The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast

In a startling collapse that culminated one of the most dramatic
heavyweight fights of the year, Moses Itauma ultimately met his match in the
shape of the rugged and unyielding Filip Hrgovic. But what came before that
fateful ninth round should tell us two things: Hrgovic is built differently to most
and Itauma, for different reasons, is also one of a kind.

So, what went wrong? Plenty
have suggested that Itauma merely misread his own gas tank and, with crucial
experience gained, will come back better and stronger. But one also wonders if
it will be as simple as that. The psychological scars could be substantial,
after all.

There’s also the performance of
Ben Davison to consider. Has he really gone from one of the best trainers
around to a clueless buffoon who doesn’t know when to throw a towel? Or is
someone like the precocious and instinctive Itauma simply impossible to teach
or manage?

Elsewhere, Chantelle Cameron
got past Mikaela Mayer, who again believed she deserved more from the scoring
judges after an entertaining scrap. And looking ahead, Katie Taylor prepares
for her swansong in a Croke Park showcase surely designed to ensure she’s still
singing at the end.

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Despite all the noise reverberating from the negotiations between
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury – noise that, unfortunately, we must address – a
meaningful, and potentially pivotal, heavyweight title clash occurs this
weekend when Moses Itauma duels with Filip Hrgovic.

Will this be the fight when we
see Itauma truly tested or, as the oddsmakers suggest, will it be another
one-sided triumph for the 21-year-old? And if Itauma does indeed do what is
expected and win convincingly, will he then be able to cope with the pressure
of being the youngest heavyweight belt-holder since the heady days of Mike
Tyson’s peak?

Last weekend, George Liddard
aced his latest test when he became the European middleweight champion and, in
the States, Teofimo Lopez was handed a get-out-of-jail-free card by Rolly
Romero.

We bring you an update on
Ringside Charitable Trust, and you can access their website here,
before hurtling back to 2013 and the night when cult hero Jhonny Gonzalez
marmalized Abner Mares inside one round.

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supporting The Opening Bell.

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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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