The Opening Bell; A boxing podcast

Canelo Alvarez is back in the winner’s circle after overcoming Christian Mbilli with a performance that offered glimpses of his brilliant best. But how much does the Mexican maestro have left, and where does he go from here?

On the undercard, Rafael Espinoza’s featherweight title fight ended prematurely when ringside doctor Neil Scott ruled that Ricardo Blandon’s cut was too severe for the contest to continue. Cue criticism from the DAZN commentary team, who questioned the decision. But did they understand the true extent of the injury? We speak to Dr Scott in depth about what he saw, why he stopped the fight and the dangers that were far from obvious to those watching at home.

There's also a packed weekend of boxing to look forward to, with predictions for Joshua Buatsi-Willy Hutchinson, Denzel Bentley-Shane Mosley Jnr and Chris Billam-Smith-Cheavon Clarke.

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Go well, one and all.
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Is boxing losing touch with the wider world? And where on earth does the sport go from here?

Those are the big questions dominating this week's Opening Bell as we hand the floor to our listeners.

There's an argument that boxing has become too niche, thanks largely to its ongoing reliance on paywalls and unsustainable cash injections from outsiders. With that in mind, and with barely anyone outside the boxing bubble seemingly aware that Canelo Alvarez is fighting this weekend, we examine why the sport is finding it so difficult to create genuine crossover stars.

We also discuss what the future might hold for Turki Alalshikh and Sela, assess the progress of Zuffa Boxing, and consider the potential benefits of bringing back same-day weigh-ins.

As always, your support and attention are greatly appreciated. Go well, folks, and we'll be back next week.
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Robert Smith, as the General Secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, has what can only be described as the hardest and most impossible job in British boxing.

Never one to duck a question, Robert highlights how hard his role is as we discuss the latest controversial decision to leave observers screaming 'robbery', the actions of a referee who twice opted to ignore the towel after it had been thrown in an effort to stop the fight and we go deep into the process such incidents trigger.

There's the issue of boxers fighting on too long or coming back when it's clear their best days have gone.

PEDs in the sport has been a thorn in Rob's side, whether due to his disappointment with the boxers involved or the legislation he's had little choice but to accept.

And, finally, there's the exit door that he admits is getting closer and closer.

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Audley Harrison has lived an extraordinary life. Yet for so long, his critics focused on what he hadn't achieved rather than what he had.

Audley puts the record straight this week as he discusses his journey to Olympic glory and, in detail, the rollercoaster professional career that followed.

He reflects on the breakdown he suffered and the panic attacks that followed. The defeats to the likes of David Haye, Deontay Wilder and David Price clearly still niggle, but he accepts that he made some bad decisions along the way, even if he doesn't regret the path he took.

We also celebrate the victories, both personal and professional, and relive that stunning one-armed triumph over Michael Sprott.

There's also a dissection of the impending rematch between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, we take Audley back in time, and look ahead to what comes next for the one and only A-Force.

Go well, folks, and enjoy The Opening Bell.
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What started out as plain sailing for Ben Whittaker hit choppy waters in the late rounds of his battle with Conor Wallace. 'The Surgeon', however, just about stayed afloat to remain unbeaten in his first 12-round fight.

As ever with Whittaker, the critics came out in mass. Was the criticism fair? Or was it merely a young fighter finding his way through a tough spot? The referee, Kieran McCann, also received stick. We hear the BBBoC's verdict on his performance.

Joining Matt is up-and-coming journalist Tom Ivers, who was ringside to witness Whittaker, has spent time with him in the gym, and is well-placed to add some balance to the discussion.

We get to hear about Tom's own journey into the sport, from his days as a promising amateur to the stoppage loss that ended his career, through to him making his mark in the world of boxing journalism.

There's also comebacks to discuss, namely those of Derek Chisora and Floyd Mayweather, who may or may not be about to return.
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