5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Half-Time Report with Bellew and Frampton

Episode Date: June 29, 2026

What has been the fight of the year so far? Which performance stood out above all the rest? And what has been boxing's lowest moment of 2026? Tony Bellew and Carl Frampton join Buncey to review the first six months of the year, debating the biggest talking points and the British world champions who have made their mark. They also ask whether anything will top the epic heavyweight battle between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois in Manchester.

This is Five Live Boxing. Alexander Usik, once the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, has decided to relinquish his WBA, his WBC, and his IBF heavyweight championships. He's not retired, he's just given up all of the belts. Now a feeding frenzy will start. The biggest promoters, brokers and fixers were trying to negotiate fights for their men for the titles. Well, the WBC have struck early. Within 24 hours of Usik giving up his belts,

they upgraded the German Ajik Kabil to their full champion. And by the way, he deserves it. Also on Saturday night in New York, the Midlands Hero. Well, he's from West Bromwich, that's the Midlands. Ben Whittaker won in two rounds at a sold-out Barclay Centre. He looked vicious. But for this edition, I had a special plan. Now, it's been a very busy year.

weekend proves it. We're halfway through or just about halfway through so I decided to sit down with two men Tony Bellew and Carl Frampton who have been at just about every single major monumental controversial and shocking fight that so far taken place this year a special half-year report if you like I'm Steve Bunce and this is five live boxing. Now, the idea is that we'll look for all the men that have won world titles this year so far, on all of the mad, crazy fights that have taken place, in and outside of the zone's umbrella,

we'll obviously have a look at Chris Bill and Smith in that. Well, I'm not even sure what it was in Bournemouth recently. We'll look at Deonti Wilder. We'll look at Del Boy. We'll look at all sorts of things. We'll go camel riding around the pyramids, which is something that Carl Frampton didn't do, and it's something that I've found out since that Tony Bell you didn't do.

I did do. You did do? Of course I've done the camel and a horse. Thanks Tom. I've got the evidence on my phone of both. Well, I'm pleased about that because I've been talking to some people that didn't, that went all the way to Cairo, all the way to the Great Pyramids of Giza, all the way for Rick O'Hovan against Alexander Usick,

and didn't pay five American dollars to go on a camel. Still the lucky ones. Is that all you paid? Yeah, we had a right deal. I never got a bond to. You paid 50 or something like that. Of course I did, yeah. $80.

I went in a tomb. I went in a tomb. I rode a camel, a horse jumped up in the air with two feet in the air, so I've got good memories, but I thought I paid a few quid, like. Did you get a guide for you? Oh, Tom. I had a guide and everything here. Yeah, you actually, I hate to say it, Tom.

And to be fair, I started climbing up one of the pyramids to which some fellow went nuts. Get down, get down. Bartner did, apparently, too, and he started climbing up, and this fellow come over. Nearly got arrested. We paid, we paid a policeman a dollar each. Stacey Coppill was, we paid a dollar each, right, for us to get and sit on a pyramid. Why is it that they've done that to you, Tone? Why have they charged you so much?

Why have they basically ripped you off? See me coming, champ. See me, because everyone wants to have a bit of a scouser, don't you know what I mean? If you can rob a scouse, you can rob absolutely anyone. Right, Tony, I'll start with you. It's only six months into a year. If this was a review of any year from the last 25 years, if this was December the 31st, it would have been an exceptional ridiculous year already, wouldn't it?

Yeah, it would have been very good. I mean, there's been upsets, there's been brilliant. fights, do you know what, and even without all these title fights, I've just seen some fantastic fights just in general that I didn't expect the one I've seen Saturday was brilliant. I mean, Aki Piaz and Josh Padley were just

a brilliant fight and I didn't, I'm not gonna, I didn't see it coming I thought it was going to be a snooze fest. No, you know what, I did as well. I'm delighted it turned out of where I was it as good as it was. Well, I was on that whilst you were there, I was in Southampton for that Chris Bill and Smith Ryan Zicki fight. I don't know if you've seen

Have you seen it? I watched it, yeah, unbelievable. I've seen it. Genuinely, breath-taking. You've seen that moment, was it around seven or eight? Where Rezeki with a handstone? He takes the nine shots? Nine hooks, big ones, all clean.

Like, what does he do? I was watching that with Steve Collins, who was sitting next to me, he was gripping my hand, literally giving me bruises. And he turned to me after about five rounds. He went bunsey. He said, this isn't a fight. This is a rocky movie. And I think it was.

Rezeki's not going to there. He's knocking up a longevity in his career, is he? I don't think so. So, so, where do you want to start? Do you want to start by looking at what we, what we dubbed euphemistically heavyweight season because there was a whole series of heavyweight fight?

