It was a devastating performance for Mexican star Emanuel Navarrete to become unified champ, plus, we've got the IBF cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia with us and more on the latest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast."

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

First, they recap Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN card from Glendale, Arizona
Navarrete dominated and scored a TKO11 over Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez and unifies WBO/IBF 130 lb. titles. It was a great showing, but why did the referee and ring doctor, etc. not stop it quicker? Plus, what's out there for the new unified champ?

And, on the undercard, Emiliano Vargas TKO9 Agustin Quintana, junior welterweights and upset as Abel Ramos W10 split decision over prospect Tahmir Smalls at welterweight
 

Next, Jai Opetaia joins Dan, as next Sunday March 8th he defends the lineal, and supposedly the IBF cruiserweight title against Brandon Glanton in the main event of the Zuffa Boxing card at the Apex in Las Vegas on Paramount+. Hear Opetaia on why he's signed with Zuffa and what he expects in this one and beyond?

Then, NEWS
Lineal/unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will fight Rico Verhoeven, a former longtime kickboxing heavyweight champion and regarded as one of the greatest kickboxers ever, in the main event of a Ring magazine card on May 23 (DAZN PPV) outdoors to the exotic backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt. On Sunday, the WBC announced it will sanction it as a title fight. WBA and IBF have both told me they have not been contacted about the bout.

Ryan Garcia healing from a sprained right hand in his win over Mario Barrios but said on social media he will be back this summer and wants to fight Devin Haney in a rematch/unification fight.

Discussions for a fight between Edgar Berlanga and Chris Eubank Jr. possibly at super middleweight. Both need a win.
The exodus of talent continues in drips from Top Rank as former WBO featherweight titlist and two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez announced Friday that his contract with Top Rank has expired and that he is a free agent.

And, Queensberry Promotions is headed to France as its international expansion continues in April with a DAZN card in Paris headlined by French heavyweight Tony Yoka vs. former cruserweight champ, Lawrence Okolie and junior middleweight up-and-comer Bakary Samake vs. Ermal Hadribeaj in the co-feature.  

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 a potential exciting junior lightweight battle in Arizona for unification as the most prominent fight of the weekend and some very interesting fight news, too on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

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

Preview Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN card in Glendale, Arizona

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Eduardo Nunez, WBO/IBF junior lightweight unification. Both guys can really punch and also get hit. We have thoughts on the battle. Plus,
Tahmir Smalls vs. Abel Ramos, 10 rounds, welterweights
Emiliano Vargas vs. Agustin Quintana, 10 rounds, junior welterweights  

News 
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch announced Monday for Sept. 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas and on Netflix in a bout that counts on the recrods. Both are in their late 40's and it's 11 years after they fought. What ARE WE DOING HERE?!

Conor Benn’s one-fight, $15 million fight with Zuffa/Turki Alashikh will be against Regis Prograis in a 10-rounder at 150 pounds on the Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov card it was announced on Thursday. Will make him by far the highest paid undercard fight of all time.  

Jake Paul announced he had to have a second surgery on the broken jaw he suffered in the sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua on Dec.19. Will we see him again in 2026?

Katie Taylor, one of the greatest female boxers of all time, announced she will have a farewell fight later this year in Dublin. We have more.

Claressa Shields shutout over Franchon Crews Dezurn on Sunday night to retain the women’s undisputed heavyweight title  in their rematch. Huge crowd of about 18,000 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.  

WBO/IBF middleweight titleholder Janibek Alimkhanuly was suspended by the WBO for a year – but allowed to keep the title -- and by the Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation for six months. This is related to testing positive for the banned substance Meldonium days before he was scheduled to face WBA titlist Erislandy Lara in a three-belt unification fight on Dec. 6. The IBF has yet to rule. He gets to keep the belts?!  Again, WHAT are we doing here?! 

Also, WBC middleweight titlist Carlos Adames will make his third defense in a rescheduled bout against Austin “Ammo” Williams in the main event of a quickly scheduled Matchroom Boxing card on March 21 (DAZN) at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.  

And, finally, the IBF on Monday ordered junior welterweight titlist Richardson Hitchins to next make his mandatory defense against Lindolfo Delgado. This comes days after Hitchins’ optional against Oscar Duarte was canceled when Hitchins became ill and was vomiting after breakfast on the morning of the fight. We explain why Duarte isn't getting the title fight, for now.

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 SWERVE in the boxing promotional world as the new start up, Zuffa Boxing, in the U.S. has snatched away British prominent fighter Conor Benn from U.K. based Matchroom Boxing.

