Podcast: 'Boots' interview ahead of unification; Tszyu-Spencer preview
Plus: A look at Torrez-Vianello, Janibek-Ngamissengue, Joyce-Hrgovic; news of the week; memories on the Hagler-Leonard anniversary
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It’s going to be a busy Saturday with four notable cards and we previewed each of them. There is also my interview with IBF welterweight titlist Jaron “Boots” Ennis ahead of his unification fight with WBA counterpart Eimantas Stanionis that will take place on April 12 (DAZN); the biggest news items of the week; and a look back on the anniversary of Sugar Ray Leonard-Marvin Hagler, one of the biggest, most memorable fights of all time.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of the return of former junior middleweight titlist Tim Tszyu, who will look to shake off back-to-back losses against Joey Spencer in the PBC on Prime Video main event in Newcastle, Australia.
Preview of an interesting heavyweight clash between up-and-coming Richard Torrez Jr. and fellow Olympian Guido Vianello, who headline the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card in Las Vegas. We also looked at the undercard.
Preview of unified middleweight titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly’s Kazakhstan homecoming defense against Anauel Ngamissengue that will headline in another ESPN+ card as well as the return to the pros of two-time Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov on the undercard.
Preview of the heavyweight fight between Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic, which tops the first Queensberry card of its DAZN deal in Manchester, England.
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My interview with Ennis. We covered several topics, including: Finally getting the unification fight he has wanted; thoughts on Stanionis; having to fight a mandatory his last fight against Karen Chukhadzhian, who he had already easily beaten; the failed talks to unify with Brian Norman Jr. and if he would like to revisit that fight if he beats Stanionis; his perspective on what happened with the Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight falling apart over the weight; thoughts on a possible Teofimo Lopez fight in the fall; his activity level compared to the inactivity of Stanionis; bringing boxing back to the main arena at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the first time in 11 years.
PBC’s announcement of a May 31 Prime Video card on which Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo will fight separate opponents ahead of a planned showdown later in the year.
MVP’s announcement that newly signed women’s undisputed junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will fight Jennifer Miranda in the Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano III co-feature on July 11 on Netflix.
Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani both attended the Japanese Boxing Commission annual wards ceremony and teased a 2026 showdown at the Tokyo Dome.
Memories on the 38th anniversary of when Sugar Ray Leonard outpointed Marvin Hagler in a massive upset to win the middleweight championship in their long-awaited mega fight that is one of the biggest fights in boxing history.
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.
Ennis photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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Which Eastern Euro Hype Job has gotten more stale? Jalavov or Janibek?
Don’t know if I missed it, but what was your score card for Leonard - Hagler? Keep up the great work!