Boxing Esq. Podcast

My guest on this podcast is the former Executive Director of the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), David Berlin. We spoke about David's background and interest in the sport, including a brief amateur boxing career. We also talked about his relationship with Teddy Atlas, his representation of Salita Promotions and his new management company Four Corners Advisory Group. Additionally, we discussed David's time at the NYSAC and his implementation of policies regarding drug testing, health care for boxers, bout insurance, selection of officials and instant replay. It was a fun discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Tim Smith, VP of Communications at Haymon Sports and the PBC. We spoke about the upcoming Welterweight unification fight between Errol Spence and Shawn Porter and the rest of the top Welterweights on the PBC roster - Manny Pacquiao, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, and Mikey Garcia. We also talked about the Heavyweights, including the rematches between Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz and Andy Ruiz-Anthony Joshua. We further discussed the loaded Jr. Middleweight division and what's next for Jermall Charlo, Adrian Broner, Leo Santa Cruz, and others. It was a fun discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is world-class trainer and manager Kevin Cunningham. We discussed Kevin's move from St. Louis and the establishment of his world-class training camp in West Palm Beach. We further discussed Kevin's work with Junior Middleweight contender Erickson Lubin, WBA Super Featherweight Champion Gervonta Davis and former four-division champion Adrian Broner. Additionally, we spoke about Kevin's relationship with former Junior Welterweight and Welterweight Champion Devon Alexander and where it's at today. Great conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is David Duenez, owner of the Leave It In The Ring podcast network. We talk about the weekend of fights including Kovalev-Yarde and Figueroa-Cintron. We also talk about the Ruiz-Joshua 2 negotiations and Dana White's entry into boxing promotion. Additionally, we spoke about David's background and interest in boxing and the origins of the Leave It In The Ring network. A really fun and interesting conversation, hope you enjoy it.

My guest on this podcast is Brin-Jonathan Butler, critically acclaimed author, as well as one of the preeminent boxing journalists. We review the good (Pacquiao-Thurman, Ramirez-Hooker), the bad (the administrative mess of Whyte-Rivas) and the ugly/tragic (RIP Maxim Dadashev and Hugo Santillan). A really interesting conversation, hope you enjoy it.

