Podcast: Recap of Navarrete, Espinoza KO wins in title defenses
Plus: Hitchins outboxes Paro for 140 belt; news of the week; big-fight anniversary memories; Bob Arum appreciation on 93rd birthday
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 plenty of action to recap from a busy Saturday so that is what we did. We went over the Top Rank/ESPN card headlined by WBO junior lightweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete’s rematch KO of Oscar Valdez; Richardson Hitchins’ decision victory over Liam Paro to win the IBF junior welterweight title on the Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN; and more. There is also our discussion of notable news items of the week, ringside memories of two major fights, and an appreciation of Top Rank’s Bob Arum on his 93rd birthday.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Recap of Navarrete’s three-knockdown, body-shot, sixth-round KO of Valdez in a dominating victory: How’d he do it, what went wrong for Valdez, what might be next for Navarrete?
Recap of the co-feature, WBO featherweight titlist Rafael Espinoza’s sixth-round stoppage of Robeisy Ramirez, who pulled himself out of the fight in the sixth round of their rematch, and thoughts on some of the notable fighters in the preliminary bouts, including junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado, heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr., and welterweight Giovani Santillan.
Recap of Hitchins overcoming a slow start to win a clear decision and the title from Paro, despite one putrid scorecard.
I am in my 25th 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 also support independent journalism.
Recap of the Kubrat Pulev’s decision win over Mahmoud Charr to win the WBA “regular” heavyweight title in a good fight that took place in Pulev’s hometown of Sofia, Bulgaria, on an Epic Sports card on DAZN.
Canelo Alvarez’s comments that cracked the door open for possible fights with Terence Crawford and Jake Paul and a willingness to work with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh.
Announcement that Israil Madrimov is suffering from bronchitis and has withdrawn from his Dec 21 fight with Serheii Bohachuk and will instead go directly to the Feb. 22 bout against Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Matchroom Boxing’s announcement that it has signed heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana, the intriguing 2024 Australian Olympian.
Ringside memories on the 17th anniversary of when Floyd Mayweather retained the lineal/WBC welterweight title by highlight-reel 10th-round knockout of then-undefeated junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton in a true mega fight and one of the wildest fight weeks ever.
Ringside memories on the 12th anniversary of when Juan Manuel Marquez, who was on the verge of being stopped, scored one of the most gargantuan KOs of all time as he put Manny Pacquiao to sleep face first with one shot at the end of the sixth round of their fourth and final fight, his only win of the series and the only result that was definitive, which was the KO of the year, fight of the year and fight of the decade.
An appreciation of Bob Arum on his 93rd birthday, which was on Sunday.
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.
Navarrete-Valdez photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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
