Big Fight Weekend

T.J. Rives

T.J. Rives gets you ready for every big fight in the sport of Boxing on his "Big Fight Weekend" podcast. From analysis to outstanding guest interviews, to the latest news and predictions on the biggest fights in the sport, T.J. covers it all on Big Fight Weekend.

  • 1 hour 25 minutes
    Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk Battle For Heavyweight Supremacy + Fight News And Lewis-Holyfield Nostalgia | BFW Preview Podcast
    We have reached THE weekend for the first undisputed four belt heavyweight title fight in history as unified champ Oleksandr Usyk battles WBC champ Tyson Fury in a PPV 12 round showdown in Saudi Arabia. And, we'll preview that fight, the undercard and more on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast"

    Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWekend.com to go over everything happening. They spend tons of time on the Fury-Usyk build up in the MIddle Eastern desert, as the winner will win the most significant heavyweight title bout in arguably 25 years. The brash, unbeaten Englishman looks in great shape and will that help him? The Ukranian Usyk meanwhile is a technical fighting wizard and looks to do to Fury what he did twice to former champ Anthony Joshua.

    They also discuss the co-feature of the crusierweight world title bout for the vacant IBF belt as Jai Opetaia and Mairis Breidis rematch from a tremendous battle won by Opetaia in 2022. Will history repeat fo rthe Kiwi or will the former crusierweight champ Breidis get revenge? Dan also has thoughts on the rest of the Saudi "Ring of Fire" card.

    Next, it's discussion of Mexican KO star Emanuel Navarrete moving up to fight for the vacant WBO lightweight title against unbeaten, veteran Denys Berinchyk in the Top Rank Boxing/ESPN main event Saturday night from San Diego, CA. Will Navarrete get another world title in another division ro will Berinchyk pull the upset? They give some insight and thoughts on the bout.

    There is fight news on Canelo Alvarez having an IBF 168 lb. mandatory that no one knows anything about. Will Devin Haney look to have the New York commission turn his Ryan Garcia loss into a DQ win, after Garcia's positive drug tests and other actions? And, what's the latest with Conor Benn's ongoing suspension saga with British authorities for his positive test in 2022?

    Finally, some excellent 20th anniversary nostalgia on Antonio Tarver's one punch KO of Roy Jones in 2004. A fight that basically spelled the beginning of the end of the almost untouchable Jones from then on, in his hall of fame career. 

    And, the guys further reminisce on Lennox Lewis and Evander Holfield rematching 25 years ago for all the heavyweight titles, as Fury and Usyk are about to do.

    It's all on the Big Fight Weekend Preview and make sure to follow/subscribe to this podcast feed on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, etc.!
    17 May 2024, 2:30 am
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Lomachenko Dominates Kambosos + Fight News And Felix Trinidad Nostalgia Too! | Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast
    A dominant performance by a world class fighter, an all time "screw up" by a ring announcer in a championship fight, plus, some news and always, some great nostalgia is part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

    Host T.J. Rives and Dan Rafael insider of BigFightWeekend.com are back to give their thoughts on it all.

    First, they discuss Vasiliy Lomachenko overwhelming George Kambosos for a late TKO to win the IBF world lightweight title Sunday afternoon in Australia. Dan has thoughts on what he saw in this one and how tremendous Lomachenko has been throughout his career. They also discuss if names like Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson could be next for him late in 2024?

    The guys also discuss Mexican Pedro Guevara's upset of Aussie Andrew Moloney for the WBC junior bantamweight title on the Loma undercard. How and why did Guevara get it done and do we believe Moloney will retire? Or, will these two fight again? And, they have more on the ridiculous ring announcer screw up of naming the wrong winner in the women's WBA bantamweight championship.

    There's fight news on Rafael Espinoza returning to the ring to defend the WBO featherweight title in June, Janibek Alimkhanuly now scheduled to defend his unified middleweight crowns in July and what is the WBC doing already ordering Devin Haney's next defense, when they have given Jermall Charlo and Canelo Alvarez a "pass" on not fighting their mandatories for years.

    Dan finishes with great nostalgia on Puerto Rican legend "Tito" Trinidad fighting William Joppy in an electric environment at Madison Square Garden in 2001 and a prominent Brit Ricky Hatton fighting in Boston in a controversial ending 18 years ago. Dan was ringside for both.

    Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" as part of the Big Fight Weekend Podcast feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!
    13 May 2024, 1:55 am
  • 1 hour 22 minutes
    Edgar Belanga Talks Possible Canelo Bout With Dan + Lomachenko-Kambosos Meet In Australia | BFW Preview Podcast
    We get ready for another compelling weekend of action, this time in Australia for a lightweight world title showdown and a top super middleweight contender is our guest, as well, on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast."

    Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com and we're ready to go over the previews, news, nostalgia and more.

    First, they talk Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos meeting in the Top Rank Boxing main event Sunday afternoon from Perth, Australia, for the vacant IBF lightweight title. Will the future hall of famer Loma get one of the lightweight belts he held back or will it be the Aussie redeeming hiself after Devin Haney beat him badly in two title fights there in 2022? The guys discuss.

    They also recap the thrilling KO win by arguably the best pound for pound fighter in the sport in Naoya Inoue. The Japanese star was shockingly down in round one, but rallied for yet another big KO with Mexico's Luis Nery. It's definitely a hall of fame resume already for "The Monster" and this added to it.

    Next, hear from unbeaten 168 lb. contender Edgar Berlanga, who attended the Canelo Alvarez win over Jaime Munguia last weekend in Las Vegas last Saturday ngiht. He and Dan discuss the very realistic possibility that Berlanga will get a shot next at Canelo.

    There's fight news involving the WBC finally stripping Jermall Charlo of his WBC middleweight crown after yet another arrest, this time for DUI and a high speed car chase. They've now elevated interim champ Carlos Adames to full titleholder and let's see if the talented Adames will get a title fight soon?

    There's a further update on the Ryan Garcia PED positive tests controversy, as Garcia now wants his "B Samples" tested. Dan and T.J. discuss what it all means and whether Garcia is still looking at a lengthy suspension by the NY State Athletic Commision?

    And there's nostalgia on the anniversary of a big heavyweight triple header in New York from 1996 featuring Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Tim Witherspoon in seperate bouts. Plus, it's the third anniversary of Canelo Alvarez fighting before a current indoor record in the USA of 73,000 fans as he kayoed Billy Joe Saunders in Arlington, TX at AT & T Stadium.

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

    10 May 2024, 2:52 am
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    Canelo Alvarez Schools Munguia, Complete Card Recap, News + Mayweather-De La Hoya Nostalgia | Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast
    Future hall of famer Canelo Alvarez returned Saturday night and won easily in his latest undisputed defense. We recap that fight and the entire PBC card from Vegas and more on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

    Host T.J. Rives returns with insdier Dan Rafael, still in Las Vegas?! Yes.

    Off the top, Dan explains why he didn't make it home Sunday and will "hang" in Vegas for another day or so.

    Then, there's lots of discussion on Canelo's unanimous decision win over Jaime Munguia to retain his super middleweight crowns. Canelo "took Munguia to school" with his counter punching and savy in his latest title defense. What's next for him and where does the previously unbeaten Munguia go from  here?

    Dan also goes over the undercard as both Mario Barrios and Eimintas Stanionis won their welterweight bouts for pieces, potentially, of the world title. And, will they be fighting each other coming up? Dan also has more on the Brandon Figueroa and Jesus Ramos victories on the PPV undercard too.

    Then, there's fight news on Gervonta Davis and David Benivadez being part of the presser Saturday in Las Vegas for their June PPV upcoming. Dan was there and has insight.

    Also, there's an update and another injury, this time a knee, for Artur Beterbiev that will delay the June undisputed light heavyweight title bout with fellow Russian Dmitry Bivol. Will this fight ever happen? What will Bivol do in the short term? The boys go over it.

    Then, some tremendous nostalgia on the 17th anniversary of Floyd Mayweather vs. Oscar De La Hoya battling on "Cinco De Mayo Weekend" in 2007. Dan was there for all the build up and Mayweather, as the villan, outfought Oscar for one of the biggest wins of his career.

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

    6 May 2024, 2:21 am
  • 56 minutes 52 seconds
    Canelo Returns Against Jaime Munguia, Ryan Garcia PED Positive Updates + Mayweather/Pacquiao Nostalgia | BFW Preview Podcast
    It's here- the return of Canelo. And, we're ready to analyze Alvarez's latest undisputed super middleweight title defense with fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia that is on PPV from Las Vegas. Plus, the latest on Ryan Garcia testing positive for a PED fight weekend with Devin Haney and more on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

    Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com, who is in Las Vegas for this one.

    The boys go over the "saucy" press conference where Canelo took after Munguia's promoter and hall of fame fighter Oscar De La Hoya. There is bad blood already between the two, as Alvarez divorced himself from De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions in court and at the presser, Canelo went off on Oscar and it seemed like he wanted to fight De La Hoya as much as Munguia.

    Dan got a couple of more minutes with Canelo after the Wednesday presser that you will hear and he and T.J. discuss the matchup with Muntuia and the rest of the card, featuring Mario Barrios and Brandon Figueroa, in seperate undercard bouts. 

    The guys also preview the Monday morning U.S. Time Japanese fight card, as "The Monster" Naoya Inoue returns to defend his undisputed junior featherweight titles against Luis Nery in the Tokyo Dome. Inoue is one of the top fighters in the sport, regardless of size and is expected to have another spectacular win.

    The guys then go over the disaster news that Ryan Garcia tested positive for at least one performance enhancing drug the weekend of his bout with Devin Haney. Dan broke the story with attaining the letter that VADA sent to all parties about the test and he has more insight on what happens now with Garcia? Further, does Haney actually have a shot at a DQ win being awarded?


    There's more news on the rules being set up for Jake Paul and Mike Tyson's now sanctioned July fight and what those are?

    Finally, some nostalgia on the 9th anniversary of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally meeting in Vegas. However, the battle of these hall of famers was a large letdown for reasons Dan gives.

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


    3 May 2024, 2:52 am
  • 10 minutes 19 seconds
    Canelo Alvarez Conversation With Dan Rafael Prior To Munguia Fight | Fight Freaks Unite Podcast
    Coming up Satruday night in Las Vegas, it's the return of undisputed super middleweight champion and future first ballot hall of famer, Canelo Alvarez. He will defend his titles in a PPV main event with unbeaten Mexican Jaime Munguia in an anticipated action showdown.

    As fight week gets cranked up, hear from Canelo on this battle, his future plans and more in a one on one conversation with our insider Dan Rafael. Rafael, who's covered many of Canelo's biggest fights/wins, gets some good answers like whether Alvarez will be fighting top contender David Benavidez anytime soon and if not/why not?

    It's all part of this special conversation with one of the top pound for pound fighters in the sport the last 15 years, Canelo Alvarez and it's on the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast."

    Make sure to follow/siubscribe on this Big Fight Weekend podcast feed on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, etc.!!
    30 April 2024, 2:55 pm
  • 1 hour 21 minutes
    Jose Ramirez Wins In Golden Boy Debut, Brandon Figueroa With Dan + Heavyweight Title Nostalgia | Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast
    A successful return for Jose Ramirez in his Golden Boy Promotions debut, a former world champ ready to return talks with ou insider Dan Rafael and some news and nostalgia are all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

    Host T.J. Rives is back with Dan to break everything down starting with Ramirez defeating Rances Barthelemy in his home area of Fresno, California to put himself back in the 140 lb. conversation. The guys discuss the win and what might be next for Ramirez? Also, on the undercard, it was another short, easy KO for Vergil Ortiz in the co-feature as he now sets his sights on a tremendous showdown with former 154 lb. champ Tim Tszyu coming up.

    There's fight news involving the messy dispute with former unified welterweight champ Errol Spence and his trainer Derrick James over how much James should have been paid for Spence's mega-fight loss to Terence Crawford last year? James is one of the most prominent trainers in the sport and feels he's been shorted over $2 million or more. We have the latest.

    Dan has other fight news and potential return dates for world champoions in both June and July, as well.

    The show concludes with anniversary nostalgia involving James Toney in a massive crusierweight title battle, Lennox Lewis with a Big title KO and Dan relaying what it was like to be ringside at Wembley Stadium with 90,000 fans for Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Kltischko 7 years ago?!

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

    29 April 2024, 2:12 am
  • 1 hour 18 minutes
    Canelo Alvarez Talks To Dan, Terence Crawford Back In August + Jose Ramirez Headlines For Golden Boy | BFW Preview Podcast
    We're already to the end of April and while it's a lighter weekend in boxing, we've still got much to go over on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast."

    Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com are back and ready to talk the Golden Boy main event in Fresno, CA featuring Jose Ramirez,. But, also Dan has a one on one conversation in advance of Canelo Alvarez returning to defend his undisputed super middleweight titles on May 4th against Jaime Munguia. 

