Podcast: Shakur Stevenson interview; Bam's big KO win over Estrada
Plus: Lopez, Roach defenses; news of the week; Mike Tyson's birthday
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There were three notable cards over the weekend and we recapped them: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’s brilliant performance in a seventh-round knockout of Juan Francisco Estrada to win the lineal/WBC junior bantamweight title; Teofimo Lopez’s rout of Steve Claggett to retain the lineal/WBO junior welterweight title; and Lamont Roach Jr.’s eighth-round knockout of Feargal McCrory to retain the WBA junior lightweight title. There is also my interview with WBC lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson; news of the week; and we celebrate Mike Tyson’s birthday.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Rodriguez’s pound-for-pound performance in knocking out future Hall of Famer Estrada in a terrific fight: the knockdowns, the knockout, the horrific scorecards at the time of the KO; what to expect next for both fighters. Plus we recapped former flyweight titlist Sunny Edwards’ one-sided technical decision over former junior flyweight titlist Adrian Curiel.
Recap of Lopez’s near-shutout of Claggett: Was it an issue that he didn’t score a knockout, what might be next, more. Plus we recapped former featherweight titlist Robeisy Ramirez sensational KO of Brandon Benitez to set up a world title rematch with Rafael Espinoza and middleweight Nico Ali Walsh avenging his lone loss to Sona Akale while dealing with a terrible shoulder injury.
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Recap of Roach’s impressive three-knockdown stoppage of McCrory.
My interview with Stevenson and we covered several topics: making his first title defense versus Artem Harutyunyan; what it means to him to fight at home in Newark, New Jersey, site of the upcoming bout; his disappointment with Top Rank in how it has promoted the fight, the last on his contract before free agency; is the impending free agency a distraction; the tremendous negativity from fans and media about how bad his last fight against Edwin De Los Santos was in November; winning that bout despite a left hand injury; assessing Harutyunyan’s one notable fight, a loss to Frank Martin; what he’s looking for in his next promotional deal; thoughts on the potential Gervonta Davis-Vasiliy Lomachenko fight and his interest in fighting the winner if it happens.
The WBC ordering junior welterweight titlist Alberto Puello and mandatory challenger Sandor Martin to fight next and scheduling a purse bid if they don’t make a deal.
The WBC announcement that it has given David Benavidez a two-week extension to decide if he will remain interim titlist at light heavyweight or super middleweight.
Our tribute to the legendary Mike Tyson on his 58th birthday.
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Stevenson photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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