5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - 2024 5 Live Boxing Awards

Episode Date: December 30, 2024

Darren Barker and Barry Jones join Buncey look back at the year in boxing. They highlight their moments from the last twelve months in 5 Live Boxing's 2024 awards show.

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, good evening. My name is Big Mo and welcome to the 24, BBC Radio 5 Live Boxing Awards, coming to you from a very secret location. This evening is about celebrating and recognizing the men and women who have reached the pinnacle of their sport during the last 12 months. Now, usually when I'm... announcing in the ring, I'm typically announcing the winner.

But tonight, I'm only going to be reading off the nominees and allowing the winners to be selected and awarded by our panel of judges. So, without further ado, let's introduce those judges for this evening ceremony. First, the former IBF middleweight champion of the world, Mr. Darren Barker. The former WBO super featherweight champion of the world, Mr. Barry Jones. And finally, your host for this evening, Mr. Steve Bunce. Take it away, gentlemen.

Big Mo, thank you very much indeed. The second year we've managed to use you. But at the rate you're succeeding and the rate you're growing, you're getting stratospheric, Big Mo. More on that a bit later. Barry and Darren are with me to go over the year. Darren, I'll start with you, not specific. How was 2020?

for Darren Barker. Remarkable. It was throughout constantly producing pinch me moments to be where I was years ago, you know,

aspiring young amateur fighter to now be traveling the world, you know, calling these epic fights, these shows that were only ridiculous dreams,

silly dreams. Couldn't have invented them. When you were 15, you could not have invented, presented 2024. No, it's been remarkable. And it's been a highlight of my life, I would have to say. You know, the people have been working with, the fights that I've been...

Yeah, you Barry, you go on there. Look at him. Yeah. The fights that I've managed to sit very close to, it's been remarkable. It's been a, look at a smile on my face. It's been great. We've all had that smile. Barry, I mean, without putting words in your mouth,

I can't imagine it's much different than what Darren's saying. Yeah, it's been alright. Yeah, you know, it's been like, it's just a lot of travelling, though. Stop it, Barry. There were people throwing things at their machines now. I've lived out of a suitcase, you know. I've been so busy.

I forgot, I think I'm at the Phoenix three times that this year. Wow. And I forgot all about it. Definitely, definitely twice. You had to buy a tuxedo in Gibraltar. You could work in Saudi. How does that work even? I'm moaned about that, by the way.

You know what I mean? You forget, it's mad, isn't it? It's been unbelievable. You know, I got to see my favourite fighter, you know, box an all-time great, you know, in Bam versus Estrada, of course. We'll talk about that later. Yeah, and, you know, I got covered in blood

when Fury boxed music in the most important fight, you know, of this millennium, let's be honest, and it's, you know, it's just being madness. By the way, I got covered in blood. I got Darren back who was Sixford, Todd Grisham was Sixth, 3.

I'm sat in the middle of the middle of the, them two and all the blood's gone over my bald head. Steve, I also managed to have a shower of 40,000 feet. Your shower at 40,000 feet, we did that on the pod back in December and I've got to tell you as an awful lot of people didn't quite realize that you were celebrating it. They thought you were bragging. I said, no, no, he was celebrating. He was like, that's the ultimate pinch me moment.

You think about it, boys. We're on a plane. We all come from very similar places. Okay. And we all did very similar things, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. then you started to do good stuff and you started to do great stuff, you kicked on.

But the fact that you're getting on a plane and you're not turning left to a seat or a bed, you're turning left to a room that's got its own shower. I mean, you're going down on your knees and just crying and laughing. You've got to be sending text to everybody, just joking. Anyway, fellas, spoiler alert. And I like to be honest with my listeners since we launched this back in 2017.

this was recorded before Fury and Usik 2. Now, after Fury and Usik 2, we did a brilliant pod. And I'll say that even though we haven't done it yet, but I'm telling you we did an unbelievable pod. So that was last week, so you can go and find that on BBC sound. So if you're listening to this and you say, well, what about Round 4 with Fury and Usik 2? Forget that, because it hasn't happened yet.

Now, I'm fairly good at shape-shifting and time travel. but I'm not that good. Darren's here, Barry's here, I'm here, let's crack on. Big Moe, kick off with Category 1. Our first award of the evening is for Fight of the Year. The nominees are Wardley versus Clark won. Taylor versus Serrano, two. Fury versus Usick won.

Ball versus Ford. And Bivel versus Berturbiev one. Darren, I'll let you put forward what you think. You can do any order. You've got five or six minutes per category, and here's the other thing. Here are the rules. These aren't, this doesn't come down.

It's not an edict from the government. It doesn't have to be this. You can go left, you can go right, you can dismiss all of them. Take it away. You can go first, Darren. Wow, I mean, it's maybe the toughest category out of the lot to whittle down to one.

The one that jumps out to me, and it was one that I wasn't ring-side. for was Wardley Clark that the first fight I mean that that was just two big lumps going at it for 12 rounds and it was that close that they couldn't be split you know it was a draw

perfect split draw that that was epic I mean Taylor Serrano they fight ten times as ten ten contenders for five ten unbelievable battles Furiusiuk won a masterpiece Bivel Berturbiev I mean

it's I'm struggling I'm really struggling. There's one fight as well. Boyerchuk versus Ortiz, Jr. That was a great fight. I'm going to go with Bivall-Berturbiaf. Bivall-Berturbiav.

He's gone for quality. What are you thinking? Well, I wrote down, but with Czech versus Ortiz. I'm just going to scubble that or not. Thanks for that. That's nice for me. I'll tell you, what was a brilliant fight? Yeah, I tell you it was a brilliant fight.

What did you invite him for? What was a brilliant fight? Was Bamar Rodriguez versus one, Francisco Estrada. I was ringside for that. Bam was in another category later on, I believe. And Bam got dropped in that fight and got up to beat an all-time great.

It was just a really, just skill. Was he hurt about? Because you were ringside. Oh, yeah, maybe. So it wasn't a slippery- but he felt the shot. Okay, good. But it was brilliant.

