BoxRec

McGuigan-Pedroza was the first fight I sat and watched live. Then Mike Tyson was shown on ITV on a regular basis, I think there was some Leonard fights broadcast around then also Hearns 2 and Lalonde spring to mind.

Channel 4 also used to broadcast some reruns from the states and you had Fight Night and Fight Night International on ITV.

I dare say if there was as much boxing shown on terrestrial tv today boxing would have a lot bigger fan base especially younger people.

Also just remembered I was a schoolboy when Glenn MCrory was training for his IBF title shot. One day after school I went to where his camp was and watched through the window. Someone spotted me and they invited me in to watch, after that they let me in whenever I went up which was quite a big deal for me at that age and an amazing expierence.

Bruno-Witherspoon, the rise of Tyson on a Sunday morning on Itv, Sportsnight and Midweek sports special on a black and white telly laid in bed on a Tuesday or Wednesday night before school.

McGuigan - Pedrosa

I think it was "free" live boxing being shown on TV in the late 70s/early 80s, I was young so can't really remember with clarity the fights, but I recall watching Ali, Holmes, Hearns, Hagler, Duran, SRL et al. Also remember the main names from the UK around that period too so must have watched them too.

I had two routes really. The first one was my mate's older brother being into boxing and so the stories being passed down to me rather than seeing them first-hand. Perfect example was being told about this amazing fighter called Marvin Hagler fighting this monster called Caveman Lee - I was about 11-years-old and didn't really grasp weight classes etc, so genuinely had an image of a superhero/David versus Goliath-style contest with Hagler taming the beast!
On a related note, I was also really into martial arts and one time I was off school sick so asked my mum to get me a Bruce Lee video to pass the time - they didn't have anything in stock but the guy recommended this other film that I reluctantly watched. Turned out to be Rocky III and I absolutely loved it with a passion.
On a more practical level, my father was Irish so Barry McGuigan was the first fighter I actively followed and watched. I can't remember exactly when, but the first fight I can vividly actively recall was his fight against Laporte, which was seen as the litmus test of whether he was ready for Pedroza. His fight with Pedroza blew my mind while the Cruz loss absolutely devastated me!
Also remember being in the car on a Sunday morning coming back from Tae Kwon Do training and hearing on the radio that Honeyghan had beaten Curry - can remember exactly where I was as none of us in the car could believe it and we were cheering. If my memory isn't cheating me I watched it that afternoon on delay and thought he just looked the 'daddy' in these wine/burgundy-coloured sequin shorts.
Oh the joy of those less cynical times

mickey1975 wrote:Bruno-Witherspoon, the rise of Tyson on a Sunday morning on Itv, Sportsnight and Midweek sports special on a black and white telly laid in bed on a Tuesday or Wednesday night before school.

there's a fair few of us of that generation

Mike Tyson's rapid rise to the top in the 80's gained my interest as a young child.

I would say Hearns v Leonard- I only saw a picture in the paper of Hearns lying on the ropes and that started my interest in boxing.

Actually going boxing training got me into it more than anything, as soon as id sparred a few times, and watched lads alot better than me spar each other i was hooked.

Remember listening to Liston v clay on the radio and another great memory was watching the highlights of Duran v Buchanan I think it was on sports night I followed Duran throughout his career and he brought a brand of controlled savagery to the ring the likes I have never seen since and also he was a magnificent boxer

always liked boxing but never really followed it but soon as I watched first season of the contender I was hooked and ive never looked back, best sport in the world

Watching Ricky Hatton and to a lesser extent Joe Calzaghe as a kid. Only started following boxing seriously a couple of years ago, not sure why.

ajwesty13 wrote:my first fight where i remember falling for boxing was watching robert durant v iran barkley...

Robert Durant, wow what a fighter . He never boxed Barkley though, he only had one fight and lost by 1st round K.O.

Teddy's Toupee wrote:

ajwesty13 wrote:my first fight where i remember falling for boxing was watching robert durant v iran barkley...

Robert Durant, wow what a fighter . He never boxed Barkley though, he only had one fight and lost by 1st round K.O.

You are getting more pedantic, I reckon you're undercover spelling police.

I was speaking to a lorry driver that came into the work the other day and i was telling him i was a boxing fan and told me a story about when he was about 7 and his dad waking him up in the small hours and them about to listen to the Ali/Liston rematch on the wireless and his dad just grabbing a beer from the fridge just as it started,by the time he got into the living room the fight was over.his dad says "whats happened" and he replied " i dont know i think someones been knocked out"



Its funny you can remember wee things like that when you were so young

palooka wrote:

Teddy's Toupee wrote:

ajwesty13 wrote:my first fight where i remember falling for boxing was watching robert durant v iran barkley...

Robert Durant, wow what a fighter . He never boxed Barkley though, he only had one fight and lost by 1st round K.O.

You are getting more pedantic, I reckon you're undercover spelling police.

haha i did make a hash of it thats what happens with dyslexia

The Middleweights in the 80s did for me, both UK (Sibson, Kaylor, Minter etc) and World stage (Hagler, Hearns, etc). Then along came Tyson - I had only been exposed to the tail end of Larry Holmes reign and it had a got a bit dull. Throw in a bit of Bruno and yes the Rocky films didn't play an insignificant part - and that was me hooked really.

When Benn-Watson-Eubank came along it was just a continuation by then, then Lennox & Naz and the big nights they gave us, Hatton & Calzaghe.

And obviously I'm not mentioning world stage fighters in the 90s, Barerra, Morales, JC Chavez, RJJ, Holyfield, DLH etc and so many more.

My interest has wained in recent years it must be said, I think parenthood has made too big a dent in my time and something had to give. I just simply don't get the time to watch boxing that I used to.

For me it was Bruno, I thought he was the real deal and about to tear through the American heavyweights and Holmes, I was only 12/ 13 then - can also clearly remember the build up to Hagler v Sibson and just being amazed by this intimidating, shaven headed American champ

My grandpa. He would tune into all big fights back in the day. Remember watching Benn, Eubank, Collins, Hamed, Bruno, Lewis as a child. I'm sure a lot of the fights were on ITV! I often stayed at there place on the weekends, and the Boxing was always on. My grandma and grandpa, uncle, and me would all sit in the living room and watch the fights. My grandpa was an avid fan of Boxing, due to boxing in the Army for years. He always use to say 'Come on son, give me your best shot in my stomach' I'd obliged and give my hardest shots straight in the abdominal area. He wouldn't even flinch. He was hard nails!

Ever since I loved the sport. At age 18 I started to develop a real interest in Boxing, and have been obsessed ever since. I even started boxing at age 20. Boxing has really grew on me over the years. Just a great sport, and a real mans sport. There is no where to hide or run in this sport, its just you, and your opponent. I like that!

calazghe vs lacy. i only ever watched the big fights. and one night i couldnt sleep and stummbled across this on itv i think. And ever scince then ive been hooked.

The Balboa films especially 3 got me into boxing but i also liked the real thing. I remember sneaking a phone call to vote Barry McGuigan as the sports personality of the year in 85.

The Champions forever video (at the time) just blew my mind. I never looked back from the moment i saw it. First time i saw Frazier and thought...."thats the way a man should fight"

Goz wrote:The Middleweights in the 80s did for me, both UK (Sibson, Kaylor, Minter etc) and World stage (Hagler, Hearns, etc). Then along came Tyson - I had only been exposed to the tail end of Larry Holmes reign and it had a got a bit dull. Throw in a bit of Bruno and yes the Rocky films didn't play an insignificant part - and that was me hooked really.

When Benn-Watson-Eubank came along it was just a continuation by then, then Lennox & Naz and the big nights they gave us, Hatton & Calzaghe.

And obviously I'm not mentioning world stage fighters in the 90s, Barerra, Morales, JC Chavez, RJJ, Holyfield, DLH etc and so many more.

My interest has wained in recent years it must be said, I think parenthood has made too big a dent in my time and something had to give. I just simply don't get the time to watch boxing that I used to.

I watch the bouts with my lad (he's 7) and we'll walk up to the bookies and I'll put a fiver each on one of the boxers, I try to explain who is who and what is happening, we get a chinese and it's a boys night in! If we win the bet we spilit the winnings. Effing mint it is and hopefully my boy will look back fondly when he's a man and maybe have good memories of boxing and be a fan (gotta get em young)

One of my mates used to box when we were only about 7 or 8 and his dad had hundreds of old boxing video's. We must have watched the Mike Tyson fights over and over again on repeat for weeks. We used to try and emulate his bob and weave, knees bent, move in low, head covered, then explode with hooks and uppercuts. We shared a few black eyes and bust noses but we sure did have fun - Then I think it would have been Nas and his showboating and trying to do the flip over the couch and landing on your ar5e - them were the days

Hatton - Tzsyu

palooka wrote:
I watch the bouts with my lad (he's 7) and we'll walk up to the bookies and I'll put a fiver each on one of the boxers, I try to explain who is who and what is happening, we get a chinese and it's a boys night in! If we win the bet we spilit the winnings. Effing mint it is and hopefully my boy will look back fondly when he's a man and maybe have good memories of boxing and be a fan (gotta get em young)

Well at least he gets some food out of it ;;-) . To be fair i used to love doing anything with my Dad, still do, but these days I buy the chinese.

I have a daughter, only 2, but I am hopeful I can turn her into a sports buff. Our lass is fighting against it though.