It's the newest editoin of our shows, but still, no fight to recap. However, host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter are still here with much to discuss.

First, they preview the Friday morning US time main event from Tokyo on ESPN+ -- Naoya Inoue vs. Ye Joon Kim, for Inoue’s undisputed junior featherweight title. Is there any real shot for the Korean and what's looming for Inoue?
 
Then, some fight news:

What's the latest on Canelo-Crawford and is this close to a reality. Most importantly is the "when" on the timeline?

On the plans for the May Devin Haney/Ryan Garcia doubeleheader before their rematch this Fall – Haney could face Jose Ramirez. Dan's been told it’s being worked on. And, then, Garcia put on social and Dan has confirmed that he would face Isaac "Pitbull Cruz, if Pitbull wins on Feb. 1 PPV card in Vegas. 

Dan goes over the BWAA 2024 awards ballots afer their virtual meeting this past weekend.

Next, the long discussed fight between WBC/WBO junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora and former welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. is dead, at least for Fundora’s next fight. Dan has the latest on why?

And, while there has been much discussion about lineal/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and WBO/WBA titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez squaring off in a unification fight, which both sides want, the WBA has ordered Zurdo’s mandatory vs. former titlist Yuniel Dorticos, which probably will be next.

We finish with Nostalgia: 


Jan. 18, 1997 – 28 years ago on Saturday – Oscar De La Hoya dominated unbeaten Miguel Angel Gonzalez to retain WBC 140 lb. crown in his only defense of that belt and would kick off a mega year where he went 5-0 that year!

And, Jan. 19, 2008 — 17 years ago on Sunday – Roy Jones W12 Felix Trinidad at 170 pounds, sends Tito into permanent retirement. Good fight. Dan was ringside for these legends meeting at the end of their careers.

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

It's latest edition of the show, where again, there is not a significant main event fight in the world this weekend. So, host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael go right to the news and some nostalgia, even though it's the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast."

They begin with former two time heavyweight champ Tyson Fury saying he's retired, again. Does anyone actually believe him? The guys go over it.

Lots of news with TURKI ALALSHIKH and the Saudis looking to roll out some fights in the Spring and also fund proposed bouts, too.

They have closed the long awaited Chris Eubank Jr.-Conor Benn middleweight fight and It’s signed for April 26 in London, per Dan's reporting. And, he also reveals that it’s a two-fight deal. 

Turki also has brought Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia rematch to being nearly done. The fighters will forgive and forget Garcia's controversies/failed drug tests from their match last April and have agreed to warmup fights in May and then, have their rematch October to open Riyadh Season festival. Dan reports that Haney's lawsuit is in process of being dropped, and drug testing getting ironed out.

Turki also said in interview with U.K. TalkSport says he wants to still make Anthony Joshua- Deontay Wilder if there’s no Fury-Joshua. “I want to see Joshua and Wilder now. If Tyson is not available, why not Joshua and Wilder?” Is there anyone who really cares at this point about these two fighting?

And, junior welterweight contender Oscar Duarte will face former two-time titlist Regis Prograis in a 12-rounder that headlines Golden Boy DAZN card on Feb.15 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

As for the Nostalgia

Jan. 16, 1999 – 26 years ago on Thursday – Mike Tyson returns from 18 months out of the ring after biting off a hunk of Evander Holyfield ear and scores a one-punch fifth-round KO of Francois Botha after losing basically every round  

Jan. 17, 2015 – 10 years ago on Friday – Deontay Wilder goes the distance for the first time, but easily outpoints Bermane Stiverne in his biggest test to that point to win the WBC heavyweight title. Dan recollects from being ringside at MGM Grand in Vegas.

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

It's a brand new edition of our recap show with only one significant fight card world wide. So, that leaves our host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael with more time to discuss news and some excellent boxing and even, 80s U.S. Primetime TV drama debate! It's all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

They begin with the brief Recap of Boxxer card from Sheffield, England, where super middleweight Callum Simpson scored a dubious TKO over Steed Woodall in the second round and retains British/Commonwealth 168 lb. titles. T.J. takes the lead on the referee with a reference to another premature stoppage in a prominent fight in London last Fall.
Also, lightweight Caroline Dubois got a technical draw at the start of the 3rd round against an already battered Jessica Camara. Dubois retains  WBC women’s crown, but there's debate on should this one have been an actual stoppage on the badly swollen eye from punches that had nothing to do with the cut on the other eye.
 
For fight news:
Sam Goodman is again cut in same spot over his eye and out of the January 24 Nayoa Inoue undisputed 122 lb. fight. Inoue will instead defend the undisputed junior featherweight title vs. late sub Ye Joon Kim of South Korea. We have more on him.

Dan is reporting that the target date for WBC/WBO junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora vs. former three-belt unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. is March 29 at MGM Grand. T.J. wonders.... well.... you know!

With Teofimo Lopez inactive, no fight scheduled, as he turned down several fights from Top Rank, the WBO has upgraded Jack Catterall-Arnold Barboza Jr. final junior welterweight eliminator to the vacant interim title bout on Feb.15th.

And, the IBF welterweight titlist Jaron “Boots” Ennis and WBA counterpart Eimantas Stanionis are in talks for a unification fight. Per WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, Stanionis mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov has agreed to step aside.

Finally some nostalgia: 

January 14, 2017 – 8 years ago this Tuesday – James DeGale and Badou Jack fight to a majority draw in an epic super middleweight unification fight and in the co-feature sees Gervonta Davis TKO7 then-unbeaten Jose Pedraza to win the IBF junior lightweight title, Davis’ first world title. Dan was ringside at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY for this.

And, we salute heavyweight hall of famers George Foreman, who turned 76 on Friday and the late Joe Frazier would have turned 81 on Sunday.

And, the boys debate some 1980's American TV dramas between "Dallas," 'Dynasty," and "Miami Vice." It's worthwile to stick around for!

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

We're ready to recap a mid-week title fight for Cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia, go over some fight news and have nostalgia on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com and his Fight Freaks Unite Substack return to go over it all. That includes:

Wednesday’s Tasman Fighters/Matchroom card in Australia
with Opetaia defeating David Nyika by KO early to retain his lineal/IBF Cruiserweight titles. And, what' 
next for Opetaia – talk of Zurdo; down the road  with Eddie Hearn also talking about Oleksandr Usyk at heavyweight.
Plus, rising Australian heavyweight prospect Justis Huni demiloshes Shaun Potgieter inside of 2 rounds. What's his upside and future?
 
Then, it's some News:

Top Rank announces February 14th ESPN tripleheader at the MSG Theater
Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis, for Berinchyk’s WBO lightweight title
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer, junior middleweight showdown
Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Connor Coyle, middleweights Plus – prelims include return of Jared Anderson, top 147 prospect Rohan Polanco, lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason, etc.

Dan updates that talks for Teofimo Lopez-Subriel Marias are DEAD. And, so much for “being finalized” as ESPN reported 3 weeks ago. What happened and how much has Lopez squandered that has been offered to him? 

With Vasily Lomachenko sidelined with a back injury, the IBF approves Zaur Abdullaev vs. Raymond Muratalla for the interim 135 lb. belt and they are negotiating

And, junior welterweight contender Oscar Duarte and two-time titlist Regis Prograis are in talks for a February 15 DAZN fight in Anaheim, California, according to Golden Boy Promotions.

And, we wrap with nostalgia

January 12th, 2002 — 23 years ago on Sunday – Acelino “Popo” Freitas decisions Joel Casamayor to unify the WBO and WBA junior lightweight titles. Both were unbeaten and this was a major Showtime main event that had been build for a few fights. Dan reminisces about one of his favorite fighters.

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

We are back in the new year with our what is usually a "recap" pod, but we need to be creative on this edition and we'll explain more on the 'Fight Freaks Unite Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newletter return.

With no major fight to recap they move righ to a preview of the Wednesday Tasman Fighters/Matchroom card in Australia (DAZN). This features Jai Opetaia vs. David Nyika, for Opetaia’s lineal/IBF cruiserweight title in the main event. Also, 
Australian heavyweight prospect Justis Huni meets South African Shaun Potgieter in the co-feature.
 
Then, there's news:
Devin Haney announces he will be back in March and also has signed up with VADA for 24/7/365 testing, which is very rare in boxing. Dan goes over Haney's motives. Also, Willibaldo Garcia and Mexican countryman Rene Calixto, who fought to a split draw for the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title on December 21 in Shizuoka, Japan, have been ordered to meet in a rematch in another attempt to fill the 115-pound belt vacated by Fernando Martinez. And, PBC is planning a non-PPV Prime Video card for February 15 with middleweight Elijah Garcia, coming off first loss, supposed to fight Terrell Gausha and heavyweight prospect Dainier Pero also on card vs TBA.

Next, we go over the rest of 2024 awards with Dan. They include the-

Round
Trainer
Manager
Upset
Prospect and
Biggest story

Of this past year
 
Finally, some nostalgia
January 6, 2007 – 18 years ago on Monday – heavyweight Samuel Peter routs James Toney in their WBC final eliminator on Showtime. Big Dan was ringside at the Hard Rock resort in Hollywood, Florida. He has a couple of rememberances, including a starlett former Playboy bunny being right there with the media row.


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

Happy New Year and welcome back to our kickoff episode of the shows for 2025. And, since there's not a significant main event in the world this weekend, host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael are taking the opportunity to go over the "End of 2024 Awards."

