5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - What to expect from 2026 (Men)

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

After everything we saw in 2025, can 2026 possibly match it? Barry Jones joins Buncey to look ahead to a busy year in boxing. They talk through the fights already on the books, the ones that still need to be made, and work their way through the weight divisions to pick out the match-ups they most want to see.

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That's pockethose.com slash podcast for your two free gifts with purchase. Pockethose.com slash P-O-D-C-A-S-T. This is Five Live Boxing. In the boxing world, the sun and the fun finished a few days before New Year's Eve. There was a car crash outside Lagos. Two of Anthony Joshua's team died in the crash and Anthony Joshua was in hospital for a couple of days But you know what

We still have a preview to do A look at our crystal ball And an hour of fantasy fights Fights made fights unmade And an attempt to predict the unpredictable I'm Steve Bunce And this is Five Live Boxing Now sadly there's only one way to start

And that is to get Anthony Joshua mentioned and then silenced because I believe he should be left to his grief and he's suffering and he's clearly suffering. You've only got to see the pictures of him taken recently. It's a private thing grief and he needs to be left alone. There should be, in my opinion, an absolute and universal silence about Joshua's boxing life. Not a word, not a mention, not even any what-ifs. Just leave Anthony Joshua over there, let him get on with his business. It's hard enough, it's obvious. And when he wants to talk, he'll talk.

Just leave it there. Anyway, let's get on with our boxing business. I'm joined, of course, by Barry Jones. Who else would look forward to a year? Who else would do a preview with me? Barry, first of all, before we go on any further, how was your Christmas? How was your new year?

Did you do the Japanese show in Saudi Arabia? Are you going to Germany in a couple of days? I am going to Germany in a couple of days. I am going to go to Germany. No, why? Yeah, yeah, yeah, man. As an Amazon box all around Germany, all around the outskirts of Germany

and I almost went there for a cleverly fight once for BBC Radio Wales. But you've never covered a fight. Did you come to the box station after? In the studio, yeah, or off-chew. We've done thousands of fights, yeah. There's not a country in the world, you and I haven't been. No, but yeah, but I haven't.

So I'm looking forward to... Oh, no, actually, I flew back... When I went to Saudi 20th of December, 19 December, to do that WBC tournament that I finished, I flew back into Frankfurt. there you go So you've been to Germany

The beer cancelled my direct fire and I had to Frankfurt So I've been to an airport in Germany But I'm going to Germany My Christmas was fantastic Steve

Obviously full of kids I went to three panda minds Showed up the Jordan band Joe just went to Wimbledon last And I did their last show And he graciously came out And spoke to my kids I had a photo

Which is he dressed as Was an ugly sister Or something like that That's a nice image He was He's meant to be little John But he was little Jordan Hence the pun

Because he's also a giant He was six foot five, isn't he? And yeah, and it was fantastic. I mean, him and his brother and all the diversity crew that were just amazing. Banjo clan. The Banjo clan were all together, the two brothers and all the others.

It was, it was, I would say, without hesitation, it was the best panty I've ever seen. Oh, no, it wasn't. Anyway, you know what? Did I ever tell us? I'm saying that, because he's behind you. No, he is it? Did I ever tell you when his father, Fanso,

banned me from a club, got me kicked out of the club. Did he really? Yeah. Not, not, there was strict. rules. He let me in the door because I half knew him. This was a long time ago. I was about 22, 23 and I'd covered him. I'd been at a fight with him. But he let me in no problem. And then it was brought to his attention by someone else who was security. It was a club in Paddenton station. It was a real rum, it was a rough old club. Don't get me wrong.

It was, in fact, it was a seriously disgraceful place. Anyway, it was brought to his attention that I had flip-flops on. I'd just come back from six months in the South Pacific and in New Zealand. So I had a pair of flip-flops on. So he comes and says, oh, I've got to throw you out. You can't wear flip flops in the club. So I got thrown out at 2 o'clock in the morning and a pair of flip flops in pattern. So I've never reminded him, but I think I'm... He did his job.

He did his job well by the time. No, well, don't get carried away, Bell. I mean, there should be special... You wouldn't have been able to friends. You wouldn't have gone nowhere in the end in flip flops. Oh, no, I would have tried, though. I mean, just the way you look. You wouldn't have gone to go in the end of year.

But I mean, the toes would have given me away. Anyway, we're going to do this normal, bow, bow, we're going to do a look, We're going to look at the weights, the different weights, the fights that are made, the fights that aren't made, the fights that should be made. Then I'm going to ask you, and I didn't queue up before. I'm going to ask you to, if you can, tell me something you want to see stopped or changed in 20206. Have a little think about that. The wonders of the way we do this business never cease to amaze me.

First of all, I'm going to read you something. Okay. 2026 is the year. Return at the Mac. I've been away for a while, but I'm back now, 37 years old and still punches. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it. That came in over the weekend from, of course, Tyson Fury. So he's officially back, fight sometime in April, May or whatever.

Fury comes back. He's 37. He's been out since December 20, 24. What's he got left? What's he got left in his heart and his head and his body? He's always going to be a problem, to be because of his size and it's just his natural ability. But I think he has slowed down. I mean, it's hard to say that

because his last two fights against Alexander Uzick. So he makes everyone... Anyone looks slop. Yeah. But, I mean, you can maintain a level of excellence as long as he has, I don't think.

And so, I don't know. I mean, I'm conflicted. It's good to see him back. He's a great character. And when he's firing all cylinders, no, out to the ring and inside the ring, he makes our sport better. Been a long time since he was firing all cylinders,

but it has, I know. But also, I'm very much... I was like this with the whole Mayweather Pacia, he, era of just go now and let the new, because you're sort of like you're holding up the younger careers that come and shine through and

then to become stars. Unless you come back and fight them, unless his dance card this year is, I don't know, Moses Itama and Fabio Wardley, which of course it won't be, but if it was, I mean I'm giving away two fantasy fights straight away. No, but it won't be and I understand why it wouldn't be because, you know, I mean, unless he still have

ambitions of dominating the world scene, you'll say that, but I'll show whether he does. Can he come back without those ambitions, Barry? Doesn't he need those ambitions to motivate him? We talk about Pando. He can do like a farewell talk, isn't he if he wanted to, as because Alexander Luzik, you know, boxing Deonté Wilder, who's still a good fighter, but not the top level that he once was.

Yeah, lost four of his last six, 40 years away. Yeah, and he's just not punched with the same authority. And without that, he hasn't got the technical ability to make up that. So, you know, him boxing him, but I haven't got an issue, but he's holding up the belts. But with fury, he has no belts to hold up, so he can pick any fight he was. once.

I mean, like when Joshua boxed Jake Paul before Christmas, I mean, I had the issue with that because it didn't hold them anyone's career. No,

exactly. And we knew what it was. Many for nothing. Yeah. Barry, so sticking with Fury then, um, you can see in your mind's eye to 10, 15, top 20, top 20 heavyweights. You know, some are tied up. Who does he fight? I've got one name in mind, which I think just about satisfies everything. It satisfies Fury. It gives us a name and it also creates a belt.

So who do you think it is? Creates a belt. It gives him a belt, a version of a belt. Well, a version of the belt. We include interims and regulars and all the rest of it. We is, brother. Well, that would be Cabell then, I presume. No. No.

In my opinion, too hard and a friend of his. And managed by the same man, Spencer Brown. Well, who would that be then? Kubutapulev, my son. Well, no, you're just going to be by Gassiev, didn't he? No, but Kubutv doesn't give him a bell, but Kubutv would be easier, he's still a name. I mean, to be honest.

