Boxing Life Stories

Duke McKenzie won world titles at three different weights. He's gone on to have a successful post-fight career as a boxing pundit, too. But life has been far from easy for Duke. A self-confessed bad amateur boxer, he – along with his brothers – suffered violent abuse at the hands of his father, he was not a naturally gifted fighter or athlete for that matter and he had to plead with Hall of Fame promoter Mickey Duff to guide his career. Through it all, however, was Dudley. He was the brother Duke was closest too, and he ended up taking his own life. Duke talks about mental health, losing Dudley, his own struggles and much more in this moving and inspirational interview, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tris Dixon sits down with Manchester's Joe Gallagher to discuss the trainer's forty years in the sport. Joe reflects on his time as an amateur boxer, a trainer, a manager and as a promoter, but it's as a coach where he's enjoyed the most success. Working with the likes of Matthew Macklin, Anthony Crolla, the Smith brothers, Scott Quigg, Callum Johnson and many others, he's built an impressive stable of champions. His commitment and passion remains after so long, too, but here he reveals the price of success and the challenges it brings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is more than one Dicky Eklund. There was the promising pro who was matched early against a developing Sugar Ray Leonard and then the strung out junkie portrayed by Christian Bale in an Oscar-winning performance in the film The Fighter. Dicky has had a hard life; in and out of prison, on and off drugs, in and out of boxing. The half brother and trainer of 'Irish' Micky Ward, he now looks back on a life of regrets and missed opportunities while recalling happily Micky's glory years in a candid and hard-hitting interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coach Adam Booth goes in depth with Tris Dixon on health, happiness and success. They talk about ambition and contentment and there's also some boxing thrown in, as the two discuss Adam's current stable, including Joe Joyce, Michael Conlan and Josh Kelly. There's also a broader discussion on the use of PEDs in boxing, when to stop a fight and much more besides. Adam was the first guest on the Boxing Life Stories podcast, and more of his journey can be heard here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/1-adam-booth/id1436759230?i=1000420067450 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Tris Dixon reflects on some of the inspirational stories he's listened to this year, from Joe Calzaghe mourning the loss of his father Enzo, to Dave Coldwell talking about being bullied, Jamie Moore on being shot and much more. Micky Ward reflects on his friendship and rivalry with Arturo Gatti, Johnny Nelson remembers his idol, Brendan Ingle, Ian Darke recalls a riot at Madison Square Garden and there's the most famous laugh in boxing. Also, Teddy Atlas responds to the critics and huge thanks from Tris to Teddy, Ken and Rob at The Fight for sharing audio where they discuss Tris and Teddy on their own podcast. Tris also speaks to his own inspiration and the girl behind this podcast, his 11-year-old daughter Lois, and there's a Twitter Q and A to finish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former heavyweight contender Peter McNeeley is best known for being in the opposite corner when Mike Tyson returned to the ring after his 1992 prison sentence. McNeeley, son of respected former heavyweight Tom, lasted 89 seconds, but he went out on his shield. Here, Tris Dixon catches up with the man who also fought Henry Akinwande, Butterbean and Brian Neilsen in a colourful career that saw him win 47 and lose seven times. Peter talks openly about CTE, suffering with neurological issues from boxing, how he was inspired by his father, how he still runs in to trouble every once in a while, about Tyson and the others and much more in a no holds barred interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tris Dixon goes one-on-one with former light-heavyweight contender and now trainer John 'Iceman' Scully in a revealing interview with someone who lives and breathes boxing. Scully now has a role training 175lbs king Artur Beterbiev and he's worked with Chad Dawson and Matt Remillard, among others. He still also actively spars, aged 52, having retired with 38 wins against 11 losses. Scully fought the likes of Henry Maske, Tim Littles, Tony Thornton and Michael Nunn, but was arguably best known for his sparring roles with the likes of the brilliant Roy Jones, the great James Toney, Steve Collins and Donnie Lalonde. University is in session, as Ice is a student of the game, to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

International Boxing Hall of Fame promoter J Russell Peltz has been at the sharp end of boxing for 50 years. As Philadelphia's foremost boxing promoter in recent years, he's worked with Boogaloo Watts, jimmy Young, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Jeff Chandler, Cyclone Hart, Willie Monroe and his favourite, 'Bad' Bennie Briscoe. Rich with incredible stories, Peltz has experienced it all and here discusses the sport, his fighters, his life, organised crime and of course the best and worst of his extraordinary half century in the sport. Recorded in Peltz's Philly office, it's an incredible and ultimately moving journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gary Balletto was a Rhode Island sweetheart who shot to fame in season two of the popular US television series The Contender. Gary was a good looking guy, an exciting fighter and some tipped him to win the series, which included future world champion Cornelius 'K9' Bundrage and eventual winner Grady Brewer. It didn't work out that way and Gary was eliminated in the second round, only fighting once more before walking away. Then, several years later he was damaged in a horrific backyard accident playing with his children and left a quadriplegic. Life changed in an instant. Here, in an incredibly open and moving interview, Gary talks about his career, the accident and its aftermath and the rise of his son, Gary Balletto III, who just made his professional boxing debut. It's an unmissable conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tony DeMarco won the world welterweight title back in 1955 when he stopped Johnny Saxton. The Boston idol, who headlined more at the Boston Garden than anyone else, fought several world champions, including two violent tussles with Carmen Basillio, Kid Gavilan, Chico Vejar, Denny Moyer, Virgil Akins and Don Jordan. Now, aged 87 depending on the records you go by, DeMarco was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019. Here, he talks about his fights, his friendships with the likes of Jake LaMotta and Rocky Marciano and more from his apartment complex in Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Irish' Micky Ward has become a boxing cult hero due to the wars he took part in during a ferocious career. Most celebrated for his part in one of boxing's great trilogies, with the late Arturo Gatti, Ward also became known to the wider public when the film of his life, The Fighter, starring Mark Wahlberg as Ward and Christian Bale as his brother, Dicky Eklund, had Oscar-winning success. Ward and interviewer Tris Dixon go back nearly two decades and they discuss Micky's storied career, the epic fights with the likes of Reggie Green, Shea Neary, Emanuel Augustus and Gatti, how he rejuvenated his career and much more. They also talk about Ward's CTE diagnosis, a neurodegenerative condition he has from fighting, and much more besides as they meet up in Ward's Lowell home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Teddy Atlas was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019. He is one of the foremost fight commentators of this generation and one of the boxing's great trainers. He welcomed Boxing Life Stories host Tris Dixon into his Staten Island home to go through his story and his time in the sport. Starting with an intimate look at his childhood and the moments that carved his character, Atlas remembers his time running wild in New York before moving to Catskill where he was moulded further still by Hall of Fame trainer Cus D'Amato. Atlas gives great insight into those days, recalls the first time he set eyes on a young prospect named Mike Tyson and much more. Atlas also discusses many of the stars he's trained, including Michael Moorer, Wilfred Benitez, Donnie Lalonde and others but it's after his light-heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk recently suffered a hurtful loss to Artur Beterbiev that shows him in a light you may not have seen him in before. It's compelling listening. Next week: Irish Micky Ward talks about The Fighter, the film of his life, the Gatti trilogy and so much more. Boxing Life Stories is brought to you by Hanson Lee Resourcing and DELCO Safety Compliance. Teddy's book, Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring: A Son's Struggle to Become a Man is now available as an audiobook with Teddy narrating https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07X4DZDGT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taud_p1_i0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The late 1970s and early 1980s was arguably the hottest period ever in light-heavyweight boxing. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, former WBA champion, was one of the major players. He fought star names including Matthew Saad Muhammad, Michael Spinks, Bennie Briscoe, Victor Galindez and many more. He also had a role in the movie Raging Bull, was given a car as a gift by friend and old training partner Muhammad Ali and as a top trainer has guided the likes of Iran Barkley, Chad Dawson and Herbie Hide. He was also the a centrepiece at the heart of one of boxing's biggest scandals. Here, he talks about boxing as it is today, his career in a packed division, his regrets and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WBO super-featherweight champion Jamel Herring has seen the highs and the lows. He's mixed triumph and tragedy. As a US Marine he completed two tours of Iraq, his first born arrived while he was away, he lost a daughter and a niece to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) but now is one of the hottest properties in the sport. He's part of Terence Crawford's team and the two have become firm friends. The captain of the US 2012 Olympic boxing team in London, Herring