Boxing Life Stories

Former WBC world super-middleweight king Glenn Catley had a remarkable career that saw him recover from early setbacks and controversies to reign as a champion. He had an incredible run of fights in Canada, Germany and South Africa while at the top of the sport, having already won the British title. But, as they often do, hard times followed. Despite that, Catley has maintained a positive mindset thanks to the use of hypnotherapy, something he used for his major fights, and he's rightly proud and happy while reflecting on his career. Here, he talks about the hugely controversial loss of his title in South Africa, his big wins over Kirkland Laing, Neville Brown, Eric Lucas and Marcus Beyer, working as a security guard, as a haulage driver and the parrot in Jersey that set him up with his wife while he was in training camp with Steve Collins! This is funny, sad and uplifting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'The Omen', Spencer Oliver is perhaps now best-known for his media work on Sky Sports, talkSPORT and through his own Pound for Pound podcast, which he co-hosts with Jake Wood. But don't be fooled, Spencer was a terrific fighter, a European bantamweight champion who was on the verge of world title fights and possibly big money when his entire world was flipped upside down. He was badly injured in a 1998 fight with Sergey Devakov and would never box again. Not only that, he had a life to rebuild. He emerged from a two-week coma and had to learn the basics again, including how to walk and how to eat. Soon, a life of good health rather than world titles was his goal and a different kind of fight, one which featured acceptance, denial and depression, was at hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Conteh is a British boxing icon who was a part of an incredible era of light-heavyweights. He was a 1970's star and his fights with Chris Finnegan, Jorge Ahumada, Yaqui Lopez, Mate Parlov and two battles with Matthew Saad Muhammad have gone down in history. But things haven't always been straightforward. Here, he talks about his childhood, growing up in Liverpool as part of a big family, the death of his trainer, George Francis, coping with depression and his public battle with alcoholism. There are plenty of highs and lows in this intimate picture of a British sporting hero. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Liverpool's former super-middleweight contender Tony Dodson saw a lot in his 17-year career. He won 32, lost eight and drew once, fighting the likes of Carl Froch, Paul Smith (twice), Tony Quigley, Brian Barbosa and Ovil McKenzie. He'd been a top amateur and as a professional he was promoted, at one time or another, by Barry and Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren, Kellie Maloney and Hayemaker. Here, among many topics, he talks of his friendships with David Haye and Tony Bellew, a dangerous addiction to sleeping pills, depression, his battles to make 168lbs over two decades, his mother's battle with cancer, his son starting to box, mental health and why fighters need to take their career seriously from the start to finish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doug Fischer is the editor-in-chief of The Ring and has one of the most glamorous-looking jobs in the sport. However, it's all grind and it took him years to rise to that position. Here he details his story, from helping boxing break into new media with House of Boxing and the move into Maxboxing before joining The Ring. He, with an early team, was a boxing pioneer who started filming sparring, behind the scenes interviews and uploading audio files as boxing coverage moved into the 21st century. Along the way, there were brushes with the likes of Edwin Valero, Shane Mosley, Shannon Briggs and James Toney. Fischer talks about working for Golden Boy (who own The Ring) and the troubles that has brought him, tips about how to break into the business and his long-term hopes both for himself and for The Ring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Super Scot Alex Arthur won British, Commonwealth, European and world honours but his career didn't reach the heights he had hoped. Arthur boxed the likes of Willie Limond, Ricky Burns, Kobo Gogoladze and many more but missed out on the big nights and the big fights with the likes of Joan Guzman and Marco Antonio Barrera that he craved. Arthur now trains his sons but here talks about his dramatic battles with the scales, with Michael Gomez and with retirement – as well as his friendship with Scott Harrison – as he reflects on the wonderful highs and dramatic lows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The late International Boxing Hall Of Famer Curtis Cokes was a world welterweight champion who became a top trainer. Universally liked and respected Cokes welcomed Boxing Life Stories host Tris Dixon into his home on the outskirts of Dallas back in 2010. Then 73 years of age, Curtis looked back over his career, talked about training fighters and some of the lows he experienced through his life in the sport. Cokes won 62 fights (30 inside the distance), suffered 14 losses and was involved in four draws. He fought the likes of Jose Napoles, Joe Miceli, Gypsy Joe Harris, Luis Rodriguez, Kitten Hayward, Stan Harrington, Manuel Gonzalez and many others and as a trainer he worked with Ike Ibeabuchi, Kirk Johnson and Quincy Taylor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York matchmaker Ron Katz has spent more than four decades in the sport. He's now at Star Boxing having spent 25 years with Top Rank before a wonderful spell under Sugar Ray Leonard's banner. He's made matches for up and coming Mike Tysons, Floyd Mayweathers and Oscar De La Hoyas as well as a returning George Foreman. He's also helped to deliver some of the biggest fights on the sport's biggest nights, including contests featuring Tommy Hearns, Iran Barkley, Roberto Duran, Michael Nunn and so many more. Here, in a colourful look back upon his storied career, he assesses highs and lows, discusses his fondness and respect for James Toney, Shannon Briggs and Teddy Atlas cleaning house in the Deep South, doing magic tricks with Muhammad Ali and the fights that got away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tris Dixon's guest this week is boxing royalty, one of the all-time great heavyweight champions. Here, a candid Foreman talks about his meteoric rise and the fights that created his legend, against the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Evander Holyfield and Michael Moorer. He discusses his time in the wilderness between his two incredible careers 10 years apart, the comeback and finding happiness. He also speaks of his love of dogs, specifically German Shepherds, his friendship with Sonny Liston, why the Mike Tyson fight didn't happen and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry Merchant was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. For 35 years he was the conscience of HBO Boxing, working alongside the likes of George Foreman, Gil Clancy, Jim Lampley and Emanuel Steward. But he's been in boxing far longer. Here, Larry recalls covering his first major fight, Sugar Ray Robinson against Carmen Basilio in 1957, being an early investor in Joe Frazier's journey, interviewing Sonny Liston, flying to Zaire with Muhammad Ali, falling out with some of boxing's big guns and much, much more. His iconic post-fight interviews with the likes of Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins have become part of boxing folklore, along with the infamous night he told Floyd Mayweather, "If I was 50 years younger I'd kick your ass." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Viking Warrior Mikkel Kessler fought the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Carl Froch and Andre Ward in a decorated career that saw him capture the WBA and WBC titles at super-middleweight. From fighting early on in Las Vegas to being on the big Mike Tyson-Brian Neilsen bill at the Parken in Copenhagen, he was initially guided by Hall of Fame promoter Mogens Palle. He unified the titles and scored wins over Anthony Mundine, Marcus Beyer and Eric Lucas before his huge night in Wales against Calzaghe. Kessler fought in the brilliant Super Six series, learned to ride fast motorbikes and a comeback was curtailed after he was bitten by a tick and hospitalised. Here, he talks about the big nights, who would have won between Froch and Calzaghe and Calzaghe and Ward and much more. Now now he lives quietly in Denmark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee reached the top when he won the world crown against Matvey Korobov in Las Vegas. Lee's journey saw him go from Olympic heartbreak as Ireland's sole representative at the 2004 Games to big things in the USA. He was taken under the wing of Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward and became a star of the famous Kronk Gym in Detroit. He rose fast, but was stunned in a defeat to Bryan Vera that saw him question everything. He fought his way back. There were trials and tribulations. Here, he lets you into his uncertainty, while being behind the scenes at the Kronk and on the road in Klitschko training camps. Then came the big nights, wins against John Jackson, Craig McEwan, Korobov and more and he joined forces with one of Britain's leading trainers, Adam Booth. As the champion, he faced Peter Quillin before losing his crown to Billy Joe Saunders. Then came an acceptance that it was over. He began his new life as a trainer, working with the likes of Paddy Donovan and Jay Quigley and he was a key part of Tyson Fury's rematch win over Deontay Wilder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CompuBox co-founder Bob Canobbio has been in boxing for 35 years. One of the first contests he covered providing stats for was the war between Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns. He's provided punchstats to all of the major networks, including HBO, Showtime, ESPN and DAZN and he's been ringside for all of the great fights and fighters of the modern era. Here, in this deep dive on his career, he talks about the criticism punchstats receive, flying in Bob Arum's private plane, the direction of stats in boxing and the big personalities he's come across in a wide ranging interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Schwer was a world class lightweight who fought the likes of Rafael Ruelas, Stevie Johnston, Colin