Strictly Knockout

In boxing there is something satisfying about a knockout or comprehensive stoppage.  It takes away the possibility of a disputed points decision but also deprives the watching audience, whether at home or in the arena, of the drama that a majority or split decision announcement provides.  What it lacks in dramatic tension, a knockout makes up for in sheer climactic excitement and spectacle.  A quick power shot leaving one fighter prone on the canvas, his eyes in a rictus stare is as satisfying as it is frightening as you marvel at the skill of the victor whilst worrying for the safety of the defeated fighter, hoping they will be alright.
 
This DVD brings 101 knockouts and stoppages from small hall fights in Britain together in one package with a loose framing story involving Steve Holdsworth and a fat annoying Cockney called Bulla (real name Ricky Grover). Like Reg Gutteridge and Jim Watt were the voices of The Big Fight on ITV, Steve Holdsworth is the voice of boxing on Eurosport, covering bouts from all over the continent and some in other far flung places around the globe. 
 
It's immediately clear that this isn't your high budget, glossy and slick DVD as Holdsworth waits at a gym for Bulla who is later seen jogging, obviously grossly overweight and out of shape.  Through the 66 minutes that the DVD runs, Holdsworth prepares Bulla for a fight that night which is obviously a set-up for some cheesy knockout to make it 102 on the disc.  The training sessions feature Bulla dressed in T-shirt and shorts and, rather confusingly, one or more of the following on his head: sunglasses, beanie, tights.  On occasion he looks like he is more dressed to go and rob a bank than train for a fight but this really isn't about the 'comedic' interludes, but about the knockouts.
 

The 101 stoppage finishes are taken from Holdsworth's own footage (he's credited as both cameraman and commentator) and are from fights between 1995 and 2005.  It's incredible looking back at the fights in the mid- to late-'90s and see in astonishment how lax the safety procedures were - referees stand over unconscious fighters and wait until they have reached the count of 10 before calling in the cornermen.  There aren't even paramedics at ringside, something which changes in the later fights as figures in green are straight in the ring with oxygen and medical bags. Much of this is down to the legal action taken by Michael Watson against the BBBC following his knockout loss against Chris Eubank and the lax medical provision that left him with severe brain damage.
 
Amongst the many nobodies and insignificant fighters whose names will only be known to them, their families and true anoraks of the sport are a few known to casual followers of the 'sweet science' such as Chris Eubank, John 'Buster' Keaton, Johnny Nelson, Carl Thompson and Kirklaind Laing.  When the PR bumf says 'small hall', it means small hall like Acton Leisure Centre and other tiny venues around the UK.  With so many knockouts in such a short running time (about 10 minutes of which is taken up by the exploits of the irritating Cockney) all you get are knockouts and stoppages with no build up, highlights or reaction.  It's the boxing equivalent of 'Wimbledon's 101 Greatest Aces!'  You see boxer after boxer being knocked out or stopped, some after bravely getting to their feet only for their legs to betray them and do a silly dance across the ring.  There is no time for you to react as, whilst you are digesting the quality of one punch, another clip is beginning and another knockout is on its way.
 

The Disc

Extra Features
There are some outtakes which set the bar low as far as bloopers are concerned - they're never the greatest extra at the best of times, but watching Bulla lose his microphone and have problems with his sunglasses is tedious at best.  If I hadn't already had enough of Bulla the other extra is Bulla rambling on about one inane thing after another. Fortunately this only lasts 2 minutes.
 
The Picture
None of the footage has been taken from the Eurosport, Sky or ITV broadcasts and appear to be shot by someone in the audience with a camcorder - some of the footage is obviously VHS with tape scratches and other associated detritus.  With Holdsworth credited as cameraman, I wonder whether he was filming and commentating though surely he would be at ringside as an accredited member of the media? 
 

The quality differs throughout the DVD and oddly isn't related to the year of the recording with some of the later fights looking worse than those from the late 1990s.  Quite often you have members of the audience jumping up in front of the camera which gives you a spectator's POV but isn't what you really want when watching a boxing DVD.  There are also no replays so if you want to see that finishing punch again, you'll have to do it manually with the remote. 
 
The Sound
There is quite a lot of hissing throughout the boxing footage which, like the video, varies from fight to fight, sometimes it's barely audible whereas other in other occasions it is very loud and annoying. 
 

 
Final Thoughts
There are some boxing DVDs that are practically guaranteed a home in any fan's collection, such as the full fight of The Rumble in the Jungle, The Best of Ricky Hatton or Joe Calzaghe: Super Champion as they have that crossover appeal that makes them appeal to hardened boxing fans and those that just tune in for the big fights.  This is clearly aimed at the former as, despite the catchy title, is a collection of poorly shot knockouts by fighters of whom most people will be unaware.  It hardly lives up to its subtitle of 'The Definitive Guide to 20 Years of British Boxing' - you simply can't claim that for a 66 minute knockout reel. 
 
I hated the linking sections with Steve Holdworth and Bulla as the fat Cockney got on my nerves very quickly and Holdsworth is better suited behind the camera than in front.  The RRP is 'only' £12.99 but is available for about half that on line - which is reasonable considering the running time and AV quality.