Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury in Jeopardy?! Gareth A Davies and Dave Coldwell REACT

[00:00:00]Welcome, David, and welcome back to Fight Night Extra.

[00:00:03]>> Thanks for having me, Gareth. Thanks for having me. Always a pleasure.

[00:00:07]>> Uh, it's lovely to have you on as always. Well, as I was saying, a quiet weekend inside the ring, Bam Rodriguez aside, which we'll get to uh later on in the show, but Tyson Fury stealing many of the headlines at the UFC event, um, let's get straight into it and hear what Dana White had to say. uh remaining tight lips, I I hasten to add, when asked about Fury's attendance after the UFC event at the postfight press conference.

[00:00:39]>> Yeah, I mean, for the last couple of weeks, I've been hearing from the media and and other people that I'm not involved in the fight. I've been hearing that uh Tyson Fury couldn't get out of the country and couldn't get into the United States. And just seems like everybody's always wrong.

[00:00:58]So, David, what did you make of it for first of all before we get into Dana's comments?

[00:01:04]>> Um, listen, Tyson is the master of of attention grabbing. You know, he he he's got that personality, that charisma, and also that bit of charm as well to go with his little bit of spite. He knows how to play the game. And like you said, we've had a bit of a slow boxing week.

[00:01:19]you know, the the the talk for AJ Fury's gone a little bit quiet after the initial announcement and then boom, Tyson Fury's arrived in the house and not just any old house over at the White House. It's uh quite interesting.

[00:01:33]There's a lot of a lot of speculation.

[00:01:36]Nobody seems to know right now what's happening. So, we kind of got to just speculate, but not take anything too seriously and don't dive too far in believing any sort of the trail that that they're all leaving.

[00:01:49]Well, the thing is for me, um, we need to kind of backtrack a little bit. Dana White's been saying for weeks, I will have some kind of in, um, intervention or investment or interest or interpolation, whatever you want to call it, with Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua. Um, and I assumed in my mind that that meant we know who the pay master is here. It's Turk Alshik and Dana White's got a relationship with him that there could be the fact that this fight is going to America to Las Vegas.

[00:02:30]So, they want him involved in it. I mean, imagine him and and Eddie Hearn on the Deis together at the event in the buildup. It would only add to it. And I think there's there's a bit of a play going on here. And I think for me, David, Turkey al-Shik will always be the one in control of what's going to happen.

[00:02:49]>> Oh, without a doubt. I mean, that that that's a given. You know, whatever Talshik wants to happen will happen.

[00:02:57]That's it. He's he's a peer master. He's got he's a man that's that gets everybody that doesn't want to work together to work together. and it builds those bridges and whatever reason that they're doing it the bridges are formed and then business gets done and at the end of the line end of the day it is a business and if he's fronting up the money he'll decide who's going to stage the show he'll decide where it's going to be at and he's going to decide when it's going to be any everybody either has to agree to it and the fight happens or if they don't want to agree to it then the fight won't happen and and that's where we're that um Turkey is the one that's holding all the cards and and and he'll deal them out however he wants to do it.

[00:03:43]>> I I love the way you put that top when you look at it top down. The top of the pyramid always controls boxing.

[00:03:49]>> Yeah.

[00:03:50]>> Not the base of the pyramid. And we'll get into that with Loron Richards later on as well.

[00:03:55]>> Um the if Turkey, let's say Fury and Joshua have signed separate contracts and they're getting 100 million each. Now Eddie Hearn has sworn blind that the details say fight must be in the UK and that there'll be no involvement from from Zu for Boxing but that doesn't mean that um that doesn't mean that in some way Dana White can't be involved as a promoter. Now people have jumped the gun here. I've seen kind of um UFC shills out there going oh Tyson Fury signed Wizoo for boxing. There is absolutely no indication out there of that yet, if it at all is going to happen. And I think people are putting two and two together and coming up with seven, David. But what Tyson Fury has done, >> Dana White was quite koi in those comments saying just be patient and see what happens.

[00:04:51]>> Um Tyson Fury's been very strong in the last 48 hours saying Turkey is my promoter. He's actually said it on his Instagram, hasn't he?

[00:05:03]>> Yeah, I saw that.

[00:05:04]>> And he's my promoter for life. In other words, and he is coming to the end of his career.

[00:05:11]>> If Turkey Alsh going to make a decision about something, it looks like he's going to go with it.