Dunne and many more. In all, he boxed 45 times as a professional, eventually winning the IBO title at light-welterweight. In an intimate interview, he talks about the importance of that title, the big nights, headlining in Las Vegas, working with Hall of Fame promoter Mickey Duff, the disappointments and how he spectacularly came off the rails in retirement. Now a motivational speaker who has found his happy place in life, he's an inspiration, a man who hit rock bottom and contemplated suicide who now wants to live to be 130 years old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stanley 'Kitten' Hayward was a world class Philadelphia welterweight who beat future Hall of Famers Curtis Cokes and Emile Griffith and he also battled city rivals Bennie Briscoe, Cyclone Hart, Gypsy Joe Harris and Bennie Briscoe. He turned pro all the way back in 1959 and after a 47-fight career he had a successful career working in the Philadelphia law courts, where we first met some 15 years ago. 'Kitten' is now 80 but he has some stories to tell, remembering some of the rivals he faced, the fighters he sparred and the old gangsters he knew. This episode also features Tris in a Twitter Q and A after the interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gerladine Davies has been in boxing for four decades and has worked with a who's who of the sport. A fixer, a publicist, a point of contact... She's done it all, from hosting travel events in Las Vegas through the Fabulous Four era of Duran, Leonard, Hagler and Hearns to trying to salvage out of hand boxing parties in Boston, she was once thrown out of Johnny Tocco's famous gym for being a lady before going on to work with British stars like Ricky Hatton and Lennox Lewis. Now she's working for Mauricio Sulaiman, the head of the WBC, and Las Vegas-based fight artist Richard Slone. This is Geraldine's incredible life in boxing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former WBO featherweight champion Colin McMillan could be forgiven for being sour. Just when he had the world at his feet, as the reigning champion, he lost his crown in his first defence when he suffered a dislocated shoulder. Things changed from that moment. But McMillan has retained his highly positive disposition and is one of boxing's good guys. He had a fascinating career, trying to forge his own path, working with the late author Jonathan Rendall as an advisor, being guided by Terry Marsh and then, afterwards, becoming an advisor to Audley Harrison. In his own fighting career, there were big nights against big names when he was being touted as the next big thing and then came the disappointment of the injury that curtailed his charge. There were battles with the powers that be, battles with himself and battles with his shoulder. This is an incredible story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trainer Tony Sims is one of the quiet men in boxing. He's become one of the go-to coaches in British boxing, working with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Darren Barker, Kevin Mitchell, Conor Benn, Ted Cheeseman, Lee Purdy and many more. A former talented amateur, who by his own admission couldn't punch, he talks about working on the fish market, nearly turning pro, working the doors at Stringfellows and the Ministry of Sound and his famous family, well known in other circles for their roles in The Only Way Is Essex. Tony doesn't give many interviews about himself, he prefers to talk about his fighters. But here, rarely, is the Tony Sims story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wayne Elcock is a former British middleweight champion who boxed Arthur Abraham for the IBF world middleweight crown in 2007. Elcock was a prominent fixture on the British boxing landscape, fighting the likes of Matthew Macklin, Howard Eastman, Lawrence Murphy, Darren McDermott, Anthony Farnell, Scott Dann and Steven Bendall. Here, he talks about the troubled days that saw him land his 'Mad Dog' nickname, the tragic loss of his father in a car crash, juggling his fighting prime with his job as a BT engineer and his new start as a coach and owner of the Md Dog's Boxing shop maddogsboxing.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former European heavyweight champion Michael Sprott has done almost everything in boxing. There isn't one leading European heavyweight he hasn't fought as a pro or sparred with, from being in training camp with both Klitschko brothers, working relentlessly with David Haye, going to Russia in camp with Alexander Povetkin to fighting the likes of Danny Williams, Matt Skelton and Audley Harrison. On the way down, he also fought an up and coming Anthony Joshua, but often had to ply his trade abroad. Through his career, he was cast as the opponent or the gatekeeper. He fought contenders and champions with records of 8-0, 6-0, 13-0, 15-0, 9-0, 18-0, 22-0, 14-0 31-1 and you could go on. He fought Ruslan Chagaev, Corrie Sanders, Lamon Brewster, Alexander Dimitrenko, Robert Helenius... He's also a nice, humble chap but he has an itch to scratch and, aged 45 and with a 42-29 record, he wants one more fight. This episode also features Tris Dixon's Q and A from Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bristol