March 27, 2024 • 48 mins
Joining Mannix this week is veteran boxing journalist Lance Pugmire. Mannix and Pugmire discuss a potential new pathway for David Benavidez to get a crack at Canelo Alvarez, a 50-50 cruiserweight title fight between Gilberto Ramirez and Arsen Goulamirian, a competitive junior middleweight matchup between Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora, what could be next for Amazon in boxing and more. Later, Tim Tszyu joins the show to talk Keith Thurman's withdrawal, why he insisted the show go on, preparing for Fundora, a future matchup with Bud Crawford, more. #Volume #Herd
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Speaker 2 (01:34):
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When you have talent, you are given another chance.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Here's Chris Mannix.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
And we're back Boxing with Chris Mannix, part of the
Volume Sports podcast Network. Want to welcome in all the
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The follow button.
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Make sure you don't miss an episode. Every week We've
got a great show for you This week. Lance Pugmeyer
is in longtime boxing journalist now working over at boxing
scene dot com. Busy week in the world of boxing.
We have three cards on three different platforms this weekend.
I will be in Los Angeles where Zerdo Ramirez will
(02:35):
attempt to become a two division world champion when he
takes on longtime cruiserweight title holder Arsun Gulimerian. I think
that is a fascinating fight.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
On paper.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Zerdo is the more accomplished guy, the more active guy,
but Gula Marian has a great trainer behind him in
April Sanchez and he hits like a mule, So it's
a really intriguing fight to me, Lance. He will be
in Las Vegas for the premiere of PBC on Amazon
on Prime pay per View. Obviously some changes to that
show recently. Keith Thurman is out, Sebastian Ferndor is in,
(03:07):
and I think that makes that card a lot more competitive.
You guys know my thoughts on Tim Zuo and Keith
Thurman didn't like it not one bit. I do like
Zoo against Fandora we'll get Lance's thoughts on that, plus
some insight into what we can expect on Amazon over
the rest of the year. A little bit later, Tim
Zuo drops by, we get into the change and opponent,
(03:29):
how he is preparing for the chatter about Zoo and
Terrence Crawford happening next, if he has any interest in
facing Thurman down the road, and so much more so
stick around for that as well as always subscribe, rate
review the podcast on Apple, podcast, Spotify, wherever you download podcasts.
The best thing you can do to support the pod.
(03:51):
Write a quick review, leave a rating, preferably a five
star rating. It's the best way to make sure we
keep doing the show week after week. All Right, when
we come, I will be joined by Lance Pugmyer. All Right,
Lance Pugmeyer is back Boxing Scene dot com, Payperview dot
(04:14):
Com and Lance, we are speaking at the dawn of
what is going to be a very busy week in boxing.
You have a show on Friday on ESPN that's headlined
by Oscar Valdez against Liam Wilson. On Saturday in Los Angeles,
I will be there for the Gilberto Ramirez Arsan Gula
Marian cruiserweight title fights. And also on Saturday in Vegas,
(04:38):
you will be at the Tim Zu Sebastian Fondora headline
fight that will be the debut of PBC on Amazon
Prime pay per view. So we've got a lot to
get into as far as this week goes. But I
do want to begin this conversation with some of the
news of the week, and I want to start with
(05:01):
some of the news that came out of Saudi Arabia
this week, specifically as it comes or as it pertains
to David Benavidez's place in the light heavyweight division. Saudi
officials have floated this idea that the winner of Dmitri
Bevil against Archer Betterbiev, which is set to take place
(05:22):
on June first part of a massive card over in
Saudi Arabia, the winner of that fight could face David Benavitez. Now,
up to this point, I have been under the impression
that this could be a two fight arrangement between Bevil
and Better Beev. But what Turkey Alaschik wants, Turkey alas
Sheik gets, and as of right now, it seems like
(05:45):
he wants the winner of Bevil against Better Beev to
take on David Benavitez. This was welcomed news by people
close to David Benavitez.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
But what do you think of it?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
What do you make of the chain chances we get
Benavidez against the winner of evil and better be.
Speaker 6 (06:04):
Of Well, I mean, it's definitely a possibility. As you said,
I mean, money can make a lot of people do
anything they want, right So, but from that standpoint, I
mean there's two things going on. I think that there
are also as a segment of Benevide's camp that would
love for him to stay in the US and fight
Canelo Alvarez at Allegiance Stadium in Las Vegas. It makes
(06:25):
a lot of sense. You know that they say the
money can be there in regards to you charge one
hundred dollars per pay per view, if you can get
one point six million buys, it's a big ask, but
it could happen.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And then is that fantasy land?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
What fantasy land is that one hundred bucks a pop
and one point six million pay per view buys? What
who is living in that reality?
Speaker 6 (06:50):
And then the other part of it is that you know,
if they if they could, you know, get an average
price of six hundred dollars per ticket with seventy thousand
people in the stadium.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Again, this is what they are floating.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
Then you know the money could be there for Canlo
because Canelo has thrown out this astronomical figure of one
hundred and fifty million minimum to fight Benavitas. Now, look
if it does not, if that cannot happen, and you
know odds are it will not, then yes, this makes
all the sentence in the world for David Benavitez, right
because look, this is a guy who's naturally big, He's
(07:28):
he's already fighting at light heavyweight. He's going to have
a June fifteenth fight underneath Jervonte Davis on PBC, on
Amazon Prime Video, and it sets him up perfectly time
wise to take this bout. And not only that, I
mean we believe that David Benavitez is a big enough
guy to ultimately one day move up to heavyweight and
(07:51):
be not you know, we know that Andy Ruiz Junior
beat him to become the first Mexican American heavyweight champion
of all time. But David Benavitez as a guy who
could have staying power in that spot. And so this
is a you know, this is a promising turnative events
for David, I believe, don't take the you know, stop
chasing the Canalo money and go after your own stardom
(08:14):
for the next decade.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Okay, just a couple of things.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
One, there is no scenario where David Benavidez can make
more money fighting Canelo Alvarez in the US, or fighting
Canelo in the US versus fighting the winner of better
bfbvil over in Saudi Arabia.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Those numbers are pure fiction.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Like getting to one point six million pay per view
buys in today's landscape is almost impossible, you know, whether
it's because of piracy, lack of interest, whatever you want
to say, it is extremely difficult to get to that number.
Live gate, right like Canelo Alvarez a couple of years
ago put what's seventy plus thousand into to AT and
(09:00):
T Stadium in Texas. That live gate was only nine
million dollars. So the live gates at stadiums are not
equivalent to live gates at smaller venues in Vegas or
New York. They charge more for tickets. It's a more
welcoming experience for fans, Like you're not charging any real
money for a seat up in the rafters.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
At Allegiance Stadium. It's just not happening.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
So I'm I hope you enjoyed your spin through the
Samson Lukawitz fever dream right there. But that is exactly
what it is. It's a fever dream by Samson and
company that they can somehow cobble together a deal that
gets Canelo to one hundred and fifty million dollars or
even one hundred million dollars to make that fight happen.
I think for Benavidez, you have got to embrace this
(09:46):
opportunity if it comes along, to fight the winner a
better Bedvogans pebel Right now, it looks like Benavidez is
going to fight in June at light heavyweight against Alexander Vostik,
a former light heavyweight champion.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
If he comes through that.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And looks great in it, it's only going to increase
the momentum for him to face the winner of Better
beev against Beevol, which will happen a couple of weeks earlier.
And look, I don't know how much money the Saudi's
willing to put up. It's probably gonna be ten to
fifteen million dollars for Benavidez to take that fight, and
if Benavidez can beat the winner of better Beev and Bevil,
(10:22):
which is not impossible. Like Benavetez is younger, he's as
big as these guys. It would be a competitive fight,
no doubt about it. If he can win that fight,
all of a sudden, Canelo's on the table for May
of twenty twenty five. It's gonna happen, like he will
have completely boxed. Canelo win to the point where, whether
it's in the US or Saudi Arabia, somebody is going
(10:45):
to put up massive dollars for Canelo Alvarez David Benavitez,
because you may have at that time the undefeated or
of the your the undisputed super middleweight champion versus who
would be the undisputed light heavyweight champion that sells itself lance.
So to me, that is the path for David Benavitez
to pursue.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
Given everything that Canelo has done up to this point,
you believe he would make that turn and say I'll
take a fight in May twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
One thousand percent because the money will be huge and
the legacy would be huge. Like, look, I'm of the
belief that assuming Canelo gets through High Maemongia unscathed, we're
probably gonna see Canelo Edgar Berlanga in September. I think
that's the path that he's on right now. Can be
spun as Edgar Berlanga being the mandatory for Canelo, even
(11:35):
though he probably isn't. I think that is the path
of least resistance and most money for Canlo. So if
he walks through that and still has all four belts
at one sixty eight and Benavidez has all four belts
at one seventy five, there is I have. I have
very little doubt that Canelo would pass on that type
(11:56):
of fight.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
One point six million buys one.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Point six when like at one hundred bucks a pop.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
What world are we living in that somebody's paying one
hundred bucks a pop in the piracy era where I
know way too many people that are watching boxing pay
per views and watching boxing streams on things called like
meth streams and crackstreams and things like that. Like, there's
no way that's that's gonna happen. I will be there
for that fight. I would buy that fight, But people
(12:25):
like you and me, we're not. There's not one point
six million of us, that's for sure that are gonna
get up there. So I while I respect the people
around David Benavitez, I think they're living in an.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Alternate reality there.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
So if I'm Benavidez, take this fight light heavyweight looks
spectacular against Alexander Vostik, which I think you can look spectacular.
They when it's over kind of glare and Eddie Renoso
in the corner, who is the trainer of Vostik, make
a big spectacle of it. Then take on the winner
of better beev against people. Win that fight, and then
if Canelo does in fight you, then the gloves are
(12:58):
off when it comes to Canel allowed because then it's
about money. Then it's about legacy. There's no no way
you can turn to somebody else in May of twenty
twenty five and justify that type of fight.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Great point.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
So except for it, I think I think the only
other thing that I go back to Chris is the
idea that maybe he wins that stup, uh, that light
heavyweight championship and says like I'm just going to continue
this path upward and onward to the heavyweight division.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Can you see that happening?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Uh? Not really, because It sure looks like the heavyweight
division is going to be tied up for a while, right,
Like whatever happens with Usik Fury, if Fury wins, most
likely going to see aj against Fury in August or September.
