Shows / The Rocky Road
The Rocky Road
An Irish boxing podcast that fans of all sports will love. No one gets to the top without overcoming adversity, in sport or in life. But as Rocky Balboa said, ‘it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward’. Every week on The Rocky Road, host Kevin Byrne and producer Simon Maguire will bring you the distance on some of the wildest journeys the sport has to offer. Pain, pride, passion and politics, the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It's about how…
Episodes
The Rocky RoadJon Mackey: Conlan’s criticism, Zaur’s exit and changing Irish boxing
JON MACKEY tackles Michael Conlan’s criticism of Irish boxing in the first of a two-part interview with Kevin Byrne on The Rocky Road. Speaking at the Sport…
The Rocky RoadGary Stewart - Boxing Ireland CEO
Today on The Rocky Road, we are joined for the first time by Gary Stewart, CEO of Boxing Ireland (formerly the IABA). Originally from Cumbria, Gary's lifelong…
The Rocky RoadMick Conlan: I'm Batman
Michael Conlan joins Kevin Byrne for an unfiltered look back at his career and what lies ahead. Mick reveals the crazy story behind his recent trip to Moscow…
The Rocky RoadThe House That Katie Built
Guest co-host Sinéad Kehoe (East Coast FM) joins us to unpack the true impact of Katie Taylor’s legacy - from opening gym doors for a new generation of female…
The Rocky RoadBrendan Kelly - Before Hollywood Came Calling
Actor, fighter, and storyteller Brendan Kelly sits down with Kevin Byrne on the Rocky Road Boxing Podcast for part one of a wide-ranging, raw conversation…
The Rocky RoadKieran Molloy - My Time To Shine
Undefeated IBF European welterweight Champion Kieran Molloy returns to The Rocky Road. Four years on from his first appearance as a 3-0 prospect, the Galway…
The Rocky RoadTime to Byrne
We’re joined by Jay Byrne of JB Boxing Promotions — and there is plenty to discuss. Dublin has enjoyed a boxing boom this summer, beginning with Byrne’s show…
The Rocky RoadKatie Taylor - The Epic Finale
Kevin Byrne is joined by Gavan Casey to reflect on an epic night at Croke Park as Katie Taylor's celebrated career came to an end as a unified world champion…
The Rocky RoadKatie Taylor's Final Fight
It's finally here - Katie Taylor will fight at Croke Park this weekend in her sold-out finale against Flora Pili. Kevin Byrne and Simon Maguire look ahead to…
The Rocky RoadBrian Peters: GIFD - Part 2
The conversation continues in Part 2 as Brian Peters opens up on his decade-long bond with Katie Taylor and why they’ve operated on a handshake deal without a…
The Rocky RoadBrian Peters: GIFD - Part 1
In Part 1 of an exclusive two-part interview, legendary boxing manager Brian Peters joins Kevin Byrne to break down Katie Taylor’s historic Croke Park fight…
The Rocky RoadAaron McKenna's World Title - The View from the Corner
Cornerman Tony Dunlop joins us to discuss Aaron McKenna’s IBF world middleweight title victory at the 3Arena. We talk about the years of hard work put in by…
The Rocky Road3Arena Debrief
Not for the first time, the 3Arena/O2/Point Depot has proven to be a house of pain for Irish boxing. Following in the footsteps of Bernard Dunne and Katie…
The Rocky RoadJoe Ward - Time To Shine
Today, we’re joined by a man with one of the most decorated records in modern Irish boxing: three European gold medals, two World Championship silver medals…
The Rocky RoadPierce O'Leary - Ready To Leave His Mark
We hit Dublin Docklands BC this week to sit down with local hero Pierce O’Leary, who’s back in town for his rescheduled dust-up with Mark Chamberlain at the…
The Rocky RoadSean McComb - Who Wants It?
Belfast’s elite 140lb technician Sean McComb joins the pod to discuss the high-stakes, low-reward reality of being one of the most avoided fighters in world…
The Rocky RoadThe Rocky Road to Croke Park - Part 2
In Part 2 of our special from Vicar Street on the Katie Taylor/Croker Park, it’s a heavyweight special - fitting, given Muhammad Ali was the last fighter to…
The Rocky RoadThe Rocky Road to Croke Park - Part 1
The undercard for Katie Taylor’s Croke Park fight on September 5th has been officially confirmed - not that she needed one, judging by how ticket sales are…
The Rocky RoadThe Croc Hunter
Lewis Crocker surrendered his IBF world welterweight title after a gruelling battle with Liam Paro in Brisbane. Having won the belt in his closely contested…
The Rocky RoadBarry Jones - Katie Taylor's Last Dance
Barry Jones is a decorated ex-boxer turned pundit and analyst, a former WBO super-featherweight world champion who’s returning to Dublin this summer for a…
The Rocky RoadDublin's Boxing Boom
We’re mapping out what is about to be the most chaotic, star-studded and high-stakes summer in the history of Irish boxing. Four shows in less than two months…
The Rocky RoadMuhammad Ali - Ten Years On
This week, we sit down with former world title challenger, elite trainer, and boxing historian "The Iceman" John Scully. Ahead of his June 6 event at the…
The Rocky RoadLee Reeves - The cream always rises to the top, eventually
This week on The Rocky Road, Kevin sits down with Limerick’s 15-1 southpaw Lee Reeves ahead of his May 30 return at Leopardstown Racecourse on a JB Promotions…
The Rocky RoadHeavyweight Classic - Daniel Dubois v Fabio Wardley
Joining us to dissect the absolute chaos of the Daniel Dubois v Fabio Wardley heavyweight clash is a man who lives and breathes the sport. Hailing from a…
The Rocky RoadThe Champ Returns: Ryan Burnett on The Rocky Road
Since hanging up the gloves, unified world champion Ryan Burnett hasn’t been looking for a quiet life. Whether it’s pushing supercars to the limit or tearing…
The Rocky RoadOne Last Dance - Luke Keeler v Jason Quigley
Jason Quigley will have been out of the ring for more than three years; Luke Keeler for 2.5. But they're ready to park their retirements and meet at the centre…
The Rocky RoadDan Donnelly - Dublin Boxing Legend
Dublin actor, comedian and former international boxer Terry O’Neill joins us to talk about the upcoming show at the National Stadium, ‘In The Ring With Dan…
The Rocky RoadHeavyweight Madness
Heavyweight madness as The Sun's Wally Downes Jr joins us again to talk about Tyson Fury's comeback, the deadlock with Anthony Joshua and how it can be broken…
The Rocky RoadBrandon McCarthy - American Dream
Brandon McCarthy is living the dream right now. As he prepares to get back in the ring in Las Vegas, after 13 months out, the Kilkenny boxer – a 16-time Irish…
The Rocky RoadSteven O'Rourke - United They Stand
Steven O’Rourke runs O’Rourke’s Gym in Inchicore, Dublin. Originally from Denton in Manchester, boxing and Manchester United were the twin pillars of his youth…
The Rocky RoadRyan O'Rourke - Star is Rising
Kevin Byrne caught up with Ryan O'Rourke before his fight against Alex Vargas on April 17th was announced. O’Rourke is not easily dissuaded. At 26 years old…
The Rocky RoadAnthony Cacace's Dublin Delight
‘Ohh, Anto Cacace’ came the chant at the end of a blistering night in Dublin that saw the Belfast man crowned a two-time world champion. The Apache beat Jazza…
The Rocky RoadBelfast Brawl - Michael Conlan v Kevin Walsh
Belfast’s Michael Conlan and Brockton’s Kevin Walsh meet at the SSE Arena on March 20, with the stakes sky-high for both men. For Conlan, at 34, it’s about…
The Rocky RoadKelsey Leonard - Off To A Flyer
Kelsey Leonard has got off to a flyer in professional boxing. Fittingly, that’s exactly how she started as an amateur: spotting a flyer at age nine inviting…
The Rocky RoadGary Cully - Back To Work
Gary Cully could write a book about what’s happened since he last joined us. He’d have a chapter on the best win of his career and perhaps his worst defeat…
The Rocky RoadPaddy Gallagher - The Final Four
After one bender too many, one doghouse too many, Paddy Gallagher decided enough was enough. He was quitting the gargle for good. But when he made that…
The Rocky RoadPaul Ryan - Resilience
‘Ravishing’ Paul Ryan tells us about, er, descending from a boxing Hall of Famer in Tipp’s ‘Trojan Giant’ Paddy Ryan, giving himself his own nickname and why…
The Rocky RoadJohn Cooney - One Year On
John Cooney died in February 2025 after suffering a brain injury during the first defence of his Celtic super-featherweight title against Nathan Howells. It…
The Rocky RoadKing Kong v Posh Boy
This is The Rocky Road to Dublin, Part 3. It’s going to be a big night of boxing at the 3Arena on March 14, headlined by the world title fight between Anthony…
The Rocky RoadSt. Pierce's Day
St Pierce's Day weekend is coming. It’s going to be a big night of boxing at the 3Arena on March 14, headlined by the world title fight between Anthony Cacace…
The Rocky RoadAnthony Cacace v Jazza Dickens
Anto Cacace is starving. And not just for the Nando’s he’s been waiting all day for. The former IBF world super-featherweight hit The Rocky Road to Dublin to…
The Rocky RoadFeargal McCrory – ‘Don’t Miss Your Chance’
A new boxing year is upon us and a slew of Irish fighters are looking to break those chains and bring home some major titles. Among them is Tyrone titan…
The Rocky RoadWayne McCullough - WBC World Bantamweight Champion
Thirty (and a bit) years on from winning the WBC world bantamweight in Japan, Wayne McCullough sits down for a Christmas chat with The Rocky Road. We go back…
The Rocky RoadIf Walls Could Talk - Cork Boxing Museum
The Tomás MacCurtain Boxing Museum opened in Cork last year, and The Rocky Road went for a guided tour with father-and-son duo, Tommy and Mick Kelleher. It’s…
The Rocky RoadKieran Joyce - Cork's 'Boxer of the Century' - Part 2
In Part 2 of The Rocky Road with Kieran Joyce, Cork’s Boxer of the Century, we tell the story of his career from the 1984 Olympics onwards, from Los Angeles to…
The Rocky RoadKieran Joyce - Cork's 'Boxer of the Century' - Part 1
Kieran Joyce was named as Cork’s Boxer of the Century in 2014. A product of the Sunnyside Boxing Club, he boxed for Ireland at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games…
The Rocky RoadTommy Kelleher - The Godfather of Cork Boxing
The Rocky Road took a trip to the Rebel County to sit down with the Godfather of Cork Boxing, Tommy Kelleher. He’s been coaching for five decades and took his…
The Rocky RoadZaur Antia - Your Work Here Is Done
Zaur Antia – your mission is complete. You created universal boxers and delivered medals by the bucketload. Ten Olympic medals came Ireland’s way during your…
The Rocky RoadChris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn 2 Preview
Veteran boxing journalist Wally Downes Jr of The Sun joins The Rocky Road to break down this Saturday’s rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn. Wally…
The Rocky RoadTommy Hyde - Homecoming
Undefeated contender Tommy Hyde (13-0) joins The Rocky Road after conquering rings in America, Australia and Spain since his last fight in Cork. We talk about…
The Rocky RoadConrad Cummings - Life After the Final Bell
We’re joined by a man who was once a five-time Irish amateur champion, a World Series of Boxing star, and a professional middleweight known for his rugged…
The Rocky RoadPeter O'Donnell & Jim Moore remembered
Irish boxing has suffered a profound loss, mourning two men who dedicated their lives to the sport and shaped generations of champions. Today, we pause to…
The Rocky RoadA New Dawn in Irish Boxing
What. A. Night. JB Boxing Promotions promised the most competitive all-Irish card in years and it certainly delivered in Dublin's National Stadium. The Rocky…
The Rocky RoadSpike O'Sullivan - Back to Work
He's back! At 41, Cork's own Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan joins us on The Rocky Road as he prepares for his 38th professional fight. He's back for one reason and…
The Rocky RoadChristina Desmond - Rebel Rising
Today, we sit down with a boxer who faces a unique challenge, balancing two of the most disciplined jobs in the country. She's a top-tier amateur star, a true…
The Rocky RoadLewis Crocker: World Champion
Well now, who saw that coming? Lewis Crocker beat Paddy Donovan for the second time in 2025 to claim the IBF world welterweight title in Belfast on Saturday…
The Rocky RoadThe Big Fights Preview
Kevin Byrne catches up with Jason Quigley, Kieran Molloy, Niall Barrett and Jay Byrne to preview a huge night in both Irish and world boxing as Lewis Crocker…
The Rocky RoadPaddy Donovan - Eyes on the Prize
Paddy Donovan and Andy Lee are the special guests for this week's episode as our host, Kevin Byrne, headed to Team Donovan HQ in Ballybrack ahead of the highly…
The Rocky RoadBrian McKeown - A Rocky Road: Part 2
In Part Two of our fascinating conversation with Brian McKeown, the focus shifts to his incredible legacy in Cavan. After a challenging early life and a…
The Rocky RoadOn the road with the Palestine Boxing Team
Today's episode is a special one, a powerful reminder that the Rocky Road of boxing isn't just about what happens inside the ropes, but the profound human…