Mikaela Mayer Conversation With Dan Rafael | Fight Freaks Unite Podcast

It's a jammed packed PPV in Saudi Arabia with the headliner being heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou and also, a jammed packed edition of news and interviews on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to cover all the stories and the fight matchups.


The guys discuss first the Thursday news that Jake Paul will apparently fight in some type of boxing match, Mike Tyson (who's now almost 58 years old), coming in July. What is really going on and will the state of Texas license this bout, as an actual boxing match?

Then, it's a breakdown of the "Knockout Chaos" PPV as Joshua and Ngannou square off in a 10 round main event. How big is the moment for Joshua, especially if he can't beat Ngannou? And, there's also discussion on the undercard with three other title bouts including Zhilei Zhang fighting Joseph Parker in a WBO interim title bout.

Dan also has a one on one conversation with rising junior middleweight Callum Walsh who headlines in NYC on Friday March 15th. Is Walsh in the mix soon for a title shot and what does Dan think of him?

Next, there's an update on the potential Canelo Alvarez undisputed super middleweight bout with Jaime Munguia. Is it done for May 4th, but where will the bout air? Dan has the late Thursday updates and how the deal got worked out?

There's more news on the Naoya Inoue May 6th undisputed defense at the Tokyo Dome and the rest of the card of title fights. And then, some nostalgia on Mike Tyson, Canelo and even Ali-Frazier I anniversaries for this week.

Hear it all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, Google, etc.

It's the highly anticipated second professional fight for former UFC star Francis Ngannou as he battles for unified heavyweight boxing champ Anthony Joshua Friday night in Saudi Arabia on PPV. And, Ngannou is a guest here with our insider Dan Rafael on a special "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast."

Will Ngannou be able to hang in with Joshua, especially after he shoed stamina, heart and even a pretty good left, by knocking down Tyson Fury last October. Even though Fury got the decision win, most were shocked at how good Ngannou looked in his boxing debut and how much he challenged the WBC champ.

Now, Joshua wants a piece of Ngannou. And, Dan talks with him about the similarites and differences in this fight coming up? Also, what are Ngannou's plans to go back to mixed martial arts or not, particularly, if he pulls the upset of Joshua?

Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" as part of the Big Fight Weekend podcast feed and make sure to subscribe on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, etc.!

A wild weekend of fights that saw a dramatic TKO win for Ray Ford for the WBA featherweight crown, a shocking cancellation of Amanda Serrano's Puerto Rico homecoming title defense, former UFC star turned boxing heavyweight Francis Ngannou joins us and more on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast."

Host T.J. Rives is back with Dan Rafael, insider of BigFightWeekend.com to cover all the relevant recaps, news, the interview iwth Ngannou and nostalgia.

First, the guys talk the Top Rank Boxing main event Ford TKO of Otabek Kholmatov in the 12th and final round of a fight that he was losing on two of the scorecards. What about this bout as a "fight of the year candidate?" And, could their be a rematch? Dan has thoughts on that and also Luis Alberto Lopez scoring the KO over his Japanese challenger in the co-feature. Will Ford maybe fight Lopez next?

Next, T.J. talks with BigFightWeekend.com writer Saadeq Ahmed, who was in the arena in the Turning Stone Resort Arena in Verona, NY, for his thoughts on the Fod incredible win with just seconds left in a fight he loses, if the final bell rings. Saadeq relays how crazy and loud it was in the arena in this one.

Next, T.J. and Dan talk the Jake Paul latest squash KO, as he beats Ryan Bourland, again in just a single round. What's the future of these kind of one sided, too easy bouts for Paul's credibility? Then, they talk the crazy eye injury for Amanda Serrano that kept her from fighting in her featherweight unified title defense. What happened and what does it mean for Serrano's future? Great insight here.

Then, there's fight news on Canelo Alvarez maybe returning to PBC and Amazon for PPV after all? What broadcast outlet and against whom will he fight coming May 4th? Dan has the latest on what he's found out.

Dan goes over other news on Jermell Charlo being stripped of his final belt at 154 and Terence Crawford is looking at deals as a promotional free agent now.



Finally, some GREAT nostalgia on the Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez anniversary of two of their fights. Plus, we have a Felix Trinidad world title win and Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker moving up to another weight class for a world title win.

Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" on the Big Fight Weekend podcast feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, etc.!

It's a featherweight world title doubleheader in New York, Jake Paul returns in Puerto Rico with Amanda Serrano being the main event bout, some fight news on whether Canelo Alvarez has a new broadcaster for his May fight and what does it mean for Premier Boxing Champions and their future iwth Amazon PPV? It's all part of the latest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to go over it all.

