5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Usyk v Fury 2: Fight week begins

Episode Date: December 16, 2024

Buncey is joined by Darren Barker as fight week kicks off in Riyadh. They hear from Oleksandr Usyk as well as his manager Alex Krassyuk. Dave Allen, who fights on the undercard, is also on the pod and he talks about sparring both fighters.

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You know what that means? It's Reade. Tyson Fury against Alexander Usik, too. World Heavyweight Championship boxing. Yes, we're back in Saudi Arabia. It's the start of Fight Week. I'm Steve Bunce, and this is Five Live Boxing. And the way to start a week in Riyadh, when the sun isn't out and there's not yet a moon,

is to sit down in a lounge somewhere and yet another glorious hotel with Darren Barker, former world champion, old friend. There was a time when he won the Commonwealth Games. It was so long ago. I find it even hard to remember. It was that long ago. And I'm sitting with Darren and of course we've got to look forward to Tyson Fury and Alexander Usick and maybe one or two of the other files on the bill.

Of course we've got to do that. But the first thing we have to do is the sock check. Yes, he's got socks on. So that's odd. And now we've got to do the golf check. And also, also DB Barker, I'm hearing all sorts of stories about you flying in the sky in one of those rooms that have got sauna suites and showers and stuff. I'm not sure where to start.

You went from Monaco to Riyadh. Have you even found time for me, Darren? Right, so one, I'll start with the socks. Yes, I've got these short, small socks on, but I am still showing off my ankles. Thank you, darling. They're probably being my best asset, my ankles, and that's why I've always got them out.

Yes, the golf is booked. This doubles up as exciting, unbelievable fight weeks, ending in a terrific crescendo of world title action that never seems to disappoint. but they're also golf holidays for me, Steve. You're so honest. You're too honest, man. My wingman, Barry Jones, who you know very, very well,

will be playing at least four times, Steve. And yes, I was very fortunately flown out here, first class on Emirates, and I had a shower at 40,000 feet. Just because I didn't even need a shower, but I'm going to have it. So, yeah. Living the dream, mate.

I always whisper this. When I land in an exotic location, even anywhere really, for a world title fight, and I'm ringside and I'm being paid, we are living the dream. Of course. I mean that. I mean, we are living the dream

when we come to these fights. Okay, let's get down to it. They're both floating around the building, Alexander Usick and Tyson Fury. I had 20 minutes with Usik a bit earlier on, and he's got that look in his eyes. He's really got to look at his eyes. I know it's a rematch on Saturday

and there's all sorts of theories about rematches. Fury's running a little bit late. We're hearing he's put on a little bit of weight as well. First of all, then, what's your, do you have a, is there a Davon Barker theory on rematches? Not necessarily, but what I would say is when you're talking about higher IQ fighters having rematches,

that once they've experienced, rounds with their previous foe that they would do better in a rematch because they're articulate, they're smart, high IQ fighters. And someone like Usik, to have 12 rounds over Fury, you'd say, well, he'll have to excel and do even better in this fight. Well, you'd bet that he would. But I was sort of, as we all do, you know, we do our research. And this wasn't really hard to come across.

but you look at the rematches that Fury's had against McDermott, Chazora and Wilder. He's always done better. Well, if you look at the one that Usick had against AJ, you would have to say AJ had done better in the return. Without a doubt. That was the closer of the two fights between AJ and Usick was the second fight in Jeddah. Without a doubt, they're quite closer. But what I will say, Steve, is you've got to remember Tyson Fury mocked Usik about him being a middleweight.

How is his middleweight going to deal with me, the size of me, and the big laughing point on his part was this middleweight can't hurt me. Well, Usik knows now that not only can he beat Fury, he can hurt Fury. Would you go as far as to say, as he knows he can stop him? Yeah.

I'm on your side, yeah. I mean, he was on the brink, wasn't he? Yeah. The ropes stopped him from getting... I mean, in all fairness, I don't know, you know, you were a ringside like me. We were both six feet, you were three feet, I was six feet from it.

