This week’s Opening Bell celebrates two of the very best operating in boxing today in Oleksander Usyk and Bam Rodriguez. Returning to The Opening Bell is Commentator, former world champion and all round funny man Barry Jones who was ringside at Wembley watching Usyk and is Bam’s No1 fan. Barry gives us a fighter’s insight into the technical wizardry of this talented pair with thoughts on what their boxing futures look like. Thanks for your continued support, tell your friends and feel free to pu...
Jul 22, 2025•1 hr 35 min
It’s less than two years since Oleksandr Usyk convincingly defeated Daniel Dubois - so why is everyone so excited about the rematch? We examine exactly why, the low blow from fight one and Dubois’ subsequent upturn in form, and make our picks for the Wembley Stadium showdown. Katie Taylor at last proved her superiority over Amanda Serrano, Shakur Stevenson turned up the excitement against William Zepeda and Hamzah Sheeraz, while thrashing Edgar Berlanga, signalled his arrival at super-middleweig...
Jul 16, 2025•1 hr 33 min
As veterans Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano prepare to reignite their violent rivalry, Ricky Hatton announced he was coming back at the age of 46 and Tyson Fury teased his own inevitable return. We explore what makes fighters so eager to sacrifice themselves to boxing and why the sport is so difficult to walk away from. We look back on the chaotic ending to the disappointing contest between Jack Catterall and Harlem Eubank, and preview Shakur Stevenson-William Zepeda alongside Edgar Berlanga-Ham...
Jul 09, 2025•1 hr 32 min
In a very special episode of The Opening Bell’s I Love Boxing, we talk to Ellie Scotney about her journey into the sport, the struggles she’s faced throughout her career, and the game-changing promotional deal with Jake Paul. Scotney is in typically captivating form throughout as he expresses her opinion on drug cheats, two-minute rounds, and shares her fondness for some vintage Orlando Canizales action. We hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jul 07, 2025•58 min
Jake Paul has gatecrashed the world rankings on the strength of victories over two men with a combined age of 97. What’s all that about? September 20 has been confirmed as the date for the rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn. We just about got out of the first one unscathed - but might there be trouble ahead? Chris’ cousin, Harlem Eubank, leaps up in class this weekend when he takes on Jack Catterall. On paper, Catterall looks like a worthy favourite but a case for the upset can be ma...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 31 min
Deontay Wilder, at the age of 39, is promising to prove that all he needed to regain momentum was not a time machine, but time off. Father Time will be watching carefully. Last weekend, there was a shock defeat for Galal Yafai at the hands of Francisco Rodriguez who exhibited astonishing energy for each of the 12 rounds. And on the same week that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr takes on Jake Paul, we journey back in time to focus on Julio Cesar Chavez see red after tasing blood. Learn more about your ad c...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Boiling bodies down to make unnatural weight limits has been standard practice in boxing for decades. Considering a fight follows that gruelling struggle, is it time to rethink old habits? The potential of both Richardson Hitchins and Andy Cruz is discussed in detail before we preview the latest showcase for Galal Yafai. And in This Week, we pinpoint the fight that triggered the spellbinding peak of Vasiliy Lomachenko. Please rate, review, share - and always follow The Opening Bell 🔔 Learn more...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Boxing lost one of its finest when James Cook, a truly beautiful human being, was taken from us far too soon. We pay tribute. Fabio Wardley came through what threatened to be a sobering homecoming at Portman Road to demolish Justis Huni with a single shot. What did that fight say about those two heavyweights? The retirements of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Delicious Orie are up for discussion as we examine the brutal yet addictive nature of the sport. In This Week, we go back to 1981 and the great Lar...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 23 min
Fabio Wardley has crafted an incredible career from his white-collar background. Is Saturday’s showdown with Justis Huni the last stop before a world title shot or will question marks about his pedigree remain? Over in Barnsley, in another football stadium show, Callum Simpson takes on Ivan Zucco, an Italian southpaw, for the European super middleweight title. Like Wardley, Simpson stands on the edge of world class waters. And like Wardley, there’s still a sense that he might need one or two mor...
Jun 04, 2025•55 min
Heavyweight Moses Itauma scored another knockout last weekend to further heighten the already lofty expectations about his future. But how do you ensure the 20-year-old fulfils that stratospheric potential? Also in Glasgow was Josh Taylor being upset by Ekow Essuman in a fiery 12-rounder that has implications for both on the world scene. This Week In History is proud to present one of the most chaotic, comedic and combustible heavyweight collisions in memory. We strongly advise you watch this on...
May 27, 2025•1 hr 26 min
The career of Josh Taylor is at the crossroads where Ekow Essuman awaits. Will The Tornado be reborn at welterweight or is this the fight that proves his days at the top are over? Johnny Fisher saw his unbeaten record ruined by Dave Allen last weekend which stirred opinion on matchmaking and the futures of both heavyweights. Tyson Fury again teased a comeback and, frankly, we’re now not even attempting to stifle the yawn. In This Week In History we head back to 1985 when Rocky Lockridge collided...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 20 min
At the age of 46 and without a win in six years, Manny Pacquiao is set to walk into a world welterweight title fight. We ask how and why this is being allowed to occur. In Nottingham last weekend, Anthony Cacace produced his latest impressive beatdown when he halted the plucky but outgunned Leigh Wood. We look ahead to the heavyweight rematch between Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen and go all the way back to 1970 when Ken Buchanan made one last stop at British level before taking over the world. Le...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheOpeningBellPodcast Interested in sponsoring the show? theopeningbellpodcast@gmail.com The New York experiment didn’t exactly work with three forgettable bouts hidden away in a small corner of Times Square and Canelo was forced to play another game of cat and mouse in which barely a punch landed. Will a contest with Terence Crawford be any different? Whether all that was down to poor planning or simply bad luck, it was a relief when Naoya Inoue pr...
May 07, 2025•57 min
➡️ https://www.patreon.com/c/TheOpeningBellPodcast ⬅️ As Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois confirm their summer sequel, a rerun of the Chris Eubank Jr-Conor Benn affair seems almost certain. But does every big fight need a rematch? There are further thoughts on Eubank Jr’s battle with Benn - and the scales - with an update from the BBBoC on those images of Eubank trying to make weight. We look ahead to a bustling weekend featuring Canelo Alvarez, Teofimo Lopez, Naoya Inoue, Devin Haney and the re...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 20 min
In the end, we got a terrific contest, one loaded with excitement and bravery. But after a fight like that, can it really be the end? Perhaps it should be for Eubank, who acted his age in more ways than one while containing the youthful abandon of Benn. It threatened to mimic WWE at the start, as the fathers played their role in the circus, but it was a fight we’ll never forget and one that left the winner in hospital. And regardless of all that came before in this long and winding story, perhap...
Apr 27, 2025•42 min
30 months after two failed tests aborted the fight between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn, the old family feud is now set to be renewed. We examine the form, age and weight of the fighters, the history of the rivalry, and ponder who will have their hand raised at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Ben Whittaker’s victory over Liam Cameron, alongside the stoppage, the aftermath and the undercard, are also discussed in detail. We hear from Ellie Scotney and, in This Week, go back to 2009 to relive a fren...
Apr 26, 2025•1 hr 29 min
Support the pod and get access to AD free listening, exclusive episodes, early releases and lots more here: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheOpeningBellPodcast How does the story end? It’s been a long road to get here but it seems that Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are actually going to have a fight. But who wins? Eubank Jr is the favourite but does he still have what it takes at the age of 35? Benn is a live underdog but can he really bridge the gap? And how does it feel for those who have followe...
Apr 24, 2025•22 min
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis turned in a terrific showing to dismantle Eimantas Stanionis with aplomb inside six rounds. Yet there’s still plenty to do before those labelling him great are proved correct. Critics still say he takes too many punches and one wonders if the talent pool at welterweight is deep enough to take him forward. Yet there should be no doubt he’s a very special fighter. Yet Hannah Rankin’s journey in combat sports might be reaching its end after a grisly KO loss in BKB saw her lying ...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 28 min
THREE TITLES AND A BIG BABY Last December, Jarrell Miller walked into the WBA convention and asked to be moved into the top five of their heavyweight rankings. The sanctioning body did better than that - they’ve reintroduced their interim title for him to contest. Also at heavyweight, Joe Joyce turned in a typically gutsy showing but came up short against Filip Hrgovic. What now for the Juggernaut? In This Week, heavyweights remain the theme as we go back to 2004 and a devastating loss that turn...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 22 min
World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is plotting his next move, with Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker both seemingly in the running to face the king. The chasing pack watch with interest, knowing their own futures might be at the mercy of Usyk’s choice. Derek Chisora, the IBF’s leading contender, is among them. But does the ageing warhorse really deserve a shot and, furthermore, is Chisora challenging Dubois or Usyk something the sport really needs? There’s plenty of action to digest as Mika...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Tributes to George Foreman, Colin Hart and Livingstone Bramble are paid this week. Foreman was a gigantic presence in every possible way - to such a degree that we presumed he’d go on forever. The loss of Hart, the doyen of British boxing journalists and friend of the podcast, hits particularly hard but comfort is found in the life he cherished. There’s also time to reflect on the performances of George Kambosos and Skye Nicholson, a look ahead to the weekend’s action, and in This Week we look b...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Should Nick Ball have been thrown out of his fight with TJ Doheny after booting him in the leg? That question, alongside analysis of the fight, is in sharp focus this week. We also examine the £100,000 fine dished out to Chris Eubank Jnr and explain both why it was so high and where the money goes. And in This Week we go back to the Nineties and a Mike Tyson undercard that featured one of the most unappreciated technicians of them all - Mr Ricardo Lopez. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Ac...
