Ring Champs with Ak & Barak

Fresh off becoming WBC featherweight champion, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington returns to Ring Champs and opens up about the decision ahead of him. He tells Ak and Barak that his Top Rank deal is “up soon,” explains what the promotion would have to do to keep him and how happy he’s been with them.Bruce also names Naoya Inoue as the rival who can prove his greatness, explains why he believes 126 pounds is not Inoue’s natural division, and maps out a future that could take him as high as 147. Plus, he says Devin Haney peaked first, breaks down Keyshawn Davis–Richardson Hitchins, relives Mike Tyson’s surprise appearance at his Brownsville championship parade, and gets honest about the body shots that tested him in his latest title defense.0:00 How “Shu Shu” got his name1:47 Tiger Johnson: from amateur rival to best friend3:08 The Brownsville parade: how it came together5:24 Mike Tyson’s surprise appearance8:13 Parade nerves, the key to Brownsville & uniting rival neighborhoods12:40 Last fight: a unanimous decision after the January knockout14:21 The behind-the-head shot: knockdown or not?15:36 Open scoring: good or bad for boxing?19:10 Taking body shots and the mental toughness it required21:11 The scorecards: which judge got it right?24:20 Disappointment, and how he coped25:56 What’s next: unification talk and the 126lb contenders27:06 Fighting in New York and going abroad28:55 Figueroa, Espinosa and Leo: strengths of each30:20: Carrington wants to fight Inoue34:40 Fury vs. AJ prediction36:09 Keyshawn Davis vs. Richardson Hitchins37:42 Who peaked first: Devin, Shakur, Hitchins or Shu Shu?40:39 The new “Four Kings” and why boxing needs rivalries43:43 How high will he go in weight? Power and punching46:03 Reaction to his untold story from Part 149:15 Brock opens up about a panic attack on live TV56:03 Closing thoughts: the Bam fight he wants Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everybody has a Mike Tyson story—but few have heard them like this. As Netflix’s ‘TYSON’ arrives, Michael Irvin, Zab Judah, Jake Paul, Christy Martin, Big Daddy Kane, Stephen Espinoza and Mauricio Sulaimán look back at the fear, generosity and unforgettable chaos surrounding the youngest heavyweight champion ever.Zab tells the full story of crashing Tyson’s custom $100,000 Ducati and expecting the worst. Jake Paul explains why he held back after seeing Tyson stumble, Christy Martin remembers how Tyson supported her rise, Stephen Espinoza recalls the Aston Martin left in valet for nine months, and Mauricio Sulaimán shares what Tyson was like away from the spotlight in Mexico. 0:00 Michael Irvin on Tyson’s rise, intimidation and the Ali dream fight4:14 Zab Judah’s $100K Ducati crash and Tyson’s response18:22 AD BREAK19:19 Jake Paul on holding back against Tyson21:17 Christy Martin on Tyson’s support22:50 Big Daddy Kane’s club story24:53 AD BREAK26:14 Stephen Espinoza’s nine-month Aston Martin story30:46 Mauricio Sulaimán’s Tyson memories in Mexico Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Max Kellerman sits down with Ak and Barak in Las Vegas during Garcia–Benn fight week, and nobody leaves without an argument. He explains why he thinks the odds are close to zero that Terence Crawford never fights again, the Janibek plan that could make Bud boxing's first six-division champion, and why Boots Ennis is the dangerous fight. Then it gets heated: Max calls Canelo's run at 168 a cherry pick, the guys push back, and he lands on the one fighter he says Canelo did duck. He also goes all in on the sanctioning bodies ("I spit on all of them"), traces it back to Holyfield–Lewis, and explains why he's at Zuffa: boxing needs an institution the way football has the NFL. Plus why AJ has long odds against Fury, why he suspects Shakur is the best fighter in the world even if the proof says Inoue, and how a kid doing a public access show called Max on Boxing landed at ESPN. Plus why Canelo vs. Mbilli is no soft touch, and a heated argument over whether Shakur is the best fighter in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ring Champs is back on the road at Caribe Royale Orlando for Project Series 2, Matchroom and Boxlab Promotions’ proving ground live on DAZN. First up, AJ vs. Fury is official for December 11 in Cardiff on