Podcast: Interview with referee Jack Reiss; Martinez-Ioka 2 preview

Teofimo, 'Chocolatito' updates, more news of the week; anniversary of Jack Johnson becoming the first Black heavyweight champion

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As the year comes to a close there isn’t much going other than the New Year’s Eve fight in Japan between WBA junior bantamweight titlist Fernando Martinez defending against Kazuto Ioka, which we previewed. There is also my interview with longtime championship referee Jack Reiss, who recently announced his retirement, plenty of news of the week, and the anniversary of a hugely historic moment in boxing history when Jack Johnson won the heavyweight title.

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

• Preview of Martinez’s title defense against Ioka in a rematch of their fight of the year contender from July.

• My extensive interview with the great referee Reiss, who announced his retirement after 25 years and 1,152 bouts in mid-December. We covered tons of stuff, including his start in boxing; the decision to retire; continuing to judge; decision to not wave off the first Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury heavyweight title fight in the 12th round; memories of other notable fights he worked; and more.

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• Recap of Panya Pradabsri’s controversial majority decision over Carlos Canizales to claim the vacant WBC junior flyweight title on Thursday in Bangkok, Thailand.

• Announcement of Jack Catterall versus Arnold Barboza Jr. in a WBO junior welterweight final eliminator on Feb. 15.

• The status of the discussions between lineal/WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez and former IBF titleholder Subriel Matias.

• My reporting on Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez being lined up to challenge WBO junior bantamweight titlist Phumelele Cafu in March in Gonzalez’s hometown of Managua, Nicaragua.

• WBA lightweight titlist Gervonta Davis’ announcement via Instagram that his defense against Lamont Roach scheduled for March 1 being canceled — even though nobody else associated with the event seems to know that.

• Discussion on the 116th anniversary of when the legendary Jack Johnson stopped Tommy Burns in the 14th round of their scheduled 20-rounder to become the first Black heavyweight champion.

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.

Reiss photo: Screen shot

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