From the corner of the gym to the centre of the ring, today's guest has made one of the more quietly remarkable transitions in Irish boxing. Daniel 'Daniel San' O'Sullivan started out helping the great Paschal Collins hold pads, wrap hands, and pass on water bottles to some of Ireland’s top fighters — names like Spike O'Sullivan, Stephen Ormond and Craig O'Brien.But while he was known around the Celtic Warrior Gym as the ever-reliable right-hand man, Daniel was quietly sharpening his own tools. And when he stepped into the spotlight, he didn't miss a beat. After a solid amateur career that saw him scrap with the best between 2019 and 2021, he turned pro in 2022 and hasn’t looked back.Six fights, six wins, two BUI Celtic titles in two weight divisions — 154 and 160 — and all done with that trademark engine, work ethic, and quiet confidence. He even ran a 10K the morning after his last fight. Relentless is an understatement. Daniel San joins us now on The Rocky Road. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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49:26
Back With a Bang: Caoimhin Agyarko Reloaded
Two fights. Two wins. One big message: he’s back. Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko returns to The Rocky Road to talk about his comeback after a frustrating spell on the sidelines. He breaks down his short-notice win over Ryan Kelly, reflects on the mental toll of inactivity, and opens up about how he’s grown since his powerful 2021 interview on mental health. With Irish boxing on the rise, Agyarko’s ready to remind the world where he belongs—right in the title mix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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43:36
Aaron & Fergal McKenna - Premier League boxing
It’s fight week, and The Rocky Road takes you inside the McKenna camp ahead of Aaron’s massive showdown with former world champion Liam Smith at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In this exclusive episode, we sit down with Aaron and his father, trainer Fergal McKenna, to explore their family dynamic, the road to success, and the preparations for one of the biggest fights of Aaron’s career.From their beginnings in Monaghan to globe-trotting training camps in places like Las Vegas, the McKenna duo shares unforgettable stories from the journey. We dive into the mental and physical sacrifices that have shaped Aaron into a world-class fighter and how Fergal’s coaching has guided him every step of the way.Along the way, we also hear about the surprising support from superstar rapper Kendrick Lamar, who’s been a fan of Aaron’s since his early days in the USA, and what it’s like to prepare for a fight of this magnitude on the world stage.With the pressure building and the excitement palpable, this episode is a front-row seat to the fight week hustle of one of boxing’s most promising young stars — and the father who’s been there through it all. It’s the McKenna family, the Rocky Road, and Premier League boxing at its finest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1:03:36
The Rocky Road to Los Angeles
After months of uncertainty, Irish boxing has taken a decisive step forward. On this episode of The Rocky Road, Kevin Byrne is joined by Niall O’Carroll, Chairman of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association's Board of Directors, to discuss the landmark vote that sees Ireland join World Boxing as a dual member — clearing a path for Irish athletes to compete at the LA 2028 Olympics.Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, but recent years have seen tension, confusion, and concern around its future. From governance issues and international boycotts to grassroots frustration and medal-winning clubs acting independently, the road to unity has been far from smooth.Niall reflects on the battles fought behind the scenes, what finally persuaded the clubs to back World Boxing, and why this decision matters so deeply for the next generation of Irish fighters. He also discusses the appointment of Jon Mackey as National Performance Director and outlines the IABA’s ambitions for LA 2028 and beyond.It’s a revealing conversation about politics, passion, and preserving Ireland’s proudest Olympic tradition. For anyone who cares about the future of Irish sport, this is one not to miss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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40:24
Ron Katz - Legendary Matchmaker
Today's guest is a New York and Atlantic City Hall of Fame member as a matchmaker. He's spent half a century in the sport and has worked with everyone from Muhammad Ali to Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson to Marvin Hagler, Steve Collins to Bernard Dunne. And Ron Katz is still making fights today. Here we talk about the three things a fighter needs to become huge, what it was like arranging Tyson's early fights and the future of the boxing business. 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