THE BOXING SHOW

MUCH of the discussion this week centres around Josh Warrington, his balls of steel, and the danger that awaits as he again takes on Mauricio Lara this weekend, just seven months after the Mexican turned his career upside down. The different outcomes are explored alongside what both need to do to win. It promises to be a fascinating encounter. Before that, Alex Steedman and Matt Christie wonder wh...

WILL Manny Pacquiao retire after his loss to Yordenis Ugas or will he come back? Regardless, the legendary Filipino’s career is in review. This Week In History focuses on a little humdinger between Mike McCallum and Julian Jackson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AS Manny Pacquiao prepares to take on Yordenis Ugas in a top drawer welterweight contest, David Haye is getting ready to take on Joe Fournier in a ludicrous bout masquerading as a real fight. But who is to blame for the current invasion of pantomime-style encounters like Haye-Fournier? Matt Christie and Alex Steedman look at the trend and wonder whether these kind of contests are a passing phase o...

BOXING was a revelation at the Olympic Games. John Dennen joins Alex Steedman and Matt Christie to reveal his Tokyo highlights, star performances and overall best boxer with a nod to what the future holds. Kid Galahad turned in a career-best performance to again beat James ‘Jazza’ Dickens at Fight Camp II while exhibiting the skills that could take him to the top of the featherweight division. Loo...

AFTER a break from the normal weekly show there’s lots to discuss, not least the ever curious excellence of Joe Joyce. The heavyweight’s win over Carlos Takam is reviewed, so too Joyce’s place in the division and the problems he faces to progress. Leigh Wood halting Xu Can in 12 rounds was the biggest story from the first Fight Camp while Kid Galahad’s rematch with Jazza Dickens looks certain to s...

YORK HALL - the spiritual home of british boxing. Join us on an atmospheric deep-dive into the magic of the old venue that’s provided fight fans of all ages with so many special memories. From its 1929 opening as public baths in which Londoners would wash, right through to the present day - via visits from the likes of Tapia and Lomachenko - this audio documentary relives the great nights, fights...

THE excellent heavyweight matchup between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk was officially announced this week. Okay, it’s not Tyson Fury-Joshua but, as consolation prizes go, this is a terrific fight in the heavyweight division. And a very risky one for Joshua, as Matt Christie and Alex Steedman explain. The Tokyo Olympics is set to start and the boxing tournament promises to be fascinating. The...

IN the latest Opening Bell, the postponement of the third fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder takes the lead as the heavyweight division breaks its latest promise. The latest on the BN championship policy is also on the menu alongside reviews of light-heavyweight contenders Lyndon Arthur and Gilberto Ramirez. The top quality 154lbs world championship between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castan...

BOXING NEWS this week made a huge statement: They will not recognise alphabet titles as genuine world championships anymore. BN editor Matt Christie, alongside the irrepressible Alex Steedman, details exactly why.  There’s lots to discuss on this huge move from the world’s oldest boxing publication. The ‘comeback’ of Riddick Bowe is also up for debate while the David Haye-Derek Chisora battle is r...

GERVONTA DAVIS was hailed a ‘three-weight world champion’ after his latest victory at the weekend but the truth remains he’s yet to defeat anyone who can claim to be the best in the world. Alex Steedman and Matt Christie examine the complexities of a sport that continues to excite and frustrate in equal measure. The return of Vasiliy Lomachenko is reviewed, so too Mike Costello’s move to DAZN and...

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...

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 corn...

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. Matchroo...

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 narrat...

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...

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 earnes...

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 lat...

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 tel...

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...

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 scorecar...

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 Jo...

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 b...

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 l...

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 Demetr...

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 abou...