5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Benn Bolts and Wood Wins

Episode Date: February 22, 2026

Will there be a bigger boxing story in 2026 than Conor Benn leaving Matchroom? Richie Woodhall joins Buncey to reflect on Benn’s decision to sign with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, while Eddie Hearn gives his immediate reaction. Plus, they ask what’s next for Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington after their Nottingham rematch, with Wood the clear winner. We hear from both fighters.

This is Five Live Boxing. Capacity crowd, great rivalry, rematch, repeat your revenge. What a night. Lee Wood beat Josh Warrington again. But that was not the biggest boxing story of the weekend. Oh no, not even close. Connor Ben walked out on Eddie Hearn and Matrum to sign for Dana White and Zuffa Boxing. What a story.

I talked to Ben's former promoter and former friend Eddie. This, my friend, is a very special edition. I'm Steve Bunce and this is Five Live Boxing. So there was not a seat available in Nottingham and it felt that way when the two of them made their way to the ring. It felt big, it felt grand, it felt historic. But the fight very quickly didn't feel like it had an edge. It was something may be missing.

You couldn't take your eyes over it. There was something maybe missing. And we will talk about Connor Ben. We'll hear from Eddie Hearn a bit later on. But I'm with Richie Woodard, who was working with me for Five Live. And Rich, I'm not being too harsh, am I? It was just, it was, it couldn't take your eyes off it, but it wasn't the first fight, was it?

No, it certainly wasn't. I was more impressed with Lee Wood early on in the fight, because I was really impressed with Warrington in the first fight early. I thought he boxed very well and got to grips with it. But at this time, it was Wood that certainly done his home, work, set the pace, control things. And I was just expecting Warrington to go through gears and have a go, but, okay, you may have a look at an opponent for a round or maybe two rounds even.

Maybe three? Yeah, you know, early on in a fight. But there was no tempo change. And that was the disappointing thing for me. We have often seen Josh Warrington adapt to opponents and get the tactics right. but he just wasn't there early on for some reason. And I think, Steve, he was so concerned about that right hook of Lee Wood that he was concentrating too much on avoiding that shot.

You could see very high hands as he was going forward. His feet were far too slow. In fact, we'll hear from Josh in a moment, and he actually denies it when I was talking to him in the ring, but we'll talk about that in a second. The one thing that struck me, Rich, was that there was, It's just a sort of different pacing and different tempo to it. And I kept thinking it's going to take off.

It's going to take off. It's going to take off. For Lee Wood, it didn't have to take off. No. Because that, you know, I mean, who would have thought he was going to come into the ring? Fight constantly as a southpour. As a loose southpour. His hands were seldom above his waistline, let alone off his knees.

Everything was from there. Josh's hands were too high. He seemed a bit, a bit tense. And it just, it was a great event. It was still a great fight. It was still a great build-up. But it just wasn't, maybe we're spoilt. You know what it is?

We're spoilt. And you know what? These two have spoilt us, if you don't mind me saying so. Yeah, probably, Steve. They've had at least six or seven. They've had about, what they've had about 30 major television shows. But they've had at least six or seven modern classics. Now, most fighters get two on their record or three on their record.

Some great fighters don't get any on their record. These have got five or six each, Reggie. I just think that Josh Warrington against Lee Wood, far more dangerous when he goes through the gears and he puts him under a little bit more pressure but I thought you've got to give credit to Lee Wood. Lee Wood, his tactics was

spot on. He had a very relaxed low guard. He set the... then that's setting a trap that is. That's as if you're saying to your opponent, you come to me. Look, my hands are low. What can you do? What can you do? You come to me, you know. And that's what I thought he was

thinking. Now, with Josh Warrington. Now, Josh, he's feet were far too slow, Steve, and he couldn't adapt. He didn't then go through the gears and put pressure on and double up his attack. And he doesn't know why. No, well, this is it. And he might not admit that he wasn't concerned about that right hand, but I think psychologically it was in his head. It was a bad knockout last time. He got caught with a real good shot. And I think psychologically he was in his head. He didn't adapt. He didn't change. Although there was early in the contest, there was two or three times when he did go through the gears and then we were expecting it to take off but then it just

went back to that same sort of on the outside waiting very slow feet and you've got to give credit to lee wood in that he controlled things his ring craft was excellent he rarely got on the ropes he circled round his opponent and didn't try anything that wasn't part of the same strategy wasn't part of the same plan so his ringcraft was very very good because you find that where And fighters are pushing fighters back. If they go back to the ropes, they generally go square with the feet, and then you can go downstairs and attack the body. It was a rare thing that you actually saw Lee would go back to the ropes.

