The Ariel Helwani Show - Ariel x Ade, episode 14: Chris Eubank Jr. slaps Conor Benn with an egg?! Riyadh supercard aftermath

Episode Date: February 26, 2025

Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show by reacting to the explosive press conference for Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn (2:16), which culminated with Eubank Jr. slapping Benn with an egg during their faceoff.Then they react to other moments from the press conference (9:44), before bringing in Josh Padley, fresh off his admirable showing on Saturday's supercard from Riyadh (25:09).The duo dives deeper on The Last Crescendo, starting with the main event which saw Dmitry Bivol claim revenge against Artur Beterbiev (44:08), and discuss whether a trilogy or David Benavidez should be next (47:20).Focus shifts to Joseph Parker's short-notice knockout against Martin Bakole (54:40) and where the win places Parker in the pecking order.Next, they touch on Vergil Ortiz's victory over Israil Madrimov (1:05:42), the controversial draw between Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (1:09:05), and Agit Kabayel stopping Zhilei Zhang (1:12:04).Finally, they preview Gervonta 'Tank' Davis' upcoming about against Lamont Roach (1:15:23), before delivering The Parting Shot (1:24:01).

Hello and welcome to a brand new edition of Ariel and Adé right here on The Zone, the undisputed global home of boxing. I'm Ariel Hawhani inside our uncrowned New York City studio. It's a lovely day. The sun is setting in New York City and we've caught a fantastic show lined up for all of you here I was Thinking that we would do a deep dive into everything that transpired this past weekend in Riyadh What a card it was the last crescendo. Oh my gosh better be a bival

what a rematch it was what a card it was what a night it was and Then everything decided to pop off or dare I say crack off over in Manchester just a couple hours ago my guy Ade was right there in the mix in Manchester holding it down I mean looking you're looking fantastic you're looking regal you're looking suave coming off hosting the press conference for U-Bank Bend going down April 26 in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in beautiful London. Galiade. We got a lot to discuss, my man. What a day. Good. We need to extend the show. I've been saying like an hour and 30 minutes just isn't enough. You know as well, on that press conference, you know I hate hosting those things. I'm not a fan

of those things at all, but they let the fans in which is good And then I just kind of stood back I stood back and those two were just going at it Eddie was going with Ben and and you make was going with Conor Ben and Eddie and then I said Ronnie Shields. It should have been Ronnie Davis and Chris you make Judy embarrassed to be on the stage It's fine. It's okay. I take I take the embarrassment I got it wrong But I was happy that for once because me and you always talk about this for once It was an entertaining press conference and that's how they all should be so for more more fans fans fans fans I couldn't be more the the atmosphere was great

But let's talk about the slap heard around the world because initially I was doing my show earlier the area Hoani show and were reacting in real time to the slap and then and then tweets start to trickle in Like what was there something there was there in, like, was there something there? Was there an object? Was there, was there an egg? Obviously, you bank has been poking Ben with the egg stuff. He mentioned it at the press conference and we'll get to some of those comments in a moment. But in case you've been living under a rock and this happened literally just three hours ago, we are live right now on all of his own platforms.

This was the face off. This was the stare down between Chris Eubank on your left and Connor Ben on your right. You see Eddie Hearn next to Ben, you see Ben Shalom next to Eubank and they're going back and forth here. I didn't even know what was going on. Where were you? Where were you by the way? I was right on the stage so I was kind of behind Ben Shalom. I was kind of positioned there. And I didn't know it was going on.

I thought they just pushed each other. But then I was watching Nigel Ben's reaction, and Nigel Ben was going for Chris, and I was like, oh, what's going on? Like, wasn't it just a push? And then I still didn't know that an egg was used. And then I went to the main stage after all the security kind of pushed people away. I was like, wow. And then I saw like eggshells on the floor, and I was like, one second, what just happened? And then I only saw what happened

when I saw replay. And I was like, wow, Chris Eubank Jr. brought everything out here. Chris is fantastic. Like Chris is, like I'd have Chris at every single press conference because that wound up Connor Bennett, wound up Eddie Hearn who seemed to make a beeline for Ben Shalom. Like it is one nil Chris Eubank Jr. right now, I Shalom. Like it is one nil Chris Eubank Jr. right now. I have to say it's one nil Chris Eubank Jr. 10-8 round? 10-7. 10-7.

10-7. A slap with X. 10-7. That's not bad. By the way, what is this? What does this Eddie Hearn went after Ben Shalom? I didn't see this. It looked like Eddie made a beeline for Ben Shalom.

It was like Eddie, this is my moment. I've been waiting to crack you for about 18 months. This is my moment. And Eddie went for him. And I think security had to pull Eddie away. And for a second, I'm not joking, this is, I'm laughing, but I'm not joking. I thought Eddie and Ben could throw hands.

There was about a split second where I thought Eddie and Ben could throw hands. And my money was on Eddie. My money's on Eddie. Eddie's a bit bigger, he used to box. Eddie knows what he's doing but it looked like they were gonna go at each other. I will say all this. It's now a sellout. I know tickets go on sale on Friday but that's done. It's done. It will sell out. It works. I don't know. We need a press one Thursday. I think we

could just let them be and just go straight to April 26 now. That is a fun little wrinkle to all of this. You know it's been a lot of peace and love, peace and love between Eddie and Frank Warren over the past 18 or so months. Between Eddie and Ben Shalom, there's no love. There's no love whatsoever. So that adds a whole other element. I'm assuming by the time morning comes tomorrow,

all over the country, all over England, every back page, every newspaper, every talk show, every sports show is gonna be talking about this. To your point, this couldn't have worked out better and I'm seeing some of the old heads, the old boxing, the old curmudgeon's being like, this is nonsense, this is classless, this is low life stuff. This is, this, they couldn't have, they couldn't have dreamed this better. They couldn't have drawn this up, they couldn't have, if they wanted to fix this, they couldn't have done it better than what

transpired earlier today. Yeah, it needed this. I this, they couldn't have done it better than what had transpired earlier today. It needed this. I mean, I don't see the problem with it. I mean, ultimately there wasn't a fight. I mean, they didn't physically throw hands. It was a slap with an egg. And obviously the eggs have a bit of a backstory, right? I mean, because Conor Ben, obviously the issue with the PD test relates to egg consumption.

So I think Chris Eubanks played it fantastically well. He hid the eggs in his pockets. He brought them out and he timed it perfectly well. And ultimately it delivered. I mean, what we want is talking points from that press conference. Again, I've hosted press conferences where nothing happens and everyone walks away and thinking what was the point in that? This one, however, every single person is talking about my sister has now reached out to me and asked for tickets. It's done. And my sister asked me for tickets,

that's the bar I know we need to hit. We've hit the bar. This is now a big deal, April 26th. By the way, we just showed the other angle there. Is it possible for the crew in the back to go sound full on that all the way up, because you can really hear, you can really, you can see it, but you can also hear you can really you can see it but you can also

hear the egg cracking the side of of Connor Benz face take a listen to this That's a sword. That's a sword. He should press charges. No, I'm joking. That's a sword. He put everything into that left hook. It was like a left hook of eggs. He put everything into it.

And look, I mean, Conor Ben was raging. I mean, there were guys there, big burly, 22 stone security guards that were struggling to hold him back. He was raging. I mean honestly I'm a bit upset because the face-off was scheduled for tomorrow and a face-off would do record numbers. I think it would be the biggest face-off we've ever seen. I would be very shocked if that happens now. Oh they got to do it. It's a shim. I mean look at that face and there's the tweet from Chris Eubank and you can see the yoke. Golly, you can see the yoke and the caption is

excellent. I mean, again, you can't dream it up better than this. And by the way, I don't know, I don't know if it was that calculated, but it seems like Chris almost like he baits him to move his head down low like this so that he's able, and initially when I'm watching it, I'm like, did he kind of pull that slap? then you realize he's holding on to freaking eggs in fact there's a there's a there's a photo of his jacket pocket that does own tweeted out with like six seven eggs in there look at this thing yeah like this is he came ready planned he came planned and but I shouldn't be surprised because you always does something at press conferences

I mean, you know the thing about Chris Eubank here I I don't know I almost felt like Chris Eubank had all the star quality to be the next pay-per-view monster over here I know he's done. Okay, he's done. Okay in some big fights But I've always felt like it was gonna be AJ then Chris Eubank jr I wish that we saw all of what we're seeing now Ten years ago because I've always felt like he was a star. I was that we saw all of what we're seeing now 10 years ago because I've always felt like he was a star. I almost felt like he was being held

back by himself and now at 35 I think we're seeing the best Chris Eubank Jr. and he still I think very much got something to offer in the ring as well. I just love what I saw from him at the press conference and by the way I love what I saw from Connor, from Nigel, from Eddie, from Ben. Everyone played their part. I thought it was really good. By the way, in the immediate aftermath, okay, so what happens? We didn't get to see all of that.

What are you seeing? What did we miss? Where did the guys go? Do they interact? Is there anything else that happened behind the scenes? It went a bit crazy. So Ben Shalom and Chris Eberin Jr. went that way, so to speak, and Connor and Nigel were pulled that way.

And I'm not joking, there was probably around 20 security guards on stage, and it took 20 to solve this. Because Connor and Nigel, I wouldn't say lost the plot, but the red mist descended, and they could have done anything. Honestly, they were ready to go. Whereas Chris was almost happy with what he did. Just walking, they were ready to go. Whereas Chris was almost, almost happy with what he did, like just walking around like, there you go. We did it boys. Eddie was upset. Eddie was kind of walking up and down and he didn't know where to go.

And then they both left the building and that was it. See you later. But it was fantastic. I mean, the whole arena was buzzing. The whole venue was buzzing. Everyone was just, oh my God, what happened? And it's good for the sport. I know, as you say, some old heads will moan about it, but I think it's great for the sport. I think these press conferences for years have been dull, and I've always watched the ones at the UFC, the UFC ones have been interactive, and things always happen. Finally a boxing one lights people up a little bit.

All right, so let's show some of the highlights, all right? There was a great interaction, you referenced it earlier, between Chris Eubank Jr. and Eddie Hearn. No Love Lost here, and Chris, to your point, is known to poke, especially the promoters. We remember him going after Frank Warren and then Frank threatening to sue him in the aftermath. I don't think Eddie will do that this time,

but in case you missed it, take a look at this. And you know, we got to a stage, the fight was announced. It was the, you know, I don't like you, right? Uh, I don't know. If you know that one on God's sweet green earth makes you think I'm going to sit here and listen to any of the bollocks that you have to say, honest I mean you're gonna have to we're not we're gonna have some parliamentary procedure here today one thing for sure you ain't no problem we're gonna skip past whatever bullshit it was you thought you was gonna talk about and we're gonna continue on with the press conference at a you may

proceed so as I was saying at a no no no no no you you get your test this is not the end show I want things for sure ain't a Chris Eubanks show this is not may proceed. So as I was saying Eddie. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, directly or you can be quiet and we can move on with the press conference I don't have to say I mean you can do whatever you want we can be here I've been addressed we can be here all day I've been addressed I don't want to hear what you have to say so well to be honest with you many people do I think I'm more popular than you if you want to control the situation and move forward you can I'm enjoying this this is almost like a mini how would you run the press conference Chris because you're such an unbelievable promoter. I'm not running it, but I'm just not listening to you.

What happens now? We move on. What, you talk? I'd love to talk, but if not me, somebody else. I'll tell you what I'll do. Conor Benn, how are we feeling about smashing this geezer to pieces? Let's hear from Conor.

That was great. That was amazing. Chris is the man. He is so good at these. He goes after. That was amazing. Chris is the man. He is so good at these. He goes after everyone. You're caught in the middle. They want you to speak. You did the right thing, Ade.

You let them figure it out. You let them figure it out. You let them go back and forth. I love that. Now, another highlight. All right, let's go to this one. You bank with a bit of foreshadowing. He talks about the eggs.

Now the eggs have been a big part of this rivalry for some time. As Ade mentioned a couple years ago, Conor been saying that the eggs were contaminated. That's why he failed those tests. Or here's Chris Eupank talking about some eggs at the press conference. Conor, I've been meaning to ask you for a long time. It's interested me. How many eggs did you have to eat to fail those two drugs tests? You dirty, long lady. The reality is. Please tell me. How many eggs did you have to eat to fail those two's drugs tests? You

dirty alumni. The reality is. Please tell me. The reality is. It's been whacking my brains for a long time. No problem. Everyone wants to know. How many eggs did you eat? The reality is, the reality is I've been cleared three times by the NADP, by the WBC, by UCAD,

by the way, which people are a lot smarter than you number one. I've been cleared to You will never be cleared of being a wanker That's it so I'm clear the people by lots What does it mean you have the IQ of a five-year-old child does that mean that the drugs weren't in your system? And these are just snippets, but the whole thing, you got to go back on the Dazon YouTube channel and watch it afterwards. Chris Eubank has been active on social media. He tweeted this regarding the eggs, the eggs in question. Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drug tests. So I contaminated him with an egg.

By the way, you don't have to explain it. We all kind of figured that out. By the way, more from Chris Eubank and Connor Ben. This time, Chris once again poking Connor Ben talking about his reputation being in the bin in his home country of England. Take a look. Chris, speak on behalf of yourself. Of being.

Speak on behalf of yourself. The good guy. Of being the golden boy. That's what I believe. No, no, no, speak on behalf of yourself. guy of being being the golden boy that's what I believe no no no speak on behalf of yourself I know I'm just saying what I believe your mindset is this whole time this whole 10 minutes you've been talking has been rubbish okay and no one's even lit like George you want a violin the sickening thing about this situation is Connor you had it I have it you don't have it you had it no I have it you had your career

is done you had a well away at the have it. You had your career is done You had a well away at the end. You had that sums up your career. The whole public behind you Everyone wanted you to win. I wanted you to be the next big thing in boxing. I Never had that no one cares. You know what I would have given to be in that situation that you're in There's still nobody cares. You had it. But nobody cares still Chris, you're still going on. Pissed it all away. You literally pissed it all away. Now you're here, we're at this press conference, we're gonna fight and you're gonna try and use me

to get back into the public's good graces. It's just not gonna happen for you kid. He's very calculated, he's methodical. He's diabolical. He's like a sniper out there with his trash talk. He cuts deep, doesn't he? Yeah, and he says things so slow. Yes. Cause he picks his words so perfectly.

He's kind of got it all sort of prepared and almost like it's written out and he knows exactly what he wants to say. I do disagree with the point he made about sort of never being the person, never being the man and Connor having that. I disagree. I think when Chris came through, he came through under obviously the name, Yuvankin, immediately I think everyone got behind him. I don't know quite what happened when the relationship between the British fans and Chris Yuvank Jr. I don't know if he kind of showed them what they needed to see. He almost felt like his personal and private life

was kind of closed off and I feel like British fans get behind you when they can see warts and all, when they can see everything. But he's been loved by the British fans. Connor has been loved by British fans. They're quite similar where they are right now. I feel like both aren't loved. People are tuning in to see them both lose Which is quite interesting But I do think it makes for an interesting story that both of them are in the same position Just trying to find love from the british fight fans by the way, you'd know better than I obviously um, Which last name means more in the country you bank or ben?

Exactly the same 50 50. Is it really? Wow. It's 50-50. What the dads did in the 90s, and not just the 90s, but what they still continue to do. Every time they're on a platform, the numbers are big. They both get exactly the same love. It's almost impossible to split for different reasons. I think Ben was ferocious and maybe resonated more with people from hard backgrounds because of where he came from, council estate, et cetera, that

story's been told. But then Eubank, in the way in which he carried himself, but then the fights that he had towards the end and he just got a lot of respect from people because of those wars, honestly, it's exactly the same, neither are higher than the other. Conspicuous by his absence was Senior. We're all kind of hoping that Chris Eubanks Senior will be in attendance, will be a part of the promotion. Obviously, Nigel Benn, a part of it, you said that he was foaming at the mouth in the aftermath. Any sign of him?

Like he's kind of promoting it on his YouTube channel, on his social media. Like he's talking about it, but nowhere to be found. What do you think? Do you think he emerges at some point? I do. You do? I honestly do think that at some stage between now and April 26th, Chris Eubanks Sr. will be on site.

There was a point in that little commotion when Nigel Benn went for Chris Eubanks Jr. If I'm senior, I'm seeing that, I'm thinking, you know what, regardless of what's going on with me and my son, I'm protecting my son. I'm protecting my son from my arch nemesis of 30 years. I'm not allowing Nigel Ben to go for my son like that without me doing anything, regardless of the situation with my son because of the history me and Nigel had. So even though Chris might have not wanted to get involved, I think that little commotion at the end will make him get involved regardless.

So I do think Chris Eubanks Sr. joins it. And if he joins it, then I mean, we're talking about something special here. We're talking about a blockbuster, all blockbusters, yeah. All right, so we talked about the eggs, the face-off. We talked about Eddie Hearn, Ben Shalom, some of the trash talk, of course,

senior not being in attendance. But we're 18 minutes in and we haven't talked about the biggest controversy of the day. Oh God, I know you. I know what you're gonna do. I know you already. I know you so well. You're about to throw me under the bus.

No, no, no. Go ahead. No, no, do it. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no It's okay. I reckon area area area. It's fine. You've done it on so many shows what when Clareston Shields came on? It's fine. You've done it when Sam Jones. It's fine. Go ahead. Go ahead. What is it turkeys number? No Ronnie Shields, go ever you want to do God. Oh John do it you want to do You can speak now you're on the the the

the the the the the the the the What was I think when I do this fight I don't know the wait for reason let's see You Julie you Julie

I hope that any camp can do something usually Eddie can't orderly lose And be shalom. I don't hate your voice. I only hear Eddie why. What's the reason? That's normal, Your Excellency. I hope that Ben Kornor can have a chance to revenge for the family. Oh yeah. See you in 27. I think this is the biggest fight in England will be. So what I mean the streets are taught what happened? Okay, okay, okay. Let me tell you what happened.

So tell us the whole thing. I have does your phone just start ringing in the middle? No, no, no, I'm being professional. My phone's in my back pocket. I didn't even want to bring my phone on stage. But luckily, I bought my phone in my back pocket. Now the producers are in my ears and adding where's your phone? I'm like, whoa, is it sticking out in my back pocket? Like what's going on? They say a Turkey wants to call you. My phone's on airplane mode in my back pocket. I'm trying to conduct a press conference. So I bring it out slowly. I tried not to look down at it. I take it off airplane mode and they say, okay, Turkey's going to call you in five minutes. By the way, this is all going as these as I'm trying to come to this conference

The phone starts ringing Connors in a great little space. He's about to turn into something can really give me a spill I've got to interrupt him and take on I'm sorry. Hold on Turkey. So we've got a special caller Like this is a game show. It's It's Turkey. And I'm not thinking about where the phone's at. I'm just trying to get, I'm just trying to get the phone on the mic. That's all I'm thinking is, okay, can they hear this? Cause I don't know. I've got my ears in. I'm like, can they hear this? So I'm trying to put the phone on the mic. I'm not even thinking about the number. I don't even know. I'm not even thinking. Then after I start to see the memes, people start messaging me saying, I've got Turkey's number.

I'm going to call Turkey and ask for a Lamborg got Turkey's number, I'm gonna call Turkey. And I was for a Lamborghini and a Ferrari. I'm not what you're talking about. And then I realized his number will. Oh, what happened? What? The cliffhanger. Is he gone?

This reminds me of Dana White and Chil Sonnen during the pandemic. What was that? When Chil said, what's six foot two and whatever, you get the point. That was painful right there. I don't even know what the answer is. Maybe I don't even want to know the answer. I'm just happy after getting crap last week when I was trying to practice good journalism when I reached out to Turkey El-Sheikh to ask him about the whole situation with Josh Padley and Shkor Stevenson. By the way, Josh Padley is going to join us in about

nine minutes to talk about a crazy weekend for him and a crazy week for him. I was getting crap from Ade and now apparently he has or maybe I should say had his number. If he changes the number I'd like to get a new one, if possible, so we can keep the conversation going, the relationship going. But in the end, I don't really think that you can see anything. So everyone lay off my guy Ada. You can't see anything. It's very clear that you can't.

