Episodes

  • THE WEIGHT CUT IS THE DEEPEST

    THE WEIGHT CUT IS THE DEEPEST
    Jun 18 2025
    Boiling bodies down to make unnatural weight limits has been standard practice in boxing for decades. Considering a fight follows that gruelling struggle, is it time to rethink old habits? The potential of both Richardson Hitchins and Andy Cruz is discussed in detail before we preview the latest showcase for Galal Yafai. And in This Week, we pinpoint the fight that triggered the spellbinding peak of Vasiliy Lomachenko. Please rate, review, share - and always follow The Opening Bell 🔔 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • REMEMBERING JAMES COOK

    REMEMBERING JAMES COOK
    Jun 10 2025
    Boxing lost one of its finest when James Cook, a truly beautiful human being, was taken from us far too soon. We pay tribute. Fabio Wardley came through what threatened to be a sobering homecoming at Portman Road to demolish Justis Huni with a single shot. What did that fight say about those two heavyweights? The retirements of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Delicious Orie are up for discussion as we examine the brutal yet addictive nature of the sport. In This Week, we go back to 1981 and the great Larry Holmes hammering Leon Spinks to defeat in three rounds. Thanks for listening and your ongoing support - it means a lot! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • JUSTIS FOR FABIO

    JUSTIS FOR FABIO
    Jun 4 2025
    Fabio Wardley has crafted an incredible career from his white-collar background. Is Saturday’s showdown with Justis Huni the last stop before a world title shot or will question marks about his pedigree remain? Over in Barnsley, in another football stadium show, Callum Simpson takes on Ivan Zucco, an Italian southpaw, for the European super middleweight title. Like Wardley, Simpson stands on the edge of world class waters. And like Wardley, there’s still a sense that he might need one or two more fights before jumping in. Over in America last weekend, the career of Caleb Plant screeched to an unexpected halt after being foiled by that pesky ‘tune-up’. His future hangs in the balance. Thank you for listening to the Opening Bell! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • HOW DO YOU MATCH MOSES ITAUMA?

    HOW DO YOU MATCH MOSES ITAUMA?
    May 27 2025
    Heavyweight Moses Itauma scored another knockout last weekend to further heighten the already lofty expectations about his future. But how do you ensure the 20-year-old fulfils that stratospheric potential? Also in Glasgow was Josh Taylor being upset by Ekow Essuman in a fiery 12-rounder that has implications for both on the world scene. This Week In History is proud to present one of the most chaotic, comedic and combustible heavyweight collisions in memory. We strongly advise you watch this one - the astonishing battle between Danny Williams and Konstantin Airich from 2008. Go well, one and all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • TORNADO WARNING

    TORNADO WARNING
    May 21 2025
    The career of Josh Taylor is at the crossroads where Ekow Essuman awaits. Will The Tornado be reborn at welterweight or is this the fight that proves his days at the top are over? Johnny Fisher saw his unbeaten record ruined by Dave Allen last weekend which stirred opinion on matchmaking and the futures of both heavyweights. Tyson Fury again teased a comeback and, frankly, we’re now not even attempting to stifle the yawn. In This Week In History we head back to 1985 when Rocky Lockridge collided with Wilfredo Gomez in a bout retrospectively regarded to end with stinking bad decision. But, phew, what a scrap it was. Please enjoy and spread the word of The Opening Bell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • PACQUIAO RETURNS

    PACQUIAO RETURNS
    May 13 2025
    At the age of 46 and without a win in six years, Manny Pacquiao is set to walk into a world welterweight title fight. We ask how and why this is being allowed to occur. In Nottingham last weekend, Anthony Cacace produced his latest impressive beatdown when he halted the plucky but outgunned Leigh Wood. We look ahead to the heavyweight rematch between Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen and go all the way back to 1970 when Ken Buchanan made one last stop at British level before taking over the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • NO BANGS FOR YOUR BUCKS

    NO BANGS FOR YOUR BUCKS
    May 7 2025
    Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheOpeningBellPodcast Interested in sponsoring the show? theopeningbellpodcast@gmail.com The New York experiment didn’t exactly work with three forgettable bouts hidden away in a small corner of Times Square and Canelo was forced to play another game of cat and mouse in which barely a punch landed. Will a contest with Terence Crawford be any different? Whether all that was down to poor planning or simply bad luck, it was a relief when Naoya Inoue provided some thrills and spills in Las Vegas. But does another trip to the canvas mean we’re witnessing the beginning of the end of his peak years? We also look ahead to Leigh Wood’s scrap with Anthony Cacace and back to Oscar De La Hoya showcasing his superstar potential against Rafael Ruelas in This Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • REMATCH SEASON

    REMATCH SEASON
    Apr 30 2025
    ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/c/TheOpeningBellPodcast ⬅️ As Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois confirm their summer sequel, a rerun of the Chris Eubank Jr-Conor Benn affair seems almost certain. But does every big fight need a rematch? There are further thoughts on Eubank Jr’s battle with Benn - and the scales - with an update from the BBBoC on those images of Eubank trying to make weight. We look ahead to a bustling weekend featuring Canelo Alvarez, Teofimo Lopez, Naoya Inoue, Devin Haney and the returning Ryan Garcia. In This Week, we rewatch the heavyweight slugfest between Vitali Klitschko and Corrie Sanders. Thanks for listening to the Opening Bell. Ding! Ding! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 20 mins