Episode 26: Johnny Nelson; From World Cruiserweight Champ to becoming the face of Sky Sports Boxing! скачать в хорошем качестве

Episode 26: Johnny Nelson; From World Cruiserweight Champ to becoming the face of Sky Sports Boxing!

In this very special episode of the Winners of Sheffield Podcast, James Travis sits down with a true Sheffield icon: Johnny Nelson – former Cruiserweight World Champion and now the unmistakable face of Sky Sports Boxing. This episode is more than a conversation; it’s a full-circle moment. Over a year ago, James watched his business mentor, Dave Campbell, interview Johnny in what turned into a powerful trip down memory lane for the champ. That night sparked something. As Johnny shared stories of resilience, self-belief, and the people of Sheffield who shaped him, James thought: “This should be a thing. Sheffield’s great people deserve to be celebrated.” That spark became the Winners of Sheffield Podcast. It was also the night James met Johnny for the first time. Trav plucked up the courage to ask if he'd ever come on the brand-new podcast. Johnny didn’t hesitate—he said yes, even connecting James with his agent. A promise made. And, just over twelve months later, a promise kept. On Monday 17th November, at the beautiful Kenwood Hall, Johnny Nelson joined James (and Stuart Turner of LensGo Visual Media) for a raw, honest and inspiring conversation about fighting through doubt, becoming a world champion, reinventing himself on Sky Sports, and why Sheffield will always be home. But this episode came with a twist. Johnny arrived half an hour later than planned, leaving Trav with just 45 minutes to squeeze in an interview that had been over a year in the making (so we'll forgive him for forgetting Brendan Ingle's name). But the reason? Fair enough, really. Moments before arriving, Sky Sports had him live on air reacting to the breaking announcement that Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua had been confirmed for 19th December. When boxing news of that scale drops, you expect Johnny Nelson to be the first face on screen. Once he arrived, though, he was 100% present — and the conversation was worth every second of the wait. Johnny talks openly about his humble beginnings (having nothing), and despite becoming a Cruiserweight World Champion, he admits something most fighters never would: He never actually liked boxing. In fact, he jokes that the only downside of training at the world-famous Ingle Gym was…that he had to box (he just wanted to be with his brother and his mates). He shares memories of being in the first wave of boys to attend Notre Dame School, where James also went. The pair swap stories about a teacher they both admired (Mr Lawrence) though Johnny insists he “didn’t learn anything at school except how to hustle.” So how did he become a world champion? Johnny credits it almost entirely to Brendan Ingle, the legendary trainer who saw something in him long before Johnny saw it in himself. Brendan, he says, “brainwashed” him into believing he could be great, and that belief became the foundation of his career. Surprisingly, Johnny reveals that boxing (a sport he didn’t even like) was still easier than the career he stepped into next: broadcasting. When he first became a pundit on Sky Sports, the imposter syndrome hit him hard. He felt out of place, unprepared, and unsure. But over time, through experience, graft and that trademark Nelson resilience, the confidence came. At 58 years old, Johnny is in ridiculously impressive shape. He fasts for 36 hours every week (and was mid-fast during this interview). He’s completed two Hyrox competitions this year, with more lined up for 2026, although he was less than impressed when he found out that Hyrox stood for “Hybrid Rockstar.” Beyond boxing and broadcasting, Johnny is also a powerful motivational speaker, working both in schools and the corporate world. He’s genuine, grounded, razor-sharp, and easily one of the nicest people you could hope to meet. A champion in the ring. A champion on screen. And a champion for the city he proudly calls home — Sheffield.