The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports

Luis Cortes' interview with world champion boxer Sebastian Fundora.

Luis Cortes' interview with Boxing Hall of Fame publicist Bill Caplan.

Check out audio from Sonny Conto's post-fight press conference. Conto defeated Jimmie Levins by first round TKO on Thursday night at Live! Casino and Hotel in South Philadelphia. He improved his record to eight wins, seven by knockout, and zero defeats.

Author John Raspanti and I discussed his writing career and passion for boxing in a recent phone interview for The Weigh-In Podcast. John is the author of two boxing books, "Intimate Warfare: The True Story of the Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward Boxing Trilogy" (with Dennis Taylor) and the recently released "Blood on my Notebook: Dispatches from the World of Professional Boxing." "Blood on my Notebook: Dispatches from the World of Professional Boxing," released on October 23, 2019, is a collection of stories and articles compiled by the author over the course of his career as a boxing writer and journalist. Both books are available on Amazon.com. You can also check out John's other work on Max Boxing.com and The Ringside Boxing Show. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

During Friday night's Joe Hand's Xcite Fight Night 6 from the Xcite Center at Parx Casino, I had the opportunity to speak with Reading's David Stevens (3-0, 2 KOs) following his first round KO victory over Tahlik Taylor (3-13-1, 1 KO). Following a highly successful amateur career, Stevens looks to find similar success as a professional in the cruiserweight and light heavyweight divisions. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

I caught up with Philadelphia's Jaron "Boots" Ennis (25-0, 23 KOs) this weekend at the Liacouras Center in North Philly. Ennis is coming off of his 25th victory, the 23rd by way of knockout, over Bakhtiyar Eyubov (14-2-1, 12 KOs) on January 10th at the Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City. Ennis and I discussed his career, and future in the welterweight division. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

I caught up with Reading's Erik Spring (13-3-2, 1 KO) to discuss his upcoming middleweight bout on Saturday, January 18th at the Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia. Spring, who is signed by Kings Promotions, will fight Joey Spencer (9-0, 7 KOs) on the undercard of the Premier Boxing Champions' card on Fox featuring a main event between Julian Williams (27-1-1, 16 KOs) and Jeison Rosario (19-1-1, 13 KOs). Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

I caught up with the "King of Kings Promotions" Marshall Kauffman to discuss his fighter Erik Spring (13-3-2, 1 KO), and his upcoming bout on Saturday, January 18th at the Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia. Spring will fight Joey Spencer (9-0, 7 KOs) on the undercard of the Premier Boxing Champions' card on Fox featuring a main event between Julian Williams (27-1-1, 16 KOs) and Jeison Rosario (19-1-1, 13 KOs). Kauffman also discussed his stable of fighters and upcoming shows in 2020. For more information on Kings Promotions and their fighters check out their official website - http://kingsboxing.com/ Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

Check out audio from yesterday's Julian "J-Rock" Williams' (27-1-1, 16 KOs) press conference at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. Williams discussed his January 18th match up against Jeison Rosario (19-1-1, 13 KOs), the Philadelphia boxing scene, and the current state of the super welterweight division, among many other topics. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

Dylan Price (10-0) (7 KO's) defeated Elias Joaquino (12-5-2) (6 KO's) by TKO in the sixth round of a scheduled eight round contest this evening in Las Vegas. Following his victory, I caught up with this 2017 Briscoe Award winner and Mayweather Promotions' prospect tonight in Las Vegas. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

I caught up Ernest Gabion, Fighter Relations for Golden Boy Promotions, at the media roundtable for welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. We discussed the prospect's career as well as today's big promoters, including GBP. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

While in Las Vegas for the big fight weekend, I caught up with strength and conditioning coach Larry Wade at Luis "King Kong" Ortiz's Media Day. Wade and I discussed Ortiz's upcoming fight with Deontay Wilder on November 23, 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

Check out my recent interview with producer, director, artist, and musician, Drew Stone! Stone is the executive producer of "Ali: Me Whee." "Ali: Me Whee" was shot in 1975 by Arny Stone and his crew in and around Ali's training camp in Deer Lake, PA and in Las Vegas. This documentary captures an incredible moment in time in Muhammad Ali’s life. At the peak of his career his love for kids and general philosophy of life shine thru with appearances by luminaries from the boxing and entertainment world. Highlights include his legendary 1975 commencement speech at Harvard University. The 25 minute documentary was beautifully shot on 16 mm film, and features appearances by Muhammad Ali, Phyllis Diller, Jerry Lewis, Angelo Dundee, B.B. King, Drew “Bundini” Brown, Jim Brown, Walter Youngblood, Lloyd Wells, and Gene Kilroy. On Tuesday, October 1, 2019, the world will have the opportunity to get an intimate look into the life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali thanks to father and son filmmakers, Arny and Drew Stone. After over 40 years Arny's son, Drew Stone, of New York based Stone films NYC, was the force behind bringing this precious artifact of boxing cinematic history back to the people. Drew painstakingly restored and reassembled the film from the original elements and has spent the last year screening it to audiences in New York, Philadelphia, Long Beach, and Atlantic City. The Stone Family want to thank and express gratitude to all the crew and personnel who worked on the film and to all independent film makers everywhere. In that spirit they feel that it’s the right time to make this documentary available to the public for streaming, free of charge, through the Stone Films NYC official YouTube page. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

Check out my recent interview with Philadelphia's own Boots Ennis (23-0, 21 KOs)! Ennis returns to the ring on October 5, 2019 against Demian Daniel Fernandez (12-1) at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Michigan. This ten round welterweight contest will be featured on the same Showtime Boxing card as ten round title fight between Claressa Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) and Ivana Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs). Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

Check out my recent interview with Academy Award winning director Arny Stone! Stone is the executive director of "Ali: Me Whee." "Ali: Me Whee" was shot in 1975 by Arny Stone and his crew in and around Ali's training camp in Deer Lake, PA and in Las Vegas. This documentary captures an incredible moment in time in Muhammad Ali’s life. At the peak of his career his love for kids and general philosophy of life shine thru with appearances by luminaries from the boxing and entertainment world. Highlights include his legendary 1975 commencement speech at Harvard University. The 25 minute documentary was beautifully shot on 16 mm film, and features appearances by Muhammad Ali, Phyllis Diller, Jerry Lewis, Angelo Dundee, B.B. King, Drew “Bundini” Brown, Jim Brown, Walter Youngblood, Lloyd Wells, and Gene Kilroy. On Tuesday, October 1, 2019, the world will have the opportunity to get an intimate look into the life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali thanks to father and son filmmakers, Arny and Drew Stone. After over 40 years Arny's son, Drew Stone, of New York based Stone films NYC, was the force behind bringing this precious artifact of boxing cinematic history back to the people. Drew painstakingly restored and reassembled the film from the original elements and has spent the last year screening it to audiences in New York, Philadelphia, Long Beach, and Atlantic City. The Stone Family want to thank and express gratitude to all the crew and personnel who worked on the film and to all independent film makers everywhere. In that spirit they feel that it’s the right time to make this documentary available to the public for streaming, free of charge, through the Stone Films NYC official YouTube page. Website - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

Check out my recent interview with Thomas "Cornflake" LaManna (27-2-1)! LaManna will step into the ring for his 31st professional fight this Saturday at the Showboat in Atlantic City. LaManna will square off against Puerto Rico's Carlos Garcia Hernandez (15-21-1) in an eight round bout in the super welterweight division.

"Hammerin Hank" Lundy (29-7-1, 14 KOs) sat down with me to discuss his upcoming all Philadelphia lightweight bout with Avery Sparrow (9-1, 3 KOs) on March 15, 2019. The fight is part of a great night of boxing presented by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. The card is headlined by a super featherweight contest between Tevin Farmer (28-4-1, 6 KOs) and Jono Carroll (16-0-1, 3 KOs) for Farmer's IBF World Super Featherweight Title. For more information on The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports please visit the following websites: Blog - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

I recently sat down with Philadelphia heavyweight Sonny Conto for an interview. Sonny, who had a highly successful amateur career, will make his professional debut on the Raging Babe "Philly Special Show" on February 8th at the 2300 Arena. The 22-year-old, who signed with Top Rank in January, is scheduled to square off against Jimmie Levins (0-4) in a four round contest. For more information on The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports please visit the following websites: Blog - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

I recently interviewed long-time boxing referee, Steve "Double S" Smoger. Steve and I discussed his career both in and out of the boxing ring. Smoger has served as a referee for over 200 world title bouts, and holds the distinction of traveling to more states and countries than any other boxing referee over the course of the sport's long history. He also served as an attorney, judge, and reserve components Air Force officer during his career. Although he is still active, Smoger has been inducted into five different boxing halls of fame including the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame (1997), the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame (2013), the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2014), the International Boxing Hall of Fame (2015), and the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame (2017). For more information on The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports please visit the following websites: Blog - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016

Check out my interview with boxing writer and historian Gene Pantalone! Gene is the author of the brand new book on fighter and war hero Lew Jenkins, From Boxing Ring to Battlefield: The Life of War Hero Lew Jenkins. Gene Pantalone is an expert on the golden age of boxing—1920 to 1950—and Madame Bey’s boxing camp, which hosted fourteen heavyweight champions and no fewer than eighty International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees. He is a contributing writer to the boxing website The Weigh-In and author of Madame Bey’s: Home to Boxing Legends. Purchase the Book on Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/Boxing-Ring-Battlefield-Life-Jenkins/dp/153811674X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535282338&sr=8-1&keywords=lew+jenkins For more information on The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports please visit the following websites: Blog - www.theweighinpodcast.com/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/theweighinpodcast/ Twitter - @TheWeighIn2016