Ringside tonight

[leforge]

Just like to say a very good show having Michael Watson, Paul Ingle and Spencer Oliver on it.

[Mooresy]

Yep, excellent show, really enjoyed it.

[Andypittcov]

Brilliant show tonight!!!!!!

[hurlock]

good to see the sparkle back in watson's eye :!: his speech & movement might not be there fully, but he's certainly on the ball & im glad too see it

[Scottrf]

Brilliant show, Watson has an unbelievable attitude. No regrets though, any of them, but stories we can't dismiss or forget.

[mickey1975]

I thought Ingle's story was particularly sad.I know the story well as he is from round these parts but even i was shocked at him tonight.Paul had absolutely everything going for him what seems like such a short time ago.It just highlights what a serious sport this is.

[Scottrf]

Ingle certainly didn't seem at peace with it, hope that comes with time for him.

[stujones]

Yes, fantastic show. I want to applaud Adam, Johnny and the behind the camera staff for a fantastic effort.

Michael is improving with each TV appearance I see him. I see remarkable improvements in his posture and speech. Fantastic inspiration.

I was nearly crying watching Paul, that is something I think any money the BBBoC have spare they should focus on - Counseling on career termination, not just on dramatic terminations like Paul's - but anyone who retires in generally. Paul clearly has classic symptoms of depression and its sad as he could have alot to offer the sport in a different capacity. Hard to know watching the programme just what cognitive and physical obstacles he has - but would love for someone to give him the opportunity - Needs some counseling I think though, and just get some life goals. Wouldn't it be great to see him in reasonable shape and working with some talent.

As for Spencer - another one who I felt sorry for, got a great attitude about it - the guy had talent to spare, IMO the most naturally talented out of the 3 fighters, and must have been gutted he never got the chance. Naz vs Oliver would have been a thriller - fantastic boxer. Fantastic that he can look at Michael and see himself as lucky. Maybe he could chat to Paul.

[Finn]

Watson has a real winners mentality, that was pretty inspiring. Hopefully ingle can get to that point where he can move on and look to the future.

Spencer Oliver is one very lucky guy and he knows it.

I think ringside has been great recently.

[alexpaterson]

3 inspirational men.

[Chambers2]

What a human being Michael Watson is

[Final round]

That was a brave move getting three fighters who've been permanently damaged by the sport. Hopefully casual watchers would be inspired by their brave warriors mentality and not turned off.

Great to see Watson like that and I loved Johnny Nelson in the garden with Paul Ingle that was a nice relaxed part after seeing the pretty grim state Ingle is in.

[Bennyblanco]

Moving show.

Fair play to the sky team, the questions they asked were all spot on

[stujones]

I remember some scaremongering rumours when Michael was lying in his coma about what his state would be should he even recover. I can remember reports predicting he would have the mind and capcity of a 9 year old - I'm so glad he is continually proving people wrong.

[Ezzard]

Yes, fantastic show. I want to applaud Adam, Johnny and the behind the camera staff for a fantastic effort.

Michael is improving with each TV appearance I see him. I see remarkable improvements in his posture and speech. Fantastic inspiration.

I was nearly crying watching Paul, that is something I think any money the BBBoC have spare they should focus on - Counseling on career termination, not just on dramatic terminations like Paul's - but anyone who retires in generally. Paul clearly has classic symptoms of depression and its sad as he could have alot to offer the sport in a different capacity. Hard to know watching the programme just what cognitive and physical obstacles he has - but would love for someone to give him the opportunity - Needs some counseling I think though, and just get some life goals. Wouldn't it be great to see him in reasonable shape and working with some talent.

As for Spencer - another one who I felt sorry for, got a great attitude about it - the guy had talent to spare, IMO the most naturally talented out of the 3 fighters, and must have been gutted he never got the chance. Naz vs Oliver would have been a thriller - fantastic boxer. Fantastic that he can look at Michael and see himself as lucky. Maybe he could chat to Paul.

Totally agree - great post...

A mate was seeing a nurse from the ward in which Watson was admitted to. She said (in a very caring and professional way) that nobody gave him much of a chance at all but they all so wanted him to get better.

I have to say now that those interviews were great TV. The wife watched with tears in her eyes.

If there are sports interview awards etc... Then these shoudl win it. Johnny Nelson was superb. I can't speak highly enough of how he conducted hismelf. And Adam was asking the right questions the right way (a very hard thing to do in those circumstances).

Brilliant, brilliant, TV...

Everyone involved in the programme should be proud.

[bfchunk]

Agree with all the comments here. A very "un-sky" programme given they always glamourise their sports to the max. Credit to Watson, Ingle and Oliver and to Sky boxing.

[mkirkhope]

Great show again (I really enjoyed the brothers show from last week also).

Ringside is now one of the shows I pay my sky subscription for.

Very moving watching last night, and the girlfriend was glued to the tv as well (even though she dislikes boxing in general).

Hard to watch Ingle but as others have said hopefully peave comes to him in time.

Great stuff.

[TheCobra]

Great great show, hats off to all concerned. Just as we were all calling for more humour and stuff, they pull this on surprisingly out of the bag and I thought it was a real great look into the minds of 3 great warriors.

I did feel very sad for Paul Ingle, he is clearly still in a bad place with it all and struggling to come to terms with where he is in his life. I think the boxing world should try and give him all the support he needs, I hope as others do that he can get to the place where Watson has got to.

[Chambers2]

Yes, fantastic show. I want to applaud Adam, Johnny and the behind the camera staff for a fantastic effort.

Michael is improving with each TV appearance I see him. I see remarkable improvements in his posture and speech. Fantastic inspiration.

I was nearly crying watching Paul, that is something I think any money the BBBoC have spare they should focus on - Counseling on career termination, not just on dramatic terminations like Paul's - but anyone who retires in generally. Paul clearly has classic symptoms of depression and its sad as he could have alot to offer the sport in a different capacity. Hard to know watching the programme just what cognitive and physical obstacles he has - but would love for someone to give him the opportunity - Needs some counseling I think though, and just get some life goals. Wouldn't it be great to see him in reasonable shape and working with some talent.

As for Spencer - another one who I felt sorry for, got a great attitude about it - the guy had talent to spare, IMO the most naturally talented out of the 3 fighters, and must have been gutted he never got the chance. Naz vs Oliver would have been a thriller - fantastic boxer. Fantastic that he can look at Michael and see himself as lucky. Maybe he could chat to Paul.

Excellent post

[rhino222]

i thought it was an excellent show, lets not forget though that there are many other fellas who are lucky enough to still be alive and some that are not. guys that were not fighting for major titles and are not household names....rod douglas.....mark brookes....harry senior...neil jarmolinski....etc etc..the list could go on and on.

all of this strenghtens my feeling that boxers should all pay 5% of their net purse into a trust so that the unfortunate have a roof over their head and food on the table in the future.

just my thoughts... :(

[TheCobra]

i thought it was an excellent show, lets not forget though that there are many other fellas who are lucky enough to still be alive and some that are not. guys that were not fighting for major titles and are not household names....rod douglas.....mark brookes....harry senior...neil jarmolinski....etc etc..the list could go on and on.

all of this strenghtens my feeling that boxers should all pay 5% of their net purse into a trust so that the unfortunate have a roof over their head and food on the table in the future.

just my thoughts... :(

Boxer's purses are tight these days as it is though, it's hard enough to scrape a living on the money most fighters get, remember they will be apying all the usual deductions we all have to pay such as tax/NI. I agree with some sort of fund, but maybe it could come from the profits of promoters as well as boxers themselves :-)

[Srebmun]

Powerful stuff.

Absolutely great show.

[Emmseegee]

Agree that promotors should possibly pay into some sort of fund.
Possibly take a percentage of ticket prices over a certain value so that the smaller shows arent effected. Obviously not an extreme percentage but every little helps.

Imagine a whole bill was made as a non profit charity event? That would surely attract some big names and improve the reputation of boxing in general.

[reggaereggae]

I missed it and cannot find a rerun. (It was in this morning but missed it again.) ANyone know if there's another showing?

[gasman]

Brilliant show this week. Totally agree with all that has been said here. I didnt think Ringside would
dedicate a whole programme to the harsh realities of the sport, but deserve a lot of credit for the
type of show that they are creating.

Smith was excellent and in particular I thought that was the best work the Nelson has done for Sky to date,
he really connected with all the boxers and the bit him and Ingle in the garden was not only great tv but fired up
Ingle - who was a different person to the one being interview in the house earlier.