[00:05:17]Yeah, it looks all indications are that and I think right now with the state of the player that we're at any fighter that's you know got the exit door a jar on the career and they're coming down to the last couple of fights really whoever's you know if if Zufur if it's Zufa if it's Turkey sheet whatever entity you want to call it that's going to make the big big offers there's going to be a real test of loyalty, a test of friendship in certain cases as we've seen before. Um, and we're going to see, you know, there could be some some real big moves in the sport because sometimes fighters early on their career, throughout the thick of their career, they're so loyal and, you know, promoters are loyal to the fighters because they're, you know, they're generating for them as well. You know, it is a business, but there's that friendship there. But then when it comes down to the last couple of fights and when they know that they're done, their their emotion starts to come out of the thinking in terms of the career, you know, they're not doing it for the love anymore cuz they already got one foot out the door. They're doing it for right. It's time to really get what I can get out of it before I'm done. And if that's the case, then it could be where where Tyson Fury, you know, pledges allegiance elsewhere to where he's been for the last few years. And you know and it's a real problem because there's like I said promoters promote and it's a business. They will only invest in you. They will only you know be your best mate really. That that bond only gets formed by working together multiple times. And the only reason why they're working with you multiple times is because you're generating uh viewing figures and generating money for them on the gate. So the friendship gets there but it's based on business. Now the fighter when it comes to the end of it, they're just thinking business and then sometimes they won't think about the friendship and that's where the promoter then feels burnt as well.

[00:07:18]>> I don't think David is even at the end of a career. Look what happened with Connor Ben >> and Eddie Hearn recently and Tyson Fury is definitely at the end of his career.

[00:07:28]Anthony Joshua towards the end of his career. I suppose the big question here is, and you know, maybe Dana White looked a bit smug at the press conference with those with those answers as well. If Fury signs to fight in America and that um it's going to happen in Vegas, let's say, and it's going to be under the opices of Dana White or Zufa Boxing or Zufa or the UFC or whoever's going to be behind it and Ring Magazine.

[00:07:59]Um, then if he signs, does Anthony Joshua say to Eddie Hearn, "Look, mate, I might earn a hundred million from this. I'm going to have to put us in obeyance here because what's he likely to do? Stay with Eddie Hearn or go and earn 100 million."

[00:08:17]>> I Yeah, but Gareth, I'll I'll be honest with you. I I mean I don't know him know him but I just feel as though Anthony Joshua's got that much money and listen Fury has as well. This is the this is the other thing it's different when when the money that you're going to get would change your life massively for the for the better and completely change things. I understand there that they think oh okay right I can't turn this down but you know these guys have been getting paid 100 million previously 80 millions 70 million whatever it is millions and millions and millions another 100 million although it's nice and it's you know future generation you can buy even more properties and stuff like whatever you want to do it doesn't change the life in the terms of like oh we're in a bit of a hole here this is going to get out of out of a hole this is where a real test of of of character, a test of friendship comes in and then you understand whether it was just business or was it >> I think you're being naive. I think you're being very naive, David. I mean, not you personally, but I think the thinking is naive. If there's a hundred million on the table, >> yeah, but if you've got two or 300 in the bank already, >> I don't see it. I see them going where the money is. That is my experience of boxing over the last 35 years. Yeah, I I understand that. I Yeah, I do get that.

[00:09:43]>> They don't think, "Oh, I better not earn a hundred million. My friendship's more important." I do not see it. I mean, I get that.

[00:09:50]>> I'm not saying you're wrong. I just disagree.

[00:09:53]>> Yeah, I I get that. But that that's why I'm not saying they're wrong for doing it because everybody's got got, you know, their own own reasons. I'm not saying if Fury is to leave Warren and to go Dana White's way. I'm not saying he's wrong. I'm not saying because it's a lot. It's unbelievable money and I get that. No problem.

[00:10:10]>> That's one side. What about the But you're saying you're not sure.

[00:10:14]>> But I'm not sure on I'm not sure on AJ with with with Matt Shroom and and because as far as I believe, I think there's more connections with Matt Shroom on a business level, different things that they're doing. It's not just AJ's career. I'm >> sure. So, so if that money's there, we love the the Dana White. This is a great discussion. I that I I I love this because it's so interesting.

[00:10:41]>> So you've got the Dana White Eddie Hearn axis that's going on at the moment. A bit of abuse in one side and sledging the other side and how >> what then if Eddie says look >> and but he's being a mate in this sense.

[00:10:56]Let's go with it then.

[00:10:57]>> I'm getting my let's go with it. Let's get me on a day with Dana White. Let's get it all on Netflix. He's got a relationship with Netflix. Anony's got a relationship with Netflix. Tyson Fury's got a relationship with Netflix. I think it all leads to them all being on there together. I think they'll make a difference.

