WHAT a start to the year. Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou are readying for a scrap, Callum Smith is coming off a 16-month layoff to challenge Artur Beterbiev and Tony Weeks is the centre of attention. The heavyweight landscape has been fuel-injected by Saudi riches but what to make of Joshua taking on a fighter with a record that reads 0-1? Without question, Beterbiev’s 19-0 (19) stats are significantly more impressive. But is Smith catching him at the right time? Meanwhile, there was a distu...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 5Ep. 1
2023 was another eventful year in boxing and this final episode brings together some of the big stories and interviews featured on the pod. Anthony Joshua was in reflective mood when discussing the final stage of his career, Victor Conte pulled no punches at all in challenging boxing's dopers and cheaters while Timothy Bradley gave a riveting insight into his punishing fight with Ruslan Provodnikov.The boxing year started with Liam Smith stunning Chris Eubank Jnr, a result and performance upstag...
Jan 01, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Season 4Ep. 57
ON a dramatic night in Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua looked terrific while stopping Otto Wallin, Joseph Parker outhustled a listless Deontay Wilder and Daniel Dubois thumped Jarrell Miller into submission.Joshua’s partnership with Ben Davison got off to a flying start but the matchup with Wilder - who barely landed a single blow - could now be gone forever. We closely examine the performance of Dubois, too.There was another upset, crafted by Agit Kabayel alongside more predictable wins for Dmitry...
Dec 24, 2023•57 min•Season 4Ep. 56
Vote for us at the sports podcast awards: https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/podcast/boxing-news-the-opening-bell/ NORMALLY, on December 21, the boxing world is blind drunk and counting down the days to Christmas. Not this year! No sir-eeee.The Opening Bell towers is awash with activity, starting with the exquisite battle between Bam Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards, before we rock around the Christmas tree in anticipation of this weekend’s bumper card in Saudi Arabia. Atop which is genuine jeopardy ...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 55
The final instalment of a four-part audio documentary about the unforgettable, career-defining rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves. Both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn, revisit the way the eyes of the nation were on their iconic rematch at Wembley Stadium, the rematch itself, and exactly where its outcome left both fighters.Interviews were conducted, and the script written, by Declan Warrington. Darren Rees produced, and Alex...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 15 min
WHAT a week for Devin Haney, Chris Billam-Smith, Ricky Hatton and Jane Couch. One wowed San Francisco, another lit up Bournemouth while two are set for Canastota in 2024. We ponder what’s next for Haney following his punch perfect victory over Regis Prograis, review the performance of CBS and wonder what it takes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.Looking ahead, there’s a flyweight showdown to savour this weekend when Sunny Edwards battles Bam Rodriguez in a genuine 50/50 - but who’s our money...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 4Ep. 54
The third instalment of a four-part audio documentary about the unforgettable, career-defining rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves. Both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn, recount the aftermath to their thrilling first fight, Groves’ determination to force a rematch, and the changing dynamics of their rivalry during the build-up to the date at Wembley Stadium that captivated the UK.Interviews were conducted, and the script writt...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr 3 min
THE hero of the last week was unquestionably Jordan Gill, thanks to both his performance against Michael Conlan and his incredible post-fight address. But one of the biggest stories of the week, yet again, was the latest chapter of the Chris Eubank and Conor Benn, will-they-won’t-they saga.Ryan Garcia was another in the news, for his actions before and during his comeback bout with Oscar Duarte. And Garcia’s former amateur rival Devin Haney is also up for discussion, ahead of his enticing showdo...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 4Ep. 53
The second instalment of a four-part documentary about the unforgettable, career-defining rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves. Both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn, revisit the endlessly entertaining and divisive first fight that made their similarly iconic rematch so inevitable. Interviews were conducted, and the script written, by Declan Warrington. Darren Rees produced, and Alex Steedman narrated.@alexsteedman@decwarrington...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 14 min
David Benavidez turned in a career best performance last weekend, forcing Demetrius Andrade to retire. It left many fans calling for only one rival for Benavidez next, and that’s Canelo Alvarez.Katie Taylor was in majestic form too as she gained revenge over Chantelle Cameron but should that first round ‘knockdown’ have been called?There’s a rather indifferent reaction to news that Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr are planning to fight on February 3, whereas a busy weekend ahead is previewed.And i...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 52
The first of a four-part audio documentary about the unforgettable, career-defining rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves. Both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn, revisit the origins and evolution of a rivalry that shaped British boxing both then and in the years to come. Interviews were conducted, and the script written, by Declan Warrington. Darren Rees produced, and Alex Steedman narrated.@alexsteedman@decwarrington@reesboxing8...
Nov 23, 2023•58 min
A four-part audio documentary revisiting, in vivid detail, the unforgettable rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves, as told by both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn.10pm, 23-11-23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 23, 2023•3 min
TYSON FURY hurled his customary insults at Oleksandr Usyk when their world heavyweight title showdown was confirmed last week. This time, alas, they had no effect whatsoever.Has the Fury schtick finally outstayed its welcome? Furthermore, at the age of 35 and following a struggle with Francis Ngannou, are Fury’s best days behind him? We ask the same question about Katie Taylor, ahead of her crucial rematch with Chantelle Cameron.Nathan Heaney, meanwhile, turned in a superb showing to upset Denzi...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 4Ep. 51
EIGHT hours before it was confirmed that Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will fight on the same bill in Saudi Arabia on December 23, Alex Steedman and Matt Christie examined the entire card and it’s place in boxing world.The stacked Manchester card is previewed, so too the bids of Adam Azim and Tyler Denny to become European champions, and we look back on Harlem Eubank’s statement win in Brighton.Best of all, perhaps, is the opportunity to relive a brawl so cinematic it’s scarcely believable t...
Nov 15, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 50
THINGS change fast in boxing. One minute you’re watching your beloved sport on ITV, along with 20 million other people, and the next you’re subscribing to sport-only channels to get your fix while begrudging the extra cost for box office events. And very soon, we’re led to believe, you’ll be watching on Netflix in between binging on Stranger Things and Breaking Bad. Is this latest move good for boxing?We also examine Joe Cordina’s victory in Monte Carlo and wonder if he’s on the brink of a defea...
Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 49
THOUGH it appeared that Francis Ngannou had thrown a spanner the size of Saudi Arabia into the works on Saturday night, we've been reliably informed that Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight early next year. We delve deeper into the aftershock of Fury-Ngannou, the performances of both fighters, the reasons behind those performances, what they mean for Usyk's chances and speculate on the African returning to a prize ring sooner than you may think. We also review Amanda Serrano winning a bout ...
Nov 01, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 48
IN a special reaction podcast, Alex Steedman and Matt Christie share their genuine astonishment after Francis Ngannou almost beat Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.How on earth did that happen?Strap yourselves in for 40 minutes of chat between two boxing experts who clearly know nothing whatsoever about boxing.Please rate, review and subscribe. We appreciate your time, attention and support! Happy Sunday one and all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 29, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 47
FEAR not, we’re not about to insult your intelligence and make a case for Francis Ngannou to do the literal impossible when he takes on Tyson Fury. But this whole affair does raise some very interesting questions that we attempt to answer.Those questions begin with the British Boxing Board of Control’s involvement with the show - particularly with the ongoing Conor Benn saga taking a new twist in the last week.The highlights of last weekend - like the performances of Jack Catterall and Isaac Cha...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 46
WHAT happens on a press day when the cover story - Buatsi v Azeez - is cancelled mere hours before deadline? Does Showtime’s exit from boxing speak of a wider problem? And how are we supposed to react to news that Conor Benn v Chris Eubank Jr is all but a done deal?Alongside attempting to answer those questions we examine the middleweight landscape following Qazak Style’s latest destruction job and cast our eyes over Tim Tszyu’s relentless rise.And in This Week In History, we revisit an archetyp...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 45
LEIGH WOOD produced another sensational finish to break the heart of Josh Warrington after a stirring battle that exceeded our high expectations. The sudden finish and its implications are discussed alongside the performance of the referee and the potential futures of both fighters. So too the beauty of the 50/50 domestic showdown.We look ahead to the weekend’s action and go back to 1967 as we tell the story of the third fight between two featherweight legends, Vincente Saldivar and Howard Winst...
Oct 11, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 44
JUST when we least expected it and long after we’d grown weary from even hoping for it, it was confirmed last week that Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will at last do battle. There’s one or two things to resolve, however.Canelo Alvarez made easy work of Jermell Charlo. What comes next for the Mexican superstar as he plots the final stages of his career?We also look ahead to a terrific British showdown between Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington, reflect on Jordan Thompson’s brutal loss to Jai Opetaia ...
