UPDATED Wilder Accusations and Boxing Talk With Bill Dettloff

Welcome to a special edition of Word Balloon, doubling as a new installment of The Big Bout Podcast, where I get to scratch that old boxing reporter itch and dive deep into the sweet science.

This time, I’m joined by one of the most respected voices in boxing journalism: Bill Detloff. A longtime writer and editor for The Ring magazine, Bill’s been ringside for some of the sport’s most pivotal moments and has chronicled both its legends and its lost souls with unmatched insight.

We’ll be talking about his latest book, Ring Theory, a sharp, thought-provoking collection of essays that digs into boxing’s culture, characters, and contradictions.

From reflections on heavyweight mythology to the changing face of modern pugilism, Bill brings decades of experience and a genuine love for the fight game to the conversation. Whether you’re a hardcore historian or just catching up on the current scene, this one’s for anyone who still believes in the power of two fighters and one ring. Let’s talk fights.