Ringside Boxing Show

Ringside Boxing Show (5-19-13)

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:11:59 +0000

Our expert analysts, Travis Hartman and Rizwaan Zahid, welcome Lucas Matthysse to boxing’s big list of meteorites after his three-round demoltion of Lamont Peterson. They also marvel at the multiple possibilities for Matthysse in the violence-packed 140- and 147-pound weight divisions.

Trainer Sam Garcia then joins us to talk about the final two weeks of training camp for Paul “Gallo Negro” Mendez, his up-and-coming middleweight.

This is the first half of our May 19, 2013 show featuring boxing historian Christopher James Shelton with an amazing story after the commercial break.

Boxing in the Time of Christ

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:27:15 +0000

The world’s most-unique and meticulous boxing historian, Christopher James Shelton, tells the story of a Turkish boxing champion who walked the earth in the time of Christ … and was gay.

Chris never fails to dazzle in his appearances on The Ringside Boxing Show, but this one ranks at the top. Whether you’re a boxing fan or not, you’ll find this interview fascinating.

Ringside Boxing Show (4-14-13) Part 1

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:24:06 +0000

Travis Hartman and Rizwaan Zahid analyze Guillermo Rigondeaux’s stunning domination of Nonito Donaire, opine on the judges’ scorecards, and talk about the future of both fighters in the first half of our April 14, 2013 show. Travis also announces his May 25 fight against Carson Jones in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This is Part I of a show that features an in-depth interview with Hall of Fame referee Robert Byrd after the commercial break.

Robert Byrd, Hall of Fame ref

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:56:58 +0000

World Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Robert Byrd was a U.S. Marine Corps boxing teammate of two other guys you’ve definitely heard of. He spent 34 years with the California Highway Patrol. He’s been the third man in the ring in more than 100 world title bouts, and will do it again May 4 when he referees Mayweather-Guerrero.

We talked in-depth with this great veteran boxing official on the April 14, 2013 edition of The Ringside Boxing Show, a fun and fascinating conversation.

Ringside Boxing Show (4-7-13) Part 1

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:54:23 +0000

Expert analysts Travis Hartman and Rizwaan Zahid describe what we might expect from Canelo vs. Floyd, Marquez vs. Bradley, and Pacquiao vs. Alvarado — all of which are still in the rumor stage. Travis also discusses his new co-trainer, former heavyweight champ Pinklon Thomas.

The second half of our April 7, 2013 show features a hilarious, dead-honest and poignant interview with El Conquistador, Ruben Castillo, whose 81-fight career included world title shots at Juan Leporte and boxing titans Salvador Sanchez, Alexis Arguello, and Julio Cesar Chavez.

Ruben Castillo fought 3 legends

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:12:15 +0000

Ruben Castillo was 22 years old and 46-0 when he went up in weight to fight for Alexis Arguello’s super featherweight crown, the first of four world title fights in an 81 fight career. He lost to Arguello and two other all-time greats, the mythical Salvador Sanchez and “El Gran Campion,” Julio Cesar Chavez, plus one more title bout against the formidable Juan Deporte.

Castillo gave us a spectacular interview on April 7, 2013 about Howard Cosell, Don King, Sanchez/Arguello/Chavez, his four wives, and much, much more. The former ringside commentator was on fire, giving us one of the most-colorful and fascinating interviews we’ve ever had on The Ringside Boxing Show.

In Depth: Amir Khan

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:42:21 +0000

He won a silver medal in the Olympics at 17, he became England’s youngest-ever world champion at 22, and now, four years later, Amir Khan hopes to climb back onto the short list of title contenders with an April 27 victory over two-time ex-champ Julio Diaz. Khan opened up on our March 31, 2013 show about his life and career. Our expert analyst, Rizwaan Zahid, joined in for this interview.

