35But as someone once said, what's so hot about the truth?

00:06:38The truth also is that there's a lot of excitement and electricity and anticipation here.

00:06:43The fight offers a contrast between the champion Larry Holmes,

00:06:47a boxer who has faced just about every test and passed it,

00:06:50and a challenger, Jerry Cooney, who, though he is relatively inexperienced,

00:06:54is young and strong and unquenchably faithful to his destiny.

00:07:00If his chin proves to be as strong as his faith,

00:07:03and he's never been faced with a test of that chin by a real pro like Larry Holmes,

00:07:08then he has a punchous chance to become the heavyweight champion.

00:07:12I'm glad I'm here, about to get the answers.

00:07:18Well, you look at what is certainly a spectacle here at Caesars Palace.

00:07:21This is Jerry Cooney, the challenger, coming into the ring.

00:07:24I've talked to you on several occasions about this kind of thing.

00:07:26What are the thoughts that a fighter has at this juncture?

00:07:29Well, coming out, especially for the challenger,

00:07:31this is the biggest moment of your life, and you want to win.

00:07:36He has been very calm throughout the week.

00:07:38I would have to think now, Ray, the butterflies have got to just be churning at Jerry Cooney.

00:07:42Oh, without question, Barry.

00:07:43At this point now, an opponent is closer to the heart attack than anything,

00:07:47because the pressure is there, the anticipation.

00:07:49Once you step into the ring, oh, the feeling.

00:07:52You must experience it to understand it.

00:07:54But do you have to get hit at least one time for all the butterflies to go away,

00:07:57for everything just to become all business, to worry about winning a championship?

00:08:00Does that or can that happen before the first punch is thrown?

00:08:03Once a punch is landed, whether it's your punch or the other guy's punch,

00:08:07then it's okay.

00:08:08But then again, if you're on the loser's end, the butterflies never really go away.

00:08:19Fans throughout the crowd.

00:08:20I have to think the public sentiment right now is toward the challenger, Jerry Cooney.

00:08:23But fans all over the opposite side of the ring from us,

00:08:26dressed in green, green and white, those have become the colors of Jerry Cooney.

00:08:29Well, the people are without question behind Jerry Cooney.

00:08:32And from a mockable standpoint, Cooney did a commercial without being champion,

00:08:36but what lies ahead of him if he becomes champion?

00:08:39You know, everybody's been saying that the guy is inexperienced,

00:08:41that he hasn't fought anybody.

00:08:43And I can only hearken back to another heavyweight

00:08:45who people said the very same thing about.

00:08:47They said, who did he ever fight?

00:08:48The heavyweight I'm talking about was Rocky Marciano.

00:08:50The people they were talking about was Jersey Joe Walcott,

00:08:53Ezra Charles, Archie Moore.

00:08:54They said they were all old men.

00:08:56Well, the same thing went for Leon Spinks,

00:08:58a guy coming from the Olympics, no way, no experience.

00:09:01But he became the heavyweight champion of the world.

00:09:04Jerry Cooney has fought just 3 minutes and 45 seconds in the last 25 months.

00:09:09That perhaps is the biggest question mark that hangs over that man's head right now.

00:09:13Well, that's a question that needs to be answered,

00:09:15although I think that Jerry Cooney is pleased and very content

00:09:18with the way he's been progressing.

00:09:20You don't have to go 15 rounds to prove that you're a great fighter.

00:09:23People say that there's a code in boxing,

00:09:25that a man has to suffer to really be effective and to get the public adoration.

00:09:28Has Jerry Cooney suffered enough?

00:09:30I doubt that very seriously, but this fight here with Larry Holmes,

00:09:33he's a great example of doing everything in the ring.

00:09:36This is a very good test and a very good challenge for Jerry Cooney.

00:09:39Jerry Cooney has been quoted as saying coming into this fight

00:09:42that Larry Holmes can only move for so long.

00:09:44He's going to have to stand up and move at the beginning,

00:09:46and after a while, he's got to stop moving and start fighting.

00:09:49Well, you're going to have to hit Larry Holmes in order to slow him down.

00:09:52Holmes has been very effective throughout boxing his opponents,

00:09:56and then eventually he's getting flat-footed and stopping them.

00:09:59Jerry Cooney comes into the ring, he does look relaxed,

00:10:01but at the same time, he has a rather stern look in his face.

00:10:04Victor Valle, his trainer, a guy that Jerry Cooney calls Pop,

00:10:08and that's been the kind of relationship they've had.

00:10:10Well, that type of relationship helps.

00:10:12It's very helpful with the fighter and his trainer or manager.

00:10:16Jerry Cooney comes in here, of course.

00:10:18He has won 25 fights. He has not lost a fight.

00:10:21He has 22 knockouts, and the question, of course,

00:10:23the biggest question is can he go the distance?

00:10:26Can he go any kind of a distance?

00:10:29He's knocked out in one round.

00:10:33So things are rather calm in the ring right now

00:10:35as we await the presence of the champion, Larry Holmes.

00:10:38Cooney still does look calm, but there is a little bit of tenseness,

00:10:41I think, in his face that I haven't seen earlier this week.

00:10:43Well, he's tight without question.

00:10:45I know the feeling being in that ring for a major fight.

00:10:50Jerry Cooney realized, as a matter of fact, that he was a great puncher

00:10:53only after training for a fight with a guy by the name of Animal Lopez

00:10:56and he got knocked out. It wasn't Lopez that made him realize what a good puncher was.

00:10:59It was a sparring partner that was important,

00:11:01and he hit him with the left hand to the stomach.

00:11:03The sparring partner went down, and it was at that point that Jerry Cooney said,

00:11:06maybe I can really hit somebody here.

00:11:08There was no question as to the left hand of this guy.

00:11:10Well, Jerry Cooney's left hand, without question, is his major asset,

00:11:14and they say he's a one-handed fighter.

00:11:16All he needs is one hand because he carries a big punch in that left hook.

00:11:19Cooney comes from Huntington, Long Island,

00:11:21and who was the last hero in Huntington, Long Island?

00:11:23It goes back quite a ways.

00:11:25The poet was the last hero.

00:11:27Boxing, really unheard of in that community,

00:11:29essentially a white-collar community.

00:11:31Not really a hotbed of boxing.

00:11:33And speaking of a hotbed of boxing,

00:11:34Easton, Pennsylvania's proudest son, Larry Holmes,

00:11:38making his way very quickly into the ring now.

00:11:40And you've talked about this on several occasions too,

00:11:42and that is that it's great to break a sweat,

00:11:44to really work yourself up, and that may be what Larry Holmes is doing here.

00:11:46Yes, he's doing. He must loosen up,

00:11:48and Larry Holmes has been in the ring a number of times, so many times,

00:11:51and he's aware that he must be loose

00:11:53against a puncher like Jerry Cooney.

00:11:55We've talked about some of the questions that have to be answered

00:11:57so far as Jerry Cooney is concerned.

00:11:59There are some questions that have to be answered

00:12:01as far as Larry Holmes is concerned too,

00:12:03and one of them I think you can relate to very well,

00:12:05and that is, has his ego been challenged?

00:12:07I think it's safe to say that happened with you

00:12:09in the first fight you had with Roberto Duran.

00:12:11You had something you had to prove, and it cost you the fight.

00:12:13What about Larry Holmes?

00:12:15Well, I think Larry Holmes is aware

00:12:17that he must do Jerry Cooney in.

00:12:19The sooner the better.

00:12:21And the people have been with Jerry Cooney

00:12:23throughout this whole training schedule,

00:12:26and Larry Holmes won't change all of that.

00:12:29Larry Holmes comes in here having won 39 fights without a loss.

00:12:32He has 39 and 0.

00:12:3429 of those fights coming as knockouts.

00:12:38You look at the champion. The champion looks stern.

00:12:40He also does look relaxed.

00:12:42The other side of the coin is Jerry Cooney.

00:12:44Let's take a look at the tail of the tape, Ray,

00:12:46and really the real glaring difference is the age.

00:12:48Larry Holmes is 32. Jerry Cooney is 25.

00:12:50So without question, Barry, the age is a factor.

00:12:52Being older, without question,

00:12:54the legs have the tendency to go, and the height.

00:12:56It's no good unless you know how to use it.

00:12:58Otherwise, it's really comparable.

00:13:00Jerry Cooney comes in 13 pounds heavier.

00:13:02He has 3 inches in height.

00:13:04But really, the reach is the same, and all things being equal,

00:13:06I would say there's little to choose between these two

00:13:08other than the fact that one man is 7 years the senior of the other.

00:13:13Ladies and gentlemen, the officials...

00:13:15Let's go to the ring announcer right now, Chuck Hall,

00:13:17for the introduction of the fighters.

00:13:19For the next contest, the judges are

00:13:21Dwayne Ford, Dave Moretti, and Jerry Rock.

00:13:25The timekeeper is Charlie Rock.

00:13:27Counting at the knockdowns, Jane Broadfoot.

00:13:30The attending physicians at ringside,

00:13:32Dr. Donald Romeo and Dr. Flicklmanski.

00:13:35And the referee is Mills Lane.

00:13:40This is the main event of the evening.

00:13:4315 rounds of boxing for the WBC

00:13:47heavyweight championship of the world.

00:13:50Introducing, in the red corner,

00:13:53fighting from Easton, Pennsylvania,

00:13:56weighing 212 and one-half pounds,

00:14:00the undefeated WBC heavyweight champion of the world,

00:14:06the Easton Assassin, Larry Holmes.

00:14:18And in the blue corner,

00:14:22fighting out of Huntington, New York,

00:14:25weighing 225 and one-half pounds,

00:14:29he is undefeated in his professional career.

00:14:32He is ranked number one by both the WBA and the WBC.

00:14:37Introducing, gentlemen, Jerry Cooney.

00:14:43Well, a crowd in loud support of Jerry Cooney,

00:14:46but Ray, tradition in boxing,

00:14:48partnered with a very, very major ray here

00:14:50to introduce the champion first.

00:14:52I was quite surprised, Larry,

00:14:53because normally a champion gets the respect

00:14:55of being announced last.

00:14:57Very big surprise.

00:14:58I don't know if that's going to have

00:14:59any kind of a psychological effect

00:15:00or if it was anything that was preplanned.

00:15:02Victor Valle, the final words to Jerry Cooney.

00:15:04And now we are going to find out

00:15:06if all the hoopla was only that

00:15:07or if what is here is really a challenger,

00:15:10a likely challenger, to the champion, Larry Holmes.

00:15:13Holmes will stare.

00:15:14Cooney will look straight down.

00:15:15That we expect.

00:15:16Mr. Holmes taught us.

00:15:18Remember, protect yourself at all times.

00:15:21Understand that.

00:15:22Shake hands, fellas, get it on.

00:15:24We're going to do a fight.

00:15:29Now, it is not unheard of for Larry Holmes

00:15:31to sprint across the ring at his man.

00:15:33Let's see if he does that now with Jerry Cooney.

00:15:36Cooney is a guy who has not gone past

00:15:38the first three minutes of a fight

00:15:39in his last two outings.

00:15:41Cloud comes alive.

00:15:42There is electricity.

00:15:43I realize that that may be a cliche,

00:15:45but there is simply no other way

00:15:46to describe what is happening right now.

00:15:49Both men wearing white trunks.

00:15:51Cooney with a cloverleaf.

00:15:52Red trim on Larry Holmes.

00:15:54Holmes comes quickly out,

00:15:55takes a jab from Cooney.

00:15:56Round one, the heavyweight championship of the world,

00:15:58the most anticipated fight in years.

00:16:02Cooney, that quick left jab,

00:16:03or rather Holmes, that quick left jab again.

00:16:05Holmes circles Cooney.

00:16:06Cooney's stationary right now.

00:16:08Lash, keep moving.

00:16:09Larry has a flickering left jab.

00:16:10Very quick, very accurate.

00:16:12And it stuns you,

00:16:13but Cooney's left jab is very, very potent.

00:16:16It comes out very strong.

00:16:18Holmes all business with the jab right now.

00:16:20That is what he said he was going to do,

00:16:22so all the conversation before the fight

00:16:24is going pretty much according to plan right now.

