Podcast: Emanuel Navarrete interview ahead of Valdez rematch

Plus: Loaded Feb. 22 Riyadh Season card in works; more news of the week; big fight anniversary memories

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First off, I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving weekend! There are no major fights in the United States, but there is a notable show, the Matchroom Boxing event on DAZN on Saturday in Birmingham, England. It is headlined by amateur rivals Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai squaring off for the vacant WBC interim flyweight title in the main event and we previewed it. There is also my interview with WBO junior lightweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete ahead of his rematch with Oscar Valdez on Dec. 7. We also covered news of the week and shared big-fight anniversary memories.

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

• Preview of Edwards taking on Yafai in an all-British showdown that will have big implications in the flyweight division.

• My interview with Navarrete ahead of the rematch with interim titlist Valdez that headlines the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card Dec. 7 in Phoenix. We covered several topics: How he thinks this fight will differ from their action-packed first fight that Navarrete won by decision; what it was like having that bout promoted like the great fights between his Mexican countrymen Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera (who both helped promote the bout and were ringside); thoughts on his draw with Robson Conceicao followed by his loss to Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight title; making the decision to return to junior lightweight to face Valdez again in the mandatory bout; thoughts on someday returning to lightweight in an effort to win a title in a fourth division; and more.

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• My reporting on the loaded lineup of fights in the works for the Feb. 22 Riyadh Season card, including Daniel Dubois defending the IBF heavyweight title against Joseph Parker; undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in a rematch with Dmitry Bivol; WBC interim junior middleweight titlist Vergil Ortiz Jr. against Jaron “Boots” Ennis; and more.

• Most Valuable Promotions’ push back against those claiming the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight was scripted and not a real fight.

• Junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez’s announcement that esteemed trainer Eddy Reynoso has joined his corner to co-train him.

• My reporting on the plans for super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga’s return to action coming off a spirited loss to unified champion Canelo Alvarez.

• The heavyweight bout between Derek Chisora and Jarrell Miller being planned for Feb. 8 falling apart due to what Miller claims is interference from his former promoter and Otto Wallin instead being announced as Chisora’s opponent.

• Memories on the 42nd anniversary of when then-WBC heavyweight champion Larry Holmes so badly battered Randall “Tex” Cobb in a 15-round decision it caused a famed ABC broadcaster Howard Cosell to quit boxing commentating in disgust.

• Ringside memories on the 20th anniversary of when Marco Antonio Barrera won a majority decision over rival Erik Morales in an all-time great fight to win the WBC junior lightweight title in the final fight of their legendary trilogy.

Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!

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.

Navarrete photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

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