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00:00:00And just to underline the drama one more time, we reiterate that the doctor told our Larry Merchant that only one round would have been remaining for Tony to make his point that if the fight had gone on much more, then he, the doctor, was going to stop it to bring it into the bloodshed.
00:00:17So all the pressure in the world was on James, and he came through. James Toney retaining his IBF 168-pound championship. We'll take another look back at that before the evening is over, but right now, let's prepare ourselves amid this star-studded crowd here in the Grand Olympic Auditorium for the second of tonight's two main events from L.A.
00:00:47Tonight, from the entertainment capital of the world, it's Oscars Night.
00:00:56Nominated for Best Live Action, Oscar De La Hoya for his action-packed attack in throwing over 60 punches per round.
00:01:04And nominated for Best Original Score, once again, Oscar De La Hoya for scoring 10 knockouts in his 11 professional fights.
00:01:13And nominated for Best Performance, you guessed it, Oscar De La Hoya for averaging only 3.3 rounds for each performance.
00:01:25Live from the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, HBO Sports presents Oscars Night as undefeated Oscar De La Hoya faces Jimmy Bridal for the WBO junior lightweight title of the world.
00:01:38And just as will be the case less than a month from now on Academy Award Night, all the stars are on hand here.
00:01:49First name basis for all of you who know them so well, Jack is here.
00:01:55And of course, Sugar Ray, now a resident of our fair city here in Los Angeles, here and seated in the front row.
00:02:02And not too far away from him, the noted amateur boxer, Ryan O'Neal.
00:02:10And Billy Crystal, check it, Gary Shandling, I should say.
00:02:14Excuse me.
00:02:15Sorry, Gary.
00:02:16My apologies.
00:02:18The Larry Sanders show itself, doing a live segment from here at Ringside.
00:02:22So we get ready now to join the continuing career of boxing's newest young sensation,
00:02:26the man whom Bob Aron says has a chance to become the biggest of all the big stars in the sport,
00:02:3221-year-old Oscar De La Hoya, America's only Olympic gold medalist coming out of the Barcelona Olympic Games in the boxing competition.
00:02:39Larry Merchant, the promotional material for the fight, says that Oscar De La Hoya has a chance to win his first world championship.
00:02:46And the layman might say, wow, at age 21 in his 12th professional fight, he's fighting for a title.
00:02:52Is he being rushed into a title bout?
00:02:53Well, he would be, Jim, if this were a championship fight.
00:02:57If this was a toe-the-line, no doubt about it, fight for the best man in the division in the world.
00:03:03But, as Ali used to say, we're not as dumb as we look.
00:03:08We all know what this is about.
00:03:10And this young fighter isn't ready yet to soar to the top of the mountain.
00:03:15He is a terrific prospect, Oscar De La Hoya.
00:03:19He's one of those golden boys who comes out of the Olympics, and we all want to watch his progress.
00:03:25But a championship fight, Jimmy Bardol is a good young fighter who might make a good opponent at this stage of De La Hoya's career.
00:03:37But is he a champion, or is he just the champion of the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen?
00:03:43Nothing even that lofty.
00:03:45What he's the champion of, Jimmy Bardol, is the WBO.
00:03:49And the last WBO champion we had was Tommy Morrison.
00:03:53I rest my case.
00:03:55If Jimmy Bardol is just a good Dane, not a great Dane, just a good Dane, we could get a fight, and I'll settle for that.
00:04:02Jimmy Bardol comes in, a virtual unknown from Denmark.
00:04:06De La Hoya, of course, is already on the verge of becoming a household name.
00:04:10But, George Foreman, the Golden Boy image has been tarnished a little bit in the last couple of months.
00:04:15He's taken over, in effect, management of his own career.
00:04:19Is it a bad idea?
00:04:20I think the Golden Boy image has been uplifted, because young people, they've got to take control of their own lives.
00:04:27Stop blaming other people.
00:04:28Oscar De La Hoya said, if I can take the punches, I can control the pay.
00:04:32I think it's wonderful.
00:04:34Any young man can.
00:04:35He's showing the world I can.
00:04:37So I ask if it's a bad idea, and you think it's a great idea.
00:04:40I think it's a wonderful thing.
00:04:41Young people, your mom and dad send you away to college.
00:04:44Be a man.
00:04:45Be a woman.
00:04:45No more mom and dad.
00:04:47That's the step that Oscar De La Hoya has taken.
00:04:49He himself says he's gotten a rapid education in the hard realities of the boxing business.
00:04:55It all started two months ago.
00:05:02It was very tough to let go of two people that were trying to help out my career.
00:05:14It was very tough.
00:05:16Oscar De La Hoya dropped out of a fight last December, and after a messy public dispute,
00:05:21he fired his co-managers, pictured here, Steve Nelson and Robert Middleman.
00:05:27I believe it was the right move because now I can focus and just stay focused 150% in my boxing
00:05:35and accomplish what I want to accomplish.
00:05:39After De La Hoya's sensational gold medal performance at the Barcelona Olympics,
00:05:43Nelson and Middleman dangled a million-dollar contract before Oscar's eyes.
00:05:48And quickly, he signed.
00:05:50But it didn't take too long before he learned.
00:05:53Not everything that glitters is gold.
00:05:55One of the reasons why we didn't agree on things is because they didn't keep their promise.
00:06:03They were always going to be a little bit strapped for cash because their million-dollar promise was not...
00:06:09They didn't have a million dollars in their pocket to hand to them.
00:06:11They were always a little bit late for the money.
00:06:14Oscar and his managers never quite connected culturally either.
00:06:19The chemistry was lacking between Oscar and his people on the one hand
00:06:23and Bob Middleman and Steve Nelson on the other.
00:06:27It was all hectic because they would come up with different ideas and we would come up with different ideas
00:06:32and it was just tough.
00:06:34You have two guys from New York who are not...
00:06:38do not have Latino connections, do not speak Spanish, a little bit in your face.
00:06:44Then he's got people who come to him who speak Spanish, who have Latino ties.
00:06:49Maybe say, hey, these are just two white guys from New York just messing your career up.
00:06:55They're taking 33 and a third percent of your money off the top.
00:06:58And you don't need this kind of hassle.
00:07:02So De La Hoya broke free from Nelson and Middleman at the cost of a settlement payment close to $2 million.
00:07:08Oscar now manages himself.
00:07:11In cooperation with several influential members of the Los Angeles Latino community,
00:07:15he still listens to his father and his trainer.
00:07:17Now, is he in control of his career?
00:07:21We'll see.
00:07:22Is this the right move?
00:07:23He better win his fights.
00:07:25What he is doing is heaping the burden of his career upon his own shoulders.
00:07:31While some praise De La Hoya's maturity for undertaking the tough job of putting his own house in order,
00:07:36others detect a troubling pattern.
00:07:38I don't think anyone who saw what happened was Shelly Finkel.
00:07:45Anyone who has seen him through his career should say that this is a shock,
00:07:49that this was, how could this have happened?
00:07:52Evander Holyfield's manager, Shelly Finkel,
00:07:54had subsidized De La Hoya's lengthy amateur career,
00:07:58even paying for his mother's funeral expenses.
00:08:01Finkel was thought to have a lock on De La Hoya after the Olympics,
00:08:04until Oscar suddenly accepted Middleman and Nelson's eye-in-the-sky offer.
00:08:10Steve Nelson and Bob Middleman offered Oscar a very, very attractive deal,
00:08:16and Oscar went for that deal.
00:08:20Since then, Finkel has sued to recover his expenses,
00:08:23and with two jilted management teams now in his wake,
00:08:26what are we to make of Oscar De La Hoya's loyalty?
00:08:29What do you want, huh?
00:08:31Legal.
00:08:32Remember, Oscar has just turned 21.
00:08:37He's very young.
00:08:39He's also inexperienced in the art of business,
00:08:43inexperienced dealing with people.
00:08:46I'm barely starting my boxing career.
00:08:48I'm like a little chicken inside an egg,
00:08:52and I'm barely hatching out.
00:08:53I'm glad that everything is settled,
00:08:56and all I have to do now is just focus and train and win.
00:09:03Question.
00:09:04Does this episode signal the arrival of a savvier, more stable Oscar De La Hoya?
00:09:09Or is it evidence that his unstable business relationships will continue?
00:09:13For now, one thing is certain.
00:09:15Oscar has run out of managers to dump out on.
00:09:17He's left with only himself.
00:09:22And here he comes, walking for the moment, alone from his dressing room, far behind him,
00:09:29trainer Robert Alcazar, regarded as perhaps the biggest beneficiary other than Oscar
00:09:34of the recent change in management circumstances,
00:09:37because Alcazar felt that the previous managers, Nelson and Middleman,
00:09:42might be trying to steer him out.
00:09:44And one of the points that Oscar wanted to make is that he prefers to keep Alcazar as his trainer long into the future.
00:09:49The question about this young man, Jim, is having put all this pressure
00:09:58and all of these expectations onto his own shoulders, can he live up to him?
00:10:04The great ones turn those things into opportunities.
00:10:08Part of the pressure tonight, he'll be fighting before almost all of his friends and family numbers.
00:10:19Part of the pressure tonight, he'll be fighting before almost all of his friends and family numbers.
00:10:49Part of the pressure tonight, he'll be fighting before almost all of his friends and family numbers.
00:11:19Part of the battle bout, he parades around the ring with the American flag in one hand,
00:11:23the Mexican flag in the other.
00:11:26The record 11 wins, no losses, 10 KOs in the only bout which went all the way to decision
00:11:31against Mike Grable in Rochester, New York back in April of 1993.
00:11:38In eight rounds, he put Grable on the canvas seven times.
00:11:41So he has shown punching power in every single one of his bouts.
00:11:53His opponent tonight makes his way from Denmark by way of Tyler, Texas, where he trained for this fight
00:12:00under the tutelage of his American trainer, Al McCoy.
00:12:04Jimmy Bridal, 16 wins, no losses, has not shown a lot of punching power to this point in his career.
00:12:11His brother, Johnny Bridal, is the WBO junior bantamweight titleist.
00:12:16And if you recognize the WBO as a legitimate title-granting organization, which we don't,
00:12:21then you would say that Johnny and Jimmy are the only brothers currently holding boxing championships.
00:12:29But, once again, we regard the WBO as a paper organization,
00:12:33and we don't see this as a legitimate world championship ballot.
00:12:38Now, that's not me.
00:12:40That's you.
00:12:41I know that, George.
00:12:42George Foreman is not in there.
00:12:43And there's the man with the Danish flag.
00:12:46George Foreman had to beat Joe Frazier to win a championship, George.
00:12:50That was a championship.
00:12:53We mentioned Bridal's record, 16 wins, no losses, only five knockouts.
00:12:57If he has a tactical advantage here tonight, it would be that he is a southpaw.
00:13:02And De La Hoya has not fought a lot of them as a professional,
00:13:05though, of course, in De La Hoya's amateur career of more than 200 fights,
00:13:09he saw more than a share of southpaws.
00:13:11He's quick, and he's clever.
00:13:15But if he presses the attack as he told us he would,
00:13:19he may be quick and gone.
00:13:25Indeed, it's hard to imagine him following the fight plan he described
00:13:28with getting into De La Hoya's face and pressuring him from the opening bell.
00:13:33Tail of the tape.
00:13:34De La Hoya not enjoying the head or more height advantage here,
00:13:37which he has held against most of his other opponents.
00:13:39He weighs in at 128 to 3 quarters, fighting at 130 pounds,
00:13:43and a lot of people believe, Larry Merchant, that that's a big mistake,
00:13:45that he ought to be at 135 or more already,
00:13:48and he's squeezing himself to get into this weight class.
00:13:51Well, sometimes a young athlete can overcome all of his mistakes with talent,
00:13:55but I don't understand why a fighter who fought at this weight three or four years ago,
00:14:01before the Olympics, is back down to this weight instead of getting stronger.
00:14:06Puzzlement to me.
00:14:08Watch that numbers, Larry.
00:14:12Here you see that both fighters are about as active as each other.
00:14:16De La Hoya, much more the accurate puncher.
00:14:22And, once again, the challenger was a champion of his WBO,
00:14:28is a very active jabber.
00:14:30And weren't we happy to have Harold Letterman's trusted guidance through the rules in the last bout?
00:14:35Give them to us again, Harold.
00:14:36Jimmy Breedal and Oscar De La Hoya were boxed tonight using the rules of the World Boxing Organization.
00:14:42Twelve rounds.
00:14:43There is no standing eight count, but the three-knockdown rule is in effect.
00:14:48You can be saved by the bell in the last round only.
00:14:50The referee or the doctor can stop the fight,
00:14:52and if a cut is caused by an accidental headbutt,
00:14:55and that cut causes the fight to be stopped,
00:14:57we go to the scorecards.
00:14:58The three rounds have been completed.
00:15:00Before that, it's a technical draw.
00:15:02Jim.
00:15:02For pre-fight introductions, again, Michael Buffer.
00:15:06Ladies and gentlemen,
00:15:11as we celebrate the return of boxing to this legendary arena,
00:15:14we must pause at this time to honor a great warrior who passed away last week at the age of 80.
00:15:21Like the great fighters who appeared here in the Olympic auditorium,
00:15:26he was a man of great courage and heart.
00:15:28He always gave 110%, and he never gave up.
00:15:33He proved this in 1951 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
00:15:36it was his fifth and well-deserved chance at the heavyweight title.
00:15:39He came out for the seventh round, threw a picture-perfect left hook,
00:15:43and ten seconds later, he was heavyweight champion of the world.
00:15:47Ladies and gentlemen, as we welcome a new era of boxing here at the Olympic,
00:15:51we must bid a farewell to a grand old champion.
00:15:54At this time, please rise in silence.
00:15:57Please rise in silence for a final farewell,
00:16:01a memorial count of ten for the former heavyweight champion of the world,
00:16:06Jersey Joe Walcott.
00:16:07Sleep with ease, Chandler.
00:16:36Now, ladies and gentlemen, once again, top-ranked incorporated along with
00:16:45the undisputed, undefeated king of beers, Bud Weiser, proud to be your Bud,
00:16:51presents professional championship boxing for your entertainment.
00:16:55This ballot is sanctioned by the World Boxing Organization and the California State Athletic Commission.
00:17:01Chairman for California, William Eastman.
00:17:02Vice Chairman, Willie Buchanan.
00:17:04Commissioners at ringside,
00:17:06Kim Wilshans,
00:17:07Jerry Nathanson,
00:17:08and former world's-await chef of the world,
00:17:10Carlos Palomino.
00:17:11Executive Officer, Richard DeCure.
00:17:13Physicians at ringside,
00:17:14Dr. Robert Carnes,
00:17:16Dr. Wilman Hicks,
00:17:17and Dr. Adam Carnes.
00:17:18The timekeeper for this contest is John Lichty.
00:17:21WBO Supervisor ringside,
00:17:24Francisco Parcacer.
00:17:26WBO judges assigned,
00:17:28scoring the belt on a ten-point must-sist tomorrow,
00:17:31Jess Andreessen,
00:17:32Raul Caiz,
00:17:34and Hueso Fernandez.
00:17:36And where the bell rings,
00:17:37the man in charge of the action,
00:17:39referee Lou Moret.
00:17:40And now, ladies and gentlemen,
00:17:44once again,
00:17:46part two of the grand opening
00:17:47of the Grand Olympic Auditorium
00:17:50here in the City of Angels.
00:17:53Let's get ready to rumble!
00:18:00Twelve rounds of boxing for the WBO.
00:18:02Junior,
00:18:03lightweight championship of the world.
00:18:06Introducing first,
00:18:08fighting out of the red corner,
00:18:09wearing the gold trunks with black trim,
00:18:12weighing 128 and three-quarter pounds,
00:18:15from East Los Angeles, California,
00:18:17undefeated,
00:18:18with a record of 11-0,
00:18:2010 by KO.
00:18:22He's the 1992 Olympic gold medal champion.
00:18:26Ladies and gentlemen,
00:18:27presenting the undefeated challenger,
00:18:31the pride of East LA,
00:18:33the golden boy,
00:18:36Oscar de la Hoa!
00:18:39And his opponent across the ring,
00:18:50fighting out of the blue corner,
00:18:52wearing the red trunks with white trim,
00:18:54weighing 130 pounds even,
00:18:57from Copenhagen,
00:18:58Denmark,
00:18:59also undefeated,
00:19:00his record 16-0,
00:19:02five KOs to his credit.
00:19:04Ladies and gentlemen,
00:19:06introducing the undefeated WBO junior,
00:19:11lightweight champion of the world,
00:19:14Jimmy Cradon!
00:19:25Oscar?
00:19:25Oscar?
00:19:25Or dok?
00:19:26Ok smoothiamoiare,
00:19:27eeuuuugalare,
00:19:29ooooh institute.
00:19:29Ashkodarlo,
00:19:30Both fighters,
00:19:30Jim,
00:19:31look like,
00:19:31they could use a good square meal or two.
00:19:35I don't like to see a guy come into his home town,
00:19:38And smiling so much before a fight.
00:19:42Oscar.
00:19:43That first fight was right out of one of the movies they used to stage here, Jim and George.
00:19:50I wonder what Oscar De La Hoya can do to top it or match it.
00:19:55Well, the stage has certainly been set by Dame Stoney.
00:19:59And now the challenge is there for De La Hoya.
00:20:02Solid right hand to begin round one.
00:20:05No evidence that Bridal is ready to pressure De La Hoya as he claimed he was.
00:20:11De La Hoya surprised me. He's throwing one punch at a time.
00:20:18Well, maybe he's been lured into thinking of himself as a knockout artist, George.
00:20:22Yeah, you can't do that. You've got to stick to what gets you over.
00:20:26Set up everything behind a jab.
00:20:28Then throw numbers.
00:20:29Oscar is naturally left-handed, but fights from a right-handed stance.
00:20:37It is the lightweight inverse of Michael Moore, a natural right-hander who fights as a southpaw in the heavyweight division.
00:20:44What it means is that his lead hand, his jab hand, is also his strongest and best hand.
00:20:55And he finishes every combination, if he can, with a left hook.
00:20:58It's probably his most dangerous punch.
00:21:00The younger guys, when they are good punchers, have a tendency to taste the guy's power.
00:21:05Oh, look at the grin from De La Hoya as he drops Bridal with one right hand.
00:21:11And that's the first time Bridal's ever been on the camera.
00:21:15And Bridal is looking at De La Hoya with a look that says, don't get too cocky.
00:21:20But I'm not sure Bridal is strong enough to be in the ring with Oscar.
00:21:25Oscar's a great finisher.
00:21:28This could be over fast.
00:21:31No action in return from Bridal as De La Hoya fires away with both fists.
00:21:37What a show.
00:21:40Oscar's a great finisher, but you've got to respect an opponent.
00:21:43He knows that 12 rounds is where the fight could go.
00:21:50The crowd on its feet already as De La Hoya tries to cultivate his image as boxing's baby-faced killer.
00:22:04Believe me, if Oscar wins this title, the WBO will suddenly be the place.
00:22:11Well, maybe at 130 pounds.
00:22:13Although there's evidence that his managers were steering him away from one of the three existing titleists from the other organizations, Gennaro Hernandez.
00:22:26Oscar's for getting to jab and set things up.
00:22:29Put it all back together like he did from the first.
00:22:31Expectations are so high, and this round has been so impressive that the crowd may be mildly disappointed if he doesn't produce a first-round knockout.
00:22:46Oscar's only laying one body punch.
00:22:50When you throw away a lot of energy like that, you've got to invest something back into the body.
00:22:57Bridal makes it out of round one.
00:22:59Bridal did press a hard player early in the round.
00:23:28Bridal left himself open, left himself open, and caught that straight right hand.
00:23:35It was more of a flash knockdown.
00:23:38He was composed throughout it, got up, and survived the round.
00:23:43Good.
00:23:44Bienvenido.
00:23:44Good.
00:23:49I'm sorry.
00:23:58Trainer Robert Alcazar with a final pat on the back for Delahöy as he goes out for round two.
00:24:02Oscar started back to the body, which was great.
00:24:06Go to the body. You've not had a knockdown.
00:24:10Now invest in making this guy lose his power for the latter round.
00:24:22And as we watch for signs of the future champion in De La Hoya,
00:24:26the return to body-punching at the beginning of Round 2 is about as good
00:24:30an omen as you can look for. He was hurt this time, Oscar was.
00:24:34He's been knocked down before. He was knocked down by Narciso Valenzuela
00:24:38in his last fight, October 30.
00:24:42Oscar's got to remember, he got that flash knockdown when
00:24:46Breland was trusting him.
00:24:50He didn't get it by going after him. He's got to make him come to him again.
00:24:54Left hook, snapped Friedahl's head to the side.
00:24:58Great right hand again. Yep.
00:25:00That's a punch you can land against the southpaw
00:25:02if you throw it at the right time.
00:25:08Oscar's got to allow him to come forward a little bit
00:25:10to be more accurate with that shot.
00:25:14Breedahl trying a left-hand lead, didn't commit to it too much.
00:25:18He's probably felt too much leather already.
00:25:24De La Hoya backing him up with the jab.
00:25:26Now the best thing that's happened, Oscar's starting to use his left jab.
00:25:30Boy, he is strong for this weight, George.
00:25:32Redahl is no chump.
00:25:44He takes a punch and tries to get up and get a few more in.
00:25:48Well, he's very cocky. He thinks he's terrific.
00:25:50And he thinks he's fought better fighters than Oscar De La Hoya,
00:25:52although the list of opponents is a pretty unanimity.
00:25:54He's hurt. He's hurt.
00:25:56Yep. Here we go.
00:25:58Redahl down again.
00:26:00Three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
00:26:06Okay, this is good.
00:26:08Come on.
00:26:10Plenty of time left in round two.
00:26:14Oscar's got to be patient.
00:26:16Set this thing back up.
00:26:18Three knockdown rule is in effect in this fight.
00:26:25But they have to come in one round, Jim.
00:26:28That's right.
00:26:30Solid right hands.
00:26:40A lot of leaping by Oscar.
00:26:45If this fight goes beyond six rounds, he may have to pay for that.
00:26:49Wouldn't mind seeing more body-punting, would you, George?
00:26:52That's the only way you can ensure that the guy doesn't have his power left in a lot of rounds.
00:26:57And the final flurry from De La Hoya as round two comes to a close.
00:27:02Proud beginning to get its money's worth here.
00:27:05Well, in fact, let's face it.
00:27:06They already got their money's worth in the Tony drama.
00:27:09Let's see if we can catch the fight where he initially staggers Breedal.
00:27:19It appeared to be the first left hand, followed by that last right hand that hurt Breedal.
00:27:34As you can see, Oscar De La Hoya is a picture boxer-puncher.
00:27:44And the hand speed blur as he throws those combinations.
00:27:49Shades of Sugary Leonard seated in the front row at ringside.
00:27:52The thing that troubled me, Oscar's landing a lot of good shots, but they're hitting the gloves of the champion a lot more than hitting the target.
00:28:02Breedal trying to be more assertive as round three begins.
00:28:04He's been knocked down in each of the first two rounds.
00:28:09Breedal trying to be more assertive as round three begins.
00:28:21He's been knocked down in each of the first two rounds.
00:28:24And the first, we're going to have a challenge.
00:28:25We got our advantage.
00:28:26We're going to have a challenge, where we're at.
00:28:29Let's see what we're doing, the first two rounds.
00:28:31We're gonna have an option.
00:28:33We were gonna have a challenge!
00:28:34What?
00:28:35We're gonna have to be incredible.
00:28:36We're gonna have two rounds.
00:28:37We're gonna have to run.
00:28:38Pass! Pass! Pass!
00:28:43Wyatt's on for a moment here.
00:28:47The champion Vidal has tasted the best power that Oscar has at this point.
00:28:52So his confidence can be nothing but grow now.
00:28:55Straight left hand landed for Vidal.
00:28:59De La Hoya trying to go back to the right hand lead. Stalking.
00:29:03But properly cautious for the moment.
00:29:07Misses with the right.
00:29:09This time Oscar should do some faking. Fainting they call it.
00:29:12Move your hand. Tricking. Tricking.
00:29:15Right hand landed for Vidal. Oscar answered with the left.
00:29:20Body punch. Sets up a right hand that almost got him.
00:29:24Didn't quite get there.
00:29:27Slapping with the left. But now a hard right hand and into the rope goes Vidal again.
00:29:32Okay.
00:29:36Proud thinks referee Lumarrette was a little hasty in breaking them up.
00:29:47The chant you may hear from time to time is East L.A. East L.A.
00:29:53Largely Latino community where De La Hoya grew up.
00:30:01Good left hook by Oscar De La Hoya.
00:30:04But at this point he's putting too much power into every punch.
00:30:08You've got to pace yourself in these lighter weights.
00:30:11And he's deteriorated to one punch at a time. Combinations only when he feels the chance to move forward like there.
00:30:17Oscar would always fake that jab down to the stomach a few times and then start his punches.
00:30:35Interestingly, Vidal had promised us a lot of body punching saying that he didn't think De La Hoya had proved himself as one who could take it to the rib cage yet.
00:30:44But Jimmy hasn't been able to go to the body much because he's been defending himself too much, George.
00:30:49That's right. He's starting to switch hit now.
00:30:52He turned left to right, southpaw to left-hander.
00:30:58And a quiet round three comes to a close.
00:31:01As we get working very good.
00:31:04As we get working very good.
00:31:06Our interpreter is Hector Garcia.
00:31:11You're doing very good.
00:31:13Keep working that way.
00:31:14You're doing very good.
00:31:17Just keep working that way.
00:31:19Keep your hands up and keep moving.
00:31:21Rest a little bit.
00:31:27Very good.
00:31:28There's no problem.
00:31:29Just keep working.
00:31:31We only need just a little bit of time.
00:31:33That's all we need.
00:31:34Keep working.
00:31:35Keep working.
00:31:40Distanza.
00:31:41Okay.
00:31:46Keep your hands up.
00:31:47Keep your hands up.
00:31:48He's coming over.
00:31:50That camp.
00:31:54It's great to see a young fighter looking so perfect, so unblemished.
00:32:00His mind uncluttered by doubt.
00:32:09If you're going to be a good pro in the lighter weights, you're going to have to learn to pace yourself in these rounds.
00:32:13One third into the fight.
00:32:15Third away, you've got to start jabbing.
00:32:17Just keep your lead.
00:32:19You get a second win a little later on to finish him off again if you can.
00:32:22You think Oster's in control of that, George?
00:32:24I don't think so.
00:32:25He's walking forward.
00:32:26Sometimes the right foot is bumping into his left foot, crossing over once.
00:32:31Redoll landed the left hand in there.
00:32:38Another left hand gets in just under the chin.
00:32:43Dela Hoya reaching now.
00:32:46Dela Hoya's feet are starting to catch up with one another.
00:32:49You're never supposed to let your right foot catch up with your left foot.
00:32:53Is it a sign of over-eagerness?
00:32:55Yep, and it's the time of you following a guy around.
00:32:58Boxing is defense at all times.
00:33:00Defending yourself at all times.
00:33:01Don't walk into a trap.
00:33:03The manly art of self-defense.
00:33:06There's some serious self-defense.
00:33:11Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it!
00:33:12A couple of hard shots landed on Redoll there,
00:33:15and Jimmy elects to get in a hug to set himself up again.
00:33:20A lot of frustration by Oster.
00:33:23He's doing the right things.
00:33:25This guy's just not going down right.
00:33:27It's frustrating for a puncher.
00:33:29And when you go for someone's title,
00:33:32they're not just gonna hand it to you.
00:33:34But logic tells you that Dela Hoya is piling up a lead on the scorecards here.
00:33:43Stamina could become a factor if the bout goes a long way.
00:33:46Dela Hoya's never been farther than eight rounds.
00:33:49Redoll, on the other hand, has gone past ten rounds three times.
00:33:55Oscar may have to say to himself,
00:33:57this fight may go the distance now.
00:33:59Let me beat him decisively.
00:34:01I don't think that's what he's thinking, George.
00:34:04Well, the young guys, it's hard to tell them that some guys
00:34:07just can't knock them out because you're hitting them in the head.
00:34:13Good body shots from Dela Hoya.
00:34:15Let's go, let's go, don't close.
00:34:18Again, the crowd thinks that Moret is too solicitous of open ring action.
00:34:24Shouldn't have broken them up quite so quickly.
00:34:26This is the ultimate hometown crowd.
00:34:29Sometimes that hometown crowd can push you to do things that you ought not to do.
00:34:35Ah, remember Holyfield getting in trouble in Atlanta against Burt Cooper.
00:34:39Michael Nunn getting himself knocked out in Davenport, Iowa against James Stoney.
00:34:43You try to go out and do too much to impress your buddies and, hey, just win. That's all that counts.
00:34:48It's gonna be a good champion. You've gotta use your jab.
00:34:58And that is another heavyweight champion.
00:35:12Ex-heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson, who pulled off one of the biggest upsets in boxing history
00:35:19when he knocked out Floyd Patterson in the third round 35 years ago.
00:35:25He's here covering this fight for Scandinavian television.
00:35:31Harold Letterman, how do you score the fight so far?
00:35:34Larry, four rounds to nothing, 40 to 34, Oscar De La Hoya.
00:35:38At this point, Oscar is chasing him from East L.A. to East Copenhagen
00:35:42because Jimmy Breedal is doing nothing but running away.
00:35:45I mean, Oscar deserves an extra point in rounds one and two for the two clean knockdowns.
00:35:49Certainly won rounds three and four easily.
00:35:51He's got a big six-point lead at this point.
00:35:54I have it the same way.
00:35:56He has turned, De La Hoya has turned Breedal from an opponent and a fighter into a survivor.
00:36:03I just got one question, Larry.
00:36:05If he gets knocked out here, is he still the champion of Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen?
00:36:10I suspect he is.
00:36:14In four rounds, our punch stat numbers tell us that De La Hoya has landed 41% of his blows.
00:36:19Breedal, only 19%.
00:36:23Breedal believes that he's still in this fight, but in the latter rounds, Oscar will tie him.
00:36:28Right hand got up underneath De La Hoya's guard.
00:36:33Breedal working hard to try to follow up with the left hand.
00:36:37Missing wildly, but Oscar knows he's in there.
00:36:40Hold it, hold it, hold it, break it, break it.
00:36:45Come on.
00:36:46That's a willing piece of aggression by Breedal.
00:36:48That's the pressure he promised.
00:36:50Got it!
00:36:51Let's go!
00:36:55Problem is, it'll get him too much of this.
00:36:57Take him, take him, take him.
00:37:05The crowd expects Breedal to impale himself on De La Hoya's fists.
00:37:13And they're outraged when he refuses to do it.
00:37:15Great right hand landed for De La Hoya.
00:37:18So did the left.
00:37:21But Breedal was moving away.
00:37:24Breedal instinctively should, as soon as Oscar finishes Fleury, jump right back on him.
00:37:30He's not fighting like a guy who really wants to keep his title.
00:37:33Keep his title.
00:37:53Oscar's looking down at the body, tipping off his, tipping his hand.
00:37:56What are you trying to do?
00:37:57He's telegraphing his body punches, huh?
00:38:01He's only doing with his eyes.
00:38:04Shouldn't let a guy know what you look thinking.
00:38:16Well, of course, he's got those big liquid brown eyes, George,
00:38:18which Madison Avenue believes will sell billions of dollars worth of products.
00:38:22And I believe as much too, this guy is a good representative of young people.
00:38:27And he tells me about something, even if it's perfume.
00:38:31You can get that for your wife, Joan.
00:38:34Yeah.
00:38:35It's okay.
00:38:36By the way, by the way.
00:38:37By the way!
00:38:39By the way!
00:38:43By the way!
00:38:45By the way!
00:38:46By the way!
00:38:48By the way!
00:38:51De La Hoya pacing himself a little bit as Round 5 comes to a close.
00:38:56I think he's accepted the notion now that it's not an easy knockout.
00:39:01Yeah, he's balancing.
00:39:02Rest a little bit. Just relax. Breathe in pretty heavy.
00:39:22In case you're wondering who that gentleman is whose head is festooned with HBO insignia, among other things, that's Cutman Chuck Bodak.
00:39:30And he's not from this planet.
00:39:38Keep working that way. You're working very well. Cut that ring. Cut that ring.
00:39:52We thought we might get a long first fight, and a short second fight goes to go what we know.
00:40:00Round six begins. The end of this stanza would be the halfway point of this scheduled 12-round bout.
00:40:10If the champion is going to do it, he's better come on right now. Fill up, take it to the judges, and win a few of these rounds.
00:40:22Good body punch.
00:40:26The existing 130-pound world championships are held by Gennaro Hernandez, Azuma Nelson, and John John Molina.
00:40:38As you watch De La Hoya go to work again to try to finish Fridaal, we'll point out that it's highly unlikely his management would ever let him near a fighter like Azuma Nelson at this stage of his career.
00:40:48They seem to have dodged Gennaro Hernandez for the moment, and De La Hoya has spired, or sparred I should say, with John John Molina in the gym in the past.
00:40:58He says he always got the best of Molina.
00:41:10Fridaal should charge him right now and win this round.
00:41:14It's blood from Fridaal's nose.
00:41:32Blood below the left nostril for Fridaal.
00:41:38Oscar's got this bounce in his legs now. This is confidence for a young fighter when they do that. They're very confident. I can go on all night.
00:41:50He's chasing Fridaal. Is he doing a good enough job of cutting off the ring, George?
00:41:54He's not cutting off the ring at all. He's following him, but he's bouncing along with it, which is a sign when you've got young fighters, if they bounce, they're happy.
00:42:02When they stop bouncing, they're sad.
00:42:08But this cutting off the ring deal is one of the hardest things for a young fighter to learn and remember, right?
00:42:13That's right, because you've got to make the ring a small place. When you let a guy circle the whole ring, you've missed the boat.
00:42:21And this, incidentally, is a spacious ring.
00:42:25The doll is able to move from one corner to another. You cut it off by leaving him one corner and don't allow him to leave that corner.
00:42:38A parenthetical observation, gentlemen. From the dressing rooms, we learned that James Toney has had 12 stitches put into the cut above his left eye.
00:42:48It's the most stitches that Tony has had in his career. And they're deep, too.
00:43:00It's very, very hard to look good against a fighter like Fridaal. And I think this young Delahoya is doing a good job of trying to look good against him.
00:43:13Halfway to the 12-round distance.
00:43:31OK, but you never know what I tell you, all right?
00:43:34OK.
00:43:36Give me some tricks. You're OK.
00:43:39Only 85 punches between the two fighters in round six. That's an incredibly low output for Fridaal, who spent most of the rounds simply running away from Delahoya.
00:43:51You can do it. You can knock and knock and knock and knock and knock and knock and knock and knock and knock.
00:43:56You see?
00:43:57Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!
00:43:58OK.
00:44:03We looked for any signs of a cut on Fridaal. It didn't appear that there was one, so that blood which we saw under his nose was probably a trickle from the knock.
00:44:11If Fridaal is going to win this fight at this point, he's got to search for a knockout.
00:44:18If Fridaal is going to win this fight at this point, George, he's going to have to get NATO involved, I think.
00:44:25I don't know if the British and the French want to go to war here.
00:44:32Not against Delahoya.
00:44:34Now the crowd chance, Oscar, Oscar, Oscar.
00:44:46Oscar's got to remain calm and forget about the crowd.
00:44:49Well, at least Fridaal is staying close enough now to give him some opportunities.
00:44:53He knew he'd try an uppercut. He kept staying that close, and he landed the second uppercut flush.
00:44:58Oscar's strategy has been to keep winning each round, and the strategy has paid off thus far.
00:45:05Yeah, he's about 100 points ahead at this point.
00:45:08Fridaal is starting to land short, right hook.
00:45:19Oh, there's a solid right hand from Delahoya.
00:45:23Fridaal steps in, goes to the left to the body.
00:45:29Fridaal much more aggressive in this round.
00:45:32His confidence seeming to return gradually.
00:45:35There's another Delahoya flurry.
00:45:41Right, left, left.
00:45:43Fridaal thinks he got thumbed in the eye.
00:45:54Fridaal is extremely fast.
00:45:56You see him a minute, and next thing you know you throw three punches, he's out of range.
00:46:00Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it.
00:46:02You are so gracious.
00:46:03You have this amazing capacity to find a way to compliment a fighter who is losing badly in a one-sided fight.
00:46:10I love it, George.
00:46:12What a heart beats within this massive body of yours.
00:46:15Straight up the middle, Delahoya.
00:46:17When Delahoya uses his left jab, there's no contest.
00:46:28And it looks good.
00:46:31You know this thing about telegraphing punches with his eyes, George.
00:46:39He might benefit from looking at some videotapes of James Toney, who's a master of looking in one place and hitting you in another.
00:46:45That's correct.
00:46:46Delahoya's gonna hit you in the body, he looks there first.
00:46:50Left hand landed inside for Delahoya.
00:46:53Backing Fridaal up again as round seven comes to a close.
00:46:57Another one-sided round in favor of East Los Angeles' Olympic gold medalist, Oscar Delahoya.
00:47:03Oscar, finish him up with the left hand, Oscar.
00:47:20Finish him up with the left hand.
00:47:22He's working now.
00:47:24He's working now.
00:47:25He's working pretty good.
00:47:26But you have to get him.
00:47:28Rest.
00:47:29Rest.
00:47:30Breathe in.
00:47:31Breathe in.
00:47:33You're working very good.
00:47:35Relax.
00:47:36Harold Letterman, how do you see it through seven rounds?
00:47:47Larry, seven rounds to none.
00:47:4970 to 61, Oscar Delahoya based on clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship, defense, artistic impression, and technical merit.
00:47:58I mean, anything we score on, Oscar Delahoya is winning all the way around.
00:48:04My scoring must be improving, Harold, because I agree with you.
00:48:11So Oscar Delahoya enters the eighth round for only the second time in his career.
00:48:16Only once before has he gone this far.
00:48:18That was against Mike Grable in Rochester, New York, April 6, 1993, almost a year ago.
00:48:25Spear sponsors.
00:48:26It's pretty good.
00:48:27OK.
00:48:28aud sangat
00:48:35I like it better that way.
00:48:36Watch the hands, watch the hands.
00:48:38watch the head, watch the head
00:48:45the great Carlos Palomino watching at ringside across the way
00:48:49he had a couple of terrific fights
00:48:50now De La Hoya believes he's been butted by Bridal
00:48:54and referee Lou Moret allows him to get his bearings before they start a game
00:48:58lead right by De La Hoya, Bridal backs up
00:49:01left hook, left hook
00:49:04and to the body
00:49:06a little bit of a mean streak from Oscar
00:49:08and Moret says, hey, don't hit him in the liver
00:49:11when I'm breaking you apart like that
00:49:12sometimes it gets awful frustrating
00:49:15especially if this is a softball
00:49:17so that punch to the side like that
00:49:19wouldn't have been like that
00:49:21if it had been a right handball
00:49:22you're doing everything you can
00:49:29and you can't get a knockout
00:49:30you're young, you think everybody's supposed to fall
00:49:32one more time
00:49:36Oscar's energy boiling over here
00:49:40referee Lou Moret becoming increasingly unpopular in Los Angeles
00:49:45he's having to keep Otter in that ring
00:49:49is he doing the right thing, George?
00:49:51he's doing the right thing
00:49:52Oscar's at home, he thinks he can do anything he wants
00:49:55but at the same time, a referee
00:49:56he's got to be
00:49:58equal in his judgment towards you
00:50:02did Oscar do the right thing
00:50:04to pop the liver when he had a chance?
00:50:06no, he wouldn't have
00:50:07it was a foul, right?
00:50:09it wouldn't have been
00:50:10it wouldn't have happened if
00:50:11Bridal had been a right-hander
00:50:14his body is on wrong
00:50:16he made it look like he was hitting him in the back
00:50:18when you look down, it's over
00:50:21too late then
00:50:22an angry Oscar De La Hoya
00:50:28inciting the passions of
00:50:31this big crowd
00:50:34a near sellout in the
00:50:38new Grand Olympic Auditorium
00:50:40since 1925
00:50:43beating hard of boxing on the West Coast
00:50:45hold it, hold it, hold it
00:50:47what a night
00:50:49the way they move in synchrony
00:51:03I'll find here when I think I'm
00:51:05watching Torville and Dean
00:51:07but they only got bronze
00:51:13their La Hoya was golden
00:51:15let's look down the road just a moment now
00:51:17World Championship Boxing will return next month
00:51:20with a welterweight doubleheader as
00:51:21yes, Pernell Whitaker
00:51:23considered by most experts
00:51:24boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter
00:51:26defends his WBC crown against
00:51:28number one-ranked contender
00:51:29Santos Cardona
00:51:30also featured two former champions
00:51:32face each other when Buddy McGirt
00:51:33takes on Livingston Bramble
00:51:35live Saturday, April 9
00:51:37from Norfolk, Virginia
00:51:38on HBO
00:51:40note the unusual starting time
00:51:429.45 Eastern
00:51:446.45 Pacific
00:51:45there's a danger of a long fight like this
00:51:55anything can happen
00:51:56and there you saw a butt
00:51:58that got
00:51:59De La Hoya in the eye
00:52:01and wrinkled him a bit
00:52:02no damage
00:52:07so this now becomes
00:52:09the longest fight
00:52:10of Oscar De La Hoya's
00:52:11long career
00:52:12more than 200 amateur bouts
00:52:1411 as a professional
00:52:16this is the first time
00:52:17he's ever had to go past
00:52:18eight rounds
00:52:19round eight was another pitiful output
00:52:27for Jimmy Bridal
00:52:28who only threw 19 punches
00:52:30in the round
00:52:31he can't be busier than that
00:52:35you're just leaving
00:52:36too many opportunities
00:52:37for De La Hoya to get off
00:52:38Oscar has to be in extremely good conditioning
00:52:45to be able to throw that many punches
00:52:46and even miss from time to time
00:52:48still have the eye
00:52:50of a finisher
00:52:51well we're going to find out
00:52:54what kind of conditioning
00:52:55he's got George
00:52:56as he now goes into
00:52:57closing rounds
00:52:59Big Dale is not going back after him
00:53:14when Oscar finishes his rally
00:53:16get right back on him
00:53:18De La Hoya trains at altitude
00:53:22in Big Bear, California
00:53:24in the San Bernardino Mountains
00:53:26his friends and trainer Robert Alcazar
00:53:29say that he is an eager trainer
00:53:31boxing's version of a gym rat
00:53:33he's been doing this
00:53:39since he was six years old
00:53:41we asked De La Hoya yesterday
00:53:46what other sports he played as a child
00:53:48he said none
00:53:48I was boxing all the time
00:53:50Oscar's got to be careful
00:53:52when he throws his right hand
00:53:54not to take his body forward
00:53:55he could get cut
00:53:56like Tony did
00:53:57Redal is not too fond of De La Hoya's
00:54:05right hand lead
00:54:06he's begun to back away
00:54:07as soon as Oscar cocks the throw
00:54:08Oscar was sitting up
00:54:12charging in
00:54:13that left hander's head
00:54:15his head is just missing his head
00:54:17each time
00:54:18one butt
00:54:19and that could be a bad cut
00:54:20already had one
00:54:36butting of heads in this fight
00:54:39that could have produced a cut
00:54:40didn't do so
00:54:41in case you joined us late
00:54:42in our first main event of the evening
00:54:44we had scintillating drama
00:54:46as James Toney
00:54:47bleeding badly
00:54:48from a cut over his left eye
00:54:50caused by a head butt
00:54:51on the part of challenger
00:54:52Tim Littles
00:54:53rallied to score
00:54:55a dramatic knockout
00:54:56of Littles
00:54:56in a fight
00:54:57that would shortly
00:54:58have been stopped
00:54:58had Tony not been able
00:55:00to get the finish himself
00:55:02this fight has become an anti-climax to the first fight
00:55:15and the first two rounds of this fight
00:55:16when you come out of this you go down don't step straight back out that's where you're catching
00:55:20he's coming over your right hand with a hook ok
00:55:22so far and other time
00:55:23come out of this
00:55:24if you're right hand with a hook ok
00:55:25so far and other time
00:55:26alright
00:55:27now you come up with this time boxing and let your hands go
00:55:33let your hands go
00:55:34ok then
00:55:35come chill
00:55:36He's coming over with your right hand with a hook, okay?
00:55:39Go for it all the time, man.
00:55:40All right.
00:55:41Now, you come up right this time, boxing.
00:55:42Let your hands go.
00:55:44Let your hands go, okay, then?
00:55:46Come, Sheila.
00:55:47Keep your right hand.
00:55:49I'm breathing hard.
00:55:51You're working very well.
00:55:54You're working very well.
00:55:55Just keep working the same way.
00:55:57You come out first.
00:55:58You come out by first.
00:56:00Don't wait for him.
00:56:01You go first.
00:56:01Okay?
00:56:02In the big picture, this is a useful fight for De La Hoya.
00:56:10He's going to go the distance with this opponent, apparently.
00:56:16Keep him working hard.
00:56:20What did I just say?
00:56:24Don't worry, Larry.
00:56:25You were just dreaming it.
00:56:26You didn't say it.
00:56:27You okay?
00:56:29Maybe Bridal has had enough of this.
00:56:31Yeah, it looked that way to me.
00:56:32It's best way soon.
00:56:33Yeah.
00:56:33Third knockdown of the fight.
00:56:35The others came in rounds one and two.
00:56:38Bridal looks utterly weary.
00:56:40And referee Lou Moret has to be thinking stoppage pretty soon
00:56:43if De La Hoya continues this onslaught.
00:56:45Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it.
00:56:47You okay to me, okay?
00:56:49Again, the crowd says,
00:56:50Lou, why did you stop him?
00:56:55Get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up.
00:57:01Remember, these three knockdowns represent the first time in Bridal's 17-fight career that he's ever been on the deck.
00:57:09And he, of course, has never been knocked out, unbeaten coming into the fight.
00:57:16Oscar hits, lands one shot, and throws four more anyway.
00:57:21That's the sign of a great champion.
00:57:22Now, cut off the ring.
00:57:39Keep him here in the corner.
00:57:41Didn't do it.
00:57:42He allows them to circle and circle and circle.
00:57:46Well, that's something to work on for sure.
00:57:48But then a lot of it is because he's a softball.
00:57:52The champion of the softball.
00:57:55He's also very good at circling.
00:58:01That's the truth.
00:58:02A couple more lead right hands, and he might go from a not-so-great Dane to a melancholy Dane.
00:58:20He just was not prepared for the power of Oscar De La Hoya.
00:58:26Waiting at 128 to bleed, and he's punching like 147.
00:58:3030 seconds left in round 10.
00:58:41How much more of this does Jimmy Bridal want?
00:58:45Can he find an opening to do some damage himself?
00:58:48No, he'd rather grab and hold for the moment.
00:58:52He's a gutsy kid.
00:58:53You can't see, you can't breathe, and the referee asks, are you okay?
00:59:07Fine, fine, fine, fine.
00:59:09Bridal makes it out of round 10.
00:59:12And Robert Alcazar acts as though the fight is over as he races into the middle of the ring to embrace his charge.
00:59:19Now the doctor steps into the corner to take a look at Bridal.
00:59:26He's not a moron.
00:59:29He almost stopped one fight already, and he may be stopping this one.
00:59:34No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
00:59:36In California, either the referee or the doctor can stop the fight, and the doctor here says, enough.
00:59:44And you know what?
00:59:44Bridal doesn't entirely disagree.
00:59:48So Oscar gets his DKO.
00:59:49The discussion in Bridal's corner seemed to center on how much punishment he had taken.
01:00:11And Jimmy's answer seemed to be, I've taken a lot.
01:00:14Are you okay, the ref continues to ask?
01:00:20No, I'm not okay.
01:00:23That's the wrong answer.
01:00:25Thank you very much.
01:00:25So De La Hoya moves to 12 and 0.
01:00:34Those who recognize the WBO, the World Boxing Organization, as a legitimate title-granting organization.
01:00:41And for our purposes, that would make 4 in the sport.
01:00:44So officially here at HBO, we don't acknowledge them.
01:00:48But those people who do would say that De La Hoya has now won the first of his World Championships.
01:00:53He says his goal is to win titles in 6 different weight classes.
01:00:58That was the reason for fighting for a title at 130 pounds, so that he can ultimately win titles at 130, 135, 140, 147, 154, and 160 pounds.
01:01:09Let's take a look back at some of the punishment from the last round, George.
01:01:13Here's the knockdown.
01:01:14So many punches landed in the same part of the face each time.
01:01:19That comes back with one each time.
01:01:25It's hard to recover.
01:01:33Now here's the big right.
01:01:35Boom.
01:01:36That can be frustrating.
01:01:38You land a shot like that and a guy still on his feet.
01:01:40Yeah, but that's the kind of punch that makes the doctor say, I'm not sure I want to see what happens if he lands it again.
01:01:47Right now, let's go up the ring announcer, Michael Buffer, for the official particulars.
01:01:51Ladies and gentlemen, referee Lou Moret, acting on the advice of physician at ringside, Dr. Adam Carnes,
01:01:57calls a halt of the bout at the end of round 10.
01:02:00The winner by technical knockout, and new WBO Junior Lightweight Champion of the World, the Golden Boy,
01:02:10Oscar De La Hoya.
01:02:20Final punch stat numbers.
01:02:22And you'll see here the statistical evidence that convinced the ring doctor that he'd seen enough after 10 rounds.
01:02:30De La Hoya landed 242 punches to only 77 for Bridal.
01:02:34Connect percentage of 43% for Oscar.
01:02:37One out of five punches landed for Bridal, and none of them did much damage.
01:02:42Oscar De La Hoya showing hand speed, combinations, a little footwork, power.
01:02:48There's not much missing, is there, George?
01:02:51He's got it all.
01:02:52He's got the making of possibly the best pound-for-pound fighter around.
01:02:57Possibly.
01:02:58I don't want to get into the audience with Tony, but this guy's good.
01:03:01Let's see him against some tougher opponents before we call him that.
01:03:04But right now, Larry Merton stands by with De La Hoya.
01:03:07Oscar, congratulations.
01:03:09First, did you see Tony's fight?
01:03:12Did it have any effect on you?
01:03:14Did you want to do better than him?
01:03:15What was your impression going after?
01:03:17When you have a fighter who is good at, like James Tony, and he puts out an excellent performance,
01:03:25he did very, very good.
01:03:27It puts you more pressure so you can try harder and make you want to show off more
01:03:32and make the audience cheer more for you.
01:03:34So it did add a little more power to me.
01:03:37It psyched me up more, and my game plan was very good.
01:03:40I felt very, very strong.
01:03:42Okay, he's a very well-talented little boxer, and I give him a lot of credit.
01:03:50What was the difficulty of following up on your knockdowns?
01:03:54Was he just tough and quick?
01:03:56Well, a softball is really difficult when you go in there and try to throw your punches.
01:04:02You're so used to fighting a right-handed boxer that when you fight a left-handed boxer,
01:04:06it's like it's a whole different game.
01:04:07It's a whole different plan that you have to sort out up in the ring, and that's what happened.
01:04:12But I caught him up in later rounds.
01:04:13Let's take a look at the last knockdown in the 10th round, which ended the fight, really.
01:04:21Tell us what you see.
01:04:22I was just putting a lot of pressure to him.
01:04:24He couldn't just stand the pressure because I felt very, very strong.
01:04:28I felt that I was in command, and it was just a matter of time that he would go down and lose the fight.
01:04:33Now this is the end of the fight.
01:04:35Did you punch enough to the body in this fight, Oscar?
01:04:38I really couldn't punch to the body a lot because of his left-hand style.
01:04:41But later on, I started to throw the right hook to the body, and they kind of worked.
01:04:47But I knew that I had to throw different punches, come up in different angles to win the fight.
01:04:51What kind of feelings and impressions do you have about following your father and grandfather into this arena and fighting here?
01:05:00Yeah, well, first of all, I would like to thank the Needleman family and Mr. Bob Barron, the best crumbot in the world,
01:05:06to having given me this opportunity of reopening the Grand Olympic Auditorium.
01:05:11And it was just a great honor for myself because my father fought here, my grandfather fought here,
01:05:16and now for me to fight here is just the best thing that could ever happen to Los Angeles and myself.
01:05:21Do you feel that you still have to win over the hardcore, skeptical, tough fans in East Los Angeles?
01:05:30Oh, most definitely.
01:05:31I mean, fans are never going to be happy.
01:05:33People are never going to be happy.
01:05:35There's always going to be positive and negative critics out there.
01:05:38And I feel very, very confident that in the future I will come up against the best fighters in the world,
01:05:44and hopefully I will do well because this is my first year in boxing,
01:05:47and I just have to develop more strength and more endurance and just physical strength that I need.
01:05:55You fought at 130 pounds.
01:05:58You weren't sure whether you'd be comfortable here.
01:06:00Do you want to stay here or do you want to move up?
01:06:03I felt very strong.
01:06:04I felt very powerful and fast.
01:06:08I believe, see how it goes maybe in three weeks, see how I feel.
01:06:11If my body grows into a lightweight or if I'll move up higher, I don't know.
01:06:16And will you fight some of the outstanding fighters in your weight classifications here in Los Angeles,
01:06:22like Gennaro Hernandez and the Rellis brothers?
01:06:24And since you're managing your career, you're telling us, you tell us what your timetable is.
01:06:29Well, my timetable is to develop a little more experience,
01:06:33and eventually I'll be fighting the best in the world, from Los Angeles, from anywhere in the world.
01:06:37And I just need a little more time, and only I know when I've developed that strength and power to beat any champion out there.
01:06:45Well, at least for tonight, you were an excellent manager as well as a fighter.
01:06:49Thank you, Oscar De La Hoya.
01:06:50Thank you, sir.
01:06:51And back to you, Jim and George.
01:06:54All right, Larry, exactly the point I was going to make, George.
01:06:57Swimming against the tide, as always, you've said that you think it's an excellent idea for Oscar to manage himself.
01:07:03He did a heck of a job of it tonight, didn't he?
01:07:04Yeah, he did a great job, and it's going to tell the world, the young people, just because you're young, you're not dumb.
01:07:10How close is he to being able to take on the very best in these lightweight classes, e.g., Azuma Nelson and Gennaro Hernandez?
01:07:19Well, there's no way we could have seen the best of Oscar De La Hoya tonight.
01:07:22He was against the softball.
01:07:24Put him in the ring with a right-hander, you're going to see the best, and this guy will impress even the most skeptic of skeptics.
01:07:30He is a great fighter, and he's got a great future in boxing.
01:07:33All right, let's bring Larry in for some final thoughts here right now.
01:07:36Larry, if you'll just step over here and join us.
01:07:39George has offered that De La Hoya offers a sparkling future.
01:07:43Your final thoughts about both fights here tonight?
01:07:46Well, we came in here saying, I think accurately, that the building was a star tonight,
01:07:51but I also think that the two winners were stars as well.
01:07:56James Toney gave a performance that I don't think could have been topped any time in the glorious history of this arena.
01:08:04It was truly one of those dramatic performances that becomes the marker of a fighter's career,
01:08:12and I'll be curious to see how fans respond to him from here on out.
01:08:18And in Oscar De La Hoya, we did see a great young fighter,
01:08:22and I thought his comments after the fight about taking his time were appropriate
01:08:27and shows that he's got a head on his shoulders for more than just the fighting in the ring.
01:08:33We came in wondering, I did anyway, whether you can turn nostalgia into reality,
01:08:38and I think at least for one night, we did, just like in the movies.
01:08:43Well, don't leave us yet, boxing fans, because we've got a treat coming up.
01:08:47In a moment, we'll interview the man who next challenges for the heavyweight championship of the world.
01:08:51But first, a word about an upcoming original movie here on HBO.
01:08:55Inside a maximum security prison.
01:08:58Nobody's got a legitimate bitch unless I say so.
01:09:00There are some things they can't teach you.
01:09:03This is a training program.
01:09:05There are some things they don't tell you.
01:09:07They don't run this joint, they do.
01:09:09Now, you people are turning into a problem again, my friend.
01:09:12And the only rule to live by is...
01:09:14Well, how are you going to deal with the problem, Mr. Superintendent?
01:09:17Be ready.
01:09:18We have an inmate control problem here. Officer, down.
01:09:21Has anything changed in the prison system? Is anything going to change?
01:09:24Let it burn!
01:09:26I'm going to negotiate this all the way.
01:09:29It's my officers' lives you're negotiating, goddammit!
01:09:33You're running out of time, Mr. Superintendent.
01:09:35This is Attica.
01:09:36We're not going to blink.
01:09:39Kyle MacLachlan, Samuel L. Jackson, and Clarence Williams III, Against the Wall.
01:09:45Attica.
01:09:4639 men die.
01:09:48The story never will.
01:09:50An HBO original movie.
01:09:52Premieres Saturday, March 26th on HBO.
01:09:55Hey, he's going to give me the first shot.
01:09:57Against the Wall.
01:09:58That's this month on HBO.
01:10:00Next month, April 22th.
01:10:02This man, Michael Moore, challenges Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas for the WBA and IVF World Heavyweight Championship belts that Holyfield now holds.
01:10:12Michael, welcome to the telecast.
01:10:13Have you already begun training for the fight?
01:10:15Yes, I have.
01:10:16I've been in training for about a week and five days, so I'm feeling pretty confident about this fight.
01:10:21You've had various changes of manager and trainer in the past.
01:10:24When we saw you last here against Mike Evans on HBO, you were being trained by Teddy Atlas.
01:10:29Does he stay in that position for the upcoming title fight?
01:10:31Yes, he does.
01:10:32A lot of people make a big deal about changing trainers, but I think it's all within the fighter.
01:10:37I'm too strong-minded to let it bother me or affect me.
01:10:40You're the mandatory challenger, but there are a lot of people who thought that Evander might try to get around that
01:10:46to go ahead and try to unify the heavyweight championship against Lennox Lewis.
01:10:50Are you surprised that he's giving you the opportunity now?
01:10:54I'm not surprised.
01:10:55I remember him stating that he wants to fight the best, and I think that I am the best, and I think he knows that.
01:11:02But he wants to prove to himself, but I think it's going to be a fatal mistake, actually.
01:11:06What are your advantages against the champion?
01:11:09I don't know if there's any advantages.
01:11:10I know myself.
01:11:11I'm younger, stronger, more determined.
01:11:14Well, those people who say that Evander should be favored in the fight will, on the other hand, say that you have a puncher's chance.
01:11:21It's boxing language for saying that Moorer is a guy with so much power that he might score a knockout against Evander,
01:11:28even if Evander is tactically better.
01:11:30Do you think that you have that kind of one-punch power against him?
01:11:33Absolutely, but you have to take your hat off to Evander.
01:11:35Evander is a true champion, and he's a strong-minded person.
01:11:38I think it's going to come down to being within the minds, I think, because, you know,
01:11:43you can't get in the excellent shape of your life, because anyone can be hit and get knocked down,
01:11:48but you have to be the true champion to come back.
01:11:50You're pointing out now that you accurately predicted that Holyfield would take the title back from Riddick Bowe,
01:11:55seen by most people as a huge upset. Why did you think he was going to be able to do it?
01:12:00It's like I stated, he's too strong-minded and too determined, and he really believes in himself.
01:12:06So that plays a key part in boxing, I believe.
01:12:10You're telling me you have more respect for Evander than for any other fighter you've gone into the ring against?
01:12:15Well, I respect everybody, as long as you don't disrespect me, then we don't have no problems.
01:12:19I don't want to disrespect you, Mike. You're known for your mean streak.
01:12:23You'll never find me on your enemies list, I hope.
01:12:26We're looking forward to seeing you on April 22, and thanks very much for joining us.
01:12:29Appreciate it.
01:12:30Michael Moura, the man who will be challenging Evander Holyfield for the World Heavyweight Championship in Las Vegas on April 22.
01:12:37A pay-per-view bout.
01:12:39So, earlier tonight, James Toney, here in the newly reopened Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles,
01:12:45scored a dramatic comeback TKO over Tim Littles.
01:12:49After the challenger had opened a huge cut over Tony's left eye with a headbutt,
01:12:54the doctor confirmed he would shortly have stopped the fight if Tony hadn't been able to get the knockout.
01:12:59It was scintillating stuff.
01:13:00And then Oscar De La Hoya, before the wildly enthusiastic home crowd,
01:13:04many of them from his neighborhood of East Los Angeles,
01:13:07finally got the TKO at the end of round 10,
01:13:10after knocking down Jimmy Bridal three times,
01:13:12the first time De La Hoya has fought 10 rounds,
01:13:15the 12th victory of his career,
01:13:17the 11th by knockout, and he remains golden and unbeaten.
01:13:21Coming up immediately following tonight's coverage of World Championship Boxing,
01:13:24stay tuned for Nowhere to Run on the East Coast and Groundhog Day on the West Coast.
01:13:29World Championship Boxing returns next month with a well-to-weight doubleheader,
01:13:32as Pernell Whitaker, considered by many to be boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter,
01:13:36defends his WBC crown against number one-ranked contender Santos Cardona.
01:13:39Also featured, two former champions face each other when Buddy McGirt takes on Livingston Bramble,
01:13:45that doubleheader, live Saturday, April 9, on HBO.
01:13:49So now, for Larry Merchant, George Foreman, and Harold Letterman,
01:13:52I'm Jim Lampley saying so long from Los Angeles, California.
01:13:56The executive producer of HBO Sports is Ross Greenberg.
01:14:01Tonight's coverage of World Championship Boxing was produced by Rick Bernstein
01:14:04and directed by Mark Payton.
01:14:07The feature producers were Adam Berger and Kirby Bradley,
01:14:09associate producer Brian McDonald,
01:14:11assistants to the producer Dave Leapson and Artie Curry,
01:14:14production manager John McCallie,
01:14:16and the technical supervisor Bob Hunter.
01:14:19The feature producers were produced by Rick Bernstein,
01:15:19This has been a presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.
01:15:44Pound for pound, we all know who the best fighter in the world is.
01:15:53And Pernell Whitaker is back to prove it in a world championship boxing doubleheader.
01:15:58Whitaker versus Cardona.
01:16:00McGirt versus Bramble.
01:16:01Live.
01:16:02Saturday, April 9th.
01:16:03Only on HBO.
01:16:05Home, the Red Bee Tongue.
01:16:05Amen.