Podcast: Benavidez-Andrade preview; interview with Ryan Garcia
Plus: A look at the Showtime PPV undercard; Cameron-Taylor 2; news of the week; triple dose of big fight anniversary memories
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Thanksgiving weekend also means two big cards on Saturday and we previewed both: David Benavidez’s WBC interim super middleweight title defense against Demetrius Andrade and the rest of the bouts on the Showtime PPV card in Las Vegas and the rematch between undisputed women’s junior welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron against undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor on the Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN in Dublin, Ireland. There is also my interview with Ryan Garcia ahead of his return; TJ’s interview with Mark Boccardi of PPV.com, which will also carry Benavidez-Andrade; news of the week; and a triple dose of nostalgia.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of the fight between fellow unbeatens Benavidez and Andrade in what shapes up as a very interesting clash of styles.
Previews of the three Showtime PPV undercard bouts: the return of WBC middleweight titlist Jermall Charlo after 2 1/2 years out of the ring for a nontitle bout against Jose Benavidez Jr.; IBF junior welterweight titlist Subriel Matias’ defense against mandatory challenger Shohjahon Ergashev; and WBA junior lightweight titlist Hector Luis Garcia’s mandatory defense against Lamont Roach.
Preview of Cameron-Taylor II. Will it be repeat for Cameron or revenge and history for Taylor?
My interview with junior welterweight star Garcia ahead of his return against Oscar Duarte on Dec. 2 in a Golden Boy event on DAZN in Houston. We covered a variety of topics: Dealing with his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in his last fight in April; what it was like to make $30 million; meshing with new trainer Derrick James; his views on Duarte; working with Golden Boy on the event even though the company is suing him; the importance of eventually winning a world title; his desire for a rematch with Davis; and the prospect of a fight with champion Teofimo Lopez that is being discussed as long as Garcia beats Duarte.
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Unified junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo’s decision to vacate the IBF belt rather than face mandatory challenger Bakhram Murtazaliev and what might be next for both of them.
A fight between three-belt women’s flyweight titlist Marlen Esparza and titleholder Gabriela Fundora close to being finalized for the undisputed title on the Vergil Ortiz Jr.-Fredrick Lawson Golden Boy card on DAZN on Jan. 6.
The return of former unified junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd being set.
TJ’s interview with Boccardi on the Benavidez-Andrade event.
Ringside memories on the eighth anniversary of when Canelo Alvarez outpointed Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto to win the lineal and vacant WBC middleweight titles in one of his biggest wins in one of the biggest ever Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry fights.
Memories on the 37th anniversary of the night that ushered in a new era in boxing, when Mike Tyson destroyed Trevor Berbick in the second round to become, at age 20, the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
Ringside memories on the 21st anniversary of Arturo Gatti’s decision over Micky Ward in the second fight of their legendary trilogy and what made it so special even if wasn’t a classic battle compared to their first and third bouts.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
Benavidez-Andrade photo: Amanda Westcott/Showtime
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