The Ariel Helwani Show - Ariel x Ade, episode 22: Hamzah Sheeraz breaks silence, Boots' big win, Usyk vs. Dubois 2 reports, more

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

Ade Oladipo hosts the show solo this week, beginning with an interview with Hamzah Sheeraz (02:34), who breaks his silence after the controversial split draw against Carlos Adames in February. He opens up about being 'let down' by some members of his team, mentally resetting, and his new pairing with coach Andy Lee.Next, Ade reacts to Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ big win over Eimantas Stanionis (20:45) and wonders what's next for the welterweight, before touching on Raymond Ford blanking Thomas Mattice on the same card (23:34).Commentator Adam Smith joins to cover a bevy of topics (29:39), including the 40th anniversary of Hagler-Hearns, the Taylor-Serrano trilogy, Eubank-Benn drawing near, Anthony Joshua's next fight, and more.Finally, Ade reacts to reports of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 being targeted for July 12 (1:04:37) and closes the show with the Parting Shot (1:10:59).

Good evening, good afternoon, good morning wherever you're watching us from. Welcome to the Ariel and Ade show on the zone, the global home of boxing minus Ariel Hawani. Yes, I am flying solo today by myself, but don't worry, I have guests coming, some good guests incoming as well. Ariel is nowhere to be seen. He'll be back next week. I promise you, but we have a busy show. Honestly, there's so much to talk about.

Every time me and Ariel do these shows, I'm always like, yeah, is there anything to talk about? There's not much. And all of a sudden, bang, there's loads. Matchroom had a good weekend, didn't they? Atlantic City, Boardwalk, oh, it was a great show, wasn't it? Jaron Ennis looked fantastic against Danny Onis. We're going to get to that as well.

Raymond Ford on the undercard looked really good, potentially a well-titled fight against O'Shaquie Foster coming up for him. We're going to look ahead to what's coming this weekend so much. Ben Wittaker takes on Liam Cameron. The rematch, remember what happened the first time? That was a good one. Hopefully no one goes over the ropes this time around but can't wait for that and I will be in Sheffield for Dalton Smith. Dalton Smith that close to a world title fight so it is a busy,

busy show. So much to talk about as always. 40 years by the way, 40 years today was arguably one of the best fights that we've ever seen. The best free round fight we've ever seen anyway. And I'm talking about Hagler versus Hearns. We will talk about that as well. Adam Smith, the voice of boxing is going to join me. It's great to have Adam back in boxing. He's been through so much and now he's back. And I just feel like he adds something extra to a big card, a big show.

He will join us as well as we reflect on not just what's happened in the last few days, but also what's happened in the last few months because Adam's been covering quite a lot of that. One of the people that Adam's been covering for such a long time was Katie Taylor. I remember she takes on Amanda Serrano free. Ariel Harney was there for that, wasn't he? He was okay to go to that and work for that. He was there hosting the press conference and he did a fantastic job as always. But what was interesting about that presser was Katie Taylor and Amanda kind of went back to back a little bit and we don't normally see that. That's a first. So it was interesting to see those two ladies go back to back. I'm going to talk about that.

We are going to play you as well. The Ben Eubank, uh, the first time you guys would have seen this a few days ago, but we're going to play it again for those of you that missed it, the trailer for Connor Ben against Chris Eubank Jr. I remember that fight April 26th, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium live on the zone. So look so much it's happening. Uh, our first guest, I can't wait to speak to them. I'm going to not make sure that this guy waits any longer. Uh, came up short, just, just that short against Carlos Adames in February to come middleweight world champion. Has now moved up a division and is now looking for the big boys at 168 pounds. That first guest you know is Mr. Hamza Shiraz and he joins us now. Hamza,

it's great to have you on brother. It's great to have you on Hamza. Hamza, look, before we get into so much, before we get into everything, just how are you, Hamza? Like, how are you, how are you feeling? Yeah, I'm good, Adé. I'm good, Adé. It's a pleasure to be on here. My first kind of week speaking to the media again since my fight.

And I've come out of a kind of difficult place, difficult place to be fair and more, not in terms of the fight, but in terms of dealing with what comes after it and understanding or getting to understand the fact that this is professional boxing at the highest level and this is what I've got to deal with. Yeah. Let's talk about that from, I guess, a mental standpoint as well, right? I mean, you've been given so much praise by a lot of people and talk about that from, I guess, a mental standpoint as well. Right. I mean,

you've been given so much praise by a lot of people and on the flip side, I think you've seen now the worst of boxing when people want to come for you. Right. And the daggers are out. How, how difficult has that been to mentally deal with? Do you know what it is? It's that bit hasn't been so bad because I understand everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Everyone, all the critics in boxing, like I said, they're all entitled to their own opinion. Their opinion is what makes boxing great and what makes it so exciting. But I tell you, what did get me was the fact that a couple of my own people let me down, let me down when I thought they were there

for me. They weren't there for me. And that's, like I've been saying, that's the harsh reality of life, I suppose. Once you like the flavor of the month, they all want a piece of you. And then when you kind of hit a bump in the road and you feel like you can go to these people, not for reassurance, but you know, for, for a little bit of kind of normality and a little bit of comfort, they ain't there. When you say you own people, do you mean people within your team? Yeah, yeah. There was, there was a few within the team and a few close to me as well. But, you know, like I said, I had to deal with that in my own way.

And I did. And I did. And I thought it was only right to speak to the media again and get back on kind of online again, once I'm right up here first up here first, um, before kind of putting my emotions before, before anything else. Let's go back to the fight Hamza. Um, obviously a big moment for you, big opportunity, one that you fully deserved, one that you've worked for reflecting on your performance.

How'd you kind of look back on it? Uh, not the best, not the best. I, there's a lot of things, a lot of things that I should have, should have and could have done to be fair. And a lot of, it was a massive, massive learning experience for me. Now, now I look back on it. For the first kind of four rounds was going my way, then the hand went and then it kind of went, went a bit tits up from there and then I kind of picked it up again. But yeah, look at at like answering a question, looking back at it. I don't know why I was trying to box. Do you know what I mean?

I don't know why, why I was trying to box. I've never done that before. Um, and I don't know why I tried to do it then, uh, maybe I over complicated things. I don't know, but yeah, massive, massive learning experience for me. I do. We all knew how good Carlos Adam was going into that fight, right? And for those that maybe didn't watch too many of these fights, all the experts knew

that he was a slight favourite going into it, regardless of what the casuals said. Was he a bit better than you expected or was it just down to your performance? It was just for me, no disrespect to him, great fighter. It was just down to me. It was down to me, down know, despite the great fighter, it was just down to me. It was down to me, down to how I performed. Um, and I, and I stand on that and I stand on it as well. And I mean, no excuses. I have no excuses for, for the performance that day, but the factors that are going into it in terms of the weight and whatnot, it didn't help. It didn't help. But

like I said, no excuses. Yeah. I always feel that the fighters are the most honest when it comes to the results and their performance. When you heard it was a draw, did you think, yes, it was a draw. Did you think maybe he did enough to Nick it, you did enough to Nick it? Where were you? Do you know what it was the last, I think two rounds last two rounds I picked it up again and I thought maybe I've done enough here to nick the draw and I did, fortunately enough. But yeah, it's one of them and it's one of them ones. If we could run it back, I probably would have, but the only thing is I don't think I could make 160 again. So, yeah, the move up to 168 is what was best for me, I think.

You know, someone asked me about that move and I said, look, you guys see Hamza on Fight Night, I see Hamza fight weak. And I'm telling you now, 160 is a difficult cut for him. I know you always say, you know, I'm doing it correctly, but at six foot three, six foot four, making 160 is just going to be more and more difficult. Was you always going to do that jump or was this performance and the result sort of the thing that gave you the push to go to 168? No, I was always going to do it. I was always going to, the ideal plan was to capture the belt of 160 and then go up and then you've got a mandatory position straight away. Um, but yeah, so it wasn't, it wasn't so much, well, obviously it was the performance. Um, but that was, was a plan to go up to 168.

Yeah. And so many big fights at 168, right? Domestically, um, internationally, right? I think way more bigger fights than, than at 160, if I'm honest with you, I mean, it was, it was you, Adam, as Alan Canale. And that was really it if I'm honest with you, I mean, it was, it was you, Adam is alum canali. And that was really at one 68. I mean, I mean, you've got the pick of the ball, right? There's so much there. Is there a map, a plan now? Is it a case of just have one against somebody and then start going for the big boys? No, it's not even nice straight for the big boys. I'd a straight for the big boys. Um, we're in a time now where his excellency is, well not is, he has changed the dynamics of the sport. He's absolutely bossing the sport and I think

it'd be disrespectful for me to say, to go there and say, oh, let me have a, let me have a warm up fight at 168 and kind of work my way around things. It's nice. Let's go straight, straight into it. Let me fight the contenders. Let me fight the champions and let's get cracking again I think people it's gonna sort of bring music to people's ears right because again seeing you at 168 We've got extra eight pounds on this frame already I think it's probably the best smooth that you can make one thing you did do happens early in your career You decided to go to America, right? I mean not a lot of fighters do that. They say they stay in home comforts You said no, I'm gonna go to America, right? I mean, not a lot of fighters do that. They say they stay in home comforts. You said, no, I'm going to go to America. I'm going to be trained by Ricky Funes. And that's

been successful. You have decided to leave your trainer and go to Andy Lee. Why leave Ricky when it's been successful? Because I feel like now is the time for me to change, to change again. And I felt like I was kind of hitting my seed in the rickie. No disrespect to him, no disrespect to him at all. And I kind of had to sit down with my team, with the people who have been with me, with the people who have seen the way I've been training over there. And it was just time for a change. It was time for a change. And I wanted a coach in which I could use my attributes to the best of my ability. And it took a while to pick, but I thought, or the team and I come to a conclusion before who better, who better than Andy Lee, who better than Andy Lee is a complete change going from LA to Dublin Island. And it just, yeah, it kind of, it kind of keeps me keeps me fresh and keeps me going. But I can confidently say that.

I think, well, I don't think I know that this is the man I'm going to see the end of my career with. How does that work? Is it a case of you reach out to Andy? Do you go and just have a camp with him, like a mini camp, a couple of sparring sessions and then decide? How does it work when going to a top coach? What it was, was I wanted him to coach me and it wasn't the case of, yeah, he's agreeing straight away. He's a busy man. He's got fighters himself is a well-respected man as well. So I kind of had to go for a few channels. Um, so yeah, Spencer, Spencer

Brown spoke to him for me. Um, and, uh, yeah, kind of sorted out for me. And then I went over to Ireland. I went to watch Ben Whitaker do a set, do one of his training sessions with Andy and I really liked what I saw. I really liked what I saw. And then I sat down with Andy afterwards, had a good chat with him. And then, yeah, we got on. We got on. And I like the way he goes about things. And I like the way he is as a man outside the ring.

And I feel like I feel like my relationship with him could be one for the ages. I always feel like my relationship with him could be one for the ages. I always feel like coaches in demand like Andy are always going to have so many fighters knocking on their door. As you mentioned, he's got Ben, he's got Paddy Donovan, Joseph Parker, a couple of other fighters as well. Is there danger though of you not getting the amount of time that you need with him? All of you fighters fight, especially yourself, three, four fights a year. Same as Joseph Parker, same as Patty Donovan, same as Ben. Are you concerned that you might not get the amount of time you need with him?

Um, not really, not really, because even if I do have to train alongside any of the other fighters, they're all top class fighters, fighters I could learn a lot from, fighters I could rub shoulders with, um, and fighters that are, are, are good energy and, and as people, they're good people as well. So yeah, that's not an issue for me. Um, if anything, I'm looking forward to it because I've always trained on my own, I think always in camps, I've always, always been on my own. So this could be, uh, could, uh, bring the best out of me. Yeah.

They say iron sharpens iron, right? A good camp is a happy camp as well. It injured your hand in February. Uh, the injury looked bad one as well. Um, how's that going potentially in terms of dates to come back to? What are you looking at? Uh, yeah, the injury is going, um, the recovery is very, very, very rapid. And I'm very fortunate to, I'm very fortunate for that because I've been going to a clinic

out here in Dubai, the Brain and Performance Center who have, who have healed my recovery. Like they've sped it up by 50%. And as an athlete, hearing that is just music to your ears because you know, once you're healed 100%, you can get back to it. So yeah, massive, massive shout out to the team for getting me nearly back to 100% within like seven weeks after the fight. But in terms of a date where I think hopefully summer, hopefully summer, maybe June, maybe July. Yeah, we'll see how it goes. You know, you said you're going straight for the big dogs at 168 pounds. I mean, I look June, maybe July. Yeah, we'll see how it goes.

You know, you said again straight for the big dogs at 168 pounds. I mean, I look at the big dogs and potentially there's Pacheco, there's Belanga, there's Caleb Plant. I guess the biggest of them all is Canelo. When you say big dogs, are you talking about that calibre of 168 pounders? Yeah, 100%. 100%. Obviously Canelo is the man and I have to earn my way to him, earn my way to a title shot with him and I'm very confident that I can do that. But look at the names before him that you mentioned, Belanga, Pacheco, Plant, all these names, very like fighters who I'd love to share the ring with and fighters who I feel like we

can put on fights that do this modern era of boxing justice. You've been on a tear Hamza, right? I mean, again, all the success has come to you and it's been fully deserved as well. This was, I guess, the first bump in the road, right? How have you overcome that? Because again, the critiques have been there, the noise has been there as well. Like maybe he wasn't as good as he we thought he was, which I think is nonsense. How have you dealt with that bump? It's, you know what? It's I've, I've learned now as of the past, maybe week or so to just

take it in my stride, take it in my stride and listen to them. Listen to the critics, listen to the well-respected people in the sport and learn from obviously you got the armchair fans and they give their two pence worth as well. But at the end of the day, I think all opinions, no matter how good, no matter how bad, they have to be respected at the end of the day because like I said before, it makes boxing what it is. Um, so yes, it was new territory for me. It wasn't easy. It was new territory for me, but, um, it was territory that I believe moving forward is going to do me a lot of justice and they're going to be, you hear the term blessing in disguise when someone has a bump

in the road all the time, but I really feel like this has kind of give me, give me a kick up the backside and get me back into gear again. I remember speaking to you, I think it was sort of early last year before the Carlos Adama's fight was signed and I said a world title fight or Chris Eubank Jr. And at the time I get it, you said Chris Eubank Jr. right, because that was the highest profile fight to kind of take your brand higher as well. Do you think that's a fight you'll ever do? Do you think that there's still an option? Is that a name of one of the potential guys? Because I think he's time at 160 will be done after the Conor Ben fight. Is that a name

you're still looking at? I mean, never say never, never say never. Um, if he, if he was to ever come up to 168 and I've gone through a few big names at 160, I mean it always makes sense, doesn't it? It always makes sense. So yeah, especially in this game, you never know. You never know what's what and what can happen. So yeah, it's a fight I'd never write off. You're now part of team Lee, which means obviously Ben Whitaker's in the camp as well. Liam Cameron for Ben on Sunday. How do you think that one plays out? Yeah.

You know, I'm looking forward to it. I don't think I've looked forward to a fight for a long time and I'm really looking forward to this. Both great fighters, both got a lot on the line. I think ultimately it's going to come down to who wants it more. I think it's going to come down to who wants it more. Because if you look at the kind of skill aspect, you'd have to lean towards Ben Whitaker. But then if you look at making it a rough, tough fight, like I did in the first fight, you'd have

to lean towards Liam Cameron. So when you kind of look at it in all aspects, for me it's a 50-50 and it'll come down to the last two or three rounds and who really bites down on their gum short and really wants it more. Yeah, it's going to be a great fight, I think. Two of your last three fights have been away from home. Is it likely we do see you fight a bit more in the UK or is it, I guess, dependent upon what happens with Riyadh season? Yeah, it's all dependent. It's all dependent. I don't mind fighting anywhere to be fair. It's always nice to fight in England, but if I'm going to get back in the big fights, I think I'm going to have to do a few backyard jobs to

kind of get my respect in the 68 division again. Give me one name Hamza. I know fighters don't like to do this sport. In terms of a fight next one name someone that you'd like to fight. I see you matching up so well against the Diego Pacheco type. Is there any one person that you're looking at? I think all the names you mentioned, probably the Edgar Belanger fight would be, but it would be one of interest. Listen, at the end of the day, he's a, he's a, he's a big 168 pounder. He's strong. Um, and the position I'm in, I need to kind of get my respect back again. I need to so that it was just a bad performance and it's not that, ah, he can't, I'm sure I can't compete at the top. So listen, let's get, chuck me back in there and I'll, um, I'll do what I have to do.

Hamza, I trust you will my man. Honestly, it was just again, the smallest bump in the road, but no doubt we'll see some good things here, especially at 168. Again, how you made 168, how you made 154 still blows my mind. But I think 168, we are going to see the best Hamza Shiraz. Yes, God willing that, God willing. Thank you very much. Hamza Shiraz there, again, middleweight title challenger, came up short, just short a little bit against Carlos Adamas.

He will be back, as you said, or as he said, sorry, 168 pounds. And I love, you know, you know, I like about Hamza at 168. I think the challenges are just there. I mean, there are so many big fights. He mentioned Edgar Belanga, fantastic fight. Diego Pacheco is there. Caleb Plant is there. And I guess Canelo is the big ticket, right?

Canelo is almost like the final boss at 168 pounds that everyone has to get through. So good luck to Hamza, good luck to that special link up with Andy Lee. I think that's going to work as well. LA a little different to Dublin, weather wise, but Hamza is a London boy, so he'll be used to it as well. All right. You know what I don't like by the way, very quickly before we move on, I do want to talk about Boots Ennis, but what I don't like is how quickly fight fans turn on fighters. But Hamza was the darling of British fight fans, right?

Everyone seemed to love him. All of a sudden one, one small bump in the road, not a defeat, a draw. And now he's like, yeah, what about Hamza? I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. And hopefully those fans that have kind of turned the back on Hamza, hopefully they can turn him around and get behind him. because I think he could be a British middleweight or super middleweight world champion this time next year I really do believe that. All right Jaren Ennis, Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City put on a fight for the ages, a performance for the ages against Imantes Stanionis week on. I thought he looked absolutely Jonas week on, I thought he looked absolutely sensational. It just, you know what it was, too big, too strong, too fast, but ultimately too good. Ultimately too good for Stan Jonas.

And you're not supposed to look this good in a unification fight. You really aren't. Stoney Jonas started well aggressively as you guys can see, but in the end, Bootsch just had so many more gears you know what's crazy as well there are like this is world-level boxing and it shows that there are levels even at world level I mean even at world level Jaros Jaren has separated himself and I think the corner did fantastically well there by saying you know enough is enough and Eddie Hearn as he always does

jumps into the ring Caridys fighter And I think that was a standout performance from Ennis, who now, who now Eddie San has cracked the top 10. I don't know about this. Eddie says he's cracked the top 10 pound for pound. Can we bring up the top 10 pound for pound rankings? Can we have a look at this and you guys decide whether or not Ennis with that performance, that unification performance as well, let's not forget ring magazine belt as well is now a top 10 pound for pound fighter. I don't know who he is. I don't know. I'm waiting guys. Where is it? Where is my pound for pound rankings? I think, I think he's close. I think he's close. I think potentially add one more to that. Here it is. There you

go. You add one more to it and then maybe that one more could be either a Barrios fight or Brian Norman fight. All right, here we go. Alexander Usyk number one, Inoue number two, debatable. Crawford maybe in front of Inoue, but no arguments there. Bivou IV, Artur Paterbi of five, Jesse Barrymord Regis six, Canelo 168 pound King number seven Junto Nakatani number eight Devin Haney number nine Kenshiro Toraji number ten these are the ring magazine rankings where does Jaren Ennis get into that? Where does he get into that? So look I get it Eddie was emotional I think Boots will crack the top ten I really do I think we will crack the top 10. I really do.

I think we are looking at a potential pound for pound king in the next couple of years, but I think he's just, he's just outside it. Like if I were to do my rankings, I'd have boots like number 13 or number 14. I mean, Shakur Stevenson wasn't there. He wasn't there. So look, look, it was a lot of, a lot of pressure on boots by the way. I mean, his last couple of performances, we've been honest, haven't been the greatest. So I felt like he went into that fight and it was always, let me show you guys what I can do. And he did well. He did well.

You know, if I also did well on that card, Raymond Ford, I think Raymond Ford is a special talent. I really do. And that was again, he had his own little bump in the road when he lost to Nick Ball but he's now moved up a weight division and he looks fast he looks big he looks aggressive he knows he's got a bit more gas in the tank because he has a few more pounds to work with and he was just far too good for Thomas Matisse far too good and in the end it was a complete shut out. He might be slightly disappointed that he didn't get the knockout but in the end 10 rounds, a 10 round shut out. All the judges I think had it 190 across the board and if you're Raymond Ford now there's only one man you want

and that's O'Shakey Foster. I mean look at this, look at that. He's going to try and turn that belt into the real belt and And I think he will. I think Eddie's got something a bit special with Raymond Ford as he has with Boots Ennis as well. But congratulations to Raymond Ford on what was an incredible win against Thomas Matisse and congratulations to Matron by the way as well. Going to the boardwalk. We don't go to Atlantic City anymore. I grew up watching fights in Atlantic City. Now it's just, I guess it's the big ones in Las Vegas. It's the big ones for MSG. We see him fights over here in London. We see him fights in Saudi. Everyone's forgotten about Atlantic City.

So it was great to see a big show in Atlantic City. Who would you guys want to see boots and his fight next? I think there are so many potential options. Could he go for undisputed at 154 pounds? Sorry, undisputed at 147. That means fighting Mario Barrios. That means fighting Brian Norman Jr. That's an option. Devin Haney is also an option at 147. Ryan Garcia, an option at 147. Teofimo Lopez looks like he's going to move up to 147. The easiest answer, it was a rhetorical question because the answer is Virgil or Teys. That's the fight that we need to see next. One thing we do see with Jaron Ennis is that he struggles making 147. If you look at the photos of Jaron Ennis prior to the fights, he really does struggle making that weight. Go up, just go up, save yourself young man.

You're only 27, go up, fight Virgil or Tees. And that is a big pay per view fight, big money fight for both. And I think it's an incredible fight as well. Does any arena in America, potentially a stadium as well. So that's the fight I wanna see next. But if your boots right now,

you have all the options in the world you stay at 147, unify, become undisputed, you have some fun fights maybe even take on a Shachram Giassof who was on that card as well who's his mandatory for that WBA title or you go swim with the sharks, you go swim with the big boys at 154 pounds. Loads of for boots. Congratulations to him. Congratulations to Eddie Hearn. All right. We're gonna speak to in a few minutes, the voice of boxing, Adam Smith, who was away a long time from the scene, had a big bout of cancer.

