Published on November 30, 2018Updated on April 25, 2023
The world-class sporting calendar highlight that is the Monte Carlo Boxing Bonanza was yet again a thrilling occasion! On November 24, the prestigious Salle Médecin at the Casino de Monte Carlo was the scene of four incredible fights. Frank Smith, Head of Operations of Matchroom Boxing, talks to us about the event.
Boxing in the prestigious setting of the Casino de Monte Carlo must be a pretty unique experience…
Frank Smith: Monte Carlo Casino is a very special place, full of history, and the experience is incredible for every fighter that is lucky enough to compete there. The atmosphere in the Salle Médecin is very different from the atmosphere you find in other countries. The place is both stunning and intimate. The audience consists of 300 privileged people who are totally absorbed in the fights. It’s very different to the 20,000 spectators you get at Madison Square Garden in New York, for example!
Considering both boxers and spectators, what kind of emotions fill a place like this during the Monte Carlo Boxing Bonanza?
F.S: Adrenaline, lots of adrenaline. In terms of the boxers, they get terribly nervous. You experience a different kind of pressure in this sport compared to other sports, it’s a discipline unlike any other. And the idea behind this event is unique: the best fighters face each other in a small space where they can’t back down! In terms of the audience, watching a boxing match in a hall like the Salle Médecin is a unique experience because fans rarely have the opportunity to be so close to the action. You feel and hear every single blow the boxers take!
Can you tell us about a fight that’s had a lasting impact on you?
F.S: I’ve had the opportunity to attend and work at hundreds of boxing events, and each one has a special place in my memory. But if I have to choose, maybe the April 2017 fight between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko at the legendary Wembley Stadium, which was a significant and memorable time for me. Anthony Joshua won that fight in a spectacular way in front of 90,000 spectators. That will stay in my memory for a long time.
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