Crowd violence behaviour at the MEN

[BigGar]

Saw a few scrapes at Pacquiao v Hatton. Load of banter between the Hatton/Filipino fans at the start but I do have to say that the Filipino's were a bit more respectful and there was quite a bit of vitriol going in their direction.
Anyway, just after Hatton was Ko'd a Filipino man came down the steps by me and started celebrating quite wildly in front of the fans who'd been winding them up. Within two seconds a punch up ensued. Had a great time there and most of the fans were great but a minority just didn't have clue as to how to behave and at times I felt I was at a football match with hooligans present.

[Coco]

Moscow is, in theory, a far more violent and dangerous place than Newcastle -- and certainly there are some pretty tough people here. But I'll tell you what, there simply isn't the electic feeling that trouble could break out at any minute on a Friday and Saturday night. Kids don't bother you. People who drink on street corners or in metro underpasses are there to have a drink and a chat with mates on the way home from work, not to hassle and intimidate passers by.

Sounds exactly like my impressions of Bangkok vs home. The image of Bangkok is of a more dangerous place than London but I have NEVER felt threatened or intimidated here, even in the poor areas and/or as the only white face, at any time of day or night. Can anyone honestly say the same of London or even any British town over a certain size? Here, if you see a group of youths drinking outside a convenience store, it's just because they're socialising and it's cheaper than going to a bar. In the UK, if you see that scene, you cross the street.

I've been in Thailand for 15 months now and I've only seen three drunken fights on nights out (I go out at least once or twice a week), and guess who was involved in each incidence? That's right, British blokes.

X2

I've lived in Spain for over a year(near Valencia, no Brits around), spend all my time in the pubs/clubs etc and have only seen a fight between to girls

[jamesmcdonnell]

i hope i'm not stirring it too much but small london venues have a good record for idiotic behaviour. the only bad stuff i have seen was some years ago at wembley during a michael ayres fight. michael, as we know, is from the north west of england!

I was at that, there was some fat lad in the crowd who got battered by loads of people.

[My Name Is Earl]

Unfortunately it's nothing new in boxing. Still pitiful to witness though.

Hardcore security needed. Either that or a police presence which would look pretty grim on TV to the casual viewer. Was'nt a full scale riot avoided at Christie/Kaylor by Cass Pennant's firm?

[jamesmcdonnell]

I've been to shows around the country and Manchester and Watford are the two worst places I've been to, Watford was the worst, and I live here in Manchester.

At Farnell-Groenwald 1 I was called a 'c*nt' for pointing out that Arnie was losing going into round 12, fair dues, I am a 'c*nt', but I was speaking to my sister, not the poop-for-brains townies sat next to me. I was right as well, as I pointed out when the results came in (sorry Arnie). It was my sister's first fight, I told them this, they were Ok after that, they can process basic kinship structures, helps them avoid shagging their own mams, some of the time. They went a bit mental when Magee floored Hatton, as we were sat just below the NI contingent, who were decent guys, they made me laugh, I got called an "F-ing traitor." I thought I was at a fight, not in the Somme.

At the weekend I was in block 115, a few rowdy Irish Hall fans to the left, poop for brains Khan fans just below, the Hall fans made a few remarks as we passed, but they were of the cheeky variety, but they were generally Ok. Hall came and joined them after his fight, and was happy to pose with the many Khan fans who approached him. I was impressed with that.

As we left, after the main event, shamefully, the police and security were sprinting to sort out some crowd trouble, or maybe the food court had called for last orders, I don't know.

Manchester fight nights always attract townies, lower-middle class yobbos, and people from Greater Manchester (who are all townie lower-middle class yobbos), groups of complete ass clowns who think that smoking weed at your seat is an act of Rawlsian civil disobedience. Throw in a minority of Khan fans, the ones who act like 13 year old girls, and it is a rum mix.

Before anyone pipes up with "You've got a bloody nerve" I lived in Gorton for half of my life, I currently live in Ardwick, so I'm not some student complaining about the herd, this is a minority of people who think that attending a boxing match makes them hard cases, some of them may well be, but there is nothing tough about 20+ guys screaming, "What are you F-ing looking at?!" when Stevie Wonder 'eyeballs' them.

