On this date a year ago, Kevin McBride made Mike Tyson quit on his stool in the sixth round at MCI (now Verizon) Center in DC. The aftermath of this event has caused interesting ripples over the past 12 months. The aftermath of this event is detailed in an article by Thom Loverro in today's Washington Times.
A lot of the information detailed in the story is very similar to what Mike Swann of 15rounds.com talked about in his two-part expose on this subject. Part one of Swann's report can be found in the December 2005 archives on this blog.
There is one statement that I have to disagree with in Loverro's story and I would like to throw in an editorial here.
Loverro quoted the legendary York Van Nixon who is a former commissioner of the District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission and has been a high-ranking official with the World Boxing Association for a number of years. Van Nixon said the event was "a joke" and it was bad for boxing.
In many ways, the event was good for boxing, especially in DC. The card brought many people out to boxing who normally don't go. The attendance was over 15,000, the largest I can remember for a Beltway Boxing show in many years, if not ever. The event made DC the center of the boxing world for at least a week.
If there is an issue with this card, it's with the aftermath. This deals with how the city, especially the DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission handled the aftermath of arguably the most important card in the city since Joe Louis fought Buddy Baer in Griffith Stadium in May of 1941.
The DC Commission, did not follow up on the wave of excitement generated by the McBride-Tyson card. The commission did not promote themselves and encouarge promoters to put on cards here in the city. This could have been because of the financial problems suffered by co-promoter Marty Wynn because of this card. Maybe the Commission was waiting to see what would happen to Wynn after the card.
But these are the facts, folks:
Since June 11, 2005, The District of Columbia has had a grand total of TWO boxing cards in the city. One of those was the annual Fight Night charity boxing card which is not really open to the general public. So in reality, DC has had ONE card (March 3 at the Lincoln Theatre) since Tyson-McBride.
By contrast, The Ballroom Boxing card on June 15 in Glen Burnie will mark the 20TH card for the State of Maryland since this date last year. Northern Virginia has had TWO cards since Tyson-McBride and has two more slated for July and August.
The lack of activity in our Nation's Capital is a serious issue, folks. The city blew a major chance to become a hotbed after Tyson-McBride. This card should have been used as a catalyst to boost boxing in the city.
The card did a lot for me personally. The week of the card, I was interviewed by a number of radio stations in the area and around the country. I even did an interview at two in the morning with a station in Vancouver, British Columbia after the card was over.
The card was also a catalyst for me to start this blog almost a year ago. If I could see this as an opportunity to expand my territory, why couldn't the commission see the card in the same light?
I know of people who want to promote here, but say they have issues working with the commission which make it difficult. There are other issues as well. The lack of types of venues like Michael's Eighth Avenue or Martin's West in the city with adequate parking and secure surroundings make it difficult to promote shows. Also promoters seem to feel that they have to spend a lot of money to make a lot of money. They go for the big, fancy places because they look good. In boxing, many times you spend a lot of money to LOSE a lot of money.
By contrast, Han Kim is promoting a USBA title bout on July 1 in a venue that MAY seat 2,000 once he reconfigures.
I know I've gone off on a little tangent but there have been lasting effects since this date last year and it goes beyond even what Loverro and, before him, Swann, have been talking about.
Please share your thoughts on this situation.
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16 comments:
Digital, I know about July's Northern VA card in Springfield, but when and where's the one in August?
Thanks.
There is a card that will be in Manassas on August 10. I don't know what location, however.
Oh, and Digital, what you said seems right-how is it there are so many cards in Maryland (esp. Glen Burnie), but only one after Tyson in DC, and 4 (as of August) in NoVa (which I don't mind, but DC's easier for me than MD)?? Someone, IMO, REALLY screwed up.
ACW:
I think the problem is two fold.
DC does not have the same types of venues that Maryland and Virginia have. DC doesn't have a lot of catering halls with good parking in secure locations.
DC also does not have promoters who are willing to build a fan base by starting small. Han Kim, for example, is doing a USBA title fight in a boys and girls club location.
DC does not have any promoters at the moment who want to start at smaller-size locations. They all want the big arenas to start off with. That is holding DC back right now, in my opinion.
"They all want the big arenas to start off with."
Well, there's your problem right there-when bands start out, they don't start right away at the Verizon Center, or even the Patriot Center. No, they do small clubs first, to build a fanbase. Why can't the DC promoters understand that?
Great question! A lot of it has to do with image.
A lot of DC promoters seem to have the misconception that fans are there to be in the building and they are not there to watch the action in the ring. There is a small percentage of "fans" who come to boxing matches just to be seen.
What DC promoters tend to do is cater to that small percentage by holding shows in fancy buildings. They forget about the hardcore boxing fan who knows they're there to witness a boxer trying to rise through the ranks.
But those promoters don't last long because they spend so much money trying to get the fancy building that they forget about promoting the actual BOUTS and they lose their shirts and they are out of the business.
To continue my point. A promoter may look good by bragging "I had a show in the Lincoln Theatre!" This is so they can brag to their buddies!
Wow, those promoters just don't get it, do they? I don't care about the location-if I can reach it, and the price is good, I couldn't care less whether it's in a place that seats 100 or a place as big as Caesars Palace.
Spoken like a true boxing fan!
Great Dialogue? ACW asked all the right questions. However, if I might add, it is also VERY tough to make money on smaller shows. A smaller promoter may (and usually does) lose his smaller shirt throwing smaller shows. It's not cheap to throw a show. In my opinion, the required amount of rounds and the sanctioning fees should be lessened for smaller shows, thus allowing the promoters to sell cheaper tickets to the smaller shows. But hey, what do I know?
sknnyscott, you might be on to something (of course, you probably know a LOT more about the business of boxing than I do; I didn't even know there WAS a required number of rounds). And ticket prices-as an example, how much are the tickets for the July 1 Springfield card, anyway?
I believe the costs are $35 and $50.
ACW,
Each state commission has a required number of rounds for a card to take place. Like most situations in boxing, different commissions have different numbers of rounds.
When bouts fall out (as happens more often than not), promoters have to scramble to find last-minute opponents. That does indeed cost even more money than a promoter should be willing to spend.
Promoting is a very difficult business.
Though I gotta say, on the other hand, as much as I enjoyed the two Patriot Center events, and as much as I'll enjoy the Springfield event July 1, it WOULD be nice to have an ESPN fights event, or even an HBO or Showtime event, here in the DC area (most likely Verizon Center).
And Digital, as for that bouts falling out part, it does seem to happen often...for the Clash of the Contenders this past Feb. if I remember correctly the card was changed several times. And just out of curiosity, what is the purpose of having a required number of rounds in the first place?
To be honest, I don't really know.
I will see the executive director of the Maryland commission later this week. I will ask him.
Thanks Digital.
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