Boxing Life Stories

Thomas McDonagh was a frustratingly good prospect from the Collyhurst and Moston gym in Manchester and learned his trade under the brilliant coach Brian Hughes. McDonagh was a one club man, amateur and pro, and he boxed the likes of Anthony Small, Sam Webb, Wayne Alexander, Bradley Pryce and Andrew Face but he admits he didn't fulfil his potential. He was also a stablemate to the likes pop Robin Reid, Gary Lockett, Michael Jennings, Anthony Farnell and Michael Gomez and is known to be one of the funniest character in British boxing. Here, he talks about his career, the good boxing does, his relationships with Brian Hughes and Pat Barrett and life inside one of Manchester's most famous gyms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Norwich trainer Graham Everett is one of the most respected and unheralded figures in British boxing. He's trained the likes of Herbie Hide, Jon Thaxton and Sam Sexton to title glory, trained Michael, Ryan and Liam Walsh and he's been a mainstay in British rings for more than three decades. Here, he talks about learning the ropes, the biggest nights, the best fighters and what makes a top coach in the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back from only the 15th episode at the start of Boxing Life Stories, Anthony Crolla returns as a guest to talk about the tail end of his career, getting 'tasered' by Vasyl Lomachenko, his farewell fight and life after boxing. One of British boxing's good guys looks back over his long, successful time in the ring and ahead to his new life outside it, as a coach and top pundit for radio and TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cromer's former British featherweight champion was unlucky not to win the European title when he challenged for it on away soil. He's fought the likes of Lee Selby, James Tennyson, Maxi Hughes and missed out on clashes with Carl Frampton, Josh Warrington and others. He's one of three fighting siblings from Norwich and the same Graham Everett gym that spawned the likes of Herbie Hide, Jon Thaxton and Sam Sexton. Walsh is a great talker and has immense knowledge of boxing as a student of the game and remains intensely passionate about it, even in the twilight of his boxing days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nigel Travis has done it all in boxing. He's best known now as Jamie Moore's No. 2 – assistant trainer – but he was a good amateur who left it too late to make it in the pros. As well as being a full-time firefighter, he's a part-time actor who has appeared on shows including Peaky Blinders, and he comes from boxing stock and a father who has been involved in the development of Britain's top amateurs for years. Alongside Moore, Nigel's worked with Rocky Fielding, Carl Frampton, Chantelle Cameron, Tommy Coyle and many more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Thaxton is a former British lightweight champion who boxed the likes of Ricky Hatton, Eamonn Magee, Emanuel Augustus, Yuri Romanov, Jon Murray and Paul 'Scrap Iron' Ryan. He worked with Brendan Ingle and Norwich stalwart Graham Everett, became close to Herbie Hide, Naseem Hamed – whom he served as a sparring partner for – and Johnny Nelson, and now he works changing the quality of people's lives through health and fitness in Norwich. Thaxton is a great talker and wonderful storyteller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former world super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg talks about the single-mindedness that took him to the top of the sport. He discuses the sacrifices he has made to reach the pinnacle in a fights against the likes of Rendall Monroe, Carl Frampton, Kiko Martinez and Oscar Valdez. The former champion also talks about his life after boxing, and what it was like learning from coaches including Brian Hughes, Ricky Hatton, Joe Gallagher and Freddie Roach – as well as being a stablemate of Puerto Rican great Miguel Cotto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former WBC super-middleweight champion Robin Reid took Olympic bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Games. He won his world title on the road, made three defences, including against Yorkshire hardman Henry Wharton before losing his crown in an upset to Sugar Boy Malinga. Reid also famously boxed the likes of Joe Calzaghe – for many giving the brilliant Welshman his hardest fight – Brian Magee, Sven Ottke, Carl Froch and Jeff Lacy. But things didn't work out as he imagined they would. Here, in a rare interview, Reid bares his soul, remembering the best and worst of his career and talking for the first time in detail about his struggles in life after boxing. This is unmissable, and the 200th episode of Boxing Life Stories. Brought to you by Hanson Lee Resourcing and Delco Safety Compliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since that tragic night in February 1995 when Gerald McClellan lost to Nigel Benn in one of the most brutal fights of all time, Lisa McClellan has been the primary carer for her brother, Gerald. Here, Lisa talks about her new organisation, Ring of Brotherhood, and how it can help fighters by shining a light on what they go through after hearing the final bell toll on their careers. Lisa also discusses Gerald's recovery, their life now and her memories from that sad night nearly three decades ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron fought the likes of Canelo, Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez and Antonio Margarito (twice), and he almost added to that, being one