2009, the final year for free terrestial TV boxing

[DavidPayne]

i just do't see the froch / witter connection, personally. apart from both having a couple of WBC title wins and being promoted by mick hennessy

based on recent fights, one you'd watch, one you wouldn't

As I said, its just me "thinking out loud" and I knew it would get criticised. I aint comparing Froch to Witter recently, but when Witter had a run of being quite exiting. After Judah and before Ndou.

I think both have this similar "unorthdoxness" about them. Low guard, chin in the air (without the balance, footwork of Naz). Witter during this period was aggressive (and I was really championing him to beat most at 140 at this time), but neither work over a man in a "traditional" way. You don't that often see a classy jab, or working to the body. Its mainly these lunges and corkscrew uppercuts. Neither have a traditional style, neither did Naz... but Naz had chilling 1 punch KO power and wonderful balance and reflexes, also had a greater variety and, on a number of occasions, demonstrated he could box in a traditional way very very well.

But to say TV execs aren't interested unless you're Naseem Hamed is a little narrow.

You don't have to be Hamed or Tyson to claim good figures. Danny, Clinton, Amir and Audley have all done BIG numbers on terrestrial television.

If you strip two blokes to the waist and they fight. People watch.

[Datsue]

If you strip two blokes to the waist and they fight. People watch.

Not only if they fight...

[stujones]

i just do't see the froch / witter connection, personally. apart from both having a couple of WBC title wins and being promoted by mick hennessy

based on recent fights, one you'd watch, one you wouldn't

As I said, its just me "thinking out loud" and I knew it would get criticised. I aint comparing Froch to Witter recently, but when Witter had a run of being quite exiting. After Judah and before Ndou.

I think both have this similar "unorthdoxness" about them. Low guard, chin in the air (without the balance, footwork of Naz). Witter during this period was aggressive (and I was really championing him to beat most at 140 at this time), but neither work over a man in a "traditional" way. You don't that often see a classy jab, or working to the body. Its mainly these lunges and corkscrew uppercuts. Neither have a traditional style, neither did Naz... but Naz had chilling 1 punch KO power and wonderful balance and reflexes, also had a greater variety and, on a number of occasions, demonstrated he could box in a traditional way very very well.

But to say TV execs aren't interested unless you're Naseem Hamed is a little narrow.

You don't have to be Hamed or Tyson to claim good figures. Danny, Clinton, Amir and Audley have all done BIG numbers on terrestrial television.

If you strip two blokes to the waist and they fight. People watch.

Sorry, think I've been misread a little. Didn't mean for it to sound like "only Naz can do well". What I am wondering is if its the unorthodoxness of Froch that frightens execs.

All of those fighters you mentioned, with the exception of woods, had tools to go far. Some of them didn't fulfill it - but when Amir, Audley and Danny put their punches together - they look impressive and look like potential world champions. Froch, like Witter, looked awkard.

Especially when everytime Froch and Witter were on TV, there would be criticisms about their defence.... constructive criticism yes, but criticism all of the same. Instead of tuning in to see if they had improved - the non hardcore fan could write them off. Audley didn't have that criticism at the beeb, much to "our" displeasure. Sure, they would raise some question marks.... but would then say "when he puts it together, no-one in the world looks that good". With Carl commentators talk about his chin and his desire and heart - but not really about his skills.

I'm just merely asking if this could be the case... not my opinion.

Woods went further (so far) cause of less obvious tools.

[Spud]

They all do this Des. Perhaps without any flair, but they have facebook, youtube memberships.

But my whole point is they don't David - on paper they have the tools but crucially they don't know how to use them properly. Not one of them is doing any of the initiatives I came up with in just 10 mins - it's like having a Rolls Royce, but not having a driving licence. The failing isn't with the car, it's with your ability to drive it.
They just put up a token site and leave it at that, it's a token offering and a reactive one, and they think that's it, whereas that's just 5% of what you could potentially do.
There's an American marketeer called Seth Godin who explains this brilliantly in a book called 'Meatball Sundae' which basically explains how you have to use digital media effectively (which is what the promoters aren't doing) and not just treat it as a 'topping' to your traditional output. It's explained better here for those who are geeks like me:
http://www.stonetemple.com/articles/int ... 2007.shtml

I cant believe I am going to write this but hey ho - lethargy theres f*cking loads of it in boxing - there is so much thinking of "it will fall into place" or "everything will be alright on the night" it is unbelieveable - I am genuinally stunned at the complacency I have seen personally.

The worst thing of all is the promoters want something for nothing and think they are doing you a favour!!! - I have seen many people dip their toes in the assisting of shows only to walk away due to the complacency and basic reluctance of those in charge to listen - in addition the promoters are simply not wanting to take a calculated risk by ploughing some money into an event!!!

Its easy for me to say plough money into something - I have f*ck all and thus yeah okay I take things for granted - but unless boxing promoters are willing to listen they will get nowhere!!!

Hennessy is the best of the crop in my view with regards to how he looks after the punters - programmes, screens etc etc is very very good.

But the amount of times I have heard a promoter say to someone "what do you know about boxing to be able to tell me that" is also the arrogance that some of them show.