Podcast: Bivol interview ahead of undisputed fight vs. Beterbiev
Plus: Alimkhanuly-Mikhailovich and Ball-Rios; news of the week; anniversary memories of important Mayweather and Trinidad fights
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It’s a slow weekend before a huge one next week. We briefly previewed unified middleweight titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly’s mandatory defense against Andrei Mikhailovich, which will take place around 6:30 a.m. ET, so it very well could be over by the time you listen to the show. We also previewed WBA featherweight titlist Nick Ball’s first defense against Ronny Rios on Saturday. There is also my interview with WBA light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol, who next week meets Artur Beterbiev to unify titles and produce an undisputed champion in a huge fight. And, of course, there is news of the week, and memories on the anniversary of two significant fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of Alimkhanuly-Mikhailovich, which takes place in Sydney, Australia.
Preview of Ball-Rios, a homecoming defense for Ball in Liverpool, England.
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My interview with Bivol, and we covered a variety of topics ahead of the Beterbiev fight on Oct. 12 in Saudi Arabia: What it would mean to him to become the first four-belt undisputed 175-pound champion; the history of the winner being the first undisputed champion in the division in 25 years since Roy Jones Jr. did it in 1999; dealing with the fight being postponed from June 1 due to a Beterbiev injury and the decision to fight anyway on that date and risk the undisputed fight; getting his first KO since 2018 in that bout versus Malik Zinad; thoughts on Beterbiev and the power he has displayed; who the best puncher Bivol has so far faced; thoughts on a possible rematch with Canelo Alvarez and in which division would he agree to it; the deep crop of other top light heavyweights who will be waiting for the winner of next week’s fight; more.
My reporting that Gervonta Davis will defend the WBA lightweight title against WBA junior lightweight titlist Lamont Roach Jr. on Dec. 14 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Thoughts on the release of the International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots for the class of 2025, led by the great Manny Pacquiao.
My reporting that WBO welterweight titlist Brian Norman is out of his Nov. 8 defense versus Derrieck Cuevas due to a hand injury.
The WBO’s announcement that it has granted a 10-day postponement for the sides to reach an agreement in unified junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora’s mandatory defense against interim titlist (and WBA titleholder) Terence Crawford.
Ringside memories on the 20th anniversary of when Hall of Fame legend Felix Trinidad ended a 2½-year retirement and electrified Madison Square Garden in an eighth-round knockout of Ricardo Mayorga in an exciting middleweight slugfest.
Memories on the 26th anniversary of when all-time great Floyd Mayweather stepped up to face his first serious opponent and absolutely thrashed and dominated Genaro Hernandez in an eighth-round knockout to send Hernandez into retirement and win the WBC junior lightweight title — the first world title of Mayweather’s career.
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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.
Bivol photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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