00:16:27Cooney dancing.

00:16:28Cooney digging a left to the body,

00:16:30and Holmes spins off the ropes.

00:16:32At this point now,

00:16:33especially in the first round, Bert,

00:16:35anything can happen.

00:16:36I wouldn't be surprised if one of the guys went down

00:16:38because they both seem to be a little tight

00:16:40in this first round.

00:16:41It's a good observation.

00:16:42Both men do.

00:16:43Cooney looking very patient right now.

00:16:45Cooney, of course, has a shoulder problem.

00:16:47He has also been cut on the bridge of his nose.

00:16:49That happened not too long ago,

00:16:50and I am certain that Larry Holmes

00:16:52is going to take a good long look at that

00:16:53and try to point that jab toward the bridge of the nose.

00:16:56Cooney tries to force the action again.

00:16:57In fact, even here early in round one,

00:16:59there's a little reddening on the nose of Jerry Cooney.

00:17:01No damage, no blood, but just a little reddening.

00:17:04Again, the flicking jab.

00:17:06There has been a big question

00:17:07as to whether or not Jerry Cooney has a right hand.

00:17:10Some observers say that the injury that he had

00:17:12might have helped his right hand.

00:17:13Well, Cooney won't be able to do any damage

00:17:15unless he hurts his man

00:17:16and gets him against a rope or in a corner.

00:17:18Outside in the center ring,

00:17:20it will be all Larry Holmes

00:17:21unless he's hit by a certain punch.

00:17:23Holmes being very effective early on with that jab.

00:17:26Cooney has scored once for the left of the body.

00:17:30Cooney ideally is at about 8 inches away

00:17:33to do the most damage.

00:17:34They say Jerry Cooney doesn't have a right hand.

00:17:37I'm waiting for Jerry Cooney to release that right hand

00:17:40because I think it will be a big surprise to Larry Holmes.

00:17:42That was a left hand that was low, thrown by Jerry Cooney.

00:17:46Holmes again with the jab.

00:17:48This is round one.

00:17:49Nobody, I don't think, amongst the 32,000 people here

00:17:52anticipates this fight will go 15 rounds,

00:17:56including the participants.

00:17:59Holmes tries an uppercut,

00:18:00but Cooney tries an uppercut.

00:18:01A wild right-hand lead that time by Jerry Cooney

00:18:03is sidestepped neatly by Larry Holmes, the champion.

00:18:06Cooney can't afford to throw punches

00:18:08such as he threw earlier

00:18:10because Larry Holmes is very quick

00:18:12and a very intelligent fighter.

00:18:15Cooney, of course, can strike very quickly

00:18:17and he does follow up.

00:18:18That has been a question

00:18:19about some of the opponents that Larry Holmes has had.

00:18:22They have knocked him down.

00:18:23They have been unable to put the clincher on.

00:18:25Cooney has never had a problem with that.

00:18:28Most observers feel that if Larry Holmes

00:18:30can last four or five rounds,

00:18:32then the fight should be his.

00:18:33Cooney tries to press it. No damage.

00:18:35Again, Holmes with a jab in the face.

00:18:45Cooney trying to jab.

00:18:46Took a good right hand that time from Holmes,

00:18:48but did not take a backward step.

00:18:50End of round one.

00:18:51A lot of activity in that round, Ray.

00:18:53It's a virgin ground for both fighters.

00:18:57So it really wasn't a peeling out process.

00:18:59Both men throwing some pretty heavy artillery.

00:19:02You look into the corner of Jerry Cooney

00:19:04Victor Valley, of course, the man in the ring.

00:19:06Only one man is allowed in the ring.

00:19:08Cooney nodding his head

00:19:09to whatever it is that Valley is saying.

00:19:12Will he drop the corner of Jerry Cooney?

00:19:15You got to double jab,

00:19:16not single jab, Jerry.

00:19:17Single jab is no good.

00:19:19Double jab.

00:19:20Nice and cool.

00:19:21Get that defense.

00:19:22This guy is shit.

00:19:24Cool.

00:19:25Little shit, Jerry.

00:19:28All right.

00:19:29Nice and cool.

00:19:30Relax.

00:19:31Let's do our fucking business here.

00:19:33This is shit.

00:19:34Relax, Jerry.

00:19:35When he goes wild,

00:19:36when he goes wild,

00:19:37don't go wild with him.

00:19:39Just take your goddamn time.

00:19:40Flat.

00:19:41This is shit.

00:19:45I feel a lot of Holmes.

00:19:47I feel now, for the first round,

00:19:49he's found out what witness Jerry Cooney possesses.

00:19:52So we come to the center of the ring for round two.

00:19:55This is the heavyweight championship.

00:19:57He's on the hang time.

00:19:58Over the gap.

00:19:59Watch him.

00:20:00Watch the gap.

00:20:01Watch the gap.

00:20:03Both men in great condition.

00:20:04No question about it.

00:20:05Both those punches were a little bit short

00:20:07by Jerry Cooney and Larry Holmes.

00:20:09Holmes still up on his toes.

00:20:11Still keeping that jab right in the face

00:20:13of the challenger, Jerry Cooney.

00:20:17Both men look all business.

00:20:19Holmes drops his hands when he's away from his man,

00:20:21but it's not a showboat tactic.

00:20:23It's a way to relax.

00:20:25That's a very good move tactic by Larry Holmes.

00:20:28Jab to the head, jab to the body.

00:20:30And Holmes is staying off the ropes right now,

00:20:32and I think that's something that could be significant

00:20:35as this fight goes on.

00:20:36It's very significant because Cooney's

00:20:38destructive for any man that gets against the ropes

00:20:41or in the corner.

00:20:45This is just the second round.

00:20:46It is a hot night.

00:20:47You saw Holmes bounce off the ropes right away that time.

00:20:49Didn't give Cooney a chance to smother him there.

00:20:51Holmes has been affected with the jab

00:20:53with the nose of Jerry Cooney.

00:20:55Neither man is marked.

00:21:01It's been said that Larry Holmes has more to lose

00:21:04by a loss to Jerry Cooney than Jerry Cooney has to lose

00:21:08by a loss to Larry Holmes.

00:21:14Holmes has said on several occasions,

00:21:16this will be it, he will retire.

00:21:17There is nobody in the house who believes that.

00:21:24There was a great psychological battle involved in this fight.

00:21:27That psychological battle is now over.

00:21:29It is now down to four hands.

00:21:31What I noticed about Jerry Cooney,

00:21:32he must get in position.

00:21:33He must sit up to throw a punch, a solid punch.

00:21:36I think as long as Larry Holmes is moving laterally,

00:21:39he's going to give Cooney a lot of trouble,

00:21:41especially if he's able to connect with the overhand right.

00:21:44It's a chopping right hand that you saw Cooney throw

00:21:46a moment ago, and it came up a little bit short.

00:21:50Holmes has been throwing that right hand only on occasion.

00:21:53He led with it once in the first round.

00:21:54He has been staying off the ropes.

00:21:57And Cooney took a good right hand from Holmes.

00:22:00He staggers and is down.

00:22:02Cooney is down from a right hand by Larry Holmes.

00:22:06He is back up, and he is on rubber legs, Ray.

00:22:08This will be the round.

00:22:09I see that Cooney's legs are still rubbery,

00:22:12and without question, Larry Holmes is going to take

00:22:14advantage of this opportunity and get Jerry Cooney out of there.

00:22:17Cooney has 30 seconds to survive.

00:22:19Remember, Larry Holmes said round two.

00:22:21Cooney tries to take a left hand to the body.

00:22:23Holmes being very patient.

00:22:28Cooney's legs seem to be back a little bit right now.

00:22:30It was a right hand from Holmes that put him down.

00:22:33And now, Holmes works with a jab once more.

00:22:36Ten seconds remaining in the second round.

00:22:40Cooney with a jab to the top of the head of Larry Holmes.

00:22:46And he's down.

00:22:47Larry Holmes.

00:22:51End of round two.

00:22:52Larry Holmes, Ray, being very patient after he had his man down.

00:22:55Obviously, he didn't think he was hurt that bad.

00:22:57Well, he was. Jerry Cooney was hurt very seriously

00:22:59because Larry set his man up with an overhand right.

00:23:02And here, we take a look at it.

00:23:04As Larry Holmes moves around his man,

00:23:06he throws a jab to the body.

00:23:07It comes across with a crunching right hand,

00:23:09and as we see here, Cooney's in big trouble

00:23:12as he stumbles, can't catch his balance,

00:23:14and he eventually goes down.

00:23:18We'll take another look at it, Ray, from another angle.

00:23:20Well, here we have a better shot.

00:23:22That overhand right to the top of the forehead

00:23:24really put Jerry Cooney in a great deal of trouble.

00:23:27Well, I think the impressive thing so far with the champion

00:23:30is, again, he's really not wasting any punches.

00:23:32Significant, of course, as the fight goes on.

00:23:34We take one more look, Ray.

00:23:36I was gonna say it's significant,

00:23:37reminding me, at least, of Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:23:39Well, again, we saw how Larry Holmes set his man up

00:23:41with that jab to the body, overhand right to the head.

00:23:43We might see it again, Barry.

00:23:47So, again, Holmes being very patient.

00:23:49Larry Holmes has always been a guy

00:23:51who has looked for the long route.

00:23:53He's not really a guy who looks for a knockout

00:23:55because he's not a one-punch knockout artist.

00:23:58We mentioned at the top of the show

00:24:00that he's really only put one man down for the count

00:24:02since he's been champion.

00:24:03Well, time was with Jerry Cooney.

00:24:05Fortunately, there was not much time left,

00:24:07or if there was, I mean, Jerry Cooney

00:24:10would have been out of there.

00:24:12Again, Holmes with a very effective flicking jab.

00:24:18Holmes being patient.

00:24:20He has not had his back on the ropes this entire fight,

00:24:22and that has taken the fight plan of Jerry Cooney

00:24:24away from him.

00:24:26That was a good left hand by Cooney,

00:24:28and it stunned Holmes momentarily.

00:24:30It was a left hand to the side of the head by Cooney.

00:24:33Best punch of the fight for the challenger.

00:24:35I was curious to see Cooney's reaction

00:24:37after being hit with Floyd.

00:24:39He maintains composure,

00:24:40and now he's starting to come back against Larry Holmes.

00:24:43There's another good left hand to the chin of Larry Holmes.

00:24:46Holmes did not appear to be hurt,

00:24:48but they were two good punches by Jerry Cooney.

00:24:51And another one.

00:24:52That one not as effective as the other two.

00:24:57Holmes again keeping his hands down about chest level,

00:25:00and Cooney now going upstairs after going to the body early.

00:25:10And another good left hand by the challenger.

00:25:12Cooney scored to the cheek that time of Larry Holmes.

00:25:15And Cooney being effective right in this round.

00:25:17As long as Larry stays right in front of his man,

00:25:19Cooney's gonna be able to deliver that left hook

00:25:21to the body to the head.

00:25:23And another good right hand that time by Cooney

00:25:25backs Holmes up.

00:25:30Little bit of puffiness alongside the right eye

00:25:33of the champion.

00:25:34It does not, at this juncture at least,

00:25:36appear to be anything serious.

00:25:37Just a little puffiness.

00:25:39The other man is really marked.

00:25:42This is round three.

00:25:44A combination of a left and then a right.

00:25:46Both were a little bit short thrown by Cooney.

00:25:48Holmes retreating now here in the third round.

00:25:51Cooney's fist was stronger than Larry Holmes,

00:25:53although Larry Holmes has the experience to get out of the way.

00:25:56Holmes with the right hand a little bit short

00:25:58on the nose of Jerry Cooney.

00:26:06Holmes cornered very quiet.

00:26:08Right hand also a little bit short.

00:26:10Not really doing any damage,

00:26:12but the head snapping back of Holmes.

00:26:14And Holmes once more gets off the ropes.

00:26:16You can see when Cooney's about to unleash that left hook.

00:26:19He extends his left foot

00:26:21and he releases that left hook to the body.

00:26:24He steps in with it.

00:26:26That was a right hand by Holmes that time.

00:26:32Holmes being very patient, Ray.