Netflix, but was it ever really in jeopardy? Barak calls it fake news, Ak pushes back with what Turki says the move cost, they argue whether this fight is bigger than Fury vs. Wilder, and Ak puts his prediction on record: AJ goes down, gets up, and knocks Tyson Fury out. Get ready to pull the receipts.Then Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. drops in fresh off his win over Ammo Williams: the maturity shift that turned his career around, the 100-plus rounds with Jermall Charlo, sparring Boots, growing up in the gym with Shakur’s family and riding a 16-passenger van to tournaments with Tank, and why he thinks he could get a Canelo fight. Friday’s main event star Omari Jones talks headlining at home, and the Eddie Hearn meeting in Paris right after his Olympic bout.Plus why Canelo vs. Mbilli is no soft touch, and a heated argument over whether Shakur is the best fighter in the world.Project Series 2 will be LIVE on DAZN Friday, October 2nd.--00:00:00 – Back on the Road at Caribe Royale for Project Series 200:01:01 – AJ vs. Fury: Fake News or Real Jeopardy?00:03:45 – Too Late? The Presser & Bigger Than Fury vs. Wilder00:08:41 – Fury Says He’s Going Straight at AJ00:10:03 – Best British Heavyweight Ever on the Line00:11:17 – Ak’s Prediction: Pull the Receipts00:12:49 – AD BREAK00:13:30 – Vito Mielnicki Jr. Joins: Beating Ammo Williams00:15:04 – Turning Pro at 17 & Mistakes on Live TV00:20:06 – Talking His Way Into Big Fights00:22:58 – Sending Canelo Into Retirement?00:23:52 – Sparring Boots & 100 Rounds With Charlo00:28:06 – Growing Up With Shakur’s Family & Tank00:32:54 – “I’m the Best Middleweight”00:35:13 – AD BREAK00:36:17 – Omari Jones: Headlining at Home00:39:24 – Skipping the Four-Rounders & Building at 14700:44:02 – Eddie Hearn’s Train to Paris00:48:53 – A Word From Our Partners00:49:45 – Canelo vs. Mbilli Is No Soft Touch00:52:54 – Is Shakur the Best Fighter in the World? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded in Las Vegas on fight day, hours before Ryan Garcia knocked out Conor Benn and called him out, Teofimo Lopez sits down with Ak and Barak and lays out the plan everyone’s now talking about: Ryan Garcia, Cinco de Mayo weekend 2027, Los Angeles, WBA vs. WBC unification, then the Paro–Haney winner for undisputed and the Ring lineal belt, then Boots Ennis at 154. He also explains the disguise stunt he pitched to DAZN himself, why he thinks Shakur signing with Zuffa was “more money than legacy,” why he’d pick Crawford over Boots today, and why we haven’t seen anything close to the end of Tank Davis. Then it gets real. Teofimo opens up about the loss to Shakur and the lesson underneath it: trusting his own decisions. That meant a long-overdue conversation with his father and trainer, putting him “on probation”, cutting him off on the business side, and watching him turn everything around. Plus the full story of the $2.35 million purse bid Take Over Promotions dropped on Haney–Keyshawn (and the sealed-envelope technicality he let slide), making peace with DAZN five years after Kambosos, Lomachenko’s return as a free agent, his pick in AJ–Fury, and a Ring Champs exclusive: the name of the baby girl he and his wife are expecting any day. 0:00 Ring Champs on the road in Vegas with Teofimo Lopez 0:56 What Teofimo learned from the Shakur Stevenson fight 2:57 Taking charge of his career from his father 4:49 The private sit-down with Pops 8:11 Putting his dad on “probation” and bringing back Kay Lacroix 9:00 Dad’s transformation: 40 pounds up and done drinking 9:37 His parents’ 35-year marriage, fatherhood, and new baby girl 11:29 Ad break 13:20 The viral beard disguise during fight week 15:23 Teofimo’s relationship with DAZN 17:01 Why Teofimo bid in the Haney vs. Keyshawn purse bid 21:53 Fighter pay: still waiting on money from the Shakur fight 23:28 Wanting the Garcia vs. Benn winner and the “Four Kings” talk 25:06 Is Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis really done? 27:53 Loma’s comeback as a free agent 28:49 What’s next for Shakur Stevenson 30:27 Fury vs. AJ 31:48 Terence Crawford’s future and the Boots Ennis debate 37:00 Teofimo’s next three opponents See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ring Champs takes over Las Vegas for Garcia–Benn fight week, and two welterweight legends stop by the MGM Grand. Terence