Podcast: Anderson, Barboza interviews; news of the week; Pedraza-Commey preview
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It’s a slow weekend with one card of note, the Top Rank on ESPN show headlined by Jose Pedraza against Richard Commey on Saturday night. We previewed that fight and also covered and opined on tons of news of the week. Also, there are two interviews I conducted, one with heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson, who is in the Top Rank co-feature, and the other with junior welterweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr., who is coming off a recent win and calling out Teofimo Lopez. Here’s what’s on the show (in order):
Tyson Fury setting a deadline for offers for him to fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title.
Junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor, who had all four titles, vacating yet another belt and why that happened.
Demetrius Andrade’s decision to vacate his middleweight title and move up to super middleweight.
Promoter Don King and heavyweight Daniel Dubois settling the lawsuit Dubois filed against him for stiffing him for his purse from his KO win over Trevor Bryan in June.
The wretched WBA’s lies about the Leo Santa Cruz-Leigh Wood mandatory situation. I admit it: I went off. Dropped a few curses. Sorry.
My interview with Anderson ahead of his Top Rank co-feature against Miljan Rovcanin. We discussed the fight, his return from a layoff, missing the chance to fight on the Fury-Dillian Whyte card in April, his view of the division, his confidence that Fury is not retired, he makes his pick in a possible Fury-Usyk fight and he calls out Filip Hrgovic.
My interview with Barboza, who had a lot of say about his recent wins, his desire to fight Top Rank stablemate Lopez, his assessment of a hot junior welterweight division and even interest in a fight with Ryan Garcia. Barboza was very good and passionate. Definitely worth a listen.
Our preview a very even fight on paper between former lightweight titleholders Pedraza and Commey, who meet at junior welterweight.
Listen, rate and subscribe here and enjoy!
Jared Anderson photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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Earnie Shavers was a quiet #humble man and a gentleman out the ring and a good friend. We will all miss him. If Earnie would have fought in today's era with all the different titles available and weight division (who knows Earnie could have possibly been a cruiserweight too)...he could have won several titles ....Earnie was from Alabama ...(same as Wilder)...Interesting both were/are massive punchers (might be the water). Not only did he give Ali hell...but also Holmes. For Ali he sparred over 200 rounds (in his book, WELCOME TO THE BIG TIME) ....and it showed. When he knocked out Ken Norton...Norton said, "Anything Earnie hits you with, you will feel. His punch was like photographer's flashlights going off in my head. When he knocked me down, I was out cold." We will miss you Earnie. You were always loyal to your friends. Keep punching.
Let TJ sing!