It's like all blurry, and there's a million different numbers out there. So just chill out, all right? Take it from someone who once had their number leaked. It's not very fun, all right right so don't be those people now one last time we've actually we've actually zeroed in zeroed in on the egg situation one last time before we move on here here it is tremendous job by our production team on air Jordan you'll learn more about him in the coming weeks look at what he did here it. Here's the slow-mo.

Alright. And now, we'll really see. Look at that! You see the yellow. You see Eddie Hearn. One of the all-time memorable face-offs in the history of combat sports. Forget about specifically boxing. In the history of combat sports, there it it is what a way to kick things off now they're going to have another press conference on Thursday as I said they're doing a media day they're doing a media day tomorrow what was that in my ear oh yeah we got the fight poster there it is fatal fury you bank. It's all going down on the 26th of April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The whole card is a great one, especially for the

country, Anthony Yard versus Lyndon Arthur part three, Liam Smith, looking to keep the Smith vibes rolling against Aaron McKenna, Chris Billum Smith, not related, going up against Brandon Glanton, the sole American on the card, and Vidal Riley against Chevion Clark in a fun opener in the Cruiserweight division. You back, Adi, you left us with a cliffhanger there. Can I just say, I'm in a hotel, the wifi is rubbish,

and this is so disappointing because we have so much good to talk about, and I don't know, I don't know what to say right now. But I've now think I resolved the situation and we are back. Okay, we are now back. That is great to hear. We're going to talk more about this day, this week for you, because where's the one on Thursday? Is that in London?

So that's supposed to be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. I say supposed to be because I don't know how these guys are going to come together again. I almost feel like that's it. I almost feel like you should leave it as that. I kind of leave it. I kind of agree. Yeah, no need. I do wonder if they sit down with you tomorrow. I mean, that would be stellar, but you're right. You'll never be able to top that and you're almost playing with fire, right? Because you look at the the look on Connor Benz face he is livid how is he going to react it's a shame the only drawback I would say is fight week you're probably keeping them very far so something like that doesn't happen and we don't get that final crescendo if you will can't even imagine what the stage is going to look like on the 25th at the weigh-ins

because you want to keep them as far as possible you don't want something serious to happen but let's see let's see what they do later in the week. You'll be a part of it all. And so we shall check in with you on that. Let's move along now, Adé, and let's turn our attention to this past weekend in Riyadh. We have a lot to discuss as far as the main event is concerned. Where does Dimitri Bivol go from here? How does David Benavides play into all of this? Are they going to go with the trilogy? What about my guy Joseph Parker, the big goose, getting the win? What happened to Daniel Dubois? We still don't even know.

He hasn't said a thing, but want to talk to you. One of the best stories of the entire week. He didn't get the win, but he almost stole the hearts and minds and imagination of the entire boxing world. We're talking about Josh Padley, who went toe to toe with Shakur Stevenson, taking a fight on just day's notice and fought valiantly.

I know he doesn't want to hear about moral with Shakur Stevenson taking a fight on just day's notice and fought valiantly. I know he doesn't want to hear about moral victories and all that type of stuff, but this is as close to one as you'll get and he is infinitely more famous and popular now as a result. He is kind enough to join us right here now on the program. Josh, thank you so much for the time. Appreciate it. Yeah, no problem at all.

First day at Lodz. And congratulations on an incredible showing. How do you come to terms with that sentiment, with people saying congratulations, you fought valiantly but ultimately you're a pro prize fighter, you want to get Ws, you want to advance in your career and to a degree there's a strong case to make that you did advance but you want that win and so people are congratulating you and showing you love and calling you kind of the people's champ, yet you didn't get the win. Yeah, like I say, first day or so it was hard to come to terms with it because undefeated before I had to go into this contest and like I say that that was the plan to come out of

there undefeated and get the belt and unfortunately that didn't come off and tasted my first defeat and tasted the canvas for the first time in my career as well. So, it wasn't the best, but like I say, the love that I've had coming off the back of that fight has been like I wouldn't believe. And like I say, it almost feels like I haven't lost. Sanyam Bhutani Can you possibly describe what the last three or so days have been like to you? Like you talk about the love and the reaction and I'm sure back home it's been incredible. What has it been like? Like I say, it almost feels like I haven't lost.

People are showing more support now than they did when I won Mark Chamberlain back in September last year. And like I say, that's coming off a loss. So it feels quite strange obviously to be in this situation where from a fighting point of view, obviously you haven't come out and got the victory. But like I say, you got more love and support from everybody else. Josh, tell us the story here, because I feel like a lot of people have been trying to piece together your story. I mean, when you got the phone call, because I feel like a lot of people have been trying to piece together your story. And I mean, when you got the phone call, where were you?

Everyone thought he was going to build insight. Give us the exact time that you got the call that you might be replacing Floyd Schofield to find Shakur Stevenson. Emotions, where were you? And how quick or how close were you to the weight? Because I thought this was going to be a 140 catch weight. The fact you made championship weight still alarms me. No, it was a regular day. Like I said, it was six o'clock in the evening. So I'd been

to work that day, finished work, come home. I wasn't actually training that night due to train the night before. And like I say, put the tea in the oven, waiting for that to cook and six o'clock the phone rang and my manager said, what weight were you? Jumped on the scales, obviously informed him the weight I were and long be old, that night about our past 10, I think it was, we finally got it over the line, providing we could get a few little hiccups

signed out the next day and the fire was on Don't give us the number because your your fees been all around the internet I don't believe we're still in the internet, but are we talking life-changing money? Are we talking enough to say okay? No more work. We're gonna do this boxing thing full-time Yeah, and that's the position that's now put me in. I'm very fortunate for that. Obviously, this is what I've craved for the last six years, trying to be a pro and working at the same time as being a pro. Everything's been a bit of an uphill battle. Not had a major promotional deal or anything like that. I've been on strictly small hall shows, selling tickets, ticket deal only.

And now I'm in fortunate for in a position where I can put the work in on hold and just fully concentrate on boxing, which I'm absolutely over the moon with. As a result of this, have you signed with a promoter? No, no signing as of yet. We're in talks with promoters, which all will be revealed soon. Okay. Just curious after the Chamberlain win at Wembley, I would have thought one of these promoters would have been banging on your door.

Why did that happen? You tell me that I thought the same. Again, we ended up going into the talks, very light talks, after the Chamberlain win thinking that we were going to get signed. And then those days were done, but they didn't really come off, they didn't develop. And we sort of went stale a little bit. We had a few fight offers come along, but we were hoping that somebody would want to work with us and build me up as a fighter, where the offers that we were hoping that somebody would like want to work with us and build me up as a fighter

where the offers that we were getting seemed to be chucking me straight back into deep end and obviously we were conscious of the position that we'd got from beating Mark we didn't obviously want to lose that position without a proper planning place long be old obviously it's been quiet right up until this week where we had three fight offers and each one topped the one before. And just curious regarding the job, the day job that you are now leaving, you're an electrician, how long were you an electrician for and how did the old boss if you will react to you saying all right I'm good guys, thanks for the time. Thanks for the cheese. School.

I've been an electrician since I come out of school. So 17 years old, 29 now. So then been in some years now and I've only worked for the boss where I've worked now. Just, I think four weeks prior to getting the Mark Chamberlain fight. Obviously I took the job on with this new guy and I said, look, Chamberlain fight, obviously I took the job on with this new guy and I said, look, just so you know, obviously I do boxing as well

and that is my priority. One day a call will come and I'm going to have to take some time off work. Four weeks later, Mark Chamberlain fight come along. So I had to take eight weeks off work for that. And then fast forward to last Tuesday, I'm trying to bring an image in answer, left him a message saying, call me ASAP in the morning. It's happened again. Can you honestly believe what's happened here, Josh? I mean, again, for those that don't understand the small show kind of format, you're fighting in front of a couple of hundred people, sometimes a thousand. I mean, you've gone from that to Wembley Stadium, right? And even when you're walking out,

there's still about 10 to 15,000 in there to fight in a pound for pound, the Shakur Stevenson. I mean, do you have to kind of sit back now you're home and just pinch yourself and look at the missus and think, what the hell's going on here? Yeah, it almost feels like there were a few points last week, a few points last week where I was putting into a group chat with some of my lads and that and saying, am I actually dreaming boys or is this actually happening?

I'm about to fly to Riyadh and fly for the WBC World Championship and it's like obviously when I've said the story already but when me and my coach were obviously on the way up to the airport, we're in my work van with all my tools in the back, it's got 125,000 miles on the clock. You know what I mean? We've got the roof rack on the thing. We've only, you just chuck the ladders in the back garden to drive there. So we could obviously get into the parking and stuff. It's like, how many, how many people do you know

that's driving to a world title fight in a work van that they've just taken the tools out of? So it's been a mad, mad experience. And things are looking up for me since it. You know what I love? I was ringside and I had a few commentators as well. And we kind of turned around and all we saw was about 20 of your fans. Obviously, most of lastminute.com got tickets, lastminute.com got

hotels and I find that incredible considering that you were put on this card what Wednesday and they're already flying out booking tickets and hotels which ain't cheap, you know this and they're out and supporting you just like that. And I find that incredible. But more importantly, what was it like being in the ring with Shakur Stevenson? Again, you know, everyone whacked lyrical about him, a pound for pound star, free weight world champion, and you're there and you're going toe to toe for those first few rounds of him. Yeah, like I say, some of them people that have come out to support me and they didn't have tickets till arrived in in in Riyadh And I didn't book my tickets until I think it was half past one

The day of the wait the check wait, which would have been obviously Wednesday and they were on the flight the next day. So Like they hats off to them true loyal supporters to me As soon as I got in the ring I could hear them dotted about and stuff like that. So, like I say, very appreciative for them. Fighting Jacor. Extremely talented fighter, no doubts about that. Like I say, his punch accuracy and his punch selection and timing and stuff were just unreal. There were times when I thought I'd be able to counter and I'd go to counter and it'd just be out of the way and then he'd come back and hit me like say pound for pound like

say three world champion. It's a lot more experience than me. Um, and like I said, I liked you a thought with the full camp, I took the body shots that you were hitting me with. Would I have won the fight? I don't think, I don't think I'm probably at that level yet. Um, not saying that going and getting my head down a couple of years full time training and stuff. I'm not saying that I don't believe that I can get there because I do but this moment in time Yeah hats off to support serious talent. I appreciate that honesty very much

A lot of people would say our full camp I give him a tougher fight. I beat him, etc So I appreciate you keeping it real he is a very polarizing figure in the sport right now because He is calling out the likes of tank Davis and he says that he wants to be considered one of the all-time best, but a lot of the fans are kind of down on him. And so he has this performance and you're in there with him. I'm wondering, and it's a tough question. I recognize that.

