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First fight of the Proms: boxing is back at Albert Hall
Rashid Razaq20 Mar 2009
BOXING and wrestling are today set to return to the Royal Albert Hall for the first time in nearly a decade after the venue was granted a new entertainment licence.
World championship title fights are on the cards after Westminster council reinstated the original royal charter bestowed by Queen Victoria in 1871.
The hall is now clear to stage title contests featuring British champions such as David Haye and Amir Khan.
The move has angered neighbours who today said they may seek a judicial review. They fear it will increase crime and disturbances.
The venue's chief executive, David Elliot, said: "Boxing and wrestling have been part of the Albert Hall's charter since it opened. When licensing regulations changed a few years ago, we omitted them as an oversight. This will allow us to bid for major events such as world title fights.
"I can understand the anxiety that boxing and wrestling may attract a more boisterous audience, but it is misplaced. We are only going to be staging prestigious one-off events."
The Albert Hall has hosted bouts involving boxers such as Henry Cooper, Joe Bugner, Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn and Lennox Lewis but the frequency of wrestling and boxing matches fell after the Sixties.
Mr Elliot said wrestling bouts would take the form of Sumo or the American entertainment type, which he called "pure theatre".
Yasmin Doctor, 53, one of the residents leading opposition from the Albert Hall Mansions block, said: "I'm very disappointed. We will take this all the way to a judicial review if necessary. You learn to put up with a certain amount of disruption living here, but the type of people attending boxing and wrestling matches aren't going to be your average Prom goer.
"People could be coming out in the early hours after drinking and making noise and it could lead to more crime and vandalism."
Mrs Doctor, a housewife, has accused hall managers of trying to "sneak" in the application, by filing it on 19 December, meaning many residents did not get to respond in time as they were away over Christmas.
The residents plan to appeal on the grounds they were not given an adequate consultation period.
The Albert Hall says residents were consulted and boxing and wrestling bouts are expected to end at 11pm, the same time as most events.
Westminster council said the licence will have some restrictions, for example banning "cage fighting".
Reader views (5)
Entertainment should be inclusive not exclusive with a variety of events to cover for different tastes. I am pleased that boxing is back at the Albert Hall and would say to those residents who live nearby and are against this, I feel it is important to state that boxing keeps some young people off the streets, it provides discipline and encourages those participating to live a healthy lifestyle and be good role models in the community such as Amir Khan.
- Carol Grayson, Newcastle, England, 31/01/2010 10:54
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What do local residents think boxing fans are going to do - burn down Kensington. I'm good friends with Errol Christie, a boxer who fought there in the 1980s. He remembers good natured events and none of the trouble that characterised football terraces back then. Most boxing fans are decent tax paying folk and when did you last hear of crowd violence at a bout? No, never.
- Tony Mcmahon, London, UK, 29/01/2010 12:28
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Great news; Prince Albert and Queen Victoria would love to know that The Royal Albert Hall is being used by all the people; not just the posh fluffy ones.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 29/01/2010 11:28
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I think it is great both Wrestling an Boxing is back at The Royal Albert Hall.Alot top international stars have fought at The Albert Hall over the years.In America they have Madison Sqaure Gardens in England we have The Albert Hall an it is about time we as English people show the World are top venues in the sporting world.I hope it is a great success.
- Matt Jarrett, Cheltenham, 29/01/2010 11:28
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Some of the residents living near by dont like it!Well thats tuff,i think the Albert hall has been there a lot longer than any resident,and you bought your property near by.
- Kev, London-UK, 29/01/2010 11:28
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