Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

Off his tremendous showing in the unified heavyweight fight last Saturday night with Oleksandr Usyk, former kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven made a lot of believers in him/his boxing ability in a hurry.
Although the fight ended officially with an 11th-round TKO loss to Usyk, he was arguably winning the fight headed into the final rounds.

Now, hear Verhoeven with our insider Dan Rafael in a one on one conversation about the bout, the respect he has earned and most importantly- what will be next for him?

It's all part of our "Big Fight Weekend" Podcast feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

We are back to preview fights in the month of May for the final time, as their aro title bouts in Houston and El Paso, TX and Russia to go over. Plus, the man who was winning the heavyweight title fight in Egypt last weekend (until he wasn't) joins us for a conversation on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael to give their takes and insight on all that's going on in and out of the ring.

First, they preview the Matchroom Boxing main event Saturday on DAZN in Houston
O’Shaquie Foster vs. Raymond Ford, for Foster’s WBC junior lightweight title. A compelling fight between two known Americans with the Texan Foster looking for bigger things if he defends.

Next, the RCC/Matchroom Boxing main event earlier Saturday on DAZN in Ekaterinburg, Russia on DAZN.Dmitry Bivol is back meeting mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, for Bivol’s lineal/IBF/WBA light heavyweight title. But, the WBO won't sanction the bout. We have the latest on this one.

And, also the MVP ESPN card Saturday night in El Paso, Texas, on ESPN
Stephanie Han vs. Holly Holm, rematch, for Han’s WBA women’s lightweight title. Dan wants to know "What are We DOING HERE?!" Plus, Amanda Serrano vs. Cheyenne Hanson, for Serrano’s WBO/WBA women’s featherweight title in the co-feature.

Next RICO VERHOEVEN INTERVIEW with Big Dan
Discussion of his 11th-round TKO loss challenging heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk this past Saturday at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. How and why did he do so well and does he want to keep boxing or not?
 
And, then some news
WBA orders lightweight titlist Gervonta Davis to make mandatory vs. Floyd Schofield but "Tank" has more bigger problems outside the ring with a new warrant for his arrest in Maryland related to an alleged probation violation from his hit and run plea there. He's also facing domestic violence charges in South Florida and as T.J. says, it may be jail time coming in Maryland for probation violation.

Next, it was announced: Murat Gassiev will defend the WBA “regular” heavyweight title (yawn) against Tony Yoka in the headliner of an IBA Pro card on July 11 at VTB Arena in Moscow.

Former two-time heavyweight titleholder Hasim Rahman, who is 53 and been retired since 2014, is planning a comeback: July 14 at Rochester’s ESL Ballpark. BIG- WHAT. ARE. WE DOING. HERE?! The man is 53 and was beaten and beaten and beaten in the last few years of his career.

Also, Keyshawn Davis has declined the opportunity to face fellow Top Rank fighter Lindolfo Delgado for the vacant IBF junior welterweight title, because he plans to move up to welterweight. We have more.

Plus, the results from two IBF purse bids conducted Wednesday at their convention in Vietnam for Albert Bell-Andy Cruz lightweight final eliminator and Bakhram Murtazaliev-Brandon Adams junior middleweight final eliminator are discussed briefly.

It's all part of the "BFW Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!!

A wild night in Egypt on Saturday produced an unexpected, dramatic title win for Oleksandr Usyk and our guys are ready to go over that, the undercard and much more on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafae of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletterl to go over it all 

They start with the recap of Saturday’s "Glory in Giza" Ring magazine DAZN PPV in Giza, Egypt
Oleksandr Usyk TKO11 Rico Verhoeven, and retains heavyweight titles. This was controversial and we have lots and lots of takes on how much Verhoeven pushed Usyk to the brink. This, includes- what's next for both?

In the co-feature, Hamzah Sheeraz KO2 Alem Begic, wins WBO super middleweight title.This was a joke of a fight and we need to see better opponents for Sheeraz.

Also, veteran Jack Catterall W12 Shakhram Giyasov, and wins vacant WBA “regular” welterweight title and big Cuban Frank Sanchez KO2 Richard Torrez Jr., IBF heavyweight eliminator. Massive knockout for Sanchez and what does this mean for Torrez's future fighting big heavyweights?

Also, a recap of Friday’s Golden Boy DAZN card in San Jose, California
Amari Jones KO3 Vincenzo Gualtieri, IBF middleweight eliminator. Jones looks good in a wide open middleweight division. Plus, Robin Safar W12 split Yamil Peralta, cruiserweight contender fight.
 
Then, some news

Talks going on for WBC middleweight titlist Carlos Adames to move up to super middleweight to challenge Osleys Igesias for his IBF title. We are intrigued by this one.

Junto Nakatani had surgery on his broken left orbit suffered in round 11 vs. Naoya Inoue earlier in May. What's his prognosis?