[00:11:17]>> I I do in that terms. I I think that it'll be done what I'm what I'm trying to get across. I think it'll be done in a different manner to the way that the Connor Ben thing was done. I don't think AJ just dig up and just say I'm I'm done. I think they'd sit down together and it' be like listen this is unbelievable and it's the biggest fight in in British boxing.

[00:11:36]and the spin.

[00:11:38]>> Yeah. And and the spin with Dana White and Eddie as well. Eddie would love that sort of stuff. So, I do think it gets done, but I think it gets done together.

[00:11:45]I don't think it'll be like like what it what it seems and what we're hearing where, >> you know, Tyson may have just just left Frank in order to go, you know.

[00:11:56]>> We don't know that yet.

[00:11:57]>> We don't know. But that's what we're hearing. That's what I'm saying is if it if it was >> I just think that there's a there's a deeper deeper connections in different avenues rather than just AJ's career like there is with Fury's career with with Frank. I think there's a little bit more more branches to go back to Tottenham a couple of months back when he fought Arsenal Matt Mudov. Frank Warren wasn't the promoter. He's of the event. Spencer Brown was the promoter of the event. Gold Star were the promoters of the event. So it doesn't mean because there's these assumptions at the moment that that if Turkeykey's Tyson Fury's promoter that somehow he's gone over to Zu and it's gone like wildfire. No, he hasn't. He's still managed by Spencer Brown. Frank Warren is his ad hoc promoter, but it doesn't mean that they are necessarily going to promote the event between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. I think Turkey Sha will put Dana White at the head of it and have all the other promoters on the Deis as well.

[00:13:04]Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren.

[00:13:06]>> Yeah. In in association with >> I think they'll all be there. I think they'll all be there. I think I think it's going to Vegas and I think it's going to Vegas in November and December.

[00:13:16]Did you have any worries that this fight, the biggest fight in British boxing history, was going to take place outdoors at Wembley in late October or no or late October, let's say.

[00:13:30]>> Listen, we we've had plenty of big events, even on summer nights where the the weather's turned and it's it's chucking it down rain, but the fights happened here. Listen, if this fight happens in Vegas, I'll I understand it's gonna happen wherever the powers that be want it to happen. But this is the biggest fight in British boxing history really. And it's the two biggest characters in the heavyweight division that we've ever had that are going to go at each other that we've been anticipating for about 10 years. For this to not happen in the UK at Wembley Stadium, it's just a travesty for me. And I'm I'm gutted. I'll be absolutely gutted be gutted for every fan that's followed both these fighters, every fan that's traveled to any other their shows. Even when they've got, you know, boxing America and fans have gone abroad, Tyson's took loads, you know, AJ's boxed abroad before, fans that have traveled every We've all wanted this fight in this country for so long for it to happen in Vegas. I'd be >> I agree with you, but 10 years they've been on the same parabola.

[00:14:35]>> Yeah. But and and we should have had a trilogy of fights between these two% 100%. And and we both know that um the problem is it's not it needs to happen.

[00:14:49]>> Yeah. But Gareth, let me just put let me just just say this, right? In America, I understand if if you want to they want to put it on in America, it's not a problem. I get that. But in America, the Americans, right, struggle to sell out the boxing events there now as it is with American fighters.

[00:15:08]>> Brits will travel. Brits will travel.

[00:15:11]>> Yeah, but but what I'm saying is, right, why wouldn't you not you you're you're the like you said, this should happen for 10 years. Nobody's been able to make it happen. Turkey has come along and he's making the fight happen, which makes him an absolute superstar to boxing fans that have been wanting to see this fight happening. Look at how he's changed the sport and he's making all the big fights happen. Everybody loves him because of that. Just think if he was to make this happen in the UK, the UK fans would be absolutely buzzing over it. It'd be an incredible event.

[00:15:41]90,000 plus be turning up at Wembley.

[00:15:43]It'd be going nuts all around the pubs and everything because it' be on on UK hours obviously. It'd be incredible event, right? It's going to go to America where you're going to get people that are struggling for money forking out to go over. The rest, the majority can't afford to go over. So, there's only been a percentage that's going to go over to America. The Americans don't care about this >> on It's on Netflix. It's on >> It's not the same thing. It's not the same.

[00:16:08]>> Listen, I I know where you're coming from, but I don't agree with you because >> So, you're you're you're not one bit disappointed that it's in the UK, that it's not in the UK.

[00:16:17]>> I think they'll do a twoight deal and I think they'll go to Wembley in the April.

[00:16:22]>> So, do do the two fight deal. Do do Wembley first. do the UK fight for UK fans fight >> it's happen you cannot put it outdoors at Wembley and risk it in late September in or October in my view not a fight of this magnitude listen we're going to have to agree to disagree I think it's fine if it goes to Vegas Tyson Fury's six biggest fights have been outside the UK three against Anthony Joshua >> three against Deontto one against Vladimir Klitschko and two against Alexander Usyk for the undisputed title.

