Podcast: Did Berlanga do enough to get a fight against Canelo?
Also recapping Andy Cruz's win, rest of undercard; the world title tripleheader in Japan; news of the week; anniversaries of 2 fights, 1 personal milestone
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There were two major cards on Saturday and we recapped and discussed both of them: The Matchroom Boxing show on DAZN headlined by super middleweight Edgar Berlanga returning to his knockout ways against Padraig McCrory and the Teiken Boxing world title tripleheader on ESPN+ topped by Takuma Inoue’s WBA flyweight title defense against Jerwin Ancajas. We also chatted about news items of the week and looked back on some notable anniversaries.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Berlanga returning to his knockout ways against McCrory in a WBA super middleweight title eliminator: How was the fight, how did Berlanga look, does he deserve a chance to fight Canelo, and what are the changes he actually does land the fight?
Recap of the undercard, including lightweight Andy Cruz’s shutout of Brayan Zamarripa; the horrendous fight between Shakhram Giyasov and Pablo Cesar Cano in a WBA welterweight eliminator; and Antonio Vargas’s knockout of Jonathan Rodriguez in a superb battle in their WBA bantamweight eliminator.
Recap of the big card in Japan, including Takuma Inoue’s knockout of Jerwin Ancajas to retain the WBA bantamweight title; Junto Nakatani’s knockout of Alexandro Santiago to win the WBC bantamweight title and a belt in a third division; and Kosei Tanaka’s decision over Christian Bacasegua to win the vacant WBO junior bantamweight title and a belt in a fourth division.
IBF junior welterweight titlist Subriel Matias’ news conference to discuss his signing with Matchroom Boxing, his call outs, and the updated plans for a summer defense in Puerto Rico.
Announcement that Francis Ngannou will return to MMA for his PFL debut after his March 8 boxing match against Anthony Joshua.
Ryan Garcia’s comments that he wanted to try to bring his April 20 fight against Devin Haney to Las Vegas even though it’s already set for Brooklyn, New York.
Plans are in the works for WBO featherweight titlist Rafael Espinoza to face former titleholder Robeisy Ramirez in a rematch this summer.
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The 60th anniversary of when then-Cassius Clay scored a monumental upset of Sonny Liston to win the heavyweight title and then days later changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
Memories on the 29th anniversary of the savage and ultimately tragic battle in which Nigel Benn retained the WBC super middleweight title but challenger Gerald McClellan suffered a permanent brain injury that has left him in need of 24-hour care since.
Memories on the 24th anniversary of when USA Today hired me as its boxing writer, the biggest moment of my professional life.
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Berlanga photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing
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No, I don’t think Berlanga did enough….. but he IS the safest opponent. 🥊