He's now recovering and it's good to see him recovering as well. Just his voice on commentary, I think is just another level for the sport of boxing. He's an encyclopedia. He's knowledge and the sport is second to none. Um, he's been covering some of the big fights recently for the zone in Saudi Arabia. He's been covering some of the fights for match from boxing as well in the UK. And he's going to be covering some of the big ones coming up, including, uh, Chris, you've been junior versus Connor Ben. He's going to join us in a few moments. I'm going to pick his brain

about Katie Taylor as well. He's been, he's pretty much covered every single Katie Taylor fight, not just as a pro, but as an amateur as well. So who knows Katie Taylor better than Adam Smith. We are going to talk Hagler-Herns. It's 40 years to this day, the 15th of April, 1985, Caesar's Palace, where we got arguably the best three round fight that we've ever seen. We lost the great Marvin Hagler a few years ago, Tommy Hearns, still fit, still healthy, still with us as well. And we are going to discuss just how special that fight was. I think, you know how special the fight was?

Yeah. special that fight was. I think you know how special a fight it was yeah. You know every time there is a good three round war or what we anticipate to be a good three round war we always say is it going to be as good as Hagler-Hurns. Are we going to get a Hagler-Hurns? That's how special it was and that fight is Ed was 40 years ago this day and we are going to talk about that. Dalton Smith, big fight for him coming up on the weekend. He takes on the Canadian, Matua Jermain, big fight for Dalton, who is the current WBC silver 140 pound champion.

Obviously the full champion is Alberto Puello. There you go. Look at the card, look at the card. You know what's interesting? Can you keep this up please? I want to talk about this. You know what's interesting? Can you keep this up? Please? I want to talk about this. You know what's interesting? Josh warrenton is back. Now Josh warrenton lost to Anthony Kakatchi. You guys might remember that on the undercard

of Anthony Joshua versus Daniel Dubois and what he did, he took his gloves off in the ring and he said, you know what? That's it. He kind of said no more. And all of a sudden as far as do they come back and Josh Roentgen is back. I like it as well. Kevin Ajarko is on that card, which is going to be interesting. Josh Padley is on the card as well. Great to see Josh Padley in action. He got that signed.

He's now with Matron full time after that really impressive late minute replacement fight against Shakur Steven. So that's coming up this Saturday in Sheffield. I will be there for that one. And if Dalton Smith wins it, and he should win it, Dalton Smith is in line to fight Alberto Puello. That's what's there in front of him if he gets past Mathieu Germain.

This is almost, and I don't mean to be disrespectful. This is almost a stay busy fight. No slip ups. Puello has got a mandatory, sorry, a voluntary. If Puello gets past that, he's mandatory, is Dalton Smith. We could have Dalton Smith fighting for a world title back end of the year. So big, big opportunity for Dalton Smith. Good luck to him. We are waiting for the voice of boxing and we shall wait no more. He is here. They're trying to make me go solo,

but Adam Smith is going to keep me busy for the next 15 minutes. So let's welcome in the voice of UK boxing, the great Adam Smith. There he is. There he is. My friend, Adam, how are you, my man? I'm good, Eddie. I'm very well, very excited about a big weekend ahead in Sheffield and then in Birmingham as well with the Ben Whitaker-Lehman-Cameron rematch. But yeah, Dornsmith Saturday and yeah, 40 years since Hagler-Herns, the fight that got me hooked on boxing.

So yeah, it's quite a time at the moment, isn't it? I was listening to Hamza Shiraz here and big, big months ahead for him. So yeah, just boxing is fantastic at the minute. listening to Hamza Shirazi and big big months ahead for him so yeah it's just boxing's fantastic at the minute. Let's go to that the Hagler-Herns fight right again 40 years this day you very rarely now in boxing see two and they were two very elite world level the highest level that can be go at it straight away normally there's that phrase the feel-out round right the first round is always a feel out round. No one does it. These guys decided to throw bombs from the very first round. That doesn't really happen that much

anymore. It was just amazing, wasn't it? I was a big Tommy Hearns fan. I love the gold and the cronk feel, the whole sort of story of Manny Stewart. And I got to work with him a lot as well with Lennox Lewis and Andy Lee and others. But Tommy Hearns was just a freak of nature. Wasn't he? That incredible jab, the power

and the vulnerability as well. And yeah, the first round was I think a round that we'll never see the likes of again. And just in the eight minutes of mayhem, I mean, I was left in tears as a 13 year old with my hero broken. I was broken too, but it was the fight that got me absolutely hook, line and sinker into boxing.

And then Barry McGuigan became my hero and there were others, but yeah, Tommy Hearns and that fight and that night was very, very special. 40 years ago and yeah, just incredible. We probably don't see that as much these days. Fighters just going for it at the first bell. They take their time a little bit more, but it can get manic. I was thinking of Corrales Castillo one, that great fight that they had, or Morales Barrera, the first one, they had the pockets of fire in those. But yeah, from the off, it was extraordinary, wasn't it?

That was incredible. Honestly, when you watch it back as well, and you see all the big names, all the celebrities, ringside, Caesar's Palace, Vegas, honestly, it was something special. You know, you always talk about, if you're in a fight, There's never a loser when when the best fight the best is never a loser I always feel like Tommy Hearn still gets so much credit rightly So in a defeat and I must feel like that's what young fighters should take away from that Now is that if you're in there against the best there is no shame in losing right Floyd seemed to put so much pressure on The oh and a lot of fighters seem to have carried that to this day and age

But when the best fight the best someone's gonna lose. I Think you're so right and may you whether we have a lucky night against Castillo in that first fight also against Zab Judah he had problems Joe Kalzage one of my favorite fighters of all time Questionable whether he got through against Robin Reed So I think you always need that little bit of luck if you're going to have that zero record. But it's not the most important thing. We saw Josh Padley giving up his by taking an incredible opportunity that his excellency gave him against Shuka Stevenson. And look what happened. He was fantastic on the night. He had a deal with Matrum. he's back on Saturday, he's a whole lot

wealthier as well. So yeah, I don't think it matters that that loss. My great friend Johnny Nelson of course lost his first three professional fights and then in the end reigned as a world champion for seven and a half years defending his title 13 times. So yeah, things can happen in a career and I think also like you heard Hamster earlier talk about his performance recently and he got the draw and I think he was very lucky to get a draw. And I think he needs to rebuild from that. What has he done?

He's gone to Andy Lee. Andy Lee is in Ben Whittaker's corner this weekend. He's changed something up. He's moved up in weight and we'll see where he goes. It's a journey, Addy. It's not just one loss or two loss to he goes. It's a journey, Adi. It's not just one loss or two losses to find anybody. It's a journey and we can't wait to see the sort of comebacks, even with someone like Tyson Fury, who became heavyweight champion against Vladimir Miklitschko

in Germany. Then he had that time out where he had real problems and put on the weight and then coming back from that to even get back in a ring and then go on to do what he did was just one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. So yeah, it's a journey, isn't it? It's not just about the protecting that perfect toe. And I think his excellency and everybody else now are trying to get the best fighting the best, which is the most important thing. And if one of them has got to lose, you've got to come back and see what happens.

So many fights I want to pick your brains on. So many potential matchups in the next few months as well. But just on your own self, from a personal standpoint, how good is it, Adam, to be back? I know you've been commentating now for a few months, but you're now back full time doing the job you love to do. What's it like for yourself to be back again? I'm so grateful. I really am. I love it. I've been commentating since I was a little boy on a Dictaphone, turning the TV set down since I was watching the likes of Hagler-Herns and on all sorts. I found my way into boxing and yeah I was very fortunate at Sky to commentate for many many years on some huge nights and fights around the

world. It doesn't matter to me whether it's a four-rounder or it's an elite world title fight I have respect for every fighter that gets in the ring I love and I just feel at home when I've got a mic in the hand so I'm very grateful to everyone at Dzone. It's a fantastic team. I joined you, I joined Darren, I joined Barry, I joined Karl Frampton, Tony Bellew. It's an incredible lineup. And yeah, it's just a pleasure, Adi. It's fantastic being back around. As you said, I did a couple of fights out in Saudi and it's just lovely that Jamie Rice and Chris Clamble and the team got me on board. And yeah, it's fantastic to be working with Dazon,

especially with my old pals, Eddie and Frank, under the same umbrella, on the same channel now. It's brilliant. And we're going to see so many great fights, so many competitive nights and rival and fights being made and fighters getting well paid and fans being rewarded. So yeah, Dizone very much the home of boxing and I'm just pleased to play a little part.

Yeah, the schedule is crazy, right? So many big fights coming up and obviously, look, I think majority of those are under zone one that isn't but still regardless is such a big fight is Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor 3 or should I say Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano 3. The first two fights were just sensational. I was lucky to be at the first one in MSG. The third one goes back to MSG where I think it kind of makes sense. It's a shame it's not at Croke Park but it makes sense to have it at MSG. Katie's going to have so many Irish traveling in. Amanda Serrano's got the Puerto Rican fans. It's going to be incredible. You've in, Amanda Serrano's got the Puerto Rican fans. It's going to be incredible.

You've covered all of Katie Taylor's fights, right? You've known her for such a long time. What makes Katie so special? Not just in the ring, but in general? She's just a wonderful human being. My family and I know her well. Yeah, I just have so much respect for Katie. She donned the gloves when she was 10, 11 years old.

She had to dress up as a boy calling herself Kay Taylor to get started because of the rules and regulations back then. In my opinion she's the greatest amateur that's ever lived, male or female. I mean I know Vasyl Lomachenko and others who've got these incredible records may disagree, but what she went through with the sparring and the nights against very, very tough opposition, sparring men in all sorts of different countries around the world, and then going and winning six European, five world titles, the Olympic gold, obviously carrying the flag in London 2012 for Ireland. She's the greatest sportswoman ever from the Emerald Isle. And

she's just such a sweetheart. She's so wonderful. She's lovely. She's humble. She just feels like she inspiring just one child or anyone coming through is just an absolute blessing for her to have inspired so many people around the world and a whole female generation of fighters coming through. And she takes her hat off to the likes of Jane Couch and Leila Arley and those who came before her. But what she's done to lead the sort of Chantelle Gamrons and Savannah Marshalls and Tasha Jonas's,

Michaela Mayer's, et cetera, in and around the world to see where women's boxing now with these trilogies with Chantelle two fights with Amanda Serrano now into a third, it's phenomenal. She's a fighter through and through. She feels, and she said to me the other day that her best days are still ahead of her, quite amazingly.

And she's been a world champion for decades. I mean, as an amateur and then a pro for almost sort of 20 years of her life. It's just, yeah, she's a phenomenal human being. And she's just the, yeah, she's just the loveliest person outside of the ring. She's got a very tight team around her and a beautiful family and yeah, I'm very close to her.

And yeah, I think she was maybe fortunate in, I mean, the Serrano first fight, I thought she won that. The second fight was very close. And people have their opinions. A lot of people thought Serrano won, some thought Katie won. I don't know, it was tight and maybe a draw was the right result, but certainly they deserve a trilogy. Amanda's going to come at her and it's going to be an absolute firecracker again in the

garden where it all started, the trilogy and the best place to end it. She's going to be remembered as a pioneer and one of the greatest athletes of all time. Yeah, I agree. One interesting caveat to their third fight is Amanda now has been, I'll say, screaming for it to be 12 threes as opposed to what it is, which is 10 twos. Katie's like, oh, let's stick to 10 twos. It's the first time I've ever seen Katie go back and forth with Amanda, which is interesting. It's shown a different side to Katie's character.

Where are you on this? Um, I mean, potentially could, could there be a 12, two argument? I think I almost thought that going from 10 twos to 12 threes is, is crazy. It's almost like someone doing a 10,000 meter than asking them to do a marathon. It's like, well, one second, I signed up for the 10,000 meters, but should there be for world title fights like this, undisputed fights, maybe an argument to go 12 twos? They've got to agree it, haven't they?

Before the first announce. I mean, look at the mess we're in with Ben Whitaker and Liam Cameron for Sunday. We still don't know whether it's 10 or 12 rounds. I mean, we have to have an agreement before the contracts are signed. I think that's key. I think as far as this goes, we love the 10-2s. They're fast, they're furious, they bring fantastic action from the women. Most of the female fighters I've spoken to want to move to 12-3s because they feel that

they should be treated just like the men and they should have the chance of doing 12-3 championship rounds. But it's a massive jump, as you say. It's huge, and to do it for two fights they've had, they shared the 20 rounds together over two minutes each. To suddenly jump to 12, three, I think is not right. I would prefer it to be 10, twos again. I prefer it to be exactly the same. I wanna see a third.

The first one was unbelievable. As you said, you were lucky enough to be there. I was in Vegas that night. I think Shakur was fighting, but it was another fight. The second fight was just in many ways better on that huge night of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, but it stole the show. This third fight, I think has got to be 10-2s again. I mean, the winning formula, they're the best of rivals, aren't they? They just go together like Batebiev and Bivel, like Bowe and Holyfield, like Oli and Frazier, like Corrales and Castillo, Barrera and Morales.

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano go together like, right? Let's do it again. 10-2s exactly as the other two have been in the garden in July. Can't wait. Final one on Katie. Obviously she said that there's still more to come and I mean who can sort of go against what Katie says, right? Every time I feel like she's out on her knees, she seems to find something to get through these fights. Are you surprised that she is still fighting considering some of

the tough fights that she has been through? You mentioned Chantelle Cameron, those fights were tough. Serrano fights were tough. Delphin Pursuane fights were tough. She's had a lot of tough fights. She's taken quite a bit of punishment in those fights as well. Are you surprised that she still is doing what she does best? I'm not surprised at all. She's probably the most competitive person I've ever met. I think she trains 48, 49 weeks of the year. She absolutely loves what she does and it's her life. I talked to her about life after because I think that could be tough for her with her whole life committed to boxing. But she said she might train or she might manage fighters, but she just isn't done yet. And yeah, I think the Delphine Bassoon fight in the garden

was really tough for her. I think the Chantal Cameron loss was a hard one, but she was back in the gym on the Monday morning and she's as keen as ever. And she says to me, Adam, the best is still to come. I'm telling you, I mean, how can you, I don't know how you can believe it because of what she's produced through her career and professional career so far and to becoming undisputed at two weights.

I just don't know what else we can get from Katie. Am I surprised she's still going on for that reason? No, but she's approaching 39. She's at an age now where she probably needs to look at it in the next two or three fights. But yeah, look, if there's more magic ahead, let's see it in July, let's maybe see it again if she beats Serrano in, I don't know, a fight with Sean Taylor, third one, or A another,

and then maybe bow out in 2026. I wouldn't like to see her go on too long, and I think it's been a very, very hard career, as you've said, but look, if she's still beating Amanda Serrano in 10-2 fights at top level, you can't go against that really. Yeah. Well done as well to MVP, what they're doing. They really are pushing sort of the female agenda. It's an all-female fight card. Well done to Ellie Scotney, now signed to MVP. She'll be on that card as well. Alicia Baumgartner on the card. That's in July.