We had a spirited discussion on this weekend's "Fight Freaks Unite Recap," as host T.J. Rives particularly is criticizing the terms of the signing by Zuffa and how it hypocritically contradicts their supposed "revolutionizing" boxing promotions with their own system, fighter pay model and ignoring the boxing organizations.

Insider Dan Rafael provides his counter points, but also agrees and is questioning how Zuffa can justify the apparent ridiculous money that Benn is getting for a "one off" fight with them?

Benn is off his career best win defeating Chris Eubank Jr. in their rematch last November. And what about how he left Matchroom, whom had stood by him, including financially, during his PED suspension?

Enjoy this portion of the Pod and a reminder to hear the whole show, just click the previous podcast on this feed. And, make sure to follow/subscribe for all the content here on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

A Tremendous performance by Ryan Garcia leads the weekend and we talk about his long awaited world title win on Saturday night in Vegas, plus the rest of the PPV card, a win for Leigh Wood in his all British showdown and some very intriguing fight news too on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

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

The start with the Ring mag DAZN PPV card Saturday night in Las Vegas ,as Ryan Garcia dominated Mario Barrios over 12 and wins the WBC welterweight crown. It was a great performance by "King Ry" and we dissect why.

Next the Richardson Hitchins IBF 140 lb. defense with Oscar Duarte was canceled Saturday late morning in Vegas. Dan has the latest on what happened and why the conspiracy theorists should PIPE DOWN.

Also, Gary Antuanne Russell W12 over Andy Hiraoka, and keeps the WBA junior welterweight crown

Frank Martin had a draw with Nahir Albright in a junior welterweight clash.

Bektemir Melikuziev deeats Sena Agbeko,and keeps WBA "Continental" super middleweight crown

Plus Amari Jones and Mohammed Alakel get KOs, but American heayweight Joshua Edwards struggled over six rounds with his opponent, Brandon Colantonio.

Next the Matchroom Boxing DAZN main event Saturday in Nottingham, England

Leigh Wood won an easy 12 rounder for the most part with Josh Warrington, in their junor lightweight rematch. Could it have been both of their final fights?

Next, some NEWS
Hall of famer Floyd Mayweather, who turns 49 on Tuesday, announces he will exit retirement for an official fight later this summer after his spring exhibition with Mike Tyson slated for Afrrica.... WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!

Next, in something of shocker, British welterweight star Conor Benn has signed with Zuffa Boxing, they announced on Friday. Per Dan's sources it is one-fight deal worth a staggering $15 million to fight by the end of May.  There are lots of takes, including T.J. pointing out that Zuffa is not raally revolutionizing anything... they're just like all the other promotions competing for fighters and willing to overpay to do it.

And finally unified cruiserweight titleholder Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and David Benavidez, the WBC light heavyweight titleholder moving up in weight, met he media on Saturday morning in Las Vegas to officially announce their May 2 PBC on Prime Video PPV fight, which will take place T-Mobile Arena.
Dan has some thoughts on the kickoff presser.

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

It's an intriguing weekend of fights and we're ready to go over it all from Las Vegas to England and back to Detroit on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

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


First, Saturday’s Ring magazine DAZN PPV at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia, 12 rounds, for Barrios’ WBC welterweight title, There are more questions than answers about both of these guys, but mainly for Garcia in this one. What kind of fighter is he still? We're about to find out.

The co feature is Richardson Hitchins vs. Oscar Duarte, 12 rounds, for Hitchins’ IBF junior welterweight title and Gary Antuanne Russell meets Andy Hiraoka, 12 rounds, for Russell’s WBA junior welterweight title. We have takes and could these two meet in a unification bout?

Dan also has quick insight on:

Frank Martin vs. Nahir Albright, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Sena Agbeko, 10 rounds, super middleweights
Amari Jones vs. Luis Arias, 10 rounds, middleweights
Joshua Edwards vs. Brandon Colantonio, 6 rounds, heavyweights
Mohammed Alakel vs. David Calabro, 6 rounds, junior lightweights

Then, it's Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN main event in Nottingham, England
Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington, rematch, 12 rounds, junior lightweights. This will have an atmosphere and let's see if the fight lives up to the build up. Wood won easily the first time.
 
And, also, Sunday’s Salita Promotions DAZN main event in Detroit
Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn, rematch, 10 rounds, for Shields’ women’s undisputed heavyweight title. She's arguably the top women's fighter of this generation, but she doesn't punch that hard and has had very little challenges recently. This bout is a rematch and let's see if Shields is dominant again.
 
