BoxRec

Hi all

Spoke to both Robert Smith from old BBBofC and Spencer Brown of the unlicensed body the EBF.

http://www.secondsout.com/news/main-new ... its-future

Any thoughts?

Wake up call wrote:Hi all

Spoke to both Robert Smith from old BBBofC and Spencer Brown of the unlicensed body the EBF.

http://www.secondsout.com/news/main-new ... its-future

Any thoughts?

I thought it was an excellent article, congrats.
Regarding the issue,

Spencer Brown:

We’re looking to get Chris Bacon a fight with Francois Botha in a big marquee in Manchester and we’re hoping to get Mark Potter a fight with Danny Williams with Michael Gomez will be on the undercard, plus a few other names that might shock people.”

Well, good luck with that Spencer..... And maybe Mike Tyson fighting Father Christmas?


Spencer Brown, i wish to address you personally, if i may?

Dont "promote" events that will never happen, its a waste of time.

ofcoarse those fights could happen. Mark fought butterbean on an EBF show. A Danny Williams fight would be easier to make (Williams wouldn't have to fight in Latvia anymore)

yid14 wrote:ofcoarse those fights could happen. Mark fought butterbean on an EBF show. A Danny Williams fight would be easier to make (Williams wouldn't have to fight in Latvia anymore)

Chris Bacon wll not figh Francois Botha in a tent in Manchester, ever.

Botha makes nice money fighting in Casino's in South Africa (i met him at the Emperors Palace in JoBurg last summer btw)

Nice man.

Khaosai-Galaxy wrote:

yid14 wrote:ofcoarse those fights could happen. Mark fought butterbean on an EBF show. A Danny Williams fight would be easier to make (Williams wouldn't have to fight in Latvia anymore)

Chris Bacon wll not figh Francois Botha in a tent in Manchester, ever.

Botha makes nice money fighting in Casino's in South Africa (i met him at the Emperors Palace in JoBurg last summer btw)

Nice man.

If the money was right I'm sure he'd be over. Chris P. Bacon got to love the name.

Interesting.

A few questions.

What is the crowd control like at these events? Im sure men all stood around with pint glasses in their hands can be quite dangerous, so is there good security in venues.

What kind of venues across the country hold these fights? Are these just little venues like church halls and social clubs that only hold around 200 people?

What is the medical situation?

Is there a schedule like on Boxrec so you can see these fights and buy tickets?

My perseption is its like an illegal boxing match like those on Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, however I only have this perseption because ive never been to a unlicenced fight night before.

If its a safe environment and there is good crowd control and good medical resources I cant really see any issues, well maybe one, Im sure you have ex pros such as Danny Williams who cannot get a licence to fight with the BBBoC because he is most like 'over the hill' and would not pass a medical, which for him is good as his welfare is being put in the front, but an unlicenced show may let him fight with no problems, but are they looking out for him then? As soon as there is a fatality or bad accident like McClennan it will be made illegal and go further underground.


As I say this is only my perseption as ive never attended an event.

yid14 wrote:

Khaosai-Galaxy wrote:

yid14 wrote:ofcoarse those fights could happen. Mark fought butterbean on an EBF show. A Danny Williams fight would be easier to make (Williams wouldn't have to fight in Latvia anymore)

Chris Bacon wll not figh Francois Botha in a tent in Manchester, ever.

Botha makes nice money fighting in Casino's in South Africa (i met him at the Emperors Palace in JoBurg last summer btw)

Nice man.

If the money was right I'm sure he'd be over. Chris P. Bacon got to love the name.

Ahhhh, but where is the money going to come from?

I always liked Chris P. a very, very tough bloke indeed.

It's obvious the BBBofC do need a kick up the arse, but I'm not sure this is the way to do it.

Khaosai-Galaxy wrote:Botha makes nice money fighting in Casino's in South Africa (i met him at the Emperors Palace in JoBurg last summer btw)

Nice man.

I did the Sun City casino's myself. Great place I must say.

very good article

G0mez wrote:

Khaosai-Galaxy wrote:Botha makes nice money fighting in Casino's in South Africa (i met him at the Emperors Palace in JoBurg last summer btw)

Nice man.

I did the Sun City casino's myself. Great place I must say.

I got quite addicted to "Biltong" whilst in South Africa. One evening at the Emporers Palace i ate so much of it that i started have hallucinations that i was being chased by angry heards of Springbok.

I'm pretty horrified by this tbh. People really underestimate the damage boxing does to fighters. Someone happy to put Danny Williams in a ring wouldnt be out of place in prison.

Im relieved I got no replies to my question further up the thread, this means that every boxing fan here has either not been to an unlicenced show or is not interested in unlicenced boxing.

I also agree with what the previous reply says, putting over the hill fighters into the ring needs a place in prison

mimmy123 wrote:Im relieved I got no replies to my question further up the thread, this means that every boxing fan here has either not been to an unlicenced show or is not interested in unlicenced boxing.

I also agree with what the previous reply says, putting over the hill fighters into the ring needs a place in prison

I've never been to one but my old man and my brother used to go to quite a few, they say the standards pretty hit and miss, but there always packed out because it's ticket seller against ticket seller. All the ones they went to were at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet. I side with you why go to 'semi pro' boxing when you can go to the real thing for the same price. Also they said there was a few too many chavs in the crowd who really fought they were watching top class boxers and championship fights, and quite a few fancied there chances of abit of scrap at venue aswell. Give me pro boxing at the york hall anyday of the week. But i guess I can see the point of it, people are making money and there's doctors on hand.

i have seen sum horrific mis matches at the shows i have been to - i saw an ex pro northern area champion (about 35 yrs old) sparring partner of a former british title and world title challenger fighting a 16 yr old lad having his first bout of any sort...1st round KO as youd expect.

Also seen old men that fat theyve had to wear vests cos there 2 embarrased to take them off

once saw a bloke completely outmatched and hit the floor like a rock (for the fourth time) he looked at the ref as if to say "please stop this fight" but the ref allowed it to go another 2 rounds :(

yid14 wrote:

mimmy123 wrote:Im relieved I got no replies to my question further up the thread, this means that every boxing fan here has either not been to an unlicenced show or is not interested in unlicenced boxing.

I also agree with what the previous reply says, putting over the hill fighters into the ring needs a place in prison

I've never been to one but my old man and my brother used to go to quite a few, they say the standards pretty hit and miss, but there always packed out because it's ticket seller against ticket seller. All the ones they went to were at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet. I side with you why go to 'semi pro' boxing when you can go to the real thing for the same price. Also they said there was a few too many chavs in the crowd who really fought they were watching top class boxers and championship fights, and quite a few fancied there chances of abit of scrap at venue aswell. Give me pro boxing at the york hall anyday of the week. But i guess I can see the point of it, people are making money and there's doctors on hand.

I've been to the Tavern plenty of times for the boxing and never seen a fight in the crowd. Not once. Not to say it hasn't happened at other times.

Used to go to watch my uncle down there, now I go to see my mate box. Last show I went to in December, there weren't any real mismatches - certainly you will see more uneven fights (in quality and amount) on Jan 13th at York Hall. The standard is up and down but then is it not at pro shows?

mimmy123 wrote:Im relieved I got no replies to my question further up the thread, this means that every boxing fan here has either not been to an unlicenced show or is not interested in unlicenced boxing.

I also agree with what the previous reply says, putting over the hill fighters into the ring needs a place in prison

I'd really love to give you an insight into unlicensed boxing. I've worked for most big promoters on the scene . I don't want to be seen to be backing it in my position. Sorry , but was considering a little book in the future & would include all my fights over the years

johnnygreaves wrote:

mimmy123 wrote:Im relieved I got no replies to my question further up the thread, this means that every boxing fan here has either not been to an unlicenced show or is not interested in unlicenced boxing.

I also agree with what the previous reply says, putting over the hill fighters into the ring needs a place in prison

I'd really love to give you an insight into unlicensed boxing. I've worked for most big promoters on the scene . I don't want to be seen to be backing it in my position. Sorry , but was considering a little book in the future & would include all my fights over the years

ive never been to an unlicenced show so cannot make judgement but if the BBBoC will not allow a fighter to fight whose benefit does it justify to let a fighter fight unlicened?

The name that has been mentioned is Danny Williams. as Danny got anything to offer the BBBoc in terms of fighting legit and his welfare? What does unlicened have in place to cover any incident, also is there any personal insurance for injured fighters and legal costs etc?

BBBofC licensed events have ambulances on hand, hospitals in the area are notified an event is taking place in their area and all their fighters are insured for life changing injuries during the contest.

I doubt unlicensed boxing has these safe guards in place or the experience in these matters.

It's matter of time until someone dies on one of these events and then the sport will suffer, licensed and unlicensed

Final round wrote:BBBofC licensed events have ambulances on hand, hospitals in the area are notified an event is taking place in their area and all their fighters are insured for life changing injuries during the contest.

I doubt unlicensed boxing has these safe guards in place or the experience in these matters.

It's matter of time until someone dies on one of these events and then the sport will suffer, licensed and unlicensed

There's a doctor at ringside I know that much. Last show I went to they did not start the first bout till the doctor got to ringside as he was held in traffic. A bloke got put down heavy and the doctor was straight in there almost before the ref waved the fight off. The rounds are two-minutes as well.

@matt___s wrote:

Final round wrote:BBBofC licensed events have ambulances on hand, hospitals in the area are notified an event is taking place in their area and all their fighters are insured for life changing injuries during the contest.

I doubt unlicensed boxing has these safe guards in place or the experience in these matters.

It's matter of time until someone dies on one of these events and then the sport will suffer, licensed and unlicensed

There's a doctor at ringside I know that much. Last show I went to they did not start the first bout till the doctor got to ringside as he was held in traffic. A bloke got put down heavy and the doctor was straight in there almost before the ref waved the fight off. The rounds are two-minutes as well.

Not sure what good a lone doctor is apart from facial injuries or judging whether a fighter needs an ambulance?

Do their fighter have medicals before contests? or check ups every year?

Are the referee's licensed?

ive been to a few white collar shows and theyve all been good nights but iv heard a few horror storys about missmatches at other ones but havent really seen any at the ones ive been to , thats a great read that article by the way

"Alternatively licensed" - that's a dangerous rebrand, just like "white collar" and the even more spurious "semi-pro". Michael Gomez has been shot for years, Danny Williams admits he is finished, why then would a true boxing fan have any interest in this 'sport'? Yes it's popular and lucrative but safety should be paramount in any pursuit that has boxing's inherent risks. Calling unlicensed boxing "alternatively licensed" affords it a legitimacy its backers will welcome but one it ill deserves.

Brilliant work by Andrew Wake, mag worthy.

I went into this project looking for a balanced view and I think that shows. However, I do feel that a couple of points are being missed.

1) The term unlicensed simply means "non-BBBofC" and is in reality an incorrect term. Would you call PDC darts "unlicensed" as they are a break away from the BDO?

2) The article does not support an alternative scene. Far from it. I'm BBBofC through and through but I am able to look at both sides of the coin.

3) However, if the board was perfect there would be no need for another scene.