Reality after the ring: Tony and Rachael Bellew

This podcast discusses mental health, including topics surrounding addiction, depression and suicide. Please read the show notes for more information This podcast also contains strong language and frequent use of swearwords. Viewer discretion is advised.In this special episode, former world champion boxer and TV personality Tony Bellew and his wife Rachael sit down for a powerful, personal conversation with Chris and Leona Kirkland. They reflect on life inside and outside the ring, grappling with pressure, fame, and the toll of 12-week training camps. Tony opens up about mental warfare in boxing, including his infamous press conference bust-up with David Haye and the intensity of facing Oleksandr Usyk, who pushed him to his physical and emotional limits. Rachael offers rare insight into what it was like behind the scenes—banned from attending fights, hearing people say they hoped Tony wouldn’t make it out of the ring, and holding the family together through it all. Tony also shares how he’s channelled his energy post-retirement, through golf, family, and suicide prevention work through projects like Men’s Shed and Men on a Mission. Tony is determined to show that no matter how tough you seem, speaking up can save your life.50-minute interview recorded in the TV studio in Creative Edge, Edge Hill University on Wednesday 9 April 2025.