Podcast: Beterbiev-Bivol preview; interview with Tim Tszyu
Plus: Undercard thoughts; news of the week; fight anniversary memories
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This is the weekend many of us have been waiting for! There’s a huge Riyadh Season card headlined by one of the best fights in boxing and for massive stakes as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol meet Saturday to unify the light heavyweight division and crown the first undisputed champion in the weight class in 25 years. We previewed the fight and the quality undercard. There is also my interview with Tim Tszyu ahead of his attempt to win a second world title at junior middleweight on Oct. 19; a ton of news of the week; and a look back on the anniversary of one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of Beterbiev-Bivol, a true 50-50 fight between undefeated, elite pound-for-pound caliber guys for mega stakes. Who has the edge, what the winner will have to do, and more.
Preview of the undercard that includes the heavyweight rematch between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke; middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. versus Kamil Szeremeta; cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia’s defense against Jack Massey; and more.
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My interview with Tszyu ahead of his title shot against IBF titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev on Oct. 19. We discussed being the headliner in the first PBC on Prime Video PPV card in March and now being featured in its first non-PPV card; his reflections on losing his title to Sebastian Fundora in March in a great fight in which he as dramatically hampered by a horrific bloody gash on his scalp in the second round; dealing with huge amount of blood flow; should the doctor or his corner have stopped it and sent it to the cards for a technical decision; having a planned August fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr. canceled because the cut had not fully healed; thoughts on Murtazaliev and memories of fighting on the same card with him in 2022; does he want a rematch with Fundora; and more.
The deal in place for a great light heavyweight matchup between David Benavidez and David Morrell to meet in early 2025.
The plans for a rematch of a superb fight between WBC interim featherweight titlist Brandon Figueroa and Stephen Fulton in the co-feature of the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach PPV on Dec. 14.
Announcement of the full undercard for the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch, which will include an outstanding junior middleweight pairing of Israil Madrimov and Serheii Bohachuk.
The WBO’s order of unified middleweight titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly and mandatory challenger Hamzah Sheeraz to fight next.
Former IBF junior welterweight titlist Subriel Matias’ return to face Roberto on a small pay-per-view card on Nov. 9.
The agreement signed off on by the WBO for junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora and interim titlist Terence Crawford to put off their mandatory bout with plans for Fundora to take an interim fight.
A vandalism charge against Ryan Garcia was dropped this week.
Memories on the 31st anniversary of when British legends Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr. met in the rematch of their fierce rivalry to unify super middleweight titles and fought to a draw in a U.K. mega event.
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.
Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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Bivol ain't fighting a 5' 7" Middleweight. Beterbiev by KO. BTW, can you imagine the epic meltdown had Canelo waited until GGG was 39 to face him? Shout out TJ Rives and his perseverance today 👍🥊
I agree with Dan, Tim dominated the first 2 rounds and looked like he was on his way to a knockout victory against Fundora. I would love to see a rematch but unfortunately Fundora has not shown any interest in the rematch. In the post fight press conference Fundora only expressed an interest in fighting Spence, while Sampson Lewkowicz promised to honor the verbal rematch clause he made to the Tszyu team. During his ringside lecture at the International Boxing Hall of Fame weekend in June 2024, I asked Fundora if he would give Tim a rematch and he was very evasive. He simply stated that he did not have a written rematch clause with Tim. As a result, I suspect he knows he would struggle against a healthy Tim Tszyu, but in all fairness, even Tim seemed a little evasive about a rematch with Fundora during Dan's interview. I thought Tim would want the rematch as soon as possible, but he also didn't express the rematch as a priority.