Maybe that's a two fight deal, like it just if
(13:52):
he had an easy path to fight like Alexander Usik
for the undisputed heavyweight championship. Maybe, but I'm not even
sure there's more money in an Usik fight as undisputed
light heavyweight versus undisputed heavyweight. I'm not sure there's more
money in that than there would be in a Canalo fight.
I just think a Canelo fight because it's been building
(14:13):
for the last couple of years. And by the way,
this is what happens in boxing, Like did we forget
the Floyd Mayweather era where Floyd just put off big
fights and put off big fights and put off big fights,
and to his credit and all kind of worked out
Manny Pack. Yeah, in the biggest fight of all time.
So Canelo was just taking a page out of Floyd's playbook, saying,
(14:34):
you know what, I'll fight this guy, but give me
one hundred and fifty million dollars or you know, and
even if it doesn't get to that number, you build
it and you build it and you build it. And
Canalo's no fool. He knows that this year for him.
You know, Mungia is gonna be I.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Think, a tough fight as long as it lasts.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
But I think you and I both agree Mungi is
probably get blasted out of there at some point. Berlanga
has not shown anything to make you believe he's on
that level of Canelo elvers.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
So Canello can look at this year and say, I'm
gonna get through it.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
I'm gonna have all my belts, I'm gonna have be
the undisputed champion at one sixty eight. And then let's
see what the landscape looks like in twenty twenty five.
Let's see how much bigger David Benavidez has become, whether
it's you know, through the light heavyweight championship or something else.
This is not unfamiliar territory, right like this, This is
stuff we have seen over and over and over again
(15:23):
in boxing. Most recently it happened with Floyd. Now it's
happening with Canelo.
Speaker 6 (15:29):
Great point, and you know the other thing that's in
play is that they've they're kicking around the idea of
a September commercial card at Wembley Stadium to really hype
that December fight that very well could be Benavitez versus
the bev all better better be of winner.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Yeah, So yeah, that's that's the path I would choose
if I was if I was David Benavidez, put Canelo
on the shelf for right now, focus on light heavyweight,
get through that and then and then we'll see what
happens there. All right, let's talk about the fight this
weekend in La First, Zerdo Ramirez moving up in weight
(16:06):
to cruiserweight. He moved up to cruise weight for his
last fight, but it was against the light heavyweight in
Joe Smith, so not a full fledged cruiserweight fight. This time,
he's going up against a long standing cruiserweight champion, Arsan
gula Marian, trained by the great Abel Sanchez, best known
for his work with Gnadi Gilofkin. This is an interesting
(16:30):
fight to me because on paper, I think Zerdo has
a lot of advantages. He's the more active fighter in
the ring. He's been the more active fighter overall. Gula
Marian has not fought since I think twenty twenty two.
End of twenty twenty two was his last fight, so
you can see how Zerdo could have a pathway to
a wide decision win.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
But Gula Marian can crack.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
And even though Zerdo's got a really good chin or
is shown a good chin at super middleweight and light
heavy weight, we don't know what it's going to look
like against a real cruiserweight punch, especially a puncher who's
got a good trainer behind him. Enable Sanchez is going
to have him prepared for this type of fight. So
how do you see this matchup on Saturday between Zerdo
(17:15):
and Gulamerian.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Look, a couple of things come to mind with this fight.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
I think that in talking to some boxing people, they
are very high on what Zerto Ramirez as a cruiserweight
champion will.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Bring to this sport.
Speaker 6 (17:28):
It really livens up a division that has been really
dormant since Alexander Husick stood as undisputed champion.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So that's one thing.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
But Gula Marian, like you said, working with Abel Sanchez,
Able Sanchez says, Look, my guy trains all the time
with heavyweights. He is he is ready for this fight,
and this is you know, he's basically fight eating you
can make the case a glorified light heavyweight. And so
as his fight goes on, it's going to be a
pounding where Zerdo is not going to be able to
(18:01):
stand up to a guy that, like you said, is
trained by Able Sanchez. And we know the way that
Abel works. Abel is very thoughtful, very deliberate, and he's
very confident about his guy as he heads into this bow.
Abel really wants this to be a showcase that will
allow his guy to really set himself up for you know,
the rest of his career. However many years he has,
(18:24):
which is you know, pretty minimal. So that to me,
that's that's what's going on. I think that Gula Marian
is going to win this fight, win it probably like
you know, by eighth, ninth round and then and then
just kind of stamp himself as the as the best
cruiser weight in the world with Abel Sanchez, and where
he goes from here will be, uh, you know, it's
(18:45):
going to have to be more compelling than what Zerdo
Rameiras will be left to do.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Wow, So you're taking Gula Marian to win this fight,
I would pop the brakes on best cruise weight in
the world because there's a guy named Jayapataia who is
really freaking so I think that jury will still be
out when even if Google Marian comes through Zo. My
concern with Google Marian is that he's not very active
in the ring, right He's not a volume puncher. Xerto
(19:11):
is a volume puncher, And I think Zerto has looked
really good of late since uh, you know, he added
Malik Scott to that team working with Julian Chua in
that brickhouse boxing gym, so I think he's continued to
evolve as a fighter. What I saw against Joe Smith
was a guy that was a lot more light on
his feet than I've seen him in previous fights, a
(19:32):
lot more comfortable boxing and moving than I've seen him
in previous fights. He's gonna have to be all that
and more in this fight because Gulamerian, if he gets
a hold of him, it could be lights out because
Goula Marian does have really heavy hands in this weight class.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
But I don't know, man like, maybe I have.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
More of a belief in Zerto's chin than you do,
because while I can certainly see a knockout win for
Goula Marian, I can also see like a one to
eighteen one ten type of fight for Zerto because he's
if this goes to the scorecard glance, he's gonna be
way up.
Speaker 7 (20:04):
He just is.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
I don't see a scenario where Gula Marian out boxes him.
I do see a scenario Gulimerian just overwhelms him, land
some bombs, gets.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Him out of there. But as far as boxers go,
I favor Zerto in this fight. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:17):
I mean, it's a great point that you know, a
veteran guy, how much can he truly adapt and change
and improve later on in his career. But I know
Abel has spent some significant time with him and is
very confident enables not really one to blow smoke. So
it's gonna be It's gonna be a fascinating evening, Chris
for you out in LA for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Yeah. And I'm looking at the resume of Gula Marian
again has not thoughts in November of twenty nineteen beat
Alexi Egarev on that night. Want a decision in that fight.
Not a ton of names on his resume, Lance Kane Watts,
Mark Flanagan, read Murdy Murray is a good fighter. That's
(20:59):
how we on his cruise away title back in twenty eighteen.
I believe that was the vacated belt by Alexander Usik.
So he's been a champion for what six years now,
almost six years now, so that's pretty impressive. But you know,
fought twice in twenty eighteen, twice in twenty nineteen, didn't
fight again until twenty twenty two, so he has fought
one time since December of twenty nineteen. That's that's a
(21:23):
variable in all this. Whereas as Zerda Ramirez, he fought
back in October against Joe Smith. Before that he had
taken about a year off then fought to meet your beevo.
But before that he was really active. He was fighting
Dominic Bosolsky, Gonzales, Sullivan, Barrera. So the activity edge goes
to Zerdo Ramirez. And and how old is Gula Marians
(21:43):
His mid thirties, right, he yeah, thirty thirty four to
thirty five something like that. And Zerto's not young either,
he's thirty two at this point. Look, I just think
Zerdo is gonna have a good game planned to box.
I think he's going to I think he's gonna find
ways stick and move and maybe that'll only lasts for
seven eight rounds. Maybe Gula Marian will eventually track him down.
(22:04):
But for a guy in his mid thirties that hasn't
been active, I worry about his conditioning as well. Look,
it's a I'm surprised that you are so bullish on
Gula Marian.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Watch weight classes matters.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
I get that.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I get that, and look, Xerto, this will be his
first fight at cruiserweight. The last fight against Joe Smith
think was a one hundred and ninety three pounds catchweight,
so that's not the full two hundred. Granted, Xerto has
one of the freakish bodies you'll ever see in boxing,
one that can shrink down to one seventy five and
rehydrate twenty four hours later to two hundred and five.
(22:43):
I've actually seen that happen, So that's weird. So he
can fill the frame. But it's one thing to rehydrate
to two hundred pounds another thing to be solid at
two hundred pounds. And we've seen countless times lands, whether
it's this way class other way classes, it takes guys
time to become full fledged whatever weights.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Right.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Terrence Crawford's a great example, moved up to one forty seven.
He wasn't a true solid welter weight really until that
Erol Spence fight. I remember a Bomack, the trainer for
Terrence Crawford, warning people over and over again like don't
let this guy get comfortable at this weight. So, uh yeah,
you may be right there that you know, weight classes
do matter, and Zerto is not quite at that cruiserweight
(23:27):
level just yet. But I think it does make this
fight pretty interesting because I think Xerto's boxing skills are
better than Gula Marians. I think Gula Marian has much
more power than Zerto, especially in the cruiserweight division. So
h the show you will be attending this weekend is
in Vegas. You'll be there for pay per view dot Com.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
It's had a.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Couple of permutations now right. It began as a show
headlined by Tim Zu against Keith Thurman. Just last week
Keith Thurman about out of the fight has a biceps injury.
In steps Sebbatora, who was supposed to face Sergei boychuk
On in the opening bout for a WBC title. Now
that title is going to be on the line against
(24:08):
Tim Zu. Two belts on the line. I've said this repeatedly, Lance,
I thought the Keith Thurman versus Tim Zu fight was
non competitive. I thought there was a zero point zero
percent chance that Keith Thurman was.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Going to win that fight. I think this one's going
to be more competitive.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
I still favorite Tim Zuo, but Sebastian Vandora has one
loss on his resume, and it was a catastrophic knockout.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
To Brian Mendoza in his last fight.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
But he was winning, yeah, every round of that fight
before he got hit with the shot. He is massive
for one fifty four, six foot six, one hundred and
fifty four pounds. I have no idea. The genetics of
Sebastian Fandor and his sister, who is one hundred and
twelve pound champion, are freakish how they can squeeze down
to these weight classes. So Fandora, who's a banger, who
(24:56):
is strong, who's got size, He's good, and I think
this is a much more competitive fight for Tim Zu
than Keith Thurman would have been.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
What do you think of this matchup?
