Off a weekend that saw a big win for a star in the welterweight division we recap the Matchroom card, go over some fight news and have some excellent nostalgia on tap, as well. It's part of the newest "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast!"
Host T.J. Rives returns with insider Dan Rafael to break it all down.
They start with a recap of Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing/DAZN card in Atlantic City, NJ.
That saw welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis wipe out Eimantas Stanionis to unifiy the IBF/WBA titles and win the vacant Ring Magazine belt. Just how good was Ennis and of course, what is likely to do next?
On the undercard, junior lightweight Raymond Ford beat Thomas Mattice in garbage fight for the ages.
New pro/junior middleweight Omari Jones racks up an easy KO1 over William Jackson. Plus, welterweight Shakhram Giyasov KO4 Franco Ocampo (He’s Ennis’ due WBA mandatory)
Then, some News
WBC cruiserweight titlist Badou Jack has a new challenger in Noel Mikaelian, the “champion in recess,” who replaces injured mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki on the Canelo Alvarez-William Scull undercard on May 3 in Riyadh.
The WBO announced it has granted an extension to the purse bid deadline for the fight between WBO/WBC junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora and WBO mandatory challenger Xander Zayas at the request of both sides as they get closer to a deal. We discuss the likelihood that they'll meet soon.
Top Rank and PBC are in discussions for WBC junior lightweight titlist O’Shaquie Foster to defend against WBC featherweight titlist Stephen Fulton, who would move up.
And, Dan is interested, as the WBC unveiled several details of its four-division Grand Prix, whose first stage runs April 17-20 in Riyadh with early round bouts. Those will be in the four divisions having tournaments -- featherweight, junior welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight.
Nostalgia
April 12, 1997 – In a battle of legends in the making, Oscar De La Hoya defeats Pernell Whitaker. It started the real run of great fighters that De La Hoya would repeatedly meet and mostly, defeat in his career over the next decade.
April 16, 2011 – 14 years ago on Wednesday – Victor Ortiz decisioned Andre Berto to win the WBC welterweight title in a wild fight of the year contender with both guys down twice! Big Dan was ringside at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.
Hear it all on the "Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.