ITV - 60 minutes
In this new documentary in ITV's Exposure current affairs strand, Jonathan Maitland investigates how safe white collar boxing is for those who take part. Two undercover reporters attend training sessions at gyms in Leeds and London operating under Britain’s biggest organiser of these types of fight, Ultra White Collar Boxing. More than 62,000 people in Britain have stepped into its boxing rings to fight, often raising money for charity, but white collar boxing is unregulated despite UWCB insisting its events are safe. The reporters investigate how people prepare, and what sort of checks are made on them and their opponents before the big fight. Adam Smith, who suffered two strokes after his bout, tells Jonathan how little he knew about his much more experienced opponent. Eventually, he received a £50,000 insurance payment, with UWCB admitting no liability. With his testimony, the undercover footage and contributions from experts, this programme asks how safe white collar boxing is, and examines UWCB’s training, matchmaking process and medical provision. UWCB says safety of its participants is paramount, it has robust processes in place, the number of injuries is extremely low and its training and events are as safe as other sports.
PRESENTER / JOHNATHAN MAITLAND
CAMERA / ALEX HILL & ADAM VARDY
DOP / MIKE TURNBULL
UNDERCOVER REPORTER / SCOTT WILLIAMS
ASSISTANT PRODUCERS / STEVE WALSH & MARTIN SUTHERLAND
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS / STEVE ANDERSON, MIKE LEWIS & TOM GILES
EDITOR / ANDREW RUSHTON
PRODUCED & DIRECTED BY JIM BOOTH