Around the World in 80 Fights - by Steve Bunce (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

SHORTLISTED FOR SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2025

An autobiographical white-knuckle ride around the global fight game by the legendary Steve Bunce: the voice of the sport who is celebrating four decades of writing and talking about boxers and boxing.

"This book captures the magic of the sport - the glory and the heartache." Ricky Hatton

"Steve and I go way back, all the way back. He has been ringside at all my fights, from national amateurs all the way to Wembley stadium. He is the only reporter who could have ever got close to that lift in the Garden." Anthony Joshua

"Bunce is a walking talking boxing library, and is not frightened to say what he thinks and says. I've enjoyed many nights and many fights with a true legend of the game." Tyson Fury

"Buncey has forgotten more than most people in boxing know." Prince Naseem Hamed

"He's been there, done it and pretty much seen it all." Eddie Hearn

***

In Around the World in 80 Fights, let 'the Voice of Boxing' take you on the ultimate sporting odyssey: to the rings of New York, to the makeshift rings of Bukom in Ghana, to the riches of Las Vegas, and to Riyadh, Atlantic City, Bethnal Green, Mexico City, Rome and Berlin.

To the basement rooms in dingy pubs where old fighters chase the last round; a bullring in December under the stars; a small square on the outskirts of Naples with a ring obscured by a fountain; the abandoned centre of boxing excellence in a forest lost in East Germany; a railway arch in south London and a bin-bag packed with cash.

Let 'Buncey' tell you about the conversations with Mr. T at ringside; a meeting with the Pope's people; the thoughts of Donald Trump when he had plans to make boxing great again; Don King in exile in his nineties; an overheard conversation with Fidel Castro; and a very real diplomatic incident.

The hard conversations with a dead boxer's mother in the hour after a machine had been switched off. The bravery, stupidity, guts, desire and glory of the boxers in the world's most famous and unknown rings. They fought for millions, for pride, for their country and for nothing. They bled, cried and died in those rings.

Around the World in 80 Fights vividly reveals the simple, wonderful and truly awful business of boxing. It is Buncey's business and this is his story.

***

"Steve has a great knowledge of our sport." Joe Calzaghe

"Bunce captured the madness in Memphis around the fight with Tyson... the behind-the-scenes story of the Bruno fight and was there from York Hall to Las Vegas." Lennox Lewis

"His love and enthusiasm for the sport is infectious." Katie Taylor

"Steve understands how the minds of boxers tick." Carl Froch

"Steve's knowledge on the sweet science of boxing is second to none." Carl Frampton

From the Back Cover

An autobiographical white-knuckle ride around the global fight game by the legendary Steve Bunce, the voice of the sport who is celebrating four decades amongst boxers and boxing.

Review Quotes

Bunce captured the madness in Memphis around the fight with Tyson... the behind-the-scenes story of the Bruno fight and was there from York Hall to Las Vegas.--Lennox Lewis

Bunce is a walking talking boxing library, and is not frightened to say what he thinks and says. I've enjoyed many nights and many fights with a true legend of the game.--Tyson Fury

Buncey is back with another book. Buncey has the knowledge and he's forgotten more than most people in boxing know.--Prince Naseem Hamed

I've known Big Buncey for almost two decades and have gotten to know him more recently as a work colleague. There's nobody I'd rather listen to reminiscing of the greats. The current greats and the greats of the past. His knowledge on the sweet science [of boxing] is second to none.--Carl Frampton

I've known Steve for many years from the very start of my career and I've always liked and respected him. Always having a laugh with a great sense of humour and he has a great knowledge of our sport. my late Dad Enzo would also always speak highly of him. A great guy!--Joe Calzaghe

No matter what fight it is, or what part of the world it's in Steve seems to be an ever present ringside at every boxing event! He has covered my career from amateur to pro and his love and enthusiasm for the sport is infectious.--Katie Taylor

Steve and I go way back, all the way back. He has been ringside at all my fights, from national amateurs all the way to Wembley stadium. He is the only reporter who could have ever got close to that lift in the Garden.--Anthony Joshua

Steve is an old school boxing historian who knows that much about boxing he simply has to write books about it. He understands how the minds of boxers tick, I know this first hand. From my amateur days right though to chinning my last victim in front of 80 thousand fans at Wembley Stadium Steve Bunce was on the whole journey. I'm proud to call him my good friend.--Carl Froch

Steve Bunce is the best boxing writer in the world. He knows everyone in the business. The man is a walking living encyclopedia!--Fred Sirieix

You know it's a proper fight night when Steve Bunce is in town! A first-class broadcaster and journalist. He's been there, done it and pretty much seen it all.--Eddie Hearn

This book captures the magic of the sport - the glory and the heartache.--Ricky Hatton

About the Author

Steve Bunce has worked as a journalist and broadcaster since 1984, writing about boxing for the Daily Telegraph for a decade and since 1999 at the Independent, as well as having a column in Boxing Monthly and for ESPN.com.

He has been at six Olympic Games, reported on more than fifty fights in Las Vegas and covered bouts in over twenty countries. He is a regular on BBC Radio Five Live, working on their monthly show since 2004, the weekly podcast and all major live fights. He has been part of the broadcast team at BoxNation since 2011 and also holds various ridiculous records on the BBC's award-winning Fighting Talk.