Former WBA welterweight titlist Yordenis Ugas is coming back June 6th. First fight in three years since back to back rough losses to Spence and Barrios. Dan has more.

And, plans in works for Tony Yoka to challenge Murat Gassiev for WBA regular heavyweight title July 11 in Moscow.

It's all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We're ready for a heavyweight title showdown in an unusual place, the Pyramids of Egypt, as Oleksandr Usyk is back in 2026 to defend against a kick boxing champion. We cover over the full card and lots of fight news too on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael to go over it all and give their takes and predictions.

They start with Saturday’s Ring magazine DAZN PPV card in Giza, Egypt
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, 12 rounds, for lineal/WBC heavyweight title. Will this be a joke/easy work for Usyk or does Verhoeven get lucky and make it interesting?

Also, Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic, 12 rounds, for vacant WBO super middleweight title. Sheeraz is a rising star in search of a world title and could be a future opponent for Canelo down the road.

Next, Shakhram Giyasov vs. Jack Catterall, 12 rounds, for vacant WBA “regular” welterweight title.
And, Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr., 12 rounds, IBF heavyweight eliminator. A big step up for Torrez in level of competition. 

Also, Friday night’s Golden Boy DAZN card in San Jose, California 
Rising Amari Jones vs. Vincenzo Gualtieri, 12 rounds, IBF middleweight eliminator. Dan has big expectations for Jones in this one.

Next, some news
During Ryan Garcia’s appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" on Monday, he announced he is fighting Conor Benn on Sept. 12 in Las Vegas. It may be happening, but we doubt that date and same time as the Canelo PPV in Saudi Arabia.

Next, Dan is reporting that Zuffa Boxing is planning its first American card outside of Las Vegas for July 26in NY, where Edgar Berlanga, Richardson Hitchins & Sergey Derevyanchenko will all be on the card.  

Also, William Zepeda and Lamont Roach Jr., who have had a deal in place for weeks, will meet for the vacant WBC lightweight title in the headliner of a Golden Boy card on August 1, probably at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The card will also be an edition of “The Fight” series and simulcast from DAZN on TNT in the U.S.  

MVP Promotions has banned Claressa Shields from all its future events after she got into a physical altercation with MVP fighter Alycia Baumgardner during the MVP-promoted MMA card topped by Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano on Saturday nightt. Can't we all get along?

And, finally, a few words on the death at age 81 of significant manager Dennis Rappaport, who co-managed Gerry Cooney to the heavyweight title shot vs. Holmes in their mega fight and managed Oleg Maskaev to the WBC heavyweight title in 2008. Dan dealt with this character of the sport in the 2000s and remembers him fondly.

It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcat" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

We had a busy weekend of main events in Norfolk, VA, Doncaster, England and even Germany, and we're ready to go over the action and some fight news on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter to give insight and analysis.

They start with the Saturday night Top Rank/DAZN main event in Norfolk, Virginia
First Top Rank event of its DAZN deal, Bob Arum, age 94, back at ringside after knee replacement surgery that had kept him from traveling for months.
Junior welterweight Keyshawn Davis wins the main event in 12 over Nahir Albright, but does something stupid, again, during the fight, this time. Will he learn? Will it continue to cost the talented fighter in the future?

Also, Welterweight Brian Norman scored a TKO2 over Josh Wagner with a brain dead referee trying to adminsiter the count and then not stopping the fight, when he should have. What. Are. We. Doing Here?
Then, the Saturday Queensberry DAZN main event in Doncaster, England
Heavyweight Filip Hrgovic scores a lopsided TKO3 over veteran Dave Allen, who needs to retire. Hrgovic is apparently next for Moses Itauama. The guys have the latest.

And, back on Friday main event, on DAZN in Mannheim, Germany-
Welterweight Paddy Donovan decisions Karen Chukhadzhian for an IBF final eliminator. Will Donovan get another fight with Lewis Crocker? We go over it all.
 

NEWS
Canelo Alvarez vs. and newly elevated, WBC super middleweight titlist Christian Mbilli officially announced for September in Saudi Arabia. The guys wonder if Canelo has agreed to fight early Sunday a.m. again, there or not?

Also, former WBO heavyweight titlist Fabio Wardley has exercized his contractual right to an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois, so, they will meet again later this year.  

The WBA and IBF have finally weighed in on the status of their belts for the Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven fight on Saturday May 23rd at the Pyramids in Giza Egypt. Get ready to be confused.

Junior welterweight contender Oscar Duarte will be sidelined until late this year due to a severe laceration he suffered behind his ear in a split decision over Angel Fierro on May 2 so he has passed on fighting Lindlfo Delgado for the vacant IBF junior welterweight title. Dan has more.

And, another change to the Matchroom main event on June 6: WBC interim flyweight titlist Galal Yafai is injured and out of a mandatory fight with WBC/WBA titleholder Ricardo Sandoval.

It's all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscibe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!