BoxRec

The inactivity of much of the top talent in the Uk is staggering.

The future of boxing in this country is likely to see many of our top fighters retire with less than 25 fights on their record.

They are fighting twice a year on average, which is simply not often enough in my opinion. These blokes have to make a living as well, so either they are being paid a hell of a lot more than Boxers used to, or they are scraping the barrell financially.

Groves, Degale, Price, Bellew, Cleverly, Mitchell, Murray etc are hardly ever in action.

Shouldn`t guys like this and countless others be fighting more often?

forcefraser wrote:The inactivity of much of the top talent in the Uk is staggering.

The future of boxing in this country is likely to see many of our top fighters retire with less than 25 fights on their record.

They are fighting twice a year on average, which is simply not often enough in my opinion. These blokes have to make a living as well, so either they are being paid a hell of a lot more than Boxers used to, or they are scraping the barrell financially.

Groves, Degale, Price, Bellew, Cleverly, Mitchell, Murray etc are hardly ever in action.

Shouldn`t guys like this and countless others be fighting more often?

What have most (not all but most) of those got in common...I think that should at least partly answer your question.

Sadly you're right, British fighters aren't kept active enough, shocking really when you consider allegedly has potential to keep fighters busy with the TV slots. I know the Olympics has been on and stealing the sports fans but allegedly "could" have had some domestic scraps just to keep some guys (I.E. Selkirk) busy.

I understand Sky Sports having other things to show (as much as it grates some folk) but Sky Sports is no longer the only option to look at (Premier Sports, the Goodwin's deal on Primetime, Channel 5, Eurosport, allegedly) so we do have TV time for our fighters...we probably just need promoters to do their jobs properly.

Also we probably need promoters who are willing to take a financial hit early on to create fighters of value. Your general fans couldn't give a rats about watching a card with only 1 "evens-ish" fight, but give us 3 or 4 fights worth watching (yes promoters, we know it will cost) and the more general sports fans will tune in. Cards seem to have gotten progressively poorer in recent years and it's little wonder fans don't care.

allegedly in particular could showcase talent in small hall shows in every county around the country on almost a fortnightly basis!

I am can see your worries about that mate, But looking around at the moment found these

Enzo Mac already has 40 fights on the slate
Gavin Rees has had 39 fights and is 32 is knocking on the door of another world title shot and has 2/3 years left in him
Ricky Burns has had 36 fights and is 29 and he has got 3/4 years in him at world level
Kell Brook has had 29 fights and is 26 and he has got another 5/6 years so coulld get up to nearly 50 fights if he wishes.
Tyson Fury has 20 fights and he is 24 and he could at 4/5 fights a year have 50 fights on the slate by the time he is 30.
Billy Joe Saunders has had 14 fights and he is 22 years old so he could get up to 40 fights by the time he is 30

I know it is a small sample but it is enough to give you some hope. But I think it is down to the fact that some guys are joining the paid ranks a little later.