Boxing Life Stories

The former CNP boss talks to Tris Dixon about his life in boxing, from cutting his teeth in the Collyhurst to becoming Ricky Hatton's strength and conditioning coach and nutritionist, and then one of the best cut men in the game, who has worked with trainers including Billy Graham, Dave Coldwell and Jamie Moore. The always affable and articulate Kayes discusses what it was like being on the Hatton...

Irish superstar Michael Conlan was an enormously decorated amateur who won Olympic bronze in 2012 and then left with his middle finger infamously raised when on the wrong end of a controversial decision in the Rio Games of 2016. After starting his career under an American trainer, he is now working with Adam Booth and carries the burden of being one of the sport's brightest prospects. Promoted by...

Irishman Wayne McCullough was a two-time Olympian who raced to a world title in the pros. Having captured silver in the Barcelona games of 1992, he had a decorated pro career, making his name as a high-volume fighter with a rock hard chin and an iron will. He fought the best of his era, the likes of Naseem Hamed and Erik Morales, won his world title impressively in Japan, boxed Scott Harrison and...

Stockton light-heavyweight legend Yaqui Lopez was one of the best fighters never to win a world title, despite multiple attempts. He was a danger man in one of boxing's great divisions, when there were almost 20 world-class 175-pounders, including several of his opponents, Michael Spinks, Matthew Saad Muhammad, John Conteh, James Scott and Victor Galindez. Yaqui – who was a blood and guts warrior...

The Filipino Flash, Nonito Donaire, is in fine and revealing form as he's interviewed by Tris Dixon in Las Vegas. Donaire is 36 and set for his semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series but he has had a storied career, having fought the likes of Darchinyan, Montiel, Rigondeaux, Frampton, Burnett, Walters, Arce and many more. Here, he talks about his battles with mental health, how he now maintai...

Jimmy Tibbs is a British boxing icon. A former fighter, he made his name as one of the great trainers, working the corner of notables including Michael Watson, Nigel Benn, Frank Bruno, Lloyd Honeyghan, Mark Kaylor, Charlie Magri and countless others. But his life away from the ring has been equally interesting. After a long prison sentence for settling a gangland family feud, he turned to training...

The irrepressible former heavyweight champion Shannon 'The Cannon' Briggs – Let's Go Champ – is in brilliant form talking about his time at the top and the harder times on the bottom. He talks of the rivals he faced, the contenders of the time and the great heavyweight champions while explaining how he has maintained a positive outlook on life and the fresh start that he made with the birth of his...

After a heavy defeat to big punching Enzo Maccarinelli for the WBO cruiserweight title, Mark Hobson's life started to spiral out of control. The former British and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion flew spectacularly off the rails, formed addictions and was gambling thousands of pounds without realising that he had fallen into a trap. Before long, his life, his future, everything, was down to on...

ESPN's long-serving boxing journalist Dan Rafael is one of the sport's most influential men. With a huge audience, a massive social media following and the experience of hundreds of championship fights behind him, he's covered the major names in the sport from Mayweather to Tyson, from Gatti to Pacquiao and from Jones to Lewis. He's also a brilliant storyteller and while he may divide opinion he h...

Call him a journeyman, call him a serial loser, say he’s not very good, say what you will about Johnny Greaves but he commands and deserves your respect. He won 4 of his 100 fights (no draws), boxing 20 British champions and four world champions in his short but action-packed career. Here he talks about the short notice gigs, from his sofa with a can of Fosters at 3pm to in the ring at the Excel a...

Sheffield trainer Dominic Ingle is the custodian of a famous family name. Along with brother John, they run the historic gym on Wincobank that was started by their father, Brendan. Through Dom's life in boxing, he has seen and worked with some fabulous fighters including Herol Graham, Naseem Hamed, Junior Witter, Kell Brook, Johnny Nelson and many more. Ingle is a quiet man but well respected and...

Promoter Kalle Sauerland is one of the most charismatic characters in the sport. Born in Germany, schooled in England, he has been around boxing his entire life as the son of Hall of Fame boxing promoter Wilfried. He has been instrumental in the World Boxing Super Series and its forerunner, the Super Six, and he's promoted some of the biggest European names in recent years, including Nikolai Value...

