Podcast: Andy Ruiz interview; Joyce-Chisora, Shields-Joanisse previews
Canelo-Berlanga thoughts; news of the week; fight anniversaries; Vernon Forrest appreciation on anniversary of his untimely death
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There are two notable fights on Saturday: the heavyweight bout between Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora in London on ESPN+ and Claressa Shields moving up two divisions to light heavyweight to challenge Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for her title and a vacant belt in Detroit on DAZN. There is also my interview with former unified heavyweight titlist Andy Ruiz Jr. ahead of his fight with Jarrell Miller on Aug. 3; Canelo Alvarez’s fight with Edgar Berlanga being made official; more news of the week; and fight and fighter memories.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Official announcement that Canelo will defend the super middleweight crown — minus the IBF belt he will be stripped of — against Edgar Berlanga.
Preview of Joyce-Chisora as Joyce looks to continue to rebound from a disastrous 2023 and Chisora looks to keep chugging along.
Preview of undisputed middleweight champion Shields, the pound-for-pound No. 1 female boxer in the world, going to up 175 pounds in an attempt to win a title in her fourth weight class.
My interview with Ruiz. We covered quite a bit: returning from a 2 1/2-year layoff; the shoulder surgery that was part of the reason he was out; the motivation for returning; his friendly relationship with Miller; thoughts on facing Miller, who he replaced in the fight when he beat Anthony Joshua for the unified title; getting in top condition; how he matches up with Miller; his assessment of the heavyweight division and where he fits in.
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Top Rank’s two major signings of super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia and WBC bantamweight titlist Junto Nakatani.
David Benavidez’s decision to remain at light heavyweight as the WBC interim titleholder and be named mandatory challenger rather than maintain the WBC interim super middleweight belt.
The WBC ordering an immediate rematch between junior lightweight titlist Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster.
The change of plans for Tim Tszyu with injured Erickson Lubin no longer available for an IBF junior middleweight title eliminator on Sept. 22.
Ringside memories on the 26th anniversary of when Hall of Famer Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson outpointed Luis Rolon to retain the IBF flyweight title on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” in the first world title fight I ever covered.
Ringside memories on the 16th anniversary of when Antonio Margarito stopped Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto in the 11th round to win the WBA welterweight title in a great fight that became controversial after Margarito was caught trying to fight his next bout with loaded hand wraps.
An appreciation of 1992 Olympian and two-division champion Vernon Forrest on the 15th anniversary of his shocking murder.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
We bring you the preview each Friday and the weekend recap each Monday. Let me know what you think of the podcast by leaving your comments.
Ruiz photo: Ryan Hafey/PBC
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