Only Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren can survive putting on shows without fans - Junior Witter

The sport returned last weekend with a five-fight show which was staged at BT Studios in London and put on by Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions .

There was no crowd present while the referees were wearing face masks and all involved were tested for coronavirus and required to self-isolate before attending.

For small-hall shows and lesser-known promoters, the task of staging an event is almost impossible with even Warren admitting he will lose money without supporters present.

For the bigger promoters, their financial losses will be offset by broadcast money, something which is not available to others.

“I can’t see anything happening behind closed doors, unless you are Eddie Hearn or Frank Warren,” said Witter, who is a former WBC super lightweight champion.

“They are the only two promoters who could actually afford to put a show on behind closed doors.

“For us, there is no chance.

“The expense of putting a show on, you have got ring hire, venue hire, referees, medical and all the extra expenses you will need because of Covid-19.

“You have got no chance of doing that on a small-promoted show because there is no money.

“The only money you will get is from TV and the only promoters who bring in the big TV money is Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn.”

One Yorkshire boxer who could fight without fans is IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington who is managed by Hearn and was hoping for a featherweight unification bout at Headingley with Can Xu last month.

That has been shelved although Warrington has said he would reluctantly fight without any supporters present but would feel guilty for those who miss out.

Witter runs a gym in Rotherham and trains two local pro fighters who have seen their plans heavily disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Dominic Hunt, from Wakefield, hasn’t fought since September while Matthew Hunter, from Sheffield, had his first professional fight in March but is unsure when he will box again.

Lower down, amateur clubs are still feeling the impact of the pandemic but the sport received a boost last week following the Government’s announcement that gyms and indoor sports facilities can reopen on July 25.

Witter trains a number of amateur fighters at his gym, who have ambitions of turning pro and are itching to return.

He added: “I have got amateurs who are ready to get back into it as soon as we are allowed to train. I have got a full plate but everything is on hold because of the coronavirus.”

However, England Boxing have warned that it will still be a long time before amateur clubs can return to normal as the nature of the sport means there is a greater risk of Covid-19 transmission.

“All in the boxing community should be aware that there remains a long way to go before things return to any level of normality,” read a statement from the governing body.

“Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our membership – boxers, coaches, officials, volunteers – and staff, meaning that returning to full contact training and competition will be a gradual process and only when government regulation and advice permits.

"By its very nature, given the close contact, boxing poses a greater risk from Covid-19 than most other sporting activities.”

The new guidelines still require people to adhere to social distancing and sparring is not allowed.

The restrictions mean some clubs can’t reopen, such as the White Rose Boxing Club in Wakefield, who stated: “The White Rose Boxing Club has decided to delay reopening.

“Simply because sparring and pad work is not permitted under the new guidelines. Also, the gym can only six hold boxers at one time who have to remain at least two metres apart."