On episode 276 of The Neutral Corner boxing podcast, host Michael Montero talked about the USA Olympic Boxing Team, which is having its most successful medal haul in decades.

As of Tuesday, August 3, four boxers from Team USA were still in medal contention. Super heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. and women’s welterweight Oshae Jones will both fight in the semifinal round on Wednesday. Meanwhile, lightweight Keyshawn Davis will fight in the semifinals on Friday.

Duke Ragan, the first American boxer to make it to the final round at the Tokyo Games, will face Albert Batyrgaziev of Russia for the featherweight gold medal on Thursday.

REVIEW:

There were two big upsets on Saturday July 31. Leigh Wood dropped and stopped Can XU in the 12th round of their featherweight bout, which headlined a Matchroom Fight Camp card on DAZN. The Beijing, China native entered the fight as a heavy betting favorite against Wood. It was Can’s first loss since his fifth pro bout in 2014.

In Newark, New Jersey, late replacement Jonathan Rice scored a TKO5 win over Michael Coffie in a PBC on Fox show. Rice, who stepped in when original opponent Gerald Washington tested positive for COVID, appeared to be a step ahead of the previously undefeated Coffie from the opening bell. Prospects Joey Spencer and Vito Mielnicki Jr. defeated replacement opponents of their own on the undercard.

PREVIEW:

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

DiBella Entertainment, Fite TV, Triller
Madison Square Garden Theater, New York
Michael Hunter vs Mike Wilson, 10rds, heavyweights
Conor Benn vs Adrian Granados, 12rds, 147 pounds

Friday, August 6, 2021

Top Rank, ESPN+
Falls Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Michael Conlan vs TJ Doheny, 12rds, 126 pounds

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Matchroom Boxing, DAZN
Matchroom HQ Garden, Brentwood, UK
Kid Galahad vs James Dickens, vacant 126-pound title bout

TGB Promotions, PBC on Fox
Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Eimantas Stanionis vs Luis Collazo, 12rds, 147 pounds

QUOTES FROM THE CALLERS:

“That PBC card on Fox this weekend tied into exactly why the Canelo-Plant fight fell through,” said Thad. “That entire card got switched around; three or four matches had new opponents. That’s why Canelo stipulated in the contract with Plant that if PBC switched the opponent on him at the last minute, he would still get his $40M guarantee. He wasn’t going to take any chances.”

“I don’t think Al Haymon really likes boxing”, said Lars from London. “If you would’ve asked me a few years ago, I really thought PBC was going to be a good thing. But I think what he’s attempted to do is create his own ‘UFC’ in boxing. Obviously, that’s bad for the sport.”

“Mielnicki and Spence, I’m just not seeing it,” said Nacho. “It’s funny how PBC is really pushing them as their next superstars, but they’re criminally underselling Eimantas Stanionis and Jesus Ramos. They’re the same weight and age, and PBC is not giving them any kind of publicity.”

“Leigh Wood was brilliant against Xu Can,” said Chris Bergin from England. “I remember watching him getting knocked out by Gavin McDonnell (in 2014). To see Wood go from that to beating Can, it was great.”

“The whole Canelo and Plant thing, the arguments over negotiations, it’s so boring,” said Jack Alter. “A-side, B-side, C-side, it’s boring. I just want to get to the fights!”

“Al Haymon’s job is not to help the sport of boxing”, said John Herndon. “As a fan, I wish it was. But the agenda is to get fighters paid. PBC is not particularly great at building up fighters, they’re about getting fighters paid. Haymon’s job is to get the best deal for his clients. Same thing with Bob Arum and Eddie Hearn. But they’re in the business to make money.”

TIME STAMPS:
@4:45 News and Notes (USA boxing results from Tokyo)
@18:18 Fight Review (Wood TKO12 Can, Rice TKO5 Coffie)
@32:10 Fight Preview (Triller, ESPN+, DAZN, Fox cards)
@34:50 Callers

Michael Montero can be found on social media via @MonteroOnBoxing. His podcast “The Neutral Corner” can be seen every Monday on TheRingDigital YouTube channel, and heard on audio podcast platforms around the world.

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