28 JUN 2024 · It's an action packed final weekend of June, as we have multiple world title fights in Washington, D.C., Miami and Phoenix. And, we've got the previews of those, fight news involving Anthony Joshua's undercard for London in September and some great Mike Tyson nostalgia, too on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!" Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to go over it all.  That includes the showdown with Lamont Roach Jr. meeting Feargal McCrory for the WBA 130 lb. title Friday night. Then, on Saturday night in Phoenix, it's the highly anticipated WBC 115 lb. battle with Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez meeting Juan Francisco Estrada. And, in Miami, Teofimo Lopez returns to defend his WBO 140 lb. crown against Steve Claggett. The guys go over the matchups with insight and analysis. There's fight news on the September 21 London card that now has an intriguing middleweight co-feature battle and fights with Anthony Cacache, Liam Smith and others now on the bill. Devin Haney has vacated his WBC junior welterweight crown and Dan explains what's going on. Plus, what former world champ is now suspended for a PED violation in Nevada from March and won't be fighting the rest of this year? Finally, the guys wrap by talking GREAT Mike Tyson nostalgia anniversaries this weekend of his 1 round destruction of Michael Spinks in 1988 and then, the most biarre' heavywieght title defense ever, as Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear 27 years ago this weekend. It's all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview" podcast and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

25 JUN 2024 · Coming up Saturday night in Phoenix, AZ, in the Matchroom Boxing/DAZN main event, former unified flyweight world champ Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez is back in the junior bantamweight division challenging legendary former champ Juan Francisco Estrada in a battle for the vacant WBC title. And, on a special edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" our insider Dan Rafael speaks with Bam at length about the matchup with Estrada.When last we saw Rodriguez, he destroyed England's Sunny Edwards in a one sided TKO to unify at 112 lb. And, the Estrada win might be the signature one for his career to this point. Plus, what are Rodriguez's thoughts about potentially fighting another legend in Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez or not? And, does he plan to stay at 115 lb currently or look to maybe move up to bantamweight, as well? He tells Dan all about it. Here from one of the best young championship fighters in American boxing with us on this "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to the Big Fight Weekend Podcast Feed for more great content on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

24 JUN 2024 · Off an action packed weekend of fights in Vegas and Birmingham, England, we're ready to go over it all on the latest edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!" Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to talk the Friday night successful Rafael Espinoza WBO Featherweight title defense headlining the Top Rank Boxing show in Las Vegas and what does this mean for his future and a possible rematch with Robeisy Ramirez at 126? Also, Dan gives thoughts on the controversial Andres Cortez decsion win over Abraham Nova in the co-feature in a fight that many believe Nova won instead. The guys then talk the Matchroom Boxing show in Birmingham, England Saturday night that also ended in controversy as Tyler Denny retained the European middleweight crown via a technical decision over previously unbeaten Felix Cash. Should the ref have stopped this one for Cash's eye, when it looked like it could have continued? Also, there was a betting controversy that cancelled a prelim fight on this show and the guys have more on that. Then, hear from Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez with Dan, as he gets set to battle Juan Francisco Estrada in the Matchroom DAZN main event for the WBC 115 lb. title in Phoenix, AZ this Saturday night. Bam is one of the top young stars in American boxing and has thoughts on fighting a legend and the future for him. There's fight news on a potential Gervonta Davis-Vasily Lomachenko lightweight unification battle later this year. Plus, Matchroom also announces Jack Catterall vs. Regis Prograis for August and is Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement to fight for a welterweight title? Finally, Dan has nostalgia on Pacquiao's U.S. debut anniversary, and also Floyd Mayweather blitzing Arturo Gatti 19 years ago. It's all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

22 JUN 2024 · Off Ryan Garcia's Thursday "plea agreement" with the NY State Athletic Commission to take a one year suspension forfeiture of $1.1 million for his positive PED tests, the guy he defeated in April in their tainted fight- WBC 140 lb. champ Devin Haney was obviously outraged by it all. On Thursday evening, our insider Dan Rafael talked exclusively to Haney in a one on one conversation about Garcia's agreement/punishment and whether he thought it was enough? Plus, what else does Devin think he's owed besides the result being changed to a no-contest to the commission, which keeps Haney's record unbeaten? And, what is Devin looking to do next? Find it all out in this conversation as part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and the BFW Podcast feed. And, make sure to subscribe for all the great content on this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

