Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

Coming up Saturday night in Brooklyn, NY, it's the DAZN pay per view showdown for the unfiied junior middleweight titles as unbeatens Xander Zayas and Jaron "Boots' Ennis square off in one of the biggest fights of 2026.

And, before that action takes place the DAZN lead analyst and former junor middleweight champ himself, Sergio Mora, joins host T.J. Rives in a preview conversation!

First, the guys talk two massively talented fighters that Mora has called recent fights for in Shakur Stevenson and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez. Sergio gives the breakdown on what they do well and their respective futures, including Bam perhaps fighting Naoya "The Monster" Inoue in what would be one of the biggest smaller weight fights in this decade?

Then, the talk turns to Saturday night and what Mora thinks of the matchup and in particular, the challenge that Zayas faces stepping up in compettion with a great fighter in Ennis. Also, what is like to be in the big arenas at the big moments calling these fights on the broadcast?

Sergio also has more on working with play by play man Todd Grisham and analyst/interviewer Chris Mannix, as well.

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

We are back off a lighter weekend in the ring to talk about the chaotic opponent situation for Oscar Collazo's planned strawweight title fight in California and plenty of fight news, too, on the latest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns iwth insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and newletter have their insight and takes.

First, they recap Saturday’s Golden Boy DAZN main event in Oceanside, California
Collazo TKO2 over late replacement, Neider Valdez in what turned out to be flyweight non-title fight. We have more on the whole mess with an opponent and what's next for him? Dan also has more briefly on the undercard fights, too.

Next, a recap Saturday’s Queensberry DAZN main event in Southampton, England
Junior lightweight Ryan Garner W12 Michael Magnesi, wins vacant WBC interim title in a very competitive bout. Dan gives his thoughts.
 
Then, some news

The nastiness of Oscar De La Hoya/Golden Boy's feud with unbeaten contender Vergil Oritz over his contract status may be worked out before the scheduled arbitration for mid July. We have more on the situation and can Ortiz finally get back in the ring?

Next, Floyd Mayweather faces two felonies for writing a bad check for $200,000 for a watch in Las Vegas as well as lawsuit from CSI, which has his rights for the Tyson exhibition and Pacquiao rematch, because he took a $4.5 million advance and they say he has breached the contract; they have filed indistrict court in NY to stop his exhibition vs. Mike Zambidis in Athens, Greece, scheduled for this coming Saturday.

It's a Done deal, presser on Monday -- heavyweight Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic will meet August 29 (DAZN PPV or DAZN Ultimate) at The O2 in London. Hrgovic signed the deal on Friday.

Also, PBC announces Spence-Tszyu Prime Video PPV undercard (July 25 in U.S. prime time, Sunday July 26 in Sydney, Australia). It’s US vs Australia -- Jermall Charlo, for his first fight in 14 months and third fight since 2021, will face Koen Mazoudier in a 10-round super middleweight fight. Stephen Fulton vs. Liam Wilson in a 12-round junior lightweight fight. 2024 Australian Olympian and middleweight prospect Callum Peters vs. TBA in a 10-rounder The WBA CLAIMS in a statement that it will reduce titles as it had once done AND announced the elimination of the bridgerweight division.

Talks going on for a three-belt cruiserweight unification bout between WBA/WBO champ David Benavidez and WBC titleholder Noel Mikaelian. How realistic is this for later in the year?

And, the Egyptian Professional Boxing Association denied Rico Verhoeven’s appeal of his controversial 11th-round stoppage by lineal/unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on May 23 at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt.

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

We are back with a recap of the big win by Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez to caputre a world title, we have plenty of fight news and we have a titlle for the NY Knicks in Pro Basketball and the host is headed on a vacation! We cover it all 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 their insight and takes on it all.

Dan MUST talk first about his Knicks finally, finally, after 53 years winning the NBA title Saturday night in San Antonio. Has he gotten memorabilla already? Will he be at the parade on Thursday through Manhattan? It's all discussed.

T.J. cares only slightly, as he lives in Florida and is headed on a CRUISE with his family after this show!

So we are ready to get to it!

First, a recap of the Sataurday night Matchroom Boxing main event at Glendale, Arizona
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez KO6 Antonio Vargas and wins WBA bantamweight title. Bam is rolling and is one of the best in the sport. Now, will he get the mega-fight with Naoya Inoue next or not? The guys go over everything.
 
Then, some news
Announcement during the Saturday Matchroom card that super middleweight Diego Pacheco will headline against Immanuwel Aleem on July 26 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Andy Cruz vs. Albert Bell IBF lightweight eliminator in the co-feature.  

No is done yet, but PBC is working to make WBA junior welterweight titlist Gary Antuanne Russell to make his second defense against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (the WBC interim titlist) in late August or September.  

Heavyweight Moses Itauma’s summer date has been moved to Aug. 29 in London but the hunt is still on for an opponent as Filip Hrgovic has turned down the fight for August. T.J. wonders on all levels WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE with Itauma, who needs rounds and credibility not fighting more regularly.

Next, talks are going on for a mandatory fight between WBA lightweight titlist Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Floyd Schofield. How realistic is this for either of them.

Opponents set for Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins on Zuffa Boxing’s NYC debut card July 26 at Madison Square Garden Theater. Berlanga will take on two-time middleweight title challenger Steven Butler and Hitchins, moving up to welterweight, will face Ricardo Salas. Dan has more on the matchups.

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

One of the top pound for pound fighters in the sport is back and we're ready to discuss his title challenge and go over a bunch of fight news, as well on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and newsletter are back with all of their insight and takes.

First, a preview of the Saturday night’s Matchroom DAZN main event at Glendale, Ariz.
Antonio Vargas vs. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, 12 rounds, for Vargas’ WBA bantamweight title. Bam is looking for another world title in a 3rd division with sights set on Naoya "the Monster" Inoue. But, can he get back the talented champ Vargas, who is admittedly never been in with a fighter like Bam? The boys debate it all.
 
Then, some news
International Boxing Hall of Fame inductions are on Sunday in Verona, NY, 12 person class in five categories led by modern men: Gennadiy Golovkin, Nigel Benn and Antonio Tarver. Dan has much more on the HOF and the weekend and those being honored. 
Next, Golden Boy Promottions and Oscar De La Hoya sent Zuffa Boxing and parent company TKO a "cease and desist letter" related to the making of the proposed Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn massive bout, because they have not been included in the talks for the Sept. 12 fight, And, they claim Garcia is contractually bound to DAZN and cant fight on Paramount+ or Netflix, where they may do the fight. Not a surprising mess, once again, for Zuffa.

And, then, MVP Promotions announces that WBC/WBA women’s junior middleweight titleholder Mikaela Mayer and WBO titlist Chantelle Cameron, two of the best and most well-known female boxers, will meet to unify their titles on Aug. 29 (ESPN+ in U.S., Sky Sports in U.K.) at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, England. A tremendous matchup on paper.

Then, British promoter Boxxer has secured a deal with DAZN beginning August 8 at First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, England with British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Troy Williamson defending in a rematch with Callum Simpson.  

Almost comically, iVB Boxing has canceled a July 11 event at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, where they bragged they would challenge the all-time attendance record 135,132 for Tony Zale-Billy Pryor, a free card in Milwaukee in 1941. NO SHOCK!!!! Dan has more.

And, Floyd Mayweather, at 49, who is mired in deep financial problems, will go through with a boxing exhibition he announced in early March against retired Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis on June 27 at Telekom Center in Athens, Greece. The six-round exhibition will headline the “Battle of Legends” event on DAZN PPV, it was announced on Wednesday.

Hear it all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Coming up Saturday night in Arizona, unified 115 lb. champ Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez steps up to challenge Antonio Vargas for the WBA world bantamweight title.

It would be the San Antonio, TX native Bam's third world title win in a third different weight division and he also has his sights set on a much, much, bigger name in Naoya "The Monster" Inoue. 

Hear one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world discuss it all with our insider Dan Rafael in this one on one interview.

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