First, they talk some quick fight news including the Fernando Martinez vs. Kaz Ioka title bout from Tuesday in Japan being postponed due to Martinez getting the Flu in fight week. When will this title fight be put back on? Dan has more.

He also gives us the latest on Ryan Garcia and him confirming that he has a wrist injury in training for his own Japanese exhibition and that he says he needs surgery.

Then, the boys go over Dan's lists for Fight, Fighter and KO of the year for 2024. There's good debate on them all, including Oleksandr Usyk beating Tyson Fury twice, Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano the sequel and what about some other fights they considered.

There's also good debate on whom gets "Fighter of the Year," especially for the women and there's disagreement on the KO of the year out of choices involving Daniel Dubois, Angelo Leo, Lucas Badhi and others.

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

With the end of the year approaching we have a special conversation with our insider Dan Rafael and longtime championship referee Jack Reiss on this edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast."

Reiss announced his retirement recently after 25 years as a referee. He is one of top referees for many years who has worked more than 1000 fights and more than 100 world title fights! Reiss most famously was the third man in the ring for the Wilder-Fury 1 battle in Los Angeles in December of 2018. And, that night he stood, counting, over Tyson Fury in the dramatic 12th round with Wilder on the verge of a KO or stoppage. 

Reiss recounts that dramatic moment and some other great stories working the fights for over three decades.

The conversation is part of the 'Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!!

As we approach the end of 2024, we're back once more with our latest look ahead to the weekend, hear from a distinguished "third man in the ring" and more on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack return to go over the latest that includes:


A Preview of Tuesday, New Year's Eve in Tokyo, as Fernando Martinez and. Kazuto Ioka for Martinez’s WBA junior bantamweight title just five months after Martinez won it in a wild battle.

Then, hear from famed U.S. referee Jack Reiss, who announced his retirement recently after 25 years as a referee. Reiss has been one of top referees for many years, worked more than 1,000 fights and more than 100 world title fights, most famously Wilder-Fury 1and the 12th round knockdown dramatics there.
 
There's fight news on Panya Pradabsri winning a majority verdict Carlos Canizales on Thursday to claim vacant WBC junior flyweight title in Bangkok, Thailand, his hometown. A disputed decision against Canizales for sure.
 
We have another fight added to Matchroom/DAZN first-quarter schedule with announcement of Jack Catterall-Arnold Barboza Jr. in a WBO junior welterweight final eliminator on Feb. 15th in Manchester, England   

Dan has reporting on Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, the former pound-for-pound king and four-division champion, being headed to another title shot. Plans are in the works to match him with WBO junior bantamweight titlist Phumelele Cafu on a date to be determined in March in Gonzalez’s hometown of Managua, Nicaragua, All Star Boxing promoter Felix “Tutico” Zabala gave Fight Freaks Unite the info.  

Lineal/WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez and former IBF titleholder Subriel Matias are in talks to meet in the first half of next year, but Carl Moretti of Top Rank told Big Dan it is not close to being made despite an ESPN report, using unnamed sources, saying it was “being finalized.”  

Plus, Is Tank Davis vs. Lamont Roach canceled? Tank Davis is scheduled to fight Roach March 1 on PBC on Prime PPV but Davis posted on Instagram on Monday “The fight is fucking cancel.” WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!?
 
And, some Nostalgia to close: It was Dec. 26, 1908 -- 116 years ago Thursday -- the legendary Jack Johnson stopped Tommy Burns in round 14 of a scheduled 20-rounder (they were using 4-oz gloves!) in Sydney, Australia, to become the 1st Black heavyweight champion. The boys go over the massive boxing and social implications of Johnson's win and his reign throughout the next decade.

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

Just days before Christmas we are back with a recap of the unified heavyweight title rematch win by Oleksandr Usyk Saturday night over Tyson Fury and more on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack are back and they have the 
recap of the Riyadh Season/DAZN PPV card in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

Oleksandr Usyk validated his May win by decisioning Tyson Fury in the rematch and retains lineal/WBC/WBO/WBA heavyweight crowns. What's next for both men? Dubois rematch for Usyk? Joshua for Fury? And, does Usyk belong in any "all-time" conversations at heavyweight?

On the undercard, rising British heavyweight Moses Itauma destroys Demsey McKean in the first round, Serhii Bohachuk TKO6 on late replacement Ishmael Davis in a WBC 154 eliminator and British heavys Johnny Fisher and David Allen fought a wild battle.  The boys go over it all.

There's news with Jaron Ennis telling Eddie Hearn to stop negotiating a possible Teofmo Lopez defense? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? Matchroom/DAZN recently announced their six events for the first quarter of 2025. You'll be underwhelmed as a U.S. fight fan.

And, the IBF ordered an all-French super middleweight final eliminator between unbeaten young star Christian Mbilli and European champion Kevin Lele Sadjo,  

And one bit of Nostalgia, as on Dec. 20, 2008 – 16 years ago on Friday – one of most heinous robberies ever! Nikolai Valuev decisioned legendary Evander Holyfield to retain WBA heavyweight title in Zurich, Switzerland (PPV in the US). Holyfield was 46, going for a fifth heavyweight title reign and woulda been old heavyweight titleholder but was outright robbed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! according to Dan.

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

It's a heavyweight title rematch as we near the end of 2024 and host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael return to preview Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II and the undercard and more on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview" Podcast!

The guys begin with Saturday's Riyadh Season card on DAZN PPV Usyk and "The Gypsy King" rematch, for Usyk’s WBC/WBO/WBA and lineal heavyweight titles. Will it be a replay of the Ukrainian's great performance in May or will Fury get his revenge/titles back?

Plus, Dan has more on the Serheii Bohachuk vs. Ishmael Davis WBC final junior middleweight eliminator bout in the co-feature. Plus, rising Moses Itauma meets massive Australian Demsey McKean in a heavyweight clash and Peter McGrail and also, Johnny Fisher are in action too.


Then, some News with Dan reporting on Top Rank’s Feb 14th ESPN card at MSG Theater: Keyshawn Davis to challenge Denys Berinchyk for his WBO lightweight title, plus other fights for the show.

He also has more on the Lineal/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who will now face David Nyika January 8 in the DAZN main event in Australia. Opetaia was due to fight mandatory Huseiyn Cinkara but he suffered an ankle injury. So, now he will face Nyika, a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist from New Zealand, he sparred many rounds with.

There's info on Jack Catterall-Arnold Barnoza in a WBO 140 final eliminator nearly set. Plans for February 15 on DAZN in Manchester. And, IBF featherweight titlist Angelo Leo is headed to Tomoki Kameda’s hometown of Osaka, Japan, for a mandatory defense off winning the title by massive KO10 of Luis Alberto Lopez in August. The deal is agreed to.

Then, a wrap up of some of the stuff that came out of the recently finished WBC convention – some mandatories, eliminators, announcement of the “Boxing Grand Prix” prospect tournament, etc.


Finally, some Nostalgia

December 19, 1997 – 27 years ago on Thursday – Prince Naseem Hamed's thrilling KO4 Kevin Kelley to retain the WBO featherweight title in his U.S./HBO debut at Madison Square Garden. The bout had an absurd Hamed ring walk followed by an absolutely epic shootout and one of the best fights of the 1990s. Six knockdowns in less than four rounds, both guys down 3x each.

And tremendous co-feature people forget because the main event was so great: Kennedy McKinney TKO4 Junior "Poison" Jones to win WBO junior featherweight title. Both guys down in another wild fight. 

A year later on Dec. 19, 1998 – 26 years ago on Thursday – Floyd Mayweather's first 130 lb. title defense and destroys top contender Angel Mandredy in round 2 and big time heavyweight in HBO co-feature with David Tua TKO10 Hasim Rahman in their first fight, controversial stoppage. Great doubleheader.

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

On the latst edition of the show, host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and newsletter return to go over numerous fights this weekend. This included one of the most shocking KO/upsets of 2024, as well.

That came in the Saturday Zanfer/ESPN+ show from Tijuana, Mexico, as little known Bruno Surace of France knocked about former super middleweight title challenger  Jaime Munguia in his hometown! Big Dan has more on what happened and what does this do to Munguia's future?

Also, Saturday in the Matchroom Boxing/DAZN show from Monte Carlo, Monaco fomer world champ 
Murodjon Akhmadaliev captured the WBA interim 122 lb. title with a third round KO of Ricardo Espinoza. We go over the win and what it means for Akhmadailiev in '25?

And, back in North America in the Golden Boy/DAZN show from Ontario, CA, Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel put on a wild weltereweight main event draw. And, it looks like we'll do it again.

There's news as Australian Sam Goodman is cut in training, and his scheduled Dec 24th challenge against undisputed 122 lb. champ Naoya Inoue is now delayed  to January 24th. Dan has the details on what went down.

And finally, Nostalgia as:

Dec. 14, 2019 – 5 years ago Saturday – Terence Crawford scored a TKO over "Mean Machine" Kavaliauskas to retain his WBO 147 lb. title in one of his toughest fights he's had. Plus, Teofimo Lopez bombed Richard Commey in co-feature to win his first world title, IBF 135 tile. Dan was ringside at MSG.

Dec. 17, 2016 – 8 years ago on Tuesday – Joe Smith Jr. kayoed hall of famer Bernard Hopkins litterally out of the ring in the fight that Big Dan says he “made.” It was BHop’s last fight and Da was ringside at The Forum in Inglewood, CA.

And we look back on the one year anniversary of Showtime signing off from boxing (A David Morrell TKO in the second over Sena Agbeko main event) and that was it after 37 years of fights on their network and PPV. And, the sport is worse for it.

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