Podcast: Loaded Beterbiev-Bivol card; Mayweather exhibition preview
Plus: Tons of news of the week; anniversary memories of two epic fights
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 is just one notable card over the weekend (and some might argue it being notable), a pay-per-view headlined by the exhibition rematch between Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti III. There is also the unveiling of a big undercard for the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol card; tons of news of the week; and memories of a pair of epic battles.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of the Mayweather-Gotti II pay-per-view card.
Turki Alalshikh’s announcement of a loaded undercard for the Oct. 12 Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol fight, which will include title defenses by WBC lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson and lineal/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, the much-anticipated rematch between heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke, and more.
Announcement of back-to-back major world title cards in Tokyo on Oct. 13 and 14 that will have seven world title bouts, including Takuma Inoue defending the WBA bantamweight title against Seiya Tsutsumi in the first main event and Junto Nakatani defending the WBC bantamweight belt versus Petch Sor Chitpattana in the headliner the next day.
I am in my 25th year of full-time boxing coverage. Take advantage of that experience by upgrading to a paid subscription for full access to all posts and comments — and also support independent journalism.
Former junior unified junior middleweight champions Jarrett Hurd and Jeison Rosario battling to a 10-round split draw at super middleweight on Wednesday.
The retirement announcement by former cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis, who rates as one of the best ever in the weight class.
Super middleweight Sergiy Derevyanchenko needing surgery on the torn tendon in his left arm he suffered in a decision loss to Christian Mbilli last week.
Memories on the 26th anniversary of when Ivan Robinson won a split decision over Hall of Famer Arturo Gatti, my all-time favorite fighter, in their first fantastic slugfest, which was the 1998 fight of the year.
Memories on the 43rd anniversary of Salvador Sanchez’s eighth-round knockout of fellow Hall of Famer Wilfredo Gomez to retain the WBC featherweight title in an all-time battle that is the best fight in the history of the Mexico-Puerto Rico boxing rivalry.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
We bring you the preview each Friday and the weekend recap each Monday. Let me know what you think of the podcast by leaving your comments.
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanRafaelBoxing
i picked Beterbiev to win, i just hope the injury and added aging doesn't effect this fight. It should have happened ages ago but it was clear Bivol's management were hoping for a Canelo rematch.
Great podcast Dan, as always. I'm going to watch some of those Gatti fights this weekend! Also, sorry to be a pain in the neck, but when your substack first went live, I signed up for the Founders membership, which included a chat with you. It's been a few years, and I've asked a few times, but we have not done it yet. Please let me know when you're available. Looking forward to chatting about boxing, and of course - Rocky! My email address is dkushin23@gmail.com. Thanks Dan.