Crawford pulls up first, happily retired and still watching everything, to explain the Boots Ennis post everyone misread, why “belt hunting” doesn’t add up when Canelo’s on the table, the holes he sees, the PBC wall that kept him from Spence for years, and the Eminem walkout that felt like a movie.Brooklyn’s own Zab Judah, the newest member of the All The Smoke family, settles the Floyd-vs-Crawford-at-38 debate his way, talks Shakur vs. Pacquiao, and finally tells the whole Floyd Mayweather story: the knockdown that wasn’t, the $350,000 fine and one-year suspension, years of not speaking, the bottles he sent back with “send me a contract,” and the Pro Bowl meeting that ended it.Then Richardson Hitchins is fresh off the plane with news: the Keyshawn Davis fight is close, and he explains the money that finally made sense, why he’s “definitely bigger than him,” what Shakur has to do when it’s signed, and why he believes this fight belongs on American soil. 0:00 - Terence Crawford Intro & reacting to Ryan Garcia’s “Avengers” jab2:07 - Explaining the “check the temperature” retirement tease3:20 - Boots Ennis6:34 - Never ducking a fight: the PBC vs. Top Rank history10:09 - Passing the undisputed torch & best Vegas fight nights13:06 - Retirement, the Eminem walkout, and the Ukraine trip16:25 - AD BREAK17:00 - Zab Judah & the state of the welterweight division18:53 - Shakur Stevenson’s next move & rumored Pacquiao fight20:55 - Mayweather’s “phantom knockdown” vs. Judah & his defense23:52 - Mayweather vs. Crawford: comparing résumés and biggest wins29:03 - The Mayweather-Judah brawl and their years-long feud37:39 - Judah brothers’ gym wars, Teofimo Lopez, and AJ-Fury talk42:47 - First big payday, jewelry, and money regrets46:11 - AD BREAK47:33 - Richardson Hitchins joins the show & Keyshawn Davis talks51:39 - Why AJ-Fury might land in Cardiff instead of the U.S.53:31 - Zab breaks down the Hitchins-Davis styles matchup55:19 - Hitchins on staying disciplined and avoiding vices58:05 - Shakur-Devin Haney fight falling apart, and Devin’s size1:00:32 - Fighting your boxing “brothers” for the big money1:03:15 - Fight timeline and location debate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the most influential promoters in combat sports history sits down with Ak and Barak. Scott Coker built Strikeforce from scratch, developed Ronda Rousey, Daniel Cormier, Fedor and a heavyweight division he says was better than the UFC’s — and then sold it in a deal he calls one of the worst days of his life. He opens up about the pressure campaign that came before the sale (“they couldn’t destroy us, so they had to negotiate”), the seven-year non-compete the lawyers demanded, and why his fighters never wanted to leave.Then it turns to the money: the $500 million in purses he’s paid, the 58% of revenue Strikeforce shared with fighters, and the question about pay he says belongs to Dana White. Plus Cyborg calling out Claressa Shields and why he’d pay to see it, the truth about Conor McGregor’s injury and why he believes Conor can’t go out like that, the Crawford–McGregor $200M two-fight idea, remembering Kimbo Slice, and what’s next: $60 million raised for a new MMA venture that includes a one-year invite-only tournament at 126 pounds launching in 2027, built on the Super Six blueprint that made Andre Ward a star. 00:00 Intro: Welcoming Scott Coker00:28 The Bellator–Showtime Years & COVID Fallout02:12 Selling Strikeforce to the UFC09:38 Building Bellator From the Ground Up14:16 What Makes a Fighter a Star?18:36 MMA Money vs. Boxing Money22:06 Fighter Pay & the Strikeforce Model33:05 Launching a New Tournament Promotion34:01 Inspired by Pride & K1's Tournament Format38:19 The $60M Funding Round40:54 Weight Class Strategy & Q1 2027 Launch58:49 Naming the New Company See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RING CHAMPS hits the road. Ak and Barak are live from the Stadium Club at Caribe Royale Orlando for the launch of the Project Series — Matchroom and Boxlab Promotions’ new proving ground on DAZN, where undefeated fighters actually fight each other. They break down what Teofimo Lopez just did to Rolly Romero in Vegas and why the casuals scoring it close need a lesson in how rounds actually work, then get into Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn and the keys for both men on September 12.Then it gets loud: AJ vs. Fury is signed for Netflix, but the venue war is real — Wembley or Madison Square Garden? Ak makes his call on both the venue and the fight, and the argument that follows gets personal. Plus the prospect graveyard (the Felix Verdejo story Top Rank saw coming), the debut of a new segment, Who the Heck Is That?, and a sit-down with undefeated Christian “El Capitán” Barreto before he faces Corey Marksman in Friday’s main event of the inaugural Project Series broadcast.Don’t miss Project Series, live from the Caribe Royale Orlando, Friday August 28th and streaming on DAZN. 00:00:00 – Cold Open: On the Road at the Stadium Club00:02:38 – Teofimo Handles Rolly: The Recap00:04:18 – Scoring 101: Body Shots Count & the 10-8 Debate00:07:19 – What’s Next for Teofimo & Rolly00:09:37 – What the Project Series Is: Projects vs. Prospects00:14:23 – The Prospect Graveyard: Brandon Lee, Joey Spencer & Felix Verdejo00:19:30 – The Ones They Got Right: Shakur at 1700:22:59 – Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn: The Breakdown00:27:02 – Ryan’s Jab, Conor’s Pressure & the Dogfight Question00:32:24 – AJ vs. Fury: The Netflix Venue War00:36:18 – The 4 A.M. Problem & the Falling-Asleep Argument00:42:14 – Ak’s Call: “AJ Knocks Fury Out”00:46:21 – New Segment Debut: Who the Heck Is That?00:52:02 – Christian Barreto Joins the Show00:56:22 – Cotto, Money & the Question He Wouldn’t Answer01:03:19 – See You Friday/Wrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ak and Barak break down Rolly Romero vs. Teofimo Lopez before Saturday’s title fight in Vegas: the smarter Rolly that showed up against Ryan Garcia, why Teofimo comes back different after a loss, and the style question that decides it. Then they get into Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn on September 12, why Conor has the most to gain, and the business story behind it all — the DAZN and PBC deal they never thought they’d see, and what it felt like betting their careers on “the app” back in 2018 when everyone called it suicide.Plus: the report that AJ vs. Fury is headed to Madison Square Garden on Netflix — and why Barak thought it was fake news before making the case that New York wins. Canelo’s dangerous fight with Christian Mbilli that casuals are sleeping on. A heated argument about Micky Ward, belts, and what actually makes a legacy. And finally a farewell to Errol Spence: the career, the what-ifs, and the Hall of Fame verdict. 0:00 – Intro0:43 – DAZN’s rise and the PBC/DAZN partnership3:59 – Can boxing’s rival networks coexist?5:09 – Promoters, networks & fighter loyalty debate7:17 – Rolly Romero vs. Teofimo Lopez preview10:39 – Styles breakdown: Romero vs. Lopez14:18 – Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn intro15:17 – DAZN vs. Zuffa: the promotional landscape16:51 – Garcia’s recent form & Benn’s résumé18:20 – Conor Benn interview callback & legacy debate22:11 – Garcia vs. Benn matchup & odds24:32 – Who benefits more from a win?27:24 – AD BREAK30:12 – Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury reportedly heading to MSG36:10 – Canelo’s next fight and the danger of overlooking Mbili38:33 – Errol Spence Jr.’s career tribute & Hall of Fame case See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Edgar Berlanga sits down with Ak & Barak to finally clear the air — addressing the on-camera tension with Ak head-on before diving into everything else. From there, “The Chosen One” opens up about the toughest stretch of his career, the massive payday from signing with Zuffa Boxing, and why he says it’s already outpacing what he made fighting Canelo.The conversation covers his fallout with Top Rank and Bob Arum vs. Todd DuBoef, the real story behind his beef with Oscar De La Hoya and Eddie Hearn (including getting shut out of ringside tickets), the rise of his viral song “Baby Mama” and plans for a full EP, and a no-holds-barred Untold Stories segment. He closes it out naming his next three dream opponents — and the one rematch he’d want above all else. 0:00 Intro0:46 Addressing the tension with Ak6:23 The Sheeraz loss, the dark place11:55 - AD BREAK14:29 Fat Joe loyalty — origin story20:37 MSG pressure, the knockdown & comeback KO28:20 The Angulo fight — dirty tactics29:28 Leaving Top Rank31:19 The Canelo