I'm far from being a boxing fan - so it's a measure of how good Stable: The Boxing Game is that I was gripped throughout. The four-part BBC documentary follows the fortunes of the fighters under the mentorship and guidance of Shane McGuigan, son of former featherweight champion Barry.
Ultimately, boxing boils down to an intense confrontation between two individuals within the ring. However, Stable underlines all of the training and work (physical and mental) that goes into preparing for a fight, and all of the scaffolding in place around boxers to help them reach their goals. It also shows the mutual respect, support and camaraderie between all of those under McGuigan's tutelage; in what is a solo sport, they are effectively teammates, willing each other on to success.
What made the documentary particularly powerful, for a non-boxing devotee, was that it goes beyond the ring, and indeed beyond the gym, by delving into the personal lives, backgrounds and motivations of the different fighters. In doing so, it tells very human, relatable stories about faith (in oneself or a higher power), determination, obsession, loyalty, betrayal and friendship.
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