Macklin's Take

Macklin and Andy are back with a host of stadium fights this weekend, plus a bit of a bugbear when it comes to tune-up fights - there's plenty to talk about. Please remember to rate and review wherever you listen to the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To say there's been plenty of boxing since we last caught up would be an understatement and on the weekend there were shows in Las Vegas, Saudi and in New York. Macklin's Take reacts and fills all the gaps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After not just weeks but years of build-up, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn finally stepped into the centre of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and went toe-to-toe for 12 solid rounds. It was a night that had a bit of everything and the appearance of Chris Eubank Sr may well have been the cherry on top. This is the Macklin's Take reaction to Eubank vs Benn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Macklin and Andy are back together, gearing up for a bout that looks set to capture the imagination well beyond just boxing fans...beyond even sports fans...and perhaps even into the wider public consciousness. Eubank Jr vs Benn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Whittaker has endured a rough ride in recent months, having flipped out of the ring in Saudi Arabia last year... a humbling end to a night that shook his swagger. But in Birmingham, he was back with fire in his belly, out for revenge against his old dance partner, Liam Cameron. The trademark flash was still there, though noticeably dialled down... a touch more grit, a little less glitz. And it worked. Whittaker got the job done in just two rounds. Andy and Matt dive straight into the thick of it in this week's episode of Macklin's Take. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Macklin and Andy sit down to discuss the latest boxing news and delve into this weekend's upcoming rematch between Whittaker and Cameron, following their controversial first encounter in Saudi Arabia last year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don't rub your eyes or scratch your head too much – the rumours are true! You may have heard on the jungle drums that Macklin's Take was making a return… well, we've got good news for you boxing aficionados. It's true – Matt and Andy are back, talking boxing, the business, and all things in between. In this episode, we'll dive into the roles and responsibilities that Macklin now plays as a manager, unpack some of the weekend's happenings, and look ahead to some cracking bouts scheduled over the coming weeks and months. Follow on IG: @MrAndyClarke & @MattMacklin82 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy and Matt sit down to talk about sports most decisive moment...The Knockout. You can purchase Andy's book here: https://t.co/J7zVHTT2Ha Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Macklin and Andy are in Riyadh and were both in attendance for the undisputed clash and they couldn't not react on the pod with a fight of this magnitude. @MattMacklin @MrAndyClarke (Twitter/X) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Andy sit down to discuss the highly anticipated heavyweight clash that is set to take place at the O2 Arena on Sunday evening. You can pre-order Andy's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knockout-Andy-Clarke/dp/0711294852 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Macklin and Andy look back at the recent fight-night in Saudi as well as the Queensbury show in Birmingham + the subject of pulling a fighter out of a lucrative event. You can pre-order Andy's book 'The Knockout' here: https://amzn.eu/d/91tGECx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Macklin and Andy are in Saudi for AJ v Ngannou and they're lapping up the fight week chaos with some of the many people making the event happen. You can pre-order 'The Knockout' by Andy Clarke now: https://amzn.eu/d/hnMrPJ6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 8th Anthony Joshua faces Francis Ngannou in Saudi, will Macklin make it or will he become an accoucheur in his own home? Boxing meets the Dad's Club in another episode of Macklin's Take. Andy's book 'The Knockout' is available for pre-order here: https://amzn.eu/d/hnMrPJ6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Andy are back to discuss Fury vs Usyk, domestic schedule, Buatsi vs Yarde, Whittaker and more. Pre-order 'The Knockout' by Andy Clarke here: https://bit.ly/4b7Kj2J Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Macklin's Take we bring you a very special episode. We talk often on the podcast about amateur boxing, about how vital amateur clubs are, not just to the sport, but also to the communities they belong to, and how the people who run them are the sport's true, unsung heroes. Well a couple of weeks ago Matt invited me along to the birthday party of his old amateur coach, a man who helped save and shape so many young people's lives and who also brought through more than his fair share of champions. Pat Benson, in his late 80s now, ran Small Heath Boxing club, a powerhouse of an ABC, for decades and the turnout at the Irish Centre spoke volumes about the esteem in which he is held by everyone who walked through the doors of the club. We sat down with the likes of Wayne Elcock, Paul Ramsey, Anthony Maynard, Rowan Williams, Dennis Brown and Shaun Cogan amongst others to re-live some glory days and reflect on the impact boxing and Small Heath has had on their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy and Matt are back to delve into the two most recent events announced with a show full of names on the 23rd of December and an actual date for Fury and Usyk to get it on in February + the conversation goes on to the health of British boxing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Macklin and Andy react to the news of Joshua v Whyte being cancelled and delve into the topic of PED's in boxing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Macklin and Andy review a fine week in boxing as Inoue, Fulton, Spence and Crawford not only gave us a week to remember but represented the sport in the finest of manners. A good week for boxing. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate and review our show on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The excitement builds on a monster fight week as Inoue and Fulton clash in a fight for the ages in Tokyo, while across the North Pacific Crawford and Spence will finally get down to business. All of this and more in this week's Macklin's Take. @MattMacklin @MrAndyClarke / #MacklinsTake Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Macklin and I are joined by the brilliant Steve Kim! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teddy Atlas is back for part 2! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Macklin's Take it's the one and only, Teddy Atlas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Matt & I are joined by IBO World Featherweight champion Jazza Dickens. And I invite the pair of them to tell me what cliches and general nonsense talk, peddled by the likes of me, winds them up the most! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's back, the Macklin's Take franchise champion, Jon Pegg. if you're listening on apple podcast, please rate and review! Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week myself and Matt Macklin are joined by former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Scott Welch. We caught Scott down in sunny Bournemouth where he was preparing his son Tommy for his fight on the Okolie vs CBS card. We chatted boxing families, the current heavyweight and scene and also took a pretty deep dive into the psychology of boxing and the brutality of suffering and coming back from a knockout. It was very interesting stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Macklin's Take we bring you part 2 with the legendary Gary Newbon. Please do make sure you have listened to part one before hitting the play button on this one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Macklin's Take we bring you the first of two episodes with the one and only Gary Newbon. Gary spent 50 years at the top level in TV and was of course a big part of the brilliant ITV team that brought us the Big Fight Live. Benn vs Eubank, Eubank vs Watson, Benn vs McClellan attracted enormous viewing audiences and Gary was right in the middle of it all, getting where water couldn't and asking the questions that needed to be asked. He's a life-long boxing fan, is bang up to date with the current scene, and it was an absolute pleasure to sit down with him in his dining room in Solihull and chew the fat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Macklin's Take me and Matt are joined by boxing media mogul and seeker of truth and justice Rob Tebbutt. Rob is one of the most respected and influential operators in boxing's vast digital platform and his channel ID Boxing has quickly earned a reputation as an industry leader. We talk to Rob about the complexities of the YouTube platform and how he's chosen to navigate it over the years and also about the news that ID Boxing is merging with Boxing News to provide and online home for the world's oldest and best fight magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Macklin's Take me and Matt are joined by Boxxer's International Head of Boxing Al Siesta. And we ask whether relations between the major UK promoters have hit an all-time low. Or are they capable of working together more so we can avoid nights like May 27th, when we have three world title fights involving British fighters on different cards and different networks, on the same night. Because ultimately it's the sport and the fans that suffer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome a certain Kody Mommaerts onto the podcast. You'll know him better as Boxxer and Sky MC Big Mo, who has blazed a trail across our screens since making his Sky debut in Bournemouth last summer. An outstanding athlete back in his college days, which weren't long ago at all, his journey to the centre of the ring has been an interesting one to say the least. It was great to sit down with him and hear all about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Macklin now safely back from paternity leave and the podcast back on the road, this week we catch up with our great pal Spencer Oliver. After his career was cut short by injury Spencer very quickly became a pundit and has remained in that role for 25 years. The job has changed a lot over that period, beyond all recognition is some ways, so Spence was the perfect man to fill us in on what has been a fascinating journey for him so far. He's very relieved there were no camera phones or social media back in the day :) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Macklin's Take we've tracked down a man we've been after for a while; trainer, manager and promoter Errol Johnson.Errol runs Black Country Boxing. He's one off the busiest blokes in the boxing business and knows it inside out.We see him and his fighters up and down the country all the time and he goes way back with Macklin too, having been in the opposite corner for Matt's first ever amateur fight.

