Joe Out

[JimJim]

Cheers

I took my dad to see James Hare vs David Barnes at Halifax, on a SN show. We had to sit through 2 hours without a single bout thanks to the ambulance getting stuck in traffic - it was coming up from Birmingham, for some unexplained reason. Then the crowd at our side of the ring rioted, and my dad was really shook up. The MC got into the ring and threatened that the main event might not go ahead unless the rioting stopped. At this point, me and my dad were caught between the two rival crowds who were baying for blood. It wasn't just name-calling and drunken behaviour, it was really nasty stuff.

With the main event in doubt, we reluctantly decided to leave - this was after two hours of sitting on our backsides with no action in the ring (frustrations which wound up the crowd in the first place). Anyway, after a week had passed, I wrote to SN and expained the circumstances. I didn't want a complete refund but a partial refund for my dad would have been a nice gesture.

The response from SN ensured I will never buy another ticket to one of their promotions. They could not have given a fxxk; they had our ticket money and couldn't have cared less about the fact that we had sat there for two hours watching an empty ring, before getting caught up in some nasty rioting.

The thing is, I used to regularly attend SN shows, but I haven't done since then and I never will again.

[Autobarn]

my advice, stay the smeg at home, you get a better view anyway.

[nickd]

I will never attend another SN show.

[mattyp151]

my advice, stay the smeg at home, you get a better view anyway.

Less chance of having your girl get groped unwantedly.

[MightyWarrior]

my advice, stay the smeg at home, you get a better view anyway.

Less chance of having your girl get groped unwantedly.

No worries there mate, my girlfriend's a dead ringer for Butterbean.

Jimjim, that's a really cynical response you got from SN, and they deserve all the bad publicity they get for treating their customers in such a piss poor manner. And your two main event back up theory is very plausable as well.

I'm not bothered if I miss the 2nd Williams/Skelton MEGA fight either - it'll probably be roughly the same as the first one, expect Danny Williams will be slightly fatter.

[nickd]

Gonzo was just interviewed on ITV4 talking about the pullout.

My arse he's injured. Lets have a photo of him in a cast come on!

[Max Molyneux]

Well that sucks.

They arranged this shit too prematurely though.

[nickd]

How on earth did they get an interview with Gonzo recorded so quickly? The pullout was only announced this afternoon. Hmmmmmmmm.

[Max Molyneux]

And Gonzo is Joe or Warren?

Wasn't their links about a Beyer fight hoping to be made around Autumn because of the Word Cup anyway? Hope they can make that then.

[nickd]

And Gonzo is Joe or Warren?

Wasn't their links about a Beyer fight hoping to be made around Autumn because of the Word Cup anyway? Hope they can make that then.

Gonzo is Enzo.

[hitman_hatton1]

my advice, stay the smeg at home, you get a better view anyway.

i always say that and get criticised for being an armchair fan.

[Max Molyneux]

my advice, stay the smeg at home, you get a better view anyway.

i always say that and get criticised for being an armchair fan.

I agree with both you guys.

[TerribleTerry]

Cheers

I took my dad to see James Hare vs David Barnes at Halifax, on a SN show. We had to sit through 2 hours without a single bout thanks to the ambulance getting stuck in traffic - it was coming up from Birmingham, for some unexplained reason. Then the crowd at our side of the ring rioted, and my dad was really shook up. The MC got into the ring and threatened that the main event might not go ahead unless the rioting stopped. At this point, me and my dad were caught between the two rival crowds who were baying for blood. It wasn't just name-calling and drunken behaviour, it was really nasty stuff.

With the main event in doubt, we reluctantly decided to leave - this was after two hours of sitting on our backsides with no action in the ring (frustrations which wound up the crowd in the first place). Anyway, after a week had passed, I wrote to SN and expained the circumstances. I didn't want a complete refund but a partial refund for my dad would have been a nice gesture.

The response from SN ensured I will never buy another ticket to one of their promotions. They could not have given a fxxk; they had our ticket money and couldn't have cared less about the fact that we had sat there for two hours watching an empty ring, before getting caught up in some nasty rioting.

The thing is, I used to regularly attend SN shows, but I haven't done since then and I never will again.

I was at that show in Halifax mate and you are right, the rioting was nasty - some of the worst I have seen. The security was under sized (considering the 'war of the roses' slant) and unprepared.

It went bang off for ages, yet no old bill until well too late and only a handful (not even the main protagonists) were eventually pursuaded to leave (not thrown out, just pursuaded to go). I am a young man and was there with a couple of pro boxers, but if I had been there with my girlfriend, dad, or whoever I would not have been happy; that one section of the hall was like a war zone.

