#68 Quinntessential Questions with Kevin Iole: Boxing Hall of Famer on Ali, Tyson & 46 Years Ringside
Tue Feb 03 2026
In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Kevin Iole, legendary combat sports journalist and 2025 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. From being the first person in his family to go to college in Pittsburgh to covering the greatest fights in boxing and MMA history for 46 years, Kevin shares his extraordinary journey through the world of combat sports.
He discusses meeting Muhammad Ali ("like I saw God"), sitting ringside when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear, why Mayweather-Pacquiao was "our Ali-Frazier" moment for modern journalists, and the heartbreak of covering seven fighters who died in the ring. Kevin also opens up about hanging up on Mike Tyson (thinking it was a prank call), surviving a plane crash with Bob Arum en route to covering De La Hoya vs Vargas, being confronted by Steve Jobs at an Apple Store, and finding Diego Corrales dead two years to the day after his greatest triumph.
Whether you're a combat sports fan, aspiring journalist, or anyone pursuing a non-traditional career path, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on storytelling, resilience, and witnessing history firsthand. Let's explore what's "Inside the mind of a Boxing Hall of Fame Journalist".
WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b
KEVIN IOLE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-iole-526b75200/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keviniole/?hl=en Website: keviniole.com
LISTEN ON YOUTUBE, APPLE & SPOTIFY
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@quinntessentialquestions
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq
FOLLOW PAUL QUINN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/
FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/
Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/
CAREER COACHING
Website: https://quinntessentialca.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Introduction
(08:46) Meeting Muhammad Ali: "Like I Saw God"
(18:14) Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Call
(24:20) Diego Corrales vs Castillo & Finding Him Dead
(50:58) Tyson-Holyfield Ear Bite & Greatest Fights
(53:19) Mayweather-Pacquiao: "Our Ali-Frazier Moment"
(58:01) Hanging Up on Mike Tyson (Thought It Was Fake)
(01:06:21) Surviving Plane Crash with Bob Arum
(01:17:41) Steve Jobs Confrontation at Apple Store
(01:23:41) Jim Murray & Kevin's Boxing Memorabilia
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.
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In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Kevin Iole, legendary combat sports journalist and 2025 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. From being the first person in his family to go to college in Pittsburgh to covering the greatest fights in boxing and MMA history for 46 years, Kevin shares his extraordinary journey through the world of combat sports. He discusses meeting Muhammad Ali ("like I saw God"), sitting ringside when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear, why Mayweather-Pacquiao was "our Ali-Frazier" moment for modern journalists, and the heartbreak of covering seven fighters who died in the ring. Kevin also opens up about hanging up on Mike Tyson (thinking it was a prank call), surviving a plane crash with Bob Arum en route to covering De La Hoya vs Vargas, being confronted by Steve Jobs at an Apple Store, and finding Diego Corrales dead two years to the day after his greatest triumph. Whether you're a combat sports fan, aspiring journalist, or anyone pursuing a non-traditional career path, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on storytelling, resilience, and witnessing history firsthand. Let's explore what's "Inside the mind of a Boxing Hall of Fame Journalist". WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b KEVIN IOLE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-iole-526b75200/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keviniole/?hl=en Website: keviniole.com LISTEN ON YOUTUBE, APPLE & SPOTIFY YouTube: https://youtube.com/@quinntessentialquestions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq FOLLOW PAUL QUINN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/ FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/ Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/ CAREER COACHING Website: https://quinntessentialca.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/ TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (08:46) Meeting Muhammad Ali: "Like I Saw God" (18:14) Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Call (24:20) Diego Corrales vs Castillo & Finding Him Dead (50:58) Tyson-Holyfield Ear Bite & Greatest Fights (53:19) Mayweather-Pacquiao: "Our Ali-Frazier Moment" (58:01) Hanging Up on Mike Tyson (Thought It Was Fake) (01:06:21) Surviving Plane Crash with Bob Arum (01:17:41) Steve Jobs Confrontation at Apple Store (01:23:41) Jim Murray & Kevin's Boxing Memorabilia Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.