Podcast: Beterbiev-Smith preview; interview with Mikaela Mayer
Plus: A look at the undercard; news of the week; birthday celebration of two Hall of Fame legends
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There is one major card this weekend headlined by three-belt light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev defending against mandatory challenger Callum Smith on Saturday’s Top Rank/ESPN card. We previewed and discussed the show. There is also my interview with Mikaela Mayer, the former unified women’s junior lightweight titlist, who is getting set to challenge Natasha Jonas for the IBF welterweight title on Jan. 20. We also discussed various news items of the week and celebrated the birthdays of a pair of Hall of Fame legends.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of Beterbiev-Smith as both come off extended layoffs for an interesting fight that with a win likely will send Beterbiev into an undisputed title fight against Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia. Has Beterbiev begun to show his age? How will Smith do with his first legit opponent at light heavyweight?
Previews of the two top undercard fights: super middleweight contender Christian Mbilli versus Rohan Murdock and Jason Moloney’s first WBO bantamweight title defense against Saul Sanchez.
My interview with Mayer in which we discussed several topics: Making England her regular fighting location as she heads there for a fourth bout in a row; her thoughts on the positive drug test from Alycia Baumgardner, who narrowly outpointed Mayer by split decision in their 2022 unification fight; moving all the way up to welterweight; going to Jonas’ hometown; major fights in women’s boxing being way easier and more common than in men’s boxing; working with the great trainer Al Mitchell; and more.
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Errol Spence Jr.’s announcement of cataract surgery and what it may mean for his future and the Terence Crawford rematch.
A breakdown of the nominees for the 2023 Boxing Writers Association of America annual awards.
My reporting on the done deal for Mahmoud Charr to defend the WBA “regular” heavyweight title against Kubrat Pulev.
Agon Sports winning the purse bid for the vacant IBF junior middleweight title fight between Bakhram Murtazaliev and Jack Culcay.
Celebrating all-time greats George Foreman (75) and Felix Trinidad (51), who both celebrated their birthday on Wednesday.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
Beterbiev-Smith photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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I'm such a huge George Foreman fan. I was a kid during his comeback. I still remember the local news here in Northern California running features. They were excited. But also mocking him lightly. Too Old, Too Fat, etc. My Dad and two of my Uncles (Mom's brothers) that never missed a big fight along the I-80 corridor (Bay, Sacramento, Reno/Tahoe) at the time, were super stoked. They attended Big George's first comeback bout at Arco Arena in Sacramento. BTW, Foreman actually won his first heavyweight title in Oakland and lived for a time in the hills above Dublin (East Bay). Belated Happy Birthday!