WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:08.759 The countdown is on to fight time. This is Big 2 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:09.640 Fight Weekend. 3 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:16.359 Now here is your host, DJ Leaves. All right, we 4 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:19.039 have reached the weekend. We're gonna flip the calendar to 5 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:22.480 February and we've got a light heavyweight showdown, very very 6 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:26.320 interesting in the BBC on Fine main event. David Benavita's 7 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:32.399 David Morrell, the Benavitas Interim WBC title, Morell's WBA regular 8 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:34.759 title on the line. Big stakes for the winner to 9 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:37.840 maybe get a world title shot with either better BV 10 00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:39.479 or b BOL. We're ready to talk about all of that. 11 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:42.359 The fight card. We got fights there, we got fights 12 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:44.719 in England, we got Coloressa shields back, we got news, 13 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:46.920 we got nostalgia. You are part of the Big Fight 14 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:50.399 Weekend preview. I am the somewhat competent host, TJ. Reeves. 15 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:53.679 He is my colleague, our insider Dan Rayfield, all the 16 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:56.479 way out ol on location in Vegas. Good to be 17 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:59.679 with you here in the preview mode as you have 18 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:02.320 settled in for this weekend. We got a lot to 19 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:04.799 go over at the time that we are doing this. 20 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:07.799 You have been part of the press conference ramping up 21 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:11.040 on Thursday, headed to Friday for everything, How are things? 22 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:14.640 How are things in the desert? And we're getting ready 23 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:15.879 for this light heavyweight showdown Dan. 24 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:19.480 I think the press conference became unhinged and a lot 25 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:21.319 of people have got excited because those guys want to 26 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:23.519 throw at each other right away. They haven't liked each 27 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:25.959 other throughout the promotion. I think we talked about it back, 28 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:27.519 you know, a month or so ago, and they had 29 00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:31.920 the Miami event and David Merrell threw the belt at 30 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.079 David Benavide's and I made the point that I've been 31 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:36.879 to and seen many, many countless press conferences and seen 32 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:41.040 pretty much everything thrown, water bottles, other people, chairs, tables, 33 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:43.599 you know, you name it. Never had saw a belt 34 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:46.359 throw thrown at somebody else, which actually is kind of 35 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:48.560 surprising given that the belts are always in proximity. But 36 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:50.159 the point I'm making here is that these guys don't 37 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:53.439 like each other. It was on display at the press conference. 38 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:55.920 It's a fifty to fifty kind of matchup. I think 39 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:58.879 too many people, even if I think maybe those who 40 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:01.840 feel like there's a straw winner outcome will be maybe 41 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:04.840 leaning towards more towards Benavide's. Although I will say this though, 42 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:08.240 TJ in the in the predictions that the that the 43 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:13.439 find folks from the PR team gathered from media members, fighters, trainers, 44 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:16.159 there was quite a few people that were you know, 45 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:18.560 you know, some picking burrel somethick and then this is 46 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:20.879 what you want to see. So uh, I'm excited to 47 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:22.280 be out here for what I think is going to 48 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:26.280 be a really good, interesting, exciting fight and then being honest, 49 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:27.560 you know, an excellent undercard. 50 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:30.039 And we'll get into the undercard in a couple of moments. 51 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:33.080 But I always ask you on these things. You've done 52 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:35.120 it long enough where you can kind of see through 53 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:38.360 and be a smell test detector. Do you think this 54 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:41.479 is genuine on the dislike or is some of it hype? 55 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:43.960 Is most of it hype? What do you read having 56 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:45.039 been at that press conference. 57 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:48.159 To me, there's no doubt that it's both there. They 58 00:02:48.199 --> 00:02:50.080 don't like each other, that's clear. But I also know 59 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:52.319 and David Benavidia said as much in the interview that 60 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:55.120 I had with it that's on the previous episode that 61 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:56.960 is also by the way, on it's a standalone where 62 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.319 you can just listen to that particular interview on the 63 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:02.039 most recent one on prior to them. Anyway, he said 64 00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:04.599 that he understands, uh that that this is what people 65 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.240 want to see, animosity, you know, a little smack talk. 66 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:09.319 So they were cursing each other out a little Spanish, 67 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:11.719 little English at the press conference today. Uh, you