5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - The Piranha's Next Bite

Episode Date: June 15, 2026

Is Ryan Garner ready to take the next step and mix it with the elite of the super-featherweight division? The Southampton fighter takes on Italy's Michael Magnesi for the interim WBC super-featherweight title at St Mary's Stadium this Saturday. Garner joins Buncey to reflect on his journey so far, the setbacks and frustrations he's had to overcome, and why he believes now is the time to prove he belongs at world level.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. What do Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney? YouTube megastar, Mr Beast, and former Facebook executive Cheryl Sandberg, all have in common. They're all being discussed in the new season of Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast which explores the lives and fortunes of the world's super rich. That's Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now, search for Good Bad Billionaire wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

This is Five. Live Boxing. It's been a while, but Tyson Fury is back in the USA. It was a guest of the president at the White House. That's Dana White, the president. The Zupa Boss. Is Tyson Fury jumping ship? Hey, we don't know.

But if I do know, I will let you know, that's a fact. Now, that was Sunday night. And on Saturday night, closer to home in Manchester, Tyson Fury was ringside to watch his little brother give away 110 pounds to the man-mountain Eddie Hall. Now, Eddie was once the world's strongest man. How about that? Tommy won comfortably over six rounds.

Now, in the real boxing wheel, Ban Rodriguez, Barry Jones is number one. He's the president of the Chiswick fan club of Ban Rodriguez. He moved to 24 and 0 for six-round stoppage, and it was a classic finish, classic bam of Antonio Vargas in Arizona. Now, all fun events in their very own way. But I'm going to concentrate on a fairy tower on the south coast. Ryan Garner fighting in his beloved St Mary's,

a stadium fight in June. That's a dream. That's on Saturday night against Italy's Michael Magnasy. Now it's for the WBC interim super featherweight title. It's a real fight, a dream fight, all part of boxing's very rich and often absurd tapestry. Who invents these weekends? I'm Steve Bunce and this is Five Live Boxing.

Ryan, I like this, Jim. It was hard to find. Was it here? It was hard to find. The taxi drivers weren't sure. The first thing that struck me, Ryan, is that you're going to be fighting outdoors at your beloved Southampton ground

and the ground is no more than 100 metres from where we're sitting. Yeah. I mean, do you wander past it every day? Can you ever drive past it and not look at it? No, to be fair, we are every day normally, well recently, when we finish training, we normally go over to the Dell, which is joined to the stadium for lunch in a way. So we're always at the stadium pretty much every day at the moment.

And like you said, driving past it on the way home, just seeing it every day, mate. It's still surreal, isn't you? Yes, it's still surreal. Because Josh Warrington, before he had these big fights, when he actually fought, obviously, at Eleham Road, massive Leeds fan, he used to drive past every night after training and just look at it, literally. And he used to say he used to visualize walking from the changing rooms across, you know, up the tunnel and across the pitch.

Have you got to that stage yet? Have you done that? Have you been out on the pitch? Yeah, I've been at a... The club had been really, really well. Every time I've won a new title or something, they've got me out on the pitch at halftime. And even, like, you say, in the build-up tier,

so I met... When I went there for the FA Cup quarterfinals, I was supposed to versus Arsenal, I was walking up then, I was waving the flag with Mark Dennis. Get in. Yeah, but that was the best atmosphere I've ever witnessed at City of Mary's. They had all the pirates going off.

I remember the match, I'm an Arsenal Yeah, it was a massive game obviously playing Arsenal Yeah, it was just, that was a, so that just, in the back of me and I was like, oh, I hope the hope. I hope when I fight her June 20th

was going to be the same atmosphere. Now, one thing strikes me there, that's brilliant what you just said, but that can drain you a little bit as well, the adrenaline, you're walking out, the crowd's going mad, have you thought about that? So listen, you've had some big fights,

don't get me wrong, you know, a British title fighting and a couple of other fights that have been, you've had to win them to carry on your career more than that in a second. But what do you think

it will be like on the night because you know you won't be carrying a flag you won't be walking out of the pitch they'll be everyone there will be there for you yeah obviously as you said there's going to be a lot lot more pressure yeah um we just see what's going to be like on the night at the moment I haven't really thought about as much I haven't really

like dwelt on it too much so I've just been training hard staying focused that but so I haven't really come to that point and I feel like my last couple fights I've kind of got in my head uh what's meant to be what meant to be as long as I put the work in in the gym before I know as long as go in there, if I've done the stuff

that I should be doing in the gym, then I don't got no pressure, so that's what I've kind of used in my last couple of fights, and there hasn't been no pressure, if you know what I mean, so I won't lose no nervous energy. A smart thinking. Yeah, because other, like I say, fighters can go out there and they can freeze, they can lose a lot of nervous energy, but