I'm not sure his back did touch the ropes, to be honest with you. But he did get tired after six or seven rounds. I mean, you know, you were really strong on that. And Josh had a bit more success. That's when we had that whole debate about whether you were giving mercy. And we were expecting him to step up, though. Let me just remind you of the scores. There were three judges. Obviously, it was 12 rounds, but non-title.

One judge went 119-10. One judge went 119-110, and one judge went 117-1-1-1-1. Now, I've got no complaints with any of those scores. If it had been a 120-108, I would have had no complaint, to be perfectly honest with your rich. Once that kind of, he slowed down a little bit at Lee Wood, I thought that was when we were going to have a fight. Because until that point, that was about 708 rounds. and I said to you, I think at the end of the six, Josh hasn't thrown a body shot, yeah?

Not one single body show. You were trying to, you were imploring him to go downstairs. Well, he hadn't gone downstairs at all and threw seven rounds. That was the disappointing thing, I think, at the contest. We got to around six or seven, and you could clearly see that Lee Wood slowed down a little bit, but Josh Warrington didn't pick up on it, nor did his corner, or his corner may have,

and they might have told him we didn't really hear everything was said in the corner, But there wasn't a changing tempo from Josh Warrington. And I expected that. He's at a level now that I expected Lee, sorry to Josh Warrant to spot that, Steve, go through the gears and go after him, but he didn't. The thing is, Rich, I mean, I said to you also at one point about around 9, they're both suddenly looking 35 and 37.

And that's not a criticism. That's just a boxing reality. Because the other reality is they both first fought for the British title. I don't want to sound like a broken record. Actually, I don't care. Let me sound like a broken record. They both first fought for the British title in 2014. There was a period when they were both featherweight champions of the world.

Separated by about 80 or 90 miles, both holding world titles at the same way. They've been in some unbelievable fights. A couple of them, both had two fights with Lara. Okay. He had a Carl Frampton fight that Josh Warrington had is an all-time great fight. The Lee Selby night. The Lee Selby night, outdoors, Ellen Roe, is an incredible night. Michael Conlon being dropped into his father's arms at ringside in the 12th round

when he was miles ahead against Lee Wood. You can't invent these nights. What these two have done collectively has been incredible. And I just felt there was a point in that ring tonight. And I got the sense when I was talking to them. We're here from the period in a moment, Rich. I just got the point that they both kind of realised. tonight and they've got I mean you know that expression you've got nothing left to prove

well they've got nothing left to prove son no they've got nothing left to prove and I think I said in commentary at the end that um physically they look okay they could probably have two or three more fights but I've seen something tonight that I think they're at the end of the road because I think mentally they're both spent Steve and they've been through hard and this is not a criticism this is a straight forward fact yeah you know because I went through myself when I was at the end of my career mentally because I'd boxed for England for so long as amateur had long I've been boxing since I was I think I walked in the gym as a seven year old kid and at the time at 31 32 I'd just had enough and I could see that tonight with a couple of times there that mentally

they're spent now like I say they could probably um box on yes physically they look okay um they don't but but for me they don't want to I think even lee would even says if he was to box on he wouldn't want to come up against young any youngsters coming through. So that's in the back of his mind as well. But like I say, I know when a fighter spent mentally, and I think I've seen that in both of them tonight. And there's no shame in that because they have had terrific careers. And they've both been brilliant role models for the game for me. And that's what I was trying to tell them when I was talking to the pair. Let's hear from Lee Wood first. He came across with his daughter, and in fact she starts, she starts

answering the questions. Here's Lee Wood and his very lovely daughter, who was very very happy in the ring. She'd been crying earlier on, but she was so delight. She was clutching her dad's hand. I don't think she was ever going to let it go. First of all, how was daddy tonight? Really good. I'm very proud. So are we. Lee, it was close to a flawless performance. It was brilliant. You got a bit tired last couple of rounds. You look a bit emotional because you know what I'm going to be asking you in a second, don't you? Yeah, for sure. I can't really answer you. I need to go away, digest it and talk to my team. It's a great offer for the one place I wanted to fight I'll probably consider it or the right

