Boxing Esq. Podcast

My guest on this podcast is Brin-Jonathan Butler, critically-acclaimed author and one of the preeminent boxing journalists. We look ahead to 2020 division-by-division from Heavyweight down through Bantamweight. We discuss what fights we hope to see in each division as well as what is most likely to occur. It was a really fun conversation, hope you enjoy it.

My guest on this podcast is Brin-Jonathan Butler, a critically acclaimed author and one of the preeminent boxing journalists. We recap the year in boxing for 2019. We spoke about Andy Ruiz and the Heavyweights; Canelo's likely Fighter of The Year worthy campaign; the WBSS and the de facto tournaments at Welterweight and Lightweight and much more. It was a really interesting conversation, hope you enjoy it.

My guest on this podcast is John Nash, a top MMA writer for Bloody Elbow. John writes primarily about MMA and Boxing and also does an excellent podcast called Show Money which covers the business side of MMA. We spoke about the idea of a Boxing League and what the nuts and bolts of that would look like. We spoke about how revenues would be split and what the wage share would be, what antitrust or Ali Act concerns there would be and what would happen with the sanctioning bodies. It was an excellent discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Cliff Rold, a founding member of the media-run independent ratings organization the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board (TBRB) and managing editor at Boxing Scene. We spoke about the 2020 IBHOF ballot and Cliff's choices for the Hall of Fame. We also talked about his criteria for selecting his potential inductees and which writers receive which ballots We also got into the great fights of the last few weeks including Canelo-Kovalev and Inoue-Donaire. It was a really interesting discussion. Enjoy!

My guests on this podcast are Hall of Famer Buddy McGirt and boxing writer Michael Woods. I spoke with McGirt about the upcoming Light Heavyweight title fight between his champion Sergey Kovalev and Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez. We also spoke about the ring passing of Patrick Day and what safety measures the sport can take to prevent future deaths. I spoke to Woods about Woods' upbringing in Massachusetts and what brought him to New York to become a boxing writer. We also spoke about the state of the boxing press today and how it differs from when Woods started. Great conversations - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Tom Loeffler of GGG Promotions and 360 Promotions. We spoke about the recent Middleweight title fight and "Big Drama Show" at Madison Square Garden between Gennady Golovkin and Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Tom's upcoming 360 Promotions show in Hollywood with Serhei Bohachuk. We also talked about Tom's background in sports memorabilia (with his partner Harlan Werner) and their list of clients including Muhammad Ali, Sandy Koufax, Joe Namath, Ronald Reagan, and Mikhail Gorbachev. Additionally, we discussed his time as a boxing manager of Kevin Kelley, Oba Carr and Shane Mosley and his transition into promoting with K2 and the Klitschko brothers. It was a fun discussion - enjoy it!

My guest on this podcast is the former Executive Director of the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), David Berlin. We spoke about David's background and interest in the sport, including a brief amateur boxing career. We also talked about his relationship with Teddy Atlas, his representation of Salita Promotions and his new management company Four Corners Advisory Group. Additionally, we discussed David's time at the NYSAC and his implementation of policies regarding drug testing, health care for boxers, bout insurance, selection of officials and instant replay. It was a fun discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Tim Smith, VP of Communications at Haymon Sports and the PBC. We spoke about the upcoming Welterweight unification fight between Errol Spence and Shawn Porter and the rest of the top Welterweights on the PBC roster - Manny Pacquiao, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, and Mikey Garcia. We also talked about the Heavyweights, including the rematches between Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz and Andy Ruiz-Anthony Joshua. We further discussed the loaded Jr. Middleweight division and what's next for Jermall Charlo, Adrian Broner, Leo Santa Cruz, and others. It was a fun discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is world-class trainer and manager Kevin Cunningham. We discussed Kevin's move from St. Louis and the establishment of his world-class training camp in West Palm Beach. We further discussed Kevin's work with Junior Middleweight contender Erickson Lubin, WBA Super Featherweight Champion Gervonta Davis and former four-division champion Adrian Broner. Additionally, we spoke about Kevin's relationship with former Junior Welterweight and Welterweight Champion Devon Alexander and where it's at today. Great conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is David Duenez, owner of the Leave It In The Ring podcast network. We talk about the weekend of fights including Kovalev-Yarde and Figueroa-Cintron. We also talk about the Ruiz-Joshua 2 negotiations and Dana White's entry into boxing promotion. Additionally, we spoke about David's background and interest in boxing and the origins of the Leave It In The Ring network. A really fun and interesting conversation, hope you enjoy it.

My guest on this podcast is Brin-Jonathan Butler, critically acclaimed author, as well as one of the preeminent boxing journalists. We review the good (Pacquiao-Thurman, Ramirez-Hooker), the bad (the administrative mess of Whyte-Rivas) and the ugly/tragic (RIP Maxim Dadashev and Hugo Santillan). A really interesting conversation, hope you enjoy it.

My guest on this podcast is boxing historian Herbert Goldman. We discussed Herbert's time as a managing editor at The Ring and his role in putting together the last three Ring Record Books. We also discussed Herbert's four-volume magnum opus boxing record book for the sport "Boxing - A Worldwide Record of Bouts and Boxers", with a particular focus on the Timeline of Boxing History. Additionally, we went through an abbreviated history of the sanctioning bodies in the interest of tracking how we got to the present of a proliferation of organizations and how close we came at various points to having one overarching regulatory organization. It was a great conversation. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Doug Fischer, Editor-in-Chief of The Ring Magazine. We spoke about Doug's upbringing in the midwest and his journey as a boxing writer. We discussed the origins of internet boxing coverage and Doug's time as one of the principals of both House of Boxing and MaxBoxing, as well as his move to the The Ring. We also did a division by division review of the sport from Heavyweight to Bantamweight as well as our candidates for Fight of the Year so far in 2019. It was a great discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Todd duBoef, the President of one of the leading promoters in boxing Top Rank, Inc. We spoke about his company's television deal with ESPN and how it came about. We also talked about his vision for the future and what shoulder-programming will go on the network. We also spoke about his star heavyweight Tyson Fury and how he fits into the heavyweight picture as well as the great fights coming up on the schedule and collision course that Vasyl Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez are on. It was a great conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Cliff Rold, a top boxing writer and managing editor for BoxingScene.com. Cliff is also a founding member of the media-run independent ratings organization the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board (TBRB). We spoke about his journey in the sport from watching fights with his grandparents to writing for RIngTalk, CyberBoxingZone and Boxing Scene. We also talked about his break from The Ring Ratings Panel to form the TBRB, the art of rating fighters and the goals and impact of the TBRB. We also got into the state of the game, the Heavyweights and what should be the next weight classes for the World Boxing Super Series. It was a really interesting discussion. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is John Nash, a top MMA writer for Bloody Elbow. John writes primarily about MMA and Boxing and also does an excellent podcast called Show Money which covers the business side of MMA. We spoke about the rumors about Endeavor purchasing Waddell & Reed's interest in Haymon Sports and the PBC. We also discussed Endeavor's possible interest in Top Rank and what an Endeavor boxing promotional entity would look like. We also discussed a few MMA topics including how the UFC's deal with ESPN is going and if Bellator is benefitting from its DAZN deal. It was an excellent discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Connecticut Boxing Hall of Famer, six-time sports Emmy award-winner and new President of MTK Global Management, Bob Yalen. We spoke about the future of MTK's top fighters Tyson Fury, Carl Frampton and Billy Joe Saunders. We also spoke about MTK's broadcast deals with ESPN and IFL TV. We then got into Bob's rich experience in the sport as a researcher for Flash Gordon, The Ring Record Book and Fight Fax. We also talked about his time as head of boxing programming at ABC and ESPN networks and as the Chairman of the WBC Ratings Committee. We closed with a discussion of the state of televised boxing today. It was a really informative conversation. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Hall of Fame boxing writer and television commentator, Steve Farhood. We spoke about Steve's experience growing up in NYC in the 1970's and his first job out of college with London Publishing where he founded the legendary KO Magazine. We also spoke about his time as Editor-in-Chief of The Ring Magazine and his nearly 20 years as an expert analyst on ShoBox. Steve also gave his insights on the state of game, where women's boxing is going and who he thinks will win the major fights in the next few months. It was a really fun conversation. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is New York-based boxing manager Ketih Connolly. We talked about how Keith got into the management business and his tremendous roster of fighters including: Daniel Jacobs, Luis Collazo, Marcus Browne, Sergey Derevyanchenko, Adam Kownacki, Chris Algieri, Nikita Abibiy, Reshet Mait and Nkosi Solomon. It was an interesting conversation with some great insight on how "working across the aisle" can happen in the sport. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is top trainer and 2019 IBHOF inductee James "Buddy" McGirt. We discussed Buddy's recent work in the corner of WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey Kovalev, as well as young prospect and 2016 Olympian Janibek Alimkhanuly. We also discussed Buddy's HOF career and legendary fights with Frankie Warren, Saoul Mamby, Howard Davis, Meldrick Taylor, Simon Brown and Pernell Whitaker. We talked about his notorious management team Al Certo and Stuart Weiner. We then got into his adjustment to retiring from the ring and his becoming a trainer of champions such as Arturo Gatti, Antonio Tarver and Vernon Forrest. It was a really great conversation - enjoy!