Anthony Crolla Warns of “Major Crisis” in British Boxing

Former world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla has sounded the alarm over the state of British boxing, warning that the sport is facing a “major crisis” amid dwindling domestic fight cards and a shifting global landscape.

Crolla, now 38, has remained deeply involved in boxing since his retirement in 2019, running a gym in Oldham and training the next generation of talent. With a career that saw him win British and world titles, headline at Manchester Arena, and share the ring with elite fighters like Jorge Linares and Vasyl Lomachenko, Crolla brings a seasoned voice to the conversation.

Speaking to One on One Boxing, the Manchester native expressed concern over the shrinking number of boxing events in the UK — particularly at grassroots level.

“For me, British boxing is in a major crisis. The small hall shows have been absolutely murdered,” he said. “And not just that, the amount of UK shows we’re seeing – they’ve been cut in half. It’s probably less. We used to get a few shows every month on a platform. Nearly everything’s on DAZN now.”

Fewer Platforms, Fewer Dates

The changing media landscape has had a profound impact. With Sky Sports and TNT Sports no longer airing professional boxing regularly, major promotions have had to find new homes. Boxxer has moved to the BBC, while Queensberry Promotions has joined Matchroom Boxing under DAZN. Crolla says the consolidation has led to fewer televised dates, leaving many fighters scrambling for opportunities.

“You’re seeing a lot of good prospects on smaller shows, which I do think is great,” he noted. “But that wouldn’t have happened before — they’d have fights scheduled on bigger cards.”

Saudi Arabia’s Influence: A Double-Edged Sword?

The former champion also weighed in on the growing role of Saudi Arabia in staging blockbuster events. While acknowledging the quality of the cards, Crolla pointed out that many of the undercard bouts could easily headline shows in the UK — if given the chance.

He cited fights like Peter McGrail vs Rhys Edwards, Johnny Fisher vs Dave Allen, Lee McGregor vs Isaac Lowe, and Moses Itauma vs Demsey McKean — all of which took place on the Usyk vs Fury 2 undercard last December — as examples of main-event-level clashes being absorbed into overseas mega-cards.

“You’re seeing five brilliant fights coming from Saudi, but what you’re also seeing are five headliners, which could potentially be five big UK shows,” said Crolla.

He also highlighted past undercard gems like Joe Cordina vs Anthony Cacace, and major UK fights such as Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke 2, and Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron, which were also featured on Saudi-hosted events.

Grassroots Promoters Struggling to Keep the Sport Alive

Despite the challenges, Crolla praised the dedication of smaller promoters such as Black Flash Promotions, Steve Wood, and Kevin Maree, who continue to stage events on tight budgets.

“They’re putting shows on as much as they can to get the lads out, but it’s hard. Those lads have to sell tickets — that’s the business,” he said. “A lot of the time, the promoter doesn’t make anything. That’s just the truth. They’re relying on sponsors and doing it just to help the lads.”

Looking Ahead

Crolla’s comments echo growing concerns about the long-term sustainability of the UK boxing scene, especially with so many rising stars being drawn toward international platforms. While Saudi Arabia and global streaming services are undeniably reshaping the sport, the question remains: can British boxing maintain a strong domestic foundation, or will it increasingly become an exporter of talent?