Podcast: Previews of Navarrete-Valdez, Espinoza-Ramirez rematches
Paro-Hitchins; thoughts on HOF election; the death of Israel Vazquez; loaded Feb. 22 Riyadh Season card; big fight anniversary memories
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There are two significant cards on Saturday and we previewed both of them — Top Rank’s ESPN show headlined by the rematch between WBO junior lightweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete against interim titlist Oscar Valdez and the Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN topped by IBF junior welterweight titlist Liam Paro’s mandatory defense against unbeaten Richardson Hitchins. We also covered the major news of the week, including the Hall of Fame election results, and shared memories of on the anniversary of two important fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of Navarrete-Valdez II as well as the co-feature, a rematch of a 2023 fight of the year candidate between WBO featherweight titlist Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez.
Preview of Paro-Hitchins, who meet in an interesting bout in Puerto Rico. Can Paro continue his good run in his first defense or can the former Olympian and superb technician Hitchins take his unbeaten record?
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Preview of WBA “regular” heavyweight titlist Mahmoud Charr against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday on DAZN in Pulev’s hometown of Sofia, Bulgaria.
Announcement by the International Boxing Hall of Fame of the Class of 2025, including Manny Pacquiao, Michael Nunn, Vinny Paz, and thoughts on the results in the various categories.
The untimely death of Israel Vazquez, a three-time junior featherweight champion and quintessential Mexican action fighter, who passed from cancer this week at age 46.
The official announcement and thoughts about the absolutely loaded Riyadh Season card on Feb. 22 that will include a slew of big-time fights, including undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol; IBF heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois versus Joseph Parker; WBC lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson against Floyd Schofield; and tons more.
Memories on the 25th anniversary of when then-unbeaten IBF junior middleweight titlist Fernando Vargas won a disputed decision over future Hall of Famer Winky Wright in an excellent HBO main event.
Ringside memories on the 16th anniversary of when Manny Pacquiao moved up to two weight classes to welterweight and destroyed Oscar De La Hoya in an enormous upset eighth-round knockout in the defining victory of his legendary career and sent the “Golden Boy” into retirement.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
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.
Navarrete-Valdez photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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