[00:16:56]You could have had all those fights in the UK if you'd wanted to. Anthony Joshua has had massive fights outside the UK as well. I don't disagree with you that it's the ideal place, but if Turkey LL shake wants it in Vegas in the last week of the year, just before Christmas and they do they their their soundings are that 40,000 will travel and they can do it in the Allegiance Stadium, fine. or if they think 20,000 will travel I I think they will to go to T-Mobile or MGM Grand I think they will and it's viable but I do think they should set it up as a twoight process you know with an option to have a second fight which needs to be at Wembley um in in the let's say um midappril or something like that but um I don't agree with you I I don't disagree with you in principle um it is a shame in in certain ways. Um, >> it is massive shame.

[00:17:56]>> But but it's a massive shame they haven't fought for 10 years.

[00:17:59]>> Yeah, it is. But we can't do anything about that. We can do it about we can do something about it now.

[00:18:04]>> See it failed. And if it happens, I'd rather see it happen in America than >> Oh, so would I. Not at all. 100%. But but we was all assuming it was going to be over here in Wembley anyway. And and and that was the exciting part. It's Listen, it's still exciting. I'm still buzzing. It's happening. The exciting part is them fighting each other.

[00:18:24]>> Yeah, it is. It is. But but it' be even better at when we see >> I I never disagree with you this much.

[00:18:32]But it's such a debatable subject. I >> It's not though. 90 How can you compare like 90,000 people at Wembley Stadium for this fight? We've been waiting 10 years for pubs being rammed all around the country because it's in normal to pub hours where everybody's going to be buzzing and watching a fire. Whereas if it's in the US, it's not. You're going to have your 20,000 people there or whatever. And then a lot of people obviously getting up in the middle of the night, but you're not going to have that same bus cuz it's 4:00, 5:00 in the morning.

[00:19:03]>> The box, David, they could put it on in the afternoon in America.

[00:19:11]Okay, that's that's that's better. All right, that's better. But it's still not the same.

[00:19:14]>> Look, any anything's possible right now.

[00:19:16]They're getting four times the market value.

[00:19:19]>> To summarize, >> listen, money talks end of the day. I understand it.

[00:19:22]>> It does. Money money money when money talks, timing and and ego timing is right and ego goes out the window. Look, all I hope is that we do see these two guys in a ring because we'll lament it and regret it forever. Tyson Fury still hasn't fought in this era. Anthony Joshua, Mosa Talma, Daniel Dubois, A Cabel, and Fabio Wardley. Four of those are Brits and he hasn't fought them and which he he could potentially fight. Anthony Joshua has got two or three there he could fight as well. A Cababayel, um Fabio Wardley, um Moses Talma, and Tyson Fury. I mean, it's extraordinary having all these fighters, most of them under the same umbrella, not all fighting each other. It's an incredible era for the sport. It was absolute drama seeing Tyson Fury walk through the Oval Office in the White House. For me, I I mean, it was such a shocker because just the day before we were watching him at Misfits, or at least I was, with Tommy Fury. Um, which I'd like you to discuss a little bit with you. Um, it's not on the running order, but I'm interested to get your take on it. Um, but, uh, so bottom line, Dave, bottom line, are we going to see Fury and Joshua? Is it going to be in the UK in your view?

[00:20:51]Is it going to be in America in your view? And are you going to be there?

[00:20:56]>> Oh, yeah. Listen, I I will I will do my best to travel to to it if I can. Um, if it's in America, it's the fight that I want to see and I want to be able to be there for obviously, but yes, it will happen. I I do think it does happen. Um, I will pray that it's in the UK, but I I do think it'll end up in in in America from all the whispers that are going on.

[00:21:18]>> So, welcome back to Fight On Extra. I'm Gareth Davis. with me this week, the wonderful David Caldwell, who has been arguing the toss with me over Fury and Joshua in America. He may end up being right because he does know the sport inside out. Well, let's have a little listen to Jesse Bam Rodriguez who says he wants a legacy defining fight with Naoya Inui after he became a three-weight world champion over the weekend. He saw off Antonio Vargas inside six rounds to move to 24-0 and says his legacy is just as important to him as the money. Take a little listen to this.

[00:21:57]>> I think so. I mean, I feel like I'm capable of beating anybody that the team puts in front of me. You know, money is very important, but legacy is also important as well. I feel like I can't retire without fighting anyway. So, I need to get that fight before I do retire and of course beat him and make the money and enjoy it with my family.

