Rumbling in St Andrew - Wray and Nephew boxing event includes big entertainment package

Many a sport has been transformed from just a rigid competition structure to include other types of entertainment.

A few have taken more to the idea than others.

American football, known for its half-time shows, cricket, developing crowd interaction in stands made just for that, and boxing, where scores of people wait for hours for tickets to the best seats to get a look at the ringside action.

A sport that once required patrons to understand the weight placed on a sucker punch versus a left hook and how the percentage of hits versus blocks helps to score a match has now been broken down to the mere essentials of fighting to a knockout.

The sport has become so entertaining that boxers are paid eight digit salaries for a fight, win or lose, and ring announcer salaries can go as high as seven digits.

Revitalising

Michael Buffer, legendary ring announcer, who reportedly has received US$5 million for simply saying his five-word iconic phrase "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" at a Floyd Mayweather fight. This one line helped to bring a level of excitement to the sport that is undeniable, even being coined into the main phrase for ring announcers in boxing video games.

In Jamaica, the rise of boxing events like J. Wray & Nephew's Contender has helped to move boxing into our local entertainment & fashion scene, revitalising what it was in the past. Jamaica Boxing Board of Control President, Stephen 'Bomber' Jones, explains; "My love for boxing grew from I was a youth because of the intensity of the sport. Jamaica's interest may have diminished due to the rise of other talent but Jamaicans love for action and sportsmanship will never die. They remember 'Shrimpy' Clarke and Bunny Grant and if you look back at those fights there is no doubt that it is anything short of entertaining sweat by sweat, and that is what we are bringing back to the sport."

It is true, there is nothing like sitting ringside at a professional fight, nothing. The atmosphere is electric, filling patrons with growing anticipation at every punch landed and every step made. The lights, the buzz of people clamouring and shouting for their favourite fighter, all while inside two people enter their own worlds filled with strength and character.

Patrons come out, not just to see a fight, but to see the show, the dancing between the fighters, the verbal throwback and forth, and the sweat dripping from their brows. It is all entertainment.

In a title fight, especially, it is all about the build up to the finals. Almost always there are undercard fights, fighters who are excited to work and are hungry to be noticed by the decision makers who have the power to make their dreams come true.

Boxing is indeed a people sport, so, for this Christmas season Wray & Nephew is adding artistry and high-end food and beverage offerings to the mix at the J Wray & Nephew Rumble on Jamrock international boxing event on Saturday.

The National Arena will be transformed into 'Caesar's Palace' with all its amenities at the highest standards.

With sound clashes scheduled, music by Renaissance and a live performance by Sizzla, the boxing world will definitely notice something different.