has been written off time and again but he's unquenchable deserve and motivation to be the best serves to drive him on. Here, he talks about how he was inspired in his battle with alcohol and PTSD by Tyson Fury, amateur fights with the likes of Danny Jacobs and Josh Taylor, splitting with Al Haymon and joining Top Rank and potential rivals, including Carl Frampton and Josh Warrington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former world super-bantamweight champion Bones Adams is now one of the go-to trainers in Las Vegas. But life has been challenging for him. Born into poverty in Kentucky, he soon found himself tied up with gang life in Detroit. His godfather, the infamous Johnny Ace, was shot and murdered. Bones started fighting. It was something that came naturally to him and it led him to big fights with the likes of Paulie Ayala, Nestor Gaza, Guty Espades and Kevin Kelley. While he rated Prince Naseem Hamed, he craved the Erik Morales fight and it was there for him until he lost his hotly-disputed first bout with Ayala. That sucked the life from him and he was never the same again. He struggled in retirement, went off the rails, went to jail and he nearly suffered similar fates to his late friends, Johnny Tapia and Diego Corrales, Adams is a complex person, always has been, always will be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At 73 years of age, Leroy Caldwell can be found in the City Boxing Gym in Las Vegas waiting for the break he never had as a fighter. He fought the best heavyweights of the 1970s and 1980s and caused a few upsets. He's been to prison, he's been screwed and now he's trying to claim a debt he feels boxing owes him for services rendered. He sparred the likes of Muhammad Ali, Bob Foster and Sonny Liston and fought Cleveland Williams, Oscar Bonavena, George Foreman, Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle, Pinklon Thomas and countless others. He also worked as a bouncer in Las Vegas nightspots, let an underage Mike Tyson in to one place, and he talks about life on the road as a heavyweight outsider. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former fighter Robert Smith is now the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control. As a boxer, he sparred the likes of John Mugabi, Dave Green, James Cook and Mark Kaylor while getting in the ring with Lloyd Honeyghan at late notice at the Royal Albert Hall. But he was plagued by injuries and found work as an engineer. From a family of fighters, Smith is now one of the major players on the British landscape and here he talks about his life as a boxer and his time at the helm of the BBB of C in a candid interview with Tris Dixon just days before he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award from the Boxing Writers' Club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former two-weight world champion Joey Gamache is becoming one of the sport's in demand trainers. He recently guided Otto Wallin through a big step-up as he pushed Tyson Fury hard during their bloody Las Vegas fight but it's no surprise Gamache is now a coach. He's learned from the likes of Teddy Atlas, Emanuel Steward, Jimmy Glenn and many others. He fought the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Chil-Sun Jun, Jerry Ngobeni, Orzubek Nazarov and Tony Lopez racking up a career record of 55 wins and four losses. Many felt his time as a fighter was defined by his brutal two-round loss to Arturo Gatti, the debatable weight increase Gatti made and the decade-long legal mess that followed but that's doing Gamache a disservice. Gamache has had to fight demons. He's been a bad place but now things are good. Here, in his own words, he tells his story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To kick-off season two, Tris Dixon is in Las Vegas where he spent time with veteran Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler. For some 40 years, Trampler has been one of Bob Arum's right-hand men, working with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, George Foreman and Oscar De La Hoya. Bruce is one of the most popular guys in the sport, though he doesn't receive much of the spotlight for his work because he would prefer it to be shone on the fighters. But here, in a rare in depth interview, he talks about his start in boxing, his mentors, the long relationships he's had in the sport, what it's like working with Arum, how he got behind Foreman's incredible comeback, what happened between Arum and rival Don King at Dan Goossen's funeral and much more besides. This episode is brought to you in association with Hanson Lee Resourcing and Delco Safety Compliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's episode 50 and it's the UK's favourite fighter, former WBC heavyweight champion Frank Bruno. In one of his most candid interviews in years, Bruno reflects on his life and times, from his rough childhood, starting boxing, being sent to borstal and then fighting his way through the ranks and into huge fights with the likes of Tim Witherspoon, Mike Tyson (twice), Lennox Lewis and Oliver McCall. There were huge knockouts and heartbreaking losses along the way and, of course, his post-boxing career battles that have included him being sectioned three times and a public