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 battle, as Chris Billam-Smith and Ryan Rozicki turned their Zuffa colours red with a violent and bloody slugfest. White wasn’t done there, however.At the post-fight press conference he questioned Hearn’s true influence in world boxing as he claimed to know more ab...
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 suitably prickly as he examined Kristian Prenga, his July 25 opponent. But can the superstar really make it all the way back?Adam Azim barely broke a sweat on Saturday night as he pummelled Steve Claggett. Now it’s time for the leash to come off.Meanwhile, Chris Bi...
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 his sluggish showing merely an abberation, or does this mark the beginning of the end for the legendary Usyk?Joining Matt to dissect the fight, its ending, and potential consequences is Atheltic and BBC boxing journalist, Chris McKenna.The subject of boxing journa...
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 looks like and how he wins are certainly worthwhile questions. So too is the status of the belts as, in different ways, each of the WBC, IBF and WBA somehow approve this as a championship contest. Better is the undercard where Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr...
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 seems certain to be one of the year’s biggest and most lucrative contests albeit a divisive one given their chequered pasts with drug-testing agencies. It’s set to occur on the same day that Canelo Alvarez returns, in Saudi Arabia, to challenge for a super mi...
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?Allen’s losses seem to tell the story here but we highlight why Hrgovic might - and only might - come unstuck.Steedo, after calling right last week, reveals his bet of the weekend as we look closely at the form lines on the undercard.As always, friends, go well...
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 questions about the timing of the stoppage, with some suggesting it came far too late, as Wardley’s face oozed blood and his battered body betrayed his lust for victory.Regardless, Dubois again confounded critics as he got off the floor, not one but twice, to regai...
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 demolition from David Benavidez, and a hellfire slugfest between Conah Walker and Sam Eggington. There’s also the not-so-small matter of Fabio Wardley-Daniel Dubois to discuss. That WBO heavyweight title fight is laced with intrigue and is all but guaranteed to...
About
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
Information
Creator
Matt Christie and Alex Steedman
Years Active
2026 - 2024
Episodes
207
Copyright
The Opening Bell
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