SN should have given you your money back - no question. That was an appauling PR own goal on their behalf in my eyes.

[numpty]

The whole thing's stinks of male cow turd!

Skelton and Williams will be a good undercard fight in Wales, nothing more!

I bet all the Welsh fans are spitting fire!

SN, sort it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pm]

I just called ticketmaster and got a full refund for my 4 tickets!!

I take back what I said yesterday, and eat humble pie.

Number is 08701535353 - just hang on in there and don't press anything at any time and you will get through. Awesome.

That was posted by someone on the BBC forum for anyone thats interested!

[JimJim]

" was at that show in Halifax mate and you are right, the rioting was nasty - some of the worst I have seen. The security was under sized (considering the 'war of the roses' slant) and unprepared"

Hi there, Terribleterry ! Me and my dad were sat on those bench seats facing the ring and the rioting was nasty, I've been caught up in argy-bargy before but nothing as bad as that. I could never understand why the ambulance had to come all the way from Birmingham; they could have got one from Halifax, Leeds or Bradford. Obviously a case of bad planning, coupled with the bad traffic that the ambulance got stuck in.

Anyway Sports Network couldn't have cared less, I tore up the letter and binned it but I remember its contents; the writer just wanted to split hairs to try and justify not giving any kind of refund, partial or whole, and the tone was pretty much along the lines of "people can riot anywhere, anytime, what the xxxx has it got to do with us ?". When the promoter of the show takes such a stance, you know that they don't give a stuff about their customers.

It was pretty shortsighted of them really, as they lost a good customer for life. Last October I recounted this story to a bunch of lads, two of whom I knew; they were all considering buying tickets to go see Jennings vs Pryce at Preston. They decided not to after hearing about my experience with Sports Network.

A sympathetic letter, even without any gesture of partial refund, would have been appropriate under the circumstances. If I were promoting a show, or any kind of event, and a riot broke out in which some innocent bystanders (who'd paid good money to attend) almost got caught up, and those bystanders then wrote in to complain that, apart from the rioting, they'd to sit on their backsides for two hours + because an ambulance never turned up, well at the very least I'd give them a sympathetic response. It comes down to how you view and treat your customers.

That said, this is from the promotional outfit that just promoted the WBU welterweight championship of the world between two washed up has-beens who come from the same stable. Meanwhile, guys like Margarito and Mayweather take part in meaningful bouts on the other side of the Atlantic, so why am I even questioning SN's attitude to their paying customers ?!?! If boxing was run properly the likes of the WBU, and promoters who stage "world championship fights" under the auspices of such bogus organisations, would be convicted for fraud.

I could not promote a football match between two sunday pub teams as being for the world cup final or the FA cup final. Boxing's a fine sport but the concept of world champion been bastardized over and over and over again.

I think I'll get off the old soapbox now

[Spud]

my crystal ball says that we may see Calzaghe/Beyer in September or October!!!

[Max Molyneux]

my crystal ball says that we may see Calzaghe/Beyer in September or October!!!

Think thats what Sauerlands people were trying to get it set up for because of the World cup.

Calzaghe will easily beat him up.

[Andy Mac]

What a great post by Jim Jim, shame alledgedly has got skin thicker than a rhinos........... rihon............ sorarse.............. oh shit you know those big bastards with the horn on their nose. Als the guy who said watch it at home is bang on all you get at venues is noise ( atmosphere ) When i was a judge in the amatuers the veiw was brilliant but at pro shows unless you are right behind the press it can be frustrating. the TV camera's ar eright in with the action.

[Deram]

That is weak. Most continental promoters always have 100% refunds.

[koomey]

In my humble opinion, UK fans are not treated to two main-event style matches because the promoter just can't help giving good value for money, its so the promoter can keep the ticket money if the nominal main event falls through, as it did 2 weeks ago when Scott Harrison pulled out of his WBO title defence - the chief supporting bout, a pointless WBU fight between two of the promoter's own fighters, was elevated to the main event and the show went ahead.

I totally agree. I have been to countless fights since the mid-nineties and the shows are getting worse.

Back in 'the day' you would have true value for money - the likes of Benn, Collins, Naz, Winky Wright, Eubank etc all appeared on shows where three or four 'proper' title fights took place. Fights were rarely called off, there was hype for weeks or even months for the big events and everyone showed up.

Now, the promoters know that you can stretch three or four proper fight over three or four months and fill a few halls in the process and as such generate more money...

It does piss me off with the Calzaghe situation, people will really start getting sick of it all now which will have a knock on effect for the sport in a bad way...