THE top end of boxing is making a tentative return. Events, without a crowd, have begun in America (see here). The UK is expected to follow suit by the end of next month. In Britain professional boxers and, in a limited way, the Olympic squad have been permitted to train. But for boxingโs continued success as a whole, the sport must have a secure foundation. Its amateur clubs must get through this crisis. They form the essential fabric of the sport but face a host of problems. Amateur gyms remain closed and, due to the coronavirus pandemic, over the coming months, maybe even years, they will continue to contend with long-term risks. It is however vital that they survive.
Professional, Olympic and international boxing, all rely on the amateur system. Not only that but clubs across the country are crucial to their communities. โThis sport in general and what it does day in, day out in terms of the activity and support it offers in its local communities is phenomenal,โ Gethin Jenkins, the chief executive of England Boxing told Boxing News. โWhat is normal in the boxing environment (we try to highlight more and more of it), that is not normal for what other sports do. Boxing is almost unique in that regard of the activity, of where it takes place and what takes place and the support it offersโฆ That has been awe inspiring and phenomenal.
โ40% of our clubs are in the lowest 20% areas of deprivation in the country. [Boxing] is important as a sport but itโs also important in what it does for the community. And I think to an extent that has been demonstrated in this pandemic through all the examples of the activity and the resourcefulness of the clubs in how theyโve adapted to go and help others, when theyโre shut down and have got problems and issues themselves.โ
Those problems are clear. At present clubs have lost all their revenue from people training in the gyms and from hosting events themselves. The primary issues that England Boxing has been addressing initially are providing financial support for clubs, particularly through advice and guidance, as well as how clubs can maintain connection with their members, through promoting physical activity online, and mental health support. โObviously the scale of what weโre doing, itโs at government level. So through our club support officers weโve been trying to contact all the clubs, making sure theyโre aware of the money thatโs available through rebates and grants. The clubs have done brilliantly and weโve supported with this Knock Out Covid 19 campaign and raised ยฃ130,000. Thatโs clubs taking ownership of their own problems and trying to address that and looking for other grants. The Sport England emergency fund grant has been significant in that contribution as well,โ Jenkins [pictured below] said. โWe estimate itโs roundabout ยฃ3 million thatโs been brought in and club support officers have been great. Weโd encourage if the clubs havenโt contacted them and they think they need help, get on the phone to them. Thatโs what theyโre there for.
โWeโve delayed the start of the new season, itโs clear that clubs wonโt have any cash coming in now and itโs clear that the priority is spending it on their survival and weโve halved the membership fees for next year straightaway. Thatโs our small contribution to try and mitigate it. But that doesnโt address the here and now and thatโs why our focus has been on, as I say, the Sport England support, the government support and the clubs taking ownership of the KO Covid funding campaign, which has been successful and has been recognised by other sports as well.โ
Amateur boxers are being held back while they canโt do padwork, contact training, sparring or compete. England Boxing have to take their lead from the government for the pathway back to reopening gyms and bringing back different types of training. The next announcement is expected on July 4.
Jenkins said, โA lot of [clubs] are a lot smaller than ordinary commercial gyms, so how are we going to manage with social distancing, how are we going to manage with hygiene, how are we going to manage with cleansing equipment and stuff. So that will probably be the next area we will look and try to provide guidance to the clubs, as and when thatโs permitted by the government. The first option I think will be larger groups permitted outside.โ
Screening, testing and distancing may well not be as practical for amateur clubs as it is for pro gyms. โMy understanding is the tests are expensive, youโd have to do them regularly and also in a gym of pros you probably wouldnโt have that many in there, whereas if you think of a boxing clubโs youngsters class, thereโs probably going to be quite a lot more there in a confined space. When youโve got to start providing two metre gaps in every direction, then thatโs going to be a challenge. Thatโs what weโre going to work through and thatโs why I think, as and when it is permitted, being outside may be the best option for the re-emergence of the clubs and the sport,โ Jenkins reflected. โWe make representation through our governing bodies, through Sport England and the Recreation Alliance to DCMS and we keep pushing for more information and for changes as well because we realise people are keen to get back as quickly as possible. If itโs a minor silver lining, itโs the recognition of how important the sport is in general and how important boxing activity is.โ
โWeโve got to make sure itโs safe to do so. We donโt want to put our members at risk,โ he adds. โAlso if itโs not safe, people wonโt want to returnโฆ Thatโs why itโs key that we do this properly and at the right time.โ
Events with crowds wonโt be able to come back any time soon. โI think thatโs a lot further away,โ Jenkins said. โWeโve rescheduled from September onwards [for championships] and at this stage itโs purely too early to sayโฆ Weโve bought time but we are dependent on government on what is and isnโt permitted.
โBut until we know the parameters of where and when and what we can do then itโs just too early to say [when competition can start]. But we remain hopeful that it takes place this year.โ
Even as clubs address the first impacts of this funding emergency, a longer campaign stretches ahead of them in order to weather this crisis. Itโs something the sport though, at every level, must support.