00:26:34He has to be against a puncher like Jerry Cooney.

00:26:36He's doing the right thing.

00:26:40A little bit of reddening again on the nose of Jerry Cooney.

00:26:43No blood from either man. We're in the third round.

00:26:45Five seconds remaining. Counting down.

00:26:47Good round for Jerry Cooney here.

00:26:49Uppercut misses. End of round three.

00:26:54Larry Holmes smiled at Jerry Cooney going back.

00:26:57Nothing antagonistic.

00:26:58At this point, I think each fan has the other's respect.

00:27:11You hit him in the middle, Cooney.

00:27:15Inside the back, look that way.

00:27:20Keep moving. Side to side. Don't go straight past.

00:27:26Listen, Jerry, you have to get that pointy bone.

00:27:29You've got to get that pointy bone.

00:27:31Get that pointy bone.

00:27:33You've got to shift. Go down on the deep and hook to the chin.

00:27:37When you want to throw the right hand, get down on the little bit.

00:27:39And then throw it.

00:27:42Give me the mouthpiece.

00:27:47Holmes up off his stool early. Cooney remains seated.

00:27:50Now he comes up. This is the fourth round.

00:27:53In the center of the ring.

00:27:54That last round was a confidence builder for Jerry Cooney.

00:27:59Holmes goes back for the jab.

00:28:01Now, Holmes is flat-footed. He was on his toes for the first two and a half rounds.

00:28:04A good left to the body backs Holmes up.

00:28:10Get that right hand.

00:28:15Larry Holmes flat-footed and backing up right now.

00:28:17Takes four jabs, but inconsequential jabs they are from Jerry Cooney.

00:28:21But what Jerry Cooney wants to do, you notice he's throwing a left hook to the body.

00:28:24He wants to slow Larry Holmes down as much as he possibly can and then take control.

00:28:30And this is the fourth round.

00:28:31Now, a lot of people said from this juncture on, the fight should belong to Larry Holmes.

00:28:35If Cooney couldn't get to him early, he could left-hand him ahead.

00:28:40Holmes seems to be measuring his man a little bit more.

00:28:43A left digs downstairs to the body, but it was not a great punch by Jerry Cooney.

00:28:47Now, you notice Larry Holmes became flat-footed.

00:28:49Normally, he figures his man out and he saw an opening and he wants to get to it.

00:28:54That was a right hand to the ribs that time that seemed to hurt Holmes a little bit.

00:29:01I don't think Holmes can afford to exchange punch for punch with Jerry Cooney.

00:29:06Holmes has been very patient.

00:29:07Actually, both men have been much more patient than I expected they would be to tell you the truth.

00:29:15That was two right hands and again, it staggered Jerry Cooney.

00:29:18Left hand rather than a right hand staggered him a little bit.

00:29:24Cooney does not appear to be hurt.

00:29:25It was two lefts, back-to-back by the champion.

00:29:28I'd be curious to see what would happen if Holmes started going to Cooney's body.

00:29:35There's another left hand from the challenger, Jerry Cooney.

00:29:39Holmes' jab has not been as effective in the last round and a half.

00:29:46Let's see if Holmes does start to go to the body.

00:29:48One minute remaining here in the fourth round.

00:29:54A puffiness under the eye or alongside the eye of Larry Holmes does not appear to be any worse here in the fourth round.

00:29:59It wasn't the third.

00:30:01Cooney's starting to get inside just a little bit.

00:30:03And whether Holmes is pacing himself or not remains to be seen.

00:30:05The left hand and the right misses.

00:30:07Well, again, Larry's flat-footed.

00:30:08I think he wants to support Cooney, as Jerry said.

00:30:11Holmes took three good shots that time from Cooney.

00:30:14Holmes is hurt.

00:30:20I don't think so, Brad.

00:30:21I think he was just dazed by the impact of the punch.

00:30:24He seems to be still composed.

00:30:25Larry Holmes still has his senses.

00:30:29Holmes remains flat-footed.

00:30:30He still is not at his back on the ropes.

00:30:32And that is a significant factor here in the fight.

00:30:35Flicks the left jab and misses it.

00:30:36Right hand misses by Cooney.

00:30:38The crowd really comes alive now, actually, for the first time tonight.

00:30:44Cooney has the right hand, but it's not as accurate and as powerful as his left hand.

00:30:48Cooney with another good left to the ribs of Larry Holmes as the bell sounds ending the fourth round.

00:30:53And Holmes a little bit slow going back to his corner.

00:30:55We are in Jerry Cooney's corner.

00:31:26If he jabs once, he's got to jab twice.

00:31:48Cooney does seem to be breathing heavy.

00:31:52We come to the fifth round.

00:31:53Center of the ring.

00:31:56Cooney getting his confidence quite a lot here.

00:31:59I think here at this point, I think age is a factor.

00:32:03He's starting to set in with Larry Holmes.

00:32:05Although I've seen Holmes, his expression on Holmes' face in a number of fights.

00:32:09And he's always come out victorious, so it could be deceptive.

00:32:13So far, neither man really taking control.

00:32:15Left hand by Cooney scores again on Larry Holmes.

00:32:20Holmes backing up and Cooney coming after.

00:32:23Well, Jerry's doing what he'd do best.

00:32:24He's stopping his opponent, trying to get him in the corner and work his body.

00:32:29Combination. Not really a damaging combination from Jerry Cooney against Larry Holmes.

00:32:33But significantly, Larry Holmes is flat-footed.

00:32:36Now he tries to get out of there again, but takes a left hand to the head in the process.

00:32:46Cooney jabbing actually rather effectively.

00:32:48In fact, maybe at this juncture, a little bit more effectively than the champion.

00:32:51Well, I feel this way that Cooney's height is starting to help him out,

00:32:54as far as inexperience is concerned,

00:32:56because it's quite difficult to hit a tall man who has three or four inches over you.

00:33:02Cooney at 6'6", another good left hand, and Holmes spins out of there.

00:33:08Cooney has been the aggressor here.

00:33:10A little puffiness around the face of Larry Holmes right now.

00:33:12This is the fifth round.

00:33:14Holmes misses with a wild left hand.

00:33:16Well, see, that's what Larry Holmes has to do, Barry.

00:33:18He has to mix his punches up.

00:33:19He can't throw the same consistent left jab.

00:33:21He has to go for the body, left hand to the head, mix his punches up, confuse his opponent.

00:33:28Larry Holmes, at this point, has got to have a lot of respect for the guy in front of him right now, and vice versa.

00:33:41Holmes again, still flat-footed.

00:33:43Now he gets up on his toes.

00:33:44And a right hand, and that backs up Cooney.

00:33:50Well, the question has been asked, can Cooney take a good punch?

00:33:53He's taken a number of punches from Larry Holmes.

00:33:56Holmes with another right hand, but again, Cooney's right there.

00:33:59Cooney talks to Holmes.

00:34:02And Cooney comes right back with a strong left jab.

00:34:05Cooney goes downstairs, caught that one on gloves, did Holmes.

00:34:10And neither one of those punches really damaged him.

00:34:12But I noticed, when Larry Holmes is moving, and boxing,

00:34:15he can land with that overhand right, but the minute he's flat-footed,

00:34:18it's not as effective as it is when he's moving.

00:34:20Inside the 30-second mark, remaining here in the fifth round,

00:34:23and that's one of the few clinches we've had tonight.

00:34:26Well, these guys have been throwing punches from the first round up to this point.

00:34:30Both men have taken some very good shots.

00:34:33Holmes, with a combination, gets out of there.

00:34:35Cooney comes after him again.

00:34:41Cooney going to the head now, more than the body, whistling left hand, misses by Holmes.

00:34:49End of round 5. Very close fight so far.

00:34:51As you mentioned, Ray, both men taking some pretty good shots.

00:34:58Let's take a look at the right hand thrown by Larry Holmes here, Ray.

00:35:00Well, we can see how effective that overhand right of Larry Holmes is,

00:35:03as he lands that overhand right on Jerry Cooney.

00:35:05And Cooney has answered the question, can he take a punch?

00:35:08Took a good shot right there. He backed up one step, but that's all.

00:35:11It came right back to action.

00:35:15In the corner of Jerry Cooney, and now in the corner of the champion, Larry Holmes.

00:35:17I hope this guy takes your title away from you.

00:35:20Get it, Tim. Get it, Tim. Get it, Tim. Get it, Tim, big Jack.

00:35:24Get him in a no-comeback. Get it, Tim.

00:35:28Get the boss out there, Tim. This is your show. Turn the TV off.

00:35:33Get the boss, Jack. Get the boss.

00:35:38Get the boss, Tim. Get the boss.

00:35:47Jerry Cooney remains seated longer, but he does not seem to be tired.

00:35:50Neither man really seems to be fatigued at this juncture.

00:35:53Round 6.

00:35:54Jerry just gave me a wink, Barry. I think he's very confident.

00:35:59I know that there are a lot of people who expect that Jerry Cooney to be forcing the fight at this point,

00:36:03and yet he is doing that.

00:36:05Holmes is back on his toes now here as we start the 6th round.

00:36:08That is where he's been most effective.

00:36:11Holmes still keeping those arms rather low,

00:36:14but that has been his style.

00:36:16It's good enough for 39 straight victories.

00:36:22There's a right hand, big widespread right hand,

00:36:24and actually, Barry Holmes' legs went a little rubbery,

00:36:28but he did grin at him after that.

00:36:36Cooney again, this time gets his man against the wall.

00:36:38Cooney again, this time gets his man against the ropes,

00:36:40but once more, Holmes gets out of there.

00:36:42Holmes is spending no time on the ropes.

00:36:44He knows that's where he can really be hurt.

00:36:46Well, he can't afford to go. He has to get off those ropes and out of those corners.

00:36:50He knows Lane has a conversation with Larry Holmes.

00:36:52I don't know what that was about.

00:36:58Those shots to the body.

00:36:59And a left hand into the body of Larry Holmes,

00:37:01thrown by Jerry Cooney with very big punches.

00:37:03Right uppercut comes a little bit short.

00:37:07Cooney jabbing, I think, perhaps more effectively

00:37:09than a lot of people thought he would.

00:37:11Holmes' jab is a right hand at the top of the head,

00:37:13but Holmes did not step backwards.

00:37:18I have to say, Holmes' jab has not been as effective

00:37:20in the last three rounds as it was in the first three.

00:37:23Well, both fighters, the punches became more accurate,

00:37:26and this, without question, is a knockout fight.

00:37:30Neither man has made any mistakes.

00:37:32Each has fought the fight that he needs to fight.

00:37:34Both men have been hurt.

00:37:35Both men have retreated on occasion.

00:37:37Cooney has forced the fight most of the way.

00:37:40As Holmes was able to put Cooney down,

00:37:42I just knew that was it, Burr.

00:37:43But time was on Cooney's side.

00:37:46Sharp left jab.

00:37:47Remember, the only knockdown of the fight coming in the second round.

00:37:49Cooney with a left hand, another left to the body.

00:37:52But the right hand missed.

00:37:53Cooney has been somewhat ineffective so far with the right hand.

00:37:56There was a right to the body, right hand lead.

00:37:57Those were good punches by Jerry Cooney.

00:37:59And once again, Burr, I have to say,

00:38:01I was in this ring, and it's hot.

00:38:03And age is a factor.

00:38:04Jerry Cooney, fortunately, is a young man,

00:38:06and he can take majority of this heat.

00:38:09Well, we said that could be, really,

00:38:10the only part of the tail of the tape

00:38:12that could have any significance whatsoever,

00:38:14and that is age.

00:38:16Cooney at 25, and Holmes at 32.

00:38:19Inside of 30 seconds remaining in the sixth round,

00:38:21that right hand was caught by the glove of Jerry Cooney.

00:38:24There was a left hand by Cooney.

00:38:25Holmes comes back with a right hand,

00:38:27and the legs wobble once more.

00:38:28Cooney is in trouble against the ropes.

00:38:30Holmes tries to measure.

00:38:31A right hand misses, but another one scores.

00:38:32And another right hand.

00:38:33While a left and an uppercut,

00:38:34Cooney goes through the rope,

00:38:35but it's still on his feet.