I've gone in there, what's meant to me, is meant to me, if I'm meant to win, if I'm meant to lose, I'm meant to lose. And it's kind of took the whole weight of my shoulders, and then I haven't really burnt any excess energy, do you know what? And on the night, if you wanted, you could even come to this gym here sort of just loosen out and literally you walk. I could do it like a Rock.

I did a Scott Quick. Yeah, yeah. I love it. I've always loved the idea of that. I just think, I mean, obviously Scott Quinn did it in real life, Rocky did it in the movie. I love the idea of that. You literally, you know, you make yourself a cup of tea, put the milk back in the fridge, close the fridge, check all the windows are closed. Make sure the terropins are okay and the dog's okay.

Then you walk to the venue. That's great, isn't it? I could always have my warm up here and then walk over from the gym what I train at every day, then walk over to the stadium and then get scrapping. That would be good. So I know we're making life But it is a real fight And he is a real opponent

And that's important Of course, yeah Like you say At this level now No fight's gonna be easy He's WC number one for a reason Obviously I'm number two now He's been in there against world-class operators

He's held his own He took a catchy The distance, Give him a good fight So listen I'm under no illusion It's going to be a very very tough fight But I know the Ryan Garner The best Ryan Garner

When he turns up He beats anybody in the division Now it seems like forever ago, 10 years she made it. In fact, you know, it's the same day, don't you? 20th of June. Your debut was 20 for June. And your fights 20 for June, yeah.

I didn't even know that, yeah. Luckily, I was stranded at Southampton Central for an hour and waiting for a taxi. So I just check that. I'm a big believer in everything. It happens for a reason. And that's meant, there's meant to be, that's the same night, everything is going to pan out well. So you're 18 years of age then. It was a box nation show.

Yeah. I forget where it was, you're cool or something like, you're cool. Yeah, yeah. You're cool. Now, I'm like, I remember it, because I remember Barry Jones was praising you were all praising you. because, you know, you were exciting. That 18-year-old Ryan Garner, and you know where I'm going with this, that just seems like forever ago, right, isn't it?

If I look at you, you look the same, you're still the kind of, you're still Ryan Garner. A little bit, maybe a little bit, you're just looking a bit, oh, yeah, fine to get the bumfluff. He's taking you 10 years to get there. Well done, time. No, but what I mean is it's a bit of journey, isn't it? And that kid then is kind of, even though it's similar,

you're similar, he's unrecognizable to this man in front of me now. Like you say, a lot of people said, like, it feels like I've been in the game for a lifetime, like, 10 years. Even though, like, there's been ups, there's been down, I mean, I've been on the Box Nation, being on the BT, being on the... Now on the T&T. Be on T&C, now and it feels like I've been around for a little while, you know. I mean, I've been and seen a lot of fighters. Like, I looked at the poster the other day for my debut, and I think I'm the only one left from when I fight. Who was top of the building? I can't remember.

It's not a trick question, no. But even, like, when I first started, I look at the post. I'm like, none of them are even boxing now. Like, no, they will finish, being done. So that was the early days of Frank, do you know what I mean? Yeah, not obviously with Frank, but yeah, for me in my career. But yeah, so it's a bit mental, like how obviously I've stopped with Frank. We've come through it.

I even remember the other day I looked at a photo of me and you. I think I was like 16 or 17 at York Hall. I went to watch Billy Rumble. Yeah, a photo of me at York Hall. No way. The Tyson Fury looks like, looks really young. Tyson Fury back then looked about 20 years of age. His hand was massive and like it's just a bit mental like how times a change.

And obviously now, I'm at like the kind of the top. Well, hopefully it will be on the top after June 20th. But it wasn't an easy journey to get here. I mean, you know, when I actually looked at the gaps in your career, you know, the amount of fights that you didn't have, you know, your vanishings, your injuries, your suspensions, your time off. I mean, it's, there were times there when we thought we'd lost you. I mean, I remember talking to Frank Warren, Frank Hopkins, Wayne and, you know,

thinking, you know, them shaking their head. I know a lot of people stuck with you during these, doing those dark times. But there were times there when we thought we'd lost you. Yeah, there's times, like you say, there was times in there when I thought, I lost myself and I thought, oh, this is me done. I thought, I remember at one stage, I can't remember it. It was something, something or whatever. And then I was working in, like, loading up lorries and out with boxes of books and stuff.

Like, like, I remember I was lunchtime. But 20 years of age or something like that. Yeah, like, yeah. Yes, I mean, I was suspended by the board at the time because they clapsed away and didn't make weight. Yeah, and I thought, I'm done with boxing now. I thought, I'm just going to... That was before, obviously, I had my missis.

I had kids and stuff like. I thought, ah, I can't involve for boxing. I'd be doing it this long long, 12 years at the time, whatever. So I'm done with it. But luckily, I didn't, obviously, because we were... You were at 10, didn't you? 10 years of age? 10 years of age, yeah.

If when you're 21, 22, you've already done 12 years in 11 years. Yeah, that's what I mean. That's kind of in the back of my head. Like, I can't be finished. Like, I haven't achieved. I know what I can... I can achieve when I haven't set out. I don't know

be a lot of disappointment do you know what I mean doing a lot of people who have backed me and been there the whole journey for my career and then for me to just walk away with not even achieving nothing

at the time it would have been a waste of time and like do I mean it wouldn't have shown out my capabilities and I've got to do it luckily I've stuck it out and people stuck with you

yeah like I said with a one for Wayne Frank Hopkins Frank Frank Warren I wouldn't be in this situation now a lot of most managers trainers

cut men, promoters, they would have washed their hands with me years ago. But luckily I got great people around me, they stuck with me. And if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be in a position now and becoming Swampton's first ever world champion and making history. I mean, there's a four and a half year period there where you have just the four fights when you're young.

I mean, I know you're suspended for the butterball because that was the way-in situation. Two-way-ins. Was that because you were living, you were just making weight wrong? Yeah, like I said, I'm not in spirits now, but I was just doing the wrong things. I was going out drinking two weeks before a fight or something. Two weeks before a fight it was going out drinking.

You know what I mean? Wayne, he took me away to Tenerife once because I was always going out and had a fight country so he took me to Tenerife for three weeks. As soon as I got back from Tenerife, I went out with my ex to the pub and that. It's just like, just stupid young decisions. In all fairness, you know, kids

that lose their lives at 18, which is what you did. You lost your social life at 18 because you become a pro. Yeah. And, you know, you can't do, obviously 18 if you can do anything. But you know at 24, you can't do it. Of course, yeah.

You've got to choose one. So many, we lost a lot of fighters over the years, right, who didn't go on to fill full their dreams. That's what I mean. I didn't want to be one of them ones that could have should or would. Because it's easier. It's easier to mess up than it is to stay straight. Of course it is.

Yeah. That's what I mean. I didn't want to be one of them. I knew what I was capable of what obviously I won a lot of amateurs. And a lot of, I didn't want to let a lot of people down. I didn't want to prove people right, if you know what I mean? Because there was a lot of people.

Don't worry about him. He'll get on it. We'll lose it. No, there's a lot of people who thought, ah, he's a waste of space. He's going to go down the wrong path. Do you know what I mean? So I wanted, in the back of my head,

I wanted to prove them wrong, as well as to prove myself right that I could do it. So it's just kind of a mix of things. But it's a big, it's a big pull, especially if you're pool of friends, I use that word loosely. You pull the friends with your 16, 17, 18, 18, 19 are guys that go out a lot. Yeah, yeah.

It's hard. It's hard. It's hard. It's hard. I've still got, like, friends. if you like going out and that now. Yeah, of course. But it's all about, obviously now I've got older. I've got my own decision.

I can make up my own decisions. You know what? Yeah, of course. I can pull myself away from it. I've got a family now to provide for. It's easier now that, do you know what I've got a more sense of word on my shoulders. I can pull myself away from that kind of, them kind of situations and just stay on the straight and narrow. Did you think at any point during those years when you were sort of lost,

did you think that you were finished? Yeah. That you wouldn't actually get back. Yeah, like I said to you, just a minute ago, it was the times I remember I was working at some place called Reva, like I said, it was just stacking up boxes, parcels into lorries. And I remember I was eating lunch, like I said, like I said, Shmillo, I wanted to quit boxing.

I thought, I can't bob for this now. How many fights you had at that point, do you think? I don't know, seven, eight, maybe. So you're unbeaten, mostly stoppages? Yeah, yeah, yeah, seven, eight. But like I said, maybe more, but that's when I started to, like, started to fall off the wagon a bit. Things started to go wrong, like, started to miss weight.

and just other things that would, yeah, just all self-inflicted. Like, yeah, and I thought, I can't keep doing this, you know what I mean? Like,

I'm just going to make myself like a fool. If I keep going along this path that I'm doing, then I'm just going to make yourself and I'm just going to make yourself, and embarrass myself front of everyone. So if I stop now,

then I'll save myself the embarrassment, if you know what I mean? And, yeah, but luckily, didn't it? So was there, was there a turning point? Was it something that happened

sort of outside of boxing or was it somebody inside, or was it just used, literally looking at yourself in the mirror one more than it's saying, I've got to change. Yeah, it's the team that I've had, obviously, Frank Hopkins was still here there.

Of course, he was still here with us then. Gave him some great years, isn't he? Yeah, yeah. That's one of your quotes. It's just great quote, day. I'm going to read it in a minute, don't worry. But, no, like you say, I didn't want to let them down. But obviously, it was myself as well.

I just knew how I had it in me. It's got to be you. Even like now, like now, I could still sometimes, sometimes I think, I can't be bothered for this boxing. It's hard work, it takes every life. I want to be able to do stuff with my family. Go, I'll be a normal bloke sometimes. but then at the same time as I say

I want to do it it's weird I always got somebody always keeps dragging me well it's that thing there's one there's one devil on that shoulder there's one devil on that shoulder saying don't worry about training

don't worry about that right the other one the other one he's winning he keeps pulling me back in saying come on you're not done yeah you got loads to achieve yeah like and hopefully

tune 20th it'll be saying to me it'll be saying to me it was all worth it mate but the thing is now you can really see what might be a so-called finish line. You win this version, and then it's this fight,

then it's possibly this fight. You know, all the conversations you're having with Frank Warren or the private conversation. You're not three fights away now. No, one fight. You're one fight. And that's different. One fight in that building, we can see just out through that,

literally see it. If that building wasn't there, we'd be able to see it. Yeah, like I say, this is what dreams made. We've been talking about it for a very long time. Like I said, I said in an interview the other day, I bumped in someone in the shop the other day, and they said, it's actually mental. like he's like you've been saying about it for years but

you know like that's just like you just talk about it like a lot of people say a lot of stuff it never happens but you've been talking about I'll St Mary and it's actually happening now it's like it's a bit mental like weird never been a boxing event there ever and it's just yeah it's just like like you said I'm so close now after this one fight I've won four I become interim world champion and then you get the shots of the Yoshaki forces

the big Americans that catch you're there then your life changes forever so I just got to get through this fun. And all of that stuff, all of those problems you've had, all of the hardships, all of the breaks from the boxing, all of those stacking shelves, what they also do if you survive them is they make you stronger. Yeah, like you say, when you get over stuff like, it makes you stronger, it makes you more determined. Um, we say do over, I say, I say, I say, I say, when I retire from boxing, mate, I got, I can write a book from as tall as me to the floor, mate the amount of stories I've got or I'm looking forward to maybe a documentary or something

about my career and my life yeah I mean I mean we're sort of skirting around some of the lows but you know some of the lows are documenting some of them aren't documented but they were you know this is me talking the amount of man they were they were they're quite serious lows right yeah yeah you're Ryan Garner's lows were low well yeah they're let's not let's not miss hell worse but my lows their career ending like I say if I'd say I've said it many times if people was in my shoes when I was going through the blows they would have walked away from boxing they would have watched it but like you say the determination in me in my head like I've got to prove everyone wrong I've got to do it for myself I've got to show what I'm really made of

that's what kept me driving they might have walked away from wanting to exist yeah yeah yeah so I mean but I just took on the chin carried on coming and then it luckily I did because everything's starting to pay off now I know the gym Tyson Fury talks about the gym being his therapy, being his version of rehab, you know, he needs to be in the gym every single day,

even if he's not boxing or even if his quotes, unquote, retired, he needed that connection. Was it the same of you, or did you, and if you don't want to answer, don't answer,

did you seek professional help at any point? No, I didn't. I didn't seek no professional help because I just, listen, if I, no, professional help is not

something I look at. The only person who could do it is myself, really. Like you say, I can get all this help, but if, You can get all this help you want, but if you don't want to do it, you're not going to do it. I can go see someone, and then as soon as I leave that room, I'll go and self-destructs, do whatever I want.

Do you mean? At the end of the day, it's got to be down to you. You've got to do it yourself, and I've wanted to do it, do I mean? So slowly but surely, I've changed my habits, change everything. And like I say, just want to fulfill, I want to make history. I want to do this. I want to provide from my kids. I want to give them the best life possible.

So that's what keeps me going. A three and a one-year-old. And I got a lovely fiancé and a lady. least. So I've got a lot planned, we want to get married next year. I've just bought my first house. We want to do that up. I want to change our lives.

So that's what keeps me going. I want to financially do very, very well for myself and change our lives. And this fight is a massive bridge to that. This is a step in turn. It's kind of like Promise Land. I mean, let's not be dramatic. To the big league, yeah. Listen, you're getting well paid for,

this I'm assuming. But over there, it's that. Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It's that, all that life changing stuff. You've already. Your life's changed already. Let's get it right now. Oh, yeah, of course.

Right now. Your life right now, you win or lose on the 20th. Your life's already changed, unbelief. You're a different person. Yeah, even now before June 20th, my life's changed.

Like, over the last two, three years, I've become, like, in Southampton, like, it's been mental, like, I'm running down the road, you get beeps, left, right and center. Still rocky stuff? Yeah, right.

Yeah, that's what I mean? That gives your motivation. So you're halfway through it, you're like, you get a beep next feet. You know, you got a surge of energy. You got a surge of energy.

That's waning a car. Yeah, but even when I'm walking around like the city, you've got people out of photos. A lot of people know you, do you know? Yeah. And the relationship I got with the club, a young meet would never imagine how, like, we can go over to a club whenever,

good friends with CEO, good friends of players, ex-players, like James Beattie, ex-Saint-Cledgand, become a friend, I was around there watching the Champions League final last Saturday. That's what I mean, like, five years ago. You're living in Dreamland? Yeah, the five years ago. Go on, it's in Dreamland!

Yeah, that's in Dreamland! That's it, mate. I am. Honestly, that's what I mean. It is mental. Like, five years ago, I'd never be, I'd never think anything this is possible. And it is, and I'm lucky. So one day about 12 years ago, you had a picture with me at your call.

Now you're hanging out with James B. He went Arsenal in the Champions League Final. And I'm thinking, mate, it's flipping. It's mental, yeah. It's dreamblower. Like I said, my life has been changing. I remember when I first got my missus five years ago, no, six years ago.

We was living in a shared house with three other people. Do you know what I mean? In a shared house, yeah. rent in a room. Do I mean? And now, obviously, I'm finally in a position and we've bought a house,

we've got two kids, we're engaged. Like five years, that's six years. How much can change to six years? You know, there's that sliding doors

and you just get through the door in time because if you've missed it, it closes, you're in a different... Yeah, of course, yes. You've scraped from some sliding doors. We're fine, fine margin. I mean,

with everything that's gone on in my career, I'm lucky to still be here in this position I am now. What do Beatles member, Sir Paul McCartney? megastar, Mr. Beast, and former Facebook executive Cheryl Sandberg, all have in common. They're all being discussed in the new season of Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast which explores the lives and fortunes of the world's super rich. That's Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC

World Service. Listen now, search for Good Bad Billionaire, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. What's there a point, even when you're in the sort of the bad places and you're a bit lost? Did you stop enjoying the actual boxing? Or once you were back in the gym, did you enjoy, it. Did you fall out of love with boxing? I'm a... Funny you say that. I always say it.

I'm a bit bipolar of boxing. Well, that is a shock. Yeah, yeah. One second, I absolutely love it. The next... I hate it, do you know what I mean? So I'm up down like a yo-yo. It's hard, mate.

So I'll get better. Every fight it goes through it. Like, some days it can't be bothered. Like, but I just know I've got a couple years left in me. Yeah. I've said for a little while, I'm 28 now.

I'm 30. I want to be done. done, hopefully. Hopefully, who knows? When did you get to 30? I'd go, I'd have a year, never two. But ideally, I want to make enough money, invest it, and be done at 30.

Right, did you ever balloon, balloon, weight-wise? Or you were sort of lucky that you didn't go, you didn't go to a Ricky hat and didn't go to 17 stone or anything? Nah, not, no, I wouldn't go that, mental, but, uh, two things. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I look back in it now. Like, I remember, even when I was younger, I wasn't even in the nearest shape I am now. Yeah. And I used to go up to, like, it's his key, it's like 71, 72 kilos.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I used to go up to that and I'm thinking I'm knowing you're in the shape and now I only go up to like 67 67 and I'm in much better shape but it's a bit mental I don't know how

it's just like I said diet and lifestyle drinking a lot more back then like I wouldn't really as dedicated as I am now eating rubbish just everything just yeah not living living a builder's lifestyle

yeah well leading a survivor's life yeah just your average bloat or whatever but have you obviously you know you're still fighting in a moment but have you thought about at some point, you know,

tutoring or helping young boxers. Because you don't, there isn't a system in place. No. So if you're a young fighter, if I'm a 70, 18 year old fighter, and I've had a bit of a good amateur career

and I've turned pro, and I'm being pulled left, right and center, there's no one I can talk to. No. There's no one. No, no. There's no boxers hotline. I just wondered, you know,

would fight, if fighters approached you, that'd be something you'd be interested. Yeah, definitely. Sharing your experience. I've said before, like, after boxing, my box career is done, I'd like to definitely,

managed some fighters and trained a few maybe like being in the boxing world like it's good like you say I've been there done it I've been in the games as I've 10 years old boxing and Lashie for England fought at a high level pro and I've been for the ups and downs you know I mean it's not being smooth sailing so I kind of know

I'm like you normal bloke as well you know I mean you're a fighter but normal bloat so I don't understand where they'd come from like do you know I can't be bothered they go on the piss or so on the weekend I'd understand I can recollect with them you know, so I feel like I'll be very, yeah, like you get some, like managers in that.

Some of them ain't laced a glove up. Yeah, yeah. Some of ain't lived a lifestyle or whatever, do I mean? They don't know. No, they don't understand. I've been there, done it. Like, so it could be something good. And then that's, that's why I asked it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd definitely be interesting. You know, it's been a while since I interviewed since you were on the sofa or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, you know, obviously I've been, off, yeah. You're flipping out, man.

Yeah, shoo. Bunting now. Oh, God. Oh, I'm standing to attention to even with that. No, no, quite seriously, it's been a while since you and I sat down, and I see you at shows, but this has been enlightening. And what I'm hearing is that you could, you know, what stuff you've experienced could help other fighters.

Oh, definitely. And now we come to the tricky part, so I'm going to read just something you said. There was about, this was last year. I said it, yeah? Yeah, you said it. After you beat Bellotti in the dressing room. You said everyone knows Frank Hopkins has backed me through thick and thin. when I was younger

I gave him more grey hairs than you could imagine Frank Hopkins is a legend in the game I'm gutted he's not here tonight Frank I just want to say I love you mate Yeah yeah yeah That was great that

Nah yeah that's what I mean We went to see him the day after Yeah but we went down there with the belts To let's see Because he was there Give a stick Nah he was alright It's a bit sad

For honest me Let's say he was like Quite close then Yeah Yeah and he wasn't as healthy As what he's looked in the past You know I mean Like

So it's a shame seeing him in that situation He did back you, you know. He used to drive me, I'm telling you now, I wish I could swear. Yeah, yeah. He used to drive me mad. He used to tell everyone. The piranha, the piranha, the piranha, the piranha. Say, Frank, I've talked about him.

No, and I talk about him some more. The piranha of the piranha. He loved it. Like, say, if it weren't for him as well, I don't think it would have been a rave around my name as much as it would. Yeah. And I remember, obviously, I've got to spend him with a ball for clapping away, and he comes to the meeting with us and that,

do I mean, he's trying to stick up for. stick up for me. He didn't shut up. He's like, Frank, that's enough now. Even if he'll get it. He'll back in. Yeah, he's like, he's still going on and on. And I was like, Frank, be quiet now,

mate, yeah? But he loved it. Like I said, he always backed me. It's shame. So I've just, I've got, my shorts being made now. I've got Frank Hopkins on. So he's still there with me.

So he's still there with me. Tonyoki told me, though. Yeah, so come fight. No, I know he's going to be looking over me. And I know. Now, listen, I love Tonyokey to death, right? Steer clear of him. Yeah.

I think we're not too far different, mate, if I was... Well, I'll tell what, if you're in Tony Hokies away from boxing league, you're elite level. Yeah, yeah. Well, I won't say nothing about that.

We won't say nothing about that, no. Listen, Tony was a... I was just saying to Tony earlier on. Fighters like him, yeah. They don't exist now. Fighters that have been in all those hard fights with all those. They were great. So what's it going to be like on June 20?

What's it going to... I know you're not visualising it yet. You're not imagining it yet. I am kind of... What's it going to... What's it going to be like? It's going to be something else. Like, I'll just picture everyone there, as I said,

when I watched the Arsenal game versus Saints and the FC Cup of the Court Finals, when the Pirates were going off and the fingers were going off, it was just mental atmosphere. And I just keep visualising that, me walking out, the Pirates going, everyone's singing, I win the Saints,

and then Garna and the Prana. And Michael McNeezy in the wing rating. WBC into rim title after grabs. And it's just, that's what dreams are made of. And I know the way I'm feeling the gym, how I'm feeling, that there's nothing that's going to stop me from winning this fight. Nothing.

You're a different man, aren't you now? Yeah. You're not going to think I'm a bit of a man, mate. I think you've grown up during the interview. Yeah, yeah, I do. From the start to the end, mate, I'll get more matured over. Oh, flip me. That's good. What business, eh? It's mental, mental business, me. Nothing like it, is there? I mean, I know the highs and lows and lows. Yeah, I like I said, the lows and the highs are highs. Yeah.

That's the thing with boxing. Well, listen, enjoy yourself on the 20th. I'll be there. You'll be there. Absolutely, yeah. And who cares if it rains? Well, I'm hoping not, mate. Last week, last week, it was lovely. Boy, everyone says that. And then now, mate, I don't know what's going on. I was in Bournemouth, right?

We've got two weeks for it to fix up. I was in Bournemouth and it rained the whole time. And everyone kept saying, oh, he should have been here last week. I know that, but I'm here this week. Yeah, yeah, I don't care what last week. Could have should have water, isn't it? There's always good to should have water. Nah, good to see you, Steve.

Now, listen, Ryan, it's a pleasure to talk to you. It's been an honour to talk to you. That's been a privilege to talk to you. Thanks very much, thank you. The 2023 Ballandor, France footballer, is Leonel, This is the story of the greatest rivalry in the history of sport, a rivalry that split football into two faiths for a generation.

There could be no, oh, Messi and Ronaldo are both great players. There had to be one that was better. They 100 million percent pushed each other to the next level. You know, we were the lucky ones who got to see it. I'm Steve Crossman. This is Sporting Giants, Messi v. Ronaldo. Listen first on BBC Sounds. What do Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney?

YouTube megastar, Mr. Beast. And former Facebook executive Cheryl Sandberg all have in common. They're all being discussed in the new season of Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast which explores the lives and fortunes of the world's super rich. That's Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now, search for Good Bad Billionaire wherever you get your BBC podcasts.