So do you want to start with the men that won and lost British, sorry, world titles this year? Where do you very fancy starting, Carl? I don't want to keep you up, I don't want to keep me up away from your chicken wings. I mean, the first fight that comes to mind when you talk about, there's been some amazing fights,

but I suppose it was recent enough, but Wardley and Dubois was one of the best fights I've ever seen. And it was an honor to be sitting at a ring sale and watch that, to be honest. What a fight. Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Brilliant fight. That surprised me, I thought it'd be good, but I didn't think it would be that good. I didn't think it would be that intense. I didn't foresee going. Yeah, I mean, I knew it'd be a brilliant fight. And 100% as I said to everyone who wanted to hear, it was going to be an exceptional fight. I just didn't think, if I'm being brutally honest, Daniel was going to still be around, when he was.

I thought he was going to find the breaking point. And he didn't. And the reason he didn't is purely because he was having success. And he was hitting his man. I mean, if Daniel's having success, he's staying in there with you. He's doing 30 rounds, then? Without a shadow of a doubt.

Even if you're here to and put a dent in him, if he's having success, he's staying for the long haul. It's as simple as that. I mean, even in the AJ fight when he fought him, AJ was coming back into it, nails him with a really hard shot. and he ain't going down, mate.

He wants to fight because he's nailed you already. He's hurt you already and he stays around. It's just when he's having little success. He doesn't. But what a fight that was. I mean, I'm not of the consensus that Fabio Wardley should have been stopped earlier. Absolutely not known.

I don't believe that for a single second. I actually spoke to Ben Davidson about it last night and I said you should never have ever been throwing the towel in because he has now shown in his career even when he's losing every round, even when he's way behind, he can turn it around. And for that reason alone, I know he was taking every shot.

and I agree he was being hit but he's shown a resilience and he's shown that he can't turn a fight round on split second. There was one moment for me in that fit

and I get it what you're saying Tony but there was one moment I can't remember the round but he sat down it was a the end of the round before was bad

and then he sat down in the stool and then he got up after sitting on the stool for a minute and staggered like a drunk man to send the ring and that's when Ben had turned

at that point round so I was a wee bit I was a bit critical so Ben actually reached out to me and And he explained, he said,

look, I was actually looking for the towel. So I missed him doing that, or I would have threw the towel in. So I still don't think he should have I wasn't stumble. I know, but he's still letting his hands go. And listen, there's parts in the Joseph Parker fight where you go, he's had enough, but he just finds a way he means.

And as the champion as well, you've got to keep him. Tom, would you consider yourself an overly brave observer? You know what I mean by that? Or are you like me? Yeah, I think that's fair. on the side of caution. Where do you think you stand on it?

I'll ask you the same question. I think as an observer, I get scared. When Michael Conlon thought Lee Wood, I was scared. I felt sick in my stomach. I love Mike. I'm not really close friend of his or whatever, have you? But I know I've got a lot of admiration for him and his brother.

And I just, I was worried that night. When I was watching, I've seen a number of times with fights over the year. So sometimes, I weren't there. So I think I definitely what I will say is it's different when you're there. Because if I was there, I might have gone. When you're on the TV, I'm going, you can't, you can't, you can't be stopping him. But I think if I was in car position and I was there, I think I maybe might have felt a bit different.

But from looking at it, when I'm not there, I'm always here, none, you've got to let them carry on. It's like Verhoeven and Ousick. Yeah. Where did you stand on that one? Never have been stopped. Never been stopped. I sat with Mark on Saturday. said to Mark, we all make mistakes, lad.

You're human. You've made the mistake and he meant, thanks very much, tone. And everyone's expecting me to go as a scout. He wasn't wrong. No, you just got an audience. Everyone makes mistakes. Yeah, but listen, listen, the part of the criticism

and the problem with what happened to Mark Lysen after that title fight between Usik and Verhova, the one that we're talking about where the camel's earlier, the part of the problem was that he was massively criticised and accused of all sorts of things.

Instead of saying, you got it wrong. I went up to him straight after the fight. He was still at ringside. I walked over to him because it was a bit chaotic and it was bedlam at the end time. So I went over to him and had a chat with him

and he was a bit shaky. I think you realised there was going to be a fallout. And what he said was, he said, first thing he told me right then, right after the fight. He said,

and at the moment I stopped it, he couldn't continue. Now, bear in mind, that moment can only be one second or two seconds. Lennox Lewis always tells a story that if the count was 12, he'd be undefeated throughout his career.

True. Because he's gone at 9, but he's clear at 12. So in that sense, I'm not disagreeing with you, but I'm thinking that Mark Lice and I understand exactly why he stopped it, which I'm assuming is what he tried to explain to you when you sat with it. He did, listen, and I think it's very valid when he says he didn't hear the bell. The fact is, if he does hear the bell, the round's over.