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Yeah? No, it is interesting fight, no doubt about it.
I mean, don't forget the eighty inch reach of Sebastian Fondora.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
The problem is he doesn't use it though like that.
I mean, I don't like, he's never gonna.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Have to do in this fight. He's gonna want to keep.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Everything's a fight in a phone booth with him though, Yeah,
but everything of him.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Is on the insult.
Speaker 6 (25:23):
He's got to watch himself this fight, right, I mean
he can't. He can't expose his body to Tim Zu throughout,
you know, multiple rounds or he's he's going to fall again.
Let's be honest. I mean, that's what Tim Zoo wants
to do. That's what he wants to subject subject him to.
Even Bahatchik was talking about that. You know in their fight.
You know, I'm gonna I'm gonna pound the body. So
(25:47):
you know, it's an interesting it's it is a more
interesting fight. I know, you don't like Keith Thurmanan's in
the priority.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
That's an understand you.
Speaker 6 (25:55):
Yeah, And you know I think the Keith Thurman injury
is legit.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
You know he'll be bad. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (26:02):
But for Tim Zoo, you know, this is an opportunity
to capture the two belts and position himself for a
showdown with Terrence Crawford, who's already basically coordinated with the
WBO to be in line for this fights. So you know, look,
there's a lot of unique things going on with this fight.
Chris On on Prime Video. Obviously at being the debut,
(26:26):
I think they've you know, they're they're putting their best
foot forward here with four title fights. It's not like,
you know, it's not filled with household names, but I
think Roly Romero and Pittbull Cruz is a good fight.
Two other title fights with Arizondi Lera and Julio Cesar
Martinez on this card as well, It's interesting to me,
(26:48):
you know, like that can this card help.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Change the paradigm of boxing.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
I think that's the thing I'm really watching because it's
like something has to be done. HBO has gone away,
Showtime has gone away, ratings have said, you know, the
whole world that we live in with boxing, and I'm
not going to say the corrupt corruption of it, but
just the manipulation of the sport has to stop, and
(27:16):
it has to you know, become like, let's make the
best fights, Let's let's follow the UFC model and do
the kinds of things that they are doing on this
card to show, you know, everyone world title fights.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
So you've been in contact with the people with Prime Video.
You talk to PBC people as well. Right now, they've
got three shows scheduled, right you got the one March thirtieth,
You've got Canelo against Mogia on May fourth, and you've
got what's believed to be a mid June date for
Jervonte Davis against Frank Martin. We keep hearing about all right,
in addition to the pay per views, Yeah, we're going
(27:53):
to get as many as a dozen non pay per
view shows, but right now there's nothing scheduled and we're
hitting the kind of the the one third mark of
the twenty twenty four calendar, Like, are you buying that?
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Are you buying that?
Speaker 2 (28:05):
We're going to get, you know, a half dozen or
more non pay per view shows with Amazon.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
By the end of the year, you know, I think
by the end of the year.
Speaker 6 (28:14):
Yeah, I mean, ultimately they want to have like a
dozen of these shows per year.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
So you know, okay, but just do the math. Lands
we're already talking in at least two in some months.
I mean, like the math, the math doesn't really add up,
doesn't add up.
Speaker 6 (28:28):
And the other thing is howard ay gonna view like
college football season as well too.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
So I mean there's a lot of unknowns here.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Historically, not a section of the calendar that people want
to do fights, at least not on Saturday night. And
by the way, Friday Friday could become a wash as
well with college football looking to penetrate that landscape the NFL.
I think the NFL's goal ultimately go every day of
the week at some point. So yeah, like I have
some skepticism that we're going to get double digit non
(28:58):
pay per view events on Prime You Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
I mean, it's it's gonna it's going to be interesting. Chris,
I think that they deserve the benefit of the doubt
at this point, just because, like you know, a fresh
start is needed, so let's see what they can come
up with. I've been the way it's been described to
me is that these cards, these Prime Video cards, will
feature up and coming fighters that.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
That PBC has.
Speaker 7 (29:21):
Now.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
The thing is is that let's see quality fights.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
You know, the matchmaking is it's really going to be
on these guys to be able to to make entertaining fights,
because when when five fans are turning in to a
main event, they want to see a good scrap They
don't want to see a walkover where someone says that
they're good, you know, by third round knockout. I mean
we can see that on the on the undercard of Canelo,
(29:47):
you know. So again, I think that this is the
this is really a golden opportunity when you consider the
amount of eyeballs that will be on the prime video cards.
And I know, like they're still working on things distributing
it to foreign foreign locations as well. That should be
sorted out here in short order. But you know, take
(30:12):
advantage of this. This this, this opportunity existed before when
PBC struck the deal, remember at its origin with NBC
and ABC and and all of those networks, and it
just seems like it was a it was a missed
opportunity that can't happen again.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
I don't think.
Speaker 6 (30:28):
I think that boxing has a has a great opportunity
to get over the firewalls that exist in in co promotion,
the manipulations. Like I've said, with the sanctioning bodies, put
your foot down, you know, like say like enough is enough.
Look at I understand that you've lined your pockets with
(30:50):
cash from sanctioning fees, but look at what has happened
to the sport in the meantime. So there is this
opportunity here and I believe that it can start by
what is happening on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
The what's a little ironic is that this card coming
up more so maybe now with Keith Thurman off, it
would have been a perfect prime video, non pay per
view card because it is compelling from top to bottom. Right,
Like we just talked about the main event, I think
(31:26):
the Rollie Pitbull fight is really interesting. You know, Roly
is one hundred and forty pounds champion, but he's probably
the most criticized hundred and forty criticized world champion out
there right now. Whereas Pitbull had a competitive fight with
Jervonte Davis and all of a sudden he thought that
entitled him to, like, you know whatever, you know, at
the very least a rematch with Yrvonte. So that to
(31:49):
me is a fifty to fifty type of fight. You
throw in the fact that you know, both those guys
turned down opportunities to fight Ryan Garcia, Like there's a
lot of intrigue to that fight, even you know, Boachuk
and now Brian Mendoza.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
That's a scrap.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Like that is a scrap, Like you put aside that
the titles and all that, that is an absolute scrap
that you're gonna.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Get to see on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
The problem is, like, and people have said this, you know,
Lou de Bello was on this podcast a week ago.
Others have said it, people buy pay per views based
on the top of the ticket, right, Like they buy
because they want They're willing to pay money to see Canelo.
They buy because they're willing to pay money theoretically to
see Ryan Garcia fight Devin Haney. They bought a year
(32:32):
ago because they wanted to see Javonte Davis fight Ryan Garcia.
Like that is why people are willing to throw down
sixty eighty one hundred dollars to watch a pay per view.
They're just less likely to do that because they think
they're going to get a good competitive fight. That's unfortunate.
That's kind of the way it is. So I am
interested to see what the pay per view numbers are
(32:54):
for this Amazon debut, but I'm more interested to see
what level of fights they're willing to put on Amazon Prime.
Are we gonna get like a competitive main event like
we have on Saturday on regular Amazon Prime like that.
That's what I'm I'm eager to see. Because Amazon's reach
is unparalleled. Right, Like everyone, especially in the US, has
(33:17):
Amazon in their homes. I ordered like toothpaste on Amazon
on a given day. Think guy's ordered like five things
this morning on Amazon today, like people have it. It
has great distribution. They have an opportunity to really showcase
boxing to an even big larger mass, our larger swath
of people.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
But they got to do it right.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
And the jury is still out on how they're gonna
do it. And you're right, give them the benefit of
the doubt, but the jury is definitely still out.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
Yeah it is.
Speaker 6 (33:45):
I mean, you're absolutely right. I'm just looking at the
card like you said. I mean, a guy like Elijah
Garcia who's on this card, and if he wins, he
gets the title shot. I mean, let's just assume that
Lara wins is fight.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
Put that out the top.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Maybe not, maybe not, maybe not Laura. I think that's
a competitive fight too. I think Lara could lose that fight. No, No,
I'm I'm I'm actually more em betting you on Zerdou.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
But I.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Think you've been you and your pal your golf buddy,
Abl Sanchez have been I think you have been snookerd.
Perhaps you you are being overly influenced by the great AFL.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
He's worked with the guy for a long time. It's
not like I.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
No, no, Look, I have spent almost a week now
watching every Google Marian fight on YouTube. I see Able
Sanchez in the corner of those fights. So, uh, there's
definitely a chemistry there inactivity, age, lack of output of
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
Let's see it.
Speaker 6 (34:46):
Anyways, what I'm saying is, Okay, when you're talking about
the Prime video cards, Elijah Krs Garcia Wentz this fight
on Saturday, Lara Wentz perfect man event for one of
the PBC on Prime Video, PBC championship fights on Prime Video.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Right Middleweight Championship.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
Yeah, exactly, so that I mean, those are the opportunities.
Take advantage of them. Don't be afraid to bring in
a guy from another promotion to put him on your stage.
It's going to help the sport, it's going to help you.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
I mean, look at the main event here, Like Tim
Zu is a PBC guy sort of right, like he's
PBC adjacent, But Tim Zu's focus is being active right.
If timsu can't get opportunities with PBC, Timshuo's gonna take
his talents elsewhere. Now that probably is going to happen
this year because it seems likely if Zoo beats Fondora,
we get a Terrence Crawford fight, which, by the way,
is a great fight. Like that is a great fight.
(35:39):
I would favorite Crawford, but I think Tim Zuo is
getting better every single fight. And as you just said,
weight classes matter.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Moving up to one.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Fifty four, we'll see if Terrence takes the same kind
of punches that he does at one forty seven. Let's
see if he has the same kind of power he
did at one forty seven. I think that is a
really compelling fight. That is a natural Amazon Prime pay
per view, easy one to make right there.
Speaker 6 (36:00):
And by the way, last thing, I'm sorry to talk
about how how boxing has sucked in the past. This
main event should be Zoo versus.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Jamel Charlow right one.
Speaker 6 (36:10):
That'd be a perfect way for this whole thing to start. Instead,
everyone got involved and screwed it up.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Uh yeah, although I don't know when we're going to
see Jamel Charlo back in the ring that that could
be a while. Uh yeah, there's a lot going on
in the world of Jamel Charlot at the moment that
might keep them of the ring for the foreseeable future.
All right, Lance, very interesting weekend coming up. I will
be texting you from La updates on the Zerdo Gulamerian
(36:37):
card and I expect the same from you from Vegas.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
Good to catch up man.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Catch Lance on Boxing Scene dot com, pay per view
dot com as well. Appreciate your time, Lance, Thank you
so much, Chris anytime and when we come back my
conversation with Tim Zoo. All right, Tim zu is here
(37:01):
the WBO one hundred and fifty four pound champion. On Saturday,
he will look to unify belts. He takes on Sebastian Fandora.
That's the f I you could watch on Amazon Prime
pay per view and Tim, for people watching, it's been
a wild couple of weeks. What have these last couple
of weeks been like for you to watch Keith Thurman
(37:21):
drop out and Sebastian Fandora step in.
Speaker 7 (37:25):
It's just been being able to adapt to change, you know,
took one night, found we've got new sparing partners spot
three times. You know, the change was made and the
show goes on.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
So we're look, Keith Thurman's had a history of injuries,
He's had a history of pulling out of fights. What
was your reaction when you were told that he was
not going to be available to fight?
Speaker 5 (37:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (37:53):
I was shut it, you know, I was shut it.
I remember when I got the news about Charlotte, same thing.
I was just in disrelief. But then then I said,
all right, what do we do? And then they gave
me the next option. I said, all right, done deal,
let's get it on.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Did they give you options or was Fandora the guy
you were just presented with?
Speaker 7 (38:17):
Now they gave me They gave me Fundora and Lara.
But being at one fifty four, I said, I'm well,
fight Fondora.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
You could so you could have fought Lara for Would
it have been Lara's middleweight title?
Speaker 7 (38:36):
I'm not I'm not sure. I'm not sure how it
was just that they were the two names that were
that were presented.
Speaker 3 (38:43):
Why was this the this the right one for you?
Why did you choose Fandora.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Because he's in my way? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (38:53):
Did you know at the time that this was going
to be made a unification fight? That it would not
only be just Fandora, but it would be for a
second belt.
Speaker 5 (39:02):
No, I didn't, No, I didn't.
Speaker 7 (39:06):
That just for all of that came around I think
a day after, so all of that just became even
more appetizing.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
So you were preparing for a guy that's like five
foot six, five foot seven, right handed fighter who moves
a lot, You're going to fight a guy that's six
foot six, left handed who doesn't move that much at all. Like,
how big an adjustment is this going to be for you?
Speaker 7 (39:33):
It's opposite, its complete opposite. You can't even describe any
similarities between them two at all. So it is what
it is, you know it champions adapt to anything. One
week prep for a fight of this magnitude whatever, you know,
(39:55):
I'm going to show the world that you know, you
can put your mind to it and it up to
anything given in life circumstances.
Speaker 5 (40:03):
Did it?
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Did you think it all about? You know, just walking
away from this fight postponing to another day?
Speaker 5 (40:10):
Never? Never?
Speaker 7 (40:13):
Why not? That's not That's not who I am. You know,
I wasn't on It's not part of me to postpone.
The show goes on, you know, where we're creating history.
I'm living my dream. I'm living a young kid's dream,
you know, growing up. So this is what it's all
about for me.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
So what do you do?
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Do you tell your previous sparring partners thanks for coming,
you don't we don't need you anymore? And then does
somebody go out and find a bunch of six foot
six guys?
Speaker 3 (40:44):
Like, how does that work?
Speaker 5 (40:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (40:46):
Well, the my my, my coach and manager and one
of my assistant coaches organized there like that, Cluin two
boys six foot four and a six five south past
the next day. So they arrived the next morning, and
I've got three spars in like that. You know, so
(41:09):
I got a professional team that gets stuff done and simple.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
You know, how do you think the adjustment is going
to be? Maybe mentally, I'm sure mentally you were prepared
for a guy that's going to be on the move
for however long that fight Lastes Fondora is massive, but
doesn't use that size advantage at all, at least not
in the fights that I've seen. Like, is it how
big an adjustment is it going to be for you?
Speaker 3 (41:32):
In the ring?
Speaker 7 (41:36):
Mentally, there's no no adjustment needed, you know, we're already prepped.
Speaker 5 (41:42):
It's just stylistically, that's all it is.
Speaker 7 (41:44):
You know, creating a different game plan, going from different shots,
changing it up. But you know, you just gotta you
have to adapt, you know, this is what champions do.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
Is this kind of a throwback tim to like the
amateur day? Like when you were an amateur, I'm sure
you fought. You didn't know where you were fighting sometimes
probably when you showed up for particular fights. Is this
kind of a throwback to that where look, I was
preparing for one guy, but this is kind of just
the way it goes. If I've got to fight him,
I've got to fight him.
Speaker 7 (42:13):
This is all experience, you know, you learn on the
on the on the game, and it's like it's like
a mystery box. You it's like what are they called
little kinders? You get what you get, little kinder surprise?
Speaker 2 (42:30):
Does this fight? I know you were excited to fight
Keith Thurman. Keith Thurman talks a lot. He would have
been a big name on your resume. But look, I've
been saying, you know for weeks now, I thought there
was a zero percent chance Keith could beat you. I
just I just didn't think he was on your level
at this weight class, and I thought it would have
been one sided. I'd still make you a favorite against Fandora.
(42:52):
But to me as as a boxing fan, this fight's
a lot more interesting because we know Fendor can crack.
We know he's got a high skill level. I mean
he was up six zip on Mendoza before he got
knocked out. So you've got what I think is a
more credible opponent in front of you and a chance
to become a unified champion in this weight class. Does
(43:13):
that make this fight more meaningful to you in a
way than a Therman fight would have been.
Speaker 5 (43:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (43:19):
You know what funny thing is the Thermon fight sort
of felt like a comedy show, like him and his
antics and him talking it up.
Speaker 5 (43:28):
But this was like a fight.
Speaker 7 (43:30):
And I love that feeling to be able to feel
like you're in a fight, you know, because for some reason,
when I feel that this certain way, I'm completely different
and I zone in and I rise to the occasion.
And I'm actually very glad that this happened because when
I had that switch, it was like, Yes, this is
this is me, this is this is how I should feel.
Speaker 2 (43:53):
Do you think that he's going to fight the way
he's fought his pretty much all those previous appoints. I mean,
he has been a fight in a phone booth type
of guy for most of his career. Do you expect
that type of fight on Saturday?
Speaker 5 (44:06):
Probably?
Speaker 7 (44:07):
Yeah, probably, Like yeah, A lot of the opponents feel like,
because he's so tall, you need to get in and
he's good at inside boxing, so you know it all. Yeah,
it's stylistically, it's an interesting fight, and he's an interesting
fighter stylistically as well.
Speaker 3 (44:26):
When was the last time you had to punch up
at an opponent like that?
Speaker 5 (44:31):
Every time? Actually, every time I fight, everyone's taller than me.
Speaker 7 (44:35):
I don't think I've ever fought with anyone that's the
first time was going to be Keith Thurman. I was like,
I was, actually, you know what's going to be pretty
cool trying to fight someone a bit I'm fighting someone
a bit shorter than they now back to fighting taller guys.
Speaker 3 (44:49):
But this has got to be the biggest guy you've
ever find in terms of height anyway, right.
Speaker 7 (44:54):
He's he the highest, he's either tallest one fifty four
pounder ever.
Speaker 5 (44:59):
I know on a many people that I like that ever.
Speaker 3 (45:03):
Say anything like it.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
Him and his sister are both like genetic freaks, and
how tall they are as fighters. It's it's wild to
see a couple of things before I let you go.
Keith Thurman says he wants to reschedule his fight with
you once he gets healthy. How do you feel about that?
Speaker 5 (45:19):
No, not happening?
Speaker 7 (45:21):
Why not?
Speaker 5 (45:21):
Why?
Speaker 3 (45:22):
Why do you have no interest?
Speaker 5 (45:23):
Now we move on, you know, you progress it and
going back to the scraps.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
You move on, and you talk about moving on a
lot of people writing about talking about how the winner
of this fight, you know, is an option for Terrence Crawford.
Terrence Crawford is looking to move up And wait, I
know that's not on your mind right now as you
prepare for Sebastian Frondora, But is that a fight you
would embrace? Is that a fight you would expect to have,
(45:51):
you know, before the end of the year if you
get through Subashian Fandora?
Speaker 7 (45:54):
Yeah, you know, one hundred percent. That's like you live
for these top of fights. That this is what motivates
you to keep going?
Speaker 3 (46:03):
Is this tim how kind of boxing should be?
Speaker 6 (46:05):
Right?
Speaker 2 (46:06):
Like, You've been incredibly active over the last couple of
years in situations where I think a lot of fighters
wouldn't have been a lot of fighters would have sat
out waited for the exact right opportunity, whereas you, You're
just like, I'm going to face this guy, I'm going
to face that guy, whoever's next, I'm going to fight.
And I'm guessing that's probably made you a better fighter
(46:29):
over the last couple of years, because you've really, i think,
improved in the ring every single time out. Is this
level of activity been been beneficial for you in the
last couple.
Speaker 7 (46:38):
Of years, Yeah, you know what you It shows character
and fearlessness. You know, no challenges, No mountain is high,
no mountains too high, you know. So you just got
to keep challenging yourself and whatever you're given, you're given.
We're in this sport for such a short period of time,
while wasted, you know, make the most of every moment.
Speaker 2 (47:00):
I think that attitude is missing in boxing right now
that there needs to do more of that. One Well,
Tim good luck on Saturday.
Speaker 6 (47:12):
Man.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
Like I said I was, I'm always excited to watch
you fight because I think you're a great young fighter,
but I am way more excited to watch you fight
against the Bachelorvandora because I think that's gonna be a
real fight, and that's.
Speaker 3 (47:23):
Gonna be a fun fight as long as as long
as it lasts in the ring. So good luck to you, man,
and I appreciate your time.
Speaker 5 (47:29):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
That's it for this week's episode. My thanks to Lance
pug Meyer and Tim Zoo for joining the show. As always, subscribe, rate,
review this podcast on Apple, podcast, Spotify, wherever you download podcasts,
and I will be back later this week, hopefully joined
by a familiar guest, Mannick.
Speaker 3 (47:51):
I'm a man on the run and I'm not doing
your fucking podcast. We're not doing it, Bro, I'm a
man on the run, on the run.
The volume.
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Speaker 2 (01:34):
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Speaker 3 (01:53):
When you have talent, you are given another chance.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
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Make sure you don't miss an episode. Every week We've
got a great show for you This week. Lance Pugmeyer
is in longtime boxing journalist now working over at boxing
scene dot com. Busy week in the world of boxing.
We have three cards on three different platforms this weekend.
I will be in Los Angeles where Zerdo Ramirez will
(02:35):
attempt to become a two division world champion when he
takes on longtime cruiserweight title holder Arsun Gulimerian. I think
that is a fascinating fight.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
On paper.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Zerdo is the more accomplished guy, the more active guy,
but Gula Marian has a great trainer behind him in
April Sanchez and he hits like a mule, So it's
a really intriguing fight to me, Lance. He will be
in Las Vegas for the premiere of PBC on Amazon
on Prime pay per View. Obviously some changes to that
show recently. Keith Thurman is out, Sebastian Ferndor is in,
(03:07):
and I think that makes that card a lot more competitive.
You guys know my thoughts on Tim Zuo and Keith
Thurman didn't like it not one bit. I do like
Zoo against Fandora we'll get Lance's thoughts on that, plus
some insight into what we can expect on Amazon over
the rest of the year. A little bit later, Tim
Zuo drops by, we get into the change and opponent,
(03:29):
how he is preparing for the chatter about Zoo and
Terrence Crawford happening next, if he has any interest in
facing Thurman down the road, and so much more so
stick around for that as well as always subscribe, rate
review the podcast on Apple, podcast, Spotify, wherever you download podcasts.
The best thing you can do to support the pod.
(03:51):
Write a quick review, leave a rating, preferably a five
star rating. It's the best way to make sure we
keep doing the show week after week. All Right, when
we come, I will be joined by Lance Pugmyer. All Right,
Lance Pugmeyer is back Boxing Scene dot com, Payperview dot
(04:14):
Com and Lance, we are speaking at the dawn of
what is going to be a very busy week in boxing.
You have a show on Friday on ESPN that's headlined
by Oscar Valdez against Liam Wilson. On Saturday in Los Angeles,
I will be there for the Gilberto Ramirez Arsan Gula
Marian cruiserweight title fights. And also on Saturday in Vegas,
(04:38):
you will be at the Tim Zu Sebastian Fondora headline
fight that will be the debut of PBC on Amazon
Prime pay per view. So we've got a lot to
get into as far as this week goes. But I
do want to begin this conversation with some of the
news of the week, and I want to start with
(05:01):
some of the news that came out of Saudi Arabia
this week, specifically as it comes or as it pertains
to David Benavidez's place in the light heavyweight division. Saudi
officials have floated this idea that the winner of Dmitri
Bevil against Archer Betterbiev, which is set to take place
(05:22):
on June first part of a massive card over in
Saudi Arabia, the winner of that fight could face David Benavitez. Now,
up to this point, I have been under the impression
that this could be a two fight arrangement between Bevil
and Better Beev. But what Turkey Alaschik wants, Turkey alas
Sheik gets, and as of right now, it seems like
(05:45):
he wants the winner of Bevil against Better Beev to
take on David Benavitez. This was welcomed news by people
close to David Benavitez.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
But what do you think of it?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
What do you make of the chain chances we get
Benavidez against the winner of evil and better be.
Speaker 6 (06:04):
Of Well, I mean, it's definitely a possibility. As you said,
I mean, money can make a lot of people do
anything they want, right So, but from that standpoint, I
mean there's two things going on. I think that there
are also as a segment of Benevide's camp that would
love for him to stay in the US and fight
Canelo Alvarez at Allegiance Stadium in Las Vegas. It makes
(06:25):
a lot of sense. You know that they say the
money can be there in regards to you charge one
hundred dollars per pay per view, if you can get
one point six million buys, it's a big ask, but
it could happen.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And then is that fantasy land?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
What fantasy land is that one hundred bucks a pop
and one point six million pay per view buys? What
who is living in that reality?
Speaker 6 (06:50):
And then the other part of it is that you know,
if they if they could, you know, get an average
price of six hundred dollars per ticket with seventy thousand
people in the stadium.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Again, this is what they are floating.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
Then you know the money could be there for Canlo
because Canelo has thrown out this astronomical figure of one
hundred and fifty million minimum to fight Benavitas. Now, look
if it does not, if that cannot happen, and you
know odds are it will not, then yes, this makes
all the sentence in the world for David Benavitez, right
because look, this is a guy who's naturally big, He's
(07:28):
he's already fighting at light heavyweight. He's going to have
a June fifteenth fight underneath Jervonte Davis on PBC, on
Amazon Prime Video, and it sets him up perfectly time
wise to take this bout. And not only that, I
mean we believe that David Benavitez is a big enough
guy to ultimately one day move up to heavyweight and
(07:51):
be not you know, we know that Andy Ruiz Junior
beat him to become the first Mexican American heavyweight champion
of all time. But David Benavitez as a guy who
could have staying power in that spot. And so this
is a you know, this is a promising turnative events
for David, I believe, don't take the you know, stop
chasing the Canalo money and go after your own stardom
(08:14):
for the next decade.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Okay, just a couple of things.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
One, there is no scenario where David Benavidez can make
more money fighting Canelo Alvarez in the US, or fighting
Canelo in the US versus fighting the winner of better
bfbvil over in Saudi Arabia.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Those numbers are pure fiction.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Like getting to one point six million pay per view
buys in today's landscape is almost impossible, you know, whether
it's because of piracy, lack of interest, whatever you want
to say, it is extremely difficult to get to that number.
Live gate, right like Canelo Alvarez a couple of years
ago put what's seventy plus thousand into to AT and
(09:00):
T Stadium in Texas. That live gate was only nine
million dollars. So the live gates at stadiums are not
equivalent to live gates at smaller venues in Vegas or
New York. They charge more for tickets. It's a more
welcoming experience for fans, Like you're not charging any real
money for a seat up in the rafters.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
At Allegiance Stadium. It's just not happening.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
So I'm I hope you enjoyed your spin through the
Samson Lukawitz fever dream right there. But that is exactly
what it is. It's a fever dream by Samson and
company that they can somehow cobble together a deal that
gets Canelo to one hundred and fifty million dollars or
even one hundred million dollars to make that fight happen.
I think for Benavidez, you have got to embrace this
(09:46):
opportunity if it comes along, to fight the winner a
better Bedvogans pebel Right now, it looks like Benavidez is
going to fight in June at light heavyweight against Alexander Vostik,
a former light heavyweight champion.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
If he comes through that.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And looks great in it, it's only going to increase
the momentum for him to face the winner of Better
beev against Beevol, which will happen a couple of weeks earlier.
And look, I don't know how much money the Saudi's
willing to put up. It's probably gonna be ten to
fifteen million dollars for Benavidez to take that fight, and
if Benavidez can beat the winner of better Beev and Bevil,
(10:22):
which is not impossible. Like Benavetez is younger, he's as
big as these guys. It would be a competitive fight,
no doubt about it. If he can win that fight,
all of a sudden, Canelo's on the table for May
of twenty twenty five. It's gonna happen, like he will
have completely boxed. Canelo win to the point where, whether
it's in the US or Saudi Arabia, somebody is going
(10:45):
to put up massive dollars for Canelo Alvarez David Benavitez,
because you may have at that time the undefeated or
of the your the undisputed super middleweight champion versus who
would be the undisputed light heavyweight champion that sells itself lance.
So to me, that is the path for David Benavitez
to pursue.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
Given everything that Canelo has done up to this point,
you believe he would make that turn and say I'll
take a fight in May twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
One thousand percent because the money will be huge and
the legacy would be huge. Like, look, I'm of the
belief that assuming Canelo gets through High Maemongia unscathed, we're
probably gonna see Canelo Edgar Berlanga in September. I think
that's the path that he's on right now. Can be
spun as Edgar Berlanga being the mandatory for Canelo, even
(11:35):
though he probably isn't. I think that is the path
of least resistance and most money for Canlo. So if
he walks through that and still has all four belts
at one sixty eight and Benavidez has all four belts
at one seventy five, there is I have. I have
very little doubt that Canelo would pass on that type
(11:56):
of fight.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
One point six million buys one.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Point six when like at one hundred bucks a pop.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
What world are we living in that somebody's paying one
hundred bucks a pop in the piracy era where I
know way too many people that are watching boxing pay
per views and watching boxing streams on things called like
meth streams and crackstreams and things like that. Like, there's
no way that's that's gonna happen. I will be there
for that fight. I would buy that fight, But people
(12:25):
like you and me, we're not. There's not one point
six million of us, that's for sure that are gonna
get up there. So I while I respect the people
around David Benavitez, I think they're living in an.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Alternate reality there.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
So if I'm Benavidez, take this fight light heavyweight looks
spectacular against Alexander Vostik, which I think you can look spectacular.
They when it's over kind of glare and Eddie Renoso
in the corner, who is the trainer of Vostik, make
a big spectacle of it. Then take on the winner
of better beev against people. Win that fight, and then
if Canelo does in fight you, then the gloves are
(12:58):
off when it comes to Canel allowed because then it's
about money. Then it's about legacy. There's no no way
you can turn to somebody else in May of twenty
twenty five and justify that type of fight.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Great point.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
So except for it, I think I think the only
other thing that I go back to Chris is the
idea that maybe he wins that stup, uh, that light
heavyweight championship and says like I'm just going to continue
this path upward and onward to the heavyweight division.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Can you see that happening?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Uh? Not really, because It sure looks like the heavyweight
division is going to be tied up for a while, right,
Like whatever happens with Usik Fury, if Fury wins, most
likely going to see aj against Fury in August or September.
Maybe that's a two fight deal, like it just if
(13:52):
he had an easy path to fight like Alexander Usik
for the undisputed heavyweight championship. Maybe, but I'm not even
sure there's more money in an Usik fight as undisputed
light heavyweight versus undisputed heavyweight. I'm not sure there's more
money in that than there would be in a Canalo fight.
