Small Halls, Big Crisis: The Lifeblood of Boxing Struggles to Survive

Grassroots boxing events face an existential threat as big-money Saudi shows and the cost-of-living crisis squeeze local promoters

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:28am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, geometric representation of a small-hall boxing match, with overlapping planes of color and form capturing the raw energy and passion of the sport's local roots.The vibrant, grassroots energy of small-hall boxing events faces an uncertain future as the sport's financial landscape shifts towards global mega-shows.Anchorage Today

The heart of boxing is gasping for air, as small-hall boxing events - the proving ground for future champions - face an existential crisis. Promoters like Steve Wood and Steve Goodwin are pouring their passion and money into keeping these humble, local shows alive, but rising costs, declining ticket sales, and the rise of Saudi-backed mega-events are making it increasingly difficult. Without these small-hall shows, the pipeline of future boxing talent could dry up entirely.

Why it matters

Small-hall boxing has long been the foundation of the sport, nurturing the careers of champions like Josh Warrington. But the shift towards big-money, Saudi-backed events is choking off opportunities for up-and-coming fighters, while the cost-of-living crisis and reduced TV exposure are crippling local promoters. The decline of this grassroots level of boxing could have far-reaching consequences for the entire sport.

The details

Promoters like Steve Wood, who runs VIP Promotions in northern England, admit it's an 'impossible' struggle to keep their small-hall shows afloat. They face the same fees as major TV events, despite operating on a fraction of the budget. With ticket sales plummeting due to the cost-of-living crisis and reduced TV exposure, many promoters are hemorrhaging money. Steve Goodwin, a promoter based in Bedfordshire, says 'Boxing in the UK is not in a great place. People don't even know who the top boxers are anymore. How can they care about small-hall shows?'

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The players

Steve Wood

A prominent figure in the UK's small-hall boxing scene, who runs VIP Promotions in the north of England.

Steve Goodwin

A promoter based in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, who has managed over 70 boxing champions.

Josh Warrington

A former world champion featherweight boxer who began his career in small-hall events.

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What they’re saying

“It's not just a struggle, it's impossible. I've done it to give kids a start, to get them on TV shows, but those opportunities are disappearing.”

— Steve Wood, Promoter, VIP Promotions

“Boxing in the UK is not in a great place. People don't even know who the top boxers are anymore. How can they care about small-hall shows?”

— Steve Goodwin, Promoter, Leighton Buzzard

“Why should we keep losing money? I've had to think about cutting back on shows. If it weren't for my other businesses, I'd walk away.”

— Steve Wood, Promoter, VIP Promotions

What’s next

The British Boxing Board of Control could ease the burden on small-hall promoters by reducing fees for these grassroots events. Without such support, an essential part of the sport risks collapsing.

The takeaway

The crisis facing small-hall boxing highlights the growing divide between the glitz of global mega-events and the humble, local shows that have long been the lifeblood of the sport. If these small-hall promoters are forced to shut down, the pipeline of future boxing champions could dry up, threatening the very future of the sport.