Boxing Monthly's "British Boxing's 25 big hitters"

[ed robinson]

I understood that journalists weren't included.

[SweetLikeSugar]

They might have also thought it could look a little self-indulging if they listed their own publication.

It was a good article though. I didn't know anything about Barney Francis and it's good to see that Sky Sports have a genuine boxing fan running things.

[stujones]

Barry McGuigan might be a little low given he is still one of the most recognisable names in the sport and is embarking on promoting.

Thought Richie Woodhall and Glenn McCrory for the things they are doing out of the ring and off the mic might have scraped the list.

[Deserter]

Interesting reading. What it highlights for me is how power in the sport is disproportionately weighted in that if you were able to add 'gradients' of influence, the top two are just light years ahead of everyone else. Consequently I think it would have had more impact if it had just been the top 10 as I feel stretching it out to 25 really starts to dilute its impact.
Some surprising ommissions for me (unless I'm missing something) are Barney Francis's equivalents at BBC & ITV - the fact they're not supporting boxing actually illustrates their influence for me (albeit unfortunately in a negative sense). It seems counter-intuitive that you can have one TV executive as the most influential in British boxing and then two others not even feature on the list. Barbara Slater is the BBC's Director of Sport and surely no-one can deny that her influence over whether to feature boxing or not has huge repercussions for the sport?
The list also serves to illustrate what a toothless tiger the BBBC is in reality.

[Alba]

Intertesting piece in Boxing Monthly with according to them the top 25 reading:
1. Barney Francis (Head of Sky sports)
2. allegedly
3. Haye
4. Frank Maloney
5.Ricky Hatton
6. Barry Hearn
7. Mick Hennessy
8.Robert McCracken
9.Amir Khan
10.Richard Schaefer
11. Robert Smith
12. Dean Powell
13. Adam Booth
14. Carl Froch
15. Derek Mapp
16. Gareth Williams
17. James Degale
18.Phipippe Fondu
19.Charlie Giles
20. Nathan Cleverly
21 Barry McGuigan
22Tommy Gilmour
23 Jim Watt
24 JOHN SHEPPARD DD
25. Frankie Gavin

What do we think?

why is jim watt there?

[JC]

It seems counter-intuitive that you can have one TV executive as the most influential in British boxing and then two others not even feature on the list. Barbara Slater is the BBC's Director of Sport and surely no-one can deny that her influence over whether to feature boxing or not has huge repercussions for the sport?

That's what I was going to write. People who suppress a particular thing are at least as influential as those who don't.

I see your point but it would be hard to make a sensible list if you start including people who aren't involved but could be influential if they chose to be. You'd end up with the Prime Minister on there.

[Deserter]

It seems counter-intuitive that you can have one TV executive as the most influential in British boxing and then two others not even feature on the list. Barbara Slater is the BBC's Director of Sport and surely no-one can deny that her influence over whether to feature boxing or not has huge repercussions for the sport?

That's what I was going to write. People who suppress a particular thing are at least as influential as those who don't.

I see your point but it would be hard to make a sensible list if you start including people who aren't involved but could be influential if they chose to be. You'd end up with the Prime Minister on there.

With the greatest respect that's clearly a flawed comparision - the BBC and ITV are directly involved, as evidenced by their decisions in recent years regarding being involved or not being involved in boxing.
It's the level of direct involvement that is the determining factor i.e. if the government was considering legislation outlawing boxing then those involved in proposing the legislation would clearly have to be considered for the list.

[SAPFO]

Intertesting piece in Boxing Monthly with according to them the top 25 reading:
1. Barney Francis (Head of Sky sports)
2. allegedly
3. Haye
4. Frank Maloney
5.Ricky Hatton
6. Barry Hearn
7. Mick Hennessy
8.Robert McCracken
9.Amir Khan
10.Richard Schaefer
11. Robert Smith
12. Dean Powell
13. Adam Booth
14. Carl Froch
15. Derek Mapp
16. Gareth Williams
17. James Degale
18.Phipippe Fondu
19.Charlie Giles
20. Nathan Cleverly
21 Barry McGuigan
22Tommy Gilmour
23 Jim Watt
24 JOHN SHEPPARD DD
25. Frankie Gavin

What do we think?

I think we should watch Amir Khan's twatter. That will certainly piss him off.

[reggaereggae]

Why is Barry Heaarn so high? WHat is he doin since Eubank? Maybe Eddie Hearn whould be there, but lower.

[wrimc]

Why is Barry Heaarn so high? WHat is he doin since Eubank? Maybe Eddie Hearn whould be there, but lower.

prizefighter Audley............

[JC]

That's what I was going to write. People who suppress a particular thing are at least as influential as those who don't.

I see your point but it would be hard to make a sensible list if you start including people who aren't involved but could be influential if they chose to be. You'd end up with the Prime Minister on there.

With the greatest respect that's clearly a flawed comparision - the BBC and ITV are directly involved, as evidenced by their decisions in recent years regarding being involved or not being involved in boxing.
It's the level of direct involvement that is the determining factor i.e. if the government was considering legislation outlawing boxing then those involved in proposing the legislation would clearly have to be considered for the list.

That's a fair point it's a poor comparison, just felt it would give the list an odd shape but you're probably right.

[Glyn Leach]

That's what I was going to write. People who suppress a particular thing are at least as influential as those who don't.

I see your point but it would be hard to make a sensible list if you start including people who aren't involved but could be influential if they chose to be. You'd end up with the Prime Minister on there.

With the greatest respect that's clearly a flawed comparision - the BBC and ITV are directly involved, as evidenced by their decisions in recent years regarding being involved or not being involved in boxing.
It's the level of direct involvement that is the determining factor i.e. if the government was considering legislation outlawing boxing then those involved in proposing the legislation would clearly have to be considered for the list.

We stuck to people who are actually contributing. That said, your point is valid, a negative impact is still an impact.

[dr_devious]

I think this shows what a poor state British boxing is in - only 2 fighters in the top 10, Haye who is very reluctant to fight the Klits, and the always vulnerable Amir Khan

[Buncey]

RE: BBC Boxing...on Sunday 14th there will be a large chunk from the GB championships on BBC 2 in the afternoon.
I'm involved with that and there will be quality women's bouts on BBC TV!
Also, as a bit of a thread hijack...can I remind people that on this week's BBC London 94.9 show, Thurs 4th between 8-9pm, I will have Errol Christie and Mark Kaylor live to look back on their epic encounter 25 years ago...thanks, now back to the 25 Most Influential Monkeys in our zoo etc...

Adios.

[reggaereggae]

Why is Barry Heaarn so high? WHat is he doin since Eubank? Maybe Eddie Hearn whould be there, but lower.

prizefighter Audley............

YEs but Prizefighter is not that relevant to true pro boxing. It's a circus event. Prizefighter is not taken that seriously and has little impact on the boxing world. Whose career did it advance? Sam sexton? No. Michael Lomax? No. Martin Murray? No. I would'nt even recognise him. Tony Oakey. No.Ryan Brawley? AR eyou serious?

Audley is the exception but only becasue he's a huge name....runner up Coleman Barrett means almost as little now as he did then.

I find the Barry Hearn intro odd.

He is Audley's promoter, but this isn't 2001...Audley's as a one man bandis not that powerful......Now IF he beats David, well that puts Audley top 10 and Brry Top 15..............

[SAPFO]

RE: BBC Boxing...on Sunday 14th there will be a large chunk from the GB championships on BBC 2 in the afternoon.
I'm involved with that and there will be quality women's bouts on BBC TV!
Also, as a bit of a thread hijack...can I remind people that on this week's BBC London 94.9 show, Thurs 4th between 8-9pm, I will have Errol Christie and Mark Kaylor live to look back on their epic encounter 25 years ago...thanks, now back to the 25 Most Influential Monkeys in our zoo etc...

Adios.

Do not mean to brown nose here, but can the biggest mouth in British boxing be excluded from this list? Buncey tells it how it is, just how I like it. The big players are afraid of his honesty IMO. Dunno why, I will watch a friggin full advertisement break so not to miss his comments. SKY ARE YOU LISTENING?!

These views are my own. If you do not agree, that is your problem!

[Deserter]

Barbara Slater has been head of sport for the BBC for a while now, does anyone know how often that position changes?

The reply was that Barbara Slater was not a Boxing Fan and even less of Steve Bunce fan .

Hi mate, not sure how you managed to quote me writing that when I didn't?
Anyway, that mystery aside, it's a perfect illustration of everything that is wrong with the BBC - Barbara Slater is a public servant and as such should be making her decisions based on what the public's interests are, not what her own interests are. The fact she is not a personal fan of boxing (or Buncey for that matter!) should be completely irrelevant. She should be objective in her role and aim to deliver the type of content that reflects the preferences of the British public. The fact she so clearly doesn't is a damning indictment.

[Deserter]

The reply was that Barbara Slater was not a Boxing Fan and even less of Steve Bunce fan .

Hi mate, not sure how you managed to quote me writing that when I didn't?
Anyway, that mystery aside, it's a perfect illustration of everything that is wrong with the BBC - Barbara Slater is a public servant and as such should be making her decisions based on what the public's interests are, not what her own interests are. The fact she is not a personal fan of boxing (or Buncey for that matter!) should be completely irrelevant. She should be objective in her role and aim to deliver the type of content that reflects the preferences of the British public. The fact she so clearly doesn't is a damning indictment.

My mistake i some how managed to delete your quote and quote myself under my name. I agree with you over Barbara Slatter however we dont know if the lack of boxing on the BBC is here decision or something she has been told to do