Yeah. And that's the tragedy. That's this way I'm in ploy, and I can't get me head round. The fourth official picks up the count. So the referee looks, once the fight is down, the referee looks to the fourth official, and he picks up the count from the force official. for the life for me

I can't understand why that Fort official's going to him 7, 8, the bell's gone Yeah Why isn't he Because If Peter Fiori Did he's right by the way

Of course Geoog geographically If Peter Fiori doesn't hear it Steve What chance the referee got? Absolutely No no no What

All of us at rings though It's on the fourth official In my opinion The Faults official should be taken care of everything outside that ring He can't make a decision in the ring But he can let the referee

No one go The bell's gone Mark the bell's gone eight the bill's gone and then Mark just goes go back to your corner So where did you stand on it Carl? Where did you stand on it?

On the stop page? Yeah yeah because I know you weren't there Yeah it was just It was early One fight you're at another fight You're at one fight and Tony's not enough It was too early for me Just considering

Big Rico was I mean everybody had him in front didn't it I did at the start around 11 One judge had it at trial I had them with the knockdown I've then got them down Yeah Yeah well it was tight anyway

It was very cool. He should have been... I mean, who knows? He could have got emptied the next round. Most likely that made have happened. He actually said to me in the dressing room afterwards, and he said it to me again in the zone two weeks after the fight, or ten days after the fight,

we got together here. He said, I might have been stopped in the last round. That's all I'm asking. But if he deserved to see it. Yeah. I'd say what I did like about Rico and his people. You mentioned Peter Fewer's his boxing train. Obviously, his big, big love and the way he's made his name is for kickboxing.

It's just how decent they were afterwards. Honorable people. Just how just... Just how smart they were, how on, just dignified, dignified. Wasn't it, wasn't it a treat? We're not used to seeing it in boxing. No, I said to it, I said to it. It felt like it felt like it didn't belong there, didn't it?

I pulled it, pulled him aside. I said 12 years ago you had one fight. Why did you leave us? Imagine the fun would have had with him for 12 years. You'd be out of a job. I just would have retired by there. I would tell you all your job. I'm telling you.

I just think styles make fights. Listen, I'm one of his biggest fans. I love Rico Behoving. The character, the person. is the video of Jim Hercarian on his social media after this is how we're prepared for the style it's brilliant in it

but listen you can't you can't get in over your head I don't believe you hype if he's matched with AJ or Dubois I don't see it going past three rounds but if he's matched with Fiorio Rusich I see him doing really really well it's a styles make fight thing Steve

and I think Peter understands that too and I think Tiro understands that RICO understands that he's a smart guy Yeah, Carl um sticking with the heavy weights this one's not a world title fight but it was an amazing atmosphere it was a ridiculous fight 42 year old Derek Del Boy Chizorra

Deonti Wilder everyone has a strong opinion about it so I know Tony's decent friends with Del Boy what did you make of that because that's in this period so if we just talked about these three fights the three heavyweight fights

that would be as I said at the top of the show that would be a decent year what did you make a Del Boy? It was an incredible night it was Miss Call he must know we're talking about him I think Del Boy's called

just phone Tony I've got a miscall off in 10 minutes ago Till Frampton, not to slabber No, it was It was an incredible I mean it wasn't Without sounding too harsh It's a terrible fight

Wasn't really boxing, was it It was an absolute It was something Yeah, it was something But it was, it was wild It was chaos And it was an event And it's what do you expect

Of the two big men Tony hates it when Tania hates it when Tanya hates it when Dailboy gets in the ring He both loves and hates it because he knows that he likes Dale, and I'm talking like Tony's not here,

but he goes through every single second of what Dale Boy was going through. Correct, Tony? Yeah, I was in that dressing room with him before. He kept trying to tell me to leave now, and I said, no, I'm not going out of your dressing room. It just... I was besieged, ringsay, listening to you

were doing my head in, they're shouting? It's horrible. It's a fake, Tony? I know, he shouldn't be in a boxing ring. I don't think I have him. Should be in a boxing. I mean, he's probably calling you to tell you that he's done a deal with Zufferin

he's going to be boxing again, Is he going to fight against town? Do you know what you know? See, the two of them are long gone. The two of them are well gone. Deonti Wilder is there for anyone to take. I mean, I'm not going to lie. If I was Anthony Joshua, I would be fighting Deonté Wilder next

because it'll be over in a round. In a single round, it'll be over. He is there. He's done. And Derek's done. And he doesn't like me saying it. And I've told him, I went to his house the next day after it. I said, you've got to stop.

I said, because I'm telling you now, boxing's going to retire. You won't retire from boxing. And that's me worried, Steve. because I love him. I'm not there. I don't get paid. I'm not on his team.

I'm getting paid. I'm not getting a wage. I just care about him. He's got a beautiful family. He's finally got a little boy that he wanted. As Mrs. wife, they've got it good, and he wants to carry on,

and just leave it alone. The other one I've got to mention is Arsenal Beck-McMood, of 60-odd-thousand against Tyson Fury. Not a fight that was unbelievably exciting, but a 12-round fight after you've had a long break that I would put to the pair of you

his priceless round. I thought Fury looked okay in that fate. It looked, it looked okay, but we were looking for show. Yeah, there was a lot of criticism

through his way, but you got to remember, like, only a couple of years, what? Did he give him stick, did he for that? Oh, there's loads of people

give him stick, but... Why? Just because people like the slop because he didn't, because he didn't get McMudov out of out of their like,

I don't know, like Adjit had done or something like that yet. It's totally different phases. I know, but you know what people are like. But he, like,

You got to remember, it was only a couple of years prior to that that he was the boogeyman, wasn't he? Yeah, absolutely, yeah. Because Mac Macleaf, no one wanted to do near him. When we first went to, when we first went to Saudi Arabia in Monaco, he was like a killer.

I'm going to tell the story about Mac MacMoodoff, and you're not going to believe us, right? Well, I hope you can tell it. No, I can't do it. You can't tell me. No, I can't. We were in a training camp in Germany, I think,

with Ireland and the Russians were and a lot of different teams. And sometimes you spar in the same rings, right? So there's like four spars going on on one big ring. very Soviet that is, son. So I was, we were doing school sparring and I was sparring with,

tech sparring, with someone, whoever it was and. Not Katie Taylor. No, it wasn't. You know, it was a, you already bashed her up. I think it made her up, Tony, did, he did. No, I didn't, like, you did. Tony, Katie did, yeah. We're going to fall out of Katie bished me up. She, she, she, wiped him with a body shot, and he had to,

he wet, she wet, she wet. Her dyes, to tell me, go, get on, their leg get stuck in. Go, come, finish his story, finish his story. You think she's a belt? you know, finish his story. Yeah, so I think it might have been sporn. Remember Jerome Thomas, French flag?

Yeah, made have been sparring him. Good fighter. And doing this school sparring and the Irish super heavyweight, Cattle O'Grady, was sparring MacMudoff. Right? Something happened. Yeah, but something happened

and there was a kick thrown and then the next thing they're rolling on the ground with each other. Forty stone, 40 stone on the floor? About that. And I'm the only other Irish lad. Now, MacMudov's, on top of O'Grady. Oh, shoot.

And I'm the only other Irish guy in the ring. Oh, no. So I go over as an eight stone flyweight and grab McMudeau by the back of the neck. Come on, son. But then he just...

Look at Tony's face. But he just looked up, man. And I'm like, oh, Polly, we didn't know what they do. But at least I tried. No one else tried. You shi-house. I swear to God,

he could be a bond villain in him. Oh, I know. It's the look. And he plays. it? You know when you interview him? He's a nice guy. He's a good guy.

That's a complete look he's got. That switch he's got me. What do you see him down in the dark alley, lad, you know me? I'll tell you what? So we know that wherever a catalogue ready is from, you never have to buy a drink. You never have to buy a drinking. Donigall. On account of that.

So those are just about the heavy weights. Let's look if we can, the men of obviously. Carl McManagle. We need to get the name right. Kyle Loughgrady was the coach. That was the wrong. Carl McMonigle. It's still a big boy anyway.

Yeah. Let's look at the men that won world title. Obviously, Daniel Dubois technically won a world title, even though he's been a world champion. Let's start at the start of the year in January, Dalton Smith out in New York Barquis Centre, Submeteer Matisse, which was, you know, even if you fancied him to win, I don't think you fancied him to dominate and take him out like he did.

I thought that was, got it massively under the rate. Eddie thought it was a 50-fit. I speaking to Eddie when he was there, and I said, the fifth fit, I said, you'll beat him. I said, Dalton Smith has the best timing of almost all of, fighters in his division. It's his timing that is exceptional. He's not the strongest, he's not the quickest and he's not

like super slick, but it's his timing. And timing is a big thing in boxing and he times fighters. That's why I feel him and Adam's he'll be unbelievable to watch, but the timing, he just has it and that's what he does. You get very few fighters

around over the years. He reminds me of Vernon Forest. His timing was absolutely on point, and that's when you Face faster fights like Shane Mosley, you're able to time them. You can deal with them. Connor McGregor's another one from a UFC perspective. His timing is precise and it's perfect.

Picking the right moment to attack is everything in boxing. So was that a better win than Josh Kelly near enough at home against Baccaram Merteselyev, who was, I think I'm beating in 23 at the time. I mean, I know the scores were tight, but Josh on the night romped it. Josh was brilliant. I think that was a good win, but I think that Dalton's was a big. batter a win. It's on a waste soil.

It's definitely, it's something. I mean, it's not, it's not like it's Matisse's hometown, is it? You know what I mean? But ultimately, you're on his show. You're on his promotion. It's not, it's not on. And they've got no favours on that promotion as well.

You heard about all the sorts. It was old school Mickey Duff, Don King stuff to where they got treated. Even, like I said, Josh Kelly, though, beating the bogey man of the division. No one wants to face him. Bostom as well. What about, what about Jack Cattle

and winning that WBA version against Shackam Giosho, who had a guy, There was a lot of talk going into that fight. Has he been upgraded yet, Steve? I think it was upgraded beforehand. Oh, okay. They kept using that word regular. I hope it as, because I'm not having it until it's a better be.