[00:22:17]>> Right, Dave? I feel we're going to disagree again here. Where does Bam sit on the pound-for-pound list now? Uh, is it above or below Neua Inui, Shaka Stevenson, uh, Alexander Rousk, and what did you make of the performance?

[00:22:35]>> Um, performance-wise, I really enjoyed it. I love watching him box. I think he's class. He's got the feet. He's got the intelligence, the movement, but also he can punch. He's spiteful, you know, and especially, you know, we see a lot of especially in the lighter divisions like this, they always do the 12 rounders.

[00:22:56]>> This guy looks to get him out there and he doesn't load up on his shots. He just he just allows his weight to transfer through the punches. Technically, he's outstanding. Uh, and what a resume he's got. What a career he's had already. and he's still what is he 26 years old? He's a baby, you know, to be to be talked about in the pound-for-pound um stakes right now with the backlog of wins and and uh u achievements he's had already at 26 years old. He's right up there. I Where is he? I don't think he's number one yet. I don't think he's number one yet. Um but he's certainly hunting it down. Um, for me, pound for pound is quite debatable. I think Shakur's unbelievably talented, but in terms of marquee wins and things like that, I don't think he's he's stacked enough up yet um to put him as number one. Um, I think you've got to look at what he knew he's done for the period of time that he's done that he's been doing it, the excitement he's delivered, the weight division he's gone up, the names he's got on his resume as well. I would place him slightly above Bam at the moment.

[00:24:06]Slightly above. Um I still go just because he had one one bad performance don't mean all of a sudden he's he's I'm I'm relegating down the places. Um but I I still go Usyk Inui and Bam. I think >> so. Last time we were in the studio together, we had a fantastic fight night um three-hour show in the studio at TalksWalt Towers.

[00:24:33]>> And we did our top 10 heavyweights of all time, which was a really difficult list to do.

[00:24:39]>> Yeah.

[00:24:39]>> Um I think we did of all time or we did or did we do current?

[00:24:43]>> I think all time. I think it was >> all time. Uh because I'd had a debate with you one night after an event and and uh I I I was I'd published mine and you ripped it apart. Um but in a nice way of course as the as you do it.

[00:24:58]>> Um >> let's look at our top five. My top five pound for pound right now is Noi at one, Alexander US at two, Shaka Stevenson at three, Jesse Bam Rodriguez at four, David Benavidz at five, and Bibl at six.

[00:25:18]Um, Nakatani, Junto Nakatani at seven, Deoni eight, Oscar Kalato nine, and Emanuel Navarete 10. um which is the same as the Ring magazine rankings poundfor pound.

[00:25:32]>> Okay.

[00:25:33]>> Does Bam deserve to slip ahead of Shaka Stevenson who I've got at three at the moment after that performance on Saturday night or is that victory for Shaka over Tio Lopez in recent times does that cement him up there in your view? It's very very difficult because in pure talent and making things easy then you you got to say Shakur is right up there because he is an unbelievable talent and and he controls fights how he wants them to be. Um but in terms of leisure and what they've done and and and going through the weights well Shakuras as well but in terms of the marquee names marquee fight I I I think I would just play Shakur below below um Bam >> interesting >> and but listen your top five your top five to be fair is really good top five and you can mix and match a couple of those you know and and and I've got the same one as you Um, I just think Bam now you've got he's been so You know what I like as well about that performance the other night is he had adversity and when he does have ad I know he's been dropped before as well but he has adversity and he still he doesn't panic still goes about his business and finds a way and then he can switch a fight around just like that. I think he's Yeah, I think he's exceptional. I think that whole top five is exceptional and you can mix and match however you want him but um I would put Bam just a little bit above Shakur now.

[00:27:07]>> Okay, so this is the way I always do it.

[00:27:11]I look at the silhouettes moving.

[00:27:14]if you had Bam Rodriguez against Shaka Stevenson at the same weight um and they were fighting each other. In my view, I think Shaka would defeat Bam and I think he's one of very few out there who would. I think Bam, if he was the same weight division as David Benvdz, that's an incredible fight. Um, does he can he challenge Nia Inui who's a weight division above him but has come up all those weight divisions like Bam has now that he's become a three-weight world champion.

[00:27:57]Inui obviously is a four-weight world champion. Is that a fight we should be seeing?

