Podcast: Previewing the return of Vergil Ortiz against Fredrick Lawson
Podcast: Previewing the return of Vergil Ortiz against Fredrick Lawson
Plus: Teofimo defense official; more news; fantasy fight fun with Mayweather, Whitaker, Chavez and Duran
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We’re back for the first fight weekend of 2024 with one notable card, which we discussed — the Golden Boy show on DAZN headlined by the return of Vergil Ortiz Jr. against Fredrick Lawson as they both move up to junior middleweight on Saturday night. We also discussed a variety of news items and had fun hashing over a few fantasy fights between all-time greats.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of Ortiz-Lawson as Ortiz returns to fight for the first time since August 2022 due to health issues: His frustration at the long layoff; will his power still be there at 154; what his 2024 could look like; more.
Preview of the co-feature between Ohara Davies and Ismael Barroso for the vacant WBA interim junior welterweight title available due to Rolando Romero’s injury and what to expect.
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Top Rank’s official announcement of a card on Feb. 8 headlined by junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez making his first defense against Jamaine Ortiz and my reporting on Jose Ramirez rejecting a big-money offer to challenge Lopez and instead accepting an offer of a promotional deal from Golden Boy.
Also discussion of lightweight Keyshawn Davis’ bout against Jose Pedraza, which was announced as the Lopez-Ortiz co-feature.
The passing this week of Cameron Dunkin, who managed dozens of world champions, including several Hall of Famers.
The decision by heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to conduct the final six week of his training camp for the undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the bout will take place next month, an apparent indication of how seriously he is taking the fight after being so unprepared in a near-loss to MMA star Francis Ngannou in October.
The arrest on Tuesday of heavyweight disappointment Jarrell Miller, who was charged with carjacking without a weapon and burglary with assault or battery in Hollywood, Florida.
The IBF scheduling a purse bid for the vacant cruiserweight title fight between Mairis Breidis and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez after essentially forcing Jai Opetaia to vacate for nonsensical reasons.
Not many anniversaries to discuss in early January, so we had some fun talking about a few fantasy fights such as Pernell Whitaker-Floyd Mayweather, Julio Cesar Chavez-Mayweather and Roberto Duran-Mayweather.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
Ortiz-Lawson photo: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions
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Dan the Man, I honestly think Chávez at 135lbs could very well beaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. He dismantled TNT Taylor and I imagine Chávez chopping up Floyd round by round especially those nasty hooks to the body.