Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

We are back with Big Dan Rafael feeling better to go over the light weekend of action and TONS of interesting news on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with Dan to go over it all.

First, they recap Friday night's Golden Boy/DAZN card in Palm Desert, Calif.
Middleweight Raul Curiel W10 Jordan Panthen. This main event was a mess to make and we explain.
 
Next, some news
Canelo Alvarez and Turki Alashikh announce he will return September 15th in Riyadh. Who's the likely opponent? How many more times do we see Canelo, etc?

Next, It’s fight week for first Zuffa Boxing and Paramount+ event and on Friday they made a major move, announcing the signing of lineal/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. That's a BIG move, but what does it mean for his next couple of fights?

Then, Vergil Ortiz has sued Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya on Thursday for breach of contract and interference with earnings in U.S. District Court in Nevada. Ortiz seeks that the court upholds his claim that his promotional agreement is terminated and he can make his own deal to fight Jaron "Boots" Ennis if he wants.

Also, an arrest warrant issued for Gervonta Davis by Miami Gardens, Florida, police related to the alleged domestic violence incident that led to him being dropped from the Jake Paul exhibition. However, no one can find him.

Next, the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia PPV main event officially announced for February 21st at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. Not official yet but Richardson Hitchins-Oscar Duarte and Gary A. Russell-Hiraoka planned for undercard in title bouts at 140 lb.

Finally, rising heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma of England injured, fight with Jermaine Franklin that was to take place this coming Saturday was postponed until March 28th. We have more.

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.!

Two exciting KOs in main events in both Germany and Brooklyn, NY headline our latest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

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

First, they recap Saturday’s Fresh Productions PPV main event from Brooklyn, New York
Dalton Smith TKO5 Subriel Matias, wins WBC junior welterweight title in a wild, short fight. The boys go over the stoppage and what does it mean short term for Smith?
 
Then, a recap of Saturday’s Queensberry DAZN fights from Oberhausen, Germany
Agit Kabayel stops Damian Knyba in three rounds for Kabayel’s WBC interim heavyweight title. Tremendous atmosphere and Kabayel delivers another KO. Now what for him? Also, earlier on the card Jadier Herrera TKO8 Ricardo Nunez, and wins the vacant WBC interim lightweight title. Big things ahead for the Cuban, Herrera?

Also, the guys have a brief recap of Tapia Promotions event on Friday night in Albuquerque, NM
Two of the late Hall of Fame three-division champion Johnny Tapia’s sons won their professional debuts, junior middleweight Johnny Tapia Jr. and super middleweight Nicco Tapia. Dan has more.
 
Then, some news
The Vergil Ortiz-Jaron Ennis disastrous negotiations are more sorted than a week of "Days of Our Lives." Dan goes over the obstacles with $$ for Oscar De La Hoya and his fighter Ortiz at the crux of it.

Next, Dana White in an interview with Stephen A. Smith announced the Zuffa Boxing main event for its first Paramount+ card on January 23. It's an underwhelming junior middleweight Callum Walsh vs. former world title challenger Carlos Ocampo  

Per Dan;s reporting, unified cruiserweight titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez will forgo a tune-up fight and go straight to the massive financial bout May 2nd with David Benavidez  

And, the IBF denies Lewis Crocker's request for an optional welterweight title fight, and they will order a Liam Paro mandatory fight instead. Dan explains.

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

We're back with our first preview show of 2026 with a heavyweight main event in Germany and a world junior welterweight title fight in Brooklyn, NY to discuss on the "BFW Preview Podcast!"

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

They begin with a Preview of the Saturday Queensberry/DAZN card from Oberhausen, Germany
Agit Kabayel vs. Damian Knyba, 12 rounds, for Kabayel’s WBC interim heavyweight title. Kabayel is little known in the U.S. but can position himself for a serious payday and possible world title fight with a win. Plus, Jadier Herrera vs. Ricardo Nunez, 12 rounds, for vacant WBC interim lightweight title. Dan hss more on Herrera's potential.

Then, they talk Saturday's Fresh Productions PPV card from Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY (yes we've not heard of them either)

Subriel Matias vs. Dalton Smith, 12 rounds, for Matias’ WBC junior welterweight title. Will the hard hitting Matias get the best of the unbeaten Brit?
 
