Professional boxing made its grand return Thursday evening on the occasion of the gala “The world after”. It was the first time since the containment that the boxers could fight in front of an audience, even if combat sports are again allowed since July 12. And all were looking forward to returning to competition. Mevy Boufoudi face to Jonathan Kinner on July 30, 2020 in Paris during the gala of boxing “The world after”. (AURORE VINOT / FIGHTING NATION)
The circus Bormann-Moreno, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, the jugglers and acrobats have given way to the sweat of the boxers Thursday, July 30, in the evening. The ritual remains the same, the boxers enter the ring to the music in front of a crowd hidden in the majority and overheated.
“A duty of exemplarity”
The circus of 1 000 seats was full for those first fights post-containment allowed in public. Arnaud Romera, the ex-president of the league of professional boxing is at the initiative of this meeting that it was mounted in only three weeks. He explains to have been beyond the recommendations for health. “Health has no price. It is known that it is necessary to make this sacrifice, and above all, we have a duty to set an example because it is the first to recover”, he explains.
It was the zeal ! We did test a lot more than what was reasonable. Everything was disinfected in the circus. We bought 700 masks. In case people come without a mask, they are provided free of charge. Arnaud Romera, the organizer of the galaà franceinfo
Boxers, coaches, officials, technical staff, journalists and photographers … a total of 50 actors of the evening of boxing as of July 30, have passed the screening test of the #COVID19. Reactivity, efficiency, example for the 1st event sport post-#containment pic.twitter.com/CUWfHUuYOV
— Arnaud Romera (@Arnaud_Romera) July 27, 2020
The example behind the scenes : the boxers private dressing rooms were changed on the car park, as Mevy Boufoudi, grateful to be able to return the gloves. “It’s such a relief, “he says. Really, it is very strong. It’s been a lot of good. We can’t afford to complain. There has been some dead people, people who have lost loved ones. Of us who have not been affected, frankly, we can’t complain, even if it was complicated.”
Behind the party, a desire to fight against the precariousness of boxers
With containment, the precariousness of the boxers had increased. The average of the premiums of combat at this level is 500 euros. Arnaud Romera and its partners wanted to bring their support. “Everyone has made an effort”, he says.
The circus has sold off the lease, Brahim Asloum lent us his ring, the boxers have agreed to pay for a ticket to some, it does not take a percentage on the bar…Arnaud Romera
“And it was like that with small partnerships, we have managed to finance this evening. This is about 35 000 euros. There was nothing”, welcomes Arnaud Romera.
Come as a spectator, Souleymane Cissokho, olympic bronze medalist and champion of France, respect the decision of the late return of the boxing. “Boxing resumes, we are super happy with it and if the boxing was not included, it was for our own good. Especially, it is not necessary to tap the fingers of the Statet, insists the champion. It really is for our safety. Today, the boxing, it takes, it is well for the boxers. Financially speaking, it will do them good too”.
Last sport allowed to resume boxing has been Thursday, the first to regain his public, the interior with strict specifications. It thus shows the way forward for all the other combat sports.