I thought it was on the night. The WBA inspector told me when we were by the Pyramids, he told me it was for the full title. Good, well, they read it out as regular, but I think it was full title. With Romero being upgraded to some ridiculous. Well, I think Romero's, I think he hasn't fought for how long Romero. So we need to be taken out of it.

For Jack, brilliant. It's more than deserved. And I mean, any time of look at Jack, I always think of what's being done too much. And, you know, that's one of the worst decisions in boxing history. It really is, yeah. The first fight with Josh Taylor. The first fight with Josh in Scotland. But I just think, I just, I always, and that's the sad part because he's such a good fighter.

The only thing I implore them more to do is go after people. Yeah. Because he's such a big job. We have seen that a world to him. We have seen that more World's Wait and Light World. Such a big puncher. In the gym, he's aggressive.

He's unbelievable to watch in the gym, but he's a wee bit safety first, I think, when he fights, but an incredible fighter and someone else with great timing. What about on the same bill, Hamza Chiras took care of that guy in two rounds, El M. Bedges. Then what I liked about that is that Chiraz said in the ring when he was being praised,

when he's been, no, no, no, no, no, let's not get this twisted. I really, I was proud of him to do it. He told, which is what you're supposed to do, yeah. You face someone who's a level D, my fight, and you're the A-level fighter, you do that to them. You'd expect vicious, fast, quick knockouts. And he done the job.

The best is yet to be seen from Hamza Shiras. Under Andy Lee, I think he'll be fantastic, phenomenal. I just don't want to see too much outside interaction in his team. I want the team to remain small. And I think the more Hamza grows, I think the more you might see that team growing outside influence, have a bit of an input. There's a lot of people in the team.

Yeah. And as you said, it's getting bigger and bigger. I don't like to see that bunch of you. I've seen it so many years in boxing. I'm very, very rarely fights as benefit from it. No, I know, I agree. What's the most of you ever had, like with a track suit official, like you're really part of your team?

Not your close friends. Five, six. Okay, Carl? Similar probably. Five. That's more than enough, on it. Five, five, one of the best. Strength and conditioner.

Nutritionist. My boxing coach. Do you anything? Kerry was in my corner, every single fight. I think he missed one fight in my career. Kerry Kay is one of the most pivotal people in my old career. No one really knows about him. Kerry Kay's was brilliant.

He helped me at every step of the way. I love Kerry Kay's and I'll be forever in debtor too. So do you get nervous when you see a kid that's only had nine or ten or eleven fights with literally 15 people in tracks? It's another 15 people. Because I get nervous. All does I see is leeches. All is to see.

Well, basically, when I spoke to kids and they'll come to me and lads who are now in decent place in the kill I just go what does he do mate because you see every person with his tracks you're done

and every person in your dressing room do you have to have a job yeah tell me what his job is what's his job what does he do what what what what do how does he benefit you being here because he can't be here

unless he's benefiting you because he's wasting your time he's wasting his own time what is his job and everybody in my dressing room had a job that's just the play ensemble way to look at it.

Why are you here unless you're of a benefit of somewhere? It should be the same. But Buncie, as we know, that's always the case. And it's sad to see at times because I've seen fighters blood and you've seen even more than I have, bled dry from these leeches. And predictable from way, way, way out. So it doesn't suddenly happen. You know it's going to happen.

It's inevitable. Being in a dressing room when you lose and being in a dressing room when you win. Two different places. Remember, two fights come out. the fight with Nathan Claverley after the first fight. There was three people, four people, sorry, in me dressing room after the fight.

The next fight back, Danny McIntosh and the whole arena, it came in, there's 46 people waiting to see me in his restaurant. I counted them, I counted them because I thought to myself... War were you the last time? Yeah?

Yeah. You didn't care then, and I just thought, is what it is. Doubled it. Cicatchie against... Jazz of Dickens. Brilliant fight.

It was an event, the fight was perfectly okay. It was an odd old thing. That was fully upgraded Good fight, good fight that Kakachi. Jazz is a brilliant fight about that Kakachi

is a problem. The whole story I love Anto he's a good friend of mine but the whole story with Jaza was delighted for him

to eventually when he went to Russia was it in Russia? Yeah. Was he in Russia he be? I think he was in Turkey was it?

Was it? Yeah, was in Turkey? Yeah, it's in Turkey. I was in Turkey. I was dead for him. Yeah, I was too. Yeah.

But a great fight and I got a wee bit stick about that which one. Jaza and Anto people thought I was a bit bit biased

which I don't think it was, genuinely don't think it was. I think I scored. I was kind of scoring the fight. I scored it by the Anto by like three rounds or something, which I think was fur. It was close, but, you know, it was a close fight. Anto just iniqueness. Is that awkward sometimes when you're...

