Big Dog Lukie Boxing Podcast

Troy Isley (Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp/Salita Promotions)

In this podcast, Lukie explains why the middleweight division is just fine, and possibly better than it has been in years.

Lukie talks about weight cuts, Anthony Joshua leaving Rob McCracken, Aaron McKenna and the blowback from McKenna-Oliha. Thoughts on Dina Thorslund beating Cherneka Johnson, prospects getting upset, Sean Hemphill missing weight,

Then, Film Study!

This week Lukie looks at the following:

* Duke Ragan

* Jahmal Harvey

* Troy Isley vs Joseph Hicks

* Atif Olberton vs Roamer Alexis Angulo

* Ernesto “Tito” Mercado

* Royston Barney-Smith, Joe Pigford, and Billy Pickles

In this episode, Lukie and Dakota talk about the career of Claressa Shields. Shields is, on paper, the most decorated women's boxer ever – two Olympic gold medals, multi-division undisputed champion – you name it, she has done it. Yet, in her match-up with Kaye Scott, there is still a subtle tone of indifference. Shields fought for the past couple of years at light heavyweight and heavyweight partially as a marketing ploy and partially out of a weight class she could enjoy life at. Now, she is going back down to middleweight, where she has had a ton of success, to face Scott. 

We talk about her career and what is at stake. 

On the undercard: junior welterweight Ernesto "Tito" Mercado faces Emmanuel Tagoe, women's WBC junior lightweight titleholder Caroline Veyre faces Bernice Ferreira, middleweight Troy Isley faces amateur rival Joseph Hicks, women's light heavyweight Danielle Perkins faces Olivia Curry, and Light heavyweight Atif Oberlton will be featured on the card. The sneaky good bout of the night is super middleweight  Da'Velle Smith, who will be in a "step your game up fight" against Hakim Lopez, the brother of Najee Lopez. 

Then, we recap this past week. 

The big news is that we have an IBF middleweight champion: Aaron McKenna. What does this mean for the division, and what does this mean for Zuffa Boxing? The undercard was alright, with Callum  Walsh winning an ugly fight against Tyler Denny. 

On ESPN, Dina Thorslund outclassed Cherneka Johnson to become the bantamweight undisputed champion, and probably secure her spot as a Hall of Fame boxer. In the co-main event, Tamm Thibeault defeated Desley Robinson to become a unified middleweight champion in five fights. Amanda Galle also defeated Shurretta Metcalf on the main card. 

We will also briefly touch on the regional bout that saw Callum Simpson avenge his lone career loss to Troy Williamson.

Timestamps
0:00 Intro

0:16 Claressa Shields

14:00 Tamm vs Claressa Shields

20:00 Salita undercard

25:00 Aaron McKenna 

30:00 Dina Thorslund

38:50 Callum Simpson

43:00 George Foreman 

In this podcast, Lukie gives his thoughts on the lack of excitement around boxing in the U.S. compared to Japan.

What gives?

He explores the difference between cultures, fighters, and many other things, such as activity.

It is a big topic, and one that helped him run long.

Film Study: (I will do a Gradus Kraus vs Sean Hemphill on Friday since I forgot)

* Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha

* Billy Deinz

* Sam Hickey vs. Brad Axe

* Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny

In this episode, Dakota and Lukie talk about William Zepeda's impressive win over Lamont Roach Jr to win the vacant WBC lightweight title. Also, Raymond Muratalla made his final IBF lightweight title defense. We saw Raul Curiel win a debatable and uninspired performance against Quinton Randall, and Charles Conwell stopped Paul Kroll to start the TV card. Notable on the undercard, recent Golden Boy signee 17-year-old Dylan Capetillo, the son of trainer Jorge Capetillo, was knocked out in the third round by Juan Carlos Becerril. Both hit the deck. 

Also, Fight of the Year alert: Mark Chamberlain stopped Pierce O'Leary in a great fight. 

Then, we talk about the Keyshawn Davis news. Davis went to a purse bid with WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, but appears to be going in a different direction. What is next for both?

Then, this week. 

Cherneka Johnson will face  Dina Thorslund in a main event bout on ESPN for MVP's card that features the undisputed bantamweight champion, Johnson, against the dominant Thorslund. The co-feature will see Desley Robinson, the unified women's middleweight champion, challenging Tamm Thibeault. Also, notable, Shurretta Metcalf faces Amanda Galle. 

On DAZN, Troy Williamson will rematch Callum Simpson after defeating him last year; the co-feature will see light heavyweight Gradus Kraus against Sean Hemphill.

