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  • Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez Gets Bantamweight Title + Fight News And More! | Fight Freaks Unite Recap

    Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez Gets Bantamweight Title + Fight News And More! | Fight Freaks Unite Recap
    2026/06/15
    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.!
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    1 時間 4 分
  • Bam Rodriguez Goes For Bantamweight Title With Antonio Vargas + Fight News! | BFW Preview Podcast

    Bam Rodriguez Goes For Bantamweight Title With Antonio Vargas + Fight News! | BFW Preview Podcast
    2026/06/12
    One of the top pound for pound fighters in the sport is back and we're ready to discuss his title challenge and go over a bunch of fight news, as well 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 with all of their insight and takes.

    First, a preview of the Saturday night’s Matchroom DAZN main event at Glendale, Ariz.
    Antonio Vargas vs. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, 12 rounds, for Vargas’ WBA bantamweight title. Bam is looking for another world title in a 3rd division with sights set on Naoya "the Monster" Inoue. But, can he get back the talented champ Vargas, who is admittedly never been in with a fighter like Bam? The boys debate it all.

    Then, some news
    International Boxing Hall of Fame inductions are on Sunday in Verona, NY, 12 person class in five categories led by modern men: Gennadiy Golovkin, Nigel Benn and Antonio Tarver. Dan has much more on the HOF and the weekend and those being honored.
    Next, Golden Boy Promottions and Oscar De La Hoya sent Zuffa Boxing and parent company TKO a "cease and desist letter" related to the making of the proposed Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn massive bout, because they have not been included in the talks for the Sept. 12 fight, And, they claim Garcia is contractually bound to DAZN and cant fight on Paramount+ or Netflix, where they may do the fight. Not a surprising mess, once again, for Zuffa.


    And, then, MVP Promotions announces that WBC/WBA women’s junior middleweight titleholder Mikaela Mayer and WBO titlist Chantelle Cameron, two of the best and most well-known female boxers, will meet to unify their titles on Aug. 29 (ESPN+ in U.S., Sky Sports in U.K.) at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, England. A tremendous matchup on paper.

    Then, British promoter Boxxer has secured a deal with DAZN beginning August 8 at First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, England with British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Troy Williamson defending in a rematch with Callum Simpson.

    Almost comically, iVB Boxing has canceled a July 11 event at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, where they bragged they would challenge the all-time attendance record 135,132 for Tony Zale-Billy Pryor, a free card in Milwaukee in 1941. NO SHOCK!!!! Dan has more.

    And, Floyd Mayweather, at 49, who is mired in deep financial problems, will go through with a boxing exhibition he announced in early March against retired Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis on June 27 at Telekom Center in Athens, Greece. The six-round exhibition will headline the “Battle of Legends” event on DAZN PPV, it was announced on Wednesday.

    Hear it all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!
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    57 分
  • Bam Rodriguez Conversation With Dan Rafael 6 9 26

    Bam Rodriguez Conversation With Dan Rafael 6 9 26
    2026/06/09
    Coming up Saturday night in Arizona, unified 115 lb. champ Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez steps up to challenge Antonio Vargas for the WBA world bantamweight title.

    It would be the San Antonio, TX native Bam's third world title win in a third different weight division and he also has his sights set on a much, much, bigger name in Naoya "The Monster" Inoue.

    Hear one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world discuss it all with our insider Dan Rafael in this one on one interview.

    It's all part of a special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" on this feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!
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    11 分
  • Chris Billam-Smith Wins Wild Bout And Masamichi Yabuki Defends IBF Title + Fight News | Fight Freaks Unite Recap

    Chris Billam-Smith Wins Wild Bout And Masamichi Yabuki Defends IBF Title + Fight News | Fight Freaks Unite Recap
    2026/06/08
    It was a busy fight weekend in England, Japan and even Montreal and we're ready to go over it all and some fight news and great nostalgia on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

    Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and newsletter and are full of takes and insight.

    Fisrt, a recap of Saturday's Zuffa Boxing Paramount+/Sky Sports main event in Bournemouth, England
    Chris Billam-Smith TKO 7 over Ryan Rozicki, cruiserweights. This was a wild slugfest won by Billam-Smith. Now, how big a fight will he get next?

    Next, a recap of the Saturday Kameda Promotions show in Tokoname, Japan
    Masamichi Yabuki W12 Rene Calixto and retains IBF flyweight title.
    Andrew Moloney edges out Willibaldo Garcia in 12 and wins IBF junior bantamweight title
    And, John Riel Casimero TKO4 Luis Nery, featherweights

    We also recap Thursday night's Eye of the Tiger/DAZN card in Montreal
    Albert Ramirez W12 Lerrone Richards, retains WBA interim light heavyweight title. A TREMENDOUSLY controversial decision according to Big Dan. And,
    Jhon Orobio and Imam Khataev won on the undercard.

    Next, some news
    Former middleweight and junior middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade is returning to the ring for the first time in 2½ years on July 24th. We have more.

    Next, Dana White at his post fight presser after Saturday’s card in England agains insisted he/Zuffa will be the promoter for Joshua-Fury, while Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren say otherwise. We go over the "preschool fighting over the toy."

    Also, Zuffa announces their next overseas show – August 8 at 3Arena in Dublin. Etinosa Oliha vs. Aaron McKenna headliner for the vacant IBF middleweight title and middleweight Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny in the co-feature.

    Dan has learned junior middleweight contender Charles Conwell, out of action since his only loss in April 2025, will be back on the Lamont Roach Jr.-William Zepeda card Aug. 1 (DAZN, TNT, truTV).

    And, it's official: Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili for undisputed women’s junior welterweight title Sept. 5 (DAZN) at 82,000-seat Croke Park in Dublin. The presser was Friday and it will be the first boxing event there since Muhammad Ali KO11Alvin “Blue” Lewis July 19, 1972.

    Finally, the guys look back on the historic Oscar De La Hoya win over legend Julio Cesar Chavez on June 7, 1996. It was the "passing of the torch" fight in Mexican boxing history with a twsit on it. Dan explains the siginificance. And, we go over other nostalgia from Lennox Lewis to Iran Barkley to Miguel Cotto on this day, too.

    It's all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!
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    1 時間 8 分
  • Bam Rodriguez Joins Us + Chris Billam-Smith Debuts For Zuffa And Champ Doubleheader In Japan | BFW Preview Podcast

    Bam Rodriguez Joins Us + Chris Billam-Smith Debuts For Zuffa And Champ Doubleheader In Japan | BFW Preview Podcast
    2026/06/05
    We're back in June with a cruiserweight contender battle in England, a championship doubleheader in Japan and one of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport joins us, as well, on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

    Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael to go over it all with their insight and takes.

    They start with a preview of the Saturday Zuffa Boxing Paramount+/Sky Sports main event in Bournemouth, England
    Chris Billam-Smith vs. Ryan Rozicki, 10 rounds, cruiserweights. Is the winner in position for Zuffa's Jai Opetaia? It seems so.

    Also, a preview of the early Saturday (USA time) Kameda Promotions carfd in Tokoname, Japan
    Masamichi Yabuki vs. Rene Calixto, for Yabuki’s IBF flyweight title. Yabuki is a tremendous puncher but Calixto has world title experience, Plus,
    Willibaldo Garcia vs. Andrew Moloney, for Garcia’s IBF junior bantamweight title is discussed, too.

    Then, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez talks with Dan-
    The lineal and three-belt junior bantamweight champion moves up to bantamweight to challenge WBA titleholder Antonio Vargas on June 13 at Glendale, Arizona, and a win likely will propel him to a Naoya Inoue undisputed junior featherweight title fight in the Fall. Hear more from one of the best in the sport!

    And, some news:

    In an unusual ruling, the WBC has ordered cruiserweight titlist Noel Mikaelian to next make a mandatory defense against David Benavidez, the unified WBO/WBA cruiserweight champ, who also still holds the WBC light heavyweight title. There is debate here over all of this.

    Next, Irish national hero Katie Taylor, the unified women’s junior welterweight champion and one of the top female boxers of all time, will get her wish for her retirement fight to take place at famed Croke Park in Dublin. There is a Friday presser at the famed venue for an announcement that will be the Taylor fight. She will face IBF mandatory challenger Flora Pili on September 5th, also for the vacant WBC title.

    Also, Lindolfo Delgado (Top Rank Boxing) and Eye of the Tiger fighter Arthur Biyarslanov are negotiating the vacant IBF junior welterweight title fight that was ordered after Teofimo Lopez (moving up), Oscar Duarte (injured) and Keyshawn Davis (moving up), all ahead of Biyarslanov in the IBF rankings, turned down the fight.

    Now official: Lamont Roach-William Zepeda for the vacant WBC lightweight title fight has been announced for August 1st at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. It wiill headline Golden Boy card on DAZN and be simulcast on TNT and truTV in the US.

    Finally, Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s death. The boys discuss the greatness of Ali for awhile.

    It's all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.
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    1 時間 15 分
  • O'Shaquie Foster and Dmitry Bivol Defend Titles Easily + Fight News! | Fight Freaks Unite Recap

    O'Shaquie Foster and Dmitry Bivol Defend Titles Easily + Fight News! | Fight Freaks Unite Recap
    2026/06/01
    A busy championship weekend at two sites in Texas and in Russia and we're ready to go over all of the action and have some fight news on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

    Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of his Fight Freaks Unite Substack and Newsletter return with their insight and takes.

    First, they recap Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing DAZN card in Houston
    O’Shaquie Foster W12 Ray Ford, retains WBC junior lightweight title. We have more on Foster's victory and what's next for him?

    Next, a recap of Saturday’s RCC Boxing DAZN main event in Ekaterinburg, Russia
    Dmitry Bivol returns and W112 over a pathetic Michael Eifert and retains lineal/unified lightweight titles. Will we see a thrid Beterbiev bout or David Benavidez instead

    And, a recap of Saturday’s MVP ESPN card in El Paso, Texas
    Stephanie Han W10 majority Holly Holm in a rematch and retains WBA women’s lightweight title. Was this close fight rightfully given to Han?

