Boxing’s reputation has taken a massive hit. I’m not here to defend Conor Benn or the organisers who tried to salvage a show that was clearly compromised the moment he tested positive for a banned substance.
But I am here to speak for the vast majority of dedicated, hard-working people who share little of boxing’s riches but give so much to the sport. I have been involved in this sport all my life. It hurts to hear boxing being trashed when you know the stuff being talked about is a million miles from the way the majority experience it.
I have made my position on drugs clear many times in this column. The only way to deal with offenders is to hand out severe penalties. I advocate zero tolerance. The dangers are clear and obvious. We run a clean gym. Vitamin C tablets were as much as I would allow myself to combat low iron levels.
I don’t want to comment on Benn until the picture is clearer. He maintains his innocence after the positive A sample. We await the outcome of the B sample. Once the board of control stepped in that was it. I don’t know the details or justifications for trying to carry on but I do know that it is important to respect the authority of the governing body. Especially in a cases like this that involve drug violations.
I feel sorry for the undercard fighters. Our boxer, Ellie Scotney, was fighting for the European super bantamweight title. She trained long and hard to get down to the weight and two days out the whole thing gets pulled.
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Action Images via Reuters)They didn’t weigh-in so they don’t get paid. Ellie was so looking forward to this fight. Had she won she would was in line for a world title shot. For a fighter like Ellie this was everything, a hugely important fight, the biggest of her career. She has been with Shane almost a year and getting better.
The Scotneys of this world are not earning the big dough. They need these fights. Four fights a year at championship level is lucky. She has not fought since May.
If you don’t get them it can be a struggle. There is no safety net. She was not an Olympian. She did not benefit from a huge signing on fee. So it’s a big commitment for boxers in Ellie’s position to stay pro for four fights a year. Fingers crossed she gets another date before Christmas, but there are no guarantees.
