BoxRec

It’s disgusting. I wonder if they actually care, they’re literally changing peoples lives. Look at John Ryder. He should’ve got the 6 million plus pay day against Canelo but instead Callum Smith gets it. John would never have to work again, his kids & probably grandkids would be sorted forever if he was sensible with his purse but instead he was robbed & he’s on undercards struggling to get a fight. It’s awful.

Unfortunately it’s not that unusual in boxing and not just in the UK either. As long as there’s no real accountability, it’s unlikely to change.

Still, the referee in the Reid vs Ottke fight stands out for me. He penalized Reid for boxing in a boxing match. Just unbelievable.

It’s a tough job though. I don’t blame Bunce really. He’ll literally lose his jobs with BBC & BT if he was completely honest about the shitshow that is boxing. He has to play the game to have fighters be interviewed by him.

At least he’s not a full on arse licker in the Gareth A Davies mould. Now that is a joke of a journalist.

a force wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 06:19 It’s disgusting. I wonder if they actually care, they’re literally changing peoples lives. Look at John Ryder. He should’ve got the 6 million plus pay day against Canelo but instead Callum Smith gets it. John would never have to work again, his kids & probably grandkids would be sorted forever if he was sensible with his purse but instead he was robbed & he’s on undercards struggling to get a fight. It’s awful.

That's a really potent example. Interviewing a few similar victims of hometownism would be a provocative Boxing News article.

Noxy wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 06:19 Unfortunately it’s not that unusual in boxing and not just in the UK either. As long as there’s no real accountability, it’s unlikely to change.

Still, the referee in the Reid vs Ottke fight stands out for me. He penalized Reid for boxing in a boxing match. Just unbelievable.

Agreed mate and that is the all time gold standard to me. The ref knew what he was really there for, and Ottke's behaviour was consistent with it being a pre-determined outcome. The ref would admonish Reid at Ottke's say so, what I mean is, the ref was guided by Ottke. If ever there was a case of a ref actively disrupting the legit work of a lively underdog who might upset the applecart, its this one.

deadpan wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 07:03

a force wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 06:19 It’s disgusting. I wonder if they actually care, they’re literally changing peoples lives. Look at John Ryder. He should’ve got the 6 million plus pay day against Canelo but instead Callum Smith gets it. John would never have to work again, his kids & probably grandkids would be sorted forever if he was sensible with his purse but instead he was robbed & he’s on undercards struggling to get a fight. It’s awful.

That's a really potent example. Interviewing a few similar victims of hometownism would be a provocative Boxing News article.

When I was a kid, I recall Harry Mullan editing Boxing News. He would grasp the nettle on things like that. I don't read BN anymore but I hope coverage is given. I recall a Mullan editorial about inept roadsweepers being brought over routinely, and he said that whilst he tired of banging on about it, he would not stop until "those responsible are shamed into change". I always remembered that, he was a man who loved the sport and wanted it to be better.

JimJim2009 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 07:12

deadpan wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 07:03

a force wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 06:19 It’s disgusting. I wonder if they actually care, they’re literally changing peoples lives. Look at John Ryder. He should’ve got the 6 million plus pay day against Canelo but instead Callum Smith gets it. John would never have to work again, his kids & probably grandkids would be sorted forever if he was sensible with his purse but instead he was robbed & he’s on undercards struggling to get a fight. It’s awful.

That's a really potent example. Interviewing a few similar victims of hometownism would be a provocative Boxing News article.

When I was a kid, I recall Harry Mullan editing Boxing News. He would grasp the nettle on things like that. I don't read BN anymore but I hope coverage is given. I recall a Mullan editorial about inept roadsweepers being brought over routinely, and he said that whilst he tired of banging on about it, he would not stop until "those responsible are shamed into change". I always remembered that, he was a man who loved the sport and wanted it to be better.

Yes, Harry was a gem. My introduction to reading about boxing. And still one of the best.

