Over before it even got going. We’ve all seen a few fights like that before, haven’t we?
But, in this case, this was a show which never ever got started.
Promoter Phil Jeffries has pulled the plug on his second Rainton Arena event on Friday, October 1 with only 25 per cent of the card matched up.
It’s a very disappointing state of affairs especially given part one of his Houghton double bill, just a couple of weeks ago, was an absolute smash hit, despite defeat for Joe Maphosa in his challenge for the vacant English super-flyweight title.
You have to feel for all involved, the promoter, officials and those of us who would have been inside the arena enjoying a night of boxing.
But, especially the boxers, who have toiled in gyms and on roads, they are, in alphabetical order, Adam Cope, Nathan Cummiskey, Adam Gair, Kerry Haley, Rob Ismay, Matt McCallum, Sam Menzies and Henry Thomas.
Of that cast list, only two were matched. Geordie newcomer Cummiskey, part of the Jobes stable in Newcastle, was due to meet Paul Scaife, while Mal Gates-talent, Menzies, was up against Kiernan Mcafee-Hanson.
No real blame can be attached to the excellent matchmaker, Michael Marsden.
Since lockdown ended and small hall boxing returned, there has been an explosion of events and, sadly, not enough boxers to go around.
To put it into context, there are eight other shows on in the UK on the same weekend.
‘But there is a list of professional boxers as long as a phonebook’ I hear you say and you’d be right, though there is a distinct shortage of those who will appear as ‘opponents’.
Punch-lines hoped one of the silver linings provided by the pandemic would be the end of the days of five or six Lithuanian/ Czech/ Bulgarian/ Hungarian boxers turning up as opposition to 6-0 home boxers and that we’d now see a shift towards more competitive bouts. It seems not.
Now, this writer (who has never set foot in a ring and would not dare) is not being daft enough to suggest that debutants tape up the gloves and share a ring with a GGG or a Katie Taylor.
But those with a good few bouts under their belt should be prepared to fight a live opponent, surely?
Punch-lines knows of one unmatched boxer on the Rainton bill, who knocked back a couple of opponents.
Professional boxers and pro boxing must wise up to the concept of competition. The paying punters would love it.
Last week, on this writer’s patch, Headland ABC, the home club of Savannah Marshall, charged £15 for a 15-bout card where the boxers from each corner came to win.
Granted, you are not going to get into a professional show for that sort of cash given the costs involved but you get the idea. Just a thought.
Going back to this story, Jaffa will hopefully be back before the end of 2021 with another smash hit at the Rainton Arena.
Words: Roy Kelly
