British boxing back in the spotlight

By makingweight - 06/01/2014 - Comments

By Daniel Hughes: The reported decline of boxing as a sport that could be described as out of the spotlight in the UK was firmly put back into focus last night at Wembley stadium, in London, England. The WBA/IBF title fight between champion Carl Froch (33-2, 24 KO’s), and George Groves (19-2, 15 KO’s), certainly captured the nations imagination.

The event itself 60,000 tickets initially sold out in ten minutes. The public wanted the fight and both fighters obliged. Last night the world of boxing’s focus was firmly on the UK with 80,000 attending, a number unmatched in this country since the 1930’s. This was way back in the days of either attending in person listening on the radio or reading a written report in the next day’s paper.

The event itself will give a major shot in the arm to British boxing, because the event itself was watched by people who normally have no interest in this great sport. If events like last night bring more people back to live boxing it can only mean positive things for a sport that has always had its peaks and troughs through the years in the UK. The overseas boxing fans may not know it but the stadium held a football match less than 24 hours before. The stadium transformed into a cauldron fit for boxing.

The UK has always produced good fighters in the 160-168lb divisions. It is a myth and untrue to think otherwise. The super-middleweights, Carl Froch, the veteran, and rightly at the head of a good bunch of UK contenders and prospects. George Groves can come again, and James DeGale, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist, is also now in the title picture. The one to keep your eyes out for long term is the very talented Callum Smith. If you think once Froch does eventually retire, the UK will not have fighters at least able to contend or win titles you are gravely mistaken.

I really fail to understand how anyone could view last night as anything but a celebration and a showcasing of UK boxing. The sport in this country will never be number one, football will always be. The headline coverage on all media sports outlets for one week was all about boxing before the attention switches to the football world cup in Brazil. It became back page news again and it was the event on everyone’s minds.

The need to balance out the fact of last night’s impact on boxing in the UK is this. It was a success and hopefully more people will be attracted to attend. The passionate support of the crowd not lost as fellow fight fans from around the world conveyed to me. The revenue generated tells its own story. The reported death of boxing as a sport here in the UK has been seriously exaggerated.



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