The belt was wrong, but he's still a name. I'm talking about that, though, I'm glad you all sort of mention that, because Murat Gassiev, who's now the interim WBA. Might be too busy. That's why I didn't have Gassier. No, no, not so much that. I mean, there might be money there,

because he has some real, no, money men back in him. IBA, the old people that ran the amateur box. There's plenty of money there, Steve. you know, that might be a fight that might financially tweak his interest, gives him a version of a world title, although not a legitimate one,

but still a version of, and, you know, and feeds, and also, if he's not the fight that he was, for Gassiev, if he were to beat him like Fury, you wouldn't put any money on it, but if he were, then he literally launched himself into superstar status,

and then he's calling out Alexander Uzik and the likes. It's one fight away. About 10 heavyweights are one fight away from calling out anybody. I mean, Murug Garcia, was awful in Dubai. I was their lives,

when he knocked out Kubra Pulev. He was awful. But the shot that he finished him, it was fantastic. It was an unbelievable shot. He's got a nastiness about him. Yeah, so you forget about all the other stuff. In that division, no, if you can do that,

that's all that matters. Barry, you mentioned Alexander Ousek, who's been all over, everywhere in the last six weeks, and he's been talking about Deonti Wilder now for five or six weeks. Deonti Wilder said, yeah, that's not a problem. Deonti Wilder's 40 years of age, as I said, he's lost four. of his last six, but he has knocked out, I think, 43 of his 44 men. And let's not, let's not like he said, seven decisions

towards the end of his career. He still knocks, he still hits people on the chin, he's still going to hurt them. I'm not necessarily, I don't necessarily believe he can, but I've got no problem with Alexander Ousick against Wilder, and I'll tell you for why, by it, because the options are, if you want to stick at that level, it's to wait for Moses Atama and fight him in, assuming Moses Atama beats Jermaine Franklin.

By the way, it's a hard one. or wait for Fabio Wardley. Whereas, Alexandros, you can have a nice fight against Wilder, maybe fight again this year. That's just the way the business works. I mean, I don't want it, but I understand it.

See, again, I'm conflicting with this because... It's a lot of conflict going on in your head, Barry Jones. He's earned the right to pick his next fight. Yes. He's more than earned the right to pick. The man's won his whole career has been on the road, by the way. Unbelievable.

I mean, it's been phenomenal. In two divisions, being on the road. And usually, in their hometown, not just like on the road somewhere else. I mean, you know, boxing against the against opposing fans. The closer you got to home was Poland against Dubai in the first fight. But you're still a champion. We still have rules, believe it on this sport.

It's absolutely if we do have rules. So you have people working the way up for mandatories. And I know when you hold all those titles, I mean, when you are undisputed with four belts, you have to, you have to. You have to, you have to. Yeah, Fabio has got the W. Yeah, there's people waiting, so, you know, I mean, it's not fair on them. I mean, look at Dillion Wads.

He had to wait almost two years, or was it odd two years, weren't they? No, it was a thousand, it was nearly three years. Oh, there you go. Nearly three years. No, I don't think he would have won it. It's irrelevant. But he earned the right to find out. Because Richie Wood had waited nearly two years,

and about six weeks before his fight with Keith Holmes, he had surgery, I think, on his left elbow. But he couldn't step out of the routine. It couldn't step out because he might have to wait another two years. So, as you say, fighters are waiting. it cabal you're going to watch this weekend in Germany. Barry, he should have had a world tired of fighting last year

or even a year before. That's the same. That's the saying about, so like you wait too long, like Dylan White, and then when you get the opportunity, you've gone over the past your peak, if you will. So you're not giving you the full of your ability, you're not showing it, and you're not giving the chance to fight at your peak.

But he sort of earned that right to pick and choose, but also those belts got to be fragmented. They go with this. I think, I'm awful like people retiring before it's too late and I mean he can go on for much longer and be still successful

as can Wilder by the way he still have a good career and plenty of money but how much money is too much the longevity of the effects of taking punches I'm more concerned about now than I have been before for some reason and is it worthy

I mean I mean if whatever whatever Usik does now doesn't taint or add to his legacy. No, exactly. It doesn't.

Even if Atama knocks out Franklin, knocks out Fabio. It makes him a better fight. I mean, he'd beat his generation, no, two weight divisions, and then he beat the next generation coming up before they got there. But, I mean, I think what he's done is enough now.

I mean, he's not going to, gone of the days where you're going to have 20 defences, 15, 10 defenses at that level. So, you know, he has nothing else to prove. That's what I'm trying to say. So Wilder and Ousick, maybe Fury against Poolev or maybe Gassiev, take your pick. Daniel Dubois, we don't know what's happening.

He has been linked with Fabio Wardley. Frank Warren talked before Christmas about a March or April fight for Fabio Wardley. There's been no further mentions about that. We also heard there was going to be Dillian White against In Neff in his third fight with Del Boy Chisora, who would be having his 50th. There's been no mention of that. But we do have Moses-A-Tarmu against Jermaine Franklin in a couple of weeks' time. Franklin's gone 12 rounds with Dillian White, 12 rounds of Anthony Joshua.

He's not old. He's not faded. If Moses beats Franklin in the kind of 109 second style, like he beat Dillian White, that would be a real statement, an incredible statement. The funny thing is, it doesn't answer any more.

All the questions we have about him, if he does that, you still don't get the answers. You need rounds, don't you? And it's a bit of trouble. I mean, you like to see rounds. You don't need it. What I'm trying to say is,

you don't get the answers. but it's enough to let him go. Yeah, okay. That's it. The leash is off now. Just go for it now. I would say that. I don't think,

I don't know if Franklin's never going to be a world champion or something like that. But he is that sort of disrespect for him because he has a very good record. He still feels like that gay keeper type. You know what he's like, and it's horrible to say that for some.

He has their own ambition. Barry, he's like a real journeyman from the 70s. Guys that only lost five times out of 27. That's what a journeyman used to be. He used to be really good heavy way. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. journeymen into guys that have won four fights from 97, because we've got those that have had 97 fights. But the real journeyman, sorry for interrupting, the real journeyman in the 60s and the 70s were really good heavyweights, who had 27 or maybe 29 fights and lost six or seven. So I hate to say, I kind of put,

frenting to me is the last of a dying breed of real American heavyweight journeymen. What he is, he's technically quite good, not great, but good, and he knows his craft. he knows how to stay safe. He knows what to stay safe. He knows of the ride shots. So he knows a lot of stuff like that, which means for people who are used to bullying people,

then he knows how to negate that and stay safe. So it might not be exciting fights, but you can tie you up, make you look awkward, make you struggle to find your distance in your range. And that's what we haven't really seen yet with Moses atama. And we might never see it, or we might see it when it's too late for him to have those lessons

to know how to adapt. I mean, when you're, That's why he's such a great player. When you're in that weight division where power is such a big factor, then sometimes you don't get the luxury to have those fights like at the smaller wage to where you can learn what it's like in round nine when you're knackered. Or maybe cut. Yeah.

The guy hasn't gone over of anything you've hit him or even looked hurt. Or everything's working for you, but he's not gone anywhere. Or everything that works for you is not working for you. What do then? I mean, you just don't know you're going to react. I mean, in that way division, you don't have the luxury to find out until sometimes at the very top. But he is a precocious talent, very close to me. And only just 21.

