Watch boxing online, vote for the winner
James “Batman” Langton has a new initiative aimed at getting more people to watch boxing.
Langton, a retired boxer who owns Barbwire gym in Ōpunake, puts on corporate fight nights and is now planning to stream the fights live online and let the audience vote for the winner, he said. “We’ve always done corporate fight nights. It was an OK business model but I didn’t see much growth in it. I thought ‘why don’t we start doing online fight nights and let’s engage the public more’.”
With help from a website designer, Langton developed a voting program allowing viewers to vote for who they think won the fight.
He had a trial run in December and got about 500 people watching online, he said.
“It was very encouraging with the feedback we got. There was plenty of interest in it.”
All fighters have to have had at least three fights before they can enter, because he wants to keep the show at a high standard, Langton said. “So, when you do watch Barbwire Fight Club online you know you are getting good quality fights. All our fights will be three rounds at 2 minutes.”
The online version will feature replays and commentary.
“I’m hoping it will promote boxing throughout New Zealand. I know first-hand what boxing can do for young kids that have lost their way. It shows them discipline. It gives them belief.”
At the fight nights there will be a prize for the winner and a prize for the fighter who gets the most online votes.
People have suggested to Langton that it could turn into a popularity contest, but if the fighters had gone out and promoted themselves and boxing to get the votes he would be happy with that, he said, and when the number of viewers increased that should eliminate the problem anyway.
“I’m very excited about the concept. We have another three shows planned for this year and are looking at doing seven shows next year, which will be throughout New Zealand. It’s never been done before, I’m giving it a go. You only live once.”
The next Barbwire Fight Club, with seven fights, is at the Ōpunake Events Centre on April 20, starting at 7pm.
Tickets are available for the event. Online viewing is free, but viewers have to register to be able to vote, at barbwire.co.nz