Boxing Life Stories

By Tris DixonSports

Boxing Life Stories episodes

June 05, 2019 #36 Donald McRae

Award-winning author and sports writer Donald McRae talks about his varied journey through the sport.
He discusses his newly released book, In Sunshine or in Shadow: How Boxing Brought Hope in the Troubles, as well as his previous boxing classics, including Dark Trade, In Black and White and A Man's World.
As the Guardian's sports interviewer, McRae has interviewed more than 1,000 prominent athletes but it is boxing that remains closest to his heart.
Here, in detail, he discusses his motivations, his ambitions and some of the highlights of working with the likes of James Toney, Mike Tyson, Barry McGuigan and many more.

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1 hr 51 min
May 29, 2019 #35 Johnny Nelson

Sky Sports pundit or long-reigning WBO cruiserweight champion, however you know Johnny Nelson you may see him differently after this enthralling interview.
Johnny, who lost 10 of 13 amateur fights and had a disastrous beginning to life in the pros, started to learn after being publicly shamed in two world title fights and then going on the road, in Europe as a sparring partner and around the world as a journeyman heavyweight when there were no opportunities left at cruiserweight.
Yet he wound up with a record number of world title defences and did so with the enigmatic trainer Brendan Ingle in his corner.
Here, in an emotional, engaging and – at times – funny interview, he recalls his story and he cannot disguise his emotions as the first anniversary of Brendan's death approached.

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2 hr 15 min
May 22, 2019 #34 Joe Calzaghe

Welsh star Joe Calzaghe retired unbeaten, at 46-0, following a career that brought him world titles in two weight classes and the scalps of the likes of Jeff Lacy, Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Richie Woodhall, Robin Reid and countless others.
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, he was trained by his late father Enzo, from being a young amateur through to those huge stadium nights and under the bright lights of American arenas.
Calzaghe has seen and done it all, but the loss of his father still clearly hurts. You might know Joe Calzaghe the fighter, but after listening to this you will also know Joe Calzaghe the man.

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1 hr 27 min
May 15, 2019 #33 Ben Davison

Trainer Ben Davison has risen to prominence as the man behind Tyson Fury's incredible return to the sport and the heavyweight division.
Initially condemned when he cornered Billy Joe Saunders to a poor performance against Artur Akavov at short notice, Davison has become one of the most-talked about trainers in boxing and here discusses life in the Fury camp, his featherweight hope Isaac Lowe and his return to the corner of Saunders.
Eloquent and with great boxing insight, Davison talks about the intricacies of the sport, his homework for big fights, the Wilder night in Los Angeles and much more

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1 hr 9 min
May 09, 2019 #32 Kerry Kayes

The former CNP boss talks to Tris Dixon about his life in boxing, from cutting his teeth in the Collyhurst to becoming Ricky Hatton's strength and conditioning coach and nutritionist, and then one of the best cut men in the game, who has worked with trainers including Billy Graham, Dave Coldwell and Jamie Moore.
The always affable and articulate Kayes discusses what it was like being on the Hatton roller coaster, how a good cut man works and his aspirations in a revealing and insightful interview. Bad cuts, extreme weight loss and wild scenes in Las Vegas, Kerry has seen it all.

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1 hr 8 min
May 02, 2019 #31 Michael Conlan

Irish superstar Michael Conlan was an enormously decorated amateur who won Olympic bronze in 2012 and then left with his middle finger infamously raised when on the wrong end of a controversial decision in the Rio Games of 2016.
After starting his career under an American trainer, he is now working with Adam Booth and carries the burden of being one of the sport's brightest prospects.
Promoted by Top Rank in the US, with and already huge following and currently adapting and learning in the pros, he talks about his rise through the amateurs, the politics of the sport, being one of the world's hottest talents and the fights that could define his career. All this and much more in a thorough interview.

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1 hr 30 min
April 25, 2019 #30 Wayne McCullough

Irishman Wayne McCullough was a two-time Olympian who raced to a world title in the pros. Having captured silver in the Barcelona games of 1992, he had a decorated pro career, making his name as a high-volume fighter with a rock hard chin and an iron will.
He fought the best of his era, the likes of Naseem Hamed and Erik Morales, won his world title impressively in Japan, boxed Scott Harrison and refuses to say the words 'I retire' or 'I quit' even today.
Here, in an interview in a Las Vegas coffee shop, he talks about the moments that defined his career, his regrets, his highlights and everything in between.

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1 hr 36 min
April 11, 2019 #29 Yaqui Lopez
Stockton light-heavyweight legend Yaqui Lopez was one of the best fighters never to win a world title, despite multiple attempts.
He was a danger man in one of boxing's great divisions, when there were almost 20 world-class 175-pounders, including several of his opponents, Michael Spinks, Matthew Saad Muhammad, John Conteh, James Scott and Victor Galindez.
Yaqui – who was a blood and guts warrior – is a kind, warm man. He had a role in the famous boxing movie, Fat City, and now runs the Fat City Boxing Club, not far from his home. Tris Dixon recently visited him at home, and went on a tour of the gym, for this interview.

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1 hr 28 min
April 11, 2019 #28 Nonito Donaire
The Filipino Flash, Nonito Donaire, is in fine and revealing form as he's interviewed by Tris Dixon in Las Vegas.
Donaire is 36 and set for his semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series but he has had a storied career, having fought the likes of Darchinyan, Montiel, Rigondeaux, Frampton, Burnett, Walters, Arce and many more.
Here, he talks about his battles with mental health, how he now maintains his positive mindset, being one of the sport's good guys, his major fights and turmoil behind the scenes in a hard-hitting and wide-ranging interview.

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1 hr 8 min
April 04, 2019 #27 Jimmy Tibbs
Jimmy Tibbs is a British boxing icon.
A former fighter, he made his name as one of the great trainers, working the corner of notables including Michael Watson, Nigel Benn, Frank Bruno, Lloyd Honeyghan, Mark Kaylor, Charlie Magri and countless others.
But his life away from the ring has been equally interesting. After a long prison sentence for settling a gangland family feud, he turned to training, became a born again Christian, battled cancer and he still works in the corner as a cutsman.

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1 hr 18 min