Podcast: Tyson-Holyfield I anniversary, previews, news of week
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.
It’s a bit of a low-key weekend but there is a Top Rank/ESPN+ show headlined by Janibek Alimkhanuly’s WBO middleweight title defense against Denzel Bentley and Seniesa Estrada’s WBO strawweight title defense versus Jazmin Gala Villarino in the co-feature on Saturday night; the Matchroom Boxing/DAZN card topped by junior welterweight Montana Love against Stevie Spark, also on Saturday night; IBF flyweight titleholder Sunny Edwards’ mandatory defense against Felix Alvarado on Friday; the Ricky Hatton-Marco Antonio Barrera exhibition on Saturday and the Floyd Mayweather-Deji Olantunji exhibition on Sunday. There was also plenty of news of the week and the anniversary of the epic first Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield heavyweight title fight.
Here is what’s on the show (in order):
Discussion of the injured Aidos Yerbossynuly, David Morrell visiting his team at the hospital to show support and thoughts on how various fighters who badly injured opponents dealt with it.
The injury to McWilliams Arroyo that has once again caused the mandatory rematch with WBC flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Martinez to be called off and the plan for Martinez to face a replacement foe on Dec. 3.
The retirement of former unified junior middleweight titlist Jeison Rosario.
We preview Alimkhanuly-Bentley and Estrada-Villarino. In addition, we discuss some of the prospects from Top Rank’s superb stable of up-and-comers on the undercard.
We preview Edwards-Alvarado and Love-Spark.
Can’t really call them previews but we chatted about the Hatton-Barrera and Mayweather-Deji exhibitions, which evoked my vivid memories of covering the mega Mayweather-Hatton fight in 2007.
Wednesday was the 26th anniversary of the unforgettable first Tyson-Holyfield fight, which we chat about and I tell my story of why I did not see the fight live.
Listen, rate and subscribe here and enjoy!
Photo: Associated Press
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
Mayweather-Hatton 24/7 was the best edition of the entire series, imo.