But I looked that way from TV. But because I was rings up. And you're talking about the fights at the highest level, oozing and Fury, the pressure of that and how well they performed, how good it was and better be if he's a bival. No, fights that swing back and forth.

They're always great fights to watch. But, you know, and Taylor Serana, of course. I'm not going to go over what you've already said that. But for me, I think it's Wardy and Clark. We were ringside that night. It was, and it was, I almost never went. And I'm, you know, and I'm absolutely, oh, yeah. It was a Sunday afternoon, remember?

Well, Patrick offered me money, so that's why he went, to be honest. Oh, there's no need for that. No, obviously. Don't say yourself short, son. Well, that's the truth of it. Because it was a Sunday, and I was going to watch it at home. Because most fights, you'd rather watch at home because you'd go watch some concentrate rather than talk to people.

But, like, I got some work off our producer, Paddy. And have you paid me? Yeah. And then it was just a, it was a pleasure to be there. I know that you, and you enjoy, like, for big, big, massive occasions, you go, it's a pleasure to be there because it's what it is in history of the sport.

But that's not going to go down in the history of the sport because it was a British title fight. But it's, in the world's history, you know what I mean. But it was a pleasure to be there because there was two guys who couldn't give any more. They couldn't, no, two big guys like that, had no right to have that energy, that commitment. You know, someone should have fell over.

And they were in places they'd never been before 12 round championship fight in front of a massive crowd. So now the way this usually works, and we, it's fluid, everything we do is fluid. The way this usually works is the two people that are the guests, the summarizers, they put forward their arguments. If they diver, I generally have the casting vote. Now, I'll have the casting vote on this particular occasion, but as we work through the categories, perhaps we'll let the casting vote float around the table, okay? Because in the end, because what you don't want to be down, there's seven categories, and you don't want to not get one of the categories right, do you? You want to at least win once, okay? Because you've lost

in the first case, and I'll tell you why you've lost, as good, and I thought Berturbiave and Bivel was sensational. And I use the line on that, every single picture you took of that fight, they were perfectly poised and balanced. Doesn't matter how random your shot was, you could have closed your eyes, turn your head away, taking a picture, they were perfect, their feet were perfect, their arms were perfect, everything was perfect. That was good, but there was something raw, and there was, there was a sucked in quality, there's a word I've just stuck out there for Wardley and Clark, and you just got sucked into this fight that these two men were going to a place where I actually hope they never have to go again. So I'm going to give the fight the year 2024, and there'll be

millions of other people disagree. I'm going to just vote slightly against you, Darren, on this occasion. And I'm going to go with Wardley and Clark. So Big Mo, we've started off with controversy. Let's get that setting category because Darren's itching for victory or he's leaving. It's that simple. Our next award is for Knockdown of the Year. The nominees are A.J. versus Inganu. Fury versus Usook.

Bacoli versus Anderson. A.J. versus Dubois. and Zhang versus Wilder. Now, what people don't know is that Big Mo is a heavyweight himself. And every single one of his knockouts, chaos of the years, knockdowns of the years, whatever you want to call it, they're all heavyweights. The big lad has gone for the big lads. AJ Engarnum, that was clinical.

Savage. You had to watch that through your fingers. He would give you nightmares if you watch it back. Fury and Usik. Well, he didn't actually go down, but he would have. gone down had the ropes not been there. And that was disturbing watching Tyson Fury Teter nearly fall over for nearly one minute as well. Bacoli and Anderson will have any of you are old enough or you know your way around the internet. Go and have a look at Big George Foreman destroying Joe Frazier in the

Sunshine Showdown in Jamaica in the 70s. That was Martin Bacoli in the summer against Anderson. Again, maybe you have to watch that through your fingers. And then of course, that incredible brawl in front of 90,000 people at Wembley, AJ and Dubois. You can't just say AJ and Dubois without looking at the fight. And that finish, that incredibly timed finish from Dubois. And then Zhang and Wilder X-rated lunacy, Wilder dropping his defense, sitting still.

Sorry, rather standing still. Excuse me, okay, don't laugh the pair of you. Standing still. And then Zhang adjusts his feet. and everyone in the audience is going, no, because we knew what was coming. And then it came in slow mode. You saw the sweat flying.

It was a Rocky movement. It was round 15 of Apollo Creed. And Rocky Balboa. It was ridiculous. Down he went, the big lad. Loads of big lads going down. Barry, you're in charge again. Make it sing, big boy.

Yeah, I think this is probably the easiest one to go for. You definitely got the same as me. you have to. Yeah, and I think it was, you know, when Bam got knocked on, but no,

everything's about Bamba. You guys, I say that's it pretty much. Bami, Bami Jones. It's, Bami Jones. Should we just call him Bamb from now on?

Bama, no, Bama, we're just calling Bama. You can, but it's going to be hard to say that with a broken jaw. A Bama! Not that I can do this.

You can ask the Darren to do for me. But it's A. I mean, the way he walked over, and I, and I, and I, said, no, the BBC put a clip out on their social media

about me showing, me going over to, afterwards in the change of AJ. You're seeing this down. And talking about the not so... It's just hilarious. When Donald Curry knocked out, knocked out Muta McCrory,

after he dropped him, first of all, when he got back up, he walked over, coldly, with no... Measured his steps. Just walked over and just threw the right hand. Coley, cruelly and knocked him spark out. And I was telling AJ, go back and watch that fight.

Because that was you tonight. And all... Also, because of the size of the guys, and we were ringside, we were right down on the apron, me and dad, and luckily. And it was just like a giant bit of clay collapsing. It wasn't like a human, was it? It was just unreal. I mean, you see power, you've seen knockouts before,

and you've seen big fight fellas get knocked off. AJ against Dubois, was a fantastic, Dubois versus AJ was a fantastic knockout as well. Martin Bacoli against Anderson. That was one of one of the other contenders, a big old lump, he was a big old lump. But that shot, I mean, it almost went silent. Yeah.

No, like that white noise. It was almost like that, wasn't it? I mean, that you can argue with that. And when he dropped him for the second time before he drops him for the final time, when he was standing off from your comedy position because you were just in front of me to the left and you see him standing over there, you knew what he was going to do. You knew he wasn't going to move around or throw a jab.

And I've talked to AJ about that. And he could see him measuring the steps down. He's counting the steps. So he's working out exactly his steps. It was chilling. It was menacing and I can remember it clearly him being in that neutral corner and the steps that he took

with the look in his eye before he detonated that right hand. I can predict now that I will never for the rest of my time involved in boxing see a more brutal knockout than that. You know like it was just chopping a tree down and it just falling, you know, from a huge height.

Seeing a man of that side hit the canvas, his head bounce off. It was just chilling. It was absolutely chilling. Like Barry said there, it was just a strange sort of noise. Yeah, it was. That sort of echoed around the arena. It was nuts, nuts. What it was, I echo to paraphrase you, everything you said.

And what's also amazing, remember, and sometimes we forget this when we look back on it, is that Tyson Fury and everybody else, especially everybody involved in the MMA world, had told us, Dad, don't try and knock him, Garno out. You'd need a tank, you'd need this, you'd need that. Fury had said this to AJ in a conversation

at one of the press conferences. Don't try and knock him out. Don't waste your energy. And AJ, let's get it right beforehand, he'd said, but he won't be able to take what I'm going to hit him with. He'd said that, and perhaps we hadn't listened far enough. Big Moe, you know what, Big Moe, this might be the only occasion today

where it's universal love for one of your nominations. And by the way, Big Mo, I'm going to say it again. You've had this an exceptional year. We might have a special prize for you a bit later. Big Mo, take it away. Up next is International Boxer of the Year. The nominees are Alexander Usik, Nioia Inouye,

Katie Taylor, Jesse Rodriguez, and Terrence Crawford. Listen, we have a second. We're having a bit of an in joke here, because as Big Moe was mouth in the words, Ban Rodriguez, we said Barry Rodriguez in unison,

all of us, apart from Barry, who didn't say Barry Rodriguez. I just imagined. So obviously, as I've let slip at the start, we are recording this before Usik and Fury too. So in a sort of bizarre way,

there's a massive asterix attached to this. So I do apologise for that, but just the way things will. Darren, you can start because Barry was like, who are you looking at there? I think, again, we may be in agreement because of what this man has achieved, not just through his career, but this year. I think in becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champions since Lennox Lewis beat Amanda Holyfield, I think you've got to go, Alexander Usik.

I mean, what he has done in the sport of boxing is phenomenal. But that victory, and yes, we're awaiting the return, but that victory against Fury was special and created history. And I think there's some very solid names in there, Nui, Katie Taylor, Barry Rodriguez, and Terence Crawford. I mean, Terrence Crawford as well, fighting in L.A., beating Israel Madrimov. A fourth weight for a fourth version of a world title. Exactly, that's special.

But I just think, you know, It always has been and it always will be the marquee division of boxing, and that's the heavyweight division. So for me, I'm going to go Ussick. That's a valid argument, obviously it's tricky with the fight, the rematch in case he gets chinned in two rounds, in which case would... A hypothetical question, and it's not really what we want to do on this show,

but we're going to do it. A hypothetical question, Tyson Fury dominates the rematch and stops him in five rounds. Do you give the title? Do you give the international fighter of the year? Do you take it from Ussik? Probably. Okay. Just a complicate issue.

You know, I love giving producers problems You're always looking for loopholes, isn't you? No, listen, it was even this or we recorded it somewhere in London on Christmas Day. So you tell me what you want. I'm looking after you tell us a day. My back up's Crawford. Back up, that's what I want.

That's wrong, but... Okay, Barry. Okay, I'm taking it away. Yeah, I'm in agreement with Darren, unfortunately. Let him go first all the time. You've got to say, because of the manner of what it is, you know, what that fight was.

You know, the magnitude of the fight and creating history and the way, just the way he puts, performed. You know, I just think you have to give it to him. I don't even think there's an argument.

And considering the list of fighters below him, it's quite phenomenal that he's clearly ahead. It's amazing, isn't it? I think it's that.

And for me, though, if I was going to go number two, it would be a new way. I think, again, you know, just again,

the way he dominates everybody, again, moving up in weight and just being the master of what he is and the chilling power that he has,

so it would be him for me. And also, he's selling out arenas in his own country for fun. Yeah. No, he's a proper star. So it would be a new age for second.

But for me, yeah, it's definitely Alexander Uzik. It's a really tricky one, this one. It was always going to be a messy category this. But I agree with the pair of you. I think as a scene, you know, if Fury and Usik, too, was on the 1st of January, there wouldn't even be a doubt. I think it's straightforward. And I think we'll look back in years to come on that night in May when he pulled that off.

And we'll look back at the, we'll look back at how he was struggling. in the six, how he dominated in the ninth. And we'll look back on the whole event. I said before, it's like our rumble. So Big Mo, a little bit wishy-washy there, Big Mo, and I don't need any slight comments from you. So if you can just crack on with the next category. Thanks, Big Mo.

The next award is for UK Fighter of the Year. The nominees are Hamza Shiraz, Nick Ball, Daniel Dubois, Natasha Jonas, and Lauren Price. I quite like this category because there's a couple of guys in there that might have a bumper 20, 25, but I can make a solid argument for UK Fire 20 years

why all five of those names on there should win it. I could equally make a decent category. A couple more names in there. So this might be one where we could probably debate more names. I'm going to start with you, and I'm going to write down the name I think you're going to, going to you're going to select. We haven't prearranged this.

We obviously tell that. Barry, take it away. I think it's Nick Ball. I do. No, I do because I just know, that fight with Ray Ford, could be fighting in the year, by the way. And, you know, and then getting that defense under his belt

against Ronnie Rios, which is another great fight, and against a good fighter, who actually rolled back the years against Nick Ball, which just wasn't good enough. I think for him, the winning the World Tile, in a list of names,

which is... And you're missing the first one, World title fight back against Ray Vargas. Almost, you know, weeks, literally weeks before he beats Unbeaten Raymond Forte. So that's a staggering. Well, that was three world title fights in a year. That don't seem like this year. That's so busy it's been, isn't it?

