Podcast: Huge Crawford-Madrimov card recap and thoughts
Plus: Vergil Ortiz interview; news of the week; fight anniversaries
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There was just one fight card of note over the weekend, the loaded Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov pay-per-view on Saturday in Los Angeles. We recapped and discussed in detail all six bouts on the main card. There is also my interview with junior middleweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr., who challenges WBC interim titlist Serheii Bohachuk in the Golden Boy main event on DAZN on Saturday. Plus, we went over news of the week and looked back at a pair of notable fights on their anniversary.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap and many thoughts on Crawford’s close decision win over Madrimov to win a world title in his fourth weight class. Will he wind up fighting Canelo and much more.
Recap and many thoughts on the undercard: Jose Valenzuela’s upset decision against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz to win the WBA junior welterweight title; the draw between heavyweight contender Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller; heavyweight Martin Bakole’s upset demolition of Jared Anderson; David Morrell’s move up in weight to outpoint Radivoje Kalajdzic for the WBA “regular” light heavyweight title; and lightweight prospect Andy Cruz overcoming some rocky moments to stop Antonio Moran.
My interview with Ortiz in which we covered a lot of topics: His fight with Tim Tszyu being called off due to Tszyu’s injury and the switch to Bohachuk on a new date; his experience sparring many rounds with Bohachuk; his take on fighting for an interim belt and what it means to him (not much); thoughts on his new contract extension with Golden Boy; finally being healthy and active; his assessment of the deep 54-pound division and his dream fight at the weight; and more.
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The latest on Shakur Stevenson’s free agency and who he’s been talking to.
My reporting that Caleb Plant’s fight with Trevor McCumby will be added to the Sept. 14 Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga PPV card.
Memories on the 17th anniversary of when Israel Vazquez stopped Rafael Marquez to regain the WBC junior featherweight title in a rematch that was the epic 2007 fight of the year.
Ringside memories on the 17th anniversary of when David Diaz narrowly outpointed Hall of Famer Erik Morales to retain the WBC lightweight title and send Morales into a 2 1/2-year retirement on a fun Top Rank PPV card I covered right outside of Chicago.
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Crawford-Madrimov photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
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