mental health battle. Here, Bruno covers it all, answers the questions that have surrounded his career and talks about his biggest fight in life after boxing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For more than 50 years, The Sun's boxing scribe Colin Hart has been at the biggest fights, delivered the biggest interviews and broken the biggest exclusives. Here, he looks back on a half century in the sport that has seen him earn the top awards in boxing journalism, the Nat Fleischer award via the Boxing Association of America and his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was at the Fight of the Century between Frazier and Ali, in Zaire for the Rumble in the Jungle and in Manilla for the Thriller. He was a the Bite Fight, the Fan Man, the biggest upset in boxing history – Douglas-Tyson – and he witnessed the likes of Hagler, Duran, Leonard, Hearns, Chavez and many more in their primes. Hart reflects on an incredible journey, the fighters he has met and the good, the bad and the ugly of the fight game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don Charles is perhaps most famous for his work with heavyweight enigma Derek Chisora. Yet the story of the African-born Charles is fascinating. Yes, he takes us on the wild Chisora ride but he also talks about escaping war-torn Biafra after the Nigerians won a three-year war, he talks about his upbringing in 1970s London, his businesses (running florists, working as a clothing seller in the markets and running a door security firm) and then his break into boxing. As an amateur super-heavyweight, he sparred the likes of Danny Williams and Henry Akinwande, impressed James 'Bonecrusher' Smith but, disenfranchised after a loss to Harry Senior – whom he'd already beaten – he never fought again. Although there was that press conference brawl with David Haye in Munich... As a coach, he's trained Frank Buglioni, Chisora, Ajose Olusegun, Ashley Theophane and he now works with, among others, his son George Fox, an up and coming heavyweight. From running for his life in the African forests to having his own heavyweight gym in north west London, it's been an emotional roller coaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the explosive nature of his first Life Story podcast, heavyweight Richard Towers returns with more prison stories, more sparring tales and more on the men he's looked up to and admired, Adam Booth, Brendan Ingle and Dan Pena. Richard talks about his future, his business outlook and, of course, there are stories that will blow your mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many regard Kevin Mitchell as one of the best British fighters to never win a world title. In his storied career, he fought the likes of Jorge Linares, Breidis Prescott, Michael Katsidis, John Murray and Ricky Burns. Mitchell was known as a hard fighter and a hard liver. He was a boxer who sold tickets in pubs, and drank in the pubs where he sold tickets. His story is in part about missed opportunities, a fight with alcohol and inner demons and a failure to get the best out of himself, something he openly admits to. But he was still a terrific fighter. He shared British Fights of the Year with Carl Johanneson and John Murray, turned pro after a decorated amateur career culminating in an ABA title and retired after one last title run which came in arguably the performance of his career, against the wonderful Linares. Now, in the wake of the passing of his brother Vinny, he's a trainer of young fighters, and he's not only hoping to pass his skills down, he's hoping to share the harsh lessons he's learned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sheffield super-middleweight Callum Hancock held onto a dark secret for a long time. When he was 10 years old, he was raped by a local bully. Now unbeaten in 10 professional fights, and trained by Ryan Rhodes, he discusses the traumatic burden he has carried for almost two decades, why he remained silent of so long, his thirst for revenge, his quest for inner peace and why he is left wrestling with his role as a boxer. IF YOU ARE AFFECTED BY ANYTHING YOU HEAR IN THIS PODCAST, CALL MANCHESTER SURVIVORS ON 0161 236 2182. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former unbeaten professional welterweight Tunde Ajayi is training Anthony Yarde ahead of his WBO light-heavywieght tittle shot against Sergey Kovalev. The son of a chartered accountant, Ajayi's path in boxing is not a typical one. It has taken him to the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas but fighters have come and gone and he has become a divisive figure on social media. Yet he's all about the positivity and positive energy. He has admirable self-belief and is ready to make his mark in the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first lady of British boxing, Jane Couch fought a war with the establishment that you cannot even imagine today in order to get her license to fight. Jane talks about her case, her struggles, the attitudes she faced while discussing her biggest nights in the ring, fighting the likes of Lucia Rijker, Jamie Clampitt, Holly Holm and many others through her decorated and ground-breaking career. She also reflects on the high-profile TV shows she was used on, the women who