Anyone else prefer watching boxing on TV versus being there live?

[Mimmy]

There doesnt seem to be any atmosphere in live shows these days. The AJ for example last weekend, where are all the hanters gone? When Bruno was fighting years ago there were loads of chanting and singing. I remember going to see Eubank v Wharton at the G-mex I think it was it was effing electric, the noise was booming. My hairs stood up on the back of my neck. These days live shows on tv seem really flat.

[reggaereggae]

One of the differences is that live ringside you can feel the hear the power more than on TV especially with the bigger fighters,

Yeah it looks a whole lot more painful close up!

Great point. When you're ringside you really feel the shots. Even at amateur club shows, you hear te power and see the expressions. Unfortunately unless you are exceptionally rich and well connected you will never witness that at a big fight.

The best seat I had was at Ingle-McMillan. A friend sorted me out. I was, I think 1 row from the front. It was a great fight - and not between punchers. But you could really feel the brutality, the strength of the shots, the toughness of the fighters. It was a real boxing experience.

[Taansend]

I use to live going to shows. Right laugh.

Since moving to the States only been to a few. At the Staples Centre in LA.

I'm hoping Thurman will have a fight at home in Tampa Bay area so I can go to that.

Otherwise if Joshua fights in Vegas I'm all over that.

[Counter-puncher]

All about where you're sat. I've literally leaned on the ring apron a few times and I've also sat high up in stadiums. Stadiums are crap. I wouldn't do upper tier arenas, either. You really can get a different perspective on a fight when you're right on top of the action. I've rewatched fights the following day and seen it totally differently.

Best view I have ever had have been upper tier in small halls, Wolverhampton civic or academy in Brum, you really feel on top of the action with the height, better than ringside if its a small hall.

[ILikeBeer]

Ive been all the pro shows up in Dundee,4 or 5 all involving Ronnie Clark and they've all been great nights and i've been to a few other ones in Scotland plus as i was at Frampton/Quigg in Manchester which i made a pudendum off by getting steaming and not taking the whole occassion in,i ended up watching the card again on youtube as i forgot loads,including none of Gavin McDonnell

I go to most amatuer shows in Dundee too as my Dad sponsors fighters and there always cracking nights,was at a good one in Glasgow too a few years which my old man sponsored Davie Drummond's last amateur fight,that was a belting night too

But all in all i much prefer watching it in the comfort of my own house,preferebly alone,i never go out to watch boxing at mates anymore because 9 times out of 10 you have to beg them to leave the undercard on because they want to put music or something on,only a select few of my mates will i invite up,it all sounds a bit precious but i like scoring fights and if you've got a load of coked up drunkerds blethering in your lughole then you get distracted

Jeez im a sad twat

Nothing sad about that. You can get drunk and listen to music any time. Nothing wrong with not wanting it done whilst you're trying to concentrate on something.

[CMDY]

Live is good, but I prefer to watch on TV.

[liamlion]

If Ian Darke is commentating, yes.

Amen to that

[davie]

I've been up in the crowd and the atmosphere is great but I would rather watch it on the tele to be honest 9 times out of 10, to actually see what is going on. Going is a nice treat and a change, particularly to a decent sized event, but not something i've done often

But one thing you cannot get on a TV screen, is the feeling of sitting ringside.
I have only once done so, Burns vs Martinez at the Kelvin Hall, and the crack of the punches, seeing the sweat fly off someones head when the get cracked, It was something else.
I also didn't have to sit with the animals a few rows back

[Stuffs]

Prefer being there live every time. The atmosphere is of course a draw, but it's still the 'experience' that lives with you forever. Seeing someone who goes on to be a big star at a small hall is great, as is 'the big fight'.

I find it a bit boring watching on telly tbh. The commentary is often absolute rubbish and misleading. When you're there and as people say, you see the power for yourself and feel the sweat fly, you draw your on concussions rather than being lead by the TV. You pay more attention to other fighters on the bill.

