Best Current Boxing Region in the UK?

danamba7 · Post by **danamba7** » 28 Jan 2014, 10:26

Watching Joe Gallagher's crop from the North West excel in British boxing last year got me thinking what is the best area in UK for boxing...? I personally would have to go with the North West at the moment, particularly Liverpool with the 4 Smith brothers, Tony Bellew, Rocky Fielding, Paul Butler, Derry Matthews, David Price, Tony Dodson, Joe Selkirk. No world champions in that bunch but a lot of potential and a variety of weight divisions represented.

The worst current boxing region would be the East Midlands in my opinion which happens to be where I reside! We have the most established boxer in the UK in Carl Froch and then not much at all after that. Not even many prospects coming though apart from Arfan Iqbal of Derby but not convinced as yet that he'll go too far in the sport.

So what would everyone else pick be for best current boxing region in the UK?

daviddee · Post by **daviddee** » 28 Jan 2014, 10:55

Got to agree North West seems the hotbed

keirw · Post by **keirw** » 28 Jan 2014, 11:26

north west at the moment, london/south east probably second

damianhucker1 · Post by **damianhucker1** » 28 Jan 2014, 12:14

danamba7 wrote:Watching Joe Gallagher's crop from the North West excel in British boxing last year got me thinking what is the best area in UK for boxing...? I personally would have to go with the North West at the moment, particularly Liverpool with the 4 Smith brothers, Tony Bellew, Rocky Fielding, Paul Butler, Derry Matthews, David Price, Tony Dodson, Joe Selkirk. No world champions in that bunch but a lot of potential and a variety of weight divisions represented.

The worst current boxing region would be the East Midlands in my opinion which happens to be where I reside! We have the most established boxer in the UK in Carl Froch and then not much at all after that. Not even many prospects coming though apart from Arfan Iqbal of Derby but not convinced as yet that he'll go too far in the sport.

So what would everyone else pick be for best current boxing region in the UK?

Leigh Wood is by far the best prospect in East Midlands, which will be shown when he wins the British title on 22nd feb

danamba7 · Post by **danamba7** » 28 Jan 2014, 12:35

damianhucker1 wrote:
danamba7 wrote:Watching Joe Gallagher's crop from the North West excel in British boxing last year got me thinking what is the best area in UK for boxing...? I personally would have to go with the North West at the moment, particularly Liverpool with the 4 Smith brothers, Tony Bellew, Rocky Fielding, Paul Butler, Derry Matthews, David Price, Tony Dodson, Joe Selkirk. No world champions in that bunch but a lot of potential and a variety of weight divisions represented.

The worst current boxing region would be the East Midlands in my opinion which happens to be where I reside! We have the most established boxer in the UK in Carl Froch and then not much at all after that. Not even many prospects coming though apart from Arfan Iqbal of Derby but not convinced as yet that he'll go too far in the sport.

So what would everyone else pick be for best current boxing region in the UK?
Leigh Wood is by far the best prospect in East Midlands, which will be shown when he wins the British title on 22nd feb

Never seen him fight mate. He on the Hull card then? He's in a tough division domestically with Quigg & Frampton then Kid Galahad & Jazza Dickens. Think he could mix it with these in time?

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 28 Jan 2014, 13:16

north east has just produced another world champ..

Emmseegee · Post by **Emmseegee** » 28 Jan 2014, 15:19

I voted for Scotland because we have so many world champions and contenders up here.
Our promotors all work well together, our prospects are all tested on a regular basis and there are so many pro shows that its often just so hard to keep up with them.

Well it was either because of the above or because im Scottish.....

pyenest77 · Post by **pyenest77** » 28 Jan 2014, 16:55

North West by far. At lightweight for one there are some cracking fights, Flannagan, Crolla & Murray from Manchester & Derry just down the road in Liverpool.

keithmoonhangover · Post by **keithmoonhangover** » 28 Jan 2014, 18:07

n1ebf wrote:north east has just produced another world champ..

mickey1975 · Post by **mickey1975** » 28 Jan 2014, 18:21

In the ams Yorkshire is strong. Especially in the juniors.

damianhucker1 · Post by **damianhucker1** » 29 Jan 2014, 05:39

danamba7 wrote:
damianhucker1 wrote:
danamba7 wrote:Watching Joe Gallagher's crop from the North West excel in British boxing last year got me thinking what is the best area in UK for boxing...? I personally would have to go with the North West at the moment, particularly Liverpool with the 4 Smith brothers, Tony Bellew, Rocky Fielding, Paul Butler, Derry Matthews, David Price, Tony Dodson, Joe Selkirk. No world champions in that bunch but a lot of potential and a variety of weight divisions represented.