Just for, just for the new year. Yeah, but I think with him, if you're good enough, you're old enough. And I think that's the thing. Okay, so what I'm going to do, Barry, as we go through the weights, we won't do all the weights, we do 10 or 12 or then maybe 15, depending on time. What I want to do, though, at the end of each section on each weight, I want to ask you for your fantasy fight, again,

I didn't ask you about this, so you're going to put you on the spot a little bit. What would be your fantasy fight at heavyweight in 2026? Now, bear in mind, it doesn't have to be at the top level. It could be down at the level. It could be for a southern area title. Could be for an English start. Could be for a British start. I don't care where it is.

What would be your fantasy fight? I think for me, because I just think he's, I mean, because of his flaws as well as all the good stuff he does, Fabio Wardy versus. I'm an other. Exactly what I was going to say. I'm exactly what I've got. I'm exactly what I've got.

But ultimately, for British interest, I would say like, you know, it's not a fantasy fight as such, but a town or even a Colia, I mean, just another British name who's not who's not dipped over the other side of their peak. I've got Dubois.

Oh, yes. I like that. And you know, you know, because I like... Because you can be heard more, bingo. You know, I like really odd British fights and I'm kind of, you know, it's just part of the way I'm built.

I like Jamie TKV defending his British title against Dave Allen. That's a good fight. You see what this? I mean, people might go, Bansi, how can you do that when we're talking about Usik?

We're talking about Atom? We're talking about Fury. Well, I just do. That's just the kind of thing. I can I tell you what, Steve? I don't think any of them are going on to go win world titles, but they're both technically underrated.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. TKV especially. Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think so. He looks a bit, you know, he knows the prettiest to watch. No, no.

And, I mean, and even Dave Allen. If you look at the finish in the second fight, like he was Johnny Fisher. Yeah, early last year. The way he starts at the body and works up the ladder with the punch, with the combinations. That's, that's good thought, that is. That's not just the power and bully.

That's good thought. We're nearly 20 minutes in, Barry. We've done one weight, so we're going to have to speed up a little bit, but there's no problem with speeding up. No, no, no, there's no problem with speeding up, and we'll spill that. We're going to do the cruisers, don't worry. Then we're going to do the light heavies.

The light heavies is going to be, I don't know, be a little bit debating there. We're cracking on. I'm Steve Bunth. This is Barry Jones, and this is the Five Live preview of the boxing year in 20, 25. And bear in mind, we don't have fixtures like they do in football and cricket and rugby. Right now, start of January, we've got about four dates. By the end of the year, we would have had about 90 dates, 80 dates.

That's the way we work. So you know exactly when the FA Cup final is. You know exactly when the lawn tennis at Wimbledon semi-finals are. But I don't know what boxing they'll be at the end. of February. Barry, the cruise, they're not going to spend an awful lot of time

on the cruise. I'm going to flow through these. I'm going to start with Guy Opatai at the very top. 29 fights unbeaten now. I think he had three defenses in 2020, a fourth round, a fifth round,

an eight-round stoppage against a 10 and 0, 17 and a 0 and a 23 and 0. Sure, they weren't necessarily guys that had been chasing him. What does Jai do in 26? There's been a couple of things mentioned. What do you see?

It can be the same as last year I mean No, not you're saying He's the best fighter In his weight division I know I think that's university accepted But not by the fighter

Not by Cabildo Ramirez But who's he fighting I mean for no no I mean there might not be his fault by the way But either way it's somebody's fault He needs a big fight doesn't he Good enough So my fantasy fighting in that weight division

Doesn't include him Wow what would you What did you think Gilbert Ramirez has been talked about And it might happen in May hopefully versus David Benavides Benavine's moving up from light heavyweight, who's enormous anyway, yeah.

You've got two fighters who don't stop throwing punches, technically better than when they give him credit for. Tough as old boots the pair of him, good chins. I mean, that is, you know, for Sanco de Mayo in Vegas, is the fight that I'll go to. And we saw David Bena Bedez beat up and the yard. I saw that from ringside, and it wasn't. Yeah, he's good, isn't he?

He's not just a bully, is he? No, no, we saw Ramirez beat up a couple of years ago. Chris Bill and Smith, you know, was, you saw pictures of Bill and Smith at the airport, just about every part of him above the waist was broken. It was quite... The only thing about picking that fight, it takes Benavides-Older the light heavy fantasy fights.

Yeah, which is... Well, Bell, you can either have... You can have the same... No, I'm picking that and pick him that. There's an asterix attached. You can have the same fantasy fighter in different ways. I mean, you can't put Van Rodriguez in against Boots Ennis, but you can mix them around a little bit.

He'd have a chance, though. Is that 50-55? He's giving away two-stone. He's giving away two and a half-stone, but hey, he's just a slight favourite. This is quite... So, so... So, so...

So, so... So, there was talk about the fight with Zerdo, with Mierrez. There was talk. Let's talk about all other sorts of fights. Is there anything for him? Or is there... Because we talked to him in 2023. And the talk there was all about moving up to heavyweight.

I don't see... So it's all the 24. No, I don't even. But the point is, the bottom line is, it's two and a half years since he told us that he was moving to heavyweight. Well, I understand where you want to move. the headway because the money

just increases dramatically. It really does. Otherwise, the guys who are too, they just stay accruciate and dominate their division and then plenty of money. You move up there and is adding zeros on your paycheck. Which is why Richard React pours up there which is why Lawrence of Coley's... But also, they seem to be

like you can't remember them being 14th though and they just look like they're naturally 17th day and they're 6'4 or 5 and what's up at a appetite? I think you might be a generous 6-2. Yeah, I mean he doesn't And also he's thick, he's strong built, but it doesn't look massive to me, Steve. I mean, ironically, everyone looks massive to me. So there's no need for that, I would never make that job.

What I'm saying is, like, when me and you were doing a podcast at 1 o'clock in the morning in Saudi Arabia in the Hilton Hotel, I wasn't as intimidated as you were. Yeah, I know. I was petrified. He doesn't listen to this. He doesn't. Because he does. I was massively intimidated.

Because not only is he dangerous in the ring. It turns out he's got the best ears in history. because he was a long way away from us in that lobby. And we were talking for, we did for 20 minutes, then I mentioned Oppetai's name. And as we said, you mentioned his name. And I was looking past your left ear, your right ear at him. And I swear, we weren't shouting, and he was a long way away.

And there was noise, ambient noise at 1 o'clock. He looked up. He heard his name mention and looked up. And that's when I waved up. No, just saying nice things, Jai. Just saying nice things. I was more impressed that he understood mumble. So, good for him.

The Universal Language of Boxes. Off the time, I hope he gets a big fight. Zerna Ramirez against David Benavides. Benavides moving up, leaving the light heavy weights. That is a sensational fight. In Las Vegas, Cinco de Mayo, as Barry said, that's just doing unbelievable business. British Cruisers.

I'm going to throw one at you, Jack Massey, Chris Bill and Smith. Oh, I know. Telephone box needed. I love it. X-rated. I love that. What happens with Pat Brown this year?

He's about six or seven unbeaten. I mean, and I like what I've seen with Pat completely. I tell you, what I'm a really good fight. See, Pac gets hit a little bit too easy for my liking. Is that because he's not got the respect, enough respect for the people in front of him? I think he's a good. He's massive for the weight. Yep. He's so big, he doesn't look big.

Does that make any sense? Yeah, yeah. Does it make sense? I don't know if that makes any sense. Until you're with him, when he's got his top off after the weighing, when he comes over, and you, this is a lump and a half this thing. Yeah, but I'll tell you what it would be a really good fight. Go on.

in Australia he's quite ready, yeah, and this guy I'm going to talk about might be looking for bigger fights and understandably him and Vidal Riley for the British title. Yeah.

Because I thought Riley was outstanding and even the British title in Tottenham. Against Shev Clark. Yeah, I thought he boxed. But it was so long ago now he's a fan, I know he's done a deal

with Sourland. It was a long ago because we do so many shows. It was only last April, which would be a... Oh, yeah, it's long... It's still long enough. He should have fought boxing since then,

but I mean... It's not like it's 2023, okay. He had the athleticism, the fluency in his work, I think the patience and the discipline of a ready-made champion, I thought. I think he can move up, I think he'll go higher

than British level. I don't know whether he goes more level. Yeah, yeah, I think so. I think European level is a realistic, I think that should be his next step. Looking for that. But for us, domestic talking about fights, the way Pat Brown fights, you'll walk Riley down and also he punches long, Pat Brown, he got fast, very, very fast hands. he reminds me of a kid

You know, from Canada of John Smith Didn't turn pro, a real tough, hard, a guy, but good boxer, John but he reminds me of him, you're a big guy, really hard, man, but speed. And he looks the same and he looks very similar, that's why I think that. So Vidal beat Chivon Clark that night to win the

British title, Clark's had a fight in America since, and it was a hard fight, he was hurt in that fight. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, Shev's had some hard fights, actually. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, Shave might be the bridging fight. John Hedges has also been mentioned, the English champion. for Pat Brown. So Pat Brown is in the mix there somewhere.

Vida Riley has done a deal with the Sowerland brothers, Kala and Nissa. It's going to be fighting on Misfits. It's going to be interesting. No, no, no. It's very interesting because there's all sorts of talk about who's going to come back with Sky, whether it's going to be,

well, we don't know who it's going to be, but it looks like it might be MVP. That's the Jake Paul and the Kesa Baderie and Company who put on that fabulous event last year and put on a couple of events so far for Netflix. Looks like they might be doing a Sky Deal. All sorts of talk about who might also be doing a Sky Deal. He would haven't shown a fight since Callum Simpson in the summer

when he won the European title in Barnesy, which was some night. So that's the cruisers. You completely ruined my system of at the end of each weight, I would ask you for a fantasy fight by delivering your fantasy fight right at the top of it. There are rules and regulations to be followed here, Barry, and you're not really following them. If you listen back, I'm pretty sure you said,

what fight would you like to see? Yeah, that's true. But the key word you're waiting for is fantasy. By the way, Steve, with no prep. I've just turned up. You said, this is what we're doing right now, by the way. one like a text yesterday I know it's late

no this is yesterday 24 I know it's not no it's only 20 hours but can you maybe ever think about fights in each way class domestically and internationally that you'd like to see You know what about it

It was no turn up to the studio Is your New Year's resolution By the way We sat at the coffee shop for 25 minutes You're gonna sold me then by the way I'd like to keep you on your toes Is it your new year's resolution To be awkward when we were called in Puck

If so I'm gonna go back to the Sockless Wonder Darren Barter A bit shop Oh my new mate Sergio Mora He went for your title in Saudi back in November Massively... You put people forward for...

You're Sergio's numbers You give him a ring, he'd be brilliant for you And sometimes... You shouldn't do it, mate. No, I shouldn't do it, mate. You shouldn't give away a world. Okay, Barry, light heavyweights. I'm not sure where to start, so I'll let you start...

Are we starting with the international guys, with the big two or three. I think, I still want to see that third fight. Yeah, but this is... Art of Berturbiev, Dmitri Bivore. They've had one each at the moment. and we want to see the third fight. And they were two great fights.

24 beautiful rounds. The longer it goes on, the bigger of a favour of Bivel is. You have to say that. Can we mean saying better be ever, there's been... Age will catch up with him. We've been saying for 10 years. We have a long time. Yeah, six years.

But I think he's so good and so powerful and patient that he's a problem for... Even for someone like Bivel, who's technically superb. I love Bivel because he's not... flashy or extravagant or... Not at all.

I wouldn't even say you got like a sexy style or anything like that but he does it the basics perfect yeah he had a bounce through his feet

like he's in that perfect rhythm that can come in and out but holds his feet enough to get purchased on the punch you so you can't walk through him so I think he's technically superb and I mean I've been rings out of both those fights

and they were just absolutely amazing the second fight especially yeah I was not my fight at the year last year it's not my fight of the year but obviously we've already done that

It was a big year. It was a big year for fights. But it was in the running for a fight at the year. It was perfectly, technically perfect. You mentioned there, David Benevides, who of course stopped at the yard in November in Saudi Arabia. Last time I was there, that was a stunning performance. And we talked about Bénavides, possibly moving up, almost definitely moving up to fight Gilberto Zerdo Ramirez.

It doesn't matter what it's for, just at Cruzeaway, you know, in some sort of a Mexican-American feast at some point. So it's a pity that he'll be leaving. That would have been a lot of fun. Now the Brits is slightly different With the Brits I guess this is an interesting point No

Who do you talk about first Assuming the first fighter you talk about Is the one that is deemed quotes unquote The best Who do we mention first Do we do Callum Smith because of seniority I think so In a great fight everyone forgets

And the fact that he's in line For a world's title shot Isn't he now Which was meant to be the end of Jan It's going to be quiet That So I don't know And I don't know

You put I mean What combination You can do about 10 combinations I think you know Smith can get a world title another way class where a lot of people

have written him off I think that would be tremendous and no and him against him Dave Morell yeah the Cuba that would be a brilliant

fight to watch I mean they would I mean again Smith versus Boatzi was unbelievable probably was fight of the year I mean I mean

I said Ben Newbank won tonight but I think I think Darren Barker went for Smith and Smith and Boatzy he was boxing down

didn't he not really he's just so relaxed Since he's been working with me, I mean, I don't want to take credit for his career. Or yours, to be honest, because I think your career, no, no, no, all joking aside. I was going nowhere to. Your career had sort of finished like 10 years ago and then I turned up and somehow, you stayed in. You were on the way out, weren't you?

I'm a survivor about it. You were on the way out. I'm a survivor. I don't know when to quit. Well, no need to thank me, you know. So let's run through it. I tell you a lot, though, I think, I see something like, in a minute, I mean, you're talking about with together. well. I mean, that's the guy who potentially can transcend the sport.

I mean, and that's a special treatment, doesn't he? Well, he's not, that's so that's how it works. I mean, that's fine, and he might not, silver medals are close enough, in it. I know you lose it to, by the way, it sometimes means, yeah, yeah, and so, so. The army account went to silver medal, but not just because he's 17, but who he lost to. It's almost like a good, like, you get a pass that. Yeah, yeah, no. That's a really good point.

And so, I think, you know, Whittaker, against something like an Ezra Taylor, It's a trailer fighting Willie Hutchinson Which is a great, it's a real fun fight Then a Willie Hutchinson goes, you might have Fancy Hutchinson and maybe beat Taylor I'm not quite sure about that. How about Craig Richards after that brilliant win against Anazizzi in Ghana?

A couple of weeks ago, just for Christmas That's cataport with Craig back in the runnies I know he's 35 years of age Obviously Anthony Yard's still there And you mentioned Bratsey Any of those with Ben has to be You know, yeah, it's the hardest one to go where he goes because

where does he go? I mean, there's loads of domestic fights for him. He's going to think, I'm beyond that. But also, you look now and you think, unless it's Callam Smith wins the World Title, maybe he gets the Callum Smith fight. Yeah. But you tend to think where else does he go?

