Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

Coming up next weekend in San Antonio, TX, it's a very intriquing 130 lb. showdown for three of the world titles, as WBC champ O'Shaquie Foster meets two belt title holder Emanuel Navarrete in one of the best fights in the remaining weeks of 2026.But before fight week, our insider Dan Rafael has a one on one interview with Foster about the battle with Navarrete that will also determine supremacy in the division. Plus, O'Shaquie is fantastic story, having been in jail years ago and maybe, was on the verge of never having a boxing career.Now, he's a prominent fighter fighting in lucrative, world title bouts, just like Saturday night 10/24 and this is certainly an intriguing one.Hear him with Dan on this "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe for more great content on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Saturday night in London, it's a highly anticipated heavyweight title rematch for Daniel Dubois as he battles Fabio Wardley for the WBO portion of the championship. But, before it all gets ramped up in the U,K., we've got an early preview of things here on the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" mid-week.Host T.J. Rives returns with lead writer/editor of Big Fight Weekend's website, Ricky Carroll, who's in England for this one.It was a wild first fight in May, as Dubois got off the canvas, not once but twice, early in the bout and then brutally beat Wardley for 7 rounds or so, until a TKO stoppage in the 11th to recapture a world title belt.Now, the guys discuss the magnitude of this rematch for the British fight fans and is the build up similar or bigger than last year with Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn and their tremendous first fight followed by their late in 2025 second bout?Also, there is analysis from Ricky on whether Wardley can summon a different strategy/outcome or is he destined to be beaten up by the brutish Dubois, again?Also, the winner of this bouts has serious unifications options with Filip Hrgovic and Agit Kabayel or dare we say, the winner of Fury/Joshua in December?All of it's discussed in advance of Dubois-Wardley II here on a special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed for more this bout and all the action through Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

He's one of the harder punching, action fighters in the smaller weight classes and newly crowned WBA Featherweight champ Brandon Figueroa is ready to defend coming October 17th in Las Vegas.First, the two division world champ spends time with our insider Dan Rafael one on one before his battle with Japan's Tomoki Kameda in a 12-round co-main event of the PBC card to be shown on DAZN and TNT Sports.Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KOs) enters the fight following one of the finest performances of his career. In February, the 29-year-old traveled to the United Kingdom and stunned the hometown crowd by stopping Nick Ball in dramatic fashion in the 12th round.Figueroa had previously defeated Joet Gonzalez last July, rebounding from a decision loss to Stephen Fulton Jr. in their February rematch that cost him his WBC 126-pound title.The Weslaco, Texas, native has built his reputation on relentless pressure, nonstop aggression and an all-action fighting style. In 2023, he captured the interim WBC featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Mark Magsayo in a fight widely considered a potential Fight of the Year contender.Figueroa also made history in May 2021 when he handed former two-division champion Luis Nery his first professional defeat, stopping him with a body shot in the seventh round to capture the WBC junior featherweight world title.Now trained by respected boxing coach Manny Robles, Figueroa continues to build on his family's championship legacy.Across the ring will be a seasoned challenger with plenty of championship experience of his own. Kameda (42-5, 23 KOs), a native of Osaka, Japan, earned the nickname “El Mexicanito” after moving to Mexico as an amateur to sharpen his skills..The 35-year-old made his biggest impact on the American boxing scene in 2015, when he faced champion Jamie McDonnell in two high-profile, action-packed bouts.Kameda pushed McDonnell in both contests but came up short on the scorecards each time.Kameda later challenged for two additional world titles and put together a five-fight winning streak before suffering a decision defeat to then-super bantamweight world champion Rey Vargas.Most recently, Kameda took on featherweight world champion Angelo Leo in May 2025, losing a close decision after winning six of his previous seven fights.Figueroa has big plans at featherweight, but he must get it done with the tough Japnese opponent first on October 17th. And, you are hearing him on our "Big Fight Weekend Podcast" feed. Make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It was