ANOTHER packed episode looks ahead to Vasiliy Lomachenko’s crucial comeback bout while Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis steps up to super-lightweight against Mario Barrios.Alex Steedman and Matt Christie also reflect on the latest thrashing dished out by the supreme Naoya Inoue. Another sublime showing but can ‘The Monster’ secure the right opponents to cement his greatness?There’s the issue of ‘celebrity boxing’ blighting the landscape to discuss and the career of Alexander Povetkin, and in turn the issue...
Jun 23, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 31
TYSON FURY seems to working his way into Deontay Wilder’s head again. We hear from Tyson ahead of their third bout on July 24 and examine Wilder’s efforts to ignore his long-term tormentor at the opening press conference.Alex Steedman and Matt Christie catch up with the Board’s Robert Smith to discuss referee Steve Gray’s contentious decision to reject the towel that came from Lewis Ritson’s corner in Newcastle.We say goodbye to the one and only Kirkland Laing as Kirk’s daughter, Delene, deliver...
Jun 16, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 30
ON this week’s Opening Bell, Boxing News editor Matt Christie tells Alex Steedman about the difficulties of covering Floyd Mayweather in his current role as an ex-boxer partaking in exhibitions with YouTubers.This week’s Boxing News cover - though headlined Smash-and-Grab - split opinion among readers with some feeling the presence of Mayweather and Logan Paul was an insult to the sport. Matchroom Boxing’s move to DAZN, Daniel Dubois’ victory over Bogdan Dinu and previews of the next outings of ...
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 29
EDDIE HEARN talks to Matt Christie about Matchroom Boxing’s new five-year exclusive deal with DAZN. It ends a long relationship with Sky Sports.Alongside DAZN’s Joseph Markowski, Hearn answers the following questions:- Was the writing always on the wall for Sky Sports after the initial 2018 book-up with DAZN?- What does this deal mean for Anthony Joshua?- What exactly does ‘controlling the narrative’ mean for both fans and the media?- Are DAZN actively chasing Premier League football rights?- Ho...
Jun 05, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 28
WHAT a showing from 38-year-old Nonito Donaire to demolish Nordine Obaali. The brilliance of the ‘Filipino Flash’ is admired here, so too the ongoing development of Devin Haney.Haney emerged from a tough scrap with Jorge Linares to further his case to be taken seriously in the lightweight division.Daniel Dubois takes the first steps towards recovery against Bogdan Dinu, or at least we presume he will.Ricky Hatton’s defining win over Kostya Tszyu forms This Week In History and Tris Dixon’s ground...
Jun 02, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 27
IN a special bonus podcast, Tris Dixon talks to Boxing News about his latest book, Damage - The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in boxing. The subject matter - that of brain damage in boxing - is notoriously difficult to address in a sport that thrives on punches to the head. Nonetheless, it’s explored in detail here. Dixon, alongside current BN editor Matt Christie and Alex Steedman, talks earnestly about the sport he loves, the fighters he’s met and the sobering conclusion he’s come to: In boxing...
May 27, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 26
AS Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua went their separate ways after 11 months of dilly-dallying, Josh Taylor went to Las Vegas and proved he was the world’s best fighter in his weight class.The Scot is on course for greatness and his brilliant victory over Jose Ramirez to lift the undisputed super-lightweight crown was truly awe-inspiring. But what next for Taylor and that ‘undisputed’ title? The latest fallout from Joshua and Fury is discussed, alongside Manny Pacquiao’s audacious bid to defeat Err...
May 26, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 25
JUST when you thought it was safe to book a trip to Saudi Arabia on August 14, Deontay Wider emerged and threatened to scupper the long-proposed Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury showdown.Matt Christie, after a day of attempting to get to the bottom of the mess for Boxing News, does his best to explain the situation alongside Alex Steedman. In it there are old clues from America and new evidence that tell us the worst: Joshua-Fury just ain’t happening.Josh Taylor guests ahead of his sumptuous clash with...
May 19, 2021•1 hr 46 min•Season 2Ep. 24
IN light of Billy Joe Saunders being retired by his corner against Canelo Alvarez, the issue of quitting has again been brought into sharp focus.Matt Christie and Alex Steedman re-examine that contest, its ending, and ask if it’s time for the sport to change its ways in regard to labelling badly injured fighters as ‘quitters’.The gruelling battle between Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti is remembered in This Week In History and the worst consequences of bravery in the ring are highlighted as we pay t...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 2Ep. 23
CANELO ALVAREZ underlined his status as the best fighter in the sport as he forced Billy Joe Saunders to stay on his stool after the eighth round.Prior to the abrupt finish it had been an intriguing bout with Canelo starting fast and Saunders gaining a foothold, of sorts, in the middle rounds.Up for discussion is the issue of ‘quitting’ and the connotations and consequences of it, those scorecards that favoured Canelo and the future of both fighters following this memorable event. Please rate, r...
May 09, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 22
IT’S fight week in Dallas and the fun and games have started between Billy Joe Saunders and Canelo Alvarez. The ballshy Briton’s chances of beating the mighty Mexican go under the microscope as the qualities of both fighters are examined in detail.We look back on the wonderful victory of Sunny Edwards, reflect on life in the Manchester bubble and hail the fight between Katie Taylor and Natasha Jonas. This Week In History goes back to Amir Khan’s kamikaze mission to beat Canelo five years ago and...
May 05, 2021•1 hr 31 min•Season 2Ep. 21
IN a special bonus podcast, Matt Christie brings you a selection of interviews from his week in the bubble ahead of Derek Chisora-Joseph Parker to offer a taste of life in a fight hotel in Manchester.You will hear Eddie Hearn reflect on a weigh-in that ended with Chisora storming off and refusing to fight. There's a glimpse inside the fascinating mind of Chisora while Parker discusses what it's been like to be so close to his rival for the last four days. Natasha Jonas and Joe Gallagher explore ...
Apr 30, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 20
DEREK CHISORA and Joseph Parker top a pay-per-view bill in Manchester this weekend. On the undercard Katie Taylor takes on Natasha Jonas, Chris Eubank Jr faces Marcus Morrison and Craig Richards challenges Dmitry Bivol. Alex Steedman and Matt Christie - in the bubble with a mysterious wound on his head - preview the card.Sunny Edwards’ bid to win the IBF flyweight title is also examined and we look back on Felix Cash’s impressive stoppage of Denzel Bentley.This Week In History lands in 2007 when...
Apr 28, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 19
FOLLOWING Saturday night’s latest Triller fight card, when a beyond sloshed Oscar De La Hoya almost stole the show from Jake Paul, we ask what this lowbrow but clearly popular new format - might mean for the future of the sport.Daniel Dubois’ comeback for a daft WBA heavyweight title is up for discussion, we look back on Liam Williams’ unsuccessful bid for the WBO middleweight belt against Demetrius Andrade and wonder what the result means for both winner and loser.The excellent clash between Fe...
Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 18
LIAM WILLIAMS, in his own wonderful way, tells Matt Christie and Alex Steedman that he doesn’t care if people don’t believe he’ll beat Demetrius Andrade, he’s going to win anyway. The Welshman’s shot at the WBO middleweight title is previewed in detail while Conor Benn’s impressive thrashing of Samuel Vargas, and where it may take him, is both revered and analysed.There’s a heated discussion about the merits of Shannon Courtenay’s win over Ebanie Bridges being classified (by the WBA, who else?) ...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Season 2Ep. 17
FOLLOWING Carl Frampton's loss to Jamel Herring in Dubai, Alex Steedman and Matt Christie reflect on the Northern Irishman's career and legacy, from the headiest of highs in Belfast and New York to the final low as he bid for a third divisional title.This weekend's action is previewed, including Joe Smith Jnr-Maxim Vlasov and Conor Benn-Samuel Vargas, while the seemingly neverending invasion of yesterday's heroes - as Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera all signal comebac...
Apr 07, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Season 2Ep. 16
ON a packed show this week:- Dillian Whyte admirably gains revenge but that has to be the end of the line for Povetkin.- Behind the scenes in Gibraltar.- Examining the deal that could see the Sauerlands significantly increase their influence.- Triller and the Oscar De La Hoya comeback.- Joshua-Fury, why are we waiting?- What went wrong for Willy Hutchinson?- Detailing the task at hand for Carl Frampton as he takes on Jamel Herring.- Leonard-Hagler is This Week In History - Fighting Words by Harr...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Season 2Ep. 15
BEFORE the impending big box office rematch between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin is previewed, Matt and Alex examine the news that Dereck Chisora and Joseph Parker will headline a pay-per-view show on May 1.With a curious event that also features Chris Eubank Jnr, Katie Taylor-Natasha Jonas and Dmitry Bivol, the question of whether this signals a change in the PPV landscape is asked.The performances of Lawrence Okolie, Lee McGregor, Artur Beterbiev and Virgil Ortiz are reviewed and Georg...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Season 2Ep. 14
THREE days before Eddie Hearn declared that both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have signed to fight each other, Alex Steedman spoke to Fury live on television and found the WBC heavyweight champion to be in a somewhat mischievous mood.Alex and Matt Christie discuss the latest Joshua-Fury developments but not before they pay a detailed tribute to the one and only Marvelous Marvin Hagler. The best tribute of all came hours after the announcement of the legend’s passing when Juan Francisco Estrada ...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 13
THIS weekend sees a potential Fight of the Year as Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada engage in a scrumptious rematch at super-flyweight.News that Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez will clash in an undisputed fight in May is welcomed by Matt Christie and Alex Steedman and they also look back on Claressa Shields’ latest triumph.This Week In History stars Marvin Hagler and John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi. Memories of that fight trigger even better ones of a week spent in Wales with Mugabi,...