fight away from contests against Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and countryman Miguel Cotto. Cintron's mother died of cancer when he was just 10, and his father died of a heart attack three years later. He managed to lose himself in combat sports; first wrestling, then boxing. The outspoken Cintron had a hard career. He sparred Arturo Gatti, Bernard Hopkins and many more, was a Kronk stalwart alongside Andy Lee and Johnathon Banks under Emanuel Steward but he's thriving in retirement, studying to be a radiographer, spending time with his family and playing golf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the best red top journalists of a generation, Steve Lillis has been in boxing for more than 30 years. He's covered the big nights in Vegas, worked with small hall promoters, been at the cutting edge of old-school breaking news journalism and worked in television for BoxNation. Lillis has enjoyed an incredible career, being close to the likes of Warren and Maloney, covering fights in the US featuring the likes of Larry Holmes and Manny Pacquiao and charting the rise of Ricky Hatton from the earliest of days, he's seen and done it all while not forgetting who the real stars are of the sport, the people we interview. He's also had his own battles away from the ring, which he discusses here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former WBO world junior-welterweight champ Chris Algieri has fought the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Russian Provodnikov, Amir Khan, Errol Spence, Conor Benn and Tommy Coyle. But the popular Long Islander was also a former world kickboxing champion, is a qualified nutritionist, has worked heavily in broadcasting, is the co-host on the Inside Boxing podcast and he's sparred a who's who of modern greats. Here, he tells his unique story, his unexpected rise, his frustrations, his glory and his future. Twitter – @trisdixon https://twitter.com/trisdixon Instagram – @trisdixon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former European super-middleweight champion and two-time British champion James Cook is one of the most-respected figures in British boxing. He was the first man to defeat the excellent Michael Watson, lost to Herol Graham, wanted to fight Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn and he had one tough assignment after another on the road, almost always in the away corner. He worked with Mickey Duff, Harry Holland, Frank Warren and others, talks about moving to the UK from Jamaica, racism in England and, in his decorated role as a youth worker, crime and poverty in London and in the UK. Cook is the conscience of British boxing and universally loved, known as The Guardian of the Streets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy Flute was a former British title contender who boxed the likes of Neville Brown, Sven Ottke, Robin Reid, Glenn Catley, David Starie and Markus Beyer. As a sparring partner, he worked with Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe and many others, but he faced his biggest battle outside of the ring, with addiction and alcoholism. Here, Andy reflects upon the person he was and the person he has become. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike owns Ringcraft and has been ringside, literally, for more than 30 years. He assembles the rings for the big nights, in the small halls and for training camps around the world. He also owns a sign business, so provides the sets and back drops for public workouts, press conferences and weigh ins. He and his team are often the first people on the scene of fight week and the last ones to leave. He's also worked with Joshua, Bruno, Lennox, Benn, Eubank and anymore and has worked with every major UK promoter, including Frank Warren, Mickey Duff, Barry and Eddie Hearn, Kellie Maloney and Boxxer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former cruiserweight contender Johnathan Banks had his career fast-tracked in the aftermath of Emanuel Steward's death. Banks was still an active fighter when his beloved coach passed away but he was promptly named trainer of heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and his path changed. As a boxer, Banks was cruiser who boxed at heavyweight and he fought the likes of Seth Mitchell, Antonio Tarver, Travis Walker and Tomasz Adamek. He has wonderful experiences to share having been around the Klitschko brothers and on the road with Steward, he talks working with middleweight great Gennady Golovkin today and explains why his future is about giving back, to communities and individuals, through boxing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Las Vegas referee Kenny Bayless paid his dues to get where he is. He spent years as an amateur official and then had a long apprenticeship on the Nevada State Athletic Commission before going on to become one of the world's leading referees. He was the third man in the ring the night Floyd Mayweather beat Manny Manny Pacquiao and the night Bernard Hopkins defeated Oscar De La Hoya and he was there for the worrying knockouts of Amir Khan against Canelo Alvarez, when Juan Manuel Marquez flattened Pacquaio and when Pacquiao nailed Ricky Hatton. Here, Bayless talks about the sport, the big nights and names and reveals some hidden stories from his incredible experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former world IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora reflects on his incredible life story, through a traumatic childhood, several overdoses, stints in prison, being