Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast

We are back for a HUGE junior middleweight title showdown as a DAZN pay per view in Brooklyn, NY takes place Saturday night between unified junior middleweight champ Xander Zayas and former unified welterweight champ Jaron "Boots" Ennis. And, we cover that, fight news and more on the newest "Big Fight Wekekend Preview Podcast!"

This show was originally live on Thursday afternoon on our BFW Youtube page.

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael are back with their insight and thoughts on the tremendous match-up of unbeatens at Barclays Center, as two of the top Americans in the sport will do battle. Zayas is stepping up in fight level and Ennis is having his second bout at 154 lb. The guys go over it all.

They also talk the undercard with Emiliano Vargas and England's Ben Whittaker fighting on it, as well.

Next, there's a recap of the exciting IBF Welterweight title fight Wednesday of Aussie Liam Paro defeating Ireland's Lewis Crocker in a close unanimous decision. Paro hung on to a lead on the cards with the champ scoring against him in the final two rounds. Paro is also only the second Australian to be a two division world champ. The guys have more on that and the welterweight picture.

Then, it's the latest news with hall of famer Floyd Mayweather's financial and legal troubles that have now cancelled his scheduled  exhibition in Greece Saturday and are jeopardizing his fights with Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao down the road. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!

There is also news on Joe Cordina of Wales being unable to travel to the USA for the July 4th WBO lightweight title fight with Abdullah Mason in Cleveland, OH. Cordina is in trouble with the law in his home country and was denied a visa to the USA. Mason will now fight Ohioian Albert Bell in the main event in his first title defense.

And, finally, the guys go over Oleksandr Usyk and a looming deadline to agree to fight WBC interim heavweight champ Agit Kabayel coming up. Will he fight him or vacate? And, if he does, who does the hard hitting Kabayel meet?

It's all part of the "BFW Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.! 
It's all part of our coverage here on this "Big Fight Weekend" Youtube page and also find our podcast feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's a special edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" as the courtroom drama involving hall of famer Floyd Mayweather being sued by promoter CSI took to the Southern District Court of NY late Wednesday afternoon.

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael, who listened in as a media member to the telephonic court hearing, give the full setup to what went on for almost two hours.

And, then you will hear Judge Vernon Broderick hold the hearing with the plantiffs wanting to stop Mayweather's exhibition fight this Saturday in Greece with kickboxer Mike Zambidis. And, you'll hear the defendants attorneys including for Mayweather with their response.

You'll also hear CSI talk candidly for the first time that they want the judge to enforce the contract, because they want Mayweather to participate in their exhibition with former undisputed heavyweight champ Mike Tyson in CSI's exhibition, first.

The judge is expected to rule to tomorrow, as time is of the essence.

Hear all of the "back and forth" exclusively on this podcast! And, make sure to stay with us on this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Coming up Saturday night in Brooklyn, NY, it's the DAZN pay per view showdown for the unfiied junior middleweight titles as unbeatens Xander Zayas and Jaron "Boots' Ennis square off in one of the biggest fights of 2026.

And, before that action takes place the DAZN lead analyst and former junor middleweight champ himself, Sergio Mora, joins host T.J. Rives in a preview conversation!

First, the guys talk two massively talented fighters that Mora has called recent fights for in Shakur Stevenson and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez. Sergio gives the breakdown on what they do well and their respective futures, including Bam perhaps fighting Naoya "The Monster" Inoue in what would be one of the biggest smaller weight fights in this decade?

Then, the talk turns to Saturday night and what Mora thinks of the matchup and in particular, the challenge that Zayas faces stepping up in compettion with a great fighter in Ennis. Also, what is like to be in the big arenas at the big moments calling these fights on the broadcast?

Sergio also has more on working with play by play man Todd Grisham and analyst/interviewer Chris Mannix, as well.

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

We are back off a lighter weekend in the ring to talk about the chaotic opponent situation for Oscar Collazo's planned strawweight title fight in California and plenty of fight news, too, on the latest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns iwth insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and newletter have their insight and takes.

First, they recap Saturday’s Golden Boy DAZN main event in Oceanside, California
Collazo TKO2 over late replacement, Neider Valdez in what turned out to be flyweight non-title fight. We have more on the whole mess with an opponent and what's next for him? Dan also has more briefly on the undercard fights, too.

Next, a recap Saturday’s Queensberry DAZN main event in Southampton, England
Junior lightweight Ryan Garner W12 Michael Magnesi, wins vacant WBC interim title in a very competitive bout. Dan gives his thoughts.
 
Then, some news

The nastiness of Oscar De La Hoya/Golden Boy's feud with unbeaten contender Vergil Oritz over his contract status may be worked out before the scheduled arbitration for mid July. We have more on the situation and can Ortiz finally get back in the ring?

Next, Floyd Mayweather faces two felonies for writing a bad check for $200,000 for a watch in Las Vegas as well as lawsuit from CSI, which has his rights for the Tyson exhibition and Pacquiao rematch, because he took a $4.5 million advance and they say he has breached the contract; they have filed indistrict court in NY to stop his exhibition vs. Mike Zambidis in Athens, Greece, scheduled for this coming Saturday.

It's a Done deal, presser on Monday -- heavyweight Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic will meet August 29 (DAZN PPV or DAZN Ultimate) at The O2 in London. Hrgovic signed the deal on Friday.

Also, PBC announces Spence-Tszyu Prime Video PPV undercard (July 25 in U.S. prime time, Sunday July 26 in Sydney, Australia). It’s US vs Australia -- Jermall Charlo, for his first fight in 14 months and third fight since 2021, will face Koen Mazoudier in a 10-round super middleweight fight. Stephen Fulton vs. Liam Wilson in a 12-round junior lightweight fight. 2024 Australian Olympian and middleweight prospect Callum Peters vs. TBA in a 10-rounder The WBA CLAIMS in a statement that it will reduce titles as it had once done AND announced the elimination of the bridgerweight division.

Talks going on for a three-belt cruiserweight unification bout between WBA/WBO champ David Benavidez and WBC titleholder Noel Mikaelian. How realistic is this for later in the year?

And, the Egyptian Professional Boxing Association denied Rico Verhoeven’s appeal of his controversial 11th-round stoppage by lineal/unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on May 23 at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt.

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

We are back with a recap of the big win by Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez to caputre a world title, we have plenty of fight news and we have a titlle for the NY Knicks in Pro Basketball and the host is headed on a vacation! We cover it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and newsletter to give their insight and takes on it all.

Dan MUST talk first about his Knicks finally, finally, after 53 years winning the NBA title Saturday night in San Antonio. Has he gotten memorabilla already? Will he be at the parade on Thursday through Manhattan? It's all discussed.

T.J. cares only slightly, as he lives in Florida and is headed on a CRUISE with his family after this show!

So we are ready to get to it!

First, a recap of the Sataurday night Matchroom Boxing main event at Glendale, Arizona
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez KO6 Antonio Vargas and wins WBA bantamweight title. Bam is rolling and is one of the best in the sport. Now, will he get the mega-fight with Naoya Inoue next or not? The guys go over everything.
 
Then, some news
Announcement during the Saturday Matchroom card that super middleweight Diego Pacheco will headline against Immanuwel Aleem on July 26 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Andy Cruz vs. Albert Bell IBF lightweight eliminator in the co-feature.  

No is done yet, but PBC is working to make WBA junior welterweight titlist Gary Antuanne Russell to make his second defense against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (the WBC interim titlist) in late August or September.  

Heavyweight Moses Itauma’s summer date has been moved to Aug. 29 in London but the hunt is still on for an opponent as Filip Hrgovic has turned down the fight for August. T.J. wonders on all levels WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE with Itauma, who needs rounds and credibility not fighting more regularly.

Next, talks are going on for a mandatory fight between WBA lightweight titlist Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Floyd Schofield. How realistic is this for either of them.

Opponents set for Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins on Zuffa Boxing’s NYC debut card July 26 at Madison Square Garden Theater. Berlanga will take on two-time middleweight title challenger Steven Butler and Hitchins, moving up to welterweight, will face Ricardo Salas. Dan has more on the matchups.

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