Podcast: Recap of Ennis-Lima mismatch, prospect of Ortiz fight
Plus: Entertaining wins by heavyweights Vianello and Makhmudov; postponement of Fundora-Thurman, plenty more news of the week
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After a very slow few weeks in boxing, Matchroom Boxing had a pair of DAZN shows on Saturday, one in the United States and one in England, and we recapped both. We also covered several notable news items of the week, including the postponement of the Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view card. Also, check out and subscribe to the YouTube channel for a variety of content.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Jaron “Boots” Ennis making his junior middleweight debut in a massive mismatch against Uisma Lima, who he knocked out in the first round to win the vacant WBA interim title, and the heavyweight co-feature in which Guido Vianello knocked out then-unbeaten Alexis Barriere in the fifth round of a good fight.
Recap heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov’s entertaining decision over British fan favorite David Allen that possibly set him up for a fight with Anthony Joshua.
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The postponement of the Fundora-Thurman card that was supposed to have been on Oct. 25 and an update on when it likely will take place as well as the fate of the undercard fights.
My reporting on the plans for a three-belt middleweight unification fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Erislandy Lara penciled in as the “Pitbull” Cruz-Lamont Roach Jr. co-feature on Dec.6.
Former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev being removed from the Nov. 22 Ring magazine card.
Remembering the great ABC boxing analyst Alex Wallau, who has died at age 80.
Matchroom Boxing’s announcement of a Dec. 13 DAZN card that will be headlined by super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco against fellow unbeaten Kevin Lele Sadjo.
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We also have two new videos on the YouTube channel in which we looked back on the anniversaries of two big-time fights I was ringside to cover: the fourth anniversary of the epic third heavyweight championship fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, which was the consensus 2021 fight of the year and the greatest of the many heavyweight title fights I have covered, and the 20th anniversary of the controversial rematch between Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales, who met again five months after their all-time great first fight — the best bout I have ever covered. Check out the videos here and subscribe to the YouTube channel:
Ennis photo: Emma Brawley/Matchroom Boxing
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I'm not much for marinating. But I am for some tradition. A Super Fight ain't a historical SUPER FIGHT, without some legitimate titles at stake. Let Boots go get that WBA Title and Vergil needs to get any of the other two (and his first title). Forget the IBF, they would just gum up the works by nature. Vergil Ortiz is flirting with Yaqui Lopez or Oba Carr territory. Needs to eliminate his title drought, first and foremost.
Another uber driver bites the dust, courtesy of Ennis.