boxing legend Chris Sanigar has seen and done it all. Here, he recalls to Tris Dixon an incredible life in boxing that saw him fight as a decorated amateur, become one of the most entertaining warriors on the scene before going on to a career as a manager, trainer and promoter that yielded a number of world, British, European and Commonwealth champions. He cut his teeth on the busy London scene, fought a number of fight of the year contenders, boxed in Africa and Australia, battled alcoholism, found God and he's suffered the deepest lows, not least when his old friend and trainer George Francis committed suicide. Sanigar is brilliant, his stories can deliver you fits of laughter or cause the tears to stream. This is a MUST listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Booth and Tris Dixon are together to analyse the eagerly anticipated rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. Fury was imperious, and this podcast includes audio from Booth and Dixon's YouTube show, Counterpunch, which you can subscribe to here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMai9Qq3hpc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For 22 years Claude Abrams worked on the weekly boxing magazine Boxing News, serving more than 10 years as editor. He was hired by his predecessor Harry Mullan and then subsequently hired his successor, Tris Dixon. In between, he covered huge fights, was at the small halls and was exposed to things only a BN editor is exposed to; from rowing with promoters, to going to Azumah Nelson's house, to sparring with Naseem Hamed and taking private jets with Emanuel Steward and then having dinner with Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns. He was also ringside for some of the best fighters of all time, including Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Floyd Mayweather, Evander Holyfield, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and many more. When he left BN, he went 'cold turkey' and travelled the world. But he dusted off plenty of war stories for this incredible journey down memory lane. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Booth and Tris Dixon get together to breakdown the biggest fight of the year so far, the much anticipated heavyweight rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. Adam trains Josh Kelly and Michael Conlan among others and has previously worked with the likes of David Haye and George Groves. He's also coached Andy Lee, who is part of the Fury camp, and Wilder, who he used to bring over as sparring for Haye. Dixon has been a boxing journalist for more 20 years and has recently returned from Las Vegas, where he spent time with Fury, and Alabama, where he was with Fury, in his interviewing role for BT Sport Boxing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former WBA world light-welterweight champion Gavin Rees tells a cautionary tale. Even though he made it to the top of the sport, he did it while partying hard, drinking heavily and not living the life. Had he done what he now preaches as a trainer, things could have been very different. Still, during a career that saw him fight Souleymane Mbaye, Adrien Broner, Derry Mathews, Anthony Crolla and Andreas Kotelnik among many others, he was trained by Enzo Calzaghe and latterly by his friend, Gary Lockett. By the time he started dedicating himself to the sport, the busy-punching Welshman was on the decline. Here, as a trainer, he talks about his regrets, explains why he doesn't dwell on the past and looks ahead to life as one of the top coaches in the UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welshman Barry Jones won the WBO super-featherweight crown but had the title taken from him when a change was discovered in a brain scan. He was on the verge of big money fights, unification bouts and they all slipped through his fingers. An out of the ring battle ensued and he boxed twice more, including a loss to Brazilian great Acelino Freitas, before he walked away for good, with 18 wins a loss and a draw. Boxing had not made him rich. A number of jobs came and went before, years later, a call came to go on a TV show and he never looked back, becoming instantly popular to a new generation of fight fans who watched him through the night on Boxnation with Steve Bunce and who listened to his commentary alongside John Rawling for BT Sport. He also works freelance for Sky and MTK as one of the country's busiest pundits. But here, in his own words, he discusses the highs and lows of his incredible boxing life story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr welcomes host Tris Dixon into his Brighton home for a deep conversation about the man behind the stoic expression. Eubank Jr, rated the No. 1 contender for Canelo Alvarez's WBA title, talks about getting into trouble as a youngster, making headlines in his youth and his hard boxing education in Las Vegas, where he lived and completed what was left of his childhood. He discusses his famous father, their recent appearances on Gogglebox, the best and worst of his career to date and the future in this enthralling interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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