Synopsis

Set inside London's York Hall, the video follows professional boxer Cornelius Carr as he prepares for and enters a bout against an actor playing his opponent. Carr absorbs punishment, fights back, and wins the contest, while Morrissey remains mostly an observer rather than performing to camera. The clip closes with a brief appearance by Morrissey greeting the fighters, keeping the focus on the boxer and the atmosphere of a traditional British boxing venue.

Factoids & Trivia

• Cornelius Carr was recruited after Morrissey watched him win the British super-middleweight title at York Hall in 1994. Morrissey later visited Carr during a training session to discuss the video's concept.

• The entire shoot reportedly took one day at York Hall in Bethnal Green, the same venue where Carr had won his British title a few months earlier.

• Morrissey does not appear as the video's singing performer. His on-screen appearance is limited to a brief moment in which he shakes hands with one of the boxers.

• Carr said the video brought him more attention from Morrissey and Smiths fans than his boxing achievements, with fans later approaching him for autographs.

• Still images from the production were reused for the covers of Morrissey's 1995 compilation World of Morrissey and The Smiths' "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" single.

• "Boxers" was released in January 1995 and reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was later included on World of Morrissey.