I just think a Canelo fight because it's been building
(14:13):
for the last couple of years. And by the way,
this is what happens in boxing, Like did we forget
the Floyd Mayweather era where Floyd just put off big
fights and put off big fights and put off big fights,
and to his credit and all kind of worked out
Manny Pack. Yeah, in the biggest fight of all time.
So Canelo was just taking a page out of Floyd's playbook, saying,
(14:34):
you know what, I'll fight this guy, but give me
one hundred and fifty million dollars or you know, and
even if it doesn't get to that number, you build
it and you build it and you build it. And
Canalo's no fool. He knows that this year for him.
You know, Mungia is gonna be I.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Think, a tough fight as long as it lasts.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
But I think you and I both agree Mungi is
probably get blasted out of there at some point. Berlanga
has not shown anything to make you believe he's on
that level of Canelo elvers.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
So Canello can look at this year and say, I'm
gonna get through it.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
I'm gonna have all my belts, I'm gonna have be
the undisputed champion at one sixty eight. And then let's
see what the landscape looks like in twenty twenty five.
Let's see how much bigger David Benavidez has become, whether
it's you know, through the light heavyweight championship or something else.
This is not unfamiliar territory, right like this, This is
stuff we have seen over and over and over again
(15:23):
in boxing. Most recently it happened with Floyd. Now it's
happening with Canelo.
Speaker 6 (15:29):
Great point, and you know the other thing that's in
play is that they've they're kicking around the idea of
a September commercial card at Wembley Stadium to really hype
that December fight that very well could be Benavitez versus
the bev all better better be of winner.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Yeah, So yeah, that's that's the path I would choose
if I was if I was David Benavidez, put Canelo
on the shelf for right now, focus on light heavyweight,
get through that and then and then we'll see what
happens there. All right, let's talk about the fight this
weekend in La First, Zerdo Ramirez moving up in weight
(16:06):
to cruiserweight. He moved up to cruise weight for his
last fight, but it was against the light heavyweight in
Joe Smith, so not a full fledged cruiserweight fight. This time,
he's going up against a long standing cruiserweight champion, Arsan
gula Marian, trained by the great Abel Sanchez, best known
for his work with Gnadi Gilofkin. This is an interesting
(16:30):
fight to me because on paper, I think Zerdo has
a lot of advantages. He's the more active fighter in
the ring. He's been the more active fighter overall. Gula
Marian has not fought since I think twenty twenty two.
End of twenty twenty two was his last fight, so
you can see how Zerdo could have a pathway to
a wide decision win.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
But Gula Marian can crack.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
And even though Zerdo's got a really good chin or
is shown a good chin at super middleweight and light
heavy weight, we don't know what it's going to look
like against a real cruiserweight punch, especially a puncher who's
got a good trainer behind him. Enable Sanchez is going
to have him prepared for this type of fight. So
how do you see this matchup on Saturday between Zerdo
(17:15):
and Gulamerian.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Look, a couple of things come to mind with this fight.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
I think that in talking to some boxing people, they
are very high on what Zerto Ramirez as a cruiserweight
champion will.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Bring to this sport.
Speaker 6 (17:28):
It really livens up a division that has been really
dormant since Alexander Husick stood as undisputed champion.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So that's one thing.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
But Gula Marian, like you said, working with Abel Sanchez,
Able Sanchez says, Look, my guy trains all the time
with heavyweights. He is he is ready for this fight,
and this is you know, he's basically fight eating you
can make the case a glorified light heavyweight. And so
as his fight goes on, it's going to be a
pounding where Zerdo is not going to be able to
(18:01):
stand up to a guy that, like you said, is
trained by Able Sanchez. And we know the way that
Abel works. Abel is very thoughtful, very deliberate, and he's
very confident about his guy as he heads into this bow.
Abel really wants this to be a showcase that will
allow his guy to really set himself up for you know,
the rest of his career. However many years he has,
(18:24):
which is you know, pretty minimal. So that to me,
that's that's what's going on. I think that Gula Marian
is going to win this fight, win it probably like
you know, by eighth, ninth round and then and then
just kind of stamp himself as the as the best
cruiser weight in the world with Abel Sanchez, and where
he goes from here will be, uh, you know, it's
(18:45):
going to have to be more compelling than what Zerdo
Rameiras will be left to do.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Wow, So you're taking Gula Marian to win this fight,
I would pop the brakes on best cruise weight in
the world because there's a guy named Jayapataia who is
really freaking so I think that jury will still be
out when even if Google Marian comes through Zo. My
concern with Google Marian is that he's not very active
in the ring, right He's not a volume puncher. Xerto
(19:11):
is a volume puncher, And I think Zerto has looked
really good of late since uh, you know, he added
Malik Scott to that team working with Julian Chua in
that brickhouse boxing gym, so I think he's continued to
evolve as a fighter. What I saw against Joe Smith
was a guy that was a lot more light on
his feet than I've seen him in previous fights, a
(19:32):
lot more comfortable boxing and moving than I've seen him
in previous fights. He's gonna have to be all that
and more in this fight because Gulamerian, if he gets
a hold of him, it could be lights out because
Goula Marian does have really heavy hands in this weight class.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
But I don't know, man like, maybe I have.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
More of a belief in Zerto's chin than you do,
because while I can certainly see a knockout win for
Goula Marian, I can also see like a one to
eighteen one ten type of fight for Zerto because he's
if this goes to the scorecard glance, he's gonna be
way up.
Speaker 7 (20:04):
He just is.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
I don't see a scenario where Gula Marian out boxes him.
I do see a scenario Gulimerian just overwhelms him, land
some bombs, gets.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Him out of there. But as far as boxers go,
I favor Zerto in this fight. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:17):
I mean, it's a great point that you know, a
veteran guy, how much can he truly adapt and change
and improve later on in his career. But I know
Abel has spent some significant time with him and is
very confident enables not really one to blow smoke. So
it's gonna be It's gonna be a fascinating evening, Chris
for you out in LA for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Yeah. And I'm looking at the resume of Gula Marian
again has not thoughts in November of twenty nineteen beat
Alexi Egarev on that night. Want a decision in that fight.
Not a ton of names on his resume, Lance Kane Watts,
Mark Flanagan, read Murdy Murray is a good fighter. That's
(20:59):
how we on his cruise away title back in twenty eighteen.
I believe that was the vacated belt by Alexander Usik.
So he's been a champion for what six years now,
almost six years now, so that's pretty impressive. But you know,
fought twice in twenty eighteen, twice in twenty nineteen, didn't
fight again until twenty twenty two, so he has fought
one time since December of twenty nineteen. That's that's a
(21:23):
variable in all this. Whereas as Zerda Ramirez, he fought
back in October against Joe Smith. Before that he had
taken about a year off then fought to meet your beevo.
But before that he was really active. He was fighting
Dominic Bosolsky, Gonzales, Sullivan, Barrera. So the activity edge goes
to Zerdo Ramirez. And and how old is Gula Marians
(21:43):
His mid thirties, right, he yeah, thirty thirty four to
thirty five something like that. And Zerto's not young either,
he's thirty two at this point. Look, I just think
Zerdo is gonna have a good game planned to box.
I think he's going to I think he's gonna find
ways stick and move and maybe that'll only lasts for
seven eight rounds. Maybe Gula Marian will eventually track him down.
(22:04):
But for a guy in his mid thirties that hasn't
been active, I worry about his conditioning as well. Look,
it's a I'm surprised that you are so bullish on
Gula Marian.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Watch weight classes matters.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
I get that.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I get that, and look, Xerto, this will be his
first fight at cruiserweight. The last fight against Joe Smith
think was a one hundred and ninety three pounds catchweight,
so that's not the full two hundred. Granted, Xerto has
one of the freakish bodies you'll ever see in boxing,
one that can shrink down to one seventy five and
rehydrate twenty four hours later to two hundred and five.
(22:43):
I've actually seen that happen, So that's weird. So he
can fill the frame. But it's one thing to rehydrate
to two hundred pounds another thing to be solid at
two hundred pounds. And we've seen countless times lands, whether
it's this way class other way classes, it takes guys
time to become full fledged whatever weights.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Right.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Terrence Crawford's a great example, moved up to one forty seven.
He wasn't a true solid welter weight really until that
Erol Spence fight. I remember a Bomack, the trainer for
Terrence Crawford, warning people over and over again like don't
let this guy get comfortable at this weight. So, uh yeah,
you may be right there that you know, weight classes
do matter, and Zerto is not quite at that cruiserweight
(23:27):
level just yet. But I think it does make this
fight pretty interesting because I think Xerto's boxing skills are
better than Gula Marians. I think Gula Marian has much
more power than Zerto, especially in the cruiserweight division. So
h the show you will be attending this weekend is
in Vegas. You'll be there for pay per view dot Com.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
It's had a.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Couple of permutations now right. It began as a show
headlined by Tim Zu against Keith Thurman. Just last week
Keith Thurman about out of the fight has a biceps injury.
In steps Sebbatora, who was supposed to face Sergei boychuk
On in the opening bout for a WBC title. Now
that title is going to be on the line against
(24:08):
Tim Zu. Two belts on the line. I've said this repeatedly, Lance,
I thought the Keith Thurman versus Tim Zu fight was
non competitive. I thought there was a zero point zero
percent chance that Keith Thurman was.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Going to win that fight. I think this one's going
to be more competitive.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
I still favorite Tim Zuo, but Sebastian Vandora has one
loss on his resume, and it was a catastrophic knockout.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
To Brian Mendoza in his last fight.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
But he was winning, yeah, every round of that fight
before he got hit with the shot. He is massive
for one fifty four, six foot six, one hundred and
fifty four pounds. I have no idea. The genetics of
Sebastian Fandor and his sister, who is one hundred and
twelve pound champion, are freakish how they can squeeze down
to these weight classes. So Fandora, who's a banger, who
(24:56):
is strong, who's got size, He's good, and I think
this is a much more competitive fight for Tim Zu
than Keith Thurman would have been.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
What do you think of this matchup?
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Yeah? No, it is interesting fight, no doubt about it.
I mean, don't forget the eighty inch reach of Sebastian Fondora.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
The problem is he doesn't use it though like that.
