Podcast: Recap of Ennis' brilliant beat down of Stanionis to unify
Thoughts on the undercard; news of the week; anniversary memories of De La Hoya-Whitaker and Berto-Ortiz I welterweight title fights
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 one major card over the weekend but it featured a highly significant main event in Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ sixth-round destruction of Eimantas Stanionis to unify welterweight titles. We discussed it thoroughly as well went over the undercard. We also covered the most notable news of the week and also looked back on the anniversary of two significant fights, Oscar De La Hoya’s huge win over Pernell Whitaker and Victor Ortiz’s victory over Andre Berto in their first fight.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Ennis’ brilliant and dominating display in his stoppage of Stanionis to unify the IBF and WBA welterweight titles and win the vacant Ring magazine title.
Recap of the undercard: junior lightweight Raymond Ford’s shutout of Thomas Mattice, who turned in a historically putrid performance; junior middleweight prospect and 2024 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist Omari Jones’ first-round KO of William Jackson in his second pro fight; and WBA welterweight mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov’s emotional fourth-round KO of Franco Ocampo in the wake of his daughter’s death.
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.
WBC cruiserweight titlist Badou Jack has a new opponent in former titlist Noel Mikaelian in place of injured mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki on the Canelo Alvarez-William Scull undercard on May 3.
The WBO grants an extension to the purse bid deadline for the fight between WBO/WBC junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora and WBO mandatory challenger Xander Zayas.
The discussions between Top Rank and PBC about a fight between WBC junior lightweight titlist O’Shaquie Foster and WBC featherweight titlist Stephen Fulton, who would move up.
The WBC unveils several notable details for its upcoming four-division Boxing Grand Prix.
Memories on 28th anniversary of De La Hoya’s decision win over fellow Hall of Famer Whitaker to win the WBC welterweight title in a very big fight.
Ringside memories on the 14th anniversary of Ortiz’s decision over Berto to win the WBC welterweight title in a wild fight of the year contender in which each fighter was knocked down twice.
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.
Ennis 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
Great comments as always. Nice recap and insider news.
A shame the age of Ennis isn't closer to that of Crawford, Spence and the likes of Porter and Brook also as unluckily for him he's the clearly the cream of the current crop but this current crop hasn't the depth of that prior group.