BRITISH BOXING’S only female promoter is fighting to get the sport back on the BBC.
Susannah Schofield OBE invested thousands of her own pounds to get her Unified Promotions show on in Rotherham’s Magna Carta arena last month.
Susannah Schofield is heading up Unified promotions in her effort to promote women’s boxing
Schofield with another female trailblazer in boxing, world champ Ebanie Bridges
And the former Royal Mail director delivered the card to the BBC’s iplayer platform, in the hope of convincing the terrestrial giant to return to the sport.
Casual fans and broadcasters get turned off when the biggest mega-money fights fall through because of doping scandals or clashing egos and companies.
But the trailblazer for women’s business has seen enough of the sports positive side to know she wants to help return it to our primetime screens and she’s ready to KO some of the dusty old scams that are holding the sport back.
Schofield, 47 – who is focused on growing the female code but runs mixed cards – told SunSport: “I did twenty years at the Royal Mail so I am used to a very male, testosterone-fuelled environments.
“And I have always been a boxing fan and loved watching the era of Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.
“I set Unified up a couple of years ago and did a couple of small shows and thankfully the BBC came and took a look at our last show and said they liked what they saw.
“They were honest enough to say it will be an uphill struggle but we had brilliant viewing figures and now we want to move forward.
“Now we need people to put their money where their mouths are because male sports are still very well sponsored but when you go looking for investment in female sports, the reaction is usually very different.
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
“I funded the last event personally and privately to help with our long-term goal but that cannot go on forever so we hope to make it a commercial success soon.”
Schofield has done more than her fair share of research too and shared the rancour among boxing fans who watched the Government spurn the sport during the pandemic when they dished out £300million.
Vote-hungry politicians like Boris Johnson race to local gyms to slap pads when they want more working class voters in their corner.
But when gyms were closed down it took personal donations from the likes of Anthony Joshua to keep them afloat.
Niche sports like basketball, ice hockey and badminton got handouts while boxing starved.
“What was that about?” she added? “That was absolutely crazy.
“Research tells you that if you put a boxing gym in a London town it can halve the crime rate, almost overnight because it teaches kids controlled aggression and how to work as a team.
“I love that part of boxing but it does come with some other parts – in the professional sphere – that are not so easy to love.”
Former Royal Mail director Susannah Schofield wants to deliver more for female fighters
Female fighting enjoyed a surge in popularity during lockdown – at behind-closed-doors shows – but there remains a huge gender gap in pay and support that Schofield wants to shorten.
“My job is to normalise womens boxing,” he said. “You don’t think twice about seeing a woman in MMA, or taking a karate class, on a horse or behind the wheel of a car.
“If people watch more womens fights – ours and everyone else’s – they will realise the quality is there.
“I have had female friends who are put off by the idea, then they watch – mainly in support of me – and they change their minds completely.
“Hopefully we and the BBC can work together to get more and more eyeballs on the female sport.”
Certain things have to change at the British Boxing Board of Control, with some of the regulations still archaic.
Schofield – with a hint of humour – explained: “The groin protector is still one fixed height for men and women.
“That might protect a bloke’s crown jewels perfectly, but one punch in the wrong place could do more damage to a woman’s ovaries than her not wearing at all.
“That needs to be changed and maybe we need a new rules and regulations book for women because the current one – printed in 2021 – still lists what HE must and must not do, what HE can and cannot do.
“We are not an add-on anymore, we are part of the industry, it’s a serious sport and we want to be a serious part of it.
“We want to follow rules and regulations, we want to gurantee the wellbing of ALL boxers and get them all fairly paid.
“This should be a much cleaner and healthier business and the idea of doing any other way is just wrong because it’s such a dangerous sport.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How to protect yourself
Always defend your head when you’re being attacked. You want to avoid being punched. To avoid being punched, you must learn how to stop an incoming punch. Here’s what to do:
- Elevate your shoulders high and straighten your shoulders.
- Keep your elbows close together.
- Block the punch from coming with your forearm.
- Counterattack immediately.
- Continue blocking until the attacker runs away.
- Keep fighting for your rights.
What are the differences between different types of boxing gloves
There are three main types in boxing gloves: mitts; fingerless mitts; and full-fingerered. Mitten gloves have padding at the knuckles. Fingerless mitts do not have padding around the knuckles, but they still cover the fingers. Full-finger gloves have padding all over the hand.
For punching with the fist, mittens can be used. Fingerless mitt glove are for striking the index finger with the knuckle. Boxing gloves with full-fingering are designed for punching with your entire fist.
What are some ways I can improve my combat defense?
Learning how to fight intelligently can help you improve your defense. You must know how to defend against attacks from all angles, and you must also know how to counterattack if necessary.
If you don’t know how to fight, then you won’t be prepared for anything. You’ll just get beaten up. You’ll just get beat up if you know how fight.
These are some tips that will help you improve your defense.
- Be aware of where your opponent is attacking. This means that you have to pay attention to your opponent’s body language. If he appears nervous, it could indicate that he is about to launch his next attack.
- Remain calm. Don’t panic. Instead, remain calm and focused.
- Block with your arms. You can defend yourself against attacks by blocking with your arms.
- Counterattack. You must immediately counterattack if you see your enemy attacking you.
- Fight dirty. Fighting dirty is another method to defend yourself. If your opponent kicks you in the face, you can counter by kicking him back.
Statistics
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
External Links
boxandflow.com
amazon.com
- Amazon.com – Ringside Diablo Wrestling Boxing Sneakers : Clothing, Shoes & Jewellery
- Amazon.com : Sanabul Boxing Handwraps Elastic 180 inch Red : Sports & Outdoors
How To
How to box for exercise
How to learn how to box for Exercise
Your goal in learning boxing is self-confidence and improvement of your physical fitness. Boxing is the most well-known sport in the world. It requires speed, agility and strength.
Boxing can be a great exercise and a way to improve your self-esteem. You’ll find that you enjoy the activity so much that you’ll want to keep doing it.
There are many boxing training options. Some require you to train at home while others are done in gyms or health clubs. You can also take online courses that allow you access from anywhere in this world.
You should ensure that the program you select meets your lifestyle and goals. The best programs include exercises designed to build muscle mass, increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular endurance, and enhance overall well-being.
Also, consider whether you prefer an advanced or beginner course. Beginner’s programs typically teach fundamental techniques and drills like shadowboxing, sparring and mitt work. Advanced programs typically offer a wider variety of exercises and cover more complex movements.
The beginner’s program usually lasts around 8 weeks and costs less than $100. They don’t offer any advice on nutrition, weight loss or injury prevention.
Advanced programs can last up to six months, and usually cost about $300. These programs often include nutrition advice, stretching routines and warm-up exercises. They also provide instruction on proper technique. Some programs also include resistance training (e.g. lifting weights) or aerobic conditioning (e.g. running).
