Podcast: Interview with top manager Keith Connolly

We discussed his talented roster that includes Hrgovic, Baumgardner, Berlanga, Hitchins, Jacobs and several prospects

Keith Connolly (left) and Edgar Berlanga

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There were no major weekend cards so we do not have any fights to recap on this episode, but what we do have for you is my extended interview with Keith Connolly, one of the top managers in boxing today. Connolly, who was the 2019 Boxing Writers Association of America manager of the year, has a deep stable of top fighters and prospects, including heavyweight mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic, super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga, undisputed women’s junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner, junior welterweight contender Richardson Hitchins, super middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko, former middleweight titlist Daniel Jacobs, heavyweight Adam Kownacki and several others. We discussed the latest on what is going on with Connolly’s fighters and his ability to work with all of the major promoters.

Here’s what we discussed on this episode (in order):

• The revelation last week and fallout of Kownacki’s last opponent, Joe Cusumano, returning a positive drug test to the New York commission after notching a knockout victory against him in June.

• An update on Baumgarder’s situation after she failed a VADA drug test related to her title defense victory over Christina Linardatou in their July rematch.

• The status of IBF mandatory challenger Hrgovic, who is supposed to be up next for unified titlist Oleksandr Usyk, and would Hrgovic take a step-aside deal?

• Hitchins stepping up his competition against Jose Zepeda in a Matchroom Boxing main event on DAZN on Sept. 23 and what he’d like for Hitchins to do after that fight if he wins.

• Where things stand on the discussions for a very attractive fight between Berlanga and Jaime Munguia, which DAZN wants to make and both sides are say they’re interested in, and the disappointment that Canelo Alvarez left Matchroom Boxing, which was the fight Berlanga was promised when he signed with he company.

• The prospect of a rematch of the fight of the year contender between Munguia and Derevyanchenko should Munguia-Berlanga not be made.

• The latest on Jacobs, who has not fought since February 2022 but wants to come back, and former junior welterweight titlist Chris Algieri, who has been out of the ring since December 2021.

• The challenge of building prospects such as lightweight Marc Castro, junior welterweight Reshat Mati, light heavyweight Khalil Coe and junior welterweight Arthur Biyarslanov.

• His ability to work with all of the major players, be it Matchroom Boxing, PBC, Top Rank and Golden Boy.

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

We will be bringing you the weekend recap each Monday, but there were no notable fights this past weekend to recap. Let me know what you think of the podcast by leaving your comments.

Connolly, Berlanga photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing

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