Future for small hall boxing???

[KW1]

With the cost of everything going up, venue hire, tickets, brain scans, licenses etc
What will happen to the small hall scene?

[HomicideHenry]

Like what happened here in America where little by little they become extinct. All the regulations and requirements only empower the already existing powerful promotions and superstars, leaving everyone else in the dust.

I remember growing up seeing the tough man contests always advertised throughout the state of Ohio but I can't remember the last time such an event was ever made in my state. It's either MMA these days or it's amateur boxing but no professional boxing of any real note.

Quite the irony considering boxing once upon a time was a sport for everyone regardless of their economic background and many of the great champions and contenders came from absolutely nothing.

For some reason I'm reminded of an old article asking why did Harvard never produce a boxing champion. And they only answer that any of them experts could come up with is because everyone who goes to Harvard came from a rich background, never having to struggle, and therefore they wouldn't give 100% to the sport.

And this era of boxing especially is nothing more than businessmen who put on boxing gloves once a year if you're lucky, which demonstrates to me that because of the regulations and requirements America hasn't really produced that many good or great fighters since the 1990s especially in the heavyweight division.

I think that's why we see so many good or great boxers out of Mexico or the former Soviet Union or Africa or Asia because quite frankly those are the only places left on earth for the most part where people still struggle and the only way you can get out is to be excellent.

[KiwiRider]

We only have small hall shows in my country, and they survive through corporate sponsorship.
Corporate tables for their guests and staff, then the rest of us hard core fans pile into the cheap seats
They usually start with some Am 3-rounders, then go to pro fights mid evening.
They keep the ticket prices reasonable, the beers cheap, and it's a bloody good night out.
I love them!

[KiwiRider]

We only have small hall shows in my country, and they survive through corporate sponsorship.
Corporate tables for their guests and staff, then the rest of us hard core fans pile into the cheap seats
They usually start with some Am 3-rounders, then go to pro fights mid evening. There is bugger all wait between fights, just enough time for a quick slash and another beer.
They run fast and smooth.
They keep the ticket prices reasonable, the beers cheap, and it's a bloody good night out.
I love them!

[KiwiRider]

To give some context, the last small hall show I went to in October :
General Admission: $25 (£12.50)
Beersies: $7 (£3.50)
I was drinking Hienies in the bottle, local brews were $6 snd I think wine was $3.50 a full plastic wine flute

[dookus]

To give some context, the last small hall show I went to in October :
General Admission: $25 (£12.50)
Beersies: $7 (£3.50)
I was drinking Hienies in the bottle, local brews were $6 snd I think wine was $3.50 a full plastic wine flute

Nice

[Coco]

In Spain pros and ams mix

[asmund]

We had a show like that in Norway. They brought over some amateurs from England.

[margaret thatcher]

Like what happened here in America where little by little they become extinct. All the regulations and requirements only empower the already existing powerful promotions and superstars, leaving everyone else in the dust.

I remember growing up seeing the tough man contests always advertised throughout the state of Ohio but I can't remember the last time such an event was ever made in my state. It's either MMA these days or it's amateur boxing but no professional boxing of any real note.

Quite the irony considering boxing once upon a time was a sport for everyone regardless of their economic background and many of the great champions and contenders came from absolutely nothing.

For some reason I'm reminded of an old article asking why did Harvard never produce a boxing champion. And they only answer that any of them experts could come up with is because everyone who goes to Harvard came from a rich background, never having to struggle, and therefore they wouldn't give 100% to the sport.

And this era of boxing especially is nothing more than businessmen who put on boxing gloves once a year if you're lucky, which demonstrates to me that because of the regulations and requirements America hasn't really produced that many good or great fighters since the 1990s especially in the heavyweight division.

I think that's why we see so many good or great boxers out of Mexico or the former Soviet Union or Africa or Asia because quite frankly those are the only places left on earth for the most part where people still struggle and the only way you can get out is to be excellent.

there are many small shows in the usa, they just aren't called small hall and they fly under the rader because they get little coverage. the journeyman system is different too and there arent many if any guys nearing 100 losses like in the uk. guys brought in to lose are more like 5-14-1 not 2-100-3

[gregregegg]

I feel most countries just use footy players and bouncers and failed mma fighters as there true cans. And they just cycle in for a few fights then go back to being security guards.

I admire how England has the true journeymen, really good for boxers development being garrentee rounds at a consistent predictable standard.

Because of this England small hall is better because you know what your watching. If somone dominates phill Williams they no what there doing. If someone dominates bob from the door they might be good they might not be.

