Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

It's an extremely light weekend in the ring, but there's plenty to discuss outside of it and we are ready to do so on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael give you all the insight.

They start with the preview of Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN main event in Las Vegas

Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller vs. Lenier Pero, WBA heavyweight eliminator. Will we see fireworks in the most significant fight of the weekend? The winner obviously moves into WBA contention, as well.

 Then, some news:

Heavyweight Lawrence Okolie, who was scheduled to face Tony Yoka in the main event of a Queensberry Promotions card on DAZN on Saturday in Yoka’s hometown of Paris, has tested positive for a banned substance and the card has been canceled. We have the latest on it all.

Then, Oscar De La Hoya, Nico Ali Walsh and Nick Khan all testified in front of a U.S. Senate committee on the Ali Revival Act on Wednesday. T.J. and Dan have thoughts on what was said at the hearing and the next steps in the movement by TKO/Zuffa Boxing to get this bill made into law later this Summer.

Also, Richardson Hitchins, who signed with Zuffa last week vacates the IBF junior welterweight title on Monday – a day before a purse bid was scheduled for his mandatory vs. Lindolfo Delgado, and the IBF on Tuesday ordered Delgado-Teofimo Lopez to meet for the vacant belt.

Then, Caoimhin Agyarko did not take the IBF junior middleweight final title eliminator against former titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev. So, Murtazaliev was ordered to face Brandon Adams and both of them told the IBF in writing they’re in and will begin negotiations.

And, WBC junior welterweight titlist Dalton Smith has signed a “long-term” contact extension with Matchroom Boxing, the company announced on Wednesday. And, we have more on his June title defense.

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

WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez moves up to cruiserweight to challenge WBO/WBA champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on May 2nd at T-Mobile Arena in the "Cinco de Mayo" main event on "PBC on Prime" PPV and DAZN PPV.

But, before we get to fight week David joins our insider Dan Rafael with more on why he's choosing to move up? Does he legitimately believe that he will be able to move back down to light heavyweight to potentiallly fight an undisputed bout with Russian Dmitry Bivol?

He's always candid and willing to answer the questions and we have more with David Benavidez on this "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" conversation. And make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It was an intriguing weekend in New York for Friday.and then, Liverpool, England on Saturday and we're ready to go over it all and we have a multi-division world champ with us as a guest all on the latest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!'

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

First, a recap of the Friday MVP/ESPN title bouts in New York
Junior lightweight Alycia Baumgardner W10 Bo Mi Re Shin, retains WBO/IBF/WBA women’s title. An expected win, now what's next for Baumgardner? Then, a shocker in the co-feature, as 
super middleweight Lani Daniels TKO9 Shadasia Green, wins WBO/IBF women’s title. Green was seriously hurt and stretchered from the ring to the ambulance and hospital. We have the latest on her.
  Next, a recap Saturday Matchroom Boxing DAZN main event in Liverpool, England
Light heavyweights Ben Whittaker KO1 Braian Suarez. This was a joke and is Whitaker going to fight someone soon?
 
Then, Dan's interview with David Benavidez 
The WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez moves up to cruiserweight to challenge WBO/WBA champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena in the Cinco de Mayo main event on PBC on Prime PPV and DAZN PPV.
 
Next, some news
Conor Benn signs a long-term deal with Zuffa Boxing coming the end of his one-fight deal to fight Regis Prograis. Will we still get the WBC welterweight title fight with Ryan Garcia or does this move complicate it?

And, three-belt junior bantamweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has re-signed with Matchroom Boxing on a long-term deal tht will begin with him moving up to bantamweight to challenge WBA titlist Antonio Vargas on June 13 on DAZN in Glendale, Arizona. We love Bam's activity and exciting style of fighting.

Next, drug cartel kingpin Daniel Kinahan, who was deeply involved in boxing thru shuttered MTK Management and wanted for years by Irish authorities and the US government, finally arrested in Dubai. We have the latest.

And, Dan remembers Hall of Famer Miguel Canto, one of the great flyweight champions of all time, who died on Thursday. He was 77.

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

It is a lighter weekend of action, but there are women's world title fights in NY and light heavyweight contender Ben Whitaker is back in action in Britain on Saturday. And, we're ready to preview it all and have a bunch of fight news on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

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

First, they preview the Friday night MVP / ESPN card in NY
Alycia Baumgardner vs. Bo Mi Re Shin, 12 rounds, for Baumgardner’s WBO/IBF/WBA women’s junior lightweight title. Baumgardner is heavily favored and looking ahead to a possible showdown with the likes of WBC lightweight champ Caroline Dubois or maybe a rematch with junior middleweight champ Mikaela Mayer.

Also, Shadasia Green vs. Lani Daniels, 10 rounds, for Green’s WBO/IBF women’s super middleweight title. Green has bigger aspirations and should win in this bout.

Then, Saturday's Matchroom Boxing DAZN main event in Liverpool, England
Ben Whittaker vs. Braian Suarez, 10 rounds, light heavyweights. Whitaker has potential, but has often been too much clowning and not enough boxing. We'll see what he does as the big favorite on this British show. 

Then, some News
Talks are going for WBC welterweight titlist Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn for Aug. 15 in Las Vegas. Garcia says it's done, but who

 Eddie Hearn told a media scrum on Tuesday that he is negotiating a two-fight deal for Anthony Joshua with Turki for a July fight and then Fury in November.  Joshua to take risk fighting someone before Fury? What are WE DOING HERE?! 

Also, T.J. has insight on why the recent news that the Saudi PIF Fund is going to stop backing the LIV Golf Tour, is pertinent as it relates to Turki Alashikh and whether his unlimited supply of money to make massive fight cards without regard to even "breaking even" will continue much longer?

Next, O’Shaquie Foster will defend the WBC junior lightweight title vs. former WBA featherweight titlist Raymond Ford at the Fertitta Center (Univiersity of Houston about 9k capacity for boxing) in Houston, Texas on May 30 on DAZN, Matchroom announced on Thursday. We talk more about the bout.

Also, Top Rank’s first DAZN event is official for May 16 at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Viriginia, with former lightweight titlist and current junior welterweight Keyshawn Davis at home in a rematch with Nahir Albright in the main event. And, former welterweight titlist Brian Norman vs. Josh Wagner in the 10-round co-feature. Dan has thoughts on both.

Then, WBC/WBA flyweight titlist Ricardo Sandoval and WBC interim titlist Galal Yafai will meet in a mandatory bout on the undercard of WBC junior welterweight titlist Dalton Smith’s mandatory versus former titlist Alberto Puello June 6 in Sheffield, England.

Next, with Brandon Adams withdrawing on the eve of last Saturday’s IBF 154 final eliminator vs. Caoimhin Agyarko due to a health issue, the IBF has ordered Agyarko vs. former titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev for the mandatory spot. Murtazaliev notified the IBF he'll participate. Agyarko has until Monday to accept a position in the fight.

And, finally, former WBO cruiserweight titlist Chris Billam-Smith has signed “a multi-fight deal” with Zuffa Boxing, the company announced this week. Obvious future opponent for Opetaia.

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

It's arguably the greatest first round, if not greatest round period, in boxing history, as April 15th, 1985 Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns unleahed three incredible minutes of pure violence on each other.

And now, we look back on the magnitude of that opening round on a special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael and these segments you'll hear are from a full/longer conversation that they had with legendary HBO Sports play by play announcer Barry Tompkins and fellow legendary analyst Al Bernstein, who did the live closed circuit broadcast that night.

While those guys were on seperate calls of the fight, they have great memories about the build up and the EPIC opening round.

Re-live the nostalgia of one of the great nights in boxing history that was summed up, spontaneously by Tomkins with "This is still the first round!" as they recount it with us!

It's part of our coverage on this podcast feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!