my next fight a dinner show..... opinions please

[iftkwoody]

Hi all hope everyone is well just letting people know I am fighting on a dinner show on Thursday 13th Sept. I was supposed to be fighting on a show the week after but it was on a ticket deal and hadn't received my tickets and with only 3 weeks left I would have really struggled with selling enough. Luckily the promoter of this dinner show is a friend and agreed to let me fight and I don't need to sell tickets which is a relief because at £130 each I would have struggled. Now other than the reason of letting people know I am fighting I would like to hear peoples opinions on dinner shows. I always said that I'd rather not fight on them because they are expensive for a night of boxing although looking into it it will be a great night for the punters as there is other things going on aswell.

What do you think?

It does seem they are aimed at city businesses and the like and I suppose for a 3 course meal and nig

ht of entertainment in Mayfair it is relatively cheap.

Just like to say thanks to the promotion team for giving me a slot too.

[pyenest77]

Hi Dan, I suppose it is good to get out there & have no pressure of selling tickets but for me give me a small hall show anyday.

[Newport Daz]

Never been to a dinner show but seen them on Sky (Warren's DEBRA stuff) From what I saw half the crowd were more interetsed in talking to each other than watching the fight. Dunno whether they attract a different audience? Agree with the above poster, small hall shows all the way, usually cracking atmosphere. Anyway op, good luck with your boxing career and hope you get your opportunities.

[Old bones Ian]

The only way i could get into a dinner show like that is if i was serving the food.

A few years ago those type of shows were thick with cigar smoke and the crowd weren't allowed to cheer on anyone, so the boxers would fight in near silence. Must of been a strange thing to do.

[Craig14]

It's sh1t mate. If I was back in England I'd love to watch you fight. But I can't afford 130 quid to watch you do it, what do your mates say? Say they've travelled to see all of your 8 fights for 30 quid a pop supporting and helping your career as much as they can financially and now this? Does that make it any less that they'd love to see you box? shit!!! Dinner shows don't just leave a bad taste in my mouth they make me question why I love this sport. They make me think does your promoter love this sport? Or is it just about the money/status?

[STEVE WOOD]

IFTK Woody ,

Just enjoy it mate and be glad to be fighting.

I have held and been to many dinner shows and like open shows some are better than others , can be really good nights. It is really hard promoting and making money now so to get the rare chance to perform and not worry about ticket sales is a god send.

All the best.

SM Woody

[whiskey]

I've enjoyed them. Then again I like to eat as much as I like to watch boxing.

Some beer, some dolly birds = a good evening's entertainment.

[Old bones Ian]

Its no different then id Woody was offered a fight abroad, how many of his fans could afford to go? Getting on shows is hard enough for boxers, i say take the fight its all about learning your trade at the mo, and best way to do that is in the ring.

[Craig14]

I'd much rather pay for a flight and hotel than for scampi and chips and a tux rental, then again I'm a traveller and I guess we're all different.

[Old bones Ian]

were not that different Craig, i've spent a few years travelling round the world, hope your having fun.
I'm looking at this from a purely selfish point of the boxer, Woody has only had 2 fights this year, and without a big name promoter behind him he has to take what fights are offered to him. plus this will be a bit less stressful as he doesn't have to worry about ticket sales.

[Craig14]

3 and a half months of no work, lying on beaches and drinking cheap beer in South East Asia, yes I'm enjoying it thank you.
My gripe is not with Dan, but with the whole concept of dinner shows and I've spoke to him about this subject. Of coarse I understand 2 fights so far this year is not enough as I'm sure he does. He's actually quite a good ticket seller (that's how I met him).

[iftkwoody]

I was supposed to be on another show but was let down so had no real other choice but to take this fight really. It was something that was on offer from the start but to be honest I was apprehensive due to the fact that I knew I would lack a support for this one because of the price, however I have been given some help with the tickets for my family so my mum and dad and brother and sister will be there along with my wife which is very important to me. I box because I love the glory side of it nothing better than someone coming up to me after a fight and saying how Mich they enjoyed their night and that they loved the fight, on top of this the pride I see in my family and friends when they can say that their son, friend, brother, or nephew is a professional boxer and doing OK is an amazing feeling. I've only had 2 this year as I injured my hand in my last fight and needed a good rest on it otherwise this would be my 4th or 5th fight of the year. I've been in the gym tho and have been learning massive amounts and still feel I am on course for something a bit bigger this year hopefully a masters or a southern area, we'll just have to see.

[Old bones Ian]

3 and a half months of no work, lying on beaches and drinking cheap beer in South East Asia, yes I'm enjoying it thank you.
My gripe is not with Dan, but with the whole concept of dinner shows and I've spoke to him about this subject. Of coarse I understand 2 fights so far this year is not enough as I'm sure he does. He's actually quite a good ticket seller (that's how I met him).

Craig, i'm not jealous at all.....honest
Best time of my life was doing that, keep going as long as you can

Woody, any idea who your facing?

[SteveDow]

I think boxing dinners are a bit like marmite in that you either love them or hate them.

My view is that if you have a good table with a few mates on it then it can be a really fun and enjoyable evening. However, for the actual boxing they are invariably bereft of any atmosphere due to the formality of the settings (usually black tie etc) and apathy of the audience to the boxing. In short they are better as a social occasion rather than for the sport itself.

[iftkwoody]

I've still got no opponent but have a few names my manager is looking at. Hopeful that it will be someone that wants a fight!! Lol

[bripez]

Just enjoy it mate and be glad to be fighting.

to get the rare chance to perform and not worry about ticket sales is a god send.

This.

Unless you have offers coming out of your ears, I don't understand the issue ?

[iftkwoody]

I'm not complaining I am very glad of the opportunity to fight on this show I was just wondering what peoples opinions are on this type of show.

[philipgill]

Just fight u ungreatful git

[iftkwoody]

Shut up phil I hate you!!! :-)

[philipgill]

Shut up phil I hate you!!! :-)

You only got the slot cause ur cheap rubbish lol.

I was on the bill but had to pull off as away with new job but I will be the house second that night.

[iftkwoody]

I look forward to working with ya

[HellraiserBoxing]

Its not easy taking a novice fighter and steering him to the point where he is in a position to get tv interested. Also novice fighters need to be out as often as poss to improve as fighters. Woody hasn't had 2 fights in a year, he's had 2 fights This year (2012), when u factor in to the equation the fact that he's also had injury problems, got married, going on holiday, we've just come out of the summer break, the Olympics etc he's done ok. I run quite a few dinner shows & enjoy them, with the amount of fighters I now have they provide a useful alternative in situations like Dan's.

Ticket selling is a big pressure on fighters, here he has an opportunity to box and not sell so I am grateful to the promoters Mark Burford & Andy Morris. Often shows like this put boxing in front of people who haven't ever seen boxing before but then become interested so that has to be good for the sport.

[Craig14]

And a 130 pound ticket price makes it inaccessible to the real boxing fan, so that has to be bad for the sport (or atleast the fans).