took up her legal arms, meeting the likes of Marvin Hagler and Angelo Dundee and much more in this honest and funny but, at times, terribly sad interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sheffield heavyweight Richard Towers sparred some of the best of his era, the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, David Haye, Tyson Fury, Alexander Povetkin and Deontay Wilder. In amassing a 15-1 (12) record before retiring in 2014, he learned from the likes of Brendan Ingle, Emanuel Steward and Adam Booth. But before boxing, he was part of a criminal underworld that saw him serve the best part of a decade in prison, rubbing shoulders with some of Britain's most dangerous and infamous criminals. Here, in a part-boxing/part-true crime interview, Towers reflects on both lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former British and European light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore is now one of Britain's leading fight trainers. The Salford southpaw is one of the best fighters to never box for a world title but he was involved in several fight of the year winners and contenders against the likes of Matthew Macklin, Ryan Rhodes and Michael Jones. But Moore also made headlines out of the ring after he was shot four times while on a training break in Marbella and he recounts that incident in gripping detail. He also talks of the impact of his late mentor and trainer Oliver Harrison. Moore is unflinchingly open in this definitive interview with Tris Dixon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney fought the likes of Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, George Foreman and Michael Spinks but it was his huge showdown with Larry Holmes in a racially charged war in 1982 that he is best remembered for. Cooney was brilliant that night, as he obliterated the naysayers who thought he had not earned his shot, but he was up against a 39-0 legend at the top of his game and Holmes won in the 13th round. Here, Cooney talks about the big fights, the descent into drugs, getting his life back on track and the current heavyweight scene in an exclusive interview with Boxing Life Stories host Tris Dixon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For more than 30 years Ian Darke was the voice of boxing. Alongside Jim Watt and Glenn McCrory, Darke covered all the big names from Tyson, Bruno and Lewis to Hamed, Hagler and Barrera. In this wide-ranging interview, Darke talks about his break into the sport – which was covering the Ali-Holmes heavyweight fight – his biggest nights ringside, some of his fondest memories and the bedlam of the nights when boxing got it wrong. Funny, articulate and a brilliant raconteur, Darke relives more than three decades of fights from behind the microphone, either at ringside or interviewing boxing's legendary names. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trainer, promoter, ex-fighter, Sky Sports pundit, Dave Coldwell has worn many hats in boxing but it is as a trainer to world champions Tony Bellew and Jamie McDonell and now Derek Chisora, Gavin McDonnell, Jordan Gil and Anthony Fowler where he has risen to prominence. Here, in a full and frank interview at his home near Rotherham, Coldwell talks about his motivations, how he's been driven in life to achieve on his own, the role his parents played in his development, life as a badly bullied kid, his biggest nights in boxing, in the ring and in the corner, and much, much more. Eloquent, emotional and insightful, Coldwell has been on quite the roller coaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A change in his brain scan meant former Commonwealth title challenger Adam Harper hung up his gloves. Harper talks here with searing honesty about the concerns over his long-term health, the hardest part of becoming an ex-fighter, the pressure of being a ticket-seller and much more. But it was following a gruelling fight in Australia, in a bout against Michael Zerafa, that he knew the course of his career had changed. Now, with his eye on becoming a leading referee, he addresses the hard topics of pressure, health and retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Award-winning author and sports writer Donald McRae talks about his varied journey through the sport. He discusses his newly released book, In Sunshine or in Shadow: How Boxing Brought Hope in the Troubles, as well as his previous boxing classics, including Dark Trade, In Black and White and A Man's World. As the Guardian's sports interviewer, McRae has interviewed more than 1,000 prominent athletes but it is boxing that remains closest to his heart. Here, in detail, he discusses his motivations, his ambitions and some of the highlights of working with the likes of James Toney, Mike Tyson, Barry McGuigan and many more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sky Sports pundit or long-reigning WBO cruiserweight champion, however you know Johnny Nelson you may see him differently after this enthralling interview. Johnny, who lost 10 of 13 amateur fights and had a disastrous beginning to life in the pros, started to learn after being publicly shamed in two world title fights and then going on the road, in Europe as a sparring partner and around the world as a journeyman heavyweight when there were no opportunities left at cruiserweight. Yet he wound up with a record number of world title defences and did so with the enigmatic trainer Brendan Ingle in his corner. Here, in an emotional, engaging and – at times – funny interview, he recalls his story and he cannot disguise his emotions as the first anniversary of Brendan's death approached. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welsh star Joe Calzaghe retired unbeaten, at 46-0, following a career that brought him world titles in two weight classes and the scalps of the likes of Jeff Lacy, Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Richie Woodhall, Robin Reid and countless others. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, he was trained by his late father Enzo, from being a young amateur through to those huge stadium nights and under the bright lights of American arenas. Calzaghe has seen and done it all, but the loss of his father still clearly hurts. You might know Joe Calzaghe the fighter, but after listening to this you will also know Joe Calzaghe the man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trainer Ben Davison has risen to prominence as the man behind Tyson Fury's incredible return to the sport and the heavyweight division. Initially condemned when he cornered Billy Joe Saunders to a poor performance against Artur Akavov at short notice, Davison has become one of the most-talked about trainers in boxing and here discusses life in the Fury camp, his featherweight hope Isaac Lowe and his return to the corner of Saunders. Eloquent and with great boxing insight, Davison talks about the intricacies of the sport, his homework for big fights, the Wilder night in Los Angeles and much more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The former CNP boss talks to Tris Dixon about his life in boxing, from cutting his teeth in the Collyhurst to becoming Ricky Hatton's strength and conditioning coach and nutritionist, and then one of the best cut men in the game, who has worked with trainers including Billy Graham, Dave Coldwell and Jamie Moore. The always affable and articulate Kayes discusses what it was like being on the Hatton roller coaster, how a good cut man works and his aspirations in a revealing and insightful interview. Bad cuts, extreme weight loss and wild scenes in Las Vegas, Kerry has seen it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Irish superstar Michael Conlan was an enormously decorated amateur who won Olympic bronze in 2012 and then left with his middle finger infamously raised when on the wrong end of a controversial decision in the Rio Games of 2016. After starting his career under an American trainer, he is now working with Adam Booth and carries the burden of being one of the sport's brightest prospects. Promoted by Top Rank in the US, with and already huge following and currently adapting and learning in the pros, he talks about his rise through the amateurs, the politics of the sport, being one of the world's hottest talents and the fights that could define his career. All this and much more in a thorough interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Irishman Wayne McCullough was a two-time Olympian who raced to a world title in the pros. Having captured silver in the Barcelona games of 1992, he had a decorated pro career, making his name as a high-volume fighter with a rock hard chin and an iron will. He fought the best of his era, the likes of Naseem Hamed and Erik Morales, won his world title impressively in Japan, boxed Scott Harrison and refuses to say the words 'I retire' or 'I quit' even today. Here, in an interview in a Las Vegas coffee shop, he talks about the moments that defined his career, his regrets, his highlights and everything in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stockton light-heavyweight legend Yaqui Lopez was one of the best fighters never to win a world title, despite multiple attempts. He was a danger man in one of boxing's great divisions, when there were almost 20 world-class 175-pounders, including several of his opponents, Michael Spinks, Matthew Saad Muhammad, John Conteh, James Scott and Victor Galindez. Yaqui – who was a blood and guts warrior – is a kind, warm man. He had a role in the famous boxing movie, Fat City, and now runs the Fat City Boxing Club, not far from his home. Tris Dixon recently visited him at home, and went on a tour of the gym, for this interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Filipino Flash, Nonito Donaire, is in fine and revealing form as he's interviewed by Tris Dixon in Las Vegas. Donaire is 36 and set for his semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series but he has had a storied career, having fought the likes of Darchinyan, Montiel, Rigondeaux, Frampton, Burnett, Walters, Arce and many more. Here, he talks about his battles with mental health, how he now maintains his positive mindset, being one of the sport's good guys, his major fights and turmoil behind the scenes in a hard-hitting and wide-ranging interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimmy Tibbs is a British boxing icon. A former fighter, he made his name as one of the great trainers, working the corner of notables including Michael Watson, Nigel