Horrible. When you're at ringside or when you're doing co-coms or when you're doing, you know, you're the chief pundit. Is it awkward if there's a guy from Belfast? Or if there's a... I eat it. I eat it. I don't like it.

You just dislike it. Because I... I'm always going to back me own. So I'm always going to back me on. And that's the sad part with me. It's like it's blind loyalty. I wish everybody, I wish everybody paid it back from my,

from where I'm from, but they don't. I think I try my best, remain neutral, if I'm being honest. But there's always a bit of bass. You know what I mean? There has to be naturally a bit of bias.

You've got to be. What's the point in being where you're from if you're not going to back your own? I just believe in backing my own first. So it is what it is. And does that follow if it's Brit against an American anywhere in the world of Brit against

the, you know, dying or whatever. Do you know what's even... Depends who the Brit is as well. There's a few... You know what I mean? You'd love to see them get filled in. Don't get me wrong. I mean, I actually, I wish

everyone well, if being totally honest, I mean, I was even that weird who was hoping Arsenal were going to win the Champions League. I did, I wanted him to win it. Obviously I did as well, but I just want us all to win. And if, like, I don't get...

I don't get... I don't like... Is Liverpool in the final? Would you have wanted them to? Yeah. I don't get the demise. And that will go mad, that'll be bad for everybody.

I'm telling you, but no. I mean... He's already done it. Paddy's only clicked that one. After losing me... I never used to be like this. After I lost my brother and no, I'd actually.

I'd actually had a season ticket followed Lippool every way. So if... If Liverpool aren't playing heaven, I hope they're doing well because I know that's the only time in the world I know he's there. I know he's sitting at Anfield.

Every game they're playing. I know that donut's sitting there watching cheering with them. and the happier he is makes me happen you are yeah and so if they're winners don't get me wrong

when we play they might want to smack their asses and I want to batter them and I want to finish above them in the league every season but if I'm not playing them I don't want to see no one beating them

when was the last time you finished the bovum and the league let's not talk about that car there's no need for that there was a bit of a low blow that wasn't it me it wasn't a bit of a low looking little legs

he's got an absolute cheek at me low she just headbutted me in the groin we've got we're going well over time here I want to just throw in a couple of random ones because they were events and what we're surrounded what us three do is

we like what we like so it doesn't have to be a major world title fight with two unbeaten guys who are brilliant defensively we like fights we like characters we like people I want to throw one at the pair of you Wolverhampton Civic Centre

Connor Walker Sam Eggington Yeah that's what I labelled there People are robbing me name Any year that wins fight at year I labelled it on air live the Midlands Gatty Ward mate I'm telling you now mate I'm telling you they knocked him what off date

and I told anyone who'd listen and I kept telling people I was doing it all week message you should have all got to tune in for this fight I swear to God mate Sam Eggington he's been going forever 15 years 16 17 years I can't remember a fighter domestically who's been doing it and then just

great fight after it felt like it feels like 20 years ago when he'd be Frankie Gavin someone told me how young Not that he's the youngest anymore, but he's only, is he only like 30, one or 30? It's like 35 or 34.

He's been a pro since he was 12. It seems like he's been around forever and all his fights are wars. It was a great fight. Tony's right. There's about 15 or 16 or 17 major fights. I know. It's quite incredible.

They Cola Walker, it's just, I remember, I remember Frankie getting, getting Sam Eginton. Probably done by him. I'm trying going to own. I absolutely play with him. He does not.

I think he can do. And I just went, just stop, lad. I said, just chill out. I said, and you better pace this fight because I'm telling you now he ain't going nowhere. And he's like, don't worry. I'll be, I can't miss him. And I was just like, you just are not, you are not taking this kid seriously. You do not think like you are in.

This is going to be, like you can't get rid of him. So you better know you're going 12 and he's going to push the pace the whole way. It's like, slightly more each one. As fighters were the best lies in the works, we lie to ourselves. And you know when you're walking, I've gone walking the ring sometimes and I've known, I remember facing a fellow called Isaac Chalember.

And I knew he was tough. I knew he was quicker than me. I knew he was quicker. And I knew he had a really good chin. I wasn't going to knock him out. So I knew what my game plan was, I've got to get on the chest, I'm going to take two on the way in,

but when I get close, I'm going to throw four. And I knew every time I stepped in, I'm going to get nailed with two, but I'm going to hit you with four. And that's how I won the rematch. That's basically pure that's just breaking it down and the easiest way to be to explain.

Frankie Gavin didn't go into that fighting and I'm going to do 12 rounds. He thought I'm going to absolutely play with this clown. 12, 0, 12, 0. And Sam Higginson is just, I give him so much to help. But then Connor Walker, how he pulled it round. I love watching Connor. He's one of my favorite fighters to watch at the minute.

