Ring girls have been a boxing tradition since the
1960s.
Getty
Images
Three of the most powerful figures in boxing have
rallied against the calls to ban the use of 'ring girls' in the
fight game.
One of the most famous ring girls in the country says
she has suffered more personal attacks from "women/feminists"
than from anything she's experienced at a sporting
event.
Boxing promoter Frank Warren had one solution for
anybody offended — change the channel or turn off your
TV.
"Ring girls" will continue to exist in boxing despite calls to
have them banned.
Formula 1 announced earlier this
week that it will no longer employ promo models, commonly
called "grid girls," adding that the organisation doesn't believe
the practice resonates with its "brand values" and isn't
"appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans."
The announcement came just days after the
Professional Darts Corporation axed "walk-on girls" from its
events.
The Women's Sport Trust, a UK
charity with the aim of raising the visibility and impact of
women's sport, praised the decision but called on other sports,
like boxing, to follow suit.
However, some of the biggest powerbrokers in the fight game have
rallied against the protests to fire the ring girls.
In fact, for boxing, it is a case of the show must go on.
Kalle Sauerland, the brains behind the groundbreaking $50 million
World Boxing Super Series competition, regularly uses SBJ
Model Management models to help promote his events.
SBJ Model Management business owner, Sara Beverley Jones, herself
a ring girl, leaped to the defence of walk-on girls in darts
earlier in the week. She said on Twitter: "I know
the dart girls ban does not affect me directly, but I feel I have
to defend our rights as promotional models to work in the
industry! Otherwise where does it end? I've not come this far for
[others] to dictate what what I/others should or should not do."
She added: "It's funny the
women/feminists that are applauding the PDC dart girl ban, I've
seen more offensive remarks made towards us (models) on here by
them, than i've experienced from any guy attending these sporting
events. So much for empowering women."
Sauerland, meanwhile, tweeted: "[I] can guarantee
you this will NOT happen with the World Boxing Super Series ring
girls."
Sauerland, Beverley Jones, and the rest of the SBJ Model
Management ring girls are currently in Sochi, Russia, for a
cruiserweight semi-final fight between Murat Gassiev and Yunier
Dorticos in Sauerland's lucrative boxing tournament.
You can watch them all at work for Friday's weigh-in
here:
Sauerland is not the only boxing promoter to take a stand against
the protests to ban promotional models from sports events.
British fight promoter Frank Warren, who represents middleweight
champion Billy Joe Saunders and returning heavyweight fighter
Tyson Fury, published a blog post on his
website in reaction to this issue, which has since been
removed.
Warren said Formula 1 and darts were "playing to the politically
correct gallery" and added that he, like Sauerland, has "no
intention of handing the girls their cards."
Warren said ring girls provide a service. They have a "clearly
defined function" and are "rewarded for their work."
Warren's message was simple. If it offends you, "just don't watch
it. That is what the on-off button is for."
"It has nothing to do with sexism or feminism"
Eddie Hearn (right) with star client Anthony
Joshua.
Getty
Images
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn, who represents world
heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, also had his say.
Hearn told the Daily Star:
"The ring card girls are actually doing a job which they’ve done
for many, many years which is letting people know what round is
coming up… obviously that is in a glamorous way.
"Are we going to abolish ring card girls in boxing? No. They’re
not seen on TV and also, they are doing a job.
"It’s tradition in boxing. I’m 38 but maybe I’m just a little bit
old school. Unless we get told otherwise by a broadcaster then
they will remain."
Speaking to GQ magazine, Hearn
added: "In my opinion it has nothing to do with sexism or
feminism."
As for the ring girls themselves, Beverley Jones hinted on Friday
that they may have more support within their sport than ever.
"Thank you for all that embraced us on stage," she tweeted.
— Sara Beverley Jones (@SaraBeverley) February 2, 2018
Can't wait for fight night @WBSuperSeries & thank you for all that embraced us on stage at the weigh in today. My hero GGG is here !!
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