Joining us for our first podcast of 2023, Joe Gallagher and Spencer Oliver.Matt was actually held up in traffic but we were able to keep the ship afloat without him and he did manage to make it in time to join us towards the end.We had a look at what we can expect in 2023, where the sport sits currently in terms of its popularity, the impact of Misfits boxing, and even had time to talk commentary and corner work.It was a great fun chat with two top blokes.

For our final podcast of 2022 me and Matt welcome back Board of Control General Secretary Robert Smith.It's been an interesting year, in boxing it always is. We've had stadium fights, scoring controversies, the re-emergence of a robust small hall scene post Covid, the death of a monarch and the Conor Benn saga. And whilst Robert may not have loved every single second of it, as he rightly told us, the good has outweighed the bad and we head into another year with the sport in good shape.Merry Christmas everyone, and a happy new year, we'll be back mid-January probably.Take it easy :)

In this one me and Matt look back at Fury vs Chisora and give our take on how the fight and the whole event played out.We take a look at the state of the current promotional and TV landscape within boxing. And we talk a bit of Josh Kelly as well.Man of the YearWhatever happened to friendship? 49% of Americans report having three or fewer close...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Walter Beede - Baseball Lifer's Podcast"The Youth Baseball Guy" | Former NCAA Head Baseball Coach, Speaker, Author | Tweets...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Lewis Van Poetsch, better known as Poochi, is one British boxing's finest away corner warriors, and along with his manager and trusted cornerman Rich Farnan, travels the land taking on all comers.It's a crucial role, one that's unique to boxing really, and one that's maybe changing a bit too.There have been a number of away corner wins recently and Poochi has notched a few himself, so me and Matt thought it was about time we had a proper chat about life on the road with two of the sport's most seasoned campaigners.

This week we embark on another Big Fight Deep Dive.Our leader on this expedition is top boxing journalist Steve Lillis who takes back almost 20 years to Louisville, Kentucky and Mike Tyson vs Danny Williams.It was a hell of a week and a hell of a result, with stories to match!

Our pals George Groves and Dec Taylor have created their own boxing club, 'The George Groves Boxing Club' and it's well worth your time and attention. They've given us a taster to share with you and here it is. Search 'The George Groves Boxing Club' in any podcast platform and you will find it there. Macklin's Take will return next week! Across the DinerVerseSearching for the heart and soul of America one diner at a time! Podcast host, John...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

By popular request this week sees the return of the Big Fight Deep Dive, where we take an in-depth look at a key clash from years gone by in the company of somebody who was there.A fight that's been on the list for a long time is Chris Eubank vs Steve Collins from March 18th 1995.Eubank was the long-reigning WBO Super Middleweight champion and maybe the biggest name in British boxing at the time whilst Collins was WBO champ at the weight below and moving up to 168lbs for the first time.It  was a tale of the unexpected from the very beginning with the fight ending up in the tiny town of Millstreet in County Cork and with all manner of things happening in the build-up. Ringside calling the action for Sky Sports was legendary commentator Ian Darke and it was our pleasure to welcome Darkey on board to look back at what was a memorable night.

In this special extra episode me and Matt discuss the ongoing Conor Benn saga.We first discussed it when the news very first broke but have deliberately kept our powder dry since because no new information had come to light and we're not in the business of indulging in pointless speculation.But last week saw some revelations so we decided it was time to address what has become one of the British sport's burning issues.We know all the parties involved, Conor Benn, Eddie Hearn and Board of Control Secretary Robert Smith have all been on Macklin's Take, but we have no personal allegiances in the matter. We tried our best to look at it from the perspective of those parties and try and work out exactly how the whole situation was allowed to become the PR disaster that it undoubtedly has become. And to identify the lessons that can and must be learnt from it all because one thing we can all agree on I think is that there have truly been no winners in this, none at all.Oddity Poddity: A Paranormal PodcastTerrifying tales of the supernatural! Love a good haunt? A spine-tingling urban legend?...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

We love a boxing insider on Macklin's Take :)And this week me and Matt sit down with a man who was right on the inside of boxing's premier broadcasting flagship for over 25 years.Mark Taffet was head of HBO Pay Per View and with the company from 1983, all the way through to 2015.He was fundamental in putting together some of the biggest fights the world has seen and a key player in HBO fight cards and broadcasts becoming the gold standard that their competition strived to match.We chatted about the challenges of the job, the glory nights  and of course got his take on the modern boxing landscape and the shelf life of the current PPV model.Oddity Poddity: A Paranormal PodcastTerrifying tales of the supernatural! Love a good haunt? A spine-tingling urban legend?...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

This week it's part 2 of our chat with the one and only Ambrose Mendy.Last time out Ambrose regaled with some great tales of adventure from his early days, promoting alongside Frank Warren and cracking the cartel.Today he gives us the inside track on the formative years of his relationship with Nigel Benn and tells us the whole story behind how Benn vs Watson ended up being contested in a huge tent in Finsbury Park on what has gone down in history as one of British boxing's most legendary nights.Oddity Poddity: A Paranormal PodcastTerrifying tales of the supernatural! Love a good haunt? A spine-tingling urban legend?...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