Next, some news

Golden Boy and Team Vergil Ortiz are set for Friday hearing in Las Vegas on their lawsuit battles and the temporary restraining order that GB got to stop Ortiz, for now, from negotiating without him. We have more on the situation. Meanwhile, Golden Boy announces March 14 "one-off" card with DAZN at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California-

Arnold Barboza Jr. will move up to welterweight and face Kenneth Sims Jr.in the main event
Also: WBO/WBA strawweight champion Oscar Collazo defends vs. Jesus Haro but not the three-belt unification originally planned vs. WBC titlist Melvin Jerusalem
Plus, women’s undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora vs. WBA interim titlist Viviana Ruiz Corredor  

Next, the announcement that Manny Pacquiao, age 47, will face former junior welterweight titlist Ruslan Provodnikov in a 10-round welterweight exhibition bout on April 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Industry Media and Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions announced on Tuesday night.  Ready? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!

And, Queensberry Promotions had the official announcement that WBO heavyweight titleholder Fabio Wardley will make his first defense against British countryman and former IBF titlist Daniel Dubois on May 9 at Co-Op Live in Manchester, England.
It's all on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.! 

Coming up Saturday night February 21st in Las Vegas, WBC welterweight champ Mario Barrios returns in a pay per view main event against Ryan Garcia. However, before we get to fight week Barrios spent time with our insider Dan Rafael discussing several subjects.

These include his draw last Summer with hall of famer Manny Pacquiao, the feud that Garcia has created with Barrios' trainer Joe Goossen, who was briefly trained by Goossen and what's the future of the welterweight division?

Barrios has been in the ring with the likes of Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Keith Thurman, as well as the legend Pacquiao, and now he headlines with the social media star Garcia in a massive financial and career moment, again.

Hear him in his own words with Dan, as fight week gets cranked up in Vegas.

It's all part our of coverage here on the Big Fight Weekend Podcast feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Coming up Saturday night in Las Vegas, IBF junior welterweight champ Richardson Hitchins will face Oscar Duarte at T-Mobile Arena on the undercard of the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia PPV.

The bout will be the second IBF defense for Hitchins and before he makes it, he spent some time with our insider Dan Rafael. They discuss the battle with the veteran Duarte and the future for the New Yorker at 140 lb. should he be victorious?

Hear it here on our podcast feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's a light weekend in the ring, but there is a heavyweight main event of note, plus, a world champ who's about to defend joins us one on one. All on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

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

First, a preview of the Zuffa Boxing Paramount+ card on Sunday at Apex in Las Vegas
Efe Ajagba vs. Charles Martin, 10 rounds, heavyweights. What do either of these guys have at this stage with both having recent losses and having been relatively inactive?
 

Next, Dan talks with Mario Barrios, as he defends the WBC welterweight title vs. Ryan Garcia in the main event of the Ring magazine DAZN PPV card on Feb. 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
 
And, some news
Errol Spence vs. Tim Tszyu in works for June in Australia? Spence out of a near three year hiatius. Is he really coming back? We discuss.

Next- Announced Thursday: Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Mahkmudov will take place at Tottrernham Hotspur Stadium in London for Aprill 11.

Also,Osleys Iglesias, a heavy-hitting Cuban southpaw, and Russia’s Pavel Silyagin will fight for the vacant IBF super middleweight title April 9 in Montreal in the Eye of the Tiger main event.

Baltimore circuit court judge Althea Handy has recalled the arrest warrant issued for Gervonta Davis and instead, at the request of his lawyer, instead issue a summons to appear and order GPS monitoring. Will Davis comply and show up, though? And, his legal troubles are still in progress thre and in South Florida on domestic violence charges.

And, a little chit chat on Xander Zayas and Emiliano Vargas being part of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show Sunday night!

And, a happy birthday shoutout to legendary HBO broadcaster Larry Merchant for turning an amazing 95 years old!

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

We are back off a weekend with world title fights in Mexico and England, including a dramatic KO in the final round for a former champ, who's a champ, again. We have that and fight news, including a hall of famer filing suit for what he says are hundreds of millions owed. It's all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack And Newsletter

First we talk Saturday’s Queensberry/DAZN main event in Liverpool
Featherweight Brandon Figueroa scores a dramatic TKO12 over Nick Ball and wins the WBA title. The guys discuss the huge final round, the silliness of Ball's corner and supporters after the fight in the ring and what are the options for Figueroa, now?
 
Then, they talk Friday’s Matchroom/BXSTARS/DAZN main event in Guadalajara, Mexico
Bantamweight Christian Medina wins convincingly over Adrian Curiel by decision, retains WBO title.
 
