Have Boxing forums had any influence on Boxing??

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 08 Jan 2008, 06:29

The boxing forums obviously aren't responsible for the fantastic upturn in British boxings fortunes, but they have had some impact on the boxing scene with various boxers, trainers and people in the know frequenting them (we all know that a member of Allegedly's team likes to keep an eye us). I've been told from a few reliable sources that most promotion companies keep an eye the forum(s) although not all would admit to it.

Examples of influence (however small)

1) I don't believe the fight between Haye and Hobson would have ever been scheduled without the boxing forums, it ddn't happen anyway due to a last minute injury or 2. Haye, Booth and Aston (love you Chris x) were swapping insults for months over on the Doghouse prior to it being scheduled, with every poster and his dog putting their 2 penneth in.

2) Haye said that Enzo wasn't in his plans until the fans demanded the fight (prior to the first attempt to stage it) when the forums were flooded with posters saying the fight has to happen

3) Numerous commentators have made references to internet boxing forums, saying stuff such as "The net has gone wild over the past few weeks, with predictions and analysis off this fight"

These boxing forums have gave the fans a voice and has given us the opportunity to voice our disgruntled opinions when we are not happy and to heap praise on our boxers, trainers and promoters when they perform well. I'm not saying that the people within boxing are hanging on our every word, but I do believe the forums have had some influence on our beloved sport in Britain (however minute).

Any thoughts

STP · Post by **STP** » 08 Jan 2008, 06:40

I agree. I know for a fact that Ricky Hatton has been reading every board on the net for well over a year, on his laptop. And I know for a fact that loads of guys at the Phoenix gym, from the Phoenix gym, were watching Benn and Duran sparring on YouTube.

alphasean · Post by **alphasean** » 08 Jan 2008, 06:45

STP wrote:Benn and Duran sparring on YouTube

link???!

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 08 Jan 2008, 06:46

I didnt think Ricky used computers at all, I was aware things got back to him from forums / articles but I didnt think he actualy logged on and read them himself. Im sure fans influence the sport, especially as boxings only voice is the internet. Just look at Martin Gillick, not even a pro and he found himself headlining Boxings premier news outlet in the UK, BBN. All down to forums.

STP · Post by **STP** » 08 Jan 2008, 06:50

alphasean wrote:
STP wrote:Benn and Duran sparring on YouTube
link???!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxFoBuffkgo

The song in the background when Roberto is shadow boxing is 'The Only Way Is Up' that was released in June 1988. And I think that's Ambrose Mendy watching the sparring, Benn ditched Warren for Mendy in May '88.

Roberto is taking the piss out of Nigel at times, but then again Nigel was very raw until he went to Miami after the Watson loss to get some sparring in. You can tell he's holding back his power a lot here though.

Crew2 · Post by **Crew2** » 08 Jan 2008, 06:58

BUNCE AND RAWLING POST ON DOGHOUSE AND READ IT 2 GET FANS OPINION ... BUNCE REFERS TO HIM AS 'SIR JOHN OF RAWLING' ON THERE

ITS COOL

Crew2 · Post by **Crew2** » 08 Jan 2008, 07:04

BENN WAS RAW IN ROUNDS ND EXPERIENCE ON HIS KO RUN BUT UNBELIEVABLY TALENTED
-SUPERB NATURAL PUNCHING LEVERAGES, AND AN EXCELLENT BOB-AND-WEAVE (ON THE RARE OCCASIONS HE DECIDED TO ), HIS PROBLEM ALWAYS WAS HIS LACK OF CONCENTRATION, LACK OF FLUIDITY AND UNPREDICTABLE CHIN -THEY ALWAYS WERE THROUGHOUT HIS CARER

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 08 Jan 2008, 07:07

Whatever happened to Ambrose Mendy?
Last time i saw him he was at HM pleasure, hogged the phone

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 08 Jan 2008, 07:08

He's out now isn't he?

whicker · Post by **whicker** » 08 Jan 2008, 07:24

I think the thing with boxing is that a lot of the people who watch big fights, both on TV and at the arena, arn't actually keen fans of boxing- they have just turned up to see a big fight, to cheer on a local boy etc.

I think the "hardcore" of boxing fans- the sort of people who post on forums, check for big events well in advance etc are a minority.

A good example is Khan at the Olympics. Despite the fact he was a very very good amateur, only a tiny minority of people would have known who he was until he reached the quater finals, and suddenly was big news.

I think big-fight boxing trades on the sensational- the big one-offs, rather than works around long term committed fans.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 08 Jan 2008, 07:45

Its true we are the 'anoraks' of boxing.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 08 Jan 2008, 08:09

I've often thought about using other forums, are there any other decent ones out there?

Eubank has used other forums before. He wouldn't tell me which ones.

Miuna · Post by **Miuna** » 08 Jan 2008, 08:23

Eubank used to have his own forum and would post on there all the time ! seemed to enjoy talking(/typing) about boxing

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 08 Jan 2008, 08:34

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I've often thought about using other forums, are there any other decent ones out there?

I only post on this one these days (its the best IMO), the other ones I can think of are the DogHouse, EastsideBoxing and I think there is still one on BoxingTalk as well. Larry Holmes used to have a forum that he regularly posted on (going back a year or 2)

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 08 Jan 2008, 09:03

Used to be a lot of traffic on the Boxing Monthly site as well but it's slowed up...A lot of them are on here now - Matt W, myself, Terry D etc etc.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 08 Jan 2008, 09:04

Chambers2 wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I've often thought about using other forums, are there any other decent ones out there?
I only post on this one these days (its the best IMO), the other ones I can think of are the DogHouse, EastsideBoxing and I think there is still one on BoxingTalk as well. Larry Holmes used to have a forum that he regularly posted on (going back a year or 2)

Im not 100% sure, but I think boxingtalk's forum has shut down.

Podmore_Birmingham · Post by **Podmore_Birmingham** » 08 Jan 2008, 09:08

Wales wrote:
Chambers2 wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I've often thought about using other forums, are there any other decent ones out there?
I only post on this one these days (its the best IMO), the other ones I can think of are the DogHouse, EastsideBoxing and I think there is still one on BoxingTalk as well. Larry Holmes used to have a forum that he regularly posted on (going back a year or 2)
Im not 100% sure, but I think boxingtalk's forum has shut down.

As you know, it used to be a decent little forum.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 08 Jan 2008, 09:30

Went over to boxingtalk to check and couldnt find the forums. Must say though, their front page content si second to none with regards to interviews etc...

The latest is a Mike Tyson interview during which he expresses and interest to fight Evander agian. Even the 40 something Evander would wipe the floor with poor old Mike now.

harrygreb · Post by **harrygreb** » 08 Jan 2008, 09:31

a few years ago i was driving a cab with four young asians who were getting rowdy and belligerent. i had a copy of "boxing news" which had amir khan's face on the front - this was about 7 months before the olympics - as a ploy to diffuse any ugly situation i asked them if they'd heard of khan.
none of them had so i showed them the "boxing news" and they read about him with interest as i bigged him up a bit (having seen him box).
i told them to remember his name come olympic time. they were as good as gold after that.
i hope they remembered where they saw it first. and fair play to BN for picking up on khan early.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 08 Jan 2008, 09:47

I think this forum cannot be ignored with so many knowledgable, well informed people posting on it - What people say here does give those involved in the sport a sample of what fight fans, really think, want to see happen, opinions etc - How they respond is another matter - This is by far the best forum and I am sure the most visited by boxers, managers, trainers etc - Yes I do think in a small way certain posters do influence those involved putting forward well evaluated arguements.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 08 Jan 2008, 10:13

search wrote:sppud ruined it

Spud went along way to making it a decent forum IMO, but the move to UK Boxing Press turned out to be a mistake in hindsight. In saying that you wouldn't have had the pleasure of my razor-sharp insight if we hadn't have moved from BoxingTalk

bridportboxer · Post by **bridportboxer** » 08 Jan 2008, 10:19

forums and other means in which the fans can talk about what they want to see can only be a good thing. the bad side is when you have a boxer that is not very good that joins and everyone changes there tune and tells him he is the best thing since sliced bread, seen the a couple of times on the Current Scene and Eastside.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 08 Jan 2008, 10:47

Old bones Ian wrote:Whatever happened to Ambrose Mendy?
Last time i saw him he was at HM pleasure, hogged the phone

He was in the ring with Hatton after the Urango fight.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 08 Jan 2008, 10:49

thought getting into the US was supposed to be difficult for ex-cons!?!!!

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 08 Jan 2008, 10:52

Wales wrote:thought getting into the US was supposed to be difficult for ex-cons!?!!!

Most of the cons are out there.

I think it is difficult to get in the UK if you are an ex-con.