By Jamie Hooper: Being the only boxing fan among my friends and family. I’m often sat watching boxing with disinterested companions. The normal comments I get from them are things like” I loved the Tyson Bruno fights but boxing since then has been too boring to watch”. Naseem Hamed stirred up a lot of new interest too. I had no problems getting people to go halves on Naz and Tyson PPV.

Easy to see why. Those fighters provide no “boxing knowledge required “ entertainment for all. In the same way as non snooker fans will watch Ronnie O’Sulivan but turn over when his opponent gets to the table.

I had no interests in rowing atoll before the Sydney Olympics. But a build up fly on the wall documentary series following the training of Steve Redgrave and Co changed that. After seeing the training and effort put in and getting a feel for the tactics involved. I remember how excited I was before the actual final. And the race its self was immense. But the point is, it all started with the documentary.

As all boxing fans know. The enjoyment of boxing isn’t just fight night. It’s the 2 months off build up. The stories, articles , comments and training camp gossip. The intrigue caused by a certain clash of styles. Your enjoyment of following boxing increases in direct proportion to your boxing knowledge.

HBO having been running the 24/7 series for a while now. Regardless of taste in regards to its production and content, I bet few people will argue that these series are essential to the future survival of boxing.
My hope is non boxing fans watch these and gain some basic knowledge of both fighters they’re personalities and styles. Which will help build up some excitement and anticipation and hopefully produce a new boxing fan.

Boxing is looking for a way to claw young fans from the rise of MMA. I think build up documentaries are a key to this (aside from resolving all the political stuff).

Apollo Creed says “ the Italian Stallion vs. Apollo Creed sounds like a god damn monster movie” I think if you where to show some prime time build up to Haye-Valuev fight it would definitely get younger potential boxing fans interested because it looks like a god damn monster movie.

Give the non boxing fans some knowledge a bit of an insight. Let there anticipation for the fight build. Then on fight night they will feel the same pre first round bell excitement as we do. And hopefully the final result will be one more boxing fan.(unless its an Audley Harrison fight)