Podcast: Preview of Tank-Roach PPV card; recap of Nakatani-Cuellar show
Plus: Eubank-Benn egg-gate, fiery pressers, more news of the week; big fight anniversary memories
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.
The big card of the weekend is the return of WBA lightweight titlist Gervonta “Tank” Davis defending against junior lightweight titleholder Lamont Roach Jr. in the main event of a PBC on Prime Video PPV card on Saturday night. We previewed the four-fight card and heard from Marc Boccardi of PPV.COM, which will also carry the event. There is also a recap of the Junto Nakatani-David Cuellar card, news of the week, and ringside memories on the anniversary of an epic fight of the year.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Monday’s big card in Japan, where Junto Nakatani drilled David Cuellar in the third round to retain the WBC bantamweight title; bantamweight Tenshin Nasukawa stepped up in class and won a hard-fought decision against former WBO bantamweight titlist Jason Moloney; and, in a terrific fight, Seiya Tsutsumi retained the WBA bantamweight title in a second draw against former flyweight titlist Daigo Higa in their rematch.
Preview of the big PBC on Prime Video PPV card: Davis-Roach, WBA junior welterweight titlist Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela versus Gary Antuanne Russell; WBC junior welterweight titlist Alberto Puello’s mandatory defense against Sandor Martin; and Yoenis Tellez against Julian Williams for the vacant WBA interim junior middleweight title.
TJ’s interview with Boccardi of PPV.COM, whose sponsorship of this podcast we greatly appreciate, on the Davis-Roach event available on the platform and last week’s Artur Beterbiev-Bivol rematch, which also streamed on PPV.COM.
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.
Preview of former titlist Subriel Matias against Gabriel Valenzuela in an IBF junior welterweight title eliminator that headlines a card on Saturday on DAZN.
The Chris Eubank Jr.-Conor Benn announcement press conferences, including Eubank smashing an egg in Benn’s face at the first presser on Tuesday.
Discussion of former three-time world titlist Greg Haugen, who died this week at age 64.
Announcement that former junior middleweight titlist Tim Tszyu will look to rebound from back-to-back losses when he returns to fight in Australia against Joey Spencer in a PBC on Prime Video main event.
Ringside memories on the 16th anniversary of when Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez knocked out Juan Diaz in the ninth round of their first fight to retain the lineal lightweight title and win the vacant WBO and WBA belts in the epic 2009 fight of the year.
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.
Photo: Esther Lin/PBC
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