Yet another light week in the the ring, but we have plenty to go over and a former 2 time world champ joins us for a conversation too on the newest "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast."

Host T.J. Rives and insider Dan Rafael return to go over it all.

First, a preview
Saturday in Lilliestram, Norway on "UFC Fight Pass," Ema Kozin vs. Cecilia Braekhus, for Kozin’s WBC/WBO women’s junior middleweight title

This is the announced farewell fight for Cecilia Braekhus at home in Norwway. She is the former longtime women’s undisputed welterweight champion and one of the best female boxers of all time. She made 25 welterweight title defenses during her 2009 to 2020 title reign.The guys talk her brillant career.

Then, a DANNY GARCIA interivew with Dan
Former two-division champion ends a 13-month layoff and will headline his own Swift Promotions card at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, vs. Daniel Gonzalez, a 10-round junior middleweight bout later this month. It is billed as “Farewell to Brooklyn” for Garcia.
 
News

The 2026 International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots are out. Dan has the details on new editions in the various categories that will be voted on later in the year.

Next, Canelo Alvarez is now set for left elbow surgery on Oct. 23. We have the latest on the injury and does it impact his 2026 and beyond??

Next, it's official this week: Paramount+ and Zuffa Boxing announced their expected rights deal that will add Zuffa events to the streamer, which in August also announced a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal to acquire all U.S. broadcast and streaming rights for sister company UFC.
Paramount+ will stream 12 Zuffa Boxing events in 2026 “with plans to grow that number in subsequent years.” The deal is for rights in the United States, Canada and Latin America. There is discussion.

Per Dan's reporting, Issac "Pitbull" Cruz vs. Lamont Roach is a PBC PPV and will be Dec. 6 at the Frost Bank Center, which is the home arena of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs.

And, WBO featherweight titlist Rafael Espinoza will make his fourth defense against Arnold Khegai in the headliner of a Zanfer Promotions card on Nov. 15 in San Luis Potosi, per multiple sources. Various other Top Rank fighters on the show including: Lindolfo Delgado, etc.


Finally, a little Nostalgia
Oct. 2, 2004 — 21 years ago on Thursday – Felix Trinidad exits a 2½-year retirement and returned to face fellow former welterweight and junior middleweight titlist Ricardo Mayorga in a middleweight bout at Madison Square Garden. Was a great battle, great KO, sick atmosphere. Big Dan was ringside and remembers it all well.


It's all part of the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.