In Depth: Boxing judge Julie Lederman

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:47:46 +0000

She rarely consents to interviews, but boxing judge Julie Lederman gave us a full 30 minutes of her time on Sunday, March 24, 2013, to talk about her worldwide adventures as a world-class boxing judge, the techniques and philosophies of her profession, life with a certain “unnofficial ringside judge” who also happens to be her Hall of Fame father, and what it’s like to leave a boxing arena with somebody else’s blood spackling her blonde hair.

This is an honest, colorful and fascinating look into her life and career.

Ringside Boxing Show (3-17-13) Part I

ringsideboxingshow — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:03:54 +0000

Our expert analysts, Travis Hartman and Rizwaan Zahid, join us to discuss the remarkable battle between Timothy Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov. They analyze why Bradley hasn’t yet been embraced as one of boxing’s superstars, they weigh in on whether Freddie Roach has lost his mojo, they anticipate what should become an amazing smack-talk smackdown between Broner and Malignaggi, and they predict the over-under in rounds for Donaire-Rigondeaux.

Travis, an active professional boxer, also walks us through his loss the previous night — a six-round unanimous decision to still-unbeaten Haskell Rhodes — during which he fractured his hand and got hammered below the belt five times. And, by the way, he called us from a hospital bed.

This is the first half of our March 17, 2013 show, which, after the commercial break, features an absolutely sensational interview with two-time lightweight champ Julio Diaz. Don’t miss that one.

Julio Diaz, center stage & on fire

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:38:14 +0000

The two-time IBF lightweight champ rocked the house Sunday with an interview that was equal parts poignant, revealing, and hilarious. Topics of conversation included his April 27 fight with Amir Khan, his odds of getting a fair shake in England, life as a pint-sized troublemaker, and “walking around on tipeetoes” when people started calling him “champ.” One of the very best guests we’ve ever had on The Ringside Boxing Show.

Ringside Boxing Show (3-10-13) Part I

ringsideboxingshow — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 02:49:55 +0000

Our expert analysts, Travis Hartman and Rizwaan Zahid, wax philosophic about Bernard Hopkins’ ascent to immortality as a 48-year-old world champion, and weigh-in on whether Instant Replay has a place in boxing.

We then talk to Max and Sam Garcia, the father-son trainers whose hot prospect, Preston Freeman, was murdered four days earlier in St. Louis.

This fascinating 30 minutes is the first half of our March 10, 2013 show featuring Ruslan Provodnikov and boxing writer John J. Raspanti of doghousboxing.com after the commercial break.

Ringside Boxing Show (3-10-13) Part II

ringsideboxingshow — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 02:42:02 +0000

Through a translator, we had a short conversation with welterweight contender Ruslan Provodnikov just six days before his title fight with undefeated WBO champ Timothy Bradley.

Then we were joined by John J. Raspanti, lead writer for doghouseboxing.com, who talked about his Plimpton-esque adventure as Joe Gumina’s cornerman (Gumina won!) on Friday, then reviewed Clay Moyle’s latest book about Billy Miske.

This is the second half of a lively, quick-moving show from March 10, 2013

Ringside Boxing Show, 3-3-13, Part I

ringsideboxingshow — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 04:29:43 +0000

Our expert analysts, Travis Hartman and Rizwaan Zahid, break down the weekend fights, including Richard Abril’s conquest of Sharif Bogere, Evgeny Gradovich’s takedown of Billy Dib, and Gary Russell Jr.’s shutout victory.

They also evaluate the Nevada State Athletic Commissions $900,000 and 9-month nuking of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for going one toke over the line.

This is the first half of our March 3, 2013 show featuring a riveting in-depth interview with freshly minted IBF super middleweight champ Ishe Smith after the commercial break.

In Depth: Ishe Smith

ringsideboxingshow — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 04:16:19 +0000

Five years ago, Ishe Smith’s boxing career was in freefall, his marriage was dissolving, and overwhelming depression drove him to a moment when he held a loaded gun in his hand and contemplated suicide.

