Podcast: Ennis-Villa Showtime card preview; 'Pitbull' Cruz interview
Plus: Stanionis-Ortiz canceled and new main event; tons of news items; and memories on three notable anniversaries involving Donaire, Lara and Chavez
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Saturday’s slate took a big hit when the much-anticipated Eimantas Stanionis-Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight was canceled on Thursday due to Ortiz’s medical issue, although the Golden Boy card on DAZN goes on. We previewed the rest of that card as well as the PBC card on Showtime headlined by Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ interim welterweight title defense against Roiman Villa. There is my interview with lightweight contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz ahead of his title eliminator against Giovanni Cabrera in the Errol Spence Jr.-Terence Crawford Showtime PPV co-feature. We also covered various news items and reflected on the anniversary of three notable fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
The situation with Ortiz and the cause for his fight with Stanionis being canceled, the third time it has been scheduled and been called off.
Previewing the fight between lightweight prospect Floyd Schofield against veteran Haskell Rhodes, which was moved from the co-feature to the main event to replace Stanionis-Ortiz, and a look at the undercard.
Previewing Ennis-Villa as well as a look at the undercard.
My interview with Cruz during which we discussed PBC’s positioning in the co-feature of the most important fight of the year; what he expects from Cabrera; his desire for — and the good possibility of — having a rematch with Gervonta Davis; other opponents he’d like to face; and more.
Announcement that heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will meet in a rematch Aug. 12 and what we think of the fight.
Former welterweight titlist Jeff Horn’s retirement announcement.
The untimely death at age 51 of late 1990s/early 2000s middleweight contender Antwun Echols.
Top Rank’s addition of lightweight prospect Raymond Muratalla in the co-feature of the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez fight.
Memories on the 16th anniversary of future Hall of Famer and four-division champion Nonito Donaire winning his first world title at flyweight via memorable one-punch KO of Vic Darchinyan.
Ringsider memories on the 12th anniversary of the one of the worst decisions I’ve ever covered, when two-time welterweight titlist Paul Williams was gifted a decision over Erislandy Lara in a junior middleweight fight.
Memories on the 38th anniversary of when the great Julio Cesar Chavez knocked out Roger Mayweather in the second round of their first fight to retain the WBC junior lightweight title that gave him wide exposure in the United States on network television.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
Ennis photo: Amanda Westcott/Showtime
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