That's a good point, you made. And be honest, we thought he won that fight. I thought that was a clear fight to score because the knockdog made the difference, wasn't they? You know, it was clear. And but, like, so, you know, really, that should be two defenses in, in everyone's opinion, except for a couple of judges. So, you know, I think he's had a great year.

and traveling and then getting a home defense and just the way that he fights. Good crowd on a home defense as well. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, no, he's there new Hodgson. That's a lot, new Hocco. Well, you've heard from Bammer Barry. Where are you going with, Darren?

What are you thinking? One is a very good shout. Before I give my pick, I want to give a shout out to Hamza Shiraz, who's probably number two for me. That hasn't won a World Tile, but it paved his way to a world title shot next year, beat Liam Williams in February,

Austin Williams on the 5V5. Ammo Williams. And Amo was unbeaten in about 17 or something like that? And then beat the European champion Tyler Denny at Wembley. Which, which I tell you what, I mean, I'm not going to be one of those guys that makes out I knew that was going to happen. I thought Denny was going to give him kittens.

I thought Danny was going to get through five or six rounds and really caused some problem. And Denny got shell-shocked. Did you see Denny after that fight? He literally had no idea what had happened. Yeah. So I think Hamza Shuraz for me has had a fantastic year. But that's only number two.

That's only number two now. Number two. And I look forward just to quickly Hamza Shuraz becoming another Brissie's middleweight champion of the world. But here we go. Another one. But yeah, for me, this man,

this is ridiculous. Barry, let me tell the story. Sorry, though. When we were in Saudi last month, I introduced Darren at the top of the pod. I said Darren, Darren Barker, former world champion and he goes,

Commonwealth Games champion British European and Commonwealth champion as a professional did the whole thing. It's unbelievable. If someone's went to Commonwealth Middlewoods, if we're doing a Commonwealth Middlewoods, it'd go, oh yeah, there seem to be some great names

who've won that, isn't there, and I'll sort of go, I don't know, Darren, is there? It's just, we get back to the... And I go, yeah, yeah, no, yeah, Rishie Woodall was great. Bamma, we're against the clock here, carry on, then, so the way this man rebuilt from his defeat, He had a fantastic victory back in December last year,

but this year he's beaten two very good fighters. He was an underdog in both, beating Hergovich and Anthony Joshua. It's Daniel Dubois for me. Yeah, and you know what? I'll keep this short and sweet. I understand the Nick Ball three world title fights in a year. Hamji Shira, after Tyler Danny, especially the Amo Williams.

That's perfectly good. Jonas, if Jonas had fought another Michaela Mayer, she would have walked to it. The Yafai victory over Sonny Edwards was classic. was brilliant, but I'm going to go on this occasion. I'm going to side with Darren, casting vote, Daniel Dubois. Very quickly, Steve, a shout out has to be given here to Jack Hattrow. How do we miss it? He revenged that defeat to Josh Taylor and then beat Regis Progris.

In impressive fashion, by the way. In impressive fashion. Yeah, so sorry, yeah, Jack Cattrell. Yeah, well, Jack, maybe not dislodge Dubois, but was definitely there. Don't worry, I've made a note to talk. to the people that are compiling these lists. Big Mo, you're on a flow. Take it away, baby.

The next award is for upset of the year. The nominees are, Anthony Kukachi defeats Joe Cordina. Queensbury beats Matchroom 10 to 0. Galal Yafai beats Sonny Edwards. Daniel Dubois defeats Anthony Joshua. and Liam Cameron against Ben Whitaker. Thank you very much, Big Mo.

Now, some people might say, but Liam Cameron didn't beat Ben Whittaker. That's irrelevant. The bottom line is up until the point of the WWE throw over the ropes, that was an upset. That was an absolute upset outside of Scherfield and Liam Cameron's immediate family. I'm not sure who's going first this time.

Is it Devon or was it you this time about it? Let him go first. Go on, Darwin. You go first. Again, One that's not in the list for me that was a big, big upset, was Subraul Matisse versus Liam Paro. Look, Matisse was in Puerto Rico.

It was kind of his homecoming. He hadn't thought there, I think it was 2019. And they had, you know, Trinidad there. They're looking for their next star. Serrano was there. Exactly. And, you know, Paro come over and ripped up the script. And it was a big upset.

You have to say, it was a huge upset. Were you a big upset? Was that one where once you went to? I wasn't there. but the one that I'm going to pick go on and I was ringside for was Kukachi versus Kordina

I thought that was huge for me and I know we've heard a lot of people Carl Frampton being one of those leading vocalists about how hard Kikachi he is I just thought Kordina was going to win that fight

and was going to win it comfortably as good as Kachachi was yeah I'll be honest I was shocked and I know there's some controversial controversy surrounding that fight right here after the referee said break. But still, I did not see that coming. So for me, I'm going to Kukachi beating Cordina.

Yeah, that's a strong one, and that's part of what would be my selection. Barry, take it away. This is number number one, but Queensbury beat the match at 10-0. I mean, I remember... Why is it not your number one? Can I tell you not?

Thank you, darling. Because we, on our broadcast, when the show was happening, we were hard to give her predictions, and I think I was the only one who thought Queensbury were going to win. Obviously, we're doing the zone, so we're meant to be matril friendly.

Have you done his own since? He's always patting himself on the back, I'm always telling everyone about my achievements and he's always telling everyone about how he's got his picks right. But that would be... That would be the same thing. You do appreciate the two if you don't know. That would be the same thing.

I'm just saying... Just, you know, when I took my world title of three weeks notice and still won, right? When he became the first Welshman to reach the European Junior Championship, but a week before he went back the ABAs, which, by the way. First World Tour of the Millennium. Yeah, exactly, yeah.

Though I got battered, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Anyway, so that, but that was a shock. 10-0, a whitewash was, was a massive shock there, because that was quite a competitive bill. But for me, it's not on the list, is a guy who give Canello a decent fight,

they lost, clearly, but he'd give him a decent fight. Hyman Mungia, losing the Bruno Saras, the French Canadian, who was 25-0 with only four knockouts. It was 25 and 2. He only had four knockouts and he knocked with Jaime Mungia in six rounds.

Canello couldn't do it. And he'd been on the floor and he as well in the fight. Yeah, he's been on the floor. It was a really hard fight and I've seen the knockout. It's absolutely brilliant. He was under pressure when he knocked him out actually. For me, it was a lovely right hand right across the body. So would that be your number one choice then?

That's my number one choice. So your number two would be the Queen's Bree in Matrum. You've gone for Kakati and Cordina. Once again, I'm going to side with you down and I'll tell you for why. Because I'm actually, No, no, it's not ridiculous, Bama. If you just, just hold it.

You want to go in the toilet and have a chat with yourself in the mirror and pack yourself on the back, you're allowed to do it, okay? The toilet's there. It's ridiculous, though. Okay, I'll tell you for what. We had this last year. And it was actually, it was with the knockouts. And I said Nakatani and you said,

it might be Dubois versus Joyce. Yeah. And I was like, this is just, you're mad. But Barry, listen. Do you know watch boxing? What you have to understand, Barry, what you have to understand is that I'm in charge. Yeah. Now, you know the spiel.

For now. You've been hearing it for, you've been hearing. hearing it for 10 years when we've been doing things. My word is final. It's that simple. So, Darren, you're right, but you're not exclusively right, because I truly believe that the Queensbury and Matrim 10-0, and I'll

tell you for why. Dubois beats Hergevich as the underdog, and Hergevich is 17 and 0. Ball and Ford was a slight underdog, and Ford was unbeaten in 16. Shiraz and Ammo, about neck and neck, but Ammo was unbeaten in 16. Hattinson over Craig Richards.

That might be that that's straightforward one, maybe. Zhang against Wilder. My gut feeling is that, so you've won it because, you know, because you're in, you're in the arena. You're in the arena. You're in Saudi. I mean, you're getting it, you're like tenuous, but I'm going to give it. I'm going to give it to Kacchi and Cordina.

Big Mo, yeah, you've probably noticed this is a bit of a whitewash in favor of Darren. But I can assure you now, Barry is just warming up. We're moving into the championship rounds, Big Mo. Take it away. The next award is for Breakthrough Boxer of the Year. The nominees are Francesca Hennessy, Liam Cameron, Anthony Kakachi, Riannon Dixon, and Galal Yafai. Thank you very much indeed, Big Mo. Now, this category could also, I think this category is the one where you're going to come up with alternatives.

and you're going to come up of alternatives. Let's make sure it's not some ridiculous kid that no one's heard of, some 19-year-old Cuban. Cross all your list are, because I'm not having that, Barry. And that's all world to land. Taylor Bevanon, Taylor Bevanon, number one, number three, and Taylor Bevanon number four. You're on Croft, Garon Croft.

The Croft twins, yeah. So there's Croft Twins, we're in one, two. In Crocker, they're all going in. I know, look, and you've heard the list. Now, this is, this is like a mixed list because this is about impact as well. I'm going to start with you this time, Barry. Take it away.

Well, like, the list that we got is fantastic. Fran Hennessy had a great year. Liam Cameron, you know, what are you that he had? You know, just literally losing fights. But then obviously that fight with the superstar was just... Ben Whittaker. Yeah, that's, thank you very much. Yeah, he's superstar.

I can't remember his name. But yeah, with Ben Whittaker, you know, was nothing we thought was going to. I mean, he's not to work for Ben Whittaker. We thought it was the best piece of matchmaking period, yeah. Yeah, Kacchi, you know, getting over the line and it looked like that world title was going to elude him, you know, against Cardina.

It was a fantastic boxer, you know, and the man of the way he did it was fantastic. Rihanna Dixon won the world title, but unfortunately losing it then, you know, in the same year. Terry Harper, yeah. Yeah, I think it's Teddy Harper was still a good year for her. Good year for Terry Harper. You get smashed the bits, let's get it right.

Let's not mince our words against Sandy Ryan, and you know you get pulled out by the corner and you've got no problem of it you don't complain because you know you've bitten off more than you can chew you then drop down or whatever 10 pounds and come back and be and in full Riannon Dixon you know Terry I don't know we haven't got a category

for fallen champions who then make a comeback that's what we'll do that and we'll do that at the end don't worry about that we'll do the losers and the winners that we haven't mentioned carry on yeah carry on and obviously and yeah fight with that win against Sedy Edwards and that breaks it up but there's a couple of the fighters I've written on Hamza is one of them

for the breakthrough year, I think. They haven't always got a bit more guys who are doing on the way up. I think... Great wins this year. He's a great win. And he's put himself in the shot window and then he gets the World Title shot.

Yeah. You know what I mean? Which is obviously, you know, they're going to find a little soon. Callum Simpson has had a great year. Yeah. I think he's had a fantastic year. Winning a title outdoors.

Go in his local football club. And of course, and beat Zach Shelley for the British Commonwealth titles. Which was always a hard-fire on paper. That's a great win. You're on fired. Barry, can I just say, Bammy,

you are on fired. Goal up there, let me finish. Sorry. But for me, Lollum Price. Not only, yeah, I know. Where's she from, Limey? Hang on, where she from?

Let me stand on my chair. Let me stand on my chair. It was a rainy night in Canada. It wasn't a rainy night. It was the summer. But, you know, beating Jessica McCaskill, who's a proven world champion,

you know, arguably, you know, pound foot, sold in a pound for pound 10 of women's boxers. And the man, that she's done it. I would say, I was, I got to get things right now and again.

And, you know, but I said this might be the most conclusive world title win by any Welsh boxer ever. And then I sort of said, except for Joe versus everywhere. But I mean, I mean, your first world title win. And she dominated that with so much ease that after that fight, I went, she's the best well to wait. Bear in mind, Natasha Jonas is still around. As is Sandy Ryan. They're all really good fighters. Ina Meyer.

She's the best wealthy way in the world right now. Yeah. And I still believe that. For me, I think that win, and obviously winning on a course case, well, last week and last weekend, or whatever, December the 14th, sorry, was for me, clearly gives her the break-off with you. She announced herself now to everyone. I think every woman welterweight is running scared. I know she's going to box and Tasso Jonas in March, which is great for British boxing

and wool boxing in general. That would be a great occasion. And Natasha Jonas might be at the end of her career. but she's still good enough to put them on a performance. But I don't see nothing but a Lauren Price win. I think she's found where she is now, and she's going to be a star. Yeah, now, Darren, I don't often say this. Yeah, yeah, hand on half.

I mean, brilliant, brilliant bias pick from, Bami. There's no fight as in Banner, mate. Darren, I don't think it was a biased pick. I think, if you don't mind me saying so, here we are in category six of seven. That was the clearest winner. That was almost, that was almost AJ against him.

Then Garano, do you know what I could do? Do you know what I could do? Really wind Barry up now and just agree with him because then that keeps me in the lead. I would, I would be tactical here. I could be very tactical here. So if you agree with me, he can't beat you. He can't be you.

He needs a knock out of the round. If you wouldn't play things so safe, you might be Martinez. Go on, go on. There's no need to that is. Well, look, I'm going to just pick out a couple of names on the list before I give you who I think is, all right? I tell you what, Barry ain't giving up. is he?

So, Liam Cameron, who you mentioned on the list, unbelievable backstory, um, was spoken about it a lot, um,

suffered with drink drugs, had a, uh, uh, drugs, failed drugs test, was out the sport for five years.

He ballooned up to, I think it was near 20 stone, bearing in mind, this is a natural, really middleweight, like heavy weight. I've seen the tutor pictures over the last five years. Yeah,

he overdosed. And in the, in the back of the ambulance, he said, if, if God, if you let me, get through this, I will never do it again,

and I will turn my life around, and he's done just that. And he had that fight, didn't he, with Ben Whitaker, where he was a huge underdog, and he was looking like he was on his way to winning that fight, and what happened, happened. So that's an incredible breakthrough year. No one knew Liam Cameron was,

other than, you know, ambulance people and doctors. He'd gone the distance with Lyndon Arthur, and he pushed Lyndon Arthur a little bit up in Bolton earlier in the year. But he was here, Let's get it right to provide, to be a body for Ben Whittaker. He was in Saudi rather,

to provide a body for Ben Whittaker in that fight. Let's get absolutely right. And he also suffered, and you've missed it out there. Maybe you were coming to it, excuse me, if you were. The actual personal abuse

he was given by the Whitaker camp. And Ben's not like that, but the camp accused, you know, they laughed about his nose. They took the Mickey out of his cheap trainers. Something, by the way, that no man could ever do

with you and Barry Jones, because your trainer game and Barry's trainer game is absolutely red-hot. Stronger than your Birkenstock game. Stronger than my Birkenstock game, that's absolutely right. Sorry, Doug, I didn't too... But yeah, so... Have you got to book of Chewbacca Feet?

Incredible. And another one, he's been around forever. Anthony Kikachi, who spoke about upset, winning the world title after the career that he's had. But for me, I'm going to pick someone that only turned professional last year. But for me, this is his breakthrough year. When I think of breakthrough year, I almost think of kind of somewhat of a prospect. But this prospect is getting noise surrounding him.

Like, I've never known another prospect. Go on, son. I know where you're going, baby. To have before. And this person is getting the opportunity to break a record that is stood for a long time. And that's when Mike Tyson won the youngest heavyweight championship of the world. I've never heard of a prospect getting these kind of accolades and this kind of noise surrounding him. And for me, it's Moses a Talmud.

He's had three fights this year. And this is the year where he broke through. 19. People are comparing him to a young Mike Tyson, that kind of record, not stylistically, but being able to break that record when Tyson beat Trevor Burbitt. Which is not. When you're looking at a division that is looking for its next stars, this man, this boy, this young man has come along

and turned so many heads across not just the UK, the world with his performances. Bearing in mind as well disclaimer, again he's having another fight that we don't know yet, which is against Dempsey-McKean. That would be four fights, four

incredible victories, I'm sure he gets the job done. For me, that is a phenomenal year. And I spoke to Frank Warren a few days before the showdown in the showdown in Saudi

Fury and Usik too because this is being recorded before then I spoke to Frank Warren and Frank Warren I asked Frank Warren I said and with Moses Frank obviously it would be nice to take Tyson, Mike Tyson's record and win the world title before Mike could that happen and he said anything

could happen because what we might get remember we might get in early 2025 we might get all the titles splitting up so suddenly there's a vacant WBO title or a vacant WBA title or vacant whatever WBC title and suddenly

mozes it. Yeah, might get... So just to explain to people if you're cheering in late to this, this is recorded before Usik and Fury 2. Now the original plan from Paddy, the producer was

let's keep the references to the fact it's recorded before Usik and Fury 2 to a minimum, and we've managed to introduce it in just about every section. That's the way, that's the way it works. So I thought you were going to go with Pat McCormack when you were doing the turning-in-poise, because, you know, Pat McCormack to me, I... How can you compare it?

How can you compare this as a breakthrough? I don't think there is another one. And I'll take your point completely. I'm half tempted. I hate to say this, but I'm half tempted to give it to Darren. You know he went off the list. Yeah, but can I just say... Go on.

Because he says he was so much passion. Yeah. But that's just blag. No. It's just black, that. No, it's a really good choice. I thought it was,

I felt well done that, you're an idiot, but it's a really good choice. But he hasn't beaten a former and these people champion. This is a sales pitch, by the way. This is Barry Selling.

We all doing. You know, you know what, Darren. You know what, Darren. Who's been brought her by her? No. You brought by a nan. Darren,

and she, you know, she was competing in the adult Taekwondo championships when she was still at 14. She played, She was the captain of Cardiff ladies. She played for the Welsh women's team. But it's not because of that that I'm sorry.

I'm going to side. I'm going to sign the barreness just for the numbers. You're trying to make this exciting. It could be. I know what you're doing. I'm sorry. It's common sense, me. Going into the final round.

Mike Tyson's record. It's not, it's talking about someone breaking. He hasn't. Oh, he hasn't, though. That's what I'm saying. But we're talking about it. That's a breakthrough year. And what we're going to do is we're going to clip up.

You're there, your passion there, and we're going to play it next year. Because next year, when we record this, Barry and I are going to be sitting down. Paddy's going to be there, and you're going to come in last, dressed like Usik did when he arrived out in Saudi in December. You're going to come in in a splendid flowing golden garland outfit. Because you can just come in and you get to the door and you raise your hand and you say, fellas, let me just play you something that we recorded a year ago. And it's going to be your clip talking about most.

this with him having won the world heavyweight title. So Darren, that's why you're wrong and that's why you're right. Barry, you've won. Barry, I swear, if you do too much, I'll take it away. I don't care. And when he does that, I hope he does it, then next year he has that. He gets the accolade next year. Yeah.

So here we go, Big Mo. It's neck and neck. And if someone's actually keeping score, they'll be going, no, it's not. Darren's in front. That's irrelevant. It's neck and neck, Big Mo. Give us the final category. Our final award is for non-fighting story of the year.

The nominees are Mike Tyson agreeing to fight Jake Paul. Connor Ben being finally clear to fight. Sandy Ryan getting covered in paint. Chris Eubank Jr. slams promoters at a press conference. And Imani Khalif, Olympics gender wrap. Big Mo, could I just say, we have actually got a category that you haven't been given. And it's quite simple. And it's half performance of the year by a non-competitor.

So therefore it falls into the non-fighting story of the year. It's also breakthrough of the year. Big Mo, could we just salute you for the job you did in front of 70,000 people in Texas when you were the master? And I mean, in fact, maybe you were the king of ceremonies. Maybe you were the KOC on that particular night when Mike Tyson and Jake Paul and Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor, too. Big Mo, you were splendid. That's enough, Big Mo.

Don't let your head get too big. So, non-fighting story of the year. We've got the list there. You can stick with it or not stick with it. Barry, you know, Darren to start. Oh, Darren's... They're really good shouts. They're really good shouts.

Tyson fighting a YouTuber That's mental That's madness in its own right But that isn't so crazy When you understand how much money Mike Tyson was getting So you don't blame him But the fact that that was put together

Sandy Ryan Getting covered in paint That was Equally crazy That was nuts That was nuts So yeah Darren Sorry for interrupting you Darren

I seem to have done a lot of that today And I'm really sorry Let's just explain What happened here So Sandy Ryan's defending a well-to-weight world title in New York, Madison Square Garden against Michaela Meyer, who in January of the year lost a well-to-weight title fight to Natasha Jonas. It was always going to be a tight fight between Maya and Sandy Ryan because Maya gives anybody a hard fight. And as she was leaving her hotel to get in a car to take her to the fight, a man jumped out of a car with a hood up and threw a can of red paint over Sandy Ryan. She was shocked.

The guy got in a car and vanished. Sandy Ryan had to go back into the hotel, strip off, and she posted pictures of herself, covered in pain. It had soaked through her leg in, soaked through her top. And an hour and a half later, she was at Madison Square Garden. She did an interview that was so disturbing

with Mark Kriegel, good friend of mine for ESPN. After that interview, in my opinion, I don't want to upset people on know. I don't think she was in the right frame of mine to fight. But it was a great fight. So that's the background to that story. Carry on down. Sorry, mate.

Yeah, and I've been, the whole Conner Ben saga as well has been so captivating. Everyone's been sort of brought in by the whole topic, the whole story. But for me, I don't think it can't be this because it happened in the biggest sporting event in the world. In the world. So not just boxing fans were listening to this controversy. everybody around the world you turned on the TV the news

the news this was coming on whether it was it wasn't just a sports news it was every news every newspaper I put on my phone every social media account that I have had this dominating it

every single day and it was Imman Khalif the Olympic gender Raul that everywhere you went and this went beyond the boxing

so I don't know how it can't be this because it was huge it was huge news well I was right in the thick of that Darwin I mean absolutely in the thick of that and I took a stance that no one that was taken at the time eventually it came round and I've still been defending myself

I've had death threats over this I had genuine death threats I had people very high up inside the BBC fly out to Paris to talk to me about my stance on this because it seemed at the time fairly odd and we won't go into what it was.

I was vindicated massively at the end, get in my son. But I still don't win awards for that. But anyway, that's the Amman Khalif story you've gone with. And in all fairness, that is come on strong. Barry, if you can pull something out of your hat now, I'd say that would be the greatest magic trick I've seen. Since I saw a geezer make, in Vegas,

make a double deck of bus. David Copperfield made a double deck of bus vanish, 100 feet in front of my eyes. So what can you do, David? I've been Barry Rodriguez, no, David Jones. Yeah, that's pretty good. But I think me not wearing socks

was a massive story. So do I? Way up there. I think so. You know, I think so. That's a close second. That wedges in between Khalif and Mike Tyson fight and Jake Paul.

The socks are. Oh, wow. Me wearing wedges is another one. Yeah. You know, it's being crazy. You'll get a bit of heights. You're out. I mean, they're close to match.

I've gone from a sock wearing 5'4 7 to a no sock wearing 5 foot 9. This was crazy. I think that that Caliph story was mad. The way people all just jumped on a straight away and stuff. That was crazy. U-Bank slamming pornobos was just the maddest thing. We were there. We were all there.

I mean, we were all in shock. Was that the fish market? Yeah. Yeah, it was just mad. Silence in the room that day. But for me... Oh, I like the way he's done this. He's really led up to this.

It's one of the most watch. fights in the history of the sport and Mike Tyson versus with that kid, what's his name? Jake Paul I mean, no, that's no, it was just madness like that, I mean, it should never have happened. No, every boxing person couldn't

stand it, but they got more attention than anything, including Alexander Lucey versus Tyson Fury. No, that, that was watched by everyone. It went on Netflix. Netflix got involved there. It was such a big thing. Even Netflix wanted to get involved in it. What do they have? Sixty million people watch it live?

Wow. My nan didn't know about that fight, but she knew about Khalifa and the Olympics. Well, where's your nan? That's good. That's good. That's a strong repost. The lady next door didn't know about Jake Paul,

Mike Tyson. She knew about the Olympics. Every school kid, every school kid, there's more than them in your nan, every school kid didn't know about any of these fights, including the Olympics. They knew about Jake Paul and Don't. That's equally strong.

