IS BRITISH BOXING THREATENED BY A CRISIS?
Posted: 11 Sep 2019, 10:05
I am a big fan of British boxing and especially appreciate the fact that in the UK boxing is not just a sport practised by poor immigrants, as in many other European countries, but by people from all walks of life. There is nowhere else in the world where boxing fans are filling up such huge stadiums and arenas. Nowhere else also is there such a fantastic atmosphere at boxing events. A few years ago, Britain had more professional world champions than the US and than Mexico. Many of the most valuable boxing events took place in London and other British cities, which were almost equal alternatives to Las Vegas, California and New York.
Some things have changed since then. Several famous British boxers (Tony Bellew, David Haye, George Groves, James DeGale, Nathan Cleverly) ended their careers and several others (Anthony Joshua, Amir Khan, Kell Brook, Jamie McDonnell, Anthony Crolla, Rocky Fielding, Andrew Selby, Anthony Yarde) suffered spectacular defeats. There are far too few equal successors. There are fewer and fewer top-level boxing events in the UK. This situation cannot be called crisis yet, but things are clearly going in the wrong direction. Why?
The easiest thing to say is that there were more boxing talents before than now, but that is only half the truth. In my opinion, there are two other serious causes, and I would like to point them out very clearly.
1. The system of professional boxing is too closed for foreign competition:
There are a lot of professional boxing events every weekend in the UK, but look who's fighting at them. 95% are British boxers and a few foreigners are mostly contracted „boys for beating”, in other words, bums, journeymen and veterans. Such "cooking British boxing in its own sauce" certainly does not pay off in the long run. Let us see what happened in countries like Italy and Argentina which have practised, and are still practising, such a kind of professional boxing. These lands were once boxing powers, and what is left of them today? There is only one Brian Carlos Castano in Argentina, and hardly anyone in Italy.
There are different boxing schools in the world. Classical British deserves respect, but we also have African-American, Mexican, Russian, Filipino and others. British boxers, who box only with each other up to the level of the World Championship or the European Championship do not come into contact with valuable representatives of other boxing schools and thus are sometimes very surprised, when the rival boxing is completely different than the previous ones. Mexicans in particular are often unsuitable for the British, because this is usually an unfavorable out-boxer vs. swarmer style configuration. This can be overturned, but it requires a lot of experience and specially adapted tactics.
2. Eddie Hearn
I believe that this, perhaps the most powerful boxing promoter in the world, has been working to the disadvantage of European boxing in recent years, and British boxing in particular. When he got involved in DAZN, I was hoping that this would result in more good boxing in Europe. The exact opposite happened. Hearn took good boxing from Europe (including, in particular, from the UK) and brought it to the USA. I don't understand how it pays off for him to organize events for 10,000 viewers in New York instead of 100,000 viewers at Wembley.
In addition to general matters, Mr. Hearn can be accused of making specific shameful mistakes. Kell Brook's huge talent was irretrievably wasted when Hearn threw him as a "cannonball meat" two categories higher against Golovkin. He also sent Anthony Joshua to an unfriendly foreign territory, while as a champion of the four federations (including the IBO) he should have the privilege of defending his belts in his own country and among his fans.
I remember the times when Boxrec ranked 3-4 Britons (or even more) as leaders of different categories. Today only Callum Smith was left in the super middle. In my own rating www.the-best-boxers.com (with more detailed characteristics of boxers) I also have Callum as the only British King of the Category. I wish there were more of them.
Some things have changed since then. Several famous British boxers (Tony Bellew, David Haye, George Groves, James DeGale, Nathan Cleverly) ended their careers and several others (Anthony Joshua, Amir Khan, Kell Brook, Jamie McDonnell, Anthony Crolla, Rocky Fielding, Andrew Selby, Anthony Yarde) suffered spectacular defeats. There are far too few equal successors. There are fewer and fewer top-level boxing events in the UK. This situation cannot be called crisis yet, but things are clearly going in the wrong direction. Why?
The easiest thing to say is that there were more boxing talents before than now, but that is only half the truth. In my opinion, there are two other serious causes, and I would like to point them out very clearly.
1. The system of professional boxing is too closed for foreign competition:
There are a lot of professional boxing events every weekend in the UK, but look who's fighting at them. 95% are British boxers and a few foreigners are mostly contracted „boys for beating”, in other words, bums, journeymen and veterans. Such "cooking British boxing in its own sauce" certainly does not pay off in the long run. Let us see what happened in countries like Italy and Argentina which have practised, and are still practising, such a kind of professional boxing. These lands were once boxing powers, and what is left of them today? There is only one Brian Carlos Castano in Argentina, and hardly anyone in Italy.
There are different boxing schools in the world. Classical British deserves respect, but we also have African-American, Mexican, Russian, Filipino and others. British boxers, who box only with each other up to the level of the World Championship or the European Championship do not come into contact with valuable representatives of other boxing schools and thus are sometimes very surprised, when the rival boxing is completely different than the previous ones. Mexicans in particular are often unsuitable for the British, because this is usually an unfavorable out-boxer vs. swarmer style configuration. This can be overturned, but it requires a lot of experience and specially adapted tactics.
2. Eddie Hearn
I believe that this, perhaps the most powerful boxing promoter in the world, has been working to the disadvantage of European boxing in recent years, and British boxing in particular. When he got involved in DAZN, I was hoping that this would result in more good boxing in Europe. The exact opposite happened. Hearn took good boxing from Europe (including, in particular, from the UK) and brought it to the USA. I don't understand how it pays off for him to organize events for 10,000 viewers in New York instead of 100,000 viewers at Wembley.
In addition to general matters, Mr. Hearn can be accused of making specific shameful mistakes. Kell Brook's huge talent was irretrievably wasted when Hearn threw him as a "cannonball meat" two categories higher against Golovkin. He also sent Anthony Joshua to an unfriendly foreign territory, while as a champion of the four federations (including the IBO) he should have the privilege of defending his belts in his own country and among his fans.
I remember the times when Boxrec ranked 3-4 Britons (or even more) as leaders of different categories. Today only Callum Smith was left in the super middle. In my own rating www.the-best-boxers.com (with more detailed characteristics of boxers) I also have Callum as the only British King of the Category. I wish there were more of them.
defo overanalysed things a bit.