
Podcast: Interview with Omari Jones; thoughts on Tank-Roach ruling
Price-Jonas, Khegai-Gonzalez recaps; Thurman-Jarvis; Teraji-Akui previews; news of the week; big fight anniversary memories
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There was limited action this weekend, which was led by Lauren Price’s superb performance in a lopsided decision over Natasha Jonas to unify three women’s welterweight titles, and we recapped it. We previewed two mid-week fights, Keith Thurman’s return against Brock Jarvis and the flyweight unification bout between Kenshiro Teraji and Seigo Yuri Akui. There is also my interview with 2024 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist Omari Jones, who turns pro on Saturday, as well as our discussion about the New York State Athletic Commission’s decision to uphold the draw in the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach Jr. fight after Roach’s protest and more news of the week. And, of course, discussion of two big fights on their anniversaries.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Price’s decision win over Jonas and Price’s hope to fight the Mikaela Mayer-Sandy Ryan rematch for the undisputed title.
Recap of the ProBox TV main event in which three-time featherweight title challenger Joet Gonzalez scored a mild upset via split decision over Arnold Khegai in a good fight.
Previews of Thurman-Jarvis, which is on Wednesday in Sydney, Australia, and Teraji-Akui, which is Thursday in Tokyo.
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My interview with Jones, whose junior middleweight pro debut in his hometown of Orlando, Florida, will take place on Saturday on DAZN on Matchroom Boxing’s Austin Williams-Patrice Volny card, and we covered a lot of ground: His excitement about his pro debut; what his Olympic experience was like in Paris; any disappointment about not getting silver or gold; thoughts on the overall terrible performance of Team USA in boxing; when did he began to dream about winning an Olympic medal; what is his boxing style; who does he model his game after; what the process was like mapping out his plans for the pros and picking Matchroom Boxing from his suitors; what are his pro boxing goals; and more.
The New York commission upholds the draw verdict in the controversial Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach Jr. lightweight title fight and our thoughts.
Canelo Alvarez and William Scull meet the media in New York to kick off the promotion for their undisputed super middleweight title fight.
Heavyweights Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole won’t fight in an IBF title eliminator as planned following Bakole’s KO loss to Joseph Parker, but they will still fight anyway on the Canelo-Scull undercard.
A celebration on the 54th anniversary of the first legendary fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, arguably the biggest fight in boxing history.
Ringside memories on the 12th anniversary of when Bernard Hopkins outpointed Tavoris Cloud to win the IBF light heavyweight title to, at age 48, become the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title by breaking his own record set when he was 46.
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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.
Omari Jones photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
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