The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast

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 revolution has done for British boxing and the Board.Also, the recent effort of Canelo Alvarez - as the went 12 rounds again, this time against Edgar Berlanga - is under review. How much time does the Mexican superstar have left? Hopefully less than The Opening Bell. Please support us at Patreon to help keep your favourite podcast going! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 change the PPV model.In This Week, we relive the night when the one and only Chocolatito endured his first legitimate defeat.If you like what you hear please support us by subscribing to Patreon for the cost of less than a pint of cheap, flat lager. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 selection of mandatories and the comebacks of Conor Benn and Billy Joe Saunders.In This Week we remember when Daniel Zaragoza reluctantly, but classily, handed the torch to a 21-year-old Erik Morales.Patreons - thank you for your support, we will love you forever. As for the rest of you - click here to feel the warmth of that unconditional love: Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the question: How rife is doping and how many cheats actually get caught? We also re-examine the potential implications of the Saudi revolution in light of Tris Dixon's recent article on BoxingScene and look ahead to Diego Pacheco's next test.There's a forgotten slugfest in This Week as we go back to 1981 and Rolando Navarrete upsetting Cornelius Boza-Edwards.Finally, another thank you to those who've signed up to out Patreon! We're now producing exclusive bonus content every week so don't miss out: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 still unclear - implications of the Saudi takeover in detail.The performances of Christian Mbilli and Denzel Bentley are reviewed - as is the 1969 coronation of the legendary Ruben Olivares in This Week.Your support is what keeps us going - please join our group of wonderful Patreons if you can, you won’t regret it…https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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://x.com/bbcnews/status/1821813065408520681?s=48&t=-0A88ThNwioQY2Hi5HAMCwSupport the pod on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The case of Imane Khelif has dominated the sporting headlines this week, casting a shadow over the Olympic Games in the process.Whether she should have been permitted to fight is a separate matter to the treatment she’s received and both subjects are dealt with in detail.Israil Madrimov ran Terence Crawford much closer than we predicted to leave question marks over the brilliant American’s future (and our ability to predict fights).Please support us if you can by subscribing to Patreon. If you can’t please rate and review, every little helps!https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Matt and Alex reflect on the all British heavyweight battle between Derek Chisora and Joe Joyce; a heroic though worrying effort from two ageing boxing warriors. Star man Terence Crawford returns after a year and moves up in weight to face a younger, hungry champion while This Week in history we remember the hard hitting little man Vic Darchinyan. And with Cycling facing an ongoing public battle with perception and performance, we discuss the real legacy of cheating in Sport and where does Boxing stand in that discussion. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we dive into the all British heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora with the help of Big Joe’s coach Steve Broughton, offering insight into mindset and preparation at this crucial stage of a boxing career.With Christie on holiday, again, producer Darren Rees pops in to review a terrific British title fight he saw from ringside last weekend in Nathan Heaney v Brad Pauls, the rematch. Might we see a trilogy?Thanks again to all those who have supported the continuation of this pod by signing up to Patreon.com for less than £5 a month. Please do if you can. Cheers, Alex, Matt & Darren.https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the same week that Boots Ennis edged forward, Chris Eubank Jr considered an offer from Canelo Alvarez and Derek Chisora got into a scuffle on a London Street.Victory over the plucky but outclassed David Avanesyan told us nothing new about Ennis but his promise was certainly reaffirmed.Eubank Jr’s promise, meanwhile, may not have long left. So why on earth is he not signing on the dotted line to face the most marketable fighter in the sport?In This Week, we go back to the thriller-rich year of 1982 and bask in the brilliance of Salvador Sanchez and Azumah Nelson.Support us, ditch those adverts and get the bonus pods by signing up to Patreon if you can. If you can’t, all we ask is that you spread the word of The Opening Bell.https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast ‎ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The bi-annual Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes are well underway and a surprise leader in the race to take on the Mexican superstar is none other than Chris Eubank Jr.Elsewhere, the Ryan Garcia story has gone from bad to revolting with little sign of a happy ending. There was some rough luck for O’Shaquie Foster on the scorecards and Shakur Stevenson, now a free agent, once again coasted to a victory that failed to excite.In This Week In History we go back 14 years to ride the Amir Khan rollercoaster again.Thanks to all who have signed up to Patreon to help us along. If you haven’t, and you can, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcastIf you can’t, please leave a review, rate the show, tell everyone about us! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The week in which Anthony Joshua went nose to nose with Daniel Dubois and squabbled with Carl Froch was also when Bam Rodriguez confirmed his superstar qualities when he trounced the great Juan Francisco Estrada.Yet it was Joshua’s declaration of help for Ringside Charitable Trust that was arguably the greatest statement of a busy period.Elsewhere, the WBC insist that the comeback of 45-year-old Manny Pacquiao is a terrific idea, Teofimo Lopez went 12 rounds again and Sunny Edwards returned to winning ways.It was also a week that celebrated the anniversary of Steve Collins scrapping with the remnants of Nigel Benn in 1996.Thanks to everyone who has signed up for Patreon, you rock our world!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fury raised eyebrows this week with his suggestion it was too easy early on against Usyk; that he was simply having too much fun. We try to make sense of a boxer’s dilemma.Sunny Edwards faces a similar conundrum on his return this weekend on the undercard of Estrada v Bam Rodriguez. This excellent fight is previewed in detail.Tyler Denny’s latest big win is reviewed with the leading question; Can Denny snag a big name in a big fight?And Ryan Garcia’s is in the news. Again. His positive test punishment, followed by a curious WBC statement is discussed.Meanwhile a controversial result from the 90’s is remembered with a bristling first encounter between Azumah Nelson and Jeff Fenech in This Week.Please subscribe, rate and leave a review and if you can, subscribe to the pod on Patreon for less than a fiver each month. https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once again, with that familiar sense of inevitability, Gervonta Davis caught up with his opponent and left him barely conscious with a brutal finish.This time it was Frank Martin being run over by ‘Tank’ but what comes next is unknown. Bob Arum has been talking up Vasyl Lomachenko, an opponent befitting of the American’s talents, but arguments can be made that Davis is doing just fine as he is.We also look back on Chris Billam-Smith’s points success over Richard Riakporhe, a new pinnacle in the Bournemouth star’s ever improving career.There’s talking points surrounding Canelo Alvarez, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia as well as trip back to 1979 and a rip-roaring barnburner between Danny ‘Little Red’ Lopez and Mike Ayala.Leave a review if you have time and we’ll read it out. Better still, sign up to our Patreon to guarantee the pod’s future. We love you all. Thanks for the support.https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A warm welcome awaits you at the sound of this week’s Opening Bell.A huge weekend approaches with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis making his latest play to be the biggest boxing star in America when he takes on fellow southpaw, Frank Martin.In the UK, Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe renew their rivalry in a fascinating battle.We also discuss the latest exploits of Tyson Fury while focusing on the tricky boxing afterlife and talk to the one and only Andy Clarke about his critically acclaimed book, Knockout. Andy Clarke 'The Knockout' can be purchased here: https://amzn.eu/d/1rSqAYCIn This Week In History, we don’t venture too far back this time - it’s the brutal encounter between Miguel Cotto and Zab Judah. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.