White Collar Boxing

White Collar Boxing is a form of boxing where men and women in white collar professions train to fight at special events. Most have no previous experience of boxing.

US origins of the sport

The sport first came to prominence in mid-1990s New York. Many professional people joined previously blue collar gyms like Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn - one of the oldest boxing gyms in the US. According to a 2004 Business Week article, by that year over 65% of Gleason's membership was from a white collar background. The same article said that 70% of the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood were white collar boxers. Boxing had traditionally been viewed as a working class pursuit - a way out of the ghetto - but the growth of white collar boxing has seen a middle class influx in to the game. Many are prepared to enter in to a gruelling work-out routine in order to take part in organised bouts that are often well attended.

Royal support

In June last year, Princes William and Harry attended the Boodle's Boxing Ball to support their friend, Hugh Van Cutsem, a financial executive, who took to the ring and won the event. The event was covered widely in the British press with photographs of the two princes on their feet cheering Van Cutsem. Van Cutsem was coached during his fights by former European champion Errol Christie.

White Collar Boxing in Norfolk / Suffolk

In September 2005 Matt Smith opened the doors of Ultimate Boxing a white collar boxing club based in Lowestoft. The club operates from a fully equipped boxing gymnasium and now has members enjoying the buzz of competing on white collar boxing events in London.

White Collar Boxing in Hampshire / The South

In December 2007 Rob Back opened a brand new white collar boxing club, Gloves On 300, based in Waterlooville. The club has a unique concept of Team 300 : 300 Male gym members and 300 female, with the intention of members being able to choose how far they want to take the skills they learn, from fitness through to full contact boxing in events across the country.

References

*Business Week article on White Collar Boxing [http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_48/b3910087.htm]
*The Real Fight Club website [http://www.whitecollarboxing.uk.com/]
*The City Boxer website [http://www.cityboxer.com/]
*Ultimate Boxing website [http://www.ultimateboxing.co.uk/]
*Gloves On 300 website [http://www.gloveson300.webeden.co.uk/]
*Gleason's Gym, New York [http://dumbonyc.com/2007/01/20/white-collar-boxing-at-gleasons-gym/]
*USA Today article [http://www.usatoday.com/money/jobcenter/2005-11-10-white-collar_x.htm]
*BBC article on Real Fight Club and criticism from the British Boxing Board of Control [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3022328.stm]
*Independent article on white collar boxers risking injury [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article302902.ece]
*Daily Telegraph article on Boodles Boxing Ball attended by Princes Harry and William [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/05/nbox05.xml]
*The London Paper on white collar boxing [http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/news/article/1157140756747?packedargs=aid%3D1157140756747%26suffix%3DArticleController]