The Ariel Helwani Show - Ariel x Ade, episode 38: Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte interviews, Eubank-Benn 2 booked, ‘Boots' 154 pound debut, 'Tank' charges dropped, more

Episode Date: August 12, 2025

Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladpio, joining from Riyadh, kick off the show with a discussion about Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte (00:45), including Whyte confronting Ade about his prediction for the fight during their roundtable (01:11).Ade’s full sitdown with Whyte (08:28) is followed by quick reaction and then his chat with Itauma (24:24) and brief reflection on that conversation. They also discuss the other heavyweight bout between Filip Hrgovic and David Adeleye (44:27).Next, they touch on the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch being booked for November (47:03), Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis making his 154 pound debut against Uisma Lima (51:27), and the undercard fights added to the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford card (54:35).Bouncing around the boxing world, the duo discusses Boxxer landing a broadcast deal with BBC (58:53), domestic violence charges against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis being dropped (1:04:02), and the tragic deaths of Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa (1:10:09).Finally, they close the show by delivering the Parting Shot, including a spectacular feat by David Adeleye (1:13:23).

Hello and welcome to a brand new edition of Ariel and Adde right here on the undisputed global home of boxing. DAZN, that's the zone for you noves. I'm Ariel Hawani right here inside our New York City studio, the uncrowned studios. Number one, unbiased outlet in all of combat sports. It's great to be here on a beautiful Tuesday in New York City. and some seven hours from here, if that makes sense. Over in wonderful Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that is where the eyes of the boxing world are. Because on Saturday, one of the most anticipated fights of the calendar go down.

It is the sort of crossroads fight for one Dillion White going up against the one and only. Most of the time I cannot wait for this fight. Old meets new. Young means old. Oh, my God. What theater shall transpire right here on DeZone. And we're going to talk about that fight and a whole lot more. Plus hear from the particulars because our guy, Adiola Depot,

talked to them all just yesterday. And of course, he is there on the scene. Boots on the ground over in Riyadh. Yes, there he is. And I did notice conspicuously that you have changed your hat after I called you out for wearing the hat that you didn't know what it represented the B. You have now changed your hat. Remember that?

No, no, no. It's not cool to change in a hat. hat is called a man that has many hats. I have many hats. See, when you have a bald head, I mean, you start getting a collection of hats. Are you self-conscious about your head? I think your head is just fine. No, no, no, no at all.

I've got a great head shape. I just like to have a lot of hats as well. That's all it is. Like you're a man that likes a lot of trainers, right? I'm a man that likes a lot of hats. That's all it is. And for the record, when you say trainers, you don't mean people that I go work out with. You mean, like, shoes.

clearly I don't mean people you work out with clearly put those guns away right now I take umbrage I take umbrage listen I understand I understand that you're a little on edge and I understand that maybe you are taking some of your frustrations

out on your dear friend Ariel who would never ever ever pin you up against the wall because it seems at least from here it seems from here it's a little testing out there in Riyadh. Is everything okay? Are you doing all right? Are you comfortable? I do think I might need my own security. It's getting a little heated out here. It's getting a bit tense out here. But no, on a more serious note, fighters are on edge. This is Fight Week, right?

And this is the week where these fighters, you know, any little thing they see online, any little video that you might have posted a month ago, they'd like to go back and watch a few things. And some fighters are not too happy with, you know, my takes. I think honest takes. but I also understand it as well. Like no fighter wants to hear you say they're going to lose or they're going to get beat or what's going on. So I get it.

So I have no issue of any fighter. I understand the frustration. But I do think I'm fair. I'm fair in my views and my takes and I don't just say them for the sake of saying them. So yeah, I feel like it is quite tense that. And I think like it's going to get more tense as we get to fight week.

So I think like this is just to start. Well, Adi is doing a tremendous job of tap dancing around this topic. In case you don't know what he's referring to, please enjoy. Dylan, you've been here before you've seen it, done it. How does it play out for you? We're to sight on that and see, man. You guys are the expert. I've seen your prediction how it plays out. I see my prediction. I said if this turns into a dog fight. No, no, no, I seen your prediction. I said this goes earlier, it goes into a dog fight. I seen your prediction before

that. That's something you're saying now, but I brought, I'll subscribe to your video. I said if it turns It turns into a dog fight, this could turn into a dog fight. It's all good, bro. You're still my man, though. No, no, I said. Remember when you got his own job? What was one of the first people to congratulate you? It's still my man. It's all good.

But it's boxing. Boxing, people's memory is short. And you're the man in the moment in boxing. That's what I use, bro. It's a number and a name in the moment. You know, you disappear for a little bit and everybody forget about. Everybody rice you off.

You've a loss. Everybody rice you off. That's it. I'm used to that. I'm used to it, man. So. Don't believe me. Oh, my days.

He hits you with the I subscribed your channel and then he hit you with the who was the first one to congratulate you when you got the DeZone game. What are you thinking inside when your old mate, Dillian, is hitting you with that? Like, okay, jokes aside, it was hard. It was difficult because he's right. I've known Dillian for years. And every time I've seen Dillon at an event, it's always been, hey, Adda, you're doing well. Keep going. and keep pushing.

You come from where we've come from type speech. And I'm like always, like, he's always been nice to me. So it is always difficult when you've got to give your opinion. When people ask you questions or I'm on my YouTube channel, you've got to give an honest opinion. But I also sat down with him and I said, look, Dillian, in your last fight, and that's all I can go on, you didn't look good against Ebenezer Tete.

He looks out of shape. And Ebenezate is a guy expected you to blow for in a couple of rounds. So I kind of felt you were disinterested in it. I didn't expect to see the Dillian that, turned up. Like, he's in shape now. If he came in shape last time like that, my prediction might have been different. So, look, it was difficult. Especially when it's there. And what people at home don't see is there's a bunch of people all watching. So you got Dillian's people there, all the cameramen, all the zone execs. Everyone's watching. So it's a room of about 50 people. So it can be

quite awkward. Because ultimately, I want Dillion to go up Moses. I don't want to be the guy he goes at. So it was hard. But again, I understand. He has been written off. And I guess it's for him. It's more difficult when he's getting written off by someone that maybe he thinks of as a friend. So that's why I feel like he's okay doing that. But I'm okay with Dillion doing that to me. That's fine. I felt for you in that moment.

I have been there. It is not fun, especially when it's someone that you are on good terms with. You have respect for, you have admiration for, who's looked out for you, who's given you time as well. Actually, I learned this lesson the hard way way back in the day. I think like 2013, I was working with Rashad Evans. on Fox. He was a fighter. I picked against him. He called me out. I felt horrible. And you know what I did at A? I said never again. No more predictions. It's not worth it. The juice isn't worth the squeeze. And you may not feel the same way. And that's totally okay. But I just didn't

want to offend someone. And as you know, fighters, toughest human beings on the planet may be the most sensitive human beings on the planet as well because they take it so personally. You aren't backing me. You aren't loyal to me. You don't think I could do this. You don't have my back. And so I just felt like it wasn't worth it. So I wondered, I wondered if after this, you will perhaps feel the same way and stop giving predictions. I won't blame you. No, no, maybe.

Honestly, maybe. And in something, especially on my YouTube, I've certainly toned down the way I used to be. I used to be like, just say whatever I used to say, almost reckless. And then when you're around the fighters and you see what they go through and you go to the training camps and how tough they are. And especially with these fighters, again, as you say, they are the toughest SOBs in the business, but they are very, very sensitive. So yeah, I might

I don't know if I'm going to stop fully But I might have to look at the way in which I do it Because I don't want to offend anyone And when I'm right in the middle And I could sense it When Dillion walked in, I could sense There was a bit of an issue Because normally there's a bit more love

And kind of when he just put his hand out To fist pop me, I was like, oh The same going on here What happened afterwards? What happened afterwards? Dude, you know, it was awkward So he walked out and obviously look I think one of these team members were like, keep that same energy, keep that same energy.

And I was trying to justify. I was like, no, no, no. I said this because of this type thing, which I really shouldn't have done anyway in hindsight. But then he walked out and then he had to come back in an hour later to do a sit-down interview with me. Oh. And I was like, please, tell me it's canceled. Please tell me the interview. But it wasn't.

But the interview was actually really good. It was actually, I think we're going to play a bit about it. Well, set it up. Set it up. Here it goes. We have it. Here it goes. We do.

Here is me and Dillium Wyatt. An hour after that face off, the Ariel is. kindly played, having a nice sit-down interview about the last four years, the journey, how difficult it's been, and why he's happy to be here right now, front and center headlining for the first time in what feels like years. Dillion, here we are, another big fight for you. How difficult has the last two, three years been? It's been tough, bro.

It's been very tough, very, very, you know, being kicked out into the long grasses, you know, obviously just out there just surviving bro surviving I see everyone's career going good everyone progressing and I'm just just just stuck and just lost and just don't know if I'm going are coming bro it's been it's been it's bro it's been dark it's been hard it's been tough you know it's like even a friend of mine said bro it fools me like I'd I quit and go and get a job and I was like yo I love fighting bro what I say this and quitting for fighters on the worst things you can do as a person.

It's something that, you know, I have to fight, you know, I have to fight. It costs me fortune, but I have to fight, man. Was there ever a conversation that you had in your mind about... Every day, bro. Maybe we don't do this anymore. Every day for three years, bro. No, no, no, no. Every day for three years, bro.

Imagine waking up on having to train and you just, nothing. You know, it's like going in the last couple of fights. just still not even there, just fighting with my natural ability, natural fighting instincts, you know, just, okay, I don't need to be my best to beat people, you know, just going out and just fighting and doing what I do. When the Joe Joyce fight fell off injury, again, did that affect you like, okay, here we go again, this is just crazy? It did, man, because I had a good camp and I was ready and Joe's always been someone

I wanted to fight because he's so tough and so strong, you know, it's all been someone that I always want to fight, you know, I mean, and then it feels good and then boom, my hand's not even heel properly. It looks like a shock. My kid likes it, though, do baby shock with me. He said, Dad, it looks like you should get a shock tattoo and they're like, get out of here, man. When that happens, when fights fall off, when you start getting injured, are you questioning whether or not you're still the top guy or is it? No, no, no. No, you know, injuries happen, bro.

Everybody get an injury, you know. Everybody get injuries because we train hard and then sparring sometimes these young guys, you know, they're riffed up and they want to prove themselves, I want to show themselves. So injuries happen and they're testing you. They're raising the, you know what I mean, so you have to hang with them. You're almost their final. Yeah, you're hanging, you know, they want to prove themselves, you know, and they want to get signed and they want to prove themselves, you know, they want to test themselves. So, you know, and then you're training amongst them and then you're pushing yourself. But it's great energy and it's a great. It's a great. It's a great. life source as well. I always thought of you, and you can say I'm wrong here, I always thought with you as the man that has so many options because you've fought a lot of the top guys, why, sorry, Chazora, Parker, AJ,

your name's always being linked with them. Why Moses the Tama? No one wants to fire him. So you run to the fire? Yeah, because, listen, you know, if I have the same mindset as everyone, boxing will be dead, then you that will start complaining. no one wants to fight no one.

You know what's funny? I get a lot of stick for stepping up to the plate and trying to do stuff. People should be glad about that and should be glad that there's someone that, look, Susorah, no, Laurence of Koli, no.

All of these guys, Eiji, no, these guys want to fire him. So imagine I've done the same thing and took a coward tactics and say, yeah, um, the side die and say, um, no, bro. Someone have to step up to the plate.

And, you know what I'm saying? these are the boxing fans go wrong they they'd rather ridicule and put that person down instead of thinking you know what he he actually wants to fight the warrior wants to give a good fight it wants to you know I mean so I don't I don't get it but maybe I'm crazy I see things differently have a different mindset a different thinking with certain things you know and I'll admire is what me and my family thinks bro I don't care no one else think that's it you know when I saw the Ebenezer Tete fight I was like I don't know

it's there for dealing anymore yeah of course of course those people think that but that's that's the reason why i've got this fight if i blew 30 away in a round i was in amazing shape they wouldn't pick you the other thing no but you know that's what i got this fight sometimes a blessing is in that's why i have more faith in god now than never because sometimes there's a blessing inside something that you don't see and if your eyes is not open and your mind is not open and you haven't got 50 and you will not see you know I um did a video the other day it was you versus Tresora the first fight and I was watching it back and you almost were in the same shape you're in now I think there's about

250 pounds 240 pounds and you were vicious you were boxing and I'm like as I was watching I was like how much of that Dillion is still around because if that Dillion is still around then I think we all know there's a problem on Saturday I Can that guy still be around? It's funny because it's funny to hear that because no one thought about that, no one mentioned that until now. It's funny.

It's funny, oh, that's why I laid low in my camp but didn't say nothing because everyone was talking shit and saying this and saying that they're now. And that just shows you the true extent of people and people's nature, you know. They write you off and say you're this and that and then they see you smiling,

you're looking healthy, ends up and then, oh, well, maybe People still stick to the opinion, bro, you know, it's crazy, but... Do you think you have anything to prove to yourself on Saturday? Hmm. No, I ain't got nothing to prove to myself, bro. I've... I'm alive, brother. You know, I'm someone who shouldn't be alive and if it was a lot of alive and if I was alive, I shouldn't be where I am, you know. Sometimes I don't think about what I've done and where, but sometimes I think about it.

And I think, oh man, it's unbelievable. It's like, you know, the people who I'm able to reach and inspire what I've done, how I've done it. Because, bro, no one's, no one's ever been inside with me and looked out to me and give me anything. No one's ever just planned my career. We're going to do this, this. He's, okay, there's Elena's, you fight him or you don't fight. There is Sezori, fight him, you don't fight. Okay, Sezori's not ready, fight Ian Lewiston instead.

Okay, fight. Joseph Parker just lost on Jerry Joshua, which Parker come out dangerous and motivate him because he didn't, you know what I'm thinking? I've been boxing since I was 10 years old. Who is this guy? You know what I mean? Fight. Lucas Brown, he just knock everyone out.

He's, fight. Oscar, you know, it is, I've always to take the hard fights, bro. I've never had, you see these guys lose and then. There's a plan. Me versus Franken, the win is meant for AJ. AJ bought Franken and Franken lose to me. You know what I'm saying? It's like, these guys always been looked after and had their career.

You know what I'm saying? It's kind of crazy. I never had that, bro. I just start to just, yeah, so yeah. You know, they're probably not going to like me for say this, but you know they've picked you to lose. You've been brought here to lose. Of course.

This is the future for them. Of course, yes. Of course. Of course, bro. I ain't stupid, bro. I ain't stupid. I know the game, man. I don't take it personal.

They're really talking about him fight inusik. Yeah. The fight isn't up in it. They're talking about him fight New Sick right away. Of course. You know. Of course. But what am I going to be scared and start crying and say,

oh, you guys. You know. Only, God alone, call the shots in this world, bro. You can say what you want, do what you want, be whatever you want. Go call the shots. If it's the be, you'll be, you know, obviously. And you can't go against God's plan, bro. This is true.

What's your plan? My plan is God's plan. But you've missed out. I remember speaking to you once, and I said, Dylan, you've missed out on all this Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, money. everyone's been fighting everyone you've not had anything you know it's mad you know I had a tough day one time in training a tough day and then I was driving I drove my van to train that day and I was sitting there thinking damn three years ago I was just sitting there watching hoping to get a chance to go back to the table and to take part in the big events again

and then I'm like here I'm like fuck that tough day you know I'm And then moving me, you know what I was thinking? Three years ago, two three years ago I would have been happy just to, you know what I mean? So yeah. One thing we haven't seen, obviously, is activity. The last three years is... Yeah. Are you planning to stay busy now, active now?

I would love to. Another fight by the end of the year, another fight. I would love, bro. You know, early in my career, if you look at my career, sometimes I fought three times in one month. I had three fights in one month. I'd love it. I actually enjoy fighting, bro. I'd love to, I'd love to.

And then, that way you get better. You learn more and then more camps and stuff, and then you work and stuff. I'd love to be busy, bro. I'd love to be busy. I just, you know, now boxing isn't a good place. It's about entertainment and good fights. That's not be busy, bro.

You know, I'd love to over a few more fights, so yeah, you know, I'm here to, I'm here ready and willing to fight, bro. Now, gone of the days where he doesn't want to fight him, he's worrying about him. He forces his fights. Yeah, exactly. And that's why, I'm grateful for him to even consider me and for him to be in boxing. He's making this fights happen.

You fought in Saudi Arabia years ago, Maris Vak, J. Ruiz Undercard. What's it like now? Come out here, you're headlining. You're the main event now. You know what? It's crazy. Like, I'm... My alpha male, I'm wild and all this stuff, but I'm also very calm and very humble at the same time. It's like a massive enigma. I'm like, so I'm just, I'm just humble and just chill it. I don't think, see a lot of guys strutting around with 10 guys. And, bro, I'm just here with Magic Victor and Buddy, bro.

