BoxRec

I love going to the York Hall - you can't beat the atmosphere IMO.

Have also been to Brentwood leisure centre which is a good venue.

ive been to a couple of carl greaves shows in newark and doncaster but i in all honesty wasnt overly enthused by the match ups , but ive been told there usually good hence why i went , maybe i just didnt choose the best nights . apparantly matt scriven has done a few descent ones in mansfield but ive never been to one.

MachoMan09 wrote:These shows are the grassroots of the game and often provide some awesome match-ups.

Could you give examples (from the last 12 months maybe) ? All the reviews/scedules I see seem dominated by unappealling bouts (ie Prospect V journeyman etc)

MachoMan09 wrote:I would be interested to know, how many of the regular posters here attend small hall, non-televised shows on a regular basis?

These shows are the grassroots of the game and often provide some awesome match-ups. I don't know about anyone else, but I always use a small hall show to take 'newbies' to their first boxing event. It gets them closer to the action, it feels grittier and lets them feel like they have been part of the event rather than just a viewer in the Gods at the MEN or wherever.

I am sure most of you diehards are well ahead of the game here; but the small hall promoters need all the help they can get. Any of the younger members of the forum or newcomers to boxing who have not had the experience of a small hall event (amateur or pro) should give it a go - if they haven't already.

x2

I try to get to most (i'm away more these days but still try to get to a good percentage) local small hall shows, seen some great shows from 1st team, jonP etc round this way over the last few years.

Small hall shows can certainly provide plenty of entertainment. March 14th - Crunchtime at Lunchtime from Wolverhampton Civic Hall will be a perfect example and if you can't get there you can watch it online http://www.brandhatton.com/TV/Pay-Per-View

nigeltsport wrote:Small hall shows can certainly provide plenty of entertainment. March 14th - Crunchtime at Lunchtime from Wolverhampton Civic Hall will be a perfect example and if you can't get there you can watch it online http://www.brandhatton.com/TV/Pay-Per-View

main event should be a decent scrap, not sure if the undercard will hold the attention. The 2 bouts up on boxrec seem to be foregone conclusions.

Without the Small hall shows The bigger promoters would find it hard to get the stars of the future Small hall promoters arent given T V deals and 9 times out of 10 lose there own money Not tv money or sponsors money there own hard earn money and do all the work involved
Ask First Team,Carl Greaves,Black Eye Promotions (jane couch and nick hodges) Jack Bishop Mickey Helliett Who promote regular shows and keep the lads busy while trying to build there record while still putting the lads in good matches
Jon Pegg Errol Johnson Jack Mickey and ourselves have had some great small hall shows and are the grass roots of boxing How many of the bigger promoters run small shows along side there TV dates NOT MANY
Meaning boxers that are with the bigger promoters only fight 2 or 3 times a year if there lucky

princess wrote:Without the Small hall shows The bigger promoters would find it hard to get the stars of the future Small hall promoters arent given T V deals and 9 times out of 10 lose there own money Not tv money or sponsors money there own hard earn money and do all the work involved
Ask First Team,Carl Greaves,Black Eye Promotions (jane couch and nick hodges) Jack Bishop Mickey Helliett Who promote regular shows and keep the lads busy while trying to build there record while still putting the lads in good matches
Jon Pegg Errol Johnson Jack Mickey and ourselves have had some great small hall shows and are the grass roots of boxing How many of the bigger promoters run small shows along side there TV dates NOT MANY
Meaning boxers that are with the bigger promoters only fight 2 or 3 times a year if there lucky

very true , i think though the murky side of boxing causes a few terrotories , and other promotors dont then enter their area to do shows , this can sometimes lead to complacency , but unlike the bigger promotors , the small ones know they have to fix it and try to make a show better as its their livelyhood , they cant rely on names or reputations , problem comes though when they get a huge ticket seller , as theyll then be protected a little too much as there a good source of income , the fighter then either gets too big for his boots or wants more of a challenge and sods off to a bigger promotor and its back to square one again , but yes i agree without small hall shows many future champs would never surface.