”Sugar Shay” told us his atonishing story just eight days after beating Cornelius Bundrage to become the IBF light welterweight champion. This remarkable interview ranks among the best we’ve ever had on The Ringside Boxing Show.

Ringside Boxing Show, 2-24-13, Part I

ringsideboxingshow — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 06:34:59 +0000

John J. Raspanti of doghouseboxing.com joined Rizwaan Zahid on the Feb. 24, 2013 edition of The Ringside Boxing Show to discuss a weekend in which David Price lost his undefeated record to 41-year-old Tony Thompson, Ishe Smith took a title belt from Cornelius Bundrage, Lamont Peterson stretched Kendall Holt, and Canelo-Trout began to look imminent.

Raspanti was sitting in for Travis Hartman, who was vacationing in Cabo.

This is the first half of a show featuring boxing writer Ivan Goldman after the commercial break, discussing the plight of former Philly boxer Anthony Fletcher, a Death Row inmate for more than 20 years for a crime Goldman says he didn’t commit.

Ivan Goldman crusades for Anthony Fletcher

ringsideboxingshow — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 06:18:57 +0000

Anthony Fletcher was a pro boxer with a solid record until he engaged in a one-on-one streetfight in Philadelphia with a man who died by his own gun.

Fletcher was convicted of first-degree murder and sent to Death Row, where he still sits almost 21 years later.

Ivan Goldman of insideboxing.com joined us on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 to explain why the evidence proves that Fletcher deserves a new trial.

Ringside Boxing Show, 2-17-13, Part I

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:23:51 +0000

Our expert analysts, Travis Hartman and Rizwaan Zahid, discuss the previous night’s HBO performances of Sakio Bika and Adrien Broner, as well as the worst “dive” ever taken in a boxing match — a comical travesty in North Dakota that resulted in a suspension for the flopper.

This lively conversation preceded a terrific interview after the commercial break with pro ref and judge Matt Podgorski, creator of “The Pod Index,” a mathematical formula for evaluating boxing judges.

Matt Podgorski & The Pod Index

ringsideboxingshow — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:19:48 +0000

Matt Podgorski, part of a three-generation boxing family in Chicago, wondered if there were a legitimate way to quantify his own abilities as a professional boxing judge — a curiousity that led to “The Pod Index,” a mathematical formula for comparing judges to their peers.

Podgorski, a numbers-cruncher by trade, explained his method in detail on the Feb. 17, 2013 edition of The Ringside Boxing Show, and also discussed his upbringing in a family in which his father, his brother, two uncles and his grandfather all stepped into the ring. Though his grandfather fought just once, the man who worked his corner for that amateur fight was the greatest football player of his era, Red Grange, “The Galloping Ghost.” His father, now a world-class referee and judge, beat Johnny Lira and Randy Shields, he and his two brothers fought both amateur and professionally.

Podgorski, a college professor, gave us a fascinating interview. Enjoy.

Ringside Boxing Show, 2-10-13, Part I

ringsideboxingshow — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 04:24:22 +0000

Our expert analysts Travis Hartman and Rizwaan Zahid weigh the worthiness of Joe Calzaghe as an all-time great, ID the true antagonist in the Top Rank-Golden Boy war, comment on the Mayweather/Guerrero/Brook circus, and break down upcoming fights between Bradley & Provodnikov, Kessler & Froch, and Holt & Peterson.

This is the first half of our Feb. 10, 2013 show featuring an in-depth interview with former WBO light welterweight champ Kendall Holt after the commercial break.

In Depth: Kendall Holt

ringsideboxingshow — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:49:29 +0000

Kendall Holt was once a world champion, but he says he never really felt like he was “on top” in the sport. Now, on the threshold of a fight for Lamont Peterson’s 140-pound belt, the Paterson, N.J. slugger is determined to make another grab at boxing’s brass ring. There’s little doubt that the winner of this fight will become very relevant at junior welterweight.

Holt gave us a lively and honest interview on the Feb. 10, 2013 edition of The Ringside Boxing Show, talking about his life, his career, and his future.