5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Superb Sheeraz and Sublime Stevenson

Episode Date: July 13, 2025

Has Hamzah Sheeraz just announced himself as a new force at 168lbs? After a brutal knockout of Edgar Berlanga in New York, Buncey is joined by Barry Jones to ask whether a super fight with Canelo Álvarez or David Benavidez could be next. They also hear from Sheeraz’s promoter Frank Warren, and Dalton Smith, who’s set to face Subriel Matias on the Ring IV card this November in Riyadh.

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. This is Five Live Boxing. They loved to fight in New York, and this weekend they were fighting on Friday night at the Garden. That was Katie Taylor. And then, on Saturday night at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushy Meadows, the tennis centre. Hey, that was a special venue,

and it was a special night for Hamza Chiras. It's another pod from New York, and guess where we are? Well, you'll find out in a moment. I'm Steve Bunce, and this, is five live boxing. So two nights of boxing, epic nights of boxing, in New York, one of the world's greatest fights is,

you've heard all of that, and guess what? We're back in TikTok, so let me just get this right. Two nights of boxing, back in TikTok, and next to me, of course, Barry Jones. Not on the high line, but back in, I'm going to mention it again, the old TikTok diner. I keep mentioning the diner, and people keep sending me messages online or social media,

assuming that there's something sensational. about this place. I say, no, I just go there because I do love a strawberry milkshake or a chocolate milkshake, and Barry loves a strawberry milkshake and a chocolate milkshake. It's nothing special. Barry, tonight, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Flushing Meadows,

Shakur Stevenson against Williams of Peter was 12 relentless rounds. It's one of those interesting fights. I know there's the sort of fight that you love. A lot of people had it really close going into the last round. No, no, a lot of people did. Don't look at me like that. A lot of people did. Okay? And then, but what

really stole the show and it would explain why in some why it was called the co-main event was Edgar Belanga the king of New York the king of Brooklyn the Polarican the guy that sold every single thing he's done this week against Hamza Shiraz it was sensational ended in the fifth round with belanga touching down for the third time and being ruled out shear ass collapsing to his knees putting himself directly in line for the winner of the September 4th. fight, but I know it's crazy between Solconella Alva Horreys and Terrence Crawford.

Trust me, I think that's ridiculous as well but that's what's going to happen. I'm not even sure where to start, Barry Hood. I'll tell you where we're going to start. The venue. Do that work for you? Well, the venue itself was fantastic. I love tennis stadiums. We were at the Olympics last year in

Roland Gowers. I love tennis the last time I was on Centaur 15 years ago. It did work for me. Foot capacity was 14,000 and I reckon there was 12,000 people there and that's a lot more than I expected to be there. However, we've got a cab over.

We were told it to be 30 odd minutes. We got there an hour and 52 minutes later and we spent an hour and 20 minutes on a freeway it's an American expression freeway, but we spent an hour of 20 odd minutes on a freeway next to the fence with the Flushing Meadows Tennis Center over on our

right. We couldn't walk to it but we could throw a stone and hit it so that was frustrating and what's good as soon as we got out of the cab we could just hear the booming noise I missed, I'm gonna hold my hands up I missed a couple of rounds of David Morel against him and Katiev

drops Morel in about the fourth round or something like that what a roof it's a cliche nearly came off it was like it made you jump we're like looking around to see what the noise was so did the venue work for me absolutely see I think let's go back to Shiraz very quickly

about the crazy and unbelievable that he might get a shot at Canello or Crawford. But aren't we in a stage of boxing now where fantasy is the new reality? Absolutely. Nothing is impossible anymore. I mean, there's means and opportunity and financially things are in place that anyone can get a shot at anybody at any other moment. We've seen that in the past in the last of 18 months. So, I mean, it's not unbelievable.

But we have to be a little bit realistic as well. there was a fantastic performance he showed control and discipline which he needed I was saying that all week what he needs to do better to win ugly to lose pretty

he won pretty but he had to show control so those early rounds he didn't do loads but you could see the influence of Andy Lee I was saying about shooting from the hip and didn't he just

the big right the big right but committing to his punches but also making sure they were sharp coming back as fast as they went out so when you throw Lee was big on

Lee was well I don't Lee was smashing the canvas and telling him. Quick, fast, quick, fast. Because he's all about, again, it's not shooting from the hip, as I was saying the other day. You're not punching from low. You're driving that hip forward,

100 miles an hour to get the whip and the torque in the punch. And when you've got range like he has, the faster it is, the longer it travels, the most time you've got to get acceleration in the punch, which makes you dynamic. And when he did land, oh, I mean, the first left took, that hurt,

hurt. Belanga was a good shot. The second one hit right on the chin for the first knockdown. And he half stumbles, half to stabbing. I'll tell you what,

Belanga takes a fantastic shot. Well, how about when he gets up, Barry? Right close to the end of the bell in the fourth round, he gets hit with a right hand. He goes down face first. He's done, isn't he?

