Podcast: Brian Norman Jr. interview; preview of Fundora-Booker card
Look at Kambosos-Wyllie; boxing remains in Olympics and more news of the week; memories on the anniversary of two major fights
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There are two notable cards on Saturday and we previewed both, the PBC on Prime Video show headlined by unified junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora’s first defense against Chordale Booker in Las Vegas and the Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN topped by former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr.’s move up to junior welterweight to face short-notice opponent Jake Wyllie in Sydney, Australia. There is also my interview with WBO welterweight titlist Brian Norman Jr. ahead of his first defense next week, plenty of news of the week, and memories on the anniversary of two major fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of Fundora-Booker as well as the two other bouts on the stream: junior middleweight contender Jesus Ramos Jr. against Guido Schramm and middleweight up-and-comer Elijah Garcia against former title challenger Terrell Gausha.
Preview of Kambosos against Australian countryman Wyllie, who replaced Daud Yordan on a few days’ notice.
My interview with Norman ahead of his first title defense against Derrieck Cuevas on Top Rank’s March 29 ESPN card and we covered quite a bit: Going to Giovanni Santillan’s hometown for his last fight and knocking him out to win the WBO interim title; being elevated to full titleholder and pushing back on anyone who would call him “an email champion”; his view of the failed negotiations for a unification fight with Jaron Ennis last fall; having to postpone the Cuevas fight from last fall because of a hand injury; his expectations from Cuevas; sizing up the new-look welterweight division; what fight he would want if he beats Cuevas; and more.
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My reporting on the likely date and site of the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach Jr. rematch.
The good news that after much uncertainty that boxing will be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics program.
Announcement of the full Canelo Alvarez-William Scull undercard on May 3.
My reporting on WBO junior lightweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete’s next defense being set against Charly Suarez for May 10 in a Top Rank main event on ESPN.
Good wishes for former three-division titleholder Iran Barley, who is recovering from a minor stroke he suffered last week.
Memories on the 35th anniversary of when Julio Cesar Chavez stopped Meldrick Taylor with two seconds left to unify junior welterweight titles in one of the most dramatic fights in boxing history, the single most controversial stoppage ever and the 1990s fight of the decade.
Memories on the 20th anniversary of when Erik Morales outpointed fellow legend Manny Pacquiao in the first exceptional fight of their memorable trilogy.
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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.
Norman photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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Morales v Pacquiao 1 was sneakily the greatest PPV Card ever and my personal favorite. BTW ya, I actually watched Revenge: The Rematches. Live at a fight party, as a teenager. Not only was the Main Event an enthralling upset, of historical significance. No one ever mentions that one of the most entertaining fights of all time was the Co-Main. Jorge Arce vs Husssein Hussein. It was bloody mayhem, filled throughout with ebbs and flows momentum. That fight made Jorge "El Travieso (The Little Rascal)" Arce a star and HBO Main Event attraction for a brief time.