New initiative to save boxing in Australia - Herald Sun today

There's an interesting article in the Melbourne Herald Sun today about a

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The idea is the brainchild of a handful of Victorian boxing identities including

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, Brian Armatruda, and the guy who runs Leo Berry's Richmond gym, who's name escapes me.

Wish I'd grabbed the article so I could quote from it, but the gist of it was:

1/ Excellent new boxing venue just being completed.
2/ 80 proposed fight nights in 8 months - yes it does sound too many.
3/ All weight divisions included, and in their own separate tournaments.
4/ Points scored for punches - sounds like the ammos doesn't it.
5/ 2 minute rounds - not the current 3.
6/ More points available in the last 30 seconds of rounds - to encourage late round flurries.

The article was written by John Anderson, who admittedly isn't Mr Boxing. But Anderson shows he has some idea of what's going on by saying

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has just fought 3 'has-beens', and

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continues with his 'bum of the month' program.

Have forgotten the remainder of the details - but will find the article and hopefully better present it later.

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This sounds great!

I like the idea of our younger guys getting in there and gaining as much competitive experience as possible. Sounds like a breeding ground for good fighters and a pathway for some real talents to come through and break out onto the world stage. Kudos to those involved if it all goes ahead!

 

hahahahaha Sign me up for the Bum of the month program!!

 

Provided you hold a current taxidriver's licence, Khoder will be in touch in due course. They'll organise you a rocketing up the rankings prior to the bout as well SJ.

 

Sounds ok.

Except for the 2 minute rounds.

If anyone ever progressed from this format to the "world stage" they'd be in real trouble.

 

Good point Max, and one of the things I thought of while reading it with the cerial bowl on my lap this morning.

It jogs my memory a bit too though. Because one of the points they were making in the article was what 20/20 had done for cricket - keep in mind also that the Herald Sun guy who wrote it, John Anderson, was a cricketer.

 

I'll read the article when I get a chance, but arguably 20/20 has been detrimental to the "real" format of test cricket.
While it is enjoyable, I still think it is a bit of a sideshow - and we already have too many sideshows in boxing.

 

Agreed on all counts.

I'm a cricket lover who thought I'd hate 20/20, but have actually found I enjoy it. I believe cricket got it wrong years ago when they went from 40 overs to 50 overs. The best duration for the shortform game now now be 30 overs IMO. But it's probably too late now.

50/50 will continue to fade and 20/20 to flurish IMO.

Test cricket is still 'real' cricket though, and hopefully always will be.

 

agree with all of this except Green has fought 3 has-beens.Siaca,Briggs fair enough but RJJ whilst on the decline was a worthy opponent.he was even a $1.35 favourite.i dont like Green but credit where credit is due.

 

Agree with you on RJJ - that part was from Anderson's quote.

Many people here forgot very quickly and conveniently that although Roy was obviously getting on when he fought Green, he went in as a raging favourite.

 

Just read the article. It says 80 fights over 36 weeks.
If each card had 6-7 fights (you'd think that would be the minimum with each fight lasting 8 minutes total) that would be 1 card every 3 weeks.

All in all I think it can be good, I just wish they were fighting 3 minute rounds.

 

There's no point showcasing the sport if the match ups are poor. Quality over quantity is the key.

I’m in favour of anyone making efforts to publicise boxing so long as it is in the correct way although the current format needs stripping back, not tricking up. If you just want lots of fights over a 36 week period: pay for competitive pro matches to bring the crowds in and put top tier amateurs on the undercard.

The promoters and their margins are what need to change but until we have independently wealthy, boxing orientated money in the sport I fear there is little chance of this.

 

Thanks for the corrections Max.

It's a wonder how much you can forget in a couple of hours!

 

misses a heap of points as toney raised here (eg match ups)
try getting 8 people in each weight division? won't work.
jnr mid, mid, spr mid, lt hvy, cruis, hvy may but oz bozing doesn't have the depth.
i actually think he has just expanded on hyders nitro fight night concept.

 

A lot of interesting comments so far.

The idea is as close to the ORIGINAL Stadiums Ltd. format as we have seen since the collape in '69. Even in the glory days of 30's- 40's- 50's, 10 round bouts were often over 2 minutes... especially on undercards.

The last 30 seconds of a round has always been the seconds most inclined to sway a judges reasoning, but over two minute rounds we might be assured of extra action.

If the schedule is as packed as John Anderson suggests, then boxing in Victoria should gain a massive boost.. That boost will reverberate nationally.