Last Thursday we welcomed the return of BRD Promotions.
Last Thursday we welcomed the return of BRD Promotions.
This company is best known for playing a role in the development of a number of today's big name fighters, such as IBO welterweight champion Isaac "The Angel" Hlatswayo and WBF junior featherweight holder Oscar "Golden Boy" Chauke, to mention but a few. It's unclear what happened in its boardroom, but BRD disappeared into thin air.
But it is back now and let us celebrate that. It staged its first development tournament - something they did so well years back - at Wembley Arena last week.
It went well but something annoyed me about it and that is that it was paired with martial arts. I hated the idea because it implied that boxing is desperate (for what exactly, I don't know). But it also said boxing was crying for help. Only promoter Manny Fernandez knows why he did that.
Look, ideas are always welcome, I suppose, as long as they are for the betterment of the sport. But people must not use boxing to do their other "things". I wish I could say more about this because it irked me. Some of us love boxing with a passion - boxing, not boxing-martial arts or kick-boxing. I am very jealous of this sport.
I am waiting to see soccer being paired with rugby. I am down on my knees begging Boxing SA not to buy into this silly idea. Look Manny, go ahead and stage your martial arts or kick-boxing tournaments - I have no problem with that - but do it far away from a boxing tournament. Please stop confusing us.
My observation at Wembley was that people were there for martial arts. I did not even wait for martial arts activities to begin.
Guys, remember boxing is a sport on its own. It has been like that in the past, it is like that now and it will remain like that even in the future. I take my leave.
Boxing too pure to mix
Last Thursday we welcomed the return of BRD Promotions.
Last Thursday we welcomed the return of BRD Promotions.
This company is best known for playing a role in the development of a number of today's big name fighters, such as IBO welterweight champion Isaac "The Angel" Hlatswayo and WBF junior featherweight holder Oscar "Golden Boy" Chauke, to mention but a few. It's unclear what happened in its boardroom, but BRD disappeared into thin air.
But it is back now and let us celebrate that. It staged its first development tournament - something they did so well years back - at Wembley Arena last week.
It went well but something annoyed me about it and that is that it was paired with martial arts. I hated the idea because it implied that boxing is desperate (for what exactly, I don't know). But it also said boxing was crying for help. Only promoter Manny Fernandez knows why he did that.
Look, ideas are always welcome, I suppose, as long as they are for the betterment of the sport. But people must not use boxing to do their other "things". I wish I could say more about this because it irked me. Some of us love boxing with a passion - boxing, not boxing-martial arts or kick-boxing. I am very jealous of this sport.
I am waiting to see soccer being paired with rugby. I am down on my knees begging Boxing SA not to buy into this silly idea. Look Manny, go ahead and stage your martial arts or kick-boxing tournaments - I have no problem with that - but do it far away from a boxing tournament. Please stop confusing us.
My observation at Wembley was that people were there for martial arts. I did not even wait for martial arts activities to begin.
Guys, remember boxing is a sport on its own. It has been like that in the past, it is like that now and it will remain like that even in the future. I take my leave.