Boxing Life Stories

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

Commentator John Rawling has been the voice of the fights for the BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, BoxNation and now for BT Sport. He's also contributed to the Guardian for several decades and he's been a fixture at ringside since the 1980s. Here, he talks about his start in the world of broadcasting and journalism and goes on to to take us on a journey through the incredible nights and relationships he's enjoyed with the likes of Bruno, Benn, Eubank, Naz, Lewis, Foreman, Ali, Hatton and, most recently, having been ringside in Las Vegas to watch Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former middleweight and super-middleweight champion Michel Nunn, one of the pound for pound stars on the 1990s, went from a life of celebrity and fame to nearly two decades behind bars. Nunn defeated plenty of big names, Curtis Parker, Sambu Kalambay, Iran Barkley, Marlon Starling, Donald Curry and he also fought James Toney, Frankie Liles and Steve Little. Here, he talks about his frustration at trying to land fights with Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and latterly Roy Jones but also about the big nights and his time at the top, including the disputed losses to Little and Liles and Rocchiginai, He was 58-4 when he boxed for the last time but three of those defeats were controversial. Then came time in prison and it was a long time but he was bright and engaging, it was great to hear him in such good shape and also hear him referring to so many in the boxing community whom he has been in touch with since his 2019 release. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bernd Boente is best-known as the right-hand man to heavyweight champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. Here, he talks about his start in boxing in the 1980s, his journey through German TV working in the sport and his time as a journalist before joining up with the Klitschkos and forming KMG in 2006. Boente also recalls the highs and lows of being by the side of the brothers, against the likes of Lennox Lewis, David Haye, Dereck Chisora, Corrie Sanders and many more, while sharing memories of Emanuel Steward and others through his own storied career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arv Mittoo is a Birmingham journeyman who notched a staggering 100 fights through his pro career. He boxed the likes of Ashley Theophane, Gary Woolcombe, Scott Haywood, Lee Meager and Tunde Ajayi in compiling his 10-85-5 record. Here, he talks extensively about life on the road, the subculture of British boxing’s show savers and much more in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ron Gray was a tough heavyweight who fought on both Muhammad Ali-Henry Cooper bills in the UK back in the 1960s. Ron was friends with the great middleweight Randy Turpin and was even his housemate for a while, he was also a prolific fighter in the boxing booths and knew everyone on the fight scene, in and out of the ring. In retirement, Ron experienced just about every role, including as matchmaker and manager and as a promoter he ran Midlands boxing for years, working with The Cartel, Barry Hearn and Frank Warren over several decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Promoter Nisse Sauerland has spent his life in boxing. Son of the Hall of Fame promoter Wilfried and brother to the more outspoken Kalle, Nisse has had a wide-ranging career from working at Babestation to promoting world heavyweight title fights. He’s also seen a huge change that saw Sauerland Event become Wasserman Boxing in a huge merger. He’s become an important part of the fabric of the European boxing scene and here he tells his story in his own words, including tales of Froch, Groves, Abraham, Valuev, Kessler and many others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

300-fight journeyman Peter Buckley fought a who’s who of British boxing. In his long career, he was matched with prospects, contenders, future champions and even future Hall of Famers. He met the likes of Naseem Hamed, Duke McKenzie, Acelino Freitas, Spencer Oliver, Lee Selby, Derry Mathews and countless others. Often he’d take a call at short notice to save a show but he was written off at his peril, if he fancied his chances you had a battle on your hands. Here, Buckley - King of the Journeymen - talks about the subculture of British boxing, life in the blue corner and reaching his incredible milestone. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @trisdixon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A glimpse of what lies ahead as we prepare for the new season of Boxing Life Stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ricky Hatton is a British sporting icon who was known for his huge fanbase. Tens of thousands of supporters would flock to the Mancunians fights, whether it was home in Manchester or in Las Vegas, and they saw him fight the likes of Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton. Here, in colourful detail, Ricky recalls the highs of his incredible career and the lows of a personal life that saw him contemplate suicide through his darkest days. Now the father to a young pro, Campbell Hatton, he also trains fighters and has maintained his place in the hearts of the nation as one of the best-loved fighters ever out of the United Kingdom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IBF featherweight champion Kid Galahad talks about his career in boxing and life out of the ring. He discusses his recent world title win over Jazza Dickens and his future aspirations but he also talks about his family move from Doha to Liverpool when he was just four. There, his brothers were enticed in to a life of crime but when he moved to Sheffield he had a chance meeting with Prince Naseem Hamed and was directed to the famed Ingle Gym. He didn't look back. Here, he talks about his near two decades at the gym, the controversies he's faced, the highs, the setbacks, some incredible sparring stories in the UK and the US and being part of the Ingle dynasty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Manchester light-heavyweight Maurice Core moved quickly as a pro and won a British title within a dozen fights. He trained out of the legendary Champs Camp and was extremely close to trainer Phil Martin. Maurice boxed the likes of Noel Magee, Fabrice Tiozzo, Mark Prince, and Nicky Piper but Martin's death hit him hard and he hung the gloves up after just 18 fights. He became a trainer, worked with the likes of Naseem Hamed – whom he travelled extensively with (stories of Michael Jackson and Puff Daddy among others), Carl Thompson, Bobby Vanzie and Steve Foster Jr and his extraordinary story includes a spell in jail for a string of attempted murders he didn't commit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kieran Farrell was an exciting 14-0 prospect with the world at his feet when he fought Anthony Crolla. After 10 hard rounds for the English title, Farrell was stretchered from the ring and things would never be the same again. Farrell had a brain bleed and was told he would never box again. Already facing obstacles outside the ring, life got much tough but Farrell has dug deeper. Now a trainer, manager and promoter he still loves the sport and this Life Story is an uplifting tale when it could have been tragic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter Fury talks about his life and times, from a legitimate business buying and selling vehicles to being called "one of Europe's most powerful crime lords". He also talks about his work with heavyweight son Hughie Fury, Savannah Marshall and the positive impact boxing has had on his life, along with tales from prison and his time on the wrong side of the tracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matthew Hatton was a European champion who challenged for world titles and who fought the likes of Gianluca Branco, Saul Canelo Alvarez, Kell Brook, Ben Tackie and Michael Lomax. Of course, being Ricky Hatton’s brother had advantages but there were plenty of disadvantages, too. Here, he reflects on his stellar career, working with the likes fo Billy Graham, Lee Beard and Bob Shannon, and his new life as a trainer, coaching a good group of professionals including his nephew Campbell Hatton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Perhaps best-known for his multi-knockdown thriller with Prince Naseem Hamed as the Prince made his lively US debut in Madison Square Garden, Kelley had a long and illustrious career that resulted in him winning 60 fights, losing 10 and drawing twice. He fought the likes of Erik Morales, Bones Adams, Marco Antonio Barrera, Derrick Gainer, Troy Dorsey, Humberto Soto, Manuel Medina and many other top-liners. He was involved in several Fight of the Year contenders but is perhaps remembered fondly for his fast mouth as well as his fast punches. From telling Naz he would 'smoke his boots' to working as a broadcaster on shows including Heavyweight Explosion and KO Nation,. Kelley recounts his fascinating career as a pioneering featherweight at a time when there was a real focus on the larger weight classes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If it's happened in boxing in the last 60-plus years, there's a fair chance Jerry Izenberg either covered it or saw it. The award-winning writer was a staple for the Newark Star-Ledger and is a Hall of Fame. He's has