Podcast: Previews of Munguia, Rocha, Akhmadaliev, Whyte fights
WBC convention stuff; more news of the week; anniversary memories of notable fights involving Gatti, Vargas and Broner
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There aren’t any really big fights this weekend but there is plenty of action. We previewed super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia’s assignment against Bruno Surace in the Zanfer Promotions/ESPN+ main event and three DAZN events, Murodjon Akhmadaliev against Ricardo Espinoza for the vacant WBA interim junior featherweight title in the Matchroom Boxing headliner, the Alexis Rocha-Raul Curiel welterweight clash atop the Golden Boy card, and the return of heavyweight Dillian Whyte. We also covered the major news of the week and in our nostalgia section looked back on the anniversary of three memorable fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of Munguia’s Tijuana, Mexico, homecoming against Surace and what a win probably sets him for, and junior featherweight Alan David Picasso’s co-feature against Isaac Sackey and the huge fight he is in line for with a victory.
Preview of Akhmadaliev-Espinoza in Monte Carlo and where heavy favorite Akhmadaliev may be headed with a win.
Preview of an expected competitive and entertaining bout between Rocha and Curiel in Ontario, California.
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Preview of the return of Whyte against Ebenezer Tetteh in Gibraltar: Can Whyte still fit in the title picture with a win?
A few items from the annual WBC convention, including the re-election of Mauricio Sulaiman as president and Badou Jack being reinstated as cruiserweight titleholder from “champion in recess.”
Queensberry’s announcement that WBA featherweight titlist Nick Ball will have a Liverpool, England, homecoming defense against former junior featherweight titlist TJ Doheny on March 15.
Former featherweight titlist Billy Dib, who was near death from cancer and given six months to live a couple of years ago, returns to the ring for a farewell fight and a victory on Thursday in Hamburg, Germany, on a card associated with the WBC convention.
Jack Reiss, long one of the best referees in the world, announcing his retirement, although he will remain active as a judge.
Memories on the 26th anniversary of the epic rematch between Ivan Robinson and Arturo Gatti in the main event with Fernando Vargas stopping Yory Boy Campas to win the IBF junior middleweight title at age 21 in the co-feature.
Ringside memories on the 11th anniversary of when Marcos Maidana scored two knockdowns and embarrassed Adrien Broner in a decision win to take his WBA welterweight title in a memorable fight.
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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.
Rocha-Curiel photo: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions
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