Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

We're back off an entertaining weekend of action, as the WBC middleweight crown was on the line in Orlando, FL, an interim super middleweight title fight in California and was it the end for a featherweight big name contender in Ireland? We go over it all on the latest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

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

First, a recap of Saturday’s Matchroom DAZN card in Orlando, Florida
Middleweight Carlos Adames dominates Austin "Ammo" Williams over 12 rounds and retains the WBC title, Now, what's next?

Also on the card, junior middleweight Omari Jones was impressive in a decision over Christian Gomez and Heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana KOs Curtis Harper with one shot. Dan has more on both.

Then, a recap of Saturday’s ProBoxTV card in San Bernardino, California
Super middleweight Lester Martinez wins easily too over 12 rounds over Immanuwel Aleem, andwins the "vacant" interim WBC 168 lb. Now, do we get a rematch with Christian Mbilli?

Plus, Dan's No. 7 prospect, featherweight Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez smashes Brandon Chambers in the first. BIG future for Chop Chop.

And, a recap of Friday’s MF Pro main event on DAZN in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Featherweight Kevin Walsh of Massachuesetts gets a controversial split over home country favorite Michael Conlan, And, Conlan announces retirement after fight.
 
Then, Some news
Negotiations are going on for WBO/WBA junior middleweight titleholder Xander Zayas to defend against WBA interim titlist Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a fight targeted for June now that Vergil Ortiz-Ennis talks are dead for now. We like this.... if it happens.
 
There are reports that Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN will announce a new contract in the coming days. Oscar is hinting at it and what does this mean for the DAZN subscription price rising, too?

Dan is reporting on plans for new WBC welterweight titlist Ryan Garcia make his first defense headlining a Ring magazine card in mid-July.  Dan has more on Garcia's hand injury.

And, light heavyweight up-and-comer Ben Whittaker, the flashy 2020 British Olympic silver medalist many tab for surefire stardom, will be back for his second fight with Matchroom on the undercard of WBO interim light heavyweight titlist Callum Smith’s first defense against David Morrell on April 18 (DAZN) at M&S Bank Arena in Smith’s hometown of Liverpool, England.

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

We are back for a weekend that has compelling title fights in Orlando and California and we have lots of fight news to go over, too, 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 a preview of the Saturday Matchroom DAZN card in Orlando, Florida
Carlos Adames vs. Austin Williams, 12 rounds, for Adames’ WBC middleweight title. Adames had problems making weight two months ago to postpone this one. And, "Ammo" Williams can fight. We have some analysis.

Also, former Olympian Omari Jones vs. Christian Gomez, 8 rounds, junior middleweights. And massive Teremoana Teremoana vs. Curtis Harper, 8 rounds, heavyweights. We have more on those two bouts.

Then, a preview of Saturday's ProBoxTV main event in San Bernardino, California
Lester Martinez vs. Immanuwel Aleem, for vacant WBC interim super middleweight title. Martinez is an action fighter looking to move up in the status in 168 lb. ranks.

Some News 
Top Rank back in business. Press conference was on Wednesday at New York’s Madison Square Garden to announce their multi-year deal with DAZN. We have more on some of the specifics and does it mean that another prominent promotion, Golden Boy, is now out in the cold with DAZN?

Next, WBC junior welterweight titlist Dalton Smith and former titleholder and mandatory challenger Alberto Puello two weeks after their mandatory was ordered have a deal. Paperwork being finalized for June 6th in a Matchroom Boxing headlined in Smith’s hometown of Sheffield, England. Dan has more.

With Frank Sanchez-Richard Torrez Jr. IBF heavyweight eliminator postponed, PBC made some changes to the Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view card on March 28: New co-feature is a junior middleweight fight between former interim titleholders Yoenis Tellez and Brian Mendoza.
-- Middleweight bout between Yoenli Hernandez Terrell Gausha intact --
New PPV opener: 10-round heavyweight fight between promising Gurgen Hovhannisyan and Cesar Navarro
-- Super middleweight fight between Elijah Garcia and Kevin Newman II was the opener but now will be the final bout of the free prelims on Prime Video.

Also, PBC officially announces David Benavidez-Zurdo Ramirez PPV undercard on May 2: 
WBA super mddleweight titlist Armando Reséndiz defends vs. Jaime Munguía 
Junior welterweight Oscar Duarte vs. Angel Fierro 
Junior middleweight Isaac Lucero vs. Alan Sandoval  

And, back to Top Rank, which has promoted heavyweight Jared Anderson for his entire career, is in talks with Queensberry Promotions about a co-promotional deal, that could start with his appearance the Wardley-Dubois card May 9th. Dan has more on why this move and they discuss is Anderson still motivated to be a a great fighter or not?

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

Coming up Saturday night March 28th in Las Vegas, former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman will challenge WBC junior middleweight champ Sebastian Fundora in an intriguing "PBC on Prime" PPV main event.

But before we get to that fight week, hear "One Time" with our insider Dan Rafael in a one on one conversation.

Can Thurman recapture his championship form of the 2010's despite a series of long layoffs that have him having fought only twice since 2019? His only career loss is to future hall of famer Manny Pacquiao and he did demonstrate somethig by going to Australia and getting a KO of Brock Jarvis.

Also, what about the imposing height and reach of the champion Fundora in this matchup?

Thurman always has something to say on any and all subjects, and he doesn't disappoint here on this special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast." And, make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We ready for an action packed weekend of championship action from Ireland to Southern California on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael return for their insight and takes.

