Are TikTok “boxers” hurting the sport or bringing new eyes to it?

[danielmartinhq]

I’ve been seeing more so-called “TikTok boxers” getting fights, attention, and even spots on undercards just because they’ve built a following online. Some fans say it’s embarrassing for the sport, others say it helps boxing reach a younger audience that might not tune in otherwise.

What’s interesting is that alternative platforms like TikTok 18 have made this even bigger — since it lets people share and watch unfiltered, edgy content that isn’t on the regular TikTok app. Many of these influencers first blow up there, and then use that audience to step into boxing, bringing fans with them.

What’s your take? Are these TikTok guys just watering things down, or are they actually helping keep boxing in the spotlight?

[Coverdale]

I never use TikTok and completely ignore any of the imbeciles making a name for themselves there or elsewhere on social media. I've only ever heard Jake Paul speak once my entire life.

[NihonJim]

Honestly neither, it's totally different audiences.

Nobody watching misfits is going to rune in and watch the Inoue fight the following week, and nobody who would watch the Inoue fight is going to not watch it because of misfits.

I am really scared though that turkey alsheik is going to start putting tik tok and real fights on the same major cards though, he's obsessed with the casual market, I don't often use DAZN but I put it on the other day and was cringing seeing "propa boxing" and "rummys corner" bloody "g man boxing" on there, like wtfs next, Dwyer from gamblers advisory.

[HisExcellency]

They're CHEAPENING the sport and taking away it's glamour (just like YouTuber's, influencer's, reality TV 'stars', OnlyFans models etc have cheapened the meaning of the word 'celebrity').

All of them should be ERADICATED ASAP starting with Paul!

[LA_2_Vegas]

In a digital era, where people organize themselves differently than they do in the physical world, they might be the new local/hometown fighters.

I think these guys add credence to the old adage, "all boxing is local." They bring their crowds regardless of whether we have any idea who they are. It's just that their crowds are not necessarily physically local in a city or state.

And given that the learning curve will continue to shorten for any discipline, including boxing, I don't see why this branch of the sport couldn't be onboarded eventually, provided these guys get the proper training/repetitions needed to continue improving over time.

Really, you're just looking for a couple of them to become something - because a lot of the prototypical hometown hero fighters we know don't make the top level and those fans often don't stick around once he is gone. But damn if those aren't some of the best fights and crowds with big emotions.

If some of them get solid enough, then mixing up these popular guys with actual organic hometown boxers might be a way to revitalize US domestic matchups. UK is still able to do the traditional domestic matchups thankfully, but here in the US, it doesn't seem as vibrant as before. Probably pipe dreams but I think there is something in this, in time.


Right now, those cards are kinda messy and there isn't all that much talent, but eventually I think someone will make some noise and actually be a solid fighter.