Mar 10, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 12
TEOFIMO LOPEZ is seemingly taking charge of his own career after a fall-out with Top Rank and Triller bidding a whopping fee to secure his next outing. Alex Steedman and Matt Christie explore the development and wonder if Triller can really become big players in a developing market. Does this mark the beginning of the end for fighters being tied to promoters in the long term or is this just another overly ambitious new kid on the block?Canelo Alvarez’s thrashing of Avni Yildirim was expected but...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 11
LAST weekend saw another eventful card that culminated with Josh Kelly losing to David Avanesyan. This weekend, Canelo Alvarez engages in a perceived mismatch against Avni Yildirim. Both bouts, and their differing narratives, are discussed in detail.Alex Steedman and Matt Christie - after reading Terry Dooley’s Boxing News article - examine the idea of schadenfreude in boxing, which is ‘pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune’. Why all the hate in boxing today? Frank Bruno’s...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 10
THIS week we take a deep dive into the eternally contentious subject of scoring in the light of yet more controversial judging decisions.Robert Smith, of the Boxing Board of Control, admits there are flaws in the current system while Matt Christie and Alex Steedman debate the issue.Scoring is of course just one part of officiating; at the weekend, referee Howard Foster was accused of allowing Josh Warrington to take too much punishment in his punishing defeat to Mauricio Lara.Two delicious fight...
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 45 min•Season 2Ep. 9
IN this special reaction podcast, Alex Steedman and Matt Christie attempt to break down an eventful night at Wembley that saw Josh Warrington lose to Mauricio Lara in a beyond brutal upset and the judges - again - steal the headlines for some contentious scoring on the undercard.Warrington was eventually stopped in the ninth round but arguments that the bout should have been halted as early as the fourth carry significant weight. In chief-support, eyes rolled as Zelfa Barrett was named the victo...
Feb 14, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 8
IN this week’s Opening Bell, we react to Daniel Kinahan’s latest statement, pay tribute to Leon Spinks and catch up with Eddie Hearn.Hearn answers questions about Kinahan and the fallout from the recent Panorama investigation, the declining power of the sanctioning bodies and the latest developments with Joshua-Fury.We look ahead to some much needed boxing action and go back to the glory days of Marvin Hagler for This Week In History.Book of the week is the one and only McIlvanney on Boxing. Ple...
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 31 min•Season 2Ep. 7
BOXING is again being forced to look in the mirror following a BBC investigation into the involvement of Daniel Kinahan and MTK Global’s increasing influence in the sport.The Panorama documentary came days after the World Boxing Association attached a world heavyweight title to a bout that had zero business being classified as such.Both developments are discussed alongside the more light-hearted subject of listeners’ choices for ringwalk tunes. This Week In History focuses on Terry Norris’ 1991 ...
Feb 03, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 6
THE World Boxing Association (WBA) have been making a mockery of themselves and the sport for several years. With the organisation recognising multiple champions per weight class, Alex Steedman and Matt Christie contemplate a better boxing world without them.Canelo Alvarez joining up with the ever-ambitious Eddie Hearn for two fights is also discussed alongside reviews and previews of Stephen Fulton’s latest victory and Caleb Plant’s imminent outing.Your choices for your favourite fights to watc...
Jan 28, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 5
HALL OF FAME promoter Frank Warren joins Alex Steedman and Matt Christie as he battles back to health after being hospitalised with coronavirus.Warren reveals the misery and discomfort he endured over Christmas as COVID-19 hit him hard. Not quite his old self, but with a spring in his step nonetheless, Warren discusses Tyson Fury and those negotiations with Anthony Joshua, his immediate plans for his Queensberry Promotions’ fighters and the very real struggle boxing still faces.The descent of Se...
Jan 20, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 4
TO celebrate what would have been the 79th birthday of Muhammad Ali, we bring you a never-before-heard interview with 'The Greatest' from 1972.In March of that year, Ake Sintring - a longtime Ali devotee - tracked his idol down in Tokyo, at 5am, as he was preparing for his upcoming bout with Mac Foster.They discuss Joe Frazier, politics, religion and the conflict in Vietnam. The recording, which only came to light last year, is nearly 50 years old but we're confident you will enjoy this fascinat...
Jan 17, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Chris Eubank Jnr is this week’s big Opening Bell interview following his signing with Team Sauerland. He explains what he’s been doing in America, why he has no plans to come back to the UK anytime soon and plots his route towards a Gennady Golovkin showdown. 'Not getting that fight in 2017 was a big regret,’ he says. But the best thing that’s happened since was joining forces with Roy Jones, a trainer he trusts implicitly.Matt Christie and Alex Steedman ponder Eubank’s chances of success in the...
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 2
