5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Celebrations, Controversy and a New Champion

Episode Date: February 9, 2026

Did Brandon Figueroa and his team go too far with their celebrations? And what’s next for Nick Ball? Barry Jones joins Buncey to analyse a lively fight in Liverpool, where Ball lost his world title after hitting the canvas twice in the 12th. Plus, as the fighters gathered at London’s Olympia last week to announce the MVP-promoted all-women’s card on 5 April, Buncey catches up with many of them.

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That's pockethose.com slash podcast for your two free gifts with purchase. Pockethose.com slash POD C-A-S-T. This is Five Live Boxing. Now going into last weekend, we had six British male world champions. Now we're down to five. Nick Ball lost his WBA featherweight title with a dramatic 12th round stop which lost to Brandon Figueroa in Liverpool last Saturday. We're going to talk about that on this show.

But don't worry, because in about six or seven weeks, we've got one particular Sunday afternoon evening when five British women will fight four world titles on one night. Yes, five in one night. Aye, aye, aye. That's a massive weekend. I'm Steve Bunce, and this is Five Live Boxing. So a bit later on, we'll be hearing from the five British women

in the four world title fights on the NBFRIV. TVP show during that ridiculous Easter weekend. And I'll tell you about that weekend once we hear from the different women. That seems like a long way off, but it's not. But before then, there'll be X, they'll be Y, they'll be Z. And obviously, just last weekend, as we know, it was Liverpool. It was Nick Ball's full defence of his world title. Barry, Barry Jones is with me, obviously.

Barry, it was a strange old night and it was a sensational. finish. Brandon Figueroa landing the type of punch that I'm not sure you can teach that punch and I'm not sure you can throw it twice in a fight

because people will read it but it was no matter what angle you look at it live or if you look at it again and again and again from the different angles it was sensational

12th and last round yeah and on the scorecards he didn't need it but on the night both corners felt that they had to win that last round just to make sure because you're a close

of them in your ring side, you're touching them? Did you get a sense of any urgency in the 11th? We're talking about the fire in a second. I thought, I think, you know, Paul Stevens is always pretty good in the corner, I think. He's always very, you know, very precise and calm with his fighters, yeah. He talks a lot, but I mean, he still gives him simple instructions. But he's calm and they know him.

So he's always good. And I thought the figure-a-role corner were really good, especially, you know, at the beginning of the fight, you know, and all the crowd were booing and stuff. Yeah. He was constantly... This is Manny Robles in the corner of Figueroa. He was constantly talking in the year of Brandon Figueroa.

Because even though Figuero is an experienced fighter, he said, no, a two-time world champion. Not three-time world champion. Maybe not experienced that. He hasn't traveled before. Yeah. So this is a long way to come away from home. And also, UK crowds are different, aren't they?

We know that. And it was a pretty full crowd. I thought he wasn't packed to the rafters, as you know. But he was pretty full. And the atmosphere was good. And he just kept talking, keeping him in his own thoughts, not getting wandered.

And I thought that was good. And certainly, you know, then being away from home, it was quite often, listen, we're not quite, you know, we've got up the pace now, these last three rounds, we've got to win them. And in the last round, they said, listen, you've got to go for it now. Like, even though he was, they, if they were,

they might have thought they were ahead, but they wouldn't have been confident, and if they would have known the cards, that the advice might have been different. Yeah. And there's an argument about, you know, the cards being, you know, being sort of called out, then they're in different parts.

I'll read you the scores of a can, Barry. 106, 103, twice. For Figueroa, going into the 12th and last round. And that includes the score by the British judge, Marcus MacDonald, brother, of course, to Jim McDonald, the Camden Caretaker. Did you just use to spy with Jim McDonald, didn't you? I was going to come back and I trained me, Jim for six, seven months, yeah. And his gym in Camden Town?

Was that one above the pub on the corner? It was called, what was it called? Was Herbie Hayden now here? Simpac, and then it was called the Crunk. Yeah, that's right, yeah, yeah. What was her behind it with you for that brief period? Not really. It was Toxoa and...

Talks Howie. Tackaloo. Tacklew. Tacklew. Yeah. No, have a Tee's. Danny Williams. Danny Williams was there?

Yeah, it was Danny Williams. Or watching Danny Williams punched the bag in his prime. Yeah. Was an absolute joy. Anyway, let's not be, no. The reason we got there was from Marcus. Marks Donald was the judge,

and he was one of the two judges that had Brandon Figueroa up going into the 12th round. The other judge who's from Monaco, Jean-Roberlain, who's been working since over 30 years in the business. He actually had Nick Ball up by five points going into that last round, which, you know, I wouldn't have been surprised if either one was up a round or two. But I couldn't see Nick Ball up by five points. So in Nick Ball's corner, and I wish I'd have been concentrating on Paul's Diversel, was he telling Nick Ball that he needed to go out and have an inflict a stoppage or at least knockdown. Well, the thing with Paul, I didn't hear exactly what he was saying.

The thing with Paul, he never panicked in the corner, so there's never like a magic urgency. It was like, you know, we've got to stay focus, got to stay focus. So they weren't sure. And I think one of the guys looked over to me and said, oh, you got it. And I think I won up, I think I won up, which I shouldn't have done that really, but I did. But then I was wrong. But again, the wide scorecards, when you've got a, when you've got a fight, that's, I mean, that's a problem with boxing, you get a crazy scorecard. Yeah.

And it screams corruption and, you know, inept and all these sort of things. But if you got, if everyone was really, them were very close. All of them were quite close. They were hard to score. One started fast, then one finished fast. Only three of the 11 rounds were unanimously scored

by the three judges. Only three of them. Eight rounds were mixed. So that, you can have a 12-0. Of course you can. Yeah. I mean, it would be ridiculous,

but you can theoretically. In a fight that's nip and tuck in every round. You've just gone, because the judge is meant to, and I've said this so many times, it's meant to be red corner, the start of the fight, A and B fighter.

And then at the end of that round, he's meant to forget about what happened the round before. That's just supposed to do. People argue that he shouldn't but he's meant to

and then with no bias you score the next round on its own merit and then that round good disappears you forget about that and his own merit you scored the third round

his own merit or that score oh who wins that round who wins that round if you can't get a winner as if you try your very best you can do a 1010 nobody likes 1010

but you can get a definite winner you can pick it that way and then the problem it goes down to is if you win a round close it's 109 if you win a wrong big

it's 109 and that's where people are trying to changed the scoring system. And I did this WBC tournament in Riyadh, and this Grand P, where they did do a scoring criteria. They had, they were open scoring, so after round

three and maybe two and four, they were six rounds, I see. So did you have fights that won't put 10 to seven without no downs? And also, also they had, they had, no way, you score the round like normal, and then you would give a, another scoring criteria to how well they won that round.

