5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce

Awards season has arrived, and it’s time for the 5 Live boxing team to hand out their prizes for 2025. Buncey is joined by Barry Jones and Darren Barker to decide who takes fighter of the year, what was the standout event, and whether they can agree on anything at all. Six categories to get through from a year that will go down as one of boxing’s best.

Did it really turn into the biggest mismatch in boxing history? Buncey puts that to former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi a they review the fight and hear from both fighters, as well as Eddie Hearn and Nakisa Bidarian.

As fight night approaches, Buncey catches up with former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi. They discuss what’s at stake for both fighters and whether Jake Paul stands any chance against AJ. And Jake Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian and AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn are also on the pod.

With the press conference done and dusted, Buncey catches up with former world champion Carl Froch, who gives his take on the fight and explains why Anthony Joshua won’t hold back. We also hear from both fighters.

Does Jake Paul deserve more respect for making the Anthony Joshua fight? Buncey is joined by Chris Billam-Smith to debate that and preview what sort of fight lies ahead. He also hears from AJ’s new cutman Russ Anber and Caroline Dubois, who defends her world title on the undercard.

Is a two-time heavyweight world champion really fighting a YouTuber-turned-boxer in Miami this weekend? Yes. And that’s where Buncey is as fight week for Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua gets underway. To kick things off, he sits down with AJ’s long-time promoter Eddie Hearn to explain how the fight came about and to reflect on the highs and lows of their 12-year working relationship.

Work or pleasure? Whatever the excuse, Buncey found his way to Monte Carlo for a dramatic night of boxing that saw Shabaz Masoud outpoint Peter McGrail to claim the European super-bantamweight title. Joined by Darren Barker, he looks back at that fight and the others on a dramatic night of boxing. We also hear from Conah Walker after his stunning 12th-round knockout of Pat McCormack, and from John...

Did BBC TV’s return to boxing live up to the hype? Former British middleweight champion Neville Brown joins Buncey to reflect on a dramatic night in Derby, where Jeamie TKV upset Frazer Clarke and Fran Hennessy won every round against Fabiana Bytyqi. We hear from both fighters, plus promoter Ben Shalom.

Boxing’s back on prime-time BBC TV this Saturday, so Buncey’s in Derby catching up with the fighters. He chats to Frazer Clarke about the pressure of a hometown fight and checks in with TKV, who’s hoping to make a statement. Francesca Hennessy and her dad Mick drop in ahead of her opening the BBC Two show at eight. And promoter Ben Shalom tells us how you can feel the tension between the two heavi...

Is it time for Ben Whittaker to kick on? The Olympic silver medallist has signed with Matchroom Boxing and sits down with Buncey to reflect on the journey that’s brought him here. We also hear from Richie Woodhall, who coached him in the build-up to the Olympics, as well as insights from his trainer Andy Lee and his promoter Eddie Hearn.

How deceptively good is David Benavidez? Sergio Mora joins Buncey to reflect on that after his win against Anthony Yarde. They discuss a possible fight of the year contender in Abdullah Mason against Sam Noakes, a surprisingly impressive points win for Devin Haney against Brian Norman Jr, and another statement victory for Bam Rodriguez.

Where does Bam Rodriguez sit on the current pound for pound list? And how the fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul made? Eddie Hearn sits down with Buncey to answer those questions, ahead of a night of world title fights in Riyad. They discuss Subriel Matias’ failed doping test and where it leaves Dalton Smith. Plus, Eddie shares the story of a very expensive beard trim. There's commentary o...

Can Anthony Yarde do something special to win a world title at the third time of asking or is David Benavidez too mean? Buncey is joined by Sergio Mora to break down that fight and Saturday's stacked bill in Riyadh. He catches up with Anthony Yarde and two of the unbeaten prospects meeting for a world title on the undercard, Sam Noakes and Abdullah Mason. We'll have live commentary of all four wor...

Will there be a trilogy? Richie Woodhall joins Buncey to reflect on Conor Benn's points win over Chris Eubank Jr, They hear from both fighters and promoter Eddie Hearn.

Will it be repeat or revenge? Richie Woodhall joins Buncey to look at where the fight will be won and lost. We hear from both fighters, plus both of their trainers. And they discuss the news that Joseph Parker has failed a drugs test.

Is AJ going to fight Jake Paul? Is Conor Benn going to beat Chris Eubank Jr. They are just some of the subjects Buncey covers in his chat with Conor Benn's promoter Eddie Hearn. Plus, It's press conference day, so find out how Chris Eubank Sr stole the show.

Could a fight from the undercard steal the show on Saturday night? Shane McGuigan joins Buncey for an in-depth look at the four bouts. They hear from Adam Azim, Jack Catterall, Tommy Welch, Richard Riakporhe and Sam Gilley.

Will the boys see it differently second time around? Popcorn at the ready as Buncey and Barry Jones rewatch the first fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, which took place back in April at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Did they miss anything watching it ringside, and was the fight even better than they remember?

Repeat or revenge? Barry Jones joins Buncey as fight week begins for the long-awaited rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn. They revisit the first fight, and ask what’s changed this time around. Plus, they hear from both fighters and promoter Eddie Hearn.

Was Zach Parker robbed of victory against Joshua Buatsi? Barry Jones joins Buncey as the fallout from Manchester rolls on. We hear from Parker. And the debate over three-minute rounds for women is back after Chantelle Cameron vacates her WBC belt in protest over inequality in the sport. So what’s the solution? And could Anthony Joshua be back into the ring before the end of the year?

Will Fabio Wardley’s stunning stoppage of Joseph Parker set up a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in 2026? Richie Woodhall joins Buncey to break down a dramatic night at the O2, where Wardley, behind on most scorecards, produced a sensational 10th-round finish. We hear from Wardley himself, plus his manager Dillian Whyte, trainer Ben Davison, and promoter Frank Warren.

Will Joseph Parker’s experience and composure prove decisive, or will Fabio Wardley’s raw power and knockout instinct prove too much? Buncey is in London ahead of Saturday’s huge heavyweight clash at the O2, catching up with promoter Frank Warren, hearing from both camps, and getting the thoughts of Wardley himself as well as Parker’s manager, Spencer Brown. You can hear commentary of the fight on...

Ahead of his first promoted fight on the BBC, Boxxer CEO Ben Shalom joins Buncey for an in-depth conversation about the new partnership. He explains how the landmark deal with the BBC was reached, what it means for the sport to return to free-to-air television, and how he sees the next chapter for British boxing.

Did defeat in Sheffield make Dave Allen even more popular? Barry Jones joins Buncey to reflect on a memorable night where “The White Rhino” was beaten on points by Arslanbek Makhmudov. They hear from Allen in an emotional post-fight interview, while promoter Frank Smith insists this isn’t the end for the Doncaster man.

How big a moment is it to see live boxing back on BBC television on a Saturday night? Buncey speaks to Frazer Clarke and Jeamie TKV ahead of their British heavyweight title fight in Derby on October 25th, live on BBC 2. He also gets insight from the BBC’s Kal Sajad and asks former British heavyweight Clifton Mitchell what it really means to fight for the Lonsdale belt.