[00:28:03]>> Yeah, 100%. But I agree with Robert Garcia. He got out of the ring and straight away he said he needs another fight at that wedding first before he goes >> and I 100% agree with him. He obviously knows his man but I wouldn't you know he knows it better than anybody else but I see that the same way as well. I think he don't rush into it and he's only 26 but don't rush into it. Let him have another fight and then then yes. And I think that is a hell of a fight. And also in a way at this weight that he's at now, still exceptional, still brilliant, but he's not quite the monster puncher as what he was just a division below. So, I'm not saying it it it nullifies, but I think Bam has the the versatility and and the skill set, the feet to cause Inui a lot of problems. And I think I do think he's, you know, he's tough as well, Bam. I think it's a great great fight. And it's one that I would I want to see another performance from Bam first, but I think if anyone's going to beat him out there, not because of size and weight, >> then it's going to be it's going to be Bam. because I've always thought that Inui it's a case of he runs out of weight divisions, he goes one weight division too much. I think featherweight would be too much for him. Um um but whereas I think with Bam it wouldn't be a case of that's what his advantage it would be his skill set and his and his boxing brain ability. One of the things to finish off here with to go back to the Dana White and Eddie Hearn rivalry is obviously how long can Eddie Hearn keep him going along before he does that super fight for him >> and Zu for Boxing come in and try and get banned because uh Dana White about trying to get a hold of him, isn't he?

[00:29:54]Yeah, they're trying hard. And the way I might be reading into it a little bit wrong, but the way that uh Robert Garcia spoke after when he got out of the ring and he spoke with his own crew um after the immediately after the fight before the press conference at ringside, the way that he was um I think because he was saying about Eddie had been talking about Inui, but he kind of challenged what Eddie was talking was talking I thought quite in a manner of somebody that that that is going against Eddie. I think he's made his mind up that he wants to go with with Zuffer. He wants Bam to go with Zuffer. So, I think Eddie's swimming against a a real strong current there with with that one. So, I do think it's only a matter of time before they do jump ship, you know, >> without without wanting to put you on the spot. I said this a long time.

[00:30:44]Jeremy, our producer, is listening to this and he'll be aware of um what happened a long time ago when Dana White I know I've known Dana a very long time, 20 odd years and I've worked with him for I worked with the UFC around them for 13 years as a presenter and um being involved with their growth in Europe and their their team and um being a media face for for the sport when it was really growing. Um, Dana's a very smart guy and I said on this show and I've said on Fight Night as well, I don't think it's wise of Eddie Hearn to try to take on Dana White. I thought it'd be more sensible to work alongside him and and not listen to the noise that Dana creates. Um, and I think Eddie's in a pitch battle with Dana White now. And and I think it's a very dangerous.

[00:31:36]They're both very powerful promoters with massive outreach, but the fact that it looks like Turkey Shake is cornering Dana White right now is is spells danger for for a lot of those uh promoters and the guys under them at the moment because it's it's like guerrilla warfare in my view.

[00:31:57]>> Yeah, definitely Gareth 100%. You know, Dana, the TKO, the the whole the whole setup there is powerful. We always knew it was going to be powerful coming in.

[00:32:06]We always knew it was going to be a threat coming in. But don't underestimate your Frank Warren, your Eddie Hearns.

[00:32:14]That Listen, how many times have we said, how many times have we said about Frank, he's done, he's done, he's done, man keeps coming back. Experience, experience and mentality are huge things. And Eddie, one thing about Eddie, Eddie's a grafter, mate. He's a workaholic, you know, he's got that mentality and and he's also very experienced now. He's not the young kid on the block, you know, and and he's got that he's he's got that attitude that he's up for a fight. He's always up for a fight with this, you know. He went, listen, he went headto-head with Frank Warren for years, and that will have taught him so much, and he will learn so much. Now, Dana in the UFC, listen, unbelievable is, but he's had it. He's all all his own way in the UFC. There's been nobody to challenge him. It's his it's his puppy. That's it. And nobody else can go against him. He's coming to boxing and it's like anything. Every new promotional entity comes in, throws money about, people jump ship and after a while things start leveling out. The money might go down, the treatment of fighters might be a little bit, oh, hang on a minute, whispers get, you know, it starts spreading like wildfire. People aren't happy with how they're doing certain things. And then all of a sudden then it levels back out again. These guys, your Eddie Hearns, your Frank Warren, they've been around. They've seen these these volatile waters for for a number of years. So I don't I I get what you're saying. It's very dangerous, but >> D's not just going to have it his own way of coming into boxing and change it, ripping it up and being the only man and those two guys are going to be gone.

[00:33:44]It's not going to be like that. You know, there's too much experience.

[00:33:47]There's too much knowledge in in of boxing and how boxing works for that to h that to happen. They're all going to coexist.

[00:33:54]>> He's creeping in Sky%. He's going to be a big player.

