5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce

Does Jake Paul deserve more respect for making the Anthony Joshua fight? Buncey is joined by Chris Billam-Smith to debate that and preview what sort of fight lies ahead. He also hears from AJ’s new cutman Russ Anber and Caroline Dubois, who defends her world title on the undercard.

Is a two-time heavyweight world champion really fighting a YouTuber-turned-boxer in Miami this weekend? Yes. And that’s where Buncey is as fight week for Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua gets underway. To kick things off, he sits down with AJ’s long-time promoter Eddie Hearn to explain how the fight came about and to reflect on the highs and lows of their 12-year working relationship.

Work or pleasure? Whatever the excuse, Buncey found his way to Monte Carlo for a dramatic night of boxing that saw Shabaz Masoud outpoint Peter McGrail to claim the European super-bantamweight title. Joined by Darren Barker, he looks back at that fight and the others on a dramatic night of boxing. We also hear from Conah Walker after his stunning 12th-round knockout of Pat McCormack, and from Johnny Fisher, who overcame an early knockdown to stop Ivan Balaz.

Did BBC TV’s return to boxing live up to the hype? Former British middleweight champion Neville Brown joins Buncey to reflect on a dramatic night in Derby, where Jeamie TKV upset Frazer Clarke and Fran Hennessy won every round against Fabiana Bytyqi. We hear from both fighters, plus promoter Ben Shalom.

Boxing’s back on prime-time BBC TV this Saturday, so Buncey’s in Derby catching up with the fighters. He chats to Frazer Clarke about the pressure of a hometown fight and checks in with TKV, who’s hoping to make a statement. Francesca Hennessy and her dad Mick drop in ahead of her opening the BBC Two show at eight. And promoter Ben Shalom tells us how you can feel the tension between the two heavies starting to bubble.