Bunce's radio show Thursday, Prizefighter the Journeymen

[Yes We Can]

To be honest Glyn, the way this is going and with the amount of interest we could probably do a public vote as to who gets involved!

a 30 fight minimum is a great idea, obviously have to look at records for name value to an extent. there are 2 certainties that have to be in it, Daniel & Johnny.... past them 2 i dont care at the moment!!!!

[Glyn Leach]

Funtime, really this has been the easy bit. Strange as it seems considering last week we had 60 people and today we've got 2000 plus, that bit hasn't been too hard - people have been fantastic in their support. But the next stage would be the tricky one and realistically we will be forced to let go of our baby. We won't be consulted about who goes in, it will be down to the promoters and the TV types. They'll take our ball and run with it - which, of course, is what we want them to do. But I'd be very surprised if there was any chance our views on qualification criteria would be taken into account.

[Glyn Leach]

Funtime, really this has been the easy bit. Strange as it seems considering last week we had 60 people and today we've got 2000 plus, that bit hasn't been too hard - people have been fantastic in their support. But the next stage would be the tricky one and realistically we will be forced to let go of our baby. We won't be consulted about who goes in, it will be down to the promoters and the TV types. They'll take our ball and run with it - which, of course, is what we want them to do. But I'd be very surprised if there was any chance our views on qualification criteria would be taken into account.

i think this should be a no brainer for Sky as it should get good press from the daily papers, radio and TV who all love a story with a human interest angle, just look at the press Peter Buckley got recently (not all well written i may add). Also Sky could play the angle that they are regonizing the un-sung heros of the sport who deserve their night as the main attraction.

I really hope this happens, good work to all involved

Totally Mark. Sky and Matchroom both have the opportunity to sell themselves to the public as 'genuine caring boxing guys', whether they are or not. And the TV profile opportunities are incredible - how much more interesting is a journeyman's story than some young kid who has signed a good contract almost as soon as he left school and has flattened everyone in two rounds? The human interest story possibilities are endless. As you say mate, it should be an absolute no-brainer.

[johnnygreaves]

To be honest Glyn, the way this is going and with the amount of interest we could probably do a public vote as to who gets involved!

a 30 fight minimum is a great idea, obviously have to look at records for name value to an extent. there are 2 certainties that have to be in it, Daniel & Johnny.... past them 2 i dont care at the moment!!!!

Just make sure they ain't too good, I want a bloody chance to win it. Is there 6 other fighters with one ARM , lol!

[gasman]

Well done with the facebook group - I see it is over 2000 now.

It would be nice if there was an Irish boxer in this too.

[johnnygreaves]

Is there any Irish journeymen around the 10th stone mark?

[dondada]

Well done with the facebook group - I see it is over 2000 now.

It would be nice if there was an Irish boxer in this too.

FFS...you lot just can't let it lie, can you?

[Jeff Thomas]

I'm half irish- where's the love?

[Tommy Gunn13]

I'm half irish- where's the love?

Got to give it to you for trying your not a journeyman jeff

[johnnygreaves]

Ha ha. Fair play Jeff mate. You either wanna bash me up or your double skint,lol .

[gasman]

I'm half irish- where's the love?

Alright - you will do Jeff D

[gasman]

Well done with the facebook group - I see it is over 2000 now.

It would be nice if there was an Irish boxer in this too.

FFS...you lot just can't let it lie, can you?

[Glyn Leach]

Jack Charlton would have made Jeff captain!

[Jeff Thomas]

I'm half irish- where's the love?

Got to give it to you for trying your not a journeyman jeff

This was one occasion when losing to baz Carey was going to be a good thing- almost five years inactivity, would be a great story to comeback and do well! Johnny not interested in the money mate- just want to be a champion! Prizefighter champion, central area champion, whatever worked so hard and given so much to boxing- including 2 stone for this comeback! Always give my best. The idea of getting three wins and a title in one night would be amazing that said it wouldn't be easy i think 15 'journeyman' with ambition will be just as dangerous as most line ups in prizefighter before!

Best of luck to all you guys though regardless. You deserve it and it will be a fun night- i'm sure of that,.

[Glyn Leach]

Finally got the link to the Facebook group up on Boxing Monthly's website today, sorry about the delay chaps. Also got it as our Opinion Poll question, and so far 94% are in favour — name the other 6%, we'll hunt them down like dogs and shoot them in front of their families lol!

[Jeff Thomas]

Ha ha

[Tommy Gunn13]

I'm half irish- where's the love?

Got to give it to you for trying your not a journeyman jeff

This was one occasion when losing to baz Carey was going to be a good thing- almost five years inactivity, would be a great story to comeback and do well! Johnny not interested in the money mate- just want to be a champion! Prizefighter champion, central area champion, whatever worked so hard and given so much to boxing- including 2 stone for this comeback! Always give my best. The idea of getting three wins and a title in one night would be amazing that said it wouldn't be easy i think 15 'journeyman' with ambition will be just as dangerous as most line ups in prizefighter before!

Best of luck to all you guys though regardless. You deserve it and it will be a fun night- i'm sure of that,.

Looking at your profile pic on fbook you look like your in bloody good shape Jeff..Best of luck with your comeback

[Jeff Thomas]

Got to give it to you for trying your not a journeyman jeff

This was one occasion when losing to baz Carey was going to be a good thing- almost five years inactivity, would be a great story to comeback and do well! Johnny not interested in the money mate- just want to be a champion! Prizefighter champion, central area champion, whatever worked so hard and given so much to boxing- including 2 stone for this comeback! Always give my best. The idea of getting three wins and a title in one night would be amazing that said it wouldn't be easy i think 15 'journeyman' with ambition will be just as dangerous as most line ups in prizefighter before!

Best of luck to all you guys though regardless. You deserve it and it will be a fun night- i'm sure of that,.

Looking at your profile pic on fbook you look like your in bloody good shape Jeff..Best of luck with your comeback

Thanks mate- are you my friend? Pm
Me ur name - getting fitter that was 5 weeks ago

[Tommy Gunn13]

This was one occasion when losing to baz Carey was going to be a good thing- almost five years inactivity, would be a great story to comeback and do well! Johnny not interested in the money mate- just want to be a champion! Prizefighter champion, central area champion, whatever worked so hard and given so much to boxing- including 2 stone for this comeback! Always give my best. The idea of getting three wins and a title in one night would be amazing that said it wouldn't be easy i think 15 'journeyman' with ambition will be just as dangerous as most line ups in prizefighter before!

Best of luck to all you guys though regardless. You deserve it and it will be a fun night- i'm sure of that,.

Looking at your profile pic on fbook you look like your in bloody good shape Jeff..Best of luck with your comeback

Thanks mate- are you my friend? Pm
Me ur name - getting fitter that was 5 weeks ago

i see you on the prizefighter group

[Glyn Leach]

i was just reading the facebook group and see James Quick Tillis has joined Glyn i voted on BM poll and happy to report my vote was a big one as it tipped the balance to 95% for to 5% against

Always knew you had clout Mark! Yeah, Quick Tillis, mental eh! Tell you who I was really pleased to see turn up, Rob Calloway. It's nice having the big names on, but I get more of a kick out of seeing the proper blue collar boys join up. Had a little chat with Calloway on there yesterday, he's got a 15-year-old son coming through in the amateurs at the moment. Nice bloke.

[Dioufy]

Are you going to be on this show, Glyn?

[Glyn Leach]

OK men, thanks for all your comments on what the qualification criteria should be. It's a difficult one and I'm glad it won't be my problem when it comes to it, but when the Bunceman asks me on his show tonight (yes Dioufy mate), I'm going to say that the consensus opinion from the boxrec crew was something along the lines of the following:

Must have had at least 30 fights

Must have lost at least half of those fights

Preferably should have fought championship level boxers

Must be active pros, while taking into account some fighters may have been laid up with injuries

On top of that, something I've been thinking about is the contestants' proven ability to last the distance - after all, we're looking for the solid pros like Johnny, Daniel Thorpe, Kristian Laight, Billy Smith (weight permitting), the men who very rarely get stopped. Should we put a percentage on this? Would it be to much to say they should have lasted the distance in at least 75% of their fights? It seems quite a high percentage, but all the above qualify very comfortably by that criteria. What do you reckon?

[doctorboxing]

OK men, thanks for all your comments on what the qualification criteria should be. It's a difficult one and I'm glad it won't be my problem when it comes to it, but when the Bunceman asks me on his show tonight (yes Dioufy mate), I'm going to say that the consensus opinion from the boxrec crew was something along the lines of the following:

Must have had at least 30 fights

Must have lost at least half of those fights

Preferably should have fought championship level boxers

Must be active pros, while taking into account some fighters may have been laid up with injuries

On top of that, something I've been thinking about is the contestants' proven ability to last the distance - after all, we're looking for the solid pros like Johnny, Daniel Thorpe, Kristian Laight, Billy Smith (weight permitting), the men who very rarely get stopped. Should we put a percentage on this? Would it be to much to say they should have lasted the distance in at least 75% of their fights? It seems quite a high percentage, but all the above qualify very comfortably by that criteria. What do you reckon?

The only problem with the >75% lasting the distance is that there is very unlikely to be a KO during the night. KO's are exciting and one of the big highlights for the general public watching.

I think all the other criteria sound good, unless Buckley wanted to make a comeback for one night, then he would surely be the exception to the "active pro's" rule.

[Scottrf]

Well I think it's harsh if you are stopped on cuts Glyn and it depends how long their fights have been. Easier to last 4 rounds than 8. A little more difficult to calculate but boxed for 75% of scheduled rounds? Or you don't need to be so specific, just eliminate those that are getting knocked out every other fight.

[Glyn Leach]

The only problem with the >75% lasting the distance is that there is very unlikely to be a KO during the night. KO's are exciting and one of the big highlights for the general public watching.

I think all the other criteria sound good, unless Buckley wanted to make a comeback for one night, then he would surely be the exception to the "active pro's" rule.

I know what you're saying Doc but one of my worries with this is that the bigwigs might look at the idea and say 'journeymen, they're losers, they'll fall over as soon as they get hit'. Double edged sword type situation, damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I suppose what I'm really suggesting is that we want the really solid fighters in there, the ones who have proven they can look after theirselves against virtually anyone. OK, maybe the fights will last the distance, maybe their won't by bundles of KOs, but not all Prizefighter competitions have had loads of KOs in them anyway - that's just a risk they have to take. Personally, I just want to watch these lads box each other, not bothered about KOs, I think it will be fascinating to watch them use everything they've learned against each other.

But you make a good point Doc. Anyone else got an opinion on this?