Cue people saying "well I'm not lead by the TV"... Good. Neither am I. A lot of people are though.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Generally speaking the view from ringside it pretty patchy at best. I've been struck right behind a ringpost several times, and the closer you are to the ring, the harder it is to see all of the action, which Is why I've never really understood why the judges are there. The judges should view the fight either from an elevated position, like in Tennis, or should watch the fight on a screen. How on earth they can see enough to judge the fight from so close to the ring is beyond me.

[reggaereggae]

Generally speaking the view from ringside it pretty patchy at best. I've been struck right behind a ringpost several times, and the closer you are to the ring, the harder it is to see all of the action, which Is why I've never really understood why the judges are there. The judges should view the fight either from an elevated position, like in Tennis, or should watch the fight on a screen. How on earth they can see enough to judge the fight from so close to the ring is beyond me.

Very much agree with this and have thought the same often. Might be the thing that explains the reason scorecards can be so varied (well, along with incompetence and corruption)

[jamesmcdonnell]

Generally speaking the view from ringside it pretty patchy at best. I've been struck right behind a ringpost several times, and the closer you are to the ring, the harder it is to see all of the action, which Is why I've never really understood why the judges are there. The judges should view the fight either from an elevated position, like in Tennis, or should watch the fight on a screen. How on earth they can see enough to judge the fight from so close to the ring is beyond me.

Very much agree with this and have thought the same often. Might be the thing that explains the reason scorecards can be so varied (well, along with incompetence and corruption)

I'd also argue that the judges should also have ear protectors which stop them hearing the noise of the crowd, as this also unduly influences fights in favour of the home town fighter.

[reggaereggae]

Generally speaking the view from ringside it pretty patchy at best. I've been struck right behind a ringpost several times, and the closer you are to the ring, the harder it is to see all of the action, which Is why I've never really understood why the judges are there. The judges should view the fight either from an elevated position, like in Tennis, or should watch the fight on a screen. How on earth they can see enough to judge the fight from so close to the ring is beyond me.

Very much agree with this and have thought the same often. Might be the thing that explains the reason scorecards can be so varied (well, along with incompetence and corruption)

I'd also argue that the judges should also have ear protectors which stop them hearing the noise of the crowd, as this also unduly influences fights in favour of the home town fighter.

Good point. Though we all know the judges are largely there for the free dinner, perks and to enjoy the event!

[jamesmcdonnell]

Very much agree with this and have thought the same often. Might be the thing that explains the reason scorecards can be so varied (well, along with incompetence and corruption)

I'd also argue that the judges should also have ear protectors which stop them hearing the noise of the crowd, as this also unduly influences fights in favour of the home town fighter.

Good point. Though we all know the judges are largely there for the free dinner, perks and to enjoy the event!

Well, this is yet another problem, in all jurisdictions, the judges and ref are paid for our of the promoter's own personal money.

Can I hear 'conflict of interest?'

[reggaereggae]

I'd also argue that the judges should also have ear protectors which stop them hearing the noise of the crowd, as this also unduly influences fights in favour of the home town fighter.

Good point. Though we all know the judges are largely there for the free dinner, perks and to enjoy the event!

Well, this is yet another problem, in all jurisdictions, the judges and ref are paid for our of the promoter's own personal money.

Can I hear 'conflict of interest?'

Yeah I believe Don King used to deliver 'complimentary gifts' to judges in world title fights to make sure they bet the right way.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Good point. Though we all know the judges are largely there for the free dinner, perks and to enjoy the event!

Well, this is yet another problem, in all jurisdictions, the judges and ref are paid for our of the promoter's own personal money.

Can I hear 'conflict of interest?'

Yeah I believe Don King used to deliver 'complimentary gifts' to judges in world title fights to make sure they bet the right way.

Yes, it's bloody ridiculous. Smart promoters always make sure the officials have a nice hotel room and decent dinners. There's zero scrutiny so really promoters can lavish whatever they like on officials in the hope of swaying them onside.

[Loftgroov]

A confession, I have NEVER been to a live boxing event.

I just like watching it on TV.

I often attend live football and rugby matches; I'm not some anti-social weirdo who never leaves the house or anything, but I haven’t been to boxing. I’m not entirely sure why, but it just seems to me you pay a small fortune for a ticket with a view of the action that is surely rubbish compared to the TV coverage. But then I haven’t been so happy to be told I’m wrong.

Also boxing crowds look very chavvy and pikey to me - Matchroom shows anyway - and I'm a delicate flower so not sure I'd enjoy it.

Shows - expensive, poor view, chavs, blocked john, fights, travel ....but "great atmos"

TV - own beer, own company, own loo, no travel, no chavs, better view of the action..... but "not such a great atmos".

[reggaereggae]

Also boxing crowds look very chavvy and pikey to me - Matchroom shows anyway - and I'm a delicate flower so not sure I'd enjoy it.

Shows - expensive, poor view, chavs, blocked john, fights, travel ....but "great atmos"

TV - own beer, own company, own loo, no travel, no chavs, better view of the action..... but "not such a great atmos".

There's something to be said about that, certainly with uk crowds. American crowds are way different on the whole. I'm sure German crowds are too, but a bit dry. They clap when a good shot is landed.

[Stuffs]

I'd also argue that the judges should also have ear protectors which stop them hearing the noise of the crowd, as this also unduly influences fights in favour of the home town fighter.

Completely agree with this and have said the same for a while.

[jamesmcdonnell]

A confession, I have NEVER been to a live boxing event.

I just like watching it on TV.

I often attend live football and rugby matches; I'm not some anti-social weirdo who never leaves the house or anything, but I haven’t been to boxing. I’m not entirely sure why, but it just seems to me you pay a small fortune for a ticket with a view of the action that is surely rubbish compared to the TV coverage. But then I haven’t been so happy to be told I’m wrong.

Also boxing crowds look very chavvy and pikey to me - Matchroom shows anyway - and I'm a delicate flower so not sure I'd enjoy it.

Shows - expensive, poor view, chavs, blocked john, fights, travel ....but "great atmos"

TV - own beer, own company, own loo, no travel, no chavs, better view of the action..... but "not such a great atmos".

Yes, I'd say that's generally true of many boxing promotions - there's often an undercurrent of violence, especially at small hall shows where people are hyped up to support their fighter.

The 02 is right at the other end of the scale, pretty much devoid of atmosphere, it's just that bit too big.

The best atmosphere, though also the scariest was watching Hatton at the MEN, it was literally electric, but there were also thousands of really pissed and coked up loons everywhere. I remember seeing people spilling out into the street, punching the shite out of one another after the fight, it was literally like dodge city.

[DannyMCR]

I love live shows for the atmosphere and to be able to say I was there but the number of idiots there puts me off. There was so much trouble at Crolla Vs Barroso, I can't imagine how bad Crolla Vs Flanagan would be, perhaps they'd have to segregate it.

One of the best shows I've been to was Flanagan Vs Mathews (In Liverpool) we shut the place down, didn't hear a peep from the scousers all night!

[veriton]

i used to go all the time, small hall and stadiums but dont really bother now so much im older with kids. i take my lads to watch football but i wouldnt take them to boxing, its just full of drunken or coked up nobs...which is fine if you are one of them but no good if you're with kids.

last one i went to was eubank jnr v jeter! kind of put me off, now ill just watch on tv.

[Bricks]

I haven't been to tons of live shows admittedly but I tend to prefer watching it on TV from a comfort perspective, the view I get, etc - the only thing I personally feel that TV can't compete with is the atmosphere obviously.

I'm curious to whether anyone else feels the same way?

York Hall was about right.......people like Hearn have made it easy to forget in its original form boxing is not designed for big arenas. Yes I know 119,000 watched Dempsey......but I just hate things like the 02 and being up in the bleachers u can hardly see anything that far off. The TV screen don't really help as its far away too.

Football is big stadia sport