The worst current boxing region would be the East Midlands in my opinion which happens to be where I reside! We have the most established boxer in the UK in Carl Froch and then not much at all after that. Not even many prospects coming though apart from Arfan Iqbal of Derby but not convinced as yet that he'll go too far in the sport.

So what would everyone else pick be for best current boxing region in the UK?
Leigh Wood is by far the best prospect in East Midlands, which will be shown when he wins the British title on 22nd feb
Never seen him fight mate. He on the Hull card then? He's in a tough division domestically with Quigg & Frampton then Kid Galahad & Jazza Dickens. Think he could mix it with these in time?

He says he can, Ill not stick my neck out and say yes just yet, i know hes told me that after he wins british that he hopes dickens is made mandatory as he wants to avenge a controversial amateur loss.
But speaking to Leigh hes confident he would beat the lot of them, but i suppose any prospect would say the same.

danamba7 · Post by **danamba7** » 29 Jan 2014, 06:26

Leigh Wood is by far the best prospect in East Midlands, which will be shown when he wins the British title on 22nd feb[/quote]

Never seen him fight mate. He on the Hull card then? He's in a tough division domestically with Quigg & Frampton then Kid Galahad & Jazza Dickens. Think he could mix it with these in time?[/quote]

He says he can, Ill not stick my neck out and say yes just yet, i know hes told me that after he wins british that he hopes dickens is made mandatory as he wants to avenge a controversial amateur loss.
But speaking to Leigh hes confident he would beat the lot of them, but i suppose any prospect would say the same.[/quote]

Interesting. Will definitely keep an eye on his progress then.

ste1983 · Post by **ste1983** » 29 Jan 2014, 06:44

its no surprise that the northwest and southeast are probably considered the best. The two areas the main promoters tend to concentrate on.

I'd suggest theres probably plenty of talent elsewhere but these kids will get the breaks the home fights etc

rossij8 · Post by **rossij8** » 29 Jan 2014, 08:16

Once we get an arena built, I believe this will make Bristol a boxing hotbed

Gazmac81 · Post by **Gazmac81** » 29 Jan 2014, 08:17

are you sure youve no had too much sea water mate :)

or your stuck in early 2000s with scott Harrison and Alex Arthur headling shows :)

i think scottish boxing currently is pretty dire and the 2 main promotors dont work with each other

the prospects such as Brothy (average) from what ive saw ,Thain and the guy you know that ronnie clarks chasing have all been fighting and sometimes struggling with Journeymen.

the only oppertunities the guys usually get is when there build up and fed for decent fee to one of the main English promoters Stars , its up to them to then take that oppertunity

hopefully Burns / simmons keep winning and this will mean a platform for these guys but if the bubble burts whos there to step up to that level and headline TV shows ?

maybe after the commeweatlth games are showcased this will help if Josh Taylor whos very good / Aston Brown and Joe ham grab a medal and decide to go pro.

Emmseegee wrote:I voted for Scotland because we have so many world champions and contenders up here.
Our promotors all work well together, our prospects are all tested on a regular basis and there are so many pro shows that its often just so hard to keep up with them.

Well it was either because of the above or because im Scottish.....

Gazmac81 · Post by **Gazmac81** » 29 Jan 2014, 08:38

ill still vote scotland though mate even after that Rant :)

daviddee · Post by **daviddee** » 29 Jan 2014, 09:25

I basically feel like a traitor now for voting North West. It's a shame with Scottish boxing because so many great all Scottish fights available if they would just work together.

danamba7 · Post by **danamba7** » 29 Jan 2014, 09:34

daviddee wrote:I basically feel like a traitor now for voting North West. It's a shame with Scottish boxing because so many great all Scottish fights available if they would just work together.

Nothing against you Scots whatsoever but I wouldn't say you have as many British/Euro/potential World level boxers as the North West at the moment so you made the right decision in my opinion!

daviddee · Post by **daviddee** » 29 Jan 2014, 09:49

danamba7 wrote:
daviddee wrote:I basically feel like a traitor now for voting North West. It's a shame with Scottish boxing because so many great all Scottish fights available if they would just work together.
Nothing against you Scots whatsoever but I wouldn't say you have as many British/Euro/potential World level boxers as the North West at the moment so you made the right decision in my opinion!

I never realised that I hadn't voted... I got patriotic and voted yes for Scotland.. I agree with what your saying though

expe · Post by **expe** » 29 Jan 2014, 11:46

rossij8 wrote:Once we get an arena built, I believe this will make Bristol a boxing hotbed

Big arenas don't make great fighters, they just give them the chance to fight at home. The key to producing top fighters is the amateur system, the better it is, the more quality fighters that will come through.