Do you know what, lads?

[DrDuke]

I once stopped following boxing, but eventually the interest returned. At the beginning of the previous decade I stopped to watch it and then followed MMA for a while. Yet in the middle of the decade I switched back to boxing and abandoned MMA.

[magnus]

What Micky says about cards in their entirety is bang on.

The last few years I've started to watch MMA after largely dismissing it for years - the contrast between UFC cards and the equivalent big shows in boxing is incredible. If you don't believe me, take a quid and try and bet on the winners of each fight on a boxing card and a UFC card.

I even watched every fight of a Bellator card on iPlayer the other day, I can't remember the last time I did that with boxing.

As a minimum, boxing really needs both fighters to have both the desire and the ability to beat their opponent. Too often, one of the fighters has neither.

The thing is, we (fans) have allowed this to happen because "that's the way it is" and "they need to learn". We'll also pile on defeats and mock matchmakers if they dare to get their fighters beaten.

If more top fighters had 17-12-3 type records it wouldn't mean they were any less talented - it would mean that the sport was more competitive and losses would be accepted as part of that process.

[emallini]

I feel like not having social media and mostly ignoring forums has brought back the love for me. I can just focus on the boxing and enjoying competitive fights.

[Foggy]

On a brighter note lads, I’ve just seen Badou Jack is scheduled to fight Jean Pascal, should be a good 50 50 fight

[margaret thatcher]

im the opposite, ive never been more into the game

with all the streams and the fight schedules so easy to acces these days, you can pretty much watch what you want and ignore what you dont


i encourage everyone to become more educated and interested in the scene around the world. if you limit yourself to the uk or just the big american fights, you're missing out on a lot and of course have nothing to turn to if those scenes go through rough patches

[margaret thatcher]

I feel like not having social media and mostly ignoring forums has brought back the love for me. I can just focus on the boxing and enjoying competitive fights.

yep, a lot of people who get tired of it all spend too much time on the business/politics/media of it all

[littlepug]

I used to pay for any channel that showed boxing, bought every PPV and bought every magazine, those days are gone, I still love boxing but my priorities have changed and I don’t part with money easily these days, I do pay for DAZN but will get rid the second it goes up in price, that aside it’s free tv shows for me, the radio, RBR on here and YouTube next day, there’s a lot to get annoyed about but generally over a calendar year there’s always plenty of good stuff to watch from around the world at all levels and in all divisions.

[Deserter]

Good call, Mick.

I've posted on and off on here for nearly 20 years in various guises but I promise this will be my final post. I too have had enough of how professional boxing has gone. There is too much talk, too much social media, too much gambling, and too many celebrity 'fighters' getting paid a fortune to under-deliver.

I'm going to put my money and time exclusively into youth amateur boxing and youth amateur MMA.

Fair well, brothers, especially Counter-Puncher, Carlos and Deserter.

Well I'm gutted to read this.... another good man down is the phrase that springs to mind. From my biased perspective I hope it's just a 'sabbatical' mate rather than a permanent departure. I don't post as frequently as I used to (which is probably indicative of the fact that my sentiments aren't massively different to yours), but I still check it out every day and you're always one of the 'essential reads'.
Ironically what's kept me more engaged has been the consistent excellence of Boxing News (became a subscriber when I moved back to the UK last year) and Tris Dixon's Boxing Life Stories, which is essential listening for me most weeks (loved the Curtis Woodhouse one I listened to today).
We've also just about to move to a flat in Bethnal Green where I'll be 10 minutes' walk from the York Hall - enough to keep me clinging on for now!
Hope to see you pop up again brother, but in the meantime

[forcefraser]

I still love it, maybe slightly less than before, but nothing gets me as fired up and nervous as a really big fight.

The politics is wank, but its what it is.

[AMA93]

I love boxing but I’ve pretty much had it with British boxing these days. Can’t be arsed with everyone trying to be on camera, the awful cards, women’s boxing and fighters like Whyte and Chisora now being classed as PPV. Don’t get me started on Hearn and the people who hang off his every word either.

I’m only 28 as well so can’t imagine how most of the older lot feel seeing what it has become.

[margaret thatcher]

ya but think of all the ladies boxing we get now, surely that makes up for all the crap

[ironbeard]

As I have mentioned (repeatedly) in the past, I arrived at that point 28 years ago after the utter travesty that was the JCC v Sweet Pea decision. I was largely out for over a decade; never returned to the hardcore level.

[mickey1975]

im the opposite, ive never been more into the game

with all the streams and the fight schedules so easy to acces these days, you can pretty much watch what you want and ignore what you dont


i encourage everyone to become more educated and interested in the scene around the world. if you limit yourself to the uk or just the big american fights, you're missing out on a lot and of course have nothing to turn to if those scenes go through rough patches

I really don't need educating in the game. If I haven't learned by now I never will.

[KiwiRider]

Can you UK guys get beersies at the Am shows?

[mickey1975]

I still love it, maybe slightly less than before, but nothing gets me as fired up and nervous as a really big fight.

The politics is wank, but its what it is.

I will still be up for the big ones. Buatsi though? No. Dalton, yes. Fury-AJ 100%. My granddaughter due on that day as well and my reunion with all the football lads, f uck me....

[mickey1975]

Can you UK guys get beersies at the Am shows?

Yes. Absolutely pissed

[mickey1975]

Good call, Mick.

I've posted on and off on here for nearly 20 years in various guises but I promise this will be my final post. I too have had enough of how professional boxing has gone. There is too much talk, too much social media, too much gambling, and too many celebrity 'fighters' getting paid a fortune to under-deliver.

I'm going to put my money and time exclusively into youth amateur boxing and youth amateur MMA.

Fair well, brothers, especially Counter-Puncher, Carlos and Deserter.

Well I'm gutted to read this.... another good man down is the phrase that springs to mind. From my biased perspective I hope it's just a 'sabbatical' mate rather than a permanent departure. I don't post as frequently as I used to (which is probably indicative of the fact that my sentiments aren't massively different to yours), but I still check it out every day and you're always one of the 'essential reads'.
Ironically what's kept me more engaged has been the consistent excellence of Boxing News (became a subscriber when I moved back to the UK last year) and Tris Dixon's Boxing Life Stories, which is essential listening for me most weeks (loved the Curtis Woodhouse one I listened to today).
We've also just about to move to a flat in Bethnal Green where I'll be 10 minutes' walk from the York Hall - enough to keep me clinging on for now!
Hope to see you pop up again brother, but in the meantime

Loved Curtis's response to why the British title meant more to him than all his football achievements.

[Deserter]

Good call, Mick.

I've posted on and off on here for nearly 20 years in various guises but I promise this will be my final post. I too have had enough of how professional boxing has gone. There is too much talk, too much social media, too much gambling, and too many celebrity 'fighters' getting paid a fortune to under-deliver.

I'm going to put my money and time exclusively into youth amateur boxing and youth amateur MMA.

Fair well, brothers, especially Counter-Puncher, Carlos and Deserter.

Well I'm gutted to read this.... another good man down is the phrase that springs to mind. From my biased perspective I hope it's just a 'sabbatical' mate rather than a permanent departure. I don't post as frequently as I used to (which is probably indicative of the fact that my sentiments aren't massively different to yours), but I still check it out every day and you're always one of the 'essential reads'.
Ironically what's kept me more engaged has been the consistent excellence of Boxing News (became a subscriber when I moved back to the UK last year) and Tris Dixon's Boxing Life Stories, which is essential listening for me most weeks (loved the Curtis Woodhouse one I listened to today).
We've also just about to move to a flat in Bethnal Green where I'll be 10 minutes' walk from the York Hall - enough to keep me clinging on for now!
Hope to see you pop up again brother, but in the meantime

Loved Curtis's response to why the British title meant more to him than all his football achievements.

Bang on Mickey. I don't think I'm over-stating it by saying it was a beautiful statement. Also love the way he captured the fact it's the journey that is the amazing experience, rather than the destination.

[KiwiRider]

Can you UK guys get beersies at the Am shows?

Yes. Absolutely pissed

Well, that makes life a little better then
We have night Am fights at the Auckland Boxing Club where the beers are cheap and the fights pretty basic but competitive.
I've had better nights there than ones I've had to pay for on the telly.

Maybe that's the thing for jaded fans?
Step back from all the crap and go see some young amateurs who are in it for the sport. Get pissed, forget the prima Donna twats.

[Coco]

I still love it, even when it's bad! It's a bit like sex, even when it's bad it's good!

However I do echo a lot of the comments on here, actually to use my comparison, if I was paying an arm and a leg for bad sex it would put me off!

I don't have SKY but DAZN is good value at the mo.

[margaret thatcher]

im the opposite, ive never been more into the game

with all the streams and the fight schedules so easy to acces these days, you can pretty much watch what you want and ignore what you dont


i encourage everyone to become more educated and interested in the scene around the world. if you limit yourself to the uk or just the big american fights, you're missing out on a lot and of course have nothing to turn to if those scenes go through rough patches

I really don't need educating in the game. If I haven't learned by now I never will.

on the foreign scene as well? all your complaints seem to be about british boxing, there's lots of good stuff internationally , it's often more enjoyable when you dont understand anything being said

[Coco]

To be honest I don't think the televised shows now are worse than in the 90's topped by the IBO, WBO etc

[mickey1975]

Some incredible fights on amateur shows, some at a much higher level than pros. If a kids card isn't what they said on the phone, you pull out. The loss of headguards has taken it to a new level. Plus a burger for £1.50 and a can of pop. Love it when two local guys get it on. I usually know both but it rams the place out and the crowd go mad.

[mickey1975]

im the opposite, ive never been more into the game

with all the streams and the fight schedules so easy to acces these days, you can pretty much watch what you want and ignore what you dont


i encourage everyone to become more educated and interested in the scene around the world. if you limit yourself to the uk or just the big american fights, you're missing out on a lot and of course have nothing to turn to if those scenes go through rough patches

I really don't need educating in the game. If I haven't learned by now I never will.

on the foreign scene as well? all your complaints seem to be about british boxing, there's lots of good stuff internationally , it's often more enjoyable when you dont understand anything being said

Yes. I follow everything. I follow British more because I'm British.....

[Noxy]

Boxing is far from perfect, I've never known it any other way. Still, I couldn't imagine not following it.

The small hall shows are considerably better than the big fights if you want a night at the boxing. The action may/may not be good but the crack is always good. Plus everyone mixes, you can meet the fighters etc.