This week me and Matt caught up with the one and only Ambrose Mendy.Best known for his days with Nigel Benn, Ambrose has been an influential figure in British boxing for decades, these days working as an advisor to Boxxer.There are very few things he hasn't seen in the sport and he has the stories to match.In this episode he takes us back the early days, casting his mind back to the very first promotion he was involved in and giving us the inside story of how he and Frank Warren cracked British boxing's legendary cartel back in the day.We'll be back with more from Ambrose very soon :)Bookstore ExplorerGo behind the shelves to learn what makes indie bookshops such magical places.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Bustin' Chops & Callin' ShotsEach week Josh and Jon sit down to give their take on travel sports and everything in...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

After a glorious night at the 02 me and Matt decided we needed to take a look back at what was a fantastic night for boxing.The build-up, the cast of characters, the fights, the atmosphere, it was all sensational.And it gave us a glimpse of what could be a very bright future.Bookstore ExplorerGo behind the shelves to learn what makes indie bookshops such magical places.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

In this one me and Matt continue the build-up to the big Shields vs Marshall card in the company of Top Rank and ESPN commentator Crystina Poncher.Crystina's calling the fight for the US audience so was the perfect person to talk to about the card, the fighters and the significance of the event and we even had time to delve into the story behind her own boxing journey.She was great company, especially considering she was fighting chronic jet lag!

This week on Macklin's Take we're back in East London for the Shields vs Marshall/Mayer vs Baumgardner card at the 02.It's a huge week for this modern era of women's pro boxing and we had the good fortune to sit down with both WBO Middleweight champion Savannah Marshall ahead of her fight for Undisputed vs self-proclaimed GWOAT Claressa Shields and WBC Super Featherweight boss Alycia Baumgardner as she prepares to take on IBF & WBO belt holder Mikaela Mayer.One was just about to go training, the other had just finished; it was great of them to fit us in.

What a day.At the time of recording the Board of Control had just decreed that as far as they were concerned Eubank vs Benn was "prohibited" and would not be going ahead.That came just a couple of hours after the promoters issued a joint statement saying that it would.Chaos.So we decided we needed to convene for an emergency pod.We were actually planning to do one today anyway previewing the fight :)

This week me and Matt are joined by Hall of Fame boxing writer and friend of the pod Thomas Hauser.I bumped into Thomas at York Hall a couple of weeks ago. It was his first visit to one of British boxing's finest institutions so we thought we'd better check in with him and see how he enjoyed it.It wasn't all we discussed of course.TV was the main talking point.The pros and cons of exclusive deals between networks and promoters and the power struggles they create. The sad departure of HBO and the abandonment of the model they created and successfully implemented for so many years. The confusion that multiple sanctioning bodies and multiple champions can create amongst the viewing public. Oh and PPV of course.There was a lot to get into and a lot pf problems to address but we did also offer some solutions :)FRANK HORROR Presents: THE HORROR ANALYSISFRANK HORROR features both horror fiction and talk-format showsListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Buzzsprout — Easiest Way to Start a PodcastStart podcasting today. It's the easiest way to start, grow, and monetize your podcast.

This week on Macklin's Take we're joined by the legend that is Colonel Bob Sheridan.The Colonel has been calling fights since the 1960s, over 10,000 for TV radio in total, and has been ringside for most of the sport's biggest bouts over that period: The Rumble in the Jungle, the Thriller in Manila, Tyson Douglas in Tokyo,  The Bite fight, to name just a few.And that's not all he's done, amazingly.He's also been a pro baseball player, a rodeo rider, a politician and a cattle farmer.All of which and more will feature in his book, set to be released next year, All The King's Horses and All The Queen's Men.It was fantastic to spend some time with him, it really was.FRANK HORROR Presents: THE HORROR ANALYSISFRANK HORROR features both horror fiction and talk-format showsListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Buzzsprout — Easiest Way to Start a PodcastStart podcasting today. It's the easiest way to start, grow, and monetize your podcast.

This week we're joined by Clifton Mitchell, a man who's career in boxing has served him up more experiences than most.He boxed as a pro, out of the famous Ingle gym, taking the ring moniker of Paddy O'Reilly.As soon as he hung up the gloves he opened his own gym, the One Nation in Derby, that's going strong 25 years later.He also started the most successful boxing security firm in the UK.Oh, and he's been to Neverland to meet Michael Jackson and is on first name terms with Jennifer Lopez and Naomi Campbell.And luckily, Clifton was happy to tell us about all of it :)

This week we sit down with top trainer and friend of the pod Peter Fury.It's always great fun having a chat with Peter, someone who knows the boxing game inside out and is never afraid to say exactly what he thinks.It was our first time recording in person with our guest for a good while, it really is great to be back :)