shot, other shootings, stabbings and much more in between. He talks about 'that' Floyd Mayweather spar, how his life changed winning the world title and his search for redemption as he prepares his son Geno for a career in the hardest sport of all. This is simply unmissable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trainer Shane McGuigan has worked with some huge names in the sport; David Haye, George Groves, Carl Frampton, Josh Taylor, Chantelle Cameron and many more. He has a stable of nine fighters, featuring Lawrence Okolie, Daniel Dubois and Chris Billam-Smith, and at just 33 he is one of the country's go-to coaches. Here, he talks about his rise, his amateur career, being the son of fighting legend Barry and how he's coped through traumatic periods of his life, including divorce and the loss of his sister, Nika. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

International Boxing Hall of Fame journalist Ron Borges looks back on his fabulous career. The Boston Globe icon looks back on his relationships with New England stars like Marvin Hagler, Micky Ward, Vinny Paz and others, and also discusses the big fights, including being ringside in Tokyo for Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson and being the only journalist in an enormous poll to pick Evander Holyfield to beat Tyson in their first fight. He also talks about his friendship with Teddy Atlas, the investigation that rocked his career and his thrill at being inducted in Canastota earlier this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Super-welterweight contender Erickson Lubin talks about fighting for the PBC, his fight of the year contender with Sebastian Fundora and the pressure of being a high-profile fighter in the model day. Lubin talks about his internal struggles after his emphatic loss to Jermell Charlo, turning pro under Mike Tyson while Team USA were still hoping for big things from him and his hopes for the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Veteran trainer Aaron Snowell has worked with many Don King fighters over the years. But he is not just a King lieutenant. He grew up in Pottsville, just down the road from Muhammad Ali's Deer Lake training camp and he was around The Greatest for the best part of a decade. As a coach, who was in the corner the night Mike Tyson was stunned by Buster Dougles, and when Frankie Randall shocked Julio Cesar Chavez. He also worked with the likes of Julian Jackson, Tim Austin and Tim Witherspoon. Snowball's story is an important one on many levels, not least because he presents a very different side of Mike Tyson in the late 1980s and early 1990s from the one were are accustomed to seeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Las Vegas referee Tony Weeks has landed some of the most high profile assignments in boxing in recent years. Weeks was the third man in the ring the night Diego Corrales stunned Jose Luis Castillo in their first fight, had to set Bernard Hopkins straight against Antwun Echols and he was also the referee the night Leavander Johnson lost his lightweight title – and later his life – against Jesus Chavez. Here, Weeks talks about the big nights, the risks, the bloody shirt from the Badou Jack-Marcus Browne fight, starring in Hollywood films, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Mesi retired undefeated, at 36-0, but after issues with a brain scan he found it harder and harder to get licensed until he finally called it a day. Now Joe still has a links to brains in his current profession, selling medical equipment. In boxing, he is known as the 'brain fighter' because of the injuries he sustained following his big fight with Vassily Jirov, and it was fascinating to hear about the research he did about whether it would be safe for him to box again. When the injury occurred, Mesi was being linked to fights with Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko and a rematch with former amateur foe Hasim Rahman. Then everything changed… Mesi and podcast host Tris Dixon met in upstate New York recently to talk about Joe's life in and out of the ring, his rise to becoming Buffalo's 'Third Franchise' and much more besides. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Promoter Lou DiBella is one of the most outspoken men in the sport. In his former role at HBO, he worked with the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Lennox Lewis and Pernell Whitaker and as a promoter he's been with Bernard Hopkins, Micky Ward, Sergio Martinez and many others. He lost a brother to suicide, rescues animals (including a zebra!), was this week inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and here also discusses his relationship with the likes of Eddie Hearn and Al Haymon. Lou's induction has caused him to be reflective in recent weeks, thinking about the best and worst the sport has to offer, while remaining positive that it is, overall, a force for good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Promoter Kathy Duva was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020, but officially goes in this year as no induction ceremonies have taken place since the pandemic. Kathy's journey includes plenty of star names, and we talk about Arturo Gatti, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Vinny Pazienza, Andrew Golota, Sergey Kovalev, Tomasz Adamek and many more. But it's Kathy's own story that hits the hardest. She lost her husband Dan when he was just 44, brought up their three children, went back to university, survived cancer, has built and rebuilt Main Events