Zuffa Boxing will have a card in Ireland. The main event will be Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha. The bout as of now is for the vacant IBF middleweight title. In the co-feature, Callum Walsh will have his toughest test to date facing Tyler Denny.

Timestamps
0:00 William Zepeda-Lamont 
10:50 Raymond Muratalla
17:42 Quinton Randall-Raul Curiel
21:30 Charles Conwell
25:30 Dylan Capetillo
29:15 Mark Chamberlain vs Pierce O’Leary 
36:10 Boxing on TV
39:00 Keyshawn Davis-Devin Haney
46:00 MVP card 
53:00 Aaron McKenna, Zuffa Boxing card
59:30 Troy Williamson-Callum Simpson 

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Five stories Lukie talks about this week:

* How good is Lamont Roach Jr?

* How much does William Zepeda have left?

* What is going on with Keyshawn Davis?

* Could Raymond Muratalla win Boxer of the Year?

* Raul Curiel missed weight…is he in trouble?

In this video, Lukie and  ⁨@ShoeShineBoxing⁩ talk about Errol Spence's loss to Tim Tszyu and how aging is undefeated in boxing. Also, Lukie shares memories of Mikey Garcia's training camp for Spence, which he was a part of. 


Be sure to support Lukie with all of his content outlets


Support Lukie at the following links
Substack: http://lukieboxing.substack.com
Podcast: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/lukieboxing
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/boxing-with-the-lukie-boxing-podcast/id525579014

Thank you Gold Print Sports & Media, hardindr, and many others for tuning into my live video with Shoe Shine Boxing! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Errol Spence (left) and Tim Tszyu. (Photo Credit: No Limit Boxing)

In this week’s Once-A-Week Podcast, Lukie goes through the career of Errol Spence Jr to decide if he is a Hall of Fame boxer. What do y’all think? Give your thoughts.

Also, Lukie reacts to Edgar Berlanga’s win over Steven Butler

Film Study:

* Steven Cairns

* Who is the best of these three: Kirra Ruston, Paulo Aukoso, and Max McIntyre

* Who is the best of these three: Alex Arthur Jr, Alex Arthur Sr, or Maclan Arthur?

* Royston Barney-Smith vs Reece Bellotti

* Pierce O'Leary

* Fabian Guzman-Aaron Coley

* Raul Curiel-Quinton Randall

* Gael Cabrera

* Dalis Kaleiopu

* Uila Mau'u

Where did our heroes go? 

This week we saw Anthony Joshua survive two knockdowns to beat Kristian Prenga, and Tim Tszyu defeat Errol Spence Jr in a sad summer pay-per-view. Spence retired after the main event, and Joshua will move into a fight with Tyson Fury, who also fought this weekend (and also looked awful). 

We talk about Stephen Fulton, the "Cool Boy," missing weight and getting his fight canceled against Liam Wilson, as cool people do. Hamzah Sheeraz looked mid against Simon Zachenhuber. Sheeraz won a vacant title, but are we starting to wonder about his potential and clear favoritism toward his career?  Also, Josh Kelly got his nose busted up, winning a 12-round decision over Caoimhin Agyarko. 

This week, we have one major card. DAZN in partnership with TNT Sports will return with a lightweight bout between Lamont Roach Jr and William Zepeda. In the co-feature,  Raymond Muratalla will make the first defense of his IBF lightweight title against Robson Conceicao. Other notable bouts include welterweight Raul Curiel versus Quinton Randall, junior middleweight Charles Conwell versus Paul Kroll, and middleweight Fabian Guzman versus Aaron Coley. Joel Iriarte and Dylan Capetillo are prospects featured on this card as well.

0:00 Intro

1:07 Josh Kelly

5:30 Hamzah Sheeraz

9:45 Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury

22:20 Tim Tszyu vs Errol Spence

34:34 Lamont Roach Jr-William Zepeda

41:00 Undercard

In this podcast, Lukie and Dakota talk about Stephen Fulton Jr missing weight again and his fight with Liam Wilson being off. Also, who has less left, Tim Tszyu, Anthony Joshua, or Errol Spence Jr? We will know on Sunday. All three will appear on pay-per-view; in total, the weekend will have two PPVs, causing the consumer to spend over $100 to watch everything.

A middleweight bout Saturday evening will pit Tszyu versus Spence, while earlier in the day, Joshua will face Kristian Prenga. We also briefly talk about Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler, and Richardson Hitchins' Zuffa debut