Shows / The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
Every Thursday Matt Christie and Alex Steedman look at the latest boxing news headlines, review and preview the big fights and speak to the many fascinating characters who make boxing what it is. Want to get in touch? TheOpeningBellPodcast@Gmail.com Follow on X Matt = @MattCBoxingNews Alex: @alexsteedman Please follow, subscribe and leave us a review. Get bonus content on Patreon
Episodes
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
IS CANELO THE LAST CROSSOVER STAR
Is boxing losing touch with the wider world? And where on earth does the sport go from here? Those are the big questions dominating this week's Opening Bell as…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
ROBERT SMITH: THE IMPOSSIBLE JOB
Robert Smith, as the General Secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, has what can only be described as the hardest and most impossible job in British…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
AUDLEY HARRISON IN-DEPTH; DUBOIS-WARDLEY II
Audley Harrison has lived an extraordinary life. Yet for so long, his critics focused on what he hadn't achieved rather than what he had. Audley puts the…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
DISSECTING THE SURGEON; MAYWEATHER, CHISORA PLOT RETURNS
What started out as plain sailing for Ben Whittaker hit choppy waters in the late rounds of his battle with Conor Wallace. 'The Surgeon', however, just about…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
MIKE COSTELLO ON JOSHUA-FURY
Mike Costello, former BBC and DAZN commentator and one of the wisest figures in boxing, is here to discuss his career, his retirement, and his thoughts on the…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
JOSHUA-FURY IN JEOPARDY?! SERIOUSLY?!
Mere days after Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is confirmed, we're told it's in jeopardy. Matt Christie lets off some steam on the subject and the eternal…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Recorded at the EXACT moment when Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury was confirmed as a done deal for December 11 in Cardiff, The Opening Bell has another important…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
RYAN GARCIA TROUNCES CONOR BENN
Ryan Garcia defeated Conor Benn, stopping him in less than five minutes out in Las Vegas. The contest itself was immeasurably shorter than the build-up that…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
GARCIA v BENN, LAS VEGAS PREVIEW
It's fight week in Las Vegas and Chris McKenna, nursing a minor hangover out in Sin City, is this week's guest on The Opening Bell. Garcia makes the first…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
THE FALL OF MOSES
In a startling collapse that culminated one of the most dramatic heavyweight fights of the year, Moses Itauma ultimately met his match in the shape of the…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
MOSES ITAUMA: THE FUTURE IS NOW
Despite all the noise reverberating from the negotiations between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury – noise that, unfortunately, we must address – a meaningful…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
BACK TO THE FUTURE
What do we want? AJ vs. Fury! Where do want it? At this point, who cares… Dana White this week came out and revealed he’s brokered the TV and site deals for…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
BROOK BACK: EUBANK NEXT?
Kell Brook this week announced he will be coming back in a ‘massive fight’ later in the year at the age of 40, highlighting once again how difficult peace of…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
START SPREADING THE NEWS
On the week when it looks all but certain that the all-British heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will land in New York, a fight with…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
JOSHUA v FURY: OVERCOOKED
After the performances of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury last weekend, there can now be no doubt that the two British heavyweights are both past their best…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
JOSHUA, FURY AND SPENCE TEST FATHER TIME
Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Errol Spence will all this weekend exhibit what is left of themselves. Even if it turns out to be very little, that should still…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
JOYCE, CHISORA & THE LONG GOODBYE
Joe Joyce was again on the wrong end of a painful loss, one that might, this time, mean the end. But that’s easy for those who merely watch and pass judgement…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
TYSON FURY vs WHO?!
Oleksandr Usyk looks set to fight Deontay Wilder, potentially under the Zuffa umbrella, in a bout that could signal the end of the current heavyweight era. But…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
USYK RELINQUISHES, WHAT NOW?
Oleksandr Usyk last week vacated three heavyweight titles to focus on a “last dance”. Who will be Usyk’s final dance partner? Where does his departure leave…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
TURKI TELLS ‘EM
In a week when Ryan Garner scored a glorious victory in a stadium, Moses Itauma signed for his biggest test, and Boots Ennis is preparing for Xander Zayas, the…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
BAM V INOUE IS BETTER THAN AJ – FURY
As self-proclaimed President of the Jessie ‘Bam’ Rodriguez appreciation society, we welcome fan favourite commentator and former World Champion boxer Barry…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
ZUFFA vs MATCHROOM
Saturday night saw Eddie Hearn and Dana White go head-to-head, even though miles apart, when they both staged TV shows on UK soil. White likely won that…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
THE JOSHUA RELAUNCH
Anthony Joshua faced the media for the first time this week since tragedy turned his life upside down six months ago. Joshua was focused, determined and…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
IS THE END NIGH FOR USYK?
Rico Verhoeven almost turned the boxing world upside down on Saturday night until Oleksandr Usyk, at last, found enough of himself to win the fight. But was…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
OLEKSANDR USYK vs RICO VERHOEVEN
Is Rico Verhoeven about to do the unthinkable and upset world heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk? Well, no, of course he’s not, but what Usyk ultimately…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
RYAN GARCIA vs CONOR BENN | CANELO RETURNS | HRGOVIC HAMMERS ALLEN
Though not yet formally announced, Ryan Garcia has signalled that a showdown with Conor Benn, at welterweight, will happen in Las Vegas on September 12. It…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
IS DAVE ALLEN IN OVER HIS HEAD (YET AGAIN)?
Filip Hrgovic starts as a huge favourite, and for good reason, against Dave Allen this weekend. But does the affable Brit have any chance to score the upset?…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
DUBOIS-WARDLEY: NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH
Daniel Dubois stopping Fabio Wardley was a generational thriller but, even so, it’s only fair to ask if the hellacious warfare went too far. There were…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
WARDLEY vs. DUBOIS: WHO WINS? | USYK vs. BENAVIDEZ? | NAOYA INOUE
With breath just about regained Alex Steedman and Matt Christie reflect on a whizzbang weekend that included a majestic victory for Naoya Inoue, a stunning…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
THE JINX SPINKS BIOGRAPHER – JACK HIRSCH
In a real treat of a bonus podcast, we get to know a stalwart of the US boxing circuit, the one and only Jack Hirsch. Jack fell in love with boxing as a…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
JOSHUA V FURY – MOSES NEXT MOVE – INOUE V NAKATANI – BENEVIDEZ V RAMIREZ
It’s on! Anthony Joshua will at last fight Tyson Fury. But hang on, will he really? The contracts have been signed but Joshua must get through a July 25th…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
THE PROSPECT - REESE LYNCH
Time for The Opening Bell podcast to check in with unbeaten boxer Reese Lynch for a glimpse behind the scenes in the life of a boxing prospect. We talk…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
RISE OF WHITTAKER – FALL OF KINAHAN
Ben Whittaker unleashed his latest dazzling display at the weekend with another early blowout. But is the newfound fire enough to take him to the top? And if…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
FURY V JOSHUA? – BENN’S POWER CUT
Tyson Fury returned, beat Arslanbek Makhmudov, then thought all he had to do was shout at ringsider Anthony Joshua to secure his next big fight. But it didn’t…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
DEL BOY’S LAST STAND? TYSON FURY RETURNS
Was the punishing and chaotic loss to Deontay Wilder really Derek Chisora’s last fight? Though dramatic in places, it certainly felt like the end of something…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
CHISORA V WILDER – DENZEL BENTLEY
Who’d have thought that the war-torn Derek Chisora would ever start as favourite to beat Deontay Wilder, once the most explosive of heavyweights? But that’s…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
MOSES THE MAN: CAN ANYONE STOP MOSES ITAUMA?
Well, well, well. What a performance from Moses Itauma to cement his reputation as the heavyweight king in waiting. But is everyone – and we mean everyone –…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
EDUCATING MOSES ITAUMA
The man widely regarded as the next dominant heavyweight, Moses Itauma, continues his education against Jermaine Franklin this weekend. But what to expect from…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
WHO PROMOTES TYSON FURY?
It emerged last week that Spencer Brown - not Dana White, Bob Arum or Frank Warren - will promote Tyson Fury's return in April. We explore the reasons why and…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
NEW ERA? – ZUFFA V IBF – ORTIZ V OSCAR – BRITISH BOXING AWARDS
Jai Opetaia’s quest for ‘undisputed’ recognition hit a snag when the IBF belatedly refused to sanction his bout with Brandon Glanton. Will his allegiance to…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
BOXING AT WAR: Usyk v Kick-Boxer, Benn v Prograis, Skinny Pacquiao.
Another mad week in the boxing business saw temperatures rise, battle lines drawn and shots fired. What, or who, will be left standing? There was the…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
BENN LEAVES EDDIE - MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO II - GARCIA BEATS BARRIOS - WOOD WALLOPS WARRINGTON
BENN LEAVES EDDIE - MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO II - GARCIA BEATS BARRIOS - WOOD WALLOPS WARRINGTON Zuffa Boxing made an astonishing play when they swooped to steal…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
RECONSTRUCTION (BONUS)
Powerful people think they know what Boxing needs and are preparing to mould it to their own wants and beliefs. But are they right? In this special bonus pod…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
THE POND, THE ATLANTIC AND TYSON FURY | WARRINGTON-WOOD II I SMOKIN’ BERT COOPER
THE POND, THE ATLANTIC AND TYSON FURY | WARRINGTON-WOOD II I SMOKIN’ BERT COOPER Tyson Fury is back with promises of domination and soundbites aplenty. But…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
HEARTBREAKER | FIGUEROA STOPS BALL | WBC UNDER FIRE | MAYWEATHER LAWSUIT
Nick Ball is the latest fighter to understand what makes Brandon Figueroa so effective following last gasp drama in Liverpool. Elsewhere, the WBC is again…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
BALANCE OF POWER | SUPREME SHAKUR | JOSH KELLY | TYSON FURY | BALL vs FIGUEROA
BALANCE OF POWER | SUPREME SHAKUR | JOSH KELLY | TYSON FURY | BALL vs FIGUEROA As 2026 gathers pace in the boxing world, figures like Dana White, Eddie Hearn…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
TEOFIMO LOPEZ vs SHAKUR STEVENSON | DEONTAY WILDER vs DEREK CHISORA | BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV vs JOSH KELLY
TEOFIMO LOPEZ vs SHAKUR STEVENSON | DEONTAY WILDER vs DEREK CHISORA | BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV vs JOSH KELLY It’s a Teofimo Lopez fight week which can mean only one…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
TANK GOES MISSING | ORTIZ vs OSCAR | CRUZ vs MURATELLA | ZUFFA MAKE MOVES
TANK GOES MISSING | ORTIZ vs OSCAR | CRUZ vs MURATELLA | ZUFFA MAKE MOVES The career of Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is surely over following the latest charges…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
DYNAMITE DALTON SMITH | TYSON FURY RETURNS | ANTHONY JOSHUA | INOUE vs NAKATANI
DYNAMITE DALTON SMITH | TYSON FURY RETURNS | ANTHONY JOSHUA | INOUE vs NAKATANI Reflections on the inspirational performance from Dalton Smith out in Brooklyn…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
LESSONS IN POSITIVITY | JOE GALLAGHER
LESSONS IN POSITIVITY | JOE GALLAGHER Joe Gallagher, one of the heroes of 2025, tells The Opening Bell how he found the mental strength to beat cancer. There…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
2025 - A YEAR IN BOXING. (YEAR REVIEW)
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheOpeningBellPodcast/home 2025 has been some year in boxing. A strange, noisy, unforgettable year that demanded our attention…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
JOSHUA BREAKS JAKE | IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF JOSHUA-PAUL | TERENCE CRAWFORD | TROY WILLIAMSON
Boxing fans got what they wanted when Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul, breaking his jaw in two places. Or did they? That Paul lasted into the sixth round…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
JOSHUA vs. PAUL - WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? | DIEGO PACHECO | TERENCE CRAWFORD | MICHAEL CARBAJAL
JOSHUA vs. PAUL - WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? | DIEGO PACHECO | TERENCE CRAWFORD | MICHAEL CARBAJAL Anthony Joshua is really going to fight Jake Paul, it seems. But…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
STATE OF THE GAME WITH ANDY CLARKE
This week we welcome Sky Sports lead commentator Andy Clarke to the pod for a peer in and around the current state of boxing across the world. Currently in…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
WEIGHT OF THE MATTER | BEN WHITTAKER | KATIE TAYLOR | WBC CONVENTION
WEIGHT OF THE MATTER | BEN WHITTAKER | KATIE TAYLOR | WBC CONVENTION Out at the WBC Convention in Bangkok, the current system of weighing in the day before the…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
HANEY vs BENN | BEN WHITTAKER | CLARKE vs TKV
Devin Haney dominated Brian Norman Jr last weekend, won a world belt in a third weight class, only to be met by criticism from Conor Benn. Does Benn warrant a…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
BEAUTY OF BAM RODRIGUEZ | BENAVIDEZ BLASTS YARDE | MASON AND NOAKES
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez might not have been top of the bill in Saudi Arabia but, wow, his talent again suggested there are few - if any - below him when it comes…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
STAR SPOTTING IN SAUDI (BONUS)
Star Spotting in Saudi The stars, present and future, are out in Riyadh as we preview a night of top world championship boxing. The big questions are; Can…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
ANTHONY JOSHUA vs… JAKE PAUL??! | BENN BEATS EUBANK | PARKER | USYK | WARDLEY | JONES JR-TONEY
Two days after Conor Benn humbled Chris Eubank Jnr, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would fight, gulp, Jake Paul on December 20. Now there’s a sentence…
- The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast
EUBANK JR vs BENN II | ITAUMA NEXT FIGHT | VERGIL ORTIZ | KASH FAROOQ
EUBANK JR vs BENN II | ITAUMA NEXT FIGHT | VERGIL ORTIZ | KASH FAROOQ Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are preparing to fight again so strap yourselves because…