00:38:37Battling game lead.

00:38:3810 seconds inside of 10 seconds remaining.

00:38:40A right hand, hard right by the champion.

00:38:43Cooney is still on his feet.

00:38:45Holmes scoring almost as well,

00:38:46but Cooney will not go down.

00:38:48End of the round.

00:38:49A big round for Holmes,

00:38:50but Cooney would not fall.

00:38:53Jerry Cooney's took a lot of punches from Larry Holmes.

00:38:59Take another look at the punishment

00:39:00that was handed out by Larry Holmes against Jerry Cooney.

00:39:04Well, Cooney landed those big body shots to Larry Holmes,

00:39:07but Holmes was able to come back.

00:39:09And here we see Larry Holmes

00:39:10just pretty dominating Jerry Cooney.

00:39:12Has Cooney in big trouble,

00:39:14and here, he just can't get any more clean punches in, Barry,

00:39:17to get his man out of there.

00:39:18Cooney did the right thing,

00:39:19trying to smuggle Larry Holmes' punches,

00:39:21and he was able to survive the round.

00:39:23First punch, first big one,

00:39:24was a right hand to the top of the head.

00:39:26Almost the same punch as we saw in the second round.

00:39:28Well, that right hand by Larry Holmes

00:39:30caught Cooney on the side of the face,

00:39:32and it put him in trouble,

00:39:33really big trouble.

00:39:34Cooney did the right thing,

00:39:35stayed close to Larry,

00:39:36and Larry was unable to land another clean blow.

00:39:41And at that point,

00:39:42I really thought Cooney was going to go down.

00:39:43He came between the ropes,

00:39:44bounced back up,

00:39:45stayed on his feet,

00:39:46took four or five more shots,

00:39:47and was still on his feet at the end of the round.

00:39:49He came back strong enough

00:39:50to land some good punches on Larry Holmes.

00:39:52Now is a real test for the challenger, Jerry Cooney.

00:39:55Holmes, very patient,

00:39:56still neither man is marked.

00:39:57There is a swelling around the left eye

00:39:59of Jerry Cooney,

00:40:00rather bad swelling, actually,

00:40:01and Holmes works on it.

00:40:02Now there's a little blood

00:40:03alongside the eye of Jerry Cooney.

00:40:05It is the left eye.

00:40:09And Holmes almost unquestionably

00:40:11will work on that.

00:40:12Holmes knows that right hand

00:40:13gets through very easily,

00:40:14and you're going to see Larry Holmes

00:40:15attempting to throw out a right hand,

00:40:17or land a right hand,

00:40:19time to time.

00:40:20Holmes working the left hand

00:40:21on the left eye of Jerry Cooney.

00:40:23There is blood,

00:40:24you can't really tell

00:40:25because there's a lot of vaseline up there

00:40:26exactly where that cut is.

00:40:28It appears to be in the eyebrow.

00:40:30Well, Cooney keeps his hands up,

00:40:31his guards up very well.

00:40:33Larry, she goes to the body,

00:40:34bring his hands down

00:40:35to come over with the overhand right.

00:40:37Swelling under the eye of Jerry Cooney as well,

00:40:39but the cut, I believe,

00:40:40is alongside the eyebrow,

00:40:41and Cooney, uh, Holmes, rather,

00:40:43is really peppering that eye

00:40:44with the left hand.

00:40:50Cooney, a good left to the body that time,

00:40:52but Holmes knows

00:40:53that he has his man in trouble now.

00:40:55And that cut is rather nasty

00:40:57along with the swelling underneath it, Ray.

00:40:59Well, that's another experience.

00:41:00As a fighter,

00:41:01there's never been cut before.

00:41:03It's like a trauma.

00:41:04It's a big experience in one's career.

00:41:07It is also the kind of cut

00:41:08where the blood will drip

00:41:09into the eye of Jerry Cooney.

00:41:12And I'm sure it's troubling him right now.

00:41:14Holmes really seems to just be measuring his man,

00:41:16looking at the extent of that injury to the eye.

00:41:20It is not enough right now to stop the fight,

00:41:22but certainly it will become effective.

00:41:29Cooney has been very tough so far.

00:41:31He has no reason to back off.

00:41:32There is also a cut on the bridge of the nose

00:41:34of Jerry Cooney now.

00:41:35Well, after being in trouble a couple times,

00:41:37I'm very impressed with the way

00:41:39Jerry Cooney's able to come back.

00:41:42And now you can just see

00:41:43the confidence surge in Holmes.

00:41:44He missed a wild right hand,

00:41:45but that left jab has been very effective in this round.

00:41:48More so since any round since the second.

00:41:52Larry Holmes' rhythm

00:41:53is starting to throw Jerry Cooney off.

00:41:55Whenever he's bouncing and boxing,

00:41:56it seems to throw Cooney's punches off.

00:41:58He can't really land any clean blows.

00:42:00The fight is really seesawed, actually.

00:42:01The first couple of rounds were Larry Holmes

00:42:03and then Cooney really started to come on.

00:42:05And he really had control of the fight

00:42:06until that knockdown in the last round.

00:42:08And now Larry Holmes seems to be in control again.

00:42:10Blood from the bridge of the nose of Jerry Cooney

00:42:12and alongside the left eye.

00:42:1430 seconds remaining.

00:42:167th round, scheduled for 15.

00:42:18Nobody believes it'll go that far.

00:42:20Holmes really looks very confident right now.

00:42:23The cut on the nose I don't think really bothers Cooney.

00:42:25He tries to bomb Holmes with the right hand,

00:42:27but Holmes doesn't back up.

00:42:28Combination that time, right hand leading

00:42:30and a left to the body.

00:42:32Cooney draws a warning from Mills,

00:42:34laying for a low blow.

00:42:36That was a right hand by Cooney.

00:42:38Cooney still has not backed up.

00:42:39You've got to give the man credit where it is due.

00:42:43End of round 7.

00:42:45Holmes makes his way back to his corner.

00:42:47Holmes looks like a confident fighter right now, Ray.

00:42:49Yes, he does.

00:42:50And as a matter of fact,

00:42:51he made a prediction he would stop his man in 7 rounds.

00:42:55Put that right there.

00:42:57Jerry, you've got to move in this guy now.

00:42:59You've got to take a change.

00:43:00You're standing too straight.

00:43:01You're standing too fucking straight.

00:43:04It's not good either.

00:43:05Now you go there.

00:43:06I'm telling you the fucking truth.

00:43:07It's not good either.

00:43:08Now you go there.

00:43:09I'm telling you the fucking truth.

00:43:10It's not good either.

00:43:11Now you go there.

00:43:12I'm telling you the fucking truth.

00:43:13Is that true?

00:43:14Is that good?

00:43:15So you cannot stay straight.

00:43:16You've got to move in and rub this guy.

00:43:18You've got to move in.

00:43:19You've got to move in this guy and rub this guy.

00:43:21Don't let him get from that side.

00:43:22You're staying too long.

00:43:24Now you've got to move in on this guy with your hand.

00:43:26Get into a crouch.

00:43:28I think that tells the whole story.

00:43:30What you just heard Victor Vallee say

00:43:31is the story of this fight.

00:43:33The eye does not look too good.

00:43:35You've got to crowd this man.

00:43:36You've got to get in on him.

00:43:37That simply said is what Jerry Cooney has to do.

00:43:39Well Cooney must do that.

00:43:40He must get inside and stay close to this man

00:43:42because his eye looks very bad.

00:43:46So that is the scenario right now.

00:43:48Larry Holmes comes out to the center of the ring.

00:43:49The eye is closing rapidly.

00:43:52Puffiness underneath and a cut alongside the eye.

00:43:55The blood has stopped for the moment

00:43:56but Larry Holmes certainly will work on it.

00:43:59And Cooney trying to heed the advice of his corner

00:44:01and that is crowd Larry Holmes.

00:44:04Now that is something unquestionably easier said than done.

00:44:07Cooney tries to get inside.

00:44:08Digs the right and left hand rail

00:44:09into the heart of Larry Holmes.

00:44:13Holmes still appears to be measuring his man.

00:44:15He's been very effective with that jab since the cut.

00:44:18Cooney's now faced the man as mobile

00:44:20and as versatile as Larry Holmes.

00:44:21So I think this is what's creating trouble for Jerry Cooney.

00:44:26Holmes with a good jab again.

00:44:27Holmes is just keeping Cooney off balance.

00:44:29Keeping him off of him in general

00:44:30and not allowing him to do what Victor Vallee said.

00:44:37It is not easy to crowd a man

00:44:38when you have his left hand in your face.

00:44:40It is very difficult.

00:44:42Cooney needs to stay closer

00:44:43because outside Larry Holmes throws that left jab

00:44:45and makes that cut even worse.

00:44:48Really no blood showing from the eye of Jerry Cooney

00:44:51here in the 8th round.

00:44:53But the eye is very puffy.

00:44:55And now the blood starts from the nose of Jerry Cooney

00:44:57who does get Holmes momentarily on the ropes

00:44:59but Holmes gets off there very quickly.

00:45:01Holmes fighting a very smart fight so far

00:45:03and Cooney with no reason to back off.

00:45:05Got a right uppercut in on the chin that time of Holmes.

00:45:11So Cooney has not gone away.

00:45:14And Holmes comes out with a left

00:45:15and a right hand is short.

00:45:21Now this is when Larry Holmes can really capitalize

00:45:23on Cooney's mistakes.

00:45:24When Cooney makes that big miss.

00:45:27That was a right hand that actually Holmes was open for

00:45:29but Cooney could not score with it.

00:45:30Holmes has gone back flat footed now.

00:45:32He's been most effective when he's been on his toes.

00:45:36Jerry doesn't seem as strong as he was in the first round.

00:45:40Right hand is kind of pointed and it is getting in

00:45:42but it's really not doing much damage.

00:45:44There's not as much bang on Cooney's punches.

00:45:46Although I still think he's capable of really hurting Larry.

00:45:51One minute remaining here in the 8th round.

00:45:54Holmes seemingly pacing himself a little bit.

00:45:55Tries a right hand lead but misses with it.

00:45:57Cooney misses with a right of his own.

00:46:00Holmes now stationary for just a moment.

00:46:02Waits for Cooney to throw a left hand.

00:46:05That's as close as Holmes has come

00:46:06to really being in a corner.

00:46:08He is flat footed.

00:46:09Takes a right hand.

00:46:10And actually might have been hurt a little bit

00:46:12by that right hand.

00:46:15Cooney now backs up a little bit.

00:46:16Lost his mouthpiece in that last exchange.

00:46:19Cooney tries to get inside again.

00:46:20Can't quite do it.

00:46:21Holmes keeps him off of it.

00:46:23And a combination that time by Holmes.

00:46:25Scores once more on Cooney.

00:46:26And a right hand by Holmes that time.

00:46:28Right hand by Cooney again.

00:46:29Gets in but doesn't do any damage.

00:46:31There's a right hand by the champion.

00:46:32And another right hand.

00:46:33They both challenge each other, Burr.

00:46:36Exchange and blows.

00:46:39A left hand that time.

00:46:40A little bit short.

00:46:43Again, not a lot of blood.

00:46:44Cooney's corner has really done a pretty good job on the eye.

00:46:46The blood still pours from the nose.

00:46:48But the eye doesn't seem to be any worse right now.

00:46:51Take a look at this.

00:46:52Well, this round we saw both men.

00:46:54I think they was really challenging each other.

00:46:56Because Larratt threw that right hand.

00:46:58And Cooney came back with some punches of his own.

00:47:01Here we see Cooney's mouthpiece comes out.

00:47:06And now Larratt still stalking his opponent.

00:47:08Trying to get closer.

00:47:09And Cooney still not intimidated.

00:47:11And now Cooney's got a little bit of a lead.

00:47:13And he's got a little bit of a lead.

00:47:15And now Cooney's got a little bit of a lead.

00:47:17And now Cooney's got a little bit of a lead.

00:47:19And now Cooney's still not intimidated.

00:47:20I have to ask you, Ray.

00:47:21Does a fighter sometimes just take a round to kind of catch his breath?

00:47:23Do you ever do that?