Do you think he is as good as the Tank Davises of the world, the Lomachencos of the world, the top dogs at 135? Based on what you saw from him, do you think he can be a generational great as we all thought he would be? Is a very skilled fighter and I'm not denying that. The big question mark when you throw Tank's name in there is obviously the power. It's obviously if he can use that skill and keep the power of Tank off

for 12 rounds, it's one of them where you're always going to have a split straight down the middle on somebody's opinions. I was one of them guys who split straight down the middle, I won't be able to tell you that. But yeah, I do think he's up there with the best. I think he's proved it in three weight categories now. And I'm like I said, looking forward to seeing where he progresses from here and seeing who he calls out next and actually gets the fight with. Is it true that was the first time sparring amateur pro that you've been dropped? Yeah.

Wow. Amateur pro. I had 31 amateur fights and 15 pro a lot my 16th and I've never never touched the canvas so that were half the reason why I was getting a bit frustrated because I feel like I'm getting it with these punches but they weren't having like an a lasting effect on me to where I was like actually hurting my ribs but every time he hit me with them obviously they must have been the pinpoint accuracy on them my legs were giving up and I was actually hurting my ribs, but every time he hit me with them, obviously there must have been the pinpoint accuracy on them.

My legs were giving up and I was like, why is this happening? I've never been on the floor before, like this. I couldn't even push the shots out, my legs were giving up. So it was a bit frustrating on that behalf from my point of view. But I'm saying, taking nothing away from Shakur, a good fighter. Is that why you banged the canvas? Because there were times where you looked super frustrated and me being ringside I was like you've done enough Josh, you've done enough, you came there and you gave him some good rounds but you kept getting up and there was a time when

Shakur looked at you like just stay down but you kept on banging the canvas and getting up was it pride? Was it almost a case of, I've never felt like this before? Like what's going on? Why the constant banging on the canvas? Yeah, exactly that. Like I say, when I've been hit with body shots before, it takes obviously the wind out of me,

but I've managed to stay on my feet and just push them out. And obviously I survived the round, but when he were hitting me with the body shots, my legs had give up. And then before I know it, I was on the floor and I was like but I could still get air in so it wasn't like super winded it would just like say as soon as he hit me in the body my legs would go so it was like why is this happening? So that's why we're getting so frustrated in it. Whether that were down to conditioning

I'd have liked to have think. But like I say again, throughout the fight, would Shakur still have probably won? Yeah, I do think that he would have probably won. Josh, give us an idea of what you now being a full-time boxer is compared to you being a part-time boxer, where you have to go to work and maybe train after. Is it like eating habits change? Is it more time in the gym? Is it getting a coach full time and being able to pay him? What's the difference between a part time boxer working and a full time boxer now doing this sort of seven days a week?

Well, at the minute, obviously, I'm only training for say, say an hour a day. And that's after I've gone and done a shift at work. So like I say, their eating habits and stuff like that will improve because you have more time to prepare your meals. Obviously like I say, we have proper nutritionists and stuff. For the Mark Chamberlain fight, I had eight weeks off. We were full nutritionists and everything and I feel like that were a stellar performance from myself. Obviously, everybody wrote me off that we're awake, I agree, and that we're at 140, which I have no interest in staying up at 140. So I'm looking forward to seeing how I can develop as a person and a boxer now being full-time all the time and not just for that brief eight weeks time and then going

back to work. Obviously, now I'll be training all the time more time and then going back to work obviously now I'll be training all the time more frequent and then I say when the time comes that a fight does come and camp comes I'll be able to step up even more. Well speaking of upcoming fights I saw a tweet earlier today from longtime combat sports PR guy John Joe Regan who wrote GBM sports have today made an offer to you, Mr. Padley to compete versus Maxie Hughes, who of course is coming off that win over Gary Cully at the May 23rd event taking place at Eco Power Stadium, home of your Doncaster Rovers FC in your hometown and home city of Doncaster. Is that accurate, Josh? Yeah, we'd actually received that. No, we'd actually received that offer prior to going into going into this fight week, which we were considering. And obviously then this one come out,

come and like I say, will title shot. Re-add season. The prices go up, Josh. The prices go up. Can they afford you now? I don't know they can afford you. Yeah, exactly that. We were negotiating before this because we like to say that was the first fight offer that had come in that we were sort of interested in since Mark Chamberlain. So a negotiation just started about a week and a half ago for that. And then like I say, this Riyadh season card coming WBC will title shot. Obviously, there's no questions there is there? No comparison.

Josh, final one from me. Turkey, have you spoke to his excellency? If you have, what was he like? I mean, you beat his favourite fighter in Mark Jamerlin. So I guess, you know, maybe not all smiles immediately. But what's he been like to you? I'd only briefly spoke to him, obviously on the on the entrance, on the walk to the ring. And like I say, all good, all way around. We'd spoke to some people, obviously there at the event, who said that Turkey had also requested myself, which I'm like say unreal that I'm buzzing to be in that situation. I think a few names got pulled out of their heart and then obviously proposed to him and Shakur's team and obviously Turkey both agreed myself. So proof that that Riyadh season win over Martin Chamberlain did do something for me. And like I say, he just said, look Josh,

do your best out there. Thanks for obviously coming and saving the show. And perhaps more famous than your electrician story is your back tattoo that everyone is talking about. Look at this thing. Wow. What is going on here, Josh? I mean, clearly that's Mr. Mike Tyson on the right.

Who's he going after over there? Who's that? Is that some sort of Greek God? Yeah, clearly that's Mr. Mike Tyson on the right. Who's he going after over there? Who's that? Is that some sort of Greek God? Yeah, Zeus. Oh my God. So it was like, so the story behind it was like, it's like new and old.

So obviously people used to look up to like the gods back in the day, et cetera. And obviously nowadays, like people look up to them sort of fighters. As getting into boxing, Mike Tyson, one of the first people that actually stayed in my mind. Obviously, I watched over and over and over again. Just the destructiveness of him implanted in my mind. Then, Team Padley down the bottom.

Got that part, obviously, when I first turned professional. So yeah. Are we done? I feel like we need to color it in a little bit more on the bottom there, or is that it? Yeah, it is shaded now in the bottom. That's obviously in all the picture. The paddle is all shaded in at the bottom

to match the team part at the top now. Well done. Total package. Well done, Josh. Thank you so much. Again, fought valiantly. It was inspiring watching you do your thing and the story was a great one to follow all week long. So congratulations on all the success, all the love,

all the admiration being thrown your way and can't wait to see what you do next. I appreciate it, love. Thank you. Thanks for having me on. It's been a pleasure. A pleasure. There he is. Josh Padley. What a great story. One of many that transpired over the past week. And we'll get to the Shakur part of things in a moment, but I do want to circle back to the main event. Let's get into this now, because we saw Dmitry Biblin, Arthur Betterbiev engage in another classic. In my opinion, Adé, better than the first one,

and that's saying a lot. It was one of the best fights of the year back in October of 2024. And it was a bit of a, it was almost like a tale of two fights. First time around, you have, you know, you have Bivel do his thing. Here's Better B.F.

Bivel starts strong, Better B.F. comes back. This time around, it's a quick starting strong from Bivel. It's Better B.F. in the middle part of the fight. And then Bivel figures him out on the back end and gets the nod. And I thought he deserved the nod back in October and I thought he deserved the nod back in on Saturday. I thought the right man won. Do you think the right man won on Saturday? Yeah, absolutely. And I kind of kind of follow along the way in which you scored the fight there. I thought maybe the first four rounds were kind of shared. I think I had it two

at a piece, maybe three won Bivel. And then you had this little run, I think from rounds five to seven where I thought the turbo was just on top, menacing, strong, landed some shots and people, there was like the problem with his legs in the corner. They kept shaking at his legs. Yeah. And then from rounds eight onwards, I thought it was just the best people I think I've ever seen. Honestly I was watching it thinking have I seen a better performance from any boxer in the last 10 years? I thought he was just exceptional and I say that considering who he's fighting against. He's fighting against I mean a pound for pound, top four, top five in Piterbium. I thought he just looked excellent and

I have to say I kind of messed up ringside. I'm supposed to be impartial. I was screaming at the top of my lungs for Bivel. I couldn't stop screaming. Honestly, my voice went as it always does at these events because I get far too excited and carried away. But I thought this was excellent from Bivel. Honestly, it was almost like he fought a bully and he was able to land some shots.

And in the end, I thought like justice had been served because I'm with you. I thought he won the the first fight but this one I thought was a bit clearer it was the first time I felt perturbive looked his age those last couple of rounds I thought my god you actually are faulty and that's not you know showing a slight at him or anything but it was the first time I kind of felt like he jumped in and missed a few shots and maybe looked a bit tired he looked human which is crazy because I always fall out this guy's a machine But yeah, I thought the right man won and roll on the trilogy bring it on Okay, so I disagree and I do I do want to say like I know you do I know you do

I saw your Jim Lappley interview. I know you do what a guy that Jim, but here's the thing I think he looked quote-unquote 40 old Because of how good Bivel looked. Like if he fights every other light heavyweight on the planet, maybe except for Benavidez who, you know, the jury is like, we don't really know how high his ceiling could be, how great he can be. He's smoking them the way he was coming forward. Like his style is so much fun to watch.