know, 68 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:15.759 which was on Sesday, Thursday, Thursday afternoon in Vegas. I 69 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:16.520 lost track of time. 70 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:17.080 Uh. 71 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:19.120 They did the Undercar press conference first, and then they 72 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:21.680 took care of those guys, and then they brought in 73 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:24.520 David and David to do the main event. And uh, yeah, 74 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:26.960 I mean, I think they're both trying to fight, but 75 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:28.800 I also don't think there's any love lost. That said, 76 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:31.319 I'm very convinced that when it's over with they'll be sportsman. Know, 77 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:33.680 they'll they'll be good sports better. Whoever wins, they'll shake 78 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:36.080 hands and and move on. But a really good fight, 79 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:37.479 and you know, on paper anyway. 80 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:40.439 I should make mention too, while we rock along here 81 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:42.280 on the on the preview pod, that our friends at 82 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:45.879 PPV dot com are sponsoring us. Uh. We we love 83 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:48.800 their involvement with us. We'll hear from Mark Boucardi, who 84 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:50.960 runs PPV dot com in a little bit about this fight. 85 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:52.560 But one of the things I will just say to 86 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:54.680 the audience. One of the things that appeals here, and 87 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.639 Mark's going to talk about this is the fact that 88 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:00.879 the winner of this fight is definite, as I said, 89 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:04.360 in position to get a much bigger showdown. These are 90 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:07.520 this is high stakes here for this just elaborate on 91 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:10.319 that part from your point of view. Here, it's a 92 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:12.639 large step at light heavyweight for whoever wins. 93 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:15.319 Sorry Night, absolutely listen. Both of these guys have had 94 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:17.680 just one light heavyweight fight before, we've seen them in 95 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:20.079 action what they can do at super midaweight. Benavidez is 96 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:22.160 a much more established guy. He was a two time 97 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:26.199 WBC title holder, and he has beaten fighters like Caleb Plant, 98 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:28.920 Demitris Andre Back a little bit before that, Anthony Durrell. 99 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:31.480 You know, he's got, you know, a good track record 100 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:34.240 in the weight class. David Morrell as a as a 101 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:37.839 super midiweight, very big talent, obviously undefeated and a top 102 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:39.480 amateur and all the things that you want to see 103 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:42.040 in an up and coming fighter in the pros. But 104 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:43.759 he just doesn't have the level of the level of 105 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:46.800 opponent that David Benavidez has, hass So they both moved 106 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:48.959 up because Canelo wouldn't fight either one of them. More so, 107 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:51.639 Benavidez Morell was the mandatory in the WBA, but it 108 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:54.040 was never ordered and there was no movement there because 109 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.399 he just didn't have the experience that people thought were 110 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:59.120 the name recognition. But they both went to light heavyweight, 111 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:02.680 and in he saw David Benavidie's have a fight with 112 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:06.920 Alexander Vojakuza, former Lenny, former you know, legit champion in 113 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:09.279 the weight division. He had lost. The one loss he 114 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:13.680 suffered was to better be of any unification fight. And uh, 115 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:16.240 you know, he looked okay in that fight. He won, 116 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:20.000 you know, going away on the scorecards. Benavide's had some 117 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:22.399 struggles hardly because he had an injury going into the fight, 118 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:24.439 an injury in the fight. Not to make excuses, but 119 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:26.920 that simply the reality. And then you then you fast 120 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.120 forward to August and you saw David Morrell. He moved 121 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:31.199 up to light heavyweight. He fought hot Rod College Chick 122 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:34.240 on the Crawford Madromov card in Los Angeles, and also, 123 00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:35.759 you know, he won going away, there was no real 124 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:38.240 question there. But also look, you know, kind of pedestrian 125 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:41.600 was talking to his trainer, Ronnie Shields. Earlier in the 126 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:44.560 media center, and I've I've been friendly with Ronnie for 127 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:47.920 my entire career. U a great trainer, hall of famer someday, 128 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:50.519 I believe, and you know, he has the same opinion 129 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:52.319 that I do of one of the reasons why Morell 130 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:55.360 look real pedestrian that fight was they were in the sunfield, 131 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:57.519 so to speak. That was outdoors in la It was 132 00:05:57.519 --> 00:05:59.759 the hottest time of day and they were in there 133 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.040 the sun right in their eyes, and it just put 134 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.600 them off. I mean, I'm convinced that was unsettling to him, 135 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.800 whereas hot Rod was in the shade corner and it 136 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:09.160 was a lot better for him. And so yeah, he's 137 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:12.360 still won handling, but they were very difficult circumstances for 138 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:16.240 him to deal with that. So now, as Benavda said 139 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:19.000 an interview, he feels like this is a fight where 140 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:21.360 they can have the opportunity to really show what they're 141 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:24.879 all about in the way class top notch opponent, no excuses. 142 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:28.199 He says, this health is no problem in terms of morale. 143 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.279 There ain't gonna be a sunfield. It's indoors at the 144 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:32.839 Team Obil arena. He's fought there before. They've both fought 145 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:36.279 there before, so had all the makings for a very 146 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:40.839 exciting fan friendly fight. I mean, listen, DJ, I think 147 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:43.120 there's a lot of ways this can go. I mean, 148 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:45.360 we'll get into more specifics when we do our US 149 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:49.199 betting show one o'clock Eastern time on Friday. But that's 150 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:53.199 that for a pluck on their YouTube and other projects. 151 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.600 You are so trained in doing that now you hit 152 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:58.360 it before I could hit it. But there are intriguing 153 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:00.399 elements to this. That's all handicap, right. 154 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:01.920 So the thing I was gonna say to about the 155 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:04.639 fight itself is, and I've been talking to if people 156 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:07.279 in the media center, like other boxing folks, other writers, 157 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:09.720 you know, people that are trainers who aren't necessarily involved 158 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:12.279 with the main event. A lot of people can see 159 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:14.240 the fight going any which way. The one thing that 160 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:17.439 most people don't really see as a like a real 161 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.360 I mean a lesser it's still a possibility, but maybe 162 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:25.079 a lesser possibility is morale by a knockout. But I 163 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:27.399 can see it going any which way. But I've talked 164 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:28.759 to a lot of people and I'm starting to sort 165 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:31.959 of feel it based on the animosity that there's sort 166 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:35.160 of like this rippling like feeling among people. Maybe it's hope, 167 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:37.439 maybe it's real. I don't know, but that they're going 168 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.000 to just come out and say fuck it and go 169 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:42.759 for it like Hacklers and just bombs away and whoever 170 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:44.800 stand and wins the fight, and it's like a three, 171 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:46.399 four or five round type of shootout fight. 172 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:49.600 Can I tell you amazing? We would want that? Can 173 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:51.519 I tell you? I kind of believe the same thing. 174 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:53.040 We may see it early, I don't know, in the 175 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:56.160 first minute. Certainly the Haggler Herne standard is the is 176 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:59.439 the stratosphere. But we may see fireworks and bombs in 177 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:01.680 the first round. Yeah for this, So I'm. 178 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:02.879 Very well just the first few rounds. 179 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.720 How first couple of rounds? Uh right, So I'm very 180 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:08.319 interested when we do that bet us show coming up 181 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:10.639 ten Pacific by the way, one a one pm Eastern 182 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:13.240 ten am Pacific on Friday. Which way you're gonna go? 183 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:15.720 And I don't I know that this is just your 184 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:16.920 you're contemplating what to do. 185 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:20.279 With you You asked me about what about other big opportunities, 186 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:24.240 you know? With with the winner of the rematch between 187 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:27.399 Arthur Better BVM Dmitri Bible, they fight the rematch for 188 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:31.160 the undisputed title that Better has for the undisputed title 189 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:33.759 uh in Saudi Arabia. Now, first I must say one thing. 190 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:36.399 I love the matchup between Dnavides and Morrell, but I 191 00:08:36.440 --> 00:08:38.639 got to keep it real. I can't stand the fact 192 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:41.120 that this is for these two quasi bullshit belts. Okay, 193 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:44.120 it's a great matchup between undefeated, top fighters in the 194 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.799 Way class who have been exciting and been involved in 195 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:49.399 you know, higher profile kinds of fights. But the fact 196 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:51.480 that there's a boxing match it's going to take place, 197 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:56.000 and that David Benavidez is defending the WBC Intern title 198 00:08:56.679 --> 00:08:59.720 and morell Isfen the w Regular title. So it's a 199 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:03.480 fun internal and regular unification, which is complete, utter fucking 200 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:06.559 nonsense because there's only one real champion in the Way class, 201 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:10.320 and even the fighters acknowledge that that Arthur Better is 202 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:12.960 the undisputed champion of the world. He has all four 203 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:16.120 reel belts, he's got ring belt, he's the lineal champion, 204 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:19.440 like there isn't any other way that you can not 205 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:22.120 view him as the actual champion and the light class. 