As an aside I was at the O2 for the Haye-Barrett fight, one guy on a higher tier was a right drunken tit, shouting, screaming, abusing people, he then decided to amuse his mates by jumping a nearby barrier, pity he was too drunk to realise there was a sheer drop below it, onto a concrete floor an' all. Cue a, I presume, very damaging fall. I shouldn't laugh, but I did.

Watford was an F-ing nightmare, some ponce and his minging bird, who compounded her facial drawbacks by dressing like an whore, nicked the press seats. They then sat there happily abusing a photographer, who turned around and said some very bad things to the women, then he glared at her bloke, who shrank into his seat, grumbled racial epitaphs, in a very low voice, then 'volunteered' to move. I looked at the photographer, one thought in my mind, 'rizpec'!'

It is a male tribal thing. I used to go out for a beer and watch the footy, I like United, but they lost a CL game once to a hilarious goal, I laughed my head off, had bottles thrown at me, and was called a 'Scouse lover' by two guys. They then followed me out when I went to piss against the wall (don't ask) and stared at me for a bit, I told them that "Canal street is down that way mate, but thanks for having my back when I have a piss, that is real to me...

...Rizpec'!"

We a need class for these people. "Ok, this is a two-way sporting event, that happens a lot, now, brace yourself, but other people may cheer for the other participant(s), this is not code for 'Ere, you want a fight or what?' Nor is it an open invitation to smack a woman. Comprende? Ok, lesson two, how to avoid sleeping with your own mother..."

Who knows, I am just killing time before my tea break, but townies beware, F*ck with me and I will bleed all over your Rockports.

This post was delivered like an Anthony Small post-fight interview, without pause for thought, or regard to the thoughts of other people.

Peace!

Were you at that fight Terrence, so was I mate. Didn't know you were going.

I was there with a mate, and the landlord of our local was there. He came with a bunch of about 10 mates, all of one but whom got so smashed, they didn't know where they were, and they were all thrown out of the 02 before they even got into the arena itself. The remaining mate was do drunk, that he fell asleep with a bag of chips in the seats, and slept through the entire proceedings.

I have to say that generally there are a lot of scumbags at boxing matches. Coked up spiky haired blokes with snide knock-off burberry shirts and a massive attitude problem. The toilets at the MEN were frankly terrifying, loads of totally out of it geezers looking for any chance for a punchup.

The lack of proper security at boxing matches is a real worry, because the crowd tends to contain a lot of antagonistic elements.

[DavidPayne]

Give me the York Hall every time.

No room for knobheads in there.

[lowersmiths]

I've been to shows around the country and Manchester and Watford are the two worst places I've been to, Watford was the worst, and I live here in Manchester.

At Farnell-Groenwald 1 I was called a 'c*nt' for pointing out that Arnie was losing going into round 12, fair dues, I am a 'c*nt', but I was speaking to my sister, not the poop-for-brains townies sat next to me. I was right as well, as I pointed out when the results came in (sorry Arnie). It was my sister's first fight, I told them this, they were Ok after that, they can process basic kinship structures, helps them avoid shagging their own mams, some of the time. They went a bit mental when Magee floored Hatton, as we were sat just below the NI contingent, who were decent guys, they made me laugh, I got called an "F-ing traitor." I thought I was at a fight, not in the Somme.

At the weekend I was in block 115, a few rowdy Irish Hall fans to the left, poop for brains Khan fans just below, the Hall fans made a few remarks as we passed, but they were of the cheeky variety, but they were generally Ok. Hall came and joined them after his fight, and was happy to pose with the many Khan fans who approached him. I was impressed with that.

As we left, after the main event, shamefully, the police and security were sprinting to sort out some crowd trouble, or maybe the food court had called for last orders, I don't know.

Manchester fight nights always attract townies, lower-middle class yobbos, and people from Greater Manchester (who are all townie lower-middle class yobbos), groups of complete ass clowns who think that smoking weed at your seat is an act of Rawlsian civil disobedience. Throw in a minority of Khan fans, the ones who act like 13 year old girls, and it is a rum mix.

Before anyone pipes up with "You've got a bloody nerve" I lived in Gorton for half of my life, I currently live in Ardwick, so I'm not some student complaining about the herd, this is a minority of people who think that attending a boxing match makes them hard cases, some of them may well be, but there is nothing tough about 20+ guys screaming, "What are you F-ing looking at?!" when Stevie Wonder 'eyeballs' them.

As an aside I was at the O2 for the Haye-Barrett fight, one guy on a higher tier was a right drunken tit, shouting, screaming, abusing people, he then decided to amuse his mates by jumping a nearby barrier, pity he was too drunk to realise there was a sheer drop below it, onto a concrete floor an' all. Cue a, I presume, very damaging fall. I shouldn't laugh, but I did.

Watford was an F-ing nightmare, some ponce and his minging bird, who compounded her facial drawbacks by dressing like an whore, nicked the press seats. They then sat there happily abusing a photographer, who turned around and said some very bad things to the women, then he glared at her bloke, who shrank into his seat, grumbled racial epitaphs, in a very low voice, then 'volunteered' to move. I looked at the photographer, one thought in my mind, 'rizpec'!'

It is a male tribal thing. I used to go out for a beer and watch the footy, I like United, but they lost a CL game once to a hilarious goal, I laughed my head off, had bottles thrown at me, and was called a 'Scouse lover' by two guys. They then followed me out when I went to piss against the wall (don't ask) and stared at me for a bit, I told them that "Canal street is down that way mate, but thanks for having my back when I have a piss, that is real to me...

...Rizpec'!"

We a need class for these people. "Ok, this is a two-way sporting event, that happens a lot, now, brace yourself, but other people may cheer for the other participant(s), this is not code for 'Ere, you want a fight or what?' Nor is it an open invitation to smack a woman. Comprende? Ok, lesson two, how to avoid sleeping with your own mother..."

Who knows, I am just killing time before my tea break, but townies beware, F*ck with me and I will bleed all over your Rockports.

This post was delivered like an Anthony Small post-fight interview, without pause for thought, or regard to the thoughts of other people.

Peace!

Were you at that fight Terrence, so was I mate. Didn't know you were going.

I was there with a mate, and the landlord of our local was there. He came with a bunch of about 10 mates, all of one but whom got so smashed, they didn't know where they were, and they were all thrown out of the 02 before they even got into the arena itself. The remaining mate was do drunk, that he fell asleep with a bag of chips in the seats, and slept through the entire proceedings.

I have to say that generally there are a lot of scumbags at boxing matches. Coked up spiky haired blokes with snide knock-off burberry shirts and a massive attitude problem. The toilets at the MEN were frankly terrifying, loads of totally out of it geezers looking for any chance for a punchup.

The lack of proper security at boxing matches is a real worry, because the crowd tends to contain a lot of antagonistic elements.

certainly a different picture to high-society sat at tables watching klitschko v chagaev in germany recently.

[hitman_hatton1]

sounds great fun at the boxing.

no wonder i watch it all on the telly.

[teddy007]

sounds great fun at the boxing.

no wonder i watch it all on the telly.

I don't mind it, I don't feel scared when threatened. It all depends on your opening gambit. If someone says "What is your F-ing problem!?" You MUST reply along these lines, "Well, it started out with a small rash alongside my dick. Next thing I know I'm single, I'm face down in the bath, I've been crying for four days, and my back is killing me me, man, so I put it all down to stress, only for the doctor to call me a liar, he then chased me out of the surgery, so, yeah, I'm in a low, but I just need a shoulder to cry on, man, and you look so strong."

When in doubt, ramble, always works, for me anyway.

[NazNaci1]

This kind of thing is prevelant at big shows, hence why I wouldnt take my sons or myself there.

Louts who know jack about boxing and just go along to get pished, and have a punch up with someone. Happens all the time at the types of shows.

The security that is in place is absolutely disgraceful.

But hey, the promoters dont care much, theyre getting paid.

PS One promoter, in particular, who runs these shows always turns a blind eye and never bothers to take note and actually do anything to improve this aspect of his shows. He is an utter tool tbh, a rich tool, but a tool nontheless.

[teddy007]

"I was lying there, Ted, when people start on me, I tell them that you will beat them up"

[jamesmcdonnell]

Give me the York Hall every time.

No room for knobheads in there.

Dunno mate, plenty of nobbers in the bar and khazi's, though admittedly, they are rather in the minority there.

[mickey1975]

this thread has got me thinking.ive been to a lot of shows over the last 20 years and witnessed many brawls.depressing isnt it?id never even thought about it until now.they happen at all sizes of venue am and pro,never got caught up myself though and think you have to be like minded or very unlucky to do so,which i no happens to some people.the nearest i came to it was frank grant v john ashton in bradford in the earlt nineties,cs gas went off and allsorts,we left just as the riot police steamed in

[m1kee50]

sounds great fun at the boxing.

no wonder i watch it all on the telly.

I don't mind it, I don't feel scared when threatened. It all depends on your opening gambit. If someone says "What is your F-ing problem!?" You MUST reply along these lines, "Well, it started out with a small rash alongside my dick. Next thing I know I'm single, I'm face down in the bath, I've been crying for four days, and my back is killing me me, man, so I put it all down to stress, only for the doctor to call me a liar, he then chased me out of the surgery, so, yeah, I'm in a low, but I just need a shoulder to cry on, man, and you look so strong."

When in doubt, ramble, always works, for me anyway.

I prefer the Dead Mans Shoes reply: YOU YA pudendum!

Never failed me yet. Who wants to fight an actual psychopath?

[JimJim2009]

Last SN promotion I attended was Barnes vs Hare in Halifax, West Yorkshire in November 2004. There was crowd trouble, nothing homicidal but very nasty if you were right next to it, like me and my dad were. It got to the point where the MC had to get into the ring and threaten the idiots, that the main event would not go ahead unless they calmed down and got back to their seats. This was just a few minutes to ten, and Sky were about to go live with the show.

The idiots calmed down, and the main event went ahead. One of the reasons why they got so rowdy was out of boredom - an ambulance hadn't turned up, so everyone - boxers and public - had to wait for one to arrive from the Midlands (even though this show was in Halifax, West Yorkshire). We had about 90 minutes of nothing happening, and the rival supporters got bored, starting winding each other up, and it escalated into a couple of running battles. Me and my dad were right next to one group and it got pretty frightening. You just don't want it on a night out.

I wrote to SN afterwards, and got a response back from Mr Ayling. Quite clearly, they could not give a toss. They simply couldn't care less.

I investigate complaints for a living and if its a private company you're up against, ultimately you have to vote with your feet. I've never been to a SN show since then, I make a point of it.

My mate attends the bigger shows like the MEN ones and he said, after Barrera vs Khan, that he wouldn't attend another big show in the UK, nor would he ever attend a SN show as he tried to complain to them, as the organisers, about an incident, and the response made it clear that they weren't interested.

Basically they book a venue, confirm TV coverage, sell the tickets, fingers crossed nothing bad happens, and once that night has passed, its all hands to the pumps in preparation for the next one. Different companies have different approaches to customer service, some of them are bothered, others don't give a monkies. If you experience the latter, there's nothing you can do but vote with your feet.

However, there's always a slight chance that one day you'll be walking along a busy city street and some bloke who looks a bit like Terry Marsh legs it past you in a mad rush. Further on, you come across a boxing promoter bleeding to death on the pavement, who wants you to call 999. "sorry mate, you've taken all you're getting from me"

[whiteboy]

I wasn't attending boxing in the 80s/90s but I'd be surprised if the general behaviour was any better??

Surely boxing is the most likely to get crowd trouble...the demographics of the fans, the timing of the shows (sat night allows an all-dayer), the sometimes violent or controversial endings to the contests, etc

Always been surprised at the scarcity of security/police to be honest

Still, on the plus side, a drink/drug fuelled crowd with a hint of violence in the air can create a helluva atmosphere

[Carbo]

Last SN promotion I attended was Barnes vs Hare in Halifax, West Yorkshire in November 2004. There was crowd trouble, nothing homicidal but very nasty if you were right next to it, like me and my dad were. It got to the point where the MC had to get into the ring and threaten the idiots, that the main event would not go ahead unless they calmed down and got back to their seats. This was just a few minutes to ten, and Sky were about to go live with the show.

The idiots calmed down, and the main event went ahead. One of the reasons why they got so rowdy was out of boredom - an ambulance hadn't turned up, so everyone - boxers and public - had to wait for one to arrive from the Midlands (even though this show was in Halifax, West Yorkshire). We had about 90 minutes of nothing happening, and the rival supporters got bored, starting winding each other up, and it escalated into a couple of running battles. Me and my dad were right next to one group and it got pretty frightening. You just don't want it on a night out.

I wrote to SN afterwards, and got a response back from Mr Ayling. Quite clearly, they could not give a toss. They simply couldn't care less.

I investigate complaints for a living and if its a private company you're up against, ultimately you have to vote with your feet. I've never been to a SN show since then, I make a point of it.

My mate attends the bigger shows like the MEN ones and he said, after Barrera vs Khan, that he wouldn't attend another big show in the UK, nor would he ever attend a SN show as he tried to complain to them, as the organisers, about an incident, and the response made it clear that they weren't interested.

Basically they book a venue, confirm TV coverage, sell the tickets, fingers crossed nothing bad happens, and once that night has passed, its all hands to the pumps in preparation for the next one. Different companies have different approaches to customer service, some of them are bothered, others don't give a monkies. If you experience the latter, there's nothing you can do but vote with your feet.

However, there's always a slight chance that one day you'll be walking along a busy city street and some bloke who looks a bit like Terry Marsh legs it past you in a mad rush. Further on, you come across a boxing promoter bleeding to death on the pavement, who wants you to call 999. "sorry mate, you've taken all you're getting from me"

Jim, may I say that your last paragraph is one of the most withering I've read for a long time.

It's acid.

And I have to say that I struggle to disagree with your overall point. Far too many companies pay far too little heed to customers.

[Coco]

Apparently it kicked off badly in Grantham when I fought there bout 10 years ago, didn't see anything, we were locked in the changing room, I was hoping the bill would be called off and I would still be paid!
Alas I had to fight all the same!
The car park was swarming with old bill afterwards, dunno if it went off again outside or the coppers were just milling around on overtime!

[whicker]

this thread has got me thinking.ive been to a lot of shows over the last 20 years and witnessed many brawls.

Me too, but it nearly always is two men who have been taunting/challenging/goading etc other, or two groups of rival fans.

This is the first time I've seen a direct attack on a woman (and her partner) without provocation.

[Spud]

this thread has got me thinking.ive been to a lot of shows over the last 20 years and witnessed many brawls.

Exactly!!!

It doesn't mean I agree with them!! but to turn this into a "racist" thread is b*llocks!!!

I remember there being a scrap at York Hall once - security ran away leaving myself and a good guy called Steve Head (Oasis Bodyguard) to sort things.

Remember another one - Woods/Hoye - This guy from Bradford was being a right annoying **** inner ringside - Richard Poxon asked me to get him to move - after a quick natter the bloke refused - so myself and security shifted him - what surprised us was that all hell broke loose when a good 10 of his mates followed us outside - they started stoning us and had a couple of weapons - after getting booted - I tought it best to get myself and security back inside - so we did - only to realise we had left a man behind - so myself and a couple of others had to go back outside to help him out - poor chap got a bit of a kicking but what a gutsy so and so he was !!!

There is trouble here and there - but I have found the security Fight Academy have used in the past have been spot on - Steve Head and his lads are very good - as are the security team Hayemaker used at Haye/Barrett.

[harrygreb]

oh manchester - so much to answer for

[oliverfennell]

all hell broke loose when a good 10 of his mates followed us outside - they started stoning us and had a couple of weapons

That wasn't when you turned up to an official Eastside Boxing forum meet, was it?

[teddy007]

all hell broke loose when a good 10 of his mates followed us outside - they started stoning us and had a couple of weapons

That wasn't when you turned up to an official Eastside Boxing forum meet, was it?

[REAL_DEAL]

D

[jamesmcdonnell]

sounds great fun at the boxing.

no wonder i watch it all on the telly.

I don't mind it, I don't feel scared when threatened. It all depends on your opening gambit. If someone says "What is your F-ing problem!?" You MUST reply along these lines, "Well, it started out with a small rash alongside my dick. Next thing I know I'm single, I'm face down in the bath, I've been crying for four days, and my back is killing me me, man, so I put it all down to stress, only for the doctor to call me a liar, he then chased me out of the surgery, so, yeah, I'm in a low, but I just need a shoulder to cry on, man, and you look so strong."

When in doubt, ramble, always works, for me anyway.

I prefer the Dead Mans Shoes reply: YOU YA pudendum!

Never failed me yet. Who wants to fight an actual psychopath?

Other psychopaths, that's who, and that's the problem.

I'm about 6'3" and about 15 stone with a skinhead, and yet bizzarely, there's never any shortage of people who want to start on me - think about it, it's not really logical is it, but to the kind of warped, chav scum who ruin it for everyone at these events, it's a red rag to a bull.