Podcast: Israil Madrimov interview; recap of Joyce-Chisora slugfest
Plus: Claressa Shields wins title in 4th division; Manny Pacquiao's poor showing in an exhibition; news of the week; fight anniversaries
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We recapped and gave our thoughts on the weekend fights, most notably heavyweight Derek Chisora’s upset decision over Joe Joyce in an action-packed slobber knocker and Claressa Shields’ move up two weight classes for a one-sided wipeout of Vanessa Joanisse to win a title in a fourth weight class. There is also my interview with WBA junior middleweight titlist Israil Madrimov, who will make his first defense against Terence Crawford on Saturday in the main event of the loaded Riyadh Season card in Los Angeles. There is also news of the week and a pair of fight anniversary memories.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap and thoughts on Chisora’s decision win over Joyce in a riveting slugfest as well as 19-year-old heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma’s second-round destruction of vastly experienced former title challenger Mariusz Wach.
Recap and thoughts on Shields’ easy second-round destruction of Joanisse to win a pair of 175-pound to give her world titles in four divisions.
My interview with Madrimov, in which we covered several topics: Going after Crawford for his first title defense; what winning the title meant to him; why even with only 11 pro fights he feels he is ready for an opponent of Crawford’s caliber; how big of a deal his title win was back home in Uzbekistan; and more.
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Thoughts on the poor performance by 45-year-old Manny Pacquiao in a Sunday exhibition bout in Japan against kickboxer Chihiro Suzuki, who basically beat him up and illustrated why Pacquiao coming back for a real fight against a top opponent is a bad idea.
Recap of Perdro Taduran’s ninth-round knockout of Ginjiro Shigeoka on Sunday to regain the IBF strawweight title by dishing out a terrible beating that left Shigeoka leaving the ring on a stretcher and looking in bad shape.
Discussion and thoughts on the IBF officially stripping Canelo Alvarez of its super middleweight title.
Golden Boy’s announcement of the undercard for the Serhii Bohachuk-Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight on Aug. 10.
Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia calling out Chris Billam-Smith to meet him in a unification fight.
Ringside memories on the 23rd anniversary of when Roy Jones Jr. routed Julio Gonzalez to retain the undisputed light heavyweight title but the co-feature of Erik Morale retaining the WBC featherweight title in a slugfest Injin Chi stole the show.
Memories on the 24th anniversary of when Kostya Tszyu retained the WBC junior welterweight title in a one-sided sixth-round knockout of Julio Cesar Chavez, who participated in his 37th and final world title fight, the all-time record.
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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.
Madrimov photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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