Great year Ringside, suggestions for 2011

[UpperCrust]

I've just been watching the xmas special of Ringside which has been showing highlights from past episodes and I must say I think Sky have done an excellent job with Ringside this year. They've had a great mix of people in including all our world champions, legends of the sweet science and trainers/promoters.

I know that Ed Robinson browses these forums so I thought we could put together any suggestions for features/discussions/what we would like to see with ringside/sky boxing in 2011.

My suggestions:

More interviews with global boxers when they are available (Wlad like)

More insight with promoters (i was fascinated seeing the conversation between Adam Booth and Klitschko representatives)

Continue with behind the ropes for big fights (Whilst many criticised the format and admittedly it could be worked on it was great to see behind the scenes footage of fight camps i.e Audley & big bear)

More features on all our great prospects as well as the usual household names

PLEASE CONTINUE GIVING COVERAGE TO CARL FROCH!! We constantly discuss on these forums what Carls profile could have been like if he was on Sky. Please continue to give him coverage and agree a deal with Mick to show his fights! (appreciate its not as easy as i just made out!!)

Please pick up coverage of great world fights!! I was devastated that Marquez-Katsidis was nowhere to be seen on TV. (Presumably Bradley Alexander will be on sky next month because of the Khan interest?)

[ed robinson]

Hey UpperCrust, thanks for the feedback, there was a similar topic on here quite recently, all of which was then discussed by the team at Sky. Anything constructive that is ever said on this forum regarding our shows is taken on board.

For the first show of 2011 we're looking at highlighting the best domestic prospects, anyone showing promise who has yet to win a major title. Obviously the Olympians feature, less DeGale who has already hit the heights. We've already done a provisional list that will need to be edited down to 11 for 2011. Any thoughts much appreciated!

[hurlock]

ring card honey's D become more soccer am & entertainment.

[thepocketrocket]

Any chance of Nelson being more objective and not just ass kissing?

Tne way he was slating Maidana's technique and licking Khan's backside was ridiculous...thankfully Amir pointed out that he was great cutting the ring off and didn't join in!!!

[thepocketrocket]

But thankyou for bringing back ringside!!! It really is staple viewing!!!

And remember Tom Doran in your prospect list!!!

[ed robinson]

Why Tom Doran? I must admit I've not seen him yet. It's a difficult selection to make - Matty Haskins has impressed me, Ronnie Heffron too, Joe Murray...

Regarding ring card girls, watching the darts yesterday I did think that they go big on the glamorous girls but we don't ever show the round card girls. Wouldn't some take offence that when we're showing them strutting their stuff, we're not showing the corners or replays? Didn't Mickey Duff always prefer blokes to carry the cards?

[Chambers2]

I'm really enjoying the all new improved Ringside show, the interviews with boxers, trainers, matchmakers, managers and promoters are fascinating. Give Jamie Moore a regular slot, his and Nelsons experience and insight is second to none


We've got a number of good HW prospects coming through and a fair few of the old guard are still hanging about. I'd like to see a review of the division, profiling the up and comers like Chisora, Sexton, Fury, Our Larry, Dallas, Price and Towers. Get a few of them on the show at the same time and see what happens

The British HW scene is extremely competitive, there's potential for some great matches, maybe a review of the division would inform the casual fan of this and maybe instigate a couple of them to square off against each other or against the old guard of Harrison, Sprott, Rogan, Skelton (after April/May), BIG John..

The divisions simmering nicely, but needs a kickstart IMO

[gasman]

Jamie Conlan - should be fighting for a British Title in 2011.

He has a very good amateur pedigree, 100 fights, 4 Ulster Senior Titles, 3 Irish Titles. He is a classy boxer and throws his punches with excellent technique - especially the left hook to the body - McGuigan's old signature punch. He has also impressed Dave Boy McAuley - who gave him some sound advice on executing the body shots. His brothers all box, Michael Conlan boxed in the recent Commonwealth Games and his father works the corner with John Breen. A really nice bloke too. Conlan v Wilton for the Irish Title could be an excellent fight before the winner gets his British Title shot.

[Scottrf]

Ed, can Sky please start showing corners instead of adverts, especially when we've paid £15 to watch. We pay a monthly subscription and then extra on top and still have to watch adverts, it's insulting.

[Chambers2]

Ed, can Sky please start showing corners instead of adverts, especially when we've paid £15 to watch. We pay a monthly subscription and then extra on top and still have to watch adverts, it's insulting.

[orbtastic]

The thing I keep thinking when watching either prizefighter or ringside is how it reminds me of relaxed casual or whatever at work where everyone "dresses down" but still can't bring themselves to look like a dad wearing jeans and jumper.

[SweetLikeSugar]

Ed, can Sky please start showing corners instead of adverts, especially when we've paid £15 to watch. We pay a monthly subscription and then extra on top and still have to watch adverts, it's insulting.

Agreed. Although I don't think Ed's gaffer will be too happy losing the revenue they generate, so can't see it happening any time soon.

[ed robinson]

Gasman, would you rate Conlon above, say Stephen Ormond? Ormond has caught the eye a couple of times and to me seems a little bit further ahead than Conlon....

Scotrf, you know there is nothing I can really say to that!

Orbtastic, not much I can say to that either, sat at home, writing this in jeans and an old man jumper.

Chambers2, agreed about the heavyweights - it would make sense to do something like that on the week before a significant heavyweight clash - to tie it in. I'll mention it to Adam. If you had to chose one or maybe two heavyweights, who would you put in the list? I keep hearing really positive stories about Richard Towers in the gym.

[Lenny]

ring card honey's D become more soccer am & entertainment.

God no

[Glyn Leach]

I'm all for a bit of nubile, certainly doesn't hurt the UFC broadcasts. Quick shot of a fitty climbing out of the ring after she's done her stuff, give her a name, quick kiss blown to the camera, job done. Needn't impact on the cornerwork, I'm talking minimal, subliminal T&A, it works. They have to be fit though - and they should be the same girls every week, employed by Sky not promoters (as should the ring announcer) - make them characters like the UFC has, standardisation of format = brand familiarity.

[ed robinson]

I'm all for it! Not sure how Adam would put it through on expenses.....

[SweetLikeSugar]

You dirty old men.

I'm willing to 'research' any potential cardgirls for you, Ed.

[thepocketrocket]

Doran is good, but as he is yet to get any TV coverage I doubt he will, or should appear on the Ringside list. But by the end of 2011 he will be known!

We are blessed at the moment with numerous good prospects....and I have no doubt the competetive matches will keep coming on SKY!

Keep up the good work...and maybe try and get Steve Collins working more regular!

[gasman]

Gasman, would you rate Conlon above, say Stephen Ormond? Ormond has caught the eye a couple of times and to me seems a little bit further ahead than Conlon....

Scotrf, you know there is nothing I can really say to that!

Orbtastic, not much I can say to that either, sat at home, writing this in jeans and an old man jumper.

Chambers2, agreed about the heavyweights - it would make sense to do something like that on the week before a significant heavyweight clash - to tie it in. I'll mention it to Adam. If you had to chose one or maybe two heavyweights, who would you put in the list? I keep hearing really positive stories about Richard Towers in the gym.

I havent had the opportunity to see Ormond yet as he has been fighting mostly outside of Ireland until now. But, I hear very good things about him and think he has signed with Warren. So I wouldnt like to comment on who I think is the better prospect.

I say Conlan, as he will likely be moved along more quickly in a threadbare division. It is envitable that he will fight his domestic rival Luke Wilton next year (in what should be a crackin domestic fight), and if so, that would likely be a big fight and co-support on one of Maloney's promotions i.e under card of a Martin Lindsay fight. The winner should get their crack at the British Title. The flyweight division with the likes of Bayaar, Paul Edwards, Wilton, Conlan, Sexton etc - should throw up some entertaining fights in 2011 The Conlan-Wilton clash evokes memories of Russell-Larmour and I can see those two or possibly three fights between the Belfast men.

[idle talk]

I'd like to see different fighters training, methods and what they do whilst in camp. Maybe you could go around gyms.

[maxevans699]

I'd like to see a lot more of the older retired fighters giving their views on the current state of boxing/potential fights/comments on past fights etc. billy schwer/paul ingle/james hare/jav khaliq/henry cooper/john conteh/gary mason/eubanks/collins/benn/derek williams... there are many more who could be on the show. Only have one of them on per show though.

[idle talk]

Yeah Defo!

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Boxing from Australia, Argentina, South Africa and the Orient - like 'Fight Night international' if you are old enough to remember that programme. All your viewers would love to see fighters from other parts of the world and there are some excellent fight cards that could be bought cheaply. Think about it chaps because it is another good idea from Carlos-Wigan.

You're welcome. 8)

[ed robinson]

Carlos-Wigan - do you watch KO TV? They seem to pick up lots of far flung delayed coverage every week. Always worth recording.

Glyn, on a serious note regarding the girls, I think the snag as with most things would be costs - travel, hotels, wages...Money that could be spent on a more elaborate ring walk or another camera angle or ringside guest. The truth is that the girls supplied by the promoters are very hit and miss, the best are dressed to advertise the gentlemen's club who are helping to sponsor the event.

Bigmark - agreed - the Olympic set up is really interesting and it's time for the pro scene to start knowing who to watch out for in London. I've got lots of time for the way that Steve Bunce always pushes the amateur side of the game.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Carlos-Wigan - do you watch KO TV? They seem to pick up lots of far flung delayed coverage every week. Always worth recording.

I don't live in the UK anymore but if I remember rightly KO-TV is on daft o'clock - with your show - you can show some decent fight cards from places like Japan, Thailand, Australia and Argentina - introduce the British public to some great fighters - especially in the lighter weights at a reasonable hour. The problem with KO-TV is that no-one apart from a out and out boxing fanatic is going to be arsed staying up or recording KO-TV - I never have to be honest.

I remember as a kid watching and loving 'fight night international' and being introduced to Khaosai Galaxy, Sot Chitalada, Hiroki Ioka and Jeff Fenech - that then prisoner cell block H for a good night's entertainment - who needed sky?