Up first is the divorce for Canelo from PBC and what it means for both. Dan has great insight and T.J. wonders if PBC's deal with Amazon isn't virutally dead before it begins?

They preview the Ray Ford battle with Otabek Kholmatov for the vacant WBA featherweight crown in the Top Rank Boxing/ESPN main event. It's a highly entertaining fight on paper and the winner may very well get a shot at the winner of the co-feature in New York. That bout is the IBF featherweight showdown held by Luis Alberto Lopez. And, he defends Japanese fighter Reiya Abe.

Next there's discussion on the DAZN show from MVP Promotions as Amanda Serrano defends her three featherweight belts in a 12 round ladies title defense. Also, on the card is Jake Paul fightning his latest cruiserweight lower level bout hoping to gain more experience and perhaps another big KO.

There's more fight news from the WBA clarifying who their top super middleweight is, when is junior welterweight contender Arnold Barboza going to be back and what's next for one of the most spectacular fighters of the 2010s in Gennady Golovkin?

There's fight nostalgia anniversaries this week on two bouts that Dan was at ringside for involving Juan Manuel Marquez and Roy Jones, Jr.

It's all on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to be following/subscrbing to us on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, Google, etc.!!

A bounce back KO for unbeaten super middleweight Edgar Berlanga leads off, but we also have KOs in the Japanese bantamweight title fights and some tremendous nostalgia involving the massive heavyweight title upset by then, Cassius Clay over Sonny Liston, on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives is joined by insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com and they go break it all down.

From Berlanga's KO of Padraig McCrory in Orlando headlining the Matchroom Boxing show there to the wins by knockout for Takuma Inoue and Junto Nakatani in separate world bantamewieght title fights in Tokyo, there's lots of insight and analysis.

There's also fight news on whom Subriel Matias and his next opponent at 140 lb., Francis Ngannou will apparently go back to MMA after he boxes Anthony Joshua in two weeks and why is Ryan Garcia the only one saying that his Devin Haney title challenge isn't happening in New York?

Finally, some nostalgia on Clay/Muhammad Ali caprturing the heavyeight title in a massive surprise of over Sonny Liston 60 years ago this weekend and the horrible result for American Gerald McClellan being knocked out and being permanently brain damaged by Nigel Benn in February 1995. And, some personal insight on Dan Rafael beginning his boxing career, as the USA today boxing writer 24 years ago this weekend.


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

It's the return of a prominent U.S. supermiddleweight, a Japanese championship tripleheader and an up and coming featherweight readies for title shot and talks to us on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to cover it all

First up, it's the Saturday Matchroom on DAZN card in Orlando, Florida
Unbeaten Edgar Berlanga meets Padraig McCrory in the main event and is looking to get back on the KO track. Dan also has thoughts on former Cuban Gold Medalist Andy
Cruz meeting Brayan Zamarripa in lightweight battle.

Then, the guys preview the Japanese card as Alexandro Santiago meets unbeaten Junto Nakatani, for Santiago’s WBC bantamweight title. Nakatani is favored and at home and will he move and gain another world title? Dan alos has thoughts on the undercarding including, the brother of "The Monster" Naoya Inoue, Takuma Inoue meeting Jerwin Ancajas, for Inoue’s WBA bantamweight title Then, hear Dan one one one with unbeaten contender Ray Ford. He fights Otabek Kholmatov for the vacant WBA featherweight title March 2 in the main event of the Top Rank on ESPN+ featherweight title doubleheader in Verona, New York

Then, we cover fight news on Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia landing in Brooklyn NY at Barclays Center -- NOT Las Vegas.

Plus, what is David Benavidez doing in the event that Canelo Alvarez won't fight him in May?

Why did the IOC deny Manny Pacquiao’s bid at age 45 to compete in the Paris Olympics this Summer?

Finally, there's nostaltgia from 4 years ago Thursday, as Tyson Fury pummels Deontay Wilder and stops him in round 7 of their rematch to retain the lineal title and win the WBC heavyweight title. Dan was ringside.

And, it was 21 years ago Thursday – Mike Tyson scored his final win, a 49-second KO of Clifford Etienne in Memphis. This was the face tattoo fight and Tyson saying "SPINAL!!!!!!!!!!" Dan was also there.

Hear it all on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, Google, etc.

A title defense win by O'Shaquie Foster in New York, a title regained by Sivenathi Nontshinga in Mexico, some news and tremendous Julio Cesar Chavez nostalgia are all part on the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com return to go over it all.

First, they discuss the ESPN/Top Rank Boxing main event win by Foster over Abraham Nova for the WBC 130 lb. title and what's potentially is next for the champ after his second defense. Dan also goes over the undercard, especially with Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington scoring a booming KO.

Next, the discussion turns to Nontshinga and his redemptive KO in the Matchroom/DAZN main event over Adrien Curel to recapture his IBF junior flyweight title. It was impressive to go to Mexico and out slug the man who had kayoed him.

Then, there is some news involving heavyweight Jared "Real Big Baby" Anderson, junior middleweight Charles Conwell and more.

And, finally some tremendous nostalgia with a massive crowd watching hall of famer Julio Cesar Chavez in Mexico City pummel Greg Haugen and the first bout of the Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera amazing trilogy, too.

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

A pair of Friday ngiht world title fights to preview, some fight news including a UK rematch two years in the making and some tremendous nostalgia involving Leon Spinks being like Buster Douglas before Buster Dougla is all part of the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast!"

Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to cover it all.

The guys preview the O'Shaquie Foster WBC 130 lb. title defense agaisnt veteran Abraham "Super" Nova in the ESPN/Top Rank main event from New York. Foster has been involved in some wild, close fights and Nova looks to take his belt.

Also, in Mexico on DAZN it's a light flyweight title rematch with Adrien Curiel taking on Sivenathi Nontshinga, Curiel stunned the champ Nontshinga with a one punch KO in the second round last November and now defends in his home country.

Then, there's fight news on the long awaited Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall rematch from 2022. Taylor, the former undisputed junior welterweight champ, got a close, controversial decision win and now, Catterall gets a shot at him again, but in a non-title fight. The guys give their thougts.

Next, there's discussion on whether Jermall Charlo will be or won't be the Canelo Alvarez opponent on May 4th? And, if it's not him, then whom?

Then, there's tremendous anniversary nostalgia as it was 46 years ago that Leon Spinks pulled a massive upset over "the Greatest" Muhammad Ali to become the undisputed heavyweight champ. How did Spinks pull off the win? Does it compare to other massive heavyweight title upsets? And, did it only add to Ali's legacy that he won the title back later in 1978.

Also, Dan has his own nostalgia about this week in 2003 and his marriage proposal....that came AFTER he had to see an HBO title fight on TV first!

Hear it all on the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, Google, etc.

It's a special edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" as our insider Dan Rafael got a one on one conversation with International Boxing Hall of Famer, Oscar De La Hoya, on a couple of big, relevant subjects.

First, Oscar, who heads up his Golden Boy Promotions, talks with Dan about the making of the deal for the WBC 140 lb. title coming on PPV, as Devin Haney will defend against his fighter, Ryan Garcia. This one was "on" then "off," and now, it's back "on." Why did it finally come together and get made? Also, Oscar gives details about when and where it will be happening.

Dan also couldn't let the 25 year anniversary this week of De La Hoya's thrilling win over Ike Quartey pass without talking with him on it. Oscar relieves the wild fight that saw both of them down in the middle of the fight, but De La Hoya's furious final two rounds and near stoppage in the 12th won him the bout. Oscar gives great insight on it from 1999.

All of it is on this edition of the "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe for more content like this on the Big Fight Weekend podcast feed on Apple, Spreaker, Spotify, Google, etc.!!

A quick night of work for a British up and coming middleweight, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia have signed to fight for April and some great nostalgia on the annversary of Buster Douglas stunning Mike Tyson in the greatest boxing upset ever. And, it's all on the latest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"
Host T.J. Rives is back with insider Dan Rafael of BigFightWeekend.com to go over it all.

First, they talk the two fight cards in London, including rising middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz scoring a wipeout first round KO of veteran Liam Williams in the Queensberry Promotions main event. How impressed should we be with Sheeraz vs. is Williams washed up? Dan gives thoughts also on Sheeraz's prospects short term.

They also discuss the Reece Belotti decision win for the Commonwealth 130 lb. title in the Matchroom main event.

Then, there's an update on the now signed Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia upcoming April 20th bout for Haney's WBC junior welterweight crown. It's a very intriguing battlw and the two fighers even got into it with some shoving at the Super Bowl radio row in Las Vegas.

Finaly, some excellent nostalgia on the 34th anniversary of Buster Douglas kayoing the seemingly invincible Mike Tyson in Tokyo. The guys talks where they were in 1990, plus what about the fact that HBO only showed the fight that night with no immediate replay? There's a lot of insight on it all.

Plus, they reminisce about a dramatic Oscar De La Hoya win over Ike Quartey to win a decision in a resume' building title fight. It's been 25 years, but it was a huge night for Oscar.

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