Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

He's one of the harder punching, action fighters in the smaller weight classes and newly crowned WBA Featherweight champ Brandon Figueroa is ready to defend coming October 17th in Las Vegas.

First, the two division world champ spends time with our insider Dan Rafael one on one before his battle with Japan's Tomoki Kameda in a 12-round co-main event of the PBC card to be shown on DAZN and TNT Sports.

Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KOs) enters the fight following one of the finest performances of his career. In February, the 29-year-old traveled to the United Kingdom and stunned the hometown crowd by stopping Nick Ball in dramatic fashion in the 12th round.Figueroa had previously defeated Joet Gonzalez last July, rebounding from a decision loss to Stephen Fulton Jr. in their February rematch that cost him his WBC 126-pound title.

The Weslaco, Texas, native has built his reputation on relentless pressure, nonstop aggression and an all-action fighting style. In 2023, he captured the interim WBC featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Mark Magsayo in a fight widely considered a potential Fight of the Year contender.

Figueroa also made history in May 2021 when he handed former two-division champion Luis Nery his first professional defeat, stopping him with a body shot in the seventh round to capture the WBC junior featherweight world title.Now trained by respected boxing coach Manny Robles, Figueroa continues to build on his family's championship legacy.

Across the ring will be a seasoned challenger with plenty of championship experience of his own. Kameda (42-5, 23 KOs), a native of Osaka, Japan, earned the nickname “El Mexicanito” after moving to Mexico as an amateur to sharpen his skills..The 35-year-old made his biggest impact on the American boxing scene in 2015, when he faced champion Jamie McDonnell in two high-profile, action-packed bouts.

Kameda pushed McDonnell in both contests but came up short on the scorecards each time.Kameda later challenged for two additional world titles and put together a five-fight winning streak before suffering a decision defeat to then-super bantamweight world champion Rey Vargas.Most recently, Kameda took on featherweight world champion Angelo Leo in May 2025, losing a close decision after winning six of his previous seven fights.

Figueroa has big plans at featherweight, but he must get it done with the tough Japnese opponent first on October 17th. 

And, you are hearing him on our "Big Fight Weekend Podcast" feed. Make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

A Two Title Fight Card in Chicago to go over and also the WBA featherweight champ joins us, as part of the latest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

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

First, they preview Saturday’s Golden Boy DAZN card in Chicago
Floyd Schofield vs. Lucas Bahdi, 12 rounds, for vacant WBA lightweight title. Both fighters can punch but neither has been active. We break it down.

In the co-feature Ricardo Sandoval vs. Sergio Mendoza, 12 rounds, for Sandoval’s WBC/WBA flyweight title. Mendoza replaces the WBO/IBF champ Oscar Collago who is injured, but will he challenge Sandoval?

And, on the undercard Jahmal Harvey vs. Pedro Castaneda, 8 rounds, lightweights and also, Jan Paul Rivera vs. Abraham Perfecto, 10 rounds, junior lightweights.
 
Then, it's Brandon Figueroa joining us, as he defends the WBA featherweight title for the first time against Tomoki Kameda on PBC’s DAZN card Oct. 17 show. He's in the co-feature of Sebastian Fundora vs. Ermal Hadribeaj headliner. Plus, he talks to Dan about the possible unification bouts at 126 lb., too.
 
Then, some news

Jermall Charlo, who has not fought for 17 months and been limited just two fights since 2021 due to legal, mental health and visa issues, will see his layoff extended yet again. He suffered an undisclosed training injury and is out of a super middleweight fight with Koen Mazoudier on PBC’s “The Fight” card Oct. 17. Now, former WBA super middleweight titlist Armando Resendiz, who was on standby and in training, will face Mazoudier.

The undercard for Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli on October 31st has been announced and wait, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?! with WBA super middleweight champ Jaime Munguia and who he wants to fight, instead of his mandatory challenger? Dan is ready to go off!
 
Also, to the surprise of probably nobody, heavyweight Derek Chisora, the British fan favorite, is ending a retirement from earlier this year. And, he is aiming for a December fight with WBA titlist Murat Gassiev. 
 
It's now official, former unified middleweight titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly and Jacob Bank have a deal for the vacant WBO super middleweight title.
 
And, per Dan's sources, Terms have been agreed to for a fight between welterweight Arnold Barboza Jr. and Oscar Duarte, the junior welterweight contender, who will move up in weight for the bout that will headline a Golden Boy card on DAZN in January.

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

It was a lighter weekend of action but Ben Whittaker did what he was supposed to and we recap his win and have lots of fight news on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter return with their takes.

First, a recap of Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN card in Birmingham, England
Light heavyweight Ben Whittaker W12 Conor Wallace, IBF final eliminator, but it got crazy for him late in the fight. Plus, Junior middleweight Odel Kamara TKO3 Thodoris Ritzakis in his pro debut. Dan likes what he saw.
 
Also, a recap of Friday night’s Matchroom/Boxlab main event in Orlando
Junior middleweight rising star Omari Jones TKO2 Alan Sanchez. Jones has huge upside right now.
 
Then, some news
More on Fury-Joshua and a new argument: Dana White says he is not only the promoter by UFC/Zuffa is producing the broadcast to which Eddie Hearn says no, that is also not allowed in their contract. They have gone back and forth in various videos. Supposedly, they will be part of a meeting in person this coming week in Los Angeles. There is some "sparring" with the boys over whether this subject is too tiresome?

Next, Lupe Valencia, Ryan Garcia’s manager, and Teofimo Lopez manager Keith Connolly met Saturday in San Diego to discuss the prospect of a possible Garcia-Lopez fight next? It seems easy to get this fight done.

Also, the International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots are out and Big Dan has updates on lots of new possible inductees to be voted on and what he thinks about some of them being on the ballot unjustifiably.
 
Next, former super middleweight titleholder Mikkel Kessler, 47, widely regarded as Denmark’s best-ever professional boxer, will end a 13-year retirement Nov. 28. What Are We Doing Here with Kessler?
 
The WBC has ordered lightweight titlist William Zepeda to next face interim titleholder and mandatory challenger Jadier Herrera. Herrera has been waiting for a full title shot at 135 lb.
 
And, Zuffa Boxing made official on Friday that it has signed WBO middleweight titlist Denzel Bentley, confirming Dan's reporting, and that he will fight Shane Mosley Jr. Nov. 7 on the Billiam Smith-Clarke undercard.
 
And, we close with some nostalgia
On Oct. 4, 1940 – 86 years ago on Sunday -- Sugar Ray Robinson , the all-time P4P No. 1, made his pro debut via 2nd-round TKO of Joe Echevarria. The guys discuss the greatness of one SRR and educate you on just how amazing his career was!

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

It's a light weekend of fights with one English main event of note, but we have lots of news, including Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua meet the media. It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast"

Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and newsletter to break it all down.

First, they preview Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN card in Birmingham, England
Unbeaten Englishman Ben Whittaker vs. Conor Wallace, 12 rounds, IBF light heavyweight eliminator. Whittaker is on the rise, but hasn't really fought anyone. We discuss this more. Plus, Odel Kamara (pro debut) meets Thodoris Ritzakis, 4 rounds, junior middleweights. He's got a big amateur background and this will begin his career.
 
Then, some news
Fury-Joshua held their presser on Wednesday in London. The guys go over:
-They discussed their long ago sparring session
-They seemed to like they liked each other
-No Dana White but Nick Khan there sitting next to Turki Alashikh in the front row.
-- And, the British Boxing Board of Control has revealed who the official promoters are and Zuffa isn’t one of them. It’s SELA, Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions.
 
FINALLY, Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli now officially has the date October 31,with the Saudi Arabia site, and  tickets formally announced this week. We have the latest

Per Dan's reporting, Denzel Bentley has signed a multi-fight contract with Zuffa Boxing and PLANS to vacate (he hasn’t yet) the WBO middleweight title. He will make his debut for the company vs. TBA Nov. 7 in London on Chris Billam-Smith- Chev Clarke card
 
Queensberry announces WBC heavyweight titlist Agit Kabayel will make first defense vs. Nelson Hysa (who pulled out, but they worked it out and he signed). Fight will be Nov. 28 in a DAZN headliner at Merkur Spiel-Arena, a stadium with a retractable roof that will seat around 60,000, in Dusseldorf, Germany. This is an interesting venue and Kabayel will have options if he wins.
 
Very interest, Turki Alashkh has sold controlling interest of The Ring magazine to DAZN. Alashikh is also having a rough time with his health as he admitted at the press conference Wednesday. So, does this indicate that the massive money from the Saudis is now starting to correct and lessen moving forward?
 
And, although there is still talk of legend Manny Pacquiao maybe returning on the Fury-Joshua card, it won’t be vs. Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson will fight some other time and there have been discussions between his team and PBC for a unification with WBA titlist Gary Antuanne Russell.

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

It's an exciting and at times, chaotic, time for British fight fans with the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua circus, etc. and we tackle it all on a new "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" 

Host T.J. Rives is back with English boxing writer and historian, David Payne, of his own site www.boxingwriter.co.uk.

The guys go all the way in on the silliness that the Fury-Joshua squabbling has produced. Will they have the planned Wednesday news conference for the proposed December 11th showdown at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales? Plus, how damaged are these guys now, as their world class championship days are clearly behind both? David has great perspective on all.

Next, the guys talk Conor Benn, off being demolished in less than two rounds by Ryan Garcia earlier this month. What will become of him in the short term? Does he really have a future at 154 or 160 lb., if a welterweight, who's barely been a welterweight, could kayo him like that? And, David talks the comparisons with his legendary, hall of fame father, Nigel Benn, too.

Finally, T.J. wants David's takes on the talented, but still not a true drawing, superstar, yet, Hamzah Sheeraz. The guys debate whether he's being very smart with his career or has mismanaged it by giving up his WBO super middleweight crown?

It's EXCELLENT perspective between the guys for what's going on with U,K. fights, fighters and storylines. 

And, it's all on this edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this podcast feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!