I have NO extra sensory perception and cannot predict lottery numbers. But when one of our reporters omitted the six-round and four-round scores at a small-venue show last week (and couldn’t be reached by deadline), I added the scores of 60-54 and 40-36 to the report without a shudder doubts. After the magazine went to press, the same results arrived in my inbox and therein lies a earnest problem for British boxing.

It seems that so many diminutive shows in diminutive venues, especially north of Watford, host matchmaking so risky, so insipid, so cynical, that even the choreographed WWE seems like an legitimate sport by comparison.

Every week during the peak of the boxing season I look at the weekly national reports and the same numbers come up over and over again – 40-36, 60-54, . Maybe these are the lotto numbers we’re looking for?

About 30 apprentices regularly appear on this hamster wheel of reports, coddling, cuddling and mauling, hoping to avoid cuts or shutdowns, only to earn another paycheck soon thereafter. Their extensive records include narrow (sometimes one or two) stoppage victories; they actually pose no threat to your home (only to yourself and your long-term health).

For the first few fights, this may be considered acceptable as the newborn novice has to deal with the physical demands of the professional game. However, there is something disconcerting about a competitor who is almost 10-0 on the track in a diminutive gym and preys on competitors who are losing records. This is a record-breaking achievement that we don’t see to this extent in other countries, and when these players first step up to the challenge, they will likely fail without the foundation of a more competitive base.

Better fights cost more, yes, but that’s why quality and production values ​​are the basis of any form of entertainment.

One argument for this 40-36 epidemic would be that ticket seller fans are just joyful to see their guy win and get into a minor title fight. However, I’m sure the rest of those present would prefer to see a competitive fight. If you enjoy watching two men in shorts cuddling for 12-18 minutes, you can do it from the comfort of your own home via Google.

Many people love the thrill of fighting at any level. Even when a fight breaks out in a parking lot or playground, people have a natural tendency to gather around to witness the fierce battle of wills and physicality. But it’s unlikely you’ll hear a passerby shout, “My partner is so good at all this cuddling.” Or “I saw this guy hugging in Aldi last week, he’s an awkward customer.”

What other sporting event would you attend where the score is guaranteed to be almost 100? There is a sense of historical inertia here, where a culture of “it’s always been done this way” has led to an uninspiring and bleak outlook. This has gotten to the point where many matchmakers and promoters feel it is acceptable to put on, let’s be candid, crap fights. As a boxing fan, I have no interest in watching these shows and sometimes I think that our little stalwart supporter Andy Whittle deserves a purple heart for some of the trash he has witnessed in the backwaters of boxing. It is rumored that he had the number 40-36 tattooed on his back to commemorate his pain.

The British boxing ecosystem would be better off if one 1-0 fighter met another 1-0 fighter. Up-and-coming boxers will learn more, and fans in attendance will have fun and be interested in future performances. It is the sport of brave men and women, and to a lesser extent matchmakers.

This sense of the unexpected is what makes sports so electrifying. Even a minnow in an FA Cup match has a slim chance of upsetting a Premier League giant with home-field advantage. In small-hall boxing, few opportunities are taken, and that leads to more major promoters – apart from the more capable blue-chip fighters who usually have the firepower to end a six-round fight before the inevitable 60-54 score.

has traditionally been a documentary and that’s why we’re including these small-room, in-ring reports, with scales and additional information you may not find on Boxrec. But a lot Boxing news readers tell me they just scroll through these pages because it’s basically the same result and the names change every week.

Skip to the amateur side of this publication, however, and you’ll regularly read about competitive, well-matched fights at all levels, from club appearances to major tournaments. This pure sporting element is unfortunately lost in an increasingly cynical and short-sighted, small-hall, unimaginative track. Rinse and repeat.

In the aged days, fights in diminutive venues were more competitive. Even in the era of Nobby Nobbs’ Losers Restricted stable, where the capable Peter Buckley accidentally hurt a potential client and held up a wheezing newbie to keep next week’s paycheck. – Are you okay, buddy? Peter whispered in the clinch, then winked at the ring.

This handsome British tradition of “Nobbins” – during which an enthusiastic and engaged crowd threw money into the ring after a classic in a diminutive hall – is unfortunately long gone. Today they would keep the rest in their pocket.

I would love to see the return of Nobbins culture, although there would need to be a contactless payment option at the ring posts. Better fights would also be nice.

RECENTLY, over 100 former members of the South Norwood & Victory Amateur Boxing Club gathered in Croydon for a special reunion to honor the club’s founder and long-time coach, Terry Smith.

Now 85 years senior, Terry has devoted nearly six decades of his life to mentoring youthful boxers and helping them develop both in the ring and as individuals. The meeting was a heartfelt event, with participants coming from all over the UK and messages of support pouring in from all over the world, with everyone expressing their gratitude for the impact Terry had on their lives.

Terry founded South Norwood & Victory ABC in 1979 with the vision of not only training boxers, but also providing a safe and sound space where youthful boys and men could develop crucial life values ​​such as discipline, respect and perseverance. Over the years, he has become a mentor and role model for countless people, shaping their futures that reach far beyond the sport of boxing.

Through South Norwood & Victory, Terry and his co-coaches have produced numerous champions in both amateur divisions, many of whom have gone on to achieve great success at the professional level.

Among the participants of the reunion was Joshua Buatsi, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and one of the club’s most famed graduates. Buatsi, who began boxing under Terry’s tutelage as a teenager, spoke highly of his former trainer. “Terry didn’t just teach us how to box; he taught us how to be better people. The values ​​he instilled in me – discipline, resilience, respect – are things I carry with me every day, both in and out of the ring. I owe him so much.”

Mark Gillespie, co-coach of the South Norwood & Victory Amateur Boxing Club and former multiple-time junior national champion who organized the reunion, paid tribute to Terry’s influence both in and out of the ring. He reflected: “Like many other members of the club, Terry was like a second father to me. In addition to his incredible commitment and knowledge as a boxing coach – helping us develop our technical skills and passion for the sport – Terry invested in us as people. He taught us life lessons that went far beyond boxing, instilling in us a sense of personal pride and self-worth.

Mark added that Terry’s influence extended to teaching valuable social and life skills that shaped the futures of many youthful boxers. “He taught us how to maintain discipline and respect, how to deal with failure and how to support each other both as athletes and as people. These were lessons in resilience, responsibility and leadership that stayed with us for life and positively impacted both our family and professional lives.”

This quote further illustrates Terry’s holistic approach to coaching, emphasizing that his legacy is not just about the sport itself, but how he helped shape confident and capable youthful men ready to face life’s challenges.

Other members shared similar sentiments, emphasizing how Terry’s influence helped them overcome personal challenges and grow as individuals. One long-time member recalls: “When I first joined the club as a kid, I was on the wrong path. Terry believed in me when no one else did and gave me a sense of direction. It’s something I will never forget.”

The reunion not only honored Terry’s sacrifice, but also highlighted the lasting impact South Norwood & Victory ABC has had on the local community. Former boxers, many of whom are now successful in their personal and professional lives, spoke about the club’s influence in shaping who they are today. Messages from former members who were unable to attend in person came from as far away as Spain and Thailand, highlighting the breadth of Terry’s legacy.

Reflecting on the evening, Terry, with his characteristic humility, expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of love and support. “I never expected something like this. I just always wanted to support these guys find their way, both in boxing and in life. Seeing them grow up and do well – that’s the best reward I could ask for.”

As Terry turns 86, his commitment to club members and their families remains as forceful as ever. South Norwood & Victory ABC is not just a boxing club – it is a community, a family and a testament to one man’s unwavering dedication to the betterment of others.

The meeting was a powerful reminder of Terry Smith’s enduring legacy, both in the sport of boxing and in the countless incarnations he has encountered.

In fact, the superfight between Beterbiev and Bivol was so close that either one fighter could have won by a slim margin or it could have ended in a draw. It was a great fight at the highest level. After an intense 12 rounds of high-level fighting, the feeling in the ring was that Bivol had done enough to secure a hard-fought victory.

