Podcast: Preview of Opetaia-Glanton, but which belts are at stake?
Golden Boy-Ortiz legal battle rages; Zepeda-Roach for vacant WBC 135 title; update on Mayweather's aggressive plans; 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.
There is just one show of note this weekend, the Zuffa Boxing card on Sunday night headlined by lineal cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia against Brandon Glanton and we previewed it. We also covered several notable news items of the week, including Golden Boy’s court victory over Vergil Ortiz Jr. 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 Opetaia-Glanton, including the issues surrounding whether Opetaia’s IBF title will be at stake as well as thoughts on how the fight will go.
Golden Boy’s legal victory over Ortiz that preserves an injunction preventing Ortiz from fighting without Golden Boy and forcing them to arbitration and the fallout.
I am in my 27th 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.
William Zepeda and Lamont Roach Jr. being approved to fight for the vacant WBC lightweight title — even though Jadier Herrera has the interim belt.
Floyd “Needs Money” Mayweather announcing yet another 2026 fight, this time an exhibition against retired kickboxer Mike Zambidis in June in Athens, Greece, meaning he would fight three times this year — the exhibition with Mike Tyson, whose spring date and site is not set, and an official fight with Manny Pacquiao in a September rematch.
My reporting that Alycia Baumgardner will defend the unified women’s junior lightweight title against Bo Mi Re Shin on April 17 in New York on a card that will be the first of a multi-card deal between MVP and ESPN.
Eddie Hearn’s announcement that he has signed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall as his first client of the newly created Matchroom Talent Agency, which will put him across the table negotiating with Zuffa Boxing rival Dana White.
Golden Boy’s plans for junior welterweight contender Oscar Duarte, whose shot at IBF titlist Richardson Hitchins was canceled on fight day last month, to be on the May 2 David Benavidez-Zurdo Ramirez card.
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.
Opetaia-Glanton photo: Zuffa Boxing
