Podcast: Recapping Gesta's win over Diaz, and Zurdo, DAZN mess
Plus: Miller stops Browne; Fury-Usyk quagmire; Lopez-Conlan deal; Valdez foe set; memories on anniversary of Morales-Pacquiao I
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.
Welcome to the Fight Freaks Unite recap podcast coming off a low-key weekend due to fierce competition from the NCAA tournament. The most notable card of a very light Saturday was Golden Boy’s DAZN show with Mercito Gesta’s split decision over Joseph Diaz Jr., which we discussed, as well as Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez badly missing weight and forcing his original headliner vs. Gabriel Rosado to be canceled. We discussed that as well as DAZN’s brutal production issues; heavyweight Jarrell Miller’s sixth-round knockout of Lucas Browne in Dubai, other news of the week, and memories on the anniversary of the epic first fight between Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao.
Here’s what we discussed on this episode (in order):
Shout out to our most recent contest winner and the swag I sent him from my collection.
Ramirez’s disastrous weight miss by nearly 8 pounds and the cancellation of the Rosado fight.
DAZN’s overwhelming production problems that caused the show to begin 48 minutes late and the constant audio issues. Also, the confusion over the number of rounds Diaz-Gesta was scheduled for and the increase in weight to 140 pounds due to Diaz’s weight issues.
Gesta’s entertaining split decision over Diaz and thoughts on why two scorecards were one-sided for Gesta and one was for Diaz.
Miller’s knockout of Browne and where it could lead for the PED-disgraced “Big Baby” down the road.
The quagmire of the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk undisputed heavyweight title fight talks, a WBA deadline for signed contracts and why hopes are fading fast they will make a deal.
Luis Alberto Lopez heading to Belfast, Northern Ireland to defend his featherweight title against Michael Conlan.
Oscar Valdez being lined up to face Adam Lopez in a rematch on the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko PPV card.
A look back on the 18th anniversary of Erik Morales’ huge and extremely underrated victory over a prime Manny Pacquiao in a fantastic and historic battle.
Please give it a listen! Also: rate, review, subscribe and enjoy!
We will be bringing you the weekend recap each Monday. Let me know what you think of the podcast by leaving your comments.
Gesta-Diaz photo: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy
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