damianhucker1 wrote:

princess wrote:Without the Small hall shows The bigger promoters would find it hard to get the stars of the future Small hall promoters arent given T V deals and 9 times out of 10 lose there own money Not tv money or sponsors money there own hard earn money and do all the work involved
Ask First Team,Carl Greaves,Black Eye Promotions (jane couch and nick hodges) Jack Bishop Mickey Helliett Who promote regular shows and keep the lads busy while trying to build there record while still putting the lads in good matches
Jon Pegg Errol Johnson Jack Mickey and ourselves have had some great small hall shows and are the grass roots of boxing How many of the bigger promoters run small shows along side there TV dates NOT MANY
Meaning boxers that are with the bigger promoters only fight 2 or 3 times a year if there lucky

very true , i think though the murky side of boxing causes a few terrotories , and other promotors dont then enter their area to do shows , this can sometimes lead to complacency , but unlike the bigger promotors , the small ones know they have to fix it and try to make a show better as its their livelyhood , they cant rely on names or reputations , problem comes though when they get a huge ticket seller , as theyll then be protected a little too much as there a good source of income , the fighter then either gets too big for his boots or wants more of a challenge and sods off to a bigger promotor and its back to square one again , but yes i agree without small hall shows many future champs would never surface.

And when you get a big ticket seller Normally the family or people outside dont realise they have been protected and like you say get to big for there boots
But in my experience they go to a bigger promoter and become a small fish in a BIG pond and expect to be treated the same as when they were with the small promoter Then when that doesnt happen go back to the small promoter
But if the small promoter can work with the big promoter Happy days
The problems come when the big promoter tells the STAR They can do this and that and starts talking to the boxer rather than the manager and the promoter that got them there in the first place
In fairness though there are still a few of the TV promoters realise this and work with the smaller promoter

I get to as many as I can, seeing that I film them does help!!!
The last non televised show at York hall I done was Hayemakers last year , its up on youtube anywway!!!
Try to film as many as I can, Mainly London and surrounding areas, There are not many good cameramen willing to do the 'miles' I do, and its a pleasure to watch them all.....

Been to 3 so far this year.

Lee Swaby v Dave Ingleby dinner show last week - fantastic scrap over 10 rounds - both were knackered after a couple of rounds - but then slugged it out for 10 rounds.

Then a couple of Liam Cameron fights - again good nights - great atmosphere.

Spud wrote:Been to 3 so far this year.

How many did you pay to attend?

I always try and support the local shows.
This Sunday for instance Dave Coldwell has a good afternoon show lined up.
Curtis Woodhouse top of the bill, rematch with Jay Morris plus a couple of local derbies.
8 fight bill for £25 and out of the house from 3pm.
Great value for money.

twenty six wrote:I always try and support the local shows.
This Sunday for instance Dave Coldwell has a good afternoon show lined up.
Curtis Woodhouse top of the bill, rematch with Jay Morris plus a couple of local derbies.
8 fight bill for £25 and out of the house from 3pm.
Great value for money.

Thats what boxing is all about

nigeltsport wrote:Small hall shows can certainly provide plenty of entertainment. March 14th - Crunchtime at Lunchtime from Wolverhampton Civic Hall will be a perfect example and if you can't get there you can watch it online http://www.brandhatton.com/TV/Pay-Per-View

Yep really looking forward to this bill, biggest show in Wolverhampton for a while

I actually prefer to go to small hall shows a lot of the time.

Regarding the money angle, what I noticed in an article in boxing news is how tight it can be. One of the better known promoters was saying that he booked a venue, but only got it 2/3 full, and one of the biggest losses he had incurred, and meant the compnay was close to going under.

It does make me wonder how much a poorly attended fight affects the promoters business.

Also perhaps brings home the point that paying fans ARE needed, which might encourage some promoters to treat them well. (For sure, some promoters/organisers DO treat the fans well.) But I've been to too many events where the paying crowd (especially in the cheap seats) is treated like the least important group at the event.

whicker wrote:Regarding the money angle, what I noticed in an article in boxing news is how tight it can be. One of the better known promoters was saying that he booked a venue, but only got it 2/3 full, and one of the biggest losses he had incurred, and meant the compnay was close to going under.

It does make me wonder how much a poorly attended fight affects the promoters business.

Also perhaps brings home the point that paying fans ARE needed, which might encourage some promoters to treat them well. (For sure, some promoters/organisers DO treat the fans well.) But I've been to too many events where the paying crowd (especially in the cheap seats) is treated like the least important group at the event.

The fans are such a important part of the show not only for financial reasons But for the atomosphere and support for the boxers and should be treated accordingly
But no promoter with TV should be losing money with ticket sales sponsorship and the money from the TV
So long as you dont have loads of 12 rounders and title fights they should be making quiet a bit of each show
I know if a few of us smaller promoters were getting £75K Off Sky It would be the best boxing show EVER

princess wrote: The fans are such a important part of the show not only for financial reasons

Unfortuantly, not all promoters appear to share that view. I'm not singling out a specific promoter, but sometimes I've been to a show and felt the whole thing was a waste of money, simply because of the total ignorance of the organisers with regard to looking after the fans.

Example, I went to a Small Hall Friday Fight Night show in a town, and there was nowhere to park at all. No signs, no people in jackets helping etc. I was lucky, managed to find a place, but many people didn't, the result being total anarchy. If the police wanted to , they could have issued so many tickets!

Even at Boy Scout fundays they have properly organised parking- for a £ or 2 the costs can be covered. But at professional boxing... nah...

Then the main event was ruined by people simply standing in front of the front row of seats. No stewards, no security etc to stop them.

Add that often at shows the fights are timed round SKY (understandable, to an extent) but this often means the paying fans are left hanging around, without any clear indication of the schedule, when the next bout is etc. I don't know any other event (sporting or otherwise) where the paying crowd are given no indication of the running order/timings.

I've even been asked to leave an event (told that it was finished) when there were other fights on the bill!

And don't get me started on (a specific venue in the North of England)

Anyone been to a Miranda Carter "Left Jab" show - thinking of doing a sunday day show at the York Hall. Are they quiet relaxed affairs with people sitting around having a few pints and readig the papers?

I think there are good & bad in small hall shows in my experience I have been to some brilliant with 50/50 contests & other where the left hand side was all journeymen without a hope in wiing a round never mind the fight.

MachoMan09 wrote:

whicker wrote:

princess wrote: The fans are such a important part of the show not only for financial reasons

Unfortuantly, not all promoters appear to share that view. I'm not singling out a specific promoter, but sometimes I've been to a show and felt the whole thing was a waste of money, simply because of the total ignorance of the organisers with regard to looking after the fans.

Example, I went to a Small Hall Friday Fight Night show in a town, and there was nowhere to park at all. No signs, no people in jackets helping etc. I was lucky, managed to find a place, but many people didn't, the result being total anarchy. If the police wanted to , they could have issued so many tickets!

Even at Boy Scout fundays they have properly organised parking- for a £ or 2 the costs can be covered. But at professional boxing... nah...

Then the main event was ruined by people simply standing in front of the front row of seats. No stewards, no security etc to stop them.

Add that often at shows the fights are timed round SKY (understandable, to an extent) but this often means the paying fans are left hanging around, without any clear indication of the schedule, when the next bout is etc. I don't know any other event (sporting or otherwise) where the paying crowd are given no indication of the running order/timings.

I've even been asked to leave an event (told that it was finished) when there were other fights on the bill!

And don't get me started on (a specific venue in the North of England)

You raise some valid points.

Stewards, security etc all need paying. It is hard for the promoters to get everything right when they are managing on a tight budget. The more of us who attend these shows, the more the promoters will have to enhance the experience. I am a big believer in supporting these smaller outfits in order to - in my own small way - help preserve boxing as a sport. I have noticed a gradual decline in the abilities of fighters over the last two decades or so. There are many reasons for this but one of them is lack of support at grassroots level.

Fair point- I guess it's all about balance.

That said, as a spectator, if I'm paying £30 upwards for ANY event I expect the event to be well run, and the needs of the audience to be catered for. Transport, safety, security, comforts etc.

I was at a boxing event, a World Title fight, and the people sitting near me walked out due to crowd issues- I'd be chatting to them- they were fans, who went to many events. Will they go to boxing again?

Equally, I know people who simply won't go to a live boxing event at all out of safety concerns.

It's like with football in the dark days of the 80s- people simply were put off going. It took a lot of time, and a massive ammount of effort, to restore people's faith in it as a family game.

I guess it's a question of "look after the public, and they will look after you." At the end of the day, the vast majority of the public won't attend small hall shows just to "support the sport." The public want to be entertained, and want to feel safe and enjoy the show.

pyenest77 wrote:I think there are good & bad in small hall shows in my experience I have been to some brilliant with 50/50 contests & other where the left hand side was all journeymen without a hope in wiing a round never mind the fight.

Most do seem to rely heavily on "journeyman" opposition these days.

whicker wrote:

pyenest77 wrote:I think there are good & bad in small hall shows in my experience I have been to some brilliant with 50/50 contests & other where the left hand side was all journeymen without a hope in wiing a round never mind the fight.

Most do seem to rely heavily on "journeyman" opposition these days.

Most Sky shows are relying on the journeymen these days not the small shows We cant afford them

Very easy too become a promoter, license fee £500 then your bond £8,000.00 and away u go
making money easy. fornicating try it, unless you have been there keep your wonderful ideas too yourselves. i go through so much shit each time i do a show, it surely takes years of my life
i always try too put on good even contests moreso because i can not afford the journeymen to pad out records.