Boxing News Podcast - The Opening Bell Matt Christie

THIS week we go behind the scenes of Chris Billam-Smith’s victory over Lawrence Okolie, reflect on Leigh Wood levelling the score with Mauricio Lara and wonder if Michael Conlan will ever be the same again.

We reveal the Board’s reasoning for allowing the Wood fight to go ahead even though Lara missed weight, and ask questions along the way that some may prefer to ignore. 

This Week In History focuses on another big stadium fight at cruiserweight and there’s even time to discuss Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence at last being made.

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DEVIN HANEY turned in the performance of his life last weekend but only Vasiliy Lomachenko emerged with any credit. Why did so many eye-witnesses get this one wrong?

Also up for discussion: Katie Taylor’s career is at crisis point following a glorious performance by Chantelle Cameron in Dublin - we ponder how far the Irish superstar can come back. Furthermore, why were there so many elephants in the room?

There’s another huge weekend approaching, and alongside a reviewing the latest news, we look ahead to Okolie v Billam-Smith, Lopez v Conlan and Lara v Wood II.

And in This Week, the sad end to a great rivalry - Marquez-Vazquez is in focus.

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WHAT a weekend ahead. Vasiliy Lomachenko, for so long the darling of the hardcore, faces Devin Haney in a sumptuous  battle for the world lightweight title. But at 35, can the old master unseat the younger, cocksure champion?

In Dublin, there’s another high-end showdown between Ireland’s superstar Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron. This one, too, is loaded with intrigue.

And what a week it was. Seven days ago, the boxing twitterati lost their collective mind as the proposed heavyweight bout between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke spectacularly exploded. On that, we offer an alternative view.

Finally, what a week we remember, as we go back to 1996 and relive a peak Felix Trinidad rampaging through the welterweight ranks.

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CANELO ALVAREZ comfortably defeated John Ryder over 12 rounds - so why is the Englishman the moral victor? Let us explain all.

We also round up the news stories and examine the latest progress of Joshua Buatsi.

And in This Week In History, we go back to 2015 to find Alvarez matched with his perfect partner…

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IT’S the start of fight week in Mexico where John Ryder embarks on the mother of all challenges when he attempts to unseat super-middleweight king, Canelo Alvarez.

It looks like mission impossible for the Brit but we examine what he must do to win, and wonder if such a scenario is in fact, well, possible.

We also look ahead to Joshua Buatsi’s return, discuss the latest developments surrounding Conor Benn and in This Week, venture back to 2004 and Oscar De La Hoya’s triumphant return against Ricardo Mayorga.

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IT was announced on Thursday April 27 that Boxing News has been acquired by ID Sports Media. In a special bonus podcast, hosted by Andy Clarke, Matt Christie and Rob Tebbutt reveal what this means for the iconic Boxing News brand.

For regular listeners of The Opening Bell, don’t worry, Alex Steedman AKA The Steed, will be back in the hot seat next time.