大象传媒

A fight promoter has defended his Quarantine Fight Club but will a police raid and large fine give him pause for thought when it comes to organising more live events?

The fight at the Hard Knocks Gym in Bradford was raided last October, with police finding scores of spectators crammed into a tight space: there was no social distancing and few of the people there were wearing face masks. The crowds were cheering on boxers from the Quarantine Fight Club.

It was launched by professional kick-boxer, Darren Moffitt, who says it was only intended as a bit of fun. When the first lockdown was announced he had time on his hands and started holding fights in a field that he live streamed. The club鈥檚 following quickly grew and soon he was being offered venues around Yorkshire to host his live events:

鈥淭he fights are controlled by myself. I know what I'm doing. I try keep my distance but the fighters don't social distance as they're fighting together. I know it's a hard one. There's always going to be a couple of people frowning on it.鈥�

Darren admits he's done wrong by holding spectator attended events, but is torn about whether to stop: on the one hand he doesn't want to get fined again, but on the other, he claims he's helping reduce the toll lockdown's having on mental health.

His Quarantine Fight Club events now attract thousands of viewers online and his fighters have, he says, really come on. But deciding what to do following the Bradford raid is difficult and he doesn鈥檛 want to cause problems for his friend, the bare-knuckle boxer Scott Midgley. Scott started the Hard Knocks Gym from scratch: as a new business he didn't qualify for furlough and is using his life savings to keep going. A hefty fine could force the gym to close and would bring an end to the opportunities provided there for disadvantaged youngsters during lockdown

Producer: Sue Mitchell