Organizing a boxing event can often be compared to solving a complex jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. In Podcast Episode 107 of the Box Gathering, we discuss the response from our recent social media post where we poked a bit of fun at one of the common interactions among coaches at a boxing show. The episode unpacks not just the stress of organising a boxing show, but also how empathy, foresight, and better communication can dramatically improve the experience for everyone involved — coaches, boxers, and organisers alike.
The Common Coach Conversation
Every coach has had this chat ringside:
“Hello, mate. How are you? How many you got on today?”
That familiar icebreaker often spirals into complaints about scheduling. Here’s our humorous (but all-too-relatable) interaction between two coaches:
“I’ve got a skills bout and a senior.”
“Okay, what number is that?”
“One and sixteen.”
“Oh no, nightmare! You’re having a nightmare in there, mate.”
“Yeah, I know. Stinker.”
This kind of banter might seem harmless, but behind the jokes is a real challenge — one that can frustrate everyone involved if not managed carefully.
Organising a Show is Like Herding Cats… While Juggling.
“Putting on a show is a nightmare… and it’s very difficult, right? It’s really, really hard. It’s like knitting fog together sometimes!”
Matchmaking alone is a mammoth task. Rematches, late dropouts, and constant rescheduling mean hours of work before the show even begins. Add to that unexpected cancellations on the day, coaches arriving with fresh demands, and logistical restrictions — and it’s easy to see why organisers are often hanging by a thread.
You might travel an hour, two hours to get to the show and you bring your boxer along… there are fallouts that morning, and the show’s sort of falling apart. You want to be on early so you can get home early, but so does everyone else, including the boxer who’s travelled halfway across the country for a bout.
As coaches we need to take a step back and realise that by the time we arrive at the venue, the organisers have already fought half a dozen battles just to keep the show alive, and they have a fuller understanding of everyone’s needs and requirements than we do. And while we, as travelling coaches just have to worry about our boxers, the organisers are having to deal with officials, parents and spectators, other coaches as well as their own boxers.
The Early Bout Dilemma: Be Fair or Be First?
After all, on the face of it, it seems completely reasonable for coaches asking to be scheduled early:
“We’ve come all the way across here, and you’ve got us on number seventeen, eighteen.”
While travel times and personal schedules are understandable concerns, these last-minute requests can cause unnecessary stress. Often, they’re not about young boxers needing earlier slots due to age restrictions or safeguarding rules — they’re about convenience. And while most show organisers do their best to accommodate where possible, it’s a balancing act. Some coaches may be asking just for the sake of it — or without considering the wider impact.
The Simple Power of Asking Early
So what’s the solution?
“If you do need to get on early, perhaps ask that early… ask that when the bout is made… two weeks, three weeks beforehand… I was asked a couple of times in this recent show, and they asked me early, and I did make allowances for that. And that really, really helped me.”
The key isn’t avoiding requests — it’s timing and tone. Most organisers, are happy to help when the request is reasonable and made in advance. That flexibility disappears the morning of the show when tensions are high, schedules are fixed, and there’s little room for adjustment.
As a community we can help everyone by being proactive and thoughtful about these requests. The discussion taps into a broader truth: the boxing community functions best when we treat each other with respect and openness. Whether you’re an organiser, a coach, or just starting your journey in the sport, better communication can prevent stress and lead to more enjoyable experiences.
There are many times and legitimate reasons for people to ask to get on early, and sometimes there are people asking to be on early just for the sake of asking to be on early. This is an open invitation to reflect. Are you contributing to the stress or helping to ease it? Are your actions making the show better for everyone — or just for you?
“You Either Want the Bout, or You Don’t”
At some point, difficult conversations are inevitable. And in the end it comes down to this:
“You either want the bout or you don’t want the bout, and it’s as simple as that.”
If a coach demands changes that can’t be made and threatens to pull out, it leaves organisers in a no-win situation. This mentality undermines the whole amateur boxing community, where volunteers give up time and energy to make these events happen. Sometimes we’ve got to come to a show and realise that it is hard work, especially if it’s only on a few people that are organising it.
This means recognising that the people behind the event are not just ticking boxes — they’re carrying a huge load, often with little recognition. Coaches who empathise with this reality, and who bring understanding rather than demands, become part of the solution, not the problem. Sometimes coaches help us out last minute with bouts and we can recognise that with an earlier bout if they are clear about that from the start.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Rules — It’s About Relationships
There’s no single right or wrong answer when it comes to scheduling requests or show-day logistics. But there is a right way to approach them: with empathy, communication, and respect for everyone’s role.
Most of us have been on both sides of this equation. We know how stressful running an event can be. So the next time you’re at a show — whether you’re standing ringside or sending a message to the matchmaker — remember: everyone’s there because they care. Help each other out, communicate early, and together, we can make each event a little smoother, a little less stressful, and a lot more enjoyable for the entire boxing community.