Boxing News Podcast

THE trainers took centre stage the day before the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao weigh-in. Floyd Mayweather Snr and Freddie Roach provided a fascinating contrast, with "Money's" trainer dismissive of Pacquiao's chances while Manny's coach insisted that they've been working towards this moment for the last five years. The Boxing News team look at the new clues as to how either fighter might approach Saturday's fight. No politics, just boxing, get involved.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER and Manny Pacquiao finally came face-to-face at the MGM Grand. The Boxing News team were there for the last press conference before the big showdown, as well as seeing what the fighters and their teams had to say before and afterwards. We discuss the ins and outs of fight week and try to get to the bottom of the big question - why exactly are Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao being so nice to each other? No politics, just boxing, get involved

FLOYD MAYWEATHER and Manny Pacquiao have begun the festivities ahead of their May 2 mega-fight. Pacquiao held a fan rally at the Mandalay Bay to celebrate his arrival in Las Vegas. That attracted the ire of Floyd Mayweather who conducted his 'grand arrival' at the MGM. The Boxing News team covered both occasions, spoke to members of either camp and discuss the events so far in Las Vegas as well considering whether perceptions on how the fight itself will unfold are shifting. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

THE first members of the Boxing News have arrived in Las Vegas and set up camp in the media centre at the MGM Grand to take in the atmosphere as fight week for the big one, Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao begins. As well as discussing the fight of the century, we were ringside to see Wladimir Klitschko's return to America and analyse his performance against Bryant Jennings and consider what the future holds for the heavyweight champion. No politics, just boxing, get involved.

REALITY is beginning to kick in as the fight of the century looms ever closer. The Boxing News team discuss what we've seen from the respective training camps of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in the build up so far. We look back on another thrilling fight for WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee in the US as he took on Peter Quillin, as well as wondering what should happen next for Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia. Plus we look forward to a weekend of action as Ruslan Provodnikov and Lucas Matthysse collide, Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr returns and Terence Crawford moves up to fight for a light-welterweight world title. All this and much more on the latest edition of the Opening Bell. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

THE big news in the build-up to the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao showdown has been the former’s mouthpiece, and the latter’s calves. The Boxing News boys analyse the latest developments and look ahead to the mega-fight. Anthony Joshua’s blitzing of Jason Gavern, and its suitability for Main Event material, pondered alongside Adonis Stevenson’s latest victory and the impressive Artur Beterbiev’s win over Gabriel Campillo. The WBO middleweight title fight between Andy Lee and Peter Quillin is previewed, and we explain why Lamont Peterson’s clash with Danny Garcia is not nearly as inviting as it should have been. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

HOW impressive was Kell Brook against Jo Jo Dan, and does Amir Khan now need to fight the IBF welterweight champion? The Boxing News team review the rest of the results from the weekend and wonder where Gary Russell Jnr now stands. We mull over David Haye's comeback and where he will go next. We ask who would fight Tony Thompson, look forward to Anthony Joshua's return from injury in Newcastle this Saturday and discuss Adonis Stevenson light-heavyweight world defence against Sakio Bika. With a month to until The Fight, we assess the latest news from Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao as they prepare for the big one. No politics. Just boxing. Get involved.

KELL BROOK is emerging from an astonishing period in his life. Will there be any scars from the machete attack that ruined his world title celebrations? The Boxing News team weight this issue up and monitor the threat that Romanian Jo Jo Dan brings as Brook makes the first defence of his IBF welterweight title in Sheffield. If Brook is victorious, does he deserve a shot at the winner of Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao? Or should he do all he can to secure Amir Khan showdown? We look back on wins for Juergen Braehmer and Alfonso Gomez, while discussing where Wladimir Klitschko belongs in boxing history. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

WHO is the best pound-for-pound fighter, Sergey Kovalev or Gennady Golovkin? Matt Christie and John Dennen discuss this following the former’s thrilling light-heavyweight victory for Kovalev over Jean Pascal and ponder what is next for the two combatants. We also look at the welterweight landscape following crucial wins for former champions Andre Berto and Shawn Porter while considering the merits of an overweight Chris Arreola in the heavyweight division. All this and lots more in The Opening Bell. No politics, just boxing.

IT’S really happening. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao came face-to-face at the only press conference in the build up to their fight. The Boxing News team wonders what the scale of this event will be globally and whether we can glean any clues from their encounter as to how the fight itself will go down. We wonder how Keith Thurman can get himself in the frame to challenge Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao and we react to the rest of the weekend’s action, which saw heart break for hometown heroes in world title fights as Paul Butler lost in Liverpool and Zou Shiming defeated in Macau. We look forward to another big weekend of fights, with Andre Berto going into a high stakes clash with Josesito Lopez and we wonder how Jean Pascal with cope with “The Krusher” Sergey Kovalev in Canada. No politics. Just boxing. Get involved.

CARL FRAMPTON impressed on his national television debut and Matt Christie and John Dennen discuss the super-bantamweight’s progress, and future which hopefully involves Scott Quigg. Chris Eubank Jnr and Tyson Fury also notched victories over the weekend and we take a look at their places in their respective divisions. We reveal details of an exclusive chat with Freddie Roach, there’s the usual look ahead to the weekend’s action – headed by Paul Butler, Keith Thurman, Adrien Broner and Tommy Coyle – and there’s the odd memory lapse and confession to listen out for. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

THE big fight is at hand. Finally, after years of wrangling, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao agree to fight. The Boxing News team reacts to the momentous news and consider what it means for the sport. There's plenty more going on, we discuss Paul Smith and Martin Murray's performances overseas against Arthur Abraham and Gennady Golovkin and consider their futures. We also look forward to the weekend's action in which Carl Frampton is on ITV defending his world title in Belfast and both Tyson Fury and Chris Eubank Jnr are in action at the O2. No politics. Just boxing. Get involved.

THIS weekend two British fighters challenge for world titles. In Monte Carlo, Martin Murray hopes to hit the jackpot against the fearsome Gennady Golovkin at middleweight, while in Germany Paul Smith is hoping for 168lb revenge over Arthur Abraham. Both are tough asks and we calculate how each fight can be won, break down the intangibles, and ponder how much money it’s worth laying on the upsets. We look back on Brian Rose’s controversial loss to Carson Jones, and asks what’s next for the two men. And there’s two other boys to talk about. Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

IN the latest Opening Bell, we wonder how likely it is that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio will ever confirm they’re going to fight. In more pressing - and hopefully interesting - news, we examine the re-emergence of Dillian Whyte and wonder where he fits into the British heavyweight scene, and we look ahead to two fascinating bouts – one at lightweight between Stephen Ormond and Terry Flanagan, and the other at light middleweight as Brian Rose collides with Carson Jones. We also discuss Billy Joe Saunders’ decision to snub an IBF middleweight title while he waits for a shot at the WBO belt and the curious case of the Chris Eubanks. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

KEVIN MITCHELL has again secured a shot at the world lightweight title with an impressive beating of Daniel Estrada. Matt Christie and Nick Bond wonder whether the Londoner can succeed in a third attempt at world glory after two previous failures. It’s almost the 25th anniversary of Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson and we look back on the magnitude of that fight, pick out the best and worst moments of Tyson’s career and evaluate his place in history. In turn, the emergence of Deontay Wilder is analysed alongside potential fights against Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko. The subject of Carl Froch relinquishing his IBF super-middleweight title is also discussed in detail, as are the merits of Oscar De La Hoya’s career as the ‘Golden Boy’ turns 42. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

‘PRINCE’ Naseem Hamed is the guest on this week’s podcast. He reflects on his Hall of Fame career, from the first time he pulled on a pair of boxing gloves to the last, during an insightful chat with Matt Christie. The British superstar discusses his relationship with Floyd Mayweather, beating Steve Robinson to become world champion aged just 21, and goes behind the scenes of his turbulent split with long-term trainer Brendan Ingle. He opens up about his loss to Marco Antonio Barrera, reveals his biggest regret, and speaks of his delight about his forthcoming induction into the Hall of Fame. All this and much more is covered in the 60-minute interview. Don’t miss it. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

THE possibility of Manny Pacquiao actually fighting Floyd Mayweather looms large on the horizon and the Boxing News team ponder what might happen if the mega-fight falls into place this year. Boxing News veteran Nick Bond joins Matt Christie and John Dennen as they discuss the sport's dream fight. The team also look forward to the major heavyweight clash between WBC champion Bermane Stiverne and Deontay Wilder that takes place in Las Vegas this weekend. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

ANOTHER year begins and the possibility of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fighting remains a hot topic. Matt Christie and John Dennen wonder if 2015 might be, at last, the year they get it on. A fight that looks almost certain not to happen, at least not in the immediate future, is Carl Froch-James DeGale. Is Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr a viable alternative and what does Froch have left? Guillermo Rigondeaux’s career and latest escapades also make the cut as do the heavyweight scene with the impending Bermane Stiverne-Deontay Wilder showdown and Shannon Briggs’ desperate bid for a shot at Wladimir Klitschko. Chris Eubank Jnr tackles Dmitry Chudinov next month and we wonder if the Brighton star will have embraced the lessons from his loss to Billy Joe Saunders. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

AMIR KHAN and Andy Lee were victorious in Las Vegas and Tris Dixon, alongside Matt Christie, talks about his most recent spell in Sin City. The chances of Khan getting his dream with Manny Pacquiao are weighed up, as is the potential Mayweather-Pacman showdown. But perhaps the real talking point this week is Dixon’s departure after five years as Boxing News Editor. In an emotional farewell, Dixon looks back on his career highlights – and lowlights – and reveals why he is waving goodbye in his final Opening Bell. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.

AMIR KHAN attracts interest wherever he goes, and this week he’s in Las Vegas preparing to take on Devon Alexander. Matt Christie and John Dennen discuss the merits of that fight, where it might lead, and discuss the curious love/hate relationship Khan has with the boxing public. Andy Lee is also in action in Sin City, taking on Matt Korobov, as is the talented Timothy Bradley. Those fights are all previewed and we look back on the latest outings from Jean Pascal and David Lemiuex. The issue of Naseem Hamed’s Hall of Fame entry is also up for discussion, as is some personal highlights of an eventful year. No politics, just boxing. Get involved.