Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

Thursday night  in Tokyo, WBO welterweight champ Brian Norman will make the second defense of his version of the 147 lb. world title against tough, unbeaten challenger Jin Sasaki in a scheduled 12 rounder.Prior to departing for Japan last week, Norman (27-0, 21 KOs) out of Conyers, GA, joined our insider Dan Rafael to talk more about his willingness to go to the Far East for this defense. Sasaki is a solid puncher at 19-1-1, 17 KOs.The two go one on one and also covered the possibility of Norman meeting IBF/WBA welterweight champ Jaron "Boots" Ennis in a unification battle later this year. Plus, whether Ennis is now the one reluctant to do that or not?It's all part of this special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.! 

Off a weekend with one significant show in New York our guys return to go over that, some news and more on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael are back with their insight and takes.They begin with the recap of Saturday night’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN card in NYCRichardson Hitchins TKO8 George Kambosos Jr., for Hitchins’ IBF 140. It was expected and now, what's next for Hitchins?Also, Andy Cruz TKO5 Hironori Mishiro, IBF 135 lb. eliminator and heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana KO1 Aleem Whitfield, as well. Plus, they recap Saturday night’s WBA "KO Drugs" main event in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaNonito Donaire Tech Dec 8 Andres Campos, wins vacant WBA interim bantamweight. It's a win, but there's concern for the aging Donaire. The guys also briefly preview Thursday’s Teiken Boxing main event on ESPN+ in TokyoBrian Norman vs. Jin Sasaki, for Norman’s WBO welterweight titleNews After everything that happened with the cancellation of Keyshawn Davis-Edwin De Los Santos, De Los Santos' promoter Sampson Lewkowicz announced he has given the fighter a release from his promotional contract, because De Los Santos was so upset the promoter and trainer called off the fight. Our guys weigh in on the "weight debacle" fallout continuing.As expected, the WBO formally ordered England's Sam Noakes and Ohio's Abdullah Mason to meet for the organization’s vacant lightweight world title stripped from overweight Davis. They have 20 days to negotiate an agreement or there will be a purse bid. Dan has more.NostalgiaJune 15, 1984 – 41 years ago Sunday – Thomas Hearns MASSIVE KO2 Roberto Duran to retain the WBC junior middleweight title at Caesars Palace. It's an All-time great KO and Hearns’ only win of the "Four Kings" series of fights (he was 1-2-1).Make sure to go to the Big Fight Weekend Youtube page to watch the guys discuss it more!And, be part of all our content on this podcast feed on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, etc.! 

We are back and ready to preview the Matchroom Boxing world title fight in New York, plus hear from a U.S. world champ on his way to Japan for a title defense next week and more on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast."Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael return and have their insight and takes on:The Matchroom Boxing ? DAZN card Saturday at Theater at MSG in NYJunior welterweight Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos, for Hitchins IBF world title. Will this be easy work for Hitchins? Plus, lightweight Andy Cruz vs. Hironori Mishiro in an IBF lightweight eliminator bout. Then, a quick preview of the WBA "KO Drugs Festival" main event Saturday in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBantamweight Nonito Donaire vs. Andres Campos, for vacant WBA interim title. Donaire is a hall of famer but hasn't fought in nearly two years and is coming off 2 losses, as well.Next, Dan with a Brian Norman conversation, as he makes his second WBO welterweight title defense vs. Jin Sasaki on June 19 (ESPN+) in Tokyo, Japan.News Canelo-Crawford is set for Sept. 13 in Las Vegas officially and will be on Netflix globally. The boys have the latest.WBC/WBA flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji will headline a world title tripleheader defending against Ricardo Rafael Sandoval on July 30 in Yokohama, Japan. Dan has more.Also, Edwin De Los Santos promoter Sampson Lewkowicz told Dan this week he made a deal with Top Rank and De Los Santos will get half his purse ($165K of a $330K purse) from the canceled Keyshawn Davis fight.. It's interesting, as Top Rank Boxing was not obligated to do so.  And, Golden Boy announces the rescheduled junior welterweight Oscar Duarte vs. Kenneth Sims Jr. bout for Aug. 2 on DAZN in Sims’ hometown of Chicago. NostalgiaJune 12, 1989 — 36 years ago on Thursday – Sugar Ray Leonard D12 Thomas Hearns in their long-awaited rematch. The boys briefly talk the bout and WATCH the full nostalgia recap on our Big Fight Weekend Youtube Page.It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Prevew Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Coming up Saturday night in New York City, unbeaten 140 lb. champ Richardson Hitchins is back headlining the Matchroom Boxing main event. And, here he talks one on one with our insider Dan Rafael on a special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast."Hitchins will make his first IBF junior welterweight title defense against former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. on June 14 on DAZN at the MSG Theater. And, interestingly, the 27 year old New Yorker has little use or respect for what Kambosos has done.Will it be an easy night for the champ and if he wins, what fight does he want next?It's all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subsribe on this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's a special edition of the recap show/Pod, as we were live on Youtube Sunday night and you are also hearing us on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap" Podcast!Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast are here to go over everything.They discuss:Saturday’s Top Rank ESPN card in Norfolk, Va.Keyshawn missing weight and the falloutAbdullah Mason TKO6 Jeremia Nakathila, 10 rounds, lightweightsNahir Albright W10 majority Kelvin Davis, junior welterweights Saturday’s Queensberry DAZN card in Ipswich, EnglandFabio Wardley booming one punch, KO10 Justis Huni, wins vacant WBA interim heavyweight titleSunday’s Teiken Boxing ESPN+ card in Tolyo Junto Nakatani TKO6 Ryosuke Nishida, unifies WBC/IBF bantamweight titles and wants Naoya "The Monster" Inoue down the road!Sunday’s Tasman Fighters DAZN card Broadbeach, Australia (DAZN)Jai Opetaia KO5 Claudio Squeo, retains lineal/IBF cruiserweight title and wants a huge battle with Zurdo Ramirez. NewsDan has some thoughts on the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction and speeches, including the great Manny Pacquiao.Dana White and Turki Alashikh announce (along with SELA) that they will promote Canelo-Crawford on Sept. 13. as part of new TKO venture.Also, Turki put out thru The Ring Aug. 16 card in Riyadh, which was the date for Garcia-Haney 2 that isn’t happening and then Haney-Lopez, which also isn’t happening: it will have Moses Itauma-Dillian Whyte as the main event and,  WBA featherweight titlist Nick Ball vs. Sam Goodman; junior lightweight bout between Anthony Cacace and Raymond Ford (17-1, 8 KOs)NostalgiaJune 7, 2014 – 11 years ago on Saturday – Miguel Cotto TKO10 Sergio Martinez to win the lineal/WBC middleweight title at Madison Square Garden, First Puerto Rican to win a title in four divisions, dominated. Big Dan was ringside.It's all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap" Podcast and make sure for more of this great content, you find us on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.! 

An action packed weekend all over the globe awaits and we're ready to preview it all. Plus, a world champ is talking to us, also, on our newest "Big Fight Weekend Podcast"Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael return with their thoughts and takes on all the action.We start with the previews:Saturday Top Rank/ESPN card in Norfolk, Va.Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos, for Davis’ WBO lightweight title. It's Davis' first defense in his hometown. The boys discuss. And, we have  Abdullah Mason vs. Jeremia Nakathila in a 10 rounds lightweight co-feature. Earlier Saturday Queensberry/DAZN card in Ipswich, EnglandFabio Wardley vs. Justis Huni, for vacant WBA interim heavyweight title. Looking forward to this clash, as both guys can punch. On Sunday Teiken Boxing/ESPN+ card in Tokyo 4:30 a.m. ETJunto Nakatani vs. Ryosuke Nishida, WBC/IBF bantamweight unification. Nakatani has his sights set on "The Monster" but must win here first. Also, Sunday Tasman Fighters/Matchroom card in Broadbeach, Australia 3:30 a.m. ETJai Opetaia vs. Claudio Squeo, for Opetaia’s lineal/IBF cruiserweight title. Opetaia is the tops in the division and should cruise. Next a RICHARDSON HITCHINS interview with Dan:Hitchins defends his IBF junior welterweight title vs. George Kambosos Jr. on June 14 at New York’s MSG Theater on DAZN. He's very outspoken on this matchup being no big thing. Some News3-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko announces retirement at 37. We recap his amazing career. Sadly, Jose Santa Cruz, who trained his four sons as professional boxers, including four-division titleholder Leo Santa Cruz, died on Monday after a years-long battle with a form of bone cancer in his spine. He was 65.  Next, Nonito Donaire returns to fight Andres Campos for the vacant WBA interim bantamweight title on June 14 at Casino Buenos Aires in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This fight was only announced in recent days as a late addition to the WBA’s annual “KO Drugs” festival event.  And, some quick mention that HOF inductions are Sunday. That bizarrely has legend Manny Pacquiao being inducted and yet, he's set to return to the ring in a July PPV. Dan goes over that and the whole 2025 class.NostalgiaJune 4, 2016 — nine years ago on Wednesday – WBC 130 champion Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido fought to a hellacious draw in the 2016 fight of the year one night after Muhammad Ali died. Rafael ringside. We briefly talk about this here.Make sure to watch full recap of Vargas-Salido on our BFW Youtube page here: https://www.youtube.com/@bigfightweekend9132And make sure to follow/subscribe on our BFW Podcast feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Another weekend and another shocker main event, as Caleb Plant was upset in Las Vegas. We discuss that bout, the undercard and also fight cards for Golden Boy Promotions and Matchroom Boxing from Friday on the latest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast."Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Feaks Unite Substack and newsletter are back.The discuss.The PBC on Prime Video card Saturday in Las Vegasas little known Armando Resendiz upset Caleb Plant and wins the WBA interim 168 lb. title. Is this more verifcation that Plant's better days are behind him? And what does it do to the possible fight with super middleweight Jermall Charlo, who scored a TKO6 over Thomas "Cornflake" LaManna.They also talk the middleweight Yoenli Hernandez decisioning Kyrone Davis and also, junior middleweight Isaac Lucero with a quick TKO over Omar Valenzuela. Next a recap of the Golden Boy DAZN main event Friday in Las VegasSuper middleweight Bektemir Melikuziev wins a tremendous decision over Darius Fulghum in a WBA eliminator. More on this bout.Plus, there was a solid Matchroom DAZN card Friday in Guadalajara, MexicoLight heavyweight Khalil Coe TKO6 over Manuel Gallegos in a rematch and avenges his TKO loss. And, junior featherweight Murodjon Akhmadaliev earns a TKO8 against Luis Castillo and up next is Sept. 14 Naoa Inoue challenge for the undisputed 122 lb. belts.Some NewsDevin Haney-Teofimo Lopez back ON for Aug. 16th after Teofimo apologized to Turki Alashikh.The Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios full PPV undercard wsa announced Saturday in Vegas and the fighters met briefly with the media.Sadly, Hall of Famer Mike McCallum died in Las Vegas at age 68. One of the greats! He won titles at 154 lb., 160 lb., and 175 lb. We reminisceNostalgiaJune 1, 2019 – 6 years ago Sunday – late replacement opponent Andy Ruiz TKO7 Anthony Joshua in a massive upset to win the unified WBO/IBF/WBA heavyweight title in their first fight. Big Dan ringside at MSG. (Watch more on this huge upset on our Big Fight Weekend Youtube page)Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

A familiar fighter returns to the Las Vegas limelight, plus, some prominent fighters are in the news for the wrong reasons and we explain it all on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast."Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael are back aboard to go over everything.They begin with:A Recap of the Ohashi Promotions card on Wednesday in Yokohama, JapanYoshiki Takei TKO1 Yuttapong Tongdee and retains WBO bantamweight title.Plus, Eduardo Nunez wins easily in 12 rounds over Masanori Rikiishi and wins the vacant IBF junior lightweight title. Dan has a lot on both Next, a Preview of the PBC on Prime Video card Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las VegasCaleb Plant returns against little known. Armando Resendiz, 12 rounds, for Plant’s WBA interim super middleweight title. More importantly is he's likely fighting Jermall Charlo next. Charlo first takes on. Thomas LaManna in a 10 rounds super middleweight bout. The boys discuss.NewsJaime Munguia tested positive for foreign testosterone in his system in a VADA test related to his May 3rd rematch win over Bruno Surace. What's going to happen now and does Surace get the no-contest ruling?  Dan has more on his reporting on the supposed Aug. 16 Teofimo Lopez-Devin Haney agreed to bout, but fight falling apart over Lopez’s tweet storm in which he insulted Turki Alashikh. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!Ryan Garcia undergoes right hand surgery, and the plans for Fall fight in limbo for now.Top Rank July 26th card officially announced, Xander Zayas-Jorge Garcia for vacant WBO junior middleweight title & featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington vs. Mateus Heita for the vacant WBC interim title in the co-featureYudai Shigeoka, the former WBC strawweight titlist, posted to social media on Thursday to provide an update on older brother and former IBF strawweight titlist Ginjiro Shigeoka, including that he is breathing on his own.NostalgiaWe encourage you to find our Youtube page for some thoughts on HOFer Johnny Tapia, a fan favorite, who died back on May 27, 2012 – 13 years ago on Tuesday.Meanwhile, for all our podcat content keep it locked in on this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.! 

On this edition of the show, insider Dan Rafael is one on one with former IBF world super middleweight champ Caleb Plant.Plant, who defends the WBA's "interim super middleweight title" against Armando Resendiz in the main event of the PBC on Prime Video card on May 31 in Las Vegas, is looking to set up a fight later in the year against Jermall Charlo. Charlo is returning from a long layoff in the co-feature.They covered a variety of topics including, Caleb being in the ring with Canelo Alvarez in an undisputed 168 lb. title bout in 2022 and whether, he believes there could be a rematch down the line or not?It's all on this special edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" on this feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!And, also SEE this interview on our Big Fight Weekend Youtube page!

Sunday night we did a LIVE Youtube version of our "Fight Freaks Unite Recap" on our Big Fight Weekend page. Here's the rundown for the podcast audience.Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael give the breakdown on:Queensberry DAZN card Saturday in Glasgow, ScotlandWelterweight Ekow Essuman W12 Josh TaylorHeavyweight Moses Itauma KO2 Mike BalogunKameda Promotions card Saturday in Osaka, JapanFeatherweight Angelo Leo W12 Tomoki Kameda, retains IBF featherweight titleStrawweight Pedro Taduran W12 Ginjiro Shigeoka, rematch, retains the IBF title Friday Zanfer main event in Zacatecas, MexicoJunior bantamweight Willibaldo Garcia W12 split Rene Calixto, rematch, wins vacant IBF title NewsTyson Fury posts video from Como, Italy, over weekend saying he is indeed retired for good and not coming back. The guys don't believe him. Canelo Alvarez says in a media scrum at a golf tournament when that Crawford fight WILL be in Vegas. Provides no more details.  NostalgiaMay 25, 1965 – 60 years ago Sunday – Muhammad Ali KO1 Sonny Liston to retain the heavyweight title in an immediate rematch. Lots of discussion and good video on the Youtube show.Thanks for finding this edition on the Big Fight Weekend podcast feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.