Beeb's boxing bouts

Boxing chiefs have urged the BBC to think again about screening an amateur boxing bout featuring comedy star Ricky Gervais.

The British Boxing Board of Control has written to director general Greg Dyke to protest about the three-round contest The Fight, to be aired on December 29.
The body's general secretary said the BBC had been "remarkably naive" and encouraged unlicensed punch-ups.

Earlier this year Les Dennis took part in a charity scrap for Comic Relief, and was beaten by comic Bob Mortimer.

This time Gervais will be seen coming to blows with Anthea Turner's husband Grant Bovey, in a fight that has already been filmed.

There have been suggestions of further bouts being lined up in the future with other unlikely sparring partners.

But boxing's ruling body believes it will send out the wrong messages and could be potentially dangerous - particularly bearing in mind the age the fighters.
Gervais, award-winning star of BBC2's The Office, and Bovey are both 41.

General secretary of the BBBC, Simon Block, said he was concerned that the fights were unlicensed.

"We've worked very hard and so have the amateur boxing associations to make sure boxing is properly regulated.

"Unlicensed boxing is a fringe activity and very often attracts disreputable elements. And then we find a national broadcasting organisation which invests heavily in the sport is sponsoring and organising an unlicensed boxing event.

Mr Block pointed out that there were rigorous medical conditions and his organisation would not condone allowing people in their 40s or even late 30s to box for the first time.

"We just don't think this is a good idea," he said.

"We've got to be careful because we don't want to be seen to be over-reacting and I don't think either of the two gentlemen would come to any harm other than maybe a black eye.

"But it's very remiss of the BBC to encourage 40-year-olds to step into a ring for the first time and have a bit of a punch up for the delight of viewers.

"It's really not a road they should be going down and they should know better. I'm sure the contestants are doing it for the best of motives but those executives responsible have been remarkably naive.

"If something were to go wrong, and I know that is a big if, these people would bear a grave responsibility - and I'm sure the courts would think the same."