opponent, I don't know, yeah. But that what a fight to finish on if I did say that's my last one. But it's getting hard and harder to be away from my kids. They sacrifice as much as me, you know. But like I said, credit to Josh. What a tough guy. I didn't really expect it to go past four rounds. To get tall of him when I'm thinking, God, I'm not laying in any of the shots I thought I would. Some are getting through, but he's a tough guy

in credit to him. And there seemed to be so much more respect between the two of them. We're about round four or five on. Just incredible. And which was a real, I love to that? Yeah, I think right neat when I thought, I've caught you some big shots and the band's off you, not like last time, the band's not a few more, I thought, I'm going to give you some credit, just going for this long in the fight and I'll call some good shots, you know, I thought, I actually go for my thought, you're a lot tougher than I thought.

So what you're obviously talking about, you referring to there is if there was an offer to fight at Forest? Possibly, or even back here, but if it was a right fight. I'm not fighting there young killers, I'm not coming out to get flannel in front of the crowd. But even if I don't have to, if that was my last fight, I'd be up in a lot of there, but Well, Seattle, I think about it. Not making no harsh, rush decisions straight away.

You know, I'm still full of adrenaline in that. 12 years of British title fights and world title fights. Unbelievable nights you've left us with, 15, 20 massive fights. Lee, what a career that's been quite seriously. I mean, I'm telling you, it's one of the top 10 careers I've covered in 40 years in this business. But do you know what? I was cautious. I was thinking, like, I'm not really going to get the credit I deserve

because everyone's going to think Josh is too old. But I'm actually two years older than I'm nearly 308. You know? And he gets it hard and hard every time. Little niggles here and there, but I just bite down, my mentality gets me through. Even a bit more nervous, well, I'm not thinking, what if it does go a few more rounds?

I'm up a bit, I thought I'd get everything very quick, but my mentality gets me through, and there's only a certain amount of times you can dig to that well, you know? And what about this crowd? I mean, they've been with you through thick and fring from the tiniest of little leisure centres to giant nights, magnificent nights,

rollercoaster roads. They've just been unbelievable with you. I love them because without a shadow of doubt they turn out for me I'm coming off a loss tonight so with the arena right really quick we're gonna do it probably twice over

to be honest that's why we think it's the right if I have a six round is or not you know we'll see so Richie Lee Wood there you're absolutely right

what you said there he sounded brilliant in the end I mean he wouldn't commit but what he did say as you paraphrased it is he doesn't want to lose in front of these and he went like that

and he motioned to his fans and he deserves better than to be stopped on his feet in front of those fans If he doesn't get a forest, a fight at Forest, who knows? I still fancy he might walk away, Rich. I really do.

That's my gut feeling. He might walk away, but you have to remember in March, remember you've got Antony Kakachi versus James Dickens in unification at that weight. So, you know, who knows, Steve? Once they both rested, especially, sorry, Lee Wood,

when he's had a good rest, if that offer was to come along the winner of that fight, in a world-tar fight, in his last showdown, at Forest, then he wouldn't turn that down, would he? So I don't think we can say that he's finished just yet, but I hope he is, but money always talks, Steve,

and a big world title fight, and that could be made the winner of Kukachi and Dickens for a world title. I think there's two world titles on the line there, an IBO and a WIF or a WBA, whatever. That's a unification fight. So the winner of that, I think Josh Warrington, sorry, Lee Wood would find it difficult to turn it down, especially if they said look

we'll take it in the summer and we'll do it at Forest listen whether he fights whether Lee Wood continues and whether he fights to Katty assuming Dickens loses the title and whoever he fancies

that rematch is to be continued me personally I'm with you if he walks away I'll be the first person in Nottingham that day trying to buy him a drink and Steve there's not many people there's not many boxes you said it earlier who end their career on a win

and on a high Not many people walk away from it, you know. On a big win, not like I want to get a win and I'm going to go and fight on a something of Dudley Townall and get six round win. No, they win. Nothing wrong with Dudley Town Hall, I'm standing up, as I say,

another one with Dudley Town Hall or Walsall Town Hall or Wolverhampton Civic Centre. So they should be Nick for that. All those plays. Listen, I've seen, you fought in all those places. I've seen enough fights over the years in those places. Oh, have I ever? So Withley Wood, if he walks away,

fantastic. He continues to fight and if it's the right fight, obviously we're back in and hopefully we'll bring that to you on 5. Also got up with Josh Warrington. He came over and, well, again, you've got to try and tell them they've got nothing to be proud, they've got nothing to be ashamed of, hard thing

to tell a fighter who's lost. It's almost a contradiction in terms. You put your hand on their shoulder, they've lost and you say, well done. You said you did, now, of course, fighters don't feel that way, but let's have a little listen to I'm my worst enemy. I'm my worst enemy. This week I've just, I've killed myself. I've killed myself upstairs and I thought I was in a good place, Bunsey. And I've, you know, I've trained, I've trained like a demon for this one. I mean, people are commenting on how great I looked, you know, all for my sparring. I've, you know, I've had every single one of my spying partners. I felt tip-top in, in the gym and I've come in here tonight, strong. I definitely, like, leave month of the same. as he was off two years ago.

He had a game plan. But I know he had a grand plan, but you still get touched. And I were very wary of him touching my last time. And this time round I wasn't. And he caught me a couple of times, but never had the same effects

as he did a couple years ago. But I don't know, man. I thought a couple times, isn't it? It hurts, man, right? It really hurts. Because, you know, I've spoken about this for the last two years and that 36 minutes I get to do it.

And listen, many opponents have been on this evening of what I've done to them but ah man it's just no else I can do is there there is nothing else you do but I've got to ask you the question which I hate asking fighters especially fighters I've known for 10 years or so

you're gonna go away and have a little chat with Sean and have a chat with the family and think because listen I'm gonna tell you the same thing I just told Lee you two have got nothing to prove 12 years of championship fights highs that are unbelievable what you've achieved what you did just Ellen Road itself come on son

you know if you walked away if you walked away, you would be, honestly, you deserve an open top pass through leads. No, I appreciate that, Bonsie. You know what, like I just said up there, I said, you know, it's, you know, I look terrific at 35,

new airline, straight teeth, but, you know, it's too tough a game to be, just turn up for an opponent and being second best. You know, I'm a winner, Bunsey. You are some. I'm a winner, and, you know, the will to strive

and to win, he's always going to be there. But when something's missing, ah man, it's too dangerous to sporting boxing. I'm 35 now. I've got three beautiful kids at home, and it's like, how much did you keep on giving? And you do feel like there is something missing, and that's not a criticism.

Because it looked to me like there was something missing tonight. Yeah, it was. I mean, I could see from first, second round. You know, again, I said the same thing two years ago. In Wembley against Kikachi, you know. I had a comeback last year. It was only a short term one. But, you know, in the gym,

been firing all cylinders with young, hungry, fresh, outspying partners, but I don't want to be one of them after-times, Bunting. Brilliant. You know what I mean? They say, like, oh, it's sparring, sparring, fights. Well, listen, if you do call it a day, make sure you invite me to the private party, because it will be one of the great nights.

Thank you, Brunson. Always thank you for those who listen to me. Thank you for support back home. Josh also there, Rich, very emotional, not committing to never fighting again. Obviously, you're going to go away and have a little think about it. But my gut feeling is, I think that'll be it for Josh Warrington. And that open top parade I talked about in Leeds will be moving a little bit closer.

That's my gut feeling and my hope. Yeah, again, tremendous career he's had. There's no shame in the way he's got beat here tonight. He just couldn't find a way. And sometimes you come up against a style, which is just, you know, he tried, he did this, he did that. But he just wasn't there for him tonight. still a good fighter and listen Steve

again we don't know if he's going to finish because he might go away now and have a rest and think you know what I want one last fight in Leeds in front of my fans and that could do the same version

and that would sell you know to those Leeds fans they were great tonight the Leeds fans were I thought that the arena was fantastic tonight the Forest fans and the Leeds fans

they were absolutely brilliant you know what I'd do a thing and Stace was bringing them in when she's bringing them in and whoever you were I have worked with going back an awful lot of year, about 26 years. You and I have always have a habit. We take our headset off and we leave, you know, let someone else do the intro.

