Podcast: Demetrius Andrade interview ahead of Jan. 7 PBC debut

Plus: memories of the late, great Steve Smoger; the best 'Rocky' movie; BWAA award nominations and more news of the week

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It’s Christmas weekend so there are no major fights anywhere in the world, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty going on in boxing and much to discuss. In this episode we covered plenty of news of the week, including my memories of the late, great referee Steve Smoger, as well as my interview with two-division titleholder Demetrius Andrade, who is moving up to super middleweight and will make his PBC debut on the Gervonta Davis-Hector Luis Garcia Showtime PPV undercard on Jan. 7.

Here is what’s on the show (in order):

• It wasn’t planned but we kicked off on an accidental tangent discussing the best “Rocky” movie — we disagree — and why we have our views.

• Smoger’s untimely death on Monday. Steve and I were quite friendly for many years and I discussed his tremendous career and my memories of him.

• We discussed the nominations by the Boxing Writers Association of America for the 2022 awards. We mainly went over the nominees for the fighter, fight, trainer and manager of the year.

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• My interview with Andrade, whose fight against Demond Nicholson will be his first in 14 months and the start of a new chapter in his career as he is moving up to super middleweight, coming off the long layoff and a shoulder injury and making his PBC debut after parting ways with Matchroom Boxing. We discussed his split with Matchroom and his feelings about it; why he didn’t fight Zach Parker as planned; the health of his shoulder; did he ever consider making his middleweight mandatory against Janibek Alimkhanuly?; joining PBC and his desire to mix it up with David Benavidez, Caleb Plant and, most of all, Jermall Charlo.

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• Heavyweight Daniel Dubois’ torn ACL.

• The eye injury to heavyweight Oscar Rivas that forced him out of the Jan. 14 Top Rank main event against Efe Ajagba and the hunt for a new opponent.

• Jose Ramirez turning down a mandatory shot against newly crowned junior welterweight titlist Regis Prograis, so what is next for both guys?

Listen, rate and subscribe here and enjoy!

Andrade photo: Amanda Westcott/Showtime

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