several times over and she's been ringside at some of the biggest fights in history. She's also battled institutionalised discrimination on her way to a deserved plaque in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1982, Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney shared a historic night and wonderful 13 rounds in Las Vegas. Holmes was the experienced champion, Cooney the untested but heavy-hitting contender yet the backdrop of the fight was about race, which made it the biggest money fight in boxing history at the time. After the hostilities, however, Holmes and Cooney formed a friendship that endures to this day and they are something of a double act. The bad blood and the animosity has subsided but here they look back on the night they fought, their careers before and afterwards, and their relationship today, while answering some of the myths and stories that surrounded their battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The super-middleweight 'Gorilla' talks about the highs and lows of his career that see him on the cusp of another big fight following a win over American Danny Jacobs. Ryder talks about the many battles he's faced away from the ring, working with Tony Sims, struggling to make middleweight, big fights with Billy Joe Saunders, Nick Blackwell, Jacobs, Callum Smith and others as well as his stablemates, old and new, including Anthony Joshua, Darren Barker, Ricky Burns, Conor Benn, Felix Cash and many others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former world heavyweight champion Chris Byrd won a silver at the 1992 Olympics and thought it would be his springboard to fame and fortune. It wasn't. Unable to get marquee deals or fights, he thought his best option was to balloon from middleweight to heavyweight to get his career going, so he ate anything and everything he wanted and found himself in the ring with the giants of his era, including the Klitschko brothers, David Tua, Ike Ibeabuchi, Evander Holyfield, Jameel McCline and many others. Chris talks about facing the odds, about his hardships, the chronic pain he suffered with post-boxing that left him contemplating suicide, opponents using PEDs and, of course, the big nights and big fights in a powerful Boxing Life Story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Conor Benn is one of the hottest properties in world boxing. The exciting welterweight contender overcame. rocky start to life in the pros to race to 21-0. But away from the highlight reel finishes and the glamorous social media profile, Benn has endured plenty of struggles. Here, the son of legend Nigel Benn (see episode 100) discusses the trials he has encountered, the problems he's had to overcome, his father's fights, family turmoil, trainer Tony Sims, struggling to get to grips with boxing, counselling and much more, in a wide-ranging and heartfelt interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For too long, fighters have needed to have the option of high-level care available to them when they retire. Dave Harris has a dream. He's started the Ringside Charitable Trust and wants to build a retirement home for damaged fighters who have nowhere else to turn. But he's doing more than that. He's raising awareness about the troubles of life after boxing, he's started a dedicated call line for retired fighters to use to talk about the issues they face and he's trying to raise money to help those who have given us so much enjoyment over the years a brighter future when the bell tolls on their careers for a final time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frank Stallone has been involved with boxing his whole life. From mimicking a Jack Dempsey haircut when he was 10 to knowing and forming friends with legends of the sport, including Muhammad Ali, Dempsey himself, Jimmy McLarnin, Vinny Paz, Ike Williams and many more. Yes, his ultra-famous brother Sylvester made more headlines, but Frank has had a superb career in his own right and boxing has never been far from it. He penned music for the Rocky franchise and here shares thoughts and memories of the movies, talks in great depth about boxing history and the memorabilia he's collected, what it was like being ringside for the big fights in Philadelphia in the 1970s and much more. There are stories from his career as a musician and actor but it's his love of boxing that shines through in this entertaining, funny and timeless interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marc Ratner is the former head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission who now has a top job with the UFC. Throughout his years in Las Vegas and beyond, he witnessed some of the biggest fights of a generation and oversaw many controversies, from The Fan Man at Bowe-Holyfield to the Tyson-Holyfield Bite Fight to Zab Judah throwing stools and brilliant bouts featuring Corrales and Castillo and Barrera and Morales. Here, Ratner reflects on some of the highs and lows during his time in the Chair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gene Kilroy was a friend, advisor and confidant to Muhammad Ali. He spent a huge part of his life as Ali’s business manager and is universally seen as the last surviving member of Ali’s inner circle. Here, he talks about his time with The Greatest, the incredible moments he experienced and the celebrities they encountered and he details Ali’s relationship with other heavyweight legends. He discusses Zaire, Manila, Deer Lake and much more besides in a phenomenal look back over a phenomenal