Mar 20, 2025•56 min
In this week’s episode we talk to one of the greatest of all boxing writers, Don McRae about his new book and reflect on victories for Harlem Eubank and Lauren Price, who may have ended the careers of Tyrone McKenna and Natasha Jonas. McRae, in a teaser for an in-depth interview in the bonus podcast, details the process of writing what he believes will be his final boxing book: The Last Bell. In This Week in History we go back to 1980 and a hectic world lightweight title fight between Jim Watt a...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 19 min
The two biggest talking points of the weekend were triggered by the decisions of referees - Steve Willis to deny Lamont Roach a knockdown and Marcus McDonnell to disqualify Paddy Donovan. But were they right calls? The fights, that saw Lewis Crocker win in bizarre circumstances and Gervonta Davis snatch a draw, are also broken down. We brace ourselves as the build-up to Chris Eubank Jnr-Conor Benn begins and, in This Week, we go back to 2007 and Kevin Mitchell winning a British humdinger. Please...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Dmitry Bivol gained revenge over Artur Beterbiev following another close and high quality encounter. Did the right man win this time? We also wonder if in fights like these judges should be encouraged to score rounds level if they’re struggling to find favour. We look at each of the undercard fights in detail with gushing praise for both Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi in particular. There’s also time for a look ahead to next weekend when Gervonta Davis takes on Lamont Roach and, in Belfast, Padd...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 5 min
In a bonus free-for-all reaction pod we look back on the Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev card and a rivalry that may always feel like unfinished business. There were talking points galore elsewhere, too. From the titanic clash between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi to Martin Bakole’s dramatic fall, via Hamzah Sheeraz stealing a draw and is Agit Kabayel coming the fore, we discuss them all. Please enjoy, share, and spread the good word of The Opening Bell. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acas...
Feb 23, 2025•39 min
AD FREE LISTENING + EARLY RELEASES + BONUS CONTENT + MORE: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Matt and Alex reflect on Jack Catterall’s loss to Arnold Barboza on Saturday which dented his immediate hopes of a world title challenge while handing the magic beans to Barbosa on his climb to the top. It was a weekend for upsets and progress with Reece Bellotti, Jazza Dickens, Pat McCormack and Keyshawn Davis all starring. Where Top Rank’s boxing stars of tomorrow will be showcased is up fo...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast (It takes 90 seconds to sign up and you can cancel at any time). AD Free listening ✅ Bonus content ✅ Early access to the main podcast ✅ Community chat group ✅ Entire back catalogue of bonus content ✅ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Feb 19, 2025•7 min
Have you ever enjoyed any of our episodes? If the answer is YES please become a supporter of the podcast, you can cancel at any time: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast or if you listen on apple podcast please upgrade your subscription there, again you can cancel at any time. 4 x podcasts coming this week for supporters of the podcast. Thank you. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...
Feb 17, 2025•5 min
Derek Chisora scored another win, collected more bruises, handed out more burgers, and now he prepares to face the final curtain. We examine Del Boy’s victory over Otto Wallin, his recent form, and ponder what awaits in fight number 50. Elsewhere, Canelo signed a four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh in what might signal the Mexican winding down his career with one last lucrative deal. But is William Scull a better opponent than Jake Paul? In This Week we take in some astonishing violence as Rich...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 9 min
