Podcast: Previews of Shakur, Foster defenses; Zepeda in action
Plus: Diaz-Masvidal, Jacobs-Mosley Jr. and Fisher-Babic bouts; news of the week; historic heavyweight title fight anniversaries
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It’s busy a July 4th weekend with five notable cards, of which we previewed. There is also news of the week and some great heavyweight nostalgia on the anniversary of three big championship fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of the Top Rank/ESPN card headlined by WBC lightweight titlist
Shakur Stevenson’s first defense against Artem Harutyunyan and his impending free agency.
Preview of the undercard, including WBC junior lightweight titlist O’Shaquie Foster’s defense against Robson Conceicao, who is getting a rare fourth title shot; lightweight up-and-comer Keyshawn Davis versus Miguel Madueno; and lightweight uber prospect Abdullah Mason getting his first exposure on a main card against Luis Lebron, who has never been stopped.
Preview of the Fanmio PPV card headlined by the boxing match between former UFC rivals Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, who meet in a light heavyweight fight, and the return of former two-time middleweight titlist Daniel Jacobs against Shane Mosley Jr. in a notable super middleweight bout.
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Preview of the Golden Boy/DAZN main event featuring top lightweight contender William Zepeda against Giovanni Cabrera.
Preview of the Matchroom Boxing/DAZN main event featuring exciting up-and-coming heavyweight Johnny Fisher against the always-exciting Alen Babic.
Preview of Monday’s significant fight in Tokyo, where Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez will meet to unify the WBA and IBF junior bantamweight titles.
The WBA stripping two titlists for doping violations, Erica Cruz (women’s junior featherweight) and Evgeny Tishchenko (bridgerweight).
Announcement by Queensberry Promotions that is signed two Americans — which it normally does not do — unbeaten junior welterweight contender Brandun Lee and super middleweight Nathan Lugo, a top amateur, who is 1-0.
The WBA ordering cruiserweight titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez to next face mandatory challenger and former titlist Yuniel Dorticos next.
Memories on the 13th anniversary of Wladimir Klitschko’s dominating decision over David Haye in their long-awaited three-belt heavyweight title unification fight, after which Haye blamed his pathetic effort/performance on an injured pinky toe.
Discussion on the 105th anniversary of when Jack Dempsey pummeled Jess Willard, who was down seven times in the first round, in a third-round knockout to win the heavyweight championship.
Discussion on the 114th anniversary of when Jack Johnson stopped former champion Jim Jeffries — “The Great White Hope” — in the 15th round of their scheduled 45-rounder to retain the heavyweight title in “The Fight of the Century.”
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.
Zepeda-Cabrera photo: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy
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Shakur is just another entitled fighter that thinks the Big Money is automatic. BTW, I think Shakur already know who’s he’s signing with next. Judging by his unrepentant trashing of “Know Nothing” Boxing Fans and an exasperated Top Rank. My guess it’s the restructured TMT. Richard Schaefer needs something to kick start his tenure. And unfortunately for them, Shakur is the only current “Big Name” Free Agent lol
Speaking of people that were given many opportunities… didn’t Marcos Villasana get 4 opportunities before finally doing it against Paul Hodkinson in 1990? Excellent podcast!👍