THE RISE AND DEMISE OF BRITISH BOXING
The sport is ćying at the top, but Ronald Mcintosh has noticed crowds falling at grass roots level
ACROSS the planet there is a boxing bonanza. Anthony Joshua appears on prime time chat shows and features on the cover of men’s style magazines. But while, as Tony Bellew said, “Joshua has redefined our sport”, there’s also an incredibly high level of anonymity; brilliant boxers including some world titlists, who remain largely unknown to the wider sporting public, yet enjoy a fervent following among a circle of gym mates, friends and family.
I first noted this duality during Ricky Hatton’s rampaging rise to prominence at the turn of the century. When Hatton was scheduled to appear in the ring, fans would file into the arena to take their seats and cheer on the “Hitman”. Yet either side of his bout, there was a comparatively paltry number of punters watching the boxing, despite the fact they had all paid to gain admission for the entire night of fights. And so it goes on.
It begs the questions: Is the sport’s current immense popularity a result of boxing supporters, or supporters of boxers? Are those who turn up to the fill the arenas fans of the Fight Game, or merely fans of specific fighters?
The sport is enjoying a period of boom around the world at present. Exciting matches are being made, innovative tournaments are being devised and delivered, and the best are facing the best.
Spearheading this peak in popularity is the sport in the UK, where several recent world champions have filled stadiums to capacity, creating a spectacle that’s unrivalled anywhere else on earth.
Furthermore, such is the abundance of activity that it’s not uncommon for major shows to occur in separate cities on the same night, and for broadcasters to go to head-to-head in ratings battles. Fight fans, in 2018, are positively spoilt for choice.
Similarly, in what used to be known as the amateur code (AIBA, the sport’s global governing body, removed the word “amateur” from their acronym and instructed all national federations to do the same in November 2012), British boxing, which regularly delivers medals from major championships, is buoyant. On the surface, at least. On Saturday, April 21, I was working for BT Sport, covering
professional boxing in Belfast.
The main event featured local man Carl Frampton versus Nonito 'onaire, two former world champions. The bout was widely regarded as “make or break” for both men; the winner would secure another world title shot, while the loser’s options would shrink. Huge pressure.
A capacity crowd of ,000 filled the SSE Arena in Belfast to watch the two future Hall of Famers lay it all on the line. The atmosphere, like the fight won on points by Frampton, was incredible a cacophonous cocktail of sound, energy and excitement that stirred the senses.
The next day, I went to the England Boxing National Elite Finals for men and women at the iconic York Hall in East /ondon. Ten years ago at the same venue, I was broadcasting from the etuivalent event for network BB& television as Tyson Fury and *eorge *roves were among the boxers crowned English national champions. In days of yore, the ABA finals were shown nationwide from venues that were packed to the rafters, transmitted to television audiences that numbered in the millions.
However, spectator attendance was sparse at the 2018 National Finals, while the assembled media contingent consisted of just three members, including Daniel Herbert from Boxing News and myself.
The event was broadcast via a live stream on the web. But in this multi-channel, specialist-channel era of television stations, it’s rather bemusing that the best young boxers in the country didnȇt have an additional outlet on which to showcase their skills.
3articularly when these finalists are the men and women whoȇll be battling to make the *B stuad for Tokyo 2020, and given what previous winners of this title or its etuivalent have gone on to achieve.
Anthony -oshua won the first of his brace of English amateur titles at the York Hall in 2010. &arl Froch took the ABA title in 1 . -oe Calzaghe won three consecutive ABA titles at different weights between 1 1 and 1 . Nigel Benn triumphed in 1 8 . -ohn &onteh claimed the accolade in 1 0. .en Buchanan in 1 . You get the idea pick a year Ȃ any year Ȃ and the likelihood is that a future star was crowned as national champion in the unpaid code.
Even though the coverage not to mention the coinage ) between the events I attended on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon are worlds apart, the athletes themselves are fairly close together.
Weȇve already outlined how recently some of todayȇs biggest professional stars were contesting national finals in the particular vests of their respective clubs. But moreover, itȇs not uncommon to see standout pros who are British champions, world champions and bona fide boxing legends training in the same facilities often alongside) keen amateurs of all levels.
The Wincobank gym in Sheffield sees elite professionals honing their craft on the same famous wooden floors used by the local kids. -oshua is still a regular at Finchley boxing club where he learned his trade. -im 0c'onnell fretuently puts -ames 'e*ale through his paces at Stonebridge Boxing club. These scenarios are repeated at gyms up and down the country, allowing kids to interact with their sporting heroes and, perhaps, help the pros stay hungry. 'oes any other sport have superstars and aspirants in such close proximity on a regular basis"
Despite the contrasting experiences of the two boxing events over that April weekend, what was at the heart of both were committed fighters demonstrating skill, smarts, strength and steely determination in the boxing ring.
The promoters of the professional events are experienced operators who know how to spread the word about their offering and deliver a cracking night of entertainment for the paying public. What can the event organisers of the National Championships for fighters in vests learn from the best practices of their counterparts in the pro ranks to get the message out there, increase attendance and media coverage"
Theyȇre in possession of a fantastic product, the custodians of a championships redolent with history and tradition, which should be more widely witnessed and enmoyed by the public.
AT THE HEART WERE COMMITTED FIGHTERS DEMONSTRATING SKILL AND SMARTS IN THE RING