Podcast: Canelo interview; mega card topped by Crawford-Madrimov
Plus: Preview of Jose Ramirez-Rances Barthelemy show; news of the week; a trio of fight anniversaries
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There is just one major show on Saturday, Golden Boy’s card on DAZN headlined by former unified junior welterweight titlist Jose Ramirez taking on former two-division titlist Rances Barthelemy, which we previewed. There is also my one-on-one interview with undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez ahead of his defense against Jaime Munguia on May 4. We also covered news of the week and discussed three significant fights on their anniversaries.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of the Ramirez-Barthelemy card that will see Ramirez in his first fight since signing with Golden Boy and also includes junior middleweight Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s co-feature against Thomas Dulorme, which Ortiz must win to assure himself of an Aug. 3 interim title fight against Tim Tszyu.
My interview with Canelo ahead of his big fight with Munguia on Cinco de Mayo weekend next week. We covered several topics: why he moved his training camp to Lake Tahoe; splitting from PBC when they were unable to agree on terms for his upcoming fight but then getting back together soon after; the comparisons many make between his performance against John Ryder and the better one that Munguia had; agreeing to fight a fellow Mexican even though it is not his preference; is part of his motivation for fighting Munguia to beat a fighter that’s with Oscar De La Hoya, who he had bad falling out with; fighting yet another undefeated opponent; is he anxious for a KO after four distance fights in a row; his thoughts on not fighting David Benavidez and if he ever will; how does he think the Munguia fight goes.
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A detailed discussion of the absolutely stacked Aug. 3 card that is headlined by Terence Crawford moving up to junior middleweight to challenge WBA titlist Israil Madrimov and also includes Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz’s junior welterweight title defense against Jose Valenzuela; Tszyu-Ortiz (if Ortiz wins on Saturday); the return of former unified heavyweight titlist Andy Ruiz Jr. against Jarrell Miller; David Morrell’s light heavyweight debut; and more.
Matchroom Boxing winning the purse bid for IBF welterweight titlist Jaron Ennis’ mandatory defense against Cody Crowley.
The return of Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez at bantamweight in a Nicaragua homecoming fight against Rober Barrera on July 12.
Memories on the 26th anniversary of when the legendary Roy Jones Jr. knocked out Virgil Hill with one of the best body shots of all time to conclude a long-awaited fight.
Ringside memories on the 15th anniversary of when Carl Froch, down in the first round and trailing on two scorecards, rallied for a dramatic knockout of Jermain Taylor with 14 seconds left to retain the WBC super middleweight title.
Ringside memories on the ninth anniversary of when the great heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko returned to the U.S. to defend the unified title and handily outpointed unbeaten contender Bryant Jennings in what turned out to be the final victory of his Hall of Fame 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.
Alvarez photo: Esther Lin/PBC
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Interesting that that State of New York won't license Vergil Ortiz, or anyone else that has had a LASIK Eye procedure. But somehow Antonio Margarito and his duct taped in place right Eye was licensed. BTW. Some folks haven't forgotten that Cotto rematch was hastily ended, upon Margarito showing signs of coming on. Cotto standing in the middle of the ring, mean mugging, like he had actually done something smh lol