World’s leading promoters outline the major problems boxing is facing due to coronavirus pandemic

THE coronavirus is causing chaos all over the world, not least the sporting world. Events have been cancelled, plenty are at the threat of, while others have gone ahead behind closed doors. The Football Association today (March 13) announced that the Premier League and Football League is to be suspended until at least April 4.

Boxing is facing similar disarray.

Separate shows in America, featuring the likes of Michael Conlan, Shakur Stevenson and James Kirkland, have been called off after initial plans to close the doors to the public were deemed unworkable.

Major promoters are scrambling to gather information on the virus but the ongoing threat to notable events all over the world is huge.

Kalle Sauerland, head of the World Boxing Super Series, is approaching crisis point with the upcoming cruiserweight final featuring Yuniel Dorticos versus Mairis Briedis on March 21. It is scheduled for Riga in Latvia where a ban on gatherings of over 200 people has been actioned due to the virus.

Sauerland is currently exploring options to stage the final behind closed doors.

โ€œAs I see it, weโ€™re boxing promoters, weโ€™re not experts on the situation,โ€ Sauerland told Boxing News. โ€œWeโ€™re not privileged to information that the higher powers might be so, for us, itโ€™s really worrying times. Planning is very difficult; the potential scenarios that we would normally have in place as a promoter โ€“ ie an injury โ€“ donโ€™t really apply here.

โ€œYes, we could postpone events but [that would suggest we will reschedule]. Weโ€™re not โ€˜in the knowโ€™ of anything. We donโ€™t know anything about timelines, we donโ€™t know anything about restrictions or the different kind of restrictions so we will continue being experts at what we do, but we will be under the guidelines of authorities, local and international.

โ€œWe have to look at the policies of different governments but theyโ€™re not all aligned, so that makes it even more complicated especially when you run an international operation. So, for us, we are bound to what the experts are telling us because weโ€™re not experts in this field and I think any promoter giving any other advice, apart from talking about left hooks and uppercuts, should stick to their own business.โ€

Matchroom boss, Eddie Hearn, who like Sauerland promotes all over the world, is addressing the same conundrum. On March 28, Josh Kelly and David Avenesyan are supposed to fight for the European welterweight title at the O2 in London. At the time of writing, the show goes ahead and โ€“ like Sauerland โ€“ he is exploring the possibility of closing the door to fans but admitted such a scenario might make staging events financially unviable.

โ€œWe are led by government decisions,โ€ Hearn told Boxing News. โ€œRight now, there is no ban on live events but obviously that can change.

โ€œWe are certainly open to events behind closed doors, but the bigger events are always dependant on the revenue generated at the box office. There are plenty of moving parts but we are thinking on our feet to make sure our fighters are taken care of and the public safety is of course considered.

โ€œFrom a fansโ€™ perspective, any cancelled events would lead to a full refund but right now itโ€™s business as usual until weโ€™re told otherwise.โ€

Frank Warren, of Queensberry Promotions, is preparing to stage the much-anticipated heavyweight showdown between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce on April 11. The event, like Avenesyan-Kelly, is set for the O2.

โ€œAt this time, we understand that the fight is going ahead as planned and we continue to take advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England, as well as that of local government,โ€ said a spokesperson for the O2 on Thursday (March 12).
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โ€œThe O2 remains fully open as usual and events scheduled at The O2 Arena are currently going ahead. Should this change, we will communicate details to visitors and ticket holders as soon as possible.
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โ€œWe take the health and safety of our guests and employees very seriously and continue to monitor the threat of coronavirus globally with advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England, as well as that of local government.โ€

In light of Prime Minister Boris Johnsonโ€™s announcement on Thursday that, for the time being, no bans on public events will be enforced, Warren added: โ€œOf course, Queensberry prioritise the well-being of those attending or participating in the event and will constantly monitor the government position and the health of the boxers.

โ€œAny update will be posted online through our official channels and any announcements from other sources should be disregarded.
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โ€œIn keeping with the stoic position of the government today however we remain optimistic to present an incredible night of boxing.โ€

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