206 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:25.519 He's coming off the win close fine against people who 207 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:29.159 was clearly the other best guy, undefeated had the other belt. 208 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:33.200 So this is in my mind, you know, it's yeah, okay, 209 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:36.159 they've got their belts, fine, But the reality in the 210 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:41.080 world that's that's not fantasy sanctioning body nonsense. This is 211 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:45.879 in essence the eliminator to determine the people's mandatory to 212 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:48.960 be the winner to fight the winner of the undisputed fight, 213 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:51.600 because whoever emerges from that fight against the winner in 214 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.279 this fight obviously is a huge deal. Now I can't 215 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:55.919 speak for the Merle situation, but certainly in terms of 216 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:58.720 David dennevite Is, he is the winner. Turkey Alshik has 217 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:01.279 already stated publicly that he would love to match the 218 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:05.440 winner of that a rematch between the better Bible and 219 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.000 People fight against David Benavitez, who he likes and finds 220 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:10.960 exciting and I think they can do business together and 221 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.000 all that so, and maybe will be the same for 222 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:14.840 morel if he wins, maybe there'd be a rematch with 223 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:18.120 Benevidez if that happens. But the point is qumongous stakes 224 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.399 not only on Saturday for the two men who are 225 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:23.480 going to do battle, but for the winner it means 226 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.559 a whole lot more because the possibility that they'll get 227 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:28.159 that shot, and I believe that it's really strong, possibly 228 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:30.840 because it's not just Turkey waves as one and says 229 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:33.559 I want to make the match. They've already been announced. 230 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:36.320 The winner is the WBC mandatory, and by virtue of 231 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:39.279 having the WBA regular, that means that fighter is going 232 00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:41.600 to be the mandatory in the WBA also, So that 233 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:45.279 is a no. And there's not some other mega fight 234 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:47.440 in the light heavyweight to division they go that would 235 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:50.519 make sense, the only one that could kind of get 236 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:52.639 in the way that maybe, and I'm not so sure 237 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.000 if they'll do it, but possibly, depending on what happens 238 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:59.320 February twenty second. If Bevill avenges the loss, now they're 239 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:01.559 one and one in a pair of good close fights, 240 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:03.519 maybe there'd be some kind of movement for a third 241 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:05.759 fight between them. I can't, you know, say for sure. 242 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:08.360 I actually hope there wouldn't be a third fight immediately. 243 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:10.759 I'd like to see. I'm all for a trilogy, fine 244 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.440 if that's what un folds, but let them go their 245 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:16.600 separate way for one fight, two fights, whatever, and then reconvene. 246 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:19.679 But the point is humongous steaks, great match up on paper, 247 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:21.799 lots of steak, lots of steak, you know, in the 248 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:23.480 future for the winner for a big fight that's sent 249 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:25.519 right there for the winner to grab. 250 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.919 All right, And there's also an intriguing co feature fight. 251 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:31.320 Let's get into that right now here on the preview, 252 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:34.960 and that is Brandon Figueroa and Steven Fulton. And you 253 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:37.799 talk about not an immediate rematch. We've had to wait 254 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:42.039 basically three years two or halfish, yeah, more than three 255 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:44.440 years now at this point for this thing to get 256 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:47.759 scheduled and to happen. They fought a tremendous fight what 257 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:51.200 November of twenty twenty one. Now they're back in front 258 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:54.919 of each other at featherweight here for the WBC featherweight 259 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:58.279 title that Figaroa owns. You love this line. There's not 260 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:00.600 a lot of mystery here. You could do this in 261 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:03.519 a bathtub. You could do this in my kitchen, which 262 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:06.799 ain't that big. I mean there's I mean, Figaroa really 263 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:09.440 fights one way, Get up in the kitchen, get on you, 264 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:12.159 and let's see what you have. And Fulton edged him 265 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.559 out the last time. I'm I'm as intrigued by the 266 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:17.720 co feature, Dan, what are your thoughts you we're around 267 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.600 the fighters Thursday. 268 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:20.799 They couldn't fight in my kitchen because we have a 269 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.000 pretty big kitchen in our house. 270 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.960 But anyway, I notice I've never been invited for a meal, 271 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.080 so I can't testify. I'll take your word for it. 272 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:29.000 Go oh, you've never been in the Northern Virginia area. 273 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.559 If you're up here, you can You're certainly come in. 274 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:32.639 All right, you'll come into the kitchen. I'll come into 275 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.080 your kitchen. 276 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:35.519 Go ahead. So yeah, that first fight, that was back 277 00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:37.200 when they were one hundred and twenty two pound fighters, 278 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:39.559 and they both had belts and they fought up back 279 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:41.559 in the day on showtime. This is like you said, 280 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.159 about three and a half years ago, and it was 281 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:45.399 a super close fight. It was an outstanding fight. A 282 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:48.000 lot of people had it in their top few considerations 283 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:50.240 for fight of the Year of twenty twenty one. And 284 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:52.720 in the end it was Stephen Fulton who won a 285 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:56.799 majority decision and unified the two belts, the WBC and 286 00:12:56.840 --> 00:13:00.320 the WBO at one twenty two. And you know that 287 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:02.840 though their careers have kind of been on a little 288 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:05.799 bit of a different track. Let's say they've first of all, 289 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:08.639 they've both been ridiculously inactive they've only had three fights 290 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.279 a piece since twenty twenty one, and that doesn't cut 291 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:15.200 it at as a top fighter unfortunately. So Fulton went on. 292 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:17.639 He defended the title against Danny Roman, who was obviously 293 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:19.639 a unified champion at one point in one of the 294 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.720 top guys in the division, and he won going away 295 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:24.200 a shutout. That was in June of twenty twenty two. 296 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:27.919 Now he's off for thirteen months and he takes the 297 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.639 belts and he goes to Japan to defend against the 298 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:33.080 monster Noill in a way, and he gets absolutely pummeled. 299 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:34.840 They knocked out in the eight round, loses the titles 300 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.120 and you know, didn't even compete. And that was, frankly 301 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:39.279 a fight where even though in a way was the favorite, 302 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:40.879 there was a lot of people that were like, you know, 303 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.200 Fulton's gonna give him in trouble. He's a alwa He's 304 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:45.399 never seen a good boxer and a guy with that 305 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:47.919 kind of IQ and that kind of you know, all 306 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.840 around game that the Fulton had displayed and in a 307 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.279 way absolutely ruined him, just destroyed him and pummeled him. 308 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:55.759 He took a long time off. He came back fourteen 309 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.559 months later and he fought and moved up the featherweight 310 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:01.639 and he fought a carl Castro, and he looked bad 311 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:03.679 in that fight, and he I think he'll admit that 312 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:06.480 he won barely, barely barely first of all, got knocked 313 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:09.159 down in the fifth round, barely won a split decision, 314 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:12.200 and off that fight in June, rather in September of 315 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:14.879 last year. He goes in this fight against Figueroa. Now, 316 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.679 if you take a look what Fiot has done, he 317 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:19.600 lost the majority decision to Fulton the first time round 318 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:22.080 super close, though could definitely argue he won in his 319 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:25.000 next fight. He came back in July of twenty two 320 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:27.519 and what would he do TJ He knocked out Carlos 321 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.799 Castro's common opponent in round number six, and then he 322 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:34.080 scored two pretty solid victories. He beat Mark Magsaia, who 323 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:37.000 had a period for a brief period was the WBC's 324 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:40.240 featherweight champion. That was their fight for the interim title, 325 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:43.399 and then he knocked out Jesse Magdaleno, also a former 326 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:45.639 title er, in one hundred I believe twenty two pound 327 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:49.279 way class and those are solid victories for him. Ray 328 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:51.240 Vargas had been the champion, but he ended up as 329 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.919 an in recess. He had injuries and this and that, 330 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:56.639 and he became the full title. So now he's the 331 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.200 champion going into the fight, but he's also the guy 332 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:00.440 looking for the revenge. They've been talking to good game, 333 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:02.919 they've been promising in the press conference. They're much more 334 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.720 good nature with each other than Benavide's and Mell, who 335 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:07.919 obviously don't care for one another. I think these guys 336 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.559 have a lot of respect for each other, even though 337 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.879 they're both very amped up to win the fight, and 338 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:15.279 both of them are confident, you know. I think this 339 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:18.200 is one of the better co features on these PBC 340 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.559 pay per views we've seen. I think they've done a 341 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.399 good job with their pay per views, but for co 342 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:24.799 feature perspective, while a lot of the fights have been excellent, 343 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:27.799 this is I think this is even better. In my mind, 344 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:29.559 this is about as good as you can ask for 345 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:32.159 from PBC in terms of a co feature. A lot 346 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:36.559 of stakes, good backstory, two excellent fighters too, kind of 347 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:39.919 different style fighters. Again, I think it's going to be 348 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:40.639 a really good fight. 349 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:44.480 And in Figueroa's case, he's been chasing this literally three 350 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:48.519 years now. He wants that revenge. He believes he was 351 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:51.480 robbed of that decision, that majority decision loss back in 352 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:54.200 November of twenty twenty one. Let's see if he can 353 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:58.639 get that revenge come a Saturday night in a game. 354 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:01.720 We'll handicap this further on the at US show. This fight, 355 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:04.759 which is basically a fifty to fifty fight. Here, we 356 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:08.080 got Fulton out of Philadelphia and he still got something 357 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:10.000 to prove as well. I'm just saying this because the 358 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:13.240 Monster blasted him out in two fights ago, as you 359 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:15.799 made mention of, Figarola hasn't had a loss like that 360 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:17.840 since they last fought. So now let's see. 361 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.399 I think Fulton's been talking a little bit about and 362 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.000 I don't know how much it will actually play into 363 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.639 the actual fight, but maybe for his own mentalities own 364 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:27.600 confidence is he now has among his normal training team 365 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.639 they brought in to help him out Bozannis, who was 366 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.919 the trainer for Jeron Enna. So he was talking quite 367 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.360 a bit about that and what he's meant to their 368 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:36.000 camp and how good it's been to have him along 369 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:39.399 with his other guys than game. So he feels good 370 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:42.200 about that. And look, you got these are two of 371 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.879 the better fighters you know around in the division. Whenever 372 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:48.200 you think about the last performance from Fulton, really good fight, 373 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.200 really good fight. 374 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:51.960 Look forward to that all right, real quick. Two other 375 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.320 fights that are on the PBC on Prime pay per 376 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:56.799 view again, our friends at PPV dot com are offering 377 00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:59.080 it up. We suggest you use them. Give me the 378 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:02.039 latest you were round but the undercard press conference. Give 379 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:05.680 me the latest on Isaac Pittbull Cruise is back as 380 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:09.240 well as Jesus Ramos is back as well. Tell me 381 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.000 more about those fights on the under card real quick. 382 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:13.680 So Pitbull Cruise, you know, as you know, in his 383 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:16.119 most recent fight on August third, that was the same 384 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:19.440 card where Morel had his like heavyweight debut against Harod 385 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.000 he lost his world title at one hundred and forty 386 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:25.400 pounds by a split decision to Jose Vealezuela in a 387 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:27.480 big upset. You know, it was a close fight, but 388 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:30.039 you know he didn't get to win. And so this 389 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:32.559 is his return. Then he's fighting Angel Fierro, who may 390 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.440 not be at the level where you know hi from 391 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.359 world championship fights and that sort of thing, but he's 392 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:38.319 been on a number of TV fights, got a good record. 393 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:40.559 He's twenty three and two with two draws. Mostly by 394 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:43.039 knockout and he makes fun fights and so this is 395 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.920 like the all Mexican kind of clash. And while of 396 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.480 course Pitbull will be the favorite, I wouldn't be surprised 397 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:51.000 if Fierra wins. He's a solid quality guy and in 398 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.640 the ring with some good opponents. You know, he's won 399 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.880 a few. Like I said, he's low lost, you know, 400 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:57.319 to the two fights never been stopped before. And I'm 401 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.720