21 JUN 2024 · A huge story broke Thursday afternoon, as Ryan Garcia has accepted a suspension and huge financial penalties from the NY State Commision and we are all over that, with one on one reaction from Devin Haney. Plus, we have fight previews for Friday night in Vegas on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast." Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to go over it all. They talk first about the breaking news of the resolution to Garcia being disciplined and Haney gives Dan his thoughts on what's next for him, etc. Then, T.J. and Dan talk the Rafael Espinoza first defense of his WBO featherweight title in a Vegas Friday night main event. Espinoza will battle little known countryman Sergio Chirino with a lucrative rematch with Robeisy Ramirez looming late in 2024 or early 2025, if he wins. Dan also goes over the rest of the Top Rank card. There's fight news on Jake Paul and Amanda Serrano scheduling new fights on the original date that they were supposed to fight in July. They will fight in TJ's backyard of Tampa, FL and the guys have more. Also, the saga of future hall of famer Canelo Alvarez NOT fighting William Skull continues on and there's more on when unbeaten junior middleweight Vergil Ortiz will fight next? They conclude with great anniversary nostalgia on Lennox Lewis' final fight of his hall of fame career in Los Angeles and also another anniversary on the sequel of Marco Antonio Barrera battling rival Erik Morales in Las Vegas. Dan was ringside for both fights and reminisces. It's all on the "Big Fight Wekeend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

17 JUN 2024 · It was an action packed weekend of title action from Vegas to Puerto Rico to London and we're ready to go over it all on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast." Host T.J. Rives and insider, fresh back from Vegas, Dan Rafael are back with Dan giving you the insight and takes from the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the PBC/Amazon pay per view. They talk the Gervonta Davis main event thunderous KO of Frank Martin in the eighth round. Davis is back from a year long layoff in a resounding way and what's next for him? In the co-feature bout, former super middleweight champ David Benavidez moved up to 175 lb and was very impressive overall in an easy decision win over Oleksandr Gvodzdyk. Benavidez does have hand injuries coming out of his win. So, what's his future? Dan also talks the Alberto Puello and Carlos Adames fights, as well. Then, the attention turns to the shocker in Puerto Rico, as 7-1 underdog Liam Paro knocked off IBF 140 lb. champ Subriel Matias in his hometown in Puerto Rico. How did Paro pull off such an impressive decision in the Matchroom main event win over Matias, who had been rolling with 5 straight KOs and 20 in 20 wins overall? And, what's in the future for the Aussie off the upset? T.J. and Dan talk the Boxxer main event in England as workman, hero Chris Billam-Smith won, again, in a WBO crusierweight title fight with Richard Riakporhe in London. And, is "CBS" headed to the United States potentially for a bigger bout/payday? There's fight news on the next PBC, non pay per view, card for August. Why did Leonard Ellerbe and Floyd Mayweather split up and whom is "The Monster" Naoya Inoue possibly fighting next? Finally, some nostalgia on Roberto Duran's birthday and a tremendous memory from Dan on the anniversary of Sugar Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya in June of 2000, too.  It's all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure that you are following/subscrbing on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

14 JUN 2024 · It's another huge weekend of fights with an historic PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas + title fights in Puerto Rico and England and we're ready to go over it all on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast." Host T.J. Rives is joined on scene in Vegas by our insider Dan Rafael to get his insight and more. The guys go over the Gervonta "Tank" Davis return in action with Frank Martin in the PBC/Amazon Prime PPV main event. Dan had a chance to speak for a few minutes with Davis about his lengthy layoff and how he thinks he will do in this bout back. They also talk David Benavidez moving up to light heavyweight and whether he's ready to be there full time, as fights in the co-feature. Dan also previews the other two bouts on the card. The guys discuss the Matchroom Boxing/DAZN battle, as IBF 140 lb. champ Subriel Matias makes a defense in Puerto Rico against unbeaten Australian Liam Parro and also the Boxxer Promotions WBO crusierweight title bout between champ Chris Billiam-Smith and Richard Riakpohre. There is fight news involving a new July opponent for newly elevated IBF welterweight champ Jaron Ennis, the September English card featurning Anthony Joshua taking shape, and will Canelo be forced to fight someone named William Sull or not? And, finally, Dan gets VERY nostalgic about being at the MGM Grand for the 100th boxing main event/PPV etc. for their famed arena. He's counted up that he's been there for an astounding 56 of those main event shows and recalls, as much as he can, about them. This includes the hall of famers like Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera and  Canelo Alvarez bouts. He has tremendous recall and stories! It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

11 JUN 2024 · On a special edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" our insider Dan Rafael had a recent one on one conversation wtih former two time WBC super middleweight champ and top 168 lb. contender David Benavidez. This is in advance of Benavidez moving up in weight, to 175 lb. in the co-feature fight of the Gervonta Davis PPV in Las Vegas this Saturday night. Benavidez talks with Dan about having to "wait out" an opprtunity to fight undisputed champ and future hall of famer, Canelo Alvarez. And, why he has chosed to instead move up to light heavyweight and take on former world champ, Oleksandr Gvozdyk? And, he talks about why he was willing to be in a co-feature fight on a PPV after having headlined a couple of PPVs sucessfully, recently, himself. It's a very interesting conversation with a fighter that appears to be on the verge of big things, continuing this weeekend and it's part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" on the Big Fight Weekend Podcast feed. Make sure to subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

10 JUN 2024 · While it was a lighter significance of action weekend, we are back to discuss it all from the two Top Rank Boxing rising stars winning at the MSG Theater, to a world champion defending and was it the end of Adrien Broner? We talk that, new of Ryan Garcia being arrested and some fantastic nostalgia anniversaries, too on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!" Host T.J. Rives and Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and BigFightWeekend.com return and go over it all on this show. First, chronologically, just how bad was former multi-division champ Adrien Broner, yet again, in his latest bout Friday night losing to B level fighter Blair Cobbs? What about how Puerto Rican WBO strawweight champ Oscar Collazo looked in his latest title defense win and will he be moving up soon. And, how did the unbeaten rising prospect/contenders Xander Zayas at 154 lb. and Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington at featherweight both fare in NYC? The guys discuss and look to the futures for the winners. There's news on the Saturday night arrest of troubled Ryan Garcia in Southern California. What happened and is he still incarcerated or not off the weekend? Clearly, he's a complete mess outside of the ring and he has a likely long suspension looming in New York from his failed PED tests around the Devin Haney fight. The boys also talk the rescheduling of Mike Tyson-Jake Paul for November and will we make to that date with Tyson's health and are we jeopardizing the further the delayed Amanda Serrano-Katie Taylor rematch by still waiting for Tyson-Paul? Plus, former WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder now has problems outside of the ring with his fiancee filing a retraining order to keep him away from her and their child. His career has unraveled and now personally, there are issues. Then, we talk nostalgia including the outstanding slugfest finish to the 1978 Larry Holmes-Ken Norton battle in Las Vegas, which may be the greatest 15th round in boxing history. And, Dan was ringside for Miguel Cotto's wild win over Zab Judah in 2007 and also the anniversary of Mike Tyson's last "real fight" a loss to Kevin McBride, that Dan had unique access to from 2005.  It's all part of the Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast and make sure to follow/subcribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!!

7 JUN 2024 · An interesting weekend of fights is about to unfold from Florida to New York and we're ready to discuss it. Plus, hear from former super middleweight champ David Benavidez, who moves up to light heavyweight on next week's Gervonta Davis PPV card, joins us and we have fight news and some big names in the anniversary nostalgia on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!" Host T.J. Rives (back from an Alaskan cruise) is ready to go with insider Dan Rafael from BigFightWeekend.com to cover it all. First, T.J. reports back from having been gone from his home in Tampa Bay all the way to the "Great White North" of Alaska and Western Canada. And, they guys briefly go over the " 5 vs. 5" resutlts from Saudi Arabia last weekend and comment on the postponement and potential canecellation of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. for July. Then, they go over the Friday fight cards from Miami, where former multi-division world champ Adrien Broner headlines the Don King show, to the Golden Boy/DAZN main event with WBO strawweight champ Oscar Collazo defending his title on the International Boxing Hall of Fame weekend in Verona, NY. And, they also preview the Top Rank Boxing/ESPN show from the Madison Square Garden Theater, as, unbeaten, rising junior middleweight contender Xander Zayas fights on Puerto Rican Day wekeend in NYC. Will Zayas be tested by veteran, former world champ Patrick Teixeira in the main event. Also, talented New York featherweight, Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington is in the co-featue. T.J. and Dan preview both fights and the potential for Zayas and Carrington beyond Saturday, as well. Then, hear from Benavidez, as he prepares to move up to 175 lb. next week in fighting former world cahmp Oleksandr Gvozdyk, as he talks with Dan about that fight and his future, including whether he still might fight Canelo Alvarez in the near future? There's fight news on Jared Anderson's new heavyweight opponent for August 3rd now that Deontay Wilder has been brutally kayoed again. What's the latest on whether Canelo will be stripped of his IBF title at 168. and also, Jaron Ennis needs a new opponent, too for his IBF welterweight title defense in Philly in July. Finally, there's anniversary nostalgia on a huge KO upset in the late 80s by Iran Barkley over Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and also Dan was there 22 years ago, now, for Lennox Lewis knocking out Mike Tyosn in Memphis, TN. It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!