Let's speak about matters closer to hand. We're less than two weeks away now from the big one. That should have happened two and a half years ago, but happens April 26th live on the zone. I'm talking about Chris Eubank Jr versus Connor. Ben, you're beaming, you're beaming at him. You're smiling from ear to ear there. We've waited so long for this one. Obviously, look, we both know the history of the fathers and here we go. The sons are about to get it cracking. I love this fight. I love the rivalry of their fathers. I love the buildup, the storytelling, the promo that we're seeing everything about it. And I know, Addy, I know that there are critics of this fight. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea and it is a fight that is really hitting the hearts of the casuals, which is why in a way I like it so much because it's going to pack out

spurs. It's going to be a phenomenal atmosphere. The whole week is going to be absolute must watch entertainment. I think you said that Chris won the first press conference in Manchester 10-7 and then 10-8 in the second one. It's definitely advantaged Eubank Junior in the build up, but Connor Ben is going to be ferocious on the night and he wants it. Him and Nigel, they want it so badly. So yeah, I cannot wait for it. It's a fight that everybody's talking about. You know, when I get to the arenas early, when I was

in Manchester the other week, when I get to Sheffield, I like going around and chatting to the fans and honestly, it's what they want to talk about. They might be coming to see Dalton Smith or, you know, last week, Joe Joyce or Philip Hergovich, but they want to talk U-Bank Ben. It's just got, it's on everyone's lips. And then people are split. I would say probably 60% of people I've talked to think U-Bank and 40% think Ben, but it's, you know, people are saying Ben early,

saying U-Bank late. People don't know. They can't pick it. I certainly can't pick it. I cannot wait for Fight Week. I think it's going to be a phenomenal build up on the zone. It's going to be unbelievable on the night. It's a sport that just brings us and as I said back to the Hagler-Herns days hooks us in that we just love to see what happens. We don't know. The first bell's going to go and no one

knows. And yeah, that's the brilliance and we're going to love the buildup. It's funny you say Hackler-Hurns. I feel like we might get that in the first couple of rounds with these two because we know the way Connor fights and I almost feel like Chris might have to fight like that to kind of push Connor off a little bit. Obviously, look, the last time out, Chris was going to have to try and make 157 pounds. There's a lot of talks about rehydration clauses. He's now making 160. There will be a bit of a rehydration cap on it. Who has the advantage at this weight? Is it the fresher, younger Connor Ben, who let's be honest, is really coming up from 154, not 147? Or is it Chris Eubank Jr., who I think is starting to look a bit tight at 160 and plus he's 35

now as well. You see, it's just another to add to the pot. You look at Eubanks experience at a higher level. You look at his skillset and the weight advantage, but is it an advantage? He's fought at the higher weight, but as you say, he's not been the Liam Smith first fight. He's not looked as great as maybe he has in the past. So is he coming towards the end of his career? Weight-wise, is that actually a disadvantage?

And Conor Ben, two years later, has come up naturally. Of course, he's not a middleweight, but he walks around big. And he could just, a bit like Pacquiao did when he fought the sort of bigger guys as a lighter fighter, he could just find the weight more natural for him. And Chris could be quite drained out of it. It'd be very interesting if it goes into the second half.

I could see Connor being very fiery for the first few rounds. and Chris just sort of tucking up a little bit like Michael Watson did against Nigel Ben and then Watson sort of became Ben and Ben blew the storm out, didn't he? All the knockouts he had going into that. But Antonio Simms has got a really key job in that Connor Ben corner. He's got to make sure that he controls him as well. And I think if he can control Connor, I think if he gets that second half of the fight, he could be the fitter, fresher,

more athletic guy and more natural at the weight. So I think that that could actually turn into his advantage. But it's look, it's just fascinating, isn't it? You know, we'll talk about it all next and none of us will have the right answer until fight night. all next quarter and none of us will have the right answer until fight night. Are you surprised to how just big it is? Again, the first fight was the O2 arena. This is now three times the size of the O2 arena, 65,000 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Are you surprised of just how it snowboard into this behemoth? This sport is all about storytelling and about characters and personality.

These two have got it in abundance. They are both infectious to be around. Both can talk. They have elements of their dads. Their dad's rivalry was so huge. But the reason I think in the last two and a half years is obviously the failed drugs test from Connor Ben. The whole sort of process he's had to

go through for that, the waiting game. And then the egg smashing and everything that Eubanks has been doing in the buildup to this one has just got everyone talking. So people want an outcome. The older generation in their 50, 60, 70s, the Ben Ben Uback rivalry is a phenomenal one back in the day on terrestrial television, millions watching. And now the social media and the rise of the fact that you can get stories anywhere, at any time,

at any place, 24-7, just means that these two characters have come to the forefront and because they carry the name of their fathers as well and let's be honest they're not as good as ever but it doesn't really matter it's not even for a world title it doesn't matter what it's for it's Eubank against Ben it's Ben against Eubank it's a fight that 10-15 years ago people said was impossible because of the weight but I remember Connor Connor coming onto the ringside set and telling Johnny Nelson when he was about 14 years old, he came in and told us that one day he would fight Chris Eubank Jr. And this is what's happening and we all want to watch it.

So it's going to stop traffic on April the 26th and we can't wait. Yeah. Again, that's right. Live on Dazone, April 26th should be a big one. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It was once a time where we were lucky enough to get one stadium fight a year in the UK, maybe one stadium fight in five years. Now it looks like we could be on our way to two stadium fights this year.

Reports are suggesting July 12th, Daniel Dubois will get his chance to avenge his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. That one could happen. We're hearing Wembley Stadium. Again, these are just rumors at the moment, but you know what it's like once you got your ear to the ground in boxing, these rumors snowball into something a bit bigger. Daniel Dubois has had an incredible year. I do partly, if this is true, Adam, I do feel a bit sorry for Joseph Parker, who's almost been waiting in the wings for a crack at a World Title fight since he had that fight with Anthony Joshua a few years ago.

But Alexander Usik vs Daniel Dubois, number one versus I guess you could say number two, take my money I'm sold, I think this could be a good one. I think it's the one we need and the one we want and I think it will happen on July 12th at Wembley. It makes it a busy weekend, doesn't it, with Katie and Armando out in the States the night before. Yeah, I've heard the whispers for quite a while now. I know that Sergey Lapin put a funny piece on Instagram today with him and Daniel, sharing the same part of the ring.

I think it will happen and I think it will happen because he's undisputed. I think it's who's in charge. I think he decides what he wants to do and absolutely rightfully so. He's the pound for pound king. He's the number one in the world and I think Mike Coppinger has got it spot on. I think he's told us he'll have two more fights. I think Mike Coppinjo has got it spot on. I think Shxtolos will have two more fights. I think one will be there. Maybe it will be Parker. I know he wants to fight in his beloved Ukraine if there's any possibility of that happening

before he hangs the gloves up. But yes, I think that this does unfortunately trump the Parker fight. I love Joe Parker. Joe deserves the opportunity, as Andy Lee said, as he said in the Ring Magazine this month. They made it very. Joe deserves the opportunity as Andy Lee said, as he said in the Ring Magazine this month. They made it very clear they wanted the world title next. He's going to have to wait because this is for the undisputed. It's a rematch.

Dubois had that massive night at Wembley. We get a big card again. It's going to be a huge summer attraction. And we, you know, Usyk's loved in London. I remember him coming out that night when AJ and Dubois fought and he was absolutely mobbed by all the fans around Wembley. He's loved, he's fought so much over in England, he's loved Usyk. So Usyk against Dubois with the slight controversy of their first fight, the rematch, it appeals, it's for all the belts. I do feel sorry for Joe Parker, who's on a roll, who's got that momentum, but maybe Parker fights AJ or maybe Parker fights a Cavalier or somebody else, or he waits his turn and he fights Usik. And I think that will happen. Parker will get his chance, but yeah, everything I'm hearing is Usik and Dubois.

Yeah. And we rolled around to July 12th. That's that would be nearly two years since their first fight, right? August, when Daniel Dubois went to Poland. And back then, I think no one gave him any chance whatsoever. And I actually thought he boxed well in the first few rounds. This time round, a lot of people giving Daniel Dubois a very big chance. Look, Usyk ultimately start favorite, right? I put money on Usyk fighting anyone in the heavyweight division, but this is a Daniel Dubois, as you know, Adam, that's almost risen from the ashes.

His turnaround under Don Charles has been incredible. Has that turnaround surprised you considering what we saw maybe against Joe Joyce a few years back, what we saw against Alexander Usyk two years back? Now he's the IBF heavyweight champion, rightly so, and the number two in the world. I think it has slightly surprised me, yes, Adi. I think Don Charles has done an amazing job with him. I think psychologically, mentally,

I think was a real big thing. I think Daniel's always had physical attributes. He's got a wonderful jab. He can fight with both hands. He's good feet. And we saw that against Joshua. But before that, even with Baby Miller, with Hergovich, I mean, he put some phenomenal performances together

under Don's tutelage. So they've got a great partnership going, a bit like Andy Lee and Joe Parker have, which is fantastic. And yeah, he absolutely took Anthony Joshua apart that night. It was a brilliant performance. I would like to have seen him fight probably in February. I think almost a year out of the ring, probably hasn't done Dubois any favors.

