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. Enjoy the show? Please leave us a review, spread the word on social media or, better still, support Opening Bell with a paid subscription. Go well, one and all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Thanks, one and all, for supporting The Opening Bell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Costello, former BBC and DAZN commentator and one of the wisest figures in boxing, is here to discuss his career, his retirement, and his thoughts on the Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury saga. Costello relives his experiences at ringside, the life it gave him, and the memories he will always cherish. From his days at the BBC through to the end of his career - as he made the switch from radio to television - Costello was a key voice at some of the most important fights of the modern era. He turns his attention to Joshua-Fury, and the mayhem behind the scenes, but concludes that the fight's making remains important even at this late stage of the heavyweights' careers. Also discussed is when the fight should have been made, what each now brings to the fight, and who's the likeliest to emerge victorious. Providing it happens, of course. There are some sound issues along the way. Apologies for those. We hope you still enjoy it. Support The Opening Bell by subscribing if you can. With love and the best of wishes, The OB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mere days after Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is confirmed, we're told it's in jeopardy. Matt Christie lets off some steam on the subject and the eternal circus that is the sport of boxing. Support The Opening Bell by subscribing if you can. Many thanks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded at the EXACT moment when Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury was confirmed as a done deal for December 11 in Cardiff, The Opening Bell has another important announcement to bring you. Our beloved Alex Steedman has chosen to leave the podcast. That's the bad news. And it's horrible, crushing news. The good news is that The Opening Bell will continue - should, of course, you want it to. Matt Christie, while paying tribute to the one and only Steed, explains the reasons behind Alex's departure and what he hopes The Opening Bell will look like in the future. Stay with us, folks, we can get through this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ryan Garcia defeated Conor Benn, stopping him in less than five minutes out in Las Vegas. The contest itself was immeasurably shorter than the build-up that focused on Benn's struggle to boil down to 147lbs but was this really a contest decided by one man's struggle to make weight? In the Opening Bell studio this week is Tris Dixon, one of the most respected boxing journalists in the business, who answers the pertinent questions regarding Benn's defeat to Garcia. There is, of course, the battle with the scales to consider yet Garcia's triumph was both so emphatic and rapid it would be cruel on the victor to suggest he defeated an already broken man. Yet it reignites conversation about when fighters should and should not weigh in. Evidence continues to mount that staging them the day before a contest is making the sport more dangerous than it already is. More so, it is only encouraging fighters to compete in a weight class that bears no relation to their actual size come the opening bell. But was Benn hard done by at the finish? Some suggested it was premature stoppage while others have championed the compassion of the referee. We look ahead at the rebuild job for Benn and the future of Garcia who, with this victory, finds himself as one of the most marketable fighters in the business. Thanks, as always, folks for the support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's fight week in Las Vegas and Chris McKenna, nursing a minor hangover out in Sin City, is this week's guest on The Opening Bell. Garcia makes the first defence of his WBC welterweight title against Benn. The fight is interesting for different reasons and worthy of several questions. Does it feel like a big fight week? Why (oh why) is Benn No. 1 at welterweight with the WBC when he hasn't made 147lbs in four years? With that in mind, is Benn as weight-drained as the recent imagery makes it appear or is he, like Garcia, launching a few mind-game bombs? What does each need to do to win and, finally, who does win? Fear not, we limit the Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury chat while wondering why Turki Alalshikh and Sela don't just stump up the cash to stage the fight in the UK. We end on a high, just like Katie Taylor, and focus on her perfect end to a near-perfect career. Thanks one and all for listening and supporting The Opening Bell! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices