Beyond Boxing

https://linktr.ee/highfieldboxing Boxing is cruel. One punch can undo a whole lifetime's worth of work. But, should we be so hard on Joe Joyce? Here is a man that said yes to every challenge and was fine being an underdog - the kind of fighter we want. Yet, when he loses, we are so quick to turn. Until boxing fans are more balanced in their views, we will struggle to build stars and get real 50/50...

https://linktr.ee/highfieldboxing The public are upset with Conor Benn being able to fight on Saturday. I can see why they are, but the people that should have been able to stop him failed to do so. It’s also at a point where it’s better that he is banned or he boxes because we are tired of the soap opera now. We have a major problem with governance in boxing. The lack of clear governance and lead...

https://linktr.ee/highfieldboxing This week it’s all about the audience questions. There are a few questions, but we’ll get through them in a couple of episodes this week.

This time they will blame the Saudis for the Anthony Joshua-Deontay Wilder fight falling through. But, what about the last 7 years? What explains those. It is convenient that the shifting political sands in the Saudi Royal Court have scuppered the fight, but it was a result of sitting on the egg long after the chick should have hatched. The real winners in all of this are the Furys, who have shown...

It is strange to say that, this was the most Eubank has looked like Roy Jones Jr, ever. In doing that, Jr was able to dominate Liam Smith. It is a journey of redemption that many did not expect, but one that boxing needed. You also have to feel for Liam Smith. It was a rough day at the office. we must ask how on earth he gained 42 pounds in any way shape or form.

If that body shot was thrown on a Friday night in York Hall, it would be called as fair. We have seen those shots allowed and we have seen them penalised. that is where the controversy comes from. This probably should have been called as fair, but the rules are the rules.

In a week where everyone in boxing had their say about everything, Terence Crawford goes on Joe Rogan to really speak his mind and in doing so, gave guidance to all the young boxers out there. We need more guys to speak out, like Carl Froch is, about the boxing Deep State.

We give Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn a hard time, but they really are swimming in shallow waters when it comes to talent. That isn't their fault. The reality is that our system isn't set up for success and if anything, the obsession with Team GB has set our boxing back twenty years.

It was a holiday snap shared on Insta. It was the body hair patterns in that picture that made me suspicious. Now, it's a failed drug test that has proved me right. I didn't want to be right though. Alycia Baumgardner was born genetically gifted, hat her confidence wasn't high enough to see that is the tragedy here. There is a chance she would have been good enough anyway. Now, her career has a bl...

It is tricky to be balanced about AJ. On one hand, he gives us a great KO and worthy of highlight reel status. On the other hand... it is Robert Helenius. The reality is somewhere in the middle. We have a good heavyweight, but one that is some way off greatness. But, we should enjoy him while we can because what comes after is worse.

We need more detail before we can comment fully on Dillian Whyte. What we can say is that boxing is a mess right now. However you slice it, Dillian needs better people, processes and systems around him so he can prepare for fights like an elite athlete. Overall, the sport needs to deal with the doping crisis before boxing become a niche sport like bodybuilding and powerlifting.

Thanks to Greg Hackett for the intro - https://www.youtube.com/@ghbtv.9586 In a week where boxing delivered, we crowned two kings in Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue. they stand atop the sport now as the leaders of this era. Having said that, nothing should be taken away from their dance partners. In a sport where we demand the best fight the best, we cannot disrespect those that gave their all an...

This is the week boxing gives us a genuine superfight. One man has risen through the weights to challenge for Welterweight supremacy against a man who has been unstoppable at the weight. Who will win?

This is the week where boxing will show what makes it the best spectacle and sport on the planet. Two fights that will dictate the order of the P4P list happen this week. Both fights are impossible to call, but this is what we crave as fans. This is the start for a good 8 weeks for boxing fans, so let us enjoy it while we have it.

We can be too down as boxing fans sometimes. 2023 has given us some epic events and good fights that we were struggling to get before. It is up to us to appreciate them and appreciate the sport we love so much because we are entering a busy and hopefully, entertaining period for boxing.

We get 4 heavyweight fights, and maybe a fifth, involving all the main actors in this saga. Yet, between all ten, we don’t get one fifth that we really wanted. If we waited this long, maybe we are destined to never get them, or get them too late. But, we all hope Daniel Dubois can pull off the upset because that might change the dynamics.

Massive get well soon to Boxing King Media. We are all animals in the same ecosystem and we need each other to thrive. Best wishes and a speedy recovery.

Conor Benn's journey through UK Anti-Doping has been done in reverse. He started off with the least plausible defence and then ended up at the the most plausible defence - But a defence he already rejected as impossible. How he digs himself out of this hole will be interesting.

We really need a clear view on what the Sky Boxing strategy is. Apart from the Cruiserweights, where they have full control, they seem to be all at sea everywhere else.

Boxing loves a comeback and it has been a feel'good moment to have Teofimo Lopez back in form, with a career best performance. However, we should also cautious in writing off Josh Taylor. While he didn't win his performance was enough to have beaten any of his previous opponents.

Bit of a wind-down week in boxing this week as people prepare for holidays and bigger fights later in the years, but still some interesting stories developing.

The non-Bournemouth cards did a lot for the fans, but they could have done better. It is time to admit that Adam Booth is yesterday's man when it comes to boxing. It is also time we ask why Ireland cannot produce real champion boxers in the professional ranks.

The journey Chris Billam-Smith has been on, in and out the ring, is remarkable. It is also testament t the man's character that he has kept going in the face of adversity. It is hard to find a bad word to say about the man and the fact that he brought a world title to Bournemouth is incredible. There has to be a movie in that somewhere.

I do not think Lomachenko was robbed, but it was definitely a close fight and a reminder that, at that level, every round counts and you cannot afford to start slow. Huge praise to Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron for risking it all against each other can delivering for the fans. the men could learn from that.

The fact that Frazer Clarke and his team have pulled out of the purse bids to face Fabio Wardley is disappointing for the sport and its fans. One of two things must be true: 1. 258 MGT know Sky have little faith in Frazer so had to show that with this whole episode or 2. After spending heavily on fighter acquisitions, there is no budget for Frazer Clarke Either way, these look like stormy times fo...