Tales from the Ring

Danny chats to me growing up in Cork and his start in boxing. He had a very successful amateur career, winning 3 Irish National titles and represented Ireland at the European championships. He would decide to travel to Australia as many lads would in their late teens, but he would soon stumble across a boxing gym and continue his journey on the other side of the world. He would turn professional over in Australia and would win his first 3 fights before COVID would derail his career.

Danny would decide to move back home in 2020 and would begin the next chapter of his pro career in 2021. In recent years he has won fights in Ireland and in Australia to remain undefeated 9-0. In recent months a link up with manager, Dennis Hogan and being signed by Tasman promotions has allowed him to get onto the huge DAZN platform. He now has an opportunity to win his first title as he challenges for the WBC Australasia title on the undercard of Jai Opetaia's world title fight in Australia on June 8th. Danny is hoping this next fight will be just the start of the titles in his career. Listen to his story today.

Paul grew up in Sheffield, England and talks about his upbringing which included spending some years in Jamaica as a kid. He had a modest amateur career in his own words, but it was always Paul's ambition to turn professional and he would begin his pro career with very mixed results, winning only 3 of his first 7 contests. Paul was eager to improve and spent a number of years training and fighting in Canada alongside former Olympic medalist and world amateur champion, Shawn O'Sullivan.

Paul would soon return to England and begin winning fights over the next 3 years. In 1992 after a stoppage defeat to Paul Wesley, he would retire from the sport and be out of the ring for over 2 years and would face many dark days. When he would decide to return to the sport, he would train and spar alongside Irish boxers, Eamon Loughran and Steve Collins under the Barry Hearn Matchroom stable. Then in 1995, he would win his first major title when he stopped Damien Denny at the Ulster Hall in April, 1995 for the WBO Inter-continental title. This win would lead to an unexpected World title shot against champion, Verno Phillips in Paul's hometown of Sheffield. Paul would put on the performance of his life to win a points decision and become Britain's first Light-Middleweight world champion.

Paul opens up about the tough times that would follow after this moment as he was stripped of his title due to politics and never defended the title. He would fight on for 7 more years and claim a Commonwealth Middleweight title and WBC International Super-Middleweight title. Paul finally talks about how life has been since retirement and also about his new autobiography which will be released later this year.

Paul Quinn and I debate our dream all time fantasy matchups in world boxing. We cover fighters from various decades and generations to build the ultimate dream card featuring some of our favourite fighters ever. Let us know who would make your shortlist and if you agree with who we feel would come out on top of our matchups.

Neil Gough is a former 8 x Irish Elite champion from County Waterford and is widely regarded as one of the greatest amateur boxers Ireland has ever produced. He talks about his early years at St. Paul's ABC under his hugely influential coach, John Finn. We chat about his early amateur career and his competitive rivalry with Eddie Fisher during his Intermediate years.

We then go through his amazing record of 11 straight Irish senior finals against quality opposition including, Eamonn Magee, Neil Sinclair, Eddie Fisher, Francis Barrett and James Moore amongst others. There were numerous World and European championship appearances including a fantastic run to the quarter finals of the 1997 World Championships in Budapest when he would lose to 2 x Olympic Gold medalist Oleg Saitov. This run would place Neil as world number 5 in at the time.

Neil also opens up about his frustration at failing to reach 3 consecutive Olympic Games after falling just short at various qualifiers. There are also stories about meeting boxing legends, Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield thrown in there as well. Finally, we find out how Neil is still involved in amateur boxing in Waterford to this very day. Neil is a proper gentleman and it is a real pleasure sharing his story.

Matthew Tyndall Jr grew up in Bray, Co. Wicklow and comes from a family steeped in boxing. Matthew talks about walking into a boxing gym at only 4 years of age and how Katie Taylor would become a huge inspiration to him growing up. Matthew would have immediate success winning an Irish title in his very first year. Throughout his illustrious amateur career, he would win 9 Irish national titles and would represent his country in European championships.

Matthew would become quite disillusioned with the amateur game and would decide to turn professional in 2023 at only 20 years of age. He is currently 7-1 as a professional having just come off an unsuccessful attempt at the Irish Welterweight title against Senan Kelly in 2024 after stepping in at short notice. He has recently linked up with Irish boxing legend, Wayne McCullough in Las Vegas and is hoping to move over to train full time in pursuit of securing some titles in the very near future. Listen to Matthew’s story today.

James Moore grew up in Arklow, County Wicklow and was in a boxing gym from 6 years of age. His amateur career was in his own words a “late developer” in fact he never won an Irish title at schoolboy, youth or junior level in the early days. It wasn’t long until he would start to have great success beginning with an Irish Intermediate title in 1997. The goal was always to win that National Elite title, but standing in his way was the seasoned, Neil Gough. After coming up short in semi-finals and finals to the Waterford man, he would eventually claim that senior title in 2001 beating Gough in the final. James would soon add a Four Nations gold medal before representing Ireland at the 2001 World Senior championships in Belfast.

Those championships would prove to be the greatest week of James’ amateur career. He would go on to claim the only bronze medal from a strong Irish team. James talks about what he had to overcome having 5 fights in 6 days to win his medal. He also talks about sparring stories with Carl Frochin the training camp and nights out with David Haye. After this success at these championships, he would find the next year or so a struggle with injuries, constant training camps and the tragedy of losing 3 of his best friends in a caraccident. James would still continue to have success in 2002-2003 winning 2 more Irish Elite titles and multiple Four Nation gold medals, but when an Olympic place wasn’t secured in 2004, he knew that professional boxing was thenext step in his career.

James would move to New York and train in the famous Gleason’s Gym and quickly build up an undefeated record over the next 3 years. He would add a New York State title and top the bill at Madison Square Garden, Theatre. He would build a 15-0 undefeated record before losing a dubious decision to Gabriel Rosado in 2008. He would go on to win 2 more fights before losing a points decision to future World Champion, Yuri Foreman for the NABF title and Pawel Wolak in his final fight at Yankee Stadium. Since retirement, James has become a part owner in a successful bar in Queens, NY and is happy and content in the States with his wife and 3 kids. He is a humble man who very rarely talks about his boxing story, so I am really excited to release this to you all.

Paul Quinn and I chat about all the main talking points from the last month in Irish and World boxing. We review the recent fights involving Irish boxers including, Tyrone McKenna, TJ Doheny, Paddy Donovan, Lewis Crocker, Feargal McCrory, Callum Walsh and Donagh Keary. We also look back at the massive Saudi card featuring the rematch between Bivol and Beterviev amongst many others. We preview some big shows coming up involving Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn and Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano 3. Finally, we chat about some of the other talking points including Dana White's plans for professional boxing as well as a tribute to the legend, George Foreman who sadly passed away this past weekend.

This week, I look back at some of the greatest wins away from home involving Irish boxers. I go right back over the past 100 years and put together a list featuring over 40 boxers at both amateur and professional level. Please let me know of some of your favourite memories and let me know if there are any boxers that deserve a special mention.

I look back at this weekend's much anticipated show at the SSE Arena, Belfast featuring the mouth watering contest between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan as well as a stacked undercard. I talk about my experience of being in the arena and go through each contest that I watched. I am then joined by our resident guest, Paul Quinn to chat about the controversial main event which resulted in Lewis Crocker remaining unbeaten following Paddy Donovan being disqualified in chaotic scenes. Paul does not hold back when giving his opinions on this one.

Paul Quinn and I debate our dream All Irish matchups over the years. We cover fighters from various decades and generations to build the ultimate dream card featuring some of our greatest fighters. Let us know who would make your shortlist.