10 Rule Changes That Should Be Made In Sport

7. Same Ring Size For All Boxing Matches

tennis line
Isaac Brekken/AP

The dimensions of a boxing ring are rarely considered and discussed by the casual viewers of the fight scene but those within the sport will be aware that the size can sometimes be dependent on an agreement made during the negotiation period between the two fighters.

In the majority of cases, the size of the ring will be designed in favour of the 'A' side fighter and they will head into the bout knowing that it is to their advantage but shouldn't the various boxing organisations be pushing for all boxing rings to be of the same size, regardless of the fighters involved?

Bigger or smaller rings have the potential to throw up more entertaining and intriguing fights but it does not provide an even playing field if a fighter has spent his career developing a style that suits a certain size and a challenger potentially has to go into the most significant contest of his career at a disadvantage.

The texture of the ring surface should also be the same too. Would Tyson Fury have dethroned Wladimir Klitschko had he agreed to the spongy canvas that the heavyweight champion preferred? Probably not.

Changes are unlikely to ever be made in this area but boxing would be much fairer if they were.

 
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A degree-educated, dart-throwing, non-smelling sports journalist based in a small Staffordshire town that has just become Floyd Mayweather's answer to the question: "What's the strangest place you have ever visited?"