Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

One of the greats of the sport for the last 25 years returned and won Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. We have the full fight card review and some fight news on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael of the Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter with their insight and takes.

First a full recap of Saturday’s Canelo Promotions/Riyadh Season DAZN PPV in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Canelo Alvarez W12 Christian Mbilli, regains WBC 168 lb. title. Canelo was in command in this one and how much longer with the future hall of famer continue on?
Next, super middleweight Jaime Munguia decisions little known Nikita Zon, retains WBA title, but not without drama, as he was nearly kayoed in round six in this one. The boys discuss the trouble he was in and Munguia's future.
Also, featherweight Rafael Espinoza TKO3 Ricardo Blandon, , retains his WBO title on a nasty cut for the opponent and Japanese rising junior lightweight Reito Tsutsumi TKO2 Raymundo Rojas +
featherweight Carl Martin W10 split decision over David Picasso, too.
 
The guys also get into the brutality and the long boring parts of the DAZN  broadcast Saturday.
 
Next, some news:
Per Dan's reporting, Deontay Wilder will meet Jai Opetaia, as they have agreed for Dec. 11 Fury-Joshua undercard. Why this fight for both?
 
And, future hall of fame, former undisputed heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk, with no Wilder fight apparently now, says he is dropping down to cruiserweight and hopes to fight unbeaten David Benavidez, who has said he is open to it. What's the likelihood that this one actually happens?

Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

One of the greats of the sport, Canelo Alvarez is back and we're ready to discuss his return fight in the Middle East and the title bouts on the undercard, plus, tons of fight news too on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter to go over it all and give their takes.

They begin with the Preview of Saturday’s Canelo Promotions/Riyadh Season DAZN PPV card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:
 
Super middleweight title fight as Christian Mbilli meets Canelo for Mbilli’s WBC title. Can Canelo rebound a year after his Terence Crawford defeat to beat the young, tough Mbilli? We discuss.
On the undercard-
Super middleweight Jaime Munguia vs. Nikita Zon, for Munguia’s WBA title. This is a silly, supposedly easy fight for Munguia, but then again, he got kayoed by an unknown opponent two years ago, too,. Stay tuned. Plus,, featherweight Rafael Espinoza vs. Ricardo Blandon, for Espinoza’s WBO title and also on the show: 
Junior featherweight David Picasso vs. Carl Martin, 10 rounds
Junior lightweight Reito Tsutsumi vs. Raymundo Rojas, 10 rounds

 
Then tons of fight news
Per Bob Arum, former three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, who is coming out of retirement, is doing a new deal with Top Rank that will commence in February vs. Chrarly Saurez of the Philippines. The winner headed to a shot at O’Shaquie Foster and eventually the winner possibly for undisputed vs. the Dec. 19 Anthony Cacace-Nick Ball winner.
 
Also, Top Rank will promote the Devin Haney-Liam Paro welterweight unification fight Dec. 19 DAZN PPV at the Chase Center in Haney’s native San Francisco. Co-feature: Brian Norman vs. Abel Ramos. Dan has more.
 
Next, the WBO on Tuesday named Raymond Muratalla, who was already its No. 1 junior welterweight contender, the mandatory challenger and ordered champion Shakur Stevenson to fight him next. Will this bout happen?
 
On Wednesday, PBC hosted the kickoff presser for the Dec. 5 DAZN PPV card headlined by the David Benavidez-Michal Cieslak three-belt cruiserweight unification fight. Benavidez heavily favored to roll and look for a massive fight in May.
 
Queensberry Promotions is already making plans for WBO heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois to be back in action with Jan. 30 penciled in, as the date. He is possibly meeting top heavyweight Joseph Parker, per sources to Dan.
 
Next, awful look for super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga, who was charged with two counts of battery in a domestic violence case in Polk County, Florida.late last week and taken to jail/bonded out this week, We have the details.
 
Continuing, Jake Paul announced Thursday he will return to ring Dec. 24 in Dubai, UAE. No opponent, rounds, weight, broadcaster announced yet. First fight since last December when Anthony Joshua broke his jaw in two places in a massive KO loss. Will the public really care, especially for a fight in the middle of the afternoon USA time on Christmas Eve?
 
Next, Amanda Serrano, who has won world titles in a women’s record seven divisions and is a surefire Hall of Famer, announced her final fight before retirement. She will defend the lineal and WBO/WBA featherweight belts against Australia’s Sky Falzon in the headliner of an MVP card dubbed Jan. 9 (DAZN) in a homecoming fight at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan.
 
And, finally an update on talks for the fight between WBC welterweight titlist Ryan Garcia and WBA titleholder Teofimo Lopez with date of Feb. 6 penciled in. This fight "has legs" to happen, but is not signed, yet.

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

One of the premier promoters/personalities in the sport for six decades is a special guest on this "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast!"

Dan Rafael talks to Top Rank chairman Bob Arum about a variety of topics. Bob weighs in his card from Saturday night when O’Shaquie Foster dominated dropped Emanuel Navarrete to unify three junior lightweight titles and also lays out the plans he has in mind for him culminating in fighting for the undisputed title. Arum also discussed rising featherweight contender Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez’s big knockout on in the co-feature and plans for him as well.

Arum also talked about the deal he has made for unretiring future hall of famer Vasiliy Lomachenko to re-join Top Rank and the plans for him, including his February return and a potential shot at Foster.

Bob also plenty to say about potentially working again with WBO 140 lb. champ Shakur Stevenson, the impending order of his junior welterweight mandatory defense Top Rank’s Raymond Muratalla, and what went wrong in Shakur’s deal with Zuffa Boxing?

Plus, Arum weighs in on releasing Keyshawn Davis on his promotional deal; and he reveals that Top Rank will work with Devin Haney and promote his Dec. 19 unification fight with Liam Paro in San Francisco.

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

A hugte night for O'Shaquie Foster in Vegas, a ho-hum title defense for Dalton Smith and lots of fight news on the newest 'Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter return to go over it all.

First they recap Saturday night’s Top Rank DAZN card in San Antonio
Foster defeats Emanuel Navarrete by 12 round decision and unifies WBC/WBO/IBF titles & claims vacant lineal championship. It was a treemendou performance by Foster and opens up lots of options. This includes, Vasiliy Lomachenko, who was ringside, and said in DAZN interview he wants the winner- now Foster.
 
On the undercard featherweight Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez KO2 Edward Vazquez. Big future it would appear for Chop Chop. And, junior welterweight Frank Martin TKO7 Tarik Zaina, as the Ghost got the KO.
 
Next, they recap Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN main event in Sheffield, England
Junior welterweight Dalton Smith W12 split Alberto Puello, retains WBC title in a largely dull fight whether neither fighter consistently landed much. It definitely didn't help Smith get a mega-fight soon with Shakur Stevenson.

Then, NEWS
Canelo Alvearez-Christian Mbilli card update – Lindolfo Delgado fight is off, per Dan's sources, because as of Sunday night, he hadn't left from California for Saudi Arabia and doesn't plan to do so.

Also, there is a new challenger for WBO featherweight titlist Rafael Espinoza that Dan will explain.
 
Next, days after the fight with Shakur Stevenson died, DAZN announces Devin Haney’s contract – three months after Big Dan reported it was signed in July – with the first bout penciled in for Dec. 19. Deal for unification with IBF titlist Liam Paro is agreed to (though not yet signed)
 
Also, Top Rank has written the WBO seeking to have it order Shakur Stevenslon mandatory vs. No. 1 Raymond Muratalla who was the lightweight champ and the WBO will likely order the fight this week
 
Manny Pacquiao may face Joe Cordina on Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua undercard on Dec. 11?? What. Are. We. Doing. Here.
 
Also, the WBO strips Denzel Bentley of its middleweight title, as readies for fight for floundering Zuffa Boxing.
 
And, Bob Arum, in various interviews at Navarrete-Foster card, said Top Rank has released Keyshawn Davis from their deal that had one fight left on it. T.J. actually called this three months ago!

Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap" Podcast and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We are ready for two championship fight cards in San Antonio, TX and Sheffield, England, plus, there are some interesting developments with Canelo's planned card next weekend and a prominent name divorces Zuffa Boxing befofe he ever fights for them. It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack/Podcast for their insight and takes.

First, they preview Saturday’s Top Rank DAZN card in San Antonio
Emanuel Navarrete vs. O’Shaquie Foster, WBO/IBF/WBC junior lightweight unification. Tremendous matchup on paper. What happens in the "Alamo City?" in this one?

On the undercard, Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez vs. Edward Vazquez, 10 rounds, featherweights and 
Frank Martin vs. Tarik Zaina, 10 rounds, junior welterweights. Dan has more.
 
Next, Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN main event in Sheffield, England
Dalton Smith vs. Alberto Puello, 12 rounds, for Smith’s WBC junior welterweight title. High stakes here at 140 lb., including a potential fight with a fighter we're talking about below that's now a free agent!
 
Some news:
PBC announcement of the Dec. 5th DAZN PPV in Glendale, Arizona:

David Benavidez headlines vs. Michal Cieslak, WBO/WBA/WBC cruiserweight unification. Benavidez is a massive fan favorite in Arizona and should roll here. The co-feature has Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Keith Thurman, 12 rounds, middleweights. This is the best we can do for Vergil? And, also on the undercard, Emiliano Vargas, Marco Romero and Nikita Tszyu are all in separate fights, against opponents to be named.
 
Next, Shocker! Shakur Stevenson asked for and given his release by Zuffa Boxing three months into deal and never having fought – There is no spin, it's a VERY bad look for Zuffa. This, includes further illustrating that they haven't accomplished anything with garnering big time talent or putting promotions and organizations out of business. Now, we wonder whether they are really in trouble??
 
Speaking of trouble- we update the Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli situation for next Saturday in Riyadh, as folks involved begin making the trip, but others are not going or unsure of how to get there with the missle attacks and threats? What. Are. We. Doing. Here?! with this card going forward...
 
Also, Jaron Ennis signs 7 fight contract extension with Matchroom, which also signs Englishman Joish Kelly to an extension ahead of imminent announcement of their unification 154 lb,. fight likely first quarter of next year.
 
And, Lucas Bahdi appeals to WBA to order 135 lb. title rematch with Floyd Shofield on the basis of missed knockdowns in their title fight two weeks ago. We have more on why it likely won't go anywhere.
 
And, finally, strawweight champion Oscar Collazo's mandatory has been ordered and he plans to return to 105 after injury and cancelation of flyweight title shot earlier this month.

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