He got ill, okay, he had to put out of that Parker fight. And I think that would have been a very, very interesting fight. But yeah, Dubois got the confidence. He's a young lion. He's got the freshness. However, Oleksandr Usyk is so brilliant. Technically, he's so dedicated. Still, when I was out in Gandhia with him before the

Fury 2 fight, I mean, I've never honestly preparation and adding I've been around some gyms around the world. I'm talking Floyd Mayweather at his pump, Roy Jones, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tundivander, Holyfield, some incredible trainers in gyms. Alexander Usik, I was with him for three, four days and the preparation is meticulous. He could be a world champion swimmer, he could be an acrobat, the guy is an absolute one-off. So I think he'll be as dedicated as ever, he's very good in rematches. So yeah, for me he starts favourite against Dubois, but Dubois got form and I think because

as you said he boxed well for the first three or four rounds out in Poland, no one gave him a chance. But he got the job done. So yeah, the expectations will be that he would do that again, but Dubois got the bit between his teeth. He's got Don Charles in his corner. He's going back to territory now, Wembley, his home, where he put on that amazing performance in front of almost 100,000 against AJ. And that was brutal. Look back at the way he walked into the ring that night. Nothing

was going to take his mind off it. Daniel Dubois destroyed Joshua that night. And if he goes in with the same mindset, you know, the natural big heavyweight, we all said Alexander is it's come up the weights, et cetera. Who knows? Maybe he'll just have his night. I think it's a fascinating one, but it's one that I would think Usyk would start favorite. And as I said, he's good in rematches. He's very clever. I find a couple of points, Adam, and I appreciate you sticking with me as well.

I had him on this. They're trying to make me go solo. I'm like, no, Adam Smith wouldn't leave me solo. He wouldn't do that. You mentioned Anthony Joshua there. Anthony Joshua is currently in Nigeria. It looks like he's starting to gear up to something. When I see him hit the bags and skip, I'm like okay his mind is now focused on a fight. Should we just remove the idea of AJ versus Tyson Fury? You've been around both. Tyson Fury said he's retiring. Is that never going to happen or are you shaking your head saying it could happen?

No, we don't. We, of course it could happen. Um, I, I see Bob Aron coming out and saying that, that Tyson Fury will likely stay retired. Tyson Fury can do whatever he wants. As I said earlier, the comeback that he had 25 stone or something, and to get back in a ring was just genius really. But to become world heavyweight champion all over again

and do what he did, that second fight with Wilder, the fights with Luce, everything that Fury's done has been brilliant. If he walks away with all the money in the world, then no one would deny him that. But I know Tyson Fury, he's kept himself in shape. He fancies this fight. He wants to fight AJ.

I know it. They've danced around each other for the last five, six years. You look at May with a Pacquiao, it happened way too late. You look at Khan-Brooke, it happened way too late. These fights do sometimes happen too late. And AJ Fury is probably a little bit too late. However, like we said with U-ubank Ben, it stops traffic. Fury Joshua is the biggest fight in Britain, probably ever.

And I think Tyson will just get itchy. I know he's doing soccer aid in June, which is brilliant for UNICEF, that's fantastic. But after that, I think he'll want to get down and get back into the boxing landscape. We miss him. AJ wants that fight. Maybe that's why he's just waiting his time a little bit. But I can still see that fight happening. If it doesn't, AJ could fight Parker. He could of course fight the winner of Usyk and Dubois. He could fight Cabael. He could fight Deontay Wilder.

There's loads of fights out there for him. But the fight I'd like to see is Fury Joshua, Joshua Fury, whichever way you want to put it. And I tell you what, Eddie, because U-Bank Ben has really, really hit the casuals and it's been great for the sport. And that's what Fury Joshua will do. It's all very well that the Bivols, the Batebievs,

all the great trade fights that we see, the Canellos, the Times Square, Knights, all the great trade fights that we see, you know, the Canellos, the Times Square night we've got coming up, Whittaker-Cameron, all these great fights, Kakatchewood on Dazone, we've got Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen in the rematch. I mean, there's some amazing nights coming up. It's going to be brilliant. The casual fans know Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. And they want to see them fight. So I'm hoping. Adam, Adam, stop teasing me.

Adam, stop teasing me. I can't take this. I was so on board it happening and all of a sudden I've gone really flat. That's not going to happen. I've started to pick opponents for AJ. Just like you are. I kind of ruled off a few names. Could he fight Cabello in Germany?

Could he do this? Could he do this? Could he do that? You've got me excited that we could actually see it. Do you think it could happen this year? Like AJ is not going to wait around forever. He's going to want to fight sometime. He hasn't fought since Dubois. Could it happen this year if it's going to happen?

Of course it can happen. His accuracy can make anything happen. Um, he got Eddie and Frank talking and look, they're our team on the zone now. So anything can happen in boxing. That's proven. Usyk Dabora on a huge night at Wembley, just like that made it looks like. We get Taylor Serrano again. We got all these phenomenal fights, looks like.

But Kevin Bivel are going to go a third time. It's just super, super times for boxing. Bivel are going to go a third time. It's just super, super times for boxing. Let's enjoy it. We need Fury Joshua. And the more we talk about it, Adi, the more that Tyson's going to sit there and think, do you know what? Do you know what?

It's just a, I just need to do this. It's that little itch and scratching. And I think AJ, look, AJ might need one fight in the meantime, but I wouldn't. I'd want it to happen next. Could it happen this year? Sure. It could happen in Riyadh season. And then you get a second one up next year. So let's do a two fight deal. I love it. I love it. This is the, look at this. He's not just the voice of the sport. He's just turned promoter on me as well. Promoter and manager, Mr. Adam Smith. Adam, just before I let you go, we're up to Sheffield this weekend. Dalton Smith in action.

Very, very close to world title shot now in the 140 pound division. Has to get past Matua Jermain on Saturday. How do you see Dalton getting on? Yeah, I like Dalton Smith a lot. 17 and 013 knockout. I think he's a really, really good fighter. I also like Adam Azim a lot. I think that's a huge fight, probably in 2026,

when maybe they're both world champions. You know, Dalton knows he's got to win this for that shot at the world title against Alberto Puello. I think he'll get through this. I think he's a tough, decent opponent. Mathieu Germain, he's on form, but Dalton should be dealing with him. I think he'll want rounds. He didn't get that last time he got that first round obliteration for the European win.

I think he needed more rounds. I think he needs that going into a world title fight. I remember back when Ricky Hatton was waiting for that big one against Kostas Hsu and I just didn't think he'd have that gut check. And then he fought Raul Rivera over 10 rounds in London just before. And I thought, wow, he's done that. He's ready for Hsu. I think Dalton needs a few rounds on Saturday night against a decent opponent. I think he needs to get that in and he'll be ready. And I think he'll become a world champion this year. Oh, fantastic. Adam Smith, I want to let you go. It's 11 o'clock in London. You've been to get that in and he'll be ready. And I think he'll become a world champion this year.

Now, fantastic. Adam Smith, I want to let you go. It's 11 o'clock in London. You've been up long enough. I've seen you've been doing the rounds, Adam. You've been everywhere today, but you gave us some time as well. Thank you very much.

The voice of boxing, Adam Smith. And as I said, it's great to have you back with us boxing full-time, Adam. Thanks, Harry. A pleasure. See you Saturday. Thanks a lot, my man. Wow. I'm see I listened to like 99% of what he said, but it's already gone out of my head

because what he said about AJ versus Tyson Fury, having known and known very well that Tyson Fury is now hitting the bag. He's looking a bit lean. What he said about AJ Tyson Fury potentially happening this year has kind of got the juices flowing. I'm very excited about that because I thought it was dead in the water. I thought we'd moved on from it. I was already starting to pick several other opponents for Anthony Joshua. I was like, okay, Wilder's coming back. Maybe AJ works for Wilder. Maybe, maybe AJ and Parker get on again. Maybe AJ fights Dillian White.

This is what was going through my head. Now all of a sudden we're back. I think AJ versus Tyson theory happens just because Adam Smith said it could happen. I'm fully on board with that. One thing I do wanna quickly talk about was the Alexander Usyk versus Daniel Dubois rumour mill that's going around.

Can we put Mike Coppenshaw's tweet back up please? Mike Coppenshaw obviously now working for Ring Magazine, doing a very good job as well. And Mike Coppenshaw seems to think this is pretty much done. Look at this. He's pretty much saying this is done. July 12th, Wembley Stadium.

And Mike's saying it. Mike, I mean, you know, Mike's the voice of boxing right now, isn't he? Mike, I mean, he knows everything. If Mike's saying it, I think it's a done deal. And I think it's a completely, completely different fight from when they first fought. Daniel Dubois went to Poland to fight Alexander Usyk without a prayer. There was no chance he was going to be Alexander Usyk in Poland. Border in Ukraine, it was 99.9% Ukrainian fans there. And it was a difficult task for Daniel Dubois.

Since then, since that he's gone on and fight, Jirail Miller stopped him. Filip Hergovich stopped him. Anthony Joshua stopped him. This is a completely different Daniel Dubois. And I think the key factor in that is Don Charles. I don't think people speak about Don Charles enough. But Don Charles got into that first fight with Alexander Usyk only had four weeks to get Daniel Dubois ready. And Daniel Dubois was good in that fight. Now he's had several fight camps with Daniel Dubois. And I think it's like a father figure and he's

almost unlocked something. And I actually think Daniel Dubois, I've got to be careful what I say here. I think Daniel Dubois could be Alexander Usyk. I'm not saying he will be Alexander Usyk before people jump at me in the comment section. I think Daniel Dubois could be Alexander Usik. I'm not saying he will be Alexander Usik before people jump at me in the comment section. I think he could be Alexander Usik. Again, I didn't think he had any chance in Poland. I give him a very good chance now. It's a young man's game.

And Alexander Usik is what, 38, 39? I mean, he's still very, very good, but he's 38, 39. He's had a couple of tough fights against a certain Mr. Tyson Fury. He'll be fighting a young lion, a pit bull. No, lion sounds better. A young lion in Daniel Dubois. And hopefully the rumors are true.

If so, I mean, what a fantastic year on Dazone. I mean, it's incredible. The schedule is insane. And this one could top the schedule. It really could. Again, only a rumor rumor but I'm guessing we'll get confirmation of that in a couple of weeks time what does that mean though for a certain Joseph Parker I mean if you're Joseph Park if you're Andy Lee you're like come on one second we were

supposed to fight Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia it wasn't our fault Dubois got sick but why have we not got a world title crack? I guess it is for, it is what it is for Joseph Parker. I mean there are options out there, big options as well. Cabio is an option. I have Joseph Parker as the third best heavyweight in the world. I have Cabio as number four. That kind of makes sense. Three versus four.

Frank spoken about, Frank Warren has spoken about doing a big show in Germany. Cabio is German based. Could Joseph Parker go to Germany? Could we see Joseph Parker versus Anthony Joshua? Maybe, maybe, you know, I would like to see. And people might say this is crazy. I would like to see Joseph Parker versus Martin Bacoli on a full camp. Yeah, I said it.

I know he stopped Martin Bacoli early in that fight, but that was Martin Bacoli on one day's notice. If Martin Bacoli gets past FAA Jaguar, I would like to see them run it back. Martin Bacoli on a full camp where he doesn't look like he's about a hundred stone. And I think that's a great scrap. But if you're Joseph Park, you're probably thinking that there's no need for it, right? That there's no point. But yeah, look, heavy weight, um, heavyweight division, a good division right now, sticking very quickly with the heavyweight division, you guys would have watched a couple of weeks ago

on the heavy impact card, David Adelaide versus Jimmy TKV. The referee just got it completely wrong. Ron Kearney, completely wrong. He called break, and as he's calling break, he's holding Jimmy TKV's arm. David Adelaide had a free shot. In the end, David Adelaide got the stoppage. Now the British boxing board of control haven't changed the outcome of the result. It still is a knockout win for David Adelaide, but what they have done is ordered in an immediate rematch, which

is good. I think the rematch will sit on the Fabio Wardi versus Jerell Miller undercard Which you do to take place Portman Road in June Now the interesting thing about what's happened to Ron Kearney since then is that the British boxing board of control actually called him To their office for a review of that fight that will happen in June Ron Kearney that was his first fight as an A star referee. Now referees are graded A star, B, C, D, E they're graded. That was his first fight as an A star referee and I wonder and I don't like to do this but I do wonder if he gets demoted because of that

or I do wonder if he has to sit out some time but we'll find out what happens. One thing he did do in that fight, which was a big mistake, and the general secretary of the British boxing board of control, Robert Smith, has confirmed this. One thing he did do was when telling them to break, he is not supposed to hold the arm of a fighter. So he got that wrong. He got that baddie wrong. And I expect there to be ramifications to that but we will see Jimmy TKV and David Adelaide go at it again for the British heavyweight title.

Weighted in the wings is Fraser Clarke. Fraser Clarke fights this Sunday on the undercard of Ben Whitaker versus Liam Cameron and I think that's going to be an intriguing fight. Fraser Clarke takes on Ebenezer Tete. Remember this is Fraser Clarke's first fight since that really bad defeat, horrible defeat to Fabio Wardley. He is now fully recovered. Ebenezer Tete is the one hurdle in front of him.

If he gets past Ebenezer Tete, I believe he will fight the winner of David Adelaide versus Jimmy Takey. So look, loads going on in the heavyweight division, not just internationally, not just worldwide, but loads going on domestically as well. All right. Busy, busy show. This isn't easy. This isn't easy doing it by yourself. I applaud you. If you're watching at home, Mr. Ariah Hawani, who normally does all these things himself, it isn't easy, but look, it's been a fantastic show. I'd like to thank Hamza Shiraz for coming on. The great Adam Smith for coming on as well. Make sure you stay locked in.

Obviously I am going to Sheffield this Saturday for Dalton Smith against my two Asian man. Remember Josh Warrenton on the card, Keven Ajarko on the card, Josh Padley on the card as well. But before we go, it's the parting shot bought to you by nobody. We still do not have a sponsor for the parting shot, which I just think is incredible.

Does no one want to sponsor this? Should I just sponsor it? Should the green chair sponsor the parting shot? But the parting shot comes from Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, and it is, I think, a future superstar in a Mario Jones that landed something very very very nasty on his opponent. I mean look at this coming up. Look at this body shot. Look at this. Where's it coming? It's right there. Did you see it? No you didn't see it? Wait really? Was it that fast? We're gonna show it again. We're gonna show it again from another angle. I promise you it happened. Amari Jones landed one hell of a body shot to go 2-0 and he is special. He looks special,

he fights special and here it is, here it is, it's coming, it's coming, there you go, watch this, watch this. I have to admit, first time around I didn't see it. Are you going to see it? Not there, it's not there, it's there, that one, right there, oh look at that, look at that, oh, the grimish, look at that. You don't recover from those. And Amari Jones, as I said, goes to two and oh. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you. It's been a blast. It has, again, thank you so much for tuning in.

Thank you so much for watching me. I gotta go. Ariel Hawani, wherever you are, you better not let me down next week because I'm not doing this solo again. But thank you to everyone for watching and me and Ariel, we'll see you next week goodbye you