The Opening Bell

Should Nick Ball have been thrown out of his fight with TJ Doheny after booting him in the leg? That question, alongside analysis of the fight, is in sharp focus this week.We also examine the £100,000 fine dished out to Chris Eubank Jnr and explain both why it was so high and where the money goes.And in This Week we go back to the Nineties and a Mike Tyson undercard that featured one of the most unappreciated technicians of them all - Mr Ricardo Lopez.

In this week’s episode we talk to one of the greatest of all boxing writers, Don McRae about his new book and reflect on victories for Harlem Eubank and Lauren Price, who may have ended the careers of Tyrone McKenna and Natasha Jonas.McRae, in a teaser for an in-depth interview in the bonus podcast, details the process of writing what he believes will be his final boxing book: The Last Bell.In This Week in History we go back to 1980 and a hectic world lightweight title fight between Jim Watt and Charlie Nash in Glasgow.Spread the word if you like what you hear, comrades!

The two biggest talking points of the weekend were triggered by the decisions of referees - Steve Willis to deny Lamont Roach a knockdown and Marcus McDonnell to disqualify Paddy Donovan.But were they right calls? The fights, that saw Lewis Crocker win in bizarre circumstances and Gervonta Davis snatch a draw, are also broken down.We brace ourselves as the build-up to Chris Eubank Jnr-Conor Benn begins and, in This Week, we go back to 2007 and Kevin Mitchell winning a British humdinger.Please follow, leave a review and support us in any way you can.

Dmitry Bivol gained revenge over Artur Beterbiev following another close and high quality encounter. Did the right man win this time? We also wonder if in fights like these judges should be encouraged to score rounds level if they’re struggling to find favour.We look at each of the undercard fights in detail with gushing praise for both Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi in particular.There’s also time for a look ahead to next weekend when Gervonta Davis takes on Lamont Roach and, in Belfast, Paddy Donovan dukes it out with Lewis Crocker.Thanks for listening - make sure you’re following us and, if you have time, drop us a review to help us along.

In a bonus free-for-all reaction pod we look back on the Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev card and a rivalry that may always feel like unfinished business.There were talking points galore elsewhere, too. From the titanic clash between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi to Martin Bakole’s dramatic fall, via Hamzah Sheeraz stealing a draw and is Agit Kabayel coming the fore, we discuss them all.Please enjoy, share, and spread the good word of The Opening Bell.

AD FREE LISTENING + EARLY RELEASES + BONUS CONTENT + MORE: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcastMatt and Alex reflect on Jack Catterall’s loss to Arnold Barboza on Saturday which dented his immediate hopes of a world title challenge while handing the magic beans to Barbosa on his climb to the top. It was a weekend for upsets and progress with Reece Bellotti, Jazza Dickens, Pat McCormack and Keyshawn Davis all starring. Where Top Rank’s boxing stars of tomorrow will be showcased is up for discussion as we look at the wider broadcasting landscape with the ESPN and Top Rank relationship nearing its end.And we take a trip back to the 1980’s with the pulsating rematch between Livingstone Bramble and Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini remembered in This Week.This is the first of four pods planned during this big fight week for Patreon and Apple + subscribers with a detailed preview of Saturday’s undercard from Saudi, a forensic look into the rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol and finally a big fight reaction pod on Sunday morning. To get these for less than a fiver each month subscribe now.

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOpeningBellPodcast (It takes 90 seconds to sign up and you can cancel at any time). AD Free listening ✅Bonus content ✅Early access to the main podcast ✅Community chat group ✅Entire back catalogue of bonus content ✅

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Derek Chisora scored another win, collected more bruises, handed out more burgers, and now he prepares to face the final curtain.We examine Del Boy’s victory over Otto Wallin, his recent form, and ponder what awaits in fight number 50.Elsewhere, Canelo signed a four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh in what might signal the Mexican winding down his career with one last lucrative deal. But is William Scull a better opponent than Jake Paul?In This Week we take in some astonishing violence as Richie Kates gets an early taste of the incredible resilience of Matthew Saad Muhammad.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t be shy, leave a review, tell your pals, and treat yourself to a subscription!