Both these guys have engaged in 24 rounds over the past three months, like old school. You don't see quick turnarounds like this in, in, in fight sports anymore. Like this is old school 1980 stuff. And both these guys have, have gone toe to toe for 24 rounds. And in the end, what is it like? I don't know. What is it like 14 to 10 for Bivel 13 to 11? Like it's so freaking close between them.

More often than not, you're saying, give me a third. Let me see a third in another four months. Sign me up, especially with better be of being 40. But there's something about the freshness of Benevita is just waiting in the wings. There's something about him not getting the Canelo fight. There's something about how good he looked against Dave Morrell that I want to see him versus Bivel better be of chills. He chills. He takes some time off. You can chill with your full team. Nah, he deserves. You can. Now you need some time to go straight away. And you know what it is? I'm so, I know what you mean. You want to see another

fresh body being thrown into the mix, but because it was so close, I mean, you just said it yourself, 14, 10, 13, 11. I thought, I think it's almost unfair on materbe of who gave Bivel an immediate rematch not to get his own as well do you know it's what a piece I mean it needs to be a trilogy I don't like trilogies I don't like rematches but I love this one as you say this second fight was better than the first one I have a feeling the third fight with an angry but I'll is even going to be better than this one. I want Benavides to get in the mix, but I feel like Benavides is going to have to wait this one out. Fight Callum Smith and let the two best light heavyweights duke it out. Let

them duke it out one more time. It's not a bad consolation prize. Smith looked fantastic against Boati and maybe the fight of the night really. And that's saying a lot considering there were some tremendous fights, including in the main event. I want that benavidez fight so bad but honestly i mean like we're splitting hairs here if they run it back right away it would be legendary historic stuff especially do you know do you know benavidez didn't stay for the main event what why okay i tried to get benavidez on the main stage i went to him and i said benavidez yeah i'm on the main stage and kind of like,

you know, let's push this main event because I know you want to fight the winner. And I think it was his dad with him and they're like, yeah, yeah. And then in my ear, they're like, Benavides has got a plane to catch. I'm like, what? They said, Benavides has a plane to catch and he can't wait for the main event.

So he was not there. He did not see it. Okay, that I can live with that because initially I thought like he was sending some kind of statement to everyone involved. No, no, no, I'm like, skip the plane, dude. No, I know about this though. You traveled all this way?

Yeah, it's tough. And you'll get, what, are you kidding me? I think- Like, what, there's Benavides on the West Coast? You've traveled all this way to Saudi and you're not waiting for the main event. Just get another plane. It's not easy.

Use some of that money you made from a route. What are you talking about? It's not easy. Use some of the money you made from a route and get another flight. Listen, you gotta wait the whole day. Those flights aren't great. It's because those events end so late over there in Saudi.

And then there's like a 6 a.m. flight. And if the thing goes to like 3 a.m., 4 a.m., you're not gonna make your 6 a.m. You remember Todd Grisham running from the Nganu, AJ fight to make his flight to I think Amsterdam to call a glory event. It's tough. I feel as pain.

You're trying to put yourself in a position where you fight the winner. I like that. And the best thing that could have happened was after, like AJ was on the main stage and was after. I don't wanna hear hear from AJ I want to hear from Benavides now this is your chance to either get in the ring which I think he was going to do or come on the main stage with me and say you know what no trilogy give

me the winner and all of a sudden we don't hear from Benavides and he's on his way home yeah it's a bit of a come on man I was upset I was upset because I like Benevita so much and I'm with you But if they say tomorrow is people Benevita's no complaints no complaints whatsoever I think that's a crazy fight, but I think without him being there selling it himself We can't sell it for him And I think he made me missed an opportunity Do me a favor guys in the back if we could just clip off out of saying I don't want to hear from AJ if we Just have that I don't want to hear from AJ, if we could just have that.

I didn't say it, I didn't say it. I think he said that. No, no, no, one second. Yeah, I think he said that. That has to be context, that has to be context. That has to be context. Can anyone ask AJ to take the sunglasses off or? Can I confirm that someone did?

Oh. And someone got told to go away. Fly cut, yeah. He wasn't rocking, it would have been appropriate to rock an AirPod, maybe to listen to the truck, but there was no AirPod. Yeah, there was't rocking. It would have been appropriate to rock an air pod, maybe to listen to the truck, but there was no air pod. Yeah, there was no air pod, just sunglasses. And I kind of did look at him like, come on, dude,

but I wasn't gonna tell him that. No, it was great. He rocked up in the tracksuit and the trainers, the sunglasses, he was just chilling. Yeah. He was just chilling. He was in deep conversation with Usyk ringside. Yeah, he loved it. I was just watching him with Usyk ringside. Yeah, he loved it.

I was just watching him and Usyk have their little interaction, which I thought was fascinating. But yeah, he was there. Look, everyone was there. I mean, it was one of those events where you felt like it was old school Vegas, where you look around in the ring and there's just superstars everywhere.

And it was good to see the boxing world come together. I feel like you're taking a shot at me. Everyone was there. Everyone was there. Everyone, I mean, like literally everyone. All the top journalists were there. All the top broadcas shot at me. Everyone was there. Everyone was there. Everyone. I mean, literally everyone, all the top journalists were there, all the top broadcasters. Every single person was there.

I mean, pound for pound stars. Yeah, Jim and I weren't there, right? Jim and I were watching together here, all right? At the HQ. By the way, I'm still trying to figure out Sean Porter's jacket situation, because it seemed uneven. It was like here and then here.

What happened? You know when people have those shirts where you kind of just, you missed a button. It kind of looked like that, you know? It kind of looked like that. I love Sean. Sean has his own unique style. I like the fact that he is so unique with it,

but yeah, he's getting a bit of flack because of that jacket, but I don't know. You know what the problem is? When you're standing next to me and I have like this tailored chocolate brown suit, it's difficult. There's a lot of pressure on you to really come with your A game.

Sure, sure. And Sean was obviously trying his hardest, but I mean, deep down it's difficult, isn't it? Can I say you're looking a lot like Isaac Hayes these days. You know Isaac Hayes? I do know Isaac Hayes, yes. Like, you know, like with the- I don't know if I like that comparison.

What are you talking about? He's one of the all time best chef from South Park? He's incredible. Shaft with the salt and pepper here Can we can we put a picture up with eyes? Can you bother? We'll work on that. I am looking at can you find the picture of him? He's absolute best. Okay. Okay. Well, I was hoping like for Idris Elba comparison or something I don't know. Let's not get crazy. Okay All right, so look into your crystal ball next fight for Bivou is it is it better be ever as it benefit us

It's it's a better be have any open three season in October interesting because you know, they've they've earmarked Ryan Garcia against Devin Haney to for that one. You think they're doing both of those I Mean look at I mean look at the card. We just had yeah, I guess I mean honestly look at the card We just had I mean who knows right? I mean, look at the card we just had. Yeah, I guess you could, yeah. I mean, honestly, look at the card we just had. I mean, who knows, right? I mean, who would not want to see that again? But it's appealed to so many people, not just hardcore boxing fans, but I think even the casual boxing fans are like,

wow, that's just like technical brilliance. So, I mean, who knows? I would love to see it again, but I am with you, and I'm also, again, having watched your Jim Lampley interview, I'm with him as well. We don't need to see trilogies back to back to back It can happen again down the line, but my concern is the service age I mean, I know he's still in incredible shape, but 40s 40 I don't care how you live your life 40 is 40

So I just want to see it where he's still at his very best and age isn't bought in as an excuse That's why I kind of want to see it next. Let's talk about the big oos. Let's talk about the Chief Support. Joseph Parker did the job. His guy, George Lockhart, said he would do it in three. He ended up doing it in two. Different opponent. And a guy who landed at 2.30 in the morning, Martin Bacoli. The series of tweets, the videos of him going on that 14 leg flight journey from Congo all the way to Riyadh and just rocking up at 2.30, doing a bunch of media as he shows up weighing 315 pounds, a valiant effort from the big man.

But in the end, it's Joseph Parker getting the win. And of course, Boccoli replaces Daniel Dubois, who we found out, there's the finish right there, a delayed reaction after the shot to the top of the head and down he falls all 315 pounds of the big man. Daniel Dubois hasn't said a thing. Like there hasn't been a statement. There hasn't been a, have I missed it? Or is it-

I've been all over it. No, no, no, you've not missed it. I literally had my phone on. The conspiracy no, no, you've not missed it. I literally the conspiracy theory radar is a little bit up right now. It's going to be, it's going to be until they shut it down. I've got literally I'm following Don Charles. I'm following, I'm following Daniel. I'm following his sister Caroline, just in case she leaks something. I'm following Frank. I'm following everyone. And Daniel's just nowhere to be seen. Like we heard he's ill and then that's it. He's out of the country. I'm like, oh, what's going on?

There needs to be a statement. You are the IBF Heavyweight Champion of the world. This was a fantastic chief support. There needs to be a statement from you. You can't go radio silent. Guys, I was ill. The doctor told me. You know, one of those ones, I wanted to fight, but the doctor pulled me out something.

But all of a sudden, you not saying nothing is leading us to believe things that I don't think are true personally, but you can understand why fans have got their conspiracy theory hats on. Just release a statement. I think it's that simple. Release a statement, I was sick and I ate something

and it came up with food poisoning, anything. Nothing's a bit wild. Yeah, just like the whole situation with Floyd Schofield. Here's the thing, here's the part that's getting a little funky for me. Is it possible? They're over there, Usyk's over there, they say, all right, do what Usyk, we're going to make it happen, undisputed, we're going to unify the belts again, he's the IBF champ, Parker's a little bit of a risk for us. Let's figure it out.

Let's call up Bacoli. Uh, let's, let's maybe, let's maybe call, you know, let's maybe call Parker's bluff. Let's see if he even takes the fight. In fact, Andy Lee, the great Andy Lee, the head coach for one, uh, Joseph Parker was on a great podcast called seconds captains. And, and, and he was talking about this saying

that like, he thinks something was amiss and he thinks that they called their bluff that maybe some people thought that they wouldn't take the Bacolid fight because big difference between fighting some of the other names that were thrown out, right? And so it just seems a little bit weird. We have not heard from anyone involved.

We have not heard a single interview statement. Like everyone is there with all the cameras in their face. No one got anything. What happened? Where did he go? I saw him. I saw him at the media public workout. So that's Wednesday And he came into the ring on Wednesday and I'm watching no one did a great workout, but he's still hitting me still moving around I was like, okay listen, and even when I started to get word of him being ill, I'm not joking I thought it was a joke. I'm like they're just doing this to kind of hype the fight up a little bit more. Because I was like, well, I saw him on Wednesday.

What do you mean he's ill? I saw him on Wednesday and he was OK. So, look, it's not a great look. I mean, what you just said there, though, I mean, that's the biggest of conspiracy theories. But a lot of people are saying the same thing. I like, OK, Usyk has nobody to fight. Joseph Parker is a bit risky. Daniel Dubois, Usyk's a bigger fight than, unfortunately, Joseph Parker, Usyk.

It's just a fact, it is a bigger fight. So who knows? But I'm gonna stick with, he is ill, but Frank, if you're watching this, we need a statement. Daniel Dubois, we need a statement. Why would you not want to release something? Let us know what happened. And so in the immediate aftermath of the fight,

I said, give me Parker versus Usyk. Usyk has two fights left. Parker's never got the shot. He showed up, he did the job. He won in an impressive fashion. Why? And then I get, uh, dude was IBF champ. So what?

Who cares? Give it to Parker. Who says that Usyk has to fight the IBF champ? Why? Who cares? Give it to- Yeah, you're right. Why? You're right. Sorry to cut across you. You are correct. I don't necessarily need to see Usyk in

an undisputed fight. He's already become undisputed champion. He's done it. Yes. He's done it. He's done it. It's ticked. You don't get any extra points for doing it again, unless it's another weight class. So he's done it. So I agree with you. Go with the man that turned up, won his fight, give him a shot. I think Joseph Parker deserves something big. There's been a lot of talk about Joseph Parker versus Agit Kabir who had a fantastic win. Don't get me wrong. If I'm Joseph, I'm like, no, no, no, I don't want Agit Kabir. I'm supposed to fight Daniel Dubois for a world title. I want

a world title shot. Give me a world title shot. Don't give me someone that is dangerous and top five, top six. Give me someone higher than me. And't give me someone that is dangerous and top five, top six. Give me someone higher than me. And the only person really higher than him, guaranteed right now, is a certain Alexander Usyk. So I hope Joseph Parker gets something, because you're right, I think he called their bluff by accepting the Martin Bacoli fight.

A lot of people, including myself, thought Bacoli could win that fight, and he knocked him out in round two. He deserves something for that. Yeah. Um, I have a bit of a spoiler. By the way, no, I'm going to cut across you very quickly. Okay. My Bacoli when 315 pounds annoys me, it really annoys me. What do you mean?

I think his official weight, I think his official weight was three 10. You know, he took his robe off. Yeah. I am the biggest my Bacoli fan. I am the team leader of the my Bacoli fan club, but he took his robe off and I was like Oh my god, I just wouldn't you to stay in shape. That's all I asked for I was chilling to fight in May. He's not just starting his training camp. No, no, no, no, but he's 30 I think he's what 31 32 even him and Billy Nelson have worked so hard to get themselves into a position

Where Martin is now a big name. No one wants to fight Martin, the risk reward doesn't work out for him, the balance is wrong. Now, all I ask is you won't be in fighting shape, but you know there's a difference between being fighting shape and being in shape. Martin Bacoglio was 250 pounds four years ago. How he's crept up to over 300 pounds is beyond me. I don't understand why he's so big. He should be walking around at 280, fighting at 270. I think Martin Bacoli needs to live the life in between fight camps. Go into fight camps to sharpen your tools, not to lose weight. Fight camp isn't Weight Watchers. And I'm saying this to Martin if you're listening, because no one's given Martin an opportunity. He's had to fight for them for years but don't lose opportunities based off your

weight. I'm not trying to say that Joseph wouldn't have knocked him out regardless because of the travel but I just want him to come in shape, come in shape. It shouldn't be difficult you're a professional athlete look after yourself don't have a fight then go to Congo and put on two stone. Don't do that Yeah party a little bit, but stay around a respectable weight, please I understand where you're coming from I do think it's a tad harsh if only because his fight was scheduled for three months from now And so, you know, let's see how he shows up if he does remain on that card on May 2nd

I understand what you know, you think you think he shows up if he does remain on that card on May 2nd. I understand, no one wants to get over 300 pounds. You think walking around at free 15 is okay? But he was just on a flight, a 14 leg flight. Who knows how much water weight was involved. No, no, no, I'm saying regardless. No, no, okay. I know. Free 10 then. But 300, let's just say 300 for friend's sake, between us.

You think that's a good weight? No, it's not a good weight. But we've seen some big heavyweights, you know, walk around that neighborhood. Here's my thing. I think we're focusing too much on Martin Bacoli. Martin Bacoli was not the story on Saturday night.

Joseph Parker was the story. Joseph Parker was the story. I think Bacoli was the story. No, I actually think the broadcast was focusing too much on Martin Bacoli. Joseph Parker has reinvented himself and he just knocked out. Even you were focusing on Bacoli. What do you mean? I was on your page and you're like, this is fascinating.

It's fascinating. But on Saturday night after Parker did the job, Boccoli goes to the side and now we're talking about Parker. Parker was the story of Saturday night of that fight in my opinion. He just beat the guy that everyone was said, oh, the boogeyman, the boogeyman. And I was fascinated by it as well because it was so unique for someone to take a fight on 24 hours. Notice if we're being honest,

I was happy that the fight ended quickly because the whole thing made me a little bit uncomfortable. When you find out that he lands at 2.30 in the morning for a fight that's happening at around 1 a.m. local time, he was in Riyadh for less than 24 hours and he looks like that. I wanted that to be quick. And so thank you to Joseph Parker for making it a quick fight.

But Joseph Parker is the story. And as I was going to say, before you interrupted Joseph Parker is about to get screwed because Joseph Parker was going to go into that fight and have a very good chance in my opinion against Daniel Dubois. And if he would have beaten Daniel Dubois on the 22nd of February, he would have been next for Usyk. He showed up. Dubois didn't. Now Dubois may have had a deal before that, but he's not going to get that fight.

You know it, we all know. I don't know. One thing we do know is that Turkey seems to reward people who do good things. I think we can kind of see that there has been this kind of reward process. You come in, you do well, you're gonna get something big next time. So I don't know if he does get screwed. You know what I think happens, And this is my crazy theory. I think Daniel Dubois fights AJ. I think Parker fights Usyk. Really?

I can see the opposite. I can actually see the opposite. I can see, what? AJ fights Usyk? No, I can see Parker, AJ too. And then Dubois, Usyk too. Well then, I'm telling you now, if you were to lay all those options on the table, which

Anderle could call him right now, I think he'd go AJ. It's a bigger fight. Financially, it's a much bigger fight. Yes, he won't become world champion, but he's been there before. You give him the option of AJ, Usyk Dubois, I think he's going to go AJ. Really? He's one of those options. To be the first man to beat Usyk?

I don't know, AJ's a big fight. It is a big fight, but he's coming off a knockout loss. Listen, if you'd rank them, they'd probably put AJ above Dubois for being honest. But I don't think anyone's choosing anything over Usyk. I just feel bad for the guy because it feels like he's going to be left with Cabellel, who's a very, very, very tough fighter who just dusted off Zhilei Zhang and isn't anywhere near those names. He's not anywhere near a household name.

And what I don't want is what they have done recently, which is put him on the shelf for ages. Like this guy had a really good win against Zhilei Zhang. A year ago. And it's taken this long to get a fight against someone of note. And even then it nearly didn't happen because of Daniel Dubois' illness.

So look, in an ideal world, he only had a couple of rounds, Daniel Dubois hasn't fought, why can't they chuck him on the main card? Why can't they go on the Canelo undercard, Canelo versus Skoll? Why can't they do that? Against? Dubois versus Parker. Oh, I mean, listen, that's probably the most fair thing. That's probably the most fair thing.

I just have a hard time believing that it happened. In fact, even on Saturday, when I suggested either a rematch, well, not a rematch, just running it back, or he gets Usyk, everyone was like, no, Du Bois Usyk. I'm like, what, how's that fair? How's that fair to Parker? I don't understand. He's the one who showed up.

He did the job. It makes no sense to me. Let's move along and talk about Virgil Ortiz. Big win over Israel Madrimov. And some. Big win over Israel Madrimov. And some are suggesting that he fought and beat Madrimov better than Terrence Crawford did. Now I maintain that Crawford wasn't very motivated in that fight.

If you want to play that game, you could play it. I think it's kind of a silly argument to make, but nevertheless, impressive once again, who do you want to see him fight next at 154? Oh, it's a difficult one. I mean, look, Sebastian Vandora is a champion it's a difficult one. I mean look Sebastian Vandora Yeah, there's a champion. He's out there. I mean I almost feel like that. That's the one that makes sense Vandora I

Don't know you know what the dream scenario would be Terrence Crawford that that would be the dream snob I'll see Crawford sitting out until September and I don't exactly zero chance. But I do want to focus on Ortiz's performance first. I mean I thought it was fantastic because I thought for the first five rounds, Majumov was fighting the way Majumov fights, which is hit and move, very much the Bivul kind of way, Eastern European style. Then all of a sudden Virgil makes him fight the Mexican style, which is in a phone booth and ain't nobody beating Virgil Ortiz in that type of fight. In that type of fight where Virgil's kind of me against you, you've got a bit of a problem.

Imagine if I started fighting that style and then Virgil was able to kind of work him out and win I think going away by a couple of rounds. I think Virgil is just so valued for money. Honestly I would watch every single one of Virgil Ortiz's fight and pay my own hard money to watch him fight. I think he's fantastic. He is the definition of, I have gloves, I will fight anyone.

Because to go from Boishuk to Madrimov and call out the likes of Jaron Ennis and Crawford and Spence and who else, you know this guy's serious and won't duck an opportunity. What about the winner of Ennis Stanionis? Ennis' favorite to win that fight, which takes place in what three, four weeks time. I think Ennis, if he wins, will move up. That fight should happen. I love that fight. And we were talking about it a few months ago.

I believe when he was doing the interview with you on the Latino night, I love the Fundora fight. Love that as well. Can I throw out a left field one that probably doesn't happen? But what about Zandre Zayas fought just a couple of weeks ago. So around the same timeframe, he's in up and comer. He's with top rank and a top rank doesn't seem to be involved in too many of these fights right now. Maybe that changes when their, their TV deal is done, but I would love that. I would love the Fundora fight. I would, I would love the boots and his fight, but I think boots and this is in for a tough fight against Dan Jonas. I think he's, he's, he's a really game fighter.

That's April 12th in Atlantic city. I'm not looking past them just yet. I'm not looking past them just yet. I think he's a really game fighter. That's April 12th in Atlantic City. I'm not looking past him just yet. Yeah, I don't know. And this isn't, I think Zandasias is probably the future at 154 pounds. I think he's fantastic. I think the names that you just mentioned,

he's almost a rung down below those. And I don't know how he gets into that. I almost feel like he's got to fight someone of note to get a Virgil or Teith. Virgil or Teith is a star, he's one of the top dogs at 154 pounds and I just don't know one of the top dogs sort of looks below him so to speak and grabs up one of the contenders. So I almost feel like Xander Zayas needs to do some work of his own. Maybe even fight Boishuk. Let's see if you can get past that level of opponent or how you compete with that level of opponent before you fight Virgil Ortiz.

Virgil Ortiz is only going for the superstar names now. And although I think Xander will be that in a couple of years, he's not that yet. Not yet. Okay. So we sort of agree on, on the direction that we want to see Virgil Ortiz, uh, go in, I'm wondering if we fully agree on Hamza Shiraz versus Carlos Adamus, they have to kind of run that back, right? Or do we just view that as a, an Adamus win and he just moves on with his career? What happens here?

Because to me, the judge has got that one completely wrong. No chance that was anything but an Adamus win. Do you agree? Agree. Yeah, I do agree. And I don't think you run it back either. Oh, wow. I think you only, yeah, I think, I think, Do you agree? Agree. Yeah, I do agree. And I don't think you run it back either. Oh, wow.

I think you only move on. Yeah, I think, yeah, I think you just move on. I think you only run it back if there were some people ringside who thought maybe Hamza did enough to get the draw. But sort of listening to everyone and sort of doing the rounds after, everyone was like, OK, what's going on here? I think everyone was a bit miffed with the 114, 114. Obviously look Hamza had an injury I think from round five I think he broke his right hand and that could be a reason as to why he wasn't really sort of thrown as punches but ultimately

it looked like Adamas was just a little level above Hamza which is no slight I mean Hamza, Hamza's had a fantastic career to this point, but maybe, maybe just take a couple of steps back and there are names you can find in the UK, there are other sort of guys, contenders coming up you can fight, but I thought Darmage just looked too sharp on the night. Looked too sharp, you know, really on his front foot. Hamza maybe looked a bit flat-footed. I wondered if the weight cut's a bit of a problem, and this is not me trying to throw excuses out there for him But you've met him either very big 160 pounder and I think he's got the frame perfectly for 168 Maybe even 175 so I do feel like you don't need to run it back

Hamza can have a couple of fights Not a British level but with British guys Liam Smith For example the name Chris Ebert and Junior is a name, and then we'll see what he can do in 12 to 18 months. But I think Adamas should go now fully focused on Alan Canardi to see who is the true number one in the middleweight division. It seemed like after the Tyler Denny win

back in September at Wembley, that everyone was kind of hailing Hamsa Shiraz as maybe the next big thing to come out of the UK. Now it seems like you're suggesting we just take a little bit of time. We pump the brakes just a little bit, right? Just pause, just a little bit. I mean, not a lot,

because I don't like the way the British media sort of big someone up and then tear him down. Like he's not the judge. He wasn't giving out the scorecards. He wasn't going ringside and saying, okay, one second. He was even upset. I could tell after he did an interview, I think it was with Sky Sports and I could

see that he was upset. Fighters know when they lose. He knows things that need to be improved on, but ultimately he came up against a very good champion on the night. I just think that, you know, you don't need to rush talent like that. You give him a world title shot. He came up short, just the next rung below. Let's get a couple of good fights against that next rung below, and then go for another world title shot. I don't think we should completely start again.

He's clearly a talent, but just not at that level yet. What a card, and you know I love the pacing. There wasn't a lot of musical acts or all kinds of other stuff. Caballel and Jang was tremendous. What a stoppage, what a win for Caballel. Like we said, the curtain-jerker, Smith Buatze was fantastic.

This is the Caballel stoppage. Look at the body shot. Oh my God, look, and that ain't broken. Like Caballel, I know you went on a bit of a rant there about Joseph Parker, right? Yeah, that's right. Caballel is the most disrespected heavyweight in the last 10 years.

Why disrespected? Because no one seems to put him in any conversation. Like why, okay, why is he not getting a title shot? He's a guy that just keeps- I mean, there's only so many title shots to go around when one guy owns three of the belts. What do you mean? Oh, what's gonna happen?

One guy has three belts. The other guy got apparently sick. He fell ill. Uh, we don't know where he is. He's, he's, he's a missing person right now. It's probably going to be Caballero versus Parker, which is a fine fight. I just kind of feel bad.

Once again, I hate to belabor the point. I feel like Parker deserves a big fight. That's all remember. And for, for the people that say like, oh, I even saw some people saying Caballero should fight Dubois or Caballero should fight to your point. And you say, wait a second, did we forget Parker B. Jung a year ago? He did this first, maybe not as spectacularly,

and it was a little bit more back and forth, but he did the job 365 days ago. Can I tell you my favorite part of the whole evening was the part where it was like, are we waiting for my sign to come up? What's going on? Is it just vanished? Oh, there it is. No, it's something else. It doesn't matter. Why we waiting for my sign to come up? What's going on? I don't know, is it just vanished? Oh, there it is.

No, it's something else. It doesn't matter. Why'd you have to even bring that up? I would have never noticed it. It's when you stuck your hand out to go for the handshake once, twice, three times a lady, and you got snubbed. Yeah, I got snubbed so badly,

I grabbed his hand. You're like, hold on, hold on. I said, no, no, one second, you're not going anywhere. I said, what are you doing? This is, this is, this is not happening. You're not doing this to me on my stage. When you asked for the interview. Yeah. I didn't ask for this. Who is he trying to talk to over there? I thought he was going to break some news. He's talking to Ali and I'm like, okay, what's going on here? Because they said to me, Ade, Turkey wants to speak to you. And I'm just about to do my thing with AJ and Sean Porter. So I'm not okay. Look you guys haven't prepared me for this

I don't know what I'm gonna speak about. Okay, cool. Yeah, I'm more than happy to speak to him and then He doesn't read it doesn't really speak to me I'm like are we gonna say anything and then he speaks to Ali then he speaks to me and I'm like, okay cool And then I put my hand out to it, you know, like thank you for a great interview It was great and I went like, okay cool. And then I put my hand out to kind of, you know, like thank you for a great interview. It was great. And I went back to the well so many times. I was like, ah, I was feeling the frostiness

thousands upon thousands of miles away. It was hard. You're like, hold on, hold on before you go. Yeah, one second. You're not doing this. Cause I know, you know, I'm thinking in my head, I'm thinking of all the memes. Oh my God.

Did you get a lot? I know there's people, oh, I got about 20. That, the phone today. I mean it's been a rough go for my guy. It's been a tough day. You are such a good friend of mine. It's been a tough run, it's been a hard week. I mean the phone, running shields.

Listen, we have to bring up these things to bring you down a little bit. Di Volo Depot is on a whole other level. The head is so big, I mean next time you go into that country, it's gonna be tough to get you in there with the head being so big, the ego being so big. So we have to bring you down. No, I get it.

You are correct. I mean, it's, yeah, I do need humbling. I got humble today. I got humble today, but it's fine. It's fine. It's okay. It's okay. Before we go out, we do have to mention the great tank Davis is back in action and this weekend did

you not know really yes no I'm joking of course I know just a stone's throw away from us here in in New York City in Brooklyn to be exact he's back at the Barclays Center and he's going up against Lamont Roach and it's been interesting because two weeks ago we had Keyshawn Davis fight here in New York, 135 future grade. Last weekend, we have Shakur, amazing, gets the win, gets the much needed stoppage. He had to get that stoppage and now we get tank,

the guy they all want to fight. What are we expecting out of tank this weekend? I think he wins the fight. Are we expecting fireworks? Are we expecting an emphatic exclamation point saying like, I'm still the king or, or are we expecting maybe, you know, playing off of the demeanor that we saw in those press conferences when they first

announced the fight, him being like, I'm done, go play soccer, don't do boxing, a guy who's just kind of showing up, getting the paycheck, ho hum onto the next. I don't think he allows himself to do the latter. I think once he gets in the ring, getting the paycheck, ho-hum, onto the next. I don't think he allows himself to do the latter. I think once he gets in the ring, something just switches. I think he's demeanor, you're right,

it's been a bit somber, a bit like zero interest and not interested, but I think once he gets into that happy space, and I think he's happy space, happy place is the ring, I think we start to see Tank Davis again. But I do think it's a tough, happy place is the ring. I think we start to see Tank Davis again. But I do think it's a tough fight against Lamont Roach. I think Lamont Roach is a skillful fighter. He might not be as physically as imposing as Tank, but he's there for the lightweight

division. I think he feels that quite well. They fought as amateurs. Obviously Tank has beaten him a couple of times as amateurs. But I do think Lamont pushes him and I think he pushes him well, but I think Tank does what he seems to always do, where he looks like a fighter's on top and then they're asleep. And he got what happened and Tank landed something ridiculous. So I think Lamont Roach is going to show that he's good enough to be in the ring until he's

not. And I think that's how it plays out. And then all the questions about Shakur and Kishore are going to come and he's going to get upset when people ask him questions about those guys. I've never heard a champion get so upset about people asking about fighting other champions. Like, we're not asking him about fighting people that are top 20 and just have names or big followings. We're asking about fighting fellow champions. And it seems to, like, irk him so much. I find it baffling.

Like if I was a journalist I'd be scared to ask him because he seems to get so angry about it. But all we want to see, and this is no disrespect to Lamont Roach, all we want to see, and now there's two guys. I don't know what Loma's doing, so I'm ruling Loma out of this equation, but now there's two. One, it was always Shakur, Shakur, Shakur. Now we're asking about Keyshore. You've got to fight one of them this year. Like you have to. If not, then what are we in this sport for? I don't get it. Honestly, I'd love to see him fight Loma.

Even if that's, you know, Loma on the last legs of his career. But another one of these types of fights where no one's really asking for him to fight a Lamont Roach or a Frank Martin. And he fights, you know, he fights Ryan Garcia. And I love watching Tank Davis fight.

He is a walking human highlight reel. He is the closest thing in terms of pure, like pure aggression and power, knockout power and his size, he's like, he's like the lightweight version of Mike Tyson. He reminds me a lot of him, the uppercut, the power, everything is just phenomenal, but these aren't the fights that we want. And you know, the Garcia fight was tremendous,

fair play for taking it, but we had the rehydration clause and all that nonsense as well. I just want to see him in big fights at this point. And so there are guys, there's now a queue of guys that would be big time box office fights for him. I don't want to see these fights anymore. Uh, it'll be fun. It'll be a show.

It'll be a scene in Brooklyn. He always shows out, but I want to see,'t want to see these fights anymore. Uh, it'll be fun. It'll be a show. It'll be a scene in Brooklyn. He always shows out, but I want to see, I want to see him in big time fights. I want to see him, maybe not 50, 50 fights, but 60, 40 fights. These aren't those fights 70, 30 fights. These aren't those fights. And so hopefully if, if, if he gets by Lamont

and everyone seems to think that he will, and I think he's a pretty big favorite going into this fight, hopefully it's one of those guys. The question is did Shakur do enough on Saturday to get that fight? Not I think Shakur I think Shakur has done enough just being Shakur But I think people will tune in and it's a big fight just because of who Shakur Stevenson is Yeah, who he surrounds himself with Andre Ward Floyd Mayweather, which is quite interesting because of the Javonte Davis history. Terrence Crawford, obviously a big one. He's got Eddie, who's a great mouthpiece for him.

He's now got the power of Turkey behind him as well. All of a sudden, you're not just getting Shakur Stevenson, you're getting about six or seven other guys as part of that package as well. I do wonder, look, I'm the biggest Hank Davis fan. I kind of make a few jokes just because I want to see him in these big fights, but I do wonder the numbers, surely there's someone that's going to sit down and say,

okay, the amount we pay you and the numbers that these fights are generating, the math ain't mathin'. We kind of need you in a big one very, very soon. And I just wonder, there is a conversation with Amazon, with Al Heyman about, okay, we need a big one. We need a Ryan Garcia type fight now.

If you are still interested in doing this thing, and the only guy that can do that for you right now is Shakur Stevenson. And we kind of need that fight. So I do wonder if there's going to be a bit of pressure put on him if he does look really good against Lamon Roach to have a big one. And I mean a big blockbuster one, fingers crossed there is. Let's see it. I mean, he's at this point now that Canelo has aligned

himself with Riazis and he's kind of one of the few guys on the outside looking at him. It's like him and Jake Paul and no one else. It's crazy. Yeah. That's kind of what it feels like right now, isn't it? Like you almost feel like with Canelo going, because Canelo almost seemed to me to be the one

that wasn't gonna happen. Because Canelo is a superstar that really doesn't need the power and might of Turkey. With Canelo going, I kind of felt like, okay, it's only really Gervonta. And I mean, there are other good fighters out there, but in terms of superstar fighters, it's only Gervonta. So it'd be interesting to see what Gervonta does after this.

All right, so that goes down this Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Over here on the undisputed global home of boxing, we have a cracker over in Belfast in Northern Ireland. It is Limerick going up against Belfast. It's Luz Crocker going up against Patti Donovan. Patti Donovan, by the way, one of the all-time great looking guys

in the history of boxing. I must say he always has a phenomenal tan every time he fights, I mean, Irish sport fans in general, but the Irish boxing fans, and this been an all Irish dust up. And look, Patti Donovan's got Andy Lee in his corner, and Andy Lee seems to be the coach of the year at the moment. I mean, everyone wants to join up with Andy Lee, but look, they had a bit of heat at the press conference.

It didn't really spark in the face off. But I'm telling you now, I mean, you've been out there for a Katie Taylor fight, the atmosphere in that building is gonna be just ridiculous. Honestly, it's gonna be ridiculous. And I have no idea who wins. This is me firmly putting my backside on the fence

because I generally think this is a 50-50 fight. I think Lewis Crocker probably hits the harder of the two, but I think Patti Donovan could be maybe a bit more slicker. So this could be a Biterbi and Bivou thing again, but an Irish version. It's a final eliminator for the IBF-Walterweight title. So that's Saturday afternoon here in the United States, Saturday evening over in the UK and Ireland.

Also Saturday evening over in Puerto Rico, we're getting the return of Subriel Matias. He got back on track after his somewhat shocking loss to one Liam Parrow going up against Gabriel Valenzuela over there. Why are you doing that? Why are you doing this? Why are you doing this? That's how you say their names. I mean I'm trying to... Can you say Subriel Matias? No that's boring. Gabriel Valenzuela? I'm trying to show love to my Puerto Rican brothers. Come on. Okay.

It has to be authentic. You should know this as a presenter. You want to say their name. It's why we say, I learned it from Jim Lampley. He doesn't say Israel Madrimov. You have to say, my dream of. You know, you have to say, you don't say Israel Adesanya.

You say Israel Adeswanya. Adeswanya. You know, you. Okay, can you say my name? Can you say my name in place? The whole thing or just. No, just Ade to... Not that. I could go Ade, Oladipo. Okay.

Okay. Yeah, that's good. Don't be a hater. So that's this weekend over on Dazon on the speed of Global Home of Boxing. Time now for everyone's favorite segment of the week. It is time for our parting shot. This is gonna be tough. I am very, oh, this is what you've gone with? Yeah, this is what I went with. You've gone with this? This is interesting, okay.

Why, why, why? I mean, you're the guy waving the Caballero flag. No, I mean, there are so many things you could have gone for. I mean, I don't know. I mean, we saw Josh Paddly bang the canvas a couple of times. Yo, I ain't putting shock. We saw your boy Parker knock out BacolI.

I didn't know what he was going to do. I know how biased you are to Parker, so I thought you might go park. I ain't biased. Listen, I ain't putting a guy who came on our show as our party shot, as the recipient of the party shot. That's not very nice. I thought this was a great finish and it was a proper finish. BacolI just rolled out of bed.

I mean, it wouldn't be fair to, I don't want to rub it in. Unlike you. I'm expecting to get a message from Billy Nelson. Yeah. I'm looking at my phone. I'm surprised it hasn't come through already. Yeah. Well, he's probably sleeping or he's probably blocked your phone number just like Turkey did as well because you went a little hard in the paint there. All right. If I'm being honest, you went a little hard in the paint. And by the way, what's this lastminute.com that you always talk about? I went on it.

It doesn't seem to be a website. What do you mean? You always say lastminute.com. We've never heard of the website. I'm not gonna give them promotion, but you never heard of the website lastminute.com? No, I mean, you always say. You get a holiday lastminute.com,

you can get a flight lastminute.com, you've never heard of them? No. That's my thing. Well, apparently it is a site. Yeah, it's a real site. Are you on it now? You are.

There you go. You always say it. Oh, lastminute.com, lastminute.com. Like, what is this lastminute.com? I thought it was something that the kids say. No, no, it's legit. There you go. Take it back.

It's legit. It's a website where you want to do something at the very last minute. It goes to lastminute.com. And that's me. I'm a lastminute.com type person. Listen, lastminute.com if you'd like to promote the show on your website, if you'd like to perhaps sponsor the parting shot. That'd be fantastic. By the way, wouldn't that be perfect? You want to take a parting shot, a last minute flight,

go to lastminute.com and watch. Oh my God. I mean, it's too much. No, no, it's perfect. If they don't get in touch with us then the team behind the scenes ain't doing a great job. Isaac Hayes, I mentioned him earlier just before we go. Oh, God, go on, do it. Do it. I'm looking. I'm looking. Oh, come on. Come on. No, no. That is perfect. It's not.

I do not look like that man. He's a great looking man, but I do not just, you just picked any black guy with a beard and all that. No, don't do this. Don't do this. I'm doing this. You look exactly like, you look like Isaac Hayes, circa 1976, shaft with the turtleneck.

This is all a compliment, by the way. Isaac Hayes is one of the coolest human beings on the planet. I'm showing love here. And then later in life- I'm one of the coolest human beings on the planet I'm showing love here and then later in life with the salt and pepper. I mean not the best picture from being honest The beard is a little is a little unkempt as they say but I think Mine's really good. Yeah, no, no, you're lightens make making my skin look incredible My I feel I feel quite hot right now. No, no, you are hot.

I feel quite hot right now. You are hot. You are hot. It's been a long day for you over there in Manchester. So we're going to let you go. A great job. A great job by you earlier today. And good luck the rest of the week.

We hope for your sake and your safety. Nothing else pops off. They don't ruin your suit with some eggs. Who knows what else is going to happen. The other props that Chris Eubank Jr. has in store for us. So stay tuned for all of that. Watch the fights this weekend and join us right here, same time and place, next week to do it all over again. For Adele O'Dipo, I'm Ariel Hwani. Thank you so much for watching. Once again, enjoy the fights. We'll talk to you next week. Thanks for watching!