Wow. And then that would come, no, and that's irrelevant. But if you have a draw, on fights, then those rounds you won better than the other guy will come into play. And it sort of works, Steve, because then you haven't going to be gung-ho, because even a fighter like me could win a round

big, you know, could still win a fight by just throwing lots of punches. And rather than just being heavy punches, so it sort of worked, and even with the open scoring, it worked where people weren't just coasting. So, I mean, I thought that's the word about open scoring. I wouldn't you, if you're miles ahead, you've got to

dance around to be negative. And that will happen sometimes, but, so maybe there's the case that we need to be more open so we know what's going on. As fans and as pundits and commentators, but certainly it can be a close fight with wide scorecas. It just looks inept. And I couldn't see how that was that wide, in my honest opinion. Even though you had Nick Ball in front,

but I wouldn't see it was two rounds the other way to figure out. So let, without Paddy, winding up his finger and exhausted himself, getting a bit of exercise over there. I'll tell him, we'll be doing press ups in the corner next. Let's get back to the fight. So we're going into the 12th and final round. It's a smart enough crowd there. They know it's close.

It starts, the final round starts, and 20 seconds in, 27 seconds in, it looked to me, and I've watched it again and again, that Figueroa has worked out one shot, a Southport shot, sort of over-the-top kind of shot. He ducks down to the right,

almost like he closes his hand. He's got his right guard up protecting his chin in case he gets hit with a left-hook counter from Nick Ball because Nick Bull throws a nice left-left. left hook counters on nice left hooks. And he lets a shot go, which Nick Ball's turning into, and Nick Ball goes down face first. That's a shot, as I said at the start of the pod,

which seems like about two and a half years ago. As I said at the start, that's a shot that you can't throw twice because the guy will be wise to it. And it's a stunning, staggering, sickening shot. See, Figueroa boxed the whole fight. And this is why I thought Nick Ball was going to win. I think, listen, first of all,

there was always a danger that Figueroa was going to be, Because the only two defeats are on points and one of those was really close to a champion Stephen Ford. Just the way he fights, he's relentless. But it's not a fast pace but it's a non-stop pace. But I thought in his last couple of performances

he hadn't looked fantastic. Even with the win, you know, against Gonzalez, he didn't look great. And I thought, with all those wars, he's slowing down a little bit with the speed that ball has, that might play in ball's favour and I thought ball might win on points.

Otherwise, I thought it was a crazy match to take. Absolutely ridiculous match. Really? is a mandatory, he had no choice, but it's a real risky fight for him. And by the way, he hasn't had really an easy touch. I mean, Rios, uh, Doherty,

maybe. Donoghysotli, maybe. There's still proper fighters. Yeah, but a little bit past his sell by day, because a few years ago he was a super banter that made world champion for a little while, but maybe not big enough and strong enough for a ball, but still he's had some really hard fights. Yeah. He really has, Ford,

Vargas, Goodman, they've been really, they're really good tests there. And also, six, fights in less than two years. Six worldwide fights in less than two years. That's all we should be though. No, no, I appreciate that but that makes him rare, especially when you consider that there's a Vargas in there, there's a Ray Ford in there. That's a good going.

And that Sam Goodman. People under Raygold he is, Goodman. But I thought it's so fatigue places power by the shot like that. That's the whole point I was trying to get to, but a long way around. Is that he lands that shot and he did land that shot quite continuously throughout the fight. It had no effect. You feel it, but there's no effect.

But then you don't see it properly because and then because he was throwing himself he got caught. And it was quite alarming how quick he went and what heavy he went down actually. I don't think he'd get up. I think he did, mine.

But then he was, he half got pushed through the ropes. Yeah, he was done. He could bet it's that Steve Gray's in a real position there. For one second, Steve's about to stop it. You had to stop it. Once he went through the ropes, yeah. And what a win for Figaro.

You've got to say, you know, like traveling thousands of miles for the first time in someone else's backyard with his, be honest, if he loses, his career is sort of over because, you know, it's just, the wars he've had, and how dangerous he is,

but then he's not really a commodity to sell, you know, how do you sell us again another champion? Yeah. But now his world lights up. Bruce Carrington, oh brilliant was he the other night. You saw what happened to figure out in the small hours he got a phone call contacted by Turkey Alashake and invited him over to

to be part of the sole Canelo Valvarez, Rehant fight in September, which would be Mexico against the world. With Figuero was part of that. So just talk about one fight changing your life when you've already won a couple of titles. That was quite... But the amount of the fight in that division that he can choose from, which are brilliant fights. Fulton, the Trinity with Fulton for the start, no, because all of a sudden, the second fight with Fulton was an easy night for Fulton, relatively.

The first fight was very, very close. The first fight, no, what we've seen there, if you've got life in the... if you still got that vigor that he shows on Saturday. Certainly in the later rounds, because in the beginning, it looked like ball was having a good start. Some people were either quite level, but I thought he was three,

went up after four, but then he made ball work very, very hard continuously. So even though ball was having success and cleaner work, I thought, most of the time, that's why he had in my head. He was pulling the back, pulling it back, making you work hard than you want to work, and then come that later rounds,

you're exhausted, and that's why that punch had the effect. You were closer than I was, okay, obviously, let me ask you at the, you know, I do that thing at the end of the 8th, 9th, 10th, for Lentf, I'm trying to look in Nick Ball's eyes or I'm trying to look in anyone's eyes as they're going back to their corner.

Could you sense? I don't know the answer to this because I asked you on the night. Could you sense anything? As Ball went back to his corner at the end of the 11th, did you have any fears that he might struggle

to get through the 12th and last round? Because you could lie here like a lot of people do it and say, oh, I knew he'd get caught. I thought it was obviously a hard fight for him. Of course. Nick Ball's the sort of guy who takes the best of him long too. Yeah, of course, yeah.

Because he expels so much energy. Because he's shorts, and by the way, he didn't know, he's short than me, which is always a plus. But he bends, he uses his legs. So, and recently he gets that speed, he closes the gap quite quick. That's been so effective for a short fighter where the range hasn't been a problem for him,

and he's boxed some tall fighters, unbelievably tall fighters. But it's not a problem because he accelerates with his feet, but that engages those big muscles, which takes energy. So he tires, and people don't realize fitness, you're not getting tired. Fitness is a recovery.

So you can get tired. But if you're fit, you recover. And that's real fitness. And he has that. He trains that way. So he doesn't mind getting tired. He knows he's got something in the tank to recover. Yeah, because you got an eight fitness where he's trained all his life,

doing the same thing that he can just pull out the bag. But at some point, using those muscles and fatigue in a long distance fight is real. Yeah. You get, you know, your legs are getting heavy and you start slowing down a bit. And your vision goes a little bit. You don't see things as quick. But did you sense that as he came out? No, not at all. As he stood up for the 12th?

Because, I mean, I watched it. Then I watched it back. And I've had to look at it again and thinking, okay, take the head off that knows the result. And look at him as he comes out for that 12th round. And I didn't get any sense that he could. I mean, I felt like he needed a second window. I mean. In a second win, but it's not being.

In respect that, like, figure, I thought, so Darren back was working alongside. He thought, he's so good, Darren. Darren's so good. Since I've been working with him, I've shathing him up. But he thought ball won the 11th round, and I thought Figaro won the 11th round. I think the judges were split as well. In fact, I know the judges were split.

But so I felt that Figuero had that momentum in his favour, and ball needed to really do what Figuero did, land a good shot early and try and get some confidence back. Because it's a funny thing when you're tired. You can be knackered, but if you land with a good shot or a flurry, or you have a bit of success, the endorphins kick in, and you almost forget, you're tired for a while,

and you can grab a 30 second, 20 second burst of real quality work before you get tired, before you remember that you're knackered. So, again, so that's just showing our mental and psychological the game can be. But it worked the other way. I figure it all just, I think he just come out in the same vein. I'm confident here.

I'm on the front foot. I've got to just keep the pressure on this kid. And he didn't need to. He just landed a good shot and he was done. There were three ways to look at the end of the fight from Figueroa's point of view, from Nick Ball's point of view, and from the melee that needs to be least addressed

that took place in the ring. Let's deal first of all with Figueroa and his people because I know from what I saw and what I've watched again and again and I understand their exultant, joyous celebrations, Barry. They're perfectly entitled to those because they've got a man that's come over, they're in the awake, very much in the away corner

and they're against the home favourite in front of a good crowd, noisy crowd that's, you know, it's been giving them a bit of stick. However, they also were giving Steve Gray a lot of stick throughout the fight. A lot of abuse was aimed at the referee. A lot of abuse was aimed at the referee. Now, that's all one, that's all gamesmanship. That's their job, though, in the corner, is that really fair?

No problem, but the bottom making is they weren't a group of choir boys who suddenly celebrated over the top at the end. They were doing what any other corner would do in any other situation. Don't get me wrong. And as we have to say sometimes on air when someone picks up a swear word in the corner, we're all big boys and girls here, all big boys and girls here, and we're in a very much of big boys and big girls business, okay, the boxing. Let's get that absolutely straight.

And we all need thick skin, and most of us have got thick, thick skin. But I thought their celebrations at the end were really, really over the top. And also... I disagree with you. Oh, no, no, no, that's what you're entitled to. But they were calm down. But I understood why they... I understood the first exaltate, the jumps over the ropes.

That's great. but I think they could have calmed down a bit quicker. Let's deal with them first. You disagree with that. I mean, I said it on there. Because everyone wants to say anything. I understand that. No one's going on here.

But he's got to win, but no one thought he was going to win. Some people back in the medical thought he was going to win, of course. And everyone knew it was a dangerous fight. But he was the underdog. He's come a long way. And again, I think his career was on the line at that level if he loses that fight. And it was a hard fight. The way he wins with a stoppage like that.

I'll take on board. I mean, that's a nasty answer you has to jump on the car. No, all I was saying on the night is, if he's goading someone in the, if he's going to some of the ring sides. But they may have been. Hang on a minute. If he is, then understandably why.

Because I remember when I got battered my last fight, my brother was trying to get in the ring. I mean, the guy afraid of us who'd battered me. He didn't do anything wrong. He didn't, he didn't jump around. He's crying, I think, or whatever, with joy or laugh. I'm not quite sure what it was.

But my brother, so, though, it's your family, isn't it? They don't care. They just want to, he just beat me. brother up, that's what they think. And I understand that with the family and friends of Ball, but because that's a family, that Jim, the Everton Red Triangle, was a family, remember. But then someone told me,

and I, it's not just right, that his people were behind them. So he was celebrating that his people. Oh, okay, that's interesting. So it may have looked like he was rubbing it in, but he may have just been holding it out to his partner at ringside. But saying that, that was opposite me. And some of the people, some of his people, some of his people, to my left, so I don't know how true that is. But either way, he's just jumped to the closest, I think, the closest

ropes and jumped up, celebrating, like, you know, like a lunatic Yeah, you know, you just done it. I've got no problem with that. With no thought of the other fighter. And by the way... I got no problem with that, because you're celebrating. I don't think Nick was... I don't think Nick was on the floor, Steve.

No, he was standing. He was in Paul's arms. Yeah, you know, and obviously, a little bit, didn't know where he was, possibly, but I mean, he wasn't laying down, and none of that. He wasn't like, you know, no paramedics have to get in. It wasn't one of those situations.

I don't think he's anything... Unless he said something to people ringside, well, they might be saying something to him, by the way, so he might have... Yeah, yeah. Two-way straight. If they see them doing first and he's come back, then he's entitled to do that.

He's the one who fought. But either way, coming in the ring and trying to attack a fight in his corner is, I don't pick the finger to anybody, but that's punishable. And the British box will probably will have to. Yeah, because the footage is there. Otherwise, no fighters want to come over here.

They've got to come over here. This is teammates of Nick Balls in the ring at the end. And we know where they are. We can see they're there. They look like they're involved in a bit of a melee. It looks like someone aims a boot. That's to be discussed by the board.

Sorry, Steve. And these are natural reactions. Yeah. It's a fight game. It's all close. I understand. I understand it all. Yeah.

But it doesn't make it right. There's still rules. And that's what it is. And he's allowed to celebrate. And we've seen worse celebrations than that. Oh, far worse. Far worse. And he didn't stand over him and laugh.

No, no, no. It wasn't disrespectful. I don't think. In my opinion, that's what I think. I might be wrong. By the way, sorry, Steve. I'm on fire tonight. You are, son.

But his back was to me, so I didn't know why he was saying what he was doing. But on my first impression and feeling was he did nothing wrong there, they just reacted badly if their friend getting hurt or family member getting hurt. I'm not talking about disrespect or respect. I'm talking more about it's a potentially volatile situation. And from my understanding, from talking to a couple of people, there were a lot of requests for them to calm down by the security. And also, Brandon Figueroa did apologize later on and say it wasn't disrespect.

we were just excited. Yeah, but you just won a world title, but don't celebrate, please, because, you know, because the crowd might get upset. I mean, I think it's don't celebrate excessive. Even that, though, don't celebrate excessive. Yeah, which is measured, yeah. I was going to say the .

I've said, no, you'll be that out. There you go through for a fight. The training, fair about your life, dedicating your whole life to this ball, which he has, by the way, and the sacrifice you make along the way to hopefully be, hopefully getting close to winning something.

But to be a world champion, and to be there and be there again and to earn some money that's all about feeding your family all our rubbish but ultimately the goal is to be a world champion to do it away from home as an underdog

against a guy who people are saying like is an actual wrecking ball which is his nickname and do it that way in such a dramatic fashion it was all acceptable there's no excessive celebration there

you're just celebrating and if Nick Ball would have knocked him out would have been the other way around and you couldn't and you wouldn't blame him for that either Nick Ball and knocked him out somewhere and he'd get him from his home crowd against a brilliant fighter It's just that perhaps, it's a bit like a stoppage.

You're trying to stick up for the reactions. It's like, I'm just trying to plot an alternative course. So sometimes with a stoppage, I'd like it to have been three seconds earlier. But I've still got a stoppage and it was still on time, okay? But the analogy I'm making is that I would have just maybe, maybe. I take on what I think you say, maybe just had their sense. celebrations, five seconds shorter. But in the end,

we didn't even have a right, we didn't even have... I don't want to fall up with you, but that's rubbish. Let me throw something at you then. What if... What about this? No, no, no,

come around and kick you. Let me throw this at you, Barry. What if it had gone to points that round? What if Nick Ward won that round comfortably? He still loses the fight. What would have happened then? Because if they think, if they thought, if the crowd...

got slightly involved and everybody was very up, you know, very up and screaming. And he celebrates the same way, which she would have? Yeah. She could have, but she should, by the way. Yeah, yeah, by the way, yeah. My only issue with, my only, him jumping on the ropes doing somersault

and screaming and crying and cheering and going, I did it, and even going, I told you all to the crowd. It upsets the crowd, but that's life sports. It's not so that's what it is. I mean, there's got to be some little decorum and the family be gutted, of course you are. Yeah. And I understand that, and people do get angry, I understand that.

People can't go and lay hands on the opposite team. Well, I'm not happy what you're saying. Oh, can I just come over and punch you in the mouth? I mean, you wouldn't feel it. I don't know if they had. But I mean, what I'm saying is, I mean, where does it end? And I understand, by the way, they all seem like good people. Yeah.

Like the ball people. They all know all of them. Like Andrew King's a little kid and be seen him in the ring. Maybe do something. Maybe not. Not quite sure. But either way, like, unless he's literally going, ah, laughing at them. Yeah.

Right. Then he's entitled to celebrate that we feel. fit. And the guy wasn't on the floor in danger. I mean, come on. I mean, it means something to you in that moment. That's the biggest moment of your life. It means something. I know he's one of all the talk before, but he forgets about that. That's a moment.

You've put a strong argument forward, Barry. He's put, mate, he's sacrificed, like Nick Ball, I've sacrificed a lot of his life to get there again. And even in that training camp, making weight, all the things, it's hell. And that's what you celebrate. And you celebrate the, and that was a great win with a great celebration. He did not, I fast as I was he did nothing wrong.

Okay, I would just reserve... I knocked on the Liverpool again, on that tiny little bit. That's the year, you can't go to Liverpool again. So going forward then, I'm expecting the ball to call a meeting or whatever on their first Tuesday, the month, whatever it is,

maybe start looking at chastising some people, which would be, again, I know you shouldn't do it, but then... No, you've got to. I'm not saying you've got to ban people and fine people. I'm not saying that. Or maybe you do.

I'm not saying anything else, but people need to be... chastised at some level because otherwise like I said I might have said in my mumbling you won't get fighters come over here yeah you go with an if you win though you get like you don't you don't get out alive you can't you know to celebrate I mean come on back to the Hagla days Haggler minta whatnot that kind of fear then that the Americans had of going to Britain I've lost my brother being knocked out in an amateur box I mean it's horrible I've seen the kids celebrate and I wanted to batter him you know and you feel that

way I understand I know what it's like I've been there by the way. And my family's seen it at me on a higher level. I mean, it's horrible for everyone who, when you love somebody it's horrible seeing that. But it's the sport we're in. Because also we've been on the other side where they've been battered.

So you know, not so much of me, but I mean, you know, it's so like... And also, as you say, no one's standing over someone on the floor. We saw T.F. Ema Lopez once on Box Nation where he did that dance over a guy just knocked out. Yeah, no. That deserves a slap wrong with head. It's good to have a... Even then you can't do that, though. I mean, you're not, no, no, because it's not part of it.

So they need to be, well, listen, I know what you feel, but still, like, you can't do that. You just can't do it, like. So, Barry, so, so Nick Ball, okay, he didn't do any interviews of anybody as far as I can make out. He left the, left the ring, left the venue, went home. And as I said earlier on, that was his sixth world title fight in less than two years, which is going some. And three or four of them really hard, really good opponents. I mean, four, if you include Brandon Figuero, are really good.

I don't think there was any substandard opponents. inside that six. You know, a lot of people have that kind of thing. Were there any rumours in the week about weight? Were there any rumors

in the week about anything? And so if not, what does Nick Ball do? I didn't think, I didn't hear it. I don't say any words, but I didn't hear anything that there was any sort of

controversy or anything like that or bad builder. He's boxing at a level which he has been that, you know, that he's just, you know,

the little things make a big difference. And that's all he was. You got people who could fight that. Nick Ball's still a fantastic fighter, who could win a world title tomorrow, by the way. And I think he'll come back and he will win a World Tile. He's an exciting fight to watch.

That makes him a better fight at that time. He's a marketable fighter. You want to see him. He's always an exciting fight. And the champions won't be clamoring to beat him. By the way, they're all fantastic fighters. But I mean, he's good enough on his day to beat anybody. So, and Figaro, by the way.

And they can have a rematch and you can beat Figuro and they'll get beat again. But, I mean, that's, I mean, at the highest level, that's what it is in sports. You win, you lose. You win, you lose. lose. I mean, people, like, we were talking about the best fighter from Liverpool, and then John Conte came up, and then you'll beat John Conte's defense defenses if you get,

if he gets past this, and I'm going, but like, back then there wasn't one easy touch, was there? That's why most boxers didn't keep their titles for more than two defenses, because there was no easy touches, because boxing were all the world level, meant you were generally world class, not engineered through an organisation like I was. I mean, so, I mean, it's, it was different, but like, he's had

that sort of reign as a champion, but every fight, even the easy defenses. Is that a 70-star reign? Rodney Rears and Tiji Dohey, right, were fighters who were a little bit past a cell-by day. But still decent fighters, I'm about that, yeah. Good, understandable defenses, but they were the only ones you could argue

to say were easier matches. All the others were hard. They were. Barry, you know what? It's always a pleasure of delight. I tell you, we haven't done this for a long time where we've just looked at one fight, looked at the build-up to it,

looked at the action itself, looked at the fallout, good fallout, and then moved on without having loads of loads of interviews in the middle. It's quite good. It's like an old-school pot this. Liverpool got this reputation as a fight city. Because they've produced brilliant fighters. Even ones who didn't win more tiles, brilliant fighters.

I mentioned John Kennedy, but the Smith family alone. That's just like an unbelievable story. But I've always been underwhelmed with, not always, but quite often with the attendances. And the atmospheres. I haven't always been great. And you've been at me, but they've gone, hang on, it's a fight city, but where are they all?

Yeah, where are there? Yeah, well, yeah. Brilliant, Saturday. Yeah. The crowd were brilliant. Not just for the main fight, some of the undercard fights. Yeah.

They're quite clever with the amount of scouse fighters that are on the mill. Scouse fighters with stories. No, no, no, no. Like Steve Clark, he sells lots of tickets. He was on before the main broadcast. I think they stayed, you know, and that helps. I mean... Well, I think they're boxing fans.

How about that? How about we have a city? They might be supporting one guy, but they're boxing fans. But it felt not just because of the history of their fighters, it felt like a fight-s city. for the fans on Saturday, and I was really happy about that. Now, Barry, you and I are going to look at the night of women's championship boxing

and the arrival of Jake Paul and Nekisa Bidarians' company, most valuable promotions. They land at Olympia on Sunday, the 5th of April. Four world title fights, five women involved. That's what we're going to be doing next, Barry. Don't go anywhere, my son. The best B2B marketing gets wasted on. on the wrong people. So when you want to reach the right professionals, use LinkedIn ads.

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about what happened and why it's called Easter. We're not going to do that. We don't do biblical stuff here in the boxing pod. But as a boxing weekend, it is, as the expression goes, close to biblical. Lauren Price fights on the BBC on the Saturday in Cardiff, near enough, her

hometown, and on the same night at the O2, and it's sure to be rip-roaring in their 50th contest, in a fight that's being called 100, Del Boy Chisora fights Deonti Wilder 26 hours later, Olympia, MVP, that's Jake Paul and Co, they arrive,

four world title fights, five women. So in the space, in the space of about 27, 28 hours, three massively televised shows, one on the BBC, one on DeZone, and one on Sky. Think about that. And I like a bank holiday fight. I thought you were going to say, I like a bank holiday break. When was Wardy Clark?

Was that Easter as well? Yeah. It was, yeah. On that Sunday, what a fight? I wasn't going to go. Remember, I wasn't going to go? I said, actually, I'll come.

That was just brilliant. What a night that was. I mean, yeah. So I love a Sunday night fight, but I mean, what are we again? What are we again? But, I mean, it's good to see the, it's good to see investment back in the women's boxing.

I think it felt like it dipped the last sort of 18 months. Dallas, to be polite, it did dip. Yeah. You know, it fell right on the radar. Let's not mess around. And listen, and like we've seen, you know, when the matchmaking is right, yes.

there are good fights and that's all the matters I mean that's and I think certainly for Sunday there are some really good matches there so let me go through this I might miss one or two out but I'll do best I can so Ellie Scotney defends an IBFWBC and WBO Superbant and Weight Tidal against Mellie Flores who's the WBA champion

so that's undisputed that's not top of the bill top of the bill is Caroline Dubois who will be defending a WBC lightweight title against Terry Harper who holds the WBO version. Then Chantel Cameron will be fighting for the vacant WBO super well-to-weight,

i.e. light middleweight title, against Micaea Collick-Skova. And then, and this is a fight that's really grabbed me, Irma Garcia, 44 years of age. We'll be defending a second defense of her IBM super flyweight title against a girl called Emma Dolan. Now, Emma Dolan, of course, is that girl that pulled my shirt in 2012 when I was on a DLR going to watch Katie.

Taylor at the Olympics and said, oh, mister, you're Steve Bunce. So I spoke to her mom, got her on my BBC London show, and I stayed in touch of it. Back then she was just a little amateur box. Then she boxed for England. Then she boxed for GB. Then she won the British title and defend it. And now she's fighting for a world title. She's a grown-up kid of 27.

She actually looks about 15 now. Give her a dudes. It's a good note. When do you want to start with those four, Barry? Let's start at the top of the bill. I mean, I was going to start with Eddie Scott. He was my favourite fighter. No, but deal with the top of the build.

But I think, yeah, I think it's nice and spices now. I think Caroline Dubois versus Teddy Harper. I think, I understand what Dubois is saying, that this happened who's causing the rift. But she's just trying to use her experience. And mature, it's only four or five years old, didn't she? But I think just trying to... Four years?

Old woman out of the whole situation. Yeah, talking down to a little bit. Like, yeah, yeah, go on, you threaten me, don't worry about it. I think that's making Caroline a little bit nasty, a little bit more volatile, which is not a bad thing. Because she is aggressive, Caroline.

And the strength that she had, is quite unique for the wronged out weight. Yeah. And Teddy Harper, who's a very, very good boxer and very, very good on her feet, has in the past crumbled under pressure.

Yeah. And let's make a note to that, I think, but, but, and she moved up in weight, and when she won a wall title a super,

Walter, yeah, which is the old, like middle. Yeah. But never looked really, she looked like she filled into the weight, but she didn't have the strength.

No. Then when she went back down to the lightweight to box, um, the W. champion in the time, which was Rihanna Dixon in Sheffield. She suddenly looked like a monster.

She looked. She looked and really good. Yeah, I'll give her that. But I'm not sure how good she looked and how bad Dixon was. That's the thing with that. Because Dixon's a novice. That doesn't mean bad.

And she never showed up at all. But I mean, but also, I would say Harp and never allowed her into the fight. So that's important. She old woman, Riana Dixon out of me. Don't worry about that, yeah. But you'd have to make her an underdog,

if I can't do it. You'd have to make her an underdog against Caroline Dubois who's not only a good box. She punches hard. And she wants to hurt you. You can see it in her face. She wants to get it done to business. By boxing standards, by female boxing standards,

she's a lethal puncher. She's stopped five of her 12. So by boxing standards. She's not the monster in that division, though. No, she's not. Well, we think that Turhan would be, wouldn't you? You'd think Turham would be, but after that last fight with Turhan last weekend or two weekends ago,

oh gosh, that was. But this is good, though, because Turhan looked like the destroyer. Yeah. She's the IBF lightweight champion. No. Foles apart a little bit. You know, she fell out of her coach in Newcastle-Barre. She was arguing with her coach, and they left the ring separately. And I bet you she has a different person in her corner

because she boxed like an absolute outrageous novice throughout that fight. But she always does. Yeah, I know. She's not worse than normal. Power gets her through, but I mean, but she hits hard. So Calland Dubai hits hard, yeah. But Calend Dubai got better shape and better form, so she moves beyond the solid fundamentals,

which makes it really, really hard to beat. while it's still, arguably still the best division. Anyway, let's hear from Caroline. I spoke to all of the fighters last week. I went to the press conference at Olympia. She believes that all the animosity is, you said there,

is from Terry and not from her. She's the one getting personal, saying, I don't care about the belts. I want to beat up, Carolyn. She's a pathetic person, you know. I look at her and I think a weakling, you know, you see the run of the litter, the run of the pack.

Did you ever think of what happened? Because I didn't. I thought that there would net, somehow you and Terry, I know you're different promoters for a while. I just didn't think it would ever happen. Did you believe in it? I did. I did. I knew that when she was fighting, Rianne Dixon, I said it.

I said it live. You can find the interviews. I said it. I believe she would win the fight. She's a war champion. So I knew when she was going into that fight she was going to win. I knew the only thing that would prevent her from winning is the lack of confidence, but she was able to overcome that night.

And this is a massive night for British women's boxing. Five British women in four world title fights, all those belts. Yes. And you're at the top of it. Yes. You're a big gang. You're a big friendly gang. I mean, obviously you want to beat Terry Harbour, but you're a big powerful gang.

And you're at the top of it. You're the captain. Thank you. You're the marshal of the ship. I appreciate that. It's amazing. I think it would have been hard for MP to decide who was going to headline. But they suck with me.

They believed in me. They put me ahead of this bill, and it's for me to entertain. I love this. You know, I love it. You see some people and they shy away from it. I'm not like that. I am a professional boxing. I will love the purity of boxing always and forever.

But I am an entertainer and I'm here to entertain. You know what's interesting, Barry, last December, when Caroline did the deal of MVP and she rushed out to Florida to fight under Jake Ball and Anthony Joshua Undercard, defended her title won all 10 rounds, which is what she's done so many times. She said to me then, because Terhan had that great win against Beatrice Ferreira earlier than my...

Like two weeks earlier. and you and I were in Monaco. So I was ringside for that. They didn't ringside for her fight there. And she pulled me aside out there. And she said, Steve, I can beat her easily. Talking about Turhan, this is before Terhan looked dreadful in the last defence.

Steve, I can beat her easy. She was absolutely convinced. Anyway, Barry, also grabbed hold of Terry. Well, let's just hear from Terry. Listen, by the way, I've always had a sauce spot for Terry Harper. Because she's really had to graft her way. You know, she was a fan watching Katie Taylor. Then a year later, she was on the undercard of Katie Taylor.

I like those. kind of stories. Okay. Anyway, here's Terry. Here's Terry Harper talking to me. This week,

Caroline's had her fun. The build-up on fight week, she'll have fun again. But come fight night. That's when I'll have my fun. When I look at your record, I was talking to Ellie Scotany

about her, talking to a few people about it. You've got a record like an old-fashioned mowprok, you know, wins, losses, starting an obscurity,

making next to nothing. Then you get a world title fight. You're up in the stands. I mean, you've got, your records like no other female British boxer in this country. You've done it the absolute hardest and the longest way.

Yeah, no handouts. No world titles delivered to my door. I've had to fight current world champions for him. Different weights? Different weights. Again, like I said in the press conference, if I was to do my career again,

I wouldn't be jumping up to them silly weights. I would have rebuilt it lightweight. But, you know, again, it's all experience. And I'm here saying the word experience again, and people probably stick hearing it. It's in my favour. I've probably experienced everything you can as a fighter. I've broken my hand in a fight. I've had cuts. I've been stopped. I've had stoppages. I've had fights. You get cancelled the morning of the fight. So everything.

And that's under my battle and I'm taking that into the ring on fight night. What does Caroline Dubois do best? What would you say is her best strength for assets? What she's done today? The talk is. No, not today. No, that's it. That's it. She's got the torch. She's good. No, I'll be honest. I were a fan of Caroline. When she first turned over, I think, yeah, it's good style. But the more you watch, the more you see,

there is a pattern to the way she fights. And I do think my work rate, my engine, my fitness outworks around the night. So Caroline Dubois, Caroline defending her WBC lightweight title, Terry Harper defending her WBO lightweight title. That's the main event. However, many people believe that the fight for the undisputed Ellie Scotney, the Queen of Calford, defending her IBF, WBC, WBO,

against May Ellie Flores, who will be defending her WBA version at Super Bantampton. This fight has been on, off, suggested, talked about for an awful long time. Ellie Scott is still only 11 and 0, Barry, but she's been fast-tracked from the start. Let's get it right. She's brilliant, Steve.

Yeah. I mean, as a person, by the way, I have no relevance, but I want to just say that. It's a bonus. It's a bonus. And by the way, a brilliant pundit and a brilliant commentator. I mean, I'll lose my job when she decides to get into this business. She is.

I mean, she knows the game. I mean, I love talking to her about boxing because she doesn't just do it. She understands it. She studies it. She loves it. Yeah, she really does it. And it's showing in her performances. I mean, she was Women's Fighter of the Year last year.

She didn't get it with the Ring Magazine, unfortunately. But she should have been. She should have been. She was brilliant. She did everything right. They went away from home to win it. And the manner of me, she's winning it as well, with just technical progress.

So, strength. She's making really strong girls look at very average. She's making strong women look average. I just can understand that she's not stopping people, because she looks like she can. She's got solid legs, right? She's solid. And she turns into shots.

She's a lot of stuff, you know. She positions her feet. Yeah, but it might come. And I mean, but she... Might come and she moves up the feather. That extra few pounds. This might release the actual hour. Well, I think she should stay on super.

Now because I think, you know, she gets, they just presume she wins. And I fancy it the win, but there's never, not a given. It's the undisputed title. Yeah, cool. You never know. But she's going to be the favourite, not just because it's home, but also because technically she's that good. But Skyny Nicholson's on a super bandit mate.

Yeah. That's a really good fight to make. It's a hard fight, to be fair. I think, I think Scott Nicholson is a better super bandit than she was a featherweight. Even though she won a title of Federate, I think she looks better. It's a really good. Because she looks stronger. Yeah.

But she still has those long, massive long levers to be negative and elusive when she wants to be, which makes it hard of something like Ellie to get in close and work away. So, you know, to have that success she normally has with in and up with her feet, she's got to be more slidier than bouncy. Wow. So it's pretty. You're not a crazy thing, Barry, don't you? This is a bit of sort of South London knowledge, you know, obviously Sky's base at Alan Smith's Gym. Yes, right, yeah, yeah. And Sky lives, sorry, and Ellie lives in Catford. As the crow flies, they might sleep in two separate beds, no more than about two miles away from each other. I love that. I know, I'll You remember when React Paul was fighting all those South Londoners?

Yeah, I know, yeah. So suddenly, and what's his face? Craig, Craig Richards, fighting, you know, fighting all those other South Londoners. And they all lived in the same postcode. I find that's great. So there's a real funny sort of little, little tab to that. So I think, you know, Erd's staying down there. I mean, she might want to move up, but I mean, she could stay down a little bit longer

and get that, you think that would be a big match with big attention. Yeah. And might be a good few quids for all of them, except if they can make that. match with cross-promotion, of course. We never know. But either way, she, I think the fight at the night's going to, on paper will be Dubois versus Harper,

but performers of the night, yet again, might very well be from Ellie Scotland. Anyway, I spoke to Ellie last week. You made all sorts of packs and all sorts of stuff, and some of it were even recorded. And I asked her what she knew about my Ellie Flores. I know a fair bit. I was aware of her because she beat a very good champion.

And I always saying, although I have a height advantage, that's a strength of hers. She plays that into her game plans, etc. She's relentless. She's non-stop. She's a Mexican. That in itself brings another layer in another fight. And we're fighting for every belt.

And I think that's even more dangerous. And I always laugh because I'm like, we joke around. I think you've been known about my nan, we say complete the collection. And I've been ticking them off. And I'm like, wow. I laugh. And I said the other day, like, Nan, we're on the last one now. That adds even something even more pressure to myself, bans, if I'm honest with you.

So I know I've got my hardest opponent in front of me. and I've got to be the best of myself and I will be. So, I mean, you've had frustrating times where fights fell through, then you couldn't take this flight for this reason, then another fight was on the board, on the card and it fell through. So even for someone like you who's undefeated with those belts, it's still not easy road, is it? I mean, it might get easier now,

but it's still not been an easy road to get to where we are here today. Even getting to Olympia today, we had a madness, so I feel like a... But that's a transport system for you. I am a transport person, so we always take the long way, the cheaper way. But I always say I set up on the stage Doing it the right way It might be a bit longer But I think it sits better

And it suits me a bit more So I've gone like I say From champion to champion to champion And we're on the final step now And that doesn't often happen With men or women No certainly not with a boxed for a vacant belt And I will stand on that

And I believe that April the 5th When I become on dispute of champion I've earned every bit of that So I think that stands more Where are you in the women's Global pound for pound In your opinion?

You tell me, Bunts I'd have you ridiculously high. I mean, the Americans might not have you in the top 20, but that's because they're Americans. And I mean, it's the truth. And there's some Japanese and there's some Mexicans out there. But no, I'd have you way up there. Do you know what?

Even before winning the fourth belt. It's all opinions, right. And I think the way I kind of, I'm not brush, I'm not loud. I do my stuff and sometimes I can get overlooked because you do it in the quiet sort of way. But I think it's doing it the way that suits me and my character. But if one, but if ever you have, an opponent that did get under your skin

and that could be full, that could be full, don't steal my lines. You're predictable, it's like a book, we've got the same lines. You'd go full, Catford. Yeah, I think it'd come out of me. Yeah, I always believe, like, although my opponent's a world champion, no one really knows her,

and I feel sometimes when they've got a bigger profile, they can be less of a fight, but because they talk and there's noise behind it, you get noticed. So, you know, after this fight, who knows what will be next, but that's what will come. So that's Ellie Scotney against Mali-Lorez.

That's for the undisputed super bandom weight title. undisputed, that's not bad. Anyway, Shantel Cameron, interesting Shantel Cameron. She's going to be challenging for the vacant WBO super well-to-weight title. I know I've got to stay super well-to-weight, but I'm still struggling with super-wilterweight. So she's fighting for the, basically for the WBO light middleweight title against Michaela Kota Scover, who's unbeaten in 13 fights, two draws. And talking to Chantel, Barry, she's just...

Well, let's hear from Australia away. Because when I was talking to, just basically the gist of it is that it's about more than titles. I'm in a very good place now where I feel like I've gone beyond boxing in a weird kind of way. Like, I feel like I'm going to be such a good advisor for the next generation because I feel like my journey's been for a reason. Because it's not all been smooth, isn't it? Yeah, it's not. And the good, the bad is for a reason. And I think my reason is to give the next generation good advice where,

to say, like, the bad times that happen to me, the bad things I've made and, like, the outcome and how it feels to, like, just think about your honesty. Do you know what I mean? Like, I just feel like I'm going to be a very good advisor. It's amazing, really, how little advice there is available for people. It's all word of mouth. So if a young pro, a 19, 20-year-old turns professional, like, you know, I don't know, little Emma Dolan that's on the bill here. Who does she call? Who does she call? There's no, like, there's no, like, hot number, is there? She's just got to call friends. That's what, yeah, that's what it is. And I feel like, now for me, it really is more than belts, and that's why I want to do the three minutes. some people are pro three minutes

some people are against three minutes but I wanted it for years anyway but even me doing three minutes is hopefully little M-Odoin was saying she wants to do three minutes as well and she's got an engine as well as this thing there you go like it's the next generation coming through that maybe they're going to be saying

I want to do three minutes for world titles and it's just I think it's beyond belts now for me did you turn pro before the three-threes came in for women or after the three three just after just after just and obviously would have loved to do three-frees in the amateurs.

Because you did four- twos? I'd done four-two, so it would have suited me. So as I turned pro, three-free is coming for the amateurs, and I thought, oh, you're kidding me. Because some of the 21-year-old amateurs now, they've had five years of three-threes. Yeah, and as well, that's the thing with three-minute rounds

is when them amateurs come into the pros, they're going back to two, so I think it's going backwards. So you're going to pick up another world title when you fight here. What do you know about your opponent? To be honest, I don't really look too much into my opponents and that's not being arrogant or disrespectful. I'm just the way you are. I'm just laid back.

I know that as long as I focus on me, I turn up on the night, I do as I'm told in the gym, I listen to my tactics, I'm going to win. So all respect to whatever, but I'm not really concerned about what she's doing or what she's like, what she's done, what a record is. I just got to turn up. And that's literally not being disrespectful at all. That's just the way I do things. So, very, the first thing to say, obviously, is that it is three,

she is doing three minute rounds, 10 threes, but she is doing three rounds. Absolutely, she's got it. The WBO have agreed to it as opposed to not being part of the show. I've never asked, have you your opinion on three minute rounds for women. I don't think I have, because women are scared,

I think a lot of female boxers don't want to say really what they think, but that's not over here, not there and I'm not pointing fingers. I think my opinion is irrelevant because I'm not a female boxer. I am a boxer, and I know the men But you work in the business and report. No, what I say is, I know that.

I mean, yeah, so please give us an answer. I mean, I don't, no, what I mean is, men weren't given the, weren't allowed to choose three or two minutes. It was just three minutes, that's what it was. But women, no, they want three minutes. If they're all, if they're in a unison, then they all want three minutes,

then the majority outweighs the monology, then three minutes it should be. Unless it's some sort of massive health. Does women's boxing improve with three minute rounds? I'm not quite sure. I mean, the thing with, women's boxing, and at the highest level is fantastic, but there's still a massive golfing

quality. Like they're out in lower weight. There's only six women, seven women, eight women, ten women worldwide at the most. When it's good, it's good, when it's bad, it's bad. I think there's a big gap, there's sometimes, the reason when they get world title shots quicker is because there's not the strength in depth, which means you can get good if you're not doing it all the time and competing all the time with other people. That's why, you know, there's an argument

about Katie Taylor's the greatest woman of all time over the undefeated Chris Shield, because there's more so many, there's more fighters in the Lightway Division than there are in all the divisions from middle way up, middle way down. So Katie's fault 12 or 15 top, top-notch fighters and Koresa's built two or three.

Of course, of course. To get better with. And we're obviously Christian Shields, boxing people who maybe have massive experience. Two or three great, good opponents and the other's not so good. Not even that maybe. But either way, yeah.

So yeah, that's the truth. Though she is brilliant, but that's what it is. And not her fault. But I would, so, three minutes. You're going to see a bigger golf, I think, in the quality. But you'll get more stoppages. And to help sell sports, people want explosive stuff,

like brilliant goals, great tries, you know what I mean? Wicked baskets and touchdowns and knockouts. I mean, so... And I don't know what people are going to feel about that in this day and age. It doesn't matter if it's a man or woman getting knocked out, but time will tell with that. I remember, because I'm saying that,

because I remember Natasha Jonah said a few years back, I don't think the public are ready to see women get knocked And she said that. I'd be right. Not me. So that's an interesting point of that. But I mean, if they wanted, Steve, they're the ones who got to do it?

So who am I to say they shouldn't do it? I'd like a private ballot. That'd be my calling. That'd be my suggestion. You remember people forget that there was, and I don't know if you were working one of the 97 channels, you and I've worked together.

Were you there tonight at the BT night when Nicola Adams did six threes or four free? She had one fight over three-minute rounds. And I think she stopped the woman in the third minute. I remember. And it went under the radar. The board obviously allowed it. I remember her.

It wasn't a Royal Albert Hall and it wasn't her debut in Menstown. I don't remember that. I don't bother to look out, but I remember. At the time, her partner, who was a boxer, I think she was in a bronze. She was, yeah, the Mexican-American-American-Mexam-American. She was the first woman to do three minutes. She wasn't it? I remember that.

I remember that. But for the world, she did that. And I was talking to Shannon Courtney about that. And Shannon Courtney is one of the former world champion, beat Ebony Bridges. seems like 5,000 years ago and she wants to do she wants to do freeze well listen there's only one other fight on the bill

and this is my friend Emma Dolan just trains with Carl Greaves one of my favourite fighters Emma and she's one of my favourite boxes I've known her for an awful long time since she was about 12 or 13 years of age and she did a great thing she challenged all of them she said don't care what weight I'll fight all of you

and I tell what by the way she's quite tough even Shantelle said I'm not quite sure She all won a fight. I'd commentate at one of her fights. And I remember saying her. Is that saying around when she defended the British title? No, no, way before that I was.

It was in Norwich. And then... It was in Norwich. Close to where she's originally from. Yeah, and I said... Before she was here, Carol Greaves, I suppose. And I said she has shades of Savannah Marshall. Get it.

As you watch her. I mean, she becomes as good as Savannah Marshall. It's brilliant. But she has shades of her because she's long. She uses that jab really well. She sits back on that back foot, makes it hard to hit her clean. And she's a hard woman to beat.

I'm a big fan. Anyway, she's the current British Super Flyweight champion she's actually made a defence of that. I think that's the first woman British champion to make a defence of a title as opposed to just winning it.

Anyway, she's taking on Irma Garcia and it's 44. She's been around an awful long time, as you can imagine. 31 fights, it's tough. But she's part of the bill and that's what I said when I spoke to her that you really can't believe

you're part of this, can you? To have this fight on SkySports promoted by MVP here couldn't have written it better to be on there with Ellie Scottney's a lifelong friend of mine Caroline Dubois Yeah yeah It's a great car to be up there with them names

Part history Yeah it's crazy crazy but I'm just focused on my job And I want to put a good performance on Now were you and Carl Carl Griggs getting a little bit I don't know frustrated last year Because it looked like you kept Nearly having offers nearly having fights

And they all fall apart You get frustration but to be fair he's very, we're very much similar. Like, we're very good at keeping our heads, keeping cool and trusting the process. And it's worked out, in it? Couldn't have planned it any better. So, yeah, I'm pleased. I'm enjoying the journey.

Now, Irma Garcia is extremely seasoned, massively seasoned. We know that. But age, really, in the female game, is a bit deceptive. You know, at 44 years of age, she can still be a very young 44 in this business. So you're not thinking about she's old. Well, she's old, but she's not that old. No, no. I think there's been a lot of people saying,

oh, she's an old woman, blah, blah, blah. She's not. It's completely different in the women's game. They're only two minute rounds, you know what I mean? Yeah. I've got full respect for Emma Garcia, and that's why I'm training like a dog. I'm in the gym all the time,

and I'm bringing that belt home with me, 100%. And you become the IBF super flyweight champion. Yeah. Joining all of the others. Elie Biden will be in the ring about an hour after you. She could then become the undisputed. Yeah. Either Caroline or Terry Harper are going to be

become the unified. Yeah. It's a massive part of history. And then Chancel Cameron doing freeze. Yeah. Do you fancy freeze? Yeah, I'd love three minute rounds.

You know, my engine, I could do 15 free, you mean, but yeah, you know, it's a great night to be part of. I mean, just sat up there on that top table. I feel out of place almost, you know, because they're just fantastic fighters. So, yeah, really, really proud to be a part of it.

Emma, listen, thanks for your time, Keith. Cheers, Steve, thank you. So, Barry, that's, that's, That's Emma Dolan against Irma Garcia, part of a magnificent bill on Sunday the 5th at Olympia. And that's followed or preceded by the two ridiculous nights of boxing, or one night of boxing, two ridiculous venues. Three channels in one weekend. British boxing absolutely at its best. Although I would like TV companies to talk to TV companies and promoters to talk to promoters.

Because, hey, that's the way it works. I can put that request that every time there's a big clash. Does it make me a good? That's just selfish like I am because I'm thinking Because it'll work. I could potentially book all those shows. Absolutely. That's a good month there.

That's a good month in 27 hours for Gold's sake. I can't do all of them. It annoys me. Anyway, next week we're going to have someone in the chair. I don't mean someone presented it, leave off, but someone else in the chair and it's a good interview with lots of really insightful stuff. Can't give away too much in case something happens

and it's not you. Barry Jones. Barry, it's been an absolute pleasure and they delight. I'll see you soon. I've been Steve Bunce and this has been Five Live Box. in. She shops at BJ's wholesale club, stocking up on spiral ham, baked goods, fresh flowers, candy, and five dozen eggs. I've got a lot of baskets to fill.

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