Could I just say, could I just say, that all the way along, I've tried to be... You're so competitive. I don't care if I win. But no, I do care. You know that could I just say thing? That means I'm going to say something, all right? Just to let you know, it's better than shush, you're right?

Yeah, I don't like using shush, you know? And if we were doing it by points, you'd have got a point for that, Darren, and you'd have had a point taken off, but we're not. This is Andy Welsh. This is Andy Welsh. This is, this is, I wonder why you've been over there singing. You've been over there singing. You've been in my rush national after the last hour.

You're in my place. This is my home for the week. Anyway, so could I just say, let me just make. this absolutely clear, because I'm getting fed stuff in my ear in this studio here, is that this, this isn't really about Darren Barker.

It isn't really about Barry Jones, but so fearsome has it become that it's now become between the two of them, separated by a lump of marble, with a discarded, discarded group of empty coffee cups, double, triple espressoes.

They are both shaping up. They are both fancying the job. I can't, I cannot, cannot separate Mike Tyson in Texas against Jake Paul from Amani Khalif and her run at the Olympics. I cannot separate either of those two. So I want to go into a form of Southern death, if I possibly can, where you can discuss something that we maybe, or we definitely haven't mentioned yet so far in this show. It's 2024. I don't care who goes first.

You've got a couple of minutes or three minutes or whatever you want. Would you like to go first? Barry, would you like to go first down? I'll put his hand up. First of all, I think it's going to be a frosty week me and you now for the rest of the rest of it. I know. How are you going to work together going forward?

I generally don't like him. I know. It's unbelievable. I used to learn it and I can't stand it. I don't know he thinks he is. And because all he does, right, all he does, I don't think his points are valid, none of them. All he does, he just says a lot of rubbish with passion.

And because you're, and because you're the same as him, you're decided with him most of the time. Listen. Oh, no, no. I said, I don't, I don't care, what is it? I'm not siding with him. I said, you sat on his lap for God sing.

What's going on? I would say, right, for me, one of the non-boxing stuff, well, it's a boxing, a non-boxing authority, has been Reads season. Yeah, he's done me. He's done me.

He's done you. I'm going to agree with him. Hang on. Hang on, there's a taxi on side of you mean. I'd say that's strong belt. That's really strong. Because we've got a guy here. If you're a boxing fan

and you have, and you have, and you have, have an influence on the sport, you would just pick all the fights that you want. He's played boxing monopoly, hasn't he? Turkey Alashe.

He played boxing monopoly. Just all the fight you want to watch. And he's made them happen. And that's what we've always wanted. We're always monged about, like, we don't get to see this one. We're waiting six years for Berturbie Evan Bivel,

both champions for over six years. They would have never fought because it wouldn't be financially viable, anywhere else. And so we got to see that. And the undercats we've got to see. And what we're going to see in February next year, so this might be the same thing next year.

That's probably the best. how we've ever seen in the history of the sport? February 22nd. February 22nd. Then you Dubois, Joseph Parker, at the top. But actually, it's not really because it's Berturbiev and Bivel. That's the actual one. The rematch.

Also on the bill, so it looks. It's a bit fluid. Let's put it away. Shakir Stevenson. There is a world tie to fight for Hamji Shiras for the WBC title against Carlos Adamez. That's good. Virgin Ortiz might be on the bill.

We think so. Zilae Zhang against Ajik Kabeel, which would be an incredible top of the bill, anywhere in the world, especially in China and Germany. And then the type of fight that everyone knows I love. Joshua Boatsy against Callum Smith. There might be a couple more come into it, maybe one or two of those would go. But there's four or five fights there and six or seven fighters that are incredible.

And it will certainly be one of the great nights. Fight after, fight after fight after fight. What a night. Well, it's just, it blows your mind. I can't get my head around there. I mean, I'm almost looking. looking to look for something wrong with it. They're trying to look for something wrong with it.

So, you know, and we've, but we've had that all year and how busy it's been as well. No, since last October, we've been, what, eight, seven, eight times? I don't even know, no. We've been to some, we've been there all the time. Darren came for the... They don't even look at my sorry. Darren came for Chris Bill and Smith as well, didn't you?

Yeah. He came for Chris Bill and Smith. Seven times in a calendar year. We both missed one, so there's been eight. So I missed, he missed Angano and Fury, and I missed the Latino night. But I mean, they don't even check my visa over here now. They just go, hey, Barry.

Barry's back, they say. How's the dog? I will 100% agree with Barry then. Because Barry... You can't agree with me. Because Barry has answered the question first. He nips in, he gets a photo finish, so he wins it, okay? I'm going to be the bigger man here, even though it's a dig.

That's a big through fight every year. But it doesn't matter. That's none here or there. What Turkey Alashek has done for the sport of boxing is incredible. The shows that we'll... are witnessing are incredible. They are what dreams are made of. They really are. And boxing has never been in a better place. It is absolutely booming. Every single body who is involved in a sport. Actually, the non-boxing fan, just the sport fan now is looking for announcements at these next supercards.

And yeah, Barry Jones is spot on. You know what? The way I'm looking at that is, and I'd like to have done this, and I don't do drawn rounds in fights, Babi. You've worked with me at ringside for 12 years. But I cannot separate the two of you. Your honesty, your passion, your honesty. I'm waving with my hand left and right, because we don't film these shows. Big Mo, you were absolutely sensational.

I wasn't bad as an adjudicator. But Darren and Barry, you've been sensational. I cannot separate the pair of you. I cannot do it. suits, I don't fight it out. No, no, let's not do sumo suits and fight out. Let's not do anything. Let's not do anything like that.

That's been your review of 2024. I make no apologies for anything we missed out, and I make no apologies for anything we included. You've been a brilliant and loyal audience in 2024. We did about, I think we did about 60 odd pods, about 10 live shows of countless hours, hundreds of appearances across all sorts of BBC. channels, mate, keeping us number one.

Your number, your number one, as they say in the trade. I'm Steve Bunce and this has most definitely been a very, very special year on Five Live with the boxing.