The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast

https://www.patreon.com/c/TheOpeningBellPodcast In a special episode we look back on the career of Tyson Fury and rank his finest performances. There’s the three Deontay Wilder fights jostling for position, the toppling of Wladimir Klitschko, the domestic beatdowns of Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte, and that first encounter with Oleksandr Usyk. What will come out on top? Get bonus content on Patr...

https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast As we prepare to kick off a huge fight week that will lead us to the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, we’re in Miami reporting from the WBA convention. There’s a stunning upset involving Jaime Munguia to dissect, the performances of Tasha Jonas and Lauren Price to admire, and a bizarre brawl at heavyweight to reflect upon. In This Week, w...

https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast As the boxing year draws to a close, rumours are again rife that two of the biggest stars - Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford - will collide in a superfight in 2025. We also discuss what’s really happening, down here in reality. There were wins for Denzel Bentley, Richardson Hitchins and Emanuel Navarrete again exhibited his curious yet suffocating e...

Though Gamal Yafai beating Sunny Edwards was not an upset, the one-sided nature of the beatdown was a surprise. The brilliant Yafai marches on while Edwards, Galal’s conqueror in the amateurs, announces his retirement. Elsewhere, UKAD surrendered to Conor Benn in his fight to be cleared but the finer details of his case remain completely unclear - we ask why. And in This Week, we look back on a sc...

In a fascinating and hard to call winter showdown, Sunny Edwards visits Galal Yafai in Birmingham for a battle with worldwide implications. We review Harlem Eubank’s return while looking at the increasing likelihood that his cousin will soon be confirmed as Conor Benn’s next opponent. With that in mind, the WBC’s justification for Benn’s lofty ranking at welterweight might surprise you. In This We...

As expected, Mike Tyson looked old, slow and vulnerable while being outpointed by Jake Paul in an unedifying, forgettable encounter. But what do the incredible viewing figures - it was seen in 60m homes - mean for the sport of boxing? At least Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano turned in a terrific scrap and, out in Saudi, Gilberto Ramirez was too slick for a beyond brave Chris Billam-Smith. Finally,...

Conor Benn last week announced, for the third time in two years, that he had been ‘cleared’ to fight. Is this really the end of the matter? Elsewhere, Turki Alalshikh announced his aquirement of The Ring and, if that wasn’t enough, a $20m deal for Naoya Inoue. In action was Jaron Ennis, merely going through the motions, while Keyshawn Davis showcased his limitless potential. This Week marks the an...

With the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua rematch seemingly off the table, we examine the leading contenders to take on Dubois and ponder what the future may hold for Joshua. There’s Queensberry’s deal with DAZN to discuss along with the long-term position of Frank Warren in the business after he recently admitted he had considered retirement. We also reflect on all the action from the weekend, includ...

Alex and Matt discuss the unexpected storylines emerging from the initial press conference for the December rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. With a full training camp, a focused mind and a more unified corner, how much better can Fury be? And is it enough? Matt speaks to the British Boxing Board for more background detail on what constitutes an approved boxing glove while we reflect...

Alex and Matt discuss the unexpected storylines emerging from the initial press conference for the December rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. With a full training camp, a focused mind and a more unified corner, how much better can Fury be? And is it enough? Matt speaks to the British Boxing Board for more background detail on what constitutes an approved boxing glove while we reflect...

In a stunning and brutal thrashing, Bakhram Murtazaliev needed less than nine minutes to defeat Tim Tszyu, scoring four knockdowns along the way. We address the modern day habit of writing off the vanquished boxer after defeat - Can Tszyu really have fallen that far, this quickly? The showing of Adam Azim, who defeated Ohara Davies in eight rounds, is another worthy of analysis and we touch on the...

DID BETERBIEV DESERVE TO BEAT BIVOL? All that was left to do after watching a truly wondrous scrap between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol was squabble about the decision awarded to the former. We examine whether or not the right man won - and ask, more pertinently, did either of them deserve to lose? - while taking a closer look at the scoring system which can make close fights appear more lopsi...

Let’s talk about the sumptuous fight that sees Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol duke it out for light-heavyweight supremacy.  Let’s talk about the best contest to be made in boxing, one with so many subplots and potential outcomes, it’s a wonder we managed to cram them all into the space of 70-odd minutes. Let’s also talk about the rematch between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank, a blast from the past...

Following his bizarre rant at last week’s press conference, Chris Eubank Jr was forced to apologise to Frank Warren - and vice versa - in an unconvincing resolution to a longstanding feud. Was the advice Junior’s father gave him many years ago ringing in his ears? In This Week, we tell the story of Johnny Tapia’s troubled but loving mind as we explore his thrilling rivalry with Paulie Ayala. Last...

There was shock and awe in the air at Wembley Stadium as Daniel Dubois demolished Anthony Joshua to continue his stunning career turnaround. What does this mean for Joshua, at 34 years old? Can he possibly come back? And is Dubois really as dangerous as he looked? In This Week we focus on another heavyweight thrashing as we go back to 1962 and the violent coronation of Sonny Liston. Subscribe to P...

It’s fight week in London where Daniel Dubois prepares to take on Anthony Joshua in a titanic heavyweight encounter at Wembley Stadium. Alex Steedman has gone missing so Darren Rees steps into the presenter hot seat and, alongside Matt Christie, examines the huge British bill that also features a fight that won’t have an IBF title involved. We hear from Robert Smith, who explains what the Saudi re...

Your good friends at The Opening Bell are delighted to present our new weekly series - ‘Boxing’s Best’ - where, every Saturday morning, we focus on a specific subject within boxing and reveal our own Top 10 favourites. This week, and trust us - it’s a good ‘un, we attempt to name the best boxing events. There are eye-witness accounts of what it was like to attend the first Frazier-Ali showdown, me...

It’s fight week in Las Vegas and as has become custom for the build-up to recent Canelo fights, we do our best to make a case for the underdog who, this time, is Edgar Berlanga. Back at home, stories about Daniel Dubois almost chinning Anthony Joshua a mere eight years ago are doing the rounds and we also discuss in detail how commissions can stamp out bogus titles and Turki Alalshikh’s plan to ch...

Naoya Inoue did as expected, and largely as he pleased, when he punched holes in TJ Doheny to the extent the Irishman suffered back spasms and had to quit. Afterwards, Bob Arum spelled out plans for Inoue to conquer Las Vegas in 2025 - with a suggestion that a superfight with Junto Nakatani is on the horizon. As ever, there is plenty of news to digest, from Joshua-Dubois ‘selling out’, the IBF’s s...

https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Your good friends at The Opening Bell are delighted to present our new weekly series - ‘Boxing’s Best’ - where, every Saturday morning, we focus on a specific subject within boxing and reveal our own Top 10 favourites. This week we attempt to rate Boxing’s Best Dressed Fighters. With Steedo (claiming) not getting the memo on this one – which was to nam...

With the boxing calendar between seasons we spread the conversation far and wide, much like Eddie Hearn's public persona. As Matchroom Boxing prepare to get the Netflix treatment, we look back on the impact the promoter has made in British boxing and beyond - and focus also on his signing of Shakur Stevenson. After a nondescript boxer was caught out for doping on the recent Los Angeles bill we ask...

https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Your good friends at The Opening Bell are delighted to present our new weekly series - ‘Boxing’s Best’ - where, every Saturday morning, we focus on a specific subject within boxing and reveal our own Top 10 favourites. Kicking things off is Boxing’s Best One-Punch KOs. From Julian Jackson knocking out Herol Graham to Andy Lee knocking out John Jackson,...

The latest Saudi event has been unveiled with a whopping 84 rounds scheduled featuring fighters from Top Rank, Matchroom, Queensberry and Boxxer. The main event, Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol, can’t be faulted and therefore sells itself. Which begs the question: Is a gargantuan undercard, that will last for hours and contains only one 50/50 affair, really necessary? We examine the ongoing - and...

Billy and Bakole; Billy Nelson on Martin Bakole as the big time beckons. Listen to the full interview + all our other bonus content + get AD free listening via our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Eubank Jr promises a May 2025 date with Canelo Alvarez, but if that doesn’t happen, has his career been a success? We also ask if Martin Bakole could have obliterated a peak George Foreman while looking back on two serious contenders for Fight and KO of the year. This Week takes you back to the days of the ‘Old Mongoose’ and the one and only Archie Moore. You decide if he’s 45 or 48! https:/...