Podcast: Shakur Stevenson interview before 135 title fight
Plus: News of the week; pathetic Toney-Ruddock exhibition; anniversary memories on trio of big fights
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There are no major fights this weekend so there isn’t anything to preview but we still had plenty to discuss. There is my interview with Shakur Stevenson, who will go for a world title in a third weight class when he faces Edwin De Los Santos for the vacant WBC lightweight title on Thursday. We also covered several notable news items of the week and looked back on three big-time fights on their anniversaries.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Discussion of the pointless, absurd and grotesque heavyweight exhibition bout between the terribly shot and brain damaged Hall of Famer James Toney (age 55) and completely shot Donovan “Razor” Ruddock (59) on Saturday in Jamaica.
Discussion of Stevenson-De Los Santos being on a Thursday night.
My interview with Stevenson as he preps for the title fight with De Los Santos with his thoughts on several topics, including the prospect of winning a title in a third division; his place on the pound-for-pound list; has he ever been truly challenged in a pro fight yet; his thoughts on Devin Haney declining to make a mandatory against him and vacating the WBC belt; having Vasiliy Lomachenko, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Frank Martin turn down the chance to fight him for the vacant title; thoughts on De Los Santos; the prospect of a future fight with Emanuel Navarrete, who defends his junior lightweight title in the co-feature; more.
Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson’s arrest for DUI and for having a gun in the car.
Announcement that Jake Paul’s Dec. 15 fight will come against boxer Andre August — and not another MMA fighter — and why this is a good thing.
My reporting that the final Showtime card on Dec. 16 in Minneapolis will be headlined by David Morrell defending the WBA “regular” super middleweight title against Sena Agbeko.
News that although Showtime will end its boxing franchise at the end of the year, TGB Promotions is planning a PBC event for Jan. 13 at the MGM Grand.
Announcement of the remainder of the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade undercard.
Recap of former junior lightweight titlist Jamel Herring’s exit from an 18-month retirement for a first-round knockout win over Nick Molina on Tuesday night.
Ringside memories on the ninth anniversary of Sergey Kovalev’s 12-round beat down of Bernard Hopkins to unify three light heavyweight titles in a highly anticipated HBO fight.
Ringside memories on the 16th anniversary when Miguel Cotto scored the best win of his career to retain the WBA welterweight title in a hard-fought fight with fellow Hall of Famer Shane Mosley.
Memories on the 40th anniversary of when Marvelous Marvin Hagler edged Roberto Duran to retain the undisputed middleweight title in a showdown of legendary Hall of Famers.
Happy retirement wishes to the beloved all-time great Hall of Fame publicist Lee Samuels, who has retired after four decades with Top Rank.
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Shakur Stevenson photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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