[margaret thatcher]

I feel most countries just use footy players and bouncers and failed mma fighters as there true cans. And they just cycle in for a few fights then go back to being security guards.

I admire how England has the true journeymen, really good for boxers development being garrentee rounds at a consistent predictable standard.

Because of this England small hall is better because you know what your watching. If somone dominates phill Williams they no what there doing. If someone dominates bob from the door they might be good they might not be.

not sure if being sarcastic.......phil williams for examples is 5-41 and often doesnt win a round

[maverick23]

We only have small hall shows in my country, and they survive through corporate sponsorship.
Corporate tables for their guests and staff, then the rest of us hard core fans pile into the cheap seats
They usually start with some Am 3-rounders, then go to pro fights mid evening. There is bugger all wait between fights, just enough time for a quick slash and another beer.
They run fast and smooth.
They keep the ticket prices reasonable, the beers cheap, and it's a bloody good night out.
I love them!

I’d love that.

I’ve been to too many small hall shows where every opponent has come not trying to win. It’s no longer a sport to me when that’s the case.

I’d much rather watch a handful of amateur fights where both guys are at least trying.

Small hall shows in the U.K. are often overpriced. Sometimes cheapest tickets are £50. Sometimes it’s higher.

[Lightsoot]

I think the importance of small hall boxing and its perceived demise are exaggerated. A quick look at Boxrec’s UK schedule reveals over 35 shows are to be staged in March, with only 4 or 5 what I’d consider to be ‘bigger’ TV shows.

Small hall promoters love the narrative that they are penniless, but many of them hold a manager’s licence and have a large stable of fighters. Would they continue doing it if they were on the bread line?

As has previously been said, small hall promoters have cut their cloth accordingly by raising ticket prices, arguably lowering the quality of cards in some instances and adding more women fights to their cards - an emerging revenue stream for them.

And don’t get me started on the quality, monotony and predictability of small hall shows containing the same 60-54 scorecards and the same journeymen month after month. Only a handful of journeymen fulfil the brief and give it a go. Learning fights against glorified (and decently paid) punchbags? It’s just a myth.

Id much rather see boxing move to a UFC more competitive style of matchmaking. It might spell the end for many small hall promoters who have been pulling punters’ pants down for years, but is it really a bad thing?

The younger generation want to see competitive well matched fights where the outcome isn’t a formality. The small hall model is outdated and offers poor value for money.

[gregregegg]

I feel most countries just use footy players and bouncers and failed mma fighters as there true cans. And they just cycle in for a few fights then go back to being security guards.

I admire how England has the true journeymen, really good for boxers development being garrentee rounds at a consistent predictable standard.

Because of this England small hall is better because you know what your watching. If somone dominates phill Williams they no what there doing. If someone dominates bob from the door they might be good they might not be.

not sure if being sarcastic.......phil williams for examples is 5-41 and often doesnt win a round

Not being sarcastic. By dominate I don’t mean win 4/4 rounds, I mean beat up without getting hit.

My point is there’s a standard that’s known, not good, but knownzzz It’s far more informative than beating a 2-1 guy in Australia. Iv seen some aus opponents who I would beat…: phill Williams would still chin me.

[margaret thatcher]

being dominated is the status quo for 5-41 phil williams, you beat him and you just join the club of dozens of other british hws who've done it, from josh quailey to ishmael oladipo to danny whittaker to mark little to fabio wardley. from a 0-0-1 and 1-2 guy to the british champ. i mean, does beating him show you've probably entered a boxing gym at some point in your life? sure, but that's usually a given. i notice johnny fisher beat phil too, maybe that's why you're so positive about him

the uk is filled with totally unambitious journeymen whose only goal is to go the distance (so not your sokos). beating guys like that proves nothing since nearly everyone does it, and it provides very limited prep for live opponents who punch back. the uk journeyman system is made for journeymen not to be ambitious (i dont blame them), how anyone thinks this is ultimately a good thing for developing fighters is beyond me

the uk does have many good fighters who end up going to euro or world level, but these usually aren't guys who spent years boxing on small hall cards vs 2-59 journeymen

[Ruthless-RKO]

What’s the point in going 4-6 rounds with someone just to get rounds in if the other boxer ain’t trying to win rounds?

Would rather just spar in the gym.

[Rezzer1967]

I’m completely sick and tired of people like Bunce praising young fighters for getting some rounds in vs a journeyman. It’s supposed to be entertaining, now more than ever with the competition around, and old soaks who still think it’s the 1970s and can’t remember the last time they bought a ticket are about as relevant to the modern world as a penny farthing is.

[jonp]

We put a show on tonight where 7 unbeaten prospects lost there unbeaten records fighting each other. One of the lesser selling shows we have done, for all the put proper fights on and the fans will come talk its crap. shows with 7 prospects fighting 7 away guys sell better. we spent more advertising it more on extras everything people have moaned about or asked for. the outcome less tickets sold.

As for small hall boxing becoming extinct 46 shows are booked in march thats a record the boxing board have had to say no more shows allowed we cant cover them all.

[Lightsoot]

We put a show on tonight where 7 unbeaten prospects lost there unbeaten records fighting each other. One of the lesser selling shows we have done, for all the put proper fights on and the fans will come talk its crap. shows with 7 prospects fighting 7 away guys sell better. we spent more advertising it more on extras everything people have moaned about or asked for. the outcome less tickets sold.

As for small hall boxing becoming extinct 46 shows are booked in march thats a record the boxing board have had to say no more shows allowed we cant cover them all.

So go back to feeding them bums and rinsing the public? It’s a tough gig this promoter lark.

[punchoutsb]

What’s the point in going 4-6 rounds with someone just to get rounds in if the other boxer ain’t trying to win rounds?

Would rather just spar in the gym.

The main difference would be you get paid for one of those two options.

[jonp]

We put a show on tonight where 7 unbeaten prospects lost there unbeaten records fighting each other. One of the lesser selling shows we have done, for all the put proper fights on and the fans will come talk its crap. shows with 7 prospects fighting 7 away guys sell better. we spent more advertising it more on extras everything people have moaned about or asked for. the outcome less tickets sold.

As for small hall boxing becoming extinct 46 shows are booked in march thats a record the boxing board have had to say no more shows allowed we cant cover them all.

So go back to feeding them bums and rinsing the public? It’s a tough gig this promoter lark.

I develop fighters the point being the members of the public asking for this that and the other dont respond when you give what they want anyway, So those opinions are basically full of shit and how can you be rinsing them when they pay for what they complain about and come along, but then when you try to attract the armchair fans who tell you what they really want and what boxing needs they turn out to be full of it?
Put on a show that people turn up for and make sure it works or put on a show that people who have never been to a show but talk about it online will be theoretically be happy with and it turns oh it was all talk no intention of coming anyway yeh lets make sure they are happy on forums lol

[Ruthless-RKO]

What’s the point in going 4-6 rounds with someone just to get rounds in if the other boxer ain’t trying to win rounds?

Would rather just spar in the gym.

The main difference would be you get paid for one of those two options.

Don’t some boxers just make enough to cover their opponents purses,

[Lightsoot]

We put a show on tonight where 7 unbeaten prospects lost there unbeaten records fighting each other. One of the lesser selling shows we have done, for all the put proper fights on and the fans will come talk its crap. shows with 7 prospects fighting 7 away guys sell better. we spent more advertising it more on extras everything people have moaned about or asked for. the outcome less tickets sold.

As for small hall boxing becoming extinct 46 shows are booked in march thats a record the boxing board have had to say no more shows allowed we cant cover them all.

So go back to feeding them bums and rinsing the public? It’s a tough gig this promoter lark.

I develop fighters the point being the members of the public asking for this that and the other dont respond when you give what they want anyway, So those opinions are basically full of shit and how can you be rinsing them when they pay for what they complain about and come along, but then when you try to attract the armchair fans who tell you what they really want and what boxing needs they turn out to be full of it?
Put on a show that people turn up for and make sure it works or put on a show that people who have never been to a show but talk about it online will be theoretically be happy with and it turns oh it was all talk no intention of coming anyway yeh lets make sure they are happy on forums lol

I’ve been to loads of shows, so you’re making sweeping judgements about me. Clearly, we’re not going to agree, particularly when you’re being a smart arse to forum posters.

You’re honestly suggesting you staged a competitive show for the benefit of internet fans, but then didn’t bother to market it online? Lol. I’ll have what you’ve been drinking.

But out of interest, what was your reasoning for putting unbeaten prospects against each other? An experiment or another strategic decision?

[spudder56]

I would just like to say that Tommy owens and Jon Pegg always put on quality well organised and well matched competitive shows in my opinion they are a credit to the game

[punchoutsb]

What’s the point in going 4-6 rounds with someone just to get rounds in if the other boxer ain’t trying to win rounds?

Would rather just spar in the gym.

The main difference would be you get paid for one of those two options.

Don’t some boxers just make enough to cover their opponents purses,

Even so, one advances your career in the public eye and one does not.

Sparring is a necessary evil in boxing. Brain cells are precious; selling them is bad enough, but giving them away is just stupid.