    There's fight news on the coming tremendous card from the Saudi Entertainment Authority in August for L.A. featuring former undisputed welterweight champ Terence Crawford moving up to fight for the WBA 154 lb. title and a tremendous undercard with the likes of Tim Tszyu fighting Vergil Ortiz and Andy Ruiz against Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller as part of it.

    Then some great nostalgia on the anniversary of a legendary Roy Jones body shot KO, a dramatic Carl Froch come from behind title win over Jermain Taylor in the final seconds of the fight and heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko's final win of his illustrious career.

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



    26 April 2024, 2:44 am
  • 1 hour 22 minutes
    Ryan Garcia Dramatically Upsets Devin Haney, Terence Crawford Fight News And Nostalgia | Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast
    It was a wild week culminating with a wild night in the ring in Brooklyn, NY, as Ryan Garcia scored a shocking upset by decision over Devin Haney in the Golden Boy Promotions Main Event. We're ready to go over the upset, how it happened, the officiating controversey and where we go from here for both Garcia and Haney on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast."

    Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to give their thoughts and insight on the Garcia victory. And, the guys don't hold back on why Garcia won or why Haney set himself up for a loss. Plus, they also discuss the less than exciting undercard with fighters like Arnold Barboza, Bektemir Melikuziev, David Jiminez and Charles Conwell getting wins.

    Then, there's fight news on the PBC/Amazon announcement that Gervonta Davis will headline their next June PPV after the Canelo-Munguia one coming in two weeks. Plus, Terence Crawford will in fact fight Israil Madrimov in August, as Dan has the latest.

    And, there's fight nostalgia on the anniversaires of Hasim Rahman kayoing Lennox Lewis for the heavyweight title, Floyd Mayweather espcaping with a narrow decision early in his title career and also, a Canelo anniversary that is special for Dan for reasons outside of the ring, too.

    It's all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" an d make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, Google, etc.!
    22 April 2024, 3:01 am
  • 1 hour 16 minutes
    Devin Haney Meets Ryan Garcia... Or Will They? Fight News And Holyfield vs. Foreman Nostalgia Too ! | BFW Preview Podcast
    It's (on paper) an intriguing pay per view Saturday night in Brooklyn, NY, as WBC 140 lb. champ Devin Haney meets Ryan Garcia in the 12 round main event. However, there are big time issues with the social media popular Garcia leading up to this bout. We're ready to go over it all on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast."

    Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com are back to go over the promotional mess of Haney-Garcia, which isn't the champion's fault. And, will Garcia have his wits about him when we get to Saturday night or not? 

    Dan goes over the "less than desirable PPV undercard" that does have names like Arnold Barboza, "Scrappy" Ramirez, Charles Conwell and others on it, but not a lot a saucy matchups. Still, there is some time spent breaking down the fights.

    There's fight news involving the possible return of Terence Crawford to fight for the WBA 154 lb. title this summer, but wait, will Jermell Charlo emerge from inactivity, as well, to block Crawford and take his spot in the bout?

    Dan also goes over the Matchroom/Queensberry "Five vs. Five" card for June 1st, where promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren put together a series of great matchups for June 1 in Saudi Arabia. And, hey, we "can have good things, maybe," as Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano will rematch from their classic April 2021 battle at Madison Square Garden that may have been the most significant women's title battle ever.

    Finally, there's nostalgia on anniversaries of Sergio Martinez and Junior "Poison" Jones winning title bouts and also, the tremendously underrated world heavyweight title bout between Evander Holyfield and George Foreman 33 years ago in Atlantic City.

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

    19 April 2024, 2:58 am
  • 16 minutes 6 seconds
    Devin Haney Conversation With Dan Rafael | Fight Freaks Unite Podcast
    It's Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia fight week for Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY and the WBC junior welterweight titleholder was a recent guest with our insider Dan Rafael.

    Hear the former undisputed lightweight champ Haney give his breakdown of why he believes he will dominate the social media popular Garcia in this scheduled 12 round pay per view main event. And, what are his plans and goals moving forward to try to unifiy at 140 lb., etc?

    It's all part of this special conversation with Dan on the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast," and make sure to follow/subscribe to this podcast feed on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, etc.!
    17 April 2024, 2:30 pm
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