Podcast: Massive 'Day of Reckoning' recap; Joshua-Wilder dead
Plus: Preview of Inoue-Tapales; Conor Benn set for another U.S. fight; Larry Merchant update; Boxing Social appearance
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 was just one major show on Saturday and it was a huge one, the massive eight-fight “Day of Reckoning” DAZN PPV card that featured Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in the two top fights as they attempted to set up a March 9 mega fight that went down the drain with Wilder’s loss to Joseph Parker. We discussed the whole card. We also previewed Tuesday’s Naoya Inoue-Marlon Tapales unification fight for the undisputed junior featherweight title, covered news of the week and more.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap and thoughts on Wilder shockingly being routed by Parker, which wrecked the Joshua-Wilder fight. What happened? How did Parker do it? What might be next for both of them?
Recap and thoughts on Joshua’s superb performance against Otto Wallin and forcing his corner to stop the fight after the fifth round, including AJ fighting knowing the Wilder fight had been ruined; the prospect of a fight for the IBF title that is likely to become vacant; other fights that might there for him.
DAZN’s horrendous production that left Joshua-Wallin without any audio for the entirety of the first three rounds — more than half the fight.
Recap and thoughts on WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol’s shut out decision against Lyndon Arthur and the prospect of an undisputed title fight against the winner of Artur Beterbiev-Callum Smith.
Please upgrade to a paid subscription for full access to all posts and comments — and also help support independent journalism
Recap and thoughts on heavyweight Daniel Dubois’s 10th-round knockout of Jarrell Miller in a good fight and a good rebound performance for Dubois.
A look at the rest of the fights on the card: heavyweight Agit Kabayel TKO4 Arslanbek Makhmudov; lineal cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia KO1 Ellis Zorro; heavyweight Filip Hrgovic TKO1 Mark De Mori; and heavyweight Frank Sanchez TKO7 Junior Fa.
Preview of Inoue-Tapales for the undisputed 122-pound crown and the history that goes with it.
A good update on the health of Larry Merchant, who is in the hospital but whose situation was overly dramatized in TMZ’s report.
Announcement that Conor Benn will face Peter Dobson in a DAZN main event on Feb. 3 in Las Vegas with the Chris Eubank Jr. match falling apart.
The release on YouTube of Showtime’s 38-minute feature about the end of boxing on the network.
Memories on the 38th anniversary of when Rocky Balboa defeated Ivan Drago and helped end the Cold War and we answer the eternal question: Is Rocky IV a Christmas movie?
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.
Boxing Social appearance
I joined my friends at Boxing Social in the immediate aftermath of the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card and we discussed all, as well as the prospect of a Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia fight and more.
Joshua-Wallin 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
