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 RoadGary Cully - Bouncing Back
Gary Cully knows all about The Rocky Road at this stage. With massive momentum at his back, he went into 2023 certain that he was on the fast track to world…
The Rocky RoadJoe Ward and 'Big' Joe Joyce - Part 2
The Rocky Road paid a visit to Moate, Co Westmeath for a conversation we've been waiting a few years to have. Joe Ward is one of the finest boxers ever to come…
The Rocky RoadJoe Ward and 'Big' Joe Joyce - Part 1
The Rocky Road paid a visit to Moate, Co Westmeath for a conversation we've been waiting a few years to have. Joe Ward is one of the finest boxers ever to come…
The Rocky RoadKevin McBride - The Clones Colossus
Happy St Patrick's Day from The Rocky Road - and from Kevin McBride. The Clones Colossus is someone we've wanted to have on since the start and we finally made…
The Rocky RoadKevin Cronin - The Kingdom Warrior
Kerry boxer Kevin Cronin, AKA The Kingdom Warrior, is feeling excited ahead of a double debut on Paddy's weekend. He's off to Dorchester, Mass, for his US bow…
The Rocky RoadMarch Madness
Spike O'Sullivan drops by the pod this week ahead of March madness. St Paddy's weekend is looking like one of Irish boxing's busiest ever with fighters in…
The Rocky RoadOlympic Qualifiers - The Italian Job
Eight Irish boxers are gearing up for a tournament that could be life-changing: Martin McDonagh, Kelyn Cassidy, Aidan Walsh, Jude Gallagher, Sean Mari, Grainne…
The Rocky RoadLuke Keeler - Cool Hands
Today’s guest, Luke Keeler, feels he has unfinished business in the ring - so last year he decided to embark on a comeback. From Ballyfermot in Dublin, he came…
The Rocky RoadWhere's Waldo?
This week’s guest Dee Walsh shocked the Irish boxing scene when he hung up his gloves aged just 26 back in 2015. At that stage he looked like a possible…
The Rocky RoadAnthony Cacace - Chasing Glory
Today’s guest, Anthony Cacace, fights champ Joe Cordina for the IBF world super-featherweight title in Saudi Arabia on February 17 as part of the Oleksandr…
The Rocky RoadThomas O'Toole - The Kid
Welcome to the 150th episode of The Rocky Road boxing pod! Today's guest has been on the hitlist since we began. Thomas O’Toole is following in Seán Mannion’s…
The Rocky RoadSeamus McDonagh - Taking on Evander Holyfield
In Part 2 of our interview with Seamus McDonagh, he talks about one of the biggest nights of his life - when he fought Evander Holyfield in Atlantic City. The…
The Rocky RoadSeamus McDonagh - The Early Years
Seamus McDonagh is the special guest for this week's epsiode. In Part 1, Seamus talks about learning to fight in Co Meath, boxing Barry McGuigan as a kid and…
The Rocky Road2023 Year in Review Special
Rising star Tommy Hyde and boxing comedian/actor Terry O'Neill join host Kevin Byrne to look back at an epic 2023 for Irish boxing. We name our Fighter, Fight…
The Rocky RoadTony Bates - Mi Vida Loca - Part 2
Tony Bates is a professional boxer from Dublin. Unbeaten since his debut in 2011, he last fought in 2018. Nicknamed ‘Irish Psycho’, he could just as easily…
The Rocky RoadTony Bates - Mi Vida Loca - Part 1
Tony Bates is a professional boxer from Dublin. Unbeaten since his debut in 2011, he last fought in 2018. Nicknamed ‘Irish Psycho’, he could just as easily…
The Rocky RoadJoe Parker - Deep Waters
Joseph Parker will have his hands full when he meets Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia on December 23. But anyone who’s willing to brave the Forty Foot in Dublin…
The Rocky RoadKatie Taylor - Redemption
What a night in Dublin. Katie Taylor emulated boxing legends such as Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard by avenging her first loss and then targeting a trilogy…
The Rocky RoadShauna O'Keeffe - Going Pro
This week’s guests are 2023 Irish Elite champ, Shauna O’Keeffe, who makes her pro debut at London’s York Hall on December 8, and her trainer/co-manager Kevin…
The Rocky RoadIrish Boxing: Big Time
Kevin Byrne and Simon Maguire reflect on a busy period in Irish boxing along with interviews from Alan Donnellan, John Joe Joyce and Eric Donovan after a…
The Rocky RoadEmmet Brennan and Darren Barker - No Regrets
This a man who’s living his dream before our very eyes. Emmet Brennan fought for Ireland at the Olympics Games in Tokyo during the summer of 2021. After that…
The Rocky RoadJason Quigley - The Gloves are Off
It’s ten years since Jason Quigley became the first Irishman to reach the final of the World Championships In a breakout 2013, he won his first Irish Elite…
The Rocky RoadEamon Carr - Showbusiness with Blood - Part 2
This is the second part of our interview with Eamon Carr as he launches his book 'Showbusiness with Blood'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
The Rocky RoadEamon Carr - Showbusiness with Blood - Part 1
Eamon Carr is the special guest for this week's episode as he joins Kevin Byrne to talk about his new book: Showbusiness with Blood. Carr reflects on his early…
The Rocky RoadGraham McCormack - G Train Rolls On
Limerick's Graham McCormack joins Kevin Byrne for this week's episode to reflect on his life and career so far as he gears up for his next fight. Hosted on…
The Rocky RoadDylan Moran - No Laughing Matter
Dylan Moran hails from Waterford but started his pro career in Manchester, the city he will return to on September 2 for his biggest fight to date. Now…
The Rocky RoadIf Walls Could Talk - Crumlin Boxing Club - Part 2
“Some fellas are afraid of nothing, and some fellas are afraid of getting a clatter. And some fellas are not afraid until they get a clatter! Then they…
The Rocky RoadTerry O'Neill - Rope A Dope
Terry O’Neill is a former Irish international boxer turned actor and comedian. During his years in the fight game, the Dubliner won national titles and…
The Rocky RoadJoe Egan - The Toughest
Big Joe Egan joins the podcast this week to tell his story and he’s well and truly travelled The Rocky Road to contentment. Raised in Ringsend, Dublin, he took…
The Rocky RoadErrol Spence v Terence Crawford - Undisputed
Kevin Byrne is joined by Pierce O'Leary, Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan and Dee Walsh to look ahead to the eagerly anticipated showdown between Errol Spence and…
The Rocky RoadIf Walls Could Talk - Crumlin Boxing Club - Part 1
We’ve something different this week as we kick off a new feature called ‘If Walls Could Talk’. On one of my visits to the boxing gym it struck me that I’d love…
The Rocky RoadJack Marley - Heavy Hitting
Ireland’s newest heavyweight star Jack Marley is going to the Olympics. The Monkstown BC fighter qualified at the European Games in Poland, where he won…
The Rocky RoadPody McCrory - Hammer Time
STOP! ‘Hammer’ time. Padraig ‘Pody’ McCrory knows a thing or two about stopping people in their tracks. He’s a quiet man but he has been making some serious…
The Rocky RoadJim McCourt Remembered
Mick Dowling joins The Rocky Road this week to look back at the boxing life of his Olympic team-mate, Jim McCourt RIP. Two amateur boxing devotees who rebuffed…
The Rocky RoadFeargal McCrory - Fearless
Last time Feargal McCrory joined us on The Rocky Road, he hadn't had a fight for three years and was desperate to find out if he'd still got it. Three fights…
The Rocky Road'Rock, you're an animal' - Ingle
“Be nice to people on your way up, because you’ll meet them on your way down” – just one of the phrases beloved by Brendan Ingle, the Dubliner who became…
The Rocky RoadMichael Conlan - We Go Again
Michael Conlan is the special guest for this week's show. He joins Kevin Byrne to preview Katie Taylor's homecoming clash with Chantelle Cameron in Dublin and…
The Rocky RoadDeirdre Gogarty - Immortal
A true fighting hero joins us today. She’s Ireland’s first female boxer and was Ireland’s first female world champ. She added to the legacy of Barry McGuigan…
The Rocky RoadDavid Irving - The Man in the Middle
Today we welcome back a guest who has lived two lives in boxing – firstly as an amateur and then a pro fighter, and for the last 34 years as a referee and…
The Rocky RoadGus Farrell – On The Waterfront
“I’m John Farrelly. I’m not Gus Farrell. I’m an ordinary Joe Soap. Gus Farrell is gone.” This week’s guest was known as Gus Farrell during his fighting days in…
The Rocky RoadRoberto Diaz - The Matchmaker
Roberto Diaz joins us for this week’s episode while enjoying his first ever trip to Ireland. The former Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker was over for the Jason…
The Rocky RoadJamie Morrissey – God’s Plan
Irish boxing has welcomed a host of new pros in the last few years and Limerick fighter Jamie Morrissey is among the most interesting of the crop. He’s clearly…
The Rocky RoadDennis Hogan - The Road Less Travelled
‘I’ll tell you a funny story…’ Dennis Hogan is coming home. After 36 fights all over the world – from his base in Australia to Mexico via Germany and the USA –…
The Rocky RoadKatie Taylor - The Return of the Queen
Ace reporter Kev came down from the mountains for the Katie Taylor ‘Homecoming’ press conference at Dublin’s Mansion House (talkin’ bout a revolution?) as she…
The Rocky RoadSteve Collins - St. Patrick's Day Special
We’re joined by Steve Collins, AKA The Celtic Warrior, for The Rocky Road St Paddy’s Day special 2023. Steve talks about his amateur days under legendary…
The Rocky RoadDavid Irving - The Early Years
David Irving is the special guest for this week's episode. The Belfast man charts his rise through both the amateur and professional ranks from the early days…
The Rocky RoadTommy Hyde - Rebel Heart
Tommy Hyde is a 2-0 professional boxer and publican from Cork. As a kid he travelled the world with his fighter-managing father, Gary, posing for pics with…
The Rocky RoadJason Quigley - The Return
Jason Quigley is about to begin The Rebuild – and who better than Andy Lee to guide him back towards the top? After all, Lee knows all about The Rocky Road…
The Rocky RoadCitizen O'Kane
Eamonn O’Kane took part in the toughest era of Irish middleweights, going up against the likes of John Duddy, Darren Sutherland, Andy Lee and Jason Quigley on…
The Rocky RoadCreating Champions - JP Kinsella and Damien McKenna
Damien McKenna and JP Kinsella were Ireland team-mates at the 2001 World Championships in Belfast who both came within a win of a medal. Multiple-times Irish…
The Rocky RoadMickey Vann and the Fighting Irish
Legendary ref Mickey Vann wound up his career as the third man in the ring with a stint in Ireland, reffing bouts such as Spike O’Sullivan v Anthony Fitzgerald…
The Rocky RoadElites - Kenneth Egan and Jason Quigley
This week special guests Kenneth Egan and Jason Quigley join Kevin Byrne to discuss the greatest night of the year in Irish boxing – senior finals night (or…
The Rocky RoadRuth O'Sullivan - Ruthless
"Ruthless" Ruth O'Sullivan, originally from Dublin, has three New York Golden Gloves titles to her name - all won at the boxing Mecca of Madison Square Garden…
The Rocky RoadPaddy Donovan - The Real Deal
Paddy Donovan is the special guest for this week's show. He joins Kevin Byrne to discuss his pro career as he looks for his tenth successive victory this…
The Rocky RoadKieran Molloy - Aiming for the Top
Kieran Molloy joins Kevin Byrne for this week's show. The Galwayman talks about his amateur career and why he left for the paid ranks, his rivalry with Paddy…
The Rocky RoadJohn McCormack - A Life in Boxing
John McCormack grew up in Dublin’s inner city centre as the son of famous boxer Spike McCormack. From a large family, fighting was in his blood – but he only…
The Rocky RoadGerry Coyle - My Father's Fight
Gerry Coyle is best known in Irish boxing as the figurehead of Geesala BC, from the ‘Land of the Salty Breeze’, and father of former world-rated contender…
The Rocky RoadCraig O'Brien - Bouncing Back
Craig O'Brien is the special guest for this week's show. He joins Kevin Byrne to discuss his rocky road in life to this point as he prepares to get back in the…
The Rocky RoadThe Rise of Female Boxing in Ireland
Why does Ireland produce the world’s greatest female boxers? From having an undisputed world champ in the pros to reigning Olympic, World, European and…
The Rocky RoadThe Deirdre Gogarty Legacy Committee
Recorded in Drogheda Boxing Club, Kevin Byrne is joined by Ciaran McIvor, Annmarie Griffin and Christina McMahon at the launch of the campaign by The Deirdre…