The First Round with Darren Barker
The First Round with Darren Barker
Podcast Description
Step into the ring with former world champion Darren Barker as he sits down with boxing’s biggest names to uncover the stories behind their rise, their battles, and their glory. From career-defining moments to personal struggles, get raw, unfiltered insights into the lives of the sport’s elite. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just getting started, this is boxing at its realest—up close and personal.
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https://www.youtube.com/@firstroundtv
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on a wide range of boxing-related topics, including personal stories of triumph and struggle, career milestones, and behind-the-scenes insights. Episodes delve into moments such as Chris Billam-Smith's journey from hardship to becoming a champion, Tony Bellew's reflections on his career battles, and Conor Benn's controversial rise and redemption, emphasizing the emotional depth of athletes' lives beyond the ring.
Step into the ring with former world champion Darren Barker as he sits down with boxing’s biggest names to uncover the stories behind their rise, their battles, and their glory. From career-defining moments to personal struggles, get raw, unfiltered insights into the lives of the sport’s elite. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just getting started, this is boxing at its realest—up close and personal.
Follow us to make sure you never miss an Episode!
https://www.youtube.com/@firstroundtv
“Deontay Wilder’s power is different — and Malik Scott knows why.”
Former heavyweight contender turned trainer Malik Scott joins Darren Barker on First Round TV for one of the most honest and emotional conversations we’ve ever had.
Growing up in Philadelphia, Malik was fighting to protect his younger brother before he even found boxing. Guided by legendary trainer Fred Jenkins, he rose through the amateur ranks, winning national titles and representing the U.S. at the highest level. At just 19, he made his professional debut on the Lennox Lewis vs David Tua undercard in Las Vegas.
But success didn’t come easy. Malik opens up about the injuries, setbacks, and wasted years that derailed his career — from blowing up to 311 lbs after surgery, to the depression and self-doubt that haunted him. He reflects on his biggest fights, including his controversial loss to Dereck Chisora, stepping into the ring with Luis Ortiz, and of course, facing the most feared puncher of this generation: Deontay Wilder.
Malik describes in detail what it feels like to be hit by Wilder’s right hand, why his power is unlike Lennox Lewis or the Klitschko brothers, and how he later became Wilder’s head trainer after the Fury rematch — a role that tested both loyalty and brotherhood.
The conversation goes deeper than boxing. Malik shares his raw thoughts on the dangers of the sport — the concussions fighters suffer in sparring, the friends he’s seen damaged for life, and the responsibility trainers carry every time they send a fighter into the ring.
He also speaks about fatherhood: watching his son win the Golden Gloves, worrying about what the sport takes from young men, and raising his youngest, who’s already drawn to the gloves at just four years old.
From street fights in Philly to the world stage, from regrets to reinvention, Malik Scott lays everything bare. This is a must-listen for fight fans who want the truth about boxing — the glory, the danger, and the reality behind the headlines.
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Malik Scott
Deontay Wilder
Dereck Chisora
Luis Ortiz
Lennox Lewis
Wladimir Klitschko
Vitali Klitschko
Anthony Joshua
Tyson Fury
Meldrick Taylor
Julio Cesar Chavez
Darren Barker
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