Stadium fights - I don't quite get the appeal

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by bulldoze, Apr 27, 2025.


  1. bulldoze

    bulldoze Member Full Member

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    My first attendance of a stadium fight last night at the Benn vs Eubank contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

    Atmosphere was admittedly incredible with a slightly dangerous edge to it. I have been to this stadium many times before for the footie but this was a very different crowd indeed. Lots of police around and a LOT of coked up and drunk young men.

    So a great night was had by all and a more than a few pints of neck oil was downed by yours truly but then something unexpected happened ... a properly epic fight had broken out in the ring.

    And here is the problem. I have watched great football matches on the TV and wished I had been there in person at the game; when it became apparent last night that it was turning into a proper war I really started to wish I was at home watching it on the TV.

    I was on the pitch 40 yards from the ring and I couldn't see a thing and neither could anyone else if you weren't basically ringside. So you have 60 odd thousand people watching the fight on low definition big screens that cannot hope to match the fidelity of what we all have at home. There is no sound, no commentary, no insight to what is happening in the corners and just no sense of any kinetic impact when a hard punch is thrown.

    Is it just me?
     
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  2. Notepad12

    Notepad12 Active Member Full Member

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    You don't get the stadium atmosphere on the TV.
     
  3. DaRealJT

    DaRealJT Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Stadium fights aren’t worth it if you’re sitting in the nosebleeds

    I watched Fury-Whyte in the lowest down section closest to the pitch as you can get without actually being on the pitch and it was epic
     
  4. thehook13

    thehook13 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I don't regret going to any of stadium fights. Can always watch a replay later. I wouldn't buy seats at the back no matter how cheap.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2025
  5. jquest

    jquest Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Nope I have felt the same unfortunately, watching on TV you admire the atmosphere created and how lively it must be if you were there in person but watching at home, you get a clearer view, replays with context and more importantly you are less likely to get swayed by crowd support. That said I have enjoyed watching boxing events in person at times and would think if you did get a good view of the contest yesterday you would have been pleased that you were there.

    I feel at a big boxing event like yesterday if you strongly supported one of the fighters and a fight didn't go their way you might be disappointed in having gone. I've always enjoyed pro wrestling events for this reason, the crowd makes it and even though some of the people at work can't get past wrestling being fake therefore how can a grown up enjoy it, the events are genuinely fun to be at regardless of the result.
     
  6. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    Purely atmosphere, it’s hard even in non stadium fights to get a good view
     
  7. The G-Man

    The G-Man I'm more of a vet. Full Member

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    Get better seats you brokie
     
  8. Vantage_West

    Vantage_West ヒップホップ·プロデューサー Full Member

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    if you concentrate hard enough i genuienly find that you see more of the action. at the opposite, even at york hall. you are so on top and close to the action that you don't see the jabs landing. you are shielded by the ref or the guys

    i get it...if you are not 20/20 then you are ****ed but it's not as bad as advertised. also crowd reaction to play by play action IS the appeal.

    it's not a bug, it's a feature.
     
  9. lobk

    lobk Original ESB Member Full Member

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    It is more of social event with your friends and the people around you than the fight itself. I am at a stage in life where I want to see the fight. I would rather watch a fight on huge screen at home.

    But everyone should do this in their lifetime. Be it boxing or any other sport.
     
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  10. bulldoze

    bulldoze Member Full Member

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    They were supposed to be good seats! One set of seats outside of the fenced off ringside area. Still too far away to see much what with people in the way etc

    £340 for two
     
  11. Ice8Cold

    Ice8Cold Still raging that we didnt see Bowe V Lewis Full Member

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    I'd say the seats are a lot further out to the ring in stadiums than actual inside arenas like the MGM Grand or Madison Square Garden which can provide a different type of atmosphere than usual. Much better atmosphere than any Saudi card for sure.

    Stadiums obviously hold a lot of spectators and a lot of boxers headline cards in the stadium of the team they support. Eg - Chris Billam Smith at AFC Bournemouth, Kell Brook at Bramall Lane, Riakporhe at Selhurst Park, Wardley at Portman Road and so on.
     
  12. miniq

    miniq AJ IS A BODYBUILDING BUM Full Member

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    Can't see anything in stadiums unless you're in expensive seats and even then you're pressed.
     
  13. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

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    I guess for a lot of people it's just a fun night out an the atmosphere. I haven't been to a stadium fight but in recent times I have had good ringside seats at smaller indoor venues the atmosphere was still good and you can see everything and here the thud in the punches. I was at Thurman v Jarvis and although it wasn't exactly a big fight it was a good night out and seeing the KO up close was awesome. On the undercard Mateo Tapia scored a good KO and hearing smack from the punch and the body hitting the floor was cool.
     
  14. TheShellofKell

    TheShellofKell Nakatani Future P4P #1 Full Member

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    I kind of agree, aside from the atmosphere there's no real point, you could tell from home that the big screen was off colour and pixelated, also if you buy tickets behind a goal at Spurs stadium in the nosebleeds and the ring is 18feet you are around 225 feet away from the action trying to see 2 people fight. Unless you are up close then I don't get it either.
     
  15. thehook13

    thehook13 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Most of the time I'm too wasted to even scrutinize anyway.