known them all, from Frazier and Foreman to Hagler and Hearns, from Ali and Tyson to the promoters and gangsters who have run the sport. He's been behind the scenes with champions, at the negotiating table with power-brokers and he's one of the best storytellers in the sport. Aged 90 and living in Las Vegas, he's also the author of the brilliant book, Once There Were Giants. Boxing Life Stories is now on Patreon. You can get access to research, unseen photographs from Boxing Life Stories, go behind the scenes of the podcast with Tris Dixon and even get some episodes early. You can help support us through another 100 episodes and help us to grow by visiting www.patreon.com/trisdixon Boxing Life Stories is bought to you by HANSON LEE who were voted “The UK's Best Specialist Insurance-Sector Recruitment Firm for 2020” in the Corporate Excellence Awards. ‘Not only do we find the best people, we’ll help you retain them.' Discover more at HansonLee.com’ AND DELCO SAFETY COMPLIANCE, who are a leading provider of professional fire, asbestos, and safety services to businesses nationwide. They offer one expert point of contact for all of your fire, health and safety compliance needs. Find out more at www.delcosafety.co.uk Follow Tris on twitter @trisdixon and instagram @trisdixon @boxing_life_stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik hit the heights after back-to-back wins over Jermain Taylor. He was red hot, then, and he had a superb career with 40 wins against just 2 defeats. He was a big puncher who was involved in a number of fun fights. There was a damaging loss up in weight against Bernard Hopkins before Pavlik dropped back down to 160lbs to defend his titles and after losing to Sergio Martinez he tried to make a fresh start in California but the moment had gone. Certainly, after a proposed fight with Andre Ward fell through he saw nowhere else to go. Here, Pavlik talks about his life and reputation in Youngstown, his big fights, the fights he could have had against the like of Froch, Calzaghe and Kessler, his legacy and his start in boxing in a candid and frank interview. Boxing Life Stories is now on Patreon. You can get access to research, unseen photographs from Boxing Life Stories, go behind the scenes of the podcast with Tris Dixon and even get some episodes early. You can help support us through another 100 episodes and help us to grow by visiting www.patreon.com/trisdixon Boxing Life Stories is bought to you by HANSON LEE who were voted “The UK's Best Specialist Insurance-Sector Recruitment Firm for 2020” in the Corporate Excellence Awards. ‘Not only do we find the best people, we’ll help you retain them.' Discover more at HansonLee.com’ AND DELCO SAFETY COMPLIANCE, who are a leading provider of professional fire, asbestos, and safety services to businesses nationwide. They offer one expert point of contact for all of your fire, health and safety compliance needs. Find out more at www.delcosafety.co.uk Follow Tris on twitter @trisdixon and instagram @trisdixon @boxing_life_stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leeds warrior Josh Warrington is aiming for revenge with the only man to defeat him as a professional, Mauricio Lara, firmly in his sights. Here, Josh looks back over his career, his journey to a world title and his bog wins over the likes of Kiko Martinez, Lee Selby, Carl Frampton and Kid Galahad. He also talks about the devastation of the Lara loss, his need for revenge, his future and his relationship with boxing. Boxing Life Stories is now on Patreon. You can get access to research, unseen photographs from Boxing Life Stories, go behind the scenes of the podcast with Tris Dixon and even get some episodes early. You can help support us through another 100 episodes and help us to grow by visiting www.patreon.com/trisdixon Boxing Life Stories is bought to you by HANSON LEE who were voted “The UK's Best Specialist Insurance-Sector Recruitment Firm for 2020” in the Corporate Excellence Awards. ‘Not only do we find the best people, we’ll help you retain them.' Discover more at HansonLee.com’ AND DELCO SAFETY COMPLIANCE, who are a leading provider of professional fire, asbestos, and safety services to businesses nationwide. They offer one expert point of contact for all of your fire, health and safety compliance needs. Find out more at www.delcosafety.co.uk Follow Tris on twitter @trisdixon and instagram @trisdixon @boxing_life_stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sheffield star Ryan Rhodes talks about his time at the top, from a talented and confident amateur under Brendan Ingle and who raced to the Lonsdale Belt in record time as a young pro. He fought Otis Grant in an early attempt for a world title and here he discusses