My guest on this podcast is boxing historian Herbert Goldman. We discussed Herbert's time as a managing editor at The Ring and his role in putting together the last three Ring Record Books. We also discussed Herbert's four-volume magnum opus boxing record book for the sport "Boxing - A Worldwide Record of Bouts and Boxers", with a particular focus on the Timeline of Boxing History. Additionally, we went through an abbreviated history of the sanctioning bodies in the interest of tracking how we got to the present of a proliferation of organizations and how close we came at various points to having one overarching regulatory organization. It was a great conversation. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Doug Fischer, Editor-in-Chief of The Ring Magazine. We spoke about Doug's upbringing in the midwest and his journey as a boxing writer. We discussed the origins of internet boxing coverage and Doug's time as one of the principals of both House of Boxing and MaxBoxing, as well as his move to the The Ring. We also did a division by division review of the sport from Heavyweight to Bantamweight as well as our candidates for Fight of the Year so far in 2019. It was a great discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Todd duBoef, the President of one of the leading promoters in boxing Top Rank, Inc. We spoke about his company's television deal with ESPN and how it came about. We also talked about his vision for the future and what shoulder-programming will go on the network. We also spoke about his star heavyweight Tyson Fury and how he fits into the heavyweight picture as well as the great fights coming up on the schedule and collision course that Vasyl Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez are on. It was a great conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Cliff Rold, a top boxing writer and managing editor for BoxingScene.com. Cliff is also a founding member of the media-run independent ratings organization the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board (TBRB). We spoke about his journey in the sport from watching fights with his grandparents to writing for RIngTalk, CyberBoxingZone and Boxing Scene. We also talked about his break from The Ring Ratings Panel to form the TBRB, the art of rating fighters and the goals and impact of the TBRB. We also got into the state of the game, the Heavyweights and what should be the next weight classes for the World Boxing Super Series. It was a really interesting discussion. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is John Nash, a top MMA writer for Bloody Elbow. John writes primarily about MMA and Boxing and also does an excellent podcast called Show Money which covers the business side of MMA. We spoke about the rumors about Endeavor purchasing Waddell & Reed's interest in Haymon Sports and the PBC. We also discussed Endeavor's possible interest in Top Rank and what an Endeavor boxing promotional entity would look like. We also discussed a few MMA topics including how the UFC's deal with ESPN is going and if Bellator is benefitting from its DAZN deal. It was an excellent discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Connecticut Boxing Hall of Famer, six-time sports Emmy award-winner and new President of MTK Global Management, Bob Yalen. We spoke about the future of MTK's top fighters Tyson Fury, Carl Frampton and Billy Joe Saunders. We also spoke about MTK's broadcast deals with ESPN and IFL TV. We then got into Bob's rich experience in the sport as a researcher for Flash Gordon, The Ring Record Book and Fight Fax. We also talked about his time as head of boxing programming at ABC and ESPN networks and as the Chairman of the WBC Ratings Committee. We closed with a discussion of the state of televised boxing today. It was a really informative conversation. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Hall of Fame boxing writer and television commentator, Steve Farhood. We spoke about Steve's experience growing up in NYC in the 1970's and his first job out of college with London Publishing where he founded the legendary KO Magazine. We also spoke about his time as Editor-in-Chief of The Ring Magazine and his nearly 20 years as an expert analyst on ShoBox. Steve also gave his insights on the state of game, where women's boxing is going and who he thinks will win the major fights in the next few months. It was a really fun conversation. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is New York-based boxing manager Ketih Connolly. We talked about how Keith got into the management business and his tremendous roster of fighters including: Daniel Jacobs, Luis Collazo, Marcus Browne, Sergey Derevyanchenko, Adam Kownacki, Chris Algieri, Nikita Abibiy, Reshet Mait and Nkosi Solomon. It was an interesting conversation with some great insight on how "working across the aisle" can happen in the sport. Enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is top trainer and 2019 IBHOF inductee James "Buddy" McGirt. We discussed Buddy's recent work in the corner of WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey Kovalev, as well as young prospect and 2016 Olympian Janibek Alimkhanuly. We also discussed Buddy's HOF career and legendary fights with Frankie Warren, Saoul Mamby, Howard Davis, Meldrick Taylor, Simon Brown and Pernell Whitaker. We talked about his notorious management team Al Certo and Stuart Weiner. We then got into his adjustment to retiring from the ring and his becoming a trainer of champions such as Arturo Gatti, Antonio Tarver and Vernon Forrest. It was a really great conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is legendary Philly promoter Russell Peltz. It's Russell's 50th year as a promoter and we talked about his journey from being a sports reporter to promoting his first bout in 1969 at the age of 22. We discussed his amazing career as a promoter and focused on the decade of the 1970's when he promoted such greats as Bennie Briscoe, Marvin Hagler, Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts, Eugene "Cyclone" Hart, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Marvin Johnson, Roberto Duran, Bobby Chacon, Jeff Chandler and others. We also got into how the sport and business of boxing have evolved and changed since Russell's first promotion in 1969. It was a fascinating conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is boxing manager David McWater. We talked about his journey from Oklahoma to NYC and his stints as a basketball agent, bar owner and Manhattan Community Board member. We then got into his move into boxing and his statistical method of evaluating fighters. We talked about his roster of boxers including IBF JW Champ Ivan Baranchyk (and his withdrawal from the WBSS), super prospect Teofimo Lopez and Olympians Charles Conwell, Vikas Krishan and Antonio Vargas. We also discussed a few of his other prospects - Brian Ceballo, Erick DeLeon, Otha Jones, III and Sonny Conto. It was a great conversation - hope you enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Matchroom USA matchmaker Eric Bottjer. We talked about his journey in the sport and all of the promoters he's worked for including Dan Goossen, Cedric Kushner, Don King, Art Pellulo, Lou DiBella and Eddie Hearn. We also talked about the art of matchmaking and his theory on how to develop fighters. We also got into why there should be a boxing league and the PBC's missed opportunity with all that hedge fund money. It was a great conversation - hope you enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is top boxing judge - Steve Weisfeld. We talked about how he became a judge, some of the significant fights he's worked, the criteria he uses to score a fight and some tips for the viewers scoring at home. We also spoke about the criticisms levied at judges and some possible reforms for more transparency of the judges cards. It was a great conversation - hope you enjoy!

Bonus Podcast from my interview with Scott Shaffer, litigation attorney and longtime senior boxing writer at Boxingtalk.com. Scott and I went long in our conversation last week so I had to edit out our discussion about the broadcast networks. Here is the 10 minutes or so of that discussion. Enjoy the bonus 10 minutes and Happy Holidays!

My guest on this podcast is Scott Shaffer, litigation attorney and Partner at Olshan, Frome and Wolosky, as well as a longtime senior boxing writer at Boxingtalk.com. Scott has represented some of the top promoters in the sport including Sauerland Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and Gary Shaw, as well as world champions such as Ricky Hatton. We look at what happened in the year of boxing for 2018. We also look ahead at what's to come in 2019. It was a great discussion - enjoy!.