Boxing matches could be held underneath The Galleries shopping centre, in a loading bay previously used for 'official' rave club nights.
'Bristol Fight Club' is the brain child of boxing promoter Chris Sanigar who plans to host professional boxing events in the space in Broadmead every two to three months if the application is approved.
Chris, who boxed for England in the 1970s and 1980s and was Southern Area Champion, has applied for a premises licence, and is now waiting the results of his application.
The application from CS Boxing Ltd describes the evenings as ‘international professional boxing events licensed by the British Boxing Board of Control’.
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It states there would be four to six events annually on Friday or Saturday nights, with between 8-12 contests each time.
The space would have a special boxing ring which is separated from the public with barriers, allocated ringside seating, allocated ringside tables with seating and an unreserved seating area. The events would be ticket only and the boxing would end by 11pm.
For promoter Chris Sanigar, who also runs Bristol Boxing Gym in Easton, it marks a long-awaited return to live boxing in his home city after the pandemic and he is calling the events ‘Bristol Fight Club’.
Sanigar used to promote boxing events at Whitchurch Sports Centre and the last one was in February 2020.
“This will be a big comeback for live boxing events in Bristol,” he said. “It has been a very difficult couple of years for boxing as the gyms have been closed for long spells due to restrictions and Covid scares - it has been a very tough time.”
Sanigar says the appeal of the loading bay under The Galleries was its central location but also its unique look.
“This is a big event for Bristol and the start of Bristol Fight Club. It’s a unique venue and it will have a real rustic atmosphere what with the brick walls and special lighting.
“I really want to put on a show in this unique venue and as well as the fights, there will be a bar, food and hopefully a live band.”
Since his boxing days, Sanigar has been a manager and coach for countless Bristol boxers and he has promoted many big events in the city.
“We brought a lot of big names to Whitchurch Sports Centre and Ross Hale won his British title at the Colston Hall in 1995, which was a complete sell-out.
“At this new venue, there will be eight to ten contests on the night and it will be a real showcase for the best West Country boxers and boxers from all over the UK.”
Sanigar says the main event for the first of the Bristol Fight Club nights will be the appearance of Aaron Sutton, the 24-year-old from Kingswood.
He says: “We’re just bringing Aaron through and I think he’s going to be the next Glenn Catley and Lee Haskins.
“Covid and the restrictions curtailed a lot of his progress but we’re expecting big things from Aaron and we’re just glad to get the show back on the road in his home city.”
Sanigar says he hopes the Bristol Fight Club will be an opportunity for people to see the city’s new generation of boxers.
“This is a new era for Bristol boxing. We have Aaron Sutton leading the pack and then we have the exciting prospect of Anton Haskins and Tyler Davies, who are doing very well.
"And then we have debutants in the form of heavyweights Isaac Sanchez Lee from Brislington and Drew Wedlake from Lulsgate.”
Also on the card for the launch night will be former Commonwealth champion Ashley Lane and Yate-based boxing twins Ben and Jake Demmery.
The Bristol Fight Club events are subject to the premises licence being granted..
