January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
‘Meat Hook’ proud of Fight Night’s heritage
Rugby boxing event has evolved from its Fight Club roots
The Teachers Rugby Club stalwart, who earned the nickname “Meat Hook” after seven years of boxing in the event, said he and team-mate Steven Davis had come up with the idea as a way for the rugby boys to settle once and for all, who was the toughest.
The event had no pretensions towards sporting excellence. It was more of a Fight Club style punch-up with nothing on the line but personal pride and bragging rights for the season.
“There were guys that were always arguing and fighting on the pitch and we just thought let's get in the ring and sort it out once and for all.
Back then, in the late eighties, early nineties, it was at BAA in the gym and we had just a few hundred people watching.
Bermudian Hook added: “It started as Teachers against all the other clubs. We didn't even have any real boxers. It's more about rivalry and a good laugh for the crowd. I think that's why it's so popular.
“It was entertaining because it was a slug fest. No professional stuff.”
He added that the rivalry was always friendly.
“It’s just like after the rugby games. You get together have a drink and talk about what you’re going to do to each other next year.”
Despite an initial reluctance from the Teachers club to get involved Hook and Davis went ahead with organizing the night anyway — and the club committee, and later the Police Boxing Club, soon came on board.
“It was popular right away. It'’s just a bunch of guys who are in it for a laugh and people like to watch that. The social side of its very big as well.”
The night, still organised by the Teacher's Club, has progressed from those humble beginnings to become one of the island's biggest events, attracting a crowd of nearly 1,500 to the Number One Shed every March.
Hook, now president of the club, will be involved again this year, but at 45 his fighting days are behind him.
“We never thought it would be this big. It's a bit more professional now. It's really taken off. I don't see how it could be much bigger.”
He said despite the fact that the event had got a lot more experienced and skilled boxers on the card it had still retained it's slug-fest origins.
“There's still a lot of first time fighters on the card. You're still going to see some wild swinging,” he added.
Michael Montgomery, another Teacher's Rugby Club player, was among the first to step up and fight at the event.
He said it was an exhilarating and draining experience.[[In-content Ad]]
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