Josh Popper Not On This Card, Larry Carries On

He’s Josh Popper, he’s not ‘the boyfriend of Madonna’ to me, Larry Goldberg insists, as we discuss what his Thursday, March 7 show in dreary old Manhattan at Sony Hall will look like, versus what it could have looked like.

So yeah, the VGFO of Madonna will not be showing his wider identity to the world Thursday night.

Popper is not medically cleared to fight, Larry explains, “out of an abundance of caution” on the part of the NY STATE Athletic Commission, Goldberg says.

Popper told fans the news on his social

The youngish sage is choosing rightfully to steer clear about medical specifics of someone else, though but of course that’s a large part and parcel of being a “promoter” of this fare. He’s not about to burn any bridge that doesn’t demand torching in his second year in the pond.

Josh Popper, current boyfriend of Madonna, was to debut as a pro on this card

But no Popper, no problem, is Larry’s POV two nights before the show, which won’t be topped the the Josue Vargas ring return, against NY area fixture Yurik Mamedov, which Larry said was a made fight, to the point he had posters ordered.

Then Mamedov got offered a bout for more money, and he skipped out, Goldberg tells me.

The manager side of him admits it was the right play from a certain vantage point… but it’s clear he’s not loving Mamedov much at this juncture.

“Josues’ fight would have broke the Internet, but he pulled out, and Vargas gave short list of acceptable foes,” Goldberg continued.

Madonna Boyfriend Josh Popper Off Card, Goldberg Says Show Goes On

The “right” option of money and opponent didn’t coalesce. And Popper, who Larry defends as a truly solid athlete—he trains white collars at an an NYC gym—will maybe be on a future show, because his medical matter is on track to be smoothed.

“Josh Popper has been in Ringmasters, he’s real,” the Atlantic City native said, “and I was never going to mention Madonna, she wasn’t going to come to the event.” He then swung to the now, because the show did go on, besides the snafus which bedeviled.

NOTE: Editor a Madonna admirer, so you know. Promoter Goldberg insists Popper is no poser, he’ll be a proper pugilist if he so chooses

“Right now, six solid matches, we’re not gonna break the Internet, but this is a good club card,” Goldberg said.

Ariel Lopez (20-1-1) the featherweight is in a WBC title fight against Gregorio Lebron (24-6) from the Dominican Republic.

Heather Hardy made this match, Larry shared, raving about her facility for that craft.

Larry likes the ladies match, pitting 7-0 Brooklyner Chiara “Speedy” Dituri against a better-than-record-indicates Jaica Pavilus (3-6, from Harlem). “I made both A and B side,” he shared. “It’s a real 50-50 I think, it has rematch written all over it. It’s a real New York City fight!”

Emmet Brennan, a rising Irish prospect who boxed light heavyweight at 2020 Olympics, is 2-0.

Good lookin kid will be moving quick, he’s 32.

He will battle 11-10 Devaun Lee, and is this an upset special which would delight Thomas Hauser? “Potentially,” says Larry.

Brennan, age 32, is with ex pug Darren Barker in the managerial realm, for the record.

Along those lines, Goldberg has high praise for local manager Keith Sullivan, who is building a ground-up stable. His hopefuls include
Pryce Taylor, who will fight Thursday.

He was to have fought on the BI December card but a foe failed a portion of the medical exam.

Goldberg went out to dinner with Taylor after the December show and was impressed with Taylor. “He has a great manager, Keith Sullivan,” he stated.

Heavyweight with skills and a personality, put him on your watch list

Others on the card:

Jason Castanon from Brooklyn meets Luis Rivera-Reyes, from the fighting city of Caguas, Puerto Rico. They are both 0-0.

Castano has lots of fans from the Sweatbox community, so he should be in a friendly atmosphere, until the Everlasts start flying.

The Kijanti Davis (1-2) versus Beni Beguy (0-1) looks on paper to be a “Russell Peltz-er,” with any luck.

You could argue Goldberg “deserves” some love from the universe, as he admits he’ll lose some dough on this event, because of all the mishegoss. “I could’ve cancelled but that would have hurt more,” said Goldberg.

He then whistled.

“Just got a bill for an MRI for a B side, $470. Hey, it is what it is. The show is going up stream free on BoxingInsider.com, again, this is a really good club show!”