Podcast: Recap of Opetaia’s big KO of Nyika to retain cruiserweight title
Plus: Keyshawn Davis lands lightweight title shot, more news of the week; anniversary of a unification fight between unbeaten champions
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Although there is no major fight to preview this weekend as a slow January crawls along, we recapped and discussed cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia’s devastating knockout of David Nyika to retain the title on Wednesday. We also discussed several news items of the week and looked back on the anniversary of a big-time title unification fight between unbeaten champions.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Opetaia’s crushing fourth-round KO of Nyika to retain the lineal/IBF cruiserweight title in a home region fight in Australia: How the fight went, the huge knockout, is a unification fight with Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in the cards, and the prospect of an eventual heavyweight fight against champion Oleksandr Usyk. We also discussed heavyweight up-and-comer Justis Huni’s second-round knockout of Shaun Potgieter in the co-feature.
Top Rank’s announcement of a Feb. 14 card on which Keyshawn Davis will challenge WBO lightweight titlist Denys Berinchyk and a look at the rest of the card, which also will include the return of heavyweight Jared Anderson from his one-sided knockout loss to Martin Bakole.
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Collapse of talks for junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez to defend against former titlist Subriel Matias because of Lopez’s conflict with Top Rank.
Negotiations for an IBF interim lightweight title bout between Zaur Abdullaev and Raymond Muratalla while titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko is sidelined by a back injury.
Discussions for a fight between junior welterweight contender Oscar Duarte and former two-time titlist Regis Prograis to headline a Golden Boy card on Feb.15.
Memories on the 23rd anniversary of when Acelino “Popo” Freitas narrowly outpointed fellow undefeated Joel Casamayor to unify the WBO and WBA junior lightweight titles in a much-anticipated Showtime main event.
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Opetaia-Nyika photo: Tasman Fighters
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