Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

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Ruthless-RKO
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Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

By Luke Reddy
BBC Sport boxing reporter


Boxers on British fight shows will wear protective masks during ring walks and will be banned from using a spit bucket between rounds under proposed rules for events.

The sport is gearing up for a behind-closed-doors return in the UK in July, after being shutdown in most countries across the world as a result of the coronavrius pandemic.

Referees and trainers in the fighters' corners must wear protective masks throughout the event and the proposals include thorough testing of all those involved.

In a five-page consultation document sent to UK promoters and seen by BBC Sport - the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) says a July restart will initially see events contain no more than five bouts and no "championship contests".

The document sets out proposed rules which include:

◾ Fight shows to begin without any fans
◾ Boxers, referees and trainers will be transported to the venue wearing personal protective masks
◾ A fighter may remove their protective mask when inside the ring - but referees and teams in the corner must keep theirs on
◾ Boxers may not spit in their respective corners
◾ No ring announcers, ring girls or TV cameras inside the ring
◾ All proposed venues must be reviewed by the BBBofC and "cleaned to a medical standard" before the event
◾ Only "essential" officials, promoters and broadcasters can attend
◾ Individuals in high-risk categories such as pregnant women, those "seriously overweight" or people with diabetes should not attend
◾Everyone at an event must be tested for Covid-19
◾All boxers, trainers and referees must be tested for Covid-19 48 hours before fight night and self-isolate at a hotel until their test result is known

Promoter Eddie Hearn said the proposals provided "huge barriers to overcome", while another industry insider described the document as "farcical".

The BBBofC said the measures were within government guidance and, in stressing the rules outlined were "not final", said the views of promoters would be considered.

Who is due to fight in July?

The next major fights scheduled in Britain in July are:

4 July: Manchester Arena - Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin (WBC interim heavyweight title), Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano (WBC, IBF, WBO and WBA lightweight titles); Callum Johnson v Igor Mikhalkin (vacant European light-heavyweight title)

11 July: O2 Arena, London - Daniel Dubois v Joe Joyce (British & Commonwealth heavyweight titles); Anthony Yarde v Lyndon Arthur (light-heavyweight)

There are also several postponed fights that need new dates, including Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title defence against Kubrat Pulev - originally due to be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
stujones
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by stujones »

I think in reality they need to just scrap July - these proposals, whilst I can understand them, for me makes the sport dangerous for the fighters. The officials are there for a reason, spit buckets are there for a reason. Would any boxer on here like to spar if the coach says "no spitting that blood out of your mouth".

What happens if a gum shield falls out?

Just wait till the death toll is even less, the risk of infection is less and the strain on the NHS is less and try to start a "normal" as possible behind closed doors. Fighters should be allowed to Spit out Blood.

Its just not going to work until it is safe. We've all seen a fighter with a bloody nose rub it into another fighter, disgusting yes but it happens.
bigjack
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by bigjack »

stujones wrote: 06 May 2020, 04:51 I think in reality they need to just scrap July - these proposals, whilst I can understand them, for me makes the sport dangerous for the fighters. The officials are there for a reason, spit buckets are there for a reason. Would any boxer on here like to spar if the coach says "no spitting that blood out of your mouth".

What happens if a gum shield falls out?

Just wait till the death toll is even less, the risk of infection is less and the strain on the NHS is less and try to start a "normal" as possible behind closed doors. Fighters should be allowed to Spit out Blood.

Its just not going to work until it is safe. We've all seen a fighter with a bloody nose rub it into another fighter, disgusting yes but it happens.
I agree Stu,far too many restrictions there that make it impossible to maintain.
banjo
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by banjo »

Boxing should be among the very last sports to be able to resume.
watsupdoc87
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by watsupdoc87 »

Ha no fatties allowed :bag:
forcefraser
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by forcefraser »

Wearing a face mask on the ring walk. Good god where do they come up with this pish??
bigjack
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by bigjack »

forcefraser wrote: 10 May 2020, 09:06 Wearing a face mask on the ring walk. Good god where do they come up with this pish??
[/quot


we keep getting told that face masks don't protect the wearer, only anyone they come into contact with,as there are no crowds and the cornerman have them on also,what are they for ?
Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Shhhh wrote: 10 May 2020, 10:03 I just watched ufc. Atmosphere was flat but didn’t affect performance it seemed. So it can definitely work
You could hear those punches and kicks so clearly aswel. Made up for a little tbh.
Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Shhhh wrote: 10 May 2020, 10:12
Ruthless-RKO wrote: 10 May 2020, 10:08

You could hear those punches and kicks so clearly aswel. Made up for a little tbh.
Yeah you could for sure. I quite like that. But you don’t get that rush of excitement when you hear people raise their voices an get exited
Yeh. The commentators only saying one thing.
“Ooohhhhhhhhhh”

Bit boring after a while.
Tony1244
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by Tony1244 »

Don't half the fighters where face masks walking into the ring anyway?

No spitting? That's ridiculous.
Grilling Machine
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by Grilling Machine »

Ruthless-RKO wrote: 10 May 2020, 10:08You could hear those punches and kicks so clearly aswel. Made up for a little tbh.
I actually preferred it. After two rounds I had Gaethje ahead, but able to hear his and Ferguson's breathing I could tell he was on course to blow himself out. I expected Ferguson to start turning the tide in the third, very much in the Froch-Groves mould, but then Gaethje actually listened to his corner and eased off.

With the crowd noise I wouldn't have been able to appreciate the logic in Ferguson biding his time. Like me, I'm sure he was waiting for Gaethje to tire, and by the time he realised he needed to step it up it was too late.

So yeah, I feel like these crowdless fights afford more insights. But then I totally get why people love the atmosphere of a crowd, especially the fighters, so I'd like to see a compromise of improved in-ring sound capture. There was a boxing night a while ago on DAZN (I forget the card) where we could hear the punches, and I thought that was so much better as a viewer.
Cholo_cws
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Re: Coronavirus and Boxing: Proposals include masks, no spitting and no fans

Post by Cholo_cws »

Could boxing in this country cope without the presence of Dave Diamond though?
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