Paddy was next to me. I went to Saul over. Next thing I looked up, he somehow was on his feet. I thought he was out cold. I thought he was out cold, Gonzo. And the referee took his time

whatever he was doing. If, if, I tell you what, if Belanga had hit Shiraz on the chin at the start of the fifth round and knocked him spark out, strange of things have happened in life, then there would be a proper steward's inquiry because that referee was ridiculous. And he kind of lost control of it. He genuinely was all over the place. He gave, he gave him 25 seconds. You have to check and make sure the fight that is, is safe to continue.

but to a degree that you don't make you're not supposed to make sure that he's recovered Yeah, no, of course not You make sure it's safe to continue But not giving chance to recover I mean, if he hasn't recovered you stop the fight

I mean so, and he had recovered the left if I continue But he dragged it on, it's ridiculous I don't know why that was And then the bell went And you said maybe Ashiu has lost his moment So you're thinking, does he jump on him

Well, he didn't jump on him But he didn't intimidate He stole that space And he bullied him and then he finished it fantastic. A lovely shot right down the middle and it was all done. It was really, really, I would say,

and I use this quite a lot recently, but it's true, a really mature performance from a guy who's starting to understand what he is now. And I think, I mean, we had Chiras on the pod on about Wednesday or so you were still, I think, playing golf back in Surrey or Sussex or whatever you played golf, I don't know,

you hadn't even flown out. And we had Chierrez on and there was just something really determined about him. I told you that, I thought he would win all week. But when at the press conference where Belanga pulled up the bag and started throwing around all of the stuff

that he was throwing around, which were, you know, pairs of women's knickers, wigs, products of man, summers, all the stuff he was throwing around that nearly hit Frank Warren. We'll hear from Frank Warren in a moment. And I saw something in Shia as Dan, then when that was happening, when in theory he should have been intimidated,

when in theory he should have been cowed, a bit cowing down. I swear to you, Barry, He grew during that, and he looked more calm and more relaxed. That's when I was convinced he would do the job he did tonight. Were you convinced? Oh, no, no, no. I wasn't, I'm not, no, you were.

Listen, I've had a right bumper run out here, selecting fights, you know, and wins. You know, I mean, I even pitch... The broken clocks right twice a day. No, well, listen, I've been right a few more times than twice a day, to be perfectly honest with you. Before we, we all hear from Frank Warren, and we will discuss a couple of other bits and pieces attached this year as. But I think... Steve, sorry. Go on, sir.

That's an amazing... Is that the vanilla one? You've got the vanilla one today? With the cream on top. I don't know what I've done, yeah. I'm literally... I feel like I win the jackpot. Well, you might have one...

I mean, I had the chocolate one, and it was perfectly good. I mean, two nights run and I've had a massive litre of chocolate ice cream and a proper shake. We might have to stop the podcast when you finish us off. Your vanilla one, I'll just carry on talking. Your vanilla one that does look exceptional. Barry, it's not everyone's cup of tea.

And in fact, there was an awful lot of people giving each other imaginary high fives tonight when Belanga was rescued by the reference. but he showed some unbelievable bravery. Not to get up once, to get up twice, and it still come out for the fifth round. Full credit to Edgar Belangor. That second knockdown when we thought that was done.

It's all over. He's on his back and he's banging his gloves together, like angry that he got caught. I mean, so he even covers quick, he takes a good shot. But ultimately, it was a little bit cagey to start. No one wants to over-commit. I understand, because they both carry power, they're all right.

But once, and you can see, again, and Andy Lee influence. Once he landed with a good shot, Shiraz, he made sure he got the job done. He didn't let him off the hook, and he was committing to every punch. I mean, it was a really, really good performance. And I don't know him, but he's a sort of kid.

I mean, it's showing a British bias here. He's a sort of kid, you're really happy for? Yeah. Because I think he's respectful. He looks like he lives the right life. He doesn't brag. He dresses really smart. He does all the things that you want to like him.

