Do you think British Boxing would be a better TV spectacle if we went back to having just one or two fights televised live ? ( Like the Big Fight Live ITV or the Friday Night Fights Sky ) The Show would start at 10, maybe 9pm, any broadcaster, and would open with the main event or perhaps a high quality chief support. This would have the advantage of the viewer not being punch drunk from a long undercard and would also mean a reduced budget with the possibility of more, regular shows. I’ve sat through many a long show and, maybe this is just me, basically been a bit fed up of boxing by the time the main event starts particularly if it’s 5 hours after the first fight. Generally, less is more and maybe tuning in for the main event would bring back those great, exciting nights of the late 80s and early to mid 90s on ITV ( I might have my rose coloured spectacles on there, but they were great, weren’t they ? ).
I dont see why they cant just make a card of 2 or 3 quality fights. I dont care about watching mismatch after mismatch then pundits talking shite for 20 minutes between them.
Yes. And if the main event finishes very quickly, and there was something exciting on the undercard, show it. It will encourage undercard fighters to take 50-50 fights OR develop an exciting style, earn their right to be televised.
I suppose these promoters are trying to keep all their fighters happy with half decent pay days, but would prefer to see two three top end fights where opinion is divided on who will win
The problem is, it's got so bad now, to the point where the broadcasters don't seem to put any real pressure on the promoters they have a deal with to supply real fights. They just kid themselves and try to con the viewers. And it's got to the stage where everything is being sold as "PPV" and fans are openly weighing up whether a "good undercard" will make them pay for the show. In a sane world, pay per view would be reserved for exceptional main events, true "Super Fights", and no one would or should care about "undercard".
This already happens with Channel 5- the main fight starts after minimal build up with another undercard fight afterwards. If you wish to watch the full undercard you can do via YouTube. Sky/BT do have hours to fill so I can’t see them changing format any time soon.
Yes, exactly and the fight I think I’ve enjoyed most post Covid was Dilmaghani v Ziani. It was a great fight and straight in to the action. Brilliant.
This. They have so many specialized channels , something ITV etc didn't have back in the day therefore have alot of hours to fill. If the fights are taking place (undercard) then show them I say, its up to the fan/viewer to decipher which ones are utter s**t and to give those a miss.
I personally like the current format. The crappy fights are great for taking a food break or a toilet break. Also means you can play your day to time it with the fights you want to see. I wouldn’t complain either way tbh.
If it’s such a hardship watching all that boxing why don’t you just tune in for the main event ? ... problem solved
Slightly agressive answer to an unthreatening boxing observation on a boxing forum but, anyway, we’re all boxing fans so we’ll watch it if it’s on. Ultimately, after watching 4 or 5 sometimes mundane undercard fights, you might not be up for the main event as you would if it was sooner, that’s all.
I generally dont tune in until the main event anyway. Unless theres a good fight on the undercard. I certainly dont sit there for 5 hours watching all the shite, got better things to do.
Ironically, back in the days when ITV and the Beeb showed Boxing every fortnight, the best fights tended to be on the undercard. Main events featuring the likes of Frank Bruno, Errol Christie or the formative Nigel Benn tended to be public executions.