As a trainer, Gary Lockett endured a brutal six-month period. Firstly, his charge Nick Blackwell was left fighting for his life following a hard-fought battle against Chris Eubank Jnr. Then, months later, Lockett was in the 'winning' corner when his boxer, Dale Evans was victorious against Mike Towell, who did not survive his injuries from the fight. It was a horrible spell and firmly tested Locke...

Irish hero Steve Collins was part of that brilliant era that inspired a generation of boxers and fight fans. The Celtic Warriror cut his teeth in the hard gyms of America, where he boxed under the Petronelli brothers and, later, Freddie Roach, and he challenged two of the best of his era in Mike McCallum and Reggie Johnson for world honours. But it was his fights with domestic rivals Chris Eubank...

Former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli was one of the biggest British punchers of his era, if not of all time. The Swansea man was an integral part of the Enzo Calzaghe stable, a regular sparring partner of Joe Calzaghe but he had his own huge nights in the ring, against Wayne Braithwaite, Marcelo Fabian Dominguez, David Haye, Ola Afolabi, Denis Lebedev and Roy Jones. There were nearl...

Sheffield star Clinton Woods went from plasterer's labourer to British, Commonwealth, European and IBF light-heavyweight champion. His self-confessed unlikely rise saw him tangle with the likes of Roy Jones, Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson, Julio Gonzalez, Rico Hoye and Tavoris Cloud, not bad for a fighter who only turned pro to give himself and his friends a few good nights out. Woods, open as ever,...

Former IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker won a world title with one thing in mind, immortalising the name of his late brother Gary. The Barnet man, a slick boxer and one of the sport's good guys, failed in his first world title shot against Sergio Martinez and then captured the belt and completed his ultimate glory against Australian Daniel Geale before losing in his first defence and walkin...

Manchester idol Anthony Crolla was just weeks away from his first world title fight when he saw his neighbours being burgled. Crolla went to help and wound up with a fractured skull and a fractured ankle and his world title dreams were shattered. The incident made the news everywhere. But one of boxing's good guys would not be denied. His superb career saw him capture the WBA lightweight title and...

Manchester trainer Anthony Farnell admits his enforced retirement from the sport due to irregularities in a brain scan meant he spiralled into an abyss. He skidded into a 10-month alcohol-fuelled depression that nearly cost him his wife and his family. Along with other rising Manchester prospects Ricky Hatton and Michael Gomez, Farnell was part of a lively domestic scene at light-middleweight and...

When Mike Tyson rocketed onto the scene in the mid-1980s he had a support system that included mentor and father-figure Cus D'Amato, co-managers Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton, trainer Kevin Rooney and Steve Lott. Lott had already been in the boxing business a decade, working closely with Jacobs and Cayton. He went on to forge a close friendship with Tyson, who as the champion of the world would somet...

The BBC's voice of boxing and athletics Mike Costello is one of the most popular commentators in sport today. The host of Radio Five Live's boxing coverage and boxing podcasts, Costello speaks about his career trajectory from amateur boxer, to coach to a man who has been ringside at some of the biggest fights of this era. Here is the man – the voice – away from the prize ring, talking about his li...

Heavyweight Dave Allen has built a substantial and unexpected fanbase in his pro career. The colourful Doncaster man has boxed on big shows and fought big names but has also become widely known for his battles with metal health and gambling. Honest as ever, he takes Tris Dixon through his life story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leading South African trainer Colin Nathan has an old head on young shoulders. Here, he discusses the heartbreak that almost saw him walk away from the sport, how he learned under Freddie Roach in Los Angeles and how he now boasts a top stable that includes Ring magazine light-flyweight champion Hekkie Budler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former world lightweight title contender discusses the highs and lows of his boxing career, from challenging for titles, fighting in the USA, wanting to face Amir Khan, losing everything, failing brain scans and going blind in one eye. It's been a hell of a journey, but with the love of a good woman (and a dog) he's doing well now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...

Billy 'The Preacher' Graham trained the likes of Matthew Macklin, Paul Smith, Ensley Bingham and Carl Thompson, but it was his work with Ricky Hatton that saw the iconic duo shoot to fame. Following a bitter split with the Hitman, Graham became a self-proclaimed recluse but here, in a rare and captivating interview, he tells his story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...