Ban alcohol at boxing?

[Counter-puncher]

At Newham Leisure Centre on Friday i was initially slightly horrified to see there were no bar facilities.

as the night went on thought i noticed a couple of things:

this may be coincidence, but not once that night did I hear the drunken-type cries of 'knock him the **** out' or '****in' kill 'im' from fans.

further, as there was no bar to escape to, the place was pretty much full, pretty much the whole night.

everyone went along and saw 5 or 7 or 9 bouts of boxing, rather than just seeing the one they were really there for and effing off.

anyways, personally i thought the atmosphere lacked the hard/nasty edge that so often comes with an alcohol- fuelled night of boxing, and it must have been great for most of the fighters to actually fight in front of a basically full house rather than seats emptied by the sheeplike herds drifting to the bar.

so having gone through the pain barrier myself and not had my first tot of the night till after midnight, its wasn't too bad, and i would do it again.

anyone else think boxing could benefit from an alcohol ban at the venues?

btw i don't think it *will* happen, venues make their money from booze etc, unless it got legislated like it was for the footie. but i wonderr if anyone else thinks it would be a good thing.....

[coghaugen11]

Booze is business.

[alexpaterson]

It is better watching it but wen ur watching it that drunks arent yelling but the atmosphere isnt as good from my expierences anyway

[Counter-puncher]

btw i don't think it *will* happen, venues make their money from booze etc, unless it got legislated like it was for the footie. but i wonderr if anyone else thinks it would be a good thing.....

[whicker]

I agree it would be better, my girlfriend won't let the children go to boxing, as in the past there was some "rowdyness" , plus I agree- very drunk agressive types spoil it for a lot of people. They tend to sit anywhere they like, bump people when they walk past, stand up blocking views etc.

I'm not saying boxing should have a theatre style crowd, of course, but never the less it would be nice to be able to watch boxing without people being pissed and annoying.

[Counter-puncher]

I'm normally sober myself, as i normally end up driving. so i don't really care if i can drink or not. it was just the first time i'd been in a basically sober crowd and it wasa pleasant surprise

[SLK]

I agree it would be better, my girlfriend won't let the children go to boxing, as in the past there was some "rowdyness" , plus I agree- very drunk agressive types spoil it for a lot of people. They tend to sit anywhere they like, bump people when they walk past, stand up blocking views etc.

I'm not saying boxing should have a theatre style crowd, of course, but never the less it would be nice to be able to watch boxing without people being pissed and annoying.

it does feel like the atmosphere is more hooligan in recent years but I wonder if that is a UK thing? I've not experienced the same level of, let's call it high spirits 8) on the continent or in the US.

I don't drink so perhaps I notice it more.

[whicker]

it does feel like the atmosphere is more hooligan in recent years but I wonder if that is a UK thing? I've not experienced the same level of, let's call it high spirits 8) on the continent or in the US.

Very possibly. Binge Drinking is somewhat of a UK thing. I think too the concept of getting drunk whilst watching sport is British to some extent. Australians love beer, but I've noticed with my Australian friends that when the cricket is on they prefere to stay sober and watch it. Which in many ways is very sensible.

[Matt W]

I certainly wouldn't miss it. I've said in another thread that I don't like the fact that in this country it's almost compulsory to have a drink (or several) whenever at a social event. It won't happen, nor do I think it should really (I may not drink personally but I'm not a killjoy that thinks nobody else should). I would like to see the culture in this country change but I think it's a long way off.

Now that's off my chest I'll have to go as I'm about to get smacked off my t1ts...

[rhino222]

good post mate. i dont always believe its people in the bar that lead to empty seats in the auditorium, often its people who nip out between bouts to grab a quick pint that then miss the next 2 fights cos they are queueing up for a beer at a bar tendered by a single bar person.

so...the arenas should have more bar staff on duty.

[Counter-puncher]

good post mate. i dont always believe its people in the bar that lead to empty seats in the auditorium, often its people who nip out between bouts to grab a quick pint that then miss the next 2 fights cos they are queueing up for a beer at a bar tendered by a single bar person.

so...the arenas should have more bar staff on duty.

heh, i have been in that position too
:(

[rhino222]

the york hall is a stinker for it to be honest..it takes ages.

[nobby_nobbins]

I think beer, wine and spirits should be banned at boxing venues, but creme de menthe, egg nog and malibu should still be on sale.

[Counter-puncher]

[Hagler2002]

After what I was paying on Saturday night at the O2 it should be banned!

[junior pepa seed]

I think its a boxing thing, I have been to ufc events where there are bars and the girls walk around selling cold bottles and men walk about selling pints from portable backpack bars...people get drunk there but there is no fights or aggy shit there. But at small cage shows and boxin shows you do get the plums that drink loads then think their roy shaw in the carpark.
I think it depends on the fighter and promotion.
Ufc have nailed it I would take my son to ufc but not to a boxin show untill he was older.

Do you get much of this at a hatton fight?

Its a shame some plonkers can't just have a beer and enjoy the show.

[robster]

men walk about selling pints from portable backpack bars...

They also do this at the PDC darts. I agree that it's the queues at the bar that contribute to the empty seats before the main event. Personally I can never understand people shelling out good money just to watch one fight.

[josh fg]

the york hall is a stinker for it to be honest..it takes ages.

Yeah absolute nightmare and the beer's shit and they never know how much anything costs.

I think that casual fans will be less likely to come along if they can't see it as a night out (a few beers at the boxing - although I drink whisky to avoid time spent at the bar - and then onto a club) much as I'd like to believe the sport can sustain its self on people in this forum who are all about watching the fights I know it can't and bringing in casual fans including my mates I tell about a show etc is crucial.

I do however wish football fans etc would shut the fornicate up about a sport they know nothing about sometimes, if I hear one more person exploring the british fighter to "hit him" as if they haven't thought of that tactic I'll strangle them!

[E]

the york hall is a stinker for it to be honest..it takes ages.

I disagree in part. I think it's better than big events. But there are some dopey birds behind the York Hall bar!

[WildWaylon]

Its all about quantity. A couple of pints to relax you and get you in the spirit of the event is fine. Its only a problem when a guy drinks a gallon (8 pints) and gets aggressive.

[E]

I think they should ban alcohol at boxing. They should also ban all pork products, the ringcard girl should wear a burqa and all other women should be banned at the event. Except there should be a couple of stonings available in case any fights end early.

[banjo]

I think they should ban alcohol at boxing. They should also ban all pork products, the ringcard girl should wear a burqa and all other women should be banned at the event. Except there should be a couple of stonings available in case any fights end early.

Now you are being sillE

(sorry)

[Hagler2002]

Its all about quantity. A couple of pints to relax you and get you in the spirit of the event is fine. Its only a problem when a guy drinks a gallon (8 pints) and gets aggressive.

8 pints is just a cheeky warm up

[jeej]

To be honest I've never understood the concept of getting totally wankered and then going to watch a sporting event. You'd paid all that money for your ticket and you're hardly gonna remember what happened.

However, I do appreciate that for a lot of people the above seems to be the actual experience they are looking for.

It wont happen, but I'd be all for booze being banned from boxing events.

Still, Ricky Hatton might not be able to sell out M.E.N. if his pissed up hooligan brigade are denied access to booze.

I think boxing could do with a total reform. From creating one linear title for each weight division, down to controlling how live events are hosted (crowd trouble, booze etc...). But 'boxing' is a dirty word in the modern world and no-one gives a shit enough to save it properly - probably because the people with the actual power to make such changes are earning a nice crust with everything just as it is right now.

[unorthodox]

i dont drink at football matches (mainly cos once ive had a couple i cant stop pissing so dont stay in me seat very long! haha)

but i do like a few during the build up to the fight card, its all part of the banter for me like, i dont bevy while the event is on but i'll have a few at the bar once its over.