Podcast: Recapping Eubank-Smith card and a great 'ShoBox' fight
Plus news of the week: Tszyu-Harrison; Taylor injured; Joyce-Zhilei; Berlanga future and celebrating 50th anniversary of Foreman-Frazier and 35th of Tyson-Holmes
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Welcome to the Fight Freaks Unite recap podcast coming off a weekend that included a big card in England headlined by Liam Smith’s sensational upset knockout of Chris Eubank Jr. in their middleweight fight on Saturday and an unexpected gem in super middleweight prospect David Stevens’ last-second knockout of Sean Hemphill to conclude a terrific fight on Friday night. We recapped both, discussed plenty of news of the week and looked back on a pair of major anniversaries of significant fights.
Here’s what we discussed on this episode (in order):
Full recap of Smith’s big fourth-round KO of Eubank. Is it the best win of his 15-year career? What’s next for Smith? Will there be a rematch?
We chatted about two of the undercard fights: cruiserweight Richard Riakporhe’s nice fourth-round knockout of former two-time titlist Krzysztof Głowacki and former heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker rebounding from a knockout loss to outpoint Jack Massey.
Recap of the terrific “ShoBox” main event between Stevens and Hemphill and the dramatic ending — and why it perfectly illustrated why I will always be opposed to open scoring. Also, tip of the hat to Showtime executive Gordon Hall, who is so instrumental and making these kinds of excellent fights.
The announcement Sunday that Tim Tszyu, whose undisputed junior middleweight title shot against injured Jermell Charlo was postponed, will face former titlist Tony Harrison — the only man to defeat Charlo — for the interim WBO title with the winner getting Charlo.
The disappointment that junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor has a foot injury and his long-awaited rematch with Jack Catterall on March 4 has been postponed.
WBO interim heavyweight titlist Joe Joyce and Zhang Zhilei being close to finalizing an April 15 fight.
Thoughts on where super middleweight free agent Edgar Berlanga might land days after Golden Boy’s Oscar De La Hoya posted about his interest on social media.
A bit of nostalgia as Sunday was the 50th anniversary of when George Foreman famously knocked out Joe Frazier to win the heavyweight title in a fight that was also the first bout ever on HBO and the 35th anniversary of when Mike Tyson knocked out former champion Larry Holmes to retain the undisputed title.
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We will be bringing you the weekend recap each Monday. Let me know what you think of the podcast by leaving your comments.
Liam Smith photo: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
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The last thing I expected from the Eubank Smith bout was a ko from Smith. Especially after I saw the size disparity between them! Great fight. Eubank manning up and congratulated Smith was class.