Podcast: Massive recap and thoughts on Beterbiev-Bivol 2 mega card
Plus: News of the week and big fight anniversary memories
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There was just one card of note over the weekend but it was a huge one, one of the biggest cards ever (drink!) — the legitimately stacked Riyadh Season show headlined by the rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and former titlist Dmitry Bivol. We recapped all seven world and interim title bouts on the show and gave our thoughts. There is also news of the week and ringside memories on the anniversary of a huge fight.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Bivol’s majority decision over Bivol in an excellent fight to win the undisputed light heavyweight title.
Recap of WBO interim heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker’s second-round knockout of late-notice replacement Martin Bakole in the co-feature.
Recap of the rest of the undercard: Shakur Stevenson’s knockout of late replacement Josh Padley to retain the WBC lightweight title; Carlos Adames’ disputed draw with Hamzah Sheeraz to retain the WBC middleweight title; WBC interim junior middleweight titlist Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s hard-fought decision over Israil Madrimov; Agit Kabayel’s impressive knockout of Zhilei Zhang to win the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title; and Callum Smith’s decision over Joshua Buatsi to win the WBO interim light heavyweight title in a sensational action battle.
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Pound-for-pound No. 1 female boxer Claressa Shields tested positive for marijuana and has been suspended by Michigan, which is acting like this is some sort of huge deal.
My reporting that Boxxer’s deal with Peacock to stream its cards in the U.S. is now over.
Ringside memories on the fifth anniversary of when Tyson Fury pummeled Deontay Wilder into a seventh-round knockout in the rematch of their trilogy to retain the lineal heavyweight title, win the WBC belt, and hand Wilder his first defeat.
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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.
Beterbiev-Bivol 2 photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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