By Lee Collier
Milton Keynes sees the return of Graham Earl to the boxing ring on the 13th of March. Not only that, but it also sees the birth of Goodwin Promotions, a new promotional outfit headed up by Steve Goodwin.
Goodwin has been a financial advisor for over 20 years and was the founder behind Diamond Racing back in 1994. Such is Goodwin’s reputation in the sport of Horse Racing that he has been an expert panellist on Sky Sports Horse Racing News. Now Goodwin is turning his hand to boxing with the invention of Goodwin Promotions.
Goodwin, who has always been a big boxing fan, explained how the concept of becoming a promoter came about. “I met a couple of boxers who said they weren’t treated right and that their money being dropped on the night,” explained Goodwin.
“So I went up and down the country watching firstly the big shows like Warren and Maloney before moving on to the small hall shows. My view of the small hall shows was I could see why the attendances where so low, you haven’t got the entertainment, the charismatic ring entrances that boxing requires. I felt if we treat boxers well, pay them well and put on a proper show that there is a market to get into.”
Goodwin has left many small hall shows disappointed with the quick ring entrance, the fight and then the end of the night and felt that boxing needed to be improved. “The shows I will put on will be more upbeat. They will have proper ring entrances with tunnels installed in the arena; we will have special effects and are looking to be creative and innovative,” said Goodwin.
Goodwin continued: “We are going to introduce ringside interviews after the fight which will go through the speaker system so the fans can listen in. We will have champagne receptions and after show party’s. The people who attend the shows are invited and the deal with the boxers is that they have to attend so the fans can get to meet them. We are hoping to create a following for our fighters.”
Promoters are always looking for new ways to get the public’s interest, and with the recent surge in UFC and other mixed martial arts Goodwin intends to do all he can to get fans back to the sport of boxing.
“We might have pop groups at our shows performing when fighters enter the ring. We are going to be doing things totally different,” stated Goodwin. “We want the people who come to our shows to want to come back regardless of whether they like boxing.
“We will start staging woman’s boxing, if no one else will do it I will. We have signed Shayne Martin and if she wins her fight in April she is being put up for a world title in Japan, and I am happy to bring the champion over here and stage it in the UK. We need to get these wrestling fans and MMA fans back into boxing. Boxing promoters need to put on good, entertaining shows.”
Times have been hard for the sport of boxing recently, with a lack of TV deals in the United Kingdom. Most small hall promoters do not make money yet putting on more elaborate shows could lead to bigger financial losses, which is a fact Goodwin has taken into consideration.
“I am not into it to make money over the first few years,” explained Goodwin. “I am after building up my presence in boxing, ultimately the objective is to become one of the top promoters by doing it the right way. Boxing needs it to be fair and the other promoters will have to come up to our standard.”
When it comes to why promoters lose money Goodwin commented: “The reason small promoters don’t make money is because they don’t get enough people going. On my first show I accept I will lose money but my shows will sell out. I realise that by paying boxers fairly I will not make money but if we sell out and get a good following I feel that in 18-24 months we will be in a position to get a TV deal.”
The biggest name Goodwin Promotions have signed is Graham Earl who is an ex WBU, British and Commonwealth champion. Goodwin explained the kind of fighter that they are looking to recruit.
He said: “I am aiming to sign fighters that have had around four or eight fights. We want prospects that will be looking for bigger fights in 2 years, as that is the time frame we should require to provide that type of fight. I know I can’t take a big fighter now as I can’t deliver big fights but I do have a specific plan to sign upcoming fighters who will step up in level when we do.”
Goodwin Promotions first bout is on the 13th March 2010 at the Milton Keynes Dons Football Stadium (Stadium MK). Billed as ‘The Return of a champion’ it will feature Graham Earl alongside other Goodwin Promotion fighters.
“The first show will be a six bout fight card headlined by Graham Earl and will feature the unbeaten Harry Matthews, George Hillyard, Jamie Bones and a couple of local boxers in Blaine Courtney and Gavin Putney,” revealed Goodwin.
Goodwin signalled his intent on matching his fighters in entertaining fights: “We are going to put on decent shows, we won’t use the poor journeymen, and we are not interested in padding fighter’s records. What we are interested in putting on good shows that will bring the fans in.
“Milton Keynes holds about 900 and we will hopefully sell that out in the next four weeks, and we will put on a good show which will help to sell out the next event. The aim of using Milton Keynes is that a 5000 seated arena will be built in 12-15 months and we’ll put on shows in the new arena.”
Goodwin then signalled his intent for the short-term future. “We have our first three shows, two in Milton Keynes and the other in the York Hall. I expect to be staging between 20 and 25 shows in 2011 and will be looking to sign up fighters that feel they aren’t be looked after correctly by their promoters. We will pay our fighters properly and look after them and make sure they want to stay with us,” Goodwin declared.
Whilst Goodwin has a clear vision of where he wants to take Goodwin Promotions, and has a strong business background, he has no experience in boxing himself. “Graham Earl is our matchmaker and is our boxing advisor, I am working quite close with Graham”, revealed Goodwin, “Goodwin Promotions and Graham Earl are going to be working alongside each other for the long term. It is irrelevant how Graham’s comeback fight goes, he will be staying with Goodwin Promotions.”
To buy tickets and see Goodwin Promotions first fight card and the comeback of Graham Earl visit http://goodwinpromotions.co.uk