He's a good mix for British society at the moment. Let's put it out way. He is, yeah. The easy option in this modern world is to act like Belanger to set yourself. Of course it, yeah. He's selling himself with a bit of dignity, a bit of pride,

but still getting the job done in impressive fashion. And you know, you know, we talk about, you know, you just said that you don't know him that world, but you're really pleased for the kid. Well, there were an awful lot of, obviously, matchroom people were there tonight, today, because obviously Eddie still works very closely with Shakur Stevenson. So there's an awful lot of matron people there.

There's people that we know, backroom staff and people that are around. And all of them were really happy, like genuinely happy. Like people would, like, you know, literally jumping around and excited and happy for Hamza Chiraz. Because, you know, in all fairness, he's a really decent kid. And he was a bit broken by that draw, the Adama's draw, which he knows he shouldn't have been a draw. He knows he lost. But he was a bit broken by that.

Anyway, one of the first people up in the ring was Frank Warren. And when he came out of the ring, he was still flying. I managed to have a little chat with him. He came here as the underdog and he came into the other guy's backyard and done a job. He's done what I said he would do, knock him out. I knew he could knock him out. It's like a lot of fighters on the back foot and they're not the same fighter. And he's a big puncher, he's got a knockout ratio, but push him backwards and he's a different fighter.

And it was venom in Hamza for my clothes, venom in his shot. He meant everything he threw. He did. He kept his composure. You know, I mean, the Langer had a couple of little good. good moments. Frank, just being kissed by Teddy Atlas. Continue.

No tongues. No, San Blanca is a good fight and that's what I think makes the victory that much better was the way he did it. Well, he's announced he's arrived on the scene and announced he's the rival in a big fashion. You know, everybody will now talk about him fighting the winner of Canello and Crawford. And I've got to tell you something, he's comfortable at this weight. He was struggling as we see in the last fight and the proofs in the last fight and the proofs in the to put him what he done this evening.

Yeah. And you spoke to Hamza, what did he say straight away? Because he looked as relieved as you looked happy. No, he was really. You know, he's come here, it's been a big build-up. And as I say, when you're away from home, it's always tough.

When you're away from home, you're with a fire to like this guy who's got a tremendous knockout ratio, and he's a bully. I don't mean that'd be indicted. No, it's a fact. But he bullies opponents. That's what he does.

And he weren't able to bully Ham's or whatsoever. Now, earlier in the week, very lively press conference where Belanga was throwing loads and loads of stuff. You literally got hit with a six inch hill, six inch hill, careful what I say. And I saw something come over Hamza that day. It's like he seemed to relax bizarrely. He was all calm throughout that. You know, when he started being quite abusive, I mean, I very rarely get involved,

but I started saying, I said, he is going to knock you out. He will knock you out. So, Frank, I mean, in theory, he does put himself right in line the winner of Crawford and Canelo. No, he does. I mean, so we can have a monster super fight with Hamza next year? 100%. And also, it's a privilege to be around him

because he is such a respectful man. And also, we know how hard he took that draw against the Darmes earlier this year. Yeah, he did, he did. But you know what? It was a fortunate draw, but he was dead at a way. I mean, I never knew he was having any problem.

No one told me, which annoyed me. I said to him after us. You're up. Not having that again. One thing I'll do about coming into fight tonight that there would be no excuses about weight. So that was Frank Warren there, very excitable, Frank Warren.

He's a lot of faith in Cheras from the very start. And him explaining now, when I said, you know, probably it means he'll get the shot. He said, no, he'll get the shot because that's the way the WBC will do it. Now, whether, I mean, assuming if Crawford wins, he won't keep the super middleweight belts and who knows, even if Canela wins, perhaps he won't keep them all,

because perhaps he'll look at the Shiraz fight and he'll think it's not cash viable. But the bottom line is, you know, sometimes Sanctin bodies do follow rules, their own rules and their own regulations. So in theory, Hamza-Sieraz is right now the number one contender challenger for the WBC's version of the World Super Bowlweight title. That's just a fact. It is, and also, you see, like, Canella might think it's not financially viable,

But in no way I can't go back to that fantasy's reality In no ways because there's a guy there Who can put the money up for it I want to see this And you know what happened He's an ambassador by the way Don't have to get for Read season

Let me tell what happened We got in a cab We missed the train so we were to try and get in a cab It was all a bit tricky And it was police cars everywhere And it was all a bit fun We managed to call a cab Got in the cab

And so we're now about an hour And ten minutes after the fight had finished then Turkey Alashai could already put out. We want to see So Canelo Alvarez against Hamza Chiras in 2026, which is, you know, I understand the sentiment behind it, but there is a little man called,

well, not a little man, I saw Crawford tonight. He wouldn't do an interview with me, but I tell you what, he's getting bigger and bigger and bigger. I mean, he loses a proper lump. Look like a cruiserweight tonight, Barry. Not to digress too much.

Go do what you like, son. Go away like. He's doing a lot of stuff, mine. Thank you. He was in Istanbul last week. He's traveling. I know, I know, I know the fights are way away away.

That's the matter. But still, yeah, you know, you've got to keep his eye on the ball here. You know what? I know it's a long way away. It's Crawford's last fight, by the way. He won or lose, he's done. Well, that's also another thing. But I'll tell you, I'm not, I don't, I didn't like it when he showed up in Istanbul the other week.

And I didn't really like it when he was here today. I tell you one thing, he was a bit miserable. He was a bit surly, but he was big. I mean, he was big. So obviously what he's doing, is he's going to go up to four weenstone and come down to 12. That's what it looked like to me. He was just big all over.

Possibly, but I mean, and when you, when, you, when, no, I was interested, when they stood next to each other, he looks as big, it's not bigger. Yeah. But he won't be bigger on the night. I mean, he might be the weight, well, not about the weight, but I mean, the presents and, you know, and Canelo's boxed that way for such a long time. We're going off topic here, but I mean, it's, you know, it's not a guarantee that he's going to be comfortable

let that wait. So who knows? Maybe Hamster does get him. But either way, the future is bright for Hamster's sheep as. And one fight could turn your career around. One fight almost derailed him with that draw. And you talk about Frank while I'm sticking with him,

even back to Bradley Skeet, with all that controversy there and all the trouble there. Well, he should have been disqualified. I mean, let's not beat around the bush. I mean, it wasn't intentional. It was in motion, but he should have been disqualified for a loan. That might have been the first sign as well.

He might not be the kid I thought he was going to be. And quite a dozen protesters cut their losses early. Do I invest loads in him? That was a sign. It might not be the guy who thought he was going to be. But they saw what we saw today. Yeah. They saw, yeah.

Well, I tell a man who did see what we saw today, and he saw it a while ago, and he's been working with Shiraz. This was their first fight together after Shearaz had spent 10 years, 10 training camps for Ricky Funes, mostly in California running up that ridiculous 800,000-pound bill, was Andy Lee.

Now, I caught up. It was a bit confusing post-fighted today. back in the sort of catacombs underneath the tennis courts. But I caught out with Andy Lee and he was, yeah, Andy was fairly satisfied. Really, term and performance. It wasn't the best start, but I knew it was fine. I knew he'd grow into it. There was no panic in the corner.

And he came back after the second round and said, I can hunt this guy. He said, we'll do it then. I said, use your feet, use your legs. He just grew as the fight went on. And the finishing shots were vicious at the end of the fourth and then in the fifth, absolutely vicious. Yeah. That's in him, you know?

Yeah. It is in him. He's in the gym, man, and he plays the song, The Beast in Me, Johnny Cash. And I asked him, I said,

have you got the Beast in you? He said, I do. And I knew what he meant. And he just looked like, I mean, not just the Beast. He looked like he was enjoying it.

Yeah. And you could just see Balangas confidence going with each second. Even, like, you don't, I've told people, but people don't believe how he party punches.

And when you just, you know, the punch is, that weren't even landed at work. Just clip in Blanger, you could see his eyes were changing and the demeanor was changing as the fight went on. So listen, great performance, and he's so much to still improve on. So Andy Lee there, in a very sort of excited, excited mood.

Ben Whittaker was also rings. I like to see that. I like to see teammates showing up for fighters. Pally Donovan, who of course had that controversial ending in his fight with Lee Crock. And they will be fighting for a version of the World Title sometime in September. We don't know the date. We don't know the date for absolutely for certain, but we think it might be quite close to or around the time

that Solcano Varus fights Terence Croyvon. More on that later. No news, by the way, just a little digress, a little bit of a digression. No news on Joseph Parker. Perhaps I should have asked Andy, Andy Leigh, but, hey-ho, that's the way it works. Let's leave Hamza-Sierrez,

because it was absolutely brilliant tonight. It was joyous to watch that. Let's have a little chat about William Zepeda against Shakur Stevenson. WBC lightweight title And it's a As it said it was a I thought it was a terrific fight

I thought moments I thought parts of it were fantastic to watch Yeah I mean In the week I've been saying I think it's a really good competitive fight That ends up being 12 nil To Chaucor Stevenson

It wasn't quite that But it could have been 10 2 Yeah 9 3 I think 9 3 That's the best I could give Sepeda for me

I mean he was really good and he really I could give him three and he's committed and he doesn't try to commit it but I mean from the back of the stadium it looks like he's winning the rounds I understand that

but I mean Choucault's making a miss a lot the punches are coming off the shoulder I mean sit but that's the problem is when you sit on the rope for too long even though sometimes you enjoy making people miss and forget the fireback as much but he was firing back the sharp counters he looks strong he pushed the bigger pack of time

and big punches that catch the eye of every judge and the way he just the way he jumps back without being off without shortening the space between his feet. Yeah. Or he almost jumps back without his feet leaving the floor. So was that, sorry, Bowie, was that Shakir Stevenson's best performance today? For all the best he's looked.

Yeah, and possibly, he looked really good to me. He's sharp as attacked. Yeah, I agree. I mean, punching through the target. I mean, his hands are still an issue, I think, so he's not really fully committing, but enough to stop Sepeda from walking forward, hit the body really well, was making a miss frustrating him.

And Sepeda's just so committed that he won't stop throwing punches. And so he made it a good fight. I thought it was always going to be a fan-friendly fight. It was fan-friendly. But it was only one winner. People thought it was close. I was just giving the guy credit for going forward or seeing the punches being thrown,

but not actually watching and being landed. Two things. Shakur was full of praise for Zapida. I mean, absolutely brilliant praise, which I always like to see. Now, I want to ask you, Barry, and I couldn't get to ask you during the fight. He did follow the same pattern, Zepeda.

You know, he did follow the same pattern. And he did something really well. He was jabbing for the chest, which is what you try and do, to slow down an elusive guy. But he did that for 12 rounds. You know what he never tried? There were several things he never tried.

I'll give you one thing he never tried. Then you give me one thing he never tried. And we'll see how far we go. He never tried dropping over his left leg and winging a big right hand over and going out of line of vision with Shakur. He never tried at once. He just threw straight right hands

and Shakur blocked 99% of them. he never tried feinting before he went in. There we go. He very rarely doubled the jab. No big loop in left hooks as he leans away. When he got close to the target, he never pivoted left or right, so he went up the body for different angles

for the hooks and the upper cuts. But the way he fights is the way he fights. So other fighters you can watch and say he should have done this because they can do it. With Cepeda, I think he's not an old man, so you can still form him a little bit, but I mean, his high intensity work rate, I mean, doesn't...

It was the same seven puns. It doesn't allow him to, it doesn't allow him creativity in the way he fights because he's so... Or the ability to change? Yeah, because he's so committed to throwing the punches. He has to just go, I'm going to wave down, way, down, way, down, way, down. Because he's not a knockout, but he's heavy-handed, and he throws lots of punches, and he's physically strong. Yeah. All those things.

Work for him, and still will work for him. He's still a fight at a boxing world level and be competitive and beat people. Yeah, by right. But so, like, him against Dalton Smith is a hard night for Dalton Smith. I think Donald Smith will beat him, but I mean, You've got to keep him away consistently for 12 rounds. That's a hard. It's easier to do it for a while.

But you've got to concentrate for every second of the round, which is very, very difficult. And we've seen Mr. Koy, he got wobbled. He got caught with a good shot once. I got wobbled. You got caught now and again. And there's a guy with fantastic concentration. So, you know, that immense pressure with neat work, by the way.

It's a pay to throws neat punches. He doesn't wing him in. Like you say, maybe he should have times to change the angle. But, I mean, he throws neatly, and that's a good thing. But he was just something against a guy who's a much, better fighter, a beautiful fighter when he wants to be. Attack negative at times and that's been critical of that, but

given the right dance pattern as he was tonight, he can look phenomenal. Well, that's what he said. He was getting lots of praise at the press comments. Eddie was particularly, Eddie Hearn was particularly exhilarated talking about him. But Shakira himself was talking about how, you know, I've been criticized in the past for those type of things of being

negative. I've shown tonight that if I get the right guy in front of me, a man that wants to fight and if my hands are right, you'll get the fight. And that's exactly what he delivered tonight. I've got to say, Steve, quickly, when he puts his combinations together, yeah. Some of the stuff right late in the fight was unbelievable.

People talk about, you know, Floyd and the Andre Ward influence and even the Tennis Crawford influence. But I've seen not as good before people start. I've seen Chaser Leonard when he had his combinations go. That acceleration of pace, the boom, br-drum. that with a bit of, not quite the same nastiness as Levin, because he was really nasty, but like trying to get there. You know what I mean?

So I think he can be more aggressive. I think he's good enough to do that. I'd tell you one thing, and I wish I would have pushed to interview him, actually, because he came up a great line. He said, I spoke to Andre Ward, not a bad fighter. Terrence Crawford, his mate, not a bad fighter. And Clefessa Shields, not a bad fighter. There's three of his closest friends, three unbeaten people,

three, you know, three absolutely truly epic fighters, two of them Olympic gold medalists. He said, and they told me the same thing. They said, whatever you do, don't sit on the ropes. So he sat on the ropes for the entire 36 minutes. And he said, he said, I guess I'll have to work on that. So he showed me, you've got a bit of a sense of humour as well. Yeah, yeah, that's good to see.

But, I mean, sitting on ropes is an issue because it can give an impression. I can give it for some of the people watching, you're not doing enough. And again, it's all like, I know what that's like to a smaller extent. And when you make people miss, it's enjoyable. But like I said earlier, you sometimes forget you've got to pull punches yourself. It can look fun. And you think it looks brilliant, by the way,

because it's clever to do. But all people care is when punches landed. So he's got to get the balance right. But I think he got it right tonight. He was outstanding against a good fighter. Who he made to look... I mean, Tevin Farmer sort of exposed him a little bit, even though he didn't get the win against Sepeda.

But Stevenson sort of went off that. and put on a terrific performance, arguably his best, and he's back to where he belongs. And it's a very, as he says, it's a fan-friendly win, and that will really help him, and it might put an end,

certainly for a while. Now, Barry, there was some good news today for another Brit, because in the WBC, like World to Wait, fight, Alberto Puella lost his title to Subrio Matias.

That was a hard, sort of strange old fight, a fight of several halves. Anyway, I thought he won Matias, but it was tight and I think one judge went, one judge

if I'm not mistaken, voted for Puella. Now that means that Dorton Smith from Sheffield, who was ringside, gets a crack at Mattis and he was pulled into the ring

at the end. Turkey Alashake was there and it was announced they're going to fight on November to 22nd I think in Riyadh so I managed to grab hold of Dorton to get his take on the fight that we've seen

and the fight that we're promised in Riyadh in November. Do you know look I've worked tired, I've, you know, I've earned my sport, got myself in a good position. It was just a matter of, you know, getting it over the line. And, you know, obviously, we was waiting for this fight to happen. I thought I'd have got it before. But, look, it was a great fight tonight between those two.

Hard fight. Hard fight. You know, two great champions. You know, my opinion, I thought Puella was up by a round. But, look, in the tie as close as that, the rounds can go either way. And, you know, my respect goes to both of those guys. But, look, I've got my opportunity. And I know, I'm confident.

I know my ability. and I'm going to be a world champion. I tell you what I was dreading, Doe, and you've probably put one and one together and come up with it. I was dreading the draw. I heard the first score called 140 and 1.40 and I thought, this is all we need.

But look, it was a close fight. It was a close fight, and yeah, but he was just lucky we didn't get it. And listen, obviously it'd be lovely to be fighting for a world title in Sheffield, but you're going to go to rehab. But that's good because that brings all sorts of things of it. First defence in Sheffield? Exactly.

I'll go over there, get the title, and then it's a homecoming. I believe that's the fight what will make me a superstar and then of course these big fights in my hometown but I've got a big job on my hands and I've got to go and win that world title

and it is a big job on your hands because that was his first time ever going to points he stopped the 22 people I think that he's won something along those lines but he can be here and he's nowhere near as effective

in the last four or five rounds that was obvious tonight exactly that and you know I've seen weaknesses in both of those guys I saw you talking to the Eddie all the way through the fight every 30 seconds

you were in Eddie Zia? I was, and, you know, I had Oscar Delaware the side of me. In your ear? He was in my saying, look, you need to be doing this, doing that. So, look, I'm sat at the side of greatness and, you know, what better guy

to get advice from him from Oscar? It is a bit mad, don't it? When you're sitting down at the ringside, you're watching a world title fight, you're in this fantastic tennis end, the 14,000 seats. It's a gorgeous, it's gorgeous weather. You've got the winner in the pinning of the ring.

Oscar De La Jolla on your side talking to you. It's a bit mad, you have to pinch yourself, don't you? It's crazy, and I said to Oscar, I said that 10-year-old me who was sat here, it had been gobsmacked and it just shows, you know, follow your dreams, work hard, and you'll get to those positions

and, you know, I really do believe I've earned it. Doughton Smith there is the kind of guy, Doughton Smith, if you get the feeling he might be, instead of going back to the hotel tonight and going out, he went back to the hotel, got changed, he went for a run through Central Park because he was, he's been waiting for this, and there's been talk of Dorton having a world title fight

for about 18 months, and he keeps having quasi-final eliminators. It's a brutally tough and hard fight. Matias now has won 23 times, 22 of them by stoppage or knockout. He's lost a couple. He is incredibly tough, incredibly hard, and incredibly dangerous.

But he can be hit, Barry Jones. He's easy to hit, I would argue. By the way, he might have gone for a run. I went for a run and a bike ride today. Before 9 a.m. I'm not saying I'm more prepared for a whole time. I'll fight the Dalton Smith, but I mean, there's an argument that I should maybe get the nod over him. Can you do 10 stone?

I can't do 12 rounds with Matissee. That's for sure. By the way, just what you're just seen in here before we talk about that? It was just over there, Paco Varko Sel? Yeah, God. Was he at your fight when you won the W? Did he give you your belt that night? I doubt it. I think he did? He did. Yeah, he did, yeah.

He was just sitting over there. You went downstairs to have a pee, and Paco walked out. I meant to mention it. Anyway, let's go back to Mattis. I want to get another belt of him? Yeah, yeah, just go and tell him. Order another. What are we got three. You know, I won three years running,

the WBO boxing journalist of the year? It's the only thing you ever won, and I've never ever got the belt. Three years, a tiny little belt, they said. He said, Stiv, I send you the belt. I've never had the belt. I got a plaque once, right, from the IBF for Intercontinental

upset of the year. Upset of the year. Upset that he was fighting for it. I don't know what they were on about. Have you? Upset. We have an intercontinental. Have you still got it?

I got nothing about it. It's like we're inside TikTok for second night run. We've had monster nights of fights. I think it's Donald Smith. I think it's a very hard fight for him. Donald Smith is extremely gifted, mega talent. I mean, I think he's tough,

but we're going to find out. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, want to help him is he'll have a target of a hit. Can he hurt him? I don't think so, which means he's going to keep coming. and also you can't really pick your shots with him because he's relentlessly on you

so you have to just dog it out with a bit of finesse we knew paro was really tough so he just kept working working working working and you've got to be able to do that now Dalton Smith because he's so gifted he always finds time to get the rest to do the work which is called managing the rounds fight management and he does it's good to be well

but in this fight you're not going to have fight management you're going to just have to dog it with the skill as well and if that makes any sense so it's a really hard night for him technically and tactically you know what you've got to do that's a good thing it's been out to do it against this kid

just keep you've got to attack the hit try and change the angle of the shot I mean that's the secret rather than just punch square and direct flat you've got to just change the angle of the shot of the L'Haudt turn it the last minute hit the head up and then when the hands come up

you go straight under the body you spin around the target you gotta keep turning turn him turn him he can do that but i tell you what he needs more than a run in the park he's got to be super fit yeah but that's a great point i also think he's at his peak i think there's no better time for dron's bit to get that world title and i tell you one thing barry tonight alberto prello who lost his title didn't fight but didn't fight paula didn't fight bad he's good no i mean it was a that was a sort of you know i watched that and I kept saying to myself and I was saying to Paddy, Paddy, this is

a better fight than we realised this is an absolutely cracking fire. So that's going to be in November. We've got to close this show. We've got to get out of TikTok before you order any more milkshakes, especially the vanilla variety. It's been quite an incredible

week, really, of different events. Two events a day. Unbelievable amounts of fighters on site. But if I had to ask you, Barry, for a takeaway, because I've got a strong takeaway, what would your takeaway be? I know I asked you last night, but here we are 24 hours later, I'm asking you again. I mean, is it cool pathetic, serendipity? I don't know what I'm the word I'm using.

I'm just making words. Nice words, though. But for how everyone's working together. Yeah. I mean, we've seen it now in the past with the Read season, but I mean, this weekend, there's been two different shows. Friday and Saturday, that's quite phenomenal as it is. But I mean, everybody's talking to each other. Everybody.

I mean, from, like, from Queensbury, the Matrim, to Golden Boy to MVP. I mean, even Al Heyman's fighters are involved. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's like top rank, everyone's involved. Everyone's involved, they're all talking to each other. I mean, I've never, it's never happened before. I mean, I can't say I've never known a time like it. It's never happened before.

Well, you know, as you say, so the matchroom people are working, alongside the Queensland people. We've seen that already. But they're also working alongside Golden Boy, Oscar Lohiaz people. Jane Machia is in and around all of our people, people from a company called Catchweight

that do a lot of Frank Warren stuff. Ant Leaver, the legendary iconic Ant Leaver, who's based in New York. He's been floating around, doing all the matchroom stuff. There's other people from Match Room have been floating around. And then there's been... And what's been really cool,

and you guys won't remember this because you haven't been around long enough is that years, years ago during the Tyson peak in, or not Tyson peak, those great Tyson and Lewis years in the 90s. There was a company called Magnumedia and they did all of your accreditation

and there was a man called Andy Olson. I haven't seen him for about six years but the first day we went to the first conference there was Andy on the desk just as well because I didn't have any idea on me. So even Magnumedia's appearance back on the scene was like it was quite emotional for me. And then how about that picture

in the middle of all of this? we suddenly had Jake Paul of MVP with Turkey Alice Shake somewhere in New York. I mean, as you say, it's been a real series of, you know, lovings, alliances, and I'm sure they'll go back to attacking each other again, but there's been a lot of harmony in New York this week, Mary.

Not to be too happy about it all. Go on, so let's be happy. Why not? It might be the reason I'd only be, because it's all about the money. Yes. But who cares what the... I mean, as boxing fans, which we are, We'll all let up on how much fighters are getting,

who's following a promoter, all this stuff. All we should care about. We all want fighters to get those a minute. We all want everyone to earn well and everything, blah, blah, blah, and everything be perfect. But all we should care about is seeing the best fights. Good point. And if they were to work together, we'll get the best fights.

End the story. Barry, that is not a bad ending, son. That's not a bad ending for a week where we've watched the sun dip down. over New Jersey and turn the entire highline orange and yellow. That was part of the week. Now next week is even bigger than this week. Wembley Stadium, Alexander Usick, Daniel Dubois, all four heavyweight championships,

the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. That's next Saturday. And next week's pods, well. Let me just run through them quickly for you. There's a watch along with Barry and I. We sit down and we watch the first fight between Dubois and Usik, which took place in Poland. We look at the punch, we look at the finish, and we look at the fight.

Then I've got a long sit-down with Frank Warren, where we go through some serious topics, mostly looking at Dubois. Obviously, Tyson Fury gets a mention what I'd expect it. And then we'll also hear from both of the boxers, Ussick and Dubois. Then Richie Woodall, former world champion, Olympic medalist, will join me to go through the tactics.

What does Ussick need to do to repeat the win And more importantly, what does Dubai need to do to get revenge? And Darren Barker will launch the week. If I can grab him off of a golf course, if I can stick him in some socks, I can get him. Darren, if I can get him off on an electric bike zipping around Manhattan, then I can get Darren Barker to review the week. So, Barry, before I let you go,

I need just a one quick line, short line on Dubois and Usik. It's a new and improved Dubai. full of confidence. If he ever got a chance of beating Usik, it's no, but it's still a monumental task. Yeah. You know what? That's fair comment. Absolutely fair comment. So Dubois and Usik

is next week. This week was all about Katie. It was all about Hamzscheiras. And I think in their own different ways they were both magnificent. I was delighted for the pair of them, especially Hamza Chiras. And Katie Taylor, as I said, I think yesterday on the pod, or was it, the day before?

The day before? I don't know. I've lost count. If we never see Katie fight again, so be it. If she fights again, so be it. It will be what it is because Katie will do what Katie wants to do. So we go from an incredible week in New York with back-to-back nights of extraordinary fights in two iconic venues. And we head towards Wembley and six days of build-up or five days of build-up and about 100,000 people.

I'm not going to use any cliches, but it is a bit ridiculous, isn't it? It really is. I've been Steve Bantz, and this has most definitely been Five Live boxing on a special, special journey to New York. From my very first game, I knew that I wanted to be a goalkeeper, the buzz and the adrenaline that I got from it. The dream was to always represent my country. Mary Herbs, desperate to impress.

I remember saying, I know I've got what it takes. You have to be obsessed. Mary Ops with a Super Save. You just look at some of the saves that she makes. Not everyone can do that. I really had no eye. really how far I would go. Angling!

Felt like my world was ending. That was the moment I was in pieces on the kitchen floor. You have to hit rock bottom to understand what you really want. Mary would put herself in front of anything and feel like she could stop it. I've done something that I'd always dreamed of doing, that I never knew if I'd get the opportunity to do. Mary Earps, Queen of Stops. Watch on BBC Eye Player.