I want to take my headset off because I want to literally, and it doesn't work necessarily on radio, but I'm going to do it anyway. I want to just shut my eyes and just listen and breathe it in because you get, and that was, I tell what, Rich, that wasn't, that wasn't bad tonight, was it? Considering it's only 9,000 in there, that was a bit special tonight. Well, I made the classic mistake. I did exactly the same and then I think Stacey

asked me a question and I couldn't hear what she said so everyone's thinking well come on Woodall you know she just asked you a question there but there you go no it was it was good it was a great send-off

for both of them really because both of them probably won't be in a fight that big again will they should imagine unless Lee would obviously box is for a world title but yes it was a good send-off

for both of them and I thought the crowd was great but there wasn't an empty seat Steve and you don't see that very often after the arena. We know that because we try to get one.

Yeah, exactly. We tried to get one for a friend of ours. It was unbelievable. Honestly. Now, I don't know if you heard this, but Paddy, the producer,

he was mostly just asleep under the table. But there was one point when he was wide awake and he came over to me at the start of the 12th round and he pulled my headset down and he said,

Sean O'Hagan, who's the trainer of Joshua O'Nton and also his father and his chef, Sean said to Josh at the end of the 11th Is there any point in going out for the last round? Josh replied, yep, I want to go to distance. Yeah. So at that point Josh knew.

But I argued during our co-coms, we know Ronald McIntosh was doing his usual job, I argued there that they'd almost made a pact about round six or seven or eight. Because you guys do that, you know? You know, I've talked to Stacey about it before and I know that you guys do it and it's unwritten and you can't

actually verbalise it but I've seen fights which where the two guys have made a pact they've just agreed on something and these two had nothing left to prove and not a lot to prove it with and he's probably accepted that he's been second best there tonight and he just couldn't find

a way and yeah but for a fighter you know I can see Josh Warrington most certainly they want to get to the end you don't want to be stopped and you want to get to the end of the contest, which he did. But that would probably explain as well, Steve, that we were waiting for him to change here and there,

but he didn't. He sort of kept to the same tactics. He was trying to exist. He was trying, yeah, and he just wasn't there. And we never really seen that tempo change, and that would explain that then, because probably they've accepted things weren't going their way early in the fight.

But let me tell you something, it'd have to be a tropical day in Aberdeen, a tropical day in Aberdeen for me to ever criticize Lee Wood and Josh Warrington. I might be able to make some observations but being critical of those two and what they've given British boxing during this last 12 years is incredible, absolutely brilliant

it's been if they never fight again I'd be happy and it would have been a pleasure you and I, we've done enough of their fights seen enough of their fights Richie right now though it's a change of pace I mentioned Connor Ben at the top of the show and that's what we've got to talk about now and we will hear from Eddie Hearn

Now Richie, I don't know where you were on Friday night at about 8.30 when the news broke that Connor Ben, after a 10-year association with Eddie Hearn, a man he considered a friend, had decided to sign for Eddie's big enemy at the moment, Dana White and Zuffer boxing. At first, when I was showing a picture, when I was live on 5 Live at a time, I was showing a picture of it on someone's phone. I thought it was a fake account. What was your gut reaction when you found out, Rich? well exactly the same as you was my son jack who came into he said dad look at this news and he showed me his phone and i said where's that come from he said dad now dad it's genuine he's definitely i went i couldn't believe it at start um but then you know what steve um nothing really surprises me in boxing because the landscaping boxing has changed so much in terms financially when i boxed steve i can honestly

say that although obviously financially you're looking at big pay days but that wasn't a lot of the boxes that were I box with it wasn't their number one motivation it was to be a world champion and to be the best but today's boxing there's so

much money involved I think some of the attitudes of some of the boxes it's yeah they want to be world champions but the money side of it comes before being a world champion that's what's changing today's why guys have fought without world title. Do you know what I mean? Exactly, Steve. There's that much money involved. Now, we don't

know the figures, obviously, that's been offered to Conner Ben. But what surprises me is that I'm sure he's earned an absolute fortune with Ed Yearn anyway. Two massive Eubank fights, 67,000 people, pay-per-views, unbelievable successes. Both of them were incredible fights. The first fights are the fight in here, one of the best fights you're going to see. But he also had loads of other players. But he also had the two years where he had the problem, the perplexing problem of the fouled drug test. Now, we must just get this clear so we don't get in trouble. He was never banned.

His licenses were suspended whilst he was appealing and fighting his case. And Eddie Hearn... Stuck with him. Stuck with him. Stuck with him as an understatement. He backed him. Connor talked about that. Eddie talked about the amount of money.

Anyway, about 12 or so hours or 14 hours after it was announced or after we found out that it wasn't a hoax it was real and that Connor Ben had left matchroom, had left Eddie Hearn for Zuffer and for Dana White. I stood rather I sat with Eddie Hearn. I've got to warn you this is fairly raw. When did you first get an idea that Connor would be leaving? Last Friday really so I know the news was quite a big shock to a lot of people last night. It wasn't so much of a shock to me but yeah, had a bit of time to kind of digest it. Obviously, initially, my shock was probably the same as kind of everybody else's.

So, you know, over time, chill out a little bit and kind of have to worry about your shows coming up and your own life and, you know, disappointing. And of course, how did you find out? Or how did you get wind a bit worse? I got an email from Conner's lawyer, which that was the kind of first dagger in the heart, if you like, you know, where it was like, look, we've had this off. and, you know, we were potentially moving forward and blah, blah, blah. And I just reached out to Connor and said, listen, no disrespect to your lawyer, but I think me and you need a call because everything that we've been through, I think I deserve that.

And he said, oh, no, you'd be very emotional. And, you know, I think maybe we'll let it sort of calm down first. And, you know, that was even a bigger sort of blow after that. And by that time, you know, you've kind of really. lost the relationship and the fighter anyway. So there's kind of no way back, really. You know, they said that they'd like me to be a part of the team moving forward. I'm not sure what kind of capacity that would be.

And you should celebrate their success. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, but yeah, listen, I understand. I blame myself a little bit in the respect of, you know, I didn't push him to sign a new contract because I probably took what we did for him for granted in terms of the loyalty. I expected him to show us because I literally died on a hill for him and you know that. You know, it was two years really.

Two years of taking a kick in it. Let's get it right, mate. So that's the disappointed thing. And again, you know, I also understand that you get one career and you've got to chase the money. But there's a way to conduct yourself really. And that was probably the more disappointing thing. If a fighter goes, you know, there probably would have been a conversation where if we can't get anywhere, near the number and if it's such an important opportunity for you,

I probably wish you well on your way. But, you know, yeah, yeah. But you'd certainly explore those avenues first. But listen, again, everyone's different, fancy. You know, like everyone's, you know, places loyalty on a different kind of level and, you know, other things are more important to some people. But you spent two years, you documented a saying you spent money, which you talked about before.

Connors talked about that. He's talked about the kicking you took, the kicking disown took, sticking up for him. So it seems almost unbelievable. You didn't have some sort of ridiculous falling out six weeks ago or two months ago, which I know you did. No, no, no. That's what I think amazes, and I've seen a few shocks. I mean, I compare, the only thing I think was the biggest shock than this was when Kelly Maloney became Kelly Maloney and stopped being in front with him. Honestly, this is up there with that, Ed?

Yeah, you know, I think because of all the things that he said in the past and that comes out now, you know, memes going back and forwards. Sometimes people change. You know, I don't know why or what changed. I know that he's got a lot of good people around him, a lot of bad people around him as well. But the good people, I know, will be very disappointed. Yeah, I think so too.

Because you haven't seen him post anything on social media. No, silence. And that, you know, listen, I've never, I'll be honest, the only silver lining is I've never been so popular. I mean, it might only be for 24, 48 hours but I'm taking it. I've had messages from every... All your rivals, Scott Dunquins.

Not just boxing. Every industry, every sector. Like, I'm talking about, like, people, like, just... To be honest, I guess it's because I've had a few days to digest it now. They're more shocked than I am. Do you know what I mean? We are shocked. Yeah, but not he just...

Like, and people ask you, I feel really uncomfortable about this. I'm saying, you feel uncomfortable about this. It's like... Carl Frampton earlier, he said he calls this the biggest betrayal ever in the sports boxing. We did it live on 5 live last night when it broke. I'm not saying I'm not fuming, but I've obviously had the chance to sign the digest it now. So, yeah. Just a couple of things.

First of all, we mentioned good people. I was with Tony Sims just literally 100 hours ago at the launch of, you know, the announcement of the Zonan announcement, a new five-year deal. Tony was there and he was in the most fantastic, peaceful place. Do you know, is it not your job to speculate? Is Tony going to be involved with him? I would think so. I would never want Tony.

Tony's, you know, Tony's one of those person, people that I think would be distrault. You know, he, Tony is genuinely like family to us, you know. But I would never expect, you know, I would never say to Tony Sims, mate, you can't be in his corner, you know. Of course not. Of course not. He's kind of trains in a matron gym. You know, so.

By the way. It's a bit strange. Could you bill him for 10 years or sobs? But yeah, what Tony's done for Conner, I mean, we've done a lot for Conner Ben. What Tony's done for Conner Ben is phenomenal. You know, Conner Ben's success is really largely owed to the transformation that Tony has put in place for him as a fighter.

I mean, he's turned him into a very, very good fighter. So, yeah, you know, obviously you've got Tony, you got Nigel. These are old-school people. These are different kind of people. I wouldn't think they're very happy at all. with how it's played out but listen it's life and and i know it seems like an odd question have any contact with dana since it since you heard no no i've not spoke to him for a couple of weeks i had a couple of texts with him but it's all you know you're a pawn in the game aren't you if

you're con of course you've got that they're just different with different kind of organizations right i said before these guys are very very powerful ruthless people they don't care about the sport of boxing in my opinion they don't care about the fighters It's just a business to them. You know, look at what they did to Tom Aspinall. Yeah. I mean, Tom Aspinall literally had his eyes gouged out in a fight. And Dana White basically called him a crybaby and said,

no, and just casted him to the side and humiliated him in front of everybody whilst the guys having operations to save his eyesight. I mean, you know, Dana White wouldn't do what I did for Connor Ben and those guys, but we're different people as well. And we have a different passion for the sport. Yeah, we're a different industry. it's going to be a long, hard battle. But I'm also privileged and honour

that it seems to be the battle between me and him. And I'm well up for it, and I think it's a blessing to be in those kind of battles. Well, I suppose it does clear you a little bit of time. You can focus on some other things and start building. Is that five-year deal? We've got guys that haven't even term pro yet. We were going to be headlining in five years.

That five-year deal, which we announced, what, three or four days ago, five days ago, that cements our future. of probably 200 shows in the next five years. We're good. Do you know what I mean? We're going to lose some fighters. We're going to sign some fighters, you know. But, you know, we have a tremendous schedule upcoming.

We've got Nunes Navarretti next week. We've got the return, hopefully, of Anthony Joshua coming up. We've got Ben Whittaker. We've got hopefully Boots Ennis. We've got Bavow. I mean, we've got the best day with the world. You're doing okay, something. You're doing okay, something.

Yeah. So, but like I said, there'll be ups and downs. And, you know, last night in the last few days, painful. Woke up this morning. Did the fight day 5K with everyone in Notting them and now we're going to have a great night

tonight and then we're going to have a roast dinner tomorrow and then we're going to go again Monday. We wake up Monday. And the rules are as you know of roast dinners in your house, no talking boxing. Well that won't be the case. Yeah.

Is it an exception tomorrow? Yeah, Connor Ben's name. It's not gone down too well. But especially after what I went through because they saw that. I mean that's, they saw that. We saw. You physically changed during the height of day.

You look haggard. You look stressed. You look strained. I'm telling you. Well, it was tough. It was tough. But as someone said to me, a good friend of mine messaged me today, he said, Eddie, one great quote for you. When they go low, you go high.

And I thought, I like that. Which we can't dissect everything that Eddie said there. But the one thing I did find quite alarming was the fact that when he found out six or seven days earlier via email from a lawyer, which is no way to find out anything, if you don't mind me saying. It's not me taking size. That's just me being civilised. that he reached out then personally to Connor

and Connor refused this is Eddie's version to talk to we might hear a different version from Connor that I find really staggering yeah that's it's very disappointing isn't it really that he hasn't even had a conversation with him but what the frightening thing also Steve

that I think and I feel for British boxing is is this the start is this the start of fighters you know going over to Is it Zuffer? Yeah, Zuffer. Vegas. Although in fit, we have, there's been another

unconfirmed report, but from a decent American source that seems to have the inside track that the fight might be in Britain at the end of May. There's also another report that it's only a one fight deal. I mean, Eddie admits there, you know. Because we don't want to deprive

British fight fans of our fighters at the end of the day. And we've had that over the last two or three years with the soundies. Let's get it right. And it's not the criticisms of fact. Is it the start of something here? That's what worries me a little bit. But yeah, the whole situation, you know, Eddie Oen will get over it

because he's Eddie Earned and he's absolutely massive. Of course, he's the last fighters. But it's a disappointing situation and yes, not a lot of things surprised me in boxing, but that did. He really got me.

