THE BOXING SHOW

DEVIN HANEY turned in the performance of his life last weekend but only Vasiliy Lomachenko emerged with any credit. Why did so many eye-witnesses get this one wrong? Also up for discussion: Katie Taylor’s career is at crisis point following a glorious performance by Chantelle Cameron in Dublin - we ponder how far the Irish superstar can come back. Furthermore, why were there so many elephants in t...

WHAT a weekend ahead. Vasiliy Lomachenko, for so long the darling of the hardcore, faces Devin Haney in a sumptuous  battle for the world lightweight title. But at 35, can the old master unseat the younger, cocksure champion? In Dublin, there’s another high-end showdown between Ireland’s superstar Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron. This one, too, is loaded with intrigue. And what a week it was. S...

CANELO ALVAREZ comfortably defeated John Ryder over 12 rounds - so why is the Englishman the moral victor? Let us explain all. We also round up the news stories and examine the latest progress of Joshua Buatsi. And in This Week In History, we go back to 2015 to find Alvarez matched with his perfect partner…Please hit follow, drop a review and rate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...

IT’S the start of fight week in Mexico where John Ryder embarks on the mother of all challenges when he attempts to unseat super-middleweight king, Canelo Alvarez. It looks like mission impossible for the Brit but we examine what he must do to win, and wonder if such a scenario is in fact, well, possible. We also look ahead to Joshua Buatsi’s return, discuss the latest developments surrounding Con...

IT was announced on Thursday April 27 that Boxing News has been acquired by ID Sports Media. In a special bonus podcast, hosted by Andy Clarke, Matt Christie and Rob Tebbutt reveal what this means for the iconic Boxing News brand. For regular listeners of The Opening Bell, don’t worry, Alex Steedman AKA The Steed, will be back in the hot seat next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...

IN this week’s podcast, recorded earlier than usual on Monday, we steer clear of any scandals and focus purely on the boxing. We relive Joe Cordina’s truly mesmerising display in Cardiff and look back on Gervonta Davis turning in a performance that may just have signalled the arrival of a bona-fide superstar. This Week In History focuses on the last, and arguably best, night of Robbie Regan’s care...

This week, Boxing News broke the story of Conor Benn’s provisional suspension from UKAD. Editor Matt Christie explains to Alex Steedman the complexities of that ruling and the wider potential consequences for those involved. Joe Joyce was stunned by Zilhei Zhang last weekend. We examine what the future may hold for both. There’s time to preview Joe Cordina’s vital Cardiff comeback and the sumptuou...

THIS week we look ahead to Joe Joyce’s scrap with Zhilei Zhang at the Copper Box Arena. Will this be a test for the Juggernaut or will he brush the fringe contender aside? We take a deep dive into the Amir Khan failed test which triggers some interesting questions about guilt, confidentiality and consistency. We look back on last weekend’s action and, in This Week, we go back to 2016 when Errol Sp...

BOXING again made its way into the news headlines  for the wrong reasons when it emerged that Amir Khan had failed a PED test. But why did it take over a year for the results to be made public? We compare Anthony Joshua’s performance against Jermaine Franklin in 2023 to his carefree demolition of Charles Martin in 2016.And at the top of the show, Alex Steedman delivers a heartfelt tribute to the l...

LAST night, Anthony Joshua got back to winning ways when he outpointed the plucky Jermaine Franklin over 12 rounds. Joshua won almost all of those 12 rounds yet the criticism has been fierce. Are we expecting too much from AJ? More pertinently, is the extreme analysis of his every move hindering him? The pressure he’s under is perhaps the toughest opponent of them all. Thanks for listening, and yo...

A WEEK has passed since Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and their respective teams finally pulled the plug on the heavyweight superfight. In a way, it’s almost a relief that, this weekend, we get a contest free from such complications when Anthony Joshua embarks on the next stage of his career against Jermaine Franklin. Surely Joshua won’t slip up, will he? We examine those two talking points, look bac...

RECORDED on the morning of Wednesday March 22, the signs for Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk were not looking good. Boxing News editor and Alex Steedman  examine the reasons why and wonder if there is any hope at all of the two best heavyweights of their generation settling their differences in a prize ring. We reflect on other news, including Joshua Buatsi’s move to Boxxer, look back on recent action...

THIS week’s episode was recorded before the latest round of Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk ‘negotiations’ so forgive the upbeat mood on that particular saga. Alongside the usual review of recent action - featuring Tony Yoka, Dan Azeez and Diego Pacheco - one of the most brutal fights of recent years is remembered. Timothy Bradley goes in-depth about his war with Ruslan Provodnikov, 10 years on, and wha...

TYSON FURY versus Oleksandr Usyk is the most important fight to be made in boxing but it’s looking increasingly unlikely to happen anytime soon. We explore the reasons why, outline what this means for the sport, and look on the bright side because fights like Fulton-Inoue and Davis-Garcia will surely showcase boxing at its best. Conor Benn being interviewed by Piers Morgan is also up for discussio...

CONOR BENN this week released a statement explaining his side of the story regarding those two failed tests. Yet again, we’re left with more questions than answers. We explore what might come next, what it will take to reach the Court of Arbitration for Sport and how the saga can come to a satisfactory end. Meanwhile, out in Saudi Arabia, Tommy Fury outpointed Jake Paul over eight scrappy rounds....

IT was this week announced by the WBC that Conor Benn can return to their rankings even though he doesn’t appear to have a licence to fight with any governing body or boxing commission after failing two drug tests last year. The statement from the WBC is examined, so too what it says about the structure of boxing and the organisation’s ‘Clean Boxing Program.’There is also an attempt to offer a bal...

HOURS before the WBC revealed their ruling on Conor Benn, we recorded a happy podcast, one that waxed lyrical about the wonderful Mauricio Lara-Leigh Wood contest and highlighted why, on Wednesday morning, boxing was one of the greatest sports on the planet. The smiles even remained while we previewed the eight-rounder between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury. We were delighted, in This Week, to go back t...

THE death of Ron Lewis was a horrible, sobering shock. In this week’s episode the extent of his impact on boxing, and how much he’ll be missed, is abundantly clear as the fraternity gather to pay tribute. We preview a fight he was scheduled to attend, the sumptuous featherweight showdown between Leigh Wood and Mauricio Lara. A genuine 50-50 that’s oh so hard to call, yet we nonetheless attempt to...

THIS week it was confirmed that Anthony Joshua’s next opponent, on April 1 at the O2 Arena, will be Jermaine Franklin. The announcement coincided with DAZN increasing their monthly cost. What to make of all that? We look back on the performances of Amanda Serrano and Emanuel Navarrete, and ahead to this weekend’s action featuring Adam Azim and Rey Vargas. This Week goes back to the glorious year o...

IN this week’s episode we examine the latest news regarding Conor Benn and the WBC and BBBofC  following recent conversations with Mauricio Sulaiman and Robert Smith. On a far brighter note is the fight between Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde, largely because of the latter exceeding all expectation as he handed an established world champion his toughest fight to date. This Week goes back to a ti...

LIAM SMITH bludgeoning Chris Eubank Jr into oblivion was an unforgettable sight. We take a deep dive into the wreckage, examine Smith’s excellence and Eubank’s collapse, and explore the possibility that we’d been wrong about both fighters all along. Looking ahead, the light-heavyweight showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde is previewed in detail. And… This Week focuses on Leeonzer Bar...

THE primary focus of the latest Opening Bell boxing podcast is the impending domestic showdown between Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith. - What do each have to do to win?- Who has had the best career to date?- What are their strengths and weaknesses?- Most importantly, who wins? Also on the menu: Some vintage Floyd Mayweather and some unpalatable Misfits. Please rate, review and subscribe! Learn mor...

THE career of Anthony Joshua is at a crossroads. With rumours swirling about his next trainer and opponent, what are the ideal steps to take? Gervonta Davis and Boots Ennis kicked off their 2023 campaigns last weekend. We review their efforts and look ahead to what’s next. This Week features a heavyweight contest from a golden era between two men who would later be linked to Rocky Balboa. Please l...

DURING a festive season when Gervonta Davis was arrested, Conor Benn demanded that the WBC and VADA clear his name, and the pair then traded barbs on social media, Boxing News had the audacity to announce that Jack Catterall was their Male British Fighter of the Year. Editor Matt Christie, alongside Alex Steedman, attempts to explain the decision while also reflecting on the antics of Davis and Be...

WELCOME to the Christmas bumper edition! We talk to Chris Eubank Jr about Conor Benn, Liam Smith and his evolving personality. Head of British boxing, Robert Smith, reflects on a taxing year and Dave Harris delivers a hard-hitting reality check on the plight of ex-boxers. Should anyone wish to help Ringside Charitable Trust, and we implore you do if you can, please go to: https://ringsiderestandca...