Oct 03, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 43
WE start this week with a Big Bang and a review of Joe Joyce being knocked out by Zhilei Zhang. Then it’s onto the events in Florida, which hosted Sandy Ryan-Jessica McCaskill and Conor Benn’s comeback, a preview of Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo before we close with a step back in time to Kelly Pavlik’s thrilling victory over Jermain Taylor.Through all of that we attempt to answer the following questions:- Is there a route back for Joyce?- Can Zhang go one step further and topple one of the lead...
Sep 27, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 42
THE comeback of Conor Benn was a possibility when the recording of this podcast began and became a reality midway through. Thomas Hauser’s latest study into performance-enhancing drugs is also discussed, alongside Joe Joyce’s impending - and fascinating - rematch with Zhihei Zhang.We look back on the latest performance of Luis Alberto Lopez, too. And there’s the classic that never was in This Week - Felix Trinidad v Oscar De La Hoya.Please rate, review and follow or subscribe! We’ll get there in...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 41
CANELO ALVAREZ doesn’t seem keen on a clash with Terence Crawford and who can blame him. Though this would be a ginormous event, it might also be the worst idea in the world for the Mexican superstar.This was supposed to be the year of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder. But instead it’s the year of Fury vs Francis Ngannou. We examine the reasons why the heavyweight division is eating itself and consider the chances of a brighter 2024. Women’s boxing is also discus...
Sep 12, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 40
CHRIS EUBANK JR breathed new life into his eventful career when he stopped Liam Smith in their rematch in Manchester, in the same arena where Smith stopped Eubank just eight months ago.The performance from Eubank was hard to fault, there was new patience and intelligence mixed with spite. But the below-par showing of Smith is also worthy of investigation.We look at the position of VADA in British boxing and, again, the unrelenting problem of drugs in the sport.And we take a trip back in time to ...
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 39
IN a special episode of The Opening Bell, Victor Conte discusses the issue of performance-enhancing drugs in detail.Once notorious for his part in the BALCO scandal which involved several high-profile athletes, Conte is now campaigning for a clean sport and is arguably the most knowledgable figure in boxing on the subject of PEDs.Conte highlights the extent of PED use in boxing today, explains how and why fighters can get away with taking them, while identifying what must happen to eradicate the...
Aug 30, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 38
OLEKSANDR USYK defeated Daniel Dubois in nine rounds, a result that most expected. But there was a moment in the fifth round that has stolen all the headlines. In this special reaction podcast, we ask the question: Was the punch that felled Usyk a legal one. Better still, we attempt to answer it…Please rate, review and tell the world about our little podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 27, 2023•49 min•Season 3Ep. 37
TRAINER extraordinaire Joe Gallagher is on hand to cast his eye over the world of boxing. Alongside Alex Steedman, Joe discusses the issue of drugs in boxing, examines the progress of Anthony Joshua and predicts the outcome of Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Dubois.There’s also an update on Gallagher’s own stable of fighters, the highs and lows of being a trainer and a trip back in time to when Mark Breland was unbeaten and Marlon Starling was a pesky contender.Please follow us and leave a nice review! Le...
Aug 19, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 3Ep. 36
ELEVEN years ago, Anthony Joshua won gold at the London Olympics. Since then, he’s won multiple world belts and sold out several stadium events. And on Saturday night, he scored one of the most spectacular KOs of his career. Yet he faces criticism again. Why?We examine that latest performance, his status and the expectations, in an effort to predict what might follow, particularly with Deontay Wilder looming.The latest Thomas Hauser investigation surrounding PEDs - exclusive to Boxing News - is ...
Aug 16, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 35
ONE week on from the euphoric exploits of Inoue and Crawford, a high profile failed test threatens to plunge boxing back into dark waters. But should it? We examine the implications of Dillian Whyte’s latest ‘adverse finding’ and the credentials of Robert Helenius as a late notice opponent for Anthony Joshua.And in a lighter section of the show, we venture back to a time when Acelino Freitas was one of the most reliable thrill-seekers in boxing.Please rate, review and enjoy! Learn more about you...
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 34