00:47:24Because I would, just as an observer, I would think that that might have been what Larry Holmes was doing.

00:47:28Well, Larry did close.

00:47:45Ray Arcel at 82 years old.

00:47:47Still offering some sage advice.

00:47:49Saying, don't let this bum take this fight from you.

00:47:51Well, Cooney is hardly a bum.

00:47:53He has represented himself very well so far tonight.

00:47:55The champion fighting every bit the part of a champion.

00:48:02Not a lot of people felt this fight would go to the extent that it has.

00:48:06That being the 9th round.

00:48:08I was one of the guys too.

00:48:10I didn't think the fight would go past 5 rounds.

00:48:13This is the furthest route that Jerry Cooney has ever trod.

00:48:20What you hear from the crowd are not boos.

00:48:22They're yelling for Cooney.

00:48:23A left hand to the nose that time of Holmes thrown by Cooney.

00:48:26And Holmes goes against the ropes for one of the few times tonight.

00:48:30And now the blood has really started to pour from the eye of Jerry Cooney.

00:48:34I don't know if it was a punch that opened the cut up again.

00:48:37A left hand and a combination by Cooney.

00:48:39But that cut looks pretty nasty right now.

00:48:41Over the left eye of Jerry Cooney.

00:48:45The eye just has slid.

00:48:46He's got to have trouble seeing, I would think.

00:48:48Yes, that's the reason he's going straight at Larry.

00:48:50Larry can't afford to let Jerry Cooney just rush him straight ahead.

00:48:55Larry needs to sidestep.

00:48:56Let his man run off balance.

00:48:58And then take advantage of it.

00:48:59Let me ask you something that I asked you after your fight with Thomas Hearns.

00:49:02And that is, have Thomas Hearns perhaps hooked you?

00:49:05Come with a little bit more from the outside to the inside with his punches.

00:49:08You said yourself you wouldn't have been able to see him.

00:49:10That's true, because I had no peripheral vision.

00:49:12And I think that cut is affecting Cooney's sight now.

00:49:16From the side, his peripheral vision.

00:49:19So let's see if Larry Holmes there is a good right hand.

00:49:21Exactly what we were just talking about.

00:49:23What surprises me, Brad, when Larry lands that overhand right,

00:49:26Cooney comes back with something.

00:49:29Cooney still does have something here.

00:49:31His left hand has still been affected.

00:49:33His right hand he has pushed a little bit.

00:49:35Arm punches for the large part with the right hand.

00:49:37And that took again by Cooney.

00:49:43Once again, Holmes just does not seem to be able to

00:49:46get Cooney off of him here and really do some business.

00:49:49The eye has not gotten terribly worse

00:49:53since it was opened up in the 6th round.

00:49:58Cooney is still the aggressor in the fight.

00:50:02Left hand that time now to the right side of Jerry Cooney's face.

00:50:07And there's a right hand.

00:50:08And once more it staggers Jerry Cooney.

00:50:10But Cooney fights back.

00:50:15I don't know the reason for that call.

00:50:19Bill's land stopping momentarily talking to Jerry Cooney.

00:50:2230 seconds remaining here in the 9th round.

00:50:24I sent him up for the right hand again.

00:50:27And there was a low blow thrown by Cooney.

00:50:31And Larry Holmes will now have as much time as is needed

00:50:35to recover from this low blow.

00:50:37That was a big punch, Barry, to the groin.

00:50:425 minutes, says Mills Lane now.

00:50:44He will have up to 5 minutes to resume.

00:50:47Ray R. Salmon in the ring.

00:50:48A lot of conversation about this.

00:50:50Now in this case I would have to think

00:50:52that could help Jerry Cooney as much as it could help Larry Holmes.

00:50:55Take another look at it.

00:50:56Well, we have a look.

00:50:57And that was a very low blow by Jerry Cooney.

00:51:04Once again, you would have to think

00:51:05that this could help the challenger as much as the champion.

00:51:08I think it can help both men.

00:51:10The punch was unintentional, I'm quite sure.

00:51:13And at this point now,

00:51:14because they've been throwing a lot of punches,

00:51:16the rest helped both men.

00:51:19The time will be stopped

00:51:20and Larry Holmes can take up to 5 minutes

00:51:22to recuperate from that low blow.

00:51:24Certainly it was unintentional.

00:51:25Take another look at it.

00:51:26Well, we see it from a different view.

00:51:28And that left hook by Jerry Cooney

00:51:30goes right down to the groin area of Larry Holmes.

00:51:35Holmes can take a few more minutes if he wants it here.

00:51:38He can start fighting any time he wants,

00:51:40but he can take up to 5 minutes.

00:51:44Holmes says he's okay.

00:51:46And the fight continues.

00:51:50The left hook that time

00:51:51thrown by Cooney to the head of Larry Holmes.

00:51:53Holmes does not seem affected by the low blow.

00:51:56Cooney misses with the right hand.

00:51:58Holmes just gets the hit out of the way in time.

00:52:00Cooney's left eye is not appreciably worse than it was,

00:52:03but there's a swelling underneath it.

00:52:05Not a lot of blood alongside it now

00:52:07as Cooney gets in the corner for a moment.

00:52:09Rather, Holmes gets in the corner for a moment at the bell.

00:52:14So Larry Holmes will now have another 3 minutes to recoup.

00:52:17So Larry Holmes will now have another 3 minutes to recoup.

00:52:47That's yours, champ.

00:52:48For 4 years it's been yours.

00:52:50For 4 years, champ.

00:52:52You deserve it.

00:52:53Ain't nobody deserving more than you, champ.

00:52:55You work every day for it.

00:52:57Come on.

00:52:58It's your title, champ.

00:52:59There was a little swelling under the eyes of Larry Holmes

00:53:02in about the 2nd round, 3rd round.

00:53:05It has gotten no worse since then.

00:53:08As we come to round 10,

00:53:09Larry Holmes up off the stool once more.

00:53:12And Victor Valley right in the ear of the challenger, Jerry Cooney.

00:53:18You heard Valley say,

00:53:20you got to hook to the chin

00:53:22and go with the right hand to the kidneys.

00:53:34Holmes again, flat footed combination

00:53:36was a good left hand.

00:53:37And now Cooney dances in front of him

00:53:39and mocks Larry Holmes

00:53:41as if to say, I am not hurt.

00:53:47And again, a punch that was a little bit low

00:53:49thrown by Cooney.

00:53:50A right hand missed and Holmes backs out of there.

00:53:55Cooney really the aggressor.

00:53:56A right hand and a head that time by Cooney

00:53:58and a left to the head of Larry Holmes

00:53:59as Cooney comes alive here.

00:54:01Holmes at his back to the ropes.

00:54:03You notice how aggressive Cooney became

00:54:05because there was too much force taken away from Jerry Cooney

00:54:07for that low blow.

00:54:09And that can be significant in a fight that is close.

00:54:18Holmes goes flat footed again.

00:54:20Remember, he has done the most damage

00:54:21when he's been up on his toes.

00:54:23And Holmes took a right hand that time from Cooney

00:54:25and that lines him up.

00:54:26It was a good right hand guard

00:54:27because he landed very solidly.

00:54:32It's not any one punch that hurts,

00:54:34but it's a combination of all of them that do.

00:54:38Another right hand from Cooney.

00:54:41There's a right to the body

00:54:42and a left hand was low

00:54:43and Holmes comes back with an uppercut

00:54:45that goes right on the chin of Jerry Cooney.

00:54:47And another right hand.

00:54:49That was blocked in the march part

00:54:50by the gloves of Cooney.

00:54:56This is the tenth round.

00:54:58Holmes seemingly has been in control of the fight,

00:55:00but Cooney has not gone away

00:55:01and he has been the aggressor.

00:55:03And right now,

00:55:04I think you might have to say

00:55:05that Cooney is the harder puncher.

00:55:06Yes, he still is very strong.

00:55:08Earlier I said that Cooney

00:55:09didn't have that much sting on his punches,

00:55:11but now he seems to be refreshed,

00:55:13a new fighter.

00:55:15Left hand was a little bit short.

00:55:17As Larry Holmes has stayed flat-footed,

00:55:19of course that could always be an indication

00:55:21that a man could be getting tired.

00:55:23Well, Holmes could very well be tired,

00:55:25but you know,

00:55:26I feel that Larry's trying to make him punch himself out.

00:55:30Cooney forcing the action

00:55:31and Holmes is providing a stationary target.

00:55:33There's a right hand by Holmes!

00:55:36And another right hand

00:55:37and now Cooney reels into the corner.

00:55:40I think Larry put a little trick on though.

00:55:42And a left hand scores by Holmes

00:55:44and a right!

00:55:46And another right hand by Larry Holmes.

00:55:48That right hand becoming very effective.

00:55:49It has been his best punch.

00:55:50There's another.

00:55:51And a left hand on the right behind him.

00:55:53Oh, right on the face of Jerry Cooney.

00:55:56Both of these guys taking big punches from each other.

00:55:59And standing toe-to-toe now,

00:56:00and Holmes with a right hand

00:56:02caught largely by the glove.

00:56:03So was that one.

00:56:04Cooney comes back with a left and a right of his own.

00:56:08I would think this position

00:56:09is where Cooney really wants to be,

00:56:11right on his man.

00:56:12That's where he is the most effective.

00:56:17There's another right hand by Holmes.

00:56:19Keeps Cooney off of him

00:56:20and yet another as we come to the end of the 10th round.

00:56:23Combination by Holmes

00:56:24and a left hand by Cooney at the bell.

00:56:32Good round for both men really

00:56:34and both men saying

00:56:35I'm not going anywhere.

00:56:36I'm going to be right here.

00:56:38Here we see some of the punches

00:56:39that were thrown

00:56:40in the few seconds

00:56:41that the round ended,

00:56:42before the round ended.

00:56:43Jerry Cooney and Larry Holmes

00:56:45both unleashing a series of punches.

00:56:49That was a good round for both men.

00:56:54So Jerry Cooney just has not gone away.

00:56:56It's just that simple.

00:57:02Now get rough, goddammit!

00:57:03Get rough!

00:57:07Concerned but still

00:57:08a certain amount of calm.

00:57:10That eye actually

00:57:11has not really gotten any worse.

00:57:15And the crowd has really come alive

00:57:16here at Caesars Palace, Ray.

00:57:18Well, Bill, I just found out

00:57:19there was only one point

00:57:20taken away from Jerry Cooney

00:57:21from that low blow.

00:57:24Actually, if anything,

00:57:25I think the swelling

00:57:26on the eye of Jerry Cooney

00:57:27has gone down

00:57:28rather than gotten any worse

00:57:29and there's been no blood

00:57:30for the last couple of rounds.

00:57:33That 10th round,

00:57:34both men really went at it

00:57:35through a lot of punches.

00:57:36Cooney's corner has really

00:57:37done a job on that eye.

00:57:39Holmes has not been able

00:57:40to make it any worse

00:57:41and the swelling

00:57:42has not gotten any worse either.

00:57:45Cooney's stalking Holmes

00:57:46in a corner now.

00:57:47That's where Cooney wants him.

00:57:53Another warning for a low blow

00:57:54and Mills Lane takes

00:57:55another point away

00:57:56from Jerry Cooney

00:57:57and that could become significant.

00:58:03This is the 11th round.

00:58:05Been an exciting fight,

00:58:06crowd-pleasing fight so far,

00:58:07see-saw fight.

00:58:09Holmes has done

00:58:10the most serious damage

00:58:11but Cooney has done

00:58:12some damage of his own

00:58:13on Holmes and Holmes

00:58:14has slowed down a little bit.

00:58:19Holmes has been flat-footed

00:58:21and getting closer to the ropes

00:58:23than he has been

00:58:24in the earlier rounds

00:58:25and that, of course,

00:58:26is a sign of being tired.

00:58:31Cooney trying to press him.

00:58:32Right now,

00:58:33I would have to say

00:58:34that Cooney

00:58:36is less tired

00:58:37than Larry Holmes

00:58:38even though Cooney

00:58:39has never fought

00:58:40more than 8 rounds.

00:58:41Those punches missed

00:58:42by Cooney.