I mean, I don't like, he's never gonna.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Have to do in this fight. He's gonna want to keep.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Everything's a fight in a phone booth with him though, Yeah,
but everything of him.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Is on the insult.
Speaker 6 (25:23):
He's got to watch himself this fight, right, I mean
he can't. He can't expose his body to Tim Zu throughout,
you know, multiple rounds or he's he's going to fall again.
Let's be honest. I mean, that's what Tim Zoo wants
to do. That's what he wants to subject subject him to.
Even Bahatchik was talking about that. You know in their fight.
You know, I'm gonna I'm gonna pound the body. So
(25:47):
you know, it's an interesting it's it is a more
interesting fight. I know, you don't like Keith Thurmanan's in
the priority.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
That's an understand you.
Speaker 6 (25:55):
Yeah, And you know I think the Keith Thurman injury
is legit.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
You know he'll be bad. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (26:02):
But for Tim Zoo, you know, this is an opportunity
to capture the two belts and position himself for a
showdown with Terrence Crawford, who's already basically coordinated with the
WBO to be in line for this fights. So you know, look,
there's a lot of unique things going on with this fight.
Chris On on Prime Video. Obviously at being the debut,
(26:26):
I think they've you know, they're they're putting their best
foot forward here with four title fights. It's not like,
you know, it's not filled with household names, but I
think Roly Romero and Pittbull Cruz is a good fight.
Two other title fights with Arizondi Lera and Julio Cesar
Martinez on this card as well, It's interesting to me,
(26:48):
you know, like that can this card help.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Change the paradigm of boxing.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
I think that's the thing I'm really watching because it's
like something has to be done. HBO has gone away,
Showtime has gone away, ratings have said, you know, the
whole world that we live in with boxing, and I'm
not going to say the corrupt corruption of it, but
just the manipulation of the sport has to stop, and
(27:16):
it has to you know, become like, let's make the
best fights, Let's let's follow the UFC model and do
the kinds of things that they are doing on this
card to show, you know, everyone world title fights.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
So you've been in contact with the people with Prime Video.
You talk to PBC people as well. Right now, they've
got three shows scheduled, right you got the one March thirtieth,
You've got Canelo against Mogia on May fourth, and you've
got what's believed to be a mid June date for
Jervonte Davis against Frank Martin. We keep hearing about all right,
in addition to the pay per views, Yeah, we're going
(27:53):
to get as many as a dozen non pay per
view shows, but right now there's nothing scheduled and we're
hitting the kind of the the one third mark of
the twenty twenty four calendar, Like, are you buying that?
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Are you buying that?
Speaker 2 (28:05):
We're going to get, you know, a half dozen or
more non pay per view shows with Amazon.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
By the end of the year, you know, I think
by the end of the year.
Speaker 6 (28:14):
Yeah, I mean, ultimately they want to have like a
dozen of these shows per year.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
So you know, okay, but just do the math. Lands
we're already talking in at least two in some months.
I mean, like the math, the math doesn't really add up,
doesn't add up.
Speaker 6 (28:28):
And the other thing is howard ay gonna view like
college football season as well too.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
So I mean there's a lot of unknowns here.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Historically, not a section of the calendar that people want
to do fights, at least not on Saturday night. And
by the way, Friday Friday could become a wash as
well with college football looking to penetrate that landscape the NFL.
I think the NFL's goal ultimately go every day of
the week at some point. So yeah, like I have
some skepticism that we're going to get double digit non
(28:58):
pay per view events on Prime You Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
I mean, it's it's gonna it's going to be interesting. Chris,
I think that they deserve the benefit of the doubt
at this point, just because, like you know, a fresh
start is needed, so let's see what they can come
up with. I've been the way it's been described to
me is that these cards, these Prime Video cards, will
feature up and coming fighters that.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
That PBC has.
Speaker 7 (29:21):
Now.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
The thing is is that let's see quality fights.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
You know, the matchmaking is it's really going to be
on these guys to be able to to make entertaining fights,
because when when five fans are turning in to a
main event, they want to see a good scrap They
don't want to see a walkover where someone says that
they're good, you know, by third round knockout. I mean
we can see that on the on the undercard of Canelo,
(29:47):
you know. So again, I think that this is the
this is really a golden opportunity when you consider the
amount of eyeballs that will be on the prime video cards.
And I know, like they're still working on things distributing
it to foreign foreign locations as well. That should be
sorted out here in short order. But you know, take
(30:12):
advantage of this. This this, this opportunity existed before when
PBC struck the deal, remember at its origin with NBC
and ABC and and all of those networks, and it
just seems like it was a it was a missed
opportunity that can't happen again.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
I don't think.
Speaker 6 (30:28):
I think that boxing has a has a great opportunity
to get over the firewalls that exist in in co promotion,
the manipulations. Like I've said, with the sanctioning bodies, put
your foot down, you know, like say like enough is enough.
Look at I understand that you've lined your pockets with
(30:50):
cash from sanctioning fees, but look at what has happened
to the sport in the meantime. So there is this
opportunity here and I believe that it can start by
what is happening on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
The what's a little ironic is that this card coming
up more so maybe now with Keith Thurman off, it
would have been a perfect prime video, non pay per
view card because it is compelling from top to bottom. Right,
Like we just talked about the main event, I think
(31:26):
the Rollie Pitbull fight is really interesting. You know, Roly
is one hundred and forty pounds champion, but he's probably
the most criticized hundred and forty criticized world champion out
there right now. Whereas Pitbull had a competitive fight with
Jervonte Davis and all of a sudden he thought that
entitled him to, like, you know whatever, you know, at
the very least a rematch with Yrvonte. So that to
(31:49):
me is a fifty to fifty type of fight. You
throw in the fact that you know, both those guys
turned down opportunities to fight Ryan Garcia, Like there's a
lot of intrigue to that fight, even you know, Boachuk
and now Brian Mendoza.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
That's a scrap.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Like that is a scrap, Like you put aside that
the titles and all that, that is an absolute scrap
that you're gonna.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Get to see on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
The problem is, like, and people have said this, you know,
Lou de Bello was on this podcast a week ago.
Others have said it, people buy pay per views based
on the top of the ticket, right, Like they buy
because they want They're willing to pay money to see Canelo.
They buy because they're willing to pay money theoretically to
see Ryan Garcia fight Devin Haney. They bought a year
(32:32):
ago because they wanted to see Javonte Davis fight Ryan Garcia.
Like that is why people are willing to throw down
sixty eighty one hundred dollars to watch a pay per view.
They're just less likely to do that because they think
they're going to get a good competitive fight. That's unfortunate.
That's kind of the way it is. So I am
interested to see what the pay per view numbers are
(32:54):
for this Amazon debut, but I'm more interested to see
what level of fights they're willing to put on Amazon Prime.
Are we gonna get like a competitive main event like
we have on Saturday on regular Amazon Prime like that.
That's what I'm I'm eager to see. Because Amazon's reach
is unparalleled. Right, Like everyone, especially in the US, has
(33:17):
Amazon in their homes. I ordered like toothpaste on Amazon
on a given day. Think guy's ordered like five things
this morning on Amazon today, like people have it. It
has great distribution. They have an opportunity to really showcase
boxing to an even big larger mass, our larger swath
of people.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
But they got to do it right.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
And the jury is still out on how they're gonna
do it. And you're right, give them the benefit of
the doubt, but the jury is definitely still out.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
Yeah it is.
Speaker 6 (33:45):
I mean, you're absolutely right. I'm just looking at the
card like you said. I mean, a guy like Elijah
Garcia who's on this card, and if he wins, he
gets the title shot. I mean, let's just assume that
Lara wins is fight.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
Put that out the top.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Maybe not, maybe not, maybe not Laura. I think that's
a competitive fight too. I think Lara could lose that fight. No, No,
I'm I'm I'm actually more em betting you on Zerdou.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
But I.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Think you've been you and your pal your golf buddy,
Abl Sanchez have been I think you have been snookerd.
Perhaps you you are being overly influenced by the great AFL.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
He's worked with the guy for a long time. It's
not like I.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
No, no, Look, I have spent almost a week now
watching every Google Marian fight on YouTube. I see Able
Sanchez in the corner of those fights. So, uh, there's
definitely a chemistry there inactivity, age, lack of output of
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
Let's see it.
Speaker 6 (34:46):
Anyways, what I'm saying is, Okay, when you're talking about
the Prime video cards, Elijah Krs Garcia Wentz this fight
on Saturday, Lara Wentz perfect man event for one of
the PBC on Prime Video, PBC championship fights on Prime Video.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Right Middleweight Championship.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
Yeah, exactly, so that I mean, those are the opportunities.
Take advantage of them. Don't be afraid to bring in
a guy from another promotion to put him on your stage.
It's going to help the sport, it's going to help you.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
I mean, look at the main event here, Like Tim
Zu is a PBC guy sort of right, like he's
PBC adjacent, But Tim Zu's focus is being active right.
If timsu can't get opportunities with PBC, Timshuo's gonna take
his talents elsewhere. Now that probably is going to happen
this year because it seems likely if Zoo beats Fondora,
we get a Terrence Crawford fight, which, by the way,
is a great fight. Like that is a great fight.
(35:39):
I would favorite Crawford, but I think Tim Zuo is
getting better every single fight. And as you just said,
weight classes matter.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Moving up to one.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Fifty four, we'll see if Terrence takes the same kind
of punches that he does at one forty seven. Let's
see if he has the same kind of power he
did at one forty seven. I think that is a
really compelling fight. That is a natural Amazon Prime pay
per view, easy one to make right there.
Speaker 6 (36:00):
And by the way, last thing, I'm sorry to talk
about how how boxing has sucked in the past. This
main event should be Zoo versus.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Jamel Charlow right one.
Speaker 6 (36:10):
That'd be a perfect way for this whole thing to start. Instead,
everyone got involved and screwed it up.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Uh yeah, although I don't know when we're going to
see Jamel Charlo back in the ring that that could
be a while. Uh yeah, there's a lot going on
in the world of Jamel Charlot at the moment that
might keep them of the ring for the foreseeable future.
