The Rocky Road

‘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 Dickens by unanimous decision to claim the Liverpudlian’s WBA super-featherweight strap. That came after the Big Bang – with Pierce O’Leary’s homecoming, at last, proving he hadn’t bitten off more than he could chew, not by a long shot. He told his team to get him on a show at the 3Arena and he’d do the rest. He certainly did, filling the place before filling in Maxi Hughes to take the IBO belt at 140lb. Another local fella celebrating was Jono Carroll, who edged Belfast’s Colm Murphy for the IBO strap at super-featherweight and he’ll surely be eyeing a clash with Cacace. But will it come to fruition? How far can Pierce climb? What got Dublin boxing back on top, and who found Adam Olaniyan’s debut opponent? Discussing it all on The Rocky Road, we’re joined by Gavan Casey of the42.ie to chat all things #IrishBoxing. With three reigning world champions now – harking back to the 90s – do the wider public realise how good we have it? They might soon.

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 navigating the final chapter of a storied career. For the unbeaten Walsh, it’s the opportunity he’s been chasing since got the gloves back on while awaiting his fate in a jail cell. In this episode, we sit down with both men to break down a fascinating featherweight clash.Mick discusses the influence of world champion stablemate Dalton Smith, and the psychology of fight week. ‘King’ Kevin Walsh shares his remarkable path from the streets of Massachusetts – home of Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler - to a Belfast ‘homecoming’. He talks about his Irish roots, his late father’s influence and why he believes his "equalizer" power will play spoiler on the night.

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 youngsters to her local club, showing up, and never looking back.Inspired by her idol, Katie Taylor, the Kildare native stormed the amateur ranks, securing eight Irish titles and medals at both the Junior European and World Championships. While Taylor cleared the path for women in the Olympics, Leonard faced a formidable domestic roadblock in Belfast’s Michaela Walsh. In this episode, Kelsey opens up about the lengths she went to for that Olympic dream—and the weight of eventually leaving it behind.Now, she’s trading one rivalry for another. After a perfect 4-0 start in 2025, Leonard returns to the National Stadium on April 4 to face Mayo’s Elaine Harrison. It’s a landmark moment for the sport: the first all-Irish BUI-sanctioned female fight in history.Kelsey also breaks down the grueling transition to the pros, from managing an intense training load and media scrutiny to the nuances of mental self-preservation. We also talk about fighting lads and the benefit of having supportive mams and dads. After a shared training session—and a swift arse-kicking on the chessboard—The Rocky Road can confirm: Kelsey Leonard is one fearsome competitor. (Podcast photo by Babs Daly).

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. We’d hear about the realisation that a drugs cheat cut him down in his prime, derailed his momentum and potentially cost him millions of euro. Eye surgery, getting engaged, becoming a dad, developing his businesses, making peace with his inner pain, starting the game of snakes and ladders a few rungs down, rediscovering his passion for boxing, moving up in weight, hustling behind the scenes… it’s all part of The Rocky Road the Kildare man has travelled in recent times. As always, a compelling listen from the engaging Naas boxer who’s determined to put his name up in lights again soon ahead of his 3Arena return to the ring on March 14. Podcast image credit: Babs Daly

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 decision, he never really expected what would follow – a boxing comeback. However that’s exactly what’s going down, with the Pat Man ready to return now at the Waterfront, Belfast on February 27. He’s been out of the ring since 2019 so there’s bound to be some ringrust to shake off, and he’ll need to rediscover his timing in there – not that he ever had any to begin with, he jokes. The Rocky Road spends a savage hour with the West Belfast boxer, going over his great amateur career that culminated in Commonwealth glory in India in 2010, turning professional in the Carl Frampton era, tournament boxing in Prizefighter and at the WBC World Invitational in Louisville, and becoming close with Gary Murray, who nearly lost his life after a fight with today’s interviewee. Now 36, Gallagher outlines his short-term ambitions in the sport and tells us why he’s been inspired by the feats of fellow Belfast men Anthony Cacace and Lewis Crocker during his absence. We also delve into the psychology of the comeback, and the alternative - leaving your dreams behind when you feel you could've done just a little bit more. He hasn’t gone away, you know…(Podcast image by Jordan Swain)

‘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 Tyrone McKenna owes him a tattoo. The exciting Dublin middleweight moved into headliner category last year with an impressive victory over Limerick’s Edward Donovan at the National Stadium. That triumph came on the back of a career low, when he fell to his second stoppage defeat at the hands of Canada’s Derek Pomerleau at the WBC Grand Prix in Riyadh. But Ryan is nothing if not resilient. And he’s had to be in recent weeks, with his father passing away suddenly on Christmas night. We talk to Paul about growing up in a tight-knit family, the refereeing call that ruined amateur boxing for him and why he’s always wanted to be a champion pro in the mould of his cult hero, Paul McCloskey. He’s now taken over his dad’s gym business while his own ambitions in boxing remain sky-high – and that means big nights in Dublin and Las Vegas. We also talked about hating every minute of school, holidays off the beaten track and… Bill Gates.