Paul Smith hung up his gloves in 2017, but he continues to fight beyond the ropes.
During his 14-year tenure in professional boxing, the former British super middleweight champion duked it out for money and pride.
GettySmith is the co-founder of the GFA[/caption]However, his latest battle is a far more selfless one.
In 2022, Smith co-founded the Global Fighters’ Association (GFA) to establish an independent union for boxers.
At present, boxing and MMA are the only major sports without recognised union representation.
Smith’s outfit is aiming to change that by introducing a framework for financial support and adequate aftercare for fighters, much like the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) does in the nation’s favourite sport.
“In football, there is the PFA, but in boxing, there hasn’t been anyone banging the drum for a union so boxers have protection and security,” Smith told talkSPORT.com.
“We are there to put an arm around them and guide them through the tricky situations regarding contracts, managers, payments, and everything in boxing where boxers need help.
“It is an idea I had years ago, and we have now got the right team in place to be able to do this.
“It’s not about making money, it’s not about furthering our negotiation power in boxing, we want to fight for the fighters and have something there that is for the fighters, whether that is against the Board, the promoters, we are there for the fighters.”
In order for boxing moguls to sit up and take notice, the GFA will have to align itself with the sport’s biggest players.
They have already made headway in that regard by welcoming former two-weight world champion Amir Khan onto the GFA board, while Tyson Fury has also expressed support.
Khan is a member of the GFA boardLawrence Lustig/BOXXER“We had a chat with Tyson Fury 18 months back, and he mentioned there would be a possibility he would have a look at it,” Smith added.
“It won’t be an issue with the fighters, it won’t be an issue getting the fighters on board.
“If these fighters are getting in the ring, and we have an insurance policy for all these fighters that they are covered, so they get serious loss of life insurance, [then they will support us].”
The GFA recently revealed its plans for a 12-month program of roundtable discussions, focused on improving key aspects of boxing.
Their first event is due to take place later this month and will centre around judging in professional bouts.
The lack of transparency in judging has marred the sport for several years.
Fury has expressed support for a boxing unionThat is something the GFA aims to fix.
“I have got a lot of respect for referees. It is a tough job,” said Smith.
“It is tough to judge a fight, it is tough to referee a fight, it is even tougher to do both.
“The British Board of Control is the only place where the referee will referee and score…
“I would love to see referees and judges come out at the end of the fight and answer to the media in one quick interview to explain themselves.
“It would clear so much up, and then all of a sudden there’s no big fuss kicked up, and there is no negative publicity over it.
“The British Boxing Board of Control and other commissions around the world will say, ‘Well it is human error, that is their opinion and you just have to get on with it’.
“But it creates so much confusion and whispers behind the scenes as to why they have made that decision.
“I’m sure referees would love to come out and explain why they scored a fight the way they did.”
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