THE BOXING SHOW

BARELY 12 hours had passed from his rousing draw with Brad Pauls in Birmingham when British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney rocked up at the annual BBBoC Awards in London. We pay tribute to both boxers for their recent classic while reviewing a heartwarming event in the capital. It all provided a timely reminder about the incomparable beauty of a well-matched domestic title fight and the diffe...

AFTER Anthony Joshua blasted out a woefully overmatched Francis Ngannou in two rounds, the big question is: Will that put an end to crossover boxing? Whether it does or not, it seems we’ve still got to endure Mike Tyson trying to negotiate a 31-year disadvantage against Jake Paul. In comparison to all of that, Canelo Alvarez-Jaime Munguia looks like the fight of the century. In This Week, we uncov...

THIS weekend Anthony Joshua - arguably the most accomplished heavyweight of his era - takes on one-fight novice Francis Ngannou. A mismatch on paper but, according to plenty of seasoned observers, it’s a fight loaded with jeopardy for AJ.The undercard in Saudi Arabia is a cracker, featuring Zhilei Zhang-Joseph Parker, Rey Vargas-Nick Ball and more. As well as examining that card in detail, we look...

IN a week dominated by endless speculation about who Canelo Alvarez will fight next, we talk to a world champion with a real story to tell. Paul Spadafora started life being forced to deal with child abuse, alcohol abuse, drug addiction and death in the family. He survived being shot as a teenager and went on to become one of the best boxers of his era. But success would only lead to even more tro...

THE long overdue return between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall was formally announced this week at not one but two press conferences. We explore the psychological battle that is already well under way - and the notion of hatred being used to sell a fight. We look ahead to a busy, but not particularly headline-grabbing weekend, explore some enticing domestic clashes on the calendar and reiterate th...

IN the latest Opening Bell, both Alex Steedman and Matt Christie find it hard not to be impressed by Hamza Sheeraz's stunning blitzing of Liam Williams last weekend. However, there are notes of caution about getting too carried away. The importance of the British title is up for discussion, so too that moral dilemma surrounding the Saudi Arabia takeover. In This Week, we go back to 1970 and a bout...

TYSON FURY suffered a cut last week that almost sent the boxing world into meltdown. Fear not, his date with Oleksandr Usyk has been rescheduled for May 18. But do concerns surrounding Fury have any substance? We look back on Joshua Buatsi’s victory over Dan Azeez and review the latest chapter of the Conor Benn story. And in This Week, we go back to 1990 to relive the most stunning upset of them a...

ON THE anniversary of one of the greatest coronations in boxing history, Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez prepare to do battle at light-heavyweight and the career of John Ryder is in the balance after his bruising loss to Jaime Munguia. This Week in 1980 the man with the magic fists, feet and follicles - the only and only Salvador Sanchez - entered the highest of stages and wowed the world. Back here i...

FOR some, the Natasha Jonas-Mikaela Mayer was a ‘robbery’. For others, it was fair enough. This week we wonder if controversy is a consequence of the current scoring system, or merely a symptom of the social media age. We also look ahead to John Ryder taking on Jaime Munguia this weekend, as well as the bill in Belfast. This Week goes back to 1976 and a slugfest of the ages: George Foreman vs Ron...

IF there were any question marks about Artur Beterbiev’s future in the sport at the age of 38, they were removed with a beastly bludgeoning of Callum Smith. That contest, and the ‘atypical’ fight week, are reviewed in-depth. We look ahead to the Natasha Jonas-Mikaela Mayer bill in Liverpool, cast an eye over the WBC’s latest ruling on failed tests, and reflect on the burgeoning friendship between...

WHAT a start to the year. Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou are readying for a scrap, Callum Smith is coming off a 16-month layoff to challenge Artur Beterbiev and Tony Weeks is the centre of attention. The heavyweight landscape has been fuel-injected by Saudi riches but what to make of Joshua taking on a fighter with a record that reads 0-1? Without question, Beterbiev’s 19-0 (19) stats are sign...

2023 was another eventful year in boxing and this final episode brings together some of the big stories and interviews featured on the pod.  Anthony Joshua  was in reflective mood when discussing the final stage of his career, Victor Conte pulled no punches at all in challenging boxing's dopers and cheaters while Timothy Bradley gave a riveting insight into his punishing fight with Ruslan Provodni...

ON a dramatic night in Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua looked terrific while stopping Otto Wallin, Joseph Parker outhustled a listless Deontay Wilder and Daniel Dubois thumped Jarrell Miller into submission. Joshua’s partnership with Ben Davison got off to a flying start but the matchup with Wilder - who barely landed a single blow - could now be gone forever. We closely examine the performance of Du...

Vote for us at the sports podcast awards: https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/podcast/boxing-news-the-opening-bell/ NORMALLY, on December 21, the boxing world is blind drunk and counting down the days to Christmas. Not this year! No sir-eeee. The Opening Bell towers is awash with activity, starting with the exquisite battle between Bam Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards, before we rock around the Christma...

The final instalment of a four-part audio documentary about the unforgettable, career-defining rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves. Both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn, revisit the way the eyes of the nation were on their iconic rematch at Wembley Stadium, the rematch itself, and exactly where its outcome left both fighters. In...

WHAT a week for Devin Haney, Chris Billam-Smith, Ricky Hatton and Jane Couch. One wowed San Francisco, another lit up Bournemouth while two are set for Canastota in 2024. We ponder what’s next for Haney following his punch perfect victory over Regis Prograis, review the performance of CBS and wonder what it takes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Looking ahead, there’s a flyweight showdown to...

The third instalment of a four-part audio documentary about the unforgettable, career-defining rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves. Both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn, recount the aftermath to their thrilling first fight, Groves’ determination to force a rematch, and the changing dynamics of their rivalry during the build-up t...

THE hero of the last week was unquestionably Jordan Gill, thanks to both his performance against Michael Conlan and his incredible post-fight address. But one of the biggest stories of the week, yet again, was the latest chapter of the Chris Eubank and Conor Benn, will-they-won’t-they saga. Ryan Garcia was another in the news, for his actions before and during his comeback bout with Oscar Duarte....

The second instalment of a four-part documentary about the unforgettable, career-defining rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves. Both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn, revisit the endlessly entertaining and divisive first fight that made their similarly iconic rematch so inevitable. Interviews were conducted, and the script written...

David Benavidez turned in a career best performance last weekend, forcing Demetrius Andrade to retire. It left many fans calling for only one rival for Benavidez next, and that’s Canelo Alvarez. Katie Taylor was in majestic form too as she gained revenge over Chantelle Cameron but should that first round ‘knockdown’ have been called? There’s a rather indifferent reaction to news that Conor Benn an...

The first of a four-part audio documentary about the unforgettable, career-defining rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves. Both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn, revisit the origins and evolution of a rivalry that shaped British boxing both then and in the years to come. Interviews were conducted, and the script written, by Declan...

A four-part audio documentary revisiting, in vivid detail, the unforgettable rivalry between Carl Froch and George Groves, as told by both fighters, their trainers Rob McCracken and Paddy Fitzpatrick, and their promoter Eddie Hearn.10pm, 23-11-23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TYSON FURY hurled his customary insults at Oleksandr Usyk when their world heavyweight title showdown was confirmed last week. This time, alas, they had no effect whatsoever. Has the Fury schtick finally outstayed its welcome? Furthermore, at the age of 35 and following a struggle with Francis Ngannou, are Fury’s best days behind him? We ask the same question about Katie Taylor, ahead of her cruci...

EIGHT hours before it was confirmed that Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will fight on the same bill in Saudi Arabia on December 23, Alex Steedman and Matt Christie examined the entire card and it’s place in boxing world. The stacked Manchester card is previewed, so too the bids of Adam Azim and Tyler Denny to become European champions, and we look back on Harlem Eubank’s statement win in Bright...

THINGS change fast in boxing. One minute you’re watching your beloved sport on ITV, along with 20 million other people, and the next you’re subscribing to sport-only channels to get your fix while begrudging the extra cost for box office events. And very soon, we’re led to believe,  you’ll be watching on Netflix in between binging on Stranger Things and Breaking Bad. Is this latest move good for b...