Boxing Esq. Podcast

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!.

My guest on this podcast is Philadelphia Boxing Trainer and Writer - Stephen "Breadman" Edwards. I talked to him about his origins in the sport; the Philadelphia boxing scene; and what's next for his star fighter Julian "J-Rock" Williams. We also discussed his outspoken views on the prevalence of PEDs in the sport. It was a great conversation - hope you enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is the President of Showtime Sports and Event Programming - Stephen Espinoza. I talked to him about the great 2018 Showtime had; what's coming up in 2019; life after Les Moonves; the Wilder-Fury and Pacquiao-Broner PPVs and what criteria he uses to determine what goes on PPV. We also discussed his role as a possible conscience of the sport. It was a great conversation - hope you enjoy!

My guests on this podcast are two of the best promoters in the sport of boxing - Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment and Kathy Duva of Main Events. I talked to each of them about upcoming shows featuring their fighters, as well as the state of play in regards to the many recent broadcasting deals in the sport. We also discussed the impact of HBO exiting the scene. Two great conversations - hope you enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Tim Smith, VP of Communications at Haymon Sports and the PBC. We spoke about the PBC's recent multi-year television deals with Showtime and Fox. We also got into what's next for Deontay Wilder, Errol Spence, Keith Thurman, the Charlo Twins, Mikey Garcia, Leo Santa Cruz and others. It was fun discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is, Thomas Hauser, acclaimed author of Missing, The Black Lights and Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times. Tom is one of the foremost boxing writers in the business and you can find his articles at The Sweet Science, Boxing Scene and The Ring. His latest boxing books are There Will Always Be Boxing (2017) and Protect Yourself At All Times (2018). We spoke about Eddie Hearn's deal with DAZN, the Joshua-Wilder negotiations, the WBSS and the general state of boxing. It was an insightful and informative conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Adam Abramowitz, a writer for the boxing blog Saturday Night Boxing. Adam also is a member of the board of the independent media run Transnational Boxing Ratings as well as The Ring ratings panel. We spoke about his recent article on the influx of streaming networks into the sport of boxing. We also got into where cable broadcasting in general is going and how that affects the sport. It was a great conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Rick Collins, a founding partner at the law firm of Collins, Gann McCloskey & Barry. Rick practices in the area of sports nutrition and PEDs and is one of the foremost attorneys in the area of anti-doping law. We spoke about the recent doping cases involving Canelo Alvarez and Alexander Povetkin, as well as what an ideal anti-doping program in boxing would look like. It was a great conversation - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is John Nash, writer for Bloody Elbow. John writes primarily about MMA and also does an excellent podcast with Paul Gift and Jason Cruz called Show Money which covers the business side of MMA. We spoke about the fighters antitrust lawsuit against the UFC, the bill in Congress to extend the Ali Act to MMA, the movement to organize MMA fighters into a union or association and what the sport of boxing can learn from what's going on in MMA. It was an excellent discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Tim Smith, VP of Communications at Haymon Sports and the PBC. Tim was a boxing writer for many years prior to taking his position at the PBC. We spoke about Tim's years as a boxing writer, the PBC's pursuit of a TV deal on free TV, the PBC's potential teaming up with Dana White and the UFC, Top Rank's deal on ESPN, the WBSS and Floyd Mayweather potentially fighting in the UFC. Great discussion - enjoy!

My guest on this podcast is Evan Rutkowsky, former manager of marketing strategy at HBO. Evan is also the author of a great new podcast titled Fistianados, where he gives his take on what television network executives are looking at when they survey the current fight scene. We spoke in depth about Top Rank's deal on ESPN as well as the PBC's situation and why no network has picked up the WBSS. It was a fun discussion - enjoy!

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's ahead in 2018 as far as major fights. We also take a look at what will happen with the PBC possibly joining forces with the UFC, year two of Top Rank's ESPN deal as well as where HBO goes from here. Great discussion - enjoy!.

My guest on this podcast is Brin-Jonathan Butler, author of the critically acclaimed memoir on Cuba, The Domino Diaries, as well as one of the preeminent boxing journalists. We review the major events, issues and fights in the sport of boxing in 2017. Great conversation, hope you enjoy it.

My guest on this podcast is John Hornewer, one of the premier attorneys and boxer representatives in the sport. We talk about some of the great fighters he's represented including Lennox Lewis, Chris Byrd, Roy Jones, Jr., Floyd Mayweather and Vasyl Lomachenko. Really fun and informative conversation.

My guest on this podcast is Patrick English, long-time counsel to Main Events. We talk about some of the historic litigation and events he's taken part in as counsel. We also talk about the Ali Act, the IBF scandal, the PBC, as well as the likelihood of a boxing league.