UK Stadium fighters

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by pow, Jul 14, 2020.


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  1. pow

    pow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    A list of UK fighters (modern era) who have A-sided stadium fights. It's a tough call between Cooper, Bruno and Joshua to name the UK stadium king but have gone for Cooper (historical significance) and put Joshua ahead of Bruno due to attendances. I'm not sure Lennox was actually the A-side against Bruno but he did come in as champion, debatable if he should be included. I will update the list as we go:

    1. Henry Cooper
    2. Anthony Joshua
    3. Frank Bruno
    4. Chris Eubank
    5. Nigel Benn
    6. Joe Calzaghe
    7. Lennox Lewis
    8. Carl Froch
    9. Barry McGuigan
    10. Ricky Hatton
    11. Freddie Mills
    12. Tony Bellew
    13. Haye/Chisora
    14. Mike Tyson
    15. Carl Frampton
    16. Jim Watt
    17. Kell Brook
    18. Josh Warrington
    19. Howard Winstone
    20. Jack Bodell
    21. Steve Robinson
    22. Kevin Mitchell
    23. Gary Lockett
    24. Luke Campbell
    25. Jamie McDonnell
    26. Billy Joe 'Sanders'
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2020
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    #1
  2. Wig

    Wig Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Watching boxing inside a massive football stadium is fcking garbage.
     
    Wig, Jul 14, 2020
    Wig, Jul 14, 2020
    #2
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  3. ryuken87

    ryuken87 Active Member Full Member

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    Kell Brook vs Spence.
     
    ryuken87, Jul 14, 2020
    ryuken87, Jul 14, 2020
    #3
    pow likes this.
  4. pow

    pow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It depends what you take from the experience, for some it's drunken weekend away with the lads (catch up with family/mates) combined with a bit of clubbing and curry and others like to soak up the atmosphere and experience the event as a live production and of course for the bigger fights it's also about being part of sporting history. For those who actually like to follow and dissect the action in detail it's crap and these types will often be seen silently studying the big screens and intermittently complaining about the view. For me the best arena in the UK for both atmosphere and view is the O2 with the two 'must buy' blocks being 111 and 102. Slightly raised above the ring to give you a great view and close enough to keep up with whats going on ringside, 111 being directly above the VVIP area.
     
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    #4
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  5. pow

    pow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Good shout forgot about Kell Brook.
     
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    #5
  6. TonyHayers

    TonyHayers Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    You're missing a few: Hatton fought Lazcano at the Etihad, Kevin Mitchell against Katsidis at Upton Park and Haye Chisora at (if memory serves) the same venue.

    Personally, I'd have Froch a bit higher. I know it's a cliche with the whole 80,000 at Wembley thing, and to be fair as a thin-skinned bloke Froch finally seems able to have a laugh about it now, but that felt like a massive fight. The whole thing about it being at the new Wembley, biggest crowd for decades. That was a fight whereby everyone I knew who was a general sports fan wanted to see it. I think the last time that happened was Haye Klitschko which was a pretty terrible fight.
     
    TonyHayers, Jul 14, 2020
    TonyHayers, Jul 14, 2020
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  7. TonyHayers

    TonyHayers Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Also not entirely sure Tyson counts as a UK fighter! If it's just fighters who have A-listed fights in stadiums in the UK then you'd include McGuigan and Frampton as well.
     
    TonyHayers, Jul 14, 2020
    TonyHayers, Jul 14, 2020
    #7
  8. pow

    pow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Frampton was included, Tyson was included as it was a UK stadium. Good shout on the others forgot about those.

    It was definitively a massive event that captured the public's imagination, there is even a (small) case for Groves being the A-side in that fight. I put him below the others due to popularity (Benn, Eubank) and the higher status of the Lewis (WBC Heavy) and Clazaghe (SMW 3x unification) matches.
     
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    #8
  9. Plumber From Liverpool

    Plumber From Liverpool Active Member Full Member

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    I think Carl Froch fought at Wembley.

    This content is protected
     
    Plumber From Liverpool, Jul 14, 2020
    Plumber From Liverpool, Jul 14, 2020
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  10. rezzer

    rezzer Active Member Full Member

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    What about Howard Winstone at Ninian Park Cardiff.
     
    rezzer, Jul 14, 2020
    rezzer, Jul 14, 2020
    #10
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  11. rezzer

    rezzer Active Member Full Member

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    He also fought at a purpose built arena at Coney Beach Porthcawl
     
    rezzer, Jul 14, 2020
    rezzer, Jul 14, 2020
    #11
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  12. pow

    pow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Very good shout. Where would you have him ranked? I was thinking somewhere between 10-15.

    *I settled at 17, couldn't find an argument to put him any higher than Josh Warrington.
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2020
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    #12
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  13. Smudge_

    Smudge_ Teak tough Full Member

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    What about Jim Watt? Fought at Ibrox in 1980.
     
    Smudge_, Jul 14, 2020
    Smudge_, Jul 14, 2020
    #13
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  14. Jurgen

    Jurgen Pay Per Pudding Advisor banned Full Member

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    A shocking omission by OP - tough teak Scotsman in a tough teak environment later commentating ringside for Sky behind a tough teak table.
     
    Jurgen, Jul 14, 2020
    Jurgen, Jul 14, 2020
    #14
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  15. pow

    pow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Nice one! Slipping Jimbo in just above Warrington and Brook at 15.
     
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    pow, Jul 14, 2020
    #15
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