Just, that's it. A couple guys are going to join in a couple of days. But that's me, bro, you know, that's, I'm just a humble guy. I don't walk around and, you know, it's like, you know, I'm just, I'm, you know, I'm calm, humble, but wild at the same time, bro. Would you say this is your best shape in years, Dillian? I don't know. I don't know, I don't know, man.

I don't know, bro. When you put that video up, or Queensby put that video up if you hitting the body bag, everyone went a bit crazy. I don't know, bro, listen, I'm not an expert, bro, I don't know. I let everybody decide, bro.

Everybody decide and everybody, I never get credit for anything, bro, so I don't know, I don't know. We'll see. We'll see if I get credit for it or not, bro. I never, bro, what have I ever get credit for in boxing? Tell me one thing I got credit for in boxing. Joseph Parker win.

But I don't get no credit for people. People say, I was lucky that it wasn't a 15-round fight. That's all they say, because I got knocked down 10 second in the last round. I was lucky there wasn't one more minute. I'm like, motherfucker, it was a 12-run fight. Like, how can I be lucky? It's a 12-round fight. He should knock me down earlier then.

You know, and he couldn't finish, you know what I mean? So, so it is what it is, man. You know, when I'm gone and people realize that, you know what, hopefully they do, they realize that it fought anyone, he came to fight, it gave us a good fight. It might not be the best fight, the strongest fight, the fastest fight,

but if anyone, they were serving to fight. If I could find a one, if I could ask you to pick your next two hit list opponents, who's the two people you wanna fight? Like, you could pick anyone? You know, I'd love to fight sick because it's a great fight and then you know I'm always pursuing the biggest challenge but I also love to fight Fury and AJ again because there the other two guys I lost to

I've avenged one I'd love a chance to avenge the other ones thank you god bless thank you I freaking love that kudos to you kudos to him I love that for two reasons I day number one you guys had an issue he could have said to hell with ad day he picked against me I'm not doing this he showed up he gave you thoughtful good answers that like 10 second pause when you asked him do you have anything to prove to yourself when a fighter when a guest gives you that long pause some hate that i adore that because that means that they really care and they're being thoughtful and they're being introspective tremendous job i thought that there was love and respect he actually like i'm kind of i love moses but like after watching that i feel like i'm rooting for dillian

because he came off so well in that interview. Dude, he was fantastic. And again, look, again, just to kind of give people a bit of background, we obviously had that little thing at the face off, he left the room, and then he went and done several interviews. And him coming back into the room, I have to admit, I was a bit like, okay, what's going to happen here? Is he going to just give me one word answers,

which some have done in the past, or is he going to give me an interview? And he gave me an interview, and that was a mature De Leon White. That was a guy that's sort of at peace, kind of of where he is, disgruntled about boxing as a whole, right? I mean, Dillian's never had the red carpet rolled out to him. He's not an Olympian.

He's not A.J., he's not Fury. And I think he understands that. He's also a man that's definitely backs against the wall, but also a man that is married. He's got kids. He's got a family. And I think he's now a wiser Dillian White. Like, Dylan White of 10 years ago, he's probably not doing that interview with me. He's angry.

He's maybe throwing his toys out the pram, if you like. Dylan White now, I think he's a completely different person. Do you agree with his sentiment that he doesn't get any credit? No. I think he does. I think, and that's why I said the Joseph Parker fight. Yeah. Sorry.

No, I think he does get credit. I think he was on a perfect run. 2018 to 2021 when he beat the lights of Oscar Rivera. beat Derek Azora, beat Joe's Parker, beat Lucas Brown, he got credit for those fights. I think people have maybe poo-pooed on his last three or four years. And I think even if Dillian, if he's honest with himself, we'll look at the last three or four years and think,

I could and should have done more. He should have fought AJ again. He didn't look really good in the Jermaine Franklin fight. He didn't look good in the Christian Hamer fight. So there's been holes there. And I think Dillian now will admit that. And now it's the case of, okay, what can I do with this final chapter in my career?

And it starts on Saturday. Well, by all accounts, and I saw this tweet from Dev of Queensberry fame, he seems to be an incredible shape. We haven't seen the Wayne's just yet. Those will be on Friday. But on the left is the last time we saw him wait in, and the right appears to be how he looks going into this fight. So he's obviously taking it very seriously, as he should. He's going up against the undefeated 12 and no 20-year-old sensation, Moses Atama, who everyone is so excited about, who has been blown. going through all the competition, who once again is a massive, massive,

I think like a minus 5,000 favorite going into this fight. You spoke to Moses as well. Here is that conversation. Moses, here we go. What's that, man? Here we go. They're all big fights, right? Every professional fight's a big one.

But this one, it's like grown into something really big. Do you feel that as well? I think there's like a barrier you've got to surpass. Like, obviously Anthony Joshua had that with, with Charles Martin, Tyson Fury. Although he was a great boxing, was a world champion and whatnot, he didn't really have that breakout moment until he boxed Klitsko.

Obviously, this is mine coming at 20 years old against Dillian White, so I'm ready to enter the next level. How are you handling all that? You've got a good team around you, but how are you handling all the noise, all the talk? I only 20. Someone that's 30, right? I mean if you're fighters at 30, 40,

and they talk about the pressure. I can't imagine what it's like as a 20 year old sort of having to deal with all the noise and you hear it, you try and block it out but some will always come through. I don't deal with it because there's nothing to kind of deal with

because it's like the only thing you can do is either get angry or ignore it so I choose to keep in control of my emotions so so I just I just kind of ignore it like I'm just only on my own path everybody's got their own journey everybody's got their own thing but like I'm not trying to compare anything yeah and I was just talking about it with my coaches yesterday it was like you know a lot of people put pressure because they're too much they're too worried about the outcome I'm not worried about the outcome I'm worried about the game plan and then the game plan leads to the outcome so I don't I don't think of things that I can't control, your opinions I can't control. Like, for example, if I go to bed today, I wake up tomorrow morning and I still got to play the Moses Tama roll. Yeah. So my feelings and

my opinions of myself can't be based on what someone else thinks of me, because you don't have to play the Moses Tama roll 24-7, I do. So I just choose to ignore him. Dimmyon White, right? I mean, I think it surprised a few when he got announced. It was like, okay, and all of a sudden people like, this is an interesting fight. Old Lion versus Young Lion. What do you make of Dillion White and where he is now in his career? I think I might, potentially, I might be boxing the best Dillion White there is because, you know, it's just his last chance.

So I've just got to kind of stop him from coming back into the division. To be honest, for a long time, the fight was made, but I didn't believe that it was going to happen because there was no talks of it, there was no nothing. No presser. No, no presser, no nothing. So I was like, am I even fighting? And obviously, I just kept chipping away, kept chipping away.

And it was actually, until he reposted something of our fight, I was like, okay, cool fights on, so you get what I mean. So don't get me wrong, I've still been training hard, but there's something different about this fight. Yeah, it looks like there's something different about him as well. I feel like he's now just switched on, he's heard the noise, right? Moses is going to do this, Moses is the future king. This looks like the best physical, at least, Dylan White, I've seen in years.

There you go, so I must get credit when I beat him, though. Indeed, indeed you will. Indeed, you will. What about, you know when I say the noise, the outside noise? What about the noise where we've crowned you the king already? I've been accused of doing it. I've said like, Moses is the future, right? And you've only had 12 fights.

And I'm like, no, no, no, he's going to... What about that noise? How do you silence that noise? Because that's positive noise, but at the same time, it's, again, putting pressure on you. Maybe I need to shut up. Maybe. Maybe.

Um, I don't know. I just don't pay attention to it. Honestly, like, I think a lot of people's problem is they're asking for opinions of people of people that don't really matter. Like, when I turn up to training, the only people that ask for their opinions on my coaches, Ben Lee, Barry, apart from that, they don't really matter. So I'm not gonna waste time sit there thinking about someone, what people think and like, obviously it's nice hearing the praise,

but you lot do it because it's a job to do it. Yeah. You not have to talk about it. So... I genuinely believe it though. When I say, I believe it. I understand. But it's like, for example, if I hear people just saying stuff

for saying the sake of saying stuff, I know that there's only certain amount of things you can can talk about but obviously you need to explain more and that's not going to that's not explaining for me that's explaining for the general public so it's not for my ears to listen to so that's why I choose to ignore it with this pressure thing like if I be honest I do hate it I do hate it because how'd you have done this interview with me two weeks ago you would have saw me bruised up black eye busted hands everything that training camps are

tough just so I can go into a fight and let's say I'm not dealing white out in the first round oh you was always going to do that but you not don't see the hard training I can do that if I didn't train hard for this fight and I'll go in there it's like no matter what I do I've always not got the credit yeah we only see the tip of the iceberg exactly exactly exactly and like for example is that if I go go in there and I knocked Dylan White out in the first two rounds. Oh but Moses was going to do that. If I go the distances, maybe Moses ain't what we think he is.

If I lose the fight, Dylan White was always better. Yeah, we're very fickle. So yeah, exactly. So how am I supposed to react to these comments? Especially like, for example, I'm getting slated so much because my chin hasn't been tested. Is that not a good thing? So I don't, I honestly, I don't know.

Welcome to the world of boxing media. No, I don't mind it. I don't mind it, I'll just choose to ignore it. Because like, there's a famous quote that says, you don't wrestle with a pig. And the reason why you don't wrestle in the pit with a pig is because you end up covered in shit and they like it. Okay, it's quite good.

So... It's quite a good quote. Yeah, it's interesting. So, yeah, I'm just trying to not wrestle. with the pigs. You're headlining. Main event, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,

everyone's been wanting to come over in headline, right? Because it's the thing to do nowadays. What does that mean to you at only 20 again to be here, headlining main event? It's good. It is good, but it's like, it's the end product of my hard work.

Did you expect to be here this early? Man, I thought I was going to be a world champion about 20 years old. So the suit of wearing about so I wanted to be, yes. I think there's only so much Dempsey McKean's and so much Mike Balaghan's I can fight. So I think, yeah, the step up is necessary. You know that dream of becoming the youngest ever hit in the world champion? Now that can't happen. Are you still wanting to fast track yourself?

because I actually thought the push is too quick. Are you now like more, okay, let's just build it slowly or you just want you to go bang? I don't really mind, you know. I don't really mind. I remember looking at the top, I think it's five youngest heavyweight champions of all time. And it was like from 20 years old to 24.

And like he went from Mike Tyson to Floyd Patterson to Mohammed Ali to like whatever George Fulman and there was all these names and the last person happened to be that someone like George Fulman and he was 24 years old. It's not a bad much to be with. Exactly so if I I believe that I can win a world title in four years if I'm amongst them names it's still it's still a great a great achievement. Like, I'm not going to, like, when I said that I was wanting to beat, when I wanted to achieve the Mike Tyson record, I'm only like the first two or three months of turning

professional that that's not down to me. That is just not down to me. That's down to my promoters, that's down to my team, that's down to, like, the boxing world and even sometimes down to the fans. If the fans want to see a fight, normally the fight does happen. So I just realized it's not down to me, but subconsciously I said to myself that I'm going to aim to achieve this. And if I don't achieve it, I'm going to be somewhere somewhere in and amongst that mix. Now look where we are.

I'm boxing Dillian White on the same age as what I thought I was going to beat the Matt Tyson record. Didn't beat it. But it brought me to this position. I was watching Dillian White versus Chesora 1 the other day because I feel like physically looks almost the same as that you would have been I think first year of secondary school Maybe When that's what I'm laughing dad

What are you laughing? It's true, it would have been first year It would have been 11 or something And I was even worse when Dylan white boxed When Dylan white boxed Anthony Joshua That's when I started boxing That's crazy A couple months before that

You're basically now going to start picking off guys that you would have been watching growing up. That must be strange getting into the ring. It's a blessing, man. Final one. When you think of that dream fight, not the opponent, where is the dream fight? You know, is it Wembley?

Is it Tottenham? Is it Madison Square Garden? Do you have, like, a vision of where that places? No. No. It's going to sound quite strange, but, like, growing up, I just knew I wanted to be a boxer.

It's not going to be, it wasn't like a sort of thing where it's like, I want to sell at Wembley, I just wanted to box. I wanted to have that lifestyle of being a boxer. I like the respect of being a boxer. So I just wanted to be a boxer and I'm being it now. So like the same way, like I'm not focusing on the result. I'm focusing on the game plan. It's like I'm not focusing on Wembley or selling at Wembley or I'm selling out Topman or whatnot. I'm focusing on beating the guy.

My mind is on Uzics, Parkers, Dillion Whites, them guys. And then them fights would lead me to wherever. To Topnam and Wembley and X by Z. So that's not even in my mind. I'm thinking about the top bunch. When AJ was at his peak, I always used to put pressure on AJ said, I need a fight in Lagos. I used to call it chaos in Lagos. I don't know what AJ is doing now, so I'm going to put the pressure on you.

So hopefully you can be that guy, Keelson Lagos. I mean, we've got, we've got better Niger as a sponsor now. Indeed. Yeah, I feel like there's obviously a lot of boxes, Nigerian boxes that are doing very well. Just Nigerian athletes in general, but boxing is crazy. Like, obviously you've got Joe Joyce half Nigerian. You've got Daniel Dubois, Nigerian, Anthony Joshua's Nigerian,

Reacto's Nigerian. Deonté Wilde, although he's American, he comes from Nigeria. and Okoli, so imagine if you used to put a whole show like that in Nigeria, that would be pretty lit. Pretty lit. But for now, August 16th. Good night. Thank you very much. Thank you. Man, what a stretch for the youngster, Dillon White. I mean, exactly a year ago, he's just walking on the Chansel-Lise. There I am. Boxing Purist, boxing pundit. I see him in the crowd. I say you're going to be the next big thing. A year later, he's headlining in Riyadh against Dillion White. I mean, that's a great 365. Like, literally almost exactly a year to the date.

unbelievable. You know, it's unbelievable. I mean, you noticed him. I don't know how many people would have noticed him. No, no, of course. In Paris. No, no, I said you are the guy. I anointed him.

I said a year from now, you're going to be. Oh, so this is all you? Yeah. Oh, no, no. Sorry, Adi, get there. Get there, get there, Adi. Dude, you know what? It felt like, and not just from that interview, but the face off, there's a lot of pressure

on this young man's shoulders. Almost too much pressure for a 20-year-old. Wow. And look, can he handle that pressure? Yeah, I think he can. You know, he's been built in the last couple of years to be the future of the heavyweight division. But this is it now. This isn't a case of turn up for the Friday way and fight on Saturday.

This is a whole week. This is press requirements that he's never had before. It's a lot. And I do wonder if that's going to get to him. I don't think it will. I still make him a favourite. But for a 20-year-old to be crowned the future of the heavyweight division before he's even really had a meaningful fight

and now that meaningful fight's on your doorstep I can't imagine what's going through his head he's got a great team his dad's here with him his brother's here as well Ben Davis and Lee Wiley I mean the team's fantastic but ultimately it's him

and there's a lot that must be going for the young man's head right now you could sort of gauge how someone is dealing with all that when you're in the room when you're around them you sat next to him the face to face Like, all this is relatively new. And even when you look at him and you listen to him speak, he doesn't come across as a 20-year-old. You have to remind yourself, like, he sort of looks intoxic, a 25, 26, 27-year-old. He's very mature.

He's very calm. Did you get the sense that he was a little wide-eyed? Did you get the sense that he was feeling the pressure of the moment? A little wide-eyed, not pressure, but a certain sort of, okay, we're here. This is the moment. Remember, he's gone from an undercard fighter. I mean, we all knew he was a talent, but an undercard fighter to a main event pay-per-view fighter.

I've never seen that before. Normally you get a guy that headlines, maybe not a pay-per-view show, and then you get a pay-per-view show. He's never headlined before. So he's going from not headlining to headlining what is a massive fight card. And he's coming up against a guy that,

let's be honest, doesn't look like the guy that fought a year ago or seven months ago against Ebenezer-Tete. He's coming up against a guy and did him white. That is very ferocious, very angry, and it's a different prospect now all of a sudden. When this fight was first pitched, everyone was like, oh, Moses in two rounds. I remember, I remember the conversation, Moses in two or three.

As this fight's got closer and everyone has seen the shape Dillians in, all of a sudden, people are starting to swing a little bit. And there's no way Moses hasn't heard that. So he can hear the noise. He watches the videos. He's probably watching this right now. So there's a lot of pressure on him. but I do think he's built for it. I do think he's been made for it,

and I do think he gets the victory on Saturday. Okay, so... Oh, no, here I go, another prediction. I need to stop. What's wrong with me? Damn! Well, I was just about to give you the opportunity to reel a back,

because what I was going to say was he said in the interview, there's only so many ballagons, there's only so many McKeons that I can fight, and so, yeah, this makes sense to me. Now that you're there, Fight Week, and again, up close to these guys, do you think this is too much too soon? There's no need at 20 to fight the Dillion Whites.

I get it. I'm into it. I love it. And I think he's ready. But are you getting the sense that maybe that's not, in fact, the case? No, he's ready. He's ready. I think it's really good matchmaking.

I think it kind of makes sense. Again, we can only go with what have you done for me lately and Dillian White lately hasn't looked to be his best anymore. Isn't the Dillian White over a few years ago? Can he roll back the years? Yes, I think he can. I mean, boxing's littered with young fighters. it's taken on the veterans, and the veterans just say, not yet, and they kind of slam the door shut.

But I do think Moses is ready for that step up. I mean, sparring is sparring, but when you hear about the way this guy spars and who he spars and what he's done to those opponents, high-level opponents, you can only think it's time to kind of unleash him. And how many Mike Balagans and Dempsey-McKeans can you roll in front of Moses at the Talma before the crowd starts to say, okay, what's going on? Is this guy the future or not? Yes, he's still young, but when I'm around him. I don't feel like I'm with a 20 year old. As you mentioned, he kind of looks like a 25, 26 year old. He certainly fights like that. He's physically got a really good physique about him as well. He's still growing. He's what, 6'4, 240, 250 pounds. So he's ready. He's

ready, but I also think Dillian's ready. And that's what makes it a great matchup on Saturday. During the face-to-face that you shot yesterday, you asked the two of them, who has more pressure on on their shoulders going into this fight and and dillian was just very dismissive of it and and moses kind of his usual self i think it's a great question and i think it's unequivocally moses atama i think dillian is walking in there playing with house's money it's all gravy for him no one's giving you a shot everyone thinks you're old you're washed up you're about to get slaughtered all this stuff moses is the poster boy moses is the golden child most Moses is the guy that everyone think is going to be a future champion that it's inevitable. This is the coronation. This is

the, you know, putting one more jewel in that crown before he gets the big crown. To me, even if he wins a decision, they'll say you weren't ready. You're too young. He did this and that that you weren't prepared for. I think 100%, and this is rare, 100% of the pressure is on Moses's shoulders. Agree or disagree? Agree. But Ben Davis said something, I think, midweek, and I think Moses is kind of running with it now as well. If you were to put any other heavyweight in with Dillian White, you wouldn't say this guy's going to beat Dillian White in two or three rounds. Why are we saying that about Moses?

Now, all of a sudden, Moses has got to beat him in two or three. Moses has got to look unbelievable. Moses can't get here. Moses can't get wobbled. Every other heavyweight wouldn't have that pressure. But again, I mean, it's the pressure that they've been putting on him. And I mean, when I say they, I mean, all these team, all these team have basically crowned him as an ex-happid world champion.

We over here in the media, it's now got to America. I've seen American boxing writers crown him as well So look, all the pressure on Moses But Dylan White has to have pressure as well Dylan White's 37 You lose this, that's that I mean Dylan White hasn't been in the big fights For the last couple of years

If you lose badly Maybe that phone call don't ring Or if it does ring, the numbers on the checks aren't the same So Dylan White's got to look good to carry on I mean in that interview with Dylan White He said I want Fury, I want Usik, I want AJ You want those fights, you've got to win You've got a look good as well

So yes, there's pressure on Moses. I wouldn't say 100%. I'd say it's more of a 70-30 split, but there has to be pressure on Dillian. Because ultimately, although Moses is crown the future everyweight world champion, he hasn't fought anyone. He hasn't fought anyone.

This is Dillion has been there and done it. So this is his first real test. So we'll see, but there's certainly pressure on both. Well, that's what makes this fight must see TV, if you ask me. That's what makes him. Moses in particular must see TV. I can't wait for it on Saturday.

By the way, nice little undercard as well. You got the likes of Ray Ford on there. You've got Sam Goodman versus Nick Ball, Philip Hergevich versus David Adelae. You spoke to the two of them. Is there another fight that is really jumping out of you there? You're like, all right, the main event is great, but this other one I can't wait for as well. Dude, to be honest, and I'm not just trying to sell the card here. I mean, Hergevich Adelae is fantastic.

So intriguing. Hergevich came back with that Joe Joyce win. Before that, obviously, the defeat of Daniel Dubois. We didn't know where Hergovich was. He was missing. He was like, okay, where's Philip Hergovich? All of a sudden, he's linked up with Abel Sanchez. former trainer to Ghanardi Golofkin.

He's now fit, he's leaner. That was my one critique with Hergevich, like, what's going on with your gas tank? The gas tank looked really bad against Dempsey McKean, looked awful. Again, Jili Zhang wasn't there against Daniel Dubois, but we know the boxing ability is there. So if Abel Sanchez has fixed that issue,

Hergevich could be another top 10 heavyweight. And on the other hand, you've got David Adelaide, this is a massive step up. This is almost the big roll of the dice, and there's the risk reward factor. The risk is there. the reward if Adelae beats Hergevich is enormous. All of a sudden, he's on that top table.

So that's a great heavyweight fights. Heavyweight fights are great anyway. You mentioned Sam Goodman. Obviously, he takes on Nick Ball. It's the world title fight on the card. Nick Ball is the only British Melwell champion. So there's a lot of pressure on Nick Ball. They're trying to get him at a Nui fight.

I know what they're trying to do. They're trying to position him to fight an Nui. You've got Sam Goodman first. Unbeat in Australian. And the Aussies right now are producing fighters like a conveyor belt. There's one after the other. So I don't know, man. I feel like there could be a bit of a banana skin there.

And there certainly is a banana skin with Raymond Ford versus Abraham Nova. I remember it was supposed to be Raymond Ford versus Kikachi. Kachchi got injured, in Steps Nova, who's got a lot to prove. I mean, he went life and death with a Shacky Foster in 2024. He could be a world champion. He just got knocked down in the last round and lost by split decision. So that is a tricky fight as well. So the A side is the A side on this card, but the B side,

It's very, very close. So this is one where if you have any money that you want to put on the fight card, keep that money in your pocket, because I think there could be a few big banana skins here. Well, I do want to give a shout out to Bob and Andrew in the YouTube chat. They are debating right now whether or not this is live. Guys, it's live. It's 5.46 p.m. here in New York City, I do believe it's 11.46 p.m. in Riette. We are live as can be.

Okay. Thank you for joining us. It's 1246. 1246. 1246. My bad. 1246. So shout it to all of you watching us live right now, wherever you may be. And if you're watching on the YouTube channel on the platform, we appreciate you. Let's talk about some other news and notes. When we finished last week's show, we went to bed. We were getting ready to do the show on Wednesday. We saw, oh, there it is. Finally, it's now back on. It's Connor Ben versus Chris Eubank, junior number two. It's not happening in September. It's now happening in November. Same spot, November 15th, to be exact. Tottenham Hotspur. stadium, same weight, same rules, same rehydration, same everything. Are you surprised? They rebooked it after they pulled the plug on the September date, or did you expect this to happen? Not surprised at all, expected it to happen. When the first fight generated the sort of income

and interest that it did, you're going to run it back. You're going to run it back. I mean, look, I would love to see Connor Ben go down to his natural weight class of 147 pounds. I think there's an open in there. I really do. I don't think anyone has taken that division and grabbed it, especially now that Boots Ennis is moved up to 154. It's an open division. And I actually think Conor Ben

could do some damage in that division. I would put Conner in with Raleo Romero right now. I'd put Conner Ben in with Barrios right now. I'd put Conabend in with the winner

of Paddy Donovan Lewis Crocker right now. So I would want to see Connor Ben try his hand at 147 pounds. But if you're Chris Eubank, Jr., maybe it's a bit thinner at 168.

I mean, what's he going to do? Wait for Canelo? Well, Hamza's waiting for Canelo. Are you going to fight Hamza? I don't think he's going to do that. Are you going to go down to 160 and fight Alan Canali or Carlos Adams or Erislande Lara? Not really either. So I understand why Chris has taken it.

And to an extent I understand where Con has taken it, there's a lot of money in this fight. It will sell out just like that. I mean, the first fight got there eventually. This one will get there quickly because of the first fight. So I understand it. Again, I would wish they both went their separate ways because I think the first one was so good. It's going to be hard to match that or beat that. None of the first one was almost, it's like a movie that just ticked every single box.

You don't need to do number two. But when number one is so good, you are going to do number two, maybe even number three and four. It's going to be hard to live up to it. It's going to be hard to live up to all the pre-fight press conference stuff. It's going to be hard to live up to fight week to the actual night, the reveal. You can't do that again, right? I mean, it was just too perfect. And you're right.

Sometimes when it's too perfect, you just want to kind of leave it there and let it age and then maybe revisit it in a couple of years. But to me, there was no surprise here. Like when they announced it was off, I was like, okay, what's the new day? They were not going in a different direction. And trust me, I'd love to see him fight a barrios, but I think the barrios draw with Paciel, they're going to run that one back. I would love to see the Shakur fight, but I think that might be a little bit too soon as far as the step up for Shakur in terms of weight, not in terms of skill.

It's a fight that had to happen. Do you think in terms of like the attention and the buzz and the way it was covered in your neck of the woods, it will be the same or maybe even greater than the first time. And when I say the first time, I don't mean like three years ago. I mean the time back in April. Do you think it will be just as good because it's so fresh? Maybe. Maybe. Look, you're right. The first fight ticked every single box. I mean, that Chris Eubank senior reveal, I mean, the script writers of Netflix, WWE couldn't write a better script. It was just incredible. How you do that again, I don't know. but I just think it's going to be a continuation of that.

You've got to get senior involved. Nigel Ben would be involved as well. And as long as you have the four protagonists involved, I think you've got enough juice there to kind of create anything. And the way in which these two guys do not like each other, I think as soon as you put them in a room with each other again, sparks will just fly and it will be a continuation of the first fight. It won't be round one.

It'll be round 13. So I think there's enough juice in it. And I don't know. I mean, I'd say that Tottenham Hotspur's statement, I say 90% of the fans in there were casual fans, and they don't necessarily do you know, dehydration clause or any of that stuff. So I think there's enough to continue it again.

Hopefully, though, after November 15th, they go their separate ways, and we can move on from it, and they both can have great careers trying to chase whatever they need to chase. Do you want to give us a pick? No, I'm kidding. Don't give us a pick.

Don't do that. Absolutely not. We're out of that game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't do that. Okay, so we love that. We're good with that. We're excited about that.

How do we feel about Boots Ennis versus the pride of Angola, Wiesma, Lima? Like, what is going on here? Who asked for this? Who asked for this? October 11th, back at Wells Fargo. What's going on? Why? Or does it make sense?

Or am I being a hater? It's a testing of the waters at 154. By the way, when Terence moved up to 154 to test the waters, he went up against Israel Madreemov. So a bit of a different test with all due respect to Lima. What do you think of this booking? I mean, Eddie should understand the backlash that it's received. Just because the 154 division is so packed.

It's so packed, like from 1 to 15, any other number coming out of that hat or name, sorry, coming out of that hat was a superstar name. I will say this in small defense of Boots and Eddie, I know they've reached the other fighters for some reason and maybe ask for a bigger check. And I think that could be an issue. And I think Eddie will reveal that, and I think Boots will reveal that as well. We know they wanted Josh Kelly. We know they wanted, I think, Rashidi Ellis. So they've tried big names. And for whatever reason, these big names haven't wanted to come to the table.

So that is my only excuse. Apart from that, I wanted to see a better name. I guess the only saving grace is Virgil T's next. And as long as we're getting Virgil T's next, I'm not too mad at it. But I'm like you. I didn't know who this opponent was. I've never heard of Lima before. but I did my due diligence.

He's a good fighter, but yeah, it's not the test we wanted to see Boots have in his first fight. There was some talk, and we talked about it last week on this show. There was some talk of Boots v. Josh Kelly, and I know some people even didn't like that one. I liked it. Kelly, tough, durable, been in the game, we know him, nice, solid test. I don't need him to fight Virgil in his first fight at 154.

I wouldn't hate it. I wouldn't be against it. I wouldn't not watch it. I understand the idea of testing the waters, getting your feet wet. maybe we wanted a bigger name again Crawford fought Madreemov so that would suggest in my opinion he fought a much bigger and tougher test but that's fine now you have Eddie Hearn saying

okay yeah this is all well and good but then we're gonna fight Virgil Ortiz next year again that always makes me a little bit uncomfortable as well when they do this thing where it's like hey we've got this lesser known opponent and then we're going to go to the bigger name funny things tend to happen we've seen it time and again We've seen it a bunch of times this past year. Love the fact that they're working towards that fight, but it does make me nervous when they do these two-fight deals.

Now, that fight is good to go. It has been met with some, I would say, skepticism. We did get more of the fights that will be on the massive September 13th card at Allegiance Stadium airing live on Netflix around the world. Of course, the main event is the aforementioned Terence Crawford moving up to 168 pounds to go up against the legend. Kenel Alvres, once again, on Mexican Independence Day weekend. It's the biggest show of the year for all intensive purposes.

It's at Allegiance Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders. King Callum Walsh, who has been essentially like the face of Zoufa boxing for all intents of purposes. He's the first guy that Dana White really hitched his wagon to in terms of boxing, promoted a show, headlined by him back at Three Arena in Dublin. had him fight at the theater at Madison Square Garden. He's going up against Fernando Vargas Jr. in the chief support in the

co-main event. Expected Callum Walsh to be on there. A lot of people are excited about him. A lot of people are excited about Fernando Vargas Jr. as well. Have no problem with this fight. What I was really excited to see, though, was the fact that my guy

Christian Envili. How about the fact that he is getting this prime spot on the Netflix card, Christian Ambili going to be fighting on this card as well. But Ade, perhaps most interesting to me is you're starting to see a lot of these top-rank fighters just kind of disperse, right? Ambili, Vargas, there's talk of Jared Anderson fighting on Fight Week as well. I know Don King and their team are saying, wait, wait, hold up, we're not fully on board with

this. Point is, though, as top rank is in this sort of state of flux, we're seeing their fighters disperse, and I would have never thought in a million years that they would go in the direction of Dana White and Zufa Boxing considering the long-standing feud between Dana White and Bob Aaron. Well, they should be allowed to go. Sure. If I'm Christian Embedia, I'm like, okay, look, what's going on?

What's the plan? I mean, we had Zander Zayas on last week, and we was asking him sort of the questions as well, and he was non-committal of what top rank are doing. If I'm a fighter, tell me the plan. If you can't tell me the plan, allow me to go and earn some crust, some money, somewhere else, which is not really direct competition. You know, Netflix isn't really a direct competitor of whatever top rank wants to do. Netflix only put on two or three

shows a year. Allow me to go on a big show, grow my brand, and then come back to you guys when you guys have a plan for me and have a broadcaster down. So I'm happy for Christian and Bealey. He owes you a lot because you mention him every single week on these shows. I'm so, has he reached out to you? No, not a thing, not a thing. What? Yeah, not a thing from him. Promoter. No one. It's fine. I'm okay. I'm actually genuinely happy that the world is going to get to see how great this guy is because I think he's all action. I think he's a lot of fun. And by the way, is there a chance they're putting him on this card because if he wins and Canello wins, they fight each other next year. I wouldn't be surprised, right? No, no chance. No chance. Really? They've talked about this. He is so far behind the cue to Canello. Really? Yeah. Yeah. It is definitely Hamza first. Yeah. I mean, in an idea, what? I'd like to see him in Hamza.

I've almost got a semi-file. Oh, that'd be tremendous. I feel like he deserves that. But I'm happy for Christian and Bealey because he's almost been the guy fighting on the outside, couldn't get the big fights. Everyone knows he's a threat. We always knew he was a threat. All of a sudden, he gets to show it in front of, it could be, I don't know, 50, 60 million people.

So I'm happy he gets the platform. But I also think it's good that top-ranked fighters are being allowed, and that's what it is, being allowed by Todd de Bootham and Bob Aram to go elsewhere until they sort of their situation. What do you think of Vargas Jr. being on there against Kalam Walsh? It's good. Honestly, you know, if I'm honest with you,

when this card was announced, I don't know what I was expecting. Because we've had these Super Bowl-esque WrestleMania-type cards, maybe I was expecting something different. I thought, look, Callum Walsh has been the TKO guy from the beginning. So I kind of thought he was going to be on there.

I thought he might be on the midweek card as we're hearing Gerald Miller, Michael Hunter is, and I thought he might be on that. But good luck to me. him. The Callum Walsh has spoken of very highly. I mean, the 154 division is scary. It's frightening, so they need to be careful with him. And this is a nice little step up. This is a firefight. I mean, Turkey always talks about Tom and Jerry. This isn't a Tom and Jerry fight. These are two guys that are going to get in the center of the ring and fight. And that's what we want from

all of these fighters. Yeah, I like this one a lot because I also think it represents the biggest step-up in competition that Callan Walsh has faced. So it's time to moving them along here. They've had him on these featured cards here, St. Patrick's Day, the theater, MSG, 3 Arena, and Dublin. All right, now let's see how you do against a great young fighter like Fernando Vargas Jr., who is, yes, the son of Fernando Vargas, the legend. All right, let's move along. Last week on the program, we were talking about Boxer. What's their situation?

Over in the UK, I think most would say it's Queensberry Matchroom Boxer. Not in that order. Queensberry Matchroom, jockeying for position, but Boxer is number three. Joshua Boatsi leaving to go sign with Queensberry. There was some talk of the Ben Whitakers of the world. What's happening to them? The vultures were circling. Well, late last week, shout out to our guy, Darshan, of Uncrowned.

He reported it first. He said that they were going to BBC. We found out Thursday evening. Yes, in fact, it's boxer to BBC. Now, the terms, the details seem a little bit hazy at the moment, the length of the deal, the amount. If they're getting anything, is it a time by? how many shows, all these things and more. What can you tell us about this?

And in particular, how big of a deal it is for BBC. And I understand it's not the main BBC channel. It's I player and maybe BBC 2. You fill us in. Just the fact that those three letters are involved with the sweet science. How big of a deal is this back home? It's massive for British boxing. It's British boxing on terrestrial TV.

And that hasn't happened for years. I mean, I remember with, and the last time BBC were involved with boxing was with a guy called Aldi Harrison. as you know, Olympic Games gold medalists. And that didn't go down too well. He signed a 10-fight deal with BBC for a million pounds. And let's be honest, he was picking the fighters he were fighting because it wasn't great at all. So it's good to see them back in boxing.

Now, with regards to the deal that Ben Shalom's got, I'm happy with it. I think it's a good deal. I don't know what people were expecting. I think BBC I player for the smaller shows and BBC 2. BBC 2 is a massive entity. Is it BBC 1? No, but it's BBC 2. It's still a big thing. These fighters will be on terrestrial TV.

His fighters will be able to cross over and do things like Master Chef and strictly come dancing. So I think this is enough to sell it to his superstars in order to stay. And what I think he can do, which I think is really key, because he has a relationship with Turkey and Ring Magazine, if you are trying to keep a Ben Whittaker, you can say, okay, look, when it's a quote-unquote smaller fight, we can have you on BBC 2, BBC 3. when you want to get your big money and fill your boots, then go and have your rear season at Ring Magazine card fight. So I think this might be enough to keep your Ben Wittaker's.

And we're hearing it's only a four-fight card a year. So only four fights per year. What that means, again, is that all of the stable really and truly could be on one of those fights every single time. So you could inconceivably have a Fraser Clark, a Caroline Dubois, Adam is in, Callum Stinson and Ben Wittaker, all in one card. And then we see them all again three months later and then see them all again three months after that. So I think it's a good deal.

My only issue is with Sky and I'm guessing a lot of people would notice, but with a broadcasting deal, the broadcasters will say, okay, here is 10 million to put on a card. BBC simply don't have that money. They don't because they have to speak to us, the license pay is. So we will, one second, you're not going to give Benchelon $15 million to put on a card. So April isn't going to be that easy. So the bag won't be the same, but I think it'll be enough to convince some of these fighters to stay and have fights on BBC and to kind of flirt with ring magazine and re-ad season when you want the real big check. Ultimately, if you are a fan of boxing and a fan of fighters, you want there to be, in my opinion, as many players as possible because that gives the boxers and fighters leverage. It gives them opportunities to make the most amount of money, and I think competition is good.

And I do think they have a very good stable, so I was pleased to see this. I hope it's a healthy deal. I hope it's a good deal for them. Obviously, losing the Sky deal or parting ways with Sky. To be exact, is a blow to anyone. It's such a big platform. But this is a nice little rebound, and perhaps it's just an optics play. Maybe they're not getting any money.

Certainly not a big fee, as you just said. But they're alive. They're doing their thing. Now, we'll see, as we talked about last week, as Sam Jones said, on the talk sports show with Gareth. Are any of those fighters tied exclusively to Sky? can they leave now? Let's see what happens there. But I think if you're a fan of boxing and you want the fighters to have as many homes as possible, this is very good news. Let's transition to some other

news. Okay, go ahead. Sorry. No, no, I'm sorry. You're right. It is. And look, this is obviously a DeZone thing, but I think competition is great. No doubt he would have sat down and spoke with DeZone. I mean, DeZone would love everything in-house, right? The full controller of boxing, but I do think competition is good. And I think we saw that when Queensbury worked with zone. I mean, their shows, I think, went through the roof to compete with Matram. And as you say, jocke him for that number one spot. And I think what Ben Shalom has done in the last few years is good. He's come in and he's been a bit of a disruptor. Hence why they don't really all get on too very well with Ben Shalom. So I'm happy that he's found a deal. And I'm happy that it's a

deal with a broadcaster where everyone at home can watch it. And I think it's a good thing. And hopefully it's enough to keep the big fighters. I don't know if it will be, but hopefully it is. All right. Let's move along to some other news. Speaking of uncrowned, earlier today, we had a report up, first reported by TMZ Sports. And it's up here and I want to read it because I don't want to get anything wrong. It's regarding Jervante Davis and his legal troubles. Javante Davis, this is written by Darshan Desay of uncrowned. Javante Davis has avoided trial for a domestic violence charge after the alleged victim refused to prosecute. this case was dropped as the victim is declining to prosecute per her victim attorney, Lindsay Chase Esquire and her sentiments we directly confirmed by the assistant state attorney handling the prosecution. The Miami-Dade State Attorney's office told TMZ Sports, quote, the witness to the incident, who's the victim's mother, also failed to cooperate and failed to appear after being subpoenaed for a pre-file conference on Thursday, August 7th,

followed up attempts to contact the witness. The mother, via phone, were unsexualed. successful. So he was arrested in Miami Beach on the 11th of July for a misdemeanor battery domestic charge after he was accused of hitting his ex-girlfriend and slapping her during an incident on June 15th. But it appears at least as of now that there's not going to be any legal action and he will be able to resume his life and career. And so when you hear this sort of thing, You, you know, there's a ton of different routes as to how we may have gotten here. And I don't think it's our place to speculate as to how they got to this conclusion. But it does seem to open the door for him to return to boxing.

He did have that date that was supposed to actually be this weekend on the schedule. The rematch against Lamont Roach was supposed to actually be on August 16. That was the date that was being talked about the most. Then there was another date later on in August, I think the 30th, as well. Do you think he resumes and fights again this year? I know it's a tough question to answer and is it against Lamont Roach or is it against Jake Paul, who obviously has been in talks and rumored to be fighting him as well this year? You know, I'm very split with this. So apologies if I go around the houses. There's a part of me that says, okay, no boxing. Take some time out

completely and just sort out your personal life. Because there clearly is, regardless of that decision you just read out, there clearly is an issue there that he needs to sort of. out, not with necessary people around himself before it completely spirals out of the control because this isn't the first time there's been an issue with Javonte Davis. I've been around Giovante. He's a great guy, great kid, but I think he needs to sort some issues out. But there's also a part of me that thinks that these people, and I mean people that have certain sort of problems outside of boxing, once there isn't a focus and their focus being boxing, that's when they're spiral out of control. So I almost feel like his focus might need to be boxing. That's why I'm

almost contradicting myself here. So on the one hand, I feel like, okay, sort whatever you need to sort out and take your time and sort it out and just be at peace with yourself. Because I always felt like, Giovante in the last couple of years doesn't seem to be at peace for himself. We've heard things like, you know, maybe I don't do this anymore. You know, I need to go away. I need to sort this out. Maybe go and do that. But I also feel like if he doesn't have a focus and a date and something to almost keep his mind in check, his mind goes all over the place. So to kind of answer it, do I want him back? Yes, because he's a superstar boxing. I also think that boxing might be the last thing on his mind right now. I think he has other stuff to sort out. Yeah. And if you go back to

those interviews from earlier in the year, it did seem like he was dealing with a lot. He even talked about retiring at the end of the year. We don't have any sort of indication as to whether or not that was like a firm thing. So maybe we have seen him for the last time. I suspect not. But But yeah, and by the way, when I asked that question, I'm not trying to rush it back and be like, okay, great, the coast is clear. He can now fight again. No, absolutely not. If we don't see him for five years, ten years, never again, we're good. He's one of the all-time greats, certainly of the last, I don't know, 10 or so years in the sport.

Some issues have certainly kept him from, I think, realizing his full potential. But let us see. Let us see if he does come back this year and which route he goes. I would like to see him resolve this issue with Lamont Roach. I think Lamont deserves that. I think we all want to see it. I think we all want to have some sort of proper conclusion to this fight because that first one was riveting and controversial,

but have no idea which direction he's going to go into. Speaking of a fighter... But you know what, you know what, though, Ariel, what I don't want Lamont Roach to do is wait. And I don't want it to be like... It's so big, man. It's such a big fight. Yeah, but I don't want it to...

Yeah, but we had this in the UFC with Michael Chan. and Conno McGregor, where you just wait and wait. We're not there yet, right? We're not there yet. That was February. But there are so many good fights for LeMont Roach to have in two weight classes. Yeah. He's now almost because of that Javonsi fight made a name for himself where Lamontz now must

see TV. So if you can't get a look, like if people come up to him and say, okay, you know, Giovante maybe by the end of the year, if you hear the word maybe, you move on and you fight someone else because there is a queue of people that want to fight LeMont Roach now. Q. And I think Mo, sorry, Lamont Roach will fight those people as well. Don't wait for Giovante. Because if you keep waiting and waiting and waiting, you lose the best of yourself as well. You're right, it's a bit early for me to make the Chandler McGregor comparisons. But I hate when I see fighters sit on the shelf and fight once a year in their prime.

Lamont Roach right now is in his prime. His stock has risen. Fight. Don't wait, fight. Yeah, I don't think we're there. I understand completely. I get the sentiment. It's such a big fight. I would imagine the purse, the payday attached to that fight as opposed to any other is exponentially greater. Get what you're saying. I think if he waits till, if he, if he has a hard deadline of December 31st, 2025, I think he'll get some sort of clarity. I think, but who knows, we'll see how this all plays out. Some devastating news from the world of boxing that we do have to touch on very quickly. A pair of Japanese boxers at a Shigatoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Ura. Ourokawa, both tragically died in recent days, both competed on the same card in Currician

Hall, in Japan. I don't even know how to process something like this. Obviously, death has been a part of the sport dating back to the early days, but for two fighters from the same card to both pass away after suffering injuries and those injuries leading to their tragic demise is hard to process. When you found out about this, what did you think as well? And I know that, you know, it's just incredible. When any boxer dies, we've talked about it in the year that we've been doing this show,

it's heartbreaking, it's horrible. You start questioning why, in fact, do we watch this? Like, you started questioning everything. And then you find out about two young men from the same card passing away due to the injuries that were inflicted in their respective matches. They didn't fight each other, but in their separate matches, it's a really hard pill to swallow. It's a hard thing to process.

No, it is. It is. And again, I echo your sentiment. When that happens, even when it's a bad injury in the sport, I do question sort of my love for the sport. I'm like, this is a sport that's barbaric. And people will say the fighters know the danger they're getting into. I get that. But you're not walking in the ring thinking you're going to die. It's just you don't have that conversation with yourself. But when you hear two fighters on the same card, you start thinking about, okay, pre-fight medical checks. Is that all okay? You just want to make sure that every single box was ticked and there isn't a bigger problem there. You want to make sure that the medical team around the ring are okay and trained. Every time I'm at a fight, I always see the medical team there on standby just in case. You want to make sure that that's fine. You want to make sure that the corners are understanding their fighters as well. Because the amount of times I'm I haven't said in the fight so I don't want to throw shade on anyone but the amount of times I'm at fights and I'm like

okay stop the fight like just to stop enough and there's the corner sending them out again and there's the ref almost just waiting and waiting I'm like stop the fight so there has to be a kind of push back from everyone I think they're going to need to look at everything

in and around that fight card and the way in which fights are sort of governed over there again pre-fight medical checks are a must because that is an issue by the way because I know for a fact there are certain states in America they're a bit more lenient than others that needs to stop. That doesn't even have to be a conversation

anymore. So I think everything needs to be looked at but look it is devastating again one death is one death too many but to have two on the same fight card I don't want to say it's not quick you just things need to be looked at I don't want to say that's a coincidence things need to be looked at and I think the pre-fight medical checks

and the way in which that fight was governed or those fights were governed need to be looked at as well But very, very sad news, horrific news. Yeah, shocking, shocking news. And we've talked about how Japanese combat sports, boxing, MMA, enjoying a renaissance. It's been an incredible time. This, obviously, a heartbreaking piece of news that we received over the last few days. Let us do our best to end on a positive note.

Time for everyone's favorite segment of the week. And we can go in multiple different directions here with our parting shot. I think I'm not breaking any news to you here. but I think this first one is actually something that you witnessed in person I'm calling BS on this I'm saying it's AI I'm saying this is not real

I'm saying that what you saw I think you witnessed this with your own two eyes with David Adelae doing this trick right here I'm saying this is not real this is the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life I'm not even joking

like That's me screaming That was my voice I was the first one to scream I could not Believe it And you know the craziest thing is as well Even he didn't quite understand

Until he turned the phone run It's like Oh and then he turned the front Like that should be on sports center That should be everywhere Did you do that with all the fighters Yeah we do of all of them I did it by the way

Can I tell you I did it yeah And I got 10 points 28, which is very good. No reaction because of that. I was like, what, no one said anything? Now, that is the... Who is the worst? Honestly, that's incredible.

I don't know. I think some people have done like seven. Oh, jeez. I'm like seven? Yeah, yeah. But 10 on the dot is just... Unbelievable. Did he just guess?

Was he counting in his mind? Did you ask him? I saw his eyes kind of flicker, so I think he was counting. And then he just did it. You don't just, like, I... Wow. Wow. Well, that's a fun one. Can we make him famous?

He can be famous. I mean, he is famous, and he's going to have a big fight this Saturday. That's a fun one. This is the real one. We go to beautiful Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Yes, a little BKFC action. Oh, oh, my God. Do you love it?

But sorry, one second. How small is that ring? It is very small. What is it? Under 8? Look at that! This is Bodon Kotok, picking up the big K-O. Yeah, it does look like they're in a free...

They're in like a literal phone booth. That's, that's Friday. Can I see it again? Yeah, let's see it again. Let's enjoy it one more time. I do like a bit of violence one more time. Yeah, it is. I mean, it is intoxicating.

Oh, God. This sport, I don't know, you know. Ariel, I don't know, you know. This sport is so violent. That might be, that might be the smallest ring that I've ever seen for BKFC. Look at it I know they want you to fight in a phone booth But literally

I mean that's ridiculous That is about I'm not joking Like ring like boxing like 20 by 20 sometimes Or whatever That looks like it's about 10 foot round It's just pathetic

There were a ton of incredible knockouts Still to this day though Though as far as the best knockout of the year Is concerned I have to go back to Moses's last fight And that will be our official Last parting shot Let's enjoy this one more time

This is against the aforementioned bolligan. I mean, he was, he was, if this guy shows up on Saturday, this guy right here, yeah, I agree with you. Dillian, Dillian's in trouble. The way he moves, the way he punches. Oh, oh, look at that one. Are you, are you picking, are you making a pick? No, no, no, I'm not, I would never do that.

Oh, the step back. Look at that. That's the best one. Yeah. That's just, that's just beautiful. But, but that's not Dillion White. That's not Dillian White That's my always beautiful

If he were to do this to Dillian No, I don't know I don't know if he can I don't know if he can That's Anderson Silva Forrest Griffin-esque Knocks him out as he throws the punch I mean Yeah

If this time next week We're talking about Mosa Tama Doing that to Dillion White Look out Look out Ousik Look out all these guys Why not? Like just shoot him. Look out Joseph Parker. They're going to try to make that one. No doubt about it. They will strap a rocket to him and send him to the moon. The action kicks off here in North America at 1245 p.m. Eastern on the zone over in the UK, 545 p.m. Eastern. It's a great card. I'm looking forward to it. Can't wait for your coverage. The whole team out there in Riyadh doing a great job. Enjoy yourself. Be safe. Don't get into any scraps. All right.

if you need some muscle. You don't know about me. You don't know about me, Ariel. I'm from the mean streets of East London, Stratford. You don't know about me, bro. Well, you got Mason and Saul back there. They can get your back if anything goes down. I wish I could.

I wish I could have been there. I wish you couldn't. Yeah. I can't wait for it. That goes down this Saturday, live right here on DeZone. All right. At a time. Great job out there.

Looking forward to your coverage. Enjoy the fights. friends. We'll talk to you next week.