Because it looks like maybe now that World Title win might just be beyond him, no. I mean, he's had the hardest run. There's only one man worse. You know what I'm saying, Alan Rutkins. But Alan Rutkins one was an invented run. I mean, it just doesn't make sense. But this is the... For a British fighter...

Be yard second by a million miles, yeah. Be unsuccessful in three... Of course, of course. No, he's always had to come up against. And where do you have to go? Yeah, by the way. The first one, Russia. Covalh wasn't the Coval of he once was,

but they go to Russia in his hometown. You know what? You know what? We didn't realize about Chelyabinsk when you and I were there. We had a great time of Chile. It was just one of the best... One of the best visits ever.

What a place party place I was. But that river that runs through Chelyabins, that's the kind of dividing line between Russia and Siberia. Siberia is obviously in Russia, but you know, like we talk about Siberia

as this like snowy waste where there's just nothing for a zillion trillion miles. Well, in theory, in theory, that river, whatever it is that runs through Chileabinsk

is the kind of start line. So we went... So obviously, because if you see, did you see the pictures? I think I sent them to you. We went in August or July. It was unbelievable weather.

But that... The only pictures I got, me, you're in a pink fleece. You were the pink fleece. In a bar somewhere, yeah. By the way, people I don't drink. When there was a punk rock tribute band on it, which you can't invent this stuff.

But no, Barry, I thought I sent you a picture. I should look it up. That Christmas, there was something like eight foot of snow at Cheleabinsk Airpool. So that Siberia just creeps down. So that's where he went. He didn't just go to Russia. He went to Chellier Binsk on the Oskirts.

So, okay, let me ask you this thing. So where does he go? That's the whole thing. Where does he go? You know what I mean? Long way back. And also, he's at the stage of his credit. He can't wait around forever for that wall tile.

shot out. If Callant Smith, Windsor Wollett, he gets at his first voluntary defense, maybe, a British,

a world title fight. You know, we love that, don't we? We know. We know. He has to take the fight.

That's afforded to him. So in your British fantasy fight, and we are doing British fantasy fights, in your British fantasy light heavyweight fight,

who have you got paired against each other? Who fights? Who fights whom? And maybe even a venue because it matters the venue. Yeah, it does,

in there? Who might you do? and there's Craig Richards in the mix. There's Ezra Taylor in the mix. There's Willie Hutchinson in the mix. There's Joshua Baratzi in the mix. There's Callum Smith in the mix. And there's obviously Ben Whittaker in the mix.

My first thought, I'd say, I quite like, say, like, Boatsi versus Whitaker. One of the big bronze medalists, one of the silver medalists. It was ordered by the WBC, but then they backtracked on that. Do you remember? But I'm not sure if it'd be a great fight. That's the problem. I mean, it's an intriguing fight and an interesting fight. A kind of fantasy fight being an interesting fight.

Not a great fight. Yeah, I don't think it's a good fight. I actually think it's an awful fight to watch. That's that I would say, no, the two good fighters. I'm not saying the bad fight. I just think styles wouldn't class very well there. They'd be very thoughtful. Though we do see Whitaker show off like crazy,

but I think Boatzi have shown to just be too over thoughtful and that's what stopped him from being a very good fighter to be a world champion in my opinion. Okay, so that's what we might go with, Boatzi. Yeah, and I undersold it dramatically. That my fantasy fight is what you don't want to see. But yeah, pretty much. I think that's a good fight though.

I'd still go with that old one that's been simmering for a while because we're not sure what even have got left, but waxy and yard. It's five, six, seven years since we talked about that. That's the fight, it kind of is. We're not doing very... We're not doing bad here now, Bill. That's the fight, exactly.

You were talking about where do they go? You might get more money for that fight, then it's probably really worth now. So, Bal, we missed that bridge away. We've done heavyweight, cruised, right and light heavy, and we're two thirds of the way through. so we may have to pick up our speed. I tell what I do...

These next couple of weeks. We'll fly through Super Middle if we can. Terrence Crawford's gone. Just quick question. A simple one-word answer. Does Terence Crawford come back yes or no this year? No. Okay, that's got through that nicely.

Sol Canello Alvarez, does he stick at Super Middle and do some damage and he gets title fights and he's in big fights? Saul Canello-style fights? Yeah, he shouldn't stay. He should walk away in the sunset, but he's going to stay. And, okay. and Hamza Shiras, the kid from Ilford, we like him an awful lot,

he's moved up from middleweight, finally having moved up from light, a bit late, moved up now a bit sooner, of the right sort of time frame, up to Super Middle. He's got a couple of potential world title fights out there,

vacant ones. WBO against Diego Pacheco, who's unbeaten in 25, and the WBC fight against Christian Mbili, who's unbeaten in 30 fights. Now, neither of those two are easy fights. Does he take either of them

or does he... Wait. No, don't wait. Okay, take. I mean, that division... Saudi money or be there is an ambassador. There's a weight there. There's some good fight.

When you talk about it, you think... When you first think of the Super Middleweight Division, take away to Cornell and our Crawford's gone and Canada, you go, oh, it seems to be like one of those wasteland, like the Middleweight Division. Yeah, bad on waistland. But when you actually look at the fighters... We're going to go straight past a bit of the weight division, by the way.

I mean, there's some good fighters that are. Lester Martinez, no, he's an agri in the fight of the year. And Billy's a real tough, good fight. A good fight. He's a big fight. He has. a brilliant fight to watch, I think, aesthetically. And Pacheco against anybody is a good fight to watch.

So I think it's an exciting division, though, than he's a superstar. That's why I say take the fight and you become the start of that division. I don't think Chires have been bothered about taking a risk. No. You thought Carlos Adamez, which was a 50-50 fight. We all knew he was going to be a Belanga, but not on paper. On paper it was a hard fight. And he went to New York and beat Belanga.

That Adama's fight. I think he'll look back at that and say, that's... It made him. Yeah, because... It was a draw, but it made him. I mean, he did hurt his hand, than early, but he underperform dramatically, and I think the occasion got through.

And just, sorry, Bell, I've got to move you on a little bit, son. It was one BBC before Christmas, I missed it because I was in Miami with the Jake Paul show Carnival Circus. Callum Simpson, Troy Williamson, Simpson stopped late in the fight for the British Super Middleweight title fight. It was the fight we expected.

It wasn't the result, though? No, no, it wasn't. It wasn't. I thought it would be about the same fight, but with Callum just coming out on top. Do they have a rematch or do they need a rest? Or they need a rest and then do they have a rematch? I think, yeah, I think

for Troy not, I mean, for the first time in his career, Troy now, and he's been a good fighter. He's the East Side. He's not the East Side because I think Killam Simpson sells the Crowe, but I mean, he is the guy now who can call the shots.

Maybe get more money than he would have got before. And I think that, for someone like him, it looked like it passed him. He was worried, and he was going to be on the edge of him being that gatekeeper for British level and beyond, money. And

I mean, the way he's doing his career has been fantastic. It really has. We're like a fair in a thousand, don't we? And I know one for saying he's a nice guy, and all that sort of rubbish, but it couldn't happen to a nice of a blobe. He's a real, lovely honest pro he is, and that's what you like to see. You know what? And now he's British

and European champion. And we're everyone on a super fight on the BBC. Well, Barry, we just got through a weight there in about two minutes. That's not bad going. We've only got, we've only got middles, like middles, all the way down to whatever we do. I'm not even sure. Barry could pluck a little Tygeys are out of his bag for all I know.

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15 million people already trust Wise to manage their money internationally. Be smart, get Wise. Download the Wise app today or visit wise.com. T's and C's Apply. At Arizona State University, we're bringing world-class education from our globally acclaimed faculty to you. Earn your degree from the nation's most innovative university online. That's a degree better. Learn more at ASUonline.asu.org. Okay, Barry, so we're four weights in and we've got about six or seven or eight to go, but the thing is we're already two-thirds of the way through. So what I need now is I need speed.

This is like, this is kind of, from now on, it's all fast. We've just done the super middles. We're going to walk over the middles, which is, I'm sorry, all the British middleweights. I am sorry. We're going to crack on. We're going to go straight to light middleweight or super well-to-weight. 31st of January Josh Kelly fighting in the background

Merzah Zaliyah for the IBF Super Welterweight title Zaliyov's unbeaten in 23 hasn't fought for a long while but that is a tough, hard I can't even say what he really is because it's called swearing to describe it fully

he is one beast It's a really hard askie I gotta be honest I mean but I would say the way Josh Kelly has looked as a super welter

recently just how he's carrying himself and the confidence he looks big though but I think he's bolted up the taper down but he's retained and maintained that speed and that's the key for him but with a bit of weight in his shots which is what he maybe didn't

what he lacked as a wealth of weight and I and I I fancy him you know the worry is that that would be a great win that's fair enough then we're back to Newcastle then we're outdoors in the summer the fact that it is in Newcastle this fight gives him a bit of an advantage.

Who wants to go to Newcastle in in January? Apologise to everybody that travels to Newcastle shopping in January and February. I'm only joking. There's not a bad weekend in Newcastle in Newcastle in the world because it's one of the best places to go. Even if you start on Tuesday?

Yeah, pretty much. Even if you finish on Tuesday. But what I mean, the weather's bad. It all helps, isn't it? But I mean, but it's still a hard ask. Murtazaleev's a bit of a beast. He really is. And that's the worry is, if he can,

heard Kelly early does Kelly unravel but this Kelly used to start super fast and then and then you know like he did against Aviesci and then run out of steam

he's no long he doesn't exist anymore that kid's been replaced by a mature guy who moved up in ways so I mean and understands his body a little bit more

and also I think the way the way he trains with Adam Booth has changed slightly the wide stance that that pretty much Adam Booth works from for explosiveness and power

they've still got that but they've taped it up a little bit to retain his movement. So I have fancy him to win, but if he does win, that's great for him. But the British scene's been pumping.

Ishmael Davis. Let's talk about him. I mean, for the life he's led, if everyone knows what his life, he doesn't have to talk about it anymore. It keeps coming out in dribs and dribs and drives. It's getting even more and more serious.

Boxing is a sport that you know, most people, you very, really come from a privileged background to do the sport. So a lot of kids, now I come from a council estate, but I mean, my life is like better roses compared to most kids doing boxing.

I mean, and his life. could live just around the corner by the way. Well, because they did. They did, yeah, I know. I set you up for that, son. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. But, you know, it changes people's lives for the better, more than the worst quite often, and for him has changed his life. And he's a guy,

you talk about throwbacks to, you know, take a fight. We always, we romanticised by the 80s, don't we? They'll fight the people fight. They defend the title four times a year. A new way. A donkey! A new way there's that, by the way. Yeah, by the way, yeah. But I mean, but this is a kid, initial Davis, who reminds me of myself, You can go back with yourself I always say yes to a fight

Days noticed 10 rounder, yes World title fight three weeks notice yes because you're not the star who's going to get the opportunity down the line You say no

You say no you don't get it again And he's like that I just say yes Say yes And he's lost a few times And his last fight He had to win again And he's learnt a few times

Yeah yeah Against Sam Gilly If he lost that fight Then it's a hard road But he didn't lose it He won in a good fashion And now he's a British champion He's a British champion

Commonwealth Champion with almost the world of his feet. Now that's the British scene. I've got to ask you one just quickly about, I mean, it would be just about everybody's fantasy fighter this way. It might be most people's, one of, might be high on everybody's list

as a fantasy fight period. Boots Ennis against Virgil Ortiz, both unbeaten, both sort of knocking, knocking heads together. Do you see that happening, Barry, or does it remain a fantasy fight?

Is this one that gets through the year about happening, or does it have to happen? It doesn't have to happen, nothing, I think he will. I think they're on the same network. I mean, there's no reason why he shouldn't.

The money will be available. That's the things here. People all bid themselves now with too much money. And that's the way. When the money is influx into a sport, everything says you get the top end of all the money. Yeah, of course. But they get well paid for it.

It's a great fight. And it's not a given, everything's Boots is, I thought, I've been big on Boots for years. I said, him and Chaucer Steve is the future of boxing in America. We're going to bring the boxing back to America. And Boots hasn't quite been the superstar that I thought he was going to be.

But Vergeal, Ortiz is not just this big punching monster. We've seen that. We saw that in Saudi. O'Reilly box. When he had to box. Against Madrimov was a very tentity, very good fighter. And that was a much of different Virgil Ortiz.

He turned it around against Israel. So I think that's... But you've got Fondora, Zoo. Madramov still around. I mean, Boechuk is... He's up in that way. So the good fight... I mean, it's a really good division.

Wellterweight. It's just all about Conner Ben, isn't it? But which one of the world champions gives him a break, gives him a chance? All about Conner Ben. He's coming down for middle to Welter. He swears he can do. do Walter comfortably?

He's a massive name. I mean, the best fight is Devin Haney, isn't it? That's the truth of it, to be honest. Who's the WBO champion? Yeah, I mean, you know. Has mentioned Ben? Well, of course you mentioned Ben, because that's a mini-fight for everybody.

Ben's the cash cow, isn't he? It's hard for, it's hard for Ben, because I think, you know, does he make that weight and does he make it safe? I mean... He says he does? I was with him in Saudi in November.

But does he regain the speed and the power? I mean, it's a weight division that seems to be, except for Haney, a lot of the names have moved up. But Kishon Davis, who was a lightweight world champion. His last defence, he had to relinquish his belt,

he couldn't make the weight. He's boxing, I think, the end of January. He's boxing, I think, the end of January. He's under T. Fimo Lopez-Chickelson. Yeah, a super lightweight. And he has said, one fight here, and I'm not having one fight.

I'm not stopping a super-welded along. I'm going straight up the weight. So that puts him right in the mix with... And he's a mega talent. So the champions at the moment, as far as I can make it. Lewis Crocker from Belfast. I'd like to see him fight Conor Walker.

That's kind of half a fantasy fight. It's half moving for Conorke's a British champion. He beat Pat McCormack, yeah, rematch again. And he could be crock and the first one. I didn't get it, but yeah, it was close-fights. Of course, Conor Walker pulled off a great win late, late last year in Monaco when he beat Pat McCormac. Devin Hayne at WBO, as you said there.

I think it's still Mario Barrios at WBC, if I'm not mistaken. And it's still at WBA, Rolanda Romerole Romero. Raleigh Romero had a win last year, if I'm not mistaken, against Garcia. Garcia, in theory, was going to be fighting, was it Barrios? But that seems to have gone a bit quiet, or was it? And there's another fighter.

We always go quiet on. Go on. Jack Cattle. Oh, shit. Still around. That's terrible that. This is when I should ask the editor to edit it to make sure. No, the thing is.

Because he's been floaked in wrong without getting his shot for such a long time. He deserves a crack. Throw Jack in the mix. I mean, he's not going to fight Ben. No. I mean, it's a good fight, isn't it? Ben's not going to go. Ben's going to run.

This is the biggest money fight he got. So Barry, okay, I'm asking you know, right on the spot. International or British only, What's your fantasy fighter a world to wait? Because I'm very conscious of the time here. We're moving down

to about the last 12 minutes or so. If Keishon Davis moves up, him and Haney is just a technically brilliant fight. Mick Costello previously this parish would be very happy

with that decision because he was a massive. I know, when Keishon Davis was pre-Olympian. We did a... We had Keishon Davis on the phone, I think.

The only... The only thing about him moving up so quickly was I thought we get him and Andy Cruz who beat him in the Olympic final who's boxing for the world title against Muratala. In February, in February of Muratala

who you really fancy a cruise to win. I thought them two would box for the world title as professionals. You've seen Sizer Cruise, the classic Cuban and it looks like a small heavyweight for God's sake. And I'm only half exaggerate. Barry, I've got to move you on. I've got to move you on to super lightweight.

I don't like the word. I still call it like World to Weight. But let's call it super lightweight. This weekend, rather controversially at the Barclay Centre in New York. Dorton Smith challenges Subrio Matias for the WBC version of the title. Back in November, Matthias, we've returned an adverse drug sample. He was found to have osterine in his system.

Osterine was the same substance that Ryan Garcia was found to have after he beat Devin Haney. Ryan Garcia served a year ban and paid a million dollars. But I'm reliably told by people that know that, Garcia's sample was a hundred times over the permitted amount, whereas the amount found in Matthias was inside the permitted amount, a tiny trace

element. The WBC have said it goes ahead. Doughton Smith fights Subri on Matthias this Saturday. Can he win, Doughton? It can win, can't it? I think he win. I'm massively on your side there. There's always a danger to gets caught with a shot and then raffles very quickly because Matthias can whack. You can't

back. But is it out of pulley? Yeah, yeah. who was the fight in Louis Armstrong Stadium. That was an unbelievable savage fight. And that could have gone either way. Yeah, it was tight. It could have gone either way.

But I think Dalton's judgment of distance. He was there, Doughton, that night. Yeah. His judgment of distance and timing is brilliant. Yeah. It really is brilliant. And I think right now he's so full of himself, confidence-wise. I think him going over to America is no worries about that at all.

I fancy him. Not big, because it's a hard fight. Yeah, yeah. But I do fancy him. There's still a few unknowns about how he coached with certain things. Yeah, yeah. But I think he wins and wins big. And that just sets up the fight that we've been talking about for a long, long time now.

Adam Zinn. Adam Zinn fights at the end of the month against Gustav and Limos, which is a hard fight. That's on BBC 2 that on January the 31st. That's a real fight, by the way. That's not an invented guy. That's a proper fight. And I think it's a proper fight.

I mean, going on BBC, it's just a cue that is, because that go in there. You could put him in against some of these balls over, maybe, and sell him that way. But this is a fight that people who don't know nothing about boxing, we'll know him. Some people say they're tuning and watching. And I think that's going to be a really hard fight, which makes an exciting fight, which he gets over the line, I think.

But he has to show what he's made of, Steve. And if he's made of the stuff we think he is, if he's as strong and as tough inside as his neck looks, because he's got the biggest neck in world boxing, by the way. Have a look at Adam'sine's neck. 25 inch neck 26 inch white his waist

I mean it's massive in it it's so wide not long but wide though I mean then he propels himself massively with a big following I mean the following

that he can potentially garnish don't worry about that he's got a following he's a rule but he has the ability to back it up yeah exactly

Anderson he's a terrific kid he seemed to be 21 for I think he's actually 23 now at last and on that same night in New York at MS Madison Square Garden on the 30th I think it's a Madison Square going.

T. Fima Lopez, Shaquettea Stevenson for whatever. It doesn't matter about what title is. It's at this way. It's a terrific. I think that's a really terrific fight. It is. Because the thing with Lopez,

he can be maverically brilliant. Or absolutely. Underwhelming the average. I mean, it's so, I mean, I've never known a fight that's so polarizing with his showings.

On both sides of the ropes? Well, yeah, both sides of the ropes. It can be two people outside of the ring. Two people outside of the ring. He can be lovely and engaging. He's got four sides to him. And horrible.

But I mean, literally, in the ring, though, he can box brilliantly. You know, when he turned up against Josh Taylor, he was just immense. Yeah. And, I mean, Lomachen goes immense. And then, you know, against Cambos's, underwhelming. I mean, Cambos is a good fighter, but he can just not show up at times for no reason at all. Barry, we're going to skip lightweight, not for any reason. We're just going to skip it as well.

I want to do, I want to do the Superfeathers because I want to, we've got some really, well, there's one particular super featherweight fight that really, well, there's a couple that really appeal to me. And they're British fights, as you can imagine. Dickens against Anthony Diapachi Kacchi, which has just been announced for March, if I'm not mistaken, for Jazz's WBA Super Featherweight title, which he was given last year

when there was all sorts of shenanigans with a guy who couldn't make weight and moved up. But that's the way it works, but he was the owner of the interim title. And then slightly before that, after a couple of years of waiting, we get Josh Warrington against Lee Wood. I'm assuming that's a super feather.

I'm not even sure. It's got to be around the way. Two absolutely fantastic potential nights, one in Dublin, one in Nottingham. There'll be total audience on those 17,000, if you're one of those people, then you're in for something special and either one of the events.

You and I hopefully will be ringside, no further away than I'm sitting here talking to you now. And that reminds us of our privilege. What a couple of fights. It is. Let's not forget, Wooden, Warrington, the first fight. Warrington was boxing all of his skin. and then Leewood did what Leewood does.

Yeah, Leeward things, yeah, and just catch him with the shot. Leawood things. And then once he hit you with a shot, that's a great one. Once you're hurt, he jumps all over you and that's the end of him. And Warren did get up, but he was all over the place. I know he said he could continue, but I don't think he could have. Three minutes later he probably could, but you don't get three minutes in that. Yeah, exactly.

I mean, it was a great thing. That's what Lennox Lewis said. If the count was 11, he would be undefeated. Because he was okay at 11, he just wasn't okay at 9. But what are they both got left? I think that's what makes this fight a good fight because they're not nowhere near the fighters they were. Yeah.

But they still might be good enough to beat each other. And so that makes that a good fight. But the Kacchi-Dickens fights are really good fights. I was there when he won the WBA regular title. Now he's been upgraded to the full world champion. Last summer, sometimes. It was in Turkey. It was Istanbul.

So what was that? Like April match. Last year. And he was brilliant. He was just bullied that kid. He absolutely. He just, he absolutely, was it, Batasiov? Yeah, that's about right.

I'm terrible the pronunciations, I'm sorry. But I'm better than I am. It was a good boxer, Olympic medalist, by the way, Steve. And he just didn't give him any space, any time, any river. But it wasn't just, it wasn't just, like, maturity and strength. His footwork, his softball stance, he was sliding around the ring, bullied him, suffocating his space. And by the way, I caught with a shot, a great shot to finish him. And by the way, it was nine years after losing his first world title fight,

and four years after losing his second world title of fight. Jazza seems to have been around forever. He's still not 47. Well, many times when he said, oh, that's enough, no. By the way, I'm full of him now. Another kid who's absolutely just the lovious kid. And then when I said, I was in Istanbul at watching that fight, and I saw him after I said.

You went to some countries last year, didn't you say? You got special diplomatic past. Yeah, Miles, isn't it? Yeah, there's no need for that. But I said, I said, welcome to the club. When anyone's a World Title, I said, welcome to the club. It's an exclusive club. I mean, some of us don't deserve to be there, but we're there anyway.

Welcome to the club, and he went, not yet. Not quite yet, because it was a regular title of a bit. He won it up great. I said, that's not your concern that. Yeah, no, that's not. You won it, yes. Other fight, but no, he's got it now, haven't he? 100% it's his.

And, I mean, by the way, Kakatch, and what a story, Kakachi is. Yeah, yeah. Another kid who looked like, you know, didn't do nothing wrong with his career, was beating good guys. He hasn't lost since nine, in, what, eight and a half, nine years. He's Matt in Ward. Yeah, no, I mean, what am I doing wrong? Couldn't get an opportunity.

And then... And then they go... A whole series of fights. We're chucking with with Joe Cardine and we're doing your favour. That was no favour, by the way. What a night that was. And what a night, that was.

Saudi again. Not for the Welsh. Not for the Welsh. No, but what a night for boxing that was. I mean, boxing fans. It was very, sorry, Joe, but, you know, it was staggering. And they're both about just believe in yourself. Yeah.

Just keep believing yourself. But that, by the way, and that's in Dublin. Yeah. St Patrick's weekend. I know. Not sure I'm interested. Anyway, Barry, we've got to move on. Before we move on, anything else at Super Bowl.

with Feverey. Yeah. At the end of November, Emmanuel Navaretti against Eduardo Sugar Nunes for the IBF WBO titles. They're both champions. Navaretti WBO,

Nunez is IBF champion. It's a brilliant fight. It's in Phoenix, which in my eyes, it's the second best boxing city in the world, only behind Belfast. Van Rodriguez is the reason. Best place to go.

Let's crack on. Fevereweight, Nick Ball, we're going to move through this nice and fast. There was another year. Nick Ball is all talking in 20, 24. about a fight of anew. He didn't happen in 2025.

Nick Ball, 28 years of age, about to make his fourth defence and it's a hard fight. Brandon Figueroa at the start of February, a really tough fight. I say fourth defence of that title. He's sixth and second if world title fight for Nick Ball. Just quickly, Bell.

That's a really hard fight. When they're a non-star, I just went, oh. Yeah, I'm on your side. Whoever's making the matches or Queensbury is doing a great job. Well, you know what? This has been the last two or three years.

I mean, no disrespect. Nick Ball in the 90s wouldn't have been in the same city as Brandon Figaro. That doesn't mean, that's not a bad... It's not a... Unless you've got anything.

They're wondering. Absolutely. I'll tell you honestly, but it's a great division. You've got that Raphael Espinoza the W.O. Champion who's like 6'4 7. He's this year, 6 foot 1, I think he is. Bruce Carrandon, who for me is

stylistically... Shoo-shoe. He's a fighter from the 50, 60s and 70s. Yeah, yeah. All rolled into one. The way he moves... I saw him in early in La Vegas last year. He's brilliant.

You've got the real long levers, the punch. I mean, it's such an exciting division. You don't need anewater moving that division. No. For it to be absolutely, every one of those fights are war. And that was a perfect seg into Superbantam. Well, forget Superbantam. Let's just do it Enouet.

Neo Enui against, in theory, Janta Nacotini in May. Let's say, I know Nacotini's coming up, but so has Anui come up at some point. And at some point in the last two years, three years, they might have been the same weight. Now they're separated by a couple of pounds. Is it boxing's, is it boxing's purest super fight?

I mean, I mean, maybe, I mean. Or one of them. It's one, because like, bam, but anewish involved in the other one, that would be BAM. Bam, yeah.

But Bams, maybe a bit too small because you've got two ways to move up. People say, it's only a few pounds. Seven pounds, it doesn't matter. People who are anyone above 12 and a half stone will go,

yeah, something here, like a half stone. It's a good night out. For little guy, she's just like, It's a massive percentage of your wife. 25% your body weight. Yeah, of course. 25% your body. But math is on my strong point.

But Nakatani looks the bigger guy. So I knew he's moved up through these weight divisions and he's always looked at the slender, slimmer guy. But Nagatani, when he moved up, he only had one fight of superbandabate. That was his last fight, you know, in the 27th of December.

Yeah. I mean, he looked twice the size of his opponent. Even though he didn't struggle. but he had a few problems, I thought. Which was not a bad thing for him. Against Hernandez, but I mean, I think Dan Nakatani-Nui fights an absolute brilliant fight. And it's been at the Tokyo Dome in May.

I am in Tokyo, yes. Well, I've been to a fight in that dough. I saw George Foreman in there, and I'll be pushing Paddy, if he ever comes back from his holidays, Sandy Toe Paddy. I'll be pushing him to get a step one. Inui, the stats and the facts. 32 fights, 27 quick, four world title fights in 20. 2025. Nakatini, 32 fights, 24 quick, three world title fights in 2025. As Barry mentioned there, Ben Rodriguez is waiting, is in the wings.

Right, Barry, we're just going to fly through, just quickly a fly away, Galal Yafi, hopefully getting a title shot against Ricardo Sandoval, who's got a couple of versions. In theory, so he's gone from losing the Francisco Rodriguez, who was predictably and shamefully banned afterwards because he failed a drug test. which we all sort of knew he would. That's a terrible thing to say. We all knew he would. Galal fought his heart out, lost that fight back in whenever it was, June or whatever. Now gets,

in theory, he gets this world title fight, a really hard world title fight. Just quickly, you've got a minute. It is, Steve, because I, like I did Sandeval's last fight. You had,

even though he travelled to Japan to be Taraji. Yeah. It's a really good fight. Yeah. And it was a great fight. Absolutely brilliant fight to watch. It was a privilege to call it.

I'll be honest. And me and Gary Bafford did it for the zone. It was brilliant. But I would say, I fancy If they can get in the UK I think they can get in the UK If they can get in the UK

If they're getting in Birmingham especially Matcham is global But I think they'll get it in the UK But it's a hard ask I mean I mean I did Sandel against Jay Harris

I mean it's years ago Was what good while ago In Bolton Yeah Of all places Mad some of the fights Was it wasn't I doing with you No

Some of the fights you do And some of the places you go Some of the people that have paid you How many how many currencies were you paid in last year. About four? I mean, you worked in about 12 countries last year, minimum. Yeah, I think four

covencies, yeah. You get paid any gold last year? I got about 16. No one's listening. No one's listening. Between enough. Did you get paid any gold last year? I got 16 gold bags. 16 gold bags. Miss and Barry.

I know that film heat. There's no one I can't leave in 60 seconds or something like that. You can do it for you. Mr. Barry, we're going to have to call it now. If you are a boxer and we haven't mentioned you, it's not personal. and we've gone through it.

I'm fully aware that we've missed out hundreds. Just be too busy, Steve, haven't it? We've done a solid hour there. I hope you like it. The pods out every single week. Comes out late on a Monday. And if there's a big fight week, then we are there. We are all over it.

Five or six pods, live shows, and then ringside coverage. We've already got two or three ringside shows lined up in the next six or seven weeks. It's a massive start to the year, a massive start to what looks to be a super year. Tyson Fury is back. That's really all. You need to know. But let's finish on a rather somber note. We wish the absolute best, obviously, to Anthony Joshua.

And, of course, send all our kindest wishes and regards to the families of the two men from his team. Who lost their lives in that horrific car crash in Lagos just before New Year? He was Barry Jones and I was Steve Bunce. And this was a very, very special Five Live boxing. for this afternoon. Close her whistle and we are underway. BBC Women's Football Weekly.

The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. Lucy Bruns, welcome back. What one lioness do you think would make the best rugby player? Me? Listen.

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