fight, mindset, biggest purse43:43 Signing with Zuffa Boxing46:30 “Baby Mama” origin story53:19 Oscar De La Hoya & Eddie Hearn tension1:05:31 Untold Stories1:09:19 Is the persona a show?1:11:11 Haney/Keyshawn Davis, Hitchins talk1:20:45 Next 3 opponents, Canelo rematch dream See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first football guest in RING CHAMPS history is a Hall of Famer who’s been ringside for boxing’s biggest nights. Michael Irvin sits down with Ak and Barak and starts at the beginning: the 15th of 17 kids, bused 25 miles out of the ghetto at five years old & feeling inferior in an all-white school post-integration, until a tutor threw him a football and said the words that changed his life. He opens up about the father who never saw him play, driving him to cancer treatments at 15, the promise he made the night before he died, and why he wore 88 for his dad’s favorite Cowboy.Then the boxing stories come out. Dinner with Mike Tyson fresh out of prison (and the moment with the waiter Irvin will never forget), why the Buster Douglas loss hurt him like nothing else in sports, the Chávez–Taylor war that made him ask for the only autograph of his life, his breakdown of how Ali vs. Tyson actually goes, his love for Terence Crawford, and his shock at what Floyd Mayweather is going through.Plus the truth about Deion Sanders, the physics of why cornerbacks couldn’t press him, and the prison-mentality workouts that built a Hall of Fame career. 00:00 – Intro & Welcoming Michael Irvin00:52 – Growing Up in Segregation-Era Florida02:06 – Feeling Inferior & Discovering He Could Be Special04:37 – St. Thomas Aquinas, Miss Jones & Fighting to Play07:50 – Moving from Defense to Wide Receiver10:05 – Freshman Year at Miami Under Jimmy Johnson12:21 – His Father: The Pastor Who Never Saw Him Play15:16 – Losing His Father & the Promise He Made18:02 – Giving Back to St. Thomas Aquinas20:35 – Ad Break21:45 – Realizing He Was a Special Wide Receiver22:59 – Miami Hurricanes Legends & Cowboys Brotherhood25:13 – Buying Family Homes & Helping Without Hurting27:21 – Chasing Jerry Rice & Darrell Green28:23 – Fear, Courage & the Mental Game of Football31:26 – The Legendary Super Bowl Catch32:22 – Becoming a Mike Tyson Superfan35:51 – Deion Sanders & Paying It Forward39:46 – Boxing’s Meaning & Today’s Top Fighters44:34 – Greatest Fights, Dream Matchups & the Tyson Dinner Story See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephen Espinoza returns for a wide-ranging conversation covering some of boxing’s biggest storylines, and has some updates. He addresses Floyd Mayweather’s $340M lawsuit against him and Showtime personally — where pay-per-view money actually goes, and why he insists not a penny went missing — plus whether he’d still help Floyd, what their conversations have been like since, and the six-month window on a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch.The conversation turns to a dream matchup: Mayweather vs. Terence Crawford. Espinoza, who has priced fights like this his entire career, gives his verdict and sparks a debate about what it would take to make it real.Finally, Espinoza responds to Dana White’s claim that Zuffa Boxing will eventually sign every fighter, breaking down what that would actually require — undoing 100 years of boxing’s structure — and pointing to a business model that keeps contradicting itself, down to Devin Haney’s rumored $60M deal. 0:00 – Intro0:44 – Floyd’s lawsuit: does Espinoza/Showtime owe him money?2:20 – His reaction to the suit, and where things stand with Al Haymon4:32 – How PPV money actually flows9:00 – Streaming vs. old-school PPV payouts10:16 – The leaked Al Haymon audio and the AI theory14:19 – Al Haymon taking PBC stars to Fox — and why exclusive network deals hurt boxing20:49 – Signing Boots Ennis and Anthony Joshua outside of PBC25:30 – Creating boxing’s first real annual fight schedule30:38 – Espinoza’s green-light power at Showtime, and why it ended36:07 – Why Tank vs. Shakur died, and the real story on Crawford vs. Ennis40:23 – Mayweather vs. Crawford — what it’d take, and would fans buy it?44:04 – Boxing’s shrinking media landscape, Saudi money, and PIF50:32 – Could Zuffa really sign every fighter? Devin Haney’s rumored $60M deal54:23 – Al Haymon’s future, Turki’s “boxing summit,” and fighters pricing themselves