Next some News
Flloyd Mayweather sues Showtime, Stephen Espinoza for $340 million and punitive damages late last week saying he's owed for mega-fights with Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor. Dan has the lawsuit and particulars and the boys discuss.

Talks under way for Fabio Wardley to defend WBO heavyweight title vs. Daniel Dubois. Dan thinks it's compelling... TJ, not so much.

Two-time featherweight title challenger Michael Conlan, the popular two-time Irish Olympian aiming to land another shot, will fight Kevin Walsh in a Belfast, Northern Ireland, hometown bout on March 20 (DAZN) at SSE Arena on an MF Pro card.

And, MVP set for first UK card with four women’s world title fights with Caroline Dubois-Terri Harper headlining in a lightweight unification bout. We discuss.

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

We're back to go over two separate world title main events in both Mexico and England, plus, LOTS of fight news, too on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

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

Previews
Matchroom/BXSTARS card Friday night on DAZN in Guadalajara, Mexico
Christian Medina vs. Adrian Curiel, for Medina’s WBO bantamweight title. Should be a highly competitve world title fight.
Queensberry card Saturday on DAZN in Liverpool, England
Nick Ball vs. Brandon Figueroa, for Ball’s WBA featherweight title. This fight has the makings of an entertaining, brawling battle.
 
News
WBC strips Shakur Stevenson of lightweight belt in an apparent sanctioning fee dispute like with Crawford. We HAVE TAKES! 

Baltimore judge in Gervonta Davis hit and run case issues warrant for his arrest due violating probation terms related the domestic violence case in Miami Gardens, Florida. Will he be doing time again in Baltimore.
 
Bakhram Murtazaliev, who lost the IBF junior middleweight title by majority decision to Josh Kelly last Saturday, has formally asked the IBF to order an immediate rematch. What kind of chance does he have?

Lineal/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who became the first current champion to sign with upstart Zuffa Boxing last month and whose first fight with the company was announced for March 8 (Paramount+) at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, will face Brandon Glanton, per source to Dan.

Mandatory challenger Liam Paro will have the Australian home advantage when he challenges IBF welterweight titlist Lewis Crocker after his promoter, No Limit Boxing, beat Matchoom Boxing in a purse bid on Tuesday. Dan has the details on how it happened.

With Diego Pacheco pulling out of talks with Hamzah Sheeraz for the vacant WBO super middleweight title, Sheeraz will fight Alem Begic (29-0-1, 23 KOs), 38, of Germany, whose record is glittering but whose resume is devoid of a single notable foe. The fight hasn’t been announced yet but, per Dan sources, it will take place May 9 in Manchester, England.  

Nostalgia
First-ever HBO “Boxing After Dark” card at the Forum in Inglewood, California, where Marco Antonio Barrera TKO12 Kennedy McKinney in a spectacular war – Feb. 3, 1996 – 30 years ago on Tuesday. 

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

It was an action packed weekend of big time main event fights in the USA and the U.K. and we're ready to go over it all and have some fight news 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 on the fights and implications for the winners.

First, they go over the Ring 6 DAZN PPV card on Saturday night in New York ]
Shakur Stevenson dominates over 12 Teofimo Lopez and wins lineal/WBO 140 lb. title. A tremendous boxing exhibition and what's next for Shakur?

Also, Keyshawn Davis TKO12 Jamaine Ortiz, 12 rounds, junior welterweights. A bounceback night that the talented Davis needed.

Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington KO9 Carlos Castro and wins vacant WBC featherweight crown. Big night for Shu Shu.

Plus,
Jarrell Miller "loses his lid" in a W10 over Kingsley Ibeh in a heavyweight fight.
Austin “Ammo” Williams defeats Wendy Toussaint by decision.
Kevin Castillo W8  over Saudi prospect Ziyad Almayouf junior welterweights.

Then, the Top Rank card Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Xander Zayas W12 split decision over Abass Baraou and unifies WBO/WBA 154 lb. tiles. Huge night for Zayas and what's next?

Also, Matchroom Boxing main event on DAZN on Saturday in Newcastle, England
Josh Kelly W12 in an upset over Bakhram Murtazaliev, and wins the IBF 154  lb. What a moment for the Brit and what's next? Is it the name Jaron Ennis?

Finally, some news
Deontay Wilder-Derek Chisora is official for April 4th at The 02 in London  

BWAA and Ring magazine 2025 awards announced and we discuss

Nonito Donaire to fight on in WBA bantamweight eliminator on a big show in Japan March 15th. Why is he continuing?

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