a lighter weekend of action but Ben Whittaker did what he was supposed to and we recap his win and have lots of fight news on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter return with their takes.First, a recap of Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN card in Birmingham, England Light heavyweight Ben Whittaker W12 Conor Wallace, IBF final eliminator, but it got crazy for him late in the fight. Plus, Junior middleweight Odel Kamara TKO3 Thodoris Ritzakis in his pro debut. Dan likes what he saw. Also, a recap of Friday night’s Matchroom/Boxlab main event in OrlandoJunior middleweight rising star Omari Jones TKO2 Alan Sanchez. Jones has huge upside right now. Then, some newsMore on Fury-Joshua and a new argument: Dana White says he is not only the promoter by UFC/Zuffa is producing the broadcast to which Eddie Hearn says no, that is also not allowed in their contract. They have gone back and forth in various videos. Supposedly, they will be part of a meeting in person this coming week in Los Angeles. There is some "sparring" with the boys over whether this subject is too tiresome?Next, Lupe Valencia, Ryan Garcia’s manager, and Teofimo Lopez manager Keith Connolly met Saturday in San Diego to discuss the prospect of a possible Garcia-Lopez fight next? It seems easy to get this fight done.Also, the International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots are out and Big Dan has updates on lots of new possible inductees to be voted on and what he thinks about some of them being on the ballot unjustifiably. Next, former super middleweight titleholder Mikkel Kessler, 47, widely regarded as Denmark’s best-ever professional boxer, will end a 13-year retirement Nov. 28. What Are We Doing Here with Kessler? The WBC has ordered lightweight titlist William Zepeda to next face interim titleholder and mandatory challenger Jadier Herrera. Herrera has been waiting for a full title shot at 135 lb. And, Zuffa Boxing made official on Friday that it has signed WBO middleweight titlist Denzel Bentley, confirming Dan's reporting, and that he will fight Shane Mosley Jr. Nov. 7 on the Billiam Smith-Clarke undercard. And, we close with some nostalgiaOn Oct. 4, 1940 – 86 years ago on Sunday -- Sugar Ray Robinson , the all-time P4P No. 1, made his pro debut via 2nd-round TKO of Joe Echevarria. The guys discuss the greatness of one SRR and educate you on just how amazing his career was!Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!!

It's an exciting and at times, chaotic, time for British fight fans with the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua circus, etc. and we tackle it all on a new "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" Host T.J. Rives is back with English boxing writer and historian, David Payne, of his own site www.boxingwriter.co.uk.The guys go all the way in on the silliness that the Fury-Joshua squabbling has produced. Will they have the planned Wednesday news conference for the proposed December 11th showdown at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales? Plus, how damaged are these guys now, as their world class championship days are clearly behind both? David has great perspective on all.Next, the guys talk Conor Benn, off being demolished in less than two rounds by Ryan Garcia earlier this month. What will become of him in the short term? Does he really have a future at 154 or 160 lb., if a welterweight, who's barely been a welterweight, could kayo him like that? And, David talks the comparisons with his legendary, hall of fame father, Nigel Benn, too.Finally, T.J. wants David's takes on the talented, but still not a true drawing, superstar, yet, Hamzah Sheeraz. The guys debate whether he's being very smart with his career or has mismanaged it by giving up his WBO super middleweight crown?It's EXCELLENT perspective between the guys for what's going on with U,K. fights, fighters and storylines. And, it's all on this edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this podcast feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We finally have an official announcement for the biggest fight in British boxing history, plus we preview several fight cards, including a world title bout on Sunday in Japan. All on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter are back to go over it all.They start with BIG NEWS!!Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua is on December 11th in Cardiff, Wales. Officially announced for Netflix workdwide. PLENTY to discuss here—Dana White is the promoter per press release, Dan has been in touch with Eddie Hearn, who says no way, he's not involved. We have that and more.Then to the fights, First, Saturday’s Queensberry DAZN main event in Birmingham, England (DAZN)Liam Davies vs. Nathaniel Collins, 12 rounds, for Davies’ European featherweight title. The winner gets in the picture as a 126 lb. contender. Also, Saturday’s Zuffa Boxing Paramount+/Sky Sports card in LondonJohnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton, 10 rounds, heavyweights and Craig Richards vs. Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic, 10 rounds, light heavyweights Sunday’s Teiken Boxing DAZN card in Tokyo, JapanTakuma Inoue vs. Tenshin Nasukawa, rematch, for Inoue’s WBC bantamweight title. The younger brother of "The Monster" is looking to make a bigger name on his own.MORE NEWSStrong probability that the Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli card scheduled for Oct. 31 in Riyadh will be postponed and moved to a new location because of the war in Iran. How long is the delay and where might it go? Next, key WBA orders, including Teofimo Lopez-Jack Catterall and Jack Munguia-Bek Melikuziev mandatories and David Benavidez requested to decide his division of either crusierweight or light heavyweight. Will Lopez, Munguia and Benavidez care?? Terrific fight is off -- WBC/WBA flyweight titleholder Ricardo Sandoval defending against lineal and WBO/WBA strawweight champion Oscar Collazo, who would have moved up to weight classes but suffered a rib injury. Was to be co-feature Floyd Schofield-Lucas Bahdi Golden Boy card Oct.10th. Now what will happen? And, the WBC ordered middleweight titlist Carlos Adames vs. mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov after interim titlist Jesus Ramos fell out of the fight with Nursultunov last week. Winner mandated to fight Ramos next year. Will Adames go along? Finally, with Hamzah Sheeraz vacating WBO super middleweight title they order mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. unbeaten Jacob Bank for vacant title.Hear it all on the "BFW Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We have a lighter weeknd of fights but there is a prominent WBC interim title doubleheader in San Diego and we've got lots and lots of fight news to go over on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael with their insight and takesFirst, a preview of Saturday’s PBC card on DAZN at Pechanga Arena in San Diego(First non PPV PBC card with DAZN)Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Nestor Bravo, 12 rounds, for Cruz’s WBC interim junior welterweight title. Pitbull is seemingly always in entertaining fights. Will Bravo give him a challenge?In the co feature- Jesus Ramos Jr. vs. Meiirim Nursultanov, 12 rounds, for Ramos’s WBC interim middleweight title. Ramos looking for bigger things in the division. Plus, Daniel Blancas vs. Sergio Jimenez, 8 or 10 rounds, super middleweights and, Marco Verde vs. Guillermo Hernandez, 8 rounds, middleweights Then, some fight newsRyan Garcia says he wants to do a rematch with Gervonta Davis... What are we doing here?! Dan has more and T.J. tries not to lose his mind on this scenario. Per Dan's reporting, the date Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has been narrowed down to December 11th. Organizers are working city officials in Cardiff, Wales, to get necessary permits in place to stage the event at Principality Stadium. Next, as expected, WBC strips Noel Mikaelian and elevates Michal Cieslak from interim to full and lays out the path to David Benavidez-Jai Opetaia More Dan reporting, WBC interim junior middleweight titlist Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s return could come on the potential Dec. 12 card that would be headlined by a Benavidez-Cieslak three-belt cruiserweight unification fight in the works. On Wednesday, Queensberry outbid Top Rank to win rights to promoter WBO super middleweight titlist Hamzah Sheeraz’s mandatory defense against former unified middleweight titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly. Wait until why Queensberry had a quirky amount that they bid! Dan is also reporting that a deal in place for Top Rank heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov to fight Queensberry’s Solomon Dacres in the co-feature of the rematch between WBO heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois and former titleholder Fabio Wardley on October 17th at The O2 Arena in London. And, finally, even more Dan reporting, former IBF junior middleweight titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev will return to action on the Dmitry Bivol-Callum Smith card on December 12 in Ekatirinburg, Russia.It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It was a quick night for Ryan Garcia and we're ready to recap his emphatic TKO of Conor Benn, go over the drama with promoter Oscar De La Hoya not being at the fight, we have a middleweight titleholder on the show and fight news on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael to go over it all with their takes.They begin with the recap of Saturday night’s Zuffa Boxing’s Paramount+ card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Garcia's emphatic stoppage of Benn, retained his WBC title. It was a huge moment for Garcia and there a big questions about Benn after a devastating quick defeat. And, we go over what's next for both.Then, there was the Oscar drama of was he or was he not invited to be at the event? Get the scoop from Dan.Also, Cruiserweight Jai Opetaia TKO9 Noel Mikaelian, retains his lineal/Zuffa cruiserweight crown. A big night for the unbeaten Australian and now is David Benavidez next?On the rest of the undercardHeavyweight Da’Mazion Vanhouter KO1 Raphael AkpejioriLightweight Andres Cortes W10 Mark MagsayoWelterweight Alexis Rocha W10 Jose Ramirez, 147Then, a quick recap Friday night’s ProBoxTV card in Oceanside, Calif. Abass Baraou W10 Giovani Santillan, wins vacant WBO Inter-Continental 154 fightLuis Alberto Lopez KO3 Daniel Lugo, 130 lb. fightThen, it's interim WBC middleweight champ Jesus Ramos one on one with Dan. He fights mandatory Meiirim Nursultanov on Sept. 19 on the PBC/DAZN card headlined by Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Nestor Bravo in San Diego. And, the middleweight division is pretty wide open at the moment. And, finally, some news...More on the proposed new site and date for Joshua-Fury!!! Additional possible dates are being discussed for December at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, WalesWe hearing more speculation about the prospect of Terence Crawford ending retirement. Dana White said he would “for the right fight.” Is this going to be a "Boots" Ennis bout? Canelo rematch?And, two-time heavyweight title challenger George Chuvalo died on Saturday, which was his 89th birrhday. Dan remembers a Canadian contender that seemingly fought everyone in the 1960s and 70s.Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

It's a massive world title showdown in Vegas for Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, plus, Dana White is aboard talking one on one with our Dan Rafael and the latest on Fury-Joshua, which looks like it will now take place in the U.K. afterall. And, we shall go over it all on the newest "Big Figtht Weekend Preview Podcast!"Host T.J. Rives is back with Big Dan of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter to go over it all.First, they preview Saturday night's Zuffa/Paramount+ card at T-Mobile in Las Vegas Garcia meets the son of the hall of famer Nigel Benn in a 12 round battle for Garcia’s WBC welterweight title. Both fighters have "checkered pasts" with previous PED suspensions and there is a lot of intrigue around whether either fighter is handling the weight drain well? There's plenty to dissect, including can Garcia pack the bigger punch in this one?In the co-feature, Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian, 12 rounds, for Opetaia’s lineal cruiserweight title. There is also some controversy around this bout, including, will the WBC vacate the title after this fight no matter who wins?And, also Mark Magsayo vs. Andres Cortes, 10 rounds, lightweights, plus, Jose Ramirez vs. Alexis Rocha, 10 rounds, welterweights are discussed on the undercard.Then, a quick preview of Friday night's ProBox card in Oceanside, Calif.Giovani Santillan vs. Abass Baraou, 10 rounds, junior middleweightsLuis Alberto Lopez vs. Daniel Lugo, 10 rounds, junior lightweights Next it's Dan iwth Dana White The flamboyant head of UFC and the "front face" of Zuffa Boxing is promoting the Garcia-Benn event, which we discussed plus other topics like the progress of their promotion, the attempt to change the Muhammad Ali Act in Congress, and more.Then, some intriguing newsPer Dan;s reporting, the Joshua-Fury is now headed for Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on Nov. 28th. Dan, has the latest on why Turki Alashikh, White, Zuffa, etc. are relenting on the fight not taking place in New York on November 20. Also, Dan is reporting, WBC heavyweight titlist Agit Kabayel will make his first defense against Nelson Hysa in Germany. The date penciled in is Nov. 28th also, like the Joshua-Fury.And, more from Dan, who says Matchroom is finalizing a three-belt junior middleweight unification fight between WBO/WBA titlist Jaron “Boots” Ennis and IBF titleholder Josh Kelly on a date that has not been determined yet. But his sources say would take place in late November or December but it will be at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Next, hall of fame two-time undisputed lightweight champion Ismael Laguna died on Tuesday in his home country of Panama. He was 83. Dan pays tribute, as only he can.Also, in the wake of Raymond Muratalla’s decision to vacate the IBF lightweight title, the IBF has ordered Russian Artur Subkhankulov and Andy Cruz to meet for the vacant title, so Cruz will not move down in weight as he planned.And, finally, Amanda Serrano, the lineal and WBO/WBA women’s unified featherweight champion, whose world titles in seven divisions are a female record, announced on social media that she will have her final fight in January. It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.