Paul's Press Ups
Paul Foley on boxing’s charity and economy...
Local paper Newham Recorder reported on a winning event organised by Canning Town gym TKO (as did we - Ed.), which included some of boxing’s household names displaying their set of skills, without a glove in sight as they took to the football field to help raise much needed cash for the Indee Rose Trust.
The charity was set up after three year old Indee died from a brain tumour and aims to support children recovering from similar illnesses.
Len Whaley found organiser Johnny Eames ‘overwhelmed’ as he spoke about the support of fans and fighters alike who turned up in their numbers raising in excess of £20,000.
“Some of boxing’s biggest names including former world champion Ricky Hatton keep their promise to attend and made it a special day for more than 2,000 spectators. “That’s an amazing figure,” said Eames.
"Competing teams came from all over the United Kingdom including Liverpool, Scotland and Ireland and did not ask for one penny expenses - it just shows how genuine boxing people can be.”
Having spent quite a bit of time in Eames’ company this year I soon discovered here is a man who makes people want to be in boxing, and by the sums of this turn out he is also handy at getting a team together and bring success.
Johnny, if you fancy a change of sport how about the England job?
While Eames and his team were busy helping some children have a brighter future a week later the WBC were holding their massive own ‘get together’ in Cardiff.
You talk about ‘name calling’, there were many to savour as the Daily Mail’s Jeff Powell explained under the apt headline ‘Fight Night to Remember'.
‘No fewer than 80 fistic greats are heading for Cardiff this weekend for the WBC’s Night of Champions. Their glittering number includes such foreign legends as Roberto Duran, Leon Spinks, Azumah Nelson, Vito Antuofermo, Iran Barkley and reigning world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.'
The three day event started with a bang by premiering the film Risen which tells the story of former world champion Howard Davies and Powell continued to thrill potential attendees.
‘The Howard Winstone story tells how this factory worker became one of the most skilled boxers of all time despite losing the fingers of one hand in a machinery accident.
‘The city of Cardiff is making a huge effort to stage this Thursday to Saturday event which will also include a gala awards dinner, a match between UK amateur boxers and the Rest of the World and a veritable eisteddfod of Welsh son and ring dance.’
By now those who attended have probably all returned home. And doesn’t it sound great? Well it did to me.
And as I sat at home on Friday evening contemplating why I didn’t bother to secure a press accreditation, after finding my way on their website I felt slightly different.
On discovering the entry prices for fans attending the Friday amateur boxing ranged from £25 to £100 I questioned why such an inflated fee during a time of national cutbacks.
In a week when I foolishly paid £15 to watch a football friendly I have learnt once again that fans need to vote with their feet.
At a time of mass cutbacks, sporting events and their charges still show no sign of recession.
Talk about paying the price!
