Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

It was A "world title" fight in the middleweight division in Ireland, not THE title, but we're ready to go over what happened there and there's fight news and some Roy Jones nostalgia later, too on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael return to go over it all. 

First a recap of Saturday’s Zuffa Boxing 10 in Dublin, Ireland

Aaron McKenna W12 Etinosa Oliha, wins vacant IBF middleweight title. This fight, being kind, lacked a lot, but we go over the win and the ramifications. Plus, a discussion on the "World Middleweight Championship" being portrayed on the broadcast.

Also on the card, Callum Walsh W10 Tyler Denny, middleweights. Walsh wins a snoozer and Dan is less than enthused by his future.  
Also, Saturday’s Boxxer card on DAZN in Leedsa, England

Callum Simpson W12 Troy Williamson, rematch, regains British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles
 
NEWS

Daniel Dubois-Fabio Wardley rematch penciled in for October 17th Co-op Live in Manchester, England, same site as the first epic battle. It's arguably the 2026 Fight of Year and we discuss the planned seqel.

Conor Benn says fight with Ryan Garcia on September 12th will be his last at welterweight and then will look to biggest fights from 154 to 168 lb.

Liam Paro seemingly pricing himself out of Devin Haney unification at welterweight, so now, Haney in talks with Jack Catterall for October. Is this to pressure Paro or for real?

Former welterweight titlist Kell Brook says he plans to end his retirement to return at middleweight or super middleweight. Been retired since stopping Amir Khan in their long-awaited welterweight fight in February 2022. T.J. believes this is sad and the boys debate.

Nostalgia

August 7, 1997 — 29 years ago on Friday – Roy Jones KO1 Montell Griffin their immediate rematch to regain the WBC light heavyweight title in perhaps the greatest performances of his legendary career. The boys discuss the legend of Roy and T.J. has a "Fish Story" to tell about Jones and a golf
tournament. 

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 on a lighter weekend of action with a vacant middleweight world title fight in Ireland and a current world champion joins us to preview his upcoming title bout later in the month. It's all on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Previvew Podcast!"

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

First, they preview the Zuffa Boxing Card on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland (Paramount+)

Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha, 12 rounds, for vacant IBF middleweight title. Who are these guys and what has happened to our famed middleweight division that this is a title bout?

In the co-feature Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny, 10 rounds, middleweights. Can Walsh take step towards a title fight, himself?

Then, it's Rolly Romero with Dan, as he makes his first WBA welterweight title defense vs. good friend Teofimo Lopez on Aug. 22 on DAZN and Prime Video PPV at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas  
Then, fight news

The heavyweight clash between rising British star Moses Itauma and top contender Filip Hrgovic took on greater stakes Tuesday when it was upgraded to be for the vacant IBF world title. They are scheduled August 29 on DAZN PPV at The O2 Arena in London. Frank Sanchez took a step-aside deal and IBF signed off.

Former WBO heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker has had his provisional suspension lifted by the British Boxing Board of Control and can return to the ring following positive cocaine test after a dramatic and controversial 11th-round knockout loss to Fabio Wardley in London that cost him the WBO interim belt and a due mandatory shot at then-undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Dan's reporting: It is probable that Jaime Munguia, who easily outpointed Armando Resendiz to win the WBA super middleweight title in May, will make his first defense against an opponent to be determined on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s challenge of WBC super middleweight titlist Christian Mbilli on the Oct. 31 “Mexico vs. the World” DAZN PPV card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

WBC interim junior welterweight titlist Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz will defend against Nestor Bravo in the Mexico-Puerto Rico main event of the first non-pay-per-view card of PBC’s new deal with DAZN on Sept. 19 at  Pechanga Arena in San Diego. In the co-feature, WBC interim middleweight titlist Jesus Ramos Jr. will face mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov.

Lineal cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will make his ninth defense against Noel Mikaelian on September12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Zuffa Boxing announced on Tuesday. The bout will serve as the co-feature on the card headlined by WBC welterweight titleholder Ryan Garcia’s first defense against Conor Benn but Mikaelian likely will be stripped of the WBC title and faces a  lawsuit from Don King.

And, more Dan reporting: one of the Golden Boy fights in the works for that same Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn undercard on September 12 would pit former unified junior welterweight titlist Jose Ramirez and Alexis Rocha in welterweight bout.

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

It was a lightweight championship doubleheader weekend in Las Vegas, there was.a wild Queensbery main event in Ireland and we have fight news, too, on the latestt "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast."

Host T.J. Rives and Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Recap Substack and Newslettter are back to give their insight on it all.

First, they recap Saturday’s Golden Boy “The Fight” card on DAZN, TNT, truTV in Las Vegas

Lightweight William Zepeda W12 Lamont Roach and wins the vacant WBC title. Great performance by Zepeda and what does it mean at 135 lb. for him.
Also, lightweight Raymond Muratalla W12 Robson Conceicao, retains IBF title. He wasn't tremendous and now wants to vacate and move up to 140 lb.

Also, on the undercard, welterweight Raul Curiel W10 majority Quinton Randall (Curiel had missed weight)with one card as a draw and another as a 10-0 SHUTOUT?! We have more on - What. Are. We. Doing. Here?!

Plus, Junior middleweight Charles Conwell TKO9 Paul Kroll . What is Conwell's future?

Recap Queensberry DAZN main event in Dublin, Ireland

Junior welterweight Mark Chamberlain TKO10 Pierce O’Leary – TERRIFIC FIGHT and the boys go into more detail.

News

Keyshawn Davis declines to abide by Top Rank’s winning purse bid and won’t fight WBO welterweight titlist Devin Haney. What is he doing with his career at this point? T.J. thinks Top Rank should delete him. What will they do?

Next, the WBA has stripped injured Rene Santiago of its junior flyweight title and re-classified him as its champion in recess. Dan disagrees with this. Also, the WBA finally orders the purse for the vacant lightweight title after stripping Gervonta Davis. August 11th bid scheduled for Floyd Schofield vs. Lucas Bahdi.

Lightweight contender Andy Cruz, who plans to drop down to junior lightweight, has become a promotional free agent with the recent expiration of his contract with Matchroom Boxing.

And, non-boxing sports media is now raising questions about Zuffa Boxing and their contradictory plans and floundering Paramount+ audience, etc. The guys discuss.

And, we finish with Nostalgia

August  2, 1980 – 46 years ago on Sunday – Thomas Hearns, age 21, KO2 fellow Hall of Famer Pipino Cuevas in devastating fashion to win the WBA welterweight title, the first of his any titles in 5 divisions (147 to 175). The guys have more on that fight and Hearns' lethal right hand.

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.!

The former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and one of the most menacing fighters ever is with us on a special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast!"

"Iron Mike" Tyson joins our insider Dan Rafael in a one on one conversation to go over several things.

First, it's the first time Big Dan had chance to catch up with Tyson since late 2024, when he was about to re-enter the ring in an actual fight with Jake Paul. He ended up losing a decision that night in Texas in his first action in some 20 years. 

Now, they discuss his serious involvement in amateur boxing and a new series of events he's part of and what his amateur career meant to his pro development? Tyson has happy memories of his early pro days, and gives thoughts on having come back to fight Jake Paul. Plus, what about his upcoming exhibition with Floyd Mayweather, his views on the current state of the heavyweight division, and more.

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

We are back and ready for a lightweight championship doubleheader in Las Vegas and a legend joins us for a conversation, as well, on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and newsletter to go over it all.

First, they preview Saturday's DAZN/TNT/truTV “The Fight” card at Virgin Hotels, LV

Lamont Roach Jr. vs. William Zepeda, 12 rounds, for vacant WBC lightweight title. This one should be highly entertaining for a coveted world title belt.
 
Then,, Raymond Muratalla vs. Robson Conceicao, 12 rounds, for Muratalla’s IBF lightweight title. will Muratalla step up in this one? Plus, Raul Curiel vs. Quinton Randall, 10 rounds, welterweights and Charles Conwell vs. Paul Kroll, 10 rounds, junior middleweights.

Then, former undisputed heavyweight champ and hall of famer MIKE TYSON joins the show!

He and Big Dan go over his new amateur boxing initiative and also will this crazy exhibition with Floyd Mayweather ever happen and more!

Then, some news

Top Rank Boxing wins the Devin Haney-Keyshawn Davis WBO purse bid held on Thursday. How bad did Davis screw himself out of money and will this fight actually happen? We discuss

Terms are agreed to for planned November DAZN PPV topped by David Benavidez vs Noel Mikaelin three-belt cruiser unification fight. Dan has the latest.

Next, PBC announces three-fight PPV undercard for August 22 Romero-Teofimo Lopez main event.: Yoenli Hernandez vs. Francisco Daniel Veron, 10 rounds, middleweights
Victor Santillan vs. Gary Antonio Russell, 12 rounds, for Santillan’s WBA interim junior featherweight titleCarlos Utria vs. Israel Mercado, 10 rounds, junior welterweights

Xander Zayas passes on his contractual right for an immediate rematch with Boots Ennis for the unified junior middleweight titles.

Anc, ProBox has September 11 card announces solid card: junior middleweight Giovani Santillan vs. former WBA titlist Abass Baraou in his first fight since the split decision loss to Xander Zayas in their January unification fight. Also, former IBF featherweight titlist Luis Alberto Lopez faces Mexican countryman Daniel Lugo. 

Plus, IBF featherweight titlist Angelo Leo will make his second defense against an opponent to be determined on Oct. 9 (ProBoxTV). First fight since he slated to defend on May 9 in College Park, Georgia, but the fight was canceled after the weigh-in because mandatory challenger Ra’eese Aleem badly missed weight.

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