Lockdown brings out the best of the boxing community

This unprecedented time of ‘lockdown’, as it’s been called, was met with confusion and panic from the general public to start off with.

As all but essential workers were told to stay home and shops across the country were shut down this week, the stark reality that the nation had to stay at home began to set in.

The government issued strict guidelines saying that only one session of outdoors daily exercise was permitted along with leaving the house only to go to the supermarket to buy essential groceries.

In true boxing fraternity style, fighters from across the globe began setting each other challenges and posting their home workouts.

Bringing together the boxing community

Of course, the WBC lead the charge by digitally bringing together female champions such as Christina Hammer and Yesenia Gomez along with A-list names from the men’s world both old and new.

Canelo Alvarez, ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson and Amir Khan were amongst those that let fans see that they weren’t alone in ‘lockdown’.

Boxing, unlike any other sport, has the power to engross fans from across the world because it appeals on a human level. Fighters that appear superhuman in the ring generate respect and admiration for their courage.

When we see them in their homes, with their children or pets, it lets us believe that anything can be possible as they are just like us.

The boxing community has come together in fine form and, with an absence of live sport, we have the perfect opportunity to dive into the archives and take a look at some classics over the next few months.

To help fill the void I’ve put together a list of 5 of my favourite fights involving British boxers to keep the boxing juices flowing during this time. Each week throughout the COVID-19 crisis I will be adding 5 more to the list, all of which can be watched on Youtube:

Jamie Moore vs Matthew Macklin – British Light Middleweight Title, 2006

Trivia: Macklin would go on to challenge for a world title three times after this fight. Moore never got his chance to contest a world title fight.

Lennox Lewis vs Vitali Klitschko – WBC World Heavyweight Title, 2003

Trivia: This was a passing of the torch fight although many expected an easy win for Lewis. Listen for Michael Buffer’s mistake in the introductions.

Joe Calzaghe vs Jeff Lacy – Super Middleweight World Title Unification, 2006

Trivia: Calzaghe was the underdog despite being champion for 9 years! Jeff lacy was billed as the next Mike Tyson.

Carl Froch vs Lucian Bute – IBF World Super Middleweight Title, 2012

Trivia: This was a make or break fight for Froch who had lost 2 out of his 4 previous fights.

Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder II – WBC World Heavyweight Title, 2019

Trivia: Fury and Wilder had met once before resulting in a controversial draw, the public was split down the middle on who would win the second time around.

Why not use your time in lockdown to get in shape like a pro with the Cleto Reyes Boxing Medicine Ball.

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