out1:02:20 – Would Espinoza still help Floyd? His finances since the lawsuit1:05:32 – Addressing Part 1 comments1:09:36 – Joshua vs. Fury, Wilder’s legacy, and Tank Davis’ future1:15:49 – Outro See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Terence Crawford is back on RING CHAMPS for his first sit-down since walking away from boxing, and this time Ak and Barak came with a retirement gift: an original portrait from Tony Nasa. Bud opens up about the decision nobody leaked: he knew before the Canelo fight that it was his last, Bomac couldn't wait for him to be done, and the tears after Spence were him realizing he'd already proved everything. He shuts down the Turki rumors (nobody has offered him a fight since Canelo), explains why "who am I gonna fight?" ends every comeback conversation, and teases the injuries from his worst camp that he's saving for the documentary. Then he answers what everyone's been waiting on: Spence's camp excuses, and explains why he can't grasp taking the biggest fight of your life unprepared. Crawford reveals there was no rematch clause with Canelo but he'd have honored one anyway, plus the truth about the $200M McGregor offer and what he'd have done in the cage, his take on Shakur signing with Zuffa and the UFC camera "mixup," and advice for Boots Ennis and why Vergil Ortiz is the harder fight over Fundora. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Richardson Hitchins is back on RING CHAMPS for the first time since the fight that never happened, and he takes us inside every hour of that week: his body shutting down in the cold of Vegas, being held up by his team in the MGM lobby so nobody could see him on his knees, 6 AM ice baths, throwing up on fight night, and the moment he told his manager he couldn’t walk to the ring. Then the part that still eats at him every day — the biggest check of his career, over $1 million, gone with the pullout.He also gets into everything that came after: vacating the IBF belt, the Zuffa deal and why the money stayed the same without the strap, Eddie Hearn going missing, and sitting down with Dana White and Nick Khan.Plus Tank Davis texting him from fake numbers, his real issue with Keyshawn Davis and the missed-weight double standard, why he’s picking Teofimo over Rolly, breaking down Boots Ennis vs. Xander Zayas, whether Boots beats Bud, and the fight he wants most: Devin Haney. 00:00 – Intro & Welcome Back Richardson Hitchins00:47 – What Really Happened During Oscar Duarte Fight Week07:12 – Is Hitchins Done at 140?08:50 – Making Weight, Nutrition & Growing Out of the Division10:59 – Ad Break12:10 – Zuffa’s Plans for Him at 14714:04 – How the Zuffa Boxing Deal Came Together16:25 – Why the Eddie Hearn Deal Fell Apart21:02 – Breaking Down Teofimo Lopez vs. Rolly Romero25:53 – Beef with Devin Haney & Tank Davis30:55 – Should Shakur Stevenson Move Up to 147?33:53 – Sparring Stories with Shakur Stevenson35:05 – Keyshawn Davis’ Win Over Jamaine Ortiz38:34 – Shakur Stevenson Beats Raymond Ford42:17 – Boots Ennis vs. Xander Zayas47:35 – Fundora & Vergil in the 154 Division49:35 – Fantasy Fight: Boots Ennis vs. Bud Crawford53:45 – Fallout, Critics & the Real Reason He Pulled Out1:03:34 – Meeting Dana White & Nick Khan1:06:11 – Talking His Next Opponent1:11:25 – Wrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emiliano Vargas pulls up on RING CHAMPS just days after his statement win at a sold-out Barclays Center, and the fastest-rising name in the Vargas dynasty holds nothing back. The undefeated 22-year-old gets real about answering Ryan Garcia’s verbal jab, why he believes Vargas vs. Garcia sells out a stadium. Plus, sparring Shakur Stevenson as a 17-year-old, and the only fighter who ever hurt him in the ring.He also takes us inside the most surreal stretch of his young career: the locker room during Xander Zayas’ loss to Boots Ennis, the phone call telling him Bad Bunny personally picked him for the Super Bowl halftime show, and the casino run that cost him $16,000 in an hour. Plus his brothers’ bare-knuckle debut in London, the lessons pulled from his father, Fernando’s, career, and the untold story of the pro fight he took with no team and his barber working the mitts. 0:00 Intro0:47 Vargas Brothers in boxing & family competition3:18 Staying focused despite money & fame7:22 Learning from his brothers’ mistakes11:08 AD BREAK13:28 Falling in love with boxing as a kid15:13 Amateur career & traveling the world17:52 Sparring wars with his brothers growing up21:33 Ryan Garcia23:24 His father’s legacy: Tito Trinidad and beyond27:28 Breaking down the Xander Zayas vs. Boots Ennis fight32:58 Super Bowl halftime show & meeting Bad Bunny36:41 Sparring Shakur Stevenson & Jorge Linares43:17 Dream fight: Ryan Garcia & next opponents47:42 Untold Stories58:19 Rapid-fire Qs, dad’s best advice & money stories See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ak and Barak don’t agree on much, and they really don’t agree on this one. In a real-time, unscripted debate, the self-proclaimed biggest Floyd Mayweather fan alive gets pushed to answer the question boxing won’t stop arguing about: is Terence “Bud” Crawford actually better than Floyd Mayweather?They break down the resume case for Floyd (the $300M Showtime run, the Pacquiao win, the undefeated record) against the eye-test case for Bud (the Canelo demolition three weight classes up, the switch-hitting power, the dominance at 38 that mirrors his prime). They run the fantasy fight at 38, at 29, and dig into who Floyd really beat versus who Bud was blacklisted from fighting. By the end, even Floyd’s #1 fan lands somewhere he’s never said on camera before. 0:00 Intro0:48 Setting the Stage1:53 Framing the GOAT Debate2:51 Floyd’s Close Fights4:50 Ad Break5:45 The Age Argument7:55 Floyd’s Resume Case9:24 38-Year-Old Floyd vs. Pacquiao11:48 38-Year-Old Bud vs. Canelo13:34 Resume vs. Dominance15:07 Bud’s Blacklisted Prime Years15:50 Does Resume Trump Everything?16:54 The Fantasy Fight at 3818:03 Can Floyd’s Defense Stop Bud?21:24 What About 29-Year-Old Floyd?28:47 Could Bud Have Done More?30:50 The Perfect Retirement32:07 Names vs. Accolades34:17 Outro See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ak & Barak are back to break down the most stacked stretch of the boxing calendar, and they are not holding back. This is a full state-of-the-sport conversation built around one argument: boxing is thriving louder than ever, and the next two weeks prove it.The guys preview Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas as Bam moves up to chase Naoya Inoue, Boots Ennis vs Zander Zayas at 154, Abdullah Mason’s hometown title shot against Joe Cordina, and Errol Spence Jr’s comeback against Tim Tszyu. Then it gets spicy: Barak predicts Anthony Joshua knocks out Tyson Fury to become a three-time heavyweight champion, they crown Shakur Stevenson the best fighter in the world, and they debate Canelo Alvarez’s next move with Benavidez, Jermall Charlo, and even Errol Spence on the table. 00:00:00 – Intro00:01:45 – Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Moving Up & The Inoue Dream Match00:12:21 – Boots Ennis vs. Zander Zayas: Coming Out Party or Bust?00:17:36 – Breaking Down Boots vs. Zayas Further00:21:46 – Abdullah Mason Defending His Title in Cleveland00:23:52 – Mason’s Personality & What He Needs to Prove00:31:28 – Anthony Joshua vs. Prenga: Tune-Up for Fury00:31:42 – The Biggest Fight in British History: AJ vs. Tyson Fury00:38:00 – Errol Spence Jr. Returns vs. Tim Tszyu00:42:53 – Canelo’s Future: Benavidez, Jermall Charlo & What’s Left to Prove00:46:17 – Dream Matchup: Errol Spence vs. Canelo Alvarez in 2027?00:49:06 – Boxing’s Biggest Remaining Fights & The State of the Sport00:51:30 – Outro: Boxing Is Thriving See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ak & Barak settle it once and for all: the 10 greatest knockouts in boxing history. From Juan Manuel Marquez’s ice-cold finish of Manny Pacquiao to George Foreman reclaiming the title at 45, Canelo’s highlight-reel destruction of Amir Khan, Tommy Hearns vs Roberto Duran, Julian Jackson’s one-punch power, Tank Davis, Michael Carbajal, and yes, Jake Paul’s knockout of Tyron Woodley making the cut. The guys rank their personal top 5 each, argue over who got robbed of Knockout of the Year, and debate which finish is truly the scariest of all time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Philly’s own Stephen “Cool Boy” Fulton sits down with Ak & Barak on RING CHAMPS and finally tells the full story of what really happened before his loss to O’Shaquie Foster. The two-time world champion walks through the weight cut from hell — running for hours without sweating, an hour in the sauna tent, passing out in the hotel room with his body locked up, and showing up to the weigh-in with one shoe on and one shoe off. He admits he was “killing himself” on the scale, ran out of legs before the bell, and says if Foster had actually engaged in a rumble, the result would have been completely different. The Foster rematch is officially on his radar.Fulton also opens up about the personal storm he was in heading into that fight: a year-plus breakup he was still working through in the ring, a house break-in where someone walked off with a $20K Chanel bag, and therapy work that finally helped him forgive his mom for the trauma she carried. He talks fashion ($35-40K Margiela fight kits, $1.5M total spent on clothes), his $17M retirement quota, his goal to become the first three-division world champion from Philadelphia, and a mystery summertime comeback fight at 130 pounds.This is one of the rawest, most honest sit-downs Fulton has done since the loss. 00:00:00 - Intro00:01:19 - Best Dressed Boxers: Tank, Devin, Caleb Plant & More00:02:35 - Raising His Sons & Teaching Style00:04:32 - Would Steph Start His Own Clothing Brand?00:05:13 - Most Expensive Fight Outfit: Head-to-Toe Margiela ($35-40K)00:05:53 - How Much Has He Spent on Clothes His Whole Career?00:09:42 - Going to Therapy & What He Learned00:10:51 - Understanding His Mom’s Trauma & Forgiving Her00:12:32 - His Parenting Philosophy: Don’t Force Your Kids00:20:12 - His Financial Goal: $17 Million Before He Hangs It Up00:22:04 - The House Break-In Before His Last Fight00:28:41 - Acting, Podcasting & Life After Boxing00:29:20 - Inoue vs Bam Rodriguez: Who Wins?00:33:38 - Breaking Down Shakur Stevenson00:34:13 - What Was Really Going on Before the Foster Fight (Breakup)00:35:37 - Boxing Is the Loneliest Sport00:36:09 - Being a Lover Boy, Therapy & Learning to Be Alone00:40:47 - Motivation Now: Becoming a 3-Division World Champion00:42:41 - What Really Went Wrong in the Foster Fight00:43:14 - The Weight Cut Nightmare00:47:34 - Does He Want the Rematch with Forster?00:50:12 - Next Fight Coming This Year00:54:20 - What’s Changed in Camp: Back to the Footwork00:59:19 - Outro See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ak & Barak are back on RING CHAMPS with their boldest take yet: Canelo Alvarez is the greatest Mexican fighter of all time, and they’re settling it with facts over feelings. In one of the most controversial debates in boxing, Ak & Barak break down why Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has surpassed Julio Cesar Chavez Sr to claim the Mexican GOAT crown, and they bring the receipts.They walk through Chavez Sr’s record with a microscope: the 77-0 fight against a 7-2 opponent, the 65-0 fight against a 0-1 fighter, the 51+ journeymen on the resume, and the Meldrick Taylor fight Chavez was losing until the final seconds. Then he stacks Canelo’s accomplishments: 18 world titles across four divisions, becoming the first Mexican fighter to go undisputed at 168 pounds, 20 champions beaten, 9 undefeated fighters defeated, and moving up to 175 pounds to fight bigger men.The conversation also tackles Salvador Sanchez (potential vs accomplishments), Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez (and his Pacquiao-four-times resume), and the strongest contrarian argument on the board: Oscar De La Hoya’s 11 world titles across six divisions, and the fact that he beat Chavez Sr head-to-head. 00:00 - The Ring Champs: Settling the Mexican GOAT Debate01:25 - Facts Over Feelings: Canelo vs. Chavez Sr.02:50 - Salvador Sanchez: Eye Test vs. Longevity04:44 - Finito Lopez: Undefeated & More Skilled Than Chavez?05:33 - Marco Antonio Barrera & Juan Manuel Marquez Resumes11:16 - Lineal Champions vs. Vacant Titles12:46 - Putting Chavez Sr.’s 77-0 Record Under the Microscope17:32 - The Superstar Cultural Impact of Chavez Sr.18:58 - Peak Comparisons: 21-Year-Old Canelo vs. Chavez Sr.22:14 - The Strongest Case: Oscar De La Hoya’s Six-Division Legacy25:36 - Why Canelo Alvarez is the Greatest Mexican Fighter of All Time28:36 - Ticket Gates, Pay-Per-View, & Putting “Asses in Seats”29:42 - Breaking Down Chavez Sr.’s Biggest Career Wins33:59 - Final Verdict: Canelo Stands Alone at the Top See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices