Podcast · Sport

Ring Champs with Ak & Barak

by Black Effect x All The Smoke Productions · English · Sport

Bringing you the newest series from ATS Fight, RING CHAMPS with Ak & Barak. Weekly episodes of RING CHAMPS will feature exclusive interviews with top fighters, trainers, and luminaries in the sport of boxing, along with in-depth analysis of the most culturally relevant news in the ever-changing game

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr
Latest: 8 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026 · 42 min

Why Max Kellerman Says Terence Crawford Will Fight Again

Max Kellerman sits down with Ak and Barak in Las Vegas during Garcia–Benn fight week, and nobody leaves without an argument. He explains why he thinks the odds are close to zero that Terence Crawford never fights again, the Janibek plan that could make Bud boxing's first six-division champion, and why Boots Ennis is the dangerous fight. Then it gets heated: Max calls Canelo's run at 168 a cherry pick, the guys push back, and he lands on the one fighter he says Canelo did duck. He also goes all in on the sanctioning bodies ("I spit on all of them"), traces it back to Holyfield–Lewis, and…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

1 Oct 2026 · 58 min
Fury vs. Joshua Was in Jeopardy? Barak Says “Fake News” | Ring Champs at Project Series 2
Ring Champs is back on the road at Caribe Royale Orlando for Project Series 2, Matchroom and Boxlab Promotions’ proving ground live on DAZN. First up, AJ vs. Fury is official for December 11 in Cardiff on Netflix, but was it ever really in jeopardy? Barak calls it fake news, Ak pushes back with what Turki says the move cost, they argue whether this fight is bigger than Fury vs. Wilder, and Ak puts his prediction on record: AJ goes down, gets up, and knocks Tyson Fury out. Get ready to pull the receipts.Then Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. drops in fresh off his win over Ammo Williams: the…
17 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Terence Crawford: “I See Holes” in Boots’ Game, Hitchins vs. Keyshawn Is Close & Zab’s Floyd Beef
Ring Champs takes over Las Vegas for Garcia–Benn fight week, and two welterweight legends stop by the MGM Grand. Terence Crawford pulls up first, happily retired and still watching everything, to explain the Boots Ennis post everyone misread, why “belt hunting” doesn’t add up when Canelo’s on the table, the holes he sees, the PBC wall that kept him from Spence for years, and the Eminem walkout that felt like a movie.Brooklyn’s own Zab Judah, the newest member of the All The Smoke family, settles the Floyd-vs-Crawford-at-38 debate his way, talks Shakur vs. Pacquiao, and finally tells the…
10 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
Scott Coker: “They Couldn’t Destroy Us”, His New $60M MMA Venture & Why McGregor Isn’t Done
One of the most influential promoters in combat sports history sits down with Ak and Barak. Scott Coker built Strikeforce from scratch, developed Ronda Rousey, Daniel Cormier, Fedor and a heavyweight division he says was better than the UFC’s — and then sold it in a deal he calls one of the worst days of his life. He opens up about the pressure campaign that came before the sale (“they couldn’t destroy us, so they had to negotiate”), the seven-year non-compete the lawyers demanded, and why his fighters never wanted to leave.Then it turns to the money: the $500 million in purses he’s paid,…
27 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
“AJ Knocks Fury Out at MSG”: Ak’s Big Call & Teofimo Handles Rolly | Live at the Project Series
RING CHAMPS hits the road. Ak and Barak are live from the Stadium Club at Caribe Royale Orlando for the launch of the Project Series — Matchroom and Boxlab Promotions’ new proving ground on DAZN, where undefeated fighters actually fight each other. They break down what Teofimo Lopez just did to Rolly Romero in Vegas and why the casuals scoring it close need a lesson in how rounds actually work, then get into Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn and the keys for both men on September 12.Then it gets loud: AJ vs. Fury is signed for Netflix, but the venue war is real — Wembley or Madison Square Garden?…
21 Aug 2026 · 42 min
Rolly vs. Teofimo: Which Rolly Shows Up Saturday & Is AJ-Fury at MSG Really Happening?
Ak and Barak break down Rolly Romero vs. Teofimo Lopez before Saturday’s title fight in Vegas: the smarter Rolly that showed up against Ryan Garcia, why Teofimo comes back different after a loss, and the style question that decides it. Then they get into Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn on September 12, why Conor has the most to gain, and the business story behind it all — the DAZN and PBC deal they never thought they’d see, and what it felt like betting their careers on “the app” back in 2018 when everyone called it suicide.Plus: the report that AJ vs. Fury is headed to Madison Square Garden on…
14 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
Edgar Berlanga Reveals Zuffa Pays MORE Than Canelo, Vows Revenge for Sheeraz Loss & Untold Stories
Edgar Berlanga sits down with Ak & Barak to finally clear the air — addressing the on-camera tension with Ak head-on before diving into everything else. From there, “The Chosen One” opens up about the toughest stretch of his career, the massive payday from signing with Zuffa Boxing, and why he says it’s already outpacing what he made fighting Canelo.The conversation covers his fallout with Top Rank and Bob Arum vs. Todd DuBoef, the real story behind his beef with Oscar De La Hoya and Eddie Hearn (including getting shut out of ringside tickets), the rise of his viral song “Baby Mama” and…
7 Aug 2026 · 52 min
Michael Irvin: Dinner With Tyson Fresh Out of Prison, Ali vs. Tyson & Crying Over Buster Douglas
The first football guest in RING CHAMPS history is a Hall of Famer who’s been ringside for boxing’s biggest nights. Michael Irvin sits down with Ak and Barak and starts at the beginning: the 15th of 17 kids, bused 25 miles out of the ghetto at five years old & feeling inferior in an all-white school post-integration, until a tutor threw him a football and said the words that changed his life. He opens up about the father who never saw him play, driving him to cancer treatments at 15, the promise he made the night before he died, and why he wore 88 for his dad’s favorite Cowboy.Then the…
30 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
Stephen Espinoza Answers: Does Showtime Actually Owe Floyd Mayweather $340M? | PART 2
Stephen Espinoza returns for a wide-ranging conversation covering some of boxing’s biggest storylines, and has some updates. He addresses Floyd Mayweather’s $340M lawsuit against him and Showtime personally — where pay-per-view money actually goes, and why he insists not a penny went missing — plus whether he’d still help Floyd, what their conversations have been like since, and the six-month window on a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch.The conversation turns to a dream matchup: Mayweather vs. Terence Crawford. Espinoza, who has priced fights like this his entire career, gives his…
23 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Terence Crawford: He Planned Retirement BEFORE Canelo, Errol Spence & Who Takes Over Boxing
Terence Crawford is back on RING CHAMPS for his first sit-down since walking away from boxing, and this time Ak and Barak came with a retirement gift: an original portrait from Tony Nasa. Bud opens up about the decision nobody leaked: he knew before the Canelo fight that it was his last, Bomac couldn't wait for him to be done, and the tears after Spence were him realizing he'd already proved everything. He shuts down the Turki rumors (nobody has offered him a fight since Canelo), explains why "who am I gonna fight?" ends every comeback conversation, and teases the injuries from his worst…
17 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Richardson Hitchins: TRUTH About the Duarte Pullout, Tank’s Fake Number Texts & Signing With Zuffa
Richardson Hitchins is back on RING CHAMPS for the first time since the fight that never happened, and he takes us inside every hour of that week: his body shutting down in the cold of Vegas, being held up by his team in the MGM lobby so nobody could see him on his knees, 6 AM ice baths, throwing up on fight night, and the moment he told his manager he couldn’t walk to the ring. Then the part that still eats at him every day — the biggest check of his career, over $1 million, gone with the pullout.He also gets into everything that came after: vacating the IBF belt, the Zuffa deal and why the…
9 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Emiliano Vargas: Ryan Garcia’s Callout, Sparring Shakur at 17 & The Bad Bunny Super Bowl Call
Emiliano Vargas pulls up on RING CHAMPS just days after his statement win at a sold-out Barclays Center, and the fastest-rising name in the Vargas dynasty holds nothing back. The undefeated 22-year-old gets real about answering Ryan Garcia’s verbal jab, why he believes Vargas vs. Garcia sells out a stadium. Plus, sparring Shakur Stevenson as a 17-year-old, and the only fighter who ever hurt him in the ring.He also takes us inside the most surreal stretch of his young career: the locker room during Xander Zayas’ loss to Boots Ennis, the phone call telling him Bad Bunny personally picked him…
26 Jun 2026 · 34 min
Crawford vs Mayweather: Who Would Win at 38 & Why Resume Isn’t Everything
Ak and Barak don’t agree on much, and they really don’t agree on this one. In a real-time, unscripted debate, the self-proclaimed biggest Floyd Mayweather fan alive gets pushed to answer the question boxing won’t stop arguing about: is Terence “Bud” Crawford actually better than Floyd Mayweather?They break down the resume case for Floyd (the $300M Showtime run, the Pacquiao win, the undefeated record) against the eye-test case for Bud (the Canelo demolition three weight classes up, the switch-hitting power, the dominance at 38 that mirrors his prime). They run the fantasy fight at 38, at 29,…
11 Jun 2026 · 50 min
AJ Knocks Out Fury? Errol Stops Tszyu? Bam Beats Inoue? | Boxing Lookahead
Ak & Barak are back to break down the most stacked stretch of the boxing calendar, and they are not holding back. This is a full state-of-the-sport conversation built around one argument: boxing is thriving louder than ever, and the next two weeks prove it.The guys preview Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas as Bam moves up to chase Naoya Inoue, Boots Ennis vs Zander Zayas at 154, Abdullah Mason’s hometown title shot against Joe Cordina, and Errol Spence Jr’s comeback against Tim Tszyu. Then it gets spicy: Barak predicts Anthony Joshua knocks out Tyson Fury to become a three-time…
4 Jun 2026 · 28 min
The 10 GREATEST Knockouts in Boxing History: Marquez-Pacquiao, Canelo, Foreman & Tommy Hearns
Ak & Barak settle it once and for all: the 10 greatest knockouts in boxing history. From Juan Manuel Marquez’s ice-cold finish of Manny Pacquiao to George Foreman reclaiming the title at 45, Canelo’s highlight-reel destruction of Amir Khan, Tommy Hearns vs Roberto Duran, Julian Jackson’s one-punch power, Tank Davis, Michael Carbajal, and yes, Jake Paul’s knockout of Tyron Woodley making the cut. The guys rank their personal top 5 each, argue over who got robbed of Knockout of the Year, and debate which finish is truly the scariest of all time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
28 May 2026 · 58 min
Stephen Fulton REVEALS Weight Cut Nightmare, Foster Rematch Plans & $17M Retirement Quota
Philly’s own Stephen “Cool Boy” Fulton sits down with Ak & Barak on RING CHAMPS and finally tells the full story of what really happened before his loss to O’Shaquie Foster. The two-time world champion walks through the weight cut from hell — running for hours without sweating, an hour in the sauna tent, passing out in the hotel room with his body locked up, and showing up to the weigh-in with one shoe on and one shoe off. He admits he was “killing himself” on the scale, ran out of legs before the bell, and says if Foster had actually engaged in a rumble, the result would have been…
21 May 2026 · 38 min
Why Canelo Is The Greatest Mexican Ever: The 77-0 Truth & Where Chavez Sr Falls On The List
Ak & Barak are back on RING CHAMPS with their boldest take yet: Canelo Alvarez is the greatest Mexican fighter of all time, and they’re settling it with facts over feelings. In one of the most controversial debates in boxing, Ak & Barak break down why Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has surpassed Julio Cesar Chavez Sr to claim the Mexican GOAT crown, and they bring the receipts.They walk through Chavez Sr’s record with a microscope: the 77-0 fight against a 7-2 opponent, the 65-0 fight against a 0-1 fighter, the 51+ journeymen on the resume, and the Meldrick Taylor fight Chavez was losing until the…
14 May 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Gillie Da King: Wayne’s Diss, Getting Blackballed & Boxing KNOWLEDGE on Full Display
Gillie Da King sits down with Ak & Barak on Ring Champs for a no-holds-barred conversation about boxing, music, family, and the journey from being blackballed in the rap game to building a million-dollar empire. The Million Dollaz Worth of Game co-host opens up about Lil Wayne’s “Problem Solver” diss, why Jay-Z and 50 Cent both tried to sign him, the moment Wallo sent him the Spotify article that birthed the podcast, and why he cried signing the first deal after his cousin came home from doing 7,300 days.On the boxing side, Gillie goes deep on his Top 5 pound-for-pound list, why Tank Davis…
7 May 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
Boots Ennis: Why Crawford Fight Never Happened Him, KOing Xander & the Vergil Ortiz Lawsuit
Former IBF, WBA, and lineal welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis sits down with Ak & Barak ahead of his June 27 Barclays Center showdown with undefeated Xander Zayas. Boots breaks down why Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. never came his way, the real story behind the Vergil Ortiz negotiations falling apart, and the alleged Devin Haney 152 fight offer that was floated his way. He also opens up about sparring Canelo Alvarez during Bud Crawford's Canelo camp, his honest reaction to Conor Benn leaving Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for Zuffa Boxing, and why he thinks Keith Thurman is a…
30 Apr 2026 · 20 min
Benavidez vs Ramirez Prediction, Resendiz vs Munguia MUST END in KO & Errol Spence Returning?
Ak & Barak break down the biggest weekend in boxing. David Benavidez vs. Gerardo “Zurdo” Ramirez headlines Cinco de Mayo weekend on May 2nd in Las Vegas, and the guys make their predictions on whether Benavidez can stop the bigger, more experienced cruiserweight champion to keep his pound-for-pound run alive. Plus a deep dive on the co-main between Munguia and Resendiz, and why Resendiz might need a knockout to stay in the title picture.In the back half: the Errol Spence Jr. comeback rumors are heating up, and Spence vs. Tim Tszyu is seemingly getting closer. Ak & Barak debate whether the…
23 Apr 2026 · 43 min
Mauricio Sulaimán: Wildest Tyson Story Ever, Floyd's Real Legacy & Why Shakur's All-Time Great
WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán joins Ak & Barak to address the Terence Crawford sanctioning fee controversy head-on, Zuffa Boxing's arrival in the sport, and reveal where every dollar of WBC fees actually goes. Plus: the untold Mike Tyson taxi-driver knockout story from 1988, Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington's emotional title win, Ryan Garcia's WBC reinstatement, Shakur Stevenson's all-time great case, Mauricio's real relationship with Turki Alalshikh, and the Avni Yildirim mandatory saga that rewrote WBC rules forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad…
14 Apr 2026 · 41 min
Big Daddy Kane: Putting Jay-Z On, Tupac & Biggie, and Mike Tyson Stories
Brooklyn legend and hip hop icon Big Daddy Kane joins Ak & Barak on RING CHAMPS for one of the most legendary conversations yet. Kane opens up about helping put on a young Jay-Z, taking him on tour as his opening act, and why he believes we never would have gotten Reasonable Doubt if Jay had blown up with his original fast-rap style. He shares the story of touring with Tupac back when Pac was still a dancer for Digital Underground, the night Mister Cee kept telling him Biggie sounded just like him, and the moment he heard Grandmaster Caz and threw his entire rap book in the trash. But this…
2 Apr 2026 · 51 min
Hamzah Sheeraz: “I Almost Quit Boxing” - Untold Journey from Electrician to 168 lb. Star
Hamzah Sheeraz sits down with Ak and Barak at the Fightin Blue in Las Vegas for a no-holds-barred conversation about his rise from fixing sockets in Eden Hazard’s apartment to becoming one of boxing’s most dangerous fighters at 168 pounds. Sheeraz opens up about his father being in and out of prison, dropping out of school at 16, almost walking away from boxing to be an electrician, and the moment of desire that pulled him back. Within six weeks of returning to the gym, Frank Warren offered him a pro contract.Sheeraz breaks down the Edgar Berlanga KO that changed his life, addresses the hand…
19 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
Caleb Plant Says He’d Fight Berlanga & Sheeraz, Reveals Why He’ll Never Go Broke
Former two-time super middleweight champion Caleb Plant sits down with Ak & Barak at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas for one of the most personal conversations in Ring Champs history. Caleb opens up about the real story behind his Revenge Tour fashion brand, his journey from childhood poverty and being an outsider as a white fighter in amateur boxing, to winning a world title and silencing every doubter. He reveals the untold backstory of his iconic Anthony Dirrell KO celebration and breaks down the powerful “Pale Horse” campaign inspired by his favorite movie,Tombstone’.In a deeply emotional…
12 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Caleb Plant & Sibley Scoles Join ATS Fight, Thurman vs Fundora Breakdown & Sibley Opens Up
Las Vegas to deliver an expert breakdown of the upcoming Keith Thurman vs. Sebastian Fundora showdown, covering keys to victory, predictions, and what an Errol Spence comeback could mean for the 154-lb division.Then meet Sibley Scoles, another welcomed addition to the ATS FIGHT family. From growing up in the Bay Area to chasing a rap career in London, getting discovered for Revolt TV while broke, building a decade at E! News and Access Hollywood, and walking away from it all to pursue sports broadcasting, Sibley’s story is one of hustle, vulnerability, and resilience. 0:00 - Caleb Plant…
5 Mar 2026 · 56 min
Jai Opetaia on David Benavidez, Undisputed Goals & the Mom Talk That Saved His Career
IBF & Lineal cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia sits down with Ak & Barak to break down his face-to-face encounter with David Benavidez in Las Vegas, his plans to become undisputed before moving to heavyweight permanently, and what it’s like preparing for Zuffa Boxing’s first-ever marquee fight on Sunday, March 8th. Jai also reveals his “Frankenstein” approach to building his fighting style — studying Crawford’s pocket work, Usyk’s footwork, and Shakur’s distance control. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 32 min
Keyshawn Davis Opens Up on Depression, Fatherhood & Beef With “Scared Boxers”
Keyshawn Davis sits down on RING CHAMPS for a wide-ranging conversation about the turning point he calls “BJ (Before June)” and how faith, fatherhood, and discipline reshaped his life inside and outside the ring.He breaks down mental health, the moments that changed his relationship with his father, and why he believes boxing’s biggest names avoid “gritty” matchups.Plus, Keyshawn talks Devin Haney, Richardson Hitchins, and what it will take to get the fights fans actually want. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
19 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington: Untold Foster Care Story, Undisputed Dreams & Calling Out Inoue
In his first sit-down since capturing the WBC Featherweight World Championship, Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington joins Ring Champs for an emotional, unfiltered conversation. Bruce fires back at Teofimo Lopez’s viral “geek” comments, gives insider details on the Tiger Johnson and Haney altercation, and delivers bold pound-for-pound rankings. The new champ also reveals for the first time that he spent time in foster care as an infant — a story he’s never shared publicly — and pays tribute to his brother Ike, who believed in him before anyone else. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
12 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Conor Benn: ‘I Almost Ended My Life’ — Sobriety, $100M Goal & Calling Out Shakur
Conor Benn returns to Ring Champs for his most raw and honest interview yet. The British boxing star reveals his darkest moments — from contemplating suicide during his two-year suspension to going broke fighting his legal battle — and how 17 months of sobriety transformed his life. Benn opens up about his $100 million career goal, why he confronted Shakur Stevenson in the ring at Madison Square Garden, and drops a SCORCHING take on Tank Davis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5 Feb 2026 · 46 min
Derek Chisora’s Last Fight, Jarrell Miller’s Next Move + What Really Happened With The Hair Piece
Ak & Barak sit down with heavyweight warrior Derek Chisora ahead of his 50th fight to talk retirement, family, fitness, and why boxing is a “scumbag sport.” Chisora opens up about his wife and kids, sparring philosophy, and whether this really will be his last time in the ring against Deontay Wilder. Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller joins the couch to break down Chisora vs. Wilder, reflect on his own comeback, and laugh off the viral hair piece moment. From Usyk calling Chisora his toughest fight to Miller’s plans for big paydays and future opponents, this episode blends raw honesty, fight…

About Ring Champs with Ak & Barak

Ring Champs with Ak & Barak is a English sport podcast from Black Effect x All The Smoke Productions. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Black Effect x All The Smoke Productions
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1793182041

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