The Thunderbox fight nights are getting more serious - is that good or bad?

By Janne Romppainnen

30.10 - The Thunderbox fight cards have divided opinions strictly ever since they were started couple of years ago. Pro-Thunderbox fans like the rules that favour knockouts and action, whereas the anti-Thunderbox fans think that the wrestling-like carnival atmosphere and usual mismatches give the wrong kind of publicity for the sport. So far the Thunderbox nights haven’t been that serious but rather a chance for the up-and-comers to show what they are capable of against inferior opponents. But as the latest news have informed us, the whole event is about to take a big step-up in class in the 30th of November by gathering some big names to face each other in a tournament until only one of them is standing.

It is not yet determined how the actual fight card will finally look like but what is certain is that some hot prospects as well as respected veterans will be included. Names such as Jeremy Williams, Maurice Harris, Tim Witherspoon, Ray Austin, Gerald Nobles and Paolo Vidoz have all been mentioned. What makes it special is that this is no exhibition show. All of them except for one are going to leave from the ring with a blemish on their record. The winner of the tournament gets 100000$ to heal his bruises while others are left with a mere 5000$. It goes without saying that this tournament is a good but a very risky chance to reach to the top.

After this card is done, will it get follow-ups? Is this going to be the last such an event (there was one like this a couple of years ago but with much lesser fighters) or is this going to be a new trend of the business? Of course much of that depends on how well the public finds its way to the ringside and in front of TVs. What seems clear is that the fighters have been very excited about it. The reports from the matchmakers tell that there has been much more contacts from well-known fighters than it is possible to include to the card.

Do we need this kind of tournaments then? Do they back any credibility or are they just one more glorified exhibition in the show-business that has little to do with the real art of boxing? In my opinion this is a very good project and I really hope it will continue. I think we have our share of the over-protected prospects who never face real opponents and when they finally do, they are exposed to be not worth of their padded 20-0, 20 KOs lists. The winner of this tournament, whoever it is, is to be taken seriously at the world level as he has defeated at least three respectable opponents on his way.

Another important point is that I think this is boxing at its purest. Traditionally, boxing has been a sport where there is no place for the second-bests, facing all comers and winning them is the thing that matters. It is delightful to see that there are still fighters out there who are willing to face anybody and really fight for their respect.

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