Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

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.!

The heavyweight rematch was a quick destruction in London and the WBC Jr. Middleweight title bout in Vegas was a one-sided win, but we're ready to go over it all on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack to go over it all and give their takes.
 
First, a recap of Saturday’s Queensberry DAZN PPV main event
Heavyweight Daniel Dubois destroys with a TKO2 Fabio Wardley, in their rematch and retains the WBO title. Wardley clearly had nothing and Dubois is now an even bigger threat and about to get even wealthier at heavyweight with what happens next?
 
Next, they recap Saturday’s PBC “The Fight” card on DAZN and TNT
Junior middleweight Sebastian Fundora TKO12 Ermal Hadribeaj, retains WBC 154 – But, when is a knockout not really a "knockout" if it happens after the final bell? Dan is READY TO LAUNCH on referee Thomas Taylor's actions and verdict in stopping a fight that was already over after the ifinal bell. 
 
On the under card, super middleweight Armando Resendiz as a late replacement W10 Koen Mazoudier from Australia. probably best fight on the Vegas card. And, middleweight prospect Marco Romero KO1 Brauli Ferreira to grow the intrigue around him.
 
Then, we discuss the Brandon Figueroa--Tomoki Kameda fight being canceled. Figueroa was stripped of the WBA featherweight title for missing weight Friday and the fight got completely canceled when he later became ill from it. What now for Figueroa?
 
Next, some news:

Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson have been trading insults on social media but also in talks  to still fight for Haney's WBO welterweight crown, but alas, they have collapsed, again, if the fight was ever happening. Now, both are looking at new fights. Dan has more on that, too.
 
Matchroom Boxing announces lineup for its annual card in Monte Carlo in December.
 
A date and site are set for the vaant WBO super middleweight title bout between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Jacob Bank. Dan has the deets.
 
And, happy 68th birthday on Sunday the all-time legend Thomas "Hitman" Hearns, Hall of Famer, first to win titles in five divisions (welterweight to light heavyweight). We talk about his legendary career.

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

Coming up next weekend in San Antonio, TX, it's a very intriquing 130 lb. showdown for three of the world titles, as WBC champ O'Shaquie Foster meets two belt title holder Emanuel Navarrete in one of the best fights in the remaining weeks of 2026.

But before fight week, our insider Dan Rafael has a one on one interview with Foster about the battle with Navarrete that will also determine supremacy in the division. Plus, O'Shaquie is fantastic story, having been in jail years ago and maybe, was on the verge of never having a boxing career.

Now, he's a prominent fighter fighting in lucrative, world title bouts, just like Saturday night 10/24 and this is certainly an intriguing one.

Hear him with Dan on this "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe for more great content on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!