his relationships with stablemates including Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Herol Graham and Junior Witter while talking about the fights that made his career, against the likes of Gary Lockett, Jamie Moore and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Now a trainer, who's involved in an exciting new video game project, Rhodes discusses the journey from 'Spice Boy' to 'Old Spice' with colour and humour. Boxing Life Stories is now on Patreon. You can get access to research, unseen photographs from Boxing Life Stories, go behind the scenes of the podcast with Tris Dixon and even get some episodes early. You can help support us through another 100 episodes and help us to grow by visiting www.patreon.com/trisdixon Boxing Life Stories is bought to you by HANSON LEE who were voted “The UK's Best Specialist Insurance-Sector Recruitment Firm for 2020” in the Corporate Excellence Awards. ‘Not only do we find the best people, we’ll help you retain them.' Discover more at HansonLee.com’ AND DELCO SAFETY COMPLIANCE, who are a leading provider of professional fire, asbestos, and safety services to businesses nationwide. They offer one expert point of contact for all of your fire, health and safety compliance needs. Find out more at www.delcosafety.co.uk Follow Tris on twitter @trisdixon and instagram @trisdixon @boxing_life_stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Promoter and manager Dennis Hobson has worked at all levels of the sport, from his time at the top with Clinton Woods – who would meet the likes of Roy Jones, Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver – to his successful spell with Ricky Hatton. He’s also been involved at the small hall level and has recently launched FightZone, an app for that perhaps should be but are not on TV. He’s seen the sport from many angles and here discusses some of the negotiating, posturing, triumphs and failures while showing off his best Frank Sinatra impression in a must-listen episode. Boxing Life Stories is now on PATREON. You can get access to research, unseen photographs from Boxing Life Stories, go behind the scenes of the podcast with Tris Dixon and even get some episodes early. You can help support us through another 100 episodes and help us to grow by visiting www.patreon.com/trisdixon Boxing Life Stories is bought to you by HANSON LEE RESOURCING who were voted “The UK's Best Specialist Insurance-Sector Recruitment Firm for 2020” in the Corporate Excellence Awards. ‘Not only do we find the best people, we’ll help you retain them.' Discover more at HansonLee.com’ AND DELCO SAFETY COMPLIANCE, who are a leading provider of professional fire, asbestos, and safety services to businesses nationwide. They offer one expert point of contact for all of your fire, health and safety compliance needs. Find out more at www.delcosafety.co.uk Follow Tris on twitter @trisdixon and instagram @trisdixon @boxing_life_stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards discusses his rise to the top, including his world title win over South African legend Moruti Mthlane. The outspoken Edwards also talks about his controversial social media presence, his mum's health battle, growing up in the shadow of a bigger brother – decorated amateur and world champion Charlie – and his own amateur career as well as his ambitions and hopes for the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In one of the most moving Boxing Life Stories I've done, Sheffield ex-fighter and now trainer, manager and promoter Glyn Rhodes MBE recalls the highs and lows of his time in the sport. Trained by Brendan Ingle, he talks of life as 'Showboat' Rhodes, a frustrating journeyman who should have done more in his career but also his time outside the ropes, with particular attention on the traumatic night his friend and fighter Scott Westgarth lost his life after a fight he won. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Veteran Philadelphia boxing writer Bernard Fernandez is an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee who has covered the sport for several decades. He cut his journalistic teeth back home in New Orleans. The son of a prizefighter, he loved boxing from the start and looked up to the likes of Carmen Basilio rather than basketball or baseball stars and when his career took him to Philly there was only one sport on his mind. He would cover fights involving Meldrick Taylor, Julio Cesar Chavez, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Arturo Gatti and countless others along the way, while forming a special relationship with another Bernard from Philadelphia, Bernard Hopkins, whose career he covered from start to finish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices