When two people spend their formative years as rivals, it is hard to understand how intense a fight between them as men can be. Add to that, the eyes of the boxing world, and you have something that has the capacity to bend minds and upset odds.Ryan Garcia surprised the world in beating Devin Haney, despite the antics leading up to the fight. In tr…

We finally get the Queensberry v Matchroom clash we were promised in the pandemic – only took us one vaccine and 4 boosters to get there.As boxing fans, we should be happy that we have a big card, which has meaning, supported by 5 really strong fights.The only dark cloud is whether we are running this Saudi experiment at the expense of our domestic…

What is going on with our promoters? It seems like chaos in the worlds of Hearn, Warren, and Shalom.It’s a great soap opera for men that like to be the little spoon, I guess. However, it doesn’t help make the sport stronger.The sad bit is, now that Eddie and Frank are forced to be cool, Eddie has taken to bully Ben Shalom. Yes…this is really how a …

Before anything, a few ‘thank yous:’Alfie Warren - @alfieRwarrenWarren Boxing Management - @warrenboxingmanagmentHannah Rankin - @team_rankinRival Boxing Gym - @rivalboxinggymkingsxAmy Andrew - @amyandrewboxingHuman Hussain - @numan007hussainMasood Abdulah - @mas_masood1Steve Broughton - @sb_boxing_We are in the era of boxing where we have media cr…

The world needs more superheroes…It’s very rare that you get a British title fight where two men leave everything in the ring, where two men go to places they’ve never been before, and where they find out things about themselves that they never knew.It is so rare to see that Sunday’s fight between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke, even though it end…

At some point, British boxing has to address its issues around doping. Doping in Boxing has massively watered down the credibility of the sport and left us in a position where we don’t believe results anymore. We don’t believe fighters are clean and we don’t believe our boxes are competing with honour.UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control wo…

What do you do if you’re Canelo?Do you chase legacy or do you chase money, or do you chase safety?It seems clear that Canelo is at the point in his career where he is chasing safety in terms of safe paydays and low risk fights, as if he’s built his legacy and has nothing further to prove.But, is this good for boxing when the main man in the sport, …

For as long as the Saudi Arabia money flows into boxing Frank Warren won’t put any of his A team in a UK ring.So, what we going to get on TNT sport and in UK venues will be Frank’s B team, and on Saturday we got a glimpse of that and based on Saturday it’s not too promising. Nathan Heaney showed that, without enough of those serious fights against …

You can define being a professional as, the ability to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, in the way that it needs to be done.Anthony Joshua is the best example of being a professional from rarely being out of shape to very rarely being out the gym, he stays focused on his craft in a way that many of his rivals do not. What we saw …

Why is boxing on the decline in the West?Part of it has to be the lack of genuinely competitive and interesting 'big men.' It seems that there is a dearth of real talent in the bigger weight classes, allowing other nations to dominate.In the UK is it a question or 'rubbish in, rubbish out' as many speculate?…

In this episode I give a quick(ish) rundown of the things I missed between episodes 199 and 200.Boxing is in a perilous place right now, but the promoters are happy to ignore that as they do their pilgrimage to the bottomless pit of money.It cannot last forever and when it ends, will that be boxing done?…

It is incredible that this version of the pod has made it to 200. 100% of that is down to you guys. You are the best audience anyone could hope for.As a group we punch well above our weight and we will only get stronger.There are also others I need to thank for where the podcast is today:Martin and Andi – No idea why Andi hasn’t just changed it to …

Joshua, Yoka, Dubois, how have three gifted athletes and boxers fallen so far below expectations?Also, will Day of Reckoning cut through beyond boxing ciricles?Highfield Boxing

Sometimes you watch a unification fight and expect a battle of equals. We didn't get that on Saturday.The gap in class surprised everybody and British boxing has to ask whether it builds boxers that are really good enough.At the moment, the answer is no.Highfield Boxing

Finishing off what I started on Saturday...like Jordan GillHighfield Boxing

The Conor Benn saga reappears. The Board are taking a strong stance on Conor Benn boxing in the UK.Is it 'better late than never for them to be taking such a strong stance and can Matchroom find a way though?Highfield Boxing

Boxing has a handful of people, men and women, that actively shape the lives of our young. Some of those are also able to create some of the best boxers this country has seen.Mick Carney was one of those guys.12 years later, we still miss him just as bad. A man that helped us become better, a man that brought us together under the banner of Fitzroy…

https://linktr.ee/highfieldboxingSo, we got all the boxers we wanted to see this year, but none of the fights we wanted to see.However, all is not lost because the card on December 23rd will be a lot better than Carry on Camping and Bambi on ITV2.Highfield Boxing

https://linktr.ee/highfieldboxinghttps://linktr.ee/highfieldboxing The battle for the worst weekend in boxing intensifies.Lat weekend's action is right up there in the trash stakes.The Newcastle show was interesting as it was a reminder that the talent pool in British boxing is poor and has been for a while.…

What you do outside the ring will show in the ring as Andre Sterling once said.What we saw from Fury was a man struggling to cope with the realities of his physical condition, and a man out of love with boxing.When you love boxing you are faithful to it, loyal to it and the rhythms and routines it demands.Fury faced a man in Francis Ngannou who had…

If anyone has had a harder 5 years in boxing than Isaac Chamberlain, please send them my way.Watching him win the British and Commonwealth was the definition of a feel-good story and what we watch boxing for.In contrast Jack Catterall is sill waiting for his fairytale moment and it is likely that wait will continue well past his retirement.(0% of b…

Tonight, we have two boxing shows that are a hard sell individually, and a hard sell collectively.As much as we are happy the boxers are getting paid, the fans should see some value for their time and expenditure.Until promoters, managers and boxers understand this, we are digging our own grave for boxing.As fans we also need to do better and stop …

Say what you want but KSI has built a boxing business without having to work with the boxing business.He is proof that, in todays era, you need to be interesting more than you need to be talented.Until boxing realises that, the sport will continue to decline as it is held prisoner by the type of people you’d never buy a used car off.…

Leigh Wood is having the best Indian summer to his career. The king of comeback wins pulls another one out the bag.He showed the value in being ready in key moments. Leigh saw his opportunity and he took it. No matter the opponent, real champions always find a way to win.Leigh Wood did that.Highfield Boxing

Weight classes matter in a specialised sport like boxing.Jermell Charlo found out the hard way in his defeat to Canelo.We also saw the showcasing of a new star to emerge from Australia in Jai Opetaia. However, is he a bigger nae than Tim Tszyu? This will be Eddie Hearn's next challenge.At Boxxer, we are seeing signs that all might not be well and m…

Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk looks like it has been agreed, but we will believe it when we see it.If it does happen, it will be the last chapter of an era that promised so much but delivered so little.When that boxing recession does happen, do not be afraid to go out and do other things.Enjoy your life.…

https://linktr.ee/highfieldboxingBoxing is cruel. One punch can undo a whole lifetime's worth of work. But, should we be so hard on Joe Joyce?Here is a man that said yes to every challenge and was fine being an underdog - the kind of fighter we want. Yet, when he loses, we are so quick to turn.Until boxing fans are more balanced in their views, we …

https://linktr.ee/highfieldboxingThe public are upset with Conor Benn being able to fight on Saturday. I can see why they are, but the people that should have been able to stop him failed to do so. It’s also at a point where it’s better that he is banned or he boxes because we are tired of the soap opera now.We have a major problem with governance …

https://linktr.ee/highfieldboxingThis week it’s all about the audience questions.There are a few questions, but we’ll get through them in a couple of episodes this week.Highfield Boxing

This time they will blame the Saudis for the Anthony Joshua-Deontay Wilder fight falling through.But, what about the last 7 years? What explains those.It is convenient that the shifting political sands in the Saudi Royal Court have scuppered the fight, but it was a result of sitting on the egg long after the chick should have hatched. The real winn…

It is strange to say that, this was the most Eubank has looked like Roy Jones Jr, ever. In doing that, Jr was able to dominate Liam Smith. It is a journey of redemption that many did not expect, but one that boxing needed. You also have to feel for Liam Smith. It was a rough day at the office. we must ask how on earth he gained 42 pounds in any way…

If that body shot was thrown on a Friday night in York Hall, it would be called as fair.We have seen those shots allowed and we have seen them penalised. that is where the controversy comes from. This probably should have been called as fair, but the rules are the rules.Highfield Boxing

In a week where everyone in boxing had their say about everything, Terence Crawford goes on Joe Rogan to really speak his mind and in doing so, gave guidance to all the young boxers out there.We need more guys to speak out, like Carl Froch is, about the boxing Deep State.Highfield Boxing

We give Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn a hard time, but they really are swimming in shallow waters when it comes to talent. That isn't their fault.The reality is that our system isn't set up for success and if anything, the obsession with Team GB has set our boxing back twenty years.Highfield Boxing

It was a holiday snap shared on Insta. It was the body hair patterns in that picture that made me suspicious.Now, it's a failed drug test that has proved me right. I didn't want to be right though.Alycia Baumgardner was born genetically gifted, hat her confidence wasn't high enough to see that is the tragedy here. There is a chance she would have b…

It is tricky to be balanced about AJ. On one hand, he gives us a great KO and worthy of highlight reel status. On the other hand... it is Robert Helenius.The reality is somewhere in the middle. We have a good heavyweight, but one that is some way off greatness. But, we should enjoy him while we can because what comes after is worse.…

We need more detail before we can comment fully on Dillian Whyte. What we can say is that boxing is a mess right now.However you slice it, Dillian needs better people, processes and systems around him so he can prepare for fights like an elite athlete.Overall, the sport needs to deal with the doping crisis before boxing become a niche sport like bo…

Thanks to Greg Hackett for the intro - https://www.youtube.com/@ghbtv.9586In a week where boxing delivered, we crowned two kings in Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue. they stand atop the sport now as the leaders of this era.Having said that, nothing should be taken away from their dance partners. In a sport where we demand the best fight the best, w…

This is the week boxing gives us a genuine superfight.One man has risen through the weights to challenge for Welterweight supremacy against a man who has been unstoppable at the weight.Who will win?Highfield Boxing

This is the week where boxing will show what makes it the best spectacle and sport on the planet. Two fights that will dictate the order of the P4P list happen this week.Both fights are impossible to call, but this is what we crave as fans. This is the start for a good 8 weeks for boxing fans, so let us enjoy it while we have it.…

We can be too down as boxing fans sometimes.2023 has given us some epic events and good fights that we were struggling to get before. It is up to us to appreciate them and appreciate the sport we love so much because we are entering a busy and hopefully, entertaining period for boxing.Highfield Boxing

We get 4 heavyweight fights, and maybe a fifth, involving all the main actors in this saga.Yet, between all ten, we don’t get one fifth that we really wanted.If we waited this long, maybe we are destined to never get them, or get them too late.But, we all hope Daniel Dubois can pull off the upset because that might change the dynamics.…

Massive get well soon to Boxing King Media.We are all animals in the same ecosystem and we need each other to thrive.Best wishes and a speedy recovery.Highfield Boxing

Conor Benn's journey through UK Anti-Doping has been done in reverse. He started off with the least plausible defence and then ended up at the the most plausible defence - But a defence he already rejected as impossible.How he digs himself out of this hole will be interesting.Highfield Boxing

We really need a clear view on what the Sky Boxing strategy is.Apart from the Cruiserweights, where they have full control, they seem to be all at sea everywhere else.Highfield Boxing

Boxing loves a comeback and it has been a feel'good moment to have Teofimo Lopez back in form, with a career best performance.However, we should also cautious in writing off Josh Taylor. While he didn't win his performance was enough to have beaten any of his previous opponents.Highfield Boxing

Bit of a wind-down week in boxing this week as people prepare for holidays and bigger fights later in the years, but still some interesting stories developing.Highfield Boxing

The non-Bournemouth cards did a lot for the fans, but they could have done better.It is time to admit that Adam Booth is yesterday's man when it comes to boxing. It is also time we ask why Ireland cannot produce real champion boxers in the professional ranks.Highfield Boxing

The journey Chris Billam-Smith has been on, in and out the ring, is remarkable. It is also testament t the man's character that he has kept going in the face of adversity.It is hard to find a bad word to say about the man and the fact that he brought a world title to Bournemouth is incredible. There has to be a movie in that somewhere.…

I do not think Lomachenko was robbed, but it was definitely a close fight and a reminder that, at that level, every round counts and you cannot afford to start slow.Huge praise to Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron for risking it all against each other can delivering for the fans. the men could learn from that.…