    And, Amanda Serrano TKO2 Cheyenne Hanson, retains WBO/WBA women’s featherweight title. The future hall of famer also matches a KO record. We debate that and her future.

    Finally, a recap of Saturday’s Boxxer main event in London
    Junior welterweight Adam Azim TKO3 Steve Claggett. Azim is on the rise and we have more.

    Then, some news
    Plans for the Golden Boy DAZN card on Aug. 1 headlined by William Zepeda-Lamont Roach for the vacant WBC lightweight title to now include IBF titlist Ray Muratalla defense vs. Robson Conceicao in the co-feature with plans for the winners to unify later in the year.

    Former two-division titleholder Jermall Charlo, whose personal issues and mental health problems have limited him to just two fights since 2021, will be back on the Errol Spence-Tim Tszyu undercard on July 25. Charlo has been virtuallyl non-existent in the ring over the last 5 years.

    And, Forbes put out their top 50 highest-paid athletes from May 2025 to May 2026 and it includes two combat athlete: No. 2 Canelo Alvarez and No. 23 Jake Paul. We talk the BIG bucks!

    It's all part of the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.
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    1 時間 6 分
  • Rico Verhoeven Conversation With Dan Rafael 5 30 26 | BFW Preview Podcast

    Rico Verhoeven Conversation With Dan Rafael 5 30 26 | BFW Preview Podcast
    2026/05/30
    Off his tremendous showing in the unified heavyweight fight last Saturday night with Oleksandr Usyk, former kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven made a lot of believers in him/his boxing ability in a hurry.
    Although the fight ended officially with an 11th-round TKO loss to Usyk, he was arguably winning the fight headed into the final rounds.

    Now, hear Verhoeven with our insider Dan Rafael in a one on one conversation about the bout, the respect he has earned and most importantly- what will be next for him?

    It's all part of our "Big Fight Weekend" Podcast feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.
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    13 分
  • O'Shaquie Foster-Raymond Ford Battle In Houston, Dmitry Bivol Defends + Rico Verhoeven Joins Us! | BFW Preview Podcast

    O'Shaquie Foster-Raymond Ford Battle In Houston, Dmitry Bivol Defends + Rico Verhoeven Joins Us! | BFW Preview Podcast
    2026/05/29
    We are back to preview fights in the month of May for the final time, as their aro title bouts in Houston and El Paso, TX and Russia to go over. Plus, the man who was winning the heavyweight title fight in Egypt last weekend (until he wasn't) joins us for a conversation on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

    Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael to give their takes and insight on all that's going on in and out of the ring.

    First, they preview the Matchroom Boxing main event Saturday on DAZN in Houston
    O’Shaquie Foster vs. Raymond Ford, for Foster’s WBC junior lightweight title. A compelling fight between two known Americans with the Texan Foster looking for bigger things if he defends.

    Next, the RCC/Matchroom Boxing main event earlier Saturday on DAZN in Ekaterinburg, Russia on DAZN.Dmitry Bivol is back meeting mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, for Bivol’s lineal/IBF/WBA light heavyweight title. But, the WBO won't sanction the bout. We have the latest on this one.

    And, also the MVP ESPN card Saturday night in El Paso, Texas, on ESPN
    Stephanie Han vs. Holly Holm, rematch, for Han’s WBA women’s lightweight title. Dan wants to know "What are We DOING HERE?!" Plus, Amanda Serrano vs. Cheyenne Hanson, for Serrano’s WBO/WBA women’s featherweight title in the co-feature.

    Next RICO VERHOEVEN INTERVIEW with Big Dan
    Discussion of his 11th-round TKO loss challenging heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk this past Saturday at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. How and why did he do so well and does he want to keep boxing or not?

    And, then some news
    WBA orders lightweight titlist Gervonta Davis to make mandatory vs. Floyd Schofield but "Tank" has more bigger problems outside the ring with a new warrant for his arrest in Maryland related to an alleged probation violation from his hit and run plea there. He's also facing domestic violence charges in South Florida and as T.J. says, it may be jail time coming in Maryland for probation violation.

    Next, it was announced: Murat Gassiev will defend the WBA “regular” heavyweight title (yawn) against Tony Yoka in the headliner of an IBA Pro card on July 11 at VTB Arena in Moscow.

    Former two-time heavyweight titleholder Hasim Rahman, who is 53 and been retired since 2014, is planning a comeback: July 14 at Rochester’s ESL Ballpark. BIG- WHAT. ARE. WE DOING. HERE?! The man is 53 and was beaten and beaten and beaten in the last few years of his career.

    Also, Keyshawn Davis has declined the opportunity to face fellow Top Rank fighter Lindolfo Delgado for the vacant IBF junior welterweight title, because he plans to move up to welterweight. We have more.

    Plus, the results from two IBF purse bids conducted Wednesday at their convention in Vietnam for Albert Bell-Andy Cruz lightweight final eliminator and Bakhram Murtazaliev-Brandon Adams junior middleweight final eliminator are discussed briefly.

    It's all part of the "BFW Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!!
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    1 時間 9 分