5 Things: Shane Benis Talks Beginning Brawl on the Bund and Future Fights

By Lauren Hogan, December 8, 2016

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A That's series where we ask a Shanghai-based somebody to tell us 5 Things specific to his or her life. 


After another highly successful Brawl on the Bund, founder Shane Benis talks to us about how he got his start in the boxing world, the beginnings of Brawl on the Bund and hints at future plans.

1. I started boxing at university. 

I kept boxing when I moved to China and started teaching in 2007 at Scott Wright's studio, teaching former boxers and fitness boxers. It all kicked off from there! 

2. Brawl on the Bund is born.

When teaching with Scott, a company asked us and a chap called Danny Lawley to help organize a White Collar Boxing event because they had heard we were trying to create a boxing event for my rugby team (The Shanghai Hairy Crabs). That company pulled out a couple of weeks before the event, but the boxers and coaches all chipped in to get sponsors and sell some tables, thus Brawl on the Bund was born. We raised an odd RMB60 thousand and donated to Half the Sky Foundation.

Photo Gallery: December 3 Brawl on the Bund

3. The future is looking bigger every month. 

We recently partnered with IPCN - the creators of the Voice of China and China's Next Top Model, and we are taking steps to expand all over China and Asia. The profile of the event has finally truly broken through with local Chinese, and our focus is to now to increase Chinese participation in the training and attendance of each event. Big news coming in February 2017 which I can't talk about just yet! 

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4. Considering fighting? Just do it. 

The gym we run training at (Golden Gloves) focuses on having a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome. If you decide you don't want to do contact training, you don't have to. Our coaches don't pressure anyone into taking part in the events. It's completely at your comfort level.

5. Brawl on the Bund's December 3rd 2016 event at The Kerry, is officially the most successful commercially viewed white collar boxing event of all time in the world. 

At any one time during the broadcast, over 4 million people were tuned in and watching. Boom!

See photos from the Dec 3 Brawl on the Bund here and stay tuned for sign ups for the next Brawl on the Bund, which will be announced in early spring.


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