World champ: Jersey's white-collar boxing is the best!

Monday 13 June 2016

World lightweight champion Anthony Crolla insists it was “one of the most memorable nights of my life” following the success of Jersey’s latest white collar boxing show.

Hosted by Fort Regent-based BoxInBusiness, Crolla was left reeling on the ropes after witnessing the 12 bouts in front of a packed 600-strong audience at the Royal Trinity Showgrounds on Saturday evening.

Current WBA world lightweight champion Crolla was guest of honour at the show and described it as the best he had ever witnessed in white collar boxing. Crolla said: “I’m stunned, genuinely stunned. I’ve been the world title shows that haven’t been as well put together as this.

“As well as being a fantastic night’s entertainment it has also raised a heck of a lot of money for charity, which is brilliant.   

“I would like to give my own congratulations to all the white collar boxers, male and female, because it takes a lot of guts, determination and hard work to get in the ring. To do it all for good causes is what the sport is all about.

“I’ll be honest, I was blown away by the enthusiasm and dedication shown on the night. It was a pleasure just to be there and I hope I am invited back many more times because that was one of the most memorable nights of my life. I could see what it meant to all the fighters and fair play to them all, they said they were going to do something very special and they did. All of the boxers and their supporters should feel very proud of themselves.”

The 12 bouts – three female and nine male - have raised thousands for charity, with BoxInBusiness’ Ben Murray delighted with the evening, especially with the final award.

The Justin Cotillard Memorial Trophy was handed to the best boxer on the night and was a fitting tribute to the death four weeks ago of Murray’s colleague, a senior financial manager. The award was handed to boxer Claudio ‘The Chief’ Abreu, head of restaurants at the Royal Yacht Hotel, by Crolla.  

Murray sold all 600 tickets for Saturday’s black tie, white collar boxing event, which pitted office workers in the ring for three, two minute rounds.

In the eight years BoxInBusiness has been held, Murray and his organising team have raised £170,000 for charity – and this time all monies raised will go to Teenage Cancer Trust and Le Tournoi, in association with Wet Wheels, a charity which takes disabled people on day trips on a specially adapted boat.

Crolla, who successfully defended his WBA lightweight world title in front of a 20,000-strong Manchester crowd last month with a seventh round stoppage of Ismael Barroso, actually traded blows with Jersey’s Murray 11 years ago as an amateur.

Crolla said: “I’ve really enjoyed meeting Ben again after all these years and we chatted for hours about our fight in the Amateur Boxing Association quarter-finals in 2005. It brought back some fantastic memories and believe me, Ben was a seriously good amateur fighter when we met. 

“He and his team have done an incredible job in putting together a fantastic night for everyone. I just hope to be back many times in the future. Ben is hosting another show later this year and I’ve already told him I’ve love to be back for it.”

Murray said: “I am sure everyone who was there on the night had a fantastic time and we have raised a lot of money for two very valuable charities.

“I’d like to thank everyone who came along as well as the boxers themselves and roll on the next one later this year.

“Finally, to Anthony Crolla and his fiancée Fran, a massive thank you to them. They have made a lot of new friends in Jersey and we hope to see them back again many times in the future. Anthony is one hell of a fighter, but he is also one hell of a great bloke.”