Personally, seeing it up close and personal was something different than re-watching the broadcast the next day. From the ring, it was easier to see how economical Bivol’s moves were, and you really got a greater sense of Beterbiev’s constant pressure – although I felt it was more noticeable in person that he was having difficulty pinning down Bivol.

I didn’t score in the live fight, but as I say, I had a feeling Bivol did. However, after watching it again on TV and scoring round by round, I found that after the final bell the balance was 115-113 in favor of Artur Beterbiev.

Truth be told, there are about four rounds that could have gone either way, depending on what you like. For example, round seven, the most intriguing of the fight, along with round 12. Bivol controlled the first two minutes beautifully, landing immaculate shots and avoiding Beterbiev’s action with impeccable technique, but the shots never did any damage and although his work clearly did enough to win the first two minutes,

Beterbiev hurt him in return and fired much more damaging shots in the final minute of the round. Depending on whether you prefer polished boxing under pressure or brutal work that clearly influences the outcome of this round.

I’ve seen people suggest that Bivol ran too much. Nonsense! He boxed beautifully, his jab was on target and his movements were amazing, never wasted and always done with purpose. It’s basic to forget that Beterbiev knocks everyone out. Not with one punch, but with accumulating pressure, feints and never giving up.

Being forced to box perfectly against a hazardous, unrelenting boxer is exhausting, which is why no one has ever been able to go the full 12 points with Beterbiev. Bivol had to stay on the move, even though he had very little chance of escaping, he did it as best as anyone in his position could have done.

You can’t be greedy with Beterbiev. You jab, you string together pop combos, you earn his respect, and you move. There’s no point in tying him up all the time, because he’ll outrun you, and that’s his strength. Getting involved in a physical struggle with a man like that who can physically break you down will wear you out. There was nothing more Bivol could do. When he actually threw more in his combos, he was always hurt – his shots never really did damage.

While Arthur was firing intensely, Bivol actually pounced. He potentially could have responded more while being attacked, as it was in these moments that Beterbiev began to take control, but risked being eliminated. He took endless attacks from the man who knocks everyone out.

Similarly, with Beterbiev, people say he hit his gloves, which is true, but he hit them so firm that he damaged Bivol. In a post-fight interview, Bivol said that the bruise on his face was caused by Artur hitting his high guard.

They continued to deal damage that shocked Bivol, and with shots to the defender’s back and sickening body blows, his work was very effective. Artur started many rounds slowly and finished powerful.

He could have pressed the action earlier in the rounds to achieve a more spectacular victory, but once again Bivol is the most hard fighter to define in boxing and believe me, it was not basic for Artur.

In the end, both men countered perfectly and both gave their all, which ensured an intense chess match at the highest level, just as we expected.

It is also worth noting – although it is hard to imagine – that these two men are not perfectly functioning boxing robots, but people who, in addition to their excellent results and an attitude that never seems to show weakness, ultimately have to cope and fight experience adversity that they must find a way to overcome.

Riyad, Saudi Arabia: Dmitry Bivol in his locker room after a split decision. Lost to Artur Beterbiev.
October 13, 2024 Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing.

Both are experienced, disciplined and well-trained enough to stay in shape and never leave it, but undeniably in a fight of this magnitude where there was no time for rest, fatigue played a key role in their victory. boxing absolutely perfect.

Perhaps that’s why Beterbiev didn’t press relentlessly from the first minute of each round, as he did later in the fight, thinking about going the distance, which is uncharted territory. On the other hand, Bivol showed a lot of energy at the beginning of the match and that may be why he was unable to respond to all of Beterbiev’s attacks towards the end of the match due to exhaustion.

Either way, what a brilliant fight. One that every boxing fan desperately wanted to see. I was lucky enough to witness it in person and it ended up being the best fight that could ever be had in boxing. Either of them could have won, and hopefully both will have a chance to gain the upper hand in the head-to-head rematch.