Podcast: Caleb Plant interview; preview of Josh Taylor's return
A look at Angelo Leo's featherweight title defense vs. Tomoki Kameda; Pacquiao's return, more news of the week; anniversary memories
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It’s a light fight weekend but we previewed the top two Saturday fights — Josh Taylor’s return and Angelo Leo’s title defense. There is also my interview with Caleb Plant, who is back in action next week; plenty of news of the week, and we looked back on the anniversary of two notable fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of the former undisputed junior welterweight champion Taylor’s return as he moves up in weight and looks to shake off two losses in a row against Ekow Essuman in the headliner of a Queensberry Promotions card on DAZN in Glasgow, Scotland.
Preview of heavyweight Moses Itauma, the reigning prospect of the year, against Mike Balogun on the Taylor-Essuman undercard.
Preview of IBF featherweight titlist Leo’s mandatory defense against former bantamweight titleholder Tomoki Kameda in Osaka, Japan, on a card that will be on ProBox TV in the United States.
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My interview with Caleb Plant, who defends the WBA interim super middleweight title against Armando Resendiz in the main event of the PBC on Prime Video card on May 31 in Las Vegas looking to set up a fight later in the year against Jermall Charlo, who is returning from a long layoff in the co-feature. We covered a variety of topics. You can hear part of the interview on the podcast but the full video is on the YouTube channel, so check it out here and subscribe:
Manny Pacquiao’s announcement making his ring return official to challenge WBC welterweight titlist Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas in the main event of a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view card.
My reporting that former junior featherweight and featherweight titlist Brandon Figueroa will face former title challenger Joet Gonzalez in one of the PPV undercard bouts.
The return of former IBF junior welterweight titlist Liam Paro to face Jonathan Navarro in an Australian homecoming in his first fight since losing the belt to Richardson Hitchins in December.
Discussion of the great career of Hall of Famer Nino Benvenuti, the Italian legend, 1960 Olympic gold medalist, undisputed junior middleweight champion, and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, who died this week at age 87.
The nostalgia segments are available on the YouTube channel, so please subscribe. First up are memories on 32nd anniversary of when Roy Jones Jr. outpointed fellow Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins to win his first world title at middleweight on a card headlined by Riddick Bowe’s heavyweight title defense against journeyman Jesse Ferguson. Jones-Hopkins was a forgettable fight but historically important for various reasons.
Memories on the 15th anniversary of the unfortunate fourth fight between featherweights Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez, who predictably got destroyed via third-round knockout in his final fight that should never have happened. We discussed that but also celebrated their overall memorable rivalry.
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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.
Caleb Plant photo: Sean Michael Ham/PBC
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RIP Nino Benvenuti