Michael Conlan’s on The Rocky Road to Dublin. Host Kevin remembers his first time seeing the precocious Belfast teenager in action at the National Stadium, sweeping to Irish senior glory in the 2011 final at 52kg on the same night when a 17-year-old Joe Ward shocked Kenneth Egan in the 81kg decider. A year later, Mick became an Olympic medallist in London and when he was named RTE Sportsperson of the Year in 2015, as reigning European and World champion, an upgrade to gold in Rio looked on the cards. At the time it also seemed like he’d morph into a Dublin mainstay when he eventually turned pro but it was not to be. Yet, as Mick says, it’s better late than never, and he’ll finally headline at the 3Arena on September 5 against England’s Jack Bateson as he chases what would be a third world title shot. Here, we sit down with the Falls Road fighter to find out why he’s so excited to box in Dublin at last as a pro, how the 13 years since London 2012 have gone by in a blink, feeling no nerves before his last fight and why that was unusual for him, being one loss away from quitting, not needing boxing anymore, why it's his opponent's world title fight coming here, and his own ambition to face one final title shot at Madison Square Garden on Paddy’s weekend, 2026. After a cosy lunch in the capital, we also chew the fat with irish-boxing.com pair Joe O’Neill and Matt Meehan as we look forward to a bumper couple of weeks for the domestic scene. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Brian McKeown - A Rocky Road: Part 1
In Part One of his extraordinary interview on The Rocky Road, we sit down with legendary Cavan Boxing Gym coach, Brian McKeown. Brian takes us back to the 1960s, a time when he sought opportunity in London. He recounts finding an unlikely sanctuary and a mentor in George Francis's gym, a rare beacon of inclusivity in an era notoriously marked by 'No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish' prejudice. But Brian's journey took a dramatic turn when he returned home, becoming caught up in the Republican struggle. He shares his experiences, including a chilling run-in with the infamous Robert Nairac, and how his path led him back to Ireland with a new life ahead in Cavan. This is a powerful and candid look at the early, defining chapters of Brian McKeown’s Rocky Road. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Andy Murray - The Quiet Man
Andrew Murray, the quiet Cavan boxer, walked a Rocky Road unlike any other. As a child, he battled Perthes disease, and, despite doctors warning he could end up in a wheelchair if he boxed, the young Andrew was transfixed by Eubank and Benn, igniting an unyielding desire to step between the ropes.He defied medical caution, joining Cavan Boxing Club, and rose to become a three-time Irish Elite champion and a two-weight professional Irish champion. Andrew fought alongside a golden generation of Irish pros like Bernard Dunne, Andy Lee, John Duddy and Matthew Macklin. He shared bills with champions and contenders, from Paul McCloskey's world title night against Amir Khan, to fighting on the same card as Tyson Fury, and proudly headlining RTE fight nights.From a challenging loss to Gavin Rees after preparing in remote Ros Muc, to his final victory on a raucous Henry Coyle night in Mayo, Andrew's career was a testament to his quiet determination. In his first podcast interview, we look back at it all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Pete Taylor - Footprints
Now as Katie Taylor basks in the glory of her latest victory over Amanda Serrano, cementing an epic trilogy with a third win over her great rival, the boxing world is wondering, ‘what’s next?’ But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, it’s worth staying in the moment for just a little while longer. Today’s guest, Katie’s dad Pete Taylor, coached her throughout her amateur career but told us something surprising about how he takes in her professional endeavours. We discuss the game-plan, his input, what sets Katie apart from all the rest and then, yes, we get to what’s next. Will she fight on? What’s left to conquer? And is Croke Park a possibility? All this and more on The Rocky Road. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sinead Babington - The Road Less Travelled
The biggest fight in women's boxing is just days away. On this episode of The Rocky Road, we dive deep into Taylor-Serrano III – the historic Netflix showdown at Madison Square Garden on July 11. We'll preview the action, break down the 2-0 scoreline, and explore all the angles. We're joined for this special episode by Sinead Babington, the Irish maths and chemistry teacher who somehow became a pro boxer in Mexico. Sinead shares her unconventional journey, from turning over in 2022 to fighting five tough contests in a place that’s home to the roughest, toughest and most determined fighters in the business. Don't miss this unique look at the fight game, from the very top to the toughest proving grounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An Irish boxing podcast that fans of all sports will love. No one gets to the top without overcoming adversity, in sport or in life. But as Rocky Balboa said, ‘it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward’. Every week on The Rocky Road, host Kevin Byrne and producer Simon Maguire will bring you the distance on some of the wildest journeys the sport has to offer. Pain, pride, passion and politics, the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It's about how much you can take, and keep moving forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland