Podcast: Devin Haney interview on Ryan Garcia's suspension and more
Plus: Espinoza-Chirino preview; news of the week involving Jake Paul, Canelo and more; memories on anniversary of two major fights
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There is just one major card this weekend and it is the Top Rank show on Friday night headlined by WBO featherweight titlist Rafael Espinoza’s first defense against Sergio Chirino. We previewed it and undercard fights. But the big story is Ryan Garcia’s one-year suspension and purse forfeiture for his positive drug tests around his April fight with Devin Haney. We discussed all of that and there is also my exclusive interview with Haney about the situation. There is also news of the week and in our nostalgia section I shared ringside memories on the anniversary of two major fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
In-depth discussion of Garcia being suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission and other aspects of the penalty for his positive drug tests.
My interview with Haney on the Garcia suspension; the result being changed to a no contest; what he thinks the punishment should have been; his thoughts on this week’s low purse bid for his mandatory defense against Sandor Martin and more.
Preview of Espinoza-Chirino as well as thoughts on the top two undercard bouts, junior lightweight Andres Cortes against Abraham Nova and the middleweight showdown between undefeated middleweight prospects Troy Isley and Javier Martinez.
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Announcement that Jake Paul will keep his July 20 date and face BKFC star Mile Perry in a pay-per-view boxing match while waiting for Mike Tyson to get healthy for their rescheduled date in November and that Amanda Serrano will also appear on the card in a junior welterweight bout as a tune-up for the rescheduled rematch with Katie Taylor.
The IBF purse bid for the fight between undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and mandatory challenger William Scull being canceled because they worked out some sort of deal, though apparently not to fight each other next.
My reporting that junior middleweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. wont fight on Riyadh Season card on Aug. 3 with Tim Tszyu out and that he will instead headline his own DAZN card on a different August date.
Ringside memories on the 21st anniversary of when Lennox Lewis retained the heavyweight championship in an all-time great slugfest against Vitali Klitschko in what turned out to be Lewis’ final fight.
Ringside memories on the 22nd anniversary of when Marco Antonio Barrera edged great rival Erik Morales in a close decision in a featherweight title fight that was the rematch of their legendary trilogy.
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Haney photo: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy
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