Unlicensed boxing divides opinion throughout the world of boxing. It has often been vilified by many involved in mainstream boxing, with numerous attempts by the British Boxing Board of Control to have any form of unsanctioned bouts made illegal.

There has been a lot of media depicting unlicensed boxing as a free-for-all with hardly any standards in terms of safety, weight classes, and skill levels. While that may be the case for some unlicensed promotions, it doesn’t necessarily mean all of them should be tarred with the same brush.

In Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, there is a show unlike any other. D-Day, held on multiple occasions throughout the year, is a mix of boxing, excitement, showmanship, and sportsmanship.

Darren Tindall, who both organises and promotes the event, told us why D-Day is carving a niche for itself in a world that can be fraught with poor publicity.

“Well, the thing with D-Day is it’s as safe as it can be. Everyone is subject to a proper medical before they fight. I leave no stone unturned. I have the best medical staff for the boxers’ safety, the best security staff to make sure nothing bad happens, the best venue, which is always a sell-out, and most importantly, all the matchups are proper 50/50 fights.”

D-Day is not only a home for those wanting to give boxing a go but also for those highly respected within the North East boxing scene. Some flourished as amateurs but didn’t want to turn professional. Others had professional careers but, after deciding to call it a day, still wanted to continue training and missed the rush of competing in a boxing ring.

“We have loads of talented men and women who box on our show. For whatever reason, they didn’t want to make career out of boxing, but they still have a love for the sport. That doesn’t make them any less talented than some of the fighters you see on Sky Sports.”

At the most recent event, the show was headlined by a former English champion Travis Dickinson, who famously won the  2011 light-heavyweight ‘Prizefighter’ tournament. This main event was against another local undefeated unlicensed, boxer Marcus Lupyna, who, despite having no real boxing pedigree outside of the unlicensed scene, has climbed the ranks to become one of the most respected boxers within Tyneside boxing circles.

“Travis vs. Marcus was an incredible fight. That would have been a great fight on a pro card. Both men are friends, and there was no bad blood before or after, but they put on a show! That’s the thing with D-Day: it brings excitement. Neither wanted to lose, and that’s what made for a great fight.”

Darren then spoke of their skill level as boxers.

“Both of them could beat a lot of professionals in their division without a doubt. You hear the title ‘professional’ and think that instantly means they must be good or better than those who aren’t. That isn’t always the case. Travis won on the night, but I’m proud of both those lads. They really showed that you can box at a high level without all the rigmarole of paying for a licence and can earn good money in the process.”

The unlicensed scene still has a long way to go before it is truly recognised as a viable form of boxing for those who want to get into the sport with little or no prior experience. However, with many big names in the professional ranks, like Commonwealth and WBO International champion Fabio Wardley, who turned pro after being involved in the unlicensed scene without any amateur background, and legendary promoter Frank Warren, who got his start in boxing by promoting Roy Shaw vs. Lenny McLean, which gave him the drive to move into professional boxing, the landscape is changing.

Does this mean unlicensed boxing will be respected by the boxing elite? Only time will tell, but organisations like D-Day and many others are doing a lot to change the reputation for the better.

We contacted the British Boxing Board of Control for a statement in regards to unlicensed boxing, but have chosen not to comment.