Because he's, like I say, Steve, he's probably earned a lot of money with Ed Ewan, and he probably, he was going to earn a lot of money anyway with the fights that Eddie O'Hoon was obviously going to get him.

So I don't know what the figure is, but it must be astronomical for him to jump ship. And I'm very surprised he hasn't even had a phone call with Eddie. A bit disappointed me. Well, as you know with boxing rich, and from your days, what you guys get is one of those secret things.

Unless you're, you know, we know what six round fighters make. We know what eight round journeymen make. Don't worry about that. But what you guys make as you're moving through area titles to Commonwealth titles to British titles, every now and again,

a purse will slip out. Like, for instance, you and I have spent thousands of hours on planes in hotels, mostly on motorways, going the wrong way. Go the wrong way. We're trying to go home. And I can tell you, how many fights do you have rich again? Pro fights?

Yeah. 29. So you had 29 pro fights. I can tell you, all the hours I've sat with you, I have never once said to you, what'd you get for fighting Joe? What'd you get for fighting X? What'd you get for fighting Y?

I've never asked you, because I know that's a, it used to be, and it should still be a sacred thing. Yeah, cool. What a boxer gets should be absolutely his big. isn't it? Absolutely. And I truly believe that, Rich. I would never ask you what you got. The only question I might ask you is, what did you get for your first fight? Because it's a novelty if you've got 600 quid and now you're making whatever you're making.

But I would never ask you, what did you get for that fight? Which would you get for that fight? Never do it. So we probably will never know what Connor's been offered. It's like asking a lady your age. You don't do that, Steve. Yeah, it's true. It is like, I said the Stacey heard one. I couldn't believe she told me her age. I went to see her. I said, Stace, how old are? She told me. I was stuck. done by that. Yeah, she's great stage.

She's great. She's a great job tonight. Right, Richie, I think we might be done. Okay, me. We've been in Nottingham.

9,000 people at the motor point and one of the most amazing ring entrances for the two of them. I think they both realized very early in the fight Lee Wood and Josh Warrington

that they not what they once were and boy, were they unbelievable when they were unbelievable. They've given us some amazing nights, some of the greatest nights have ever had ringside. If they both walk away now,

absolutely brilliant. I'll have a drink when I get back to my hotel at 2 o'clock in the morning. I'll toast it in haste of them walking away. The Connor Ben situation is what we used to say in Fleet Street when I was a newspaper man only. It's got legs that story. It ain't going away.

We'll hear more. Eddie Hearn, I thought was brilliant there. That's not me siding with Eddie Hearn. That's just me saying he was brilliant there. If I get the opportunity, if I can, I'll speak to Connor and I'll speak to him and find out maybe why he did it. It's been an emotional week.

It's been a long week. And there's more coming up this week. This next week, in theory, we get together with Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley who are fighting in May. Last week, earlier this week, we got together with Tyson Fury and Arsenal back, MacMoodov. And I had a run in with Gypsy Johnny Fury, one of my loyal friends. What kind of weeks are we delivering week after week after week? It's only February. I'll let you in a secret.

It feels like it's the last week in November. Richie, thank you very much. I've been Steve Bunn. And this has been Five Live Boxing. I'm Rich Hall, and this is Sports Strangest Crimes, presents Confessions of a Super Bowl streaker. When people ask me what I do, I say to them, well, by day or by night. The story of one man's mission to conquer the holy grail of streaking the Super Bowl.

Mark Roberts is too lively for his body. He's just like the entertainer. Mark pushes the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. No chance. It's really strict, but then the more thought about it. And I thought, hang on. What are you about? Sports Strangers Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl streaker.

Listen on BBC Sounds.