Podcast: Recaps of Mayer-Ryan II and Zepeda-Farmer II
Plus: Thoughts on the undercards; news of the week; anniversary memories of two heavyweight title fights
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We recapped Saturday’s two most notable cards, both of which were headlined by rematches: WBO women’s welterweight titlist Mikaela Mayer’s wide decision over Sandy Ryan in another exciting fight on the Top Rank/ESPN show and WBC interim lightweight titlist William Zepeda’s second close decision over Tevin Farmer on the Golden Boy/DAZN event. There is also our look at the biggest news of the week and memories on the anniversary of two memorable heavyweight title fights.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Mayer-Ryan as well as WBO welterweight titlist Brian Norman winning his first defense by third-round knockout of Derrieck Cuevas and featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington’s one-sided third-round knockout of Jose Enrique Vivas in a WBC final eliminator.
Recap of Zepeda-Farmer II as well as WBO strawweight titlist Oscar Collazo’s fifth-round destruction of Edwin Cano courtesy of a withering body attack.
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Announcement that former heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder will return after a one-year layoff on June 27. Good idea? Bad one? Why is he fighting on?
The IBF ordering an immediate rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan after Donovan was controversially disqualified when he landed a punch a split second after the bell ending the eighth round in their welterweight title eliminator on March 1.
The rematch between WBA junior bantamweight titlist Fernando Martinez and former titlist Kazuto Ioka being rescheduled for May 11 in a sequel to their 2024 fight of the year contender.
Memories on the 25th anniversary of when late replacement Chris Byrd traveled to Germany and won the WBO heavyweight title when Vitali Klitschko shockingly retired on his stool with what we later learned was a torn rotator cuff.
Memories on the 19th anniversary of when Sergei Liakhovich outpointed Lamon Brewster to win the WBO heavyweight title in an all-action battle that is probably the best heavyweight title fight of the 2000s other than Lennox Lewis-Vitali Klitschko.
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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.
Mayer-Ryan II photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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