The Rocky Road

This week The Rocky Road returns to Naas and we’re putting our money where our mouth is. We know Gary Cully and Co train hard but it’s time to see just how far they’ll go in the pursuit of their boxing dreams. So, under the supervision of UNIT 3 head coach Niall Barrett, we’re put through our paces in his conditioning session alongside Cully, Kelsey Leonard, Paul Loonam, Jamie Morrissey and Cian Reddy, among others. Niall then takes time out to explain the session and go through his coaching philosophy. As Cully explained in a recent episode, he’s decided to put his full faith in Barrett going forward, with his next fight taking place on May 25 against Francesco Patera in Leeds and it’s not hard to see why when there’s such a professionally-run gym on his doorstep, led by someone who’s worked with him since he was a kid. However, as Barrett explains, that means there's instant pressure on his shoulders to ensure his man gets the win and progresses on to huge fight dates in the US in the red-hot lightweight division. Later, we head for Infinity Hot Yoga & Recovery Maynooth, one of Cully’s sponsors, where we take a dip in the ice bath, with owner Mitch Bohan walking us through the benefits of the chilling plunge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Rocky Road we sat down for a chat with rising stars Paul Loonam and Brandon McCarthy at UNIT 3 in Naas. Friends since their early days in Ireland camps, they’ve gone pro and represent the new batch of Irish talent in the paid ranks. Both had to face up to their disappointment at not making it to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games - with that hitting them in slightly different ways - but there’s a new goal ahead. Loonam will make his debut in Dublin in May on a JB Promotions card, while McCarthy got up and running with a win in San Francisco on St Patrick’s weekend. From Offaly and Kilkenny respectively, not exactly hotbeds of professional boxing, they’ve a great chance to make their mark. As well as preparing for his first outing, Loonam’s a new dad to Gianni, and McCarthy looks to have taken on a new family member as well as he sets up camp with previous guest of The Rocky Road, Tommy Hyde, in Los Angeles. He tells us about sparring the Mexicans and picking up little tricks - some on the borderline of acceptability - with Loonam discussing his decision to set up shop under Niall Barrett in Kildare. Two exciting prospects, they’ll go far - and sound like they’re loving it so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Joe Nevin is on the comeback trail. Out of the ring since 2019, he’s signed a new management deal with a Las Vegas-based fight fixer and is ready to dream of world titles again. But he knows, as he approaches his 35th birthday, that time is not on his side. Nevin won the lot as an amateur - World, European and Olympic medals - and is clearly one of the GOATs in that code. But it’s ten years since his pro debut, and ten years since he suffered terrible leg injuries during an attack in Mullingar - after which he was told he would never box again before being put in a wheelchair. Somehow Nevin managed to box again that very year, twice in fact, before moving to Philadelphia to spar alongside none other than rising star (and his coach’s son) Boots Ennis, who is now one of boxing’s leading names. At this stage Nevin’s had more managers than Watford FC and he discusses snubbing Amir Khan as well as his short-lived signing for a bizarre double act of Billy Joe Saunders and Daniel Kinahan - before US sanctions put paid to that. It’s definitely been a Rocky Road for the Mullingar Shuffler in the pro ranks but he’s ready to knock a bit of dust and a bit of rust off the motor and take it for another spin…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Cully knows all about The Rocky Road at this stage. With massive momentum at his back, he went into 2023 certain that he was on the fast track to world title glory. And things got even better when he secured a co-headline slot on the Katie Taylor homecoming bill last May. But he watched Taylor’s fight with Chantelle Cameron from the back of an ambulance following a shock stoppage defeat to Mexico’s Jose Felix. Taylor picked herself up for the rematch with Cameron and ‘The Diva’ had to do the same, even more so, when big-time boxing returned to the 3Arena in Dublin in November. He opted to take the same dressing room, wear the same gear and replicate the same ringwalk for a must-win comeback fight against Reece Mould. He may not have been overly happy with the performance but the Naas man admits that getting the win was all that mattered on the night. We headed down to meet Cully at UNIT 3: Health and Fitness in his hometown, even sampling a fine cup of coffee from his adjacent café, suitably called Diva Coffee Co. And, before training alongside the world title hopeful for the day to see just how seriously he takes his business, we spoke about the impact of the Felix loss, what it was like to lose his O, the struggle to find his feet again and the long-term plan – alongside long-time coach Niall Barrett – before his next fight. And it’s a tough one again, with Cully back in against two-time European champ Francesco Patera on the Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall bill in Leeds on May 25 – exactly a year to the day since his life-changing defeat in Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rocky Road paid a visit to Moate, Co Westmeath for a conversation we've been waiting a few years to have. Joe Ward is one of the finest boxers ever to come out of Ireland and why wouldn't he be, when he comes from fighting stock? After all, his grandfather is no other than 'Big' Joe Joyce, AKA The Hulk, AKA The King of the Travellers, AKA - The Boss of All Men. He made his name as the bareknuckle champion of these islands but nowadays Big Joe is his grandson's biggest supporter and a keen advocate of boxing inside the ropes.In Part Two, we discuss Big Joe's days as a bareknuckle boxer, recall some of his huge fights and the reason he chased them (or they chased him). He tells why he doesn't want his sons or grandsons going into that life now, though, and why organised boxing is the way forward. Joe Ward talks about having a target on his back after making his name as an exciting young boxer and how he managed to stay away from the bareknuckle scene himself.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rocky Road paid a visit to Moate, Co Westmeath for a conversation we've been waiting a few years to have. Joe Ward is one of the finest boxers ever to come out of Ireland and why wouldn't he be, when he comes from fighting stock? After all, his grandfather is no other than 'Big' Joe Joyce, AKA The Hulk, AKA The King of the Travellers, AKA - The Boss of All Men. He made his name as the bareknuckle champion of these islands but nowadays Big Joe is his grandson's biggest supporter and a keen advocate of boxing inside the ropes.In Part One, we talk about Joe Ward's professional career as he basks in the glow of his latest victory at Madison Square Garden, considers his British rivals and looks ahead to world title showdowns with the baddest men on the planet. Big Joe talks about his idols as a young man and why he looked up to Muhammad Ali above all others. He also discusses the pride Tyson Fury brought to the Travelling community, while the pair look ahead to the Gypsy King's undisputed world heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy St Patrick's Day from The Rocky Road - and from Kevin McBride. The Clones Colossus is someone we've wanted to have on since the start and we finally made it happen in time for the annual wearing of the green. The man who finished Mike Tyson talks about the return of The Baddest Man on the Planet for his July 20 showdown with Jake Paul at Cowboys Stadium and their 2005 scrap that made McBride a big name around the world. We talk about his epic homecoming in Monaghan after he shocked the world, what he's up to now and we also introduce the 'new' Kevin McBride - his son Kevin, an accomplished swimmer who's dipping his toe into the boxing game in Boston. Plus we also recount his 'holiday' to Barcelona 92, his free trip home for Prizefighter and his spars with the likes of Ray Mercer, John Ruiz and Riddick Bowe. That's what's up! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kerry boxer Kevin Cronin, AKA The Kingdom Warrior, is feeling excited ahead of a double debut on Paddy's weekend. He's off to Dorchester, Mass, for his US bow, which is also the first outing of a deal he's signed with new promoters Conlan Boxing. Here, Kevin talks about his GAA background, working as a firefighter and The Rocky Road he's navigated through Irish boxing to get to this point. What was once the dream has now become a realistic ambition as he targets a homecoming bout at the INEC in Killarney later this year. And after that, one of the GAA stadiums in the Kingdom will do nicely, thank you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spike O'Sullivan drops by the pod this week ahead of March madness. St Paddy's weekend is looking like one of Irish boxing's busiest ever with fighters in action from Boston to Brisbane via New York, San Francisco, Birmingham, Galway and Castlebar. That's where Spike will be taking part in his comeback bout as he kicks off The Last Dance chapter of his storied career. Here, he talks about the buzz of a dressing room before a fight - channeling nerves, getting the hands wrapped and waiting to clobber flesh and bone. He also talks about the rising stars of the scene, sartorial tips from the mother in law and the nasty injury he picked up while playing football with his kids Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight Irish boxers are gearing up for a tournament that could be life-changing: Martin McDonagh, Kelyn Cassidy, Aidan Walsh, Jude Gallagher, Sean Mari, Grainne Walsh, Jennifer Lehane and Daina Moorehouse are primed and ready to go in Italy for the first Olympic World Qualifier which begins on Monday, March 3 and runs over 16 boxing sessions for one week. London 2012 Olympian Adam Nolan - who qualified from a similar tournament at Trabzon 2012 - and our newly resident amateur boxing expert Alan Donnellan join the show this week to discuss the action coming our way.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest, Luke Keeler, feels he has unfinished business in the ring - so last year he decided to embark on a comeback. From Ballyfermot in Dublin, he came up in one of the most competitive eras of Irish middleweight boxing in the amateurs. And he’s been a pro since 2013, culminating in a world title shot against Demetrious Andrade in 2020 – with a certain Jake Paul boxing on his undercard. With the world gripped by a pandemic, Keeler, a qualified engineer, returned to working life. But the boxing bug hadn’t gone away, you know. Last year he returned to training and had his first fight in nearly four years in November when he beat Jiri Kroupa at the Red Cow in Dublin. Now aged 36, he’s slated to fight again in Galway’s Leisureland on March 16 and is focusing full-time on what’s certainly his last dance in the sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest Dee Walsh shocked the Irish boxing scene when he hung up his gloves aged just 26 back in 2015. At that stage he looked like a possible contender for world titles down the line. But don’t rule him out of the running for major championships – because Dee is proving to be an even better trainer than he was a fighter. It’s a huge month for his boxers as Conor Quinn, Padraig McCrory and Lee Reeves all headline separate shows from Belfast to Orlando to Dublin. He joined us on The Rocky Road last year as an insightful pundit in the lead-up to the Terence Crawford v Errol Spence fight but now he’s back to talk more about his own goings-on in the gym Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest, Anthony Cacace, fights champ Joe Cordina for the IBF world super-featherweight title in Saudi Arabia on February 17 as part of the Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury undisputed heavyweight championship card. Cacace, dubbed Ireland’s most talented fighter by fans - and our unluckiest by a few - has experienced many of the highs and lows the sport has to offer since he last joined us on the show in November 2021. In April of 2022 he had the rug pulled out from under him when a fight at Wembley Stadium (on Fury v Dillian Whyte) was cancelled virtually at the last minute when his opponent couldn’t get a visa, and all his sacrifices in the lead-up were ultimately for nothing. He considered hanging up the gloves there and then ("F*** boxing!") but five months later, was vindicated for carrying on. That’s when he became IBO champ with a classy victory over Michael Magnesi in Manchester. He boxed once in 2023, defending the belt in his hometown of Belfast to keep the dream of one day headlining in the city alive. Despite blow after blow, knock after knock, things have started to turn for Cacace. And anyone associated with boxing in Ireland beyond will have been happy to hear he’s getting an even bigger opportunity in his next bout. Wales’ IBF world champ Joe Cordina will be the man in the opposite corner as Cacace gets the chance to become Ireland’s first ever world super-featherweight champion. Here, he talks about his rocky road to this point, getting over the low moments and coming out stronger, and why his biggest payday will see him making a trip down to the estate agent’s when all’s said and done. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the 150th episode of The Rocky Road boxing pod! Today's guest has been on the hitlist since we began. Thomas O’Toole is following in Seán Mannion’s footsteps as a Connemara man looking to make his way as a professional boxer in Boston. And the 6ft 3in southpaw puncher even had Rocky Ros Muc helping out in the corner when he made his pro debut back in 2021. Since then, the former Irish Elite champion has built his record to 8-0 and has recently announced a homecoming bout in Galway for March 16*. Here, the 26-year-old describes his own Rocky Road to this point – the amateur struggle, balancing his sport with college and later with barwork, boxing politics, and the sudden loss of his mother two years ago. O’Toole also had his say on the light-heavyweight hierarchy on the domestic scene and at world level. *Interview took place just before O'Toole officially announced his homecoming, becoming the latest Irish boxer (after Katie Taylor, Jason Quigley, Joe Ward, etc) to tee up an Irish debut after boxing abroad since joining the paid ranks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 2 of our interview with Seamus McDonagh, he talks about one of the biggest nights of his life - when he fought Evander Holyfield in Atlantic City. The terror he suddenly encountered. The regrets he suddenly came face to face with. The demons he had to overcome. McDonagh also reflects on his career outside the ring - from the silver screen to his business interests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seamus McDonagh is the special guest for this week's epsiode. In Part 1, Seamus talks about learning to fight in Co Meath, boxing Barry McGuigan as a kid and moving across the pond to seek out the American Dream. While rising the ranks in boxing, Seamus was also finding time to further his education, work with the horses of Central Park and establish himself as a regular at one-too-many watering holes in the City that Never Sleeps... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rising star Tommy Hyde and boxing comedian/actor Terry O'Neill join host Kevin Byrne to look back at an epic 2023 for Irish boxing. We name our Fighter, Fight, Comeback, Gutpunch, Trainer, Breakthrough and Knockout of the Year, and look ahead to what's coming up in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Bates is a professional boxer from Dublin. Unbeaten since his debut in 2011, he last fought in 2018. Nicknamed ‘Irish Psycho’, he could just as easily have borrowed the moniker ‘Mi Vida Loca’ from the legendary hellraiser Johnny Tapia, because life’s been crazy up to this point. Growing up in Clondalkin, he gained a fondness for gambling, alcohol and drugs at an early age – ‘the party life’ – and somehow found a way to work his excesses around his burgeoning football and boxing careers. In 2008, with the recession starting to bite back home, he headed Down Under where he was called to the ring. Bates sparred every big name in Australia boxing – from Michael Katsidis to Tim Tszyu, Anthony Mundine to Jeff Horn – and started making waves as one of several Irish up-and-comers on the pro scene. But outside the gym, his addictions were always in his ear, coaxing him towards trouble. Gambling was the big one as his life started to spiral out of control. Eventually, Bates was locked up, deemed a violent offender and stuck in a maximum security facility. After serving his sentence, he was due to be deported back to Ireland but then Covid hit and the Aussies decided to dump him on Christmas Island, an external territory mainly used as a refugee and immigration detention centre. Hundreds of miles from the mainland, with no set date for release, no wifi and no visitors, the detainees rioted - with Bates witnessing it all unfold. He contacted The Rocky Road to tell of his plight, trying to find a way out, and believes that going to the media – and informing the authorities – helped him find his way home. And now he’s back in Ireland, back in boxing and looking to get back in a professional ring at the age of 35. He’s survived shootings (of the tasering variety), stabbings (giving as good as he got) and hundreds of street fights, but is now living a peaceful life of prayer (he is a devout Muslim) and preparation (under the watchful eye of new coach Phil Sutcliffe). It’s an unbelievable story and this is the first time he’s told it.  In Part 2, Tony discusses more about his sparring stories - including movearounds with the likes of Jorge Linares - descending into a life of petty crime, his time behind bars, being knifed and getting his revenge, the code he lives by, Christmas Island riots and plans for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Bates is a professional boxer from Dublin. Unbeaten since his debut in 2011, he last fought in 2018. Nicknamed ‘Irish Psycho’, he could just as easily have borrowed the moniker ‘Mi Vida Loca’ from the legendary hellraiser Johnny Tapia, because life’s been crazy up to this point. Growing up in Clondalkin, he gained a fondness for gambling, alcohol and drugs at an early age – ‘the party life’ – and somehow found a way to work his excesses around his burgeoning football and boxing careers. In 2008, with the recession starting to bite back home, he headed Down Under where he was called to the ring. Bates sparred every big name in Australia boxing – from Michael Katsidis to Tim Tszyu, Anthony Mundine to Jeff Horn – and started making waves as one of several Irish up-and-comers on the pro scene. But outside the gym, his addictions were always in his ear, coaxing him towards trouble. Gambling was the big one as his life started to spiral out of control. Eventually, Bates was locked up, deemed a violent offender and stuck in a maximum security facility. After serving his sentence, he was due to be deported back to Ireland but then Covid hit and the Aussies decided to dump him on Christmas Island, an external territory mainly used as a refugee and immigration detention centre. Hundreds of miles from the mainland, with no set date for release, no wifi and no visitors, the detainees rioted - with Bates witnessing it all unfold. He contacted The Rocky Road to tell of his plight, trying to find a way out, and believes that going to the media – and informing the authorities – helped him find his way home. And now he’s back in Ireland, back in boxing and looking to get back in a professional ring at the age of 35. He’s survived shootings (of the tasering variety), stabbings (giving as good as he got) and hundreds of street fights, but is now living a peaceful life of prayer (he is a devout Muslim) and preparation (under the watchful eye of new coach Phil Sutcliffe). It’s an unbelievable story and this is the first time he’s told it. In Part 1, Tony talks about growing up in the toughest area of Dublin, early days in football, finding gambling, drink and drugs, the party scene in the capital, becoming a fighter to battle the bullies (and getting a taste for it), horses, hellraising and converting to Islam. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joseph Parker will have his hands full when he meets Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia on December 23. But anyone who’s willing to brave the Forty Foot in Dublin at this time of year is clearly capable of anything. That’s been a daily habit of the New Zealander’s since he rocked up here with trainer Andy Lee. The pair have struck up a fruitful relationship over the past few years, ever since Tyson Fury recommended his cousin Lee as a coach when Parker was looking for a change in the corner. Here, Big Joe talks to The Rocky Road about those dips in the sea, Dalkey steaks, his outrageous CV, why Lee’s experience v Wilder can help him out, Katie Taylor the two-division undisputed champ and Paddy Donovan, who’s coming for it all. During the visit to Ballybrack Boxing Club we also watched Parker taking on four local amateur boxers, all coming up in the world, and spoke with Adam Olaniyan, Harry Geraghty and Martin McDonagh before and after their rounds with the former WBO world heavyweight champion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.