First, they preview the Golden Boy DAZN card Saturday night in Anaheim, California
Welterweight Arnold Barboza meets Kenneth Sims in a 12 round contender main event. Both are looking to stay in contention in the division.

Also, WBO/WBA strawweight champion Oscar Collazo defends against Jesus Haro. Welterweight Alexis Rocha looks to get back on the winning track vs. veteran Jo Jo Diaz, and  undisputed women’s flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora meets her mandatory challenger Viviana Ruiz Corredor.
 
Then, a preview of the Queensberry DAZN main event on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland
James "Jazza" Dickens battles former world champ. Anthony Cacace, 12 rounds, for Dickens’ WBA junior lightweight title. This will be a rockiing atmosphere for two hard hitting 130 lb. fighters.
 
Some news

Jai Opetaia team has sent legal letters to various industry folks demanding records preservation ahead of a possible lawsuit against the IBF by he and Zuffa Boxing claiming “that the IBF's abrupt decision to withdraw was the product of coordinated, industry-wide collusion designed to punish him for working with Zuffa and to deter other athletes from doing the same.”

Big Dan was texted the letter from a numbe he did not know and I know at least one other boxing writer it was also sent to. It's CRAZY and he has more! 

Per sources, negotiations are ongoing for a fight between former lightweight titlist Gervonta Davis and WBC interim junior welterweight titlist Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz to meet in a rematch that would headline a PBC on Prime PPV this summer while Davis’ court case winds it way through the Florida legal system. The boys discuss.

Dan is also reporting, lineal and unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert have a  deal. The purse bid scheduled for this past Tuesday was cancdeled and the fight is supposed to be added to the Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven Ring magazine undercard on May 23 outdoors at the Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt.

Bivol's manager Vadim Kornilov also told Dan about Bivol’s “hit list” for his next three fights.  

Heavyweight contender Frank Sanchez is dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired knee, which forced him on Wednesday to postpone his IBF title eliminator against Richard Torrez Jr. on the March 28 Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman PBC on Prime Video PPV. Sources told me plans are to reschedule it for May 30 on the undercard of the soon-to-be-finalized Devin Haney-Rolando Romero welterweight unification fight in Brooklyn.  

The IBF on Tuesday stripped Janibek Alimkhanuly of its middleweight world title but not specifically due to the failed VADA test but because by the time returns from a year suspension he will not have been able to fulfill his mandatory defense, which is due on or before July 4.  

Tim Tszyu will take a warm-up fight before an expected summer bout with Errol Spence. He will fight Denis Nurja in a 10-rounder at 157 pounds in Wollongong, Australia. PBC announced Wednesday the card will be stream on Prime Video in the U.S. on April 4 at 9 p.m. (April 5 morning in Australia). Card also includes Australia’s Sam Goodman in a hometown fight against Rodrigo Ruiz in an IBF junior featherweight title eliminator.  

And, Zuffa Boxing 05 card is set for April 5 at Apex in Las Vegas. Main event announced during Opetaia-Glanton card: Andres Cortes will move up to lightweight and fight Eridson Garcia. Also, not announced yet but per Dan's reporting, in the co-feature, former WBC featherweight titlist Mark Magsayo will face former WBA junior lightweight title challenger Feargal McCrory in a 10-rounder as both also move up to lightweight.

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

Off of a controversial wekend in Vegas, where it ended up that Jai Opetaia of Australia was NOT the IBF champiion any longer for fighting the Zuffa Boxing main event, we're ready to recap his victory in the ring, have some other fight news and more on the 'Fight Freaks Unite Recap" Podcast!

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter have their insight on it all.

They begin with the background of the IBF stripping Opetaia just before the bout in Las Vegas with American Brandon Glanton- a fight that the Aussie won easily over 12 rounds. It was still for the Ring Magazine version of the crusierweight crown and  for Opetaia’s lineal cruiserweight title, but Dan wants to konw- WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!

The guys have thoughts, including the ramifications for Opetaia down the road, etc.

Also, there's a recap of former WBA featherweight titlist Mauricio Lara scoring a TKO2 over Mexican countryman Rafael Rosas on Saturday night in the main event of the Boxstrs/Chiquita Boxing card that headlined the ESPN "Knock Out" telecast.  

Then, some news:

WBO welterweight titleholder Devin Haney and WBA titlist Rolando Romero are negotiating a unification fight targeted for May 30 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The bout would be PBC on Prime Video PPV and Dan has also latest.

Next, undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue will defend his crown against three-division titleholder Junto Nakatani in the long-expected and highly anticipated showdown on May 2nd at the Tokyodome in Tokyo, Ohashi Promotions announced at a news conference on Friday in Tokyo. This is a tremendous all Japanese matchup that we are looking forward to for May.

We have more on Friday’s announcement of the Most Valuable Promotions/ESPN deal that is long term for women's boxing to regularly be part of ESPN's linear channel and their other platforms over a multi-year deal. Alycia Baumgardner headlines the first U.S. show in April.

The WBC has ordered junior welterweight titlist Dalton Smith to make his first defense against mandatory challenger and former titleholder Alberto Puello. A purse bid on April 3rd will happen, if no deal is reached before then.

And, Mario Barrios announced that he will move up to junior middleweight in the wake of losing the WBC welterweight title by near-shutout decision to Ryan Garcia last month.

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