A night with new promoter Steve Goodwin
Commuters have recently experienced great difficulties in attempting to ‘go up in the air.’ While that cloud is now disappearing boxing has long encountered a problem with ‘getting on air’ so for promoters who have no TV backing them an uncomfortable journey may be ahead.
But none of that has convinced new promoter Steve Goodwin to duck out of the fight. Last Saturday evening, Steve hosted his first London promotion ‘A night of the rising stars’ at Bethnal Green’s York Hall with seven fights on the card.
I arrived a little after 5.30pm to be greeted by a smiling and friendly team in a highly relaxed atmosphere and in the next half hour several of the fighters made there way to the changing rooms.
Steve himself was also in the process of getting changed into a fresh suit as his wife directed me to him. And while he admitted he’s not quite at fighting weight he’s more than ready for the battle to establish himself in the promotion world by bringing a fresh perspective to the ring.
“My ethos is to try and create a different type of experience, a more of an entertaining experience you see on the TV with ring entrances and interviews. We want to bring the TV experience to the small hall shows and try to raise the standard of the small hall shows.”
Well that’s certainly positive isn’t it? If all smaller shows can’t find their way onto the big screen, then why not bring the big atmosphere to those who have paid rather than leaving all the fun to the TV shows?
The established promoters have been where Steve is and credit to them for getting themselves into the position of regular Sky Friday night shows, but outside of the satellite scene there isn’t too many options. And if shows are only exciting when the cameras and bright lights are then it doesn’t say too much for the entertainment levels elsewhere, so what could the fans in attendance expect?
“Good ring entrances particularly the last one for Yassine (El Macchi), a couple of others will be very good. I have also got a girl from the BBC doing post-fight interviews through the speaker systems so that people are watching to see what boxers think after the fight, and that’s a new idea we have brought in as well. We have got a bit of singing entertainment in between the last fight, we have got some cheerleaders with some pom-poms, just a few different things.”
If that’s not enough Steve intends on bringing a Rock band for his next York Hall date on 19th June and intends on jazzing it up, adding because too many people have left shows a bit bored.
With no TV behind him Steve is grateful he has some ready cash available.
“If I didn’t have income from something else it would be impossible, it’s a good job I am not looking to make an income but just break even out of it.”
But even though he has a few pounds in his pockets, those notes don’t stop the frustrations of late pullouts which can have a knock on effect of the final attendance, but Steve was ready and waiting for this.
“We have had three pull outs this week but that is why we went for ten fights at the start, probably for the June show we will be looking for 10 to 12 fights, so we have to over compensate.”
Steve isn’t in it to just make a profit but equally doesn’t want to lose money so how have those withdrawals affected him?
“I think ticket sales will be okay but to get three drop outs in the last week and the return of that many tickets is a bit disappointing.”
So Steve the York Hall would only be about half full then (600)?
“More than that much more than that I would be disappointed if we are not at the 900-1000 mark.”
No cameras and a slightly smaller than expected crowd, but Steve is now just an hour away from the first bell of his first London show, does he have any pre fight nerves?
“It’s quite exciting, nervous but looking forward to it and hopefully everybody will enjoy it and see we are trying to do things a little bit different.”
Will Steve be carefully watching or will he be up and down all night?
“Sitting and watching, cheering, but I have got a team of 15 people around. There is a lot of people doing a lot of jobs and really make sure that the presence and service is really good, so I am just going to be wandering and talking and let everyone else do it.”
Steve’s main concern is that Yassine El Maachi wins following his decision to offer a £15,000 reward to anyone who can stop him.
“If you ask me what I am worried about I am more worried about that, Yassine is full of confidence, he tells me not to worry, but to be fair I think he is in with somebody (Bertland Aloa) that’s tougher and has got more substance to him to last the distance than he has been in with for a long time.”
What sense do you want people to leave with tonight?
“That was different.”
The night itself produced several entertaining fights with Mark Alexander’s stoppage of Michael Devine the most entertaining. Alexander and Yassine both came to the ring with their own MC’s which certainly got the near capacity crowd going.
Steve hoped to recreate the same TV show atmosphere. The ring walks all started from the back stage and several had bright lights behind, almost giving a Christmas feel, but most of the night’s 14 fighters were keen to get inside the ring rather than hang around on the stage and entertain.
Claire Blount was excellent in keeping her calm while doing the after fight interviews, but it’s a shame the crowd didn’t listen (and made it almost impossibe for those who wanted to) as they continued singing and cheering.
Steve looked as if he enjoyed himself sitting next to his family at ringside. He was frequently involved in conversations to those close by and only looked alarmed when Yassine endured some rocky moments.
Steve did get on his feet when Yassine knocked Aloa down in the ninth round and was soon inside the ring to congratulate him on victory and posed for pictures.
For his first London show Steve done well. He is extremely media friendly and grateful for coverage.
A little before 11pm the show was put to bed but Steve’s smile was wide awake.
All in all a good night for Goodwin!
