Advertise on podcast: 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce

What did we learn about Ben Whittaker after his unconvincing win over Conor Wallace? Richie Woodhall joins Buncey to pick through the fight and ask why Whittaker faded, whether Wallace could have done more when he had him in trouble, and what the performance tells us about Whittaker’s progress. Plus, we hear from Whittaker himself and his promoter Eddie Hearn.

Is Ben Whittaker destined to become the face of boxing? The Olympic silver medallist faces Conor Wallace in Birmingham this weekend and sits down with Buncey ahead of the fight. His trainer Andy Lee also joins the pod and is in no doubt Whittaker can reach the very top, even becoming undisputed. Plus, promoter Eddie Hearn explains why he shares Lee’s belief that Ben could become one of the biggest stars in the sport.

No more false starts. Fury v Joshua is finally on. Fresh from the press conference in London, Buncey and Barry Jones join Stacey Copeland to reflect on what we learned as the two British heavyweight rivals came face to face. Buncey also sits down with both Fury and Joshua, while Eddie Hearn explains why it’s taken so many twists and turns to finally get one of British boxing’s biggest fights over the line.

Is it on? Is it off? After telling the world last week that Fury v Joshua was on, Buncey is forced to issue an apology as yet more complications emerge in getting the fight over the line. Richie Woodhall joins him and adds absolutely no insight into what’s happening. So they pivot to a packed October of British boxing and hear from Dalton Smith ahead of his fight.

It sounded too good to be true. Now it’s official. Anthony Joshua will finally fight Tyson Fury on December 11th and Buncey and Barry Jones have been scrambled into action for an emergency pod. They react to the announcement, assess where both men are at this stage of their careers, and break down how the biggest all-British heavyweight fight of a generation could play out when they finally meet in the ring.

Steve Bunce is joined by Barry Jones in Manchester as they react to Pat Brown’s victory over John Hedges. Buncey hears from Brown, who claims the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles in just his seventh fight. Eddie Hearn gives the latest on Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua, with an announcement ‘imminent’ for the highly anticipated heavyweight battle to take place in the UK in December. Plus, Darren Barker speaks about his remarkable fundraising challenge.

Welterweight has produced some of the most complete and celebrated fighters in boxing history, but who is the best of the best? Chairman Ade Oladipo is joined by comedian and boxing podcaster Travis Jay, alongside trainer and online sensation Frank Gilfeather, who reveals how he once trained with one of the greatest fighters ever to enter a ring. Across four categories, the board considers the finest 147lb operators from every era. Can anyone displace Sugar Ray Robinson at the top of the division? Was Sugar Ray Leonard the most adaptable fighter boxing has ever seen? And how do modern greats Floyd Mayweather, Terence Crawford, Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley compare with the legends who came before them? Expect expert insight, passionate disagreement, some surprising omissions and the remarkable story of a boxing icon’s visit to Paisley in the 1960s. Can the board agree on the greatest welterweight of them all?

How did Ryan Garcia make it look so easy? Richie Woodhall joins Buncey to break down Garcia’s devastating two-round stoppage of Conor Benn in Las Vegas. They look at what made Garcia so dominant from the opening bell, whether Benn could have approached the fight differently and where it all went wrong for the Brit. Plus, they assess what the defeat means for Benn and ask what comes next for both fighters.

What is the greatest round in boxing history? Chairman Ade Oladipo is determined to find out as The Boxing Board returns for another passionate debate. Joining Ade are former WBO cruiserweight world champion and broadcaster Johnny Nelson, alongside comedian and boxing commentator Kevin “KG” Garry. Together, the board tackles four categories: the best round involving a British fighter, the best round since 2010, the best round in a championship bout and the best round in a non-championship bout. Can anything top the unforgettable ninth round of Gatti vs Ward? Where does Danny Williams’ remarkable one-armed comeback in round six against Mark Potter rank among British boxing’s greatest moments? And has there ever been a more explosive opening round than Hagler vs Hearns? Expect passion, unexpected takes and another classic story from Johnny “The Entertainer” Nelson.

Will we ever see the likes of Katie Taylor again? On an unforgettable night at Croke Park, she said one final goodbye to boxing in front of 80,000 fans and brought down the curtain on one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen. Stacey Copeland joins Buncey in Dublin to reflect on an extraordinary farewell and try to put into context what they witnessed. We also hear from Katie, her promoter Eddie Hearn, her manager Brian Peters and her father Peter.

Has there ever been, or will there ever be, a bigger send-off than the one awaiting Katie Taylor at Croke Park on Saturday night? Buncey is joined by Stacey Copeland in Dublin as Taylor prepares to bring the curtain down on an extraordinary career. He sits down with the Irish sporting icon and also hears from her manager Brian Peters, promoter Eddie Hearn and trainer Ross Enamait.

Will it be repeat or revenge when Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley run it back following their first fight in May? The pair meet again at the O2 in October, and we hear from both fighters as they explain why they’re confident of coming out on top. Plus, promoter Frank Warren joins the pod to give us the latest on Moses Itauma and share his thoughts on how the second fight between Dubois and Wardley could play out.

The Boxing Board is back to settle one of boxing’s most explosive arguments: who possessed the greatest punches in the sport’s history? Chairman Ade Oladipo is joined by broadcaster and former cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson, alongside former Team GB boxer and boxing writer Ruth Raper, for a debate spanning four punch-perfect categories: the jab, the hook, the uppercut and the body breaker. Can anyone compare with the snap of Larry Holmes’ jab? Does anybody deserve to top Roy Jones Jr. for the greatest hook in boxing? And which heavyweight uppercut will earn our producer’s pick as the most lethal ever thrown? Expect strong opinions, expert knowledge and plenty of names that will have boxing fans arguing long after the final bell.

What next for Moses Itauma? After watching Filip Hrgovic shatter his world-title dream, Buncey is joined by Richie Woodhall to examine why Itauma came up short. We also hear from his promoter, Frank Warren, as they assess what the defeat means and where Itauma goes from here.

What can we read into the mindsets of both fighters after Filip Hrgovic slapped Moses Itauma following a shove off the stage? There’s plenty for Buncey and Richie Woodhall to get stuck into ahead of the heavyweight world title showdown at the O2. They also hear from promoter Frank Warren, who witnessed the fracas from just a few feet away. Plus, the guys break down where they believe the fight will be won and lost.