Currently showing unlicenced boxing...

[bennie]

For those interested, the BEN channel on Sky-TV (channel 238), is showing unlicenced boxing as I write, compered and refereed by Steve Holdsworth.

[steve689]

I'm surprised that Steve Holdsworth is involved in this sort of thing. I was watching the Eurosport "Best Boxing Of 2003" programme earlier while flicking in between Chelsea-Watford and even tough i admire him i have never before realised before how many mistakes Holdsworth makes. All you get is: "It's Thompson here who is 13-5 with 4 KO's, sorry 5 KO's, in fact he has lost 7 times not 5 i do beg your pardon" or "And Johnson has lost twice but never been stopped, i do apologise he has actually been stopped twice" etc etc

[John_A]

I have been to a few unlicenced shows in Essex, and although Mr Holdworth didn't referee he was always ring anouncer. These were always good value shows and my supicion is he is either involved in promoting the events or managing fighters.

[KOJOE90]

For those interested, the BEN channel on Sky-TV (channel 238), is showing unlicenced boxing as I write, compered and refereed by Steve Holdsworth.

So that's where it is then, I'd read on another Web-site that they were now showing unlicenced fights but I didn't know what channel. I shall check it out next time it's on, just out of curiosity.

I've several unlicenced fights on video from the 70's & 80's featuring the likes of Roy Shaw, Lenny McLean and Donny Adams etc. Interesting to watch but very very crude and sometimes very violent.

From what I've seen it doesn't compare to the BBBC game in terms of skill and fighting quality. For years the late Lenny McLean claimed to be the 'Guvnor' of the unlicenced scene yet he was I'm told, twice knocked out cold by ex-pro Heavyweight Cliff Fields, once by an Amatuer Johnny Waldron and outpointed by ex-pro Ligh-Heavy Kevin Paddock. Most of this is not mentioned in the late Mcleans book (whom I'm sure was a very tough man) but I think he did mention that he lost to Paddock on purpose so to upset his then manager/promoter allegedly, who he had fell out with at the time.

[John]

For those interested, the BEN channel on Sky-TV (channel 238), is showing unlicenced boxing as I write, compered and refereed by Steve Holdsworth.

From what I've seen it doesn't compare to the BBBC game in terms of skill and fighting quality. For years the late Lenny McLean claimed to be the 'Guvnor' of the unlicenced scene yet he was I'm told, twice knocked out cold by ex-pro Heavyweight Cliff Fields, once by an Amatuer Johnny Waldron .

He was indeed, Johnny forgot the script and accidentaly knocked out McLean with a jab. That story is also the origin of the fight scene in the movie Snatch.

[bennie]

I watched a pro called Phil Lashley fight in 1986 at the King's Hall in Stoke. It was his second or third pro fight. He developed into a game but beatable pro, who was knocked over more times than I care to remember by the end of his career. Imagine my astonishment when Steve Holdsworth announced his name last night and a grey-haired Lashley made his way to the ring. Sure enough, he was knocked over in a round by a young kid whose name escapes me now. This is the worrying thing about unlicenced boxing. It gives fighters a chance to carry on fighting when really they need protecting from themselves.

PS: Holdsworth did a decent job of refereeing.

[stujones]

I watched a pro called Phil Lashley fight in 1986 at the King's Hall in Stoke. It was his second or third pro fight. He developed into a game but beatable pro, who was knocked over more times than I care to remember by the end of his career. Imagine my astonishment when Steve Holdsworth announced his name last night and a grey-haired Lashley made his way to the ring. Sure enough, he was knocked over in a round by a young kid whose name escapes me now. This is the worrying thing about unlicenced boxing. It gives fighters a chance to carry on fighting when really they need protecting from themselves.

PS: Holdsworth did a decent job of refereeing.

Now, I don't want to cause trouble cause I believe Steve is a good guy who always responds to e-mails. However, I have heard him on many occasions in his commentry state that guys who have got losing records and faught more than 20 times should be prevented from fighting. In a way I can understand him cause he has to commentate on countless mismatches and has to make them intersting, he must get annoyed at it.

However, how can he say this and condone Lashley involvement in the unlicenced game. Of course its a different game, and its maybe because the BBBoC have refused to grant him a licence that Lashley has had to resort to such measures to earn a crust, but still should he be allowed to fight in any capacity?

[KOJOE90]

I've heard whispers that some people in the unlicenced game are trying to get Andy Till to make a comeback.

[bennie]

They showed a few fights last night, and there were several 'ringers' who I couldn't quite put a name to. They were fighting under different names of course, but they're definitely licenced boxers as well.

[KOJOE90]

They showed a few fights last night, and there were several 'ringers' who I couldn't quite put a name to. They were fighting under different names of course, but they're definitely licenced boxers as well.

Yes I've heard this does happen, I assume for the money. Surely they are taking a risk fighting on a 'pirate' show which is shown on TV? If the BBBC got to hear about it I assume they would have their licence suspended?

Didn't Julius Francis get in trouble with the ABA officials for fighting on a unlicenced bill many moons ago?