JimJim2009 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 07:12

deadpan wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 07:03

a force wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 06:19 It’s disgusting. I wonder if they actually care, they’re literally changing peoples lives. Look at John Ryder. He should’ve got the 6 million plus pay day against Canelo but instead Callum Smith gets it. John would never have to work again, his kids & probably grandkids would be sorted forever if he was sensible with his purse but instead he was robbed & he’s on undercards struggling to get a fight. It’s awful.

That's a really potent example. Interviewing a few similar victims of hometownism would be a provocative Boxing News article.

When I was a kid, I recall Harry Mullan editing Boxing News. He would grasp the nettle on things like that. I don't read BN anymore but I hope coverage is given. I recall a Mullan editorial about inept roadsweepers being brought over routinely, and he said that whilst he tired of banging on about it, he would not stop until "those responsible are shamed into change". I always remembered that, he was a man who loved the sport and wanted it to be better.

Harry was not afraid to take on the Cartel when he became editor in 1977 and everyone admired his tough stance (including, secretly, the Cartel) but we all know that between hard fights there have to be looseners or fighters would simply burn-out. Ideally, those looseners last a couple of rounds (yes, against the roadsweepers) but by all means make the looseners good, solid workouts over the longer course for those fighters who have been out several months.
Mullan was a great boxing writer and a great man but his dream of 50/50 fights time and again was - and still is - an impossible one.

Giancarlo wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 06:04

golden_balls wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 13:46 silence from so many UK pundits and boxing peeps still. what a grubby bunch

They are all in bed together.

It's a profitable gig for all of them and they aren't about to shit in their own nest.

Bunce is the the worst but the rest are close behind.

The fact of the matter is, none of the commentators or pundits, will stick their neck on the line.

I wrote a scathing article years ago, after the shocking officiating for Robin Reid's title challenge to Sven Ottke, which was the most bent piece of refereeing I've ever seen, and shocking judging too.

It transpired that the ref had no experience officiating world title fights, and was mainly an amateur ref, and that he was appointed by an Italian IBF official who had very cosy links with Saurland.

I got a reply from a prominent boxing journo via email after the article (not Buncey), who congratulated me for the article, and the shockingly corrupt officiating, when I asked whether he would be prepared to have his reply featured in my mailbag for the website his response was basically a 'Hell no!'

I initially liked Buncey - he had a good level of integrity that fitted well to his Big Daddy Persona. I was right behind the Bring Back Buncey campaign.
But like a boxer who has been KO`d and becomes gun-shy .. Buncey became gun-shy in his commentating after the Bring Back Bunce campaign.

Anyone who remembered him from the early Audley Harrison era will know what a pathetic sell out he became. Buncey initially acknowledged us here as supporting him, and was thankful; however his inflated ego changed all that some years ago .. he has forgotten the debt he owes to the anoraks now.

Bunce now is simply a Walter Mitty character. He really is the contemporary Colin Hart. A joke commentator and a joke boxing expert.

Another angle on the corruption within pro boxing...

Talking to some mates who aren't Boxing fans but who'd been buying tickets for a start out pro who'd built up a bit of a rep as a crowd pleaser in the amateurs. Their jaws hit the floor when I told them he wasn't going to lose whilst selling 200 tickets, that his 70 bout opponent was a journeyman who'd won just 5. Trying to do it in such a way that the boxer didn't look like he'd had them over, that he wasn't as good as his publicity suggested was difficult not least because he was actually half decent.

Long story short, going from a show closing amateur bout of the night with the crowd on their feet in his hometown, to being first on at the York Hall going through the motions wasn't what the boxer hoped for. Like many he packed it all in after a handful of bouts.

a force wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 06:19 It’s disgusting. I wonder if they actually care, they’re literally changing peoples lives. Look at John Ryder. He should’ve got the 6 million plus pay day against Canelo but instead Callum Smith gets it. John would never have to work again, his kids & probably grandkids would be sorted forever if he was sensible with his purse but instead he was robbed & he’s on undercards struggling to get a fight. It’s awful.

Spot on, it's a disgrace.