Episodi

  • The rematch with Beau Jack that pressed him fifteen rounds and cost the title

    The rematch with Beau Jack that pressed him fifteen rounds and cost the title
    Oct 15 2026
    A lightweight champion from a Philadelphia laundry watches his title slip away in a brutal rematch-how do you fall from that high?

    The rematch with Beau Jack that pressed him fifteen rounds and cost the title

    In this episode, we follow the arc from Bob Montgomery’s South Carolina childhood to his rise in Philadelphia’s Slaughterhouse gym and his climb to the lightweight championship. We trace the fights, decisions, and style that built him and the rematch night that tested everything - what did the years between the coronation and the loss take from him?

    Person: Bob Montgomery
    Date: January 25, 1944
    Location: Convention Hall, Philadelphia
    Event: Rematch with Beau Jack
    Status: Fifteen-round loss of the lightweight title

    - Born February 10, 1919 in Sumter, South Carolina, Montgomery moved to Philadelphia at age 15 and worked as a laundry puller.
    - He trained at the Slaughterhouse on Eighth and Girard, a gym known for long, brutal rounds that forged his pressure-heavy style.
    - From his late teens he tore through twenty-three fights with 22 wins and one draw before winning the Pennsylvania State Lightweight Title on October 24, 1939.
    - On May 21, 1943 at Madison Square Garden he outboxed Beau Jack over fifteen rounds to become world lightweight champion.
    - Six months later, in a packed rematch at Madison Square Garden, Beau Jack pressed Montgomery for fifteen rounds and reclaimed the world lightweight title.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    21 min
  • The extra wages he handed away on the quay that emptied his purse

    The extra wages he handed away on the quay that emptied his purse
    Oct 14 2026
    A corn porter becomes England’s boxing champion and leaves with a palm-sized medal-how do you fall from that high?

    The extra wages he handed away on the quay that emptied his purse

    In this episode, we follow Thomas Jackling from the Thames docks to eight years at the top of English prizefighting and the habits that undermined his success. What choices and character traits turned a disciplined champion into a man who died penniless abroad?

    Person: Thomas Jackling (Tom Johnson)
    Event: Championship reign spanning roughly eight years
    Date: Final championship fight on January 17, 1791
    Location: Labour-in-vain-hill / Upper Thames Street wharf
    Object: Copper medal engraved "Science. and intrepidity."

    - A dockworker who carried corn sacks on Old Swan Stairs, known for patience and physical strength, entered his first fight by accident in June 1783.
    - Over three years Johnson rose methodically through named opponents (Stephen Oliver, Bill Love, Jack Towers) before a pivotal 90-minute bout at Oakhampton in January 1787.
    - Contemporary chronicler Pierce Egan credited Johnson with bringing "science"-patience and measured tactics-to a sport marred by fixed matches and collapsing trust.
    - Persistent impulses-like handing extra wages to a sick coworker-illustrate a pattern of generous spending that outpaced his rising income.
    - Prizefighting’s economy relied heavily on wagers and backers; Johnson bet on himself amid growing stakes, culminating in the high-profile 1789 fight against much larger Isaac Perrins.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    20 min
  • The Left That Broke Asia: Khaosai Galaxy's Gentle Violence

    The Left That Broke Asia: Khaosai Galaxy's Gentle Violence
    Oct 13 2026
    A Bangkok champion smiles through a bandage after a left-handed punch; how do you stay gentle when falling from the top of Asian boxing?

    The Left That Broke Asia: Khaosai Galaxy's Gentle Violence

    In this episode we follow the life and career of Khaosai Galaxy, from provincial boy in Phetchabun to a world champion who turned Bangkok nights into citywide events. We trace the training, fights, and techniques that built his record and ask what it costs to remain gentle amid escalating violence.

    Person: Khaosai Galaxy (Sura Saenkham)
    Person: Twin brother Sanguan Saenkham (Khaokor Galaxy)
    Date: Born 15 May 1959
    Location: Phetchabun and Bangkok, Thailand
    Period: 1980s-1991 reign as world champion

    - A mother who watched Pone Kingpetch on television woke her twin sons at 4 a.m, to run as preparation for a world title.
    - Khaosai began in Muay Thai under ring names Daoden Muangsithep and Khaosai Wangchomphu before debuting in western boxing in December 1980.
    - He studied films of Ali, Leonard, and Hagler while developing an unusual left-hand attack aimed at the body that stopped opponents’ breathing.
    - In 1981 he lost a points decision for the Thai national bantamweight title to Sakda Saksuree, then beat the same man in 1982 to take the title.
    - His professional record includes 47 wins, one loss, and 19 title defenses with 16 of those defenses ending before the final bell.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    21 min
  • The victory party where he first drank and began to fall

    The victory party where he first drank and began to fall
    Oct 12 2026
    Estadio Azteca roars for Julio César Chávez after a defining win - a victory party marks the start of a different descent. How do you fall from that high?

    The victory party where he first drank and began to fall

    In this episode, we follow the arc from Julio César Chávez’s origins in a rusted railroad car to the victory that he later pinpointed as the night his drinking began. We trace the decisions, fights, and promises that shaped his rise and the first moments his life started to fray - what changed that night?

    Person: Julio César Chávez
    Date: November 21, 1987
    Location: Victory party after fight with Edwin Rosario
    Event: Chávez’s first drink after a career-defining win
    Origin: Born July 12, 1962, in a decommissioned railroad car in Ciudad Obregón

    - Born seventh of ten children in a railcar, Chávez promised his mother he would buy her a house and carried that promise through his career.
    - Turned professional at seventeen and built an unbeaten streak by fighting small venues and regional opponents under manager Ramón Felix.
    - On September 13, 1984, Chávez won the WBC Super Featherweight title by knocking out Mario Martínez, marking his first world championship.
    - Defeated Edwin Rosario on November 21, 1987, after a press conference where Rosario threatened his life; Chávez stopped Rosario in the eleventh round.
    - Chávez later identified the victory celebration after the Rosario fight as the specific night he first drank and the moment his personal life began to unravel.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    20 min
  • The year of twenty-seven fights that burned out Henry Armstrong

    The year of twenty-seven fights that burned out Henry Armstrong
    Oct 11 2026
    A relentless boxer climbs Madison Square Garden ropes in 1937 - how do you fall from that high in the featherweight division?

    The year of twenty-seven fights that burned out Henry Armstrong

    In this episode, we follow Henry Armstrong’s rise from a three-round knockout loss in his pro debut to an unprecedented twelve-month run of twenty-seven fights and twenty-six knockouts. The episode traces his background, his fighting style, the relentless schedule of 1937, and the moment at Madison Square Garden that crystallized everything - but how did that year change him?

    Person: Henry Jackson Jr (Henry Armstrong)
    Date: 1937 (twenty-seven fights in one calendar year)
    Location: Madison Square Garden (October and November 1937)
    Origin: Columbus, Mississippi; raised in St. Louis, Missouri
    Style: relentless pressure, high punch volume, moved up across weight classes

    - Began pro career July 28, 1931, knocked out in three rounds by Al Iovino
    - Early career included three defeats in first two years then an eleven-fight win streak
    - By 1936 fought across Los Angeles, Mexico City, and St. Louis, beating former and future title contenders
    - In 1937 averaged a fight every thirteen days, totaling 27 fights and 26 knockouts
    - Surviving opponent Aldo Spoldi lasted ten rounds as the lone man not knocked out that year

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    19 min
  • The Ten-Second Knockdown That Began an Eleven-Round Unraveling

    The Ten-Second Knockdown That Began an Eleven-Round Unraveling
    Oct 10 2026
    A WBO heavyweight knocks a feared puncher down in ten seconds - then watches everything unravel across eleven rounds; how do you fall from that high?

    The Ten-Second Knockdown That Began an Eleven-Round Unraveling

    In this episode, we trace Fabio Wardley’s rise from white-collar boxing in hotel ballrooms to the WBO heavyweight title and the night in Manchester when ten seconds of dominance preceded eleven rounds of destruction. What did his late start and rapid climb cost him along the way?

    Person: Fabio Wardley
    Location: Co-op Live, Manchester
    Date of crown-defining fight: (first round ten-second knockdown; title lost eleven rounds later)
    Origin: Ipswich
    Debut venue: York Hall, Bethnal Green

    - Began serious boxing at twenty-one with four white-collar ballroom bouts, all knockout wins.
    - Turned professional in 2017 and debuted at York Hall against Jakob Wojcik, winning by decision.
    - By 2018 was 4-0 with three first-round knockouts; power and rapid acceleration defined his early pro years.
    - Dillian Whyte became his sparring partner and manager, bringing elite exposure and higher-stakes sparring.
    - Built titles quickly - English (2020), British (2022), then four belts in one night in Saudi Arabia (2023) - all without a traditional amateur pedigree.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    19 min
  • A spinning ringside chair struck the referee and ended his reign

    A spinning ringside chair struck the referee and ended his reign
    Oct 9 2026
    A spinning ringside chair struck a reserve referee as a Kazakh miner-turned-heavyweight knocked out a champion - how does a life climb so high and fall so fast in boxing?

    A spinning ringside chair struck the referee and ended his reign

    In this episode, we follow the rise of Oleg Maskaev from a coal town in Abay to the top of the heavyweight division and the chaotic November night that punctured his reign. We trace the gaps in his record, the flags he carried, and the fights that tested the truth behind his resume.

    Person: Oleg Maskaev
    Location: Abay, Karaganda region, Kazakhstan
    Event: November 1999 knockout of Hasim Rahman
    Date: March 2, 1969 (birth)
    Topic: amateur-to-pro transition and disputed early pro record

    - He grew up in Abay, a coal company town, splitting time between the mine and the gym.
    - Maskaev competed under four flags: Soviet Union, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and later as a professional in the U.S.
    - His amateur résumé includes a 1991 Spartakiad semifinal stoppage of Vitali Klitschko and a 1994 Asian Games heavyweight gold.
    - In April 1993 he turned professional but also boxed at the World Championships weeks later, creating a rules paradox.
    - His U.S. professional record was listed as 15-0 with 12 KOs, yet only about six fights are verifiable in official paperwork.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    18 min
  • The punch that knocked Big Boy Peterson out sent Carnera toward the crown

    The punch that knocked Big Boy Peterson out sent Carnera toward the crown
    Oct 8 2026
    A hulking Italian boxer fills Madison Square Garden - how did Primo Carnera's climb toward the crown get wired from the start?

    The punch that knocked Big Boy Peterson out sent Carnera toward the crown

    In this episode, we trace the tangled ascent of Primo Carnera from a stone village in Italy to mammoth crowds and contested victories, following the fights, promoters, and suspicions that shadowed his career. What did the pattern of quick defeats, withheld purses, and mob-linked handlers mean for the man under the myth?

    Person: Primo Carnera
    Location: Madison Square Garden
    Date: October 1931 (Big Boy Peterson bout)
    Event: Series of contested victories and accused fixed fights
    Person: Earl Warren

    - Big Boy Peterson reportedly punched his own jaw and was knocked out in front of 18,000 spectators at Madison Square Garden.
    - Carnera arrived in the U.S. billed as seven feet tall though he measured six feet five, a deliberate promotional choice.
    - Mob figure Owney Madden purchased Carnera’s contract and installed trainer Abe Attell, connecting Carnera to known organized crime figures.
    - Multiple opponents and commissions found matches suspicious: Elzear Rioux fell six times in 47 seconds; Bombo Chevalier’s fight was declared fixed and Carnera’s purse withheld.
    - Despite fines and revoked licenses for opponents, every official investigation cleared Carnera personally while his crowds grew into tens of thousands.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    22 min