Podcast: Devin Haney interview; recap of Hitchins-Lemos card
Plus: The solar eclipse; new junior middleweight titlist crowned; news of the week; anniversary memories of two significant fights; a birthday celebration
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It was quiet weekend with only Matchroom Boxing’s DAZN card headlined by the exciting Richardson Hitchins-Gustavo Lemos fight in Las Vegas of significant note. We recapped and discussed the card. There is also my one-on-one interview with WBC junior welterweight titlist Devin Haney as he prepares to make his first defense against Ryan Garcia on April 20 in a pay-per-view main event. We discussed news items of the week, reflected on the anniversary of two important fights and celebrated the birthday of the former undisputed heavyweight champion Buster Douglas.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Discussion of Monday’s solar eclipse!
Recap and discussion of Hitchins’ unanimous (but disputed) decision over Lemos in a grueling IBF junior welterweight eliminator to become the mandatory challenger for Subriel Matias.
Recap of the undercard: super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco’s tougher than expected decision over Shawn McCalman; flyweight Galal Yafai’s eighth-round knockout of Agustin Gauto; Skye Nicolson’s near-shutout of Sarah Mahfoud to win the vacant WBC women’s featherweight title; and junior lightweight prospect Marc Castro’s solid decision over Abraham Montoya.
Recap of Bakhram Murtazaliev’s 11th-round knockout of Jack Culcay on the road in Germany to win the vacant IBF junior middleweight title.
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My interview with Haney in which we covered many topics: His legacy at lightweight, where he was the first four-belt undisputed champion; his dominating December win over Regis Prograis to win the 140 belt and proclaiming it his best performance; whether he thinks he is in his prime yet; his views on maintaining promotional and broadcaster free agency; his views on Garcia’s seemingly unhinged behavior; Garcia’s social media post in which he said his mission was to kill Devin; his opinion that Garcia quit against Gervonta Davis and his belief he can make him do it again; any concerns that Garcia won’t actually make it to the ring; coming to Brooklyn, New York, for the fight; his familiarity with Garcia from splitting six amateur fights; what future big fights he looks forward to; the prospect of a move up to welterweight; and more.
My reporting on talks for a rematch between IBF women’s welterweight titlist Natasha Jonas and Mikaela Mayer, who Jonas narrowly defeated in an outstanding battle in January.
Announcement that WBO strawweight titlist Oscar Collazo will make his third defense against Geraldo Zapata in a Golden Boy main event on June 7 (DAZN) as part of the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction weekend.
The posthumous induction on Friday night of Muhammad Ali into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the WrestleMania weekend festivities.
Ringside memories on the 23rd anniversary of when legendary Marco Antonio Barrera schooled huge favorite and fellow Hall of Famer Prince Naseem Hamed to win the lineal featherweight title.
Ringside memories on the sixth anniversary of when Jarrett Hurd scored a 12th-round knockdown that was the difference in a split decision win over Erislandy Lara to unify the IBF and WBA junior middleweight titles in the epic 2018 fight of the year.
Happy birthday wishes and discussion of former undisputed heavyweight champion Douglas, who turned 64 on Sunday.
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Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing
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Watching the Barrera/Naz fight with friends, live at the time. We all thought the reason Naz backed off of flipping over the ring ropes. Was due to the beer a fan hit him with, as he made his ring entrance on a swing.