Podcast: Rolly Romero interview & previewing his fight with Barroso

Plus: A look at the Showtime undercard and Top Rank's world title doubleheader; news of the week; memories of an electric fight atmosphere

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There are two cards of note on Saturday, Showtime’s PBC tripleheader topped by Rolly Romero vs. Ismael Barroso for the vacant WBA junior welterweight title and Top Rank’s ESPN world title doubleheader headlined by Janibek Alimkhanuly defending the WBO middleweight belt against Steven Butler. We previewed and discussed both cards. There is also my interview with Romero, several news of the week items and ringside memories on the anniversary of Hall of Famer Felix Trinidad’s unforgettable knockout of William Joppy to win a middleweight title in as electric an atmosphere as I have ever been in for a fight.

Here is what’s on the show (in order):

• Previewing the Showtime/PBC Romero-Barroso main event.

• My interview with Romero. We covered several topics, including his ripping Alberto Puello for a positive drug test that caused him to be dropped from the fight and be replaced by Barroso; his issues making lightweight for his last fight against Gervonta Davis; his perspective on the knockout loss to Davis that cost him his undefeated record; his desire for a Davis rematch; and more.

• Previewing Showtime’s two junior welterweight undercard bouts: Rances Barthelemy-Omar Juarez and Batyr Akhmedov-Kenneth Sims Jr. in a WBA title eliminator.

• Previewing the Top Rank/ESPN card that features two world title bouts, Alimkhanuly-Butler and Jason Moloney-Vincent Astrolabio for the vacant WBO bantamweight title.

• News that Matchroom Boxing is close to signing IBF junior welterweight titlist Subriel Matias and that if it is finalized would put him on track for a unification fight with new Matchroom signee Regis Prograis.

• News that Matchroom Boxing is planning a July 15 card topped by undisputed women’s junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner with a co-feature of junior welterweight Richardson Hitchins vs. Montana Love in the works.

• Announcement that Tim Tszyu will defend his interim junior middleweight belt against Carlos Ocampo next month while continuing to wait for his mandatory fight with injured undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.

• Heavyweight Joe Joyce’s decision to activate his right to an immediate rematch with Zhang Zhilei.

• Ringside memories on the 22nd anniversary of the unforgettable night at Madison Square Garden when Trinidad moved up to middleweight and destroyed Joppy to win a world title in his third division in the semifinals of the Middleweight World Championship Series tournament.

Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!

Romero photo: Ryan Hafey/PBC

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