BoxRec

looks like harrison is moving to the kelvin hall after poor ticket sales

http://sport.scotsman.com/boxing.cfm?id=847192004

Not particularly surprised if the opponent mooted in the article is the chosen one (I already cannot remember his name). Not saying I'm dissapointed, I still think Scott needs a mark time title defence, I know his last two defences haven't been particularly tough but on paper they were (it was supposed to by Abelyan for both fights) so the mental and physical strain in training may effect his future performance.

Scott actually needs a "Will McIntyre" type of title defence ready for a big onslaught in 2005.

I think that Harrison is fast becoming something of a Ricky Hatton type figure up here except we're more discerning. Until the McCulloch fight Scott had no probs putting bums on seats. Since then its gradually went downhill as regards sales. It really began with the Medina loss, the cancellation of fights and poorer subs being brought in and what has been since then pretty grim bunch of opponents.

One thing I have noticed going to his fights is that in comp[arison to what seems to happen at Hatton fights a big part of the crowd tend to turn up for the pre and post big fight bouts. Its got to be said that these undercards havent always been particualry attractive with the obvious hometown fighter coming up against guys shipped in from eastern europe or some journeyman who no one knows, resulting in a predictable win usually after a round or two. so its hardly surprising the numbers are dwindling.

I actually prefer the fights in the Kelvin Hall. Its a much smaller arena with a much better view similar to the York Hall and is more of a traditional boxing venue than the spacey converted ice rink at braehead. Its the venue where all the big fights of the past were staged and where Jim Watt et al fought all their major fights in Scotland (except Buchahan). Besides its much easier to get to. Living in Edinburgh and having to travel to Braehead is a fckin nightmare. Bus to Waverly station. train to queen street, tube to govan then a bus to braehead. then hopefully if the card finished early enough you can get a taxi back to glasgow city centre in the hope of catching the night bus home, which if youve just missed one can mean a wait of up to an hour till the next one! Kelvin Hall has the tube station right on its door, and for all you bus enthusiasts the Kelvinside Museum of Transport right next door if you get there early enough!

What will be interesting is to compare ticket sales between the Craig Docherty european fight on the 25 (i think!!) and the Harrison "world" bout the follwoing week. Harrison is by far the bigger name up here, but we know our onions and Docherty is by far the better figther fighting a legit fight for a legit belt.

Neil,

Think your a bit premature with your assessments, not about the slowly decline tickets sales (although the arena always looks full too me) but about Scott Harrison's opponents.

I think one pulled out fight with a lesser opponent (who was still an acceptable for a late sub) doesn't make it into an Ricky Hatton esque scenario just yet. Look at what Harrison has done fought the proper WBO champion (not a vacant belt) then beat McCullaugh (very acceptable opponent) lost to Medina (again acceptable opponent) before gaining revenge in November 2003. He then fought Estrada because his mandatory pulled out and then in his final fight fought the highly regarded "dangerous" mandatory in Abelyan. Just because McCullough and Abelyan dissapointed in their challenge isn't a fault of Harrison or Sports Network, they were on paper very good opponents, indeed check out the number of posters here who tipped Abelyan to beat Scott.

stu i wasnt critisising Scotts opponenets persoanlly. i was trying to make the point that many folks pay tickets to see such and such an opponent. when the opponent pulls out and a sub is required this can put a lot of folks off going again. its happened a couple of times with Scotts opponents. the medina fight was on off on off a few times. its bound to have an impact.

And the undercards can be abysmal

for the record I though he done very well to take care of Medina in the manner in which he did. This new traing regime in fort william seems to be paying dividends. it willb e interesting to see if Scott builds a head fo steam by havigna few fights at the Kelivin Hall if the fights will move back to Braehead again

i thought the reason in poor sales is alex arthur now fights on his own card.

REAL_DEAL wrote:i thought the reason in poor sales is alex arthur now fights on his own card.

could be part of the reason, though as i understand it the last couple of fights in edinburgh were testers if you like, to see if arthur could sell venues in edinburgh. not sure if its a long term idea or not but arthurs doing not to bad with ticket sales just now. itll be interesting to see how he does sales wise now after losing to Gomez and the shambles against Kizza though. The minute that Arthur shows a dip in sales rest assured he'll be back in the roll of cheif support again

This is a great move. Braehead was getting really boring and drab (it's a notoriously shit venue for concerts). 10 minutes on the underground from now on, excellent.

I can accept he needs a nice easy fight from time to time but after this he needs a Chi/Marquez/pacman to bring the crowds back to boxing up North.

shakermaker wrote:I can accept he needs a nice easy fight from time to time but after this he needs a Chi/Marquez/pacman to bring the crowds back to boxing up North.

Barerra has been toiuted as apossible opponenet in the not to distant future, that might do it!

J wrote:

shakermaker wrote:I can accept he needs a nice easy fight from time to time but after this he needs a Chi/Marquez/pacman to bring the crowds back to boxing up North.

Barerra has been toiuted as apossible opponenet in the not to distant future, that might do it!

Of all of the "big four" Barrera seems the best bet to me - he is on the way down (all though Ayala won't agree!) has been solidly stopped recently and appears more mortal than the other three.

Personally I'd like to see Harrison in with Chi - not because I think he'd win but because I reckon it'd be a hell of a fight, stylewise.