The British Boxing “Boom” is well and truly over

If Fowler v Fitzgerald headlines that tonight then it would have been bang on. I really enjoyed the boxing tonight. Joe Hughes v Davies Jn was a cracking fight. Price v Ali was just nuts but plenty of talking points. Natasha Jonas’s opponent had to give her shorts back to MC Hammer. Craig Glover got sparked in a bit of a shock. Smith vs Egg was a mismatch but still a top night for me.

 

I think it's less a case of marquee names going to America and more marquee names retiring. Like them or not, Haye, Bellew and Groves all retiring within a few months of each leaves something of a gap at the top level. To add to that it's not that long since Froch and Cleverly hung them up. And you don't necessarily have immediate replacements; there's clearly talent on the horizon, but you have to give the likes of Dubois, Gorman, Buatsi and so on some time.

 

If I were Sky, I'd rethink my Matchroom exclusive contract and start opening up to other promoters

 

Like who?

 

Are you worried? Does it keep you awake at night? Get a grip eh?

 

Good card last night. The egg’s had enough chances to progress his career- cannon fodder is all he will be from now on.

 

It’s not over till Adam Smith tells us it’s over.

 

I agree I think there are good boxers out there on UK scene but not stars or characters that make you want to switch on. Basically no one to back their mouths up as we are all bored now of the heated press conference act.

Even Eddie should have a rethink as to what’s happening cos the UK is his bread and butter and the US is building again but it’s not a guarantee that’s going to last or even work cos they are slowly running out of their own stars too.

Such a money grabbing environment it’s a pity.

 

Thought that was a good card last night, enjoyable night of boxing. Hearn should of switched Fitz/Fowler to main event though a couple of weeks ago when the build up was in full flow. Smith Eggington was always going to be crap and a bit flat in comparison to that

 

The problem is not just Eddie. It’s all of them.

Every promoter wants to protect their fighters 0. It’s ridiculous. People are avoiding British level fights and then getting caught out fighting fringe European level.

Look at the likes of Groves, Degale, even Crolla etc. All took losses early(ish) on in their careers and all been on to have respectable careers. There’s more as well but I just can’t be bothered to think of a whole list!

It’s this Floyd Mayweather generation where they all think the 0 is everything.

 

To be fair I don't think everyone is like that and it's demonstrable that loads of fighters go on to bigger things after a loss. David Haye lost at a Wembley Arena show and went on to be massive. Carl Froch lost in some backwoods town in Denmark on Primetime and went on to sell out Wembley. And you're absolutely correct to point toward what DeGale, Crolla and Groves did.

The question would be who are you referring to with regards to this current 'Mayweather generation?' Yarde seems an obvious one. But in terms of undefeated British fighters? Joshua has been pushed hard from a very early stage. Fury has fought Klitschko and Wilder. Smith has just faced Groves. Warrington has had back to back fights as an outsider against top drawer opposition. Saunders perhaps, but it just so often seems with him to be a case that he's the ultimate high risk low reward opponent.

 

Spot on. I give Hearn e-grief but it's really symbolic of all of them. It takes more than one to tango and in fact, pre-Hearn, boxing over here truly was going the way of the Dodo.

There is probably a case for the boxing boom as it was being attributable in a big way to the Olympics as well as Hearn, but now the market is returning to its default state.

 

Yeah excellent night of boxing mate, really enjoyable. I hope Hearn signs up Joe Hughes as he's a real talent.

 

So impressed with him mate. He edged it for me. Brilliant lateral movement, moving under the jab from Davies. His inside work was excellent. How he uses that left arm is fascinating...If I was a coach I would be using Hughes as an example of how much more you can use your lead left, because he has loads more variety in it than a fighter who can use both arms.