[00:33:59]So they're they're they're they're seeping in where the doors are open. So fascinating anyway for us. Um hold it there for a sec because we've got to get into section three and I want to discuss Lone Richards and that terrible judging decision in Canada uh for your fighter.

[00:34:17]Uh Katy Taylor selling out 82,000 tickets Croak Park in 30 minutes for a retirement fight. Incredible.

[00:34:27]>> Unbelievable. And you know what? So welld deserved and I'll be honest with you completely expected for me. I knew this was going to be that must seea event in Ireland. You know the whole whole country is going to be it's going to be that thing thing where people are always going to remember that they were there.

[00:34:43]>> You know we've been dying for this to happen for for years and it's never happened and now they've managed to get it across the line. Eddie Brian Peters I know he's played a big part in it as well. Um and she's got a wish. She's got a big night at Cro Park and it's going to be an incredible atmosphere and it's, you know, I mean, it's her last fight and what a fitting way and what a fitting stage to go out on.

[00:35:08]>> We we're not surprised. I mean, there were some corners of the Irish media suggesting it'll be a hard cell to get the stadium full. They'll be left with a lot of egg on their faces because yeah, we know having been around her for decades or longer since she won Olympic gold, the first lightweight gold medalist at the Olympic Games for in women's boxing in the Olympics. We know, I mean, I've been at two of her three trilogy fights, the one where Jake Paul fought fought Mike Tyson, 65 million people watched that second fight of her and Amanda Serrano on Netflix. Having been around her for years, having introduced her one night to Floyd Mayweather and see her blush, uh, to have been around her probably 20 years I've known her now, and see her rise, I always felt that the Irish fans would get behind her because she's a very, very special fighter person and lightning rod for the sport. No one in my view, and I don't know if you agree with this, has done more for women's boxing.

[00:36:11]>> Oh, no. then Katy Taylor.

[00:36:14]>> Yeah, 100%. Listen, she's she's took things to a whole another level. I commentate on her on her professional debut. Um, so that's my little claim to fame as far as Katie Taylor is concerned. But she's she's very humble.

[00:36:27]She's she's very approachable when she's around. You know, she's she's lovely a lovely human being, but then when she gets in that ring, then she, you know, becomes a Tasmanian devil. You know, she can focus and she can fight. Um, and she's had some unbelievable nights. So, you know, it I I was never of that mind with these people saying it's going to be an artel. It was never going to be an artel. She's she's different. It's it's it's a it's a huge huge spectacle this is going to be. And like I said, the the Irish people, they know what she's done, you know, for for the for the for Irish boxing, for the Irish sport. Um, and so they're going to they're going to back her for that. But um yeah, it's been a it's been a hell of a career and um it's it couldn't have it couldn't end in a a better fashion really.

[00:37:13]>> I'm really pleased for Eddie Hearn as well. Congratulations, sir, on getting this overline. And you too, Brian Tears Peters as I now call him. No, Brian played the hard man for 30 years and he was finally in tears the other day. Uh and it's brilliant. It's going to be an amazing event to be there. Dave, before we get on to the big controversial subject of the week, um I watched the Misfits event. There was a lot of drama in Manchester.

[00:37:40]A lot of Fury there. Tyson Fury, Shane Fury, um John Fury, obviously Roman Fury there at the end. Um Tommy Fury against Eddie Hall. Um I know you're a boxing purist.

[00:37:55]It I I w I I watched it from afar and it was quite entertaining. I don't know how you feel about it right now.

[00:38:03]>> So, it's listen, it's not professional boxing. It's it's got it's it own state.

[00:38:08]It's an entertainment. It's like I don't know how to explain. It's like people love wrestling, you know. People love WWE, you know. It's different. It's entertainment. I think it's based on on on that that model, you know, with all with the the fanfare, the arguing entrances. They go do a lot on the production and it's all about the characters kicking off and you know being idiots and you want to see them get their face smashed in and that's why you turn up and watch. That's what it is. You know these these you know content creators that you might not like what they do and you think and then they fight and you want to see them get hammered and so you turn up and I I was there with my kids. We had a we had a good laugh you know and and it's entertainment. I'm not sat there scoring a fight. I'm not sat there thinking, "Oh, he >> Ready Hall and Tommy Fury then."

[00:39:04]>> Oh mate, that I I actually I didn't score it, but in my head I kind of thought it was a draw cuz I thought >> I I gave Eddie the first two and Tommy the last.

[00:39:15]>> I give I kind of g Well, I give Eddie the first two and then I thought um up until I thought the last round I thought Eddie won it. I didn't think >> Do you know Do you know what as well?

[00:39:24]when when when Eddie came in the dressing room uh into Tommy's dressing room afterwards and said, "Do you fancy a rematch?" And Tommy was like, "Are you joking? You were like a truck with fists."

[00:39:36]>> Yeah, but it's Listen, it is you can't take it seriously. You know, it's that's a gimmick. You know, Tommy Fer against Eddie Eddie all that's that's a gimmick.

[00:39:45]It's it is entertainment is fun. The fights that are on on the undercard were that bad that they were good. um you know in terms of entertainment you know you just it's like when you're scrolling and and you see a video of two fellas just swinging away in a pub outside a club that's what a lot of it is but that's why you go you know what I don't >> fight that was the under that was and the boss or >> but you know what you don't do when you go to a misfit show you don't go to watch how good some the technical brilliance of a fighter go to a real boxing match for that when you go to this. It's like when you're eating clean all the time, steaks, beautiful food, and everything, and then you just want a dirty burger. You go and have have an horrible burger or a pizza. You know, you can you're allowed to have a night off.

[00:40:34]>> Last time you had a horrible You live clean, my brother.

[00:40:38]>> Yeah. 8 85% 90% clean now. Yeah.

[00:40:42]>> Did you have a burger on Saturday night then?

[00:40:44]>> No. No, I didn't know.

[00:40:47]Um, look, um, let's get on to, um, the terrible judging decision. You were in there, uh, in Canada. It was Montreal, I think, wasn't it? Was it uh, with Lauron Richards, um, against Albert Ramirez, WBA regular title. Massive opportunity for Lone um, terrible judging decision.

[00:41:06]I was working in Dubai at Battle Promotions and I'd been traveling here to the Far East and you'd said, "Have you seen it?" So I got on and and and I looked at it. I was commenting the next morning. Adam Smith, Tony Belly, a ton of people were saying this was an absolute disgrace. I mean, how does it feel when you go through something like that, >> mate? It was disgusting and it was heartbreaking for their own because don't forget we went once before to Canada, turned up an hour before the way, the fight gets called off and now this is the second time for this fight.

[00:41:38]He boxes absolutely fantastic, not close rounds, wins them clearly. You know, at the worst won nine of the 12 rounds. A lot of people were saying 10. The opponent himself, Ramirez himself, when he shook my hand in the ring after the fight, he said, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[00:41:56]Rich has won that." His own corner, you know, everybody in the crowd. It was It was bad. I felt so sorry for Leon. And when we got back to the chain rooms, Leon's a very very polite kid, a really nice kid. And he was still thanking the promoters for for the opportunity.

[00:42:12]walked out the ring, got to the chain rooms, and then he just broke down, cried his eye, cried his eyes out. It was just heartbreaking. It really was.

[00:42:20]Um, we we just want just we want, you know, >> you've appealed, haven't you, officially?

[00:42:27]>> Yeah. Yeah. His management put an appeal. The appeal's gone in. So, way back, Gilberto Mendoza yet?

[00:42:34]>> Nothing back yet. Nothing back yet, as far as I know. So, we're waiting to find out what happens. What was quite >> What would you like there to happen? a rematch or that in a >> Yeah, I I would love a rematch, >> but you know what, Gareth, I would love a rematch on somewhere else on on neutral territory. You know, it was it was interesting that that the ring magazine actually put Leon in at number eight in the latest rankings um for light heavyweight above Ramirez.

[00:43:01]>> Yeah.

[00:43:02]>> Which tells you it's it's also it's not just us at the same >> panel on the I'm I'm a member of the panel. I see the the the communications panel were outraged by the decision.

[00:43:11]>> Yeah. But you've got people in America talking about you got people everywhere talking about it was that bad a decision. And the problem is is we get this people like to say about oh British judges, you know, it's everywhere. It's everywhere. You know, it's because they're not they're not held accountable for the decisions. They're just disappearing into the night and everybody's talking about the decisions and everybody's fuming, but nobody's actually coloring these guys and and putting a microphone in front of their face and saying, "How did you score that that way? Why? What's your thought process?" We need to we need them to be held accountable because then when you're held accountable, you're a little bit more responsible about your actions.

[00:43:52]>> Absolutely. Um, you couldn't have made the point better. Thanks very much, David. I hope the appeal comes back and it's uh in favor of you guys to get the right decision, the right rematch, all those things. Thank you so much for joining me today.

[00:44:06]>> Thanks for having me.

[00:44:07]>> It's been a pleasure. You've been listening to Fight Night Extra on Talk Sport 2. A big thanks to David Caldwell for joining me today. Remember, if you missed any of this show, you can listen to it as a podcast. You can find it under the Fight Night banner on the Talk Sport app, on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcast from. We'll be back with you next