Podcast: Keith Thurman interview; recap of Zepeda-Hughes card
Plus: Joe Joyce returns; news of the week; anniversary memories
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The most significant card of the weekend was the Golden Boy show Saturday night on DAZN on which lightweight powerhouse William Zepeda steamrolled Maxi Hughes. We recapped and discussed the card. There is also my interview with former unified welterweight titlist Keith Thurman, who is preparing to move up in weight to fight Tim Tszyu on March 30. We also went over heavyweight Joe Joyce’s return in England, news of the week, and we looked back on the anniversary of two epic battles.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Zepeda’s one-sided fourth-round destruction of Hughes in their dual IBF/WBA title eliminator that puts Zepeda in mandatory positions.
Recap of lightweight up-and-comer Floyd Schofield’s dominant fifth-round disqualification victory over Esteuri Suero, who fought dirty and committed numerous fouls because he had no answers, and welterweight Joel Iriarte, the former amateur standout, who shined in his professional debut.
Recap of Joyce’s return from back-to-back knockout losses to Zhilei Zhang to knock out Kash Ali in the 10th round.
My interview with Thurman ahead of his pay-per-view headliner against Tszyu in which we covered several topics: returning from yet another long layoff; the frustration of the layoff; not getting fights he said he wanted against Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford; saying he agreed to fight Jaron Ennis but PBC couldn’t deliver the fight; jumping at the opportunity to fight Tszyu; headlining PBC’s first event with Prime Video; thoughts on the bout being a nontitle fight; the prospect of facing Crawford with a victory; why he can beat Tszyu; has he underachieved; and more.
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Announcement that yet again the rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall has been postponed, this time due to a Taylor eye issue, from April 27 to May 25.
Discussion of comments from undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia as their May 4 showdown is officially announced and their kickoff news conference is set for Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California.
My reporting on the plans for a Golden Boy card April 27 on DAZN with Jose Ramirez against Rances Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz in the co-feature.
Memories on the 34th anniversary of the epic 1990s fight of the decade when Julio Cesar Chavez stopped Meldrick Taylor with two seconds left to unify junior welterweight titles in the most controversial stoppage in boxing history.
Memories on the 19th anniversary of when Erik Morales outpointed Manny Pacquiao in the sensational first battle of their great trilogy.
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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.
Thurman photo: Esther Lin/PBC
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Pacquiao/Morales 1 is the best PPV card ever imho. Just ahead of Don King's magnus opus "Revenge: The Rematches" PPV card. The main event had an entertaining and massive historical upset. But the somewhat forgotten co main of "Travieso" Arce vs Hussein Hussein, was literally blood and guts savagery at the highest level.
Man I had to skip past the Thurman interview. I was so annoyed by BS and kept piling it on. Excuses on why he hasn't fought this long and for god sakes stop speaking in third person.