3 Knockdown Rule cover art
ActiveRelationshipsUnited States

3 Knockdown Rule

A weekly boxing talk show where celebrity host Mario Lopez and veteran journalist Steve Kim break down the latest fights, news, and controversies.

The brief

This is a classic sports talk radio format adapted for the podcast era, focused entirely on boxing. It's a two-hander between a knowledgeable celebrity superfan (Lopez) and a grizzled, well-connected journalist (Kim). Kim provides the deep industry context and sets the topics, while Lopez offers the passionate fan reaction and bridges the gap for a more mainstream audience.

The primary distinction is the host pairing. Unlike many sports podcasts, it combines a mainstream celebrity in Mario Lopez, who is a legitimate and knowledgeable boxing fan, with a respected, long-serving insider in Steve Kim, creating a unique blend of entertainment and hardcore analysis.
— What makes it distinctive
§1 · The host

Who hosts this show

The 3 Knockdown Rule pairs actor and TV personality Mario Lopez with longtime boxing journalist Steve Kim for a weekly discussion on all things boxing. They cover recent fight results, preview upcoming bouts, and debate the sport's hot topics. The show blends Lopez's celebrity fan perspective with Kim's insider analysis, often featuring expert guests from the boxing world.

AI-extracted bio · help us verify· Source: gemini-video-grounded

Credentials & credits

  • Mario Lopez: Two-time Emmy award-winning television host (Access Hollywood), actor (Saved by the Bell), and author.
  • Steve Kim: Veteran boxing journalist since 1996. Former writer/reporter for ESPN.com, Ring Magazine, and Maxboxing. Announcer/analyst for RingTV, Thompson Boxing, and CBS Sports Network.

Other ventures

  • Mario Lopez: Host of "On with Mario Lopez" radio show, author of multiple books including "Just Between Us" and "Extra Lean", actor on Broadway.
  • Steve Kim: Co-host of 'the 3 Knockdown Rule', panelist on 'Fearless' with Jason Whitlock, contributor to 'the Coach JB Show', and runs the 'Korean Cosell' Substack.
§2 · Classification

What kind of podcast

Region
usa
§3 · Cadence & catalog

When new episodes drop

§3b · Editor's picks

Notable episodes

AI-extracted picks + commentary · help us verify
  1. 01
    THE 3KR #136 | DOUG FISCHER IN STUDIO

    Features a typical in-depth guest interview with the Editor-in-Chief of The Ring Magazine, showcasing the hosts' connections and conversational interview style.

  2. 02
    THE 3KR #137 | BAM DOES IT AGAIN | ZAYAS VS BOOTS IS NEXT

    A prime example of the show's standard format, with the two hosts breaking down recent fights and previewing major upcoming bouts.

  3. 03
    Sometimes business wins over beef 🤔🥊

    This short clip highlights the show's focus on the business and promotional drama behind the scenes in boxing, a recurring theme.

§4 · Signature

What you'll be asked on this show

AI-extracted from recent episodes · help us verify
How the host interviews

When a guest joins, the format shifts from a duo chat to a roundtable discussion. The style is highly conversational and informal, built on the hosts' and guest's shared history and deep knowledge of boxing. Rather than a structured Q&A, the conversation flows organically, with Lopez and Kim trading questions and anecdotes with the guest. They often integrate fan questions from their 'Ask Mario' segment, allowing the audience to participate in the expert discussion.

The show is a co-hosted chat format structured into recurring segments like 'Round One', 'News & Notes', and the popular 'Ask Mario' fan Q&A. The dynamic is built on the friendly, often teasing, banter between Lopez and Kim. While primarily a duo, they frequently bring in high-level boxing journalists and figures for conversational interviews.

Questions the host keeps coming back to

10 catalogued

If you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.

craft

2
  1. Q.01

    Is [Fighter X] on the Mount Rushmore of aesthetically pleasing fighters today?

    This question is used to move beyond a fighter's record and analyze their specific style and in-ring artistry.

  2. Q.02

    Is the winner of [Bout A] a more dangerous fight for [Fighter X] than [Fighter Y]?

    Used to compare and contrast potential future matchups, analyzing the stylistic challenges different opponents would pose.

industry

2
  1. Q.01

    If [Fighter A] beats [Fighter B], does he leapfrog to number one pound-for-pound?

    A frequent way to frame the stakes of a major fight by exploring its impact on the sport's hypothetical rankings.

  2. Q.02

    Do you think the [Fighter A] vs. [Fighter B] fight will inevitably happen?

    This question addresses the business and political side of boxing, speculating on whether promotional hurdles can be overcome.

backstory

2
  1. Q.01

    Who wins in a fantasy fight between a prime [Historical Fighter A] and [Historical Fighter B]?

    A recurring question type during the 'Ask Mario' segment to engage in historical debates and compare eras.

  2. Q.02

    How do you think [Current Star] would have done against the [Historical Group of Fighters]?

    This allows the hosts and guests to place a modern fighter's skills into a broader historical context.

future

2
  1. Q.01

    What are your plans for [Guest's Company/Project] for the next few months?

    A standard opening question for guests to promote their upcoming work and set the stage for the conversation.

  2. Q.02

    Will this be [Veteran Fighter]'s final fight, win, lose, or draw?

    This is asked to speculate on the career longevity of fighters nearing the end of their careers.

technique

1
  1. Q.01

    Is [Fighter A] technically sound enough to keep [Fighter B] off him?

    A specific, technical question used to break down the core stylistic dynamic of an upcoming fight.

personal

1
  1. Q.01

    What is your favorite boxing documentary?

    A recurring fan question in the 'Ask Mario' segment that elicits personal preferences and discussions about the sport's culture.

Signature segments

  • · Ask Mario
  • · Round One
  • · News & Notes
  • · Review - Preview
  • · Final Flurries

Topics covered repeatedly

Fight Previews & PredictionsPound-for-Pound RankingsBoxing Business & PoliticsPromoter & Sanctioning Body IssuesHistorical Matchups & LegacyFighter Training & TechniquePost-Fight AnalysisBoxer Legal & Financial IssuesFan Questions
§5 · Guests

Who gets booked here

AI-extracted guest list + profile · help us verify
Typical guest

The show books high-level boxing insiders, including influential journalists and editors like Doug Fischer of The Ring Magazine, and major promoters. Guests are typically veterans of the sport who have a long-standing professional relationship with the hosts.

Recent guests
  • Doug Fischer
    on THE 3KR #136 | DOUG FISCHER IN STUDIO | BAM VS VARGAS & THE OPETAIA PROBLEM
§6 · Channels & links

Where to find this show

§7 · Stats

Audience & reach

YouTube · first-party
Subscribers
10.6K
10,600
Avg views / video
2.5K
Trailing window
Total views
2.9M
2,928,051
Videos published
1,157
Sponsor readEstimated

Sponsors are a mix of direct-to-consumer brands (LifeRX.md, Jimmybar!), gaming (Undisputed), and boxing-specific services (Boxbid.io). The host-read ads, particularly for health and wellness products, often include promotional codes tied to the show's name.

AI-extracted sponsor read · help us verify

Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.

§8 · Contact

Pitch this show

Sign-in required
Verified contact
Host / booking email
i•••@•••.io

Free: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
You’re only charged when we return a verified hit.

§9b · FAQ

People also ask

AI-extracted researched answers · help us verify
Who are the hosts of 3 Knockdown Rule?
The show is co-hosted by actor and TV personality Mario Lopez and veteran boxing journalist Steve Kim.
What is the podcast's format?
It's a weekly talk show with a mix of news, fight previews, analysis, and fan Q&A segments. They occasionally host expert guests for long-form interviews.
What are Steve Kim's credentials?
Steve Kim is a respected boxing journalist who has been writing professionally since 1996. He has worked for ESPN.com, Ring Magazine, Maxboxing, and served as an analyst for several TV networks.
Is this show for casual fans or boxing experts?
It caters to both. Mario Lopez's presence makes it accessible to a broader audience, while Steve Kim's deep analysis and the show's focus on industry details appeal to hardcore boxing fans.
Is the podcast still running?
Yes, the podcast releases new episodes weekly, supplemented by daily short clips on its YouTube channel.
Last updatedJun 29, 2026Not yet host-verified
Research depthDeep dossierHigh confidence · Jun 29, 2026 · gemini-2.5-pro

Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.

§9c · Methodology

Sources & how this page was built

This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence

  1. [01]Steve Kim – SNAC Nutritionsnac.com
  2. [02]Steve Kim - Korean Cosell | Substackstevekim.substack.com
  3. [03]Boxing Journalist Steve Kim Found a Way to Stand Up to His Sport - LA Weeklylaweekly.com
  4. [04]About On With Mario | Magic 107.7magic107.iheart.com
  5. [05]TV Personality Mario Lopez Signs Exclusive Endorsement Agreement with Fintech Company Innovative Payment Solutions, Inc.ipsipay.com
  6. [06]The 3 Knockdown Rule | iHeartiheart.com
  7. [07]The 3 Knockdown Rule (Podcast) - Podchaserpodchaser.com
More to explore

Podcasts like 3 Knockdown Rule

The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered

A history storyteller who narrates short, engaging videos about forgotten events and figures, typically in 15 minutes or less.

1.6M subs· ~4/week· United States
HistoryRelationships

The Arena

The Arena

A daily sports debate show where 3-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and a panel of former pros give unfiltered takes on basketball news.

1.3M subs· Daily· United States
BusinessSportsMedia

The Founder's Dream | Abhishek vyas

The Founder

A Hindi-language business podcast featuring long-form interviews with Indian startup founders about their real-world journeys and industries.

256K subs· Daily· India
BusinessMarketingRelationships

Donovan Sharpe

Donovan Sharpe

A confrontational live-stream show focused on dating, masculinity, and current events from a "Red Pill" perspective.

172K subs· Daily· United States
FinanceHealth & WellnessRelationships

HAHA Podcast

Three Korean-American sisters and YouTubers bring their chaotic, unfiltered group chat to a weekly video podcast.

405K subs· ~0.9/week· United States
BusinessRelationshipsAutomotive

Sports Yaari

Sports Yaari

A high-cadence Indian sports media channel delivering daily news, reactive analysis, and passionate opinions primarily focused on the Indian national cricket team.

1.6M subs· Daily· India
BusinessSports

Dear Shandy Podcast

Dear Shandy

A married couple offers comic relief and practical advice on relationships, alongside detailed, analytical recaps of reality dating shows.

56.1K subs· ~5/week· United States
RelationshipsParentingEntertainment

Cultaholic Wrestling

Cultaholic Wrestling

A daily news and discussion show from a team of British wrestling journalists known for its blend of candid reporting, community in-jokes, and humor.

915K subs· Daily· United Kingdom
NewsSports