And, some news
Dan is reporting on lineal/unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol’s and his plans to return in April following back surgery in August. Plus, whom is he looking at fighting?

Next WBA junior lightweight titlist James "Jazza" Dickens, whose defense on the Night of the Samurai card last month was canceled last minute due to opponent injury, will make his first defense against former IBF titlist Anthony Cacace on March 14 (DAZN). This fight is on St. Patrick’s Day weekend — at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, Queensberry Promotions announced the show. 

Also, Canelo Alvarez and now, Jaime Munguia have both turned positions to fight Osleys Iglesias for the vacant IBF super middleweight title. Who will Iglesias end up fightiing?

And, Tuesday’s IBF final heavyweight eliminator purse bid for the fight between Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. postponed because they are close to a deal for the fight to likely land on a February or March on a PBC PPV card. Dan has more.

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

It's a brand new year in 2026 and for the first time, our guys are back to recap the weekend action in Puerto Rico and have some fight nrews too on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

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

First a recap of the Saturday MVP DAZN bouts in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Featherweight Amanda Serrano W10 Reina Tellez, retains WBO/WBA women’s title. What's next for one of the women's all time greats? 

Plus, lightweight Stephanie Han scores tech dec after 7 rounds over Holly Holm and retains WBA women’s title. Could she be a Serrano opponent? 

And, flyweight Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez surprises with a 12 round win over Yankiel Rivera and wins vacant WBA interim title.

Also, a recap of the December 31st Shisei Promotions main event in Tokyo

Kazuto Ioka, who was making his bantamweight debut, put himself in position to win a world title in a fifth weight division when he knocked out Maikel Ordosgoitti in the fourth round of a WBA title eliminator. Dan loves him some Japanese boxing and has more!

News

Anthony Joshua injured in a car accident in Nigeria on Monday that killed two of his close friends and members of his training team, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. Joshua released from the hospital on Wednesday. Boxing is a distant priority, but does this mean Joshua might not be in the ring for a longer amount of time?

Related- To zero surprise, Tyson Fury posted on Instagram that he is coming out of the retirement. ABSOLUTE SHOCKER!  Dand and TJ discuss.

Next, Matchroom announced it has signed WBO bantamweight titlist Christian Medina and that he will make his first defense at home in Guadalajara on Feb. 6 (DAZN) vs. countryman Adrian Curiel, 26, a former IBF junior flyweight titlist.  

Due to illness, welterweight contender Paddy Donovan has withdrawn from an IBF final eliminator against former junior welterweight titlist Liam Paro scheduled for Jan. 16. No Limit said Paro would remain on the card if a suitable replacement can be found. The winner would have become the mandatory challenger for IBF titlist Lewis Crocker.  

Jake Paul is dropped from new WBA cruiserweight rankings.... that he should have never been ranked in. We have more. Also, Terence Crawford officially vacated the WBA super middleweight title, the last one, and WBA has elevated interim titlist Armando Resendiz.  

In the IBF it invited No. 1 contender Osleys Iglesias and former champion Canelo Alvarez to fight for the vacant title. Canelo not taking it as he is still sidelined after elbow surgery. Next up to accept the position will be Jamie Mungia. Stay tuned.

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

It's a great debate on what the "Fight of the Year" for 2025 should be and why? And, we're ready to have that debate on this special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcsat!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafel of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack are back to go over what they think were the best battles in the boxing ring for this year.

They discuss:

Honorable Mentions first- 

Pitbull Cruz vs. Angel Fierro in an all action battle

Brits Callum Smith-Joshua Buatsi tangle for a light heavyweight great fight

Christian Mbilli-Lester Martinez slugged it out on the Canelo-Crawford undercard

Abdullah Mason of the USA against Sam Noakes of England in a toe-to-toe slugfest

Plus, WBC junior flyweight titlist Carlos Canizales-Panya Pradabsri rematch

Then, it's a great conversation on what is the fight of 2025??

Chris Eubank Jr.- Conor Benn 1 in London or

Kenshiro Teragi - Seigo Akui battle for the unified flyweight belts

Hear the guys and their takes on these matchups and why they were so good on the "Fight Freaks Unite" podcast feed and find more great content here on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!