4thumps Irish Boxing

The St Michael's Athy contingent went for broke in a bid to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and it was a family affair. Brothers Tommy and Roy Sheahan eyed spots at welterweight and heavyweight respectively. Cousins John Joe and David Oliver Joyce wanted it more than anything. Eric Donovan was the sibling they never had. Only one would make it, and he told us the only things he had going for him in life were his two hands in front of him. Here's their story.

First Irishman to win a world title bout in America since Jimmy McLarnin in 1934. First Irish world middleweight champ since Steve Collins 20 years ago. Killer right hook. All round nice guy. Our 4Thumps first series kicked off with Andy Lee and we’re back with the main man to conclude. The Limerick man joined Kev, Ciaran and Eric to discuss his WBO glory against Matt Korobov in Las Vegas and mull over his options like bringing boxing back to RTE screens, fighting at home, early days in the amateur squad with Eric and the songs being written about his success. Lee and Taylor were on our first show and within weeks, both had won world titles. Jono Carroll went from 4Thumps to Prizefighter champ so we’re something of a good omen. Enjoy our latest show, and see you (hopefully) for Season 2! #4Thumps #IrishBoxing

What a week it's been for the Celtic Warriors Gym - and they're hoping to clean up in December too. Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan more than delivered on his promise to knock Anthony Fitzgerald out on the Return Of The Mack card at the 3Arena, and we have him on this week's show talking uppercuts, stools, belts and fools. With him is Stephen Ormond, who's looking forward to a lightweight world title eliminator on December 13 against England's Terry Flanagan in Sheffield. Ormond is the boxer's boxer and known as the most hard-working in Ireland. Watching his pal Spike thrill the Dublin crowd - and shut up a few while he was at it - only increased his desire to headline here when his business with Flanagan is done. Kev, Ciaran and Eric sat down with the two boys and asked what's what and where now. Caution: It threatens to spark off early when the boxers contemplate sparking out one of the presenters, but we assure you it calms down afterwards and settles into a nice fireside-style chat. Enjoy the fourth edition

Fifth episode of 4Thumps Irish boxing podcast and it's another top show which is what we would say, ain't it? We get insight from the master behind the Irish High Performance Unit's medal success, Georgian supremo Zauri Antia. He talks about Katie Taylor's record-equalling fifth World Championships gold medal and creating the Universal Boxer, where Taylor and Michael Conlan are the finest exponents of his vision on this island. We also have a chat with a tunnel-vision Tyson Fury who brings his views on the Dereck Chisora rematch, becoming Ireland's first world heavyweight champ since John L Sullivan and singing for a crowd - from a train. There's also the usual 4Thumps banter as expert analyst Eric Donovan says he likes Chris Eubank's style if not his attitude, while the team also reviews the recent Back to the Future show from Mark Dunlop in Belfast where Dee Walsh became the Irish light-middleweight champion. Let's get this show on the road, we're on the right track now...

Sixth edition of the 4Thumps Irish Boxing Podcast sits with Prizefighter: The Lightweights hopeful Jono Carroll as the team runs the rule over his chances. We also review the Bad Blood card in London where there were wins for Tyson Fury and Billy Joe Saunders over Dereck Chisora and Chris Eubank Jnr respectively. Ah, Prizefighter. Domain of the undercard, career rocket launcher for the likes of Willie Casey and Martin Rogan. Eamonn O’Kane took the all-Irish edition, Mike Perez powered to glory in an international edition. But who remembers our other entrants? Neil Sinclair should’ve mopped up in 2010 but it didn’t happen. Dean Byrne and Conall Carmichael seemed to be good outside bets but didn’t get past the quarter-finals. Darren Corbett’s been there twice and never managed to take the crown. Rogan returned but fell victim to Audley Harrison – who also had Coley Barrett and Scott Belshaw on his list of victims from previous editions. Paddy Gallagher unfortunately lost a few boys some dough – don’t mention

The opening show from the 4Thumps Irish Boxing Podcast. Our panel - Kevin Byrne, Ciaran Gallagher and Eric Donovan - hears from world title challenger Andy 'The Great White Hope' Lee on his upcoming WBO bout with undefeated Russian Matt Korobov. We've also got a unique interview with the one and only Katie Taylor as she finalises her preparations for the World Championships in Jeju next month. Not only do our hosts chat with the Olympic champ - but we spar her too. Eric reveals what he's learned from the best. We also discuss Joe Ward & David Oliver Joyce's opening defeats in the APB, success for the Leinster girls in Germany, the agony of the 'quarter-final bout', Eric's pal Tom Stalker falling to his first pro defeat and the man no one in their right mind should want to fight - Gennady Golovkin.

Irish middleweight Andy Lee stands on the brink. A world title shot v Matt Korobov beckons this Saturday night. Can the Limerick man and Athens Olympian step across to become a WBO world champion? Our team of Kev, Ciaran and Eric assesses the southpaw's chances against fellow leftie Korobov. We also have input from @LoveIrishBoxing's Leonard Gunning and Lee's former Ireland team-mate, Kenneth Egan. There's the top Lee moments featuring Marty Morrissey, journalists losing objectivity and the realisation that there's no more Mr Nice guy in this one. Enjoy #4Thumps