Podcast: Previewing Lopez-Claggett and Estrada-Bam cards
Plus: Roach defense; news of the week; Mike Tyson fight anniversaries
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There are three cards of note this weekend and previewed them: WBA junior lightweight titlist Lamont Roach Jr.’s defense against Feargal McCrory; Juan Francisco Estrada’s lineal/WBC junior bantamweight title defense against former titleholder Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez; and lineal/WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez’s defense versus Steve Claggett. We also discussed key news of the week and looked back on the anniversary of two major Mike Tyson fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of Roach’s first defense, a hometown Washington, D.C., fight against McCrory on Friday night in the ProBox TV main event.
Preview of Estrada-Rodriguez, which headlines the Matchroom Boxing card Saturday night on DAZN and a look at the co-feature between former flyweight titlist Sunny Edwards and former junior flyweight titleholder Adrian Curiel.
Preview of Lopez’s defense against Claggett in the Top Rank main event on ESPN and a look at the two other fights on the main card: former featherweight titlist Robeisy Ramirez against Brandon Leon Benitez in an effort to secure a rematch with WBO titlist Rafael Espinoza and middleweight Nico Ali Walsh’s opportunity to avenge his only loss in a rematch with Sona Akale.
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Oleksandr Usyk vacating the IBF heavyweight title.
Announcement that Anthony Joshua will challenge Daniel Dubois, elevated from interim to full IBF heavyweight titlist, on Sept. 21 at Wembley Stadium and discussion of the loaded undercard on the Riyadh Season event.
Devin Haney’s decision to vacate the WBC junior welterweight title.
Former WBC flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Martinez suspended for nine months and having his March win changed to a no contest due to popping positive for PEDs.
Plans for a rematch between WBO junior lightweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete and interim titlist Oscar Valdez.
Memories on the 36th anniversary of when Tyson laid waste to Michael Spinks in 91 seconds to retain the undisputed heavyweight title and win the lineal title in the biggest money fight in history at the time.
Memories on the 27th anniversary of when Tyson melted down and bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear and was disqualified in the third round of their heavyweight title rematch in one of the most infamous moments in sports history.
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Lopez-Claggett photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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I was a kid when Tyson/Spinks fought. This fight not only had commercials for the PPV. But I also seem to remember seeing a syndicated 1/2 hour informercial on a local tv channel. My Uncle and his family lived in the house next to ours. He bought the PPV and his modest home was packed to the rafters. So much so. That when I had to use the bathroom. There was not one available. So I walked over to our adjacent home. As I was walking back, I peeked into my front living room. Just in time to see the 91st second of the fight lol