Podcast: Moses Itauma interview ahead of Dillian Whyte showdown
Libya card preview; new Eubank-Benn 2 date, Beterbiev update, and a lot more news of the week
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.
It’s a very light fight weekend with one card, which we previewed. There is also my one-on-one interview with rising heavyweight star Moses Itauma ahead of a big step-up fight against longtime contender Dillian Whyte next week and several notable news items of the week we went over. Also, check out and subscribe to the YouTube channel for a variety of content.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Preview of the card in Benghazi, Libya — you read that right — on Friday on DAZN that features exciting up-and-comer Mirco Cuello against Sergio Rios Jimenez for the vacant WBA interim featherweight title and Albert Ramirez versus Jerome Pampellone in a WBA light heavyweight title eliminator.
My interview with Itauma, the 2024 Fight Freaks Unite prospect of the year, as he gets set to step up in class against British countryman Dillian Whyte in the main event of a DAZN PPV on Aug. 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
I am in my 26th 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 support independent journalism.
The announcement of a new date for the middleweight rematch between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn from Sept. 20 to Nov. 15.
Former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev being set to fight Deon Nicholson in a bout added to the Nov. 22 card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, rather than the third fight with unified champion Dmitry Bivol being next as originally planned.
Oscar De La Hoya’s comments that he has no interest in making a rematch between Ryan Garcia and Rolando Romero despite Garcia’s loss to him and that he would prefer to see Garcia against Teofimo Lopez.
A major signing by Most Valuable Promotions, which has added junior lightweight Jahmal Harvey, the heavily touted 2024 U.S. Olympian, to its roster, with his pro debut scheduled for Aug. 22.
The return of former junior lightweight and featherweight titlist Oscar Valdez being set, a homecoming fight on Sept. 6 in Nogales, Mexico.
Listen to the episode! 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.
Itauma photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions
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
Great episode! Great to hear you paid off the home, Dan. I’m about 13 years away from that, and I can only imagine how good it feels. 🏠 Also making it special is you did it doing a job that you love! 👍👍👍