Podcast: Did Cordina deserve win against Vazquez?; Ajagba shines
Plus: Mikaelian claims WBC cruiserweight title; is PBC going to Netflix, more news of the week; Bowe-Holyfield 2 & 3 anniversaries
A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.
There were three notable cards on Saturday and we discussed them: Joe Cordina’s close decision over Edward Vazquez to retain the IBF junior lightweight title; Noel Mikaelian’s one-sided third-round knockout of Ilunga Makabu to win the vacant WBC cruiserweight title; and heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba’s one-sided fourth-round knockout of Joe Goodall. We also covered various news of the week and shared memories on the anniversary of three major heavyweight fights.
Here’s what we discussed on this episode (in order):
Recap of Cordina’s highly entertaining decision over Vazquez in an extremely close fight and unheralded Adrian Curiel’s massive second-round upset knockout of Sivenathi Nontshinga to win the IBF junior flyweight title.
Recap of Mikaelian’s excellent performance against Makabu to win the vacant WBC cruiserweight title.
Recap of Ajagba’s destruction of Goodall and the excellent performance of lightweight up-and-comer Raymond Muratalla, who dominated and stopped Diego Torres in the eighth round in the co-feature.
Discussion of a Wall Street Journal report that Netflix is discussing some sort of deal with PBC and Jake Paul.
Former lightweight Felix Verdejo being sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his mistress and their unborn child.
The WBA ordering Otabek Kholmatov vs. Raymond Ford for its vacant featherweight title and Victor Morales vs. Luis Reynaldo Nunez in a final eliminator to produce the next mandatory challenger.
Memories of fights No. 2 (30 years ago) and No. 3 (28 years ago) of the legendary Riddick Bowe-Evander Holyfield trilogy.
Memories on the 29th anniversary of George Forman’s upset KO of Michael Moorer to regain the heavyweight title almost 20 years to the day after he lost it to Muhammad Ali in “The Rumble in the Jungle” and became, at age 45, the oldest champion in boxing history.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
We will be bringing you the weekend recap each Monday. Let me know what you think of the podcast by leaving your comments.
Cordina-Vazquez photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Please upgrade your subscription here: https://danrafael.substack.com/subscribe
Thank you so much for your support of Fight Freaks Unite!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danrafael1/
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanRafael1
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanRafaelBoxing