Boxing, a sport with a rich history stretching back to ancient times, needs to constantly adapt to modern needs.
Marvel Opara, the mother of boxer Joe Joyce and who is 93% blind, is urging boxing authorities to enhance the experience for fans with visual impairments. She specifically requests more focus on providing quality audio descriptions at boxing matches.
Joe Joyce, with a record of 16 wins and 3 losses (15 knockouts), has faced a challenging couple of years. After being close to a heavyweight world title shot, he has experienced setbacks, losing three of his last four fights. His upcoming fight against Filip Hrgovic, who has 17 wins and 1 loss (14 knockouts), is crucial for his career. This fight is seen as a must-win for Joyce to revive his career and regain his previous form.
Opara expresses her disappointment at not being able to fully enjoy watching her son`s fights live due to her visual impairment. Speaking to Sky Sports, she explained that she often relies on the reactions of the crowd to understand what is happening in the ring, rather than her own perception.
“I wish boxing would implement proper audio descriptions so that I could follow the action along with everyone else, instead of just reacting to the audience or my son`s reactions. I always ask my son Torann, Joe’s brother, ‘How is Joe doing, will he be okay?’ And he always reassures me, ‘yes, he’s fine’.”
“It’s hard for me to really know if Joe is doing well or not just from Torann`s words, he’ll always be positive. Then I hear gasps and shouts from the audience, and I get worried, wondering if it’s my son who’s in trouble or his opponent.”
“When I sit ringside, I can feel the impact of the punches and it feels like I’m in the fight myself. Sometimes I even feel like jumping into the ring to defend my son!”
Currently, there are limited provisions for visually impaired spectators at boxing events. However, Opara suggests exploring options like miniature radio devices, similar to those used at cricket matches, to provide audio descriptions.
Another potential solution is technology similar to ‘Field of Vision’, a device that uses braille to help football fans follow matches. Developing similar technology could be a way to bring boxing action to life for visually impaired fans.
For now, Marvel Opara will have to rely on the sounds of the crowd in Manchester as she hopes to hear cheers for Joe Joyce in his important fight against Hrgovic this weekend.