All right, Lance, very interesting weekend coming up. I will
be texting you from La updates on the Zerdo Gulamerian
(36:37):
card and I expect the same from you from Vegas.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
Good to catch up man.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Catch Lance on Boxing Scene dot com, pay per view
dot com as well. Appreciate your time, Lance, Thank you
so much, Chris anytime and when we come back my
conversation with Tim Zoo. All right, Tim zu is here
(37:01):
the WBO one hundred and fifty four pound champion. On Saturday,
he will look to unify belts. He takes on Sebastian Fandora.
That's the f I you could watch on Amazon Prime
pay per view and Tim, for people watching, it's been
a wild couple of weeks. What have these last couple
of weeks been like for you to watch Keith Thurman
(37:21):
drop out and Sebastian Fandora step in.
Speaker 7 (37:25):
It's just been being able to adapt to change, you know,
took one night, found we've got new sparing partners spot
three times. You know, the change was made and the
show goes on.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
So we're look, Keith Thurman's had a history of injuries,
He's had a history of pulling out of fights. What
was your reaction when you were told that he was
not going to be available to fight?
Speaker 5 (37:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (37:53):
I was shut it, you know, I was shut it.
I remember when I got the news about Charlotte, same thing.
I was just in disrelief. But then then I said,
all right, what do we do? And then they gave
me the next option. I said, all right, done deal,
let's get it on.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Did they give you options or was Fandora the guy
you were just presented with?
Speaker 7 (38:17):
Now they gave me They gave me Fundora and Lara.
But being at one fifty four, I said, I'm well,
fight Fondora.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
You could so you could have fought Lara for Would
it have been Lara's middleweight title?
Speaker 7 (38:36):
I'm not I'm not sure. I'm not sure how it
was just that they were the two names that were
that were presented.
Speaker 3 (38:43):
Why was this the this the right one for you?
Why did you choose Fandora.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Because he's in my way? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (38:53):
Did you know at the time that this was going
to be made a unification fight? That it would not
only be just Fandora, but it would be for a
second belt.
Speaker 5 (39:02):
No, I didn't, No, I didn't.
Speaker 7 (39:06):
That just for all of that came around I think
a day after, so all of that just became even
more appetizing.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
So you were preparing for a guy that's like five
foot six, five foot seven, right handed fighter who moves
a lot, You're going to fight a guy that's six
foot six, left handed who doesn't move that much at all. Like,
how big an adjustment is this going to be for you?
Speaker 7 (39:33):
It's opposite, its complete opposite. You can't even describe any
similarities between them two at all. So it is what
it is, you know it champions adapt to anything. One
week prep for a fight of this magnitude whatever, you know,
(39:55):
I'm going to show the world that you know, you
can put your mind to it and it up to
anything given in life circumstances.
Speaker 5 (40:03):
Did it?
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Did you think it all about? You know, just walking
away from this fight postponing to another day?
Speaker 5 (40:10):
Never? Never?
Speaker 7 (40:13):
Why not? That's not That's not who I am. You know,
I wasn't on It's not part of me to postpone.
The show goes on, you know, where we're creating history.
I'm living my dream. I'm living a young kid's dream,
you know, growing up. So this is what it's all
about for me.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
So what do you do?
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Do you tell your previous sparring partners thanks for coming,
you don't we don't need you anymore? And then does
somebody go out and find a bunch of six foot
six guys?
Speaker 3 (40:44):
Like, how does that work?
Speaker 5 (40:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (40:46):
Well, the my my, my coach and manager and one
of my assistant coaches organized there like that, Cluin two
boys six foot four and a six five south past
the next day. So they arrived the next morning, and
I've got three spars in like that. You know, so
(41:09):
I got a professional team that gets stuff done and simple.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
You know, how do you think the adjustment is going
to be? Maybe mentally, I'm sure mentally you were prepared
for a guy that's going to be on the move
for however long that fight Lastes Fondora is massive, but
doesn't use that size advantage at all, at least not
in the fights that I've seen. Like, is it how
big an adjustment is it going to be for you?
Speaker 3 (41:32):
In the ring?
Speaker 7 (41:36):
Mentally, there's no no adjustment needed, you know, we're already prepped.
Speaker 5 (41:42):
It's just stylistically, that's all it is.
Speaker 7 (41:44):
You know, creating a different game plan, going from different shots,
changing it up. But you know, you just gotta you
have to adapt, you know, this is what champions do.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
Is this kind of a throwback tim to like the
amateur day? Like when you were an amateur, I'm sure
you fought. You didn't know where you were fighting sometimes
probably when you showed up for particular fights. Is this
kind of a throwback to that where look, I was
preparing for one guy, but this is kind of just
the way it goes. If I've got to fight him,
I've got to fight him.
Speaker 7 (42:13):
This is all experience, you know, you learn on the
on the on the game, and it's like it's like
a mystery box. You it's like what are they called
little kinders? You get what you get, little kinder surprise?
Speaker 2 (42:30):
Does this fight? I know you were excited to fight
Keith Thurman. Keith Thurman talks a lot. He would have
been a big name on your resume. But look, I've
been saying, you know for weeks now, I thought there
was a zero percent chance Keith could beat you. I
just I just didn't think he was on your level
at this weight class, and I thought it would have
been one sided. I'd still make you a favorite against Fandora.
(42:52):
But to me as as a boxing fan, this fight's
a lot more interesting because we know Fendor can crack.
We know he's got a high skill level. I mean
he was up six zip on Mendoza before he got
knocked out. So you've got what I think is a
more credible opponent in front of you and a chance
to become a unified champion in this weight class. Does
(43:13):
that make this fight more meaningful to you in a
way than a Therman fight would have been.
Speaker 5 (43:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (43:19):
You know what funny thing is the Thermon fight sort
of felt like a comedy show, like him and his
antics and him talking it up.
Speaker 5 (43:28):
But this was like a fight.
Speaker 7 (43:30):
And I love that feeling to be able to feel
like you're in a fight, you know, because for some reason,
when I feel that this certain way, I'm completely different
and I zone in and I rise to the occasion.
And I'm actually very glad that this happened because when
I had that switch, it was like, Yes, this is
this is me, this is this is how I should feel.
Speaker 2 (43:53):
Do you think that he's going to fight the way
he's fought his pretty much all those previous appoints. I mean,
he has been a fight in a phone booth type
of guy for most of his career. Do you expect
that type of fight on Saturday?
Speaker 5 (44:06):
Probably?
Speaker 7 (44:07):
Yeah, probably, Like yeah, A lot of the opponents feel like,
because he's so tall, you need to get in and
he's good at inside boxing, so you know it all. Yeah,
it's stylistically, it's an interesting fight, and he's an interesting
fighter stylistically as well.
Speaker 3 (44:26):
When was the last time you had to punch up
at an opponent like that?
Speaker 5 (44:31):
Every time? Actually, every time I fight, everyone's taller than me.
Speaker 7 (44:35):
I don't think I've ever fought with anyone that's the
first time was going to be Keith Thurman. I was like,
I was, actually, you know what's going to be pretty
cool trying to fight someone a bit I'm fighting someone
a bit shorter than they now back to fighting taller guys.
Speaker 3 (44:49):
But this has got to be the biggest guy you've
ever find in terms of height anyway, right.
Speaker 7 (44:54):
He's he the highest, he's either tallest one fifty four
pounder ever.
Speaker 5 (44:59):
I know on a many people that I like that ever.
Speaker 3 (45:03):
Say anything like it.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
Him and his sister are both like genetic freaks, and
how tall they are as fighters. It's it's wild to
see a couple of things before I let you go.
Keith Thurman says he wants to reschedule his fight with
you once he gets healthy. How do you feel about that?
Speaker 5 (45:19):
No, not happening?
Speaker 7 (45:21):
Why not?
Speaker 5 (45:21):
Why?
Speaker 3 (45:22):
Why do you have no interest?
Speaker 5 (45:23):
Now we move on, you know, you progress it and
going back to the scraps.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
You move on, and you talk about moving on a
lot of people writing about talking about how the winner
of this fight, you know, is an option for Terrence Crawford.
Terrence Crawford is looking to move up And wait, I
know that's not on your mind right now as you
prepare for Sebastian Frondora, But is that a fight you
would embrace? Is that a fight you would expect to have,
(45:51):
you know, before the end of the year if you
get through Subashian Fandora?
Speaker 7 (45:54):
Yeah, you know, one hundred percent. That's like you live
for these top of fights. That this is what motivates
you to keep going?
Speaker 3 (46:03):
Is this tim how kind of boxing should be?
Speaker 6 (46:05):
Right?
Speaker 2 (46:06):
Like, You've been incredibly active over the last couple of
years in situations where I think a lot of fighters
wouldn't have been a lot of fighters would have sat
out waited for the exact right opportunity, whereas you, You're
just like, I'm going to face this guy, I'm going
to face that guy, whoever's next, I'm going to fight.
And I'm guessing that's probably made you a better fighter
(46:29):
over the last couple of years, because you've really, i think,
improved in the ring every single time out. Is this
level of activity been been beneficial for you in the
last couple.
Speaker 7 (46:38):
Of years, Yeah, you know what you It shows character
and fearlessness. You know, no challenges, No mountain is high,
no mountains too high, you know. So you just got
to keep challenging yourself and whatever you're given, you're given.
We're in this sport for such a short period of time,
while wasted, you know, make the most of every moment.
Speaker 2 (47:00):
I think that attitude is missing in boxing right now
that there needs to do more of that. One Well,
Tim good luck on Saturday.
Speaker 6 (47:12):
Man.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
Like I said I was, I'm always excited to watch
you fight because I think you're a great young fighter,
but I am way more excited to watch you fight
against the Bachelorvandora because I think that's gonna be a
real fight, and that's.
Speaker 3 (47:23):
Gonna be a fun fight as long as as long
as it lasts in the ring. So good luck to you, man,
and I appreciate your time.
Speaker 5 (47:29):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
That's it for this week's episode. My thanks to Lance
pug Meyer and Tim Zoo for joining the show. As always, subscribe, rate,
review this podcast on Apple, podcast, Spotify, wherever you download podcasts,
and I will be back later this week, hopefully joined
by a familiar guest, Mannick.
Speaker 3 (47:51):
I'm a man on the run and I'm not doing
your fucking podcast. We're not doing it, Bro, I'm a
man on the run, on the run.
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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