I thought the ref had stopped it. Yeah. I had no problem of him giving the count but I honestly thought then and I had no problem with him stopping it in that unbelievable ninth round I'd have no problem if it had been stopped then yeah no you couldn't argue could you

could you? He was unraveled he was gone he was completely out of it but as we know Tyson Fury he has a heart of a lion and that never never quit attitude and I'm not surprised that he heard the final belt I'm so intrigued by this Steve

look I think as far as history is concerned with the first fight, that probably outdoes this one because it was the first time we had an undisputed heavyweight champions since Lennox. And we've been waiting for so long for it. And we've been waiting for it.

The marque division in boxing. But with the way the first fight played out, how can you not be looking forward to this fight even more than the first one? Because I think, and I think most of us will agree, he's round 13,

they're going to get straight down to action. I think Alexander Ousset, we spoke to him like you have, We've seen him mooching about Aday had to sit down with him. And he mentioned about the weight. He always comes in at 222 pounds. He moves about seven pounds. Exactly.

He'll be the same. He'll be the same. But I think looking at the sixth round of that first contest, a round that Fury was very dominant on the front foot, I expect Fury to come in Ebbya. I think he's got to be the boss. We heard Usik, didn't we say, I'm not going to leave you alone.

I'm going to be on you. And he's done just that. And I think it's down to Fury now. In the only division in boxing where you can weigh unlimited pounds heavy than your opponent. Yeah, good point. Go and do it. Go and put on a bit. Do what you like, yeah.

Now, what's interesting, talking to some people about five or six weeks ago, and we had that afternoon with them at the Gildhall in London, one or two people were telling me, yeah, but all he's got to do, these are people I interview. So there's people inside the box. All Fury's got to do is what he did against Wilder in the second fight. Just jump on him, start let his hands go from the very opening bell. Well, I mean, I'm not leading you, but I said that works against Deonti Wilder because you can catch him with the element of surprise.

I don't think you can, well, I don't, I'm not putting words in him. I don't think you can catch Usset with the element of surprise. No, and look, though I do think he's got to be the aggressor on the front foot, you've got to do it with so much education, smart, you know, and plenty of brains have to go into that approach to a fight with Usset because if you're plowing forward recklessly, you will walk on to shots for fun. And the pattern of feet that Usik has darting side to side in straight lines when he has to, he can make Fury look silly. So lots of education has to be involved in that approach.

You can't just go in there like a wrecking ball silly shots coming from ridiculous angles because he will make you pay. Do it, they're 36 and 37. I'll just say you're chuckling a little bit because chocolate of Claire has just been passed. What, Paddy, Paddy, Paddy, Paddy, have just been past it. You know what, you know what? I'll tell you a little bit in a secret. Paddy's just gone over secretly and got me this incredibly fancy cake. Now, there's either two things.

A, it's not for me, it's for him, or B, he's about to drop something unbelievable on me. He's going to drop something, I've got to do some radio at 4 o'clock in the morning. Or why wouldn't it be for me? Well, it could be for you. That's the third option. It could be for you. No, he wouldn't be for you, because we know you're still an athlete at heart. You won't eat that.

You won't eat that. You won't eat that. that cake for the socials, as they say. One's 36, one's 37. They've both been in the boxing game since they were barely, they were literally nine, ten, 11 years of age in the boxing game, both of them. They've been in gyms, they've been in tournaments,

they've had heartbreak, they've had glory, they've had deep and dark places, both of them had deep and dark places, not just Fury. He's really lost his way, his comeback. We know that Ussick had that problem after Olympics when he got back to Kiev too late to give his father the medal. His father was already dead in a coffin and in the living room and he put the medal in his hands.

If you don't know that story, we've told it before, it's true. At what point does one of them become an old man overnight? And is there a possibility of that happening on Saturday? Yeah, very good question. I think if you were, you know, you are asking me that question. So if I'll answer that, I'd probably say out of the two, you'd probably say that Fury may age if one was to age over night

because the physical wear and tear. The physical wear and tear, the way he didn't live his life the way an elite level fighter should through a certain period of time. And that stunts your longevity in the game. But sorry, I wonder from time to time and I smile because how,

much I'm looking forward to this fight. You know, there's so much at stake here. There really is. And I look at Tyson Fury and you talk about legacy and being known as one of the greatest heavy weights of all time. Well, that is only possible

if he beats Usik. You know, he has to beat Usik. Usik will go down as one of the greatest fighters of all time regardless of what happened. Right now. Right this minute. He is unified. Sorry, he was undisputed champ at Cruiserweight. Undisputed champ at heavyweight

and now he's fighting the man he's already beat him who was regarded as number one in the world Fury needs this win more than he's ever needed any other win To be near close to that recognition he'll have the recognition

but to be close to anywhere near the other recognition that incredible recognition he does need this win doesn't it? And he wants it you know he wants it he's talking about he spoke about sorry legacy

numerous times and him leaving his mark in the heavyweight division. Don't get me wrong, he has. He's been such a character, and we will miss him when he retires. But to be regarded in that bracket of top, whatever heavy weights ever, or, you know, in his case,

believe in he's number one. He has to be Ussick. You cannot be regarded as the greatest ever weight at all time if you've not beaten the man that's beating him. And you know how much it means to Fury because he's a rubbish poker player, as I say, because all he's done

in the last two weeks on the few interviews he's given to other places, He's not necessarily boxing outlets or sports outlets. It's talked about it's nothing to do with legacy. It's all about the money. As soon as Fury starts talking about that, you know it's everything to do with legacy and not a lot to do with the money.

Now, one of the other things I do love about any of the Ussic fights, and I've done about 10 of them over the years now, is that I find him such an engaging character. And also I find Alex Kraser, because all's with him, his manager. He's his best friend, his promoter in the early days. I caught up with a pair of them and first of all let's have a little listen

to Alexander Usick talking to me it's only short but if you you know what Usick looks like so imagine as he's talking to me all you're going to see is this big goofy smile

and that's not me being that's not me putting him down that's what he's got he's got this big goofy smile here's Usick with me Alexander we're going to just walk over to the lift first of all training is good everything is good

just carrying walking everything is happy you are good you're happy Yeah, training was good. My camp was good. Everything okay. We're ready. And you may have heard Tyson Fury might come in heavy for the fight. What do you think about that? I don't think about Tyson Fury. Think about Alexander Usik? Yes, I think for my team, I missed my wife. I wait my wife here.

So this fight for you is just another big fight. one of many for you, or is it different? Yeah, I think yes. Because we learn each other. Maybe yes. It was a different fight. So what happens when the first bell sounds on Saturday night? What happens? What happens? How does the fight finish?

I will. Enough. Thank you. Thank you. So that was Alexander Usik. And as he walked off to get into lift with about 38 people people wearing these incredible track suits, which are homage to all of the great Ukrainian heroes and all sorts of emblems that have this kind of cultural, traditional, heroic, historic meaning. They've all got these great tracksuits.

I grabbed the hold of Alex Krasik, and Krasnick and I, well, listen to this. I mean, it's like a love affair, Krasniko, it really is. So, Alex, we're back in Saudi Arabia for the rematch. The first fight was unbelievable. Simple question, first of all. How is the big lad doing? How is the big lad doing? What's his state of mind?

He's doing like a big lad. Like a real heavyweight. Heavyweight means the top. You have nothing higher than heavyweight. So he's doing like a real heavyweight. And I've seen him briefly when he came out of the lift, smiling, happy. But also wearing these fabulous tracksuits. What's the story behind these tracksuits?

Well, there's some story behind it. You can browse it somewhere on the internet. This is a combination of some Ukrainian ancient cultural signs, a combination of some tree, some bushes, some berries that symbolize the freedom and things like that. And do you have a question I was wondering about, and I was trying to watch him in camp and see, is he looks as motivated as ever.

Is it ever hard to motivate him? for a fight? Has it ever been hard? You know, the thing and the secret about Usik and that you get motivated by him. So everybody in Canada is sucked in. Yes. So he is the source of energy. He's like sun, exploding his beams, expending his beams around, having this aura around him, that when you jump in in the circle, you feel some positive energy coming in. Like, wow, oh, good morning, good afternoon, whatever. You feel

this positive energy and the power. So this man does not need motivation. He has his motivation. He got it from the Lord when he prays, when he talks to his family, and he's in the circle of his friends. That's his motivation. Alex, how much longer can he go on for? I mean, how much longer can he keep on doing these training camps? Keep on doing this. It's all those years, never had an easy fight, all of those tournaments as an amateur. Just how much longer? Can he keep on getting up in the morning and going and working and preparing? What's your gut feeling? Steve, before I answer this question, I have to admit that I love your shoes.

Yeah, yeah. Every time I wear sandals, it's freezing cold, but I've ended up in sandals. I'm the only man wearing sandals in San Diego. What could I say? That's a good choice. coming back to our champ I tell you straight as it is he will fight until the moment

he takes a decision to stop how long can it last I have absolutely no idea what I can say for sure that he is full of energy, full of power and full of full of decisive attitude to boxing it means that he is ready to take a challenge, he's ready to undergo the whole sufferings of the training camp,

and he's ready to celebrate it on the ring during the fight. So there's never been a discussion with him late at night where he says, you know, Alex, this might be the last one. You know Alex, I might have one more. You know Alex, I might have two more. Never that discussion. Never. Never. He says boxing is my life. I love boxing. And as long as God gives me health, God gives me power and opportunities, I will comply with that and go through this road. But we need him to continue so that you and I can have these conversations in such glorious locations, Poland, London, Riyadh, because if Alexander retires, then you and I don't get to stand around and talk.

Yeah, but then we will talk somewhere in a museum or in the Hall of Fame discussing what brought us here. I'd expect a good time. The best B2B marketing gets wasted on the wrong people. So when you want to reach the right professionals, use LinkedIn ads. LinkedIn has grown to a network of over one billion professionals, including 130 million decision makers, and that's where it stands apart from other ad buys. You can target your buyers by job title, industry, company, role, seniority, skills, company

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You save. Island through 325, while supplies last. Selection varies by location. Turf builder offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii. We have everything you might need for a rainy day like today. Visit your nearby lows on Renier Avenue South in Seattle. Alex Krasick there, admiring my shoes and having a chat with me. One thing I do like about Usek is that every now and again,

one of the things I really like is you just get a sign of our serious here. So even with all the jokes and all of the, you know, he makes all the jokes about, with just the normal jokes and he plays back some of Tyson's Furies jokes. You know when he's talking about life in the gym, when he's actually talking about the life he has in the gym and how much... When he says he enjoys getting up in the rain at 5am,

I truly believe him, even at 37 years of age. I truly and utterly and unbelievably believe it that Ucic enjoys getting up at 5 o'clock. You get the idea he's the first up, waking everybody else up? Absolutely. This man was born to compete in a boxing ring. And like you say, you've already painted the picture here.

We're in the hotel, the fighter's hotel. They're all mooching about. We've managed to speak to Ousik. And one of the questions that was put to Alexander Ousick is, why are you still doing it? Yeah. Why? Why you've got all the money in the world.

You know, you've made your people proud. And status in Ukraine and globally. Unbelievable. You know, your achievements in the sport, you know, you're going to go down as one of the greatest boxers ever. And his answer was quite simple. He still loves the sport. It's when he feels at home.

It's when he feels safe. It's when he feels alive. When he's in a boxing ring, when he's in the gym, training, learning his trade still at this level, still trying to perfect it. Because no one's perfect. No fighter is perfect.

But he's still trying to learn. He's still trying to perfect it. He is doing what he should be doing. He is a master at work. And I mean, it's exciting to think that there's more of Alexander, who seek to come. I mean, if he's fighting one and a half times a year,

if you're looking it that way over three years, then there certainly is. On the subject of like he does it because he lives it because he loves it, towards the end of your career, did you know that you fall on out of love with it and was it just going into the last pro fight? Or was it earlier than that

where you were like having to fight through injuries in your case? You're having to fight through, you know, premature old age. I love those. That's not. That's not. It's not being rude. That's just the bottom line. Boxers can get old at 32.

Their bodies can get old at 31, 33. Yeah, that's fair to say. I think for me it was contentment, away from the injuries and the grief that I had to deal with, etc. It was being content as a fighter. That's why I've got the utmost respect for fighters like Usik and like Fury and other fighters that have dominated anti-Joshua that have won title,

but they strive to win more titles and they want to create more history. That for me is alien because for me, winning a world title, box tick done. Sal of Into Sunset, I didn't want to do it anymore. I did not want to do it anymore.

Even though you had the one defense, really your heart wasn't in it. No, look. Can we go as fast to say that? Yeah, of course. You put the me who fought for the world title and won it against the me that lost it. the me who won it

would have battered the me who lost it you know purely down to mentality I didn't want to do it anymore I've become soft I become weak so my respect for these guys that just keep on doing it they're animals they're legends

they are legends that I aspire to I look up to and they are you know Ousick certainly a massive role model so that's interesting so here you are right former top amateur Commonwealth Games champion

top decorated professional wins a world title the full trio goes and wins the world title overseas okay and yet you still can't understand these guys so what chance of the rest of us got

if you can't understand and what chance of the normal citizens got different breed different breed Steve they're phenomenal athletes with warrior mindsets that can't be rivaled and I'm in awe

of them you know that's really fascinating That's really fascinating that, Donald. And I think, really, there's an whole show there about fighters and fighters. So great fighters and then these other guys, these bizarre ones, like the Haglars of this world, like guys. But that's for another day. Let's do a little bit of what we call the sort of housework.

Let's work down the list. Now, we did think we were going to have a British title fight that I was so looking forward to. It was generally having me excited. Dennis McCann defending his British title against Peter McGraw. We found out less than 48 hours ago. that there have been some adverse findings on a drug test. So McCann is out. Peter McGraw is still out here.

He's got 40 people coming. He's paid for some of them. He's hoping to get a fight. Now, you spoke to Peter McGrow. How was he? Yeah, I spoke to him moments ago, actually. And he told me about when he found out, he found out, you know, literally the other day,

he ran his brothers out at the house, and he was heartbroken. He was gutted, you know, because he lives for moments like this, decorated amateur, who has rebuilt after that loss to O'Quinn, the brutal knockout and he's in the zone. He's in the zone

but he understands the sport and these things happen. It's never playing sailing. He's as gutted as we are but he's fully focused now I think they're looking to get a new opponent I think there's three names flying around at the minute so I'm pretty sure we'll see Pete McGraw on the Carden. Look I don't

know what's going to happen but Dennis McCann I'm not too sure you know they'll go through the process and it's a shame because that is a fight that I was really really looking forward to. One of the heavyweight fights. Young Moses It's been about 17, 18 and 19 for about the last 10 years against Dempsey McKean. Now, I find this an interesting fight. Certainly the first round or two is potentially lively.

Because Dempsey's not foolish. He knows he's going to have to let his fist go. Atama only knows about letting his fist go. Again, two fighters have just spoke to. Go on, sir. Dempsey McKean is confident. He said, look, this is his acid test. I've stepped up to Philip Hulgovich done well in periods, stopped.

the last round and he believes himself he's a big awkward nightmare heavyweight southpour who believes in himself a relative novice to the game really he's only been involved in the sport from start to finish in probably just under 10 years but that's how much just yeah he's special he's really special when i asked him i said you know how far do you think you can go oh and actually uh one to look out for in the coming months Parker versus Dubois for the heavyweight title, would you face the winner? It's straight away, he said yes. I said, what about the team?

Would the team entertain that you being the youngest heavyweight world champion beating Mike Tarson's record? And he asked Ben the question. He's got to all made to beat that. And Ben Davidson said, you know what? I would put you in there with him. They believe in that man so much. And you can understand why?

You can't look past the time we're in that fight, can you? No, you cannot look past. And it's a good win. Now, the other heavyweight fight is the run football, Johnny Fisher, You're unbeaten. One of the biggest ticket sellers in Great Britain at the moment. He's about to lose his title to Pat Brown for Manchester. That's a story for another day.

Now, he's fighting Dave Allen. Yes, Dave Allen, who's been around a long time, still looks like he's 22 years of age. Before we talk about that fight, I caught up with Dave Allen. I'm just glad to be here, really. You know, you've had a long odds at any point in my career, really, being here. But we're here. I'm missed a consistent in one way.

Maybe not, never, not any way apart from one way and that's just being stubborn, being around, put myself in a position where these things can happen so I'm here. And you are stubborn, aren't you? Let's get it right. In every sense. You refuse to go away?

You're just constant. I love boxing me. I love it. I've been training, managing fighters, I've been boxing. I held every license there is to all. I just love boxing. So yeah, I'm here and I'm here to win. And I expect to win.

It's a big fight I expect two. which is a nice feeling. And Johnny Fish himself, I mean, you know, you've seen him, he's getting a lot of publicity, getting a lot of praise. In fact, once or twice, people, you've referred to him as the new Dave Allen. Yeah, maybe, yeah. Which is an odd one. Yeah, he's like me, but more intelligent, but not as good looking.

So, yeah, I really like the fellow, me. You know, we have to box each other, but he gave me this opportunity, really. If he wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here, so I'm very grateful to him. him. Saturday around with boxing, obviously, we're trying to take lumps off each other, but till then and after then, he's a mate of mine, so.

Have you ever officially retired, Dave, would we just had a break? Yeah. That's it. That's the last one, that's it. I'm just going to go into managing and training for us. I can't keep up to be on. No, I retired once.

Boxing broke my heart, really. A few times. 2020, all got too much from me. I said, look, I need to leave it alone because it's... But the sport of boxing, I love nothing more than the sport of boxing. It's brutal, isn't it?

It's harsh. I love it, though. I love it. But the business side of it broke me arm, and I left it alone. But I'm back. And a part of me is back to get what I feel like I deserve and what I'm owed. And you know when you're training, when you're preparing, Dave, have you felt during this camp or whatever you want to call it?

Have you felt like, you know what? It feels different. It feels like I'm back to being the Dave Allen from those peak couple of years. Has it felt a bit like that? Every trainer I've had said to me, you got the talents where I'm in the world. But then obviously I go out and perform and they don't see that same guy. So this time I've prepared correctly. Just hope it's not too late.

That's the honest truth. When Johnny Fisher started sitting me, it'll become apparent very quickly how it's going to go. How much you've got left? Because you're realistic about that. He's in big trouble if he started sitting me and I go, I really fancy this. Like you've had it. Do you know what I mean? I'm not going to lie to anybody.

What have I got left? If I've got enough left, I'll win the fight, I believe. And you won't know that until that happens. So you can say what you're like now, but it'll all come down to when the two of you are close enough and you're landing shots. 100%. In sparring training, I push myself to the limit

because the Clark fight were embarrassing. I turned apart of shape. Thought I could just turn up and beat him. And so this training camp, I said to Jay and I was coming up for 12 weeks, I was sparr hard, I'm going to train hard. Because if it's not there, I'm not going. Because if it's not there, you want to know that you tried everything to see if it was there. So you didn't cut call as in preparing?

In training, aspiring, it's there. Okay. But it's there more than ever. I feel like I'm improving. For the last 12 years, I've stood still. I won the national match title. Offer me a place in the Great Britain team. Turned it down, turned pro, got a few hundred quid a week sponsorship.

And I've never trained since because I thought I'd met it. That's the truth. And here we are 12 years later in Saudi? Yeah, I'm here because I'm here, because I'm here. love it though I don't need to box anymore not because I'm a millionaire not because or whatever I don't need to box anymore I've got kids and I've got a nice set of life a box now because I want it and I think that's a that's a good position for me to be in and that makes you a dangerous fire any fire that doesn't need to be in the ring who's in the ring that makes them a dangerous

fire I don't need to be it like I can go and do a million and one of the things I want to be I want to see how good I am and I want to I want to beat Johnny Fisher and finally before I let you go and I really appreciate your time Have you been in both camps in the past? Have you been with Usik in the past? And have you been with Fury as well? So you've been in both camps? Yeah.

What are they like? What's it like being in the middle of those camps as a paid sparring partner? I have known Tyson since 2030. Live with him for a while. You know what? I think they're very similar characters. They're like very, very similar people. Like they're complicated geniuses.

Do you know what I mean? The only two people I know that training they're underpants. You know, they're both a bit eccentric. Joining you on the pencil, would that be a Dave Allen train? Well, I train the mind of the package, but I'm not as good as them to, so no one laughs at me doing it, I think I'm a weirdo. But I think a lot of them both. Tyson's my friend, I'm biased.

I want Tyson to win. I think Tyson, since the first day I sparred him, I sparred in, at Warrington. I went to Peter Fiore as he was there, I spard him. I was only 20 years of age at the time. And I left and I said to everyone, I said, does Tyson Fury here? I said, it's unbelievable, you know? I watched on the TV, there's a big gangly thing, and I thought, he's not that good.

I went and I thought wow different in person I've never seen nothing like that and then I swirred him I moved into Peter Fiore's trained by Peter I swiried him when he came out for suffering Peter Net

was a sparring partner and I've always just said he's the best when I went to sparred you sick and then I thought no you're sick's the best and then and over the last couple years I've been back and forth

like trying to work out it was the better and they're the same but Tyson's a touch bigger so I thought he'd win the first one I think I win the second one but I was wrong the first time Oh, listen, that's brilliant.

From the underpants, from the king of the underpants. You just say, when you wear them, no one laughs. When they wear them, everyone laughs. I get told to put my shorts on one I wear, yeah. Dave, listen, thanks very much for your time. That was Dave Allen there being Dave Allen. Now, I will get your prediction, and I will maybe give you mine. I'm still not sure where I'm going to.

We heard Dave's there. I like this fight, because if it's Dave Allen, who knows it's like Custer's, Dave Allen's last stand, is he a problem for Johnny Fisher? is Johnny just a little bit too young and better than people think, maybe. I know Dave extremely well. I worked with Dave for a couple of fights.

The Lucas Brown fight and a David Price fight. And I'll stand by what I've said in the past. Dave Allen is one of the biggest underachievers in British boxing. And I mean that. The things I've seen him doing the gym are phenomenal. He can move, he can punch. He's got a good defence when he wants to. He's tough as old boots.

But you've heard this saying, and we know this saying, as ex-fighters, he's a gym fighter. And we don't understand the reason why there are gym fighters. Is it nerves? Is it pressure? Is it a mixture of everything? But can Dave roll the dice one last time?

Can he get that big win? He's almost surprised that he's being overlooked in this with Johnny Fisher being the novice out of the two. He's been around this game for a long time, Dave Allen. But the freshness, the power, the size, the brute force, the physical strength of Johnny. Fisher is so hard to look past.

I'm a big fan of both of them. I really am. That fight will deliver. I said I like both of those heavyweight fights. And if Atama walks through Dempsey McKin in two rounds and if Johnny Fisher stops Dave Ballet in four or five, I still like the fights. Don't happen. Don't happen. See, I'm going to jump in.

The reason I say that is Tamer's looking at world titles. You know, he's been mandated to fight David Adelae for the English. He's looking past that. No interest. wants to be catapulted into the biggest fights possible. I don't think that Fisher and Adelaide wet the appetite for a time. I tell what, it's interesting anyway.

So before I let you go, and I know it's early in the week, and I always reserved the right to change my opinion on the outcome during fight week, because you can see things. You know, if the kid comes in particularly light or particularly heavy, you see how drained it is. But what's your gut feeling? Here we are, Monday evening,

and another five-star hotel lounge, music in the background, coffee's being served over there. What's your gut feeling for Saturday night, Darren? I struggle to look past Usik. You know, he's beating Fury already. He knows he can hurt Fury. So I lean towards Usik. I've got him the favourite going into the fight.

But it's a big butt. If Tyson Fury can replicate round 5, 6 throughout from start to finish, he can win this fight and become unified heavyweight champion in the world and make his case to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Then we've got a third fight as they say and say. I think I'm with you. I'm struggling to really look past Ustick, but the reason why I gave that little speech about reserving the right to change opinions,

I want to see what Tyson's like, not just today when he could be all show and dramatic. I want to see what he's like after four days of meeting and being around people. I want to see I'll get a gauge of where he's head is. Plus, there's enough people in the last. his team who I know and you know them as well. And I'm just going to see if any bits of stuff pour out from the little bit of little snippets that warn me that the kid's not right. Little snippets that warm me that things aren't maybe as good as you think.

What a fight. Anyway, that's Darren Barker, famous for his golf analysis. I think he's to start doing golfing tours to the Middle East. Yeah, it doesn't come with a room at 40,000 feet or even on the 40th floor. Darren, it's been a pleasure and a delight. I've been Steve Bunce. been the first of many, many shows we're going to do this week, live shows. Now, on Tuesday, we have a very special pod. It's Richie Woodall and I sitting down and watching the first

fight, analysing it, looking for strengths, looking for weaknesses. And Richie, the King Strategist, one of the men behind a lot of the GB success, the last three or four Olympics, will sit down with me. I'm Steve Bunce, and this is most definitely five live boxing on the road once again. Thank you.