This is my continuing list of the fights I watched on HBO over the years.
46. Pernell Whitaker vs Buddy McGirt 2. This bout was a rematch from 18 months earlier, and this time it wasn’t close at all. ‘Sweet Pea’ was dominant in a masterful performance at the Scope in Norfolk, Virginia. His hometown was witness to one of boxing’s all-time masters in the ring, and this was one of his finest hours. He planned to move up the the 154 pound in his next fight in early 1995, and there was no doubt in my mind he could capture a title in that class as well.
47. Michael Moorer vs. George Foreman. November 5, 1994. I was in Vegas a week before this bout for a much needed four day vacation. I had a chance to see George at the MGM Grand Garden on the Jim Rome show. He looked fit and trim, and it gave me enough confidence to bet $200 on him as a 2 1/2-1 underdog. That meant if he won, I’d make a quick $500. It was the first time I ever bet on a fight, and it wouldn’t be the last. I also won $1,200 on a slog machine that week, sending me home juiced for George’s shot at the title the upcoming Friday night. As I watched the first five or six rounds from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, it was hard to not get discouraged, simply because Moorer was hitting him a lot and landing. By the eighth round, I was hoping for a miracle, and lo and behold it happened only a few rounds later. George knocked Moorer out with a short left-right combination, and I erupted in cheers. As Jim Lampley yelled ‘”It happened! It happened!”, I was speechless. My hero had done the incredible, and at 45 years of age, was the oldest heavyweight champion in history. Amazing.
48. Riddick Bowe vs. Larry Donald. December 3, 1994. This one from Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas sucked from the first round until the bell ending round twelve rang. Donald ran and fought like a coward, leaving Riddick Bowe chasing him the whole night. Bowe won an easy decision, and in my opinion, Donald should have been serving ice cream in one of the snack bars in the hotel. It wasn’t Bowe’s fault his opponent fought like a bitch, and it made me hope I never had to watch Larry Donald box again.
49. Riddick Bowe vs. Herbie Hide. March 11, 1995. I went over my brother’s to watch this one on HBO, and Riddick Bowe didn’t disappoint. Hide tried to box in the early rounds, but Bowe caught up to him and dropped him a few times. The end of the bout at the MGM Grand Garden in Vegas came in the sixth, when Riddick dropped a fatigued Hide, causing the ref to halt the action. Despite Larry Merchant’s critical remarks, I was impressed with Bowe’s performance, and saw big things ahead for him in 1995.
50. Roy Jones Jr. vs Antoine Byrd. March 18, 1995. Roy Jones made his first defense of his new 168 lb. title in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida, the first one ever in that town. It was a quick night for Jones, with him easily knocking out an overwhelmed Byrd in the first round. Roy’s speed was incredible, and his power was amazing as well. Incredibly rumors surfaced that Vinny Pazienza would be Roy’s next opponent, and I laughed hysterically. The only way Vinny could have ever beat Roy Jones was if he had a machine gun with him as he climbed through the ropes.
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