Music and boxing have always gone hand in… glove. Whether on stage or on screen, a strong tune has always been an essential part of the gladiatorial experience and over the years, boxers, promoters and film directors have taken great care in selecting songs to inspire and intimidate.
Now, on the eve of World Heavyweight Champ Anthony Joshua’s fight against Eric Molina, comes a unique album The Greatest…Best Boxing Ringwalk Songs.
This 2CD set, the first of its kind, contains the most memorable songs – and one legendary poem – from the ring.
Both classic and contemporary fighters are celebrated: first up, The Greatest himself, Muhammad Ali, whose legendary poem, recited before Ali’s rematch with Smokin’ Joe Frazier, was first aired 45 years ago on the Michael Parkinson show (Oct 17th, 1971). Heavyweight hard man Mike Tyson used Cypress Hill’s ‘How I Could Just Kill a Man’ as one of his ominous signatures; British superstar Lennox Lewis loved the music of James Brown and favoured classic slo-funk cuts such as ‘The Payback’ and ‘The Boss’. ‘80s anthem ‘Simply the Best’ by Tina Turner is synonymous with Chris Eubank.
More recent stars are celebrated including British heavyweight hero Anthony Joshua MBE, who had his friend and leading grime star Stormzy perform a bespoke version of his song ‘Shut Up’ before AJ’s clash with Dillian Whyte in 2015. The track, a b-side, entered the Top 10 the next week as a result of the fight’s huge impact.
Tyson Fury, ex WBO, WBA, IBO, IBF Heavyweight and Ring Magazine Heavyweight World Champion walked on to the Randy Travis cut ‘I’m Gonna Have a Little Talk (with Jesus)’. Johnny Keating’s ‘Theme From Z Cars’ is Tony Bellew’s go-to song (also popular with his home team Everton FC). The classic ‘Rock and Roll Star’ by Oasis was used by fellow Manc and ex WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Scott Quigg.
Ricky Hatton and David Haye, perhaps the two most famous British boxers of the last decade, are also checked, with Supra’s ‘Blue Moon’ (Hatton) and McFadden & Whitehead’s pop-soul smash ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ (Haye).
2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the first Rocky movie, a film that contains possibly the most famous theme tune of them all, ‘Gonna Fly Now’ by Bill Conti. That song, with its triumphant horns and strangely soulful melody is etched into the memory of a generation. For some, it proved an inspiration. World middleweight champion Tony Bellew joined the dots between real life and Hollywood when he starred in the latest Rocky film, ‘Creed’ in 2015.
“I grew up on the Rocky soundtrack,” says Bellew, who played baddy ‘Pretty’ Ricky Conlan, “I loved it. I didn’t know anyone who didn’t love it. Whenever I watch any of the films, I think to myself, I’m a Rocky bad guy now. I’m one of them. So, really, the Rocky music has defined my life; my life as a boy, and my life as a man.” (quotes from the album sleeve notes, written by Elliott Worsell).
CD1
1 – Eye of the Tiger – Survivor – Mannny Pacquiao
2 – The Best – Tina Turner – Chris Eubank
3 – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead – David Haye
4 – Gonna Fly Now (Rocky Theme) – The London Screen Orchestra – Rocky Balboa
5 – Underdog – Kasabian – George Groves
6 – Spitfire – Prodigy – George Groves
7 – Phat Planet – Leftfield – Hughie Fury
8 – Rock n Roll Star – Oasis – Scott Quigg
9 – Real Gone Kid – Deacon Blue – Paul Smith
10 – Riot in The City – White Light Parade – David Allen
11 – A Warrior’s Call – Volbeat – Mikkel Kessler
12 – How You Like Me Now – The Heavy – Mickey Ward
13 – Where The Hood At – DMX – Deontay Wilder
14 – Talkin The Hardest – Giggs – Anthony Joshua
15 – Shut Up – Stormzy – Anthony Joshua
16 – Big Things – OD Hunte – Isaac Lowe
17 – Entrance Music – Mr Capone E – Amir Khan
18 – Muhammad Ali Poem on Michael Parkinson show
CD2
1 – Churchill Speech – Never Surrender
2 – Blue Moon – Supra – Ricky Hatton
3 – Mamma Said Knock You Out – LL Cool J – Dereck Chisora
4 – How I could Just Kill a Man – Cypress Hill – Mike Tyson
5 – Lux Aeterna – The London Ensemble – Neven Pajkic
6 – Battle Without Honour or Humanity – Tomosayu Hotei
7 – Fuckin’ in the Bushes – Oasis – Mickey O’Neill
8 – The Wheat – Hans Zimmer – Dereck Chisora
9 – You’ll Never Walk Alone – Gerry & the Pacemakers – David Price
10 – Z Cars Theme – Johnny Keating – Tony Bellew
11 – The Payback – James Brown – Lennox Lewis
12 – Wages Day – Deacon Blue – Callum Smith
13 – Dangerous – Conroy Smith – Nigel Benn
14 – Here Comes the Hotstepper – Ini Kamazoe – ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed
15 – Entrance Music – Mr Capone E – Brandon Rios
16 – No Easy Way Out – Robert Tepper – Carl Froch
17 – The Boss – James Brown – Lennox Lewis
18 – I’m Gonna have a Little Talk – Randy Travis – Tyson Fury
The CD is available from Amazon