time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kash Farooq was 16-1 and tipped for stardom until changes appeared on his brainscan at the end of 2021. The Scottish bantamweight prodigy had a bat fanclub in the sport, was promoted by Matchroom and shared a Fight of the Year contender with Lee McGregor. There was then due to be a big fight on a Devin Haney bill in Las Vegas, a return with McGregor and then possibly a world title fight but all of those plans were sadly derailed. Here, Farooq talks about his decision to retire, what was behind his call, his disappointment but also his hopes for a long future with his health intact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For almost 15 years, Anthony Leaver has been part of the Matchroom boxing media team. He joined the promotional group to work across poker and golf, but soon found himself working on boxing, on Prizefighters and with the likes of Audley Harrison, James DeGale, Carl Froch, Tony Bellew and many others. But when Matchroom opened their New York office, he was on his way to head up their media operations and he's subsequently handled media relationships for Canelo, Roman Gonzalez, Demetrius Andrade, Danny Jacobs and many more. Here, he talks about getting the breaks, working for Eddie Hearn, his pride in Frank Smith's career progression and his unique nickname! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kevin Lueshing is a former British welterweight champion who famously dropped a 30-0 Felix Trinidad before losing a punch out in Nashville. Lueshing was an exciting fighter, as seen in his seven-knockdown fight of the year for the British crown against Chris Saunders, but he also boxed the likes of Kirkland Laing and Harry Simon. Away from the ring, Lueshing was tormented by his father, who was beyond violent with him, suffered abuse as a small boy, became a model, was a huge puncher and he later worked behind the scenes with the likes of Frank Bruno and Nigel Benn, old training partners from back in the day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For more than 30 years, Kevin Mitchell covered boxing for The Guardian and The Observer. The award-winning author and journalist was ringside at the biggest fights and interviewed the biggest names and was unafraid of crossing swords with some of the most famous and litigious figures in the sport. Kevin also helped a young and naïve Tris Dixon take his first few steps in the world of boxing journalism. More importantly, he wrote the excellent books War, Baby: The Glamour of Violence about the tragic Nigel Benn-Gerald McClellan fight and Jacobs Beach: The Mob, the Fights, the Fifties, about organised crime’s involvement in the sport through the 1950s. Mitchell also penned Frank Bruno’s autobiography with him and is one of the most decorated writers of his generation. Now retired, Mitchell still follows the sport, unable to get it out of his system despite its flaws, the tragedies and the politics but he can also look back fondly on his meetings with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Don King and many more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

International Boxing Hall of Famer Al Bernstein has been involved with boxing for half a century. For many, he's the voice of the sport having covered some of the most iconic fights of all time. He's also appeared in multiple boxing movies, has his own podcast – Al Bernstein Unplugged – has written for major boxing publications and he's written a book 30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths About Boxing, Sports, and TV. But it's for his work on ESPN, Showtime and Channel 5 over the last several decades and the coverage of the likes of Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury, Floyd Mayweather and many others that have sealed his deserved plaque in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jackie Kallen has been involved with boxing for almost 50 years. She cut her teeth as an entertainment journalist interviewing the likes of Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones and the Beatles and then found herself in the basement of a Detroit Rec Center covering boxing. She became a publicist for the famous Kronk Gym, working closely with Tommy Hearns through his glory years and beyond, and wound up managing James Toney and a successful stable of fighters in subsequent years. Now, a motivational speak with a decorated career, she worked on The Contender TV series with Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard and a movie about her life was made with Meg Ryan in the lead role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Enigmatic promoter Murad Muhammad has worked with the likes of Muhammad Ali, prisoner James Scott, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Roy Jones and Manny Pacquiao. As well as being around some of the biggest names in the sport, he's had personal friendships with some of the major players in TV, including Disney CEO Bob Iger, and he recounts some of the relationships and deals he's been involved with and been a part of over the years. Muhammad, who resides in New Jersey, has stories about Don King and many other boxing movers and shakers and insists that as far as promoters go, he, Murad Muhammad, "is the greatest of all times." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Barry Hunter has become one of the go-to trainers in the USA. After his noteworthy work with the Peterson brothers, who he trained from their childhoods until their career twilights, he's worked with a who's who of top-tier talent including Adrien Broner, Tony Thompson, Raushee Warren and Isaac Dogboe. As part of the US amateur set-up, he's also worked with Shakur Stevenson, Ricardo Williams, Errol Spence and countless others. Here, he talks about PEDs in the sport, playing the drums, the real-life Broner, his relationship with Virgil Hunter (no relation), growing up hard and much more besides. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Christie succeeded Boxing Life Stories host Tris Dixon as the editor of Boxing News. Here, Matt talks about his early exposure to boxing, how he was destined for the top job and how he finds life in the editor’s chair on the world’s oldest boxing publication. He also discusses the future-proofing of the brand, big nights ringside in the US and he talks about how BN adapted in the pandemic and much more besides. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harlem Eubank is an unbeaten professional from Brighton, and nephew to the legendary Chris Eubank Sr and cousin of Chris Eubank Jr. He’s also the son of former pro Simon Eubank. Here, he talks about fighting in the family, training under Adam Booth, his rise on the small hall circuit, his famous surname and how he’s different from his more famous relatives and his hopes for the future. Harlem talks about his plant-based diet, his aspirations to top a bill in his hometown and his new start with Wasserman Boxing. He also discusses his late cousin Seb, who tragically passed away in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bournemouth's British, Commonwealth and European cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith has big ideas and big ambitions. Trained by Shane McGuigan after a decent if not glittering amateur career, Billam-Smith has risen quickly in the pros. He's become a Matchroom staple, twice boxing at Fight Camps, and he's already met men like Tommy McCarthy and Richard Riakporhe and he's sparred Mairis Briedis, David Haye, George Groves, Joshua Butasi, Lawrence Okolie, Daniel Dubois and many more. He also hosts his own podcast, The Perfect Athlete Podcast, has a hunger for knowledge around sport, performance and recovery and he has a dream to bring big-time boxing to Bournemouth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bob Hatrak has one of the most-extraordinary stories in the history of boxing. Hatrak was the warden of Rahway Prison in New Jersey in the 1970s when light-heavyweight contender James Scott rose to prominence in the rankings from behind the prison walls. Scott, who had a long history of legal woes before going down for life, started Hatrak's Boxing Authority programme and managed to miraculously continue his career while serving his life sentence. Hatrak was the man behind it all. With assistance from promoter Murad Muhammad and commissioner, former heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott, Scott was able to fight his way to become the No. 1 contender for the WBA title, beating the likes of Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Richie Kates and Yaqui Lopez in huge fights that were televised from the maximum security prison. This is a story the likes of which had never happened before and certainly will not happen again. For Bob Hatrak's upcoming book, click and like https://www.facebook.com/NOMW.Book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Ed Brophy was a lifelong boxing fan who has created a utopia for boxers and fans alike. He's done it all in the sleepy upstate town of Canastota in New York and after opening with just a small museum in 1989, he's built it in to one of the sport's bucket list destinations. Here, he talks about his journey building the Hall, its expansion, the controversies he faces, the selection process and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A British boxing jack of all trades, Carl Greaves was a good fighter who boxed the likes of Alex Arthur and Michael Gomez in a decent career. But he's arguably better known now as trainer to David Avanesyan and as one of the country's most popular managers, promoters and matchmaker, who is now working behind the scenes for Sky and Boxxer. Greaves takes us through his colourful journey in the sport, from struggling to make weight to struggling to make fights and the battles small hall promoters face, whether in or out of a pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dewsbury's Gary Sykes is a former British super-featherweight champion who faced all of his domestic rivals and just missed out on a huge fight in the US with Adrien Broner. A former GB teammate and sparring partner of Amir Khan, Sykes twice entered Prizefighter and was famously upset in a round by Gary Buckland, when Sykes was the British champ. An underrated but popular warrior, Sykes has struggled in retirement and has twice been placed in a psychiatric ward as he's faced coming to terms with life after boxing. He's now in his biggest fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hull's Tommy Coyle is one of Britain's best-loved fighters of the last 20 years. The all-action warrior came through an eight knockdown thriller with Daniel Brizuela to win the Fight of the Year in 2014 but he also fought the likes of Derry Mathews, Gary Sykes, John Simpson, Michael Katsidis and Hull rival Luke Campbell. Also know for infamously 'debagging' Eddie Hearn in Boston, Coyle talks about that incident, his struggle with accepting retirement, taking on board damage over the yers and his future in an open and frank discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices