The Herd with Colin Cowherd: THE W.A.D.E. Concept - Week in Review

Date: August 25, 2025
Host/Analysts: The W.A.D.E. Concept team
Episode Focus: Breaking down explosive news in combat sports, including Jake Paul vs. Gervonta "Tank" Davis, updates on the Canelo vs. Terence Crawford mega-fight, and a disturbing incident involving Rampage Jackson's son, Raja Jackson.

Episode Overview

This episode of THE W.A.D.E. Concept delivers a packed rundown of the wildest breaking stories in boxing and combat sports. The hosts dive deep into the shock announcement of Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis, provide in-depth technical and psychological analysis on the upcoming Canelo vs. Terence Crawford fight (including Canelo’s training camp secrets), and thoroughly dissect a disturbing incident involving Raja Jackson, son of Rampage Jackson. Each topic is addressed with the podcast’s signature mix of real-time reactions, technical breakdowns, and blunt, emotionally charged commentary.

Key Segment Breakdown & Insights

1. Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis – The Circus Comes to Atlanta

[02:06 – 15:05]

Breaking News

• Official: Jake Paul vs. Gervonta "Tank" Davis is set for November 14, 2025, at State Farm Arena, Atlanta, as an exhibition on Netflix.
• Update: Earlier reports said November 15, but Jake Paul has confirmed the 14th due to Netflix's sports scheduling.

Context & Analysis

• The fight is seen as "absurd," with the analysts reiterating the entertainment/circus aspect.
  • Quote: "Remind you that combat sports are the craziest sports on the planet. And if boxing is the entertainment business or the circus or however you want... slap a red nose on this one because this takes the cake." – Combat Sports Analyst [02:38]
• This is an exhibition, allowing massive size disparity; Paul likely at 195 lbs, Tank likely around 150-160 lbs; big gloves likely (12-14 oz).
• Comparison to Mayweather vs. Logan Paul in terms of exhibition parameters; weight, gloves, and no professional sanctioning.
• Jake Paul’s career arc: teetering between "real" boxing and celebrity matches; attempts at legitimacy but undermined by spectacle.
  • Quote: "He wants the respect of the boxing fans and the boxing hierarchy ..., but at the same time, he’ll gain some of that and then lose some of it. It’s like a seesaw of his fights..." – Combat Sports Analyst [05:20]
• Failed negotiations for Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul due to broadcast/network conflicts—DAZN's involvement with Joshua conflicts with Paul's Netflix deal.

Sporting Perspective

• From a boxing "purist" angle, the fight is seen as nonsensical.
  • Quote: "It’s the circus, it’s buffoonery, it’s whatever you want to call it ... if you say that and you accept this for an exhibition ... then have to kind of accept whether people are going to have a problem with it." – Combat Sports Analyst [14:20]
• Acknowledgment of the likely contractual set-up: Jake capped at 195 lbs, Tank weighs whatever he wants, no official weigh-in pressure for Tank.

Audience Engagement

• Multiple calls to the comment section, emphasizing community debate around the spectacle, boxing legitimacy, and fighter careers.

2. Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford – Technical Analysis & Camp News

[17:55 – 53:59]

Fight Significance

• Framed as the “biggest” and “most important” fight in boxing for 2025, with massive implications for both legacies.

Canelo’s Media Workout Analysis

• Footage shows Canelo circling right (away from Crawford’s southpaw stance), but with continued technical flaws—particularly cross-stepping, which could be exploited by a mobile, counter-punching Crawford.
  • Quote: “You go to the Williams Skull fight and you watched him chase William Skoll around and around and around that ring … you didn’t see Canelo cut him off ...” – Combat Sports Analyst [22:21]
• Heavy bag work shows Canelo flat-footed, focusing on right hand/left hook combos. The concern: Canelo’s increasing tendency toward flat-footed, “power-first” offense may leave him predictable.

Keys for Canelo

• Must activate his jab and improve lateral movement
• Needs to avoid excessive cross-stepping and defensive lapses, which Crawford could capitalize on.
• Emphasis on timing and setting traps; “Canelo Alvarez timing” vs. Crawford’s angle changes and counters.

Sparring Bombshell: Jaron “Boots” Ennis Joins Canelo’s Camp

• Canelo brings in Jaron Boots Ennis for sparring—seen as the perfect Crawford proxy.
  • Quote: "I can't understate how important even just a couple of days working with Jaron Boots Ennis is going to be for Canelo just to see a bit of the tempo, a bit of that switching of stance ..." – Combat Sports Analyst [39:23]
• Boots brings switch-hitting, elite defense-to-offense transitions, and high-level movement—mirroring Crawford.
• Canelo’s motivation visibly renewed; podcast pivots on this as a major development which could “change everything” for the fight.

Comparative Camp News for Crawford

• Crawford working with Shakur Stevenson, focusing on maintaining agility at 168 lbs and carrying his punching power up in weight.
• Visual comparisons: Canelo’s camp features “thick,” muscled fighters (Canelo and Boots), Crawford looks “more slender”—perhaps prepping for agility over size.

Fight Dynamics & Early Prediction

• Points of concern for Crawford: how well his chin holds up vs. Canelo’s power at 168, and whether size/weight gain will compromise his stamina or speed.
• “Pathways to victory” lean toward Crawford via decision, Canelo via late stoppage if he can break him down; “If Canelo lands clean ... it’s going to have far more of an effect than Crawford landing clean on Canelo.” – Combat Sports Analyst [31:23]
• Host leans Canelo via late stoppage, especially with the addition of Boots to camp, but acknowledges “all the odds” and “most historic” implications should Crawford defy expectation.

3. Raja Jackson (Son of Rampage) – Pro Wrestling Incident Breakdown

[53:59 – 84:08]

Incident Narrative & Breakdown

• Raja Jackson, son of Rampage Jackson, viciously assaulted a wrestler (Psycho Stu) at a small Los Angeles pro wrestling event.
• After a minor, misunderstood "worked" can hit (standard pro wrestling play-acting)—which was quickly apologized for—Raja was invited to participate in a match. He took this as license to attack for real.
• Raja executed a full-force single-leg takedown, knocking Stu unconscious, and proceeded to land ~20 unanswered real punches. The attack was so severe it is characterized as “an almost attempted murder.”

Ethical and Legal Analysis

• Quote: “This is not acceptable in any walk of life where you just get to go, yeah, no, the company said I can go in there and beat his ass.” – Combat Sports Analyst [65:31]
• Raja’s language afterward (“I’m tired of everybody playing with me,” [72:13]) reveals the act was driven by ego and a desire to prove he’s “not a bitch,” not by self-defense or misunderstanding.
• The hosts place blame on both Raja and the event promoter for the lack of safety protocols but unequivocally state Raja is criminally liable.
  • Quote: "Raja Jackson's not an example of a kid making a mistake. He's an example of a scumbag using an opportunity to assault someone as a way to say I'm not a bitch and y'all are gonna stop playing with me." – Combat Sports Analyst [82:14]
• Breakdown of Rampage Jackson’s public response: criticized as inadequate and self-protective. Suggests potential for criminal and civil legal action.

Memorable Quotes & Emphatic Moments

• “I offer a lot of opinions here on combat sports, but this may be the first time where I offer the opinion that Roger Jackson should be in jail for what he did here.” – Combat Sports Analyst [83:38]
• “You get into martial arts to be able to defend yourself from psychos like that.” – Combat Sports Analyst [82:05]

Notable Quotes by Segment (with Timestamps)

• Jake Paul–Tank Davis Announcement:
  • "Remind you that combat sports are the craziest sports on the planet. And if boxing is the entertainment business … slap a red nose on this one because this takes the cake." [02:38]
• On the Fight’s Validity:
  • “It’s a weird spot to be in for him, for sure ... Jake fights are just weird because I don’t even know how to describe them.” – Combat Sports Analyst [06:46]
• On Paul vs. Joshua Failing:
  • “They were only a network broadcast away from actually making that fight.” – Combat Sports Analyst [07:54]
• Canelo Camp Reaction:
  • “This is a perfect get for Canelo … getting this kind of sparring is a massive deal … It can’t be understated how important even just a couple of days working with Jaron Boots Ennis is...” – Combat Sports Analyst [39:23]
  • “If you needed just a little bit more of a boost to say, oh, Canelo is taking this as serious as I’ve seen him take a fight ... Him bringing in Jaron Boots Ennis ... shows me that Canelo Alvarez is taking this as serious as he’s taken any other fight in his career and that he’s re-motivated to prove something. And that makes for a very scary Canelo.” [49:27]
• Raja Jackson Incident:
  • “This is inexcusable and this is no offense to Rampage or anybody else. ... there is no excuse. There is none. ... That's a 25-year-old man that made a choice to damn near end someone's life over his ego.” – Combat Sports Analyst [83:38]

Important Timestamps

• Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis: [02:06 – 15:05]
• Canelo vs. Crawford: Media Workout & Analysis: [17:55 – 38:15]
• Canelo Brings in Boots Ennis: [38:15 – 49:27]
• Raja Jackson Incident (Detailed Discussion): [53:59 – 84:08]

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis: A remarkable, headline-grabbing spectacle destined to draw wide attention yet spark debate about boxing’s legitimacy and the entertainment-first era.
• Canelo vs. Crawford: An elite technical showdown getting ever more intriguing, with sparring camp choices (Canelo/Boots, Crawford/Shakur) hinting at each fighter’s strategic priorities and readiness to adapt.
• Raja Jackson Incident: A chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked ego, poor event management, and the misuse of martial skills; the hosts call for accountability and see it as a watershed moment for combat sports culture.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode offers a vibrant, often hard-hitting examination of the biggest combat sports stories—mixing breaking news, technical fight breakdowns, training camp scoops, and serious ethical commentary. Whether you’re tuning in for the wild world-building of boxing’s newest spectacles, seeking sharp fight predictions, or wanting to understand the deeper issues rocking the fight world, this packs it all in with raw honesty and informed, impassioned debate.