00:58:47Larry now is using

00:58:48his experience

00:58:49against Jerry Cooney.

00:58:50I think he's trying

00:58:51to take a breather.

00:58:52He's letting Jerry Cooney

00:58:53punch.

00:58:54He's tying him up.

00:58:57Both those punches missed

00:58:58by Jerry Cooney.

00:58:59Cooney not as sharp

00:59:00with his punches

00:59:02and Holmes comes back

00:59:03with that jab to the face.

00:59:06That was a left hand

00:59:07that just flicked

00:59:08across the nose of Holmes

00:59:09thrown by Cooney.

00:59:10I believe we're going to see

00:59:11a replay of the right hand

00:59:12by Larry Holmes

00:59:13because he seems to be

00:59:14setting Jerry Cooney up

00:59:15once again.

00:59:17He tries to go downstairs

00:59:18but Holmes blocks it

00:59:19with his glove

00:59:20and a little bit of blood

00:59:21again starts to show

00:59:22from the left eye

00:59:23of Jerry Cooney.

00:59:27Left hand did get in

00:59:28and there's that right hand

00:59:30just as you said

00:59:31but it caught him

00:59:32mostly on the shoulder

00:59:35because that could hurt too

00:59:36and remember Cooney

00:59:37did have a shoulder injury.

00:59:39And another low blow

00:59:42and Mills Lane

00:59:43let's see does he take

00:59:44a point away this time?

00:59:45He does not.

00:59:46He asks Holmes if he's okay.

00:59:47They touch gloves

00:59:48and everything is alright.

00:59:52Cooney tries to go

00:59:53downstairs again

00:59:54and again

00:59:55is a little bit low with it.

00:59:58Now Larry's going to

00:59:59make Cooney work hard again.

01:00:01Try to make him

01:00:02tire himself out

01:00:04but I don't think

01:00:05Jerry's going to cooperate

01:00:06because Jerry's in

01:00:07tremendous shape.

01:00:08That right hand by Holmes

01:00:09is a little short.

01:00:10The overhand right

01:00:11has been Larry Holmes'

01:00:12best weapon

01:00:13so far tonight.

01:00:16Holmes has no real pattern

01:00:17to how he beats people.

01:00:18He's beat people

01:00:19with the left jab.

01:00:20He's beat people

01:00:21with the right cross.

01:00:22He's beat people

01:00:23with a straight right.

01:00:24And tonight it's the

01:00:25overhand right that has

01:00:26done the most damage.

01:00:27End of round 11.

01:00:30You look into the corner

01:00:31of Jerry Cooney.

01:00:32He has not much more

01:00:33mark now than he was

01:00:34in the 6th round.

01:01:00Neither man really

01:01:01breathing as heavy

01:01:02as you might expect

01:01:03for someone

01:01:04who has taken

01:01:05as much punishment

01:01:06over the course

01:01:07of the time

01:01:08that they have.

01:01:09Well both men

01:01:10prepare for each other

01:01:11because they know

01:01:12each other's defense.

01:01:23No less a source

01:01:24than Paddy Flood,

01:01:25one of the great

01:01:26corner men in boxing,

01:01:27said that Jerry

01:01:28Cooney is the biggest

01:01:29mystery I've ever seen

01:01:30in boxing.

01:01:31Well Jerry Cooney

01:01:32has answered all

01:01:33the skeptics tonight.

01:01:34He is worthy of being

01:01:35here win or lose.

01:01:39Holmes goes back

01:01:40to his toes now.

01:01:41And there's a right hand

01:01:42once more.

01:01:43And the rubbery legs

01:01:44go on Jerry Cooney

01:01:45for a moment.

01:01:46He backs away now

01:01:47trying to catch his breath

01:01:48and get it back.

01:01:49Holmes has been

01:01:50most effective

01:01:51when he's been on his toes.

01:01:52He went up on his toes

01:01:53and scored with

01:01:54a quick right hand.

01:01:55I know Jerry's

01:01:56standing there

01:01:57waiting for Larry

01:01:58to punch.

01:01:59He seems to be

01:02:00trying to set Larry

01:02:01up for a left hook,

01:02:02a lead off left hook.

01:02:11Again a left hand.

01:02:19Larry Holmes

01:02:20keeping Cooney

01:02:21in the center of the ring now

01:02:22and that of course

01:02:23is significant.

01:02:24He has done that

01:02:25for the most part

01:02:26and now it's Cooney

01:02:27against the ropes.

01:02:28Holmes just kind of

01:02:29measuring him.

01:02:30Left hook is short.

01:02:31But I'm surprised

01:02:32that Holmes

01:02:33is not showing

01:02:34any effect

01:02:35of those low blows

01:02:36by Jerry Cooney

01:02:37because normally

01:02:38they really take their toe

01:02:39especially when

01:02:40it's a good punch,

01:02:41a good solid punch.

01:02:43It's been only

01:02:44one knockdown in the fight

01:02:45and I don't think

01:02:46there were a lot of people

01:02:47who expected that few.

01:02:49Nor did anyone

01:02:50expect the fight

01:02:51to go quite as long

01:02:52as it has.

01:02:53Now there's a little bit

01:02:54of blood showing

01:02:55not only on the bridge

01:02:56but alongside the bridge

01:02:57of the nose

01:02:58of Jerry Cooney.

01:03:04Cooney had had a problem

01:03:05with the top

01:03:06of the bridge of the nose.

01:03:09This is not

01:03:10in that area.

01:03:11It is alongside

01:03:12the bridge of the nose.

01:03:14And that was three

01:03:15pretty good punches

01:03:16that time by Jerry Cooney.

01:03:17Fatigue I'm saying

01:03:18with both fighters

01:03:19all doing it

01:03:20in tremendous shape

01:03:21and the punches

01:03:22don't have that much

01:03:23sting to it

01:03:24but if a good

01:03:25solid punch lands

01:03:26someone may go down.

01:03:27That was a right hand

01:03:28to the side of the head again.

01:03:29That has been Holmes'

01:03:30most effective weapon

01:03:31and he did score with it again

01:03:32but Cooney did not

01:03:33back up at all.

01:03:38It's really hard

01:03:39to pick out

01:03:40either one of these

01:03:41fellows who right now

01:03:42is the stronger

01:03:43of the two.

01:03:44Holmes goes back up

01:03:45on his toes

01:03:46and scores

01:03:47but takes a shot

01:03:48from Cooney in return.

01:03:50Holmes paws

01:03:51at Cooney now.

01:03:52Flicks the left jab

01:03:54and they tie each other up.

01:03:55Not a lot of clinches.

01:03:56Awful lot of action

01:03:57in this fight, right?

01:03:58Especially for big men.

01:03:59Normally they hold

01:04:00and clench

01:04:01but these two guys

01:04:02have been going at it.

01:04:03Larry Holmes is proving

01:04:04he is a true champion

01:04:05and Cooney...

01:04:06There was a right hand

01:04:07and another right.

01:04:08I didn't mean to interrupt

01:04:09you Ray, I'm sorry

01:04:10but two good right hands

01:04:11by the champion

01:04:12against Jerry Cooney

01:04:13and that eye now

01:04:14starts to look

01:04:15a little bit nasty again.

01:04:16Larry's been working

01:04:17on that eye

01:04:18ever since it happened.

01:04:20And that looping right hand

01:04:21is what's being effective

01:04:22and I think it's fair to say

01:04:23that Jerry Cooney

01:04:24is not seeing

01:04:25those punches coming.

01:04:26No, because the punches

01:04:27are coming...

01:04:28Larry Holmes throwing

01:04:29right hooks

01:04:30that pulls the intelligence

01:04:31and the experience

01:04:32of Larry Holmes.

01:04:33Is that...

01:04:34Is that close or nothing?

01:04:35No.

01:04:36Is that close?

01:04:37It's a small distance.

01:04:38I'm okay.

01:04:39Come on.

01:04:40You're okay.

01:04:41Jerry, you gotta rough

01:04:42this guy.

01:04:43You're not rough.

01:04:44You're standing

01:04:45too straight.

01:04:46You gotta get low.

01:04:47No, it's alright.

01:04:48Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!

01:04:52You gotta get rough.

01:04:53You're waiting

01:04:54too fucking long

01:04:55on this guy.

01:04:56Get him to rough.

01:05:01We need these rounds.

01:05:06Take the lead.

01:05:07Don't back away.

01:05:08Take the lead.

01:05:09Keep fighting.

01:05:11We're gonna get it out.

01:05:12Go to work on this guy.

01:05:13Go to work on this fucking guy.

01:05:15You're waiting too long.

01:05:16You're waiting too long.

01:05:17You're waiting for me to come.

01:05:19Stay low.

01:05:21Get down.

01:05:23Holmes taking a little bit more time on the stool

01:05:25and that is a change.

01:05:31We're wondering about the heat.

01:05:33It has dropped considerably from the

01:05:35start of the card tonight. It was well over 100 degrees

01:05:37and it is now down to a balmy 89.

01:05:39Well, it helps out these fighters

01:05:41because if they came out here

01:05:43earlier, it would have been

01:05:45above 100.

01:05:47There was a right hand by Holmes. A good shot that time

01:05:49by Larry Holmes. All those punches at this

01:05:51point have got to hurt. A left hand.

01:05:53But Cooney does not back up.

01:05:55Right hand by Cooney

01:05:57but again, mostly an arm punch. Not a lot of

01:05:59snap in the punch by Jerry Cooney. At least that one.

01:06:01There's a right hand again

01:06:03by Holmes.

01:06:05Larry's still attempting to throw that right hook

01:06:07because Cooney, I don't think his vision is

01:06:09too good on the left side.

01:06:11That time Holmes went downstairs.

01:06:13Holmes just seems to be measuring

01:06:15and looking for the one shot that will hurt Jerry Cooney.

01:06:19Again, I think

01:06:21Holmes is trying to set up Cooney

01:06:23for that loop and right hook.

01:06:25He threw it right there but Cooney caught it on the glove.

01:06:31A lot of times, Barry, you can see what kind of punch

01:06:33a man is going to throw if you watch his stance.

01:06:41Here's another good right hand and

01:06:43Cooney drew a look for Mills Lane but not

01:06:45a warning. Cooney knew that he was a little bit low

01:06:47and he looked at Mills Lane, the referee.

01:06:51This is one of those fights he almost really didn't need a

01:06:53referee in there. There have been very few clenches.

01:06:57A lot of action.

01:07:01Cooney again tries to go downstairs but Holmes

01:07:03has not been hurt by those punches since early on.

01:07:05Holmes again just keeps that right hand

01:07:07cocked, works with the left hand right now

01:07:09but does seem to be looking for the one punch.

01:07:11And there's the right hand but again

01:07:13Cooney does not back up at all.

01:07:15So maybe some of Holmes' punches did not have

01:07:17quite the impact they did. One minute remaining

01:07:19here in the round.

01:07:21There's the right hand.

01:07:23He's just walking towards Larry Holmes.

01:07:27And another right hand.

01:07:29And Mills Lane talking to Larry Holmes.

01:07:31Not sure what that was all about.

01:07:35Cooney tries a left hand.

01:07:37Holmes I think does not feel that Cooney

01:07:39can hurt him any longer.

01:07:43Not having quite the respect that Cooney's

01:07:45legs are really wobbling.

01:07:47Cooney very wobbly in the center of the ring.

01:07:49Takes another right hand.

01:07:51Holmes knows he has his man in trouble.

01:07:53Another right hand.

01:07:55And that eye is really opened up.

01:07:57Combinations of punches.

01:07:59And that eye is really opened up.

01:08:01Combinations of punches thrown by the champion

01:08:03against Jerry Cooney. This one is all but over.

01:08:05Cooney against the ropes. Mills Lane steps in.

01:08:07He did not really go down.

01:08:09And Victor Valli is saying

01:08:11no more I believe. Victor Valli is

01:08:13in the ring saying no more. That's it.

01:08:15It is over.

01:08:17And Mills Lane raises Larry Holmes' hand

01:08:19in victory. So Larry Holmes retains

01:08:21the title. Victor Valli

01:08:23stepping in and stopping the fight.

01:08:25Cooney actually never really did

01:08:27go all the way down. I'm sure that will be

01:08:29called a knockdown. He started the count.

01:08:31So the fight is over.

01:08:33And the champion

01:08:35Larry Holmes remains the champion.

01:08:41So Larry Holmes the winner

01:08:43by technical knockout in the 13th round here.

01:08:45Time was running down in the 13th round.

01:08:47Cooney might have got through it. But there was a point

01:08:49you could really see

01:08:51that Cooney was out

01:08:53on his feet. And Ray you picked that up

01:08:55quickly. Well fatigue really set in

01:08:57and the accumulation of punches really did a number

01:08:59on Jerry Cooney. Larry Holmes

01:09:01saw that Cooney was in trouble

01:09:03and it was just a matter of time Barry.

01:09:05This is a look that I

01:09:07saw not terribly long ago with Sugar Ray

01:09:09Leonard the man on my right. And that is a tired

01:09:11fighter you're looking at the champion. I mean not this one

01:09:13right here. Jerry Cooney. Well fatigue

01:09:15set in more so than anything else because

01:09:17Cooney took a lot of Larry Holmes' big

01:09:19punches. Holmes without question

01:09:21is the true champion. Fatigue set

01:09:23in I feel and experience

01:09:25was a factor.

01:09:27So chaos

01:09:29reigns right now in the ring despite the outstanding

01:09:31security that's been provided here.

01:09:33As we take a look at it you can see a very

01:09:35tired and a man who just had come too far

01:09:37for too long. Well if you watch

01:09:39Jerry Cooney's legs at this point

01:09:41now they're rubbery. Although the punches

01:09:43they've taken his toll also by Larry Holmes.

01:09:45Holmes putting his punches together very well.

01:09:47Cooney here as a defeated fighter

01:09:49but yet I'm very impressed with him.

01:09:51He never really knew how his glove did go down

01:09:53but his butt never really

01:09:55touched the canvas. Take another look at him

01:09:57he was out long before he went against the ropes.

01:09:59He was Barry. There overhand right by Larry

01:10:01Holmes. Left hook to follow. Cooney

01:10:03here trying to retaliate but he just doesn't

01:10:05have anything at this point. His legs

01:10:07once again are rubbery. He's backing away

01:10:09he's dazed and he's a defeated fighter.

01:10:11You know and as is the case with Larry

01:10:13Holmes people have said time and again that not one of

01:10:15Larry Holmes' punches hurts but they all

01:10:17hurt. Well this fight here I think has a great

01:10:19deal of significance to it because people really believed

01:10:21or thought that Cooney would do

01:10:23Larry Holmes in. Holmes deserved a lot

01:10:25of credit and much more. He really does. You know

01:10:27there was a big question about what this guy had

01:10:29and whether he was a guy who really deserved

01:10:31to be where he was and I think

01:10:33he's really answered all the critics tonight.

01:10:35There is little doubt

01:10:37but that Cooney

01:10:39belonged in the ring against Larry

01:10:41Holmes and it was a good man who beat

01:10:43Jerry Cooney. Right now let's go up to the ring announcer

01:10:45Chuck Hall for the official announcement.

01:10:47Ladies

01:10:49and gentlemen

01:10:51the time

01:10:532 minutes 52 seconds of the

01:10:5513th round

01:10:57the winner and still

01:10:59the WBC heavyweight champion

01:11:01of the world Larry

01:11:03Holmes.

01:11:09Well Ray I don't think there's any question but this is one of those

01:11:11fights that people are going to be walking around not only in

01:11:13Las Vegas but all over the world literally

01:11:15what a great fight. Well they're going to

01:11:17give Jerry Cooney his

01:11:19justice for being a good fighter

01:11:21a determined fighter and Larry Holmes without

01:11:23question I'd say this time and time again

01:11:25he's a true champion never really given

01:11:27true justice as far as his talents

01:11:29but now I think this fight will do it.

01:11:31Alright let's get the comments of the champion. Let's go right

01:11:33now to Larry Merchant who is with the heavyweight

01:11:35champion of the world once again Larry

01:11:37Holmes. Larry

01:11:39could you capsule your thoughts about the fight?

01:11:41My thoughts about the fight?

01:11:43Yeah quickly. I'm still the baddest heavyweight

01:11:45in the world Larry and I think you

01:11:47should give me my credits even if

01:11:49because you don't have no cash please give

01:11:51me some credit.

01:11:53What were you

01:11:55expecting from this man

01:11:57realistically in the fight? You did

01:11:59show respect for him.

01:12:01Yeah well he punched a little better

01:12:03than I anticipated. He got a

01:12:05very good jab and he

01:12:07used it and he's a good

01:12:09puncher he's an all around boxer. I think he

01:12:11got to develop his chin a little better.

01:12:13It seemed that you were giving

01:12:15a clinic on how to deal

01:12:17with his left hook. You were

01:12:19playing with it with one

01:12:21hand and then with the other. Was that

01:12:23your major strategy to fend

01:12:25off that left hook? I was countering

01:12:27it. Everything he would use with it I would try

01:12:29to counter. I was blocking I would let him

01:12:31throw it and he wasn't doubling

01:12:33up on it. So

01:12:35I think I mastered everything that

01:12:37Jerry Coon has. I am a great boxer

01:12:39Larry and the world

01:12:41knows it. Thank you very much.

01:12:43I'm here with you on HBO

01:12:45and I love HBO and I hope

01:12:47that people get the chance to watch this fight

01:12:49live on HBO. Here's

01:12:51to the American people because y'all are

01:12:53the knockout. You too Larry.

01:12:55Well the sun has set on the city of

01:12:57Las Vegas. It certainly has not set on

01:12:59the winner Larry Holmes nor indeed

01:13:01on the challenger Jerry Cooney.

01:13:03Jerry Cooney answered every

01:13:05question there was and

01:13:07without question he's

01:13:09number one as far as a contender

01:13:11and should give any champion trouble.

01:13:13Well the number one contender right now is with our own Larry Merchant.

01:13:15Larry, what are your feelings about

01:13:17tonight? Your personal feelings?

01:13:19Should have ducked a little more.

01:13:21I wish I would have won. I've been away

01:13:23from home a long time

01:13:25and I think that the people were great

01:13:27and I

01:13:29wanted to win for them as much as I wanted to win for me.

01:13:31Do you think in some way that

01:13:33this experience will mature you to

01:13:35make you a better fighter? I hope so.

01:13:39It's a learning

01:13:41experience. I was concerned

01:13:43a little bit about going the distance. I won't be concerned about

01:13:45it anymore. I was in good shape. I

01:13:47should have trained harder and I could have

01:13:49put a little more pressure on and done

01:13:51better. Are you suggesting that

01:13:53because you hadn't gone a

01:13:55distance before that you had

01:13:57to contain yourself and so you didn't put

01:13:59as much pressure on him as you feel

01:14:01would be best for you? Well I mean

01:14:03you constantly keep hearing things and hearing things

01:14:05sometimes it can bother you so

01:14:07to some degree it bothered

01:14:09me but it won't anymore.

01:14:11What do you think

01:14:13this whole experience will

01:14:15teach Jerry Cooney?

01:14:17That I gotta work a little bit harder

01:14:19and train harder and

01:14:21give a little more.

01:14:23Have you got renewed

01:14:25respect for Larry Holmes as a fighter?

01:14:27He's a champion of the world

01:14:29and I'd like to fight with him again.

01:14:31Thank you very much Jerry.

01:14:33Well Ray I feel like

01:14:35we're being just a little bit redundant. I said this

01:14:37after the Leonard Hearns fight that a fight

01:14:39that had that much hoopla and that much buildup could not

01:14:41possibly be as good as the buildup and yet

01:14:43we not only saw it in your fight, I think we saw

01:14:45it again tonight. Well I think the public can appreciate

01:14:47what took place in that ring.

01:14:49You had a great champion and a great challenger

01:14:51and they proved they were both tops.

01:14:53I think what we have here really is not a winner and a

01:14:55loser. We have indeed two

01:14:57winners. The champion Larry Holmes is still

01:14:59just that. The champion of the world, the challenger

01:15:01Jerry Cooney, he will be heard from

01:15:03again virtually without question.

01:15:05The sport of boxing is very much

01:15:07alive. For some final comments now

01:15:09let's go to our own Larry Merchant.

01:15:11Larry? The attraction of the

01:15:13heavyweight champion of the world is that we

01:15:15think he can beat any man in the world

01:15:17in a fair fight. Preferably

01:15:19he could beat any man in the world with

01:15:21one punch. So the public keeps

01:15:23looking for that mythical one punch

01:15:25knockout heavyweight champion.

01:15:27The public thought it had him

01:15:29in Jerry Cooney.

01:15:31Obviously it didn't.

01:15:33Jerry Cooney proved to be a

01:15:35game but one armed fighter

01:15:37against a really good champion.

01:15:39A really good fighter in Larry

01:15:41Holmes. Larry Holmes was

01:15:43placed in the position of defending the

01:15:45eternal verities. The eternal verities

01:15:47of not only prize fighting but everything else.

01:15:49There are no shortcuts to writing

01:15:51good novels. No shortcuts to

01:15:53being a good policeman. You have to

01:15:55work at it. You have to get experience.

01:15:57Larry Holmes has worked at

01:15:59it. He has that experience.

01:16:01He's a terrific fighter.

01:16:03He proved that once again

01:16:05tonight. He may not be the

01:16:07stuff of legends or heroes

01:16:09but he's a real champion.

01:16:13This isn't round

01:16:1515. It's round 1 back

01:16:17in eastern Pennsylvania. Larry

01:16:19after the experience of Las

01:16:21Vegas do you understand better

01:16:23the difference between being a champion

01:16:25which you have control over

01:16:27and being a hero which other people

01:16:29decide?

01:16:31Well I don't feel that

01:16:33I'm a hero. I feel that I'm a champion

01:16:35because heroes have to do something

01:16:37spectacular.

01:16:39The only thing I did was beat up

01:16:41Jerry Cooney which that's my job.

01:16:43People that I tend to see

01:16:45a lot of times are putting a little bit too much

01:16:47on you but I'm

01:16:49happy and I'm still the heavyweight champion.

01:16:51You think the burden of being singled

01:16:53out as a hero may have been too much

01:16:55for Jerry Cooney?

01:16:57Yes I think it took effect on him

01:16:59because he had the world on his back and

01:17:01even after the fight he kept apologizing

01:17:03to his friends

01:17:05and to the fans

01:17:07that he did his best

01:17:09and that's all you can ask of a person

01:17:11just to do your best and there was a lot

01:17:13of pressure on him. Larry we're going to go

01:17:15to some of the highlights of the fight now.

01:17:17This is round

01:17:19two, the first decisive round.

01:17:21Larry what were your tactics to neutralize

01:17:23his left hand?

01:17:25Well to keep touching it and moving to my

01:17:27left

01:17:29to stay out of the power of his left hand

01:17:31and I was just waiting to set it up

01:17:33so I can throw the right hand.

01:17:37See here I was setting up

01:17:39the right hand with the left jab behind it

01:17:41and it landed, Cooney went down

01:17:43and I didn't think

01:17:45I thought he was hurt at first

01:17:47but he got up kind of fast

01:17:49and he was still strong. Here's the fourth round.

01:17:53Again here I am touching his left jab

01:17:55and trying to work to his body a little bit

01:17:57but he's so dangerous with that left hook

01:17:59so I had to throw it quick

01:18:01and get out of there as soon as possible

01:18:03what I wanted to do is make him

01:18:05spend his energy before I go in

01:18:07and take any chances. Sixth round.

01:18:09Same thing with the left hook

01:18:11right hand behind it

01:18:13and see he was vulnerable for that

01:18:15because I got him thinking about the left hook coming

01:18:17and I threw the right hand

01:18:19and as long as I hit him on the chin

01:18:21I was ok

01:18:23but he was still strong

01:18:25I couldn't get good clear shots

01:18:27after I hurt him

01:18:29but he was still strong

01:18:31and very determined

01:18:33to double up on left hooks and what not

01:18:35there even when he was hurt.

01:18:37You'll notice that in the second round Larry Holmes

01:18:39had a two point round for his knockdown

01:18:41all three judges however

01:18:43gave Cooney the third and fourth rounds

01:18:45in the sixth round

01:18:47Larry Holmes knocked Cooney from pillar to post

01:18:49but still he was behind

01:18:51on one of the official scoring

01:18:53Larry you took some good shots

01:18:55from Cooney in the fourth round

01:18:57did he hit as hard as advertised?

01:18:59Cooney hit very good

01:19:01and I don't think he hit hard

01:19:03as hard as Shearer but he hits real good

01:19:05just that I can take a good shot

01:19:07Having taken those punches

01:19:09do you think that that might have

01:19:11made him a little curious about

01:19:13what he was in for for the rest of the fight?

01:19:15I'm sure he did because Cooney's been

01:19:17going out there knocking everyone out

01:19:19and by him hitting me with his best shot

01:19:21and I wasn't going anywhere

01:19:23I think it had an effect on him

01:19:25Let's take a look at the ninth round now

01:19:27the low blow round

01:19:31Cooney was throwing everything

01:19:33with the left hook so I had to be very careful

01:19:35and he caught me

01:19:37a real good shot under the cup

01:19:39people make statements that the cup protects you

01:19:41but anytime you get hit

01:19:43with a good left hook

01:19:45or good anything down there

01:19:47it's going to hurt

01:19:49That's about a foot below the belt

01:19:51and I don't see why it should have hit me that low

01:19:53I mean we were both big men and the punches

01:19:55should have stayed up

01:19:57This is the tenth round, his last good round

01:19:59were his punches spent by then?

01:20:01He didn't have as much power on his punches

01:20:03as he did earlier

01:20:05and that's why I was willing to go inside

01:20:07with him and work and make him spend

01:20:09more energy

01:20:11Cooney fought my fight

01:20:13I did what I wanted him to do

01:20:15and I took it to him

01:20:17and he was kind of spent

01:20:19so he didn't have really

01:20:21too much effect on his punches

01:20:23The eleventh round

01:20:25could he have simply been tired from the fury of the tenth?

01:20:27I don't feel that he was that tired

01:20:29that he couldn't keep his punches above the belt line

01:20:31there he just threw another

01:20:33double left hook

01:20:35and he was just continually throwing low blows

01:20:37and I

01:20:39all I felt was that he was just trying to win

01:20:41but I just had to keep my head up

01:20:43and continue to do what I wanted to do

01:20:45Three points were taken away

01:20:47from Jerry Cooney for low blows

01:20:49Despite that

01:20:51on two of the official scorecards

01:20:53Larry Holmes was ahead by just one point

01:20:55after eleven rounds

01:20:57Larry, did you think

01:20:59that the low blows were deliberate

01:21:01or were they simply the result

01:21:03of a tired, awkward fighter?

01:21:05Well at first I

01:21:07thought the low blows

01:21:09were accidental

01:21:11but after it happened once

01:21:13twice, three times

01:21:15you got to kind of wonder

01:21:17what the guy is trying to do

01:21:19If I wouldn't have heard Dennis Rappaport make a statement

01:21:21that he's going to do anything he can

01:21:23to stop me

01:21:25if he had to kick me

01:21:27or hit me low

01:21:29he was going to do that

01:21:31because he was converting to the dirty tactics

01:21:33that I used in the fight game

01:21:35and if I would have used the dirty tactics

01:21:37I would have fought Cooney back the same way he fought me

01:21:39but you got to kind of wonder

01:21:41what was going on in that fight

01:21:43Fortunately

01:21:45all controversies about low blows and scoring

01:21:47came to an end

01:21:49in the thirteenth round

01:21:51After this final round

01:21:53Jerry Cooney said that he wanted to prove

01:21:55to Larry Holmes that he could take it

01:21:57Was that wise?

01:21:59No that wasn't very wise of Jerry Cooney

01:22:01I think Jerry Cooney should have proved to the people

01:22:03that he could continue to knock people out

01:22:05because the thing is

01:22:07to win and not to lose and not to prove

01:22:09that you can take something that you don't have to take

01:22:11and I think that was very foolish

01:22:13and he paid the cost

01:22:15What were your thoughts when you saw his trainer

01:22:17bound across the ring to end it?

01:22:19Well I think that was a very smart evictive

01:22:21because I felt that

01:22:23the referee was going to let it go on a little longer

01:22:25than he should have

01:22:27but I didn't care

01:22:29at that time I felt good, I was strong and sharp

01:22:31and Jerry was catching everything I threw

01:22:33At the end of twelve rounds

01:22:35Larry Holmes was ahead by two points

01:22:37on two of the official scorecards

01:22:39which meant that he would have been

01:22:41behind on those scorecards

01:22:43had three points not been taken away from Jerry Cooney

01:22:45Something should be said

01:22:47about scoring in Las Vegas here

01:22:49In the last year

01:22:51we've done two major fights before this

01:22:53in Las Vegas

01:22:55Leonard, Benitez and Duran

01:22:57On both occasions

01:22:59the judges were three to five rounds

01:23:01off of the consensus of ringside observers

01:23:03The apparent reason for this

01:23:05is that judges in Las Vegas

01:23:07give too much credence

01:23:09to aggression

01:23:11Aggression for aggression's sake

01:23:13Aggression should be rewarded

01:23:15only when it's effective

01:23:17There's no trick at all to being aggressive

01:23:19if all it nets you

01:23:21is to impale your own face

01:23:23on another man's fists

01:23:25Larry, what was your immediate reaction

01:23:27when you heard about the scoring?

01:23:29I really didn't care

01:23:31about the scoring because I won

01:23:33and I'm still heavyweight champion of the world

01:23:35That scoring

01:23:37is going to come up when someday

01:23:39you meet Jerry Cooney again, if you do

01:23:41What does Jerry Cooney have to do

01:23:43to earn a rematch with you?

01:23:45Give me 25 million dollars

01:23:47plus the percentage of all ticket sales

01:23:49Well I think that'll be open to negotiation

01:23:51But what's no longer

01:23:53open to negotiation

01:23:55is Larry Holmes' place in boxing

01:23:57During the 100 years

01:23:59of heavyweight champions

01:24:01a precious few have reached mythic proportions

01:24:03In 1882

01:24:05John L. Sullivan boasted that he could

01:24:07lick any man in the house

01:24:09He was tamed by gentleman Jim Corbett

01:24:11who brought the sweet science to boxing

01:24:13Jack Johnson was the

01:24:15controversial lightning ride of racial

01:24:17tension from 1908 to 1915

01:24:19In the roaring

01:24:2120s, Jack Dempsey, like Babe Ruth

01:24:23captured the popular imagination

01:24:25by swinging from the heels

01:24:27In the 30s and 40s

01:24:29Joe Louis symbolized American power

01:24:31in a troubled world

01:24:33And in the 60s

01:24:35there was the provocative showman Muhammad Ali

01:24:37I am the king of the world!

01:24:39Hold it! Hold it!

01:24:41I'm a man!

01:24:43I took up the world!

01:24:45I took up the world!

01:24:47Many other heavyweight champions

01:24:49were recognized as good or even outstanding

01:24:51fighters, but somehow

01:24:53they couldn't capture the public

01:24:55Among them

01:24:57Gene Tunney

01:24:59Jersey Joe Walcott

01:25:01Floyd Patterson

01:25:03Joe Frazer

01:25:05Frazer was one of several champions

01:25:07beamed out by the blinding light

01:25:09of Ali. Will Larry Holmes

01:25:11emerge with his own identity?

01:25:13Perhaps the unbeaten Holmes

01:25:15will be compared to Rocky Marciano

01:25:17who didn't get his full measure

01:25:19of respect until he retired

01:25:21unbeaten. And just

01:25:23as Holmes reigned in the shadows of

01:25:25Ali, Marciano ruled

01:25:27in the aftermath of Joe Louis

01:25:29and also was downgraded for

01:25:31beating inferior opposition

01:25:33Larry Holmes will be judged

01:25:35just like Rocky Marciano was judged

01:25:37a guy that never got his just due in

01:25:39boxing. But guys in the business

01:25:41professionals

01:25:43respect Larry Holmes. I respect

01:25:45him, he's a heck of a nice guy

01:25:47I think he did a heck of a job living under

01:25:49my kid's shadow, Muhammad Ali

01:25:51He's never actually shook that off

01:25:53that mantle of not being a Muhammad

01:25:55but hey, nobody's Muhammad Ali

01:25:57I think I've seen

01:25:59every heavyweight champion

01:26:01from the days of Jack Dempsey

01:26:03right on up to

01:26:05Muhammad Ali and the present champion

01:26:07in my estimation

01:26:09Larry Holmes

01:26:11is the most underestimated

01:26:13heavyweight champion of them all

01:26:15I want to remember

01:26:17being one of the greatest fighters of all time

01:26:19who set a goal out

01:26:21and achieved, accomplished his goal

01:26:23and to be able to get out of the ring

01:26:25with all my faculties

01:26:27and I live in eastern Pennsylvania

01:26:29and I'm happy ever after

01:26:31and I'm still being Larry Holmes

01:26:33the heavyweight champion of the world

01:26:35For now, Larry Holmes

01:26:37has retreated to his lavish home in

01:26:39Easton. He and his wife

01:26:41Diane are awaiting their second child

01:26:43in September

01:26:45much as the boxing world is awaiting

01:26:47his decision on the future

01:26:53It's been four years since Larry

01:26:55captured the title in his

01:26:57impressively dramatic 15 round

01:26:59decision over Ken Norton

01:27:0312 defenses later, one of the busiest

01:27:05reigns in history, they still haven't

01:27:07found anyone who can beat Larry Holmes

01:27:11The victory over Jerry Cooney

01:27:13may have been the masterpiece

01:27:15that earns him the recognition he deserves

01:27:27I'm a heavyweight champion

01:27:29I have no plans of retiring

01:27:31as of yet

01:27:33all I just want to do now

01:27:35is just relax

01:27:37Isn't there almost

01:27:39too much money available

01:27:41to win as heavyweight champion

01:27:43to just walk away from it

01:27:45I mean, early in your career

01:27:47you were a heavyweight champion

01:27:49I mean, early in your career

01:27:51you were a heavyweight champion

01:27:53I mean, early in your career

01:27:55I mean, early in your career

01:27:57you worked for 50 or 100 dollars

01:27:59now you have a chance for major, major money

01:28:01Well Larry, I was rich

01:28:03before I fought this fight

01:28:05and now I'm even richer

01:28:07and I feel that money don't make me

01:28:09I make money as long as I have my health

01:28:11and I have my health

01:28:13so that's important to me

01:28:15they're always going to bring money

01:28:17and more money to you

01:28:19as long as you're a heavyweight champion

01:28:21as long as you're a good contender

01:28:23I'm going to be happy with myself

01:28:25and right now I am

01:28:27Larry, thank you, this was a round one knockout

01:28:29Thank you Larry

01:28:31and I feel good thanks to you and HBO

01:28:33because you both are a knockout

01:28:37Just as everyday history

01:28:39seems to be viewed through the eyes

01:28:41of kings and rulers and presidents

01:28:43boxing history is seen

01:28:45through the eyes of the heavyweight champions

01:28:47It's been a colorful century

01:28:49of heavyweight champions

01:28:51filled with colorful personalities

01:28:53great athletes

01:28:55controversial and memorable moments

01:28:57I think now that it's fair to say

01:28:59that the king is alive

01:29:01long live the king

01:29:05The scheduled July 15th fight

01:29:07between middleweight champion Marvin Hagler

01:29:09and Thomas Hearns has been cancelled

01:29:11by the promoter

01:29:13Instead, HBO Sports will bring you

01:29:15Marvin Hagler's next middleweight title defense

01:29:17versus the WBA's

01:29:19top-ranked contender

01:29:21Fully Obel Mejia

01:29:23Live, Thursday, July 15th

01:29:27On Monday, June 21st

01:29:29HBO Sports begins coverage of

01:29:31tennis' most prestigious event

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01:29:35with same-day match coverage

01:29:37through the women's semifinals

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01:30:51This has been a presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.

Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney HBO 6 11 82

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