Benn, Frank Bruno, Lloyd Honeyghan, Mark Kaylor, Charlie Magri and countless others. But his life away from the ring has been equally interesting. After a long prison sentence for settling a gangland family feud, he turned to training, became a born again Christian, battled cancer and he still works in the corner as a cutsman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The irrepressible former heavyweight champion Shannon 'The Cannon' Briggs – Let's Go Champ – is in brilliant form talking about his time at the top and the harder times on the bottom. He talks of the rivals he faced, the contenders of the time and the great heavyweight champions while explaining how he has maintained a positive outlook on life and the fresh start that he made with the birth of his daughter. Still hoping for big things, he talks about the big nights, the disappointments, stalking Klitschko, fighting Foreman, challenging Lewis and much more in a roller coaster that takes you from the highs of championship glory to the emptiness of defeat and beyond. A drinker at 13, homeless, fighting top amateurs and then trying to make his mark in the pros, it's all here, raw and uncut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a heavy defeat to big punching Enzo Maccarinelli for the WBO cruiserweight title, Mark Hobson's life started to spiral out of control. The former British and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion flew spectacularly off the rails, formed addictions and was gambling thousands of pounds without realising that he had fallen into a trap. Before long, his life, his future, everything, was down to one bet on one game of rugby... The stakes couldn't have been any higher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ESPN's long-serving boxing journalist Dan Rafael is one of the sport's most influential men. With a huge audience, a massive social media following and the experience of hundreds of championship fights behind him, he's covered the major names in the sport from Mayweather to Tyson, from Gatti to Pacquiao and from Jones to Lewis. He's also a brilliant storyteller and while he may divide opinion he has done a lot, from cutting his teeth on his local paper, to getting his big break with USA Today to now being in the hot seat at ESPN. Opinionated and good company, Dan also gives good advice on how to break into the business as a boxing writer from one of the best spots in the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Call him a journeyman, call him a serial loser, say he’s not very good, say what you will about Johnny Greaves but he commands and deserves your respect. He won 4 of his 100 fights (no draws), boxing 20 British champions and four world champions in his short but action-packed career. Here he talks about the short notice gigs, from his sofa with a can of Fosters at 3pm to in the ring at the Excel at 5pm, life on the road, the abuse he’s received and his ongoing battle with depression. It’s all here, uncut and in incredibly colourful detail in a must-listen interview. This is brought to you by HansonLee.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sheffield trainer Dominic Ingle is the custodian of a famous family name. Along with brother John, they run the historic gym on Wincobank that was started by their father, Brendan. Through Dom's life in boxing, he has seen and worked with some fabulous fighters including Herol Graham, Naseem Hamed, Junior Witter, Kell Brook, Johnny Nelson and many more. Ingle is a quiet man but well respected and he has a fascinating story to tell. Boxing Life Stories – BROUGHT TO YOU BY Hansonlee.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Promoter Kalle Sauerland is one of the most charismatic characters in the sport. Born in Germany, schooled in England, he has been around boxing his entire life as the son of Hall of Fame boxing promoter Wilfried. He has been instrumental in the World Boxing Super Series and its forerunner, the Super Six, and he's promoted some of the biggest European names in recent years, including Nikolai Valuev, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, David Haye and Marco Huck. He has done this while internet fans have dubbed him the 'Colombian Kalle' but also while becoming a hugely popular cult hero, an unusual role for a promoter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a trainer, Gary Lockett endured a brutal six-month period. Firstly, his charge Nick Blackwell was left fighting for his life following a hard-fought battle against Chris Eubank Jnr. Then, months later, Lockett was in the 'winning' corner when his boxer, Dale Evans was victorious against Mike Towell, who did not survive his injuries from the fight. It was a horrible spell and firmly tested Lockett's resolve and his passion for the sport, one that was dampened as a fighter in a career that saw him make his name with a violent left hook called 'Lockett's Rocket.' Trained by the likes of Brian Hughes and Enzo Calzaghe, Lockett is a raft of boxing wisdom and talks in colour about boxing politics and his own 12-year career which culminated in a unified middleweight championship to and in-form Kelly Pavlik. But by then, Lockett knew his time had come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices