Why are there no good boxing DVDs?

glahn · Post by **glahn** » 01 Jan 2006, 06:27

Anyone have any idea? The ones you see in the shops are always pretty poor, with highlights of certain fights and little more that's of any interest. Why has no one put out a top quality dvd, or even a box set of classic fightgs (in full) yet?

Or does anyone know of any good ones that already exist?

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 01 Jan 2006, 06:36

It's a pretty awful offering they give isn't it? You get your Benn-Eubank, your Bruno-Tyson I (and II wooo), your Ali history, and your Sun's top 100 boxers' arses and stuff like that.

Internet pretty much the only place to go to get any fight other than that, which is a shame. Lack of general public demand I suppose. It'd be interesting to see what it's like in other countries, if they have a wider selection or are even more screwed

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 01 Jan 2006, 09:41

If you're interested in buying classic fights on dvd then let me know what you're after if you like as I sell dvds of fights from my personal collection and have fights of everyone from Robinson, Ali, Duran, Chacon, Lopez, Sanchez, Benitez etc.... £8 per two hour dvd including postage and packaging... all dvds have menus and are shipped in solid plastic cases...

8)

JimJim · Post by **JimJim** » 01 Jan 2006, 10:32

I've been interested in buying some classic bouts on DVD but I have got one query; presumably the quality, even on DVD, is only as good as the original VHS recording that was made at the time (and taking into account any subsequent decline in the quality of the recording over the passing years) ? For instance, if I wanted to get some of Kirkland Laing's bouts, from his prime years, on DVD, the quality would be passable at best because back then, they were recorded off TV, and onto tape.

Or am I wrong and boxing fights on DVD are of faultless quality ?

I was just wondering... like I say, I've been interested in buying some on DVD for a while.

AlexY2K4 · Post by **AlexY2K4** » 01 Jan 2006, 10:40

What's the ESPN Boxing Classics series like? There's two boxed sets of those and in full, amounting to 20 discs.

Cannibal · Post by **Cannibal** » 01 Jan 2006, 11:07

Hmm, I wonder if this could be a potential gap in the market for someone to exploit. I wonder how much negotiating I would have to do to release a Best of British box set, I'd assume it would either be networks like ITV or the promoters themselves or possibly both that would own rights and permission to the footage.

koomey · Post by **koomey** » 01 Jan 2006, 13:13

Cannibal wrote:Hmm, I wonder if this could be a potential gap in the market for someone to exploit. I wonder how much negotiating I would have to do to release a Best of British box set, I'd assume it would either be networks like ITV or the promoters themselves or possibly both that would own rights and permission to the footage.

It's the promoters that own the television rights to each show. If there was money in it, FW would have done it by now, mark my words. He did put a few video's together late nineties (like the Naz stuff), but has done nothing since, although I'm sure he (Warren) took a nice slice for the recent Hatton DVD that was released.

Koomey

Cannibal · Post by **Cannibal** » 01 Jan 2006, 13:26

Oh, theres money in it. The "Steve Collins Boxings Hard Men" DVD that was recently released sold a good bit despite not having anything worthwhile on it. I don't think a compilation of one fighter would sell unless it is Ali or Tyson but a compilation of a variety of fighters in their best fights I think would. Ring magazine should release a fights of the year box set I think with all their winners from down the years , they'd have the audience and platform to sell it.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 01 Jan 2006, 13:31

I agree with you fellas, i have always wondered about this. There is a clear gap to be exploited it seems. A Mike Tyson career set or Ali etc Disk covers, Printed Disks and with technology they could fit more fights onto single disks and reduce the amount of DVD's needed, add in a "boxset" feel to the whole thing and they would be a seller i would have imagined.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 01 Jan 2006, 13:32

I think the decline (cause about 15/20 years ago- you could get a shit load of videos) is a direct link to the decline of boxing on terrestial TV.

I think the Williams vs Harrison DVD could have been the start of alot more, but unfortunately I cannot see it doing well - cause the fight stank.

As I said years ago, you would get a fair few full fights and worth while compliations. McGuigan vs Pedroza, Bruno vs Bugner, Terry Marsh fights, and a host of other big fights and compliations were available on general sale VHS.

Showtime I believe sell DVD of their shows, I've got a copy of Freitas vs Corrales and they plug a DVD of it available for purchase and other fights. However, I have tried to look at their website and it not accessable in the UK. This is a shame.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 01 Jan 2006, 13:33

Cannibal wrote:Oh, theres money in it. The "Steve Collins Boxings Hard Men" DVD that was recently released sold a good bit despite not having anything worthwhile on it. I don't think a compilation of one fighter would sell unless it is Ali or Tyson but a compilation of a variety of fighters in their best fights I think would. Ring magazine should release a fights of the year box set I think with all their winners from down the years , they'd have the audience and platform to sell it.

We must have posted at the same time, i was getting at the same thing mate. Highlights and a bit of commentary from a pundit isn't good enough, we need full fights and extras!!

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 01 Jan 2006, 16:24

JimJim wrote:I've been interested in buying some classic bouts on DVD but I have got one query; presumably the quality, even on DVD, is only as good as the original VHS recording that was made at the time (and taking into account any subsequent decline in the quality of the recording over the passing years) ? For instance, if I wanted to get some of Kirkland Laing's bouts, from his prime years, on DVD, the quality would be passable at best because back then, they were recorded off TV, and onto tape.

Or am I wrong and boxing fights on DVD are of faultless quality ?

I was just wondering... like I say, I've been interested in buying some on DVD for a while.

The quality varies of classic fights... some of my fights are fair quality picture wise but others are very good, especially for age. I have quite a few Laing fights and the picture quality is good to very good... many of the fights I taped myself back in the 80s and the picture quality has not declined. When I sell a fight I always say the quality of the picture.... I don't sell any fights that are not watchable...

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 01 Jan 2006, 18:46

That's good to hear Silkov, i hate the way some sellers insist their picture quality is an excuse for charging huge prices. I have paid top whack and brought some right shite, yet paid peanuts and got some excellent footage so i suppose you have to try around and build up some trust in peoples stuff.

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 01 Jan 2006, 21:27

Some should go here http://www.deagostini.co.uk/boxers/ and ask how they've done with their latest dvd's.

I myself bought the first two editions, and then forgot about them.

How good have they been up to now?

AlexY2K4 · Post by **AlexY2K4** » 02 Jan 2006, 04:36

So does anyone have these Boxing Classics box-sets? I wouldn't mind knowing your opinions on them before I buy them.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 02 Jan 2006, 04:54

Bollocks1984 wrote:Some should go here http://www.deagostini.co.uk/boxers/ and ask how they've done with their latest dvd's.

I myself bought the first two editions, and then forgot about them. How good have they been up to now?

i've asked me newsagent to get em in for me. got 3 of em and will pick up the next 2 over the next few days.

to be honest i'm tempted to knock it on the head.

i've got the full boxers vhs set (72 issues). this one is just a rehash of that in a dvd format.

u get a few extra's with the fights, such as the introductions and a gallery feature, but that's about it.

JimJim · Post by **JimJim** » 09 Jan 2006, 16:54

Hi Silkov, thanks for the reply, I'll take the plunge and try one. Can you email me at [email protected] and I'll place an order ? Cheers

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 09 Jan 2006, 17:00

Deagostini's recent DVD collection was a big disappointment, i paid up each month but wasn't receiving anything until the end of the month, the DVD's were pretty sparse too and they sent me a shitty cardboard box to assemble and keep the disks in, i keep my hats and gloves in it.

SuperSedgy · Post by **SuperSedgy** » 09 Jan 2006, 17:19

I have a couple of the ESPN boxing classics, they're ok. have some full fights and some are just clips. Better than some stuff.

I recently got 101 greatest knockout, a rerelease from the late 90s. Its only British stuff and is pretty cheap, has no big fights but is entertaining. Shows a lot of the B level brit fighters u may not have seen for a bit. Darren Corbett, Georgie Smith, Scott Welch, the Delanies, Herbie Hide. Was only six quid too.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 09 Jan 2006, 17:22

I also have that video sledgy, it features some fantastic come from in front KO defeats from my hero Nigel "Centurion" Rafferty. Everyone should own the video for this reason.

SuperSedgy · Post by **SuperSedgy** » 09 Jan 2006, 19:37

Lol, yeah. Had forgotten how much fun Darren Cobett was, boy was he fat too! make John Mcdermott look fit!