LAST year was decent for VIP Promotions. Brian Rose fought for the world title, Josh Warrington won the European, Terry Flanagan emerged as one to watch, and we put on some good shows and fight-of-the-year contests. This year though Iโd like to see promoters working together more.
I couldnโt be sure but, at the very top level, I feel like promoters do things to hurt rather than help each other, and that should stop. At the end of the day itโs the fans that suffer, and there could be some great fights and shows made.
At my level, Iโve spoken to other promoters and rather than us do shows in areas near the same time, itโd be better if we did one together. Weโve got to start doing this or weโll get to the stage where weโll lose lots of money. Everyone needs to say โthereโs enough pie to shareโ rather than trying to pinch it.
Thereโs always been politics. When I first got involved Nat Basso said to me โnothing changes apart from the namesโ. Thereโs only really me in Manchester, Iโve been doing it 20 years and there have been many others since but they donโt last long because itโs too hard.
Terrestrial TV could change things. Itโs great that ITV will be showing Carl Framptonโs next fight. Carlโs a very good fighter, Barry McGuigan is a great personality and it gets boxing back in the national spotlight where it belongs. Iโd really like to see the BBC involved too. When you look at Channel 5 getting over three million viewers, Iโm sure the BBC would do numbers like 15 million. It doesnโt make sense; maybe someone at the BBC doesnโt like boxing! The sport is booming, the stadiums are full, sponsors are getting behind it and the public are missing out. Itโs the only pay-per-view sport, which shows how popular it is. The BBC should take a gamble; if itโs done right they wonโt be let down.
Matchroom having the Sky monopoly isnโt a healthy thing either. Itโs healthy for Matchroom Boxing, and itโs a situation weโd all want to be in so you canโt be envious, but itโs not a good thing. Iโm a feeder now to Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren. I get kids to a certain level and they take over. Iโd love the chance to develop them further myself. Itโs frustrating, but something Iโve got to work with. Hopefully things will change, but I canโt see it in the near future.
Weโve gone down the route of streaming our shows free at vipboxing.tv and itโs gone better than anticipated. Itโs really helped us, weโve got sponsors on the back of it, the feedback is good, and weโve got an audience from about 50 different countries worldwide.
Our next big show is a 10-fight card on February 28 in Preston. Ricky Skelton tops the bill fighting for a title. Rick Godding returns from injury, is undefeated in 20 and will be in the British title mix, and Luke Blackledge and Ronnie Heffron are also on. Iโm looking forward to it; itโs a good card that deserves some TV backing.
BOXING NEWS has been your loyal companion since 1909. DON’T MISS OUT.