Boxing Life Stories - I'm calling it now

[bennie]

Good interview with Joe Mesi available to download now

I followed Mesi's career since he was in the USA box-off's for the 1996 Olympics (way back in 1995). An entertaining fighter with explosive power and plenty of grit.

Joe speaks clearly and honestly about his career (amateur and professional). Very refreshing to hear compared to the boxers who talk bollocks and have a shed load of excuses.

I normally skip the US ones as far more interested in the British scene but agree the Mesi one was really good - incredibly articulate guy and amazed he hasn't got any commentary gigs on the strength of that.
Thought the diBella one was good as well, esp. his thoughts on Hearn!

This reminds me of Jerry Quarry, the perennial heavyweight contender who retired in 1975 and landed a plum job as a commentator for the ABC network in the States. Jerry was so good that his future looked assured but then came a desperate comeback against Italy's Lorenzo Zanon in Las Vegas in 1977, a man who boxed Quarry's ears off until he collapsed in the ninth round, which was something of a Zanon trademark. Quarry's performance told everyone that the man had no future in the ring. Moreover, because he fought Zanon on the CBS network, he was promptly dumped by ABC as a commentator.

[mickey1975]

Good interview with Joe Mesi available to download now

I followed Mesi's career since he was in the USA box-off's for the 1996 Olympics (way back in 1995). An entertaining fighter with explosive power and plenty of grit.

Joe speaks clearly and honestly about his career (amateur and professional). Very refreshing to hear compared to the boxers who talk bollocks and have a shed load of excuses.

I normally skip the US ones as far more interested in the British scene but agree the Mesi one was really good - incredibly articulate guy and amazed he hasn't got any commentary gigs on the strength of that.
Thought the diBella one was good as well, esp. his thoughts on Hearn!

I thought he was bang on about Hearn and worded it perfectly.

[Deserter]

Good interview with Joe Mesi available to download now

I followed Mesi's career since he was in the USA box-off's for the 1996 Olympics (way back in 1995). An entertaining fighter with explosive power and plenty of grit.

Joe speaks clearly and honestly about his career (amateur and professional). Very refreshing to hear compared to the boxers who talk bollocks and have a shed load of excuses.

I normally skip the US ones as far more interested in the British scene but agree the Mesi one was really good - incredibly articulate guy and amazed he hasn't got any commentary gigs on the strength of that.
Thought the diBella one was good as well, esp. his thoughts on Hearn!

I thought he was bang on about Hearn and worded it perfectly.

Yep, agree Mickey. Very measured in his comments.

[THEBUTCH]

I'm not sure I can bring myself to listen to Di Bella for more than a few minutes...he's such a loud mouth !

[Counter-puncher]

I normally skip the US ones as far more interested in the British scene but agree the Mesi one was really good - incredibly articulate guy and amazed he hasn't got any commentary gigs on the strength of that.
Thought the diBella one was good as well, esp. his thoughts on Hearn!

I thought he was bang on about Hearn and worded it perfectly.

Yep, agree Mickey. Very measured in his comments.

what did he say?

[Deserter]

I'm not sure I can bring myself to listen to Di Bella for more than a few minutes...he's such a loud mouth !

Somewhat surprisingly he isn't in the interview mate. Very considered views and some great stories such as getting smashed and dancing on tables with King and Arum!

[Deserter]

I thought he was bang on about Hearn and worded it perfectly.

Yep, agree Mickey. Very measured in his comments.

what did he say?

Basically that a lot of the promoters historically have been a lot more collegiate, whereas Hearn doesn't make any effort to build bonds and is far more focused on building his own personal brand.

[Counter-puncher]

Yep, agree Mickey. Very measured in his comments.

what did he say?

Basically that a lot of the promoters historically have been a lot more collegiate, whereas Hearn doesn't make any effort to build bonds and is far more focused on building his own personal brand.

ha, that would very much make sense

[margaret thatcher]

i like the edster, but he's obviously an absolute self promotion whore

[maverick23]

Yep, agree Mickey. Very measured in his comments.

what did he say?

Basically that a lot of the promoters historically have been a lot more collegiate, whereas Hearn doesn't make any effort to build bonds and is far more focused on building his own personal brand.

I think in the early years Eddie was just being himself. I always thought he came across well and was usually positive about things.

Since he’s left Sky I think he’s been a bit sneakier. I didn’t particularly understand why he’d edit Fraser Clarke out of a group photo he was in and when questioned he said it was to zoom in a bit more as he thought he looked good.

I actually think he’s one of the few promoters, at least in the US, that will do deals with other promoters. He’s just annoyed Ellerbe and the PBC guys so much that they won’t do business with him. It may be the same with DiBella now too.

Arum doesn’t particularly care - he says what he wants and will do what makes him the most money but even he says Eddie talks too much. Interestingly Bob was quick to the deal with Frank for Beterbiev/Yarde despite Yarde as a mandatory not being ordered, Beterbiev saying he wanted the Bivol fight and Bivol’s manager and Eddie saying they were keen to do the fight and would be happy to review different platforms to air the fight.

Joe Markovski from DAZN did an interview on Monday saying he didn’t want his promoters (Eddie and Oscar) to feud with others as it doesn’t help make good fights. I don’t disagree but I just can’t see Eddie sticking to it. If he gets asked his thoughts on a PPV (like Ortiz vs Martin) then he won’t be able to help himself tear it apart.

[Twinkle Toes]

Dibella has a boner on for his dislike of Hearn.

He's done enough interviews recently outside of this podcast to figure it out. I certainly wouldn't be agreeing or believing I was listening to an honest assessment from Dibella on anything regarding Hearn.

He's done assassination pieces on Arum in the past. All these guys are the same. Dibella is yesterdays man and he doesn't like it. He is quick to remind us of how great it was when he was more relevant.

[maverick23]

Dibella has a boner on for his dislike of Hearn.

He's done enough interviews recently outside of this podcast to figure it out. I certainly wouldn't be agreeing or believing I was listening to an honest assessment from Dibella on anything regarding Hearn.

He's done assassination pieces on Arum in the past. All these guys are the same. Dibella is yesterdays man and he doesn't like it. He is quick to remind us of how great it was when he was more relevant.

Yeah. He comes across bitter that he’s not more involved with the big fights and big networks. He doesn’t like the model of TV channels/networks aligning themselves with specific promoters. He thinks, perhaps correctly, that there should be someone doing quality control (it just so happens he keeps saying that’s what he did at HBO) and they should be able to work with all promoters.

He was asked why he chose to work with Arum on the Haney/Kambosos fight over Eddie and he said it’s because the deal was better for him. Strangely didn’t mention it was better for his fighter.

[THEBUTCH]

The Carl Greaves Pod was a decent listen.

A genuine boxing man through & through.

Also a hard worker and I sympathise with him regarding his comments about some of the imposters in the game.

[Coco]

The Carl Greaves Pod was a decent listen.

A genuine boxing man through & through.

Also a hard worker and I sympathise with him regarding his comments about some of the imposters in the game.

Haven't seen it yet, I'll get on to it, proper good bloke

[THEBUTCH]

He came over as sound, down to earth chap. I think you'll enjoy it Coco

Showed his sense of humour when commenting on Floyd Mayweather being his number 1 contender when Carl held the WBF title.

[high tower 1]

Aaron snowell talked a load of crap. Kings lackey trainer. Like a black Ben Davison.

[Counter-puncher]

The Carl Greaves Pod was a decent listen.

A genuine boxing man through & through.

Also a hard worker and I sympathise with him regarding his comments about some of the imposters in the game.

HMMM i wonder who he might be referring to?

[Counter-puncher]

Aaron snowell talked a load of crap. Kings lackey trainer. Like a black Ben Davison.

aaa, there he is!

[THEBUTCH]

Counter-puncher, i can't remember him naming specifics but I wonder if he's referring to some of the jokers on Skysports etc Or possibly Boxercise Ben but i could be way off the mark there.

Carl came across as quite dignified in that regard IMO.

[THEBUTCH]

high tower 1, thanks for your post ! I'll avoid that one

I can't stand those loud mouth types (in the main) who talk rubbish. I suppose it's good Tris Dixon offers plenty of variety and it will probably appeal to some, but not for me thank you.

[Counter-puncher]

Counter-puncher, i can't remember him naming specifics but I wonder if he's referring to some of the jokers on Skysports etc Or possibly Boxercise Ben but i could be way off the mark there.

Carl came across as quite dignified in that regard IMO.

My immediate thoughts were our friend Ben and the two jokers who latched on to AJ. Add Tunde to the list too. In terms of the sky team, they might be idiots but Smith is hardly an imposter- he isn’t claiming any credibility- and the pundits all have enough of a record that imposters doesn’t apply even if ‘company men’ and other phrases does. To me imposters sounds aimed at unqualified or inexperienced people involved directly in training. Probably I assume that’s who I’d be most annoyed with, if I was Greaves.

[THEBUTCH]

"Imposters" is my take on what Greaves said. Have a listen and see what you take from it.

[Counter-puncher]

"Imposters" is my take on what Greaves said. Have a listen and see what you take from it.

[Controversial]

Just listening to the Shane McGuigan one, interesting insight into the Haye and Bellew build up and Hayes injuries where Shane wanted him to pull out the fight. Of course the beef between them was always fake but admitted by Shane that it was all made up and they held a meeting to discuss what drama they would cause.

[Deserter]

Just listening to the Shane McGuigan one, interesting insight into the Haye and Bellew build up and Hayes injuries where Shane wanted him to pull out the fight. Of course the beef between them was always fake but admitted by Shane that it was all made up and they held a meeting to discuss what drama they would cause.

Must admit i thought that was a cracking episode - best one I've listened to in a long time I think. Was really impressed by McGuigan and also felt Tris was on his 'A-game'... willing to probe the Frampton situation etc, but also showed great empathy when talking about Danika McGuigan (the way Shane spoke about that was real lump in the throat stuff).
Some brilliant insights ranging from Groves' mindset through to his views on S&C. Would recommend anyone to check it out