All action, just brilliant to watch. I think he might be my favourite domestically. Yeah, I would say. Let's hope he gets a world title fight sometime with Lewis Crocadona Road or a fight with President. He deserves it. He does. He does because after that first fight with them too,

I thought everyone had him, you know, well, and I didn't, I didn't think Crocker pissed that fight. No, he did it. It was a really close fight. I think I maybe just about give it to Crocker, but a lot of people arguing for the point that, you could have, maybe around, either way. You could have made the case for him.

Everyone could have made the case for him. So if you can make a case for either man winning on that night, then run it back. It's like when people scream, it was the worst decision they've ever seen, and you know how close it was. It's been a year of that, by the way. It's been a great year for fights that we've just discussed this last half hour, but it's also been a year of people overreacted.

In every single decision, the worst decisions they've ever seen. Everyone wants to be offended as well. Oh, and be quite rude. I tell you what's crept in this year, and I don't like it, with people that are being paid to cover boxing, talking about boxes being cowards. Cowards. Do you get paid, though, Steve, to be covering boxing?

Or did he turn it up? Because they know the draw the numbers from it? There's one or two that maybe make less, but they all make something. That's mad, though. I find it ridiculous and inside. I'll ask you about a couple of things away from the zone, because there is life away from this own. We've had Adam Azim on the BBC, I don't know about that.

I think we're the global homer boxing now, Steve. I think we're the global homer boxing by a considerable amount as well, Chamb. And I'm up on the sixth floor and there's tea over there on the banana I had earlier. So in theory I've been bought by a banana. But two American companies have made their debuts in the UK this year. MVP put on an all-women show. Which was nice to see. Which had some terrific fights on it, by the way.

Let's get away. And it's sort of controversial. Dana White arrived with Zuffa Boxing. and we got that incredible top of the bill, Chris Bill of Smith against Ryan Rizicki. Lucky we didn't talk about anything else on the bill because he wouldn't have known. No, that what?

Listen, and you know what? Which is mad at least he admits it. That might be true because I interviewed him for 25 minutes and I think you're probably right, but that's probably not as he sees it, his job. His job is to do all the other stuff. Buncey's job, he's a promoter. He's a boxing promoter is his job now.

You can't call he's of a boxing promoter and not know everything about every fighter on the bill. You can't do that, Buncie. That's not being a boxing promoter. That's just being a host. Yeah. for a point. Well, maybe that's what he, maybe that's what he is.

Maybe he's a host. He's a host. He's a host. He's a host. He's a host. I'm not going to line. He's got, I think he's amazing with what he's treated with the UFC.

And I'm, I'm one of the biggest fans that you'll get. I go far back as watching the, the, Mark Kerr, Coleman, Tito Ortiz, Randy, Coucho, all these amazing. Good times. Brilliant times. And so I remember the fight that changed UFC history was

Forrest Griffin, Stefan Bonn, on Spide, TV. So I'm not. not slating him in any way. I think he's an amazing promoter in his chosen field, which is mixed martial arts. But you're coming over here

and I'm sorry to say your model from the UFC doesn't work over here. Well, if you surround yourself with boxing people, Tom, and this is devil's advocate. What if you do? She's got clever people around them,

but he might have them people around but he's using his model. And this, Mohamed Aliak, trying to be removed as a disgrace. It's an absolutely disgrace. It doesn't affect us as much here. No, it doesn't. It's a disgrace that we haven't got at here, Bunsey.

It's a disgrace. How can a manager Buncey in this country? And I've been through this. I've been to, thankfully, I won. Thankfully, I can speak about it. But how can a manager and a promoter be the same thing? Be the same man.

Because the manager's job is to get the most from the promoter, and the promoter's job is to get the most from the least from the manager. So what are we going to do? So you're going to start arguing in his room. Well, listen, me fighter wants this now, and I can't give him that well. He's arguing with a lot.

himself like he's just there's a few things that I could say about that but yeah but this what I'm saying it's got to come into place in this country bunsey it has to it should be the box and boards of control the British box of the control it should be their primary thing I believe from their real section to place that act over here Tony have you ever spoken to Robert Smith about something like that being implemented Robert Smith at the board not but I've got a good relationship with Roberts and I like Robert so I've spoke to Roberts about different things over the years and I've had conversations with him. That one hasn't come up, but he does

know me thoughts on it. So I'd love to see it put in place. I did say it with Robert Smith. We did half an hour sit down with Robert Smith when he was getting quite a bit of criticism and he goes for everything and he addressed everything. Would you like to see some kind of, almost like a forum where some ex-fighters, like yourself, present-day fighters,

a manager or a promoter maybe, some TV people, like a whole sort of group, and an off-the-record chat. Almost like around this table, it's 15 seats. Wouldn't it be really good? And on that board over there, we've got ten things we want to discuss. This is all off the way. Without a shadow of a doubt,

there should be a fund and a scheme put in place because we pay enough. We've paid enough in our fees and our taxes to be put in place to look after fighters who have fallen on hard times. Because you do know the percentage of boxers getting out of boxing is less than 1%. Yes.

We get out of less than 1% of fighters finish the game financially secure. And let's even talk about the ones who do finish financially secure. You're Floyd May, whether you're Mike Tyson's... They're not prepared. for life.

I remember Mike telling me over then he's gone through 600 million. 600 million because you're not taught out of management. Exactly. Yeah, literally. So there should be something put in place to help fighters who are falling hard at times because everyone's taking the cut

and no one cares when they've gone and I feel for fights I really do so. I'm one of the very fortunate 1%. I'm very lucky and I'm very fortunate so is Carl next to me. But it breaks me out when I see fighters. Lads who have been amateurs with, lads who are better.

than me. Yeah, about that saying it gets me. People that I know were probably better than me, but I'm a bit more. And you know what? And they were just, they were ripped off

or they were abused from a promoter, from a manager, took bad advice, and no one's culpable. Well, we've paying, this government's taking millions and millions of pounds from me over the years

from, not just me, but fighters, and they don't give nothing back. Do you know when the pandemic struck, no boxing gyms with it, we're giving money? But they're good enough ripping the back out of us. Now the HMRC's good enough taking money from us, ripping us off and taking it this,

but they don't want to give back into boxing because boxing saves so many lives in this country and has given us some of our greatest ever icons and wrong models. Anthony Joshua was a role model. And nights and moments. You bank, Ben, all of these people don't see. Listen, that's just in the last year, if you don't mind me saying.

I'm allowing those two to come in on the event as it was. It's been an incredible, six months. The stuff we're talking about there, Tony, is stuff that's got legs and it's down the line can be used. But I'm going to ask the two of you to finish on what would be

either your high or you're low from the six months of this extraordinary year so far. That's why we've not talked about what's coming up, because the next six months could eclipse the last six months. So high and a low, you go...

Of the six months that we just saw? Yeah, nothing going forward. The high for me would be without being a cop out I think just sitting witnessing from ringside Dubois and Wardley

I remember saying I think it was someone said Frank Warren maybe said that it was The best fights he's promoted He was an honour or something He was an honour

He said it was the best There's a privilege But someone with the knowledge That he's gotten sung With the experience He's got to say That's one of the best fight I think he said

It might be the best fights He's ever promoted Yeah It was what he said For him to say that And he was really emotional It felt like a privilege That's what a

that like so for me to still and that's why people ask me all the time once you about you ever think about a comeback and I don't and I think part of reason because I'm still involved and then you see fights like that and you go my god get literally get the blood splatter literally get covered in blood Tony I think the high points can be the same one it's not a problem no I mean listen without a shadow without the low points wilder and Derek I just I wasn't comfortable I didn't like it I didn't like what I seen I need he's not gonna kick off on me she gonna go mad at me when he sees this, but I was furious on the night.

That wasn't Derek Chisot in that ring. It really wasn't. And then me, the high points I've seen so far this year, I've seen quite a few good fights, but you know what? Watching Dalton Smith become a world champion in the manner that he done it, I think, to be wow, fair play, lad, because you've gone to this backyard, you've gone to the other promoters' backyard,

and you've got the job done. You've found a way you've done it, and you've done it in the best fashion. Not going to points, not eking out of points. He says, you know, boxing your way through it, and staying away from the puncher, you've got rid of the monster, lad. In style. Yeah, so fair play.

And I must say, tired of that, definitely, Josh Kelly. Because he's a kid who, I personally doubted at the times. A question, a question. As viewers did, because he wondered. A question his mentality in fights. I questioned that, you know, I didn't label a bottle job, but I did question his mentality.

How much do you want a kid? Because you've got all the ability. And I sat down on the morning of that fight before that fight with Adam Booth. And Adam says, tone, there's not a stone left on 10th. I'm confident. And Adam is not the kind to tell, yeah, he's confident

when his, when his fighters, backs against the wall. And I just thought, oh, and I went into the arena, still thinking he was going to lose and was so happy to see him win. So them two for me have been really nice moments. Tony Bellew, Carl Frampton, thank you very much. If you feel we missed you out, apologies,

it's obvious we're going to miss some people. We didn't talk about Nick Ball losing his start. We didn't talk about them. About them with to go, we didn't talk about this guy. There were dozens we didn't talk about, but it's only the six-month review. End of year review, maybe I'll get these two back. I've been Steve Bons,

and this has been a very special Five Live Boxing. Five Live Sports. I'm Steve Bratnell, host of Games Gone, the Steve Bratnell podcast. What's my favourite World Cup moment as a fan? I have to say, Michael Owen, skinning the whole of the Argentina defence, and cracking it in top corner,

for the very short space of time, I believe. My favourite World Cup player in history, it won't be popular, but I'm going to say Diego Maradonna. All right, Ian Baldi, Ian Bolled it. But the guy was a complete genius. The People World Cup 2026.

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