Kevin Byrne

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Kevin Byrne I host The Rocky Road boxing podcast - featuring stories seldom told from the fighters to the fans.

Irish boxing has a real gem on its hands
17/10/2026

Irish boxing has a real gem on its hands

In his most candid and revealing sit-down yet, Michael Conlan returns to The Rocky Road to reflect on hanging up the glo...
16/10/2026

In his most candid and revealing sit-down yet, Michael Conlan returns to The Rocky Road to reflect on hanging up the gloves and life after a decade at the top of boxing.

Mick opens up on his recent trip to Moscow - where he discovered the astonishing truth about the Russian gangster behind his Rio 2016 Olympic robbery - and breaks down why he believes Irish men's amateur boxing has dropped off since his era. He calls for John Joe Joyce to join the national coaching setup following Zaur Antia's departure, tackles the tough reality of his eight-year-old son taking up boxing, and gives an expert breakdown of Anthony Cacace vs. Nick Ball. Plus, Mick reflects on his brutal war with Leigh Wood, turning down a lucrative fight with Josh Warrington, and bringing back Conlan Boxing in a new joint venture with Jay Byrne. He also reflects on how his career criss-crossed with former team-mate Katie Taylor's.

Link in the comments!

New episode of The Rocky Road!Guest co-host Sinéad Kehoe (East Coast FM) joins us to unpack the true impact of Katie Tay...
09/10/2026

New episode of The Rocky Road!

Guest co-host Sinéad Kehoe (East Coast FM) joins us to unpack the true impact of Katie Taylor’s legacy - from opening gym doors for a new generation of female fighters to the harsh funding realities facing grassroots boxing on the ground. We hear from Brendan Fitzpatrick, former fighter and now coach at West Finglas Boxing Club on the constant battle for physical space and how the sport saved him, and young boxer Niamh on stepping into the ring inspired by Katie, her hero. Lecturer in social sciences of sport Conor Heffernan breaks down structural funding inequities and talks reform, while criminologist Trina O'Connor explores how sports transform working-class communities and whether historical stigmas still hold boxing back.

Links in all the usual places - plus the comments below!

Belfast and Irish boxing hero Ray Close has died, aged 57. Sincere condolences to all who knew him, may he RIP
02/10/2026

Belfast and Irish boxing hero Ray Close has died, aged 57. Sincere condolences to all who knew him, may he RIP

'Joe Egan was a great guy. I was living in his house in Dublin when I was boxing on their team. His family are beautiful...
02/10/2026

'Joe Egan was a great guy. I was living in his house in Dublin when I was boxing on their team. His family are beautiful people, all of them. I remember we found out that Tyson was looking for sparring partners before the Spinks fight. We both came out here and I think we met outside Gleason’s Gym.

'A bus picked us up. Fourteen of us went up and, two days later, 12 guys came home. It was only me and Joe who stayed.

'It was funny. Joe came out wearing this big body pad, like a catcher in baseball, you know? He had the big headgear on and Tyson was hitting him from everywhere. Every time Joe threw, Mike was gone. He had heavyweight power and middleweight speed. He was a freak. He was a super-athlete, a once-in-a-lifetime talent.

'Then I showed up and I didn’t have any headgear. I had no shirt on. I just had a mouthpiece and a pair of boxing gloves — and Mike was mad.

'I remember Kevin Rooney came over right before we started sparring and said: “Hey, kid, this ain’t sparring. It’s a real fight. No referee.”

'I went: “What?”

'Ding! And Mike came at me, you know? I had to change everything I knew about boxing.'

-Brendan Kelly on The Rocky Road boxing podcast, Part 1. Fascinating tale!

Links to the pod in the comments

Got to interview an actor whose character freaked me out in Oz back in the day [Wolfgang Cutler, IYKYK]. Turns out he bo...
30/09/2026

Got to interview an actor whose character freaked me out in Oz back in the day [Wolfgang Cutler, IYKYK]. Turns out he boxed in Ireland, lived with Big Joe Egan, sparred Mike Tyson and has a new book out about The Westies. Brendan Kelly on The Rocky Road

Got to interview an actor whose character freaked me out in Oz back in the day [Wolfgang Cutler, IYKYK]. Turns out he bo...
30/09/2026

Got to interview an actor whose character freaked me out in Oz back in the day [Wolfgang Cutler, IYKYK]. Turns out he boxed in Ireland, lived with Big Joe Egan, sparred Mike Tyson and has a new book out about The Westies. Brendan Kelly on The Rocky Road

28/09/2026

The only Irishman to face the great Roberto Duran

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