The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast

What do we want? AJ vs. Fury! Where do want it? At this point, who cares…

Dana White this week came out and revealed he’s brokered the TV and site deals for Joshua vs. Fury but the old problem remains: Both fighters signed contracts with different locations, dates, and terms. Whether it happens or not, we are getting to the point of no return for this heavyweight showdown that, frankly, should already be in the past.

It’s an interesting discussion, though. What does the future for boxing really look like? Can Moses Itauma, for example, ever become a crossover star if he’s forced to fight behind hard-to-find paywalls from this point forth? Furthermore, what becomes of the sport at grassroots level if only those that are already in full bloom are getting any water?

Claressa Shields reminded of her star power at the weekend even if her opponent, Kaye Scott, was overmatched and outclassed from the start. We look ahead to Rolly Romero vs. Teofimo Lopez which undoubtedly is a good fight. But on what planet is it a PPV fight?

Finally, we go back to 2016 and the contest that arguably signalled the start of Errol Spence Jnr’s peak: The beatdown of the gnarled Leonard Bundu in Coney Island, New York.

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Kell Brook this week announced he will be coming back in a
‘massive fight’ later in the year at the age of 40, highlighting once again how
difficult peace of mind is to find in the boxing afterlife. Chris Eubank Jnr,
who could soon be another case in point, has been rumoured as the opponent and
proves, once again, there is little that can be done when ageing boxers, fit
and well on the surface, want to keep fighting.

Also bracing himself for a
return is Joseph Parker who has served a three-month ban after UKAD examined
the heavyweight’s reasoning for having traces of cocaine in his system and
deemed them feasible enough.

Callum Simpson gained revenge
over Troy Williamson at the weekend, getting by with a little help from new
coach Robert McCracken, but also exhibiting that there’s plenty for them to
work on. A new ‘world champion’ was crowned in Dublin on Saturday night as
Aaron McKenna picked up the IBF-flavoured slice of the middleweight pie but how
far away is the Irishman from becoming the world’s best at 160lbs? Probably not
as far away as countryman Callum Walsh who, on the Zuffa undercard, passed the
Tyler Denny test.

In This Week, get ready to lamp
up a fat one and get lost in the hazy days of Smokin’ Bert Cooper. In August
1991, with would-be opponent Bruce Seldon outside the ring and Michael Buffer
in glorious voice inside of it, the swarming slugger took on Anthony Wade in an
event glowing with 90’s nostalgia.

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On the week when it looks all but certain that the all-British
heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will land in New
York, a fight with serious consequences for the current title picture in the
division – Moses Itauma and Frank Sanchez on August 29 – was upgraded to an IBF
title fight.

The Fury-Joshua news will no
doubt make those already in a spin about the location lose their minds
completely. But before we put the blame solely at the feet of Netflix and Turki
Alalshikh, one crucial thing should be remembered: Nobody is forcing Joshua or
Fury to fight outside of the UK. And hey, there are worse places than New York
to host heavyweight boxing.

In Dublin there was a contest
worthy of any stage in the world as Mark Chamberlain surprised most when he
defeated Pierce O’Leary in the kind of topsy-turvy thriller that should buoy us
all as to why we’re here. Yet, on the undercard, the fate of Lee Reeves reminds
us of the violent nature of the Sport. Over in Las Vegas, meanwhile, William
Zepeda proved too good for Lamont Roach.

We preview the weekend’s action
with the sequel between Troy Williamson and Callum Simpson leading the way and
Zuffa’s trip to Dublin will give Aaron McKenna and Callum Walsh a chance to
shine.

Last, but never least, is your
weekly dose of nostalgia and a time when Oscar De La Hoya – as he tears
through Jorge Paez – was a fresh-faced up-and-comer yet to be scarred by this
wackiest of businesses.

Thanks to one and all for the
support, we appreciate you. Subscribe, however, and we’ll appreciate you even
more.

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After the performances of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury last
weekend, there can now be no doubt that the two British heavyweights are both
past their best. Furthermore, it is more obvious than ever before that the
fight we wanted all those years ago – when they were 1 and 2 in the heavyweight
division – is gone forever.

So, what are we left with?
Joshua remains a frightful puncher, that much is clear. But he looks so
susceptible these days it’s difficult to imagine him surviving any kind of
onslaught from Fury. Whether Fury is these days capable of producing that
onslaught, while also avoiding Joshua’s right hand, when he couldn’t avoid that
of 46-year-old Marius Wach, likely makes the bout as well-matched as it’s ever
been.

Don’t expect either to walk
away until this long and winding saga has reached a close, though. Unlike Errol
Spence Jnr, who realised against Tim Tszyu that his days as a prize-fighter are
over and announced his retirement in the aftermath.

We look ahead to Pierce
O’Leary-Mark Chamberlain in Ireland and Lamont Roach-William Zepeda in the US,
before kicking back in the DeLorean, setting the flux capacitor to July 1999,
and enjoying the last hurrah of Michael Carbajal against Jorge Arce.

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Opening Bell, folks. And thanks, as always, for the support.

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Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Errol Spence will all this weekend exhibit what is left of themselves. Even if it turns out to be very little, that should still be enough for Joshua and Fury to triumph against Kristian Prenga and Mariusz Wach respectively. If the point of those exercises is questionable then the task that awaits Spence is, by comparison, somewhat formidable.

He takes on Tim Tszyu in Australia in a bout set at 160lbs. Will Spence show he still has what it takes at 36 or will he become the latest athlete to realise that time is the cruellest opponent of them all?

Elsewhere, Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn reminded everyone how much noise they can make and how hard they can appear.

Thanks for listening and for your support, amigos.



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