The return of boxing in the UK moved a step closer on Monday when Prime minister Boris Johnson announced plans to allow sport behind closed doors from June 1.
The UK Government issued a 60-page report called Our Plan To Rebuild, which spoke in broad terms about a phased easing of the lockdown introduced to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the recovery plan, sport could resume under the second of three stages, which would allow “cultural and sporting events to take place behind-closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact”.
The June 1 date is the earliest that “step 2” would be implemented, although it could be pushed back if the numbers of cases does not continue to fall to “manageable levels”. However, the document advises that “organisations should prepare accordingly” for a restart.
The Government announcement is the first step in the British Boxing Board of Control’s plans for a restart, although it is unlikely that any bouts will take place until July at the earliest.
The British Boxing Board of Control circulated a detailed document to licence-holders last week outlining its plans for boxing behind closed doors. Key to any return of British boxing is that there must be suitable medical coverage.
The guidelines include coronavirus testing for all of those attending, while those deemed at high risk, including the over-70s and anyone pregnant, would not be allowed to attend. Early shows would be unlikely to include any title fights to both minimise the number of officials required and because of the difficulty in carrying out check weigh-in protocols.