Podcast: Previewing Canelo's homecoming fight against Ryder

Plus: Interview with Sergio Mora, who will call fight; Goossen on Garcia split; Wilder arrest on gun charge; Munguia finally facing legit foe; TR wins Beterbiev-Smith purse bid; 2 big anniversaries

Click photo to order Canelo-Ryder on PPV.com. No subscription required.

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.

Boxing’s biggest star is back in action on Saturday as undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez will defend against John Ryder in a Mexican homecoming fight. We previewed the bout and flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Martinez’s defense in the co-feature. There is also an interview with DAZN’s Sergio Mora, who will be part of the broadcast team on pay-per-view. We also covered key news items of the week and reminisced on the anniversaries of two very significant fights that I covered at ringside, the legendary first fight between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo and Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather, the biggest money fight in history at the time.

Here is what’s on the show (in order):

• Preview of Canelo-Ryder, including what it means to Canelo to fight at home, what to expect with him coming off left wrist surgery, Ryder’s chances and more.

• Previewing Martinez’s defense against Ronal Batista in the co-feature and what a win could lead to.

• TJ’s interview with Mora on what to expect from Canelo-Ryder.

Click banner to order Canelo-Ryder on PPV.com. No subscription required.

• Discussion of Joe Goossen’s interview with me about his split from Ryan Garcia in the wake of the knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in the year’s biggest fight.

• Deontay Wilder’s arrest on Tuesday in Los Angeles for possession of a concealed weapon.

• The announcement that Jaime Mungia will face his first notable opponent in years when he fights Sergiy Derevyanchenko as they both move up to super middleweight on June 10 on DAZN.

• Top Rank’s winning purse bid to gain promotional rights to the WBC mandatory fight between unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith.

• Intense memories on the 18th anniversary of Corrales’ mind-blowing comeback knockout of Castillo to unify lightweight titles in arguably the greatest fight in boxing history.

• Memories on the 16th anniversary of one of